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

Mirabel Madrigal | ota

[nonmagical]

[Yukata]

[Mirabel has been eyeing the beautiful yukatas that everyone is wearing, and feels a bit awkward that she doesn't have one herself. She stops in one of the rental shops, and picks out one that's suited just for her. She walks out proudly, doing a little twirl in it.]

Well, what do you think?

[Festival Food]

[This is all food that Mirabel's never tried before, and it does smell good... but she's busy trying to reel in her new Midnight Form Lycanroc that evolved earlier in the month. The Lycanroc seems to keep snagging food from different booths, and when Mirabel notices...]

Ladrillo! I think we're supposed to pay for that, put that back!

[She's not sure if the food is free or not, but she didn't raise her Rockruff to be a thief!]

[Arts and Crafts]

Does it go like this? Or... this?

[She's folding origami, but her crane doesn't quite look right. She picks up a new, different colored piece of paper and tries again.]

Did the fold go like this...?

[Fireworks]

[Fireworks are familiar for Mirabel, so she finds a grassy hill to plop under and happily watches the show.]

Festival Food

[crystalmaster]

[Radley sees her and goes over with a sympathetic wince, seeing the Lycanroc swiping something.]

Uh oh. Does he do that a lot?

[nonmagical]

He didn't used to... ever since he evolved he's been a lot more... bold, I guess?

[crystalmaster]

That's pretty bold, alright. Or I wonder if he's asking for attention for some reason? But you probably give him a lot.

[nonmagical]

I give him plenty of attention. I’m not sure why he’s doing it… he’s gotten a lot more mischievous since his evolution.

[crystalmaster]

Yeah, that's what I thought. Well, maybe there's no real rhyme or reason to it. I know some Pokemons' personalities seem to change when they evolve. Maybe it's their way of trying to handle the changes?

[nonmagical]

That could be it. Maybe he's just... being a teenager?

Yukata

[nastyboy]

[Dimitri has to pick up a yukata himself, honestly, since he is rather lacking... although in his case, he's actually bought a proper one, since it seems he will find a lot of use for it. (He hopes, painfully, that he will find a lot of use for it.) It is a simple navy blue one, with a complimentary jacket, so nothing fancy, really.]

[But he does need to find something for little Clíodhna the Jigglypuff. It seems like quite a difficulty, with the distinctly round shape of the breed, but somehow the people of Kanto seemed to have managed. Now it's just a matter of choice...]

[He's in the middle of helping straighten out the latest try, a pale green thing to match Clíodhna's pale green eyes, when he hears Mirabel's voice, and he looks over with a smile.]

It fits you stunningly. I am glad to see that you have made it to the festival in good health. Aren't the patterns here lovely?

[nonmagical]

[She smiles softly, giving a little glance at the Jigglypuff.]

Thank you! And they are. I'd love to take something like this home...

Your Pokemon is very cute, by the way!

[nastyboy]

Ha, thank you. I had my concerns on if we would find anything on short notice, but... It appears that luck is in our favor.

[thank goodness that the people of Johto and Kanto just love Pokemon so much and are determined to put in the work to make sure that every breed can have a yukata.]

Have you thought about purchasing one? Although, ah, I suppose that they can be rather expensive...

[nonmagical]

I was actually thinking about making one! But alas, I don't have anything to sew with here...

[They're always traveling so a sewing machine of some kind would not be very travel friendly...]

I wouldn't mind buying one for myself, though...

[nastyboy]

Ah. [Right. That... is sure a concern. That Dimitri had not considered before. But then again, modern sewing isn't.... really a thing he's dealt with before.]

Well, perhaps when you find somewhere more solid to settle down... Oh, have you visited Ecruteak yet?

Arts and Crafts

[paladinlost]

You have to fold it that way, I believe.

[Cecil sounds about as uncertain as Mirabel does, but his origami is starting to take shape, so maybe he knows what he's doing?

Of course, that shape is 'lopsized boat' when he also intended to make a crane, so maybe not.]

[nonmagical]

It looks a little like a boat?

[Well, at least he’s making better progress than she is.]

[paladinlost]

...Does it?

[Such confusion in his voice! Making a boat wasn't his goal, yet the end result is undeniable.]

Oh dear. Perhaps I should have folded the left side instead of the right. In that case, my suggestion is not worth following.

[nonmagical]

A boat is still cute! Better than what I was doing anyway.

[paladinlost]

So you say, but I think you came closer to the shape we aimed for. It seems to land within the animal realm, at the very least.

Festival Food

[neverbreaks]

[ Luisa had been in line purchasing some food for the both of them when she hears some of the commotion, and catches sight of her sister's Pokemon trying to make off with some food from a different stall. Shaking her head a little, she completes her purchase and takes the food back over to where Mirabel and her Lycanroc are. ]

Still giving you a bit trouble?

[nonmagical]

Yeah… I don’t get it. Ever since he evolved he’s been doing stuff like this - Ladrillo, paw down!

[Ladrillo’s paw seems to be hovering over some freshly cooked meat. Hearing his name, he grumbles and lowers it.]

[neverbreaks]

[ Luisa frowns a little. ] I've heard that some Pokemon can get a bit...unruly after they evolve. [ And neither of them have really been doing the gym challenge yet.

She holds out one of the plates of food to Mirabel. ] Here. Let's see if getting something to eat might help.

[nonmagical]

I'll have to keep him in a Pokeball if we go shopping somewhere... I don't really want to do that.

[She takes the plate of food.]

Thanks, he's probably hungry. Ladrillo, over here!

[Ladrillo comes over and takes the plate. He devours it so fast that Mirabel doesn't even see it leave the plate.]

Wow, guess he was hungry then...

[neverbreaks]

Wow, yeah...he ate that pretty fast.

Maybe he's just more hungry now that he's evolved?

Yukata

[fearinahandfulof]

[Cassandra is not wearing a yukata, because... well. They're intimidating.]

It looks nice?

[And then she realizes that might be taken the wrong way.]

I mean, it looks very nice.

[nonmagical]

Thank you!

[She turns around in it, smiling happily.]

I wonder if I could make one myself... if only I had sewing supplies!

Arts and Crafts

[un_oiseau_rebelle]

[Shinobu glances over at her. He's got a number of cute origami pokemon beside him, which Angel Snow the Glaceon is thoughtfully pushing around.]

Try this?

[He grabs another piece of paper and demonstrates the fold.]

Unless... you're not making a crane this time.

[He really needs to stop being so presumptuous, he thinks.]