Suddenly in the midst of a Summer Festival--

[ulternnpc]

 

There's a distinct sound of waves, and bustling of people nearby.

In the coastal city of Turnbloom the sun is bright and warm, and the scent of the sea wafts through with the cool gentle breeze that makes the glittering pinwheels spin, and the leaves on the palm tree dance.

Today the streets are extra decorated with these cute, colorful and floral shaped pinwheels. It seemed the people who were out in the streets were dressed in colorful summer attire--either casual, or the more traditional yukata. It seemed like with the booths were set out for both food and games for festival of some kind that was currently underway.

Just how did you get here, and why? A mystery, and it seemed the people in the streets didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary as they go about enjoying their time out on this bright sunny day.

---

(🌺Please don't forget to check out the OOC post for those who haven't yet!🌺)

Comments

Lillie

[timidlyblooming]

A.

Lillie couldn't remember coming here, but the sound of the waves and the sea-scent in the air is familiar. She also had Snowy, safe in her arms, although equally mystified. When the sea breeze blew past and turned the pinwheels, she felt a rush of joy and burst into a great big smile, whirling around a bit herself!

It was a lot like Alola, isn't it? The clothes, however, were different and interesting to her, particularly the yukata.

B.

She was so caught up in it all, that she momentarily forgot her hat—how very unlike her—and the wind sent it flying clear off.

"A-ah...!"

She tried her best to chase after it, Snowy leaping to the sand and bounding after it too, barking. Would you please help them?

B

[princeofpasio]

Lear wasn't really in the best of moods. Who would be when being in one place one moment, and another the next moment? That and anyone he demanded answers from were too caught up in the festivities. The nerve of them! Ignoring him when he was clearly distressed!

His thoughts are however put to a momentary halt upon spotting a hat flying off in the wind. Without a moment's hesitation he snapped his fingers, as Hoopa came sweeping by to easily catch Lillie's hat.

Instead of flying over to Lillie with the hat in tow, Hoopa will make his way over to Lear before placing the hat on top of his head.

"W-what the?! Hoopa, no this hat isn't for me-"

"Hoopapapapa!" The mischievous Pokemon giggled in response.

[timidlyblooming]

“Ah…!”

Lillie made a face at Hoopa making off with her hat, but then pushed herself to run just a bit more until she reached Lear, arriving out-of-breath, hands on knees.

“Th-…”

She wanted to explain it was her hat, but she was still catching her breath, so she stopped talking until she was no longer winded.

[princeofpasio]

Lear despite his complaints to Hoopa, lifted the hat off from his head. He's making a face to his partner Pokemon (which only earned a giggle from Hoopa, honestly) he turned his attention to Lillie.

He immediately recognized her, but she was in clothes he didn't normally see her in. Puzzled, he made his way closer to Lillie with Hoopa not too far behind. He'll then hold Lillie's hat out to her.

"What are you doing in a place like this? Where are your friends?" Like Elio or whatever, he wanted to add dismissively but waited for her to catch her breath first. He wasn't that heartless.

[timidlyblooming]

"Oh, thank you!"

She gratefully accepted her hat with the tips of her fingers and smiled happily, even giggling a little, although she was still a bit tired.

"I... you know, I really don't remember! I was home, in Alola... that's the last place I remember being... could Nebby have teleported me again?"

But, he was asking about her friends? That surprised her!

"Have we met...?"

Was this an old friend of her mother's or perhaps her father's that she wouldn't remember...?

[princeofpasio]

Nebby? Lear crossed his arms frowning. He didn't know what Nebby was exactly, but it sounded like a Pokemon to him. Perhaps a little like his Hoopa, which he couldn't help but glance at. Hoopa in response was grinning wide as he made his way to float by Lear's side.

"Hm?" Glancing over to Lillie a frown formed. She didn't recognize him? That was odd. How could she so easily forget who he was? Unless...? "Have you perhaps hit your head somewhere?"

Lear spoke, not realizing how rude his question may come across. Hoopa was giggling once again while doing a little twirl in the air.

[timidlyblooming]

"What an unusual Pokemon...!" Lillie said, watching Hoopa fly.

