6th Run // The Birth of a Unicorn (to-be) and a Count (in training)

[rambling_runner]

[ The video comes on and yet again, it's Danny the Lucario right up in it's business. He gives an excited bark as Ash addresses him in Irish. ]

Hey, are you sending to Anthy? [ Nope but clearly all their friends (and various strangers) should see this! Danny turned the camera, to reveal Ash standing beside a Ponyta; a rather large one for the species, whom he was affectionately petting on the nose and slowly petting through her fiery mane. She nuzzled into his hands, getting a hold of his jacket and chewing on it. He didn't mind at all, merely beaming at the Gear. ]

Anthy, thank you so, so much for this! She's so beautiful. Next time we meet up I'll bring her over, I just wanted you to see her like, immediately. I named her Amalthea. Oh shit, I should call Ford too...

[ He gently pulled his jacket free of Amalthea and checked inside. Danny moved the camera so it could catch a glimpse of a small Zubat, nestled inside and hanging upside down to snooze out of the sun's rays. Danny barked at him, making Ash frown. ] C'mon Danny, you gotta hang up first so we can call him- Wait. [ Danny laughs boisterously as Ash rubbed his face. ] Well I ain't letting you handle the camera again!

Comments

Video;

[schachmeister]

Really?

[Oh boy. He and Jean had always treated Polo and Magellan like they were brothers, but they had no real way of knowing if they were actually related. But here there was pretty clear evidence.]

Hopefully, we can introduce them face to face some time. I don't think this sort of way of communicating really works well for them.

[His zubat, for her part, keeps making chirpy noises at the gear, but sound is all she has to go on. She can't exactly use her echolocation on the screen.]

When did yours hatch? Mine only hatched yesterday.

[rambling_runner]

Drac came out this morning! [ Yes, this was very confusing for the baby bat. He could hear the sounds of another Zubat, but his echolocation told him that the sound was coming from a square in Ash's hand? What?? ]

Oh yeah, right. They get around using sound right? To tell where things are. I got another pokemon, a Noibat, but she can see as well. She's a bit hardier than Dracula.

[schachmeister]

Then it seems he has an older sister.

[Had Ford had any other eggs? Was this little bat family even bigger than that?]

Supposedly, when they evolved, they will actually have eyes too.

[Which sounds super weird to Armin. Could you even imagine being blind part of your life and then suddenly, surprise, eyes!!]

I'm still trying to figure out what to name her. Mr Pines suggested Mina but...

[rambling_runner]

[ Funnily enough that's how magic works. You go through your life and then puberty hits and bam! Not only are you hormones fucking you up but you got magic too, have fun with that kiddo ]

Well, I named my critters after vampires. Have you heard of em? They're fictional monsters...least, back home they're fictional! Anyway, they can turn into bats. Actually, Mina is a character from the story of Count Dracula; she's one of the heroes! I'll tell you the whole story when we're in person but basically, she gathered info on him after her husband had an encounter with him, but he tried to turn her into a vampire and make her one of his brides. Her fate depends on what version you hear but in the original I'm pretty sure that when they kill the Count, the curse is lifted and she has a good life with her husband.

Kinda ironic but hey, it's a good name. And Drac here's a good boy, not like the Count from the story!

[schachmeister]

Mr Pines did say it was a name from a story.

[The concept of vampires sounds interesting. He'll have to ask Ash more about that when Ash tells him the full story. Back home, they don't have anything like vampires. Honestly, when you've got real life monsters that devour humans, you probably don't want fictional stories with them as well.]

It's just... I knew a girl named Mina.

[rambling_runner]

Ah. [ Ah, real life names...Ash made a point of sitting down, Amalthea lowering her head to nose at his hair. ]

Yeah, that does complicate it a bit. Wanna talk about her?

[schachmeister]

I'm not sure if there is much to say. We weren't very close. I remember her always been pretty cheerful. She did well in training, though she never made the top ten. She was the type that wouldn't let anyone mess with her.

[She was like a pigtailed sassy badger. Or well, that is the impression Armin had of her.]

She... died.

[And he watched it happen. Watched the whole thing and couldn't help her at all.]

[rambling_runner]

[ For how goofy Ash normally was; he obviously took that news to heart. Even if they weren't close, it was rough losing someone you knew so young. ]

I'm sorry, man. Even if you didn't know her, that stings. And it sounded like she wasn't a bad person at all. Mind if I ask what happened? You don't have to tell me if you don't wanna.

[schachmeister]

[He is quiet for a few moments, but then he does continue on.]

She was killed by a Titan.

The day after we graduated there was an attack on the city of Trost. The Colossal Titan appeared and destroyed the outer gate, allowing titans to pour into the city. Though we had no battle experience, we were soldiers and were sent in to help the Garrison defend the city while the civilians evacuated. Mina was among the first casualties. Nearly our entire squad died.

