It was a fine, breezy afternoon, and I was out in the yard playing tag with Kari. After the pact we made yesterday, we stayed indoors to play in my room, and watch a few movies- making Kari come up with the idea to spend the majority of today outside. So far, I managed to chase Kari up a tree in the back that I so desperately tried to climb, and she giggled, "You look like a Komala trying to get it's favorite Berry in winter." "You say that like you've ACTUALLY seen one try to gather food in winter." I grunted, trying to Orthworm my way up the tree to catch her. I slipped from the tree, and yelped as I tumbled onto my backside, causing Kari to roar with laughter as I cried, "Oof. Struck the earth like a Naclstack with that fall!" "Well you're not exactly anti-gravity like Glimora. What did you think was going to happen?" Kari responded, smiling as she leapt agily from the branch she sat on, landed on her feet, and came over to help me up as she said, "Let's take a break from tag, yes? Let's just sit under a tree somewhere and talk." After she helped me off the ground, I dusted myself off as I replied, "Sounds good to-" I stopped as I looked around in a baffled manner..... Kari had vanished! "Kari? Kari!?" I called, wondering where it was she ran off to when I heard her shout, "SPIRIT!" Looking up where the shout came from, I spotted Kari waving down at me from a cliff top as she said, "COME! LET'S GO FIND THAT TREE!" "H-HOW DID YOU GET UP THERE SO QUICK?!" I inquired, placing my hands on my hips. "I CALLED A POKÉMON. COME! USE MIRAIDON!" She replied, and dissapeared over the cliff top as I sighed. I hadn't brought Miraidon out of it's ball in AGES since the ride back to mesagoza- hopefully it wasn't angry with me for my decision to lock it away for a while! I brought out the ball that held the beautiful creature; clutching it in my hand for a moment before placing it to my chest as I whispered, "Forgive me." and threw the ball to call the beast out. Miraidon, confused, looked at it's surroundings for a minute before training it's beautiful, pixelated eyes onto me expectantly. I slowly approached the creature, placing my forehead against Miraidon's in turn as I said softly, "It's been too long, my friend. I've missed you." As if to reciprocate Miraidon began to do a mechanical purr, and nudged his snout across my shoulder before licking my face and making me giggle lightheartedly. "Okay, Let's go find Kari!" I said, jumping onto my mount's back, and gaining traction as we circled around my house, and used Miraidon's high jumps to reach the Cliff tops. It was a hard process, but in the end we managed to make it where Kari was, and I looked around to see where she might've gone off to. "Spirit! Over here!" She called from my right, standing next to one of the more slender trees as I ran to join her, Miraidon rolling behind me in pursuit. Once we reached the tree, Kari pointed at it and explained, "This is what we call a "Young Tree" back in my region. It's trunk hasn't quite seen as many winters compared to Adult and Elder trees!" "How do you know the difference?" I asked curiously as I slid my hand across the rough bark. "The color is an obvious sign, but the girth of the tree produces rings as it gets older, and if you were to chop the tree, the rings would tell you it's age! Elder trees are popular for this as firewood, means of laying your weary head after a long day, or just a shelter from harm or cold because they've lived through and seen so much, and are more durable than the Young or Adult trees." Kari replied, touching the tree with me before seemingly blessing it in her native tongue. After we left the Young tree, we walked along the Cliffside in search of a tree to sit under when we came across a small hill overlooking the small town of Los Platos, and just COVERED with Flabebé all over! "Look! They're SO cute!" I said, running up to the flower patch at the top of the hill. "Well, don't scare them. Small Pokémon tend to become afraid when something twice their size approaches unexpectedly!" Kari called, running to my side to join me as Miraidon followed. I kneeled down to observe a group of Flabebé, the yellow variety, tending the flower patch to keep the flowers healthy and beautiful as I breathed in admiration. When I lived in Laverre City, I walked with my mom through the woods to find wild flowers for the local floral shop. We would find HUNDREDS of the cute, tiny critters of every color! My favorite ones were always the orange ones because they looked like a sunset, and they were the favorites of my mom too. I've always wanted a Flabebé because of it's unmatched beauty- even the Rapidash found in Galar couldn't outdo such elegance and beauty! "This patch is absolutely impressive! If Los Platos had a floral shop, I'd know EXACTLY where to come first." I said as Kari kneeled beside me. "Hmmmmm, I'd at least ask them first. You never know just how much effort Pokémon go into maintaining a specific project only for other Pokémon and living creatures to come in and wreck it all again. I do admit that to maintain such a perfectly symmetrical circle patch of flowers is quite an achievement, and I sense they are VERY proud of their work!" Kari replied as a Flabebé hovered in front of her face in curiosity. "Oh, hello there young cub! You look very spritely today." She slowly brought her hand to the creature's head, and lightly stroked the top as it squeaked softly, "Bé-Fla!" She giggled before sending the tiny thing on it's way, and the large hive of Flabebé drifted away on the breeze to their next destination. We both wished the hive of Flabebé farewell, and we left the circular patch alone to stand on the edge that overlooked the town before the grand doors of