like nostalgia's sunlight

Snowy pushes her way through tightly-wrapped arms and shaking braids, nuzzling delicate fur against a wet cheek. Snowy huffs, slow and steady, reminding.

     Deep breaths. Crying leads to low oxygen, creating panic. Breathe a bit, try not to focus how it feels like she’s still not getting enough air, let it roll. 

      Snowy coos, happy as can be. Snowy’s not afraid so she shouldn’t be either.

This’ll be good for her. She’s safe now, far from a hollow sky, and she’s capable of protecting herself now. It’ll be fun. She’s going to have fun. 

     This isn’t like before.

He’s not like they were.

      She has a choice now and she can say no.

He’s nice. He’d understand. 

     She doesn’t want to disappoint. He’s so nice, isn’t he? He’s got a good laugh and the Professor respects him. This is okay. This is good. This is okay to learn. 

    Her heart stutters, as if caught upon a shard of glass.

    A brilliant, gold-toned flush spreads across her cheeks. 

     She’s not sure she’s all that comfortable with all this death talk.

“Seduce?” Well, that was a mental image that Koko did not need.

“Yeah, thinking about it like that, they’ll probably ‘do it’ in public like the heathens they are and kill everyone that way.”

Yeah, that would something that would totally happen, Koko.

     “Well, you certainly don’t need to put it that way, mister!”

     “I’m not sure it’s cleverness, m’am, but I hope it’s kindness. I love Pokemon battles as much as anyone else, because that bond between Pokemon and Human is integral to society, but…”

      “I don’t know. I wonder, sometimes, if things would be better if we did things as Ryme City does. No Pokemon Battles, no Pokeballs. Nothing but an honest bond between Energy and Physicality.”

      One beat, two.

     “Words can fix anything, given enough time and patience. No one is truly immune to their sway. They’re powerful things, truly.”

     “... honestly speaking?”

     “No.”

     “Being a Magical Girl, being responsible for the safety of hundreds of others, being entrusted with a power only few know...”