Chapter 34: As the Silver Wind Blows
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Chapter 34: As the Silver Wind Blows
Thank you everyone for your patience, I am back with another chapter! I've also changed the summary for the fic slightly to hopefully better reflect the vibe!
The Silver Wind festival that Koa promised to take Hazard to is in full swing. Some surprises await them, as well as some old familiar faces...
Echo (Male Crobat) {Ability: Inner Focus}
Hazard (Male Joltik) {Ability: Compound Eyes}
Rascal (Female Tyrantrum) {Ability: Strong Jaw}
Anubis (Male Houndoom) {Ability: Flash Fire}
Scrapper (Male Breloom) {Ability: Effect Spore}
Flurry (Female Sealeo) {Ability: Thick Fat}
Soon enough, their group crested the final hill. All of Floaroma lay spread before them.
For a town already blossoming with color, the Silver Wind Festival had transformed into a veritable rainbow. A colorful tapestry of tents wove through the streets below and spilled out from the town limits like an overstuffed bouquet. Tantalizing scents of sweets melded with the scent of flowers and honey, wafting through the air and reaching them even from this far away.
Hazard buzzed with excitement on Koa's head.
He reached up and patted the bug-type. "We're finally here, Hazard."
Around the eastern edge of the town colorful splotches peppered the grassy fields. Rachel had told him that Rangers had sectioned off a large part of the surrounding fields so trainers could camp out.
Crowds swarmed the stalls and milled around outside town like a busy Durant nest. Technically the festival wouldn't officially start until tomorrow, but clearly the vendors and attendees were getting an early start.
With halting steps, Koa started down the hill, fighting an itch at the sight of the dense crowds. Hazard's shining gaze, taking in all the sights and numerous bug-types, made it worth it.
To Koa's disappointment, there was no space left at the pokemon center or inns in town. Apparently he was supposed to have made reservations much farther in advance. Which he had not done, given his mind had been elsewhere leading up to the festival. Hazard chastised him for this (supposedly it had been on the flyer) but hindsight was 20/20.
Hazard chittered something that he imagined to be 'then get some glasses'.
Koa threatened to toss him off his shoulder.
XXX
They soon bid farewell to Rachael and Kody, who had their own lodging accommodations sorted already. He tried his best not to be envious.
In the end, they were forced to set up with the rest of the latecomer trainers in the open field. At least the weather was going to be pleasant for the duration of the festival.
Kitto scowled at the idea. Koa couldn't blame him. They'd both been looking forward to a nice soft bed... Nothing to do but make the best of the situation.
"On the way over here, I saw a vendor selling s'mores ingredients," Koa said as they wound their way between tents. He spotted a nice clear spot near the far edge of the camp area. It meant a slightly longer walk in the morning to the festival grounds but that was a small price to pay for some extra privacy.
And since they would be staying a few days, he could probably ask Flurry to help with some washing. The memory of her new form brought a smile to his face.
Kitto grunted. "I say once everyone clears out of this festival in a few days we grab a room at the pokemon center."
Koa nodded and fervently in agreement. As much as the travel showers and water-types helped when on the road, they were nothing compared to a nice proper bathroom and soft mattress. Finally, they reached the far end of the field, just next to the border of the forest, marked off by a flagged rope.
Impatience magnified the time it took to actually pitch the tent, but eventually they'd set everything up in a satisfying way. There wouldn't be any campfires, since the festival grounds had strict regulations on how many fires could be set in one area. Instead, a few larger bonfires were placed around the campgrounds for trainers to share.
Koa checked the time on his poketch. "If we hurry, maybe we can use the showers at the pokemon center," he mused.
Kitto's scowl finally vanished and they hurriedly grabbed their bags and beelined into town.
XXX
One exceptionally agonizing wait later, they were back at their campsite, having freshly showered. Dusk had fallen and the last of daylight was fading from the sky. A faint breeze cooled the pleasant air. Four bonfires were already blazing strong, positioned near each corner of the campgrounds.
Hazard, Echo and Anubis all tagged along, and Kaze had taken up a perch on Kitto's shoulder. Fortunately the fire proved not too crowded yet, with only a large handful of trainers lounging nearby or roasting food over the embers.
Mothim and Combee fluttered about. An Infernape sat cross-legged almost on top of the fire, watching a few Chimchar playing close to the flames. Various assorted bird pokemon wheeled through the sky, playing a game of tag led by a Staraptor.
Kaze gazed up at them longingly then looked back down at the flames. Kitto reached up and stroked him, and the Pidgey leaned into the touch, cooing softly.
Smiling, Koa turned back to the fire. He tossed a marshmallow high into the air for Echo, who threw himself off his perch on Koa's back to catch it midair. He laughed, and then set to roasting another marshmallow.
Just as it was beginning to brown, a flash of colored feathers above caught his attention. Was that... an Archeops?
He tensed and clenched his fists. Surely he was mistaken... Surely...
He wasn't. Far on the other side of the fire, he could just make out the familiar face of none other than Fossie. Koa scowled. What was he doing here? He'd better not be here because of a legendary. He stared for several seconds, then shook himself.
When he looked back at his marshmallow, it was more black than brown. Oh well. Smores were better crispy anyway in his opinion. Kitto was warming his near the embers, and it was taking on a perfectly golden hue. Of course his is perfect, Koa thought wryly.
