[MINI EVENT] ☆T A N A B A T A☆

[ulternnpc]

Those from the four regions of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn and Sinnoh will be very familiar with the sight of bamboo stalks that are left outside decorated with colorful and sparkly paper decorations. There are people gathering around, helping one another put up paper amulet of varying colors to tie around the bamboo branches. On each amulet is a single wish that’s been handwritten by someone.

One can only hope that their wish will be heard…

---

At night, there’s a surprise to be found: an alternate colored Jirachi is out dressed in what’s clearly a handmade costume. Around its neck, is a colorful paper chain made of sparkly origami paper.



Not only has Jirachi come to grant wishes, Miniors are out and about bright and colorful. They’ll be dancing around seemingly trying to invite people to come join them in the festivities.

---

((OOC: Happy Tanabata! In the morning is a general mingle post. But as the evening sets in and Jirachi appears, it will start granting the wish written on your amulet whether big or small -- wealth, a long life, or maybe a way to return home. You're free to catch Miniors too, and there's a slightly better chance of encountering a shiny one as well. Just be careful of the ones still in their shell or you might just get a rather explosive surprise...

This event can take place at any town, so feel free to specify a location!))

Comments

[Pokemon death, see PokeDex and episode 79 of Sun & Moon]

[timidlyblooming]

A. Question

Lillie's seen others put up wishes for tanabata, but she's never done it herself.

She waited to see someone she could ask, the others all seemed so busy with their own wishes or helping someone else, that Lillie felt like too much of a burden to hang around them. She didn't want to bother them. But she desperately wanted to make her own wish, too... so, when she finally found someone who didn't appear to be busy just yet, she gathered up the courage to ask.

"Um... excuse me, do I need a special kind of paper to make wishes? Where do I get it from? Or will any paper do?" Lillie asked politely.

B. Wish

"I want to see my family again.
-Lillie"

C. Fading Stars

The Minior are as lovely as the first time she's seen them, but tempered now by the sorrow of knowing they don't have long to live. She'll never see them as just beautiful, colourful lights in the sky anymore. They're sweet and she can't help but (very gently, like she's afraid they might disintegrate faster if her touch was more than feather-light) play with them, but the sight was so...

Death was a part of life and they all seemed so happy, so their lives in space and even on earth must be happy, but they can't survive like that... maybe it was childish, stubborn even, but... she wanted to see if it could go differently, this time.

She couldn't fully accept it, she tried to search in her books for some other way this could go, and the only answer she found wasn't even certain and, looking at how many there were, probably not possible to save them all, but...

She might be tearing up a bit. The yellow one that had gotten attached to her, even though she hadn't tried to get very closee to any one of them, maybe she could save that one? She tossed a pokeball to capture it.

"I hope this works..." she whispered.

"Are you a trainer?" she asked anyone at the festival that looked like they might be a trainer and even some who didn't. "If you catch the Minior in a pokeball, you might be able to save them... please? They'll die in a day or two. They've lost their shells, they burned on the way down, but if you catch them, the pokeball might save them."

She'll give nearly the same explanation each time, as if it's a rehearsed speech, but sometimes, she'll be overcome with tears.

C

[domeinion]

[Alice looks with concern at Lillie. She's got Peeps and Fate following her around today, and she's just finished giving a curious Minior a Potion, so its shell is beginning to reform. She pats it gently and it flies off.]

That's right, you're Alolan like these little guys, aren't you? I've never seen one before, but I did remember hearing that a Poké Ball can stabilize them if they can't heal up and regrow their shell in time. No reason not to try! Did you catch one, too?

A

[closedbond]

X too was wondering the same thing but he'll note there's a basket left out with paper amulets, and markers for writing nearby the bamboo stalks. He already has one in hand when he heard Lillie approach him. Turning to meet her, he doesn't hesitate to hold the blank paper amulet out to her.

"I think this is what we write on...not that I'm completely certain. It's not a holiday I've celebrated back home." What exactly was he suppose to write on these anyway?

B. (assuming Lillie's already left the scene!!)

[goingallout]

Ash was just about to hang his wish when he noticed Lillie's name on her amulet. And as he read her wish, he looked at it with sympathy.

"Lillie..."

If they weren't in Ultern right now, things would've been easier. And there would've been a number of ways for him to help Lillie reunite with her family. But, well here they are. Now with this in mind, Ash was resolved put her in good spirits whenever they meet. It's the best he could do for her anyway...

C

[tworo]

In theory more than in practice, these days.

