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[ Makoto looks a little apprehensive when his face first flickers on the screen; it's one thing talking to people on this thing one-on-one, but the idea of addressing a whole bunch of people he doesn't know all at once, even long-distance, is still kind of daunting! even so, despite the nervousness, his smile is friendly. ]

Ah, hi, everyone! I'm sorry to be a bother, but I'd really appreciate it if I could get some quick advice from someone who's been here longer than I have, if that's okay. Has anyone here ever raised a Hoppip before? I caught one while me and Gou-chan were on the way to Cherrygrove city, and I was wondering - how long is it before they learn a move that they can defend themselves with...? We're doing fine so far since Nanami can cover for him, but it'd be nice just to have some peace of mind, you kn-- hah?!

[ as Makoto's been speaking, a helicopter-shaped leaf has been slowly coming into view above his head, followed by a bright pink, very round body. yep, it's taken Makoto this long to notice that the Hoppip in question has been using his head as a climbing frame. ]

Shou--! C'mon, I've told you not to do that already...! [ the rebuke doesn't sound serious, though, and Shou trills happily, peering over the top of Makoto's head to get a better look at the Pokegear. Makoto lets out a short, sheepish sigh of exasperation, rolling his eyes fondly. ]

He must think that my hair's some kind of nest or something, because he's been doing that for a while almost every time I've let him out of the pokeball. Ah, anyway, if anyone has an answer for me, I'll be really grateful!

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Oh, they are pretty close! It's nice to meet you too, Tachikawa-chan.

Well, I hope so...! I'm not sure I have the hang of battling for real yet, but hopefully we'll get there.

Oh, uh-- [ he laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. ] Actually, this is probably going to sound silly, but I was watching how easily he gets picked up by the wind and I thought, you can read the kanji for "soar" as Shou, right...? I'm honestly not that great with names myself, so it's easier for me to just pick something obvious that I can remember easily.

[ he shrugs, as if dismissing himself, but his smile softens into something gentler at her obvious anxiousness. ] Ah, but I shouldn't think you have to worry too much, Tachikawa-chan. A lot of Pokemon are pretty smart, right? So even if it's been weeks, you could probably see how they feel about it just by asking them. What kinds of names have you been thinking about?

It's okay! I didn't think I would be good at battling either, but it turned out to be not too different from what I was doing in the world I came from! But that might not apply to you... Are you from the real world?

Oh, that's not silly at all! That's very clever, Tachibana-san! [ She seems honestly impressed. ] I wonder if any kanji names would be a good fit for my Pokémon...

You're right! My Pokémon are pretty smart! [ She addresses her Hoppip, still bobbing nearby. ] Hoppip, would you mind if I gave you a name?

[ "Hoppip hopp!" The Hoppip twirls in a manner that seems to indicate "no". ]

Oh, I'm so glad! [ Mimi smiles. ]

Well, my Maractus reminds me of my friend Palmon, so I was thinking of calling her Palko? Or something like that? And Hoppip, well, he jumps and he's round, so maybe something like Hanemaru? [ A self-conscious grin. ] They're not that creative, I know...

[ he frowns slightly, looking a little puzzled at the question. ] Uh - yeah, yeah, I'm from the real world. But isn't everyone here from some kind of world that's real? [ ARE THEY ALL REALLY FICTIONAL CHARACTERS?? ]

[ he can't help smiling at the exchange between Mimi and her Hoppip, though; it's nice that they seem to have such a great relationship...! ]

No, I think they're great names! Hanemaru sounds really cute, and it'd be nice to have a name to remind you of back home.

[ Oh - duh, stupid question. Of course everyone's world would be real for them. They're not fictional characters, that would just be silly! ]

Oh, see, the world I just came from was called the Digital World! And my original world is called the real world, I guess so you can tell them apart. So really, what I was wondering is if your world involved battling monsters... or not! [ She grins. ]

Well, if you think they're good names, Tachibana-san, that's good enough for me! I dub thee... Hanemaru! [ Mimi mimes tapping the Hoppip on each... shoulder?... with an imaginary sword. The newly named Hanemaru trills in glee. ]

The Digital World...? You mean, like inside a computer or an online game or something? [ whoa...! ] Ahaha, but no, we really don't do anything like battle monsters where I come from! At least, not outside of video games... wait, wait, are you saying that you do, Tachikawa-chan?!

[ he laughs. ] Did you just knight him? Well, he looks happy with it, so I think that makes it a great choice!

Yeah, it's something like being inside a computer! I know when we were there, we were all made out of data, instead of skin and blood and stuff like that. [ She pinches her face thoughtfully. ] It sure felt like we were real, though... Ohhh, my friend Koushirou-kun would be able to explain everything, if he were here. [ Buuut he's not and we're not going to dwell on that, so. Moving on! ]

[ She nods enthusiastically at his question. ] We had to do a lot of fighting in the Digital World! I wasn't too happy about it at first, but when monsters ten times your size are trying to kill you, well, there aren't too many options, are there? And we all had our own monsters - kind of like here, but they're called Digimon, and they can talk! The friend I mentioned, Palmon, she's my Digimon partner! So you don't have to worry - it wasn't just me out there!

