"Hello, Dawn." Standing in the doorway of Ash and Dawn's temporary lodging was, in fact, Bertha; a member of Sinnoh's Elite Four, though she rarely enjoyed disclosing that fact and drawing attention. She was comfortable letting her strength and wisdom speak for themselves; as self-assured and invulnerable as the sturdy Ground-types she trained.
Though, now, she looked anything but invulnerable. The way she stood in the doorway of the suite she herself had lent, not quite crossing the threshold. Hands tucked over her chest, and a glassy-eyed look that more accurately resembled a Starly, second-guessing the offered hospitality of indoor shelter on a particularly cold winter night.
In short, although she was Bertha, she barely resembled herself in her demeanor.
"I'm sorry to appear so suddenly. I wanted to check in on you lot." The sound of running water caught her perceptive ear, coming from the restroom. Pikachu dashed over to scale Dawn's shoulder, greeting Bertha with a chirp. "I assume Ash is here, too?"
The context clues came together easily enough, even without physical proof.
"He's just freshening up," Dawn explained, stepping aside. "Come on in!"
"Thank you." Bertha stepped into the suite, closing the door behind her. She took a seat on the couch nearest the door, looking up to the Coordinator. "How have you been, dear? And you, Pikachu?"
"Pika…" Pikachu frowned, his ears falling to frame his face. Although the last day had been better than the ones before it, he couldn't say much more. She patted her open lap, and Pikachu hopped into it. She gently ran her fingers over his fur.
"It's been rough," Dawn admitted, rubbing her arm anxiously. She quickly realized this and corrected herself, closing a fist. "But, no need to worry! We'll pull through, like we always have!"
"I don't doubt it. You're quite a persistent and talented bunch," Bertha replied, shaking her head. "Still, I owe you all an apology."
"An apology?" Dawn echoed, frowning.
"I can't help but feel at fault for the situation you've found yourselves in,' she went on to explain. "At least, in part. I'm not sure if you're aware, dear, but that night in Celadon…"
"Ash already told me," Dawn cut her off. "He told me the night of the Silph Company attack."
"So you do know." Bertha kept her eyes on Pikachu, scratching behind his ear. "Jumping to intervene in a criminal operation may be my nature, as much as it is Ash's, or yours… But, I still feel responsible for you kids butting your heads into the next one. I tried to teach him all I knew to err on the side of caution, but as they say, the best laid plans of mice and men…"
The literary reference wasn't lost on Dawn. Still, she shook her head. "I don't blame you for that. Ash would've done that, no matter what. So would I. I'm more upset that it was hidden from me," the teen girl explained, her brow furrowed. "I don't like being on the out, and Ash and I agreed not to hide things from each other."
"Oh?" The Elite's eyes darted to Dawn, widening a bit. Her lips creased into the faintest of smiles. "You two are…? Well, it's nice to see at least one silver lining, here."
"H-huh!? Was it that obvious!?" Dawn blurted out, her face filling with red. "Aw, man… and we've been trying to keep that a secret, too…"
"From a Coordinator, I'd expect a much louder presentation," the elder remarked.
"Believe me, we want to be loud about it," Dawn admitted. Somehow, she found Bertha trustworthy, and felt comfortable sharing as much as she was. "...But right now just feels like such a lame time to drop it. Ash and I deserve better than that."
"We deserve what, now?" The door finally creaked open for Ash to pop out. "Bertha…!?"
"Oh… Ash, dear." Bertha stood, and Pikachu accommodated it by scaling her shoulder. She walked closer, trepidation in her steps. "Let me see your eyes."
Ash was puzzled by the request, meeting her gaze with something of a lost expression. The doe-eyed, glassy look in his eyes was abnormal. The dark circles under them spoke of restless nights. His dark hues looked steady, as if he were trying to hold himself together. Trying to bury the pain that was so clearly pooling up in them.
It was the look of a youth that carried a burden well beyond their years. She felt compelled, more than anything, to pull him into a tight hug. She couldn't very well think of any words that would fix this. She didn't bother with them.
The embrace caught Ash off-guard; off-guard enough that his defenses crumbled. His lip quivered, failing to hold back the sobs that followed. He buried his face in the shoulder of her light jacket, and returned the embrace. In a way he hadn't since the incident, he allowed himself vulnerability. Pikachu tip-toed onto Ash's shoulder from Bertha's, nuzzling in.
Bertha allowed Ash that vulnerability, for a long moment of silence. Until she frowned, nose creasing. "You carry the strong odor of medical supplies, dear."
"Caught me red-handed," he admitted. "Got into another scrap yesterday. It wasn't good for my scars, heh." Ash felt Bertha's grip tighten. "Ow, ow! Still sore."
"Right." The Elite finally released him, pulling back. She found, now, that they were surrounded by all the Pokémon currently out and about. She coughed into her hand; she was never one to enjoy making a scene. "I should explain myself. I wanted to check in on you kids. I can say you've seen better days, but you've endured. I'm glad."
"We've be-" Ash wiped the tears from his eyes, regaining a steady tone. "...been doing our best, and hanging in there. We made some new friends yesterday."
"Oh?" Bertha asked, leaving them to elaborate.
"Yeah!" Dawn gestured to the room, then did a double-take. "...Hey, I know they were here!"
"Meema, Rura," Ash scolded. "C'mon out, you two."
Suddenly, a crimson and gray mass of fur appeared in the corner of the room, with a pair of baby blue eyes peering out of it. A second pair of eyes revealed themselves, as well; Meema had been hiding in waiting. ~What is it, Leader?~
"Ah. Either my observation skills are waning with age, or your illusion skills are exemplary," Bertha smiled. "I sincerely hope that it's the latter."
~Is this 'Bertha' one of your pack?~ Meema asked. Her icy hues lingered warily on the woman. ~Is she safe?~
"Uh… in a way! I guess?" Ash stammered with an uneasy smile. Meema had such an odd way of phrasing things, even in the short time he'd had her. "She's someone we can trust."
~I apologize for my insolence, then.~ The Zoroark got up to bow to their guest, and coaxed an eye-rolling Rura to do the same. ~I was suspicious you were a threat to our pack, at first. Knowing this, it'd be a great shame if I'd torn you to shreds.~
"Meema!" Ash scolded.
~Was that incorrect…?~
Bertha could only laugh. "Aha ha! I like this one. I think it's safe to say you're in good hands, Ash. So, are both of them yours…?"
~I'm Dawn's!~ Rura chirped, running up to scale the girl's shoulder. ~I like her. She kicks butt!~
"Is that so…? Well, then," Bertha continued. "If you've each made a new friend, then I'd like to make a suggestion. It might do you some good to get to know one another, and take your minds off your troubles. Perhaps each on your lonesome?"
~You wish to separate us?~ Meema asked.
"Only for a bit. I can see that you're quite protective of your young one. It might do him some good to bloom as an individual with his trainer, I think!"
The Zoroark's gaze lingered on her for a few tense moments. ~...Very well. I'll trust your wisdom. Go on, Rura.~
~Woohoo! I get to go out.~ The fox frowned, his ear twitching. ~...What are we doing, again?~
"No need to worry," Dawn giggled. "We'll find something! It's a big city. What about you, Ash?"
"I actually have something in mind," Bertha interjected. "Something I'd like to show Ash and Meema."
"Fine with me!" Dawn said, grabbing her sunhat to place atop her head. Rura seemed content to hide within it; it reminded him of Meema's mane. "We'll catch you guys later! We can meet back here, right?"
"That's fine with me!" Ash agreed. "You guys ready?"
"Pika-chu!"
~Call me if wherever you go is less crowded. Until then, I'm hanging in my ball.~
~As you wish, Leader.~
With their plans set, the group was ready to head out!
Rura swayed back and forth in Dawn's arms. The bright colors of the city were almost overwhelming now that he really focused on them.
"Empo… Poleon?" the steel type beside Dawn suggested.
She threw a glance to the distant ferris wheel and roller coaster tracks that peaked above the treeline. "I wanna go, too," Dawn admitted, "but I think it'd be nicer to go all together! Pikachu'll come around soon, I know it!"
"Pol," Empoleon agreed, content to wait. His contentment didn't last long, though, as their other companion wasn't so gracious.
~Booooring!~ Rura whined, wiggling his way out of Dawn's arms to scale her shoulder again.