[rambling_runner]

[ Okay. Okay this is a lot of information to take in. Ash focused entirely on the screen, tugging slightly on his hair and shaking his head. ]

My God...wait. Wait, Armin, how old are you? Cos where I come from, you have to be eighteen to join the military and, you don't look that old. [ He thought Armin was like...fifteen. Not old enough to drink, or drive, or vote, let along be enlisted in the armed forces and be expected to die in service. He didn't know what a Titan was even, but the pressing thing was Armin and this girl, Mina. ]

[schachmeister]

I'm sixteen. Though, counting the time I've spent in this world, this happened nearly a year ago.

[So, you know, when he was fifteen.]

I joined the army when I was twelve. We all did. That is the youngest you can sign up.

[rambling_runner]

Twelve?? [ He didn't meant to shout but WHAT. What the actual fuck! ]

That's a fucking crime where I'm from! Even during the World Wars when every country was attacking each other and bombing each other to hell, they didn't take kids into the army. That's...my God, Armin.

Fuck. Okay, sorry I just- Christ. I'm so sorry. About all of it I mean. That's such a shitty situation.

[schachmeister]

I never thought of it as something unusual. It's just... the way things are in our world.

[rambling_runner]

[ That just kind of makes it even worse in a way. That nobody was saying 'hey, maybe we shouldn't send our children to war'. His shoulders slumped and he pushed his hair back. ]

Even if that's how it is...you've seen some rough stuff. Like with Mina. And that's not something I'd wish on anyone, let alone kids as young as you.

Shit. I'm giving you a hug when we meet up, okay?

[schachmeister]

[The way things are in their world, there's probably some guys going 'but what if we let them start at eleven'.

The hug will be accepted, though awkwardly from Armin's end. Mainly, he sort of feels he probably can't dodge this one even if he tried.]

It's... I really wish nobody had to see things like this but... in order to create a world like that, it is necessary some of us experience this sort of thing. I know I'm not really the best sort of soldier. And I've got selfish reasons for joining the army too but if me being a soldier means someone else might not need to be, then that is a good thing, isn't it?

Well. That is what it feels like to me, at least.

[rambling_runner]

[ If you say no then he won't. Personal boundaries. But, it feels like you need a hug, okay? And he needs to hug you because this shit is breaking his heart here. ]

See, that's noble. But at the same time...it's not the sort of thing kids at twelve should be worrying about. Where I'm from, people think kids ought to have some kind of childhood; no worries except their studies, even if it don't work out that way. And everyone knows that war messes with you. Even guys who act tough and hard can get messed up by what they see out there.

[ God he just wants to give Armin a hug. Danny senses his mood and sits beside him, patting his arm reassuringly. It helps a little. ] Hey. Whereabouts are ya? It'd be great to meet up and hang out.

[schachmeister]

That sounds nice.

[Armin would've loved to study, are you even kidding him? Though, only if those studies came with a lot of travelling. Just cramming it all in his head and never experiencing it is not what he wants.]

We are headed towards Cerulean city now. I don't know if you heard, but we are in Kanto right now. I think we might stay there for a little while. The city is supposed to have a lot on offer, and I have something I need to do there.

[rambling_runner]

Cerulean...shit, I've heard there's a train to Kanto but it's kinda expensive. I'd love to go over there and see what it's like, and meet up with you and everyone else you're with.

What's Cerulean about though? I just got to Goldenrod. I'm gonna be hitting up the gym eventually - I heard it's normal type? So Danny's gonna be my main man for it. [ He wraps an arm around his Lucario and gives him a one-armed hug. Danny beams and returns it, giving a cheer to the camera. Heck yeah he's the man! ]

[schachmeister]

It should be, yes. A normal type gym, I mean. That is the reason none of us challenged it the last time we were in Goldenrod. Back then, we didn't really have the sort of pokemon who could stand up to something like that.

And Cerulean's gym is supposed to be a water pokemon gym. Honestly, the guide makes it sound like the whole city embraces the water. Did you know there is supposed to be a big aquarium in town too?

[Guess who is going to visit that. and then never leave.]

[rambling_runner]

Yeah, I'm lucky I got Danny to start with. Been getting sme tips about her other Pokemon so, fingers crossed we're ready.

[ Wait what. You can see him sit up and perk up at the mention of that. ] Holy shit. I need to get there! [ A WATER CITY. ]

[schachmeister]

It sounds incredible, doesn't it? There is supposed to be water parks and shows too.

There is something I need to do first, but when that's done, I really want to visit that aquarium.

[rambling_runner]

Dude. Take me with you. [ Please. Please. ] Shit, I've always wanted to see more of the ocean and the sea. I know I can go to the beach but the beach doesn't have a water park as well!

[schachmeister]

i don't think any of us would object to you coming up and joining us for a while. I certainly wouldn't mind having someone to go to the aquarium with.

[rambling_runner]

Tell you what; I'm gonna take on Whitney soon. If I beat her, I'll use the cash to drop by!

[ He had intended to save the money for a guitar but this was way more important. He could save some cash the old fashioned way after. ]

[schachmeister]

In that case, do you want me to look over your strategy for the fight? There is a lot riding on it now, after all.