[He's never really had any Pokemon that were his. His closest Pokemon companion was the first Miraidon, who has long since found a true partner, and those poor creatures from the machine never wanted to be there in the first place. But Turo still remembers other days, and knows plenty of theory besides. He could be a trainer, if he liked.

But that all matters less than what Lillie has to say.]

Is that so? Well - don't be upset! There's a number of trainers here, so I'm sure that they can all be caught and treated!

[Chura Island; with an additional prompt of absolute awfulness for Jirachi]

[buson]

A. Wish
Completely in earnest, Buson was also tying up his own wish: the clumsiest, worst-looking blue paper crane you've ever seen, full of unfolded creases, lopsided, and uneven. If not for the beak and at least one uncrumpled wing, it wouldn't be possible to tell it was a crane at all!

This was the best paper crane he'd managed, the others were... well, they look even less like cranes, he was proud of this one! He looked like he wasn't sure if he should tie the others to the same long piece of string or just this one that looked (relatively) good compared to the other eyesores. He vaguely wondered if someone would laugh at his other attempts.

"I couldn't even finish all of them in time, huh?" he said, sounding disappointed, as he looked at the crumpled up birds. "There's no way an amateur could fold 27 in one day, huh... at least I got up to 7. Well, it kind of ripped, so maybe 6... that's gotta count for somethin', right?"

He kind of still wanted to keep trying, so he brought the paper along, but he had a feeling he'd miss the night and wouldn't finish in time, so he wound up folding and tearing a piece of the blue paper, just to write his wish instead.

"I want my friends to live happily, without fear or despair. -B"

B. Sugar Stars

The Minior are unusual to Buson and he's a little alarmed when he first saw the disintegrating shell of one scatter into dust—he'd nearly stepped on it, unaware, and for a second worried he'd crushed a Pokmon underfoot unaware)—until the Minior core flew up gently glowing.

"... cute little fella, aren't you? Did you just evolve?"

He wasn't sure what the shell was down there, maybe it's like a coccoon?

It didn't seem to say much, just smiling away. There were a lot all around. Buson didn't really get what the occasion was, but they looked a lot like konpeito. His belly rumbled at the sight.

"... makin' me crave konpeito."

C. Temptation

That... sure was a Legendary Pokemon and a shiny one at that. Imagine those odds?! The little costume's cute and all, but he didn't care about that right now, he could catch it! He could make so much money off of that. He could afford a house, he could run away, he could live comfortably! It wouldn't even have to go to Team Rocket, it could go to someone who just wants a Legendary Pokemon for some reason... but hey, would anyone even pay as high for it? ... he can't believe he's thinking like this right now, when Rayquaza being experimented on is still bothering him, but. It was so tempting. Maybe it could be his ticket out of his life back home.

He won't buy a place here, he wants to keep his money clean, but... a chance like this probably won't come up again in his world, what are the odds right? It'd be perfect, they won't know about it because it's in another world, he'll capture the Pokemon, cash it in his world, it won't be traced back to him, and he can escape, maybe even convince Bashou to come along, if he's going to be rich.

(Or Bashou'll turn him in. He can't imagine that, but... or Bashou'll refuse, and he won't be able to escape, because he won't want to leave Bashou behind, and he'll just have to sit there with his dirty money and knowing he ruined even the peace he had in Ultern.)

Was this worth it? Was escaping worth it if he was going to do it in a way he'd regret? He'd have more to regret if he stayed, so maybe it was a worthy sacrifice... who knows, maybe he wouldn't even have to use any traps and he could convince it to come along with him.

While debating that, with a smile aiming for friendly, but landing somewhere squarely in wolfish, all teeth and no warmth reaching his very stony, cold eyes, he approached Jirachi.

"... hey."

It's only when he's closed in on it that he really thought about the festival again. The way the tags hanging of its head looked like red tanzaku. Benevolence, gratitude, and respect for ancestors.

Was that gratitude he was showing...? What if his wish get ruined because of this selfishness? (But what if this opportunity was his wish being granted...!)

A

[domeinion]

It works. I mean, I always just hung the plain paper slips.

[Alice ponders her own wish slip, still blank as she tries to come up with a wish this year.]

Then again, Hosts aren't known for our coordination...

C - A wild Jirachi appeared!

[ulternnpc]

"Chii...?"

Upon being called, Jirachi turned to Buson and hovered towards him, oblivious to his true intent. There's an innocence behind its eyes as it looked over the man with curiosity. It wasn't sure why he called him out, but Jirachi could sense that Buson wanted something.

