Little Scriven Luminious Square

[MintyMimix]

"Maybe I should drop out," she blurted, then winced as her anxiety spiked at the admission. She held a claw over her beating chest. "Or, no- forget I said that. This is just out of my expertise. I hardly know what I'm doin' out there."

Disguise or not, Ghaspius couldn't help but place a comforting tassel on the Sneasel's head. "It's okay. really. If ya want to drop, that's fine," he whispered as he offered a sympathetic smile. "But if it's just stage fright, I just know a thing or two about handling spooks."

He turned towards the stage, and nodded. "Don't focus on the audience, just on your movements. You're not on a stage, you're in a field, sparring and practicing moves alongside a trusted partner. Can you envision it in your head like that?"

A light clanging rang beneath his robes. 'And if that's not enough, I might have something that could help, if you're willing to trust an alchemist's experiment."

"Who knows? I may be the one to do so upon my return," Bellatrix replied. Just as she was about to answer his question about her beliefs, the show cut through any answer she might have given. Her head tilted at the vibrava, curious at Gray's snicker she asked, "Karma for what? Does he have a reputation?"

"Bone up his bum," Gray bluntly replied with a mix between a scoff and a hearty chuckle. "Good story critic. But stubborn."

Oricorio chimed in as she placed her wing just beneath her beak. "He's crushing on that announcer down there," she spoke, more than eager to gossip, "But he's a married man. Him and Amelia just recently eloped."

She collected Gray's empty mug, winked, and waltzed back to the counter to clean it. "He probably got mad at the other guy for 'ruining' his chance to impress the ol' quaggy. I keep telling him he's barking up the wrong tree, but he keeps pining for him." Her tail feathers ruffled a bit. "You ever come across something like that, Miss?"

 

[JFought]

Disguise or not, Ghaspius couldn't help but place a comforting tassel on the Sneasel's head.

Isidora involuntarily shivered from the head pat. The cloak stopped him from touching fur, but it still sent such a strong shock through her that she froze up. She didn't even mind-

She pulled away from his touch after he made his offer. I-I'm not a child. "I'll be fine. I'll... I'll try your advice." She pulled up a sleeve and started scratching her arm. "I just need to pull myself together..." I can't give up now.

 

[Inkedust]

She collected Gray's empty mug, winked, and waltzed back to the counter to clean it. "He probably got mad at the other guy for 'ruining' his chance to impress the ol' quaggy. I keep telling him he's barking up the wrong tree, but he keeps pining for him." Her tail feathers ruffled a bit. "You ever come across something like that, Miss?"

"I see," Bellatrix replied. Just how much of Gray's description applied to herself, she wondered though she decided not to vocalise it lest she ruin the current mood. At Oricorio's question though, Bellatrix was left to think. The feeling sounded all too familiar but what could she say when she barely remembered it?

"I've heard of such a case or two before," she settled on, her tone sobering but remaining level. No matter what others told her about the distant mask she wore their plea for her to shed it, this was something she could not let slip, she had an image to maintain. "It didn't work out," she added more smoothly, "and a marriage makes such a thing significantly more hazardous. Has Quagsire noticed?"

Oh how much regret could linger even long after the event had faded.

 

[MintyMimix]

She broke off from his touch after he made his offer. "I'll be fine. I'll... I'll try your advice." She pulled up a sleeve and started scratching her arm. "I just need to pull myself together..."

Ghaspius recalled his tassel and nodded. "Meant to aim for the shoulder, but still gettin' used to my old height again," he admitted with a chuckle as let his robes flutter in the wind for a bit. "Do ya need an ointment for that itch? I might have somethin'—"

"Round 2 will begin shortly; please make your way to the stage!" the Masquerain interrupted as she nodded to the remaining five. It seemed the others were to form the trio.

"—Ah, well, roughin' it out it is then," the Mismagius muttered as he nodded to Isidora. "Ride the wind like the Tempest ya are, and you'll be a-okay."

"Love is in the air! But oh, how star-crossed these two were!" The Quagsire regaled the next tale without delay, "One an outlaw, and the other a sheriff! Their chases and banter bringing them ever closer to realizing their feelings for each other!"

