farawayplace | Suddenly in the midst of a Summer Festival--

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Suddenly in the midst of a Summer Festival--

There's a distinct sound of waves, and bustling of people nearby.

In the coastal city of Turnbloom the sun is bright and warm, and the scent of the sea wafts through with the cool gentle breeze that makes the glittering pinwheels spin, and the leaves on the palm tree dance.

Today the streets are extra decorated with these cute, colorful and floral shaped pinwheels. It seemed the people who were out in the streets were dressed in colorful summer attire--either casual, or the more traditional yukata. It seemed like with the booths were set out for both food and games for festival of some kind that was currently underway.

Just how did you get here, and why? A mystery, and it seemed the people in the streets didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary as they go about enjoying their time out on this bright sunny day.

(🌺Please don't forget to check out the OOC post for those who haven't yet!🌺)

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Ash caught that.

"Hey now, I don't mind training 'em. I think Ghost types are cool too!" He furrowed his brows a bit. C'mon Trip, he's not exactly picky with the kind of Pokemon he catches. "...But d'you really think it's the Ghost-types doing this? I don't see them around right now."

And he gaze around upon finishing, trying to spot any ghost-type Pokemon he mentioned.

"It's not about not minding them, I know you're ready to risk everything for any Pokemon, even ones you literally just met, but what I meant was I didn't think you'd do anything that'd make them want to pull you into another world—"

~~Except that had already happened to him before, more than once, not that Trip had any idea about that!~~

His eyes widened as he cut himself off, then turned to scrutinize Ash. "You didn't get involved with another conflict or something, involving Ghost types this time, did you? Maybe for someone else's sake? ... or maybe wandered into some kind of trap?"

As for whether he really thought it was Ghost types, Trip folded his arms again and lowered his gaze. "... I'm not sure. But I know they can create elaborate illusions, especially if it's several of them working together. If it's just one, maybe a strong Zoroark or even Ninetales could be behind such an illusion... if they want us to believe it's all real, they won't show themselves to us."

The moment Trip focused his gaze on Ash, he leans back and furrowing his brows yet again to express his confusion.

"I didn't do anything!" Ash exclaimed, "I was just training for the Masters Tournament! Why am I at fault here?!"

If that were the case, he would have told him outright anyway. But as far as Ash could recall, nothing of the sort happened before he got here.

And then he folded his arms as he listened to Trip's reasoning. After finishing, Ash let out a hum.

"I dunno, I don't think it's all an illusion to me."

“I’m not blaming you, I’m just trying to figure out what they could want. Hold on… training for it? Did the Masters Tournament not start yet?”

Could they be from different points in time? Or did he just mean preparing for the next match?

As for his other point…

“It does feel too complex for an illusion… don’t eat or drink anything yet, just to be safe.”
Because it could still be fairies.
“… maybe we’re in some kind of other world? As real as ours, but where time doesn’t flow normally…?”

"Huh?" Ash blinked for a moment. "It did happen. I battled Steven and got into the semifinals. I was just putting in a bit more training before my next match."

When Trip mentioned about not eating or drink, that got Ash to frown and pout slightly.

"Whaaat, really?" But what if he gets hungry all of a sudden? That just dampens his mood a bit.

But when the other brought up about being in another world, somehow that didn't seem to surprise Ash as he casually nodded.

"In another world? I guess that's possible too..." Ash then glanced at Trip. "Say Trip, d'you know anything about this place?"

“Alright, good, same time period,” Trip said, with a nod.

They’re from the same time, then…

“… that’s only if it’s Fairy types or some kind of fairy world. In stories, especially the ones from Galar, humans should never eat or drink anything in their world. Because if you do… you might never leave. Or you might never eat again. Outright refusal can be dangerous too, offending them can lead to revenge, so… so don’t hurt any feelings.

“Maybe give words of thanks to everyone who made it first, I heard mentioning the source, like a prayer, can break it, and you’ll see what it really is. Like… leaves or dung or bugs or something.”