[ulternnpc]

Day -- Gilterrace at Churahana Flower Shop
[Manzana can be seen outside decorating a bamboo stalk with paper chains and also flowers. He seems to be in a good mood as he's humming to himself. While being on decoration duty he'll be stopping anyone who's passing by to come closer.

In his hand he'll be holding a paper amulet and a pen while holding it out.]

Ulsai! Would you care to put up your wish on the bamboo?

Night
[While others may be around enjoying the festivities with the Miniors and Jirachi, Manzana takes the moment to step away. He'll be seen with a single paper amulet in hand as he writes down his own wish.]

...I wish for my friends and family here to be happy, and that any future sorrows be short and fleeting.

[There's a small, sad smile on his face as he sighed.]

I have to make sure no one sees me hang this...

Night

[buson]

[He hadn't seen Manzana in so long! He's one of the people he missed the most, back in Johto and even Hoenn...

He quietly listened, not meaning to intrude, but he was curious.

He stepped forward and lightly tapped his shoulder.]

Manzana! [With a warm and glad voice, a big grin on his face, even if it didn't quite reach his eyes...
He'll hold his arm out, in case Manzana would like a hug, adding more quietly:] Sorry, was it supposed to be secret?

[ Day! I figured they should meet at last! ]

[bashou]

Uh, yes...?

[Bashou stops and holds out his hands, without really thinking about it.

It's tradition, isn't it? Bashou hasn't paid any attention to Tanabata for years, but it makes him feel nostalgic, and he used to love writing his wishes - even if he never really believed that they would come true.

They never did, and he can't possibly write down the things he might wish for these days. Not for other people to read.

Bashou suddenly curls his fingers into his palms and withdraws his hands.]

Actually...I don't know. No, I can't think of what I'd write, and besides...

[He doesn't want to be a downer on a festival day, even if being a downer is what he's good at, so he stops himself mid-sentence, before he can start talking about how there's no point to these things. In an attempt to get out of this awkward situation that he's created, he pretends that he's only just noticed the flower shop.]

Oh, do you work here? Would you happen to be Manzana? I think you might know my friend...

[ OOC: I am *not* expecting this one to come true, lol ]

[unchcsen]

A. A LOFTY BUT PREDICTABLE WISH... (DAY)

Volo has never experienced Tanabata before! Maybe some people in Jubilife Village had celebrated it, but if so, he'd missed it. It's been a long time, actually, since he took part in any kind of celebration...and that realisation makes him feel both wistful and excited.

After learning about the basic customs, Volo has managed to get his hands on some blank paper strips and a pen. Since he didn't know what the colours meant, he has picked up one of each colour...and a spare of each colour, just in case something goes wrong. (If there are any limits to how many wishes he can make, that knowledge has clearly passed him by!)

Volo sits down nearby, and uses the top of his backpack as a rest. Before he puts pen to paper, his hand is shaking. A few minutes later, someone might catch him hanging up at least ten identical wishes, scrawled in increasingly erratic writing:

'I wish to meet Arceus!'

"Maybe I should add more of these...!?"


B. MINIOR-WATCHING (EVENING)

Volo is sitting on the beach, accompanied by his Togekiss, as they both watch the colourful Minior dancing and rising into the air. Volo has no idea what they are, but he's awestruck by them.

The grains of sand on the beach are star-shaped, too; do they have any connection? Or are they something to do with the hundreds of wishes that people have poured out across Ultern?

Volo rests his chin upon his hand and thinks aloud. "Do you think those are Pokémon? They make such a lovely sight..."

[Iiii should finish their other thread, but--have a little know-it-all, eager to answer questions]

[timidlyblooming]

So, they're already starting to rise...

Lillie watched them, as well, finding them beautiful, but still somewhat sad.

She'd tried her best to save as many as she could and even encouraged others to do so, but of course, there were so many... it's inevitable that some would have to fade away... something that must be accepted, but she wished their stay wasn't so short.

When she heard Volo speak, she drew nearer to answer his question, with a small smile.

"Yes, those are a Pokemon called Minior. They live in space, eating dust, which creates heavy outer shells... when they become too heavy, they fall to earth, and their shells break and crumble, exposing their core. The colour of those Minior cores depends on what they eat.

"They fall on my home region, Alola, too. There are very few regions where they fall to earth, so this is a rare sight. They should be cherished..."

a

[domeinion]

I don't actually know if the amount is an active variable that can affect the outcome all too much. It is Tanabata, though. You're really excited about this, aren't you?