He paused for dramatic effect. "It was then that one day, the outlaw had enough. They had to bare their heart to their greatest rival, and did so the only way they knew how!" The spotlight immediately shined on the trio.

The Altaria spared no time waiting for her partners as she immediately puffed up into a giant ball of fluffy clouds with Cotton Guard.

Mandibuzz made quick use of her Pluck to try to help shape the cloud into the shape of a heart, and it seemed to be working at first — until she gestured with a wing to get the Staraptor to try to join in.

Unfortunately, he had been a sputtering mess the whole time, and slashed through it with an Air Cutter.

Both of the other birds let out a loud, indignant squawk. Yet despite the Altaria being the one to nearly get cuts all over, she was the one who seemed to happily laugh off compared to the Mandibuzz's death glare.

"They tried to make a giant symbol of their unspoken love, but alas, the sheriff tore it down! As a member of the law, they had to stick to their principles, even if it tore at their own heart inside to do so!" Quagsire announced, seemingly saving the whole thing as the crowd let out a parade of heartbroken 'aww's.

"But soon, their true feelings would be put to the test! During a protracted chase, the pair had stumbled into an environment far too harsh for either of them to withstand! Even worse, in the midst of all, was..."

The spotlight returned to Isidora and Ghaspius once more. The Mismagius nodded to his partner, prompting her to make the first move this time.

"I've heard of such a case or two before," she settled on, her tone sobering but remaining level. "It didn't work out," she added more smoothly, "and a marriage makes such a thing significantly more hazardous. Has Quagsire noticed?"

"Paz isn't one to notice much," the Oriocorio snorted as set the mug to dry. "But once he's it figured out, I'm sure he'll let him down gently. Just gonna be a bit awkward around the workplace for awhile."

"Or," Gray spoke up eying the broken heart on display at the stage, "He'll try something dramatic."

"C'mon, Lente might be a bit judgey, but he's harmless."

Gray simply let out a gruff hum of acknowledgment, but not necessarily agreement. Instead, his gaze moved to Bellatrix. "You read in your spare time at all?"

 

[Inkedust]

"You'd be surprised how much common sense is lost when someone is head over heels for someone," Bellatrix said, finishing her tea and leaving it on the bar. "I'd be cautious with that one." She turned to nod at Gray. "I do. One of the best ways to take your mind off something. Why do you ask?"

 

[JFought]

The spotlight returned to Isidora and Ghaspius once more. The Mismagius nodded to his partner, prompting her to make the first move this time.

There was a lone second where Isidora didn't understand what he was trying to signal with that nod. And then she realized. Fuck.

She kept her eyes away the audience. But envisioning a field wasn't going to help her much here. Now was the time for a creative decision. She may have liked to read stories, but writing was always another thing. She tried considering the variables. Put to test. Harsh environment. Something worse comes along. Isidora didn't have much for that, and there was also the problem of Ghaspius' follow-up. Another second had passed by this point.

She spent two seconds considering a Double Team solution. Like a gang comes along. But there has to be a second move. Then another second on a Whirlwind solution. Maybe- But can Ghaspius-

Trust him.

Finally, Isidora turned away from the audience, took a step back, and pulled back her arms. Her cloak began to flutter as the air stirred around her, and with a great deep breath she pushed her arms forward and sent a strong, powerful gale blowing across the stage.

The only thing she knew how to do here was aim. It was up to Ghaspius for the rest. C'mon, let this be workable...

 

[MintyMimix]

"I do. One of the best ways to take your mind off something. Why do you ask?"

Gray let out a hearty chuckle. "Guess you really are new here. Do you know where you are?"

As though on cue, the Oricorio dropped a stack of papers held together by a thin paperclip. "Just a little something I've been working on," she remarked as she down another round of tea along with it. "On the house."

'Partners from Beyond: A Sci-Fi Love Story by Oricorio Belle', the title read.

"Don't be surprised if folks try to make you read their work," Gray remarked with a whisper as he walked closer to the balcony to get a better look at the show. "If you don't want read my wife's story, that show down there would be a good excuse to leave."

Finally, Isidora turned away from the audience, took a step back, and pulled back her arms. Her cloak began to flutter as the air stirred around her, and with a great deep breath she pushed her arms forward and sent a strong, powerful gale blowing across the stage.