Pleasant conversations and friendly jabs were traded around the fire. Echo won a race against a Fearow. Two trainers taunted each other over the merits of being type specialists vs generalists. Another group eagerly swapped tips for beating different gyms.
It was nice.
Koa got into a (mostly) amicable argument about movies with a girl who insisted that the movie version of Rainbow Rangers was better than the show. She was wrong, of course.
"- ope the Sinnoh Rangers figure out what's going on soon. I don't even feel safe traveling the routes. What if one of those horrid things shows up tomorrow at the Festival? I mean they're like, attacking those kinds of places right?"
"Uh huh. But I heard they have extra Rangers on patrol around. Did you see them when we got here?"
"You think they can actually handle an Entei?"
Koa jerked to his feet from where he'd crouched by the fire, zeroing in on the two trainers talking. "It's-"
"Muk yeah they can! My sister is a ranger and her Flygon is the best. It'll crush any of those dumb brutes."
Koa clenched his fist. "They're not-"
More voices chimed in.
"Honestly they need to round them up already-"
"-You know I heard that guy from Johto, Supine or whatever, wanted to catch one-"
"It's Eusine stupid."
"Whatever, I knew that, but I bet he's singing a different tune now."
"You think the beast things are mad about all the poaching?"
"I think it's the Coronet Curse."
"Nah thats all Galactic stuff and those dragons, what's those Johto things got to do with that? Nothing, that's what. Now if you want real story, the curse is because the league totally covered up everythin' and Galactic is still trying to catch Dialga and Palkia. They're only saying Cyrus vanished because he escaped."
Koa dropped his skewer. The flames blurred and for a moment, his heart pounded impossibly loud in his eardrums. His mouth ran too dry to formulate a reply.
"-Oh my lakes not this again. Dude c'mon." Jeers backed up her derision. The chatter continued. In the blink of a moment it seemed, the conversation pivoted again. Something about an exhibition match between Champions Calem and Iris.
Do not look for me.
He blinked, realizing he'd been staring emptily at the flames for several seconds. Kitto was giving him a peculiar look. Koa shook his head, then fished out a fresh marshmallow and a new skewer.
Not worth thinking about.
Several burnt marshmallows, burnt fingertips and sticky fingers later, Koa staggered back to camp in a sugar-induced haze. Envy for his pokemon filled him. They got to go into their cozy pokeballs and sleep off the treats, while he had to walk back to camp and get ready for bed. He was beginning to regret not stopping after the third s'more like Hazard suggested.
The Joltik in question, who was resting contentedly on Koa's shoulder, chastised him with a playful nip to his ear before hopping off and skittering toward camp.
"Shut up," he muttered.
The lantern he'd hung outside their campsite twinkled in the darkness and bathed the area in a pale blue glow.
Kitto stumbled up to his tent, muttered a sleepy goodnight to Koa and vanished into his tent. Koa mumbled goodnight and then turned toward his own tent as Hazard hopped off his shoulder.
Koa pulled off his jacket and unclipped his pokeball belt, placing it inside his tent. He knelt down and was about to unlace his boots when Hazard bumped into his ankle with his tiny body.
Blinking, Koa stared at him. His entire countenance had shifted from sleepy to blazing with excitement, eyes practically glowing in the dark.
"Hazard-"
Without a warning, he sprang away and began to skitter towards the forest's edge.
Scrambling to his feet, Koa hurried after his pokemon, baffled. Yellow light flashed ahead. He stumbled to a stop behind Hazard at the forest's edge, and his jaw dropped.
Just under the cover of the trees, fur glowing with electric energy, stood a Galvantula. Some deep seated gut instinct burned in Koa's chest as he looked at her. The soft dilation of her blue eyes, the excited quiver to her body, the patterning on her thorax. He knew this Galvantula, even though it had been months since he'd seen her.
Hazard cleared the few yards between them in one hop and nuzzled against her, sparks flickering between them. She nuzzled and patted him with her pedipalps, as if checking him over and making sure he was healthy.
Koa found himself grinning at the sight. It'd been so many months since his journey had first begun and he got the little Joltik after rescuing his mother from that poacher... And now they'd found each other again.
The two exchanged greetings and pleasantries for a couple minutes, then Hazard chittered to his mother, his expression turning fiercely determined.
The two backed away from each other a few feet. Electricity began to gather around Galvantula. With a hissing cry, she loosed a bolt at Hazard.
It struck him hard enough to send him skidding backward, but he caught himself and slid to a stop. If he'd had a more visible mouth, Koa swore he would have been smirking.
Eyes shining, Hazard chittered something Koa took to mean 'watch this'! And then charged his body and fired a huge bolt of lightning. Galvantula shrieked in surprise as it slammed into her, carried her off her feet and sent her careening across the forest floor and into a tree several yards away.
Koa's eyebrows raised in surprise. The power difference in these few months was huge.
Galvantula slowly got to her feet and she shook herself, gathering her wits before fixing her gaze on her son. Her many eyes all glowed with pride at the display of power.
Hazard beamed. Galvantula trotted over to him, patting him on the head, then turned and slowly made her way to Koa.
Koa knelt down. Galvantula studied him carefully, then clicked her mandibles in approval and held out one furry leg awkwardly. Koa slowly reached out and shook it.
