...!

「 ❄ "Have you ever considered that we're old and out of touch. And maybe I want to be, like. Hip and with it. Maybe."

❝ I’m certainly not out of touch. I have always stayed abreast with developments in other global powers . . . as an observer. From afar. ❞ In other words, from the comfort of her home soil. Boring stubborn woman who’s stagnated ever since she was declared Savior.

The huff Red lets out is so childlike and ridiculous and entirely him. As if he's not well aware that Hikari is just as hermit-like and stubborn as he is. Birds of a feather, or whatever it is they say.

"From very afar, might I add. So. I'd say I'm staying more abreast of developments or whatever the fuck you said."

SIGHS. A sheepish rub to the back of his neck is all his friend needs to know that he's a touch embarrassed to be going on this venture so late in the game.

Red sighs. So deep.

"Mega Evolution. Then 'm leaving. Heard I can grab stones for my team but I don't know shit all about it."

Pikachu makes a slight huff, nuzzling into Red's cheek before fixing the Greninja with a distinct, protective glare.

"'Course I can." Hisao nods before motioning for Red to follow him, with the Greninja following right after Hisao. "After all, I taught Aesen about it, too. Name's Hisao--I'm a friend of his."

Well, Hisao was also technically one of Aesen's guardians, but it's not like Red needed to know that.

"First thing we'll need to get you is a Key Stone. That'll be how you use Mega Evolution in the first place. Most people use a Mega Bracelet since it's simple, but the truth is that the Key Stone can be set into anything--even something like a keychain or a custom-made glove. It's all about comfort."

"Can it just be a necklace or something. I lose, like everything." He mumbles, mind turning at the idea of having to hold onto something called a Key Stone just to make Mega Evolution possible.

A blast of warm air that smells distinctly like gasoline and city hits like it came from a canister, and he wavers on the platform, eyes massive and scarf drawn tight around his face. Skyscrapers stand like well organized mountains, cobblestone lays even and neat, and not a single piece of it feels like anything Red has handled in his twenty something years on earth. Viridian is not this big.

But he had to learn about Mega Evolution at some point.

This was a stupid idea.

"Never expected to see the Hermit of the Silver Mountain this far away from his homeland. But perhaps this is a good thing. Seeing the sights and learning new things helps broaden your worldview."

Someone else was in Lumiose at around the same time--someone who also gave off the air of being from Kanto soil as he looked at Red with a smile. Next to him was a Greninja who was simply giving Red a quiet, observational stare. Nothing to really be concerned about.

Well, there was something of intrigue about the Greninja. A small anklet around the frog's ankle bearing a strange stone of some kind. Was that a Mega Stone, or was it something else?

Red sighs. So deep.

"Mega Evolution. Then 'm leaving. Heard I can grab stones for my team but I don't know shit all about it."

Pikachu makes a slight huff, nuzzling into Red's cheek before fixing the Greninja with a distinct, protective glare.