Ghaspius smiled as her apparent signature came storming through the gates. He would soon follow in tow, as he swayed from side-to-side and his gemstones began to glow a series of eerie colors in sequence. Light chimes and clanging rang beneath his robes. Finally, the gems settled into a deep violet as his Metronome settled into its effect.

A cluster of purple spheres of fire surrounded by sickly obsidian claws emerged from the Mismagius. They surfed along the wind, dancing and flying around at breakneck speeds. The flames' crackling in concert the wind made them sound like cackling, until they finally converged into the center to form a grand storm of blazing, ghostly fury. A truly Infernal Parade.

"A demon, long slumering beneath them, had awoken!" The Quagsire barely managed to chime in as the audience shivered, ooh'd, and aah'd. "No matter what attacks they hurled at it, its raging spirit could not be quelled! In a panic, the sheriff pronounced their love for the outlaw!"

The flames flickered and shrank as the wind began to overpower them. "Suddenly, the demon wretched, and the two realized: its weakness was love! The two professed every feeling they had for one another, and with each act of affection came a blow to the demon!" The fire was soon blown away entirely, and the spotlight dimmed. "And the evil was defeated! The pair worked together to make it back home, both quit their professions, and settled into a new life together as lovers happily ever after."

The crowd cheered as Ghaspius smiled at his partner. He guided Isidora backstage as the other trio of contestants soon followed.

Having had enough embarassment, the Staraptor immediately voiced his intent to leave and flew off before the Altaria could voice her protest, leaving just the two pairs behind.

"Nice work out there," Ghaspius said, offering a tassel for a fistbump as opposed to a pat. "Got one more in ya?"

 

[JFought]

Isidora came off stage filled with a giddy energy. She shook her head while smiling to herself, still unable to believe what Ghaspius had pulled off there. Metronome. This 'mon really is insane. When he offered his tassel, Isidora looked at it curiously for a moment, before letting out a relieved chuckle and returning the fistbump. "I dunno. Maybe!"

She moved over to the backstage wall and sat down against it. The excitement was wearing off, and it left her feeling as if she had just spent an entire day training. She lifted her mask so she could breathe better. "Damn. I thought I'd messed up for a moment, but you were never worried, were you?"

 

[Cresselia92]

So, this is the offworlder festival that has been sponsored so much, huh…

Wearing a dark blue yukata with a phosphorescent starry pattern, Silver strode across the main street of the lively city, taking in the various luminous decorations and delightful scents of festive treats.

The happy faces, the squealing children, the joyful music… yes. That atmosphere reminded him so much of the various festivals they held back in his world. But more than anything, it reminded him a lot of Hearts-binding, the festival of golden snowflakes, gratitude, and… love. It was almost like he was celebrating his birthday in a foreign world.

‘Though, I guess this would be much closer to an unbirthday…’ he mused, glancing at some young ‘mons challenging each other with their glow sticks, almost as if they were lightsabers. ‘Still gotta figure out when December 24 lands here.’

And while he wouldn’t consider himself a partygoer — far from it, actually! — as a Trainer, he had to be mindful enough and give days off to his Pokémon. Since he was both a Trainer and a Pokémon, it made perfect sense to use his Trainer authority to command himself to relax and chill. (Yeah, that was a bizarre thought that still popped into his mind from time to time.)

Besides, no matter how much he tried to push past his limits, he definitely needed a break after training so hard and for so long, and he was gonna enjoy the festival and have a pleasant time, without being held down by the various concerns of setbacks and recent events!

Which, well, would have been a much easier task to accomplish if the various passerby ‘mons didn’t keep shooting curious glances in his directions and murmuring about ‘that Sneasel with the red tuft’. Being a giant attention magnet was awkward, but he would rather have an entire city gossip about him than being forced to shave his precious red hair!

After many minutes spent wandering without an actual destination, he perked up when he heard a chorus brimming with awe and cheers, and upon glancing from a safe distance, he stopped to observe what seemed to be some contest of sorts. With nothing better to do, he crossed his arms and leaned against a wall, wishing to follow the rest of the show.

 

[MintyMimix]

Isidora came off stage filled with a giddy energy. She shook her head while smiling to herself, still unable to believe what Ghaspius had pulled off there. Metronome. This 'mon really is insane. When he offered his tassel, Isidora looked at it curiously for a moment, before letting out a relieved chuckle and returning the fistbump. "I dunno. Maybe!"

