keychained | 013; [video/action for Cherrygrove]

[if there's one thing Sora here is really good at, it's comfort-- whether it be an enthusiastic pep talk, or telling a silly joke or making a silly face to get a laugh out of whoever needs it, Sora can and does deliver! he's usually pretty successful at getting a smile, at least, though he's better at comforting when he has an experience of his own that he can relate to whatever's happening with a friend.]

[and... he's been trying his best with his friends this week. today, however, Sora will be marching into completely uncharted territory experience-wise when he turns on the feed-- it's so unfamiliar, in fact, that he doesn't even recognize it.]

... There's something wrong with Puddles.

[at least, he wouldn't be able to recognize it on a Pokémon. the feed turns to show the edge of Cherrygrove and Route 30, where the aforementioned Girafarig is standing. just standing there. and staring off down Route 30 longingly. maybe he missed a patch of grass on the way down here?]

I tried taking him to the Pokécenter, and they looked at him... Then Nurse Joy just kinda laughed and told me he's fine. But he's not! Ever since we got here, he's just been standing right there in the same spot like a zombie. Puddles! C'mere!

[Puddles bleats in acknowledgment, but does not move, nor does he refrain from staring off down Route 30 like there's a special Girafarigs-only treasure down that road or something. Sora sighs.]

I don't get it.

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[he was scribbling away contentedly for a moment there, but then Arthur mentioned kings and knights and now Sora has stars for eyes.]

Wait, your dad's the king? So that means you're a prince? -- and you have knights?!

Yes, and together, my knights and I train each and every day.

That is so cool! I bet you're the best swordsman in Johto.

Thank you, Sora.

... It might be a bit more impressive if I didn't feel like I was the only swordsman in Johto.

You're welcome! Ah-- I'm not exactly a swordsman, per se, but I do fight with something kind of like one.

[Sora bends down out of the 'gear's view for a minute, then holds up a wooden Keyblade Ven carved for him a while back. it's pretty much a giant, blunt key with a hilt.]

[Observes the 'weapon' curiously, then states the obvious:] It looks like a giant key. [It escapes Arthur how a giant key could be "kind of like" a sword.]

Yup! It's called a Keyblade.

A keyblade? It can cut? [Arthur would have imagined the object would have only be good for beating enemies into submission. Unless... it had been enchanted to sharpness.] It's magic, isn't it?

It's kind of magic! You use it to release hearts from the Heartless.

[he turns the wooden Keyblade over in his hands a few times.]

It's-- well, this one's pretty blunt, but it changes shape if you attach different Keychains to it. A lot of keychains make it sharp enough to cut.

The Heartless? A type of monster?

Yeah. The Heartless are the darkness in peoples' hearts that have taken shape. They're attracted to hearts, and will swarm and steal them from others.

Fighting them certainly sounds like a noble cause. [Even I would resort to using a magical weapon if it meant defending innocents against things trying to steal away their hearts.]

Perhaps we should spar sometime, Sora. Just so we don't get rusty during our time here. ... I'll have to fashion myself a training sword out of something, first, though.

Well--

[Sora doesn't know about noble, really. he just kind of fell into the role by accident: here, Sora, take this giant Key and save the universe. if you're lucky, you might even find your friends along the way! he has to admit, he wasn't exactly very eager about being the Keybearer at first.]

Sparring would be a great idea! There's important things waiting for everyone back home, it sounds like.

013; [video/action for Cherrygrove]

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