"H-hey!" Dawn stumbled, losing her balance a bit as Rura dove up and under her sunhat.
~What's the point of all this cool stuff if we're not gonna do any of it? Lemme know when you decide on something.~
"Empol!" Empoleon chided. He wasn't nearly as rude hitching a ride, when he was little.
"No need to worry!" Dawn chirped, as she often did. Her eyes were set on a humongous dome of a building, with colorful patterns splashed onto its walls, capped with a Poké Ball logo over the entrance. Stars, planets, and all sorts of colorful shapes and emblems sat on the dome's roof in a collection that almost felt gaudy in Dawn's opinion. "Because we might have something, right here! I read about this place in the brochure."
~Bro-sure?~ Rura's head popped out of the front of Dawn's hat.
"It's the Pokémon Musical Theater!" Dawn beamed. "The home of Unova's Pokémon Musicals! It's not exactly a Pokémon Contest, but maybe watching one of those could give us some inspiration! Y'know? You never know where you'll find an idea for a new appeal!"
~...Uh-huh.~ Rura said flatly, tilting his head. That meant nothing to him, just yet. ~Well, I dooo like music!~
"Perfect!" Dawn said, reaching for the door. "Then, we can just… wait a minute." She pulled on the door. It didn't budge. "Then, we can just…!" She tried again. And again. "Aw, it's locked! What's the big idea?"
"Pol." Empoleon drew Dawn's attention, tapping the glass with his wing. He gestured to their open and close times. Today was a Sunday, and the theater was closed on Sundays.
Getting a proper look at the hours, Dawn deflated in a slump. "Aw, man…! Talk about bad luck."
"Em-pol." Empoleon gave his condolences, patting her shoulder. But, then he recoiled. Behind Dawn, from his vantage point, was… Another Dawn!? "Empoleon!?" He shook his head out, just to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
Nope. There was definitely a second Dawn behind her. Not just the same face, but the same hairdo, the same hat, the same sundress. The same everything!
"What's the matter with you, Empoleon?" Dawn tilted her head, frowning. Peeking out from under her hat, Rura couldn't spot it any better than she could.
The bird simply gestured behind her with his wing.
She turned around. "Ah!" Lo and behold, an identical copy of Dawn stood in her path, sans the Zorua poking out of her hat. "What in the world…!? What's the big idea!" She made a variety of gestures, and much like a mirror, her copy imitated every single one.
Dawn huffed. She did not like this, one bit. "Hang on a second, you…" She took her other's shoulders, and forcefully turned her around.
Her suspicions were confirmed. A dark-gray, fluffy tail was attached to her dress's rear end.
"Aha! Got you." Dawn squeezed the tail, and with a yelp, her clone disappeared in a flash of violet. Whirling before her eyes, it turned into another Zorua. Looking up at Dawn's irritated face, she snickered.
"Ehehehehe~!"
~Oooh, are we imitating Dawn? That looks fun!~ Rura leapt out of her hat, and in a spiral of cool hues, assumed the same form. Unlike his peer, though, this 'Dawn' wore a devilish, Zorua grin. ~Yeah! Now I'm the KICKING LADY! I get to kick butt!~ Unfortunately, his illusions weren't so polished that Dawn's mouth moved with his speed, only keeping that same grin. He did kick at the air though, imitating Dawn's assault on the hunter.
"Rura! Not you, too!" Dawn fumed, her face filling with red. "Turn yourself back, right now!"
The second Zorua was inspired, and shifted into Dawn, again, much to her ire.
"I said turn back!" Dawn lunged for the other copy, only for her to slip under her grip. "Rura, don't-!" She lunged for him, only to land on the pavement. Rife with embarrassment even worse than before, she lunged for them both in a futile, comical frenzy. "Get! Back! Here! Both! Of! You!"
"Empol…" Empoleon watched the scene play out with a defeated sigh. Wonders never ceased.
Dawn quickly tired, huffing in exhaustion before righting herself. She pointed at the two copies, standing side-by-side. "You should know that it's wrong to steal someone's image!"
The grinning copy that was Rura tilted his head. ~But, that's what Zorua do. It's like, our thing.~
"Sorry! I'm so sorry!" An auburn-haired boy sprinted towards the scene, coming to a stop to rest his hands on his knees and catch his breath. "I'm… sorry, I… Zorua!" He scolded. "Stop that!"
With both Zorua turned to face the newcomer, Dawn took the opportunity to yank both of their tails. Each of them returned to normal, and exchanged a mischievous chitter with one another.
"It's about time," Dawn huffed, hands on her hips. "Thanks for the distraction. But, what are you apologizing for?"
"Because that's my Zorua." Now that the commotion had died, Dawn got a better look at the boy. He was a tad short; probably her age or a tad younger, if she had to guess. He had several thick bangs, and two longer ones that framed his face, along with large, round spectacles over meek blue eyes. A light gray dress shirt sported two corduroy suspender straps attached to a pair of slacks. He also wore a bulky, portable camcorder around his neck on a strap.
Zorua returned to his side, and he sheepishly rubbed his neck. "Again, I know she can be a handful… My name's Luke! And this is my partner, Zorua."
"Well, I guess it's alright. All's well that ends well," Dawn conceded. "It's great to meet you, Luke! My name's Dawn, and these are my partners, Empoleon and Rura."
Empoleon saluted when gestured to. "Empol!"
~Hihi!~ Rura snickered, climbing back atop his trainer's shoulder.
"It's nice to meet you, as well!" Luke said. "But, I have to ask. Are you an actress, by any chance!?"
"An actress!?" Dawn flinched, taken aback. "Where did you get that idea?"
"Your passionate defense of your image!" He answered. "That sort of thing is typical in celebrity circles. You get the types who guard their projects close to their hearts… there are even those that don't hesitate to strike with a vengeance against unwanted paparazzi!"
"Well, that just sounds normal," Dawn reasoned. "If someone tried to come up and take pictures of me without asking, I might have to swing on them, too."
"I… see." Luke stammered off, as a bead of sweat rolled down his head. He'd make note of that.
"I just believe that self-image is important!" Dawn clarified. "But, anyway, I was just here to see a Pokémon Musical. Unfortunately, they're closed today…"
"Aw, is it!? To come all of this way…" Luke sighed. "I was here for the same reason."
"Luck just isn't on our side today," Dawn said. "Hey, what's with the camera you're wearing?"
"Oh! That's my camcorder," Luke explained, holding up the device to look upon it with fondness. "It's really not much… But, the thing is, I like to consider myself an aspiring filmmaker! I work at a local theater a few towns away. I'm having trouble finding any sort of inspiration, though, so my employer suggested I travel to Nimbasa to find some! I can't say I know what I'm doing…"
That much struck a chord with Dawn. "You know, I know exactly what you mean. Feeling short on inspiration, and too caught up in my worries to execute it." Humming, she held her thumb to her lip. "You know, my plans for the next few hours are already shot… That settles it! We'll help!"
"You'll help!?" Luke exclaimed.
~We will!?~ Rura yipped.
"Poleon!?"
"Yeah!" Dawn said excitedly, dropping her fist into an open palm. "We can't just leave a fellow artist hanging. Besides, it could be fun!"
"That'd be wonderful, thank you!" Luke cheered, clapping his hands together. "Even if you aren't an actress, you could at least play one!"
"Ahaha, I'm not an actress," Dawn deadpanned. As things stood, she did not like the idea of a camera's lens being on her, right now. "But, I am an artist!"
"You're an artist?" Luke asked, tilting his head.
"I'm a Pokémon Coordinator!" Dawn boasted, gesturing a thumb towards herself. "It's my job to bring out the appeal of my Pokémon, and make sure everyone sees it on stage!"
"I can't say I've heard of a Coordinator before," Luke replied, "but that still sounds amazing!"
"For sure!" Dawn winked. "You can count on me and my Pokémon to bring some glam!"
"Emmmmpol~!" Empoleon struck a pose, throwing both his wings out gallantly.
~Why not! I don't know what a movie is, but it sounds FUN!~ Rura cheered, doing a somersault.
"Oh! Thank you, but…" Luke poked his fingers together. "The thing is… I don't think I can use Empoleon."
"Pol…!" Empoleon balked, hanging his head.