She moved over to the backstage wall and sat down against it. The excitement was wearing off, and it left her feeling as if she had just spent an entire day training. She lifted her mask so she could breathe better. "Damn. I thought I'd messed up for a moment, but you were never worried, were you?"

"Maybe's good enough for me," Ghaspius trilled as he performed a mid-float twirl. Though he certainly looked as happy and serene as ever, his shortened breath displayed his own fatigue beneath the surface.

"Even if one of us did, we'd figure it out as we went," he replied with a goofy chuckle, "A rather perky Lurantis traveler once told me: 'When you mess it up, dress it up!'"

The Mismagius briefly took off his mask and fanned himself with it. "Sides, ya wouldn't pick a name like Tempest and not have an awesome wind move, right?"

Which, well, would have been a much easier task to accomplish if the various passerby ‘mons didn’t keep shooting curious glances in his directions and murmuring about ‘that Sneasel with the red tuft’. Being a giant attention magnet was awkward, but he would rather have an entire city gossip about him than being forced to shave his precious red hair!

After many minutes spent wandering without an actual destination, he perked up when he heard a chorus brimming with awe and cheers, and upon glancing from a safe distance, he stopped to observe what seemed to be some contest of sorts. With nothing better to do, he crossed his arms and leaned against a wall, wishing to follow the rest of the show.

His presence certainly had not gone unnoticed by the town, and Little Scriven's rumor mill was always at maximum efficiency. Whispers about a "mysterious red-haired figure" had already caught the attention of a few gossipers, some of whom were more than eager to come up with tall tales of how they must have carried tons of battle scars beneath their fur and have traversed the world several times over hunting down criminals and the most dangerous of ne'er-do-wells.

Silver's sensitive Sneasel ears could of course pick up one some of these murmurs. But still, many of the festival goers kept their distance — whether out of regular respect or celebrity awe — but that didn't stop at least one from approaching him.

"'Scuse me, mister!" A young Starly hopped over, her eyes glistening in wonder, "Are you one of the Offworlders everyone is talking about? Did you see show? Did you see my dad up there?!" Her voice came out as excited chirps; every question increased in pitch as her energy only seemed to escalate the longer she stood in front of a 'heroic figure'.

 

[JFought]

"Sides, ya wouldn't pick a name like Tempest and not have an awesome wind move, right?"

"Eh, it's a work-in-progress," said Isidora with a shrug. "It's not something I'd really ever use in a fight, I just kinda stumbled on it by accident while training. But it's been surprisingly handy so far." She brought her claws up to her face to inspect them. "As for the name, I just thought it sounded cool." And I actually got to choose it for once...

Her claws were clean; nothing to check, really. She rested her arm on her knee and wiped the troubled thought away with a smile. "Anyway, you're the real star of the show here, I'm just along for the ride at this point. I mean, I wouldn't even chance Metronome in a battle, never mind a performance."

 

[MintyMimix]

"Nah, I just do what feels right in the moment," Ghaspius waved off her compliment. "Sides, somethin' interesting ya said just now I think hints to a quirk 'bout Forlas." His eyes darted to the side for a moment, ensuring that the others weren't listening in. Sure enough, the Altaria and Mandibuzz had been chirping to one another in the corner, their voices too indistinct to make out particular words.

"Do ya ever feel like ya have a bit more influence over that windy thing than ya should?" He asked, leaning in and whispering. "'Cause that's me and Metronome. I can sorta 'nudge' the move I'm lookin' for. And if I do it while channeling the energy through a concoction, it almost feels like I can outright select the move."

He leaned back as his usual attitude returned. "Anyways, Tempest is a pretty dang cool name, I gotta say," Ghaspius replied as he put his mask back on. "And you gave the perfect setup, so you deserve half the credit, too!"

"Contestants! Please make your way to the stage for the final round!"

"Guess that's our cue. Got any quick ideas ya wanna share before we head over?"

 

[JFought]

"Do ya ever feel like ya have a bit more influence over that windy thing than ya should?" He asked, leaning in and whispering. "'Cause that's me and Metronome. I can sorta 'nudge' the move I'm lookin' for. And if I do it while channeling the energy through a concoction, it almost feels like I can outright select the move."

