Room
Fixer
"Are you girls okay?" Asked Fixer as he looked at Serena, Carlita, Miette, and Dawn were either looking at their drinks or at Fixer, wanting him to explain what they had just witnessed from the Pokemon battlefield. How the little boy got hit with what was basically a full on Pokemon attack by a giant robot and was left unscathed by the attack. They also wanted an explanation what those creatures were and how they just appeared out of nowhere. Fixer, knowing what was likely their questions after witnessing the match earlier, took them to a room in the shelter. Both as a way to explain to them what they witnessed as well as provide them a place where they can sit comfortably. Finding a room with several couches for them to sit down on, Fixer and Serenity led them to the couches, giving promises of explanations as well once they were comfortable. After giving the girls some tea to help calm them down, Serenity left to attend some other matters. Once she was gone, Fixer was alone with the girls.
"Yeah, a little bit." Said Dawn as she looked at her tea. "I just…can't understand what I just witnessed."
"I know what you mean." Said Fixer as he looked at the girls. "Seeing an actual Duel Monsters holographic battle for the first time can prove to be quite daunting to people. Especially if they don't have any knowledge of Duel Monsters to begin with."
"What. So those monsters were all holograms?" Asked Miette in surprise. She knew such tech existed and used in several areas around the world, but she knew they were limited and had several drawbacks. They weren't anything like the monsters she just saw. "They looked so real and…lifelike."
"Oh yes, they were." Said Fixer before explaining. "While hologram technology is used in several regions, its limited in both scope, realism, and quite expensive as well. Not to mention energy intensive. However, through countless sleepless nights and quite a bit of money, the GFE have managed to create not only lifelike holograms but also have found a way to implement them into our various popular games." He then brought out the strange device he had on his wrist while he was battling that kid. Only its attachment wing was retracted closer to the main body, not to mention smaller as well.
"This, my friends, is a Duel Disk." Said Fixer as he let the girls bask in his device. "Its my most recent invention and one of my finest to date."
"Wow." Said Dawn as she looked at the device. She seen it before several times, but they were always brief and with something else in mind. Now, with nothing to cloud her thoughts, she could fully examine the device. And she must say, it was quite an impressive work of technology.
"Its quite big." Said Carlita as she examined the device. "The fact that it can be placed on one's arm and stay still is impressive."
"No kidding." Said Serena, thinking that Clemont, her technological friend, would be utterly fascinated with this device. This Duel Disk.
"I made several Duel Disk sizes for the kids, the adults, etc." Said Fixer as he placed the device down. "With this device, one can play Duel Monsters and experience their monsters actually fighting one another while they're on the go. Whether they be Pokemon Trainers looking for something to past the time that doesn't involve their Pokemon or people that just want to experience their Duel Monsters in holographic glory without going to a Duel Station, it doesn't matter. Everyone can now enjoy playing holographic Duel Monsters on the go."
"On the go? What do you mean?" Asked Serena, somewhat confused at his words.
"Ah, let me explain." Said Fixer. "You see, Duel Monsters and our holographic technology have long existed in combination with each other way before the Duel Disk was created. So, the holographic monsters you saw earlier, were actually not a recent invention of mine. However, to experience holographic monsters prior to the Duel Disk, you needed to go to a big dedicated arena with holographic projectors, to actually experience said holographic monsters."However
"So, like a Pokemon Contest arena?" Asked Dawn. That caused Fixer to point at her with a thumbs up.
"Correct." Said Fixer. "So, to help remedy this, the GFE created the Duel Disk. It took many years of development and a lot of failed prototypes but we managed to create the Duel Disk. Allowing to finally take Duel Monsters on the go. Its quite an impressive invention, if I do say so myself." He then picked up the Duel Disk again and explained it, his synthetic voice displaying just how excited he was with how loud it was getting. "There here is the Duel Disk mark II. This model deploys holographic emitters across a six-meter field. Thus allowing one to have a field large enough to have a proper Duel Monsters game. It also contains a slot for your Duel Monsters deck, a slot for your extra deck, as well as a disposal area for your used cards. Not to mention a life point indicator along with some buttons to activate your spell, trap, and monster card effects. Those things were the most difficult to get right, especially with how many cards there are already in the game. And then we have to update them to be able to read the news one that are going to be released. Like the new wave of release. Oh man, if you all were Duelists, you would be excited for the new releases. I had some creative ideas for them like you wouldn't believe…"
"Um, sorry to say this, sir, but we have a message for you from Stone. You know of him, right?" Interrupted Carlita with a sweat drop. Stone said that Fixer had a tendency to get distracted easily, but she didn't think he was also a rambler as well. Not to mention he spoke so fast that she and the other girls could barely understand what they already were failing to understand. They didn't know about any of these terms he was using beyond the bare minimum. Like spell cards, trap cards and monster effects. It was all too much for them. And they just wanted to find him and get him back to Stone.