"What? Why not!?" Dawn asked.
"Well, I'd rather not use a Pokémon that's not from Unova, since I won't be able to, when I actually film," he explained. "They just don't fit the itinerary."
Without another word, Empoleon walked over to Dawn, and rummaged through her bag before tapping his Poké Ball. He was captured in a red flag of light, and subsequently returned to it.
Another bead of sweat rolled down Luke's head. "I didn't think I'd make him that upset."
"Oh, he's a drama queen," Dawn waved her hand. Pot, meet kettle. "So! What's next?"
"Well, next is to decide on a genre," the boy explained. "That was my initial problem. There are so many captivating types of films out there…! But, I have no idea where to begin."
Dawn hummed in thought, cupping her chin. "...Oh! I know! What about a musical? That's why we were both here in the first place!"
"Oh, but…" Luke stammered, poking his fingers together. "That's-"
"So, you want to be a master of Pokémon!" Dawn sang, tapping her foot. "Do you have the skills to be number one!"
"Um, Dawn…?" Luke raised a hand to interject, but Dawn seemed to be in her own world. To make matters worse, Rura and Zorua were prancing and hopping about in sync with her.
"I want to take the…" Dawn suddenly stopped, frowning. "What was the next line…? Man, I only heard Ash sing it once."
"Dawn!" Luke finally shouted, drawing her attention. The Zorua finally stopped hopping.
"Hey, give me a break!" Dawn frowned, hands on her hips. "No one gets their lines right on the first go."
"I'm trying to tell you it can't be a musical!" The prospective filmmaker exclaimed, hanging his head. "I wanted to watch a musical for inspiration. To draw on any other ideas at play! But the truth is, I don't know the first thing about music. We'll have to think of something else."
"Oh. Well, that's a whole different problem," Dawn said. "But, Nimbasa's a big, colorful city with lots to do! There's got to be somewhere that'll give us some inspiration."
"Tourists, huh?" A man walking by stopped to eavesdrop, pointing a thumb over his shoulder. "You should check out the Battle Subway! People come far and wide to see that in action!"
"The Battle Subway!?" Dawn cooed. "Oh, that sounds like a blast!"
"Well, we're here to plot, not to battle," Luke reminded her. "But still," he said, a gleam shining in his eye. "I believe I might have an idea…!"
The grand Subway Station brought Dawn, Luke, and their Zoruas down a large flight of stairs that led them into a large, busy interior, with many tunnels, screens, and moving parts. Really, Dawn had never seen anything like it before!
~What kinda house is this!?~ Rura asked, circling Dawn's legs to get a full survey of his surroundings. ~Who needs this much room? They must be GIANTS or something!~
Luke's Zorua gave him a deadpan, unimpressed look. "Zoru. Zor?"
~No, I don't live under a rock! That would hurt! Who would do that!?~
"It's so busy," Dawn marveled, ignoring her partner's rambling. "Where do we even start…?"
"Follow me! I think I'm onto something. We'll just need one of the subway channels with a train on the way… Ah! The Doubles track!" Luke pointed at a nearby screen with the departure and arrival times, and ran through the sparse crowd towards another set of stairs.
"Hey, wait up!" Dawn said, running after him. "Come on, Rura!"
Rura and Zorua followed, moving down another flight. Just how many were there in this place!?
At any rate, they were led to the station's depths, where a subway platform sat parallel to the train tracks that stopped inside the station. The train could only come from one direction, of course, and according to the schedule hosted in the station's main hall, it would be here, soon.
"Mystery and Betrayal in Nimbasa's Subway System!" Luke titled the prospective film, scouting the platform with his camcorder. "...Perhaps the idea's a bit of a stretch, but it is an exciting one."
"Ooh, that does sound exciting," Dawn agreed. "So, this is a mystery flick?"
"Not just any flick: a Noir! With proper equipment and lighting, we'll be following the perspective of a hardboiled detective, investigating odd, intermittent disappearances of his trusty Pokémon partner. Is their reliable friend really up to no good? Will crime fester, thanks to their absence? The tensions are high, and the twists will be nail-biting!"
"Huh… Wow! You really pulled that together, quickly!" Dawn praised, clapping her hands together. "Alright. Tell us what to do, and we'll follow your lead!"
"Excellent! Rura," Luke directed, "I need you to turn into a cool, striking detective!"
The fox slowly tilted his head. ~...Wuzzat?~
Luke frowned, turning to Dawn for help.
"I caught him yesterday," she shrugged. "Maybe your Zorua could play that part!"
"Hmph!" Luke's Zorua huffed indignantly, sticking her nose in the air.
"Zorua?" The boy asked, frowning. "What's the matter?"
"Zor! Zor! Zor!" She flicked her eyes to Rura, and yipped again. "Rua."
~I am NOT stupid!~ Rura barked back, and turned his head to Dawn and Luke. ~Hey! Hey! She just said she wouldn't have to play the part if I wasn't so stupid!~
"Come on, Zorua," Luke pleaded. "I know you can do it!"
Zorua huffed, but complied, leaping into a purple spiral before taking on a human form. Tall, handsome, and sporting a beige overcoat and a matching deerstalker. The disguise balanced a magnifying glass on their index finger, holding a pipe in the opposite hand. The spitting image of a photogenic private detective.
"That's perfect!" Luke cheered.
"Not bad!" Dawn praised. "I wonder why she didn't want to do it…?"
"Now, Rura!" Luke addressed. "You can still be the detective's loyal right hand, if you'd please!"
~Right hand?~ Rura asked.
"I-it's a figure of speech!" Luke stammered. With Rura's track record, it'd be awfully upsetting if he took that literally. "Just turn into a Herdier, please! You know what that is, don't you?"
~Oh! Yeah! I can do that!~ Rura yipped, and spun into a colorful wheel before assuming the form of a Pokémon Dawn didn't recognize. A small canine Pokémon with brown fur and a cream, fluffy pattern decorating their face like a bushy mustache and eyebrows. Blue fur coated the rest of their body. They stood at about three feet tall, and turned to face the humans.~How's this!?~
"That's great!" The boy cheered. Just in time for a progressively louder rumbling to approach from afar. The headlights of the Doubles Subway train could be seen, before the vehicle itself pulled into the station. A loud, harsh hiss sounded as the train came to a halt.
"Aaand, perfect timing!" Luke said, as the doors to the subway slid open. He held up the camcorder as if he were filming, slowly walking up to the open car. "Alright. Rura, you head inside first. Try to seem cautious, like you're trying to avoid suspicion! Zorua, you follow discreetly!"
~Gotcha!~ Rura yipped, and turned towards the open door. The Herdier guise pointedly looked left and right before walking into the train car at a calculated pace.
"There goes the reliable Herdier… Where could he be off to, on his own, on the subway? What could he possibly be after?" Luke followed the act with an enthusiastic monologue. "Now, Zorua!"
The dashing detective snuck up to the doorway, step by cautious step, before peeking around the corner. The coast seemed to be clear, as she used her human disguise to step inside.
"The hardboiled detective is keeping a stealthy eye on his best friend! Now, it's our turn to keep our eye on the developing story…!" Luke stepped onto the car, and gestured for Dawn to follow.
"I wonder where he's going with this…" Dawn asked herself, and stepped aboard.
"Now, to telegraph the ongoing drama… Ah!?" Luke exclaimed, nearly dropping his camera.
The car was, suspiciously, entirely empty of other passengers. In fact, beyond their two disguised Pokémon, Dawn and Luke were completely alone! At least, they would be, if not for two nearly identical men standing in their paths.
"They look uncanny…" Dawn thought aloud, blinking. "W-who are you!?"
Two tall thin men stood next to one another, as if one was almost looking in a mirror. Angular faces, silver short hair that ended in pointed sideburns, and large, eerie silver eyes were all completely identical between the two.
"Hello! I am Emmet." One of the two men spoke first. Emmet wore a long, white coat with brown trimmings and a ludicrously oversized collar, and gigantic sleeves to match. His conductor's cap bore the same color scheme, along with a blue tie, a white undershirt, and white pants and huge platform shoes to match. He wore an eerie, thin smile that never seemed to change. "I like Double Battles. I like combinations of two Pokémon. And I like winning more than anything else."
