Lavender Town Blues. [Pokemon- OPEN]

Lavender Town has been known for years as the City of Spirits, no matter how small it was. It was the resting place for thousands if not millions of deceased pokemon. Though the Pokemon tower was gone, the house of Memories served as a tomb for the dearly departed.

It had become somewhat of a tradition to celebrate the Day of the Dead with a festival in the town of tears. It had been Mr. Fuji to suggest it at first, using the donations of mourners or visitors to build the Lavender Volunteer Pokémon House and house of memories alike. At the end of October, a weekend long celebration was held, a moving on ceremony held at the end for the departed souls.

Complete with tents lining route 8 down to the waters edge, vendors had games, foods and tokens to pay tribute with. One stand even allowed trainers and visors alike to pay their respects by crafting a small paper lantern which would be cast out onto the coast on the Sunday night closing of the festival- the lights serving as a guide for the ghosts left behind.

It had been tradition also, that a young girl from the town would lead the Moving on Ceremony. Though, lately no one in the small town had had any girl children, not for quite some time, leaving Mr. Fiji no choice but to have someone else substitute. As a result, the town was more haunted then ever, the souls remaining restless and unappeased.

Until Asani came around. A girl, 17 or so, had been found at the mouth of the Rock tunnel passed out and with no identification. All she had on her person were a pair of dancing slippers and a flute, which she played a haunting tune on ever night before falling asleep. Mr. Fuji had taken her in and given her the name Asani. Now, 3 days before the festival, Asani remained the only human residing in the Lavender Volunteer Pokémon House and this years Departing Maiden.

The issue?

Asani was fiercely afraid of Ghosts...


--

Asani sat on the stoop of the Pokemon house, playing her flute with her eyes closed, oblivious to the two Haunters dancing in the street in front of her. She didn't own a sliph scope, and by he kindness of Mr Fuji hadn't been given one when she informed him of her fear.

In the door way an Abra and Oddish watched her, dancing the same dance the haunters spun to. Up and down, turning then bow, up then down, dip then bow again...

A few tourists had already entered the town to mourn or celebrate, and as a now nightly routine, the few who had arrived that day stopped at the gate to listen to the music. The tune hung in the hair, the music reverberating in the valley they sat in, tiptoeing around the small audience, sending chills up the spines of most people. It was a sad long melody, yet upbeat at the same time-- an auditory tease.

Daryan walked into Lavender town to pay respects to his first pokemon that he had owned. His beloved Shockwave. He was eight when his father brought home a Pikachu for the family. His new pal, an Umbrean followed him breifly before leaping onto his shoulders and nuzzling him, feeling his sadness. Shockwave had died defending him from the vile Team Rocket.

He heard the haunting tune and stopped, staring at the two Haunters dancing. He tilted his head to the side curiously as he watched the girl. She was playing the flute so beautifully, despite the chilling notes. She looked to be oblivious to the world around her. He smiled, his blue eyes holding a soft look as he approached her, making sure not to move threateningly tward the Abra, Oddish, or the two Haunters.

http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&global=1&q=anime+flute#/d11otg5



As Asani's son died down to it's last note, the girls eyes drifted open to reveal a starteling amathyst. The Oddish beside her hopped into her lap and the Abra teleported to her shoulder, both pokemon apparently tired, yet pleased with her playing.

The small crowd that had gathered applauded as the Haunters vanished. The brunette looked up at Daryan and blinked through her bangs at him before standing up, holding both her flute and the Oddish in her hands.

Her eyes locked onto the blond and she offered him a smile, stepping off the porchas she swept over to the gate. She had a learned yet effective grace to her as she moved, moving somewhat like liquid as she reached the whitewashed posts. "Here for the festival?" she guessed, having spoken with everyone so far who had been there for that purpose.