"Like magic..." Isidora whispered to herself. It was something she'd been thinking about. But she hadn't figured out anything for sure. Yet.

"Guess that's our cue. Got any quick ideas ya wanna share before we head over?"

Isidora got up and pulled her mask back over her face. "I'm all out of wind tricks. I might have to try somethin' with ice this time, otherwise I've only got melee and stuff like Double Team. But with how versatile you are, I don't think we have much to worry about. Feel free to go first if you have a good idea."

 

[Cresselia92]

"'Scuse me, mister!" A young Starly hopped over, her eyes glistening in wonder, "Are you one of the Offworlders everyone is talking about? Did you see show? Did you see my dad up there?!" Her voice came out as excited chirps; every question increased in pitch as her energy only seemed to escalate the longer she stood in front of a 'heroic figure'.

“…Hm?”

Silver’s gaze drifted downwards, zeroing on the new voice. A little bird was looking at him in amazement, chirping a flurry of questions with the overflowing energy of a young child. A female Starly chick, by judging her feather patterns.

“Oh. Hey there!” he greeted back, his gaze and smile widening slightly to appear more amiable. For good measure, he also retracted his claws and got down on all fours, getting a better look at the little bird.

Did he somehow came across a fan? Was that how meeting a fan felt like? All giddy and awkward, but in a good way? He chuckled softly; it was so strange to see someone looking at him with sparkles of admiration in their eyes. The way she behaved was… actually adorable.

“Heh! You’ve got that right! I’m one of those offworlders!” he exclaimed with a proud grin, puffing up his chest and his feathers twitching. “Name’s Silver, and I’m gonna be one of the best battlers in the world!”

Content with the little ego boost, Silver focused once more on the show.

“So, your dad’s over there, huh?” he asked, studying the various contestants. If she was a Starly, then that meant that the Staraptor was most likely her dad. “Ah… Talking ‘bout the fellow with that big hat and cool hairdo? Yeah, I did, and…”

Silver tilted his head, wondering what he was meant to respond. Something positive or vague enough, perhaps?

“…Well, I gotta say that his performance was… surprising. I bet nobody saw that Wing Attack coming!”

Especially not that unlucky Vibrava, hehe…

Not wishing to ruin the moment by unintentionally saying something rude or inappropriate, he shifted the focus back to the young Starly. “So, um, what’s your name?”

 

[MintyMimix]

Isidora got up and pulled her mask back over her face. "I'm all out of wind tricks. I might have to try somethin' with ice this time, otherwise I've only got melee and stuff like Double Team. But with how versatile you are, I don't think we have much to worry about. Feel free to go first if you have a good idea."

"We'll play it by ear then," Ghaspius replied with a friendly nod. "Good to know what ya got though; I'll see if I can setup a good starter for ya."

"Listen in, dear audience, and listen well: for this is the story of the one known as El Enigmático," Quagsire spoke up as the contestants shuffled in. "A bandit amongst bandits — one of the most skilled and dastardly of them all! One sheriff reportedly managed to find their hideout, but then something happened that utterly baffled and stunned him!"

This time, the spotlight shined onto Ghaspius and Isidora first. The routine was pretty familiar by now: with a sway and a chime, the Mismagius fired off his Metronome.

A small, pink sphere formed on the stage, until suddenly it expanded into an enormous dome that encompassed the entire ampitheatre! The sphere had been made of glistening, reflective panels that emitted all kinds of strange colors and light. The bizzare space warped the very atmosphere as the sparkling, shimmering Trick Room settled in.

With an arena now made of literal smoke & mirrors and malleable illusions, the stage was set for Isidora to follow.

“Oh. Hey there!” he greeted back, his gaze and smile widening slightly to appear more amiable. For good measure, he also retracted his claws and got down on all fours, getting a better look at the little bird.

“Heh! You’ve got that right! I’m one of those offworlders!” he exclaimed with a proud grin, puffing up his chest and his feathers twitching. “Name’s Silver, and I’m gonna be one of the best battlers in the world!”

