Battle Academy

-Amkoh watches Xavier from behind his one-way window. Angela closes the door quietly behind her.-

Angela: How is she doing?

Amkoh: Perfectly... and yet struggling.

Angela: I am not in the mood for riddles today. Please speak plainly.

Amkoh: She got the answers to most of the questions of the math section immediately.

Angela: But...?

-Amkoh sighs.-

Amkoh: And yet she has not finished it. She appears to be going back over and over, and I'm not entirely sure how to interpret this.

Angela: Hm...

-Angela peers closer. She watches carefully as Xavier goes back over the current question: 7 times 8. She writes down 56, the correct answer. And then she writes down 70, subtracts 14 from it, and comes to 56. She then erases it. She writes 7 times 10, equaling 70, then writes 10 minus 2, coming to eight. Then writes 2 times 7 equals 14. Then subtracts 14 from 70, again coming to 56. Then she erases it again.-

Angela: Ah, I see the problem.

Amkoh: Oh? Your input would be appreciated.

Angela: She knows the correct answer. It is naturally intuitive to her. However, I can only assume that whatever school she came from cared more about teaching its own method of reaching the answer than the answer itself being correct.

Amkoh: How asinine. Humans, children especially, are not automatons who can all run using the same teaching methods. To think otherwise would be pure hubris.

Angela: Hanib said much the same about from her assessment - that she feels the need to validate herself, but yet entirely fails to recognize it.

Amkoh: Hanib...? Oh, right.

Angela: You know we must use these names until we learn the rules of our transition.

Amkoh: Except you.

Angela: I am not human, remember?

Amkoh: And yet, you still put a very human inflection of playfulness into that statement...

Angela: I believe we've seen enough to assess her scholastic placement, yes?

Amkoh: With the addition of your perspective, I would have to agree.

Angela: Then all that remains is her talking to Kuthmal.

Amkoh: That should have been where she started.

Angela: We should know better than anyone how our past can be a shameful place to revisit, Benjamin.

Amkoh: ... Yes. Point taken.

Striaton City Pokemon Center

Kim nodded.

"I certainly am. Kimberly Bond, at your service. You must be Sholto."

She paused.

"Who's the Haunter?"

Sholto: "That's me! Sholto Le Bel-Thomson at your service as well!"

"And this is-"

Ghostus: -cutting in- <Ghostus. Been with this guy for half my life now and he's certainly Something.>

Mightyena: <As someone who's been with him his whole life, I'm not sure if that's supposed to make you sound young or him sound old.>

Ghostus: <I dunno but that sentence sure made you sound old.>

Mightyena: <Eh, guilty as charged.>

Straiton Pokemon Center

"Ah. Hello, Ghostus," said Kim. "Aaand... who's the Mightyena?"

Ghostus gives a noncommittal claw wave.

Gogie: <I'm Gogie, I'm his starter.>

Sholto: -looking at Kim's team- "And how about you all?"

-looking to the Cursola- "Would you happen to be Gilmour?"

Edited by CorvusAtrox on Sep 21st 2022 at 11:37:21 AM

Hearthome Outskirts

Jess: It's fine. And yeah, I've heard of the school before. You pick up quite a lot hanging around the stormchaser. I'm not one of the schoolkids, though.

Robin: <That templar looked quite similar to you. I wonder why?>

Jess: Probably just a coincidence. There are plenty of other people with black hair. Wait a second, maybe that's where I've seen you before.

Striaton City

"Ah. OK, then," said Kim.

Gilmour glanced up at Gogie and nodded.

<Indeed... I am... It is absolutely wonderful to meet you... I don't suppose... you are my trade partner...? >

<'E sure is~!> said Elton. <Oh, I'm Elton, by the way. Delighted to meetcha~! This is Freddie...>

<Um... h-hello there...> muttered Freddie, waving a gripper and desperately trying to hide his ectrodactyly from view.

<And this is Orwell~!> Elton cried, gesturing to the Crawdaunt, who immediately skittered forwards and ran up to shake Sholto's hand.

<Hello comrade~!> cried Orwell. <My name is Orwell! It's nice to meet you~!>

Jinx raised an eyebrow.

<Hold on,> she said. <I thought he used Newspeak; did he pick up a dictionary or...?>

<Oh, no, he only uses Newspeak when he's talking to people who are comfortable with it,> said Grohl. <He's done it ever since his evolution.>

<Aaahhh! I get it now!> cried Jinx. <Oh, sweet! Fellow Dark-type! Name's Jinx, by the way. The Ampharos is Grohl.>

<Hello~!> said Grohl, happily waving.