"Stone? You mean the Gatekeeper for Kalos? What about him?" Asked Fixer before thinking of possible explanations of this. He soon found one, however. "Ah, he wants me back to the Contest Hall, correct? For the Promotion?" The girls nodded at that. "Of course. My apologies. I tend to get distracted easily. I'll let Serenity know that I'll be leaving soon. I was just about done anyway. We can go back soon." Upon hearing that, the girls were all relieved and surprised it was that easy to get him to come back.
"That's it?" Asked Serena, surprised as she thought they needed to do something to get him to leave.
"That's it." Said Fixer. "Like I said, I was done pretty much here. I was actually planning to leave after that practice match with the young child. Of course, Stone made the right call to get you girls to come find me. I probably get distracted on the way back. Whether be because someone here wants to ask questions about Duel Monsters or I find something fascinating on the way back." Upon hearing that, the girls gave him several smiles.
"That's good to hear." Said Serena. "Truth be told, I thought we needed to do something to get you to leave. No offense, but we've gotten used to doing stuff for people in order for them to do something. Not that we minded." Fixer laughed at that.
"I can see that." Said Fixer, his synthetic voice filled with amusement. "Always will be a surprise when you get something without doing something to get it. Much anyway. Believe me, I know the feeling. Being an inventor isn't exactly a walk in the park." The girls laughed at that. Once they were done, Fixer got up. "Anyway, just let me talk to Serenity and we'll be off. Would be rude if I didn't tell her I'm leaving." The girls nodded at that and let him get up and leave them alone. Once he did, the girls went to talking with each other.
"So, that was rather easy." Said Miette with a small smile. "I honestly thought he would put up an argument or something."
"Well, like he said, he already did everything he wanted here." Said Carlita before Victini appeared before her, having stayed invisible throughout the entire conversation with Fixer. Prior to leaving the Pokemon Center, Carlita told Victini to stay invisible as she didn't want anyone to recognize him while they went deeper in Rustboro City as a precaution. While she didn't think the city was bad by any means, she knew enough that bad people tended to stay in the deeper parts of city. Both because it was easier for them to commit crimes and because the inner layout of big cities can help them with running from the police should they get caught. Once the Pokemon fully appeared before her, he flew over to her and landed on her head, his heads stretched out as if he wanted something. Sighing at this, Carlita brought out a small basket she brought with it and opened it up, revealing it to be filled with macarons.
"Seriously, if this is all you're eating, I'm surprised you're not fat yet. You need to eat a more balanced diet, Victini." Said Carlita as she gave one of the macarons to Victini, who happily began munching on the desert.
"Does he only eat macrons?" Asked Serena, curious. She bakes macarons as well and she was starting to wonder if Victini would like her macarons as well.
"No, but sometimes I wonder if that's starting to be the case." Said Carlita as Victini finished his macaron. "I think I need to be firm with Victini on macarons. Its just not healthy to eat as many macarons as he is recently."
"I'll have to agree on that." Said Dawn as thought of a time she let her Piplup go on a desert eating binge one time after leaving Ash and Brock. Her poor Piplup got so plump that it cost them a Contest at the first round. That hurt her pride a bit, but not as much as Piplup's Pride. That humiliation was going to haunt him for a long time. She was sure of it. "Just be gentle in explaining why he has to slow down on the macarons. Don't be too firm in telling him, otherwise he'll get a bit crossed and mad at you."
"But what if he still doesn't listen." Said Carlita as she looked at her fellow girls. She wouldn't really call them friends yet, but she was beginning to really warm up and consider them as such. "What if he ends up…hating me for telling him to stop it with the macarons." Victini, hearing all this talk about him and his macarons, let him feeling a bit sad. Looking at Carlita, Victini floated down to her and hugged her neck. Surprised, Carlita returned the hug. Once she did, she heard Serena speak up.