"Sort of, " He said, his voice smooth and seductive, though he obviously wasn't trying to be, "I am simply here to pay respects to the other pokemon and my dear departed Shockwave." He said as he stared into her eyes and smiled sadly. His Umbrean nuzzled into his face and simply said softly, "Ummmbreaoon." In harsh whispering tone. He curled around Daryan's neck and fell asleep, preferring to be awake at night, or perhaps he was just tired at the moment.

"What about you mi'lady?" He said with a slight, polite bow, "That song you played was amazingly beautiful, as expected from an equally beautiful player." He said with a politeness that said this was the way he was raised, even though there was an obvious amount of sincerity in his voice.

Asani smiled, glancing to her flute before looking back to the blond. "It's just a song I like to play for the pokemon." she said simply. "It makes the ghosts happy enough to leave me alone, and it calms down the sad ones left behind like Oddish and Abra." she smiled when the oddish let out a happy squeal.

"If you plan on being in town for a few days you should hurry and get a room at the inn, or they'll all be sold." she warned.

He smirked at her, "It's already taken care of. Thank you though." He looked around and he simply couldn't imagine all the pokemon that had once lived that were now being urged to move on. "It's nice that the pokemon have some solace then." He smiled at her and then said, "I guess I'll see you around." He gave a charming smirk and waved.

She would have waved back if it werent for the pokemon in her arms.

She watched him go before turning on her heel, goingin back inside to set the pokemon down to sleep.

Aside from the Abra and oddish were a couple of other stray pokemon in the house. A machop who had lost its head piece sat in the corner sleeping with a growlith sleeping beside it. In a small pool was a Squirtle with a broken shell, hiding in it and avoiding the Magicarp also in the pool.

She set down the oddish beside Macop, opposite of the Growlith and placed Abra down on the sofa before headed back outside, her flute in her bag now at her side.

Daryan held out his arms and his Umbreon jumped into his arms, with a semi cheerful face. He hadn't had this Umbreon too terribly long. Long enough to be slightly in sync, but not long enough to be completely so as he was with Shockwave. However he and his pokemon were all good friends. He smiled around at a few people, but otherwise walked straight to the Inn.

Asani mad her way out to the festival stands, bumping into a man in a white uniform on the docks.

"watch it.' he growled, nearly knocking her into the water.

Asani watched the man storm off, blinking. It struck her as odd.

Not suprisingly, a few moments later, Asani came across a little boy crying with officer Jenny trying to calm him down.

"What happened?" Asani asked blinking.

"There's a member of teamrocket running loose." Jenny frowned. "Apparently he stole this poor boys Farfetched."

Asanis mind went back to the man who had nearly knocked her off the pier and frowned, turing on her heel before sprinting off after him.

As Daryan walked through the town exploring it, he thought he saw a semi familiar uniform which sent a growl down his throat. He ran after the figure as silently as possible, his long strides catching up in a decent amount of time. "Hey you!!" He called as he was now only a few feet away.

Since the figure didn't turn around he continued chasing it, not being able to get much closer as the figure sped up, now that it was being followed. He thought he heard more footsteps, but ignored it as he focused on the white suit.

Asani had dumped herbag at the steps of the volenteer house and taken off after the team rocket member on foot.

She was quicker and more athletic than most women. Noticing the blond from earlier she felt slightly relieved she wouldnt be the only one trying to run the uniformed man down. She pushed herself until her legs burned, tackeling the man from behind, sending the both of them tumbeling to the ground near the house of memories.

A few people in the street gasped and stepped out of the way, watching the young girl try to wrestle the pokeball from the mans hands. "Let go!" she demanded.

The man realed back, throwing a right hook at the small woman, knocking her off of him. "bitch." he growled, standing up, just to see a blond man running towards him. He swore.

[we can share the grunt ><]

((I figured, he was just trying to see if it was actually team rocket...wasn't trying to steal your thunder lol, he will just be there should you need him. Oh wait or is that your squee face?))

Daryan growled as he saw the punch and his Umbreon stood in between him, Asani, and the team Rocket member. He knelt down and asked, "Are you alright?" He turned and glared at the Rocket. "Easy boy, come back." The Umbreon backed up, not taking his angry red eyes from the Rocket as he came closer to Asani and himself, his golden rings beginning to glow.He helped Asani up and said, "You can take him, two on one is not a fair fight. I'll be here if you want my help."

