"...Alright, everyone settle down for a moment. Let me finish explaining," said Professor Oak, clapping his hands to get the campers' attention.
"Today is the third day of our summer camp, and the activity for today is—filming a Pokémon mini-feature!"
"I'm sure some of you have filmed short videos of Pokémon before. To put it simply, we're talking about Pokémon promotional shorts—a way to showcase the charm of Pokémon and highlight the bonds between Trainers and their partners through short video clips."
"This kind of activity is quite popular in the Kalos region. Many people enjoy capturing their daily lives with Pokémon in short clips using something called PokéVision. It's a cultural trend that celebrates companionship and growth."
"In fact, in Kalos, shooting Pokémon videos is even seen as a stepping stone for Pokémon Performers to make their debut."
"And since this summer camp is a cultural exchange between Kanto and Kalos, what better way to immerse ourselves in Kalos traditions than by filming Pokémon shorts today?"
"Each of you will partner up with your Pokémon and shoot your own video. At 6:00 PM tonight, we'll gather in the camp's auditorium to review and score your works."
"Like the previous activities, your shorts will be graded on a scale of 0 to 10 points, so give it your all!"
After Professor Oak finished announcing the activity and its rules, the field that was usually buzzing with excitement was unusually quiet. Most campers wore troubled expressions.
Camper H: "A Pokémon short film? But we don't even have cameras! And even if the camp provides them, we wouldn't know how to use them!"
Camper I: "Exactly! And I've heard that once you finish shooting, you still need to edit it and add music and stuff, right? We're just kids—we don't know how to do any of that!"
Camper J: "Yeah, this whole making-a-short-film thing sounds way too complicated for us."
Instead of cheering, the campers began to grumble and worry. Even Gary and Green looked a little unsure. The only one who seemed calm was Ash.
"Filming a short Pokémon video, huh…" Ash rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then suddenly looked over at the female reporter standing beside Professor Oak. He noticed that this woman—Yoko—was watching the kids closely.
"Oh? You noticed me?" Yoko caught the calm gaze of the cool, black-haired boy in the crowd. A slight smile curved her lips, and a spark of curiosity lit up in her eyes.
"Alright, alright, everyone. I understand your concerns," Professor Oak continued. "Don't worry—we've already taken care of the technical side. Miss Yoko and her team will provide all the support you need."
"I'll let Miss Yoko explain the details," he said, stepping aside so she could take the lead.
"Hi everyone! I'm Yoko, a reporter from Saffron City TV. You can just call me Sister Yoko!" she said brightly, walking to the front of the group.
"I heard from Professor Oak that today's activity is Pokémon short films. So I specially requested something from our headquarters—100 Drone Rotom units!"
Gasps and murmurs spread through the crowd.
Camper K: "Drone Rotom? Is that some kind of new camera?"
Camper L: "Rotom? I've heard my neighbor's older sister talk about it… I think it's a kind of Pokémon? But what do drones have to do with Rotom?"
Excitement grew as unfamiliar terms sparked curiosity.
"Rotom is a very unique Pokémon," Yoko explained. "It has the special ability to possess electronic appliances and bring them to life. A Drone Rotom is a Rotom that has possessed a drone."
"You can control it just like you command your Pokémon—just tell it what you want to film. All the complicated camera work and processing will be handled by the Drone Rotom itself."
"Rinto!" she called out, turning toward the news van parked on the side of the training field.
"Got it!" responded a male staff member from the van.
Suddenly, with a sharp whirring sound, a Drone Rotom lifted off from the van's roof hatch, propellers spinning fast as it zipped toward the group of campers.
"Woooah!!"
"So this is Drone Rotom? Incredible!"
Though Drone Rotoms were already quite common in the Pokémon world—used in tournaments to film battles and even serve as automated referees—for a group of six-year-olds, this was futuristic tech at its finest.
While the kids listened intently as Yoko explained how to interact with the Drone Rotom, Ash was more focused on the machine itself, his eyes gleaming with interest.
Rotom truly was a miraculous creature. Not only could it travel as pure electricity through wires, but it could also inhabit various devices and give them life.
Rotom Phones, Rotom Dexes, Drone Rotoms—those were common.
But Rotom could even possess ovens, fridges, fans, washing machines, and lawnmowers, changing into different forms with altered stats and new elemental types. It was like pseudo-evolution—functional, powerful, and deeply fascinating.
A Pokémon like this… I need to catch one someday.
As Ash watched the Drone Rotom zip through the air above the camp, determination burned in his heart.
"Alright! Now that you all know how to command the Drone Rotom, come over here to claim your unit."
"Once you've got your Drone Rotom, feel free to begin filming your Pokémon short."
"Also, my team and I will be doing some small interviews during the day, so I hope you'll all cooperate and show us your best sides!" Yoko said with a wink.
All Campers: "Yes, ma'am!!"
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T/N:
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