“Hmm…” A light-bulb goes off above Navy’s head. He sits down in the sand, not caring for the battle going on close by. Hattori rushes to protect his master, shielding him from whatever harm might come his way. The detective turned gym leader begins to sculpt a castle in the sand. There’s no tools to help him, but he sculpts it with meticulous detail.[break][break]
Inevitably, this draws Jirachi’s attention. The wishmaker senses Navy’s focus. Jirachi joins Navy in the sand. As any good-natured child would, he starts to help out. Sensing Navy’s intentions, inferring what he’s going to build next, he watches Navy build one wall of the castle and then mimics it across the other side. What Navy does with manual dexterity, Jirachi achieves with psychic will. Sand lifts into shape as if on its own accord.[break][break]
“Yo, buddy. You can do all kindsa crazy stuff with your mind, right?” His question is framed innocently. Jirachi nods. Looking the part of some big brother up to mischief, he leans in, speaking just loud enough where Melody can hear.[break][break]
“I’m tryin’ reaaally hard to impress her. She wants to turn the sand to glass. Let’s make her wish come true.” At that, Jirachi practically beams. Myth and man unite for this purpose. Jirachi looks at the castle he has built with Navy. Together, they concentrate. He pours his psychic might onto the structure.[break][break]
The sand is suddenly scorching hot. Hot enough to terrify Navy. Sent backpaddling, he watches Jirachi’s display of psychic pyrokinesis. His will holds the sand perfectly in place while it is scorched. Navy has to look away. When the display ends, there is a castle of glass in the sand.[break][break]
“…man. You really are somethin’, kid.” Navy holds his hand out to Jirachi while he looks at Melody. Jirachi recognizes the gesture. The two share a high five and a cheer. “How d’you like that, Melody?”

[break][break]

+ Melody Miro

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Yeah, yeah…” The sheriff gives her a knowing look. A nod of understanding. Her words echo is his own thoughts. Partially, he just wanted to see what Jirachi was capable of. Beholding a legendary’s power with his own eyes is a far cry from hearing about them on paper. Even the battle back at League HQ didn’t quite sell Jirachi’s potential as much as this display.[break][break]
“I’ll work on it. Only Pokemon I’ve got now that could do that is Voyager, and he’ll end up loving you more than I do once he catches sight of you. You know how arcanine are.” He is utterly oblivious to the Freudian slip thrown into his words, giving her the same carefree smile as always.[break][break]
“You’ve got a good point, though. I imagine a lot of trainers plateau if they rely on legendaries. Kyle doesn’t need Big Bird, Entei, Terrakion…he can keep Hoenn save with just a Mightyena and a Smeargle.’ He observes, a mixture of admiration and understated jealousy in his voice. As much as he loves Kyle, he too wants to be that strong.

[break][break]

+ Melody Miro

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Pfft, did you just…say that out loud?” He laughs at the acronym, it feels like a very Melody thing to do. “Who would’ve thought the songstress that’s stolen Hoenn’s heart is a dork.” He doesn’t use that word very often. It’s a word on the edge of his vernacular, picked up from the younger kids he hangs out with rather than anything that occurs naturally within his atmosphere. Yet here, it feels apt. [break][break]
“…but, being serious, I’d rather be strong enough to not have to use Jirachi.” Jirachi has floated off once more. He busies himself giggling and chasing after flowers. Sleepy as the creature is, his black eyes are full of life. Everything seems fresh. He seems, from this Sheriff’s point of view, to be enjoying himself thoroughly merely existing in wherever the ehere and now leads him.[break][break]
“I want Vortigern and me to be so strong that we can take down legendaries without having to rely on one of our own – the way Primarina and you are strong.” He adds a platitude from one of the old sports movies. “A champion’s a champion, no matter what’s on their team.”

[break][break]

+ Melody Miro

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Language, Miss Miro.” He teases her with a smile. “Is that what you wanna teach the children of Hoenn, to drop f-bombs?”[break][break]
But that’s beside the real point. The real point is floating out across the field, basking in the sunlight and the wind. A star has fallen to earth and men inevitably think of how to use that star for their own ends.[break][break]
“Don’t think they’re ever gonna let me just take him outside willy-nilly. Well…maybe if I joined the Elite 4, or when I snag Lopez’s spot. That’s not the point though. Point is, for all is strength…” Running a hand through his own hair, the smile turns into a grimace.[break][break]
“…he’s just a kid. He should get to enjoy being a kid, not get tossed into this big gang war between Rocket and League. If he picks someone to give his powers to, that’s what’s gonna happen.” Navy’s shudder punctuates the point.[break][break]
“And to talk to people who’ve been blessed like that…sounds like a curse as much as it is a blessing. I’d rather just let him play, sleep, and never pick anybody.”

[break][break]

+ Melody Miro

[attr="class","pokeclass"]