While she instinctively took a step back at a Sneasel getting on all fours, her smile was more than apparent in her voice. "That's so awesome! You were named after your claws, right? I bet they could cut through anything!" She held up a wing as she envisioned it in her head. "Like a big pillar, or one of Uncle Gray's steel beams, or a twelve meter titan!"

“So, your dad’s over there, huh?” he asked, studying the various contestants. If she was a Starly, then that meant that the Staraptor was most likely her dad. “Ah… Talking ‘bout the fellow with that big hat and cool hairdo? Yeah, I did, and…”

“…Well, I gotta say that his performance was… surprising. I bet nobody saw that Wing Attack coming!”

Not wishing to ruin the moment by unintentionally saying something rude or inappropriate, he shifted the focus back to the young Starly. “So, um, what’s your name?”

And just as easily as she got excited about one topic did she bounce to another. "Right, right? Dad's the coolest!" the Starly chirped, giving a light flap as she leapt for joy. "The way he always stays strong and quiet even when he's not doing his best, the way he can turn mistakes to miracles — I wanna be just like him!"

She did not hesitate to introduce herself in return. "I'm Starly Tsuya! I'm an apprentice post worker!" She said, holding a wing up to her chest in what appeared to be a salute. "If you want to send any mail, stop by! I'd love to say I was the one who helped the Wayferer Sneasel Silver!"

Her little talons shuffled about as her mind continued to race. "So! So! Do you like the festival so far? Do you like reading books? What's your favorite part? Of both of them?"

 

[JFought]

A small, pink sphere formed on the stage, until suddenly it expanded into an enormous dome that encompassed the entire ampitheatre! The sphere had been made of glistening, reflective panels that emitted all kinds of strange colors and light. The bizzare space warped the very atmosphere as the sparkling, shimmering Trick Room settled in.

With an arena now made of literal smoke & mirrors and malleable illusions, the stage was set for Isidora to follow.

The twisted dimensions made Isidora's body feel slower and more sluggish. But that just meant she could focus more on precision over speed. For once, she knew exactly what she had to do. A deep breath to calm her nerves. It's time for Double Team.

Isidora focused her energy and leaped forward. As her foot hit the ground, that energy split, so that when she jumped left, another her jumped right. As they landed into another leap, two became four, and with the next there were eight cloaked figures wearing absol masks, running erratically at various speeds across the distorted stage.

There was still something missing. A phantom thief wouldn't leave it at that. "Where's the flair?"

To complete the picture, Isidora stopped in the middle of stage and the chaos of her copies. Then faced the audience with her head tilted up and a claw held out in a beckoning challenge -- Beat this -- before disappearing back into the fray.

 

[Cresselia92]

While she instinctively took a step back at a Sneasel getting on all fours, her smile was more than apparent in her voice. "That's so awesome! You were named after your claws, right? I bet they could cut through anything!" She held up a wing as she envisioned it in her head. "Like a big pillar, or one of Uncle Gray's steel beams, or a twelve meter titan!"

Silver couldn’t help but laugh in amusement. He might not have much experience around cheerful folks, but wow! They surely were like a panacea for his spirit!

“Well! I’ve yet to face an actual titan, but you can bet I could send ‘em running for the hills with my speedy offense, if I have to!” he claimed with weasel-y confidence, rubbing his chin with a claw and his grin shifting into his trademark smirk. “I can pack quite the punch, if I can say so myself!”

Silver sat down on the floor, mindful to not dirty his yukata, and brought his paw in front of his face, wiggling his claws.

“But no, I wasn’t named after my claws. My family named me after a sacred mountain in my country: Mt. Silver,” explained the now-Sneasel, a nostalgic warmth glinting into his eyes and gems. “That’s considered a blessed name that draws in strength and good luck, wards off negative energies, and purifies the soul — just like the metal itself.” He winked. “Who knows? Maybe that name will bring some fortune here!”

"Right, right? Dad's the coolest!" the Starly chirped, giving a light flap as she leapt for joy. "The way he always stays strong and quiet even when he's not doing his best, the way he can turn mistakes to miracles — I wanna be just like him!"

She did not hesitate to introduce herself in return. "I'm Starly Tsuya! I'm an apprentice post worker!" She said, holding a wing up to her chest in what appeared to be a salute. "If you want to send any mail, stop by! I'd love to say I was the one who helped the Wayfarer Sneasel Silver!"

A faint pang of longing squeezed his heart, but Silver didn’t let his grin falter. Wishing to be like your own father… yes, that was something he could easily relate to as he often wished he could become a strong Gym Leader like his old man. If only Team Rocket never existed…

“… I bet your dad is very proud of you, Starly Tsuya,” he said with a soft voice, before bowing his head in respect and whistling contentedly. “And I really appreciate your offer! I’ll keep that in mind for whenever I’ll need to send some letters around!”

If only you could offer extradimensional fares, too…

Her little talons shuffled about as her mind continued to race. "So! So! Do you like the festival so far? Do you like reading books? What's your favorite part? Of both of them?"

“It’s a nice festival, yeah,” said Silver, nodding, and he glanced at the many lights adorning the area. “The lights are really pretty to look at. They make the town look… almost magical, I gotta say, and make feel like at home.”

He focused once more on Tsuya. “And I enjoy reading books, especially action stories.” With a swift jump, Silver stood back up and swiped his punches at the air, mimicking some heroic combat. “Martial arts! Ninjas and samurai defeating the bad guys and landlords! Kaiju felled with clever strategies! Oh yeah! Those are kinda stories I like the most! They’re so awesome!”

Silver lowered back on his fours and tilted his head, glancing curiously at the Starly. “What ‘bout you? D’you have some favorite genres?”

 

[Inkedust]

Gray let out a hearty chuckle. "Guess you really are new here. Do you know where you are?"

As though on cue, the Oricorio dropped a stack of papers held together by a thin paperclip. "Just a little something I've been working on," she remarked as she down another round of tea along with it. "On the house."

'Partners from Beyond: A Sci-Fi Love Story by Oricorio Belle', the title read.

"Don't be surprised if folks try to make you read their work," Gray remarked with a whisper as he walked closer to the balcony to get a better look at the show. "If you don't want read my wife's story, that show down there would be a good excuse to leave."

"A town of writers, hmm?" Bellatrix asked appraising the papers. Tempting as it was to indulge in some romance, a personal favourite (the trashy variety being a particular guilty pleasure of hers), she decided that show below would be more interesting for now. She was likely to return for Gray's steelwork anyway, why not read Belle's work while she waited then?

"It's no trouble," she said, accepting the tea before whispering to Belle to save a seat in the near future as she would love to read it when not in the midst of a celebration. On the condition that the gossip did not reach the ears of any other Wayfarer, of course. She then followed Gray to the balcony, trying to see if she could notice any other offworlders within the crowds below.

 

[MintyMimix]

“But no, I wasn’t named after my claws. My family named me after a sacred mountain in my country: Mt. Silver,” explained the now-Sneasel, a nostalgic warmth glinting into his eyes and gems. “That’s considered a blessed name that draws in strength and good luck, wards off negative energies, and purifies the soul — just like the metal itself.” He winked. “Who knows? Maybe that name will bring some fortune here!”

Silver's bragging netting him an even more sparkly gaze from the already starry-eyed Starly. She looked over his outfit in wonder, but didn't seem to remark too much about it as she hopped herself to sit alongside him. Though for her, it was more akin to becoming a feathery loaf.

"You really are a hero!" Tsuya declared with a trill. "Like a wandering warrior-monk from a faraway land that cleans the water, beats up the bad demons, and then is gone with the wind! Leaving behind a lesson and a treasure of gold and..." Her eyes widened as she connected the Sneasel with a story in her mind. "...silver...!" She uttered the last word in awe, as though she had just unlocked some hidden mystery of the world.

“… I bet your dad is very proud of you, Starly Tsuya,” he said with a soft voice, before bowing his head in respect and whistling contentedly. “And I really appreciate your offer! I’ll keep that in mind for whenever I’ll need to send some letters around!”

Between her faux-discovery and Silver accepting her offer, she couldn't help but squeal and bounce in place like the young schoolgirl she was. The words that came next were a flurry of nonsensical, strung together utterances of excitement and allusions to her telling her friends — comprehensible only to her, but the positive energy was overflowing.

“It’s a nice festival, yeah,” said Silver, nodding, and he glanced at the many lights adorning the area. “The lights are really pretty to look at. They make the town look… almost magical, I gotta say, and make feel like at home.”