Boseman floated up to Sholto and bowed his head.

<Hello there,> he said. <I am Boseman. I trust you will take good care of Gilmour as he is traded off of Kim's team.>

Edited by OPALGARNET16 on Sep 21st 2022 at 12:50:32 PM

Sholto: -to Gilmour- "Yeah, that's the plan! Hopefully I can show you more of the world like you're hoping for!"

"And nice to meet you too, Elton, Freddy, Orwell..."

Sholto vigorously shakes the Crawdaunt's claw in return.

"Nice to meet you too, fellow Dark-type Jinx, Grohl, and Boseman."

Gogie: <Yeah, hey. Definitely planning on being welcoming to the team. We've got at least some experience with handling

Ghostus: <Hoping he won't be one of the annoying ones.>

Gogie: -glaring somewhat- <Be nice.>

Ghostus: <Yeah yeah... seems like he won't be at lea->

Gogie looks like he's going to say something after Ghostus finishes but before he can Dusknoir pops up behind Ghostus while still phased halfway through the ground.

Dusknoir: <Did someone say Annoying?>

Ghostus: -not turning around- <Too late to be funny, not late enough not to be a bother, old man.>

Dusknoir: <Hey, being a bother is all good by me!>

Sholto: "Oh, yeah, hey, this is Omicron. He's an example like what Gogie was talking about."

Omicron: <Pleased to meet you.>

He floats to the front then gives a deep bow, seeming to remove his antenna like a hat to bow with as well.

Edited by CorvusAtrox on Sep 21st 2022 at 12:14:54 PM

Battle Academy

-Xavier sighs, utterly exhausted from the talk with Doctor Amkoh.-

Xavier: Can I just go back to bed now...?

Peepa: Miss Kuthmal is waiting for you!

Xavier: Uuuuuuugh... alright...

-Dragging herself back to the central courtyard, she goes over to the one pillar in the center. The elevator there takes here down just one floor more, to a place willed with warm browns and the smell of old paper, like the archives, but less musty.-

Xavier: Hello...?

-A young lady with long brown hair and in a weird robe/dress comes around the corner.-

Kuthmal: Oh, well hello the-WOOPS!

-She puts her foot down on a piece of paper scattered on the floor, and between it and the floor, traction disappears, sending poor Kuthmal's legs into the air as she tucks and rolls to try and mitigate the impact.-

*Thwump!*

Xavier: Woah, are you okay?!

Kuthmal: Yep!

-Kuthmal Rolls back to her feet, the ledger she was holding still clutched to her chest.-

Kuthmal: I assure you, I've gotten much better at dealing with my little mishaps!

Xavier: ... Have you tried not letting the mishaps happen in the first place...?

Kuthmal: Oh, yes, but I'm much worse at it. Anyway, hello! I'm Kuthmal, head of student information and records! You must be Xavier - everyone's told me so much about you!

Xavier: Uh, yeah.

Kuthmal: You don't seem particularly enthused.

Xavier: I... don't like talking about my family.

Kuthmal: Oh... I see. Well, don't worry. I just need some basic information for our records and your own identification - though they don't have to match.

Xavier: ... What?

Kuthmal: Would it surprise you to learn that Dune isn't actually his real name?

Xavier: What?!

Kuthmal: It's true! But he has it as his main identification. If you wish to take a new name, I don't see why we can't accommodate.

Xavier: I... think I'd like that.

Kuthmal: But, you do know, there is one unavoidable fact.

Xavier: What's that?

Kuthmal: We... do need to know about any potential medical inclinations your family might have, for your own safety.

Xavier: ... Oh.

-Xavier sits down. Kuthmal gives her a weird look, since her seat is technically a stack of records.-

Xavier: ... Alright. Give me a second. Let me prepare myself.

Kuthmal: Nothing you say here has to leave this room. Don't worry about that.

A scientist with pink hair that seems to be wearing hiking boots approaches the gate, seeming to be having a conversation with a Gyarados beside er.

Striaton City Pokemon Center

<Oh... believe me...> said Gilmour, chuckling to himself a bit. <I can assure you... I am not annoying at all... or at the very least... I don't believe I am... unless I am...>

He turned to face Omicron.

