hashtagafreakingghost | Fourth 👻 Story [Video/Action for Goldenrod]

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Fourth 👻 Story [Video/Action for Goldenrod]

[VIDEO]

[It's flashback time on multiple levels. A waxy stub brushes over the PokéGear's lens, leaving the view muddy. A blurred hand swipes at it, as if it's trying to either knock the camera away or snatch it up and away, jury's out on which one. From the frustrated grunt accompanying it, seems like either would be preferable.

Whoever's holding the PokéGear, however, doesn't let go, instead jumping away. "Wick lit, wick!" Okay so it's a Litwick, now...desperately trying to get the camera to focus on the owner of the small hand. After a few seconds it works well enough, waxy fingerprints aside, and the one staring her down is an auburn-haired little girl, kneeling on a hotel bed. Around eight, maybe ten? Her small stature and incredible baby-face make it hard to tell if she's just a late bloomer or not. However old she is, she's pouting something fierce. A blanket's draped over her head and a discarded Pokémon Handbook lays open by her knees.]

Give it back, pl-please, I don't wanna!

[With each word, the defiant expression she's tried to keep up slips a little more, until she's genuinely...less distressed and more shy, and she pulls the blanket down so it's covering half of her face. Ashley is absolutely positively miserable.]

Go away. Turn it o-off, 'veryone's just gonna...

[...And there goes the other half of the blanket and she's just a blanket-girl now. Congrats.

Agatha the Litwick sighs and then lets out a confused "Lit?" The view shifts just a hair to the right, to a Ralts also standing on the bed. She shakes her head as the blanket-girl begins to whimper and just takes the 'Gear as if she's taking a selfie.]

Hello. Something seems to have gone quite terribly wrong. My trainer's somehow devolved, and she has no idea-

I WANNA GO HOOOME! 'V-VE NEVER EVEN PL-PLAYED A- A- [And now just wailing. Jane the Ralts winces.]

...where she is. We are...not doing very well in comforting her.

[Agatha's gone to try and fix Ashley! ...It doesn't seem to be working.]

I hope this isn't going to be a permanent change.

[ACTION FOR GOLDENROD / 3/12-3/14]

[Eventually Ashley will venture outside. At least she has a sensible outfit for this place. She's never out by herself, instead often holding hands with her Froslass (who is just a little shorter than her) or generally with any number of her Pokémon on hand, as she has never been out in a city by herself before. Back when they were actual kids Mike tried to get her to go exploring or adventuring but she always said no, because they could get in trouble or get hurt, and her mom would yell at her, so this feels bad and weird, but staying in that hotel room all the time's not fun either, and she has to find some way to call her parents!

While she has the natural instinct to clam up if anyone tries to talk to her or shy away from interaction, if she spies something that interests her like cute Pokémon or a bookstore or the Game's Corner, she'll get caught in one-track mode and go investigate. Curiosity, it truly is a beast. The earlier on you encounter her, the more withdrawn and upset she'll be, but she has to be brave! Or at least try to be. She's more inclined to get drawn in by an unfamiliar sight the longer the week goes on.

Ashley trips up a little on Friday night, as she...kind of gets distracted at the bookstore for too long, though, and when she realizes it's far too late, it's night. Like, pitch-black-stores-are-closing night. So that's a big problem, because guess who is absolutely terrified of the dark?

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[See, when you're a nervous child, things or people or anything jumping out at you doesn't go over well generally? When you're a nervous child who's woken up in an unfamiliar place with people saying they know you and all these monsters-

Yeah, Ash just yelps and jumps back and almost falls over, if not for her Froslass' steady grip. ...Said Froslass isn't exactly fond of the surprise either, it seems, because she cries out Las! and swings her other arm- ear- what even is this Froslass- her appendage around Ashley's shoulder to try and keep her safe.]

D-don't just do that! You could r-really scare someone! [....like you ash?]

[The light she's got to guide her, as little as it is, suddenly disappears, and Ashley snatches up her Chikorita as if he were a teddy bear- and as if that would protect her in case of giant attacks? Look, fear doesn't always elicit a rational response.

At least she doesn't scream, but a squeaking gasp slips past her lips as she stumbles back.]

A-a-a-a giant...!

_{[Ralph isn't really surprised. That's how most people who've never seen him before react. He does cringe a little though because he doesn't mean to be imposing and also that Chikorita probably needs to breathe or something.]}

You're not wrong.

_{[This pretty much afirms his suspicions though.]}

D'you need to know which way the Pokemon Center is?

[As Ashley stares in confusion, said candle nods. With her whole body. As candles are wont to do. A telepathic aside from Ralts:] She speaks the truth. You were many levels higher.

H-huh...? B-but... I can't be a big girl. I- I just started sixth grade, mom says I'm mature for my age but I...I don't wanna be grown up yet.

[She offers him a smile.]

It's got a bunch of Pokémon instead of dwarves, and Gandalf's a Psychic-type, but it's a lot like the real thing.

[His assumption is correct, that Chikorita very much needs to breathe! Thankfully, the kind tone and lack of monstrous hands descending from above cause Ashley to loosen her grip a little. That little plant dino really owes you one, Ralph.]

A friendly giant...? A BFG...?

[Though her legs shake a little, she appears more curious than scared--at least of Ralph, the all-surrounding darkness still terrifies her.]

Uh. No, I'm staying at. There's a hotel.

Sure, we'll go with that.

_{[Ralph can count the books he's read on one hand. He has no idea what the BFG is but if it'll keep this little girl from running off in a blind panic and getting hurt, he'll go with it.]

[Now there's a thought.]

[With a grunt, Ralph lowers himself down into a crouch so that he isn't nearly so giant, elbows on his knees.]}

D'you know which way that is?