He focused once more on Tsuya. “And I enjoy reading books, especially action stories.” With a swift jump, Silver stood back up and swiped his punches at the air, mimicking some heroic combat. “Martial arts! Ninjas and samurai defeating the bad guys and landlords! Kaiju felled with clever strategies! Oh yeah! Those are kinda stories I like the most! They’re so awesome!”

Silver lowered back on his fours and tilted his head, glancing curiously at the Starly. “What ‘bout you? D’you have some favorite genres?”

"Like your home? Was it always like this?! A festival all the time?! Was it glowing and bustling and full of Pokémon 24/7?!" Tsuya's questions finally became a bit more pointed as she turned her head to Silver and relaxed her posture just a smidgen.

"Yes, yes, yes, you get it! Action stories are so cool!" She said, pumping her wing as though she had just won an argument. "My friends keep saying, 'Oh but they're all the same' and I keep telling them no they're not! They're just saying what their parents think!"

The Starly furiously shook her head. "Super-Marill is only strong because of her friends in her heart! Flightogon beats Megasaur by breaking a dam to wash off all the poison pollen! Charcamon has to master the eighteen types from different lands and learns how to unite everyone along the way! And they all do cool beat-ups doing it!"

Her feathers puffed up as she became a ball of feathery fluff. "I like action and fantasy! And no one's gonna tell me it's stupid anymore! Not when Silver himself says they're cool!" Her head turned towards the stage as her she let out a gasp. "Look, look at that! Look at that! Is that one of your teammates? Wait, is that the mayor?! That was her the whole time?!"

 

[MintyMimix]

Isidora focused her energy and leaped forward. As her foot hit the ground, that energy split, so that when she jumped left, another her jumped right. As they landed into another leap, two became four, and with the next there were eight cloaked figures wearing absol masks, running erratically at various speeds across the distorted stage.

To complete the picture, Isidora stopped in the middle of stage and the chaos of her copies. Then faced the audience with her head tilted up and a claw held out in a beckoning challenge -- Beat this -- before disappearing back into the fray.

The crowd erupted into a roar of cheers at Isidora's performative taunts, and even Ghaspius couldn't help but clap along. In the midst of all that, he hadn't noticed that one of the strings of his mask received a cut, and it was beginning to dangle.

As the shimmering dome faded along with her illusions, so too did the spotlight as Quagsire tried to speak over them. "El Enigmático more than lived up to their name; a flurry of mystifying illusions and bewildering guile descended upon the sheriff as he tried his best to keep track, but to no avail! With one final taunt, the outlaw managed to get away!"

The crowd finally died down. "El Enigmático still roams the lands to this day! You'll know when they have struck, for in their wake, they leave quite the mark behind..."

The stage was soon filled to the brim with bright blue feathers scattering in the wind as the Altaria danced in place, activating Feather Dance. The Mandibuzz, while momentarily bewildered, nodded as several ethereal flames encircled her. Each little bit of Will-o-Wisp set the falling feathers ablaze as the a vigil of floating candles dancing in the wind. The crowd let out some expressions of awe, though they weren't as ravenous as the previous pair.

The pair flapped their wings as they blow a strong, unified a gust of wind, and the flames went out. "An enigma to the end," Quagsire finished as the crowd let out cheers. "And that's the end of the final round, folks! Let's give a round of cheers for our contestants!"

The spotlight shined upon both pairs at once. Unfortunately, between the cut and the final move, Ghaspius's mask had flown clean off. Not that the airhead seemed to notice as he politely waved.

And he wasn't alone, either. The Altaria's cloak had also been lifted just enough to unveil all of her fluffy clouds and face. She didn't seem to particularly notice either, but then again, it was obvious to almost everyone that it was Mayor Enubel well before her disguise came off. The Mandibuzz covered her face in exasperation.

"After some discussion with my lovely other judge, we're so far a tie! So, to break this, we're going to leave it to you, the crowd, to decide the winner!"

The spotlight moved to Ghaspius and Isidora. "Should the winner be our mysterious travelers, Mr. Spooks and Tempest," and then to the other pair, "or our familiar faces, Cloud-Nine and Miss-Story?!"

It seemed that members of the crowd (@Inkedust @Cresselia92) would need to voice their decision.