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

Trip

[serperiority]

A.

The last Trip recalled, he was... nowhere near a beach, much less an eastern region. He loved festivals, sure, and at any other time, the sight of a summer festival would stir up nostalgia in him, but he had no memory of coming here and that alarmed him!

... unless maybe this was just one of those places with a lot of people from Kanto or something? They had summer festivals like that in some islands near Unova, right? Maybe he wasn't that far from home...

He checked to make sure he wasn't missing anything else apart from memories—good, okay, pokeballs, camera, X-transciever, PokeDex, all here... he definitely wasn't robbed and left here, so that's good!

He still had no idea what was going on and didn't like that one bit, so he decided to demand an answer from the nearest person.

"Where is this place? — What? There's no Turnbloom City in Unova... — B-but that can't be right, I never even HEARD of the Ultern region! It isn't in any books I've read, not even on any maps, I'd remember...!"

Whichever local Trip was bothering appeared to give up on him to focus on festival preparations, leaving Trip VERY irate, crossing his arms and fuming.

B.

Sitting under a beach umbrella, looking straight at Serperior, who looked back just as seriously, Trip occasionally broke the silence to suggested possible explanations.

"... maybe we were spirited away here. Like, by a Ghost type. ... or maybe it was a Fairy type..."

Followed by other equally unsubstantiated theories!

A

[princeofpasio]

"You there!" Lear was wasting no time, as he stood before Trip blocking the younger boy's path. Clearly he would have to have answers to the situation at hand--

Except he seemed just as lost as he was. A line formed onto his lips as he observed Trip through his sunglasses. Crossing his arms he's still staring down at Trip, while trying to gather his thoughts together.

"You don't look familiar. Where are you from?"

[... I have a feeling they'll clash]

[serperiority]

Trip, failing to understand what Lear meant, took offense, both to his rude way of addressing others (which, to be fair, was exactly the way Trip would address his peers if he didn't think much of them hey, you/oi, kimi).

"It's Trip," he said curtly, scowling up at him. "... well, I could say the same to you, sir. Those clothes look completely out of place here... and they're definitely not exactly normal in my home region of Unova either."

They so would LOL

[princeofpasio]

"Hm? You haven't heard of me?" Color Lear surprised given Trip's reaction. Then again...that Ash child didn't know about him, or Pasio. Why did this one make him think about that spirited boy when the two were nothing alike?

Brushing that off, and seemingly taking no offense to Trip's prickly response Lear smirked as he held his hand out dramatically.

"I am Lear! I will become a king who treasures the power of bonds!" There was no need to mention being Pasio's creator in a situation like this. Whatever this is, in any case. "Now it seems to me you are just as lost as I."

He vaguely gestured to their surroundings. Trip wouldn't even have to look given how they were still in the middle of Turnbloom City, surrounded by the locals.

"Perhaps we could work together here. They say two heads are better than one, after all."

1/2

[serperiority]

No. No, he hadn't.

As Lear dramatically held out a hand and announced himself a future king, Trip looked from his face down to his hand with undisguised disdain, brows shooting up so high, they nearly disappeared behind his hair.

He liked to style himself a prince, but he wouldn't say it and to hear this man brazenly declare it made him wonder if he wasn't raised in some cult or weird criminal organization. Or maybe he really was some eccentric royal from somewhere... or maybe he was just insane. That could work.

If Lear were nearer his age, he would have laughed in his face. As he remained older, Trip silenced it.

"... yeah, no kidding. You ever hear of this place? The locals called it Turnbloom... even the region's name isn't one I've ever heard of. Some placed called Ultern."

Work together?

"Thanks, but I work alone..."

2/2

[serperiority]

Usually. He hesitated, feeling bad for brushing him off, especially in an unfamiliar place for them both. Feeling his conscience nagging at him, he sighed in an overwrought sort of way and raised his head. "But, I have to admit, it's basic for those in the same situation to band together, so... you're. Right about that, I guess. So, fine. We can work together."

That was the least enthusiastic acceptance ever, but hey, he accepted the offer, even if it clearly looked about as pleasant as pulling teeth!

[princeofpasio]

If both his retainers, Sawyer and Rachel were around they surely would have hyped up his existence. Not that he missed them, or anything! It's only been a few minutes after all. Who was counting?!

At least Trip, despite his rude way of stringing words together (not that he was one to judge, really) gave him insightful information. Turnbloom City, in the region of Ultern. He hadn't heard of it before in all of his studies. He glanced over to the crowd briefly before turning to Trip.

"Then we've come to an agreement. First thing is first," A Staraptor seemingly appeared out of nowhere the moment Lear gave a snap of his gloved fingers. "Staraptor, I need you to scout the area. Come back when you find anything of interest."

