Fourth 👻 Story [Video/Action for Goldenrod]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[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?

Comments

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[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.

[rocketralph]

Sure, we'll go with that.

<sub>[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.]</sub>

D'you know which way that is?

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[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.]

[rocketralph]

_{[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.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[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.

[rocketralph]

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.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

Um... I think... [Oh hotel name uhhh and she says the name because vague handwaves.]

He really can get anywhere?

[rocketralph]

Well anywhere in the city. _{[Ralph takes a moment to look sheepish.]}
We don't get out much. Y'hear that, Blanca? Think that's over by the Mawile Mall.

_{[Blanca lets out a triumphant cry and starts to march along the sidewalk. Ralph, naturally, falls into step once Ashley starts moving so he can keep an eye out behind.]}

Now, I gotta ask, what on earth are you two doin' out so late anyhow? Wasn't anyone with you?

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[Hopefully Ralph's content to walk slowly, because with her hesitant pace and short legs, Ashley's steps are probably like a snail's compared to his.]

No. I don't really know anyone here...even though they said they know me. I was just, um... I was reading and I got distracted, and then it was too dark to find my way back.

sorry for the delay!

[rocketralph]

_{[It's alright. He's got short legs for a big guy.]}

Uhuh, so, you're a real bookworm, huh? Never big into reading myself.

_{[Mostly because folks didn't throw out very many books.]}

no worries!

[hashtagafreakingghost]

Why not? [Oh, that sounded a little judgy, didn't it? Her head sinks towards her collarbone in embarrassment.] Just... It's real fun, so...you should try it, mister.

[rocketralph]

_{[the wrecker offers up a wide, wide shrug. He's certainly not going to tell her he used to live in the garbage.]}

Oh, I dunno. Just never grabbed my attention. I'm more of a...video games kinda guy.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

I'm no good at a lot of those. [A small pout. She scuffs her shoe on the sidewalk.] Just like Tetris or other puzzles. Not anything the boys at school play.

[rocketralph]

Nothin' wrong with Tetris! It's a classic for a reason.

_{[He tries to give her a re-assuring grin. A gamer was just someone who had fun with games--they didn't have to be experts.]}

[hashtagafreakingghost]

[That does seem to help. After a moment, shyly:] Sometimes I play Myst too.

[rocketralph]

Yeah? Never heard a' that one.

_{[When you live in an out-dated cabinet game, you don't hear just a whole lot from those fancy home consoles. Up ahead, Blanca glances back, the cheery glow from his tail illuminating his face. He's so proud of his trainer.]}

How do you play it?

[hashtagafreakingghost]

It's a point-and-click adventure. On the computer. You have to take a lot of notes and keep track of puzzles. I really like it.

[rocketralph]

_{[That sounds like a lot of work but...he was a game, not a gamer. Different people found fun in different places. He knows there are plenty of puzzle games out there but that sounds like full-blown detective work.]}

You must be a pretty smart kid. I know a lotta grownups who'd have trouble figuring out a game like that.

[hashtagafreakingghost]

It's not that hard if you pay attention! And are real careful. ...I am pretty smart, though. I just skipped fifth grade.

[She's still not very comfortable out in the dark, but this conversation is definitely helping to put her at ease.]

[rocketralph]

That's the part they have the most trouble with.

_{[He looks rightfully impressed at her academic accomplishments.]}

Y'don't say! That's pretty cool. I was home-schooled myself.

_{[Homeschooled, pre-programmed, same thing.]}

[hashtagafreakingghost]

...That'd probably be a lot more convenient.

[Little frown.]

School's pretty fun to learn in, but it's hard to fit in.