The Festival of Wishes!

[indigo_league]

Who: Everyone!
Where: Pewter City!
When: June 24th
Summary: It's time to celebrate the Festival of Wishes!


Pewter City is one of those towns that doesn't draw a lot of attention. It's nice and has that museum, but it never seems to be the scene of much excitement.

But today, that's different. Because today, Pewter City has been doffed up to the nines, with visitors arriving from everywhere to celebrate the Festival of Wishes. The skies are crowded with uBIRDs flying in people from all over Johto and Kanto. The streets are filled with cheerful noises and many in the crowd have come in their finest yukata and kimono, adding splashes of colour to what might otherwise be a drab crowd. And if you'd like to try out one of these beautiful garments yourself, there are plenty of nearby shops offering rentals for the visiting crowds.

Stalls have gone up all over town, most hawking various forms of street food: Takoyaki, Yakisoba, Kaarage and many others! And for those looking to satisfy a sweet tooth, there's plenty of shaved ice, chocolate-covered bananas and Taiyaki to go around. Hopefully, you brought an empty stomach, because it would be a shame to miss out on all these yummy goodies.

But it isn't just food stalls that dot the streets. A wide variety of festival games are also available. From shooting galleries to ring toss to small lottery games -- whatever you might be in the mood for can be found here. Stuffed animals and sweets are the most common prizes to be won, but who knows, perhaps if you get very lucky, you might even win an Evolution Stone.

And, of course, no festival would be complete without a Test of Courage. Are you brave? Is fear something you only know from the dictionary? Then why not prove it? Why not enter Pewter City most haunted dwelling (usually just an office building) and show your mettle to your friends or even that special someone? Who knows, you might even earn a kiss if you protect them from the many horrors that dwell within (AKA, volunteers in costumes, a few ghost pokemon, and so many 'creepy' paper mache props)

There are also various stalls dedicated to traditional arts and crafts. From Calligraphy to Origami, if you have an interest in these matters, you'd do well to check them out. And you can do more than just buy some nice decorative pieces for your home, or a cute little origami figure of your favourite pokemon partner; many of the stalls also offer visitors the chance to try their own hand at these traditional skills. Are you the type of person who is always looking to learn a new skill? Or have you perhaps mastered these skills already and do you want to show off? Why not come over here and spend some time?

(Who knows, you might even impress someone special!)

And once night has fully fallen, the skies will light up, not just with the light of the stars and the moon, but with the many bright colours of fireworks! If you aren't completely tired out yet from all the festival games, why not sit down, relax, (maybe drink a beer if you are old enough) and enjoy the beautiful spectacle happening above you.


---


But all of that cheer doesn't really answer the big question -- what is the Festival of Wishes?

Keen eyes (and not so keen eyes, really, they are everywhere) will be able to spot various decorations shaped like the pokemon Jirachi dotting the stalls everywhere. From small plush toys to folded origami figures, Jirachi's cheerful face can be found everywhere. There even is a theatre performance explaining the whole tale, but for those too busy stuffing their faces to partake in (ugh) culture, it all comes down to this: Jirachi is the Wish Pokemon. During the festival, people write down their wishes, hoping that Jirachi might fulfil them.

Of course, there is never a guarantee Jirachi will be around. It's been known to sleep a lot. But why not give it a try? It can't hurt, right?

Comments

Wish Tree!

[indigo_league]

At the centre of the festival of wishes is the wish tree -- or wish bamboo to be more exact!

One of Pewter City's squares has been taken over by numerous pots of bamboo stalks. The pots are all different, creating a rainbow of colour. But what is the same is that each stalk of bamboo is decorated with fluttering strips of paper. And a closer look shows that these strips aren't just paper decorations -- each of them has been inscribed with a wish; from the small and childish wishes ("I want to eat a million candies!") to the sweetly poignant ones ("I hope my husband recovers quickly."), it looks like all the residents of Pewter City and the many festival visitors have transcribed their inner desires and have committed them to Jirachi.

Nearby attendants are armed with many more strips of paper and pens, offering them to anyone who has yet to add one of their own wishes to the trees. Why not give it a go? Who knows, maybe Jirachi really is listening.


---

Whether large or small, greedy or generous, we encourage you to submit a single wish per character. It could be for an item, big or small, or it could be for something less substantial, something impossible even. What may happen to your character's wish is in Jirachi's hands.

