✩ FIRST DISCOVERY | VIDEO | BACKDATED TO 2/9

[adai]

[The video feed opens on a boy sitting on a bench. It looks like the sun is setting already, so either someone got a late start today or this boy only just learned how to use the 'Gear. The boy isn't really all that remarkable, outside of a very serious expression. The background appears to be New Bark Town, so get ready for some of those New Trainer Questions.]

Hello. I was told I should talk to this device to get some answers about this place.

[He rests his hands on his knees and leans forward, still staring the device down.]

Why are there houses on the surface?

[...Well apparently we're just going to get straight to the point today.]

It should be dangerous for anyone to live up here.

[He's silent for a long time, still staring at the device like it's going to magically give him some answers. A beep comes from the 'Gear which seems to startle him a little.]

I also want to know about the creature that came out of this. [Rossiu holds up a Pokéball.] It was pink and blue and immediately went into this strange device. It won't come out.

[That doesn't seem to bother him all that much, actually. His very serious expression hasn't shifted at all. After another few seconds of silence, Rossiu glances upward at the snow still falling.]

Finally, what is this? I've never seen anything like this before. It's much colder than it is back home.

[At least he's dressed a bit better for the snow than most of his friends...]

Thank you for your time. I would appreciate any information you can offer.

[He figures that if the rest of Team Gurren are here they'll get in contact with him. With that, Rossiu gets up from the bench and leaves and the 'Gear turns off.]

Comments

[adai]

[When Rossiu answers he's sitting on the bench again in the exact same position. His expression hasn't changed any.]

I heard about Pokémon from the people here, but I don't understand why they're here. I've never seen anything like this before.

[He pauses for a moment, then decides that talking about the first point is better than dealing with "snowing", whatever that is. He'll get back to that later.]

Are there no beastmen or gunmen here? It's impossible to live on the surface because of them.

[codeforhope]

[...oh man that's. ...that's a little creepy.

Chihiro shakes his head, slowly.]

I don't know what those are...but no, there aren't. There is nothing like that here in Johto. It's a lot safer than that, here.

[adai]

Hmm.

[His expression shifts slightly. He doesn't look irritated, just thoughtful.]

How did I get here? How do I get home? There's a war going on and I'm afraid that something might happen to the others while I'm here.

[...Okay, he's not exactly essential, but he doesn't want to be goofing off somewhere while they're fighting.]

[codeforhope]

[It's much easier to answer Rossiu since he's being so calm about everything and not full of indignant rage or panic over being taken from home, he will give him that.]

I'm afraid I can't answer that...nobody really knows how you get here. But I can tell you that you won't be able to go back home, at least not right now. There...isn't really a way home that we know of.

But while you are here, time back home will stop. If you do return, you will be back where you were before you arrived.

[It's a lot to take in, he understands. But it's better that he knows as much as possible now instead of just...well, not knowing.]

[adai]

...Time stops back home?

[That means that he doesn't have to worry about anyone else dying. It seems wrong for him to be here without them, but Rossiu decides that there's no point in focusing on that right now.]

Okay. So they'll be safe until I return?

[Not like he'll really be of much help, but it's good to know that things won't continue while he's here.]

[codeforhope]

[He doesn't know about safe, necessarily. That certainly depends on what was happening when he left them. But-]

They should be, yes. You won't have to worry about that.

[adai]

I'm glad to hear that.

[He does sound glad, but his expression doesn't really show it very well.]

So... what's "snowing"?

[Now that the most important question is out of the way, might as well get back to this!]

[codeforhope]

[Ah...]

Well...if it rains while it is cold enough for water to freeze, it will snow. It's just ice.

[adai]

Huh, really? I've never seen that before.

[...]

Admittedly, I haven't seen much in the way of weather before, but this is new. Does it always get this cold when it snows?

[codeforhope]

Always. It won't snow unless it gets pretty cold...if not, you might get hail, or sleet instead.

[...]

Both aren't snow, exactly. Hail is more like when the ice clumps up into larger pieces of ice, and sleet is a mixture of both rain and snow.

[adai]

I never thought there were so many different kinds of weather.

[He actually does look kind of pleased by this, though the biggest difference is how pleased he sounds. His expressions don't really change much, unfortunately.]

I hope I'll get to see them while I'm here. The only thing I've seen before is rain, so it'll be an interesting experience.

[codeforhope]

Ah...we had a pretty bad hailstorm just a few days ago, actually. But I hope you can find some shelter before that happens again. It isn't something you...really want to be caught in.

[But hey, at least it isn't raining actual cats and dogs right now. He doesn't think he would be able to explain that.]

[adai]

That's a good idea. I woke up in a house with a strange woman who said she was my mom.

[Rossiu's expression darkens at that and he actually looks kind of irritated about that.]

...She definitely isn't.

[codeforhope]

She isn't. She tells everyone that, I think.

[adai]

Why? That's an awful thing to lie about.

[codeforhope]

She...

[He hesitates, trying to think about how he should put this, exactly.]

I think she really thinks she's our mom. Or...she seems to think everyone who wakes up here is her child. I don't really know if anyone has asked her about it before.

[adai]

That's... really strange. I would go ask her about it, but the door was locked.

[Rossiu frowns for a moment before something occurs to him.]

I don't have a place to stay here. What should I do? If all the villages are above ground like this one, then where do I go...?

[The question doesn't really seem directed at Chihiro, since he's looking off-screen.]

[codeforhope]

[Well he'll...answer anyway, since he really doesn't want to see this guy staying outside in the snow all day.]

There are buildings in most towns with a red roof. Those are Pokemon Centers, and trainers can go and stay there if they need to and have nowhere else to go. I don't think there is a center in New Bark, though.

It's a few days of walking before you will get to Cherrygrove. You could also take the Ferry to Kanto, instead...

[He winces, glancing down.]

...I'm sorry. I wish I could help you, but I don't...have any Pokemon that can fly yet.

[And he's all the way in Ecruteak right now, meaning hoofing it isn't really an option, either.]

[adai]

Pokémon Centers. I'll remember that.

[That's alright, he wasn't expecting a free ride!]

I was told about the ferry to Kanto, but when I asked about it, the man said it would cost money. I don't know anything about currency. We didn't use anything like that in Adai, and I've been learning a bit about it but...

[He shakes his head. It's not something he's very knowledgeable about.]

I think I'll try traveling on foot. A few days of walking shouldn't be that bad.

[codeforhope]

...Are you sure? It's been very cold outside lately...

[adai]

I don't have any other choice.

[At least, he doesn't think he does. As far as he knows he doesn't have any money at all, since he doesn't recognize it!]

[codeforhope]

[...okay he cannot let you walk in below-freezing temperatures with good conscience.]

I think you should have enough money to get you onto the Ferry. You should have some in your bag.

[Assuming he's looked through the bag and just skipped over it, not knowing what it was.]

[adai]

...Do I? I don't know what money looks like.

[He doesn't seem bothered by admitting this; he just sounds curious about it. Rossiu reaches down to pick up the bag he was given and begins going through it carefully. Eventually he comes to a wallet and opens it.]

Ah, is this it?

[Is it Pokécoins? Pokédollars?? Who knows.]

[codeforhope]

Yes, that's it!

[Either? Both???]

If I remember correctly, you should have at least 3000P with you, which is enough for a Ferry ticket. It's...most of what you have, but it would keep you from having to walk through the snow.

[adai]

That seems like a lot.

[He... thinks??]

Okay, I guess I can do that. Ah, that means going across the sea, doesn't it? I've never seen the sea.

[What have you seen, Rossiu??]