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

[forsaintcecilia]

Oh-- Hey, Radley!

[Kazuki is kneeling down in front of a Goldeen catch game, the one where you get the little paper scoop, and you have to get one in your cup without breaking it. It's a lot trickier than it looks! Also, a Sensu Oricorio is perched on his shoulder. It has an elegant air about it.]

Have you seen this kind of game before? I've always been awful at it.

[crystalmaster]

I've seen it in anime. They're really slippery, huh?

[Elliott the Espurr watches intently. Cuddles the Skitty is on Radley's shoulder and peering down. Suddenly concerned, Radley steps back.]

I wonder if kitties in this world like to eat fish....

[forsaintcecilia]

Saw it in anime? [Kazuki chuckles.] Yeah, I guess festivals are in a lot of anime! Is there anything like that where you come from?

Yeah, Pokemon will hunt other Pokemon in the wild. The meat we eat though? Don't ask me where it comes from, because nobody knows.

[crystalmaster]

I was going to organize one myself, back home. I'm from America. I've never seen anything like this in person.

[He sighs and pats his kitties.]

That's what I figured. These guys mostly eat vegetarian fare with me, but they might end up falling back on their wild instincts if they see something they like. Not knowing what the meat is creeps me out. I guess you could say it's no different than mystery hot dogs back home, but here I figure it must be some kinda Pokemon and that ... just doesn't sit well with me.

[forsaintcecilia]

Really? There's no time of year where you go outside to stalls, and play games, and eat... I dunno, those mystery hot dogs?

To be honest, I've kind of been rethinking meat too, but for different reasons.

[crystalmaster]

Oh! Well, yeah, we have things like that, just not with a Japanese influence.

Really? What are your reasons, if you don't mind sharing?

[forsaintcecilia]

Oh, well... I know someone here from a world where everyone is an animal, They stand up and talk like people, but they have all the traits too. He told me that eating meat is a real moral problem for him, because he's a wolf, and he naturally wants it, but he's in love with a little rabbit...

Anyways, it made me think more about eating meat. I hope I don't look like a monster to him.

[crystalmaster]

That sounds like a distressing problem, to say the least! I can understand not wanting to eat meat, especially around him.

[forsaintcecilia]

He seems pretty cool about it though. I didn't think he thought any less of me when we talked about it. But now the thought's in my head, you know?

[crystalmaster]

Yeah, he seems like the kind of guy who wouldn't judge. I know him too.

[Or at least he assumes there's not more than one wolf among the displaced!]

[forsaintcecilia]

Oh! You know Legosi? I never would have guessed that kind of thing about him... Being a wolf, I mean. Sure, he's big, but he's so gentle!

[crystalmaster]

Yeah, we've talked a few times. He is really nice. It sounds like an interesting world he comes from!

[He wonders if there are versions of all of them there that are anthro animals, if it's another version of Earth. Or maybe not.]

[forsaintcecilia]

Yeah, his is pretty interesting too! Sometimes I think mine is the only one that isn't.

[crystalmaster]

[Radley chuckles.]

Oh? Why isn't yours interesting?

[forsaintcecilia]

Oh, you know... The only thing that's kind of like magic would be the Fata, I guess. They're music fairies. But they don't have a whole lot of power or anything, and not everyone can see them either.

Other than that, it's a lot like it is here, but maybe with less advanced technology. No Pokemon, of course.

[crystalmaster]

Music fairies sound neat. Unique too. But I figure magic's really not all it's cracked up to be. I'm fine to have worlds without it. I always thought mine didn't, but thinking back on certain things that happened, I don't know anymore.

[forsaintcecilia]

What, did you see some things that made you think you might be wrong?

[crystalmaster]

Pretty much. I used to hear rumors about a group that sounded pretty supernatural, probably magic-based. I was never sure it wasn't some crazy publicity stunt by one of the big tech companies back home, but I've learned it's real, and darker than I'd even thought. And if that's true, maybe some of the other rumors I've heard about magical items there are true also.

[forsaintcecilia]

So a big tech company has some dark magic secrets?

It makes so much sense it sounds like the premise of a movie.

[crystalmaster]

[Radley laughs.]

Turns out the tech company wasn't involved. Although it was at the forefront of some of the older rumors. Something about magical Egyptian items making monster trading card characters real, and tournaments that delivered real damage during the games.

[He frowns.]

I saw some of the latter to a lesser extent back home. Some of the cards' effects would suddenly be made real, with no rhyme or reason to it.

[He subconsciously holds a hand over his stomach.]

[forsaintcecilia]

That sounds even more like an anime! They could sell the cards for real!

[crystalmaster]

[Radley is slightly amused, slightly puzzled, at what's being fixated on.]

Yeah, actually, the company I'm thinking of sells merch related to the card game.

[forsaintcecilia]

O-oh, sorry! [Kazuki scratched the back of his head sheepishly.] I was just thinking, it's so much like the sort of things that'd be marketed to boys back home. The Pokemon world is like that too, except it's all real.

[crystalmaster]

Yeah, it's marketed pretty heavily! A lot of girls like it too.

[forsaintcecilia]

It could totally be one of those global franchises, even if the Pokemon were just imaginary.