A Faraway Place - NPC Account (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ulternnpc) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
farawayplace2022-11-01 08:10 am
ulternnpc) wrote in farawayplace2022-11-01 08:10 am
EVENT: Harvesting Bonds Festival (CLOSING)
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.
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! 🌺)
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Iris, still looking terribly confused, clutched at her skirt and bit her lip, but then nodded.
"I was in Blacktorn city, training with the Gym Leader Clair... there was a Gible getting into trouble, so I went to go find put what's wrong... it didn't mean to cause so much trouble."
Glossing over the clock tower (mis)adventure...
"I'm getting better at using my gift, so... I made a new friend," Iris said with a small, uncertain smile. "Um... oh! I was thinking of you and Cilan, when I saw Rayquaza and went after it!"
Did it bring her here...?
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...Realizing he got sidetracked for a second, Ash wore a sheepish expression before returning to the topic at hand.
"But that's weird. You said you were in Blackthorn City?" He then frowned. "I thought you went back home after the tournament alongside Alain and Steven."
Both Ash and Pikachu crossed their arms. Maybe things would make sense if he started explaining his side too?
"As for me, I was doing some last minute training with my Pokemon." Ash glanced at his Pikachu who nodded. "My next match was against Cynthia, so we all had to prepare."
However she would know that by now, right?
1/2
2/2
"... I wasn't at any tournament with Alain and Steven," she said, cheeks colouring, but now at the embarrassment of being compared with such.
"To begin with, those are all Champions, aren't they? Masters 8... are... are you saying we're Champion Master level trainers?" she asked, but now grew a bit bolder and more serious as she asked it.
She was starting to get an idea of what happened.
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"I mean, you're Unova's Regional Champion." Ash finally admitted, "Drayden told me how you went into more adventures after your training. And then you ended up becoming the Champion afterwards."
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She knelt down on the ground and drew two parallel lines with her index fingers, then stopped, raising one finger while the other continued on.
"I think it's like this. Whatever brought us here, took you from a later time in your journey and me earlier in mine. But... the fact that you remember me and I'm there, accomplishing all of this..."
She continued to draw the other line she had stopped, to continue parallel to Ash's.
"... maybe there is only spirit to keep me alive there and my soul is here? Are we dreaming? The soul can travel without the body, even while a person is living and even awake..."
But could it happen for this long? Iris folded her arms and tried to think, feeling she really needed to ask the Elder about this...
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As he watched Iris draw two lines together, the gears in his head continue to turn.
"So you're saying you're from the past for me, and I'm from the future for you?"
Ash was no stranger to weird timey-timey wibbly-wobbly shenanigans. So it... somewhat made sense to him. Somewhat. Does drifting also mean people from different points of time get pulled into Ultern too? He rubbed the back of his head, attempting to ease in the growing headache. Thinking about them always get far too complicated...
He then tiled his head at Iris' second comment.
"Like an out-of-body experience? I don't think so... I don't feel like my body's floaty or anything." He could still feel his heart beating, and he felt pretty solid from top to bottom. "But one thing's for sure, we're all drifted here. That's what all the locals would tell me."
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But as he went on with his musing, Iris hummed thoughtfully.
"Maybe it just feels solid because this whole place is another world, one of spirits... maybe," Iris said, then finally returned to her feet. "Drifted? We could probably learn more if we asked them about this region, what their stories are, maybe find out how it came to be. That could give us clues!"
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Unfortunately, Ash doesn't quite buy the fact about being in a world of spirits. But he's more than eager to learn more about Ultern though!
"I'm down with that! Pikachu and I have actually been around much longer than you do, but I feel like there's so much more to Ultern that I don't know yet."
"Pika-chu!" His partner agreed.
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However, hearing he had been here long…
“U-um… how long?” Iris asked, her newly recovered bravery faltering a bit.
Because if they ARE away from their bodies, being away too long…
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"Around three months, I think."
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It's been that long for him?
She didn't look so confident anymore, a mixture of sorrow and pity creasing her features. "If we're gone too long, I don't think we'll be able to return... we might never be able to go back to our old selves!"
The bodies they left behind could get sick or even die! That was what weighed on Iris' mind.
1/2
Ash stood there, feeling a sharp pang of guilt as he watched his friend slowly falling into despair. He too felt the same way when he learned about the fates of most drifters in Ultern. Bearing the knowledge that they may never return home... it still pained him. But seeing Iris reacting similarly however, pained him even more.
He raised his hand, but then hesitated, wondering if it was the right approach to comfort her. But as Ash continued to ponder, his hard grip on the basket he was holding made him remember what he was supposed to do.
2/2
"Take it." He nodded. "I know it's hard, finding out you might never come back home. But... I'm sure things will work out somehow!"
And then he smiled reassuringly.
"We'll find a way, like we always do!"
1/2
Until she felt the crinkling wrapper of the candy in her palm.
She blinked as if waking from an unpleasant dream and finding herself coming back to reality.
"This is..."
She made a face, confused, incredulous.
"Candy?"
2/2
Like a miracle, she found herself laughing again, even though she'd felt as good as dead a mere second ago. She did end up crying, but coupled with laughing, it all washed away with a sense of relief.
A very confused and stunned Axew emerged, who had previously kept hidden away, clinging to Iris, not understanding what was happening, but now, he felt a lot better seeing Iris happy again too.
"You never change... honestly, candy, at a time like this..." she muttered, but then quickly brightened. "You're right! I mean, seriously, if we're supposed to be Champions... or Champions-to-be... we'd better act like 'em! We can't just give up here, it isn't our style, and we've got to set a good example!"
In a tone a touch softer, Iris added, "Thanks, Ash."
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"Hey now! I figured it might cheer you up somehow, and it worked didn't it?" He let out a laugh. Plus seeing that frown really doesn't suit Iris, especially after seeing her future-self's frustrating loss in her match against Cynthia. But she's right, they're Champions aren't they? And just like a Champion, they can't just give up and keep going stronger!
At Iris' thanks, he nodded in response.
"Heh, I'm just glad to see you're feeling better."
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"So, what've you been doing here? Learned anything interesting?"
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"But right now, I'm here to have fun! Pikachu and I even got this cool costume from a guy named Calem!" Ash gestured to his clothing before continuing. "Oh, and I'm also helping Calyrex out giving all these candy away!"
He raised his basket for Iris to see.
"There's a few left in here, and I wanted to make sure this basket's emptied out before we head back."