“Hoppip!”
“Loom~”
The two girls giggled as they pulled the floating cottonweed Pokemon in for nuzzles, fully embracing the floral, herbaceous fragrance of their vegetal crowns and indulging in their airy squishiness — like cuddling with cotton candy.
With the blooming of flowers and the waking of earth, the gentle spring breeze also brought with it a surge of Hoppips and Skiplooms in the region. And for a town as close to nature as Azalea, the effects were especially pronounced, painting the skies with flecks of magenta and green.
“You know, the pollen of a Skiploom actually makes for the best honey. So Beedrill’s are especially active during this season, we should be extra careful when we eventually head into Ilex Forest.” Nina remarked.
But the presence of Skiploom was a true sign that the weather was warming, since their flowers only blood when temperatures rose above 18 degrees celsius.
“Poor little guys...” Kerry cooed. “Such fragile Pokemon. It’s always a delight whenever we see one out of season in the PokeCenter, because it takes a lot of work to care for them for so long. It’s a sure sign of a trainer's love for their Pokemon.”
anwhile, Justin was sneezing uncontrollably from the Skiploom’s pollen and keeping a distance from his two companions.
“Are you okay, Jensen?” Kerry called. “I have so ds in my backpack for allergies if you need it.”
“It’s Husdinn… And cyeah, dat woulb bwe gweat. Just… doss it. Don’t cwo cwose.”
“Pfft…! Husdin.” Nina sputtered. “And here you’re always complaining that the nas we co up with are bad.”
“Don’t you d-dawre— Ha… haa… Aaachwooo!”
The girls giggled as they shared a glance, silently coming to an agreent to go easy on their friend for the rest of the day.
***
“Ah, that’s so much better…” Justin sighed. “I can finally breathe now.”
Pokemon world dicine truly was in a league of their own. The antihistamine of Nina’s old world could never.
The boy then pointed a demanding finger at his travel companions. “Make sure the two of you do your laundry tonight okay! I don’t wanna be walking next to two Jumpluffs all day long!”
Nina responded with a dismissive wave as they continued walking down the rustic streets of Azalea. Rural towns like these with their hodge podge of mismatched buildings and archaic storefronts always had a strong sense of nostalgia to them. Even if one had never grown up in such an environnt before.
“It’ll be fine. We always keep our laundries separate anyway. And we just washed our clothes yesterday. Just stop by the Pokemart later to buy a batch of that dicine Kerry gave you.” Nina couldn’t help but sigh in exasperation at the boy’s lack of foresight.
“Guys, guys!” Kerry shook at Nina enthusiastically. “Look! A Krickatune!”
“𝄞 𝄚 Delelelelele~ 𝄻 ~ 𝄽 ~ Whooooop—”
Noticing the trio’s attention on it, the bright red Kricketune did a little dance then let out a lodic cry while strumming at its “vocal chords”. Quite literally, because there were string-like gills that ran from its neck all the way down onto its abdon.
Nina cooed. “It’s sooo cuuute! And that cry, absolutely iconic! Hey buddy, want so Berries?”
The two girls rushed over in great fervour to pet the rare Bug Pokemon not native to their Region, while Justin just casually strolled towards the antique music shop that the Kricketune was promoting.
“Hmm… What is it, Clef? Do we have custors?” The bell chid as Justin pulled at the door, to reveal the owner of the store, a dapper looking old man with a majestically oiled moustache, curled in just the sa way as his Krickatune’s, fingers calloused and stained with lacquer.
“Hello sir,” Kerry greeted. “We were just wandering around town when we saw little Klef here. Is he your store’s mascot?”
The man chuckled, his moustache bobbing up and down in tandem, looking quite comical in contrast to his diminutive fra.
“Hoho… of a sorts. Klef takes it upon himself to pull in custors for my little shop. Quite the diligent little bugger. But welco, do co in and have a look. No need to be shy.”
The trio obliged, stepping into the cluttered interior of the compact storefront.
Nina breathed, taking in the musky air of wood and varnish. There was certain beauty in the chaos, an order known only to the denizens of this space. Strings of antique violins hanging from the ceiling, colourful guitars, both electric and acoustic pinned to the walls, the gleaming bronze of the brass section, a forest of wind instrunts and a weathered studio piano by a corner, sitting by its loneso.
“Are you from Sinnoh, by chance?” Nina chid as she held her Brionne back from rushing towards the shinies. “You ca quite a long way to open a charming little antique shop like this in such a rural town.”
“Hohoho. Not at all, miss. Though I did spend quite a portion of my youth touring the Region as part of the Origin Grand Orchestra — the Sinnohans are quite distinguished in their appreciation of the arts. That’s also where I t Klef, who was just a tiny little Kricketot at the ti.”
Kerry’s eyes sparkled in awe. “Incredible! The two of you must have been together for ages. That’s… highly unusual actually, given their natural lifespan.”