"You're welcome," he whispered. "Thank you for trusting me back then."
Galvantula returned to her son, and he bid them a soft farewell, wanting to give them some privacy. "I'll see you in the morning, Hazard."
Hazard nodded and turned back to his mother, chittering away happily.
Koa made his way back to camp, a smile on his face. Maybe Hazard had come for this very reason. To see his parent again. A hollow ache tugged at Koa's heart. Whatever the reason, Hazard was happy and that was all that mattered.
XXX
Koa lay back down in his tent, a smile still warming his lips, and closed his eyes. The festival hadn't even begun and he was already glad he'd come. The campfire conversation seemed far off in the wake of Hazard's reunion.
The memory of the nod of approval from Hazard's mother made his heart ache with a strange joy. At least someone approved of him. The bitter thought came unbidden, and a twinge of some uncomfortable feeling twisted within him.
Abruptly he rolled over and picked up his Poryphone. He turned it on and flicked aside the notifications from Buzzybuzzfeed and various forums and brought up his messages. He'd purposely muted them, only checking periodically if Avis or Cade called.
[1 Unread Message - Blake Averon].
Dated a couple days ago. Steeling himself, Koa opened it.
Blake: Stay safe Little K. You don't need luck anymore.
His grip on his phone tightened. He started to put it down, to turn back and go back to sleep, then he stopped. Before he could overthink and change his mind, he dialed Blake's number.
The call rang for so long he started to give up hope Blake would answer, and he wasn't sure if he was relieved or disappointed. Then the line clicked and Blake's voice came through.
"...Koa? Are you alright?" There was a hesitancy to his tone, but he sounded alert too. Had he woken Blake up, or had he still been awake? Blake was usually more of a night owl than Koa.
"Yeah I'm fine," he said stiffly. The few seconds of silence that followed were unnatural and awkward. "You got my note, right?"
"Yes."
A beat. Koa couldn't tell if Blake was mad or not. Not that he should be the one mad.
Blake spoke again before Koa could think of something to say. "So you must be nearly to the festival, right?"
"Yeah I just got here and set up our campsite."
Blake snorted, then said in a playful tone, "Guess somebody forgot to reserve a room?"
"Hah hah. Hazard already gave me an earful about that." He missed joking with Blake. Their easy friendship. Blake had always been more like an older sibling than just a cousin. When had that changed?
"How's your team doing?" Blake asked.
Glad of an easy question, he said, "they're doing amazing! Flurry evolved into Sealeo yesterday! It was sick, she took down a whole Combee swarm practically by herself. And I've been working on coming up with some new combos. I've got this one idea with Rascal I'm gonna try and I have a ton of ideas for combos and some new techniques."
"That sounds like a great idea," Blake said amiably.
It was hard to read anything specific from his tone. Did Blake have anything to say to him? Should Koa bring it up first? Why should I have to make the first move? "Oh! Remember how I told you I got Hazard after helping his mother? Well we ran into her again just earlier. He's gotten so much stronger now, I think she's really happy."
"That's wonderful!" Blake said, sounding genuinely happy. "I'm sure that meant a lot to him."
Kitto's words rang in his mind. 'Someone who cares about you is a rare thing.' Maybe Blake was trying to give him space? Well maybe he needs to stop giving me space and step up. As much as a part of Koa wanted that, another part of him felt... torn. Relieved that Blake hadn't tried to pester him with messages or apologies.
Blake's voice came over the line, softer than before and more hesitant than usual. "Koa?"
Koa blinked. He'd gotten so lost in thought he'd let the silence go on too long. Great. Whatever Blake's reason was, the renewed tension between them grated on Koa's nerves. His mouth dried, trying to figure out how to breach it and what he wanted.
"...Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." The answer slipped out reflexively. He bit his lip. Tried to add some measured lightness to his tone. "I just wanted to check in, see how you're doing." At nearly midnight, Koa? Really?
The silence that greeted Koa suggested Blake didn't believe Koa's words any more than Koa himself did.
Instead of immediately answering, Blake sighed. "If you're not, it's okay."
Koa tensed a little.
"I know I... left pretty suddenly."
That's one way of putting it.
"It wasn't..."
Koa heard a long exhale on the other end of the line.
"I was... I shouldn't have... I'm sorry."
The silence hung thick. Koa stared at the floor of his tent.
"I understand if you're still mad at me. I wanted to talk to you sooner I just..." Blake trailed off. It was another few moments before he continued, sounding like he changed his mind from his original train of thought. "I am sorry for talking to you like that. Snapping at you in front of your friend. I shouldn't have spoken like that."
So you're only sorry you said it in front of Kitto? The memories of the argument, of Blake's stinging words and his own retort came back to him. "Sorry," he mumbled, guilt rising in him. "For calling you a coward."
A muffled noise came from the other end that Koa couldn't decipher, followed by a stretch of silence.
The words kept coming. "But I'm not changing my mind and I don't care if you don't agree. I never gave up on my dream of catching a legendary, and I'm not doing it now. So you can think whatever you want about me but I'm doing it anyway."
Koa finally drew a breath, clenching his trembling hand.
When Blake replied, his voice wavered with emotion. "I see."
Not 'go for it' or 'good luck' or 'I believe in you'. Someone who cares about you is a rare thing. Even if you don't agree, you don't have to be enemies. Koa swallowed an impulsive retort. Maybe he and Blake would never agree.