... What's a Pokemon?

[For a long moment, his only answer is to hold onto Hutch and say nothing, still but for shivering, like all the blankets in the world couldn't remind him how to be warm. Eventually, he pulls back and nudges Hutch towards Ashley, wiping his face with his other arm, and nods.]

Mm. A-a-afore the onions.

[He sits back against the wall and pulls the blanket over his head and around himself, curls up within it, tucks himself in as small as he can go. He's a quivering ball of leftover terror, but his voice comes out hollow. Blank.]

You're asposed to wake up. When you die in a dream.

[Hutch looks torn, trapped between what Dave wants him to do and the anguish of his trainer, and he just lies down between them, ears tucked back low, silent and nonthreatening.]

[It's actually a relief that she's got that common sense. Thank god for good parents, or something.]

Yeah, and it's good you know the rules. Not everyone your age remembers them, especially in scary situations like this. Let's see what we can do to keep it safe.

[He rubs his chin.]

What if I met you in the hotel lobby? There'll be people there, they won't let me do anything not on the level. And the food I'll bring, it'll either be sealed so you know I didn't do anything to it, or I'll eat a piece of it so you can be sure it's okay. No Snow White situations, okay?

[Envy wasn't expecting to scare her (honestly, if he'd been trying to he would have been much more elaborate with his jumping out), or for her to have that much of a reaction. With a frightened yelp of his own, he ducks back behind the mailbox.]

[But not for very long, and when he steps back out he's got his arms crossed indignantly.]

I didn't even do anything scary!

_{[In all fairness, it's kind of justified to be afraid of the dark in a world where Actual Ghosts (tm) exist and can do creepy shit like hide in your shadow and drain your energy and stuff. Or pretend to be a balloon and whisk you off to some hellish underworld.]

[BUT FORTUNATELY FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED, the thing currently tromping down the shady sidewalk in Ashley's direction is not a ghost.]

[Even if it is huge, white, moving in a very awkward stompy gait, and completely silent. Gosh.]}

...Huh. I mean...you got me there. That's a smart thing to do, instead of just trusting everyone all the time. But these animals here seem to think I'm an okay guy, and I've made a couple friends here. That doesn't sound so bad to me.

[Now he's less huge, and that does help put her mind at ease. In this light, his face looks kind of round and silly too, not at all like a kid-eating-monster.

Very reassuring, Ralph.]

Uh-uh. This place is too big, and everything looks different at night.

[More like she's too scared to even try and find her way.]

[Ahhhh

aaaaaahhhhhhhh

aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh

Ashley does not scream or shriek, but she does freeze up and hold very tight to her Froslass. She wants to run, but her legs are too stiff! Oh no, it is coming right for her!]

M-m- m-m-m-mons- mo- monst...!

_{[Well that's no good. Ralph reaches around to detach a Poke'ball from his belt and tosses it up. In a burst of light a large scrappy Ampharos appears.]}

Blanca, we could use a little help.

_{[The yellow critter nods and draws himself up with pride. The ball at the end of his tail lights up with a bright rosy glow.]}

We'll getcha there.

It was scary to me! [Whiiine.

As it's clear that this kid isn't a danger, she shrugs Froslass' arm-thing off her shoulder and tries very hard to look at least a little brave, drawing herself up with a scolding frown.]

'Cause this place is weird. So. There.

[She's not used to little kids...but she knows they usually don't sound like that. She sniffles and runs the back of her hand over her cheeks. Seems like she's stopped actively crying, at least.]

You didn't?

[With the other hand, she tentatively reaches over and touches Hutch. So soft. So soft and nice. It means she can scoot just a bit closer.]

...I didn't either.

...Your lamb does look nice...

[She takes a few steps closer.]

If you do anything bad, my dinosaur will hurt you, okay? [...is that supposed to be a warning...?]

[That... Okay, that sounds kind of reasonable. She pushes the blanket off her head with one hand. It sounds like she accidentally shoved it on to her Ralts, from the scrambling in the background.]

I can bring the Pokémon? So if anything's fishy they can beat you up?

[It's like she's asking permission- oh Ash, you tried.]

[She pats her Chikorita.] These things. All the weird animals.

[She lets out a little gasp. Her Chikorita slips from her arms in surprise, though he luckily lands on his feet. Relieved to be out of that vice grip, for sure...]

Wow... Pretty. And really bright!

[Nothing's lurking out there to get her? Oh, thank goodness.]

Thank you, mister. I'm sorry I was scared of you.

Eh, don't sweat it, sister. I get that a lot.

_{[The giant stands again and does one last sweep of the street in case any other kids are lost tonight. Looks like he's found the only one. Meanwhile, Blanca's tail is moving in a slow, pleased arc as he waits for his orders.]}

Just tell 'em the hotel's name and he'll lead the way. Blanca's the Pokemon you want if you wanna get anywhere. It's kind of his thing.

O... oh. Like the weird bird that c... carried me here. He was nice...

U.. um. D... do you... you like b... books too, right? 've never met... a girl who... who likes Lord of the Rings before...

[Dave goes quiet and still, even the shivering stopping, for a moment. He peeks out from the blankets at her, like empathy and gravity exert the same physical pull.]

...What happened...?

[He realizes suddenly that he's talking to someone he doesn't recognize, a girl he doesn't know, and he turns his face away, draws the blanket so tight around his head and shoulders that only a tuft of pale hair sticks out.]

You, you can hug Hutch if you wanna. He's strong.

[One of Hutch's ears twitches, but even if Dave didn't ask, the little shit, he tilts his head up into Ashley's hand so she can know it's okay.]

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Fourth 👻 Story [Video/Action for Goldenrod]

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