[is my squee face >< SQUEEEE]

Asani winced as he helped her up, rubbing her sore cheek. "Huh?"

It took her a moment to realize what he said. She shook her head quickly. "I dont have any pokemon, I'm a dancer, that's all!" she explained.

She'd jumped into the man simply in a civil effort to get the boy back his Farfetched. Honestly, she couldn't take on the grunt if she tried.

((LOL))

He looked at her with a face lik...OoO 'Oh'. He shrugged and stood in front of Asani, "Consider yourself challenged Rocket member." His Umbreon's rings glowed brighter as he stepped forward. "Hold on." He told Umbreon and he backed up again. The rocket grunt glared at Daryan. "You couldn't do anything to me! He sent out a pretty beefy looking Raticate and said, "Quick Attack, go." Thankfully, Umbreon was quick and he merely kept dodging the attacks, waiting for Daryan to tell him what to do. Daryan took a bit too long and Umbreon got hit, but sprung up and stood tall. "Combo one." Was all Daryan said.

Umbreon seemed to smirk as he then let out a piercing screech. The Raticate flinched a bit and responded to his Master's command for another quick attack. Umbreon Dodged and let out a mighty body slam as Raticate looked around for him.

Asani flinched, watching the two pokemon lace into one another. she had quite the nice shiner surfacing.

"He stole alittle boys Farfetched." she told Daryan.

"Hey, tart face." a woman said behind them.

Asani looked over and frowned, spotting a woman in the same uniform with long blond hair. The second grunt called out a charzard. "Try that stunt with me." she dared.

Asani frowned, turning her back to Daryan, looking up at the massive fire dragon.

People had clered the streets by now.

[hahah XD Im gonna have something awesome happen >< the Ghosts like Asani because she plays music for her]

((oh good, if not, his Gyrados was going to come out lol. HIs pokemon are Umbreon, Arcanine, Gyrados, Articuno, and Mightyena...if that's ok.))

Daryan ignored the woman as he focused on his fight, "Combo 1.5" Daryan said and Umbreon reacted and used screech and the confusion." The Raticate stood there trying to regain it's bearings. "Umbreon, Body slam." Umbreon took a mighty running start and hit the Raticate with such force he she went flying towards her trainer. Daryan looked at the Rocket member, "Give back the Farfetch'd." He said, his voice cool and smooth with a hint of danger.

Asani flinched when the Charizard sent a blast of flames at them.

She peeked one eye open, suprised when the flames didnt touch them.

It looked like the flame hit an invisable wall and vanished.

The team rocket woman blinked, also suprised. "What in the? Light screen?" she frowned. "Charizard, take them out!" she ordered.

Asani instinctivly grabbed Daryans arm. The flames were blocked again, this time sent right back at the dragon.
Anyone with a slyth scope could see the multitude of ghost pokemon that had suddenly appeared. two ghastlys a gengar, three haunters, two litwicks, a driffloon..... They stood between the Charizard and Asani.

Daryan reached his arm back and held her hand reassuringly. He saw all the ghosts and he smirked, "It seems you have made many many friends." He turned back to the Rocket grunt and glared, "Give me the Farfetch'd. NOW>" He said, with emphasis on the 'now'. the grunt looked slightly intimidated by all the ghosts and tossed the pokeball at Daryan. "You win this round, but you will pay for this dearly kid." He returned his Raticate and walked over to his partner, "Come on, let's leave them for now, we can't possibly beat all these ghosts. Not by ourselves."

The woman glared. "Fine." she huffed. "Charizard, fly." she ordered, putting her arms up. She and her partner were whisked away by the dragon pokemon, leaving Asani and Daryan in the town square surrounded by bewildered onlookers.

Asani blinked once or twice before looking up and over her shoulder. She steppedaway from him quickly, turning beet red. "Sorry." she said looking down at her toes, suddenly finding them very interesting.