"And I am the Subway Boss, Ingo," the second answered. His outfit was mostly the same, though he traded the all-white color scheme for mostly black. "Compared to my brother, I prefer Single Battles."
The two Zorua turned back to their natural states, staring at the two men. Rura spoke up, first.
~They're weird.~
"I am Emmet," Emmet replied, still very much smiling. "And I like my eccentricities."
"Oh! I recognize you, now!" Dawn exclaimed. "You were in the brochure! It said that you're both the strongest trainers in the Battle Subway. This is supposed to be a battle facility, right? Hey, Luke!" She looked over to him, pointing at the duo. "This is a great opportunity for a twist in the script, right? An unexpected fight on the subway would be awesome, right?"
"A twist in the script…?" Ingo echoed, still frowning. "I'm afraid this conversation has derailed into uncharted territory. I find myself quite lost."
"No, no, no!" Luke frantically shook his head. "You've got it all wrong! Direct conflict doesn't fit the tone of a Noir…! Besides, using their image could be a major copyright violation, without permission!"
"I am Emmet. I appreciate a good, riveting film," Emmet answered. "But I'm afraid we are far too busy with the Battle Subway to take part in such things. Abdicating the Subway is not something I would like!"
"Ah, an amateur filmmaker," Ingo replied. "Your heart is set on the tracks to artful greatness. I can appreciate that. However, as much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news…" He pointed dramatically towards the subway car door. "...We only returned to the station for a coffee break."
"Aw, man…" Dawn frowned, adjusting her sunhat. "A battle really would've spiced things up."
"Ah… forget it." Luke sulked, hanging his head. "Maybe this is just a sign. A noir might not be the best idea…"
"Understanding when to utilize the turntable and change paths is an important virtue in any profession," Ingo lectured. "If you're willing to expand your horizons and go full speed ahead, I suggest taking our subway to another riveting location. In Nimbasa, the possibilities are endless!"
"I am Emmet," Emmet repeated, "and I also quite like our fine city's selections in sports. Perhaps that will turn your gears and result in a thrilling picture that everyone would like!"
"Ah! A movie about an athlete!" Luke exclaimed. "That's it!"
The Subway Masters had kindly pointed Luke and Dawn towards the nearest train that would take them to their destination, making their trip an easy one. In just a couple of minutes they arrived at the Small Court; a location Dawn already knew well.
"Alright! Here's the plan!" Luke announced, as he and Dawn collected two sets of rackets to borrow for their game. "A prospective tennis player and her loyal Pokémon…" On their way down the hall of the court, the boy tossed a Poké Ball. "...Golett, aim to conquer the court!"
A stout Pokémon stood at just over three feet, saluting the group. He looked an awful lot like some sort of ancient robot or something, Dawn thought. With a teal, angular body and beige bands holding their shape together, they looked awfully peculiar. But they were kind, it seemed, saluting Dawn and Rura with kind, geometric eyes!
"Woah! I've never seen this Pokémon before." Dawn said, pulling out her Pokédex.
"Golett, the Automaton Pokémon. It is said that Golett was instructed to protect people and Pokémon by the ancient civilization that created it."
"Golett was my first Pokémon," Luke explained. "He's my co-director, and he's also offered to help carry around the bulk of our filming equipment! But, we were told to leave that all behind this time, and focus on just finding inspiration."
"Gol-Gollet."
"Well, it's nice to meet you!" Dawn greeted
Rura took to circling Golett, to his confusion. He'd never seen a Pokémon like him, either!
"Right! So, Golett and Zorua can take up the role of a team on the court. Zorua, could you turn into a young, spirited tennis player?"
"Zor!" Zorua wrapped into yet another spiral, taking the shape of a sporty teenage girl with a visor and a ponytail, holding a tennis racket.
"Good! Now, Rura…" Luke hesitated. He'd have to be more specific. "Can you turn into someone with the same kind of outfit, but a boy? Holding the tennis racket, too?"
~Roger!~ Rura seemed to understand that much, as he turned into a teenage boy with fluffy black hair and blue eyes, much like his own. He wore a sporty t-shirt and shorts, along with a visor to match Zorua, though his outfit sported a gray and red color scheme. He held his own tennis racket, albeit awkwardly.
"Zor!" Zorua gestured to the racket as she held it.
~Oh! Gotcha. I knew that.~ Rura held the racket correctly, this time. ~Now, what do we do!?~
"You play a round of tennis, alongside Dawn! We're going to try to set up for a climactic win for Zorua and Golett! I'll be sitting this out, so I can scout for the best shots. I'll be counting on you!"
"Right!" Dawn took her place on the court, with a tennis ball in hand. "I might as well start things off. Rura, you stand in the corner of the court, like I am, and follow my lead!" Opposite of Zorua and Golett, Dawn lightly bounced the tennis ball on the court, and smacked it with her racket.
The ball cleared the net, bouncing off the court. It went in the direction of Luke's disguised Zorua, who swung her racket at it. She did it with enough precision to knock it back across.
~It's comin' my way! I've got it!~ Rura announced, winding up his racket like a bat with both hands. With a sound between a grunt and a yip, he swung with all of his might!
…Only for the tennis ball to move right through the racket, and bounce out of bounds.
~What the!?~
"...Zor," Zorua barked, despite the human illusion.
~Of course this is an illusion! What's your point?~ Rura asked.
"Zoruuu. Zorua."
Rura's illusion lifted the racket, and stared at it. ~Ooooooh. Right. I guess swinging a fake racket at it isn't going to actually hit it, huh.~
"Ru Zor Rah."
~I couldn't pour water out of a boot with instructions on the heel!? What does that MEAN?~
Dawn sighed, hanging her head. "Oh, Rura… I guess we've still got to work on theatrics. But, that's what I'm here for! As your trainer, we'll make a star out of you, yet!"
"That's all well and good, but…" Luke shook his head. "Let's move on to Golett. Maybe we can at least construct a winning shot! Golett, you can serve next! Let's see a winner's spirit!"
"Gol." Golett collected the tennis ball and returned to his corner of the court. With his large, robotic hand, he chucked the ball high into the air, and drew his racket back.
Dawn, Rura, and Zorua watched on intently. Luke maintained a steady eye on the ball.
A low, mechanical echo of effort left Gollet, as he swung the racket with all of his might. The grid of wire smacked into the felt sphere, and sent it off.
"Wah!" Dawn exclaimed, leaping back as the ball shot past her at inhuman speeds. "Hey…!"
But, the tennis ball didn't stop there. It hit the back wall of the court, bouncing off to hit the court floor and ricochet towards the ceiling, and off the court again.
"T-take cover!" Luke dove for the ground and covered his head, as the ball violently shot back and forth through the court interior.
Eventually, the tennis ball came to a halt, skidding and spinning off of the floor… Or, at least what was left of it. The friction had reduced it to a smoldering core coated in soot.
The five present gawked at the remains, a bead of sweat rolling down their foreheads.
~That… was awesome!~ Rura cheered, hopping up and down in his illusory form.
"Talk about a strong arm," Dawn deadpanned.
"Perhaps a little too strong…" Luke sighed. "Maybe let's just move on to something else…"
"Gol. Golett." Gollet sulked, guiltily rubbing the back of his neck.
"Aw, don't feel bad!" Dawn carried herself over, attempting to pat him on the back. "You did your best." Unfortunately, her hand passed right through the ancient mech, and his racket dropped to the floor, as well. "Hey, uh, Luke? Golett is vanishing!"
"He's a Ghost-type," Luke explained. "He tends to turn immaterial when he's embarrassed… Oh! Speaking of ghosts… We could always try horror, next!"
~Oh! Oh! We're doing something scary!?~ Rura abandoned his guise, hopping in place with a toothy grin. ~Leave it to me. I know just the place!~
Luke hugged his camcorder close to his chest, as he cautiously stepped over muck and piles of brick. Despite the empty construction zones of northern Nimbasa being basically empty, he couldn't help but feel like there was peril around the next corner.
Ghosts of unfinished and stripped down buildings alike went on for blocks. He could see why the more lively sector of the city did its best to hide the path to this seedy area, with closed off alleyways and colorful attractions drawing away from it. Miraculously, Dawn and Rura seemed to know every nook and cranny that brought them this far.
