Chapter 16: Festival Preperations

  A few weeks had passed since the Dungeon-Expedition, and the chaos of that day had finally settled into something quieter. He had slipped once again into the easy-going rhythm of village life.

  But today, the air in Newleaf Village was different. Not the strange, charged feeling of a Dungeon, but the busy warmth of anticipation. Everywhere in the village, Pokemon bustled between stalls, strung ropes for banners, and hammered together wooden frames for festival booths. The scent of berry tarts and roasting nuts drifted lazily across the streets, mixing with the sharper tang of paint and fresh wood shavings.

  Thanks to Yuki he even knew the reason for it. The Festival of Veils was only two days away.

  Once a year, as the seasons tipped toward the colder months, Newleaf Village held it to mark the time when the boundary between the waking world and the realm of dreams and spirits grew thinner. It wasn’t feared so much as respected.

  The old stories spoke of wandering spirits, not directly harmful, but restless, slipping closer to the living. The festival’s colors, costumes, and lights were meant to guide them safely on their way, so they wouldn’t linger where they didn’t belong.

  As part of the tradition, Pokemon wore costumes, sometimes elaborate, sometimes little more than ribbons or painted masks, to 'confuse the curious', a playful nod to the idea that if the spirits didn’t recognize you, they couldn’t follow you home. Stalls sold offerings and treats, and long tables would be set for the Feast of Lanterns on the final hours of the night, when every home would hang a small, glowing light to honor those who had passed on.

  Well… almost every villager was caught up in preparations. Auri had been sitting quietly at his small table, sorting through a short list of personal tasks he wanted to take care of before helping the others, when his front door banged open without so much as a knock.

  "Auri!" Yuki stood there, wings spread for balance, eyes alight with the kind of energy that meant he wouldn’t be left alone for long. "You’re not seriously thinking of spending the whole morning here, are you?"

  He raised an eyebrow. "I was."

  “Wrong answer!” she chirped, stepping inside like she owned the place. "Festival prep is in full swing out there! And you are not going to just train and vanish when there’s so much to help with!"

  He gave her a flat look. "What exactly do you mean by 'help'?"

  "Helping!" she said, as though it were obvious. "Hauling crates, stringing lights, testing food so no one gets poisoned-!"

  "Testing food?"

  "Very important job," she said with mock seriousness. "Elder-approved! Probably. I haven't asked."

  He sighed, but there was no real resistance in it. "You are not going to leave without me, are you?"

  She grinned, already turning for the door. "Nope! Come on, you’ll get to see the whole village gearing up. It’s actually kind of fun."

  Outside, the path toward the market square was almost unrecognizable. Strings of colorful paper shapes, some shaped like leaves, others like stylized flames, hung between rooftops, swaying gently in the breeze. Piles of fresh-cut wood leaned against buildings, ready to be turned into counters and display stands. Groups of Pokemon worked in clusters, some painting long strips of cloth in the festival colors of deep crimson, gold, and midnight blue, others arranging crates of fruit and jars of jam for the food stalls.

  "See?" Yuki said, striding ahead with an unspoken expectation that he’d follow. "Energy! Community spirit! Possible free samples if you play it right!"

  They passed a group of younger Pokemon threading flowers into garlands, weaving in sprigs of sweet-smelling herbs. Auri noticed Tama was supervising and helping them, her pale white fur catching the light as she carefully tied off a loop of flowers before waving in greeting.

  The air was warmer than usual, not from the weather, but from the sheer number of small fires and cooking pits scattered around for festival food. The scents kept shifting, one moment sweet and sugary, the next smoky and savory. There was a hum to the atmosphere, a steady undercurrent of motion that made the whole village feel alive. More alive than Auri had though possible for a village that had barely 400 Pokemon living in it.

  Yuki slowed only when they reached a stall draped in half-finished fabric, where a certain Raboot stood, tail flicking with brisk purpose. Ayra was fussing with a rack of sashes, muttering under her breath about color matching. She glanced up at the sound of footsteps. "Oh good," Ayra said dryly, "reinforcements."

  Yuki puffed up. "We are here to help!"

  Ayra’s ears tilted in amusement. "Him? Sure. Though I get the feeling you dragged him here against his will. You?" She gave Yuki a deliberate once-over. "We’ll see."

