Even here and now, Heather had a hard time believing this was all as simple as just a video game. Pixels or not, life was life. And this weirdass thing was alive, somehow. Maybe not in the same way everything else was, but somehow.

Brows furrowing determinedly, she gave a terse nod.

"Was gonna suggest the same thing myself."

She lifted the Pokeball, giving it one last wary look before throwing it.

"Go!"

And out would come pixelated Mk II!

Heather had never battled with a Pokemon that wasn't her own before. ... But then, she'd never battled with a SPRITE before, either. First time for everything.