Fading Aria [KtK RP Thread: Mission 2]

[System Error]

The Demon reveals the flute in a single motion, parting the dirt for it to just enough become visible. She stares blankly at it, then to the child. Then back and forth. She has one deadpan word: "What."

---

"Okay then," Nori quips, rubbing his hair. "That was uh, way less climactic than I expected." Sheesh. He was trying to build the mood and it turned out to be for nothing. So much for that. A sigh escapes him. Well, he wasn't totally off-course.

First, there was something to be clarified. Raiki had sort of brought up a good point. "Are there more instruments like it, or should anything be enough?" Not that he had any, and he wasn't really much of a singer. But maybe, he could, like, clap his hands or something? And he only danced with one person and she led him. He lowers his head. Not someone to think about now.

Nori closes his eyes. Maybe it was best to not beat around the bush. "You're afraid of something," he states. "That's why you hid the flute. Did something come by and threaten you, maybe try to steal it? Or..." He huffs and opens his eyes. Maybe this was simpler than he thought. He did react strangely to his offer of help. "Is it the pressure? Are you worried about not doing good enough?" he asks more softly, leaning forward a little.

---

The Demon is not impressed, casting a judgmental gaze on the Charcadet. She eventually looks away and scrapes a paw on the ground. If he was afraid of something dangerous, fine. They'd deal with it. If it was just being afraid of failure, though? Carino had already pointed out the fallacy.

 

[ShiniGojira]

"Potdeer says it would really like to help but can't this time," Tomomichi said to Rachel. "It agreed that it would mess things up if it tried!" He repeated this same statement to Luni, feeling a bit bad if she should continue to bask in false glory.

Rachel snorted as Luni's face fell. "Figured that big oaf couldn't do one job properly." She sighed. "Welp, what to do now? What could we do?"

The teleport plan was still there if they couldn't come up with something better. Guess she should just go up and talk to one of the Pokémon, maybe she could get someone to help.

"Hey," she called out to the beach Pokémon. "Do you all mind if we ask for some of you to help us? We're hoping to explore an ancient temple underwater but Tomomichi and I aren't quite equipped to handle the water."

Kricketot was waiting for the others to return from the ocean, sitting in the sand not too far out of the waves' reach. It looked as though he was enjoying the sunlight, although he looked up nervously whenever the shadow of a wingull slid over him. Oh! I'm feeling much better now, he said. Thank you for finding someone to heal me.

He batted at his antenna for a moment. The music is nice, isn't it? It almost makes me want to sing. Maybe it sounds... familiar. He hummed faintly for a moment.

THAT'S AN IDEA..." Potdeer considered. It murmured a few notes in a voice like tectonic plates grinding against each other, gaining in volume and confidence quickly.

While Luni's demeanor fell from her suggestion get shot, she didn't dwell on it any longer as she tended to her new bug friend. "You're welcome, Kricketot! I'm happy to hear you're feeling fine now!"

Honestly, now that Kricketot was talking about it, she hasn't realised how lovely the music, her earlier moments drowned out by the sheer paranoia and anxiety of her trainer. "Have you heard of something like this before?" She whistled a tune, voice like a chime of bells in the afternoon winds. "It certainly is a pretty piece."

Luni's smile widened as Potdeer joined in, catching a bit of what he murmured, her eyes sparkled. "Oh! Do you think we're meant to bring out the musician through our voices?" Neither she nor her trainer had thought of that so it was worth a try.

Even if it didn't work, she could still use the moment to catch her breath and have some fun.

"Come on, Tomomichi! There's no need to be shy, join us and have fun! Let out all your worries through the power of singing!"

 

[Eal Tides]

"Hey," she called out to the beach Pokémon. "Do you all mind if we ask for some of you to help us? We're hoping to explore an ancient temple underwater but Tomomichi and I aren't quite equipped to handle the water."

"There's some mysterious music coming out of it and it's to help Meloetta!" he added.

Rachel snorted as Luni's face fell. "Figured that big oaf couldn't do one job properly." She sighed. "Welp, what to do now? What could we do?"

Potdeer snickers, pleased with itself.

Even if it didn't work, she could still use the moment to catch her breath and have some fun.

"Come on, Tomomichi! There's no need to be shy, join us and have fun! Let out all your worries through the power of singing!"

The music was surprisingly relaxing to listen to. It had a defined melody that felt like it could be sung in lots of different voices. With some other people singing, he started do the same, adding his voice to the group's.

 

[Negrek]

Inari looked at the cactus, tilting his head sideways. His eyes shone lightly, as the Vulpix called on his latent psychic powers to examine the surroundings.

(Inari is using Extrasensory)

Inari's Extrasensory would reveal a long, thin object buried not far under the ground, its outline somewhat blurred by the energetic aura it gave off. Whatever it was, it had some power residing within. The flute wasn't far below the surface and was easily unearthed. It was a simple flute that appeared to be carved of a single hunk of sparklingly-clear ice, and it continued to play when exposed to the air. Its tune sounded loud and clear now that there was no dirt blocking it.

First, there was something to be clarified. Raiki had sort of brought up a good point. "Are there more instruments like it, or should anything be enough?" Not that he had any, and he wasn't really much of a singer. But maybe, he could, like, clap his hands or something? And he only danced with one person and she led him. He lowers his head. Not someone to think about now.