  "HEY! I will be helpful!" Yuki squaked indignantly. Ayra didn’t reply to that.

  "Yuki, you’re sorting these sashes by length. Auri-" She pointed toward a small mountain of crates stacked behind the stall. "-you’re moving those into the back. Carefully. They’re full of mask blanks."

  "Mask blanks?" Auri asked, glancing toward the wooden boxes.

  "For painting," Ayra said, as though it were obvious. "The Festival of Veils isn’t complete without masks. Some are just for fun, but the old tradition says the mask keeps wandering spirits from recognizing you. Makes it harder for them to… follow you." She shrugged. "Not that anyone’s actually seen one. It’s more about keeping the stories and traditions alive."

  Yuki leaned over the crate Auri had just opened. "These are nice," she said, lifting out a plain wooden mask shaped vaguely like a Houndoom’s face. "Do we get to paint our own?"

  Ayra smirked. "If you finish the work I give you before the end of the day."

  It was… surprisingly easy to slip into the rhythm of it. Auri moved the crates, setting them in neat stacks inside the back of the stall, while Yuki sorted the sashes into piles, occasionally holding one up against herself with a dramatic pose. Ayra fussed with the display table, muttering about how red didn’t pair well with that shade of gold, no matter what the Elders insisted on.

  After a few hours they were done and Ayra let them run off to do their own thing again. They passed more stalls under construction, one where Tama was now helping an elderly Sunflora hang strings of paper lanterns, another where Karo was 'guarding' a cart of candied berries by eating every third one. Everywhere they went, laughter and movement seemed to coil around them like the festival spirit itself.

  "You’ll see!" Yuki said as they neared the market square again. "The Festival of Veils is the best night of the year! And you’re going to enjoy it properly!"

  Auri raised an eyebrow. "Properly?"

  “Properly,” she confirmed with a grin. "Which means no standing on the sidelines the whole time, like I know you plan to! You’re in it now, partner!"

  They were just passing the old well in the square when a familiar voice called out. "Yuki!"

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  Tama trotted up, her pale fur gleaming in the light, a string of paper charms looped awkwardly over her back. "I need a wing over here, the charms for the western archway keep tangling, and Ayra’s busy with her stall."

  Yuki lit up instantly. "On it!" She turned to Auri. "This is important, you know, the charms have to hang right or the whole entrance looks crooked. I'll see you in a minute!"

  Auri gave her a flat look. "I’ll try to survive without you."

  She stuck her tongue out at him, then darted after Tama, disappearing into the flow of villagers.

  For the first time all day, the noise seemed to quiet around him. He slowed his pace, letting his steps drift toward the less crowded path that curved around the herb gardens. Here, the air smelled more of fresh leaves than cooking sugar, and the chatter of the square was replaced by the rustle of plants in the light breeze.

  He stopped at the far edge, where a low stone wall marked the border between the tended gardens and the tangle of wild growth beyond. A few late-blooming flowers leaned toward the sun, their petals trembling slightly.

  "Pretty spot," a voice said casually from somewhere to his left.

  Auri turned sharply. There, leaning against the wall like she’d been there all along, was a shadowy figure. Just like last time, her shape seemed to blur against the shade, with only her read eyes being clearly visible against the shadowy background.

  "Sia," he said, recognizing the shadowy Pokemon instantly.

  Sia tilted her head. "Me," she agreed lightly, as if that explained everything. "You’ve got good timing, you know. I was just wondering when I’d run into you again."

  "You were wondering when you’d run into me again? As if I'd believe you it's a coincidence that we met just now," Auri said with a snort.

  Sia shrugged not denying his claim. "Well, I couldn’t exactly drop by after you met up with your companions again, could I? They seemed kind of twitchy. And thanks to your Torchic friend you're very rarely alone. And I won't invade your home just to talk to you." She hopped up to sit on the wall, sahdowy legs swinging idly. "Besides, I don’t like crowds all that much. This festival thing of yours? Not my style, but it's an important day nonetheless. Of course I will be here. That I found a chance to talk to you in private while I'm here was a hope of mine, but in the end still a coincidence."