[ As to the knighting: ] Well, I am a princess, after all! [ She grins and gives a bit of a flounce. ] Or I was... once. In the Digital World. It's kind of a long story!

Eeeh, how strange! It sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel or an anime or something.

[ except wait-- ] T-ten times your size?! You're kidding! I think it's impossible for me not to worry when you say things like that, Tachikawa-chan, even if you did have friends around to help!

[ sorry, Mimi, Makoto is a chronic worrier about everyone else's well-being, and also a giant scaredy-cat. Tachikawa-chan sounds like she's a much braver person than he is, for sure...! ]

-- Wait, you're really a princess!? [ this is way too many mind-boggling revelations in one conversation...! still, after a moment, his surprised face melts into a good-natured laugh. ] Does that mean I should really be addressing you as "Tachikawa-hime" or something?

[ Makoto. Makoto, plz. ]

Uh-huh, or bigger! One time there was this Digimon named Whamon, and he was so big that he swallowed us whole! [ Mimi makes a "thiiiis big" gesture with her hands above her head. ]

That's so sweet of you to be worried, Tachibana-san! [ Makoto: EVERYONE'S ONII-SAMA. ] I guess I can't stop you, and I'd be worried about me too. But you have to understand that our Digimon were really good at protecting us. They could evolve into bigger and stronger Digimon when we were in danger! I think Pokémon are supposed to evolve too, but mine haven't yet. Guess I'm not in enough danger here. [ She smiles. ]

That's right! Mimi-sama is also acceptable! [ She looks serious for all of two seconds, then giggles and sticks out her tongue. ] Just kidding! I was only a princess for a few weeks, when a bunch of Digimon decided to treat me like one. I don't think I was a very good princess, either... Though if you want to call me Tachikawa-hime, I won't stop you!

Wh-whole?! [ ohhhhhhhhh my goddddddddddd ] I'm just glad you got out of that okay!!

I get that, and since you said it I believe you, but... [ he shudders. ] Well, it's kinda scary to think about, you know? Um, but I'm pretty sure that most types of Pokemon do evolve! I'm not really sure when or how, though...

[ he laughs with her at the idea of "Mimi-sama". goodness...! ] Haha, well, I was mostly kidding. Mostly! How did you end up in that situation?

Don't worry! [ Unexpectedly, Mimi laughs. ] It was scary, but it actually turned out okay, because when we were inside him we were able to destroy the thing that was making him evil. Then when he was good again, he let us ride on his back! So it all worked out!

If it helps at all, I'm okay now! I'm here, and the only battling I'm doing now is Pokémon battling! [ She smiles. ] So don't worry, okay, Tachibana-san?

Yeah, I've been told Pokémon evolve, but I still need to figure out how they do it! I'd love to see what Palko and Hanemaru look like when they evolve! [ A dreamy smile as Mimi pictures what her Pokémon might evolve into. No doubt Maractus becomes a cactus to rival Togemon! ]

Well, it's kind of a weird story! I was separated from my friends, you see, and I happened upon this castle full of frog Digimon. Turned out their lord - he was this giant frog, really ugly - had been asleep for hundreds of years, and only being sung to in a voice more beautiful than his own could wake him up! So the Digimon wanted me to sing to him, and I tried at first, I really did, but then I forgot the lyrics, and they were so nice to me while I tried to remember... I guess I kind of took advantage of their kindness. They started calling me princess, and I went along with it! But I kind of let the power go to my head, and when my friends found me, I sort of threw them in jail... [ She winces at the memory. ] Luckily, my other friend helped me snap out of it, and then I really did sing for the lord frog guy! Of course, he turned out to be really grumpy and attacked us, so... maybe that was a mistake too! [ Mimi grins and shrugs ] But that's what I mean when I say I wasn't the best princess, anyway.

[ What a story Mimi. ]

[ his eyes widen and his jaw drops at Mimi's story - both of those stories, in fact! - and finally he laughs a little increduously, shaking his head. ]

Your life sounds incredible, Tachikawa-chan... like something out of an anime or a adventure novel, maybe! Uh-- not that I'm saying that it sounds untrue or far-fetched! Sorry, that came out a little more patronising than I meant it to, it's just that I could never imagine anything like that happening to me or my friends. I'm not even sure how we'd deal with anything as strange as being swallowed by a monster or becoming ruler of a kingdom of frogs.

[ though, he can imagine some of it; Rei would be there declaring the whole business conceptually impossible, for starters, and Nagisa would definitely take advantage of being called a prince...! ]

[ Mimi laughs, clearly enjoying the effect her stories have had on Makoto. ] It's okay! A few months ago, I don't think I would have believed stories like that myself! But it's amazing, the kind of things that can happen in the Digital World!

Don't worry, Tachibana-san - I bet if you and your friends were in my place, you would have handled yourselves just fine! I mean, my friends and I were all just regular kids before the whole Digital World thing. I like to think I still am one! At least you all are grown-ups, right?

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