But before she could think to ask more questions about Hoopa, his question, rather than offending Lillie, impressed on her a look of genuine fear.

Snowy made a concerned, fox-like bark at her side, looking sadly up at her, as Lillie half-stumbled as she stepped back.

"... h-...have I lost my memories... again...?"

But what could have possibly led to her repressing memories this time?!

[princeofpasio]

Wait, that Pokemon by Lillie's side didn't look familiar. Since when did she have an Alolan Vulpix? Or perhaps she simply didn't bring Vulpix along with her in Pasio? That wasn't out of the realm of possibility.

While he was considering such thoughts Lear took notice of her odd behavior. A frown formed as he stepped closer. What did she mean by having her memories wiped?

Oh no, oh heck. He looked around trying to find any signs of her friends, or really any familiar faces to help console her but unfortunate for him it was just them and their Pokemon.

"Calm down! You wouldn't be the only one with memory problems here! I don't exactly recall how I came here-" even if he had a sneaking suspicion it was because of his Hoopa, but he'll keep that information to himself. Speaking of Hoopa the little mischievous Pokemon made it's way over to Lillie before playfully nudging at her.

There's a sigh from Lear, deciding that fine. He'll relent to Hoopa's shenanigans for the time being.

"...and it seems Hoopa here doesn't want you to be too concerned either."

[layers of misunderstanding!]

[timidlyblooming]

Lillie raised her head, tears brimming in the corners of her eyes, but to her credit, they haven't spilled yet. No, she was trying her best to handle this bravely, even if it made her feel wary of what she has to uncover... she wanted to remember everything. Snowy offered a nuzzle of affection and Lillie gathered her up.

Hoopa also made her feel braver and she gave it a gentle, reassuring smile, nodding at it in grateful acknowledgment, before turning sympathetic, but determined eyes to Lear.

"I'll help you remember, if you want to... if you're ready to. No matter how terrible a memory, I want to live knowing what happened to me."

A

[goingallout]

Ash is just equally confused when the world around him suddenly shifted the moment he looked away while training. However, there was a familiar sight just up ahead that he was more than happy to see.

"Lillie!" Ash called out to her as he waved, "Lillie, am I glad to see you! And you too Snowy!"

He glanced at the Ice-type, grinning.

[timidlyblooming]

“Ash!” Lillie cried out happily, racing over to him. “It’s so good to see you again! You’re always there at the right time…”

Snowy barked happily, waving its many tails.

[goingallout]

Pikachu responded back to Snowy with a greeting of his own, and happily wagging his tail at their sudden reunion. Ash meanwhile places a hand over Snowy's head to pet it.

It's good to see Lillie's here because there was one thing that's in his mind right now.

"So uh, where are we anyway?"

[timidlyblooming]

Snowy happily leaned into his touch, pressing its face into his palm and batting paws around his wrist, hugging his hand a little. Snowy’s tails fluffed up and it looked especially content with them there.

“I… have no clue yet,” Lillie admitted. “I was hoping you knew! But it’s okay, if we both don’t know, then…”

It probably wasn’t that something so scary happened that everyone blocked it out… right?

[goingallout]

"Oh, is that so?" Ash cupped his chin. Well if Lillie doesn't know, then there's one other thing to do! "Then let's go around find out where we are! Maybe someone out there knows!"

[timidlyblooming]

"Good idea! Do you want to split up or will we go together?"

Maybe one of them could talk to shopkeepers and one to festival goers! Or something like that...

[goingallout]

As Ash hummed in thought, his eyes trailed towards the crowd where the festival is taking place.

"...It might be faster if we split up and ask as many people as we could."

And as the gears in his head start turning, he spotted a small fountain just nearby. That seemed like a good enough landmark to remember.

"And if we find anything, let's meet up again over there! How's that sound?"

A

[kahunanu]

[ Nanu was no stranger to contemplative walks on the beach, but typically he did it at night. Skin this pale didn't keep itself, which is why he approaches Lillie with parasol open above his head. Dryly, he rumbles from somewhere behind her. ]

Sun's strong enough to roast you alive if you aren't careful, girl.

[ He'd seen her at a distance and would be remiss if he didn't touch base with the first Alolan face he'd seen here yet. ]

[aloooolaaaaa!]

