The Kunest of Smithers

They slowly turn to each other. It's already too late. They have to at least confirm what happened.

Beautiful, sparkling, the two men stare at each other as reality around them ceases to function. Mountains in the distance crumble and fall into a spiraling, twisting blackness.

A brief breeze causes their identical hair to sway, before the wind too is erased from this world.

"Ah, but 'tis a worthy end." one of them says, admiring the mirror image of himself for the brief seconds that remain.

What? Who would refer to her in such a way? What was he even speaking for that matter? She couldn’t understand a word he just said. Was he asking for directions?

Who was this guy? Why was he talking to her? Why did she feel the need to flee instantly? 

This was a new feeling… 

As someone who wasn’t social to begin with, suddenly encountering this… pers- Was this a person? It couldn’t be possible.

She just didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. She frankly didn’t want to.

What could she do? She needed to get away.

Croissant stops in her tracks to growl at this guy. Suspicious man making finger guns? Not on her watch!

“It’s alright Croix, let’s just go…” June grabs her Sylveon’s flesh ribbon and keeps walking. No weird fan interactions today, no thanks.

“…This, um, this hoodie!” And she’s just taking it off. She likes this hoodie but her bag’s basically empty of junk right now. This is the most replaceable thing she has. 

About now he’s remembering he carries his own notepad and could have offered that. And now it’s too late.

Oops. 

Sorry, Aya.

“I’d be happy to!” Too happy to. Don’t be that happy about this, Ken.

“ I don’t…have…children… ”

Tread softly, Chester, lest you give away too much.

“You have forgotten even them.” His voice is weirdly serious now.

“This is beyond my abilities to help.” Nobody needs your help, Ken.

Thankfully the thought occurs to him. And it disgusts him. So he’ll hold off faking death for a while longer.

Still not helping his poor sister, who’s desperately running through the list of her belongings in her head to decide what she doesn’t mind this man touching.

It might be best not to touch anything this guy’s offering.

“ No, that’s…quite alright… ”

Devastation.

“Um… sure! Sure, sir, um, please sign my uh, um…”

Weighing the pros and cons of holding his breath until he passes out to end the conversation.

“Your Pokémon...”

“…I am a coordinator, actually.”

A mistake has been made here.

“...”

“ Ken Smi-what? ”

“You don’t know me?! Me, Ken Smithers-Kun, of the fifteenth generation of Ken Smithers-Kuns?! My boy, you and I are rivals!”

“Aya what do we do.”

“Good question.”

“…Aha, um, no thank you! My brother is underage, and I don’t drink. The offer is appreciated though~”

“Such a shame, such a shame! But it is true that one must be responsible with alcohol! I respect your restraint!”