EVENT: Harvesting Bonds Festival (CLOSING)

[ulternnpc]

 

As the sun is beginning to set, a crowd gathers around Gilterrace's town plaza, some of them holding their freshly harvested goods from their fields. One by one, they pile them in front of a small shrine and fold their hands together as they begin to chant.

 

"May you bless our offerings as we wish for another bountiful harvest to come."
 

 

Unbeknownst to the townsfolk, Calyrex has been watching them at a distance with a look of intrigue. He too would like to bring happiness to these people, knowing they have worked hard for this. And clearly offering a more bountiful harvest is just what he's good at!

 

After a moment of deliberation, the legendary Pokemon hovers over the food pile while glowing in a gentle blue light, and starts doing a little jig. And with a wave of his left hand, all of the fruits and vegetables around Gilterrace start growing until they are twice larger than their usual size.

 

As the crowd cheers and rejoices, the strums of the sanshin could be heard and playing a very cheery yet familiar tune to some of the drifted out there. This also draws in many Pokemon, wild or not, joining amongst the crowd, though there is a noticably fair amount of Ghost-types gathering as well. And with Calyrex dancing along to the music, they all soon start to sway their arms from side to side as they dance alongside the King of Bountiful Harvests.

Much like with the summer festival, it is a sign that today's festivities is drawing to a close. And they will keep dancing until the music finally stops the moment the night falls.

---

 

(🌺 This marks the end of the event! Feel free to join in the partying, make friends with ghosts, or get a free enlarged produce to take home! 🌺)

Comments

[heartofdragons]

It's different from the festivals Iris was used to back in her own home, but it also reminded her of the Kantonese festival she, Ash, and Cilan saw that one time...the harvest was a sacred time for many nations, even in Unova, that was something she could easily relate to. It did make her a little homesick, though, and the air after a festival was over was always... kind of lonely.

For the first time since arrival, Iris felt very, very lonely.

So, she did what she always did when she was alone and climbed to the highest point she could and watched the horizon change colour, the fading gold of the sun and the purple-pink hues where the night and day skies intermingled.

[goingallout]

After a really fun and eventful day thanks to today's festival, Ash and Pikachu (both in their Ho-Oh and Shi-Sah inspired garbs) remain in town hoping to give away a few remaining candies in his basket before settling down at the Pokemon Center. As they walked, Pikachu was the first to notice Iris as his ears perked up.

"Pikapi Pi-ka!"

"Huh? What is it Pikachu?" Ash asked, but when he followed Pikachu's gaze and looked up, he stopped and his eyes widened, realizing who it was.

"...Iris?" She's here too, he thought. And his worries begin to form. She's here too.

[heartofdragons]

Iris sighed. She could never really see her village from up here, especially in another region, but the colours of the sad sunset soaked into her and the wind seemed to carry away some of her sadness. It felt like having someone to share it with, so she felt lighter already.

But, it felt almost as if… someone had called her name.

Axew clung fast to Iris, hidden in her hair, so he didn’t really want to look from such a height, but Iris had no such fears, and looked bravely down.

“… A-Ash?! And Pikachu?!”

[goingallout]

Pushing his worries aside, Ash forced himself to smile as he waved at Iris.

"Heeey! I didn't think you'd be here too!" he said out loud.

That wasn't a lie, he didn't expect more of his friends to show up in Ultern. And while that's... increasingly concerning to Ash, a part of him also felt relieved to know he wasn't exactly alone in this. As selfish as it sounds.

[heartofdragons]

"Ash!"
A smile spread across her face and she quickly moved, shaking off the clinging tears.
"Just a sec! Hold on tight, Axew."

Naturally, Iris leapt down, with a couple of jumps off the surface towards the end to decrease her momentum and make for a softer landing. It's still ridiculously reckless, but it's Iris!

Selfish though it might have been, misery loves company and sorrow's easier to bear with friends! That's not such a bad thing... Iris wasn't aware yet of there being anything unfortunate about the circumstances of their reunion. As far as she was concerned, a little miracle occurred and just when she was feeling lonely and homesick in an unfamiliar land, an old friend suddenly appeared!

[goingallout]

As he watched her leap off, Ash quickly stepped back just enough to give her room to land. It was expected, after all that was just how Iris does her thing. And it was nice that what she usually does hasn't changed much.

He retained his smile, though it was less forced and now a bit more relaxed due to that relief he felt.

"To be honest, I actually wanted to see you again!" Ash admitted that much. He wanted to see everyone again in fact. "So how are you doing? And when did you get here in Ultern?"

It was slightly unusual for Ash to ask when someone arrived first thing rather than why, but that's because he knew why they were all here in the first place.

