[Voice, locked to residents] --EMERGENCY--EMERGENCY--EMERGENCY--EMERGENCY--

[malnosso]

[At 2:15AM, the journals suddenly blare out an alarm, followed by this message.]

EMERGENCY. EMERGENCY. This is an emergency.

The following occupants of the Luceti enclosure must report to the teleporters in twenty minutes. You are required as reinforcements in Region 13. Bring all necessary armaments with you. You will be teleported directly into combat.

Anyone who fails to comply will be forcibly escorted to the teleporters by droids.

This is not a drill. I repeat: this is not a drill. You have twenty minutes.

[The message repeats twice more, the alarm continuing until the twenty minutes has elapsed. No questions will be answered.]

Comments

[ Action ]

[mischiefbreeder]

You're bein' called to war, that's what. [He says this very bluntly and quickly. No use dodging around the issue here.]

[ Action ]

[friendshipfirst]

Wha?

[ It hits him then. He was told about the war that was going on once when he was talking to Masaomi. But he was told to go ask Cilan and... he never did. Instead he shoved it in the back of his mind and continued as if there was nothing of bad happening outside of Luceti.

But now it's back with a vengeance. ]

But I don't want to fight!

[ Action ]

[mischiefbreeder]

Sorry, but you're not gonna have a choice in that.

[ Action ]

[friendshipfirst]

I don't even know how t' fight! And my Pokemon aren't meant to fight in a war!

[ Pikachu himself seems to really hate the idea as he expresses his own concern though well.. 'pikas' ]

[ Action ]

[mischiefbreeder]

So you don't know to fight, and your Pokémon aren't meant to fight in a war... None of that matters! There's only one thing you need to know how to do out there, Ashy-boy.

[His gaze is pointed, staring right into--and perhaps even through--Ash, almost judging his worth.]

[ Action ]

[friendshipfirst]

[ When Gold speaks Ash's hand instinctively moves up to Pikachu to put a hand on his best friend's cheek and looks right back at Gold. ]

... Protect my friends and keep 'em safe.

[ Action ]

[mischiefbreeder]

[He cracks a smile at that response.]

Good answer. Nice to see you got your priorities straight.

[ Action ]

[friendshipfirst]

[ And Ash gives Gold a small smile back. ]

I dunno how I'll do it but I will. I'll do whatever I can t' make sure of it.

[ Action ]

[mischiefbreeder]

--Hold that thought. [Don't go anywhere, Ash. Gold's running to his room real quick.]

[ Action ]

[friendshipfirst]

Eh?

[ He'll obey and stand there waiting for Gold to get back. What is he up to? ]

[ Action ]

[mischiefbreeder]

[He returns, carrying a small cylindrical object.

It's dangerous to go alone.] Take this! [he drops it into Ash's hands.]

[ Action ]

[friendshipfirst]

[ Ash looks down at the object that Gold dropped into his hands and... looks even more confused. ]

What is it?

[ How is this going to help him?? ]

[ Action ]

[mischiefbreeder]

This baby's seen me through many a fight out there! So use it to defend yourself and those you hold dear! [That doesn't actually answer the question, Gold.]

[ Action ]

[friendshipfirst]

Okay but how do I use it? What does it do? [ These questions are kind of important! Does he throw it at them no that doesn't sounds very logical. ]

[ Action ]

[mischiefbreeder]

Extend it and find out.

[ Action ]

[friendshipfirst]

Uh.. [ Give him a moment to try and figure that much out. And once he does-- ] ... it's a stick.

[ Action ]

[mischiefbreeder]

It's a cuestick, and it's gonna be useful. Trust me.

[ Action ]

[friendshipfirst]

Does it do anything? [ He still doesn't really know the answer to that question. ]

[ Action ]

[mischiefbreeder]

It hurts to get hit by it. [Ash it's a stick.]

[ Action ]

[friendshipfirst]

So you're tellin' me t' hit people with it. [ ... Well. It's better than nothing? And if it's to defend his Pokemon then it'll be ok right. ]

[ Action ]

[mischiefbreeder]

That's right. You can't leave your partners doin' all the work.

[Action ]

[friendshipfirst]

I won't! [ He retracts the cuestick managing to do so with more ease than when he first tried to extend it ] Thanks Gold. Is there anythin' else I should bring?

[Action ]

[mischiefbreeder]

Just all the self-confidence you can muster! [He gives Ash a proud, wide grin.]

[Action ]

[friendshipfirst]

Okay! [ He'll give Gold a smile back. He's still tired and really nervous but he needs to keep his head up! ] We're just gonna grab somethin' t' eat and then we'll be on out way. Thanks again Gold.