<It is very nice to meet you... Omicron...> said Gilmour. <I hope that you will enjoy... having me as a member of your team...>

"I'm sure you will," said Kim, smiling. "Now... which mon did you bring for the trade?"

Battle Academy

Xavier: Okay, so...

-Xavier tosses her Pokedex onto the bed while Bandit and Madeleine jump around and chase each other around the desk.-

Xavier: I've talked to everybody, got my Pokemon, got my computer, got you, and got my ID.

-She pulls out a little lanyard with an ID with her smiling face and the name, "Xavier Morton" on it. There isn't a single hint that "Morton" is the name she decided to take after Kuthmal's mentioning that she could do so.-

Peepa: Well, now's when the classes can start! Is... what I would normally say, were it not for the fact that you're still the only student. Maybe I should bring that up with Wuffles...

Xavier: Soooooo...

-She kinda wiggles her hands in a "this is the part where you say something" manner.-

Peepa: So... I guess it's time for a field trip!

Xavier: A field trip!

-She throws her hands in the air before dropping them back down.-

Xavier: ... What's a field trip?

Peepa: ... It's... it's the thing where you go someplace to learn about it... did... did they not have that in Gateon...?

Xavier: No. School was for school. Everywhere else was for not-school.

Peepa: ... Okay, definitely reporting that to Mama later... But, anyway, we're going to go visit interesting places around Orre, and get you a good idea of just how big your home region really is!

Xavier: Woo! Learning vacation!

-Then she stops.-

Xavier: Wait, but outside is nothing but sand in every direction. I can walk for a while, but walking in sand is exhausting.

Peepa: You seriously considering walking through the Eclo Wastes...?! Don't worry, I sent a general request to the faculty, and someone pinged me back, and not someone I expected!

Xavier: Oh boy, who is it?

Peepa: Our Superintendent and Director, Miss Angela!

Xavier: Oh, the weird lady who was up in General Admin.

Peepa: Please do not point out her unusual traits in person.

Xavier: Ah, right, sorry.

Peepa: She will also be taking Retek along.

Xavier: Oh. Why?

Peepa: Because she "felt like it".

Xavier: I mean, I guess she's the boss.

Peepa: Correct! Except for Mama Deziree and Dune!

Xavier: Well, when do we go?

Peepa: Tomorrow. So just relax, maybe look up funny videos of Pokemon that you can then have me identify!

Xavier: Please don't word it like looking through those is homework...

Peepa: Oh, no, that's the thing! Well, this place is your home now, right?

Xavier: Right?

Peepa: Right! So why would we give you homework when we made all this stuff for you to do when you're not in class?

Xavier: "All this stuff"? OH! RIGHT! THE REC ROOM!

Peepa: I was wondering if you'd remember anything about that, after Selene accidentally knocked you out.

Xavier: Oh wait I can go do that now!

Peepa: And you'll never have homework getting in the way of your own time management skills!

Xavier: THIS IS THE BEST PLACE EVER!

Ghostus: <Yeah, well lots of annoying people said that.>

Omicron: <I say I'm annoying!>

Ghostus: <You're part of why I said 'lots of,' not all. But you don't seem That bad in my book at least, Gilmour. Hope nothing changes on that end...>

Omicron: <Oh, pleasure's all mine. Just lemme know if you need someone who's been around the block more to show you how to get some good emotions out of people for food.>

Sholto: "Oh! I caught a Cacnea for that. I set his nickname the way you requested. I don't really know many musicians so I asked my wife for suggestions since she's more musically inclined... does Debussy work?"

Striaton City Pokemon Center- Outside

"Debussy...?"

Kim thought about it for a few moments. That was the Kalosian composer, right? As far as she knew, she'd never thought of naming a mon after a composer before... but she supposed she could try something new.

She nodded. "I suppose that works for me."

<Debussy?> asked Geddy. <Isn't that a Kalosian composer?>

"That's right," said Kim. "He was the one who wrote 'Claire de Lune.'" She paused. "The Primarina is Geddy, by the way."

<Hello,> said Geddy.

Kim smiled, then turned to face Gilmour.

"Alright, Gilmour," she said. "Are you ready?"

Gilmour glanced down.

<Alas... I am almost ready...> he said. <However... I need to take a few moments... to say goodbye to my friends...>

Kim nodded. "That's fine with me. Take as much time as you need."

Gilmour nodded.

Sholto: "Okay, excellent!"

"And yeah, that's totally reasonable. And if you wanna visit them again after, I let my team have pretty wide berth so if you wanna talk to them beyond just Hasslemon or something, provided you use that, that's totally fine, just lemme know!"

Striaton City

Gilmour nodded.

<Very well... I shall keep that in mind...> he said.

And then he paused.

<Wait... you have Hasslemon...?>

Gogie: <Yeah, everyone on the team has it.>

Ghostus: <Unfortunately.>

Sholto: "Yeah, FeSO₄ should probably message you pretty soon after you join from what I've heard. They like to keep up a network of stuff and all."

Edited by CorvusAtrox on Sep 21st 2022 at 7:58:06 AM

Striaton City

<Oh... that's a relief...> said Gilmour.

And then he paused.

<Wait... unfortunate...? > he asked. <Why is Hasslemon... unfortunate...? Do your mons... have typing quirks, too...?>

"And... who on Earth is FeSO4?" asked Kim.

Gogie: <A few but not all.>

Omicron: <Back in my day, we typed on typewriters and stuck to standard English!>

Ghostus: <Okay Now you're running the age thing into the ground, bud.>

<And frankly I just go into my ball for peace and quiet.>

Sholto: "Magnezone. Met them a while back a bit after I joined the J-Team, they're the one who first got Hasslemon on my team's balls and it's been pretty helpful apparently and something they use here and there to varying degrees."

Striaton City

Gilmour sighed with relief.

<Oh... oh thank goodness... that is a relief... I have a typing quirk... everyone of Kim's mons do... alas... we do not use them around strangers... but very soon... none of you shall be strangers...>

"Hang on," said Kim. "Why do only some mons of yours have typing quirks? Do some of them just... not like using them or can they not think of any?"

Gogie just shrugs.

Gogie: <Not something most of the others tried to do, some of us just had it set up that way and it defaulted.>

Ghostus: <I refuse to change mine out of principle. Sounds irate enough.>

Sholto: "Basically, yeah. Habit and how they use it and all just like it sounds like yours have a habit of typing quirks."

Striaton City

Gilmour blinked.

<Alas... you say that as though... it is a bad thing...> he said. <I find them... quite enjoyable...>

Ghostus: <Well, not like you have to stop or anything, some people like them, like you apparently. Just means not as many of us are gonna use them compared to your former team.>

Edited by CorvusAtrox on Sep 21st 2022 at 8:58:47 AM

Battle Academy

Dune: ... So how's she doing?

Kuthmal: I will admit, I wasn't quite ready for what she had to share... But she seems to have started taking it all in stride.

Dune: Yeah, well, family stuff will do that to you.

Amkoh: It appears that it had also caused some major developmental hurdles we may need to address directly.

Deziree: Just so long as we don't do anything extreme, alright?

Angela: ... Why are you looking at me like that?

Arubeg: Gee, I wonder.

Kuthmal: Now now, let's not stray from the main point of conversation here.

Dune: She's right. If we are to prove that we can help this whole region, we need to be able to first prove we can help even one person.

Amkoh: That is an... admirable sentiment.

Retek: I'll say.

Dune: Make sure she has fun on her field trip tomorrow, alright?

Angela: I do not know what you're talking about. I am a font of entertainment.

Retek: The sad part is, I can't even tell if she's actually joking or not...

Arubeg: And what of the E.G.O. testing?

Dune: I want another shot at the VR fight.

Deziree: Jeez, Dune, again?!

Dune: I know there's something there.

Arubeg: Dune, nobody has successfully 1v1'd the "Adam Smasher" scenario. Even I haven't and I fought a goddamn werewolf powered by the embodiment of nihilism!

Dune: Yeah, but I get closer. Every. Time. And I'm also the only one in this program with a Persona. I know there's a connection here.

Hanib: If I may, I believe Dune is looking in the right direction. However, I do believe there are certain, more... "logistical" problems with which to contend.

Kuthmal: How so?

Hanib: You and Arubeg are able to manifest your E.G.O.s because you are creatures born of the Seed of Light, and are thus suffused with it regardless of human form. Dune, however, lacks that Light. He would require either a sufficient trace from an outside source or a replacement facsimile.

Deziree: I don't suppose the Seed of Light refers to the Light of Inspiration, does it?

Hanib: An astute question, but I suspect the two are only superficially similar. Whereas the Seed of Light sought to empower the human mind to allow it to manifest E.G.O. or, as later discovered, Distortions, your Light of Inspiration appears to seek only external physical manifestation through inventions usable by all.