[prayreturn]

It takes a while for Minfilia to decide on how she phases her wish. Her desire in this world - she dare not ask for anything that would change her own star. (For she is learning, slowly, that she is a little ignorant.) But could she truly be selfish, and wish for something for herself? Even now, she errs.

Written in firm letters - the sort that show the person who wrote them writes a lot - is a simple wish. She need not take the time of a God, explaining her situation. No, she would simply ask for one thing, and hope that Jirachi was kind enough to listen.

"I wish to be strong enough to feel safe."

[nonmagical]

“I wish the rest of my family was here.”

As much as Mirabel has had fun in Johto, there’s no denying she’s felt a little homesick. She’s not used to being away from her family for so long. Even with Luisa here… she missed her parents and even her other older sister.

She’s not sure if the wish will come true but… her home was born from a miracle, so maybe…?

Wish Tree!

[hythlodaeus]

"I hope Emet-Selch gets embarrassed on television. Preferably so I can see it."

He writes this literally in his presence, but cups his hand like it's a secret up until the moment he ties it to a tree.

[amaure]

Having seen a touch of what Hythlodaeus put as his wish, he decides to return in kind. For more reason than mere pettiness. He wishes to see if this "god" of sorts is truly listening.

As such, his wish is perhaps a little strange, but modest:

"I wish that Hythlodaeus, for all his love of sharks, is bequeathed one directly into his lap."

[captainash]

When the time comes to pick a wish, Ash does not hesitate a single instant.

"I hope Kio will grow up safe and happy."

As a father, that's been his greatest wish for over twenty years, now. What else could he possibly hope for?

[nellacerniera]

Bucciarati... doesn't take long to settle on a wish at all, given the current circumstances.

"I wish Abbacchio, Narancia, and I can be safe and happy in this world."

[perfectteatime]

This is hard actually. What is he supposed to wish for? He doesn't suppose he should wish for something for himself. There's nothing he really wants. But...

"I wish for an especially soft and sweet Rattata that can soothe anxiety and stop someone from having nightmares."

Even if there's a small possibility, he'll take it.

[epitaffio]

It doesn't take Doppio very long to think of the right wish. There's only one thing he really wants, anyway.

"I wish for the Boss to succeed."

When it's time to add his wish, he does hesitate - because that isn't quite true, is it? As much as he means what he wrote, it's not the one and only thing he wishes for--

But ultimately, this is what he asks for, after all. Even if this is just for fun... Putting his wishes to meet the Boss above their mission wouldn't feel right.

Re: Wish Tree!

[crystalmaster]

Radley also knows exactly what he wants. He's also quite sure it won't or can't happen. But it's all in fun, right? No harm trying.

I want to be happy with all my friends from both worlds, including my Pokemon.

There's also the silent wish in his heart for Kalin to be one of those friends. He wants to see Kalin again and for things to be different now that Kalin recovered enough to save their town. He understands a little better about Kalin now, and he hopes Kalin might be willing to give him the chance he wanted for so long. It probably won't happen, but he can still hope.

Sighing, he ties the paper to the tree.

[logical_lioness]

There's only one thing Hermione wanted to wish for.

I wish for Harry to live a long, happy, peaceful life with people he loves, with no more heartache.

She stared at the words she'd written, suddenly emotional. Tears pricked at her eyes. Of all the people who deserved peace and happiness and love, she couldn't think of anyone more deserving than Harry, and she wished it with all heart.

[cyan_maid]

A quiet Jane thinks long and hard about her own wish. It's anonymous, right? No one will know if she puts down something that, to her, might be a little selfish...

I wish to fall in love, and have that love returned.

(She at least had the foresight not to write it in ink of any shade of blue.)

[gachatia]

I wish for safe travels for all who wander this realm, whether or not it is their own.

G'raha's got like, everything he could ever really want. Better to give with his wish and enjoy the festival, in his opinion.

[demonpuppy]

Anyone that knows Chip can easily guess what their wish will be.

"I wish for more Paliens!!"

[paladinlost]

At first, Cecil is not certain what he should wish for. He's quite content with his life in this world as it is, after all. Yet he has to think of something. Should he ask for a successful crop of vegetables? More visitors to the Gym? Or even for this world to finally send him home?

...No, not home. That's not where he'd find himself, even if he were to leave this world. And it's that thought, along with the comrade-shaped hole that still haunts his memories, that helps him choose.

"I wish we could all be reunited, including that warrior."

[fatefulprince]

[ better make sure he's alone when he wishes for this...! time to try wishing something for his coffee loving partner! ]

I wish for the best tasting coffee beans that this realm has to offer.