Maybe... maybe he didn't need Blake to. It stung, but forcing Blake to agree and being angry stung more.
"I don't want to see you hurt Koa."
Sounds like an excuse to me. "I know."
"What you're trying to do is-... a noble idea." Blake's voice grew low. "But sometimes even good things can be dangerous and have consequences."
A pit opened in Koa's chest. Was that what Blake thought of him? He opened his mouth, then closed it. "You told me before you would rather me do what's right than do nothing. Did you mean that?"
Blake snorted. "Yes. I did say that. About saving your pokemon. Not..." Once again he sighed. "Look, I know you're too stubborn to give up so just... just be sure. Be careful. Think before you leap."
Holding back a sigh, Koa said, "okay. I will." That was it then he supposed. Koa's heart still ached and his thoughts burned with unsaid words and feelings, but tiredness clouded him from forming them. "I'll uh... let you go I guess. Didn't mean to wake you."
"It's okay, you didn't," he said quietly. "...but before you go, there is something else, Koa."
The stiff, serious way he spoke made Koa uneasy. "Yeah?"
"Your friend, Kitto."
"Huh?"
Blake exhaled. "I just wanted to make sure you remember our rule."
Koa stiffened. Words that Blake had drilled into him since almost as long as he could remember. "Yeah, I remember." He rolled his eyes, repeating the words derisively. "Trust nobody, blah blah, everyone's out to get us."
"Never blindly trust, because everyone has an agenda." Blake spoke forcefully.
He dug his fingers into his sleeping bag. "Yeah. I know. I don't know what that's gotta do with Kitto."
"Nothing, probably. Seems like a good kid."
Koa wasn't sure Kitto qualified as a 'kid', but whatever. He could picture Blake probably tugging his hair like he sometimes did when he was agitated. "But I'm just saying it's always good to be careful. Be sure, Little K. We have to be." His voice was softer now, filled with that worry Koa was familiar with.
Kitto was one thing Koa was absolutely sure of. Then why are you still keeping secrets? A tiny voice asked. His throat tightened and he swallowed. "I know," Koa said coolly.
That seemed to satisfy Blake. "Good. I'm... It's good to hear from you. How's the rest of your training going? I heard you got the badge from Byron."
After that, the conversation was easier. They chatted for a few more minutes, and Blake told him about Bronzong's newest hobby of making odd metal sculptures, and about Murkrow stealing scraps from the neighbors to give to Bronzong, and about his work with Rowan.
That night he slept deeply, his dreams filled with hazy images of electric pokemon and bonfires and miniature smores sized for Joltik mouths. Sticky bogs of burnt marshmallows held him down while he tried to run after Mesprit to give it a 'smore. Then he was being chased by a giant kaiju with Rascal's head but a Tyranitar body.
XXX
The next morning, he woke to find Hazard curled up on Echo's back, who in turn was sprawled on his chest, both sleeping peacefully. A glow from the walls of his test told him the sun had risen already. Scrapper must have decided to have mercy on him for once, which Koa was grateful for after last night.
Still, he didn't want to waste any more time. With a grin, he threw Echo off his chest and sat up. "Wake up!"
Echo rolled over, then shot awake, dislodging Hazard, who blinked sleepily, then perked up.
He hopped in place and then tugged at Koa's leg.
"What?"
Hazard clicked his mandibles impatiently and scurried outside the tent. Koa followed to where Hazard stood some distance away from a large boulder.
Still dressed in his pajamas, Koa watched as Hazard tensed, focusing. Sparks flared around the Joltik's body, then arced and gathered in front of his mandibles. They swirled together, forming a large glowing sphere of electricity as big as Hazard.
In a flicker of movement, Hazard released the attack. It shot across the space and into the boulder, smashing against it and leaving a sizable scorch mark and a thin crack.
Wait, was that... "You learned Electro Ball?" Koa asked, eyes wide.
Chittering, Hazard nodded.
Koa raised an eyebrow. That was unexpected. Had his mother taught it to him? Slowly, a half grin formed at the potential. Especially on a small, fast pokemon like Hazard and combined with Hazard's skill with Electroweb. He could already see potential combos. Could he even pair that with Agility...?
"Sick!" he exclaimed. "Guess we have a new move to work into your battles."
Koa rushed through his morning routine, then shook Kitto awake, who to his surprise had also slept in. Too many smores too, he guessed. He grabbed his backpack, threw on his jacket and returned his team, save for Hazard. With one last check to make sure everything else was put away, he started for Floaroma town.
He stopped briefly to sign up for the Bug Catching contest, then hurried onward to the festival.
From the moment they stepped into the town limits, all of Koa's senses were assaulted. The buzz and flutter of hundreds of bug-types out with their trainers, undercut by a jaunty melody, met his ears. He soon identified a man playing a violin alongside two Kricketune, the notes of their song filling the festival air.
Dustox and Beautifly danced about their trainers heads, and Vespiquen staffed stalls alongside vendors selling honey and treats. He had never seen so many bug-types in one place. It was almost overwhelming.
Despite the initial apparent chaos, Koa realized the festival had a sort of loose organization tying it all together. Vendors of similar kinds were grouped together, with food tents lining the main street closer to the town entrance. Further along it split into several different avenues.
