victory_road | video;

-- okay. We're ready. Step back.

[That's Shiro's voice, from a black screen. A purplish-black screen. Which abruptly turns to a real video recording as Haunter the Gengar hops backward. Back to a pile of Pokemon -- namely, all of Shiro's main roster. Plus Luna the Meowth. And a new Aron, perched up on Kuro's big Aggron head.]

[Shiro himself is in the middle of this group, all of them settled on the sand in front of the Sevii Island house like it's a football team photo. He's wearing a plastic hard-hat, of all things. Like the kind little kids wear in costumes.]

[He's also beaming.]

So... we're a few days early. More than a few. But I couldn't hold it in anymore. None of us could. One way or another, the secret was going to come out.

Here it is.

In a few days, I'll have been here two years. There's... been a lot of things to get used to. A lot of hurdles and setbacks, but -- we're still here. And I'm pretty sure this place behind us has a lot to do with that.

That's why... you're looking at a guy who just bought a house.

[And that's when the Pokemon, on what looks like Haunter's signal, gesture to the house behind them. Even Shiro busts out a little ta-daaaa motion.]

Got it all worked out. No matter what happens, no matter who comes or goes, as long as someone lives in this house, they won't have to worry about a place to stay. And, no matter how many familiar faces show up, we can always add more space. Without worrying about if we have room for someone important to us.

[There's a pause, as the new Aron -- it's Hunk's KJ -- to roll into his new trainer's lap. And roll over for some chin scratches.]

It's meant a lot to me. It's done a lot for me. This house, and everyone in it.

And now, this place will be here, for anyone and everyone, in this weird team of ours. Consider it a thank you.

For all of you -- who know who you are.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah, I know that much.

Armin and Jean can tell you that too.

[Harry nods with a smile.]

Don't mind me. Worrying about people is apparently just a hobby I've developed over the years.

[It comes with the paranoia. Now he looks at the surroundings on the video again. Right, islands.]

What island is your house on?

Hey, it's all right. I'm right there with you.

[It comes with the territory.]

Four -- the one with the observatory. Matt's basically running the place these days.

[And he's super proud of his boyfriend.]

[He nods. Yeah it really does.]

Good to know. I'll make a note of that, so we don't end up on the wrong island.

[Given the family's obsessive need to make maps for everywhere they go thanks to Silent Hill related trauma, that's unlikely but then again it's always good to be prepared.]

Really? That's impressive. It must be something he really enjoys.

If you get lost, just look for the island covered in Voltorbs. Which you can thank Jean for.

[Seriously, you can't miss the angry electric orbs rolling all over the place. You practically trip over seven of them getting to the mailbox.]

Yeah -- it is. It -- we were both part of an exploration mission, before.

[That makes him laugh.]

Oh dear. How many are there and how did you get so many?

[He nods.]

It's good to hear he can still do things he enjoys here. The world is so focused on pokemon, I sometimes worry that people miss out on things they used to enjo. Luckily it doesn't always seem to be the case.

[He can still write here, even if most the books here have pokemon characters.]

Jean's starter... wants to build an army, I guess. I don't know. You'd have to ask him.

[Shiro tries to stay out of the way where the Voltorb Horde is concerned.]

Yeah, I'm... I'm really proud of him, too. I'm just hoping the others can find something too, for as long as they're here.

[He pauses. That reminds him about an issue -- the issue of their Blue Teammate.] Actually, can I ask you something? Maybe you or Heather would know.

Pokemon will never cease to amaze me.

[They're really a diverse group.]

Of course. What's your question?

Do you know of anything that might... be good for a teenager to get involved in around here?

He's part of my team and -- well. I'm worried about how he's fitting here.

[Harry thinks over that a moment. Frowning slightly.]

We might not be the best family to ask for what ...normal teenagers do.

[Heather spent a lot of her teenage years rebelling over him being super protective and then patching that up before silent hill came to ruin things even more.]

But, does he have any interests, hobbies?

Hate to break it to you, but none of these guys are normal.

[Being kidnapped into space and all.]

He's kind of a beach kid, so swimming, water kinds of activities. Somehow he managed to buy a video game system in the middle of space. And got a cow in the process. Got kind of a thing for face masks.

[He'd mention the whole sharpshooting thing, but that doesn't seem exactly helpful in the pokemon world.]

[He chuckles. That's right, they're not the only strange ones here.]

Fair point.

[He thinks for a moment.]

I don't know much about the islands, but are there any swimming groups out there? Swim teams or the like. If he likes the beach that might be something to check. Or kite flying. that seemed to be a big thing on that resort island we were at for prom.

Video games you might have to ask Heather about. I don't know much about them myself.

Does he make face masks?

Swim teams... Maybe. I don't know of any, but yeah. I can definitely ask around about that.

[He nods -- yeah, that's fair. He doesn't know much about them either.]

Honestly, I have no idea. He might?

I wouldn't be surprised if they had some. Especially with the water pokemon around. Isn't there a gym that lets you use surf outside of battle if you win? Maybe suggest he try for that one?

Well if he makes them, I bet you'd find a few other people who might be interested in learning how to make them. Probably some other teens as well. I'm not really sure what you could do with them, aside from plays or something but just finding people around his own age with similar interests might help him fit in, in the long run.

There is... I don't know if he has the right pokemon to take it on yet though. And -- no. Loaning him any wouldn't work. He wouldn't accept.

[If anything, it'd somehow tell Lance he wasn't capable.]

Beauty mask productions. Maybe he could start a business out here. But... yeah. Yeah, that's definitely an idea, Harry.

Oh no, that would never work. If there's one thing I know about teenagers is that they have their pride. Maybe in the future then.

If he enjoys it, it might be an idea. I'd ask Heather too, she's been here a lot longer then I have so she might have some more ideas.

You're right there. Sometimes... I think he's got it worse than most. For good reasons, but...

[But that's not something he should be saying aloud. In public.]

I will. Thank you. We'll find something for him.