  "I thought you had your territory to the south of Newleaf Village? We met at the very edge of said territory after all, right?" he asked.

  "That is correct. Vian, and in turn Newleaf Village as well, claims the eastern edges and forests of the Umbral Abyss, while my territory spans the southeast and south of the crater. Well, strictly speaking it's not my territory, but I'm the one currently managing it," Sia replied. "But Vian is pretty casual with who's allowed in his territory, especially arpund festival times. So he allowed me to come here."

  She patted the wall beside her like it was the most normal thing in the world. "It’s quieter up here on the edge while everyone’s running around with decorations and baskets. That's more of my style. So you shouldn't expect to see much of me during the actual festival."

  Auri walked closer, but didn’t sit. "Then why now already? The festival only begins in two days. You're early."

  Sia leaned back, balancing effortlessly on her paws. “As I said, I was curious if I would meet you again if I came by a bit earlier. Last time I saw you, you were standing in the heart of a Dungeon. Most Pokemon don’t make it that far without being half-dead or running for their lives.”

  "That Dungeon didn’t attack me because of you," Auri said sighing. "That's completely different from how the Dungeon would normally act and you know that. It's no an achievement worth talking about."

  "You might be correct there," Sia conceded. "Figured you’d find the Core room faster that way. I would've met you earlier but it seemed like you had something to prove."

  Auri frowned. "You don’t know that."

  She chuckled. "I watched you long enough to know you weren’t there for a joyful exploration with the guard." She tilted her head, studying him. "Also, you moved like someone who’s done this before. But you’re… rusty."

  His ears twitched at that. "Rusty?"

  "Not in strength, even though you're clearly lacking in that area," Sia clarified, holding his gaze. "Rather in instinct and decisiveness. You’re second-guessing yourself too much. You’ve got quite some power for your age, but you keep stopping to think about whether you should use it. That’s a great way to get yourself hurt in the wrong kind of Dungeon."

  For a moment, the only sound was the faint clink of the pebble she’d been tossing as it hit the ground.

  Auri crossed his arms. "And why does that matter to you?"

  She smirked again, but there was no malice in it. "Because you’re interesting and because the wind seemingly likes you. And I like interesting Pokemon."

  Before he could push further, a voice called distantly from the square. "Auri! Where’d you go!? You’re missing the masks!" Yuki.

  Sia hopped down from the wall in a single fluid motion, landing so lightly the grass barely rustled. "You should go. Your friend sounds impatient."

  He hesitated. "I'll see you again, won't I?"

  Sia gave a small, crooked smile. "Of course. I'll be around after all."

  With that, she stepped around the side of the wall, and when Auri followed, she was gone. He stood there a moment longer before turning back toward the square. He could still hear Yuki’s voice drifting over the noise of the preparations, and for now, that was where he needed to be.

  He turned toward the sound to see Yuki hurrying toward him from the opposite side of the square, feathers still a little mussed from work. Her beak curved into a grin as she closed the distance.

  "I was looking all over for you!" she went on, breath quick but light. "Tama’s all set now, we finally got everything done. So, c’mon! Before every good mask is gone and we’re stuck with the weird lopsided ones!"

  Auri let a faint smile tug at the corner of his mouth. "You make it sound like a disaster."

  "It would be!" she announced gravely, then ruined the effect by bouncing on her talons. "I already saw a couple I think will be perfect for us!"

  The mask stand stretched almost the entire length of the square, the table piled with wooden forms in every shape and size. Some were already painted, bright feathers, shimmering beads, swirling patterns, but most were bare, their smooth pale surfaces waiting for color.

  Auri paused at the edge of the crowd, scanning the rows. "There’s a lot more than I expected."

  "That’s because everyone paints their own," Yuki said with a flourish of her wing. "It’s a whole tradition, you put part of yourself into the mask so the spirits know you’re not just hiding, you’re part of the celebration. Or something like that."

  "Or something like that?"

  "I may have stopped listening halfway through the Elder’s explanation," she admitted cheerfully. "But hey, it’s fun! C’mon, help me find one that says 'mysterious hero' and not 'creepy swamp ghost' or something equally hideous!"