Games and contests on one street and crafts and handmade goods down another, and one with plenty of tables and benches under tents for trainers to rest, dotted with more food carts and tents.
Koa found himself standing at the fork, caught up in indecision for a good few moments. Hazard seemed both content to enjoy the ride and eager to observe everything, so in the end they picked a road leading to the food carts to get breakfast.
The first half of the morning passed by in a blur. They stuffed themselves with sausage wraps drizzled with hot honey and sipped sweet lemonade.
Kitto beelined for the games area after, and immediately got in line in front of a huge pit of sandy earth that formed a wrestling ring. Inside the ring, a Heracross pumped its claws in the air as it stood over an opponent.
A sign by the ring read "7-0". The attendant flipped the sign to show 8-0.
One hard fought and wild match later, Kitto walked away with a triumphant grin and the sign now reading "8-1". Several trainers gaped at him as he passed by. Koa smirked.
There were contests to count increasingly larger groups of Combee, Whirlipede races trainers could bet on, and even a mini-kart track for CharjaKart. Koa discovered he either had terrible luck or was bad at picking winners. Hazard seemed to have a knack for it though.
The one Koa most enjoyed was Pineco toss, which could be heard from halfway across the festival grounds. Trainers tried to toss over-eager Pineco into targets, and if they landed close enough, they would gleefully explode. Winning enough points would net trainers prizes.
Koa ended up winning enough points for a prize, though most of the rewards didn't catch his eye so he settled for a Focus Sash that he gave to Kitto. At game where contestants threw Beedrill shaped darts at targets, Kitto promptly got a high score and enough for one of the larger prizes.
He came over to where Koa was waiting with a smug grin and his hands behind his back, then proudly presented a fuzzy Shinx plush. "Revenge for the Focus Sash," he said with a smirk.
Koa took it and tucked it safely in his backpack. "All part of my master plan to manipulate you into getting me prizes," he snarked. Kitto knuckled him on the head in response and Koa playfully shoved him away.
XXX
By the time Koa had made his way through the craft section with Hazard, his wallet was hurting. He'd never seen so many handcrafted items in one place. There were kimonos of woven Caterpie silk, little leaf hats made by Leavanny (he bought a tiny one for Hazard and one for himself), and braided jewelry and elegant tapestries made from all kinds of dyed threads.
An old lady was selling an assortment of richly scented candles of Combee wax, while another vendor sold colorful dream catchers made from dyed threads from a Spinarak. Brilliantly shining art resembling stained glass made from specially treated Vivillion scales cast a kaleidoscope of colors around another stall.
From the first vendor, a gentleman with a strange spider pokemon called a Tarantoula, he bought a new cord for Hazard's Everstone. It was much stronger and more durable than his old one, which had begun to fray slightly.
Then he bought a new pair of fingerless gloves made from Wurmple silk, finding they were much more durable and comfortable than he expected. And then he'd spotted another tent selling matching scarves and full gloves woven with Volcarona hairs and bought that too, for his journey to Snowpoint, only to decide to buy a matching jacket that was a perfect scarlet color. He justified it by telling himself it was on sale as a package deal. They retained heat far better than anything else and they were on sale.
Then, halfway down the street, he found a tent with a woman and her Scyther selling wooden carvings of all kinds of pokemon, and he lingered for a long time admiring all of them. He finally settled on a carving tucked in the back depicting Giratina rising from a pool of smoke.
She seemed surprised at his choice, but he caught a nod of approval from the Scyther.
After much indecision, he picked out a humble jewelry artisan who hailed from Johto and wore a woven tunic depicting crashing waves. The stall was set towards the end of the avenue and was quiet, with only a small handful of wares. Woven bracelets, shining necklaces and decorated bangles lay on small tables. A Noctowl perched at the far back, under the shade of the tent, watching sleepily.
"Ah hello young master," the man said, looking up from where he was working on a delicate pocket watch. "Can I help you find something? Are you looking for yourself or for a friend?"
Koa brushed his fingers along the Ho-Oh feather in his pocket. "Myself," he said, glancing around the stall. Nobody else was nearby. Putting aside the last of any doubts, he withdrew it, and held it out to the man.
The man's eyes widened and he dropped the tweezers he'd been using. They clattered to the table as the man slipped off his chair and made his way closer. "My oh my..." he murmured, stepping all around to admire the feather.
Even in the muted light filtering through the tent, it held a glow of its own, casting a faint rainbow shine on the walls. The man's Noctowl opened its eyes fully, gazing upon the feather with undisguised interest.
Apparently done examining the feather, the man looked up, gazing into Koa's eyes.
Koa resisted the urge to look away, even though the attention made him uncomfortable. "I uh, wanted to get it set on a chain instead of keeping it in my pocket," he began awkwardly.
Blinking, the man seemed to snap to attention, and nodded. "Apologies young man, I was lost in my own memories. It would be an honor. And what is your name?"
"Koamaru, and this is Hazard," he said, gesturing to the Joltik on his shoulder.
The old man smiled toothily. "A pleasure, master Koamaru and Hazard. I am Jaye. I travel here every year from Johto to visit my nieces and nephews and come to the festival..." he trailed off briefly, still staring. "Forgive me, it has been so long since I have seen a true feather from Lord Ho-Oh."
"You've seen one before?" Koa asked eagerly.