[timidlyblooming]

[She looked up at the shade, surprised to hear another familiar voice here.]

Mr. Nanu, alola!

[It feels so good to say that greeting again even if it's to the Kahuna and police officer who most often shirks his duties!]

I should be fine with my hat, I think... I didn't bring a parasol when... ah... I still don't remember how I arrived to this place.

[Of course, her parasols were western style ones, white, usually with frills and lace cut-outs.]

Do you remember anything, Mr. Nanu?

[The thought did trouble her, but it couldn't be that they had all gone through something so horrible, they all blocked it out, right...?]

that's what the a is for

[kahunanu]

Alola. [ He returns the greeting, though there's little enthusiasm in his tone or his wave. It's a reflex. In this context however, a sound from home is welcome to his ears. ]

You too? [ He rumbles, rubbing the back of his head. ]

How inconvenient. [ Much as he'd bitterly joke about Aether causing a problem like this he manages to bite his tongue around Lillie. He could practically here Acerola scolding him for even thinking about it. ] Maybe the Tapus were feeling particularly spiteful.

[ He looks her up and down quickly, just to make sure she isn't obviously hurt anywhere. ] I woke up on the beach here. Knew it wasn't Ula'ula right away. Sand isn't the same.

You got your Pokemon with you? [ Such a question might not add much towards figuring out the mystery but maybe he'd feel reassured knowing someone like her had some additional protection with her. ]

[timidlyblooming]

I don’t think it was them, Mr. Nanu… Ash is here too and others from different regions!

The… sand, Mr. Nanu?

[She hadn’t considered it in all her searching! She knelt down, tucking her skirt as she did to keep it in place, and gathered a handful of sand.

It really did look and feel completely different and what a charming shape…! Her eyes sparkled and she took a few to show Nanu.]

Look, Mr. Nanu, don’t they look like white konpeito? Although I don’t suppose they taste even half as sweet…

I could see Nebby teleporting to a beach where the sand looks like stars…

[kahunanu]

They do.

[ If he were dealing with almost anyone else he'd flatly warn her to not eat put sand in her mouth but Lillie's a smart kid. Right? Right. ]

Right. It would do things like that. Bet this entire place would remind it of Alola too.

[so much faith…]

[timidlyblooming]

[She certainly was smart and well-read! But science sometimes demanded a sacrifice, especially when there was no text to consult, and entirely new areas of study, like Marie Curie discovering radium!

She also still had a tendency for magical thinking, like when she believed scattering sand over a ravine might reveal a hidden bridge…

So Lillie tastes a grain of sand.

And promptly spits it out, coughing a little, and nearly falling down, but kept herself propped on her two arms.]

C-conclusion…! Ulk—Ulternian sand is not… in fact… made of konpeito! [Announced, with tears in her eyes!

As to Nanu’s earlier question, Lillie’s Alolan Vulpix Snowy bounds over on the sand, barking in concern, nuzzling Lillie’s side as she recovers from her ill-fated experiment, before turning bright turquoise eyes to watch Nanu.]

[kahunanu]

[ He makes a startled sound as she spits and coughs, expression souring as he rubs the back of his head again. Snowy's presence does well enough to keep any more severe chastising on the tip of his tongue only there. ]

Can't believe you just did that. [ Can't believe he's putting this responsibility on himself already. With an exasperated groan he motions with a lazy sweep of his hand towards the beachside town. ]

Come on girl, let's get you some water.

B

[lostaround]

Leon knows there's no beaches like this in Galar, no way, but how did he get here?! He pants himself down, sighing in relief when he feels his phone and his pokémon.

"Charizard, I think we took a wrong turn somewhere." he whispers to the air, not knowing if he should bring out his best friend at the beach.

Then something hits him the face.

"what-" He grabs the offending object, noticing it's a hat, and looking around for anyone that looks like they wear this kind of hat. That's when he spots the girl coming his way. "Oh, is this yours?"

[timidlyblooming]

"Y-yes!" Lillie arrived, slightly out of breath, but grateful, as she took her hat. "Thank you very much! Ah, you look familiar..."

Lillie's Alolan Vulpix, Snowy, bounds over and barks at his Charizard, curiously tilting its head.