Nori closes his eyes. Maybe it was best to not beat around the bush. "You're afraid of something," he states. "That's why you hid the flute. Did something come by and threaten you, maybe try to steal it? Or..." He huffs and opens his eyes. Maybe this was simpler than he thought. He did react strangely to his offer of help. "Is it the pressure? Are you worried about not doing good enough?" he asks more softly, leaning forward a little.

Ceruledge reached down with a blade and scooped the flute onto its broad side, giving it a critical look. There may be more. But this is the only one I know of that's ever come to our village.

Charcadet seemed simply panicked by the exposure of the flute, and by Nori's questions. W-well, I, I practiced really hard, but I'm not... I'm not...

"Hey," she called out to the beach Pokémon. "Do you all mind if we ask for some of you to help us? We're hoping to explore an ancient temple underwater but Tomomichi and I aren't quite equipped to handle the water."

Of the pokémon the outsiders hadn't approached yet, the tentacool drifting at the ocean's surface seemed the most likely to be helpful. A couple of them floated closer to Rachel when she called out, stroking gently across the minor waves.

I know how to bring drylanders down to the ruins, said one. And so can my companion here. If you join us in the water here, we can do the rest.

You're curious about that music, aren't you? said the second. I am, too... But it's scary to be alone down there!

The music was surprisingly relaxing to listen to. It had a defined melody that felt like it could be sung in lots of different voices. With some other people singing, he started do the same, adding his voice to the group's.

It felt natural to sing along with the distant music; the song produced a warm, heartening feeling that only increased as more voices joined in. Kricketot's antennae waggled, and he swayed back and forth contentedly to the music.

Still, the music itself was still faint and distant. They were probably limited in what they could accomplish from here.

 

[System Error]

Nori lowers his head. So it was that. Stage fright isn't really something he can relate to. Well, maybe...

"You are!" he blurts, before squinting his eyes shut. "We know you're one of the best flutists here. This music is... really great. I don't think anyone can do a better job than you. Expectations are hard to deal with, I know that. Especially when you might humiliate yourself for no reason." That was something he could relate to. He clutches himself. Thank goodness that worked.

---

"You're worried about looking bad? You're going to look worse if you give up," the Demon bluntly says.

---

The boy looks up. "But..." he tries to say, faltering for a bit. "Sometimes... you just have to try. Jump in and do it, even if you're afraid of failing. You never know. But you'll never ever know and always will fail if you don't try. So please..."

---

"I abandoned my colony," the Demon continues, growling on the word 'colony'. "I was scorned, and you will be too. What will make running from this worth it?"

---

Nori takes another deep breath, voice shaking as he tries to fight back some tears. He really has no idea if this is working or not. Like, his lack of confidence is really obvious. But he's trying. "I know you can do this. Believe in yourself, and just try. We'll support you any way we can. But...you have to try. For everyone's sake." He looks at the Charcadet's dad as he says that. Surely, the flutist knew what was on the line here. It was for the entire colony, which he lived in. Without a colony...

---

And the Demon nods in concurrence. "Stand tall, and I'll stand with you."

 

[Eal Tides]

I know how to bring drylanders down to the ruins, said one. And so can my companion here. If you join us in the water here, we can do the rest.

Tomomichi made a mark in a mental checklist. The beach had all the basic parts of a society, including random bystanders (wingulls, krabbys), nurses (eternally busy alomomolas), and explorers/trainers (tentacool). He supposed in this part of the world, he was in the third group.

Potdeer being a ground type probably wouldn't handle the water well. Unless the tentacool had some way of doing it? Maybe they were going to create a giant bubble they could use as a submarine. And, he figured if they were suddenly about to be drowned then Luni could teleport them out of the way. He waded into the water, asking, "How are we going to do that?"

It felt natural to sing along with the distant music; the song produced a warm, heartening feeling that only increased as more voices joined in. Kricketot's antennae waggled, and he swayed back and forth contentedly to the music.

The warm, optimistic music was hopeful. Potdeer tapped its hooves on the ground, delighted with the tune. These were a sign of Meloetta, surely.

 

[ShiniGojira]

Of the pokémon the outsiders hadn't approached yet, the tentacool drifting at the ocean's surface seemed the most likely to be helpful. A couple of them floated closer to Rachel when she called out, stroking gently across the minor waves.

I know how to bring drylanders down to the ruins, said one. And so can my companion here. If you join us in the water here, we can do the rest.

You're curious about that music, aren't you? said the second. I am, too... But it's scary to be alone down there!

"Really now?" Rachel raised a brow as she walked towards the Tentacool. "Well, however you're gonna do it. We'll be glad to have you with us."

It felt natural to sing along with the distant music; the song produced a warm, heartening feeling that only increased as more voices joined in. Kricketot's antennae waggled, and he swayed back and forth contentedly to the music.

Still, the music itself was still faint and distant. They were probably limited in what they could accomplish from here.

The warmth fluttered like Butterfrees in her chest. Luni clapped, enjoying herself as she sung. So Potdeer's intuition was correct! She knew she could count on the big Pokémon.

Though it didn't seem like they could do much here. Thankfully, the Tentacool was offering their help. Luni nudged Kricketot. "Come on, Kricketot! Let's go save Meloetta!"