Ima is really enjoying Milliways as an oasis of calm and tranquility in the middle of her busy day. For a place of peace and contemplation, the temple can be rather busy and chaotic.
But curling up in front of a fireplace by herself while reading a book is really nice.
The door opens, and someone enters. She hadn’t thought there was a bar behind here.
Walking next to her is a Pikachu.
Ima glances up from her book and looks down again.
Then she double takes and stares at the adorable yellow creature.
"Aww."
“Hello.” The girl calls out.
“I didn’t realize this place was hear; I can’t imagine how it would fit.”
"Ah. That's normal. This place is called Milliways and it's an interdimensional bar that shows up randomly at doors to other places."
She uses her pretending she didn't learn this today voice.
“Really? That’s cool. What dimensions does it go between?”
"Apparently, it's way too many to count."
“That’s a lot, then. What’s your dimension like?”
"I like it there. It's part of a small cluster of dimensions connected by a single finite one. We have a few kinds of magic."
“We have stories back home about people or Pokémon going between universes, but as far as I knew they were just stories. What’s that like?”
"Uh," she gives the question some though, "there are six worlds around but only three really have people in it. I have only really visited one once - during a small pilgrimage - I guess it isn't that different from having different countries. Except, with different skies and more extreme weather conditions," she feels she should be making a better case for her universe being cooler. "What is a Pokémon?"
"Oh, does your dimension have a different word for them? This here is Pika, he's a Pikachu."
She reaches down to her belt, and pulls off some spheres, one at a time, and thumbs them, sending out a red beam of light that coalesces into a creature.
"This is Rattchan, he's a Rattata. This is Dodosuke, he's a Doduo. This is Kitty, he's a Caterpie. This is Omny, he's an Omanyte. And last but not least, this is is Gravvy. He's a Graveler."
The last two of these Pokémon appear disinterested in the proceedings.
Ima is about to answer but is distracted by the cute critters. Even the caterpillar. "Awww, those are so cute! Are they safe to pet?"
"No thanks."
Pika shakes his head, for emphasis.
Gravvy and Omni are similarly uninterested, but the others are more enthusiastic. Rattchan, in particular, seems rather excited, and calls out "pet me!"
Ima blinks.
"Oh, I am sorry. I just assumed you..." she is not sure what is the tactical thing to say here. "She didn't act like you could."
“You can also understand them?”
"Yes? Ah, Milliways has a translation ward."
"That's really cool! I wonder if I can show Blue this place, he seemed pretty jealous that I was always able to talk with his Pokémon." She seems quite impressed by Ima's knowledge.
"I got the explanation from Bar... which is a female person who happens to be shaped that way. Uh, if you close the door behind you the door reverts to normal. You might find it again later, but it is sort of chance and some people never find the door again. But you can keep it open and call your friend if he is nearby? Ah, time stops in your world if the door is closed."