"This is… certainly a place." Luke decided on, stepping around a bag of cement that'd long since solidified. "It's eerie. Haphazard. Abandoned!" Curiosity won out over his anxieties, and he started scouting the concrete jungle with his camcorder's lens.
"It is! Gives me the creeps," Dawn agreed, stepping carefully at every opportunity to avoid dirtying her shoes and dress yet again. "If you're going to do horror, this is the place! I think Rura was on to something."
~I toldja!~ Rura chittered, while walking along a large drainage pipe in his natural, foxy state. ~The scariest, the grossest, AND the creepiest! Am I good, or what!?~
"I'll say!" Luke agreed. "How did you even find this place!? You aren't from Nimbasa, are you?"
~Oh, that's easy! I was rescued here.~ Rura answered, while hopping atop a low scaffolding beam. Zorua followed him, wanting to stay as far from the mucky and messy terrain as possible.
"The other day, a poacher came through the city," Dawn explained. "She kidnapped Rura and was on the run from his mama. The whole thing looked pretty suspicious, so my boyfriend and I followed her here to help them out."
~Yeah! And then Dawn kicked the poacher's BUTT!~ Rura continued.
"Well, I was trying to sneak you out of there. But thanks to your big mouth and mine, I had to kick her," Dawn explained. "Which, honestly, is fine with me! A little good-ol-fashioned justice might've been what that creep needed."
"You… don't say." Luke trailed off, holding his camcorder more tightly. He was both a little more bewildered by Dawn, and a little more afraid. "...Right! This spot should work for us."
Coincidentally, Rura had led them to the same building and alleyway from the other day, with the broken-in building they'd fought in to their left.
"A narrow passageway… A broken-in wall for our monster to come lumbering out of. It's perfect!" Luke exclaimed, full of inspiration. "Now, here's how we'll set the scene…"
Luke sat atop a nearby beam for a better view, with his camcorder trained on Dawn and Rura. "A young lady and her Zorua have come from a faraway small town, and the bells and whistles of the big city have left them dizzied and lost! They've wandered off the beaten path, and can't help but feel like they're in over their head…"
"Oh dear," Dawn drawled unconvincingly, holding the hem of her dress to step cautiously through the alley. "I have no idea where we are!" She made a face. 'Ew… Playing a scared damsel is going to kill me. At least this isn't actually on film.'
"Perfect!" Luke praised. "Now, unfortunately, their instincts were spot-on! Out of the darkness lumbers a terrifying monster! Aaand…!"
A huge, hulking shadow stepped out of the darkness, dwarfing Dawn and Rura alike. It was a huge, muscular beige Pokémon with pink rings around their shoulders, a round, red nose, terrifying eyes, and giant twin pillars of cement wielded over its shoulders.
It was a Pokémon Dawn had never seen before. She found it unnerving, but Rura, well.
~Stop! Time out! Time out!~ Rura shouted, scrambling up Dawn's shoulder to slip under her hat.
The illusion of Conkeldurr put down its pillars, head tilted.
Luke sighed. "What is it, now?"
~Too big and scary!~ Dawn's hat shivered along with the fox beneath it.
"But… that's the point of a horror movie," Luke said, frowning. "It's supposed to be scary."
~TOO scary! And that face is all ugly! Don't like it.~
"Beggars can't be choosers, I suppose," Luke said. "Alright, Zorua! Let's try it again and take it from the top."
Zorua sighed, and resumed her normal form.
"Take two! Action!"
Dawn and Rura rounded the alley a second time. Pulling itself out of the darkness, this time, was… a rather large mushroom with a Poké Ball pattern on its cap, and angry eyes.
Rura blinked, nonplused. ~...Is that it?~
"...Yes," Luke answered. "That's an Amoongus. Our next monster."
He stuck his nose in the air. ~Boring! Not scary at all.~
"But, you just said the last one was too scary!"
~Yeah, so pick another one!~
Luke inhaled sharply through his nose.
"Take three! Action!"
Slithering out of the darkness was a giant, black and pinked horned bug with an upright upper body like a centaur. Scolipede dwarfed Dawn and Rura.
~Ick! Too buggy! We fought one of those, yesterday!~
"Take four!"
A red and orange giant anteater with an armored head and wrists emerged. A Heatmor.
~This one looks stupid!~
"Zor!" Heatmor disappeared in a flash of violet. Instead, Zorua lunged forth in its place, and threw herself at Rura in a yipping frenzy.
~Ack!~ The other Zorua was yanking on his head tuft with her teeth! ~Hey, what gives!? Take that!~ He tackled her back into a rolling pile, and the two unraveled into a comical dust cloud of yapping, fighting foxes before Dawn and Luke's very eyes. ~I am not a diva! You're a diva!~
"Zorua! Zorua, pleaseeee!" Luke pleaded, carefully climbing down from his vantage point to try to quell the violence. However, he seemed too afraid to actually put any skin in the game.
"Hey! Cut it out, you two!" Dawn was much quicker to get involved, reaching into the dust cloud… only to get yanked into it. "Ah!"
That was enough for the violence to unravel, leaving a floored Dawn holding two bickering Zoruas up by their tails. She sighed, holding them as far away from each other as possible. "Seriously, what has gotten into you two!?"
~She started it!~ Rura yipped. ~She attacked me!~
Zorua huffed, turning away from him.
"I think we've had an actor's dispute, here…" Luke anxiously ran a hand through his hair. "Maybe it's best we go on a lunch break before we try again."
"...Nimbasa's attractions are second-to-none, though, and that's coming from a proud Sinnoh gal." Dawn said, between spoonfuls of corn chip pie, contained in a folded up, recyclable dish with a red checker pattern. "You have sports, musicals, a Gym with a model, an amusement park, and the stands serve Unovan gourmet!?"
~My turn! My turn!~ Rura badgered Dawn, hopping alongside her as they walked to the west of Nimbasa. His trainer crouched and offered him a second loaded spoon. He munched it down happily, his tail wagging behind him.
"I keep telling you, that's not gourmet," Luke said with just a bit of exasperation at the tourist's stubborn insistence that ordinary Unovan fair food was anything but.
"Come on, Luke! Modesty isn't flattering. Have some…" Dawn ate another bite. "...regional pride!"
Luke and his Zorua shared an unimpressed look, as if to acknowledge that Rura's trainer might just be as sheltered and lost as he was. Luke decided to put that behind them, though, as something far more interesting came into view. "There it is! The Charizard Bridge."
"Charizard bridge…?" Dawn frowned, tilting her head. "It doesn't look like a Charizard."
"It's hard to tell from this angle, but the bridge's structure looks like a Charizard's head from the side. Plus, they say it's known by that name for its beauty and elegance!"
'Elegance' wasn't the first word that came to mind when Dawn thought of Charizard, though.
"It's really more of a nickname; it's officially called the Driftveil Drawbridge," Luke went on to explain. In the time they'd been chatting, they'd walked onto the bridge itself, passing a nearby control box. The man operating the bridge was laid back in that booth, loudly snoring. Neither Dawn nor Luke even noticed him in the midst of their conversation.
"Right," Dawn acknowledged. After throwing away her garbage at the foot of the bridge, she quickly caught up to Luke. "So, you said you had a scene in mind here? We've come a ways out for it."
"I do!" He said proudly, reaching into his bag to pull out a script. "I was thinking a romance scene. The Charizard Bridge over the crystal clear waters, a light breeze… It's a picture-perfect location for a couple to realize their feelings for one another! I'd prefer a sunset, but if we could at least get the idea pat down, then I can move forward with it, later!"
Dawn hummed, contemplating the idea briefly. Looking back on that fateful night on the Seafoam Islands, Dawn smiled brightly. A fond memory during times like these was welcome, and she couldn't deny that she liked the sentiment. "Heh, yeah! There's nothing like a perfect view over the water when you spill your feelings! That's what happened with my boyfriend."
"Ah! Perfect!" Luke beamed. "Then you understand what I'm talking about!" He nodded. Things were going according to plan, so far. "Now, we just need our leading roles. Zorua, can you turn into a beautiful woman?"
"Zor!" Zorua yipped, before transforming. She took the shape of a grown woman with flat even bangs, and voluminous curly hair that stopped at her shoulders. She wore a scarf and a button-up shirt. There was just one problem, though…
"Zorua! You did it again," Luke complained. Zorua's guise was entirely in black and white.