Mesagoza. "The veiw of the school here is REALLY something, huh Spirit?" Kari asked, sitting on the ground to swing her legs over the edge. I couldn't help but stare blankly into the distance, the school bringing back so many thoughts that flooded my brain, and emotions that overwhelmed my heart the more I looked at the looming school in the distance.... The bane of my existence.... The thing that made a whole new me.... How COULD I feel about it? I took a step back, nearly stumbling a bit as I felt Miraidon press it's head to my back to keep me standing upward as I quickly hugged myself. "A-Are you alright?!" Kari asked, urgency in her voice as she quickly leapt back to her feet, and in a weak voice I replied, "Y-Yeah.... I guess I am..." I didn't feel at ALL well, but I didn't want to upset Kari by telling her the truth either. Kari stared at me, only half believing me before deciding, "Let's go find us that Elder Tree, no?" She gently peeled me off Miraidon's head, and the two of is walked until we found ourselves the "Elder Tree" Kari spoke so much of, and she set me against Miraidon as it settled itself down to sleep. She walked over to an open part of the cliff, and stared out at the horizon as she sighed, "You should consider yourself VERY lucky. Glittering sea as FAR as the eye can reach, and a splendid horizon! Clavell didn't lie when he mentioned that Paldea's environment was a sight to die for." "Uuuummmm.... Sure....." I replied, uncertain what to say as I completely settled myself into Miraidon's side. "There are wonders here that you can't find anywhere else.... I'm quite envious!" She replied, turning her head back to me with a smile plastered to her face. "Hm...." was all I could mange as I looked up into the tree top. The tree we sat at was quite large, and the shade produced was nice and comfortable as I tried to lose myself in the canopy, swearing that there was a Turountula above but never being quite certain. I felt Kari settle herself next to me, and she finally popped the question I dreaded to answer. "Is something on your mind?" "Just.... I never wanted to go to the academy, you know...? And I never expected to find all of these cool experiences and people! I'm glad, but I feel it's kind of.... Forced? I don't know..." I admitted, hoping that no bad blood will flow over between us from doing so. "Well, did your mind change after your first day of coming, and meeting all those cool people, and seeing all those cool places?" She asked with a hopeful smile. "Y-Yeah, for the most part... It's something that Grusha said, however, that really stuck to me- like how an iron barb sticks to a Pokémon until it faints, you see?" "Huh?! What was it?!" Kari asked, astonished. "He told me that I was very lucky to have friends like you, and Nemona, and Arven. He also told me that every path has its rough patch, and that I should keep going no matter how bleak the day seems." "Sounds a bit like someone else whose told you that, huh?" Kari joked, lightly pinching my arm as I waved her off with a smile, making her laugh. "It was that battle, actually, that helped me to realize how foolish I was being. Saying aloud what you did for me opened a whole new perspective I never thought I'd achieve!" "You never truly know the lengths someone who truly cares will go until they stop entirely, as my Uncle once told me. But you shan't worry about that because I'll care about you always!" Kari replied, hugging me tight. I missed her hugs, and I giggled as I hugged her back in thanks. We leaned back against Miraidon, the cool sea breeze whipping past us, and I asked, "You remember those Flabebé we saw at the flower patch?" "Yeah? What about them?" "My mom told me a story about them when I was little. About how they were born!" "Oh? What did she say made them?" "Born, not made. It's a long story, are you sure you want to hear it?" "I've heard long stories before, I can endure." I remained looking up in the canopy, and reminisced myself and mom in the woods under a tree almost like this one as I recounted her words. "Once, there was a farmer's wife who lived with her husband, and five children. They were poor, and the farmer only grew enough to sell to the market!" "Awww, how sad." Kari said, attuning herself to the story as I continued, "The rich were like leeches, sucking away the family's profits until the farmer had only a few pennies to return to his wife and children, which broke her heart as she didn't know how it would be enough to feed herself, him, and their children... The farmer assured his wife that his family and her shall get to eat, and eat they did, for the farmer would work with an empty belly everyday; causing him to fall deathly ill as his wife desperately tried to heal him! After he passed, his widowed wife was left to handle her children, who all grew resentful of their poor mother for their lifestyle, except for the youngest- Adele. Adele adored her mother for her grit and hard work, and even aspired to be like her! One day the widow fell deathly ill, and upon her deathbed asked each of her five children, now somewhat grown, for what they desired the most to put into her will. Her eldest son, Bastien, asked for the plot which they used to live so that he could destroy the house, and turn it into a factory. The second, Evelyn, asked for all of her jewelry that father had gifted to his beloved, and her wedding dress so that she could sell them for money, and her mother obliged. Her third, Antoine, asked for all of the antiques in the house, so that he could gift them to the mayor's daughter, and earn her hand in marriage. Her fourth, Mael, asked her for her's and her father's remaining money to set up a life of his own, and so she gave him full access to their vaults." "How