victory_road | 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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Goldeen scoop, huh? Legosi comes a bit closer so he can crouch down at Kazuki's side, peering into the water ahead of them. It's a familiar game, though...it's not one that would be done with real fish back home. That's a bit more....questionable.....since the fish are some degree of sentient. But it's fine, no need to bring that up here.]

I'm glad to hear that. Though this one isn't easy, so I can't blame you for struggling...

[He says that just as an attendant offers him a scoop to give it a try, to which he takes after a pause.]

And my hands aren't....delicate. So this may not go well.

Y'know, that might be it! I was a lot younger when I last played this game. Maybe being stronger now makes the paper break more easily...

[Kazuki watches Legosi's attempt carefully, curious to see if their hypothesis would turn out to be correct!]

Mmhm...a lot of these games are designed for children. Not that adults can't enjoy them too, but......ah.

[Right when Legosi says that, the scoop he was using pretty much immediately tears, the Goldeen he was trying to gently lift with it wiggling free and swimming off.]

Yep, just like that! [Kazuki dodges as the Goldeen swims back around to spit water at his face-- his slightly-damp hair betraying that he'd already been hit at least once.] I'm sure it's being rigged to a certain point, but it really might be because my hands are too big now.

I feel like having Goldeen as our targets make it a bit harder too...Pokemon are too smart to just let us scoop them up that easily.

[If they wanted to give them a real chance, they should have used Magikarp.]

Ah yeah, that's true too. Goldfish back home never struck me as all that smart.

...Hey, are there fish in your world? I mean, like you are.

There are. But they're...mm.

[How does he put this.]

They share sentience, but their outlook on the world is much simpler than ours is. They speak a different language that we call seaspeak, and since fish live in the water...most of us land mammals don't really get much opportunity to interact with them. It wasn't until I made friends with a sea lion that I was given a proper perspective to their world.

Huh! I guess that makes sense, that they have their own society. The ocean is way bigger than any of the continents on Earth, after all. What's your sea lion friend like?

He is...eccentric.

[To put it mildly.]

But he is very knowledgeable and kind. Even if our perspectives couldn't be more different, he always saw past that and saw me just as another friend...which I appreciated.

Hmm... [That reminds him!] How old are you, Legosi? 18? 19?

Mm? Oh, well...I'm 19, now. But I had just turned 18 when I first got here.

I was just thinking, you seem really worldly for someone your age! Like you've really been out there and learned a lot about living already.

I'm 23 now, and I still feel like a total idiot most of the time.

O-oh...thank you.

[Ah...he can't help but feel a little embarrassed, hearing that. But not in a bad way.]

Honestly, I'm...I've just been through a lot, I guess. But I wouldn't recommend following in my footsteps, or anything...I had to drop out of school before I graduated, and I was living in an apartment on my own sooner than I should have been. But it did work out, in the end.

If it worked for you, then it worked for you! School isn't for everyone. I'm honestly not so good at academics myself, but it's just something I've gotta do if I want to be a music teacher someday.

A music teacher...I'm sure you'd be a great one, Kazuki.

[He's got that type of personality, as well as the mentality to be a good teacher, he thinks.]

Aww, thanks! I already teach some little kids in Azalea the basics on the piano, and it's been a lot of fun. I'll need more education before I can really become a professor though.

Have you been thinking more about your career path?

The Festival of Wishes!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject