[video]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Genessia is treated to the upside-down image of a young boy who looks to be in his early teens and who possesses some rather familiar looking wild, red hair. From the look of things, he's sitting on a bench in one of Genessia's city parks.]

I got it working! Alright! Oh wait...

[Lea turns his phone right-side-up.]

There we go. Hey, did you guys know this thing has games on it? It's really cool! I can't wait to show everybody at school.

Anyway, I'm Lea. Got it memorized? Nice town you've got here. Though not quite as nice as Radiant Garden. And speaking of which...

[His expression turns a bit sheepish.] 

...Anybody know how to get back there from here?

Comments

[Video]

[swordprincess]

[Wait, what? This can't be the same Lea that she works with. But everything's all there. The eyes, the wild hair, the "Got it memorized" line. It's him, all right. Was Genessia messing with people again?]

Um...Lea? Is that really you...?

Re: [Video]

[hotheadwarmheart]

Um... yeah? I mean, who else would I be?

[Pause]

Do I know you?

[Video]

[swordprincess]

Well...normally, we do know each other. But you're supposed to be...older. Closer to my age, I mean.

[Just because she didn't want him to think that he's normally an old man.]

I'm Karla, Deputy Guardian of Genessia City. The Lea I know is a Deputy Guardian, too.

Re: [Video]

[hotheadwarmheart]

Really?

[He looks down at himself as if he might spontaneously age, then looks back at her in confusion.]

You sure you're not mistaking me for someone else? I mean, don't get me wrong; being a Deputy Guardian sounds really cool, but I think I'd remember if I was secretly a grown-up.

[Video]

[swordprincess]

I'm...fairly certain? Unless you have an older brother named Lea that I don't know about?

[Seems very unlikely, though. There'd be a lot of confusion if parents gave their children the same names, despite Karla and her brother having strikingly similar names...]

But the Lea I know is just like you. The hair, the eyes, the silly smile, the enthusiasm. He even asked if I "got it memorized" when he told me his name, just like you.

[Yeah, Karla's still convinced that this is the same Lea.]

Tell me something...

[She'll then reach offscreen and pull an action figure of Lea into view.]

Does this look like you at all?

Re: [Video]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea crosses his arms for a moment, looking thoughtful.]

No, I'm an only child. And I'm the only one I know who says that; I wanna make sure everybody I meet remembers my name. That way, inside people's memories, I can live forever.

[He looks at the action figure.]

It does kinda. Just older.

[Pause. Wait for it...

Lea's eyes suddenly widen.]

Wait, you mean they made me into an action figure!? That. Is. So. COOL! Does it do a karate chop or say cool phrases or something like that? And why is it dressed all in black? Makes me look like a bad guy!

Re: [Video]

[swordprincess]

Living forever inside people's memories, huh? ...That is an interesting thought...

[She taps her chin in deep thought for a moment. She'd honestly never thought about that before.]

[Then she can't help laughing at his reaction to the action figure. It was very similar to older Lea's reaction.]

Well...no. It just came with this...

[She then brings out the monster truck toy that the action figure came with.]

I don't know why, honestly. I've never seen you...or the older Lea...using a vehicle like this...

As for wearing black? That's what you wear a lot of the time. I don't think it makes you look like a bad guy, though...

Video

[playingwithlightning]

[Arelen has a Christopher Lee sounding voice loudly narrating everything she says, does, and thinks. It can be heard or ignored, but it is there for all to enjoy.]

Arelen groaned and slowly brought a hand down her face as she stared at her communication device. She had already clicked "reply," but then an annoyed look appeared across her features as she looked around towards the sky, before finally answering the child she had seen in the video, raising her eyebrow and thinking, "he's more annoying than usual."

You're a kid. I hate this world.

It was more to herself, but she continued.

Hey Lea. You realize we're a long way from Radiant Garden, right? You even have a place to live in this town.

It was Arelen's attempt to be helpful, however she didn't exactly know how to handle this particular situation. It wasn't like they were close friends. She looked to the sky annoyed again, wondering why her thoughts were being said aloud.

Re: Video

[hotheadwarmheart]

[That guy's voice sounded really familiar for some reason, but first Lea opts to address the woman.]

Well of course I'm a kid; not like I can just grow up on command or something. And who would want to anyway?

But yeah I kinda figured I was. Which is kind of weird, since I don't really remember leaving, but I must have or I wouldn't be here, right? Though... uh.. could you tell me exactly where it is my place around here is?

And while you're at it, can you tell me who's there with you? His voice sounds kinda familiar, but I can't see him.

Video

[playingwithlightning]

'That was rude,' Arelen thought, 'He didn't even ask my name.' She paused and made a face at the sky once more, 'He asked for YOURS, you freaking creep.' She looked back at the device in her hands.

Look kid,

She felt strange calling him such, but there was no denying the situation.

I don't know who the hell this guy is either. I just opened an empty egg and he started talking. Anyway, you live in the apartment where I used to, but I don't think there's any adults there.

'Maybe Zexion,' she thought, 'No, not him. He'd kill him either by accident or on purpose depending on what he's thinking at the time.' Since when did Arelen care so much about Lea? Let alone a child version? This friendship thing was difficult to comprehend for her, therefore she decided to just try and focus on getting him somewhere safe and out of trouble.

It's in Genessia City, but where are you now? Are there any signs?

By the way? Blind trust in a stranger can get you in a hell of a lot of trouble when you're older.

Re: Video

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea shrugs.]

No one was stopping you from introducing yourself. That's what I did. The guy called you Arelen, though right? And speaking of which, I only asked about the guy because I could swear I've heard his voice before somewhere and it's gonna bug me now til I can figure out where.

[Pause as he realizes something.]

Wait... was the egg anything like this?

[He holds up an orange plastic egg.]

It was in my pocket along with this gadget, but I dunno how it got there.

[Lea thinks a moment.]

I saw one that said 'Garden Park' if that helps at all? I can try to find some street signs if that'd be better.

And I know the whole 'don't talk to strangers' thing; I'm not that little. But everybody here is a stranger and I've gotta trust somebody, ya know?

Video

[playingwithlightning]

I guess you have a point on the stranger danger. 'Garden Park.' Huh...

She frowned while thinking.

Wait like... the park or the apartment building? Is there a playground there?

'Come on, of course the little bastard would be in the playground,' she thought to herself. 'Shit! Stop thinking like this!' was another thought. She breathed heavily and slowly, in and out, before addressing the young person on her device.

They're close to each other. Listen, stay where you are, and don't start any trouble. I can at least show you where you live so if you DO get caught doing something bad, you can run home.

Despite her active thoughts, she saw this child's adult form as a somewhat friend, and didn't want anything happening to him. 'Shut up!' Arelen thought, but it was still true.

If you DO get caught, I'm NOT going to bail you out, kid.

'I hate kids,' ran through her mind as she sighed. 'The things I do for my friends.'

Re: Video

[hotheadwarmheart]

The park. And I think there is, but it's back that way.

[Points back over his shoulder with a thumb.]

But will do. Wasn't planning on starting anything, but don't worry; I can take care of myself.

[Pause.]

...Is grown-up me friends with a lot of girls? Cause you're the second girl who said- well, sorta said- that we were friends.

video;

[embodieshope]

You have funny hair.

[Because seriously. It's spiky and red. Really spiky.]

I've never seen anything like it before.

Re: video;

[hotheadwarmheart]

[TK have you seen your brother's hair? Lea's got nothin' on him for spikiness.

But Lea just runs his fingers through it in the manner of someone trying to look cool. This doesn't really effect its look in any measurable way.]

Yeah, it is pretty unique. Though do you mean funny in a good way or funny in a bad way?

video;

[embodieshope]

[Touche, but Takeru still wonders why people seem to like that style.]

Interesting, like how do you get it spiky. Oniichan had a hairstyle I always wondered how.

Re: video;

[hotheadwarmheart]

Well, I don't know how he does it, but mine just won't grow any other way; trust me, my mom's tried a lot of hair stuff with me to make it look neater, but really the only time it lays down is when it's wet.

video;

[embodieshope]

So the spikes are natural?

I've never heard of hair that could do that. That's pretty amazing.

Re: video;

[hotheadwarmheart]

Neither had my mom, apparently. Maybe if I let it grow longer it'd lay down a bit cause of the weight, but I like it like this for now; means I have to comb it less.

[Video]

[phoenixstrut]

[Unfortunately... Dove has yet to run into any egg issues and suspects that maybe this teen has been pulled here, just like the rest of them. How is she to know if he's been there a lot longer than she has?

Seems to be taking it pretty well for a kid, though, even if her guardian instincts are kicking in hard. Teens aren't her specialty (especially teen boys; she did her best to leave those to her brother most of the time), but she can't just leave him there alone. The angel flips on her camera and gives him a bright smile.]

Radiant Garden? I don't think I've heard of that one... [She squints a little as she tries to figure out where he is just by what he's sharing on screen.] Are you in the park?

Re: [Video]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Yeah Lea should probably be more worried than he is, but no one ever said he had a lot of common sense. Especially as a kid.]

Really? Well, you should come visit sometime! We've got gardens- obviously- and lots of really cool fountains. One of them shoots water so high you can see it over the tops of houses! Plus there's the palace, but there's only certain parts of it that most people are allowed in. And if you like educational stuff there's the waterworks too; we went there on a school field trip once.

[Lea's proud of his hometown, can you tell?]

Yeah. I saw a sign that said 'Garden Park', but I haven't gone looking for any street signs yet.

[phoenixstrut]

[She can’t help but giggle at his enthusiasm about his hometown. A+ kid.]

It sounds like a blast, [she smiles brightly. Maybe next time someone decides to pull her to a different world, she’ll get lucky and end up in his.

Mention of the familiar park earns him a nod.] Ah, thought so. Want some company? I haven’t been here too long myself, but I know most of my way around that area by now. [He doesn’t seem unnerved, but… her nature just won’t let her leave him unless he can assure her he’s fine.]

[hotheadwarmheart]

[Lea grins.]

It's generally pretty great, yeah. And our King, Ansem the Wise, is a really cool guy too. Or at least that's what all the grown-ups seem to think; I've never actually met him myself or anything, though, since he's, you know, the king.

[Lea thinks about it for a moment then shrugs.]

Sure. I'm right along one of the main paths so I shouldn't be too hard to find.

[Especially not with hair like that.]

[phoenixstrut]

[The fond smile stays.] Oh wow, Ansem the Wise. He definitely sounds like an important man.

Just sit tight, and I'll be there in a second!

[Yeah, she definitely can't miss that hair. True to her word, she appears not long after, her Pokémon in tow. While the eevee seems content to lead the way and pounce at anything that moves, she's keeping her houndour on its leash, regardless of the way he trots along right at her heels.

Her wings are hidden, but... she does seem to be glowing a tiny bit. Maybe it's a trick of the eye, but then... there's also that warmth that approaches too.]

Hey! Found you.

{video -> action]

[hotheadwarmheart]

Course he is. He's part of why I want to be a royal guard when I grow up.

[Well that and the cool uniforms and ability to carry real weapons around rather than his toy discs.

Lea's sitting on a bench waiting for her when she arrives, standing up to greet her. And he'll notice the glow in a minute, but right now he's distracted by the Pokémon she has with her, particularly Houndour.]

Hi! And whoa...! That is the coolest looking dog I've ever seen! What kind is it?