"I don't think you need to worry about Victini hating you, Carlita." Said Dawn with a smile at the closeness between Carlita and Victini. "He wouldn't have done that if he didn't care about you. I'm sure he'll, at least, consider what you're trying to say to him. He cares too much for you to just be angry with you and not hear what you're saying. Believe me, I know what I'm talking about."
"Same here." Said Serena with a smile. "I mean, you told us how he wanted to travel with you when you went on a journey. He left the safety of your kingdom and your people to travel with you. If that doesn't show you just how strong your bond is with each other, then I don't know what can." Carlita, upon hearing all that, just smiled at the other girls.
"Thank you for your kind words." Said Carlita as she hugged Victini, who returned it with a smile. "I can't believe I doubted my bond with Victini. Thanks for the words of encouragement. I really needed them, much as I'm shamed to admit."
"No need to be ashamed." Said Dawn as she smiled at Carlita. "We all had moments of doubt regarding our bonds with our Pokemon. Sometimes its because we lost a very important battle or contest with them. Sometimes its because we don't immediately bond with them the moment we captured them. It happens. It's a natural part of the process of being a trainer and a person. The important thing is how we go about solving that moments of doubt."
"I see you learned a lot from your own journey, Miss Berlitz." Said Fixer as he made himself known, stunning the girls as they never saw him enter the room. For such a bulky machine, they thought they could hear him entering the room. Fixer, must have understood this, as he explained. "I'm actually very quick on my feet and I know how to keep quiet. Plus this body is sneakier than you think. Anyway, I just spoke with Serenity. She was a bit disappointed that I'm leaving so soon, but understood that I'm a pretty busy robot. So, let's get going." With that, the girls got up from their seats and looked at Fixer.
"That's great to hear." Said Dawn, relieved that they're leaving so soon. She didn't want to spend another moment with the Hunter J lookalike. She knew it was rude to want to not be around someone just because they looked another person, but she couldn't help it. Hunter J was one of, if not the most, despicable people that Dawn had ever meet. There was no reasoning with her. No amount of negotiation or pleading can make her see the error of her ways. How her ruthless stealing of other people's Pokemon affected other people and their bonds with the Pokemon she stole. She was an utterly despicable person and it unnerved her that someone looked so damn similar to Hunter J. It couldn't be a coincidence that Serenity looked exactly like the infamous Hunter J. Right?
As Dawn thought of Serenity and why she looked so much like Hunter J, she didn't notice Fixer seeing her conflicted expression. Wondering why this was, Fixer spoke up a possible reason for this.
"You're afraid of being around Serenity longer, yes?" Asked Fixer, shocking all the girls. Dawn, because of how he correctly guessed what was bothering her. The other girls, however, were shocked that Dawn was afraid of being around Serenity, who was so sweet and kind to them throughout the time they knew her.
"How did you know that?" Asked Dawn, staring at Fixer in shock. Fixer just laughed, a metallic-sounding laugh. However, it didn't sound amused laughter. Rather, it sounded sympathetic and sad.
"I know all about you." Said Fixer with a sad-sounding tone. "Including your encounters with the Sinnoh Region Pokemon Hunter known as Hunter J. I'm sure you noticed that Serenity looked very similar to Hunter J. Well, I can tell you that there is a very good reason for that. But not here. Not while Serenity is around." Surprised at this, the girls wanted to ask him why when he just motioned for them to follow. Looking at each other, they soon did so, and thus they all began walking out of the shelter. As they did so, Dawn waited for Fixer to explain why Serenity looked so much like Hunter J with a bit of dread and anxiety. The possibilities of what he'd say about Serenity and her disturbing resemblance to Hunter J filled her head. Each one increased her dread and anxiety as they filled her head. It was when her head was filled with scenarios and possibilities that it was almost ready to implode that Fixer began explaining some things, which was around the time that they left the shelter and were outside.
"You see, girls. I don't want to tell Serenity this, but there's a very good reason that she looks like Hunter J." Said Fixer as they walked outside the shelter. "You see, the reason that she looks so much like Hunter J is because…by the creator! Is that Paul O'Neil!" Shocked at the sudden exclamation from Fixer, the girls looked ahead of them to see that it was indeed Paul O'Neil, Ash Ketchum's old rival from when he attempted the Sinnoh League years ago, in front of them at the entrance to the shelter. Adopting the cold stare that Dawn had become accustomed to seeing him with back at Sinnoh, Paul looked at the assembled girls and robot before walking towards them.