To be a true hero, kid, is a dying art

[a certain kid on the network this evening has, having stayed mostly quiet except to catch up with friends after that train disaster, finally decided to pipe up-- to ask something those who know him probably... would not expect for him to ask.]

[there is a good reason for it, though.]

I know that the point of traveling around this world is to work with and learn about Pokémon, but... does anybody else besides me miss going to school?

[because studying somehow seems like a plausible method to recapturing and hanging on to whatever vagrant memories he might not know about, of course. that supposed brain fart about Hollow Bastion a week ago was enough to really rattle his confidence.]

[Saffron Pokécenter visitors might spot this studious teen situated in a quiet corner, a large notebook open across his lap. whether he's scrawling out notes or a hilariously bad drawing, it's hard to tell at a passing glance.]

[Sora doesn't remember much about the last time Johto's population grew exponentially in size, aside from the fact that he was in his favorite pair of pajamas and he lost a fight miserably to Vanitas-- though, the fact that he's suddenly able to summon his Keyblade is at least helping to deter the thought of losing fights-- and it isn't exactly the main thing that has him on edge.]

[it's this flower thingy that keeps popping up wherever he goes. tapping it with the Keyblade did nothing. taking off toward the beach to try to lose it did nothing; it just reappeared right behind him, even as Sora waded out into the water. ... fire especially did nothing. flower thingy does not like fire, and it's starting to get really creepy.]

[hence why he turns on his pokégear, fixing it on his, erm... stalker.]

Okay, I get that a lot of new people have been showing up, but what about new things? Does anybody know what this even is-- some kind of new plant? It's like it's everywhere I go.

[YOU'VE MET WITH A TERRIBLE FATE, HAVEN'T YOU, SORA?]

( private texts to Hope, Leon and Rise )

[video]

[now, Sora had only meant to send those text messages early this morning, but Teddy, being the tech savvy little furball that he is, saw fit to grab the pokégear and snap a recording for Johto's Funniest Home Videos. Sora is seated on the ground somewhere in Ilex Forest, his head tilted waaaay back to look up at his beast of a Skarmory. a beast of a Skarmory with a squirming and squealing Caterpie wedged in her beak, and a Skarmory who is leaning down and giving Sora a fairly "YOU BETTER WISE UP AND LISTEN TO ME, YOUNG MAN," sort of look.]

[Metal Chocobo caws around the bug. Sora shakes his head fervently.] No.

[a muffled squawk that could probably rival her mother's. "but Trainer, it's breakfast time! and I caught you this delicious Caterpie! here comes the choochoo bird--"]

No! Look, I know I said I ate a few bugs as a kid, but I haven't in years! C'mon...

["SON, YOU ARE LUCKY I'M NOT EATING THIS THEN REGURGITATING IT ON YOU." Metal Chocobo looms closer, practically smashing the poor Caterpie against Sora's face-- and, like a stubborn and picky toddler, he clamps his mouth shut and tries to wedge his hands between his mouth and the bug.]

[unfortunately for Sora, Metal Chocobo has quite the height advantage. Sunday morning has turned into a battle of wits, kid against bird-- or at least, a battle of who's more stubborn.]

[suddenly, Johto network: a boy and his giraffe! Sora is standing right outside the entrance to the Goldenrod Gym, Puddles snuffling at his face as he gives his four-legged friend a final once over. bowtie? check! freshly washed and shiny coat? double-check! looks like Puddles has got himself another hot date with a certain gym leader's Girafarig- it also looks like the trusty old Teddy-cam is doing what he does best: recording conversations he shouldn't be.]

[Puddles bleats and nudges Sora again, as if questioningly.] What?

[kid and giraffe both tilt their heads as they stare at each other.] ... It's okay, really. Riku's already got the Plain Badge, so we can get to Violet and back just fine. I don't need to get it myself. [Sora flails a little as Puddles practically sticks his snout in his eye. BUT TRAINER, DON'T YOU WANT TO BE A MASTER? I MEAN, I'D STILL BE FURIOUS IF YOU EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT HURTING MY HONEY BUNCHES OF OATS, AND I WOULD BLEAT ANGRILY AT YOU FOR HOURS AFTER THE BATTLE, BUT--]

Hey- Knock it off, Puddles! That's someone really special in there, isn't it? I know she's supposed to battle for Whitney, and lots of other people have already battled her... but you still hate it when she gets hurt. Right?

[Puddles bobs his head. yes, Trainer is right, it tears Puddles up inside when she so much as stubs a hoof- you should see him fret when someone inflicts a status on her. Sora... lifts a hand and rubs at his own messy hair awkwardly.]

Look, I... I know how you feel, okay? That's why I can't battle Whitney- and I'm not going to. So... don't worry about it. Go on and have a good time.

[Sora has to swipe his arm out of the way when Puddles turns to avoid being bitten by his tail- but he doesn't really pay it much mind. he doesn't seem to notice the wide-eyed Teddiursa with the pokégear, either. he simply turns in the direction of the Radio Tower looming in the distance, presumably the same place he'd been eyeing warily for days.]