Jaye nodded. "Many decades ago, when I was just a young man. I was an apprentice then, still learning my craft. I wanted to carve my own path but I was filled with doubt as well. One morning I found myself watching the sunrise with my partner when a shadow appeared in the distance. As it drew close, I thought it was a great bird, such as a Fearow, but it was soon obvious it was far more than that." He smiled, lost in his memory. "That morning, Ho-Oh soared above that hill, and I was the only one who saw it. When I finally descended, I found a single feather."
Koa's jaw dropped. "You have a feather too?" So he wasn't the only one! He'd read about it, of course, but getting to meet someone who had also seen Ho-Oh was completely different.
"That I do, though I must say, yours is a splendid specimen, and by far the largest. My own is back home in Johto."
Koa fidgeted excitedly. "What do they mean? Did you ever see Ho-Oh again? Did it say anything to you? Do you think Ho-Oh does it on purpose?"
Chuckling, Jaye rubbed his beard. "Ah, you have so many questions, just as I had at your age. I am afraid I don't have the specific answers you desire. What I do believe is that it was no accident. Though no, I never did speak with it or see it again."
Koa hung on his every word, wishing he could see the memory himself. His own memory of seeing it was crystallized in his mind permanently. The way it hung on the winds, the deep scarlet red of its feathers and the shimmering rainbow of colors trailing after it. "What does it mean then?" he murmured, half to himself and half to Jaye. Were they somehow chosen? The idea seemed silly but...
Jaye seemed to study him for a moment. "Have you considered that it does not mean anything at all, young Koamaru?"
Blinking, Koa stared back. "But you said it was no accident-"
Holding up a hand, Jaye hobbled back to his chair and settled down. "Yes, that is true and I stand by that belief. But purposeful is not the same as destiny or being chosen. It is entirely possible that Ho-Oh did what it did intentionally, but not to choose me for anything. Simply because it wanted to." Jaye gestured to the table before him, and Koa set the feather down, still considering the idea.
"A gift, to one it deemed worthy."
He'd never thought that he was a chosen one the way those books he read as a kid sometimes talked about. Yet it was hard not to wonder if there was something more to it. All the unrest with the legendary pokemon lately, was that just one great coincidence?
Jaye began to gather his tools. "Would you tell me about your encounter while I work?"
Still contemplating, Koa nodded.
As Jaye began working, Koa sat on a stool and recounted his meeting with Ho-Oh. It was odd and pleasant to be talking to someone else about legendary pokemon, someone who didn't seem to hold a shred of doubt or ill will towards them. Then again, Jaye was from Johto. Of all the regions, they revered their legends most differently.
Like Sinnoh used to.
Of course, he supposed not everyone hated them per se, they just no longer looked up to them the same way, much less believed people should interact with them. He remembered back when the path to Mt Coronet and the peak had first been closed. There'd been some protests, but it soon died down the more incidents happened in other regions and the full light of Galactic's atrocities came forth.
After Koa told his story, he sat in silence for a time. The deft movements of Jaye's weathered hands as he wove strands of silver and gold together was hypnotic.
"If you don't mind..." Koa began carefully. "Have you heard about what's been happening around Sinnoh lately?"
"Bad thing, that is," Jaye muttered, his countenance darkening. "Dark times."
Koa stared at the feather, shining faintly. "Do you think those attacks are real then?"
Jaye stopped working to look up at him, eyes glimmering with curiosity. "Real? Is there reason to believe that is not so? Legendaries are capricious, and humanity was not always kind to those three."
Unease ate at Koa. "But they are protectors. A-and I saw two Entei at the park. Amity."
"Oh?" Jaye said. "That is interesting. But that does not exclude the possibility that legendaries may have their own reasons for such actions."
Biting back an instinctive retort, Koa considered the old gentleman's words. Was he right? Legendaries did have their own reasons, he believed. And they didn't always do what humans would want. But was that what was happening now?
Koa shook his head in agreement. "I just don't think they'd destroy things for no reason."
"Perhaps. Or perhaps there is more yet we do not understand." Jaye continued. "We may not know the legends' reasons for their actions, but I still hold faith that they care for pokemon and people alike. After all humanity has done, they may seek to remind us of their power. Their actions can be of good intent, even if we do not like it. After all, their natures are not always what humans might want."
Cold chills crawled down Koa's spine at those words. Jaye didn't seem jaded or spiteful like others he'd met. Was he right then? Were the legends of Johto making some kind of point? But then how to explain the seeming second ones, unless... unless his belief about there only being one was wrong and Callahan was right.
"I admit however, they do sound like odd incidents indeed. Knowing that you saw two Entei certainly changes things. Were I younger I might seek out answers, but I am afraid those days are long past," he said wistfully.
"Do you believe the rumors? A-about there being many beasts?"
Jaye snorted. "Bah. Now that is nonsense. Lord Ho-Oh only deigned to resurrect three pokemon the night the tower burned. There could no more be several of them than there could be two Ho-Oh or two Lugia."
Just as Jaye was finishing, the buzz of the PA system filled the air.
"Calling all participants to the west field for the Bug Catching Contest! Once again, please report to the tent at the west field for the Bug Catching Contest."
Jaye smiled and gently handed over the finished chain with the feather now dangling from it securely attached. "Better hurry, young master Koamaru. Good luck on your journey."
