victory_road | The Festival of Wishes!

The Festival of Wishes!

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?

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[At least this bird is content to simply perch. Akuma doesn't lower herself to such base activities like pecking. Please. That's for lesser pokemon.]

Yes... I do suppose wearing yukata over armor would be rather cumbersome. Alas - I had a few I could have provided.

[But hey, the armor's nice at least.]

From my country, yes. I was made in Japan - yukata are of Japanese origin.

[Look, Bad Bird is what she is. Can she help it that she's so lovely and fascinating that it makes her want to peck? No, she cannot!]

Do you have any that you think would fit?

[Because Mando isn't going to tolerate a shop assistant trying to get him out of his armour, but he trusts Shadowmaru to work around it.]

If you do, we could try them after the haunted house?

With me, currently... no, alas. However! I would be happy to browse the options available here. Perhaps we'll find something suitable.

[And, you know, big enough to where Mando can wear it over his armor. It's very fine armor, after all.]

But yes. First! To tempt fate and courage!

[He'll even extend his arm to escort Mando.]

[One extra-large foreigner sized yukata, please!]

Oh! All right.

[Mando has a moment of being completely flummoxed by the arm he's been offered. Is he just supposed to take it? Is that something people do?]

[After a moment of blue-screening, Mando links his arm through Shadowmaru's.]

Let's go get scared.

[Yes, you're supposed to take it, Mando, don't be a barbarian.]

Excellent.

[He'll just casually start to lead them inside, as if it's the most normal thing in the world to escort a Mandalorian into a goofy haunted house.]

[Mando isn't used to being escorted anywhere, and that becomes immediately clear as soon as they're in the house.]

[The first spooky thing to swing out at them is a ghost--or rather, a bundle of white cloth on a piece of fishing line. Mando reacts like it's a real threat, though, shouldering his way in front of Shadowmaru and throwing his arm out to keep him back.]

[Then the ghost bounces off his helmet and dangles spoooooookily in front of them.]

Uh...

[Yeah. That's a thing.]

[Shadowmaru, by contrast, is delighted by the spooky atmosphere. He laughs openly at the fake spider webs, and is about to clap for the cloth on the stick. He even lifts his free hand to start when Mando suddenly reacts.]

[Frankly, Shadowmaru doesn't quite know what to make of this. He sort of stands there, looking from Mando to the dangling bit of cloth.]

[And back.]

Your... bravery in the face of drapery is... astonishing.

... thanks.

[Okay, now he feels stupid. Mando brushes the ghost aside and steps back to being beside Shadowmaru.]

Force of habit.

[You can take a bounty hunter out of his Star Wars world, but you can't take the instincts out of the bounty hunter! Or something like that.]

Of course.

[If there's judgment in the AI's words, it's masked completely. But there doesn't really seem to be any. He just links their arms together again.]

Your world is much more dangerous than this one, after all.

[There's a haze of dry ice fog on the ground, now. A few glowing eyes flicker in the shadows. Shadowmaru's canine companions don't seem even remotely afraid though.]

I'm going to let you lead, I think.

[Mando can't guarantee he won't leap out again, but if Shadowmaru is taking point, it'll be easier for him to hang back. He does kind of like how their arms are linked again, too.]

[This isn't going to stop him from shooting dirty looks at the eyes in the shadows, though. Step back, you.]

I am honored.

[Said with a broad grin, and an incline of his head.]

[He's more than happy to lead them through the misty halls. Laughing delightedly at the cardboard monsters and little cloth ghosts. Leaning up against Mando when they wiggle too close, and patting his shoulder comfortingly. It's okay big guy, they're pretend.]

[Those eyes in the shadows though. They're winking at Mando.]

[Mando lets Shadowmaru lead and have his fun. It's weird having someone try to protect him, even from imaginary enemies, but it's kind of nice all the same.]

[He does notice those eyes winking at him, and gives them a stink eye right back. He's watching you, ghost Pokemon!]

Do you have any ghost Pokemon, Shadowmaru?

That I do. One, for the time being. A Yamask, with the inclination to comedy, rather than horror.

[The little guy painted a mustache on its mask, even.]

[Some cardboard cutouts of ghouls and zombies parade past doorways down the halls. Puppeted by ghost pokemon, most likely. Or psychics. Shadowmaru still seems utterly delighted.]

And yourself?

No. I haven't found one I liked yet.

[That, and he's just not terribly inclined to collect Pokemon. Most of his just showed up, or got caught because they were being annoying and he threw a ball at them to make them go away. Turns out that isn't a good strategy for shooing off wild Pokemon.]

What's a Yamask?

Tragic. I think you would be suited to a Mimikyu. They are also fond of keeping their faces hidden.

[He's teasing, gently. The helmet looks good on Mando, he'll always say. But after you bare your deep sad past to someone, you're allowed to tease a bit, right?]

They are, supposedly, the souls of the departed, carrying about masks resembling their human faces. [This is said in the typical "SPOOKY" voice.] Though mine appears to have been a comedian, and refuses to take such a description seriously.

Hmm. I could catch one and name it Little Mando.

[Yeah, he gets that it's teasing, and look at that! He can tease right back!]

So you have a Pokemon that is supposed to be a dead person? [Forgive him his skepticism, although he does appreciate the SPOOOOKY voice.] Has anyone ever proven that's what they are?

Mandokyu, perhaps?

[It doesn't... really work out that well, but it sounds slightly less awkward than 'little mando' to him.]

That is what I've read, yes. Whether or not it's true, I cannot say. [It doesn't seem to make sense to him, either. But he rolls with it.] Not that I know of. If it is true, though, my Yamask does not take it seriously.

Does "kyu" mean anything? Or is it just a sound?

[Because he likes Mandokyu. It has a good ring to it.]

Or maybe Mimikmando?

[Someone stop these two idiots.]

Mm, just a sound. Of a small animal, typically. Not to be confused with 'chu'. The sound of a mouse.

[Or a kiss, but uhhhhhh we're not discussing That.]

Mimikando rolls off the tongue far easier.

[What madness, why would they talk about that? Mando doesn't even have lips!]

Mimikando it is.

[Assuming he ever catches one, of course.]

You could get one too. Call it Mimikmaru.

Excellent. I shall keep an eye out for one, just for yourself.

[And he will, too. Shadowmaru has no desire to collect more pokemon than he already has, but for others? Sure!]

Ahh, but I feel I am pleased enough with my current amount of companions.

Thanks.

[Look out, Mimikyus: one of you will be getting captured and honoured with an exceptionally stupid name soon.]

You'll find another dog soon enough.

[And name it Mimikmaru?]

Ah... why must you remind me. So many wonderful canine friends...

[So little time.]

[Don't you tempt him. He might just name it that.]

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The Festival of Wishes!

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... I have a name for his eventual Mimikyu now

do it

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