"Uh… What's with her?" Dawn asked, pointing at the illusion.
"She's modeled after the protagonist of an old romantic classic," Luke explained, but it was in black and white, so she tends to do the same. I've shown you before, Zorua, remember? She was a redhead!"
The illusion nodded, and in a flash of violet, was properly in full color.
"Great!" Luke praised. "Now, Rura! Can you turn into a handsome guy?"
~Handsome…?~ Rura tilted his head. ~Roger!~ He was captured in colorful hues as well, before taking the form of an olive-skinned, spiky-haired young man in a button-up, a visor, and khaki shorts. He sported 'z' markings on each of his cheeks.
"That's… not exactly what I had in mind," Luke trailed off, frowning.
"Rura!?" Dawn exclaimed, wide-eyed. "Why'd you turn into Ash!?"
~He said handsome!~ The illusion of the Kantonian trainer pouted, putting his hands on his hips in an uncanny impersonation of him. ~You've done nothing BUT call him handsome!~
Dawn's face filled with heat, as she recounted that she'd had Rura for less than 24 hours. "You're right, but he's not going to be on-screen."
"Just… turn into an adult man, please?" Luke sighed.
~Alright, alright.~ Rura shifted again, taking the shape of one of the men he'd spotted today in Nimbasa. A square-jawed man with short, well-combed hair.
For a first, Rura'd had a lucky roll that worked perfectly for Luke. "Perfect! Now, can I get you two to pose by the edge of the bridge, and put your arms around each other?"
Zorua's illusion gave a sour look at the thought. "Zor!"
"It's not you," Luke sighed. "You're just acting."
That seemed to be enough for her, as the two stood by the red framing, with the illusory man's hands on the woman's waist, and hers on his shoulders.
"Great! Now, let me just get into focus…" Luke backed up until he could point his camcorder at the two. Everything seemed to be in order. He nodded, letting go of his camera to hold up the script. "Now, Dawn! Can you help me narrate their dialogue?"
With full faith in herself, Dawn held up the script. Dripping charisma made up for any possible stiffness in the fresh reading, though the slightest hints of her country Sinnoh-native accent shined through.
As the disguised Zorua turned, the camera focused on the way her illusionary red hair caught on a lucky breeze.
"Darling?" Dawn spoke aloud off camera.
Luke balanced his duties, coming off much more practiced with voice over work than Dawn. "It's time to let it go."
Rura as the short haired man moved his mouth along with Luke's dialogue.
"The leagues, the criminal teams, and every organization we've bounced between," Luke continued.
The red haired woman's face twitched ever so slightly as a testament to how truly badly Zorua wanted to nip at Rura as his character leaned in. The imagined people's faces were nearly touching, knit brows wrinkling more and more with tension and displeasure.
"Baby." Here, even Luke hesitated. Oh, how he wished he could get some proper talent to do the different roles he needed! "Join me. You and me, let's rule the region."
If Dawn had a line to read, she didn't speak it. Her focus was, instead, on the almost tangible air of mischief and irritation radiating off the two dark types. Rura was seconds away from breaking character and Zorua was even sooner to be biting the other fox-like pokemon's face.
Luke, meanwhile, continued with his vision. "We can set this region right! In our image!"
"Let's try something else," Dawn suggested.
Luke shot her a look. Those weren't the exact lines, but he could work with that. "No, it's time. Let it go. It's time to—DAWN!"
The coordinator had abandoned her station and script. Just in time, too! She snatched her most newly acquired partner out of his illusion. Zorua fell onto the ground, her own illusion falling away after an attempted lunge.
"Zo! Zoru!" she accused, pointing one red paw up at her acting partner. Or, acting foe, perhaps.
"He was not," Luke argued. "We were watching the whole time."
Rura wagged his tail, settling on Dawn's shoulder. ~I told you I wasn't touching you!~
"Rura," Dawn warned, having figured out what he had likely been doing behind the glamorous effects of the illusions. Kenny had often played a similarly annoying game of "I'm not touching you" when she was a child and Dawn had retaliated with as much force as Zorua tried.
And, as much as she felt sympathy for the fox, she wasn't going to let Rura get hurt.
Luke, displeased, put his hands on his hips. "Great. Well, we're going to have to reshoot."
"Not with that script," Dawn argued. Keeping Rura carefully upon her head, she kneeled down to address the miffed dark type. "That script was waaay too out of touch, wasn't it, Zorua?"
The feminine fox huffed, pleased that someone understood her woes. She lifted her nose, yipping a little "Zo!" of agreement.
~It was super weird,~ Rura added. ~Are these supposed to be the good guys or what? They sound super evil.~
"Well, it could be good guys," Dawn suggested. "Sometimes, a little might does help make things right. But, forgetting about everyone else and abandoning them? No way! Heroes don't abandon people!"
Zorua's ear flicked. Again with the melodrama with these two…
Luke uncomfortably shifted. "What did you have in mind?"
Dawn winked. "Just trust me! Let's try again!"
Begrudgingly, Luke obeyed. In short order, the scene started again. Once more, Zorua and Rura's characters held one another.
"I've been wanting to talk to you," Dawn said.
The confidence in her tone made Luke raise a brow. This scene was supposed to be a lot more tense… But, maybe Dawn was going somewhere? He tried to stick to his original dialogue, for his part. "So have I. Baby, it's time to let it go."
"No way!"
On the set, Zorua, in all of her professionalism, did not give Dawn the side eye she so desperately wanted to throw. Instead, she took on a more assertive body language, even going so far as to step back from Rura.
What a nice change.
Luke, baffled, tried to adjust. He hadn't ever been a fan of improv! "Yes, it's time! The league, the criminal teams, and every organization that's kept us apart. Let's get rid of them! Start the region over in our image!"
"And, what about all the people that live in it, huh? And, my budding Gym Leader career!" Dawn spat into the microphone.
Rura trembled at the expression Zorua was making. Zorua was at a loss. This was so unromantic. What was happening to her dreams of being a fabulous starlet?
"Dawn," Luke whined, "the leading lady is supposed to be shocked and sorrowful at this point! Not confrontational!"
"Girls aren't going to relate to that," Dawn argued. "If I was in her position, I'd put up a big fight! I wouldn't plead with him! Not even if he was my boyfriend or whatever!"
~She does seem very take-charge with the others,~ Rura quietly conveyed to Zorua.
The Dark-type gave him an unamused glance as if to say, "Obviously."
Floored, Luke tried to explain his vision to Dawn once more. "But, you're not the main character! And, and—" He let out a frustrated huff. "And, I need you to stay on script! My script!" He pointed towards Rura and Zorua. "And, you two! What's with all the bickering?!"
"Are you sure?" Dawn asked, one hand on her hip. "I mean, it's your movie, so it's your choice."
"If you agree, then just do it… Stop trying to tell me how to do it," he pleaded. He let out a deep breath, gathering his composure. "Let's take five and try again." He headed to the edge of the bridge, legs dangling off as he moped.
Dawn, feeling bad, looked towards the duo of Zorua. "You heard him. Take a break. I'm gonna check on him."
Zorua, all too pleased to get away from Rura, rushed off. Rura took the chance to shake off his illusion and flop blissfully onto the bridge. There was still some good sunlight to soak up!
Luke didn't say anything as Dawn sat down by him.
"We'll figure it out," Dawn insisted.
He shrugged, fiddling with his camera. He sighed, just about to speak when the bridge suddenly jerked. Dawn let out a yelp, grabbing onto one of the guard rails… While Luke went sliding!
"My camera!" he cried out, going further for it.
"Luke!" Dawn reached out, grabbing his wrist.
The boy didn't pay her any mind, counting his lucky stars as the strap of the camcorder caught on his shoe. All the while, the bridge raised more and more.
~Dawn!~ Rura said, popping his head over the edge.
"I've… got him!" Dawn hung on the outside of the guard reeling, with her heel occupying the little space available. One arm clung tightly to the structure, while the other supported a dangling Luke. "Ugh… If only I could reach my Poké Balls!" Her mind wandered back to what Ash had tried to do, from the helicopter at Silph Co. "I guess we could always drop and gamble on Togekiss, but…"
"Don't do that!" Luke cried. With the bridge gaining peak altitude, the water below looked even more distant. It might not be solid land, but a fall like that… "Ugh… What, now?"