Smiling, Koa took it and fixed it around his neck. It hung perfectly just below his collarbone, with enough length to tuck into his shirt. A warmth spread from his chest all over his body. "Thanks," he murmured, gazing down.
At a first glance the chain appeared simple but looking closer Koa could see he'd used an intricate mix of gold and silver links with delicate filigree laid within each link.
With a final farewell, he left the tent. Knowing that someone else had once met Ho-Oh, and that they still admired the legendaries, heartened him.
He had to practically sprint back to his tent to drop off his goodies he'd bought and make it back to the tent at the far side of town.
Koa arrived slightly breathless at a large yellow and black striped tent that had been set up at the town's west end, at the edge of a huge field dotted with brush and trees and flowering bushes. A fairly large group of trainers was already gathered under the tent, oo-ing and ahh-ing at something.
Working his way around the crowd, he managed to get a glimpse of the source of the spectacle.
Sitting on a raised dais was an Anorith. The only bug-type fossil, and exceptionally rare, bordering on impossible to find as a fossil, particularly in Sinnoh. Mostly only found in sea caves around Hoenn.
"Sick," he murmured. Its pale and dark carapace gleamed as if it had been freshly buffed, and it looked large for its species, with sharp, powerful pincers. A vision of an Armaldo on his team began to form. Scrapper and Armaldo sparring, Rascal having another fossil on the team and Hazard having a bug-type friend.
One certainly wouldn't be a bad addition...
Scanning the crowd, he caught a glimpse of olive-green hair. Fossie. Of course he was here. Fossie didn't seem to notice him. Just as well, he was in no mood to run into the stuck up fossil trainer.
A pair of familiar siblings caught his eye much closer and he waved before wriggling through the crowd next to them. "Hey Rachel, Kody. How are you guys doing?" After how the Combee hive had seemed to affect them, he hadn't expected to see them participating in the contest.
"I'm doing loads better," Kody said smugly. "I've basically gotten used to being around all these bugs. Better than her."
Rachel, who wore a slightly strained expression, rolled her eyes. "My power is stronger than yours, that's why."
Kody folded his arms. "Nuh uh-"
With an awkward chuckle, Koa moved away, leaving the two siblings bickering away. Hazard snickered from his shoulder. Everyone showed their care in different ways, he guessed.
Finally, a Ranger wearing a straw hat and an orange jacket stepped up onto a small stage beside the Anorith. A large Butterfree clung to her hat, under which sprouted a yellow ponytail. She tapped on the microphone to get everyone's attention.
"Hi everyone, welcome to the Silver Wind Festival's annual Bug Catching Contest! I hope you've all been enjoying the fares and wares." A small ripple of cheers ran through the crowd. "My name is Amarillo, and I'm helping to run the contest. I'll review the contest rules one final time before we start."
Koa listened intently as she explained. It was fairly simple, based on the classic pastime of bug-catching without pokeballs.
Using only nets and one partner pokemon, trainers had to catch as many bug-types in the marked area as possible within the time limit. The nets had tracking systems that would log the species of pokemon captured, then trainers would release them. Essentially an elaborate game of flag tag then.
"And remember," Amarillo said, "there is no battling or pokemon techniques allowed. This is about trainers and their pokemon working together, not strength. Battling will get you immediately disqualified. But you're welcome to make use of your partner's natural abilities."
She gestured to the Anorith beside her, who adopted a haughty expression. "The top four trainers with the highest scores will have a chance to battle and add this rare pokemon to their team."
Anorith beamed as ripples of admiration and excitement ran through the crowd. Silent, blazing desire burned in Fossie's gaze.
Sometime between Team Rocket's crimes using the Game Corner and the current day, 'prize' pokemon had fallen out of popularity and then risen again. Rocket had abused the practice but originally it dated back long before Rocket, back to the days of clans. Strong pokemon wanted strong wielders, and the best way to do that was a battle, with the pokemon in question often siding with the winner.
Judging by the Anorith's expression, it was looking forward to finding a new trainer. A strong one.
Koa wondered if he might be it. More than anything though, he wanted a chance to beat Fossie at something. Even if it was just catching bugs. Pettiness was a powerful motivator.
He shot Hazard a grin. "We got this, right?"
Hazard's eyes gleamed and he flared his fur, sparks dancing around his body.
XXX
"On your marks..." Amarillo's high, clear voice rang across the field, amplified by the microphone. Her Butterfree hovered above her.
Around Koa, the various trainers and their pokemon tensed, the air humming with anticipation. All the way at the end of the crowd, Koa could see Fossie and his Kabutops. His grip on the net he'd been provided tightened. Hazard dug into his shoulder.
In his pocket was a card listing the basic points and bug-species they could catch; ranging from the average Weedle and Spinarak to rare-patterned Vivillon and Wormadam. Evolved forms were worth more than their base stage counterparts. It also mentioned that there was a chance to spot 'shiny' pokemon, which would be worth extra points.
While most were trained pokemon volunteering, a few others were apparently wild, just looking to get in on the fun, and had been coached on how the game worked. Trainers were, of course, forbidden from using pokeballs on the pokemon during the contest.
"Get set..."
Was she just dragging this out for fun?
With an eager cry, Butterfree fired a burst of multicolored energy into the sky that exploded with a 'pop' and a flash.
