(no subject)

[lovelycharming]

Everybody enjoying another peaceful, carefree day in Ultern? Good, because there's a sparkle in the sky other than Ulternian sunshine and look, it's a bird! No, it's a plane! No, it's...

"TEAM ROCKET'S BLASTING OFF AGAAAAA—huh? Hey, wait a minute...! Jessie? Meowth?! Where is everybody?!"

Before James can get an answer, he'll be crash-landing in Ohritori! Face full of sand on Stardust Beach? Embarrassingly suspended from a palm tree or even an Exeggutor? Or taking a miserably full-clothed dip in the sea? (Brrr!)

((Is this going to be a repeat of Mairin landing on various ships and needing to be rescued multiple times—perhaps, fortunately, both Mairin and James have terrible luck and certainly can wind up in fixes more times than they can count... maybe he's under the impression he can just launch himself back into the sky and find his friends, who knows?! But he just keeps landing here... oof.))

Comments

[domeinion]

Oh, boy. DJ, can you go get him?

[The Slaking rumbles and... okay, apparently that jetpack is functional? Maybe? He's flying, anyway, up to grab James and pull him back down.]

Unfortunately, drifting back through the stream doesn't as yet seem to be something that can be triggered intentionally. Although I'm sure that just means we haven't found a way yet.

1/2

[lovelycharming]

E-eep!

[He's certainly being lifted up! And slowly brought down... oh, there we are, back on land! He's so happy, he could almost kiss the ground!

... but he won't. He had quite enough of that earlier with the mouthfuls of sand, thank you very much. He'll save his tearful thank yous for his Pokemon and human saviors!]

Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you! How can I ever repay you, DJ and kind miss...?!

2/2

[lovelycharming]

Drifting back through the... stream? I don't believe I came by stream. I fell through the air.

[domeinion]

Not that, the spacetime stream.

[DJ sets James back on the ground and rumbles. Alice pats his arm.]

Welcome to Ultern. It's a region surrounded by a spacetime phenomenon in which people and Pokémon regularly appear from other places and disappear back, all apparently at random. I've been trying to study it, myself. My name is Alice. Who are you?

[lovelycharming]

... oh?

Space-time? M-might this be related to Dialga and Palkia?

It's nice to meet you, Alice! It's surprising seeing such a young researcher—no offense.

[He's a little impressed, but also, obviously very frightened and upset.]

So, I'm here all alone... without Jessie or Meowth...

[domeinion]

Unless your friends also showed up here, it's likely, unfortunately. As for your theory, it's plausible, though I certainly haven't seen them. It appears to have been going on for some time.

[lovelycharming]

For... some time? How long? Do you have any idea?

... how long do we usually stay here, do you know?

[He might start to panic! Tears are brimming in the corners of his eyes!]

[domeinion]

It really does tend to vary, cases tend to range from a few days to what appears to be decades, but there's plenty of infrastructure in place to adjust... Are you all right?

[lovelycharming]

D-decades... [His heart sank! How could he ever go decades without seeing his best friends?!

James nodded, trying his best to hold it in! He likely won't last long. He sniffled.]

[domeinion]

It's a rare case! We don't know everything yet. I intend to find out, personally.

[DJ pats James's shoulder and sighs.]

At the very least, you haven't ended up somewhere unsafe.

[lovelycharming]

I... suppose that's true. [James still looked upset, now shedding tears.] It would be so much worse if I was alone somewhere dangerous... do you think Jessie and Meowth are somewhere strange too? [He sounded worried!]

A-and how far have you gotten?

[domeinion]

I can't say. While some people have drifted in together, it's more common to arrive alone. So it's likely they're safe where you left them, but there are many possibilities.

[Alice pulls out a notebook and flips through stacks of theories and notes.]

At the least, the drifting phenomenon is highly active.

[lovelycharming]

Safe where I left them... I see, that does sound reassuring. Jessie and Meowth are a lot more capable than I am, so even if we're separated... they'll be fine. [His smile is now much more grateful and at ease, even if he's still shedding tears, they're of relief now!]

Ah, but if I passed through space and time, does that mean... I can return to the same point in time, as if nothing happened?

[domeinion]

Theoretically. At the least, that is what's reported by people who have left and come back. And given how the stream works, it makes sense; time can pass at different rates or not at all.

[lovelycharming]

Then, that's even better! We could go back to right where we left off!

... but if we didn't...

Could it be like that problem, with the twins, where the one who goes travelling through space, returns to find the one on earth aged much faster than he did?!

[See, Alice? He understands some concepts!!!]

[domeinion]

Oh, like relativity! I certainly haven't seen that happen here, though I'll admit it has been the case elsewhere. But then, being outside of time entirely isn't a one-to-one comparison. Things are clearly happening here. I can't say it couldn't, but I don't see any reason why it could. Not now, anyway.

[lovelycharming]

That's reassuring... it'd be so awful if we no longer matched! I'd like to grow old with my partner, at the same pace...

Ah...

[He's starting to shed tears again. Very easily brought to tears, this one.]

Have you seen her, by the way? A red-haired woman, strong and determined, but often a bit sullen or angry-looking, with a stylish Team Rocket uniform much like mine...?

[domeinion]

There is a Rocket with red hair who pops up every so often... sounds younger than yours, though. And I don't know where to find her, usually.

[lovelycharming]

Younger...? Could it be her from the past?

[He crossed his arms, frowning.]

I see, I'll have to keep looking... but, thank you. It makes me feel better to know she might be here after all!

[domeinion]

Anything's possible! It's a little too chaotic around here sometimes, but it does mean anything can happen. Do you need help finding your way anywhere?