"Let me think…" Dawn scrunched her nose in thought. "Oh! Rura! I need you to go get us some help, ASAP!"
~Help?~ Rura asked. ~Where? How!?~
"This is a drawbridge, right?" Dawn asked. "Then there should be someone operating it! See if you can find someone at the end of the bridge!"
~Gotcha!~
"Zor…" Zorua grunted. She supposed she'd be going along with him.
"Zorua, could you go and keep an eye on him?" Luke asked. "I don't know if… Ah! My camera!"
The camcorder's strap slid off the toe of his sneaker, plummeting.
At that exact moment, a snow-white avian was flying underneath the bridge, with blue feather crests on their chest and tail. The camera, by some odd chance, managed to strike the Swanna on the head.
"Swah!" The bird squawked, as the camera's strap fell around his neck. "Swanna! Swan!" Flapping his wings violently, he fluttered up to face his would-be attackers, sporting a bump on his head.
"Well, that's just great," Dawn huffed. "Hey, Zorua! Maybe you should stay with us, instead!"
"Zor!" Zorua returned and hopped atop the guard rail, growling at the bird. By the time she'd returned, Rura was already well on his way.
"H-hey, Swanna…!" Luke asked, still hanging by Dawn's grip. "That camera is really important to me. Could you give it back? Ah!"
The Swanna started to jab at him with his beak. All the while, he tried to grab at the camcorder.
"Luke…!" Dawn grunted, struggling to support the swinging filmmaker. "You have to get that Pokémon away from you! Just swat at them!"
"I have to… ow! Get it back first! This camera is my life!"
"Ugh…!" With her one free foot, Dawn kicked at Swanna, forcing the bird to disengage. "If we're not careful, you'll have to get yourself a new life!"
Luke stared up at Dawn, dumbfounded. "Rura wasn't kidding about the kicking."
~C'mon… c'mon, c'mon!~ Rura made a mad dash down the Driftveil Drawbridge, which the steep incline made quite easy… a bit too easy, perhaps. His speed proved to be too much for him, and he started tumbling down the bridge in a pile. ~Ow! Ouch! Ooof… Ow…!~
He hit flat asphalt, finally, sitting up with a groan. He shook his little head out. 'I've gotta act quick. Dawn's counting on me!' She said something about someone… operating…
Ah. There was a small, box-like structure to the side of the bridge. ~Hey! Hey!~ Rura dashed over, hopping up to the plexiglass cover. There was an oafish man, leaning back in his seat and snoring loudly. Rura's fur bristled in annoyance. There was a small gap in the plexiglass, and that was enough for Rura to wiggle his bottom and squeeze through the narrow space.
"Zor…!" He huffed. ~Hey! Hey! Wake up!~
The man leaned back further in his seat. Ah. Telepathy didn't work when one was asleep.
~Oh, for crying out loud…!~ Rura grew impatient and simply jumped on the man's stomach.
"Ah! Ooof! What the…!?" The man was jolted out of his sleep. wiping the drool from his 'stache. "Huh… A Zorua! Hah, how'd you get in here, lil' fella? Never seen one of you, in these parts."
~You've gotta listen to me,~ Rura replied. ~My friends are in trouble! On the bridge. They need help!~
The man's eyes widened, his mustache falling to frame his pursed lips. "You can talk… Well, I'll be! Aha ha, I'd love to play with you, Zorua, but I have a bridge to man, right now."
~Come ON!~ Rura barked. ~This is serious! Come help me!~
"No can do, Zorua." The man smiled, clearly not taking him seriously. "Run along, now!"
Rura trembled with frustration. If this dummy kept it up, he wouldn't be able to save Dawn and Luke… This guy was annoying! So, so, annoying! It just made him want to beat him up!
…Ah. Now, that was an idea. Rura smirked, as a red glint shone in his wide, baby blue eyes. ~What are you, stupid? How are you gonna run anything if you're sleeping, stupid?~
"Ah, now, Zorua…" The man huffed, his face gaining a red color. "That's not polite."
~Who said anything about polite!? I'm not polite to big ol' IDIOTS who can't do their job!~
"Why you…!" Was it said that the man was turning red? Now, he was seeing red. He was falling under the effects of Taunt. "Why, I oughta…!"
~Catch me if you can, idiot!~ Rura punctuated his insult by jumping on the man's stomach. The bridge guard lunged for Rura, only for him to squirm out of the little gap in the plexiglass.
"Why, wait 'till I get my hands on you…!" The guard stood up in a fury, swerving around to open the back door to his cubicle. In the process, his rear jogged a large lever the opposite way on his way out.
~Come on, come on!~ Rura looked back at the man chasing him, and chittered. ~You won't catch me like that, dummy-dumb-dumb!~ Little did the fox know, the ruckus he'd caused had started a slow decline of the raised drawbridge. It was just enough for him to start sprinting up the surface, and the enraged man following him. 'Hang in there, Dawn…! I'm almost there!'
The Swanna squawking and cornering them like an ornery Beedrill was quickly working on Dawn's nerves, and holding onto Luke was becoming more and more difficult, through it all.
'Ugh… I've got to think of something!' Dawn's eyes widened. "Of course! We have Zorua! Zorua, try turning into something scary to shoo them off!"
"Zor!" Zorua yipped, ready to transform.
"No, don't do that!" Luke yelped.
"Ru…" The fox's ears flattened at the mixed signals.
"What's your problem!?" Dawn shouted.
"If you do that, I'll lose my camera for good…"
"Well, it's not like we have much of a choice!"
With the Swanna jabbing at his legs, Luke couldn't deny to himself that Dawn had a point. 'Still… I really don't want to lose what's precious to me! That should matter too, right!?'
His inner musings, in fact, brought something Dawn herself had said to light.
'If I was in her position, I"d put up a big fight! I wouldn't plead with him!'
His bespectacled eyes snapped open. 'That's it! I have to do what I think is right!' "Zorua!" He cried. "Try turning into a Swanna! The prettiest one you can manage!"
Zorua wasn't sure what her trainer had in mind, but she complied with a yip nonetheless.
"Swa! Na!" Swanna cried angrily, before stopping suddenly. Out of the corner of his eye…
Standing on the guard railing was another of his kind, crossing her wings over her torso. She batted her eyes without squawking even a word. From his perspective, she may as well have been surrounded with sparkles.
"Swanna!" With hearts in his eyes, the aggressive, camera-toting Pokémon landed atop the railing next to the disguised Zorua. "Swan, Swanna~!"
"Now," Luke whispered as discreetly as possible, "the camera…!"
With as much subtlety as she could manage, Zorua nodded.
'It's like a comedic cartoon at the beginning of a movie,' Luke thought, watching the scene unfold. An unruly guy with a bad attitude, drawn in by the charm of a beautiful counterpart.
The disguised Zorua moved with grace, waving her wing to draw the lovestruck Swanna closer. He scooted over, chirping something or another that had to be an attempt to play her.
Beneath her guise, Zorua blanched at the detestable bird. But, she was proud of her acting. And she would recover her trainer's precious possession. She leaned in slowly, and dipped her 'beak…' Only for Zorua to snag the camera line with her teeth, and sling it off over his head.
'She got it,' Dawn thought. Now, if they could just wait for Rura, they'd be fine. "...Ah!"
A sudden lurch disrupted the raised drawbridge, and it started to descend without warning. It all rattled her and the boy she held onto, and he slipped free of her hand. "Luke!"
Luke screamed in terror. But, rather than plummet, the sudden move launched him high, rather than dropping him to the depths. He scrambled for any footing at all as the bridge descended.
The bridge was dropping again, but Dawn didn't have time to think about that. Not with the flailing filmmaker coming down right by her. "C'mere!" She grunted, reaching her arm outward. With all of her might, she yanked him in, with her arm clutching around his stomach.
Luke's feet scooted up behind him, struggling before his heels found stability outside the guardrail. He'd just barely been saved from a nasty fall.
"I…" He was hyperventilating. Even speaking was a challenge. "I… you… You saved-"
"We're not safe yet," Dawn reminded him, shifting uncomfortably. She had even less room to stand with him alongside her, and his elbow was jabbing her side. But this beat supporting him by just one hand. "But the bridge is on its way down."