Koa took off at a run, only for Hazard to poke him sharply in the neck. Right. Rushing was pointless. He slowed into a steady jog, deciding to watch and see where the other contestants went first.
The competition area consisted of a huge field of flowers, dotted with small copses of trees and flower bushes and a long patch of forest at the far end. Many broke off, heading straight for distant shapes of bug pokemon fluttering about, while a few started investigating the trees closer.
After a moment's consideration, Koa decided on a plan. Most trainers were opting to start close and work their way out. That wouldn't pay off long term. The real trick would be to go as far out as possible and work his way back to the start. Avoid the clusters and crowds and get to the rarer pokemon hiding at the fringes first.
He murmured his plan to Hazard, who agreed.
They snagged a few easy catches on the way: a couple Weedle, a Caterpie and a Spinarak, and a spirited Ledyba that Hazard pinned down with his natural web.
As it turned out, the woods were a good call. Bugs were hiding in the branches, tucked into hollow logs and peeking from under bushes. He managed to catch a few rare Vivillon, an Ariados and even one he later identified as a Dottler.
Then he spent almost ten minutes chasing a Lokix that kept jumping away at the very last second, which he only caught thanks to Hazard setting a web trap that it jumped right into. To his dismay, his Poketch showed his time was running short.
He headed out of the woods, snagging a few Wormadam and a Combee on the way before pushing through a dense patch of brush and back to the fields. If he was clever, he could try to find a few more out here...
More than a few times he tried to snag something like a Ledyba or Butterfree, but they proved quite good at slipping away and making themselves scarce, and Koa decided he didn't want to waste time going after pokemon worth fewer points.
Just as he finished checking a cluster of trees ringed by pale blue flower bushes, something tugged on his ankle. Hazard had snagged his leg with thread and was anxiously pulling him toward the flower bush.
Hazard tugged insistently again, even as Koa's gaze briefly shifted. Was that a Vikavolt? That was worth a good amount of points-
A sharp poke made him listen to Hazard and walk towards the bush. "What?" he mumbled distractedly.
Hazard vanished under the bush. A long, raspy cry like wind through dry leaves came from underneath. Koa knelt down. Hazard was engaged in a tug of war trying to drag a caterpillar-like pokemon out. Its body was an alternating pattern of dark blue and pale blue, with large shiny eyes almost like glasses.
It took him several seconds to remember its name. Blipbug. Galarian. "Hazard a Blipbug is barely-"
Something about the way its fine setae and membrane-like skin glinted a pale blue in the sunlight filtering through the leaves made him stop. He leaned closer. Then he scrambled for his Pokedex and scanned it.
His jaw dropped. He grabbed his net and slapped it over the Blipbug before it could try to escape. A tiny beep indicated it had been successfully registered and he grinned.
He'd just tagged a shiny pokemon. Surely that would put him near the top. "Thanks Hazard!" he said with a grin. Hazard chittered smugly. The two pokemon chattered to each other briefly before Hazard hurried back to Koa's side.
Koa grinned. He glanced at his watch. Just under ten minutes left. Maybe he really could win this.
XXX
Koa tapped his foot impatiently as they tallied up the points, Hazard jittering on his shoulder. Surely that shiny Blipbug he snagged would have netted him just enough points to win, surely. Plus the Ariados and Lokix...
Then again Fossie apparently snagged a golden Ledian, and that probably counted for a lot of points.
"So do you figure you won?" Kody's voice piped up from behind him.
Koa glanced over his shoulder, then shrugged. "Maybe. I got a few rare ones and a shiny... What about you, do you really want the Anorith?"
Kody shook his head. "I'm just in it for fun honestly."
"And to beat your sister?"
He smirked. "That too. And training. I wasn't really trying to win. Though I do want to see if I can get a Dottler to join me later. There was a nice one I saw during the contest."
The crackle of the microphone cut in, and the trainers gathered fell silent. Amarillo stood on the podium, beaming. "Thank you everyone for your patience! We have tallied all the points and identified our winners. When I call your name, please step forward. Sarah Nao, Jacob Yoshiki, Rikai Hawthorne and Koamaru Averon!"
Hazard buzzed and Koa beamed. Across the throngs of trainers, Koa locked eyes with Fossie. The fossil trainer's expression was unreadable and infuriatingly calm. Confident, as if he didn't expect to lose.
I'll show you.
AN: That wraps up chapter 34! The return of Hazard's mother, Koa makes up (mostly) with Blake, and the return of Fossie! Lots of fun teases in this, a little manga easter egg nod for the funsies, and fun times at the festival. This chapter was a joy to write even if it gave me trouble. I really enjoyed trying to think of what a big festival like this might entail and the kinds of crafts and foods and other games there could be.
I am also looking forward to some more Fossie :}. What will come of this little tournament, I wonder?
As always, I enjoy hearing thoughts and feelings! Thank you greatly to all my regular reviewers and my new ones. I am grateful as ever!
Echo (Male Crobat) {Ability: Inner Focus}
Hazard (Male Joltik) {Ability: Compound Eyes}
Rascal (Female Tyrantrum) {Ability: Strong Jaw}
Anubis (Male Houndoom) {Ability: Flash Fire}
Scrapper (Male Breloom) {Ability: Effect Spore}
Flurry (Female Sealeo) {Ability: Thick Fat}
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