[gosh, Johto, hope you weren't trying to sleep or anything: there's suddenly a series of sharp clunks and clatters, and the microphone screeches loudly and shrilly like it's short-circuiting. pokégear's clearly on its last legs, what with how many times Sora's been dropping the dang thing.]

[a silent pause, save for some unsteady breathing, before there's another loud squeal from the 'gear, like that ear-splitting screech from a microphone, as Sora clambers out of bed and picks it up, turns it over in his hands... notices it's on.]

Sorry. [it's not much of an apology to the network, considering it's mumbled and somewhat faded into static, but he doesn't really offer much else. it's the first time he's accidentally sent the pokégear flying in his sleep, but the second time he's woken up tonight, and some fresh air really sounds good as opposed to to just lying in bed staring at the ceiling. he'd done plenty of that the past week, too.]

[he's downstairs in the lobby of the Goldenrod hotel a few minutes later, 'gear in hand and all bundled up but looking reluctant to actually go outside, if there are any night owls or roommates hanging around-- he didn't exactly get up and leave the room quietly.]

[clunk. white noise distorts this transmission for several seconds-- the feed cuts in, cuts out... almost blips out entirely for a split second there before the pokégear practically roars back to life and the feed returns to its normal clarity. someone really ought to tell Sora to stop dropping his 'gear.]

[it appears to be any normal evening on the ground here in Goldenrod: warm-colored, freshly lit buildings to replace the setting sun somewhere in the distance, two Girafarigs galloping down the street and away from the feed... someone in the middle of an intense fight.]

[the 'gear is fixed on some spot down the road, so the combatants are mostly heard-- well, Sora, anyway; he's doing a lot of yelling-- and only seen in occasional red and yellow and black blurs. after a few minutes of heavy footsteps and the wooshes of someone swinging something heavy pass, Sora skids to a stop in the 'gear's view, trying to catch his breath, gripping a wooden Keyblade Ven carved for him months ago tightly in his hands. he is sweaty, his hair is disheveled and there's a streak of soot across his face-- he probably smells, too. for a kid caught up in what looks like a pretty violent brawl, he actually seems pretty calm. in fact, the 'gear is close enough to catch a sly grin on his face.]

When are you gonna stop going easy on me, huh Dapper? C'mon, I dare you to sting me!

[oh, it is on now, Trainer-- the Beedrill buzzes from offscreen, and Sora's expression briefly flickers to one of surprise. well, he did ask for it. the pokégear finally craps out right as Sora's moving to dodge a well-aimed Twinneedle.]

For you and my own reference, from Sora! I'll be checking the list twice later to find out who's been naughty or nice see if I missed anybody.

( jingle dog, jingle dog, jingle all the dog )

[around 4 or so this morning, Sora had been lying in his bed in the pokécenter, awake, not very comfortable, and bored out of his mind. not a whole lot was going on over the network, and Sora didn't want to wake Hope or Rise or Puddles or anybody else nearby. there were, however, two people he had no problem bothering: Riku got a smattering of text messages full of bad puns-- hey, he needed to practice them on someone! right? but shortly after he sent Kairi a text asking if she was awake, and where she was, a new message popped up on his pokégear screen:]

error: this number is no longer in use.

[... and that's when he silently swung his legs over the side of his bed and grabbed a few things-- including his pokémon asleep in their balls and his notebook-- and for the first time this entire week, Sora creeped out of his room and successfully snuck out of the Goldenrod Pokécenter.]

[first things first-- Sora lurched his way over to the closest vending machine and picked up two bottles of soda. he... made an honest effort to chug them, but wound up dumping the contents of the second bottle into a nearby sewer. it wasn't the soda he was interested in, anyway. next, he walked over to the radio tower-- he couldn't really see the ocean over the fence nearby, but he could hear it... seems no matter where you go, the ocean always sounds the same. he sat down, leaning against both the radio tower and a newly hatched Dratini for support, and began writing.]

( ooc cut: letter to Kairi )

[when the video feed clicks on later that morning, the sun's out in full force by the radio tower. the sound cuts in right in the middle of Sora saying something.]

--tini, could you throw this in the ocean for me?

[the Dratini nods, and wraps its tail around the neck of a bottle with a note carefully rolled up inside. with a grunt, it chucks the bottle right over the fence, and both Sora and Pokémon watch as it soars, then plunks right in the ocean. please don't berate them for littering.]

Thanks. I-- [and Sora turns, noticing Bell pointing his gear at him and recording. he still hasn't actually been out and about Goldenrod wearing something other than his pajamas, but he at least thought to put on some shoes and a jacket this time. he steps a little closer, looking down at the 'gear and Bell-- he's smiling genuinely, but there's definitely a tinge of sadness somewhere in there.]

Morning, you guys! I kind of have an odd question. Have you ever been on a date before? I think we're going to set Puddles up with Whitney's Girafarig today.