~~So like the feast of dried leaves poor Team Rocket were chowing down on in the Ninetales’ mansion? Although Ninetales favour transforming leaves.~~

While Trip spoke, he did colour a bit, feeling increasingly embarrassed and kind of dumb explaining, but Ash was taking this all in stride, like other worlds were the most natural thing to him!!

Trip then tilted his head curiously.

“… you know, it’s strange, usually, people would be more shocked… or say all that stuff isn’t logical or real.”

"Is that so..." Ash's frown deepens. "That does sound awful... but they're just stories, right?"

It's not like all the fairy-types are like that, right? It's just a matter of being nice to them, like what Trip said. Which sounds easy enough.

It's then Ash took notice of the headtilt, and responded with a puzzled look of his own.

"Huh? Well, I'm kinda surprised actually. It's not everyday you get to jump into another world just like that!" And then he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "...But I guess that's also because I've gone through something like that a few times myself, haha."

"Stories usually have some truth or basis to them, so when it comes to the unfamiliar... they're good to keep in mind."

Yes, be nice, that's what a lot of people are too scared or biased against them to do! It's the same with Ghost types or any other Pokemon, you can usually befriend them, no matter the type.

But Ash's words surprised Trip even more. "You mean you've gone through this before?! A few times, even?!"

Edited 2022-08-21 05:19 (UTC)

"Yeah, I sure have!" Ash replied very casually. "It was weird, but actually really fun! And I even got to meet another me from another world too!"

Pin-drop silence from both Trip and Serperior as both stared in utter shock and confusion.

Fun...? Another him, even...?!

This time, Trip leaned in too close, practically crawling closer on his hands. "You know this makes you the expert now, right? You're the one with the most experience... so, tell me, the last times you travelled, what did you see? What were they caused by? Any similarities to this world? And another you how? You from another time? Another reality? What was different?"

That's way too many questions, Trip!!

"An expert?"

Then, Trip caught Ash by surprise the moment he started dropping questions at him. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Ash took a step back and raised both of his hands, gesturing Trip to reel it back in.

"Hey Trip, slow down will you?!"

"Sorry..."

Trip blinked, halting as well, and nodded, but still looked at a loss where to start.

With a helpless shrug, he began again: "... do... you know how they happened?"

Though Ash sighed at first, he gave him a rather forgiving smile. Seeing how eager Trip was to figure things out as he did.

Now that Trip's calmed down, Ash too did the same, and crossed his arms as he recalled back on the times he jumped into another world.

"Well..." His brows furrowed. "There were a couple of times that a Pokemon did it, like last time my friends and I tried to stop Dialga and Palkia from hurting each other because of Team Rocket."

That one was, well a little less fun actually. Especially when two large legendaries with the powers of altering space-time were forcefully duking it out on each other and it ran the risk of de-aging into a baby if they kept it up for much longer.

"But to be honest, most of the the time, they just... happened." Ash shrugged. "I dunno how else to say it. Sometimes it just happens."

His eyes widened at the mention of Dialga and Palkia.

"Of course... they could change the flow of time and expand and collapse space! Then... Ash, I think I met Giratina here. Do you think it has anything to do with it?"

He won't mention that he was so uncertain because he lost consciousness immediately after and woke up under a tree with a concerned stranger. That's just needlessly embarrassing.

"And if you don't know how they happened... how did you get back?"

"Giratina!? Here!?" Ash expressed his surprise. It's been a quite while since he last saw the legendary Pokemon. However the thought of it being away from the Reverse World only got Ash to frown in response. "...But if Giratina's out here, then something must have happened. That Pokemon never leaves its home, unless it's really, really angry."

Which is somewhat concerning. But that only got Ash to wonder how Trip managed to encounter it in the first place.

"With the help of my friends!" He grinned. "It's thanks to them that we're able to get back home safe and sound. Right, Pikachu?"

His Pikachu nodded, attesting to what Ash said as he too experienced these strange world-hopping adventures with him.

Trip quietly nodded.
It did look terrifying, he would hate to see it angry... the colour drained from his face just thinking about it, but tried his best not to dwell on it and focus on what Ash was saying.

