complexrestart | 014 [video/action] backdated to the afternoon

[The time has finally come for Rika to battle Whitney. The battle goes by quickly as Rika manages to fly through the first five pokémon with her Ampharos and Mr. Mime. However, when Whitney's Miltank comes out, Rika runs into some trouble, but she is able to defeat Whitney with her Ninetales. As usual, Whitney bursts into tears after the battle, prompting Rika to comfort her.]

There, there. [She pats Whitney on the head, but it doesn't seem to help much.] It is only one loss. If you become stronger and believe you can do it, then you can win battles in the future. [It doesn't stop Whitney's tears, but she calms down enough to hand the badge to Rika. After deciding that anything else she said wouldn't help the situation, Rika walks over to the Gear, which is being held by a Shinx. She takes the device and scoops the pokémon up into in her arms.] Mii. I did it.

[She smiles at the screen for a few moments before pointing to her Shinx.] This is my new team member. She hatched several days ago. [She smiles again, this time at the Shinx, before looking back at the screen.] I wish good luck to anyone else who decides to take on the gym.

[The feed cuts off as Rika heads towards the gym's exit.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Thank you very much, Ven. It looks like my training paid off.

Sure does! You've done really well collecting badges.

Thank you. You've also done really well.

Are you still on your way to Violet City?

Thanks! I've still gotta challenge Bugsy and Whitney but I'll do my best.

We're on our way back now, so hopefully we're in Goldenrod around the weekend.

[His mun's guessing]

I'm sure you can do it.

All of that traveling must be really tiring.

I don't mind it! Really, I've gotta do something since I can't train the same as back home.

Mii? How did you train back home?

Well, Master Eraqus had these moving targets, and we'd practice striking those with our keyblades! But you'd have to be quick, or they'd smack you instead.

And I sparred with Terra and Aqua, too! Terra moves slower but he hits hard, and Aqua's really agile...

[Yammers forever]

That sounds like it was tough, but a lot of fun. How long had you been training?

I can only remember the past four years, but I've been training since before then for at least a little while.

Something happened to you, right? Is that why you do not remember?

Yeah, that's right. I don't really mind though - I've got a lot of good memories.

Mii. That's good. I would rather lose all of my memories and start over, if I could.

...You would?

Yes. I have many bad memories, Ven.

Yeah, I...I guess you would, huh...

Yes. There are many involving my friends getting hurt.

[And he'd have to agree those'd be terrible things to remember]

Maybe...maybe when you've fixed things, you'll find a way to start over. Your memories, I mean.

... It would be nice, but I do not think it's possible.

Maybe, as I start to live my life, I will be able to forget all of the bad things after so many good things start happening to me. However, as it is now, they are more powerful than the good memories.

There's lots of time to make happier memories! And I'm sure when things get better, you'll have so many those sad things'll start looking small.

[He'll believe with all the force of a thousand suns]

[Rika smiles at him. She really admires how innocent he is. It makes her believe that things can get better.]

... You are right. I will finally be able to start being a kid as well.

[Rika's the one who taught him about faith, ~~trust, and pixie dust,~~ after all]

I hope that day'll be real soon.

It should be. I know who need to be there, and I have finally gotten all of the pieces together. My time in every fragment is getting shorter as well... so, when I got back it should be only a few weeks before everything is solved.