As he asked, Pikachu happily hopped over to Iris' shoulder just to nuzzle against her cheek in greeting. It's so good to see you again!

[1/2]

[heartofdragons]

She landed in front of him, first in a kneel, then rose to her feet, smiling.

How straightforward Ash was caught Iris off-guard and she blinked, blushing, then burst into laughter.

"I missed you too! You and Cilan..."

It felt nostalgic to be talking with Ash again. "Well, not too long! Maybe... let's see.. maybe a month?"

[heartofdragons]

There's that soft cheek she hadn't felt in SO long, Iris couldn't resist hugging and cuddling Pikachu.
"And, of course, I could never forget you, Pikachu!! You're so cuuute!"

Axew happily scampered over, across Iris' other shoulder, group hug?!

[goingallout]

"A... month?"

Ash's eyes widened. Well that's... a fairly long time actually. The worries that were weighing on him, that he tried to conceal, are now visible in his expression. But before he could continue, Iris' Axew caught his eye and watched the dragon Pokemon playfully drew his Pikachu into a hug.

...Hold on, there's something off about the whole thing right now.

"...Hey Iris, that Axew..."

Pikachu on the other hand was surprised at first. However, he started picking up Axew's scent, and... like Ash, he too senseed something was off. He stared at Axew for a moment and then tilted his head.

"Pikachu, Pika pika?" Weren't you supposed to be... bigger? He asked.

[heartofdragons]

Iris looked confused and a little bit unsettled by Ash's expression, toeing the ground and shrinking away a bit. "H-hey... is something wrong? Are you feeling alright, Ash? Don't you remember? He's been with me from day one. This is the Axew I left the Dragon Village with, the one who I was supposed to raise, so I can be a Dragon Master someday."

Someday. This Iris is not a Master of any sort, yet.

"Axew-yew...?" 'Bigger, how...?' Axew asked, tilting his head. "Axew-yew, axew-axew!" 'I'm the same Axew as always!"

[beforepictures]

Trip loved festivals! He's never been to this one before and the music wasn't very familiar to him, but a he liked the caramel apple he got! That's familiar anywhere. He wandered around, quietly enjoying the sights and sounds, until he saw more Pokemon join... Ghost types! He was utterly amazed and dazzled by them, watching them with wide-eyed excitement!

He wanted to get closer to them! But he was a bit too shy to actually do much aside from admire them.

[goingallout]

Meanwhile Ash and Pikachu continued to wander around as there's still a few more candy in the basket that's left in it, and he wasn't sure who else he should give. He felt like he's given candy to the entire town by this point. That was when he spotted Trip not too far from where he was and quickly approached him.

"Hey kid! I've got-" And then he cut himself off, as he took another look at the boy and noticed... something awfully familiar with him.

...Why does he look eerily like Trip, but younger?

[beforepictures]

He was so taken by the Ghost type Pokemon, he hadn't really noticed Ash approach, he only turned when he called him.

He turned wide grey eyes up to him, blinking in confusion, and wondering if he did something he shouldn't have. Why was the older boy staring at him?

"... um..."

[goingallout]

Immediately Ash snapped out of his thoughts after Trip spoke.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to space out like that..."

And he finished with a gentle smile before lowering himself to the younger boy's level.

"Y'know, a Pokemon asked me to help it out in giving away all this candy to everyone in town." He pulled out a single piece of wrapped candy from his basket before offering it to the boy.

"Here, take it."

[beforepictures]

Trip shook his head, as if to say it was okay, to Ash’s apology, and wondered if he was thinking about something, but was too shy to ask what.

But, when Ash offered a piece of candy, Trip happily accepted it.

“Thank you!! A Pokemon…?”

He looked very curious and excited, but also a little suspicious.
“But, Pokemon can’t talk… how did it ask you?”

He can tell if someone is treating him like he’s dumb because he’s little! … but, if Ash isn’t making fun of him, then maybe…

“Are you putting on a show?”

Trip was practically running circles around Ash, examining him. Might be shy, but also excitable and curious!

[goingallout]

...Okay this kid seemed to have the same skeptic look Trip often wears. Ash quickly shook his head.

"No really! There's a Pokemon named Calyrex, and did ask me to hand out these candies around!"

He then looked around for a moment, but as far as he could see, there was no Calyrex in sight. Ash cupped his chin with a thoughtful look.

"Hm, he might be somewhere else in town..."

[beforepictures]

Trip’s excitement to meet a new Pokemon overtook any skepticism (and he had it in spades!) about Ash’s story. Just the possibility of meeting one, however small, was exciting!

“That’s a Legendary Pokemon, isn’t it?! I’ve read about it! Is it really here? Let’s go look for it!”