awful..." Kari yawned, and I gently hushed her as I continued, "All but Adele asked for money, so when her mother tried to find something to offer her, Adele silenced her dying mother, and whispered into her ear what it was she desired, leaving her mother shocked. The day came for their mother's funeral, and only Adele showed up to say her farewells while her siblings sat at the courthouse, eager for the belongings their mother had gifted them. Once she too had arrived, the judge gave the eldest four all the things their mother promised them, except for Adele, who simply received a lock of her mother's hair, and a seed no bigger than the palm of her slender hands. The siblings scorned and mocked her, believing that she would be embarrassed to have such meager things, but Adele simply smiled with joy before thanking the judge, and bidding her brothers and sister farewell, and leaving them confused. The sibling set about to do the things they desired- Bastien going on to make a million dollar company selling wood, Evelyn showing off her new jewelry to all the townsfolk, Antoine married the mayor's daughter, and Mael managed to fund a house of his own for his fianceé. Adele, however, used her time and energy to craft a pot, and used what money she had to purchase soil to plant the seed. Everyday she nurtured and watered the seed, letting it grow larger and stronger by the day. In that time she fell in love with her childhood friend Raphael, who also tended a farm of his own, but wasn't as poor as her and her family were, and they married, moving into the home he inherited from his parents, and taking the potted seed with her. Adele continued to nurture the seed while Raphael would tend to crops, and sort which to sell, and which to keep for them. Meanwhile, her siblings began to fare no better! Her eldest brother perished in his factory, set by activists that were outraged that the wild game were no longer coming to the wood, and her sister missing, with only her jewelry up for auction. The mayor's daughter stole the valuable antiques Antoine inherited, and ran off with another wealthy man to add it to their collection, and took his only child with her. Mael's wife expended all of his money till he had none left, and she divorced him, forcing him to give everything to her, and his two children they had, including his money from his job, making him turn to alcohol to cope! As their life began to sink, Adele's life flourished, eventually having a child of her own, but never stopped caring for that plant, which now had a closed bloom on the stem- even naming her daughter Fluer after the inspiration of her now precious possession. She would tend to both her plant and newborn, and Adele couldn't be happier! One day, while the baby slept, and Raphael was tending the farm, Adele was at work, pruning and nurturing her plant when the bloom sprouted, and atop the bloom sat a tiny creature no bigger than the length of her hand! Happy, she called in her husband to see the tiny gift, and they both called it "Flabebé", or child born of the flowers. While tending to Flabebé's bloom, Adele noticed that the crop abundance grew to twice it's normal production, making it to where Raphael was able to sell his crop to the market while keeping some for their own. In fact, EVERY plot was sprouting with twice as much crop than normally produced, leaving other farmers baffled by the miracle! It wasn't until Adele saw her Flabebé at work, using it's abilities to nurture the land so stock could be healthy did she realize that, out of her love and devotion, did the Flabebé reward them, like it was watching the entire time from that closed bloom! The brothers caught wind of this, and looking to make a profit, sought out their sister, and demanded she handed over her beloved Flabebé because they were older, and thought they were more deserving of it's divine miracles. "Do you know WHY I asked mother for only a meager seed? Do you wish to know WHY it grants myself and other's the miracles it provides?" Adele asked, making her brothers both confused as she continued, "Twas my love for life, and not the luxuries within that this creature had been nurtured. It was purity, and good will that made it deem me worthy of reward, and I refuse to let it be abused by someone who saw Fortune over their own loved ones! Your ruin is your own blame, but till you cast aside your lust for luxury, you'll not find any comfort from Flabebé now, or ever." The brothers were outraged by her response, and she forgave them as she quietly shut the door. A few weeks later, Mael grew sick from his own consumption of alcohol, and later died. The only one that remained was Antoine, and fearful of his sin collecting his life as a payment to his debt, begged the sister for a second chance so that he may redeem himself, which the sister obliged lovingly as she welcomed him into her home. Over the next few weeks, with love and support from his sister and her family, Antoine began to see that, for the first time, you did not need luxury to be happy with your life, and he later recieved his sister's blessing for Flabebé's miracles. That is why, should you ever find yourself unhappy, look to a Flabebé for guidance, lest you end up like the other siblings who ostracized, and shamed others with misfortune; sharing the same demise as ones who fill their heads with lust of riches." I could hear Kari lightly snore beside me, leaving me to my own thoughts as I pondered who I would be in the story.... I guess I'd lean more towards Antoine in the retrospect I have recovering from grief and finding myself again. My eyelids grew heavy as I yawned, soaking up the warmth of the noon as I rested against Miraidon, and I too fell into peaceful slumber...