Once upon a time...

[timefather]

[ For the residents of Märchenstraße, and all the land surrounding it, the eighth of December was a day to look forward to. Looking at it from an outside perspective, strangers and travelers could easily assume it to be a holiday. At the very least, a day for a festival, if a modest one. A day that shopkeeps spent all morning preparing for, that all manner of creatures spent days traveling to the city to witness. They'd heard the talk that passed around, the rumors from those still left. But would it work? No one knew for sure, no matter how confident the stories seemed to be. But hope was very quickly becoming all they had left.

They had decorated the whole town. Streamers, banners, wreathes and garland made of autumn flowers, plus whatever the Fairy Godmother had cooked up. Oh, she was just giddy. No skepticism could be spoken around her, not if you wanted to escape the wrath of her wand! Rumor had it that she had caught wind of a few piglets squealing about the likelihood that their magic would fail, and that they were subsequently transformed into the band of musicians who could be found performing in the park.

Well, at least the music was festive.

Of course, the decorations weren't for the newcomers alone. Autumn was coming to a close in just a few weeks, and Old Man Winter would take the reigns like he did every year, and their weather would turn cold and harsh. The chill was already there, cool and biting when the wind picked up speed. Lady Autumn was much preferred to the citizens of the city with her gentle nature, even if she failed to show up, finishing her work in the orchards instead. That was what they liked about her.

It was mid-morning when Father Time was found outside of his tower, checking one of the numerous pocket watches he kept on his person. "Unnecessary, but comfortable," he called them, and closed the watch again. It was twelve o'clock in the afternoon, and where empty space had been just seconds before, now they were. Sitting on benches, lying in flower patches, scattered about the city and outside of the gates in peaceful slumber. They would awaken to the bells of the clock tower. Some, to many friendly and relieved faces all around them, some to grateful ones carrying gifts of food and clothing and magic, and some to fearful, cautious faces. Regardless of how the town treated them, they would awaken to a celebration of their arrival, and choices to be made, and the books. Each and every one. ]

Comments

[kutanagi]

( She really wouldn't mind another example to go along with. But from the looks of it, Mei's definitely in some kind of distress, something that worries Yui as well.

From the way she's rummaging through her bag, it's as if she's missing something. )

Are you okay? Did you lose anything?

[direhit]

[She frowns, shakes her head and pulls out one red and white sphere.]

I know I didn't lose them, but I'm supposed to have more of these. A trainer's allowed to carry six Pokémon at a time with these, but I only have one for Hibiscus.

I'm supposed to have more with the rest of my team. I could show you other examples with them, but I don't know where they went to!

[kutanagi]

( She's never seen those kinds of items before, not even while she was going around the town. Either way, it seems like very important to Mei. )

I'll help you find it if you want. Do you remember if you still had them when you woke up? Or if you dropped anything in the place where you woke up in?

[direhit]

I don't think I was missing them before I woke up. But... [Ah, and this is something that she feels ashamed about.] I didn't check on it after I got here. I always have had them with me, so they should be in my bag.

[She looks back up, clearly apologetic.] Sorry. I know you don't know what these are, but something... is telling me that they're not here.

[kutanagi]

It's okay, you don't have to apologize. You're the one who's missing something important after all.

( She offers Mei a smile, a bit apologetic as well that there isn't much that she can do. )

If I see or find any of them, I'll make sure to inform you about it. It's possible that they might still be around here somewhere so I'll keep an eye out for it.

[direhit]

Yeah, but... I can't trouble you with that! [She pauses for a moment, suddenly realizing her words. It's true, finding the Pokeballs is her business, but...] Although, it would be nice to have another set of eyes looking for them.

Thanks. [Hibiscus nods her head as well, also showing her gratitude.] My name's Mei, by the way.

[kutanagi]

( If Mei had refused, then Yui would've backed off (but still kept looking anyway). But she supposes they're something really important. )

I'll make sure to give you a heads up if I find any then. I'm Yui.