  They moved along the rows together. Yuki’s attention darted from one shape to the next, holding each one up to her face and then discarding it with theatrical sighs. "Too big. Too small. Too smiley. Definitely too many teeth. Ooh, this one’s cool!" She held up a sleek form with tall, curved edges that framed the eyes.

  "Not bad," Auri agreed, tilting his head.

  “Not bad? That’s the best you’ve got? Let's find yours next.”

  His was easier, a simple mask with narrow, angular eye cutouts and a slightly lowered brow. Plain enough to work with, but sharp enough to look deliberate. Yuki approved instantly.

  "Alright!" she declared, tucking both masks under her wing. "To the painting tables!"

  They found a spot at a long bench set with little jars of pigment, bowls of water, and bundles of thin reeds bound into makeshift brushes. Other villagers sat along the same table, some working quietly, others laughing as they compared designs.

  Yuki set their masks down and immediately started mixing two shades of red. "Matching scarves, matching masks. Go with red as well, will you?"

  Auri arched a brow. "You’re really committed to that idea. At the end of the day, we'll look the same."

  "Of course I am!" she said, as if it were obvious. "Besides, it’s practical. Easier for everyone to see we’re a team."

  He didn’t argue. Instead, he began with a base coat of dark red, letting the bristles sweep evenly across the wood. The paint soaked in quickly, the grain of the mask faintly visible beneath.

  Yuki was less restrained. She flicked gold along the edges, small arcs like wind-swept lines, and added a faint shimmer across the cheeks. "Gold catches the lantern light," she explained. "It’ll look amazing tonight!"

  He glanced at hers, the same dark red base, but with sweeping gold patterns that curled up like stylized flames from the jawline. "Not bad," he admitted.

  "Not bad?" she repeated, mock-offended. "You’re impossible to impress!"

  They worked in comfortable silence for a while after that, the distant hum of festival preparations wrapping around them. Occasionally Yuki would hum under her breath or tap her brush against the table. When both masks were finished, they set them side by side. The resemblance was clear, they were quite different, but undeniably part of the same design.

  Yuki grinned. "Perfect! We’re gonna look so good the spirits won’t even think about messing with us!"

  Auri allowed himself a small smile. "That’s the point, right?"

  "That, and winning the unofficial ' who has the best mask" contest.” She leaned closer, lowering her voice as though sharing a conspiracy. "Which I totally just made up."

  He chuckled quietly, then reached for his mask. "Let’s just hope they dry in time."

  "They will! And if not, I’ll just blow-dry them with Ember!"

  He gave her a look. "Please don’t set my mask on fire."

  By the time the masks had dried and been carefully wrapped in soft cloth to keep the paint from smudging, the afternoon sun had mellowed into the softer light that came before sunset. Yuki led the way toward who knows where with a bounce in her step, clearly far too pleased with herself.

  The village was already shifting into festival mode, stalls being lit from within, the first lanterns swaying gently overhead, and the smell of roasted berries curling through the air. Only two more days. Then it would be time for the festival.

  Important characters in the chapter:

  Pikachu (Auri) – Level 14

  Ability: Lightning Rod

  Battle Nature: Lonely

  Stats:

  TE Pool (Health/AP): 66

  Attack: 44

  Ranged Attack: 39

  Defense: 45

  Speed: 51

  Total: 245 (Strength Level: Kid)

  Moves:

  Close Combat Moves: [Nuzzle], [Tail Whip], [Quick Attack], [Brick Break], [Thunder Wave], [Feint]

  Ranged Combat Moves: [Thunder Shock], [Electro Ball], [Swift], [Thunder Bolt]

  Utility Moves: [Nasty Plot], [Charm], [Double Team], [Growl], [Agility], [Dig]

  Torchic (Yuki) – Level 15

  Ability: Speed Boost

  Battle Nature: Hasty

  Stats:

  TE Pool (Health/AP): 69

  Attack: 37

  Ranged Attack: 40

  Defense: 44

  Speed: 35

  Total: 225 (Strength Level: Kid)

  Moves:

  Close Combat Moves: [Scratch], [Quick Attack], [Feint], [Fire Spin], [Flame Charge], [Aerial Ace], [Counter], [Slash]

  Ranged Combat Moves: [Ember], [Sand Attack]

  Utility Moves: [Growl], [Detect], [Dig]