[video] First position

[usedquack]

[There's a lot of shaking around before the camera comes into focus, but when it does, it's an extreme close-up of Duck's freckled face. It's obvious she's never seen a pokegear before, or any kind of camera. Someone offscreen is telling her she doesn't have to be so close. She looks away from the camera - it pans backward. There's a Pidove on her shoulder. She asks the helpful someone.]
Does it really work?

It's working right now. Say something.

[She looks into the camera and waves.] Okay, um. Hi!
...
...

[Aside:] What now?

You said you had something to ask?...

[Her face lights up as she's reminded of why she wrestled with this contraption in the first place.] Oh yeah! Uh, so, I don't really know what's going on right now. It does sound kind of fun, travelling and going on adventures with pokémon. Some of them are pretty cute! But I have a friend who's going to be really worried when he finds I'm gone, so I was wondering if anyone could tell me the way to Gold Crown Town? It's not on the map. It's a small town, but there's a big boarding school where they teach the arts, and music, and ballet. I think it's in Germany.
...

[Something serious has clearly occurred to her. She stops smiling.] Um, there's something else too. I think this might be a story. Has anyone seen a clockwork writing machine?

Comments

[Video]

[tobeyourhero]

That sounds like an easy guy to spot. I'll call him "Grumpy-san" and see how he reacts~!

[Video]

[usedquack]

[giggle] Thanks! I hope he comes along soon! [He promised to stay by her side forever, after all.]

[Video]

[tobeyourhero]

So what's your name? I'm Shouichi Kazama. You can me Capt for short, though.

[Video]

[usedquack]

My name is Duck! It's nice to meet you, Capt!

[usedquack]

And it looks like that Capt guy thinks that maybe my friend will come here!

[Video]

[tobeyourhero]

... [PFFFFT] Hahahahaha! That's your actual name!?

[her_mouse_jesty]

Capt...? Well, whoever he is, he's telling the truth!

video;

[broomwithaview]

This is definitely not Germany. What story, though?

[Video] This is what I get for sticking to the translation convention

[usedquack]

[Jeez, Capt, that's not very nice. She didn't laugh at your nickname, did she?]

Hey! I know it's a weird name, but you don't have to laugh.

video;

[usedquack]

I don't know what story. Last time it was the story of the Prince and the Raven. [So helpful, Duck.]

Re: [Video] /pat pat...

[tobeyourhero]

[Come now. His nickname is full of AWESOME.]

Cheer up! It's a hilarious name, but I guess this means that you've read the "Ugly Duckling", right?

[usedquack]

I hope so. That would be great!

[Video]

[usedquack]

Yeah, I know that story. But it's got nothing to do with me. It's not like I can grow up to be a swan.

[her_mouse_jesty]

Now that you know... what's your name, dear? Mine's Minnie Mouse.

video;

[broomwithaview]

But what do you mean by that?

[Leosquint.]

[usedquack]

I'm Duck. It's nice to meet you![Nope, nothing odd about being called Minnie Mouse. Duck had a classmate called Anteaterina.]

[her_mouse_jesty]

Duck?

... Oh, my! Were you also an animal before you came here?

[Video]

[tobeyourhero]

Yeah... I can say with that attitude, you certainly won't.

video;

[usedquack]

See, there was this mean guy called Drosselmeyer who used to write fairytales that came true, and he wrote a story about a Prince and a Raven and they escaped from the story and then the prince shattered his heart to seal the raven away, but Drosselmeyer died before he could finish the story but he made a writing machine so he could finish writing it even after he was dead.

And Drosselmeyer always wrote tragedies and everyone almost died, even the Prince! Especially the prince.

1/2

[usedquack]

Qua-! I mean, hahahahah, of course not, why would you even

video;

[broomwithaview]

[...]

Really...?

2/2

[usedquack]

I mean, you caught me. You caught on really fast.

You mean you were a mouse before you came here?

video;

[usedquack]

Really! [Super serious liek omg]

[her_mouse_jesty]

Yes! Oh, it's so wonderful to see someone else who is supposed to be something else. I'm so grateful!

[Video]

[usedquack]

But the 'ugly duckling' wasn't really a duck at all. It was a swan all along. A real duck can't turn into a swan.