victory_road | Fifth 👻 Story [Video]

[You know who hasn't really been around lately? Ashley, who is just kind of...kneeling by her desk, in front of the hotel bed, adjusting the camera as it turns on.]

And that- okay, uh-- [Clears her throat, looks kind of...awkward.] I, um. Okay, this is kind of weird to ask about, since- I mean, people find eggs all the time in their rooms from br-breeding. [Turns like two shades redder, takes a deep breath, charges on-] But all my Pokémon, they were in their Pokéballs, or with me, and when I got back from work today, I found--

[It's better to just move aside, huh, shuffle away and sitting on her bed, oh well, it's just a Pokémon egg in a basket, Ash, why are you being so weird? It's protected by an odd blanket, one that's pattern resembles space.

From off-screen, Ashley continues:] Just here, like this, all...not like it appeared out of nowhere, like someone delivered it! But I had my door locked and the staff said no one left anything for me, and there is no note or anything and it's just so bizarre.

[...Nudges the PokéGear sllloooowly back so the egg basket's out of focus, behind her.]

I've been here for...almost five months now. [A little somber. Shakes herself out of it.] But this is... Has anyone seen or heard about...anonymous egg deliveries? It's kind of freaking me out.

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That's happened a few times. I've given up trying to figure out where they come from, myself.

So this is something that just happens? You have no ideas, no one's...owned up to it?

Well I mean, it could have been Arceus. He's basically this place's god, so I wouldn't exactly put it past him. But who knows.

The...really big heavenly... Um... He's like a llama, how do I describe him without worrying he'll smite me?

Yeah, the goat with the wheel thing.

[what is a llama, and what is being properly reverent]

First time I met him, it was when he was cleaning up some crap Team Aqua and Team Magma had pulled. And then there was that party on the moon, with the cat I'd never heard of. So he doesn't show up often, but he's got the power for it.

The cat! Oh, yes, I remember that one too! Some people were talking to them I think, but...I dunno, it felt weird, so I just watched.

[and admired the way that cat's fur sparkled like for real]

Who're Team Aqua and Team Magma, though? I've only heard about Team Rocket.

Bunch of assholes. Team Aqua wanted to expand the oceans or something, and Team Magma wanted to expand the land. Claimed they were doing it for the Pokemon's sake, even though if you expand the water, the land ones have nowhere to go, and vice versa... But they got control of a couple of legendaries and were fighting and generally making a huge mess.

[Ashley's brow furrows.] Oh. Jesus, that sounds... That sounds awful, and really, really stupid.

[Like really, what good would that do for anyone?]

Obviously you said Arceus was cleaning it up, so, he stopped it, but- not without some trouble, huh? Powerful Pokémon fighting each other's a recipe for disaster.

Yeah. It was so much he called in a bunch of us for help.

He had to ask all of you for help? ...But, he's God. Wouldn't he have enough power to stop them himself?

Well I mean, he's still a Pokemon, right? Even if he's super powerful, he can't fend off a whole army by himself, much less two.

Huh. I didn't...think of it like that. It makes sense, uh... [Here's a thought--] Did...he say if he was the one to bring all of us here, or why?

I asked, and he pretty much shrugged. So I'm gonna guess it wasn't him.

[Groans.]

Well, it was sure worth a shot.

Yeah. It just means we cross him off the list of possibilities.