His Staraptor with a mighty flap of his wings will fly high into the sky, and set off.

"Now then, it's time we do a little more exploring of our own. Standing around won't solve our issues."

[serperiority]

He has retainers...?!

Trip did not appreciate being commanded and looked a bit sour about it, but they were all very reasonable conclusions to arrive to, so he couldn't really contest them...

"I suppose that's true. Then, we'll go separate ways and meet back here with our findings? Or choose some other spot? You have a way of keeping time, right?"

[princeofpasio]

Going separate ways? Lear had been so used to working with others in Pasio, that Trip's suggestion took him a moment to consider. Going separately had their own benefits. That would give them more ground to cover, and potentially running across familiar faces if they were unfortunate enough to end up in Ultern as well.

Yet on the other hand, what if Trip here we to get lost? Well, it wasn't like the other trainer was exactly begging for help of any kind from him. Placing a hand upon his hip he decided to relent.

"Of course, I am able to keep track of time. Sawyer here-"

...ah, right. Sawyer wasn't around, nor was Rachel. Immediately Lear regretted saying his retainer's name out loud. He shook his head.

"In any case, your idea is a good one. We should think of what would make a good rendezvous point around here..." He trailed while observing the people who happily passed through the streets. He gaze at the colorful pinwheels for a moment, and then to a passing by trainer with what was clearly a Pokemon in their arms. Immediately a light bulb went off in Lear's head as he's moving over into the trainer's view. "You there, could you possibly point the way to the local Pokemon Center? We're visitors here you see, and are a little lost."

B

[goingallout]

And yet another familiar face is spotted as Ash was wandering around. He excitedly approached Trip and leaned in to take notice of the look of his friend's face.

"Hey Trip! Why the serious look?"

In Ash's usual demeanor, he smiled looking seemingly carefree as always, and maybe oblivious to what's going on.

1/2

[serperiority]

Even if he was sometimes guilty of cutting in too close himself (especially when taking pictures, he had zero awareness of anything else in those times), Trip was still taken aback by someone else doing it, leaning backwards and away, simultaneously stiffening from the shock, so he hit the base of the umbrella rather noisily. Yowch.

2/2

[serperiority]

He didn't seem to appreciate how loud and sudden the greeting was either, but at least Trip recovered quickly and Serperior only looked slightly annoyed, before they both brightened up at seeing a familiar face.

"You're loud as ever, I see. Ash, Pikachu."
An acknowledging nod to both.

The smile was short-lived, however, as he returned to ruminating on the same topic.

"But what would Ghost types want with you? You don't seem to favour training them—oh, but you did catch that Gengar, didn't you? Could they be drawn to our Pokemon...?"

Might need more context there!

[goingallout]

Ash caught that.

"Hey now, I don't mind training 'em. I think Ghost types are cool too!" He furrowed his brows a bit. C'mon Trip, he's not exactly picky with the kind of Pokemon he catches. "...But d'you really think it's the Ghost-types doing this? I don't see them around right now."

And he gaze around upon finishing, trying to spot any ghost-type Pokemon he mentioned.

[serperiority]

"It's not about not minding them, I know you're ready to risk everything for any Pokemon, even ones you literally just met, but what I meant was I didn't think you'd do anything that'd make them want to pull you into another world—"

Except that had already happened to him before, more than once, not that Trip had any idea about that!

His eyes widened as he cut himself off, then turned to scrutinize Ash. "You didn't get involved with another conflict or something, involving Ghost types this time, did you? Maybe for someone else's sake? ... or maybe wandered into some kind of trap?"

As for whether he really thought it was Ghost types, Trip folded his arms again and lowered his gaze. "... I'm not sure. But I know they can create elaborate illusions, especially if it's several of them working together. If it's just one, maybe a strong Zoroark or even Ninetales could be behind such an illusion... if they want us to believe it's all real, they won't show themselves to us."

[goingallout]

The moment Trip focused his gaze on Ash, he leans back and furrowing his brows yet again to express his confusion.

"I didn't do anything!" Ash exclaimed, "I was just training for the Masters Tournament! Why am I at fault here?!"

If that were the case, he would have told him outright anyway. But as far as Ash could recall, nothing of the sort happened before he got here.

And then he folded his arms as he listened to Trip's reasoning. After finishing, Ash let out a hum.

"I dunno, I don't think it's all an illusion to me."

[serperiority]

“I’m not blaming you, I’m just trying to figure out what they could want. Hold on… training for it? Did the Masters Tournament not start yet?”

Could they be from different points in time? Or did he just mean preparing for the next match?

