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Fresh vibrant greens dull when autumn arrives in Treasure Town. A cool blue sky contrasts with crisp apple-reds and glistening golds. Every step brings a satisfactory crunch. Tonight the pokémon will host the first-ever harvest festival. Being hardened exploders with a high rank, Charmander, Topaz, and Grovyle dedicate their morning doing missions. After a long day delving through mystery dungeons they’re happy to spend the last of it at the festival.
It’s a little early so many pokémon are still setting up booths. The group decided to help out. Duskull and Xatu are at the bank and in exchange for a treasure box or money; they’ll read a pokémon’s drawn fortune. Wax candles melt thanks to powerful blue flames, creating an ominous-looking entrance. A smiling pumpkin carving welcomes those brave enough to step towards the duo.
Croagunk set up a stall next to them. He’s stirring a soup ladle in a big cauldron. Two other metal bowls are behind him. “You wanna try some hot cocoa? Brewed it myself!”
The red lizard is the first to splurge. Tossing coins on the counter he bought a cup for all three. In the ceramic mugs the drink bubbled as marshmallows bobbed on the surface.
Grovyle eyed his like it could be poisonous, before taking a delicate sip of the scalding brew. Charmander downed his in one big hearty gulp, invincible to burns. Topaz blew their breath on it before taking a drink.
“Well? How is it? How is it?”
“Delicious!” Charmander said.
“What are the other caldrons for?” Topaz asked.
The frog chuckled. “Stew. For the harvest festival.”
“Thanks for the drinks,” Grovyle waved an arm as the team departed.
Croagunk’s smile widened. “Thanks for buying.”
Further away they see Chansey standing up on a ladder and struggling to hang up a string of paper lanterns. Grovyle and Topaz offered to help, easily decorating the surrounding foliage and tying them to poles.
“How are the eggs, Chansey?”
“All cozy and warm thanks to the Kecleon brothers’ cloth and straw I bought this evening. Charmander could you please use your fire to light the lanterns?”
Saluting, he used his flamethrower breath to complete the task.
One by one, the lanterns start to glow like rainbows. The team is awed by such beauty. The sight vaguely captured Fogbound Lake’s dazzling lightshow. Past these warm lights is the cold moon slowly climbing the sky. With some time to spare before the harvest festival, the team goes to the bluff.
“I can’t believe it. It feels like yesterday that we started our rescue team.” Charmander camouflages into the scattering of fall leaves. If not for the small flame bobbing on his tail, he’d be invisible.
Topaz nodded. “It’s been a long journey hasn’t it? The worst part was being stranded in the future, before we were able to put the time gears back and save the world.”
“Yes, it was heart-wrenching parting ways. But I’m happy. We accomplished the mission and we can grow old in a peaceful world, free from Dusknoir, free from a world frozen still,” Grovyle added.
They stare up at the night sky, the endless expanse mottled with gleaming dust and stars. Waves crash on the bluff’s side, and a spray of mist hits them in the face. Grovyle tilts his head and a smile breaks his normally indifferent expression. “I’ve forgotten how a simple breeze can be so refreshing. And these lights, the stars, it’s the real thing. Not from fires or glowing rocks. I’ve missed it.”
“What do you like most about autumn?” Charmander asked. “Mine has to be the food!”
“I’d say the colors,” Topaz said.
Grovyle chuckled. “Yes, there’s something magical about it. We should try and see the next sunrise. I’m certain it’ll be a memorable scene.”
Charmander smiled. “We should.”
Chimecho’s telepathic bell clangs deafeningly through the town. Jumping to his feet Charmander starts running. His stomach is growling and he laughs. “Finally! I’ve been waiting all day for the feast! I had a light breakfast and I’m starving. Let’s go!”
Stifling their laughter, Topaz and Grovyle follow.
Treasure Town has never been so lively. At the center are a giant tree and two super long tables. Mouth-watering food draws all the pokémon towards the tree. Grovyle sees Celebi waving –she saved seats for them.
The red fire lizard is drooling and Topaz has to hold him back from devouring it all. Above, Chatot is perched on a sturdy tree limb. “Welcome to the Harvest Festival. Before I list off the delicious dishes being served tonight I’d like to listen to our guild master’s speech.”
Pokémon groaned. Sunflora grumbled, “Holding us from this feast is deranged! Like, oh my gosh, what’s with the formalities? We’ve been working all day!”
“Sir?” Chatot throws his wings up in alarm. The guild master fell asleep, again! Panicking, the bird tries to keep order. Though, the town isn’t thrown into disarray. Chatot improvises a speech.
“Thanks to Topaz, who suggested we host an autumn celebration, we now have another thing that brings the pokémon of Treasure Town together in the spirit of friendship.”
“Chatot…he’s full of himself isn’t he?” Grovyle muttered.
Charmander sighed. “He’s a stickler for procedures.”
“…and special thanks to Wigglytuff for organizing the event. Let us rejoice for this day. To friendship! To exploring! To food!”
The psychic bell pokémon interrupted Chatot to tell everyone what is being served. “We have Croagunk’s spicy stew, Sunflora’s beet and vegetable salad, Bidoof’s fresh bread, and my Oran berry gratin. Lastly, Wigglytuff’s giant perfect golden apple with melted caramel and nuts.”
Suddenly the guild master wakes up and shouts, “Let the festivities begin! YOOMTAH!”
The pokémon cheered.
Everyone goes to fill their plates up with a stack of food. Grovyle took small elegant bites. Charmander dumps everything into his mouth before clamping his jaw shut and chewing. Topaz’s serrated teeth and long blue snout helps them to take big bites of food.
After a while, the serving plates were completely empty. The only thing left was the giant golden apple. Chimeco evenly divided the apple, leaving pokémon with three slices each.
Grovyle and Celebi departed, leaving Charmander and Topaz. An icy breeze sweeps across Treasure Town and the fire-type lizard shivers. “It’s getting cold.”
“Let’s go back to our camp and sit by the fire.”
“Good idea, race you there!”
Long into the night, Topaz and Charmander sat by a cracking campfire and savored their caramel golden apple slices. They watch the stars and listen to the soothing sound of waves crashing on the bluff’s rocky surface. They hope (and believe in their hearts) that next year’s Harvest Festival will be just as extraordinary.