Zorua had been sent flying back onto the bridge, catching the camcorder with her arms and legs. She'd started tumbling before catching her footing, holding the camera strap in her teeth.
Swanna, on the other hand, had put the pieces together after he'd been unceremoniously thrown from the bridge. He'd been had! And it had him seeing red. Flapping his wings, he hovered over the two suspended humans. "Swah! Swanna!"
"Oh, great…" Dawn's face fell. "Luke, hold onto the railing! If you let go, I can reach my Poké Balls, and..."
"N-no!" Luke shook his head, leaning further into Dawn's secure hold. "I'm facing the wrong way! What if I slip!?"
"All of this, after you nearly jumped down there for your camcorder!?"
"I have it back now, so there's nothing to distract me!"
Dawn huffed in exasperation. "Well then, we're about to become bird chow." Swanna was already squawking with fury, swooping down towards them. "Unless…! Zorua!"
"Arf!" Zorua ran over to the railing with the camera strap in her teeth.
"Turn into a Pikachu! Scare 'im off!"
Zorua dropped the camcorder and hopped atop the railing . . . but not before a spiral of purple turned her into a yellow, bolt-tailed rodent.
"Swah?" Swanna stopped mid-flight, tilting his head at the new Pokémon.
Illusory lightning danced off of 'Pikachu's' hide, punctuated by a low growl that, little did he know, was a Zorua's. Flashing red cheeks spelled out a very blatant threat.
One Swanna wanted nothing to do with. He squawked in fear before turning tail, white and blue feathers scattering to the breeze in his wake. "Swa! Swanna…!"
"...Phew." Dawn sighed. "Well, that solves one problem."
"You… you saved me." Luke huffed out.
"Well, sure I did! I wasn't just going to let you fall," Dawn said, smiling. "Besides, you should really be thanking Zorua!"
"Ahah… I guess you're right," Luke chuckled tiredly. "Even so-"
~Dawn! Dawn! Luke! Zorua!~ Rura's scratchy voice interrupted the conversation. He pranced over, tail wagging behind him. ~I found help!~
"Why, I oughta…! Uh… Phew…!" The bridge guard had stumbled his way over after Rura, leaning over to catch his breath. Only in his exhaustion did clarity begin to return to him. "Wha… Where am I…?"
"Hey, Mister!" Dawn called.
"We could, um… use a little help!"
"Wha…? Goodness!" The man exclaimed. "How did you two even get out there!?"
"Does that really matter?" Luke whined.
"You're right! You're right. Hang tight. I'll help you on over."
With a bit of struggle and effort on the part of the bridge worker, Dawn and Luke were helped over to the safe side of the ledge. Both took a moment to rest… At least, after getting all of the way off the Driftveil Drawbridge. They wanted little to do with it, after that.
"Phew…" Luke huffed, sitting on the nearest bench. "What a disaster…"
"I feel like my hand's going to be cramping for a little while," Dawn complained, working her arm around.
"Well, I should say you're lucky to get away with just that!" The worker huffed, with his hands on his hips. "Just what were the both of ya doing on the bridge when it was set to rise!?"
"What? We just walked on," Dawn explained, very matter-of-factly. "Weren't you supposed to be watching?"
"Erm… uh…!" The man's mustache lifted with a twitch of his lips. He looked off guiltily, scratching his cheek. "Nevermind that. You kids don't need anymore grief. Just try and be more careful next time, will ya?"
The negligent guard was met with a deadpan, unimpressed stare from all four present.
Dawn saw her shadow start to shift and elongate with the sun's steady daily journey to the west. She, Luke, and their two Zorua had relocated to Nimbasa, where the two humans sat on a park bench near a large fountain. The gentle mist coming from nearby was awfully refreshing, especially after such a stressful encounter. Zorua and Rura each sat atop the side of the fountain sculpture, basking in the mist more directly.
"...So, uh. All of those writer's disputes aside… I have to admit, Dawn," Luke said, shyly rubbing his arm. "You definitely had one thing I didn't."
"Huh?" Dawn asked, tilting her head. "What's that?"
"Through it all, you kept a steady head. Even with a frenzied Pokémon putting us in danger, you had your cool! You even gave me the inspiration to pull through and retrieve my camera, honestly." He adjusted his glasses, shooting her a tilted smile. "You may be a pain to work with, but you're kind of a hero."
"A hero…?" Dawn frowned, scratching her cheek. The backhanded compliment went unnoticed. Her eyes turned skyward. "I don't know about that."
"Well, why not?" Luke asked.
"Honestly… It all comes around to why I'm in Unova in the first place. You can keep a secret, right?"
"Sure? I don't see why not,."
"Well, the thing is… Back in Kanto, me and my boyfriend got caught up in fighting some criminals. Like, really rotten ones, more than once. We're used to fighting bad people, but the last few times, we didn't do as well as we would've liked to. To top it off, it drew so much attention towards us that it's gotten us hurt… Or, at least, it got my boyfriend and his Pokémon hurt. Ever since then, I've been afraid to show myself or my Pokémon off on stage, the way I really want to. That's why I insisted on not being seen in anything. I really hate it, actually."
"That's… wow." Luke laughed, before slapping his hands over his mouth. "Sorry! Nervous habit. It's not funny, I mean… That's horrible. I guess I should've been easier on you before, in hindsight. It's no wonder you were so forceful. You must've been under a ton of stress."
"Huh? No, I'm always like that," Dawn said, tilting her head.
"I… see." A bead of sweat rolled down Luke's forehead. He shook his head. "Well, nevertheless…! I think I should remind you of what you said to me that made me feel inspired. You said you'd never let anyone compromise who you are, or what you want to do, right? Life may be full of challenges, but it can't stop you from following your heart! If making your Pokémon shine is who you are, then you can't compromise on that!"
"You know what, Luke…?" Dawn blinked, before hopping to her feet. "You're right! I can't just cower away. I want my Pokémon to shine on stage, the same way you want to show your vision through movies. I can't do that if I'm lingering in doubt anymore than you can."
"That's right!" Luke nodded. "Besides, Rura showing off his true nature today is part of why we were saved in the first place! Or, so I've heard."
~Yeah!~ Rura yipped, running over to stand at their feet. ~Ticking that guy off was actually a lot of fun! Can I trick and bother people more often? Can I, Dawn, can I, can I!?~
Dawn giggled. "There is something of a scene out there for mischievous Dark-types. But I bet with enough work, you'll be able to pull it off like nobody else! Sure, Rura. You'll be a shoe-in!"
~...What?~ The fox tilted his head. ~Why would I go inside a shoe? They stink!~
Dawn, Luke, and Zorua nearly tripped over. "Well, he's… still got some work to do on his linguistics before he gets that far," Luke chuckled.
"Anyway," Dawn continued, "thanks for setting my head on straight, Luke."
"I should thank you," he replied. "I have my idea for a movie, now!"
"Oh?" Dawn asked. "What's that?"
"A thrilling adventure flick!" Luke hopped to his feet, aiming the lens of his camcorder at Dawn. "I want to paint a heroic story of a knight and their Pokémon saving the day!"
"Ehe, now that's an awesome idea!" Dawn beamed. "On that note… I think it's about time I head back. Who knows what Ash is up to, about now? He could be wondering where we are."
"Actually, I should probably get ready to head home, too," Luke agreed. "I've got to share my vision with my employer!"
"Then, it was nice meeting you, Luke!" Dawn said happily, extending her hand. "Let's make sure we both reach our dreams, and shake on it!"
"Aha, you have yourself a deal, Dawn!" Luke clasped her hand, giving it a firm shake. "From one artist to another…"
"Let's show the world a vision they'll never forget!"
~Yeah! What they said!~ Rura grinned, addressing Luke's Zorua, who'd stalked her way over.
Zorua stared at him for what felt like a minute, and tilted her nose in the air. "Hmph! …Zor."
~I am NOT!~ He huffed, as Luke and his partner started to walk away. Looking between the groups, he saw that Dawn was on her way in the opposite direction. He trotted over to walk at her side. Today, he'd gained a new appreciation for the wide, open world around him, and even an appreciation for who he, himself, could be, with his trainer's help. But, there was still one small question that eluded the Tricky Fox. ~Hey, Dawn?~
Dawn looked down to her partner. "Yes, Rura?"
~What's a Prima Donna?~