[thetombkeeper]

Marik stands in front of the tree, looking at all of the different wishes people have written down. A lot of good wishes but... what should he wish for?

He pretty much has everything he needs here. He's getting the second chance at life he's always wanted, a chance to be normal. To experience new things and just... enjoy life.

But the one thing he hopes for, more than Odion or Ishizu showing up is... Chenzira's well being. He's not fully sure why he's bonded to the pokemon as much as he has but he's become incredibly protective of the Yamask.

So he writes in Arabic: "I wish to always be here for Chenzira."

Perhaps it's cheating but it makes the wish feel more private and genuine to him.

[nastyboy]

Dimitri... needs a long time to think over what a proper wish could be. If he is quite honest, he became rather disillusioned with the idea of a powerful and divine anything descending upon the land - let alone to him personally - and granting favor.

Still, it is just... a fun tradition. He has to tell himself that. And that Kanto and Johto are very different from Fodlan.

That does not make it any easier, granted, but, well... Eventually, Dimitri uses that nice handwriting of his to good use for what he writes.

"I want each of my family here - Grant, Chip, Sylvain, Claude, Felix, Ashe, Dedue, Byleth, Lorenz, Hermione, Eri, and Jinx - to not feel too homesick."

It is a lot of people, but, listen. Sometimes that's what happens. Please do not judge me.

[vrdantwind]

After wandering around the festival a little with Dimitri, Claude knows exactly what to ask for. He hides it from him as he writes, though, until he ties it up.

"I wish for Dimitri to fully regain his sense of taste."

(OOC note: Should Jirachi wish to actually grant this, Dimitri's player is on board for it happening!)

[shiro2hero]

This is an extremely simple wish. He really should use it to ask for something more important. For peace - for continued peace for everyone.

But...

Shiro scribbles something down and sighs. With great finality.

I wish I could make just one meal without ruining it.

[insidegalra]

Thace thinks over his wish very seriously, and for a long time. After all the god-like Pokemon are very real (even if the myth seems exaggerated) so it's theoretically possible that the wish will be granted. What can he wish for that would have the most wide-spread improvement of everyone's lives, Pokemon and not?

"I wish for humans and Pokemon to be seen as equals and treated as equals by all cultures, including legal rights to own property or businesses and to form and dissolve partnerships of any kind. If that is not possible, then I wish that Pokemon who are currently partnered with humans who cause them mental, emotional, or physical harm via intent, incompatibility, ignorance, or negligence be given a path to a better place where they can heal.

[foxsets]

It doesn't take this faux blond quickly to come up with a wish. He knew his. Perhaps what took him long was trying to put it in when no one was really looking.

Atsumu's slip reads very simple, in Japanese: I wish my brother were here with me.

[ripetuto]

Honestly, this isn't something he'd normally do, but it's near the end of the festival and he was asked if he had asked for something yet so...

Well, earlier conversations got him thinking and so Abbacchio writes down:

I wish for comfortable camping beds so we don't have to sleep on the fucking ground for weeks at a time.

and ties to the tree.

[instrumentally]

Rei watches people come and go, tying their wishes to the bamboo. For a time, she is uncertain what she would wish for. Eventually, she settles it. Thinking of Tokyo-3 is often difficult. Like stepping through fog. Uncertain and unclear. But there is one thing she wants that she cannot already obtain. That she cannot influence from here.

Keep Shinji Ikari safe.

She ties her wish like the others, glittering in the light like fish scales.

[ourstosee]

[There is fair little that Aymeric could possibly have to wish for. Though the world as he knows it is in turmoil, he knows it will only be but a temporary state of being. His dearest friends and allies would, inevitably, seize victory over the forces of darkness and free their star from despair. He wants for little at home, save perhaps a few extra hours of sleep here and there. The work in Ishgard was strenuous, yes, and left him little spare time, but it was also gratifying. The city had grown, and it felt wrong to simply abandon it to the whims of a wish, hypothetical though the scenario might have been. And even if were to wish for his own freedom to roam, he would not be able to guarantee it for those he wished to roam with. Their safety, as well as their futures, were equally as important to him. It felt wrong, somehow, to leave them out of this moment.

Besides, much was already happening across their star to ensure continued peace. Thus, wishing for something greater than himself seemed far more beneficial, especially when it had such close ties to home.

He writes the wish onto the small strip of paper, blue in color, and finds a suitable piece of bamboo to hang it from.]

I wish for the continued success and safety of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn.