From the Vast

Chapter 7: Village

Autumn wasn't immediately sure what to say after her daughter in law had left for her duties, uncertain about whether she ought to be cluing Anne in on just what was going on out there, especially in how it could be potentially related to her. One thing was clear though- she wanted to do something to help cheer the poor girl up, reaching over to gently stroke Anne's hand as it held the Fennekin doll to her side, the human's mind feeling like it was gradually withdrawing and spacing out of her immediate surroundings-

What she didn't expect was for Anne to recoil so abruptly at her touch with a sound somewhere between a whimper and a gasp, wide eyes immediately turning to look over at her as her own brain played catchup, growing more self aware at its own subconscious reaction-

"~O-oh, sorry Mrs-~"

"^Shhhhh, it's okay sweetie. It's my fault for not asking first.^"

The genuine reassurance did wonders at soothing Anne's mind before it had a chance to start tying itself into knots again, the glasses-clad face nodding before smiling shyly as her arm returned to its precious spot, within Autumn's reach this time, the Indeedee taking the cue and starting to deliver some well needed comfort again, more successfully this time.

"^There, there, I'm here Anne. If I can help in any way do let me know, okay?^"

Anne instinctively nodded along, taking a moment to actually start going through what these words implied, gaze roaming away from the little psychic as she gathered her words, eventually mumbling out-

"~Could I ask some qu-questions?~"

Autumn beamed at the little one in response, nodding firmly before looking around for a footstool or something else she could use to replicate her daughter's position from earlier, eventually realizing no such a thing was around.

"^Of course! Some clarity is the least you deserve in here after all this. Actually, lemme try-^"

Before Anne could even ask about what Autumn was about to try, the grandma answered for herself, her old body not appreciating the minor display of athletics as it attempted to climb onto the edge of the bed. Neither did the old mind that had to help her body out with a touch of telekinesis shortly afterwards, the end display awkward and clumsy enough to help break through Anne's anxiety a bit, her held in giggle music to Autumn's ears. As much as she could sense the girl tense up at the realization of her amusement being noticed though, her own quiet laughter in response thankfully defused the atmosphere before it could get more unpleasant for the little one.

"^Oh don't you worry Anne, I know full well I made a bit of a show of myself, hah!^"

"~...y-yeah, heheh. Umm, as to the question... w-where are we?~"

Autumn internally hesitated just a bit in response, unsure just how much of their secrecy was now fair game when it came to discussing it with the girl, but eventually settling on "all of it", especially since it felt like they wouldn't be sending her away anytime soon.

"^Well~ we never agreed on a single name for this village really. A village it is nonetheless, smaller than your human ones from what I know, nestled in between your towns.^"

The explanation made Anne's eyes go wider from behind the glasses, the girl instinctively leaning in closer as her hand continued to be pet.

"~L-like, an entire village? A village of P-Pokemon?~"

"^Mmmhm~!^"

"~Wow...~"

Anne's mind couldn't help but start roaming back towards a book she'd read years ago, its plot set in a place just like this, a secret Pokemon society away from prying human eyes... she'd read and reread it so many times the spine slowly began to wear out, and she was too self conscious to bring it up to Mrs. Graham, eventually just not borrowing it any more to make the wear less obvious. Granted, a prehistoric-looking settlement in the woods was nowhere near as sophisticated as a futuristic underworld, but she would take Autumn and Aria over almost every single character in that book combined.