Yumi allowed her grandmother to kiss her hand, feeling much more like a princess with the gesture than she'd ever had before. Smiling, she removed the takeout box from the bag as she listened to Marilyn chatter away. [break][break]

The cardboard box was plain white, with a ribbon decorating the outside and the logo of the bakery stamped on one side. The understated elegance appealed to Yumi greatly, and she hoped her elder thought the same. [break][break]

Opening it revealed an assortment of traditional Johtonian baked sweets, each one carefully arranged so it would not bump or smudge the other. [break][break]

"I'll have to give Underboss Fiorelli a small token of some kind, to thank her for her generosity and support," Yumi said. "And I've been well, yes. I recently spoke with your other grandchild and told him you'd been released. He'll come around to meet with you soon." [break][break]

I hope, she added silently, wondering if Sen Hasegawa would actually bother.

TAGS – MARILYN HASEGAWA[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Yumi glanced sidelong at Rhys as he backed away from the inert doll. Then she took the glowing Soul-Heart from the Volcanion. Cupping it with great care in one hand, she pried open the small door in the doll's chest before sliding the gem into a slot. She had barely closed the latch when the doll came to life, instantly animating. [break][break]

"Most excellent!" exclaimed the Volcanion, who bowed before the small mechanical girl. For a Pokémon with such ungainly bulk, the movement was rather dignified. "My lady, great joy fills me to look upon thine face again! Wait here, whilst I lead these strangers out beyond this fortification." [break][break]

Yet as the Volcanion started leading the way to the exit, the doll moved with them. [break][break]

"Oh? My lady wisheth to walk with us? Very well, the weather shall be favorable for thine good health." [break][break]

Several dark hallways later, they did reach a door leading out. Yumi thanked the Volcanion and its small companion before pulling open the door and stepping into the light. She blinked against its harshness, a hand raised to shield her eyes. [break][break]

Several yards away, a portal back to Hoenn gleamed with power. [break][break]

"Look, Rhys. Let's get out of here," Yumi said, starting down the sloping path toward the rift. The Volcanion's stiff voice rang out, however, causing her to glance back over her shoulder. [break][break]

"My lady! You… you wish to accompany them?" [break][break]

Sure enough, the enlivened doll had followed Yumi and drew up to her side. It tilted its head at her before waving a dainty hand at the Volcanion. [break][break]

"Oh… I see." [break][break]

Yumi grinned. "I'll take good care of her," she promised the lumbering Pokémon. "Thanks again!" [break][break]

Then she turned and sauntered straight into the portal. [break][break]

TAGS – Rhys Collins[break]
NOTES – mechanical kingdom #3

[attr="class","pkmn"]

When Rhys provoked the Volcanion and the energy enveloping it intensified, Yumi tensed, ready to bolt. Her Pokémon prepared themselves for a fight. But then the energy lanced into the Soul-Heart in the Volcanion's large palm, activating the device. [break][break]

Yumi swayed on her feet, visibly relieved. "The most magnificent? That shouldn't be a problem. Come on, Rhys." Grabbing the man's arm, she half-hauled, half-led him back into the utility passage. "Can your Salazzle make a bigger flame? I can't see shit in here." [break][break]

She started picking through the dolls, immediately discarding any with broken bodies, stains, or other discoloration. If she found one that passed her high standards of appearance, she carried it to the doorway and arranged it next to others in a neat row. [break][break]

Eventually, Yumi had collected a dozen dolls. Breathing heavily from the work, she rested her hands on her hips and assessed each one. "What do you think?" she asked Rhys, gesturing to the row. "I like fourth from the left, but third from the right is beautiful, too."

TAGS – Rhys Collins[break]
NOTES – mechanical kingdom #3

[attr="class","pkmn"]

The sound of Rhys' sickness jolted Yumi from her musings. She scrambled to her feet to follow, her Pokémon in tow. [break][break]

As their group wandered through the passage and subsequent chamber, she made no comments—uncharacteristic behavior. But she was exhausted from running and screaming; she wanted nothing more than to find a way back home. [break][break]

Unfortunately, they came across a different danger, one she recognized from previous encounters. But unlike the others, this Volcanion spoke, its thundering voice shaking her bones. [break][break]

This fact alone made Yumi hesitate even when Rhys urged her to run. Instead, she did the opposite and took a step toward the Pokémon. [break][break]

"I'm sick of fleeing," she said, exasperated. Addressing the Volcanion, she continued, "If you can speak, then you can understand our language." [break][break]

She took a deep, steadying breath. Her heart hammered wildly in her chest, but she refused to show it. [break][break]

"We're lost. We don't have any interest in hurting you or getting in the way of whatever you're doing here. If you could just show us how to get out of here, we'll go on our way and stay out of your business." [break][break]

Only then, in the light of Salazzle's fire and the glow of the Volcanion's body, did she notice what exactly the latter had been doing. Small objects of delicate make and intricate design lay arranged on a workbench near the Volcanion. [break][break]

The Pokémon peered at her like she was insane. Maybe she was. Then, finally, it relented: "Nay, mine duty is too great; I shalt not be distracted from this task until its full completion." [break][break]

Yumi sighed. "What if we helped you? What exactly are you doing?"

TAGS – Rhys Collins[break]
NOTES – mechanical kingdom #3

[attr="class","pkmn"]

At the mention of painkillers, Yumi weakly pushed against her mattress to struggle into a sitting position. She took the pills with some water from a half-empty bottle next to her bed, then picked up the mug of tea. [break][break]

"Thank you," she whispered to Mei before taking a cautious sip of the herbal medicine. Warmth filled her, coursing through her chest and stomach. [break][break]

Unfortunately, it did not relieve her of the pain or misery right away. [break][break]

"I need whatever got me this sick to throw themselves onto a fire and burn to ash," Yumi grumbled, putting the cup back down. Only then did she notice the new text notification on her phone. [break][break]

Sinking back onto her bed, she took her phone with her and checked the message. Her expression softened a fraction when she saw the name of the sender. [break][break]

nikkari hect.

TAGS – Mei Liu[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"I guess they are, but I don't see how they could have known I'd bring Kaoru with me," Yumi replied between gasps of air, eyeing her Tsareena. The Pokémon was oddly composed, as if waiting for the two humans to catch up. Rhys, at least, had recovered more quickly than Yumi. [break][break]

"Smart thinking back there, by the way," the woman said. "Your Tinkaton bought us some time." [break][break]

Unfortunately, their respite was short-lived. The elevator carriage shook with the weight of multiple heavy objects landing on the roof. Panic shot through Yumi. She fumbled for a Pokéball as the elevator lurched and picked up speed. [break][break]

"Get us out of here, Ryuusei!" she cried out at her Starmie after it had emerged. "We're going to crash!" [break][break]

The Pokémon's gem sparkled with psychic power. Then, miraculously, all of the humans and Pokémon within the elevator vanished with TELEPORT. They emerged a heartbeat later just outside the elevator chute on a lower floor of the building. [break][break]

Yumi did collapse to the floor that time. She willed her heartbeat to slow down as she gazed around the area. Several objects lay strewn about, inert. They appeared to be large, mechanical dolls, similar to the one she'd seen before in a portrait of a little girl. [break][break]

She would find out later that they were SOULLESS MAGEARNA.

TAGS – Rhys Collins[break]
NOTES – mechanical kingdom #3

[attr="class","pkmn"]

TAGS – MARILYN HASEGAWA Hitoshi Inoue[break]
NOTES – social

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","pkmn"]