Deziree: Damn. So what the heck are we supposed to do?

Arubeg: What about that relic some sociopath made to chain your gods of emotion? Would that do the trick?

Dune: I am not going to abide by the use of the Red Chain, full or fragmented, in this experiment.

Hanib: Indeed. That would strike me as a nearsighted shortcut. Should you desire to unleash the power within, we must find a sustainable alternative.

Dune: That's why I want another shot at the simulation.

Retek: No, I think you just want to finally prove that hunk of military-grade metal wrong.

Dune: Yes. Exactly.

Retek: Wha?

Angela: ... Ah. You want to use the peak of catharsis to simulate the effect of a true E.G.O. breakthrough.

Dune: Got it in one.

Angela: That plan... may have merit. But you will only receive that catharsis once. So plan accordingly. I suggest we find the most plausible alternative power source before we continue that line of experimentation, so we do not find ourselves with the perfect setup but no results.

Dune: Right. So where do we start?

Deziree: Weeeeeeeell... I may have raided my mother's library while we were at the Mountain...

Striaton City- Outside the Pokemon Center

Gilmour nodded.

<Ah... I understand, then...> he said.

He turned to face Kim and her Pokemon.

<And now...> he began. <I suppose it is time... for me to say goodbye...>

Kim nodded, smiling sadly. "Alright, then. Thank you, Gilmour."

Gilmour nodded, before walking up to Jinx the Mandibuzz first.

<Jinx...> he began. <Even if... I never really got to know you all that well... I still wish you luck... on your adventures... I am sure... that Kim will be a great Trainer to you...>

Jinx cackled.

<Oh, please!> she laughed. <It was nothing! You have yourself some fun, you hear?>

Gilmour nodded sagely, then walked up to Ringo. The Pikachu-sized Galvantula was in tears.

<Ringo... your bravery and perserverance... is nothing short of admirable...> said Gilmour. <I shall remember you always for it... I hope you learn Electroweb one day...>

Ringo glanced up at Gilmour, smiling through his tears.

<Oh... I 'ave a feelin' I will!> he said.

<As do I...> said Gilmour.

He turned to George.

<George...> he began- only to be interrupted by the Centiskorch glancing down at him and giving him a nod.

That was all that Gilmour needed to see.

He nodded back in understanding, before turning to face John.

<John... I fear... we did not interact much...> he began.

<Well, you're right about that,> said John under his breath. <But... I can at least admit that I liked your presence. Somewhat.>

Gilmour smiled.

<Just knowing that... is enough...> he said.

Then to Grohl:

<Grohl... I will admit... you seemed a bit distracted at times...>

Grohl laughed nervously.

<Yeah... I still kind of am,> he admitted.

<However... your loyalty to your family and friends... knows no bounds... I shall miss you very much...>

Grohl smiled, then ran up to Gilmour to hug him.

<Ohhhh... I'll miss you, too~!> he said, starting to cry.

Gilmour closed his eyes- since he couldn't hug back- before pulling away and turning to Strummer.

<Strummer... continue fighting as best you can... for everyone... and against all the unfairness in this world...> he said.

Strummer gave him a grin and a thumbs-up.

<Oi! You know full well I will!> he said.

Gilmour nodded, then turned to Jagger.

<Jagger...> he began— only for the Obstagoon to suddenly pop up from behind.

   <BOO!>    he shouted, startling the Cursola slightly.

He chuckled.    <Sorry about that; just wanted to give you one last scare before you get sent off! Can't wait to meet that new Dark buddy that'll be joining us soon~!>   

Gilmour recovered a bit, then smiled.

<I am sure... you will enjoy him...> he said.

He turned to face Boseman.

<Boseman... please promise me... that you shall continue to fight for your Trainer... I had a lot of fun battling alongside you... on New Year's Eve...>

Boseman bowed down and smiled.

<As did I,> said Boseman. <Your strength is very much admirable. I look forward to hearing about your adventures with this... "Sholto" trainer.>

<And I look forward... to telling them...> said Gilmour.

Boseman nodded, while Gilmour turned to face Gallag.

<Gallag... I apologize... for the misunderstanding in our first meeting...> he said.

Gallag scoffed.

<Aw, don't sweat it, dude!> he said. <Good luck out there!>

Gilmour smiled, then turned to face Peechee.