The old man responded with another round of jovial laughter, moustache puffed up in pride. “Indeed! The trick is music you see. Kricketunes thrive on music. But not just any music. It has to be live, straight from the source and perford with genuine love and emotion. The type of music they absorb will affect their mood and a happy Kricketune is a healthy Kricketune.”
“Amazing…” The love that the store owner had towards his music and Pokemon was quite apparent to young trainers. It was hard not to admire soone, anyone, who possessed such passion towards their life’s calling.
𝅘𝅥𝅮~
As the girls were touring the place, marveling at all the hidden little treasures contained within the shop, a singular note resounded, filling the air with a lodic tune.
“Justin? I didn’t know you played the guitar.”
The culprit, as evident by Nina’s confusion, was indeed Justin who, at so point, had picked up one of the acoustic guitars perched on the floor and began strumming to adjust the strings’ tune.
“My dad always played for us whenever we went camping, and mom would sing along by the fire. Lucy too, actually, whenever she ca with — she actually has a really pretty voice. We should get her to sing for us soti. Although she might get all punchy about it…”
There was a nostalgic glint to the boy’s gaze. Quite out of character for him. Nina only rembered endless complaints and shouting whenever Justin called back ho.
“Hohoho. Why don’t you play a tune for us then, my boy? Klef and I always enjoy admiring our custors' talents. If you do well enough, I might even give you a little discount.” The owner winked.
Justin blushed. “I dunno, I’m not as good as my dad.”
“Ohhh… Co on, Justin! We wanna hear you play! Isn’t that right, Nina? And besides, boys who can play guitar are super cool…”
The boy’s ears perked up at Kerry’s final murmurs and sucked in a deep breath with a haughty grin. “Haha! Well, if you insist.”
Nina held back a groan. “Great, good luck trying to deflate that big head of his in the next few days.”
𝅘𝅥~
Another chord resounded and Justin began his performance. The notes were solemn, subdued, nothing like what Nina expected. As for the boy behind the guitar, his face was devoid of his usual goofy grin, taking on a naturally pensive air, eyes shut in imrsion.
“Damn… Kerry’s right. He really does look cool with that guitar.” Not that Nina was going to say that out loud. Otherwise, she’d never hear the end of it.
“𝄞 𝄚 Delelelelele~ 𝄻 ~ 𝄽 ~ Whooooop—”
As the humans lost themselves to the music, gently swaying to the beat, Klef the Kricketune chid in with his own lody, grinding at his vocal chords with his slender arm blades to create sounds reminiscent of a violin.
The shop owner smiled and joined in as well on his rustic little piano, creating a raw symphony of impromptu music in the air.
“This lody, it sounds familiar…”
A mory resurfaced in Nina’s mind, of a song she often listened to in her past life whenever she was feeling alone and helpless.
“Hm hmm~ Hm hmm…”
A quiet hum, gradually growing louder and louder. And before she knew it, Nina’s mouth was open. And with a gentle breath, she sang…
“I rember tears streaming down your face when I said I’ll never let you go…
When all those shadows almost killed your liiight~”
“I rember you said, ‘Don’t leave here alone’~
But all that’s dead and gone and passed toniiight…”
“Briii~ Oone ♪”
Brinny chid in, his juvenile voice harmonizing perfectly with Nina’s while Justin strumd, louder and louder as Klef’s organic violin purred. The soft undertones of the piano slowly lifted the lody until they reached a crescendo.
Nina arched ever so slightly, relaxing her shoulder and opening up her lungs. Then, with a deep breath…
“Just close your eyes!
The sun is going doown…
You’ll — be alright!
No one can hurt you now…
Co — morning light!
You and I’ll be safe, and… sooound…”
“Briiii~ Ooo-ne ♪”
Kerry gasped, tears streaming down her cheeks, breath hitching at her throat. She was initially planning on teasing Justin with his performance. But never in her dreams did she imagine that offhanded suggestion would transform into such a heart-rending performance.
“That does it, I’m buying Justin a guitar!” The nurse girl vowed. Just the thought of nightly performances like this by a campfire was enough to set her heart aflutter.
***
Author's note:
The song featured in this chapter is "Safe & Sound" by the one and only Taylor Swift.
syoutube/watch?v=a5Icr9m8vbc
Now I'm not a Swifty by any ans, but I did used to listen to her songs before her music changed and she beca all unhinged.
My taste in music is very old fashioned and most modern pop just doesn't really do it for . So if anyone has any song recs, I'd be happy to take them.
Actually, the part that I wanted to rewrite was the song. I had planned to swap it out for a different one, in light of TS's recent controversies with her album.
But honestly, I don't have the energy for it. I finished work yesterday feeling like a dead Magikarp. So it is what it is. I doubt most of you care anyway.
Again, not a Swifty. And if anyone at all dares to even entertain such blasphemous thoughts, your sock drawer might get afflicted by a curse of wetness for all of eternity.
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