As for his other point…

“It does feel too complex for an illusion… don’t eat or drink anything yet, just to be safe.”
Because it could still be fairies.
“… maybe we’re in some kind of other world? As real as ours, but where time doesn’t flow normally…?”

b

[lostaround]

Leon has way too much sad in his socks, but taking off his shoes seems like a bad idea! He's walking, trying to find a store that will sell him appropriate footwear, when he sees a pokémon he hasn't seen anywhere but on tv.

"Woah, is that a Serperior?"

He walks over to the umbrella, and happens to hear what the man with the really cool grass snake is saying.

"A ghost spirited us away?! are we dead?"

[serperiority]

Trip's not much of a man, although he'd be happy to be considered one and the Pokemon world treats you rather like an adult at ten, he's still a boy.

"Yes to the first question, I'm not sure yet to the second," Trip said, blinking in surprise at the sudden voice, turning and looking just as surprised.

"You're... the world Champion, aren't you?!"

At that question, Trip's cool facade breaks and he looks excited. "I saw you competing in the Masters 8! Of course, only on TV, but... two of my friends competed too!"

[lostaround]

"Eh? Oh!" Leon smiles and nods, "I am!" Wait though Master 8? "What's the Master 8 though?"

He looks at the Serperior and smiles, waving at it.

b.

[travelingbelle]

A Ghost type, he said. Maybe even a Fairy type? What a very specific duo you were describing there, Trip.

Was it purely by chance then that a Clefable was wandering past the Unovan duo? Or that the little Phantump that was catching a ride on its wings was turning a very curious look towards them? It made a little pitty pat on the Clefable's head, and now the fairy was giving them an intrigued look as well.

Yes? You summoned them?? Hello???

[this is the cutest, funniest misunderstanding, thank you]

[serperiority]

A... Clefable? Trip frowned a little. It was a little anticlimactic. He was half-hoping one of the cooler, creepier Fairy types did it (if he had to be spirited away by a Fairy type, it should at least not be one of the adorable ones—or maybe he should just shut up and be happy it's not something genuinely terrifying like the Giratina he saw earlier?!), but maybe it looking cute and unassuming was how it got so many people!!

Then, the Phantump between its wings, reaching out to pat Clefable, caught his attention.
A Ghost type he'd never seen before too! It was even more adorable and the way it patted the Clefable was precious, it would make a very good photograph.

He rose to his feet, Serperior moving into a threatening position as well, while Trip narrowed his gaze and carefully watching the two with suspicion—but it was also his first time seeing either species up close, so he couldn't help but pull out his camera.

His first instinct was, of course, to take pictures.

[i could not resist]

[travelingbelle]

Wow, Trip. You gotta have a little more respect for the OGs before they teleported you to the moon next. Both boy and snake raising themselves up to full height in such a way was certainly putting the fairy on edge, her wings fluttering slightly. Timid as she was, she was the big sister here! She had to look after her tiny charge!

The tiny charge that seemed to recognize the significance of what was in Trip's hands. It gave Clefable another patpat.

Then it posed.

Off in the far distance, a brunette was sprinting across the sand. Probably this was not important.

[serperiority]

Unimportant as she might have been at the very moment, Trip had an eye for detail and noticed her! She was simply less interesting and less photogenic than the utterly adorable Ghost type Pokemon, sorry, so she was quickly overlooked.

Trip snapped a photograph, because he simply couldn't resist, but Clefable's expression and fluttering wings did seem less than comfortable with their scrutiny, so he waved his hand down and Serperior relaxed... for the most part, and Trip took a step forward.

"... I won't hurt you," he began, with his camera lowered. "I was just taking pictures. I'll stop if you don't like it."

Maybe he made a mistake? Or maybe the fairy was only pretending to be frightened, to invoke pity, so he'll let his guard down? He opted to remain cautious.

[travelingbelle]

Harsh, but completely understandable.

The Serperior's relaxation and that gentle reassurance, coupled with the Phantump's encouragement seemed to be the right kind of combo. The Clefable wasn't about to put its whole guard down either, but it gave a little shake of its head and made a happy enough sounding trill.

Photos were fine! They were very cute, it was true! She would even lift up a paw to pose, with her little ghost friend excitedly raising up both arms to match. Picture time! Picture time!

"...Oh! Hey! Aralia!"

[serperiority]

That's alright, Trip would never be the sort to encourage fully trusting anyone, anyway! Just this much progress is enough for him, he even smiles a little at seeing Clefable sound so happy.

And, they're both posing! Trip would take pictures right away, zooming in and also stepping around to take them from different angles.

A voice...? Trip's gaze followed the sound while still looking through the viewfinder of his camera. Was it the disregarded girl from earlier?

"Aralia...?"