Tugging on Ash’s hand, come on, let’s go look for it!!

will have calyrex (feat. banyan) show up next 👌

[goingallout]

From the excited looks to the tugging on his hand, that only got Ash to let out a laugh.

"Haha, alright! Let's all go look for Calyrex!" Ash grinned, "I'm sure it can't be that far."

Taking hold of Trip's hand, Ash led the way while making sure not to let go and hopefully not get the little kid get lost amongst the crowd.

[gold_drum]

"Hiya!" a cheerful boy's voice calls out to get Trip's attention.

Gold, clad in a black cape and a wizard hat, with an Ulternian Murkrow perched on his shoulder, might be an intimidating sight in the dim light if he wasn't smiling brightly and carrying a basket of large vegetables.

"You liking the Harvest Festival? I helped set it up, you know!"

Sure, he's mostly here to check that the little kid that seems to be all alone is doing alright, but that doesn't mean he can't brag while he's at it.

[beforepictures]

Trip wasn't scared, he thought he looked very cool!

"You look like a fairy tale!"
Meant as a compliment, surely.

"Uh-huh!" Trip nodded eagerly, hands balled up in excitement. "I like it a LOT! You did a good job!"

He's used to being alone, so he didn't really consider it out of the ordinary, but he's happy to speak with Gold.

"Is that your Pokemon or are you b... borrowing it for the costume?" he asked, a little bit more cautiously.

Murkrow looked very big to him! Was it friendly?

[gold_drum]

"Thanks!" Gold grins and lets his cape flutter. He knows a good compliment when he hears it.

Gold puffs his chest proudly. He set some decorations and helped cook one dish, so clearly, this whole festival only turned out well thanks to him!

"Oh, this guy? Nah, he just showed up on his own," Gold says, looking at the Murkrow, who caws. "And a whole lot of his friends, too. Look, you see them?" Gold points up at the nearest high place for a Murkrow to perch. The rooftops, the trees, the lightposts... Anywhere a Murkrow can sit, there's at least one. "They think I'm a friend 'cos of my hat. It matches theirs, see? Well, I guess I am a friend to them, since they stopped swarming around me and getting in the way, so now we're chill." A few of the Murkrows caw in response from the rooftops. "So yeah, I think they're wild Pokemon, but they don't seem dangerous or anything?" Gold hopes that's enough to reassure the kid.

"Anyway, what's your name? I'm Gold."

[beforepictures]

The festival would have been all the poorer without that one dish and those decorations!

"Oh... then, maybe they came for the festival, like the Ghost type Pokemon?" Trip asked, cautiously, but now definitely more reassured. "I'm Trip!"

He looked up at the Murkrow and reached up, grabbing locks of his own hair. "Mukrow's not going to swoop on me because I'm not wearing a hat, is it? Do I need a costume?"

[gold_drum]

Clearly!

"Yeah, they're here to party, I bet," Gold says. Something about the festival just seemed to attract Pokemon of the mysterious kind. "Nice to meetcha, Trip!"

"Hmm... I dunno?" Gold glances at the Murkrow on his shoulder. "You wouldn't, would you?" The Murkrow just caws. "I dunno what that means, but it's probably fine. You could get a costume anyway though! Just for fun." He glances around. "I wonder if there's anything that'd work." Maybe they could borrow some of the party decorations...

[beforepictures]

Trip felt more relieved. "Then, that's okay! Nice to meet you too, Gold, sir... and Murkrow."

Should he greet the Pokemon too? That sounded kind of funny!

"Costumes are fun! Like going trick or treating..."

Trip looked around at the fruits and leftover decorations.

"Um... oh, I could maybe wear a pumpkin! Or is that too heavy, even if we took all the stuff out?"

[gold_drum]

Murkrow caws in reply. Seems he's happy to be greeted.

"Oh! Trick and treating! I know about that!" Gold says with a look of excited recognition. "Have you ever done it? I just did for the first time ever today! It was great!"

Gold looks around at the decorations too.

"Hmm... Yeah, you're right, it'd probably be too heavy. And a bunch of them have candles and stuff inside..." Gold picks up one of the plastic Crobat-shaped decorations he helped place. "Maybe this could stay on your head... Oh!"

Another Murkrow flies down, helpfully carrying a small plastic pumpkin decoration with a ribbon tied around its stem, and caws as it sets it down.

"Wow, nice find, Murkrow! Hey, Trip, how about that?" he asks. "You could wear the pumpkin as a hat, and we could tie the ribbon around your head to make sure it doesn't fall! Or we could tie this Crobat thing! Or both, but I think that'd fall easier... I dunno, what do you think?"

Wow, Gold suddenly thinks, this must be what being a fashion stylist is like. He feels so cool and grown-up.