A. [because I had to]

[gold_drum]

Where Volo's hanging his wishes, he can find one stating "I want to be so rich I could buy Arceus!" in kind of badly scrawled letters.

Also, Gold happens to be sitting somewhere not too far, wearing a yukata and feeding grains to a flock of Ulternian Murkrow gathered around him.

[domeinion]

[Alice is all about this! She's got her more normal friends out, Fate the Smoliv in her arms and Peeps the Torchic perched on top of her hat, and in the morning she'll deliberate for a moment and write a wish.]

I wish for a breakthrough in understanding the Ulternian drift phenomenon

[To the point, Alice. She doodles a little Dome Fossil on the slip too.

Later in the evening, she'll show up to the festival and check out the Minior, and she's... giving them Potions and Berries and noting down the results. Some are beginning to regrow the shells around their bodies, and Alice excitedly takes notes.

She does see Jirachi, and while she doesn't move to catch it, she does offer it an ice cream sandwich.]

You wouldn't be the one who knows Rey, would you? I wonder how she's doing out there.

[ulternnpc]

Jirachi tilted its head at Alice's question, not knowing who she meant. But immediately its focus shifted towards the ice cream sandwich being offered to it, and hovered towards her before happily taking it.

To show its gratitude, Jirachi twirled around Alice. Yay! Free treats!

Ohritori [back just for the Tanabata~]

[serperiority]

Among he festival-goers, appearing rather confusee, but nevertheless well… a boy who had drifted back home quite somw time ago.
He was surprised to be in Ultern again, but took it in stride.

A. Request

Trip could be found enjoying festival snacks with Serperior, looking a little bit out of place (he didn’t have a yukata, after all!), taking photographs…

If he saw someone he recognized or who, perhaps, seemed to wear a similar size or only a bit bigger… Trip would make a hushed request:

“Hi, sorry to bother you! I just got drifted back, don’t suppose you could let me borrow a yukata? I’ll give it back by the end of the night, okay?”

B. Photo Opportunity

“Would you mind if I take your picture?” Trip asked, peering through the viewfinder, with an uneven smile.

C. Wish

He even wrote and quietly hung up a wish as well, although he was rather shy, and intentionally tried to obscure it behind others’ wishes.

“I want to be strong and remembered. -Trip”

C. (still on hiatus, shh)

[gold_drum]

Finally having an opportunity to wear the yukata a certain Calem once made for him, Gold's joined the party. For today, he's going to forget all his worries and just enjoy the views.

It took him a while to write down his wish, wondering if he should wish for something special this time, or just fall back on his usual wish. A part of him wants to write down wishing to see his family, or Silver, or maybe Trip, but... He doesn't want to be disappointed when it doesn't come true.

In the end, he writes down his usual wish: "I want to be so rich I could buy Arceus!"

And then he goes to hang it up... then stops on the spot, catching sight of the back of the head of someone familiar. Someone he was just thinking about.

The paper amulet escapes his fingers and slides on the air currents, landing right at Trip's feet.

B

[domeinion]

Trip!

[Alice turns with a smile, Fate in her arms chewing on a dango stick (at least it's food) and Peeps perched on top of her head.]

I don't see why not! How was home? Or did you drift somewhere else entirely?

[ B! Thought this could be fun... ]

[unchcsen]

So much of what happened in Ultern felt new and strange, but sometimes, Volo got a dose of familiarity, when he least expected it. This time, it was a question from a stranger, holding a contraption that Volo vaguely recognised, though it was smaller and different to the camera he'd seen back then...

"Would you mind if I take your picture?"

Volo remembered hearing the very same thing, from the doorway of a new building in Jubilife Village, back when he was a merchant. He'd been carrying his Togepi that day; now she hovered close to his shoulder, as a Togekiss. Thinking about all those intervening years made Volo feel happily nostalgic.

"Ah...that would be wonderful!" He reached out to touch Togekiss' head. "Would you mind taking a photograph of both of us?"

Ohritori Island, Various Locations

[themaskkeeper]

[A. Wish Making]

[Chenzira actually took part in this festival last year! So he's very excited to be celebrating it this year although he's a little sad he doesn't get to spend it with Marik. He knows his trainer wouldn't want him to dwell on it. He told him to have fun and make new friends so that's what he's going to do.

While he's capable of human speech, is able to read a little, he can't write very well. More like trying to get a three year old to write something. It's chicken scratch. Blame his trainer. He looks down at his amulet, furrows his brow with his tongue sticking out of his mouth, and a pen in his hand.

He requires some assistance.]