"With your friends...? Do Pokemon hold the key to escaping?" he asked, exchanging glances with Serperior.

"Please explain, Ash, Pikachu..."

For that question, Ash lets out a long hum at first as he tried to think of a response. But then just scratches his head afterwards.

"Look, Trip... I'm not exactly an expert because I really don't know." Ash admitted, "I don't have the answers for that, but... maybe we could look for them together! And maybe we'll find our way back home that way!"

The answer might be out there somewhere.

"So things will work out somehow!" He grinned.

"You're such a carefree guy," Trip sighed, undeniably disappointed, but offered a little half-smile anyway. "If you say so. I guess we have our work cut out for us... at least the weather's nice. I'd hate to be thrown somewhere cold and snowy."

Edited 2022-08-22 17:17 (UTC)

"Isn't it? It kinda reminds me of Alola y'know." Ash glanced at the beachfront. The vibrant blue water that's sparkling due to the light of the sun reflecting it, the presence of palm trees, and seeing people and Pokemon peacefully soaking in the sun together. A lot of it kind of screams of his second home, but not quite.

...Speaking of Alola.

"Oh yeah!" Ash's eyes lit up as he looked at Trip. "A good friend of mine from Alola just got here too. And I promised we'd meet up again once we find more info about this place. Got anything you know so far?"

... oh, was he missing the Alola region? Trip watched Ash as he watched the water and Pokemon and people going about their lives and felt sorry for him, wondering if he missed it like he missed Unova.

Should he do something? He raised his hand, then froze, recalling he was bad at sympathetically patting shoulders. How many pats were expected? Is it one or two? But, then, he'd just kind of leave his hand limply sitting there until it became more of a nuisance. Should he just keep patting his shoulder? How many times? Can he do it too many times and be annoying?

Holding hands is definitely less complicated, so he took Ash's hand.

... only to realize he'd started talking again and he was so caught up in his own thoughts about how to navigate this social situation that he hadn't been paying attention. What was he talking about? Oh...

"Uh—it's a region I never heard of before? It's called Ultern. This specific city's called Turnbloom..."

Did he say that already? He can't remember and he felt a bit embarrassed.

"Um... there's some writing on the sign I can't read, but everything else looks like the language we use. Maybe you can figure it out?"

Ash blinked at first when Trip suddenly grabbed onto his hand. But fortunately for Trip, it looked like Ash isn't too bothered by this. Instead he shot a curious look a him.

"Ultern, huh?" he mused, "A new region in a new world... Hey I wonder if they have any new Pokemon here!?"

His eyes began to sparkle in excitement. After all, there's a chance there would be Pokemon that's never found elsewhere, not even in their home world. And that's always fun!

"Signs?" Ash tiled his head only slightly. "Hmm, I guess I could check 'em out!"

He didn’t make the situation awkward! He’s relieved.

Ash certainly looked happier, thinking of new Pokemon, so Trip let his hand go, figuring that did the trick.

He took out his camera. “I think I saw something, but it moved too fast for me to identify it… just a blur in some bushes.”

That certainly is an orange (or maybe yellow?) blur between the leaves and things… not a lot to go by!

“I did hear a Mr. Larson, a clerk working in the cafe joined to the Pokemon Center, say all his Pokemon were caught here. Maybe we could ask to see his?”

Wanting to take a look at the photo Trip took, Ash leaned and looked at the camera's screen. Orange or yellow, and very blurry. He could think of a few Pokemon with that description but can't narrow them down as there isn't a lot to go by.

"It could be anything..." said Ash.

He then leaned back and straightened himself when Trip made his suggestion to visit the Pokemon Center. That's cool to know there's a Pokemon Center in this world too! And that Larson person has Pokemon from Ultern too? Sweet.

"I don't see why not!" He nodded. "Let's go check it out then!"

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[that is the most Ash response to an unfamiliar and perilous situation ever]

ash's optimism rarely wavers no matter the situation

[how (not) to socialize]

trip sweetie you're doing your best

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