Officer Jenny and a little child came running up, both panting.

Daryan looked down at her and smirked. "What's so interesting down there?" He asked, also looking at her toes. He gave her an innocent look. Then, turning to Officer Jenny he handed the boy the Pokeball. "You should hold on to him a little better." He said with a kind wink. He looked to Jenny, "Is there anything I can do?" He asked her, wanting to make sure he didn't need to do anything else.

"No, that about wrapps it up." Jenny said, watching the ghost pokemon drift off as if nothing odd had just happened. "Are you alright, Asani?" the officer asked the quiet girl.

Asani nodded, keeping her eyes down. "Sorry." she repeated, bowing slightly before hurrying off, slipping into the POkemon house of memories to tend the graves.

Jenny frowned slightly as the child hurried off in another direction with his pokemon back in his hands. "You'll have to forgive Asani." Jenny looked to Daryan. "She's a shy girl, new to town herself. She doesn't much like people- alive or otherwise." she attempted to explain with a smile.

an gave her a charming smile, "That's quite alright, I'm sure she just needs to find someone she can trust, pokemon, *he nuzzles his Umbreon that had leaped to his shoulder* or person. I used to be the same." He said bowing his head in respect to the officer before going to his hotel for the night. "Have a good evening officer." He continued walking, but her thought he saw something distinctly yellow. He turned to see a yellow tail run behind a building. He followed it instinctively as it led him toward the pokemon house.

At the POkemon house, Asani was just getting in, slipping her shoes off in the doorway, oblivious to the Haunter creeping up behind her. It made faced behind her back and moved around, trying to get her attention.

Still following the yellow blur that seemed familiar, Daryan darted past Asani, not even noticing her as his green eyes focused intently on his target. After about five minutes of running, the yellow blur stopped and a soft, "Pikaaachu." Was heard and it fully manifested itself. The image of Shockwave stood before him. The saddened look it seemed to give him, tore at his heart. "Shockwave...." The little yellow mouse looked at him upon hearing his earthly name, and his mood seemed to brighten considerably, almost like he thought he'd been forgotten. The Umbreon approached the Pikachu and they had an odd exchange. Whatever the case the ghost bound into Daryan's arms, nuzzling into him before smiling at him and went through his motions of casting a thunderbolt. The mouse disappeared as an energy bolt flashed across the sky. Daryan sat there, half smiling half crying as his Umbreon put a paw on his lap....He smiled down at his pokemon, his tears causing his eyes to shine like emeralds in the moon light, he pulled his Umbreon into a hug.

A dim flickering light fell over Umbreon and Daryan from behind.

Asani stood, carrying an old fashioned hooded lantern with the orphaned Growlith in her other arm. The k9 had run out of the house and she had chased after it. It was sheer chance she had come across the crying man in the ally way.

She stared for a moment, ten slowly looked up. It had begun to lightly mist. She looked back to the blond and frowned slightly. "You shouldn't be in the streets this late at night." she said, finally speaking up. "A litwick might try to suck the life out of you." she warned, standing bare footed as the rain began to fall.

It gave her an other worldy look. Lavendertown was the city of the dead. It wasn't uncommon for Asani to find people mourning their losses in odd places. What people often werent used to seeing was Asani. Her long ebony hair was down from it's usual bun and hung to her waist, sticking to her as the rain dampened it. The dim glow of her lantern lit up her face against the dark of night, the breeze moving her skirt at her knees. Lightening struck again, the flash illuminating a ghostly set of arms around her shoulders, hugging her form behind with the ghostly image of a mans fac nuzzeled beside her neck and shoulder. It seemed the girl was never alone.

The inn was clear across town, and with the storm blowing in off the sea, most people could see the ghosts in the sky, dancing among the clouds.

Asani smiled sweetly. "Why not come with me?" she offered, attempting to coax the apparently stricken man off the road with words. "You'll get sick just sitting here in the rain."