[B. Miniors]

[The Yamask watches the glowing pokémon curiously from afar. He's never seen them before...! But he knows approaching wild pokémon can be startling for them so he'll keep his distance.

It'll at least give him a neat story to tell Marik!]


[C. Bistro Le Yago]

[You should always try the local cuisine when celebrating holidays to better experience the culture!... is what Marik would say. Chenzira sits at one of the countertops, sipping an ApriJuice and a plate of Curry. The stools on either side of him are open if anyone cares to join him.]


[OOC: Default to brackets but I can do prose if preferred!]

A

[ulternnpc]

[What do you know? Larson was out and about to go hang up his own wish too! Noticing Chenzira with a paper amulet his eyes lit up in delight.]

Ulsai, friend! Are you writing down your wish?

[He'll walk closer with a bright smile on his face.]

Would you like me to hang it up when you're done?

Ohritori Island

[tworo]

[Turo has, of course, never celebrated Tanabata before. It isn't a common holiday in Paldea! Nonetheless, he's aware of the general custom. He only has to observe the proceedings for a few minutes before figuring out what he's supposed to do! At the open tables, he writes a wish - not displaying it intentionally, but anyone who happens to be looking can probably see that it reads in absurdly neat handwriting:]

I wish for Arven to be safe and happy.

[That done, he starts folding a very precise origami star! It's fun to make things a little fancy! Noticing someone nearby, he doesn't immediately assume they were reading over his shoulder, just offers:]

I can show you how to fold one like this, if you like?

[When it comes to Jirachi...well, he can't deny he's curious! Mythical Pokemon have never been his research focus, and Jirachi sightings in particular are unheard of in Paldea. But who wouldn't be interested?

He maintains a respectful distance. It isn't until no one else is around that he approaches. It's a steel and psychic type. He's not sure about psychics in general, but this specific Pokemon...he can't imagine it doesn't know.

Very quietly, he asks:]

Do you think I'm doing something wrong, here?

[But you don't get direct answers to your moral quandaries quite that easily, do you?

Later on, he can be found down amongst the Minior. Turo hasn't had any Pokemon with him since arriving to the islands, but it seems like he's finally broken that streak; he's caught a brightly glowing violet Minior, and is carefully applying a few potions and watching its dark shell start to knit back together.]

Are you happy, being so far from home? Oh, but you're still a Pokemon, I suppose. There's plenty of your own kind still around. [.....] Do you have any name preferences?

[The Minior spins. Of course it does not???]

[ First scenario! ]

[unchcsen]

[Volo flinches, realising that he's probably too close. He didn't mean to make the gentleman uncomfortable, he was just intrigued by what he was doing with the paper!]

That looks very fancy, sir! I'm not sure I'll be able to do it, but I'd love to try, if you have the time to show me how!

[Although he's already hung up several copies of his wish - to meet Arceus, of course - Volo still has more in his pocket. He takes one out and smooths down the faint crinkles.]

[closedbond]

A. Wish Making

[X is staring hard at the bamboo stalk with wishes that dangle upon them already. He's looking at his blank paper amulet frowning. It won't come true, but...]

I wish to see my friends.

[Once he hangs it up, he'll begin to leave.]

B. Playful Miniors
[X is out with his Quaxly, Coiffe when he spots the Miniors. Immediately his Pokedex will be out into his hands, hoping to retrieve any data on them. However he doesn't have time to look at what's on the screen as the Miniors are happily floating over to X, playfully bumping up to his face.]

He-hey!

[At least he doesn't sound distressed as there's a small laugh. X will reach out to give the closest Minior a pat.]

You're real friendly, aren't you?

B

[goingallout]

They're a lot more energetic than the ones I've met in Alola.

[Ash and Pikachu walk up to them with a smile.]

These little guys are called Minior! These Pokemon all came from space and eat up dirt from there.

[goingallout]

A.) Wish
I hope whatever hatches out of the Egg comes out healthy and happy!

[It's obvious that it's hastily written. There seems to be a Pikachu paw print just at the corner of the amulet too.]

---

B.) Egg Watch
[It's evening, and the festivities have died down. And as the Miniors make their departure, Ash and Pikachu decided to spend the rest of the night stargazing together. For those passing by you might find the two laying on the grass with their eyes affixed towards the sky. On his chest he holds an egg where his arms are wrapped around it as a means to keep it warm from the cold evening winds.]

Egg Watch

[serperiority]

[Trip had been walking around, finding good vantages for taking pictures of the Minior, when he spotted Ash and Pikachu.]

Hi, Ash, Pikachu.