26 [Video]

[niepokonany]

[The charred branches of the Scorched Forest are visible behind Feliks, who's sitting down on a fallen tree trunk next to a large Houndoom.]

I was just thinking... It was probably like, about two years ago, right? When the gates opened up, I mean.

[His smile, briefly, is a little less boisterous than usual.]

I kind of spent forever thinking about getting out of the walls, and wondering what it would be like, and stuff like that, and now it kinda feels like it's been like this forever, a little?

This is where I came the first time I went out of Union! It's where I met Emilia... She's the first Pokemon I bonded with outside of the city!

[He ruffles the Houndoom's fur, and get only a brief growl of irritation in return, so she's not actually that irritated.]

I... I met Fai here, too, that day. So it might not look like much, but it's totally a special place.

A lot of stuff has changed since then, but it's been way exciting, hasn't it? So I'm totally excited to see what happens this year, too. I hope I can meet even more rad Pokemon, and find even more friends!

What about you, Union? Like, what are you happy about from the last couple of years? What are you excited about right now? Tell me all about it, I wanna hear!

Comments

[senpaidol]

Popular just means people know your name. Friends are people who know who you are, you know?

I started up the whole radio star thing because I thought it'd get me friends, but it actually just got me fans. Which are nice, but not the same thing.

[niepokonany]

I guess.

Like, my grandparents always wanted me to make connections, and I was pretty bad at that. But I think it turns out I'm way better at "friends" than I used to think!

[senpaidol]

I think connections are like fans for nobles, yeah - having more of them gets you stuff, and it can be gratifying, but they're not exactly people you can open your heart to.

...and same here.

[niepokonany]

And sometimes it's stuff you never even wanted in the first place, and they have all these weird expectations of you or whatever? That's the lamest.

Anyway, I'm glad we're both doing the "friend" thing more!

...I mean...

W-What I mean is, I'm glad we're friends!

[senpaidol]

Me too, Feliks.

[niepokonany]

[He's quiet for a moment or two, a little awkwardly, like he didn't really have anything planned to follow that up with.]

...So! What are your big plans this year~?

[senpaidol]

Oh, you know, gonna go for more starring roles, explore the world, try to make permanent peace with all the gods. Usual life goals.

[niepokonany]

Thinking big, huh? But if anyone can do all that, you can!