<Peechee... I may not always have been able to understand you... and your odd... "Nadsat" speak...> he said. <However... you are a formidable battler... and a great friend... I shall never forget the moment... when we performed the Delta Force together...>

Peechee smiled, then ran over to hug Gilmour.

<Oh... you're ittying to make me platch-!> he sobbed. <Thank you so much! You're a zammechat bitvaer too, and don't you forget it...!>

Gilmour, again, couldn't hug back, but smiled.

<I shall not...> he said.

Eventually, Peechee let go, and Gilmour turned to face Dalt.

<Dalt... you have been nothing but a great friend to Kim...> he said.

Dalt glanced up at Gilmour sadly.

<I'm really going to miss you...> he said. <You can come back... right?>

Gilmour nodded. <You need not worry, Dalt... I shall have fun seeing the world... and I shall tell you all about my new adventures...>

Dalt perked back up a bit, and immediately gave Gilmour a lick on the face. Gilmour laughed to himself a bit, before shaking it off and turning to face Ozzy.

<Ozzy...>

Ozzy raised his wing to silence him, then walked over to Gilmour and nodded.

<...Farewell, Gilmour,> he said after a bit. <I speak for everyone here when I say that we shall all miss you very much. You have grown a lot under Kimberly's care, learning to accept your death and live your life to the fullest as much as possible. Now... it is time for the next step of your journey.>

Gilmour nodded.

<Thank you, Ozzy...> he said. <For everything...>

Ozzy smiled a bit.

Gilmour, meanwhile, turned to face Dave.

<Dave...> he started, only to have the Dubwool in question cut him off.

<Oi!> he snapped. <Ozzy jus' said we all wer gon' miss ya! Now get on wit it!>

Gilmour blinked.

<But... all of you have done so much for me...> he said. <I fear... it would not do me any good... if I did not say goodbye to you all...>

<Well, that's really nice o' ya, Gilmour,> said Joel. <But I think yer new Trainer's waiting over there for ya.>

Gilmour blinked in shock, turning to face the rest of his friends.

<We plusloved being comrades with you~!> cried Orwell.

<W-we did indeed...> said Freddie. <I... I had a bit of fun watching you battle on New Year's Eve.>

<Besides, this isn't really goodbye, is it?> said Elton.

Geddy nodded. <Kim can trade back at any time. If she wants to.>

<And if it's a while before we meet again...> said Kaylan, <that's okay. Because... we at least got to know you.>

<Now go out there and have yourself some fun~!> cried Dio.

Gilmour blinked.

<E-everyone...> he muttered. <A-are you sure about this...?>

The mons all nodded, and Sinatra and Paul— eventually approached.

<Kid, life is an adventure,> said Sinatra. <And it's a really good thing ya learned that while you were here. Now... it's time.>

<We... we wish you the best of luck,> said Paul.

For a few moments, Gilmour glanced over at his friends— the mons he would soon be leaving behind. The mons that had fought alongside him, talked to him, and become his close friends. And then, he turned to look at his Trainer— the one who had given him that experience and allowed him to see what life was all about.

Kim glanced down at Gilmour and smiled, tears coming to her eyes.

"Thank you, Gilmour," she said. "It was fun. I... hope I get to see you again."

Gilmour stared up at his Trainer for a few more moments, then started to cry. Instantly, everyone around him— his Trainer and his fellow mons— crowded around him for a group hug. And even if Gilmour couldn't hug back, he could still feel their love all the same.

<Thank you...!> he sobbed. <Thank you all so much...!>

He closed his eyes for a few moments, allowing the group hug to sink in— and then all of a sudden his eyes suddenly snapped open, glowing a bright pink color. Immediately, everyone except for Jinx recognized it and stepped away from it, looking on in awe.

<Whoa...!> cried Dio.

<I-is that...?> muttered Freddie.

<Has ta be,> said Joel.

<Oookay... what the heck is happening here?> asked Jinx in confusion, pointing to Gilmour.

<'E's 'avin' a VISION~!> Elton cheered.

Jinx's eyes nearly bugged out of her skull.

<Hold up, he has visions?!> she cried.

Kim nodded. "I've seen him have a few. They're almost always of the immediate future. Or, sometimes... what he thinks is the immediate future."

<HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA~!> cackled Jinx. <Oh... now that is neat! Can he see the past, too?>

"No, he's not a Xatu," said Kim.

<Well, duh,> said Jinx.