Theres The Slightest Bit Of Hesitation As She Reaches To Take His Hand. Like She Knows A Little More

There’s … the slightest bit of hesitation as she reaches to take his hand. Like she knows a little more than she lets on.

But she smiles, regardless. Bonchan waves her bone club excitedly, and Anzu laughs.

“Yes! I am. I hope you are too? I hope we aren’t bothering you.”

@dandieliongirl from x

"Anzu. Bonchan."

He nods his head and studies their reactions, faces, and applies the names he'd learned to them. It's a little bit surreal to have a neutral reaction to an introduction.

It's slowly becoming a more frequent occurrence. Perhaps one day, he'll get used to it.

"I am very pleased to have met you both. Enjoying the festival?"

She doesn’t expect to be approached by any of the pidgey. Of course she wouldn’t — by all technicality, none of her family has died. Her parents are gone, but whisked off to somewhere else … it’s not the same as a death.

however, she’s approached by one of the birds anyway. The little thing feels old, just from the way it carries itself. The bird lands on her shoulder, before nuzzling against her neck.

“you’ve grown into a fine young woman, Ancchan. I’m so happy for you. For so long, we thought you had died or been taken by the spirits… I’m glad to see you’re alive and well.”

… the voice is one from her memory. Anzu’s heart twists — an old woman, who lived in Ecruteak when she was very small. From Before. She was always looking after Anzu, always offering a sweet —

Anzu had nearly forgotten.

… the young woman presses a hand against her mouth, eyes warm. She swallows hard and gives a quick nod.

“— thank you.”

Like for a starter?

[ @mnstcrbnll ??? ]

it's dark when they come. The Unowns - six of them, calm, collected, float inside the room, glaring down.

They have a message.

Why send that message? Who knows. Maybe out of boredom. Maybe just to stir the waters. Maybe, just maybe - because they're having fun.

Because they know that even if they prepare all of Johto, nobody could stop them.

Anzu hasn’t been to Johto in a long time. Not since she was small, looking for her family. But even saffron city could never erase this country girls Ecruteak heart, and so when she sees the unown, her heart goes still.

They’re so … beautiful, in a way. Beautiful but horrifying. She’s heard the stories of unown, of them kidnapping children and trapping adventurers in the ruins of Alph. She can remember them, over and over, hushed stories told over the summer evenings, warm and spooky.

“…”

she watches them dance above her head, expression unreadable, before she reaches out, as if to touch them.

“I know.”

The bonfire is just as pretty as it was when she was a child. Anzu watches, lavender eyes wide, expression hard to read.

It’s about loss. About the release of things you held too tight onto. About moving forward and beyond and paging respects to the ones departed.

she

doesn’t have anyone like that.

her birth parents are alive, somewhere. Tetsu-papa has always been by her side since adolescence. Tonton is her beloved brother.

She’s never wanted for anything, really.

So why…?

why does she feel such a deep, aching loneliness?

The tag is written on fine paper, with ink that is subtly shiny when turned in the light. There is a small paw print on the bottom, one that is certainly an accident but a welcome one. The writing on the tag reads May the night bring you good tidings.

Wearing the tag will give you good luck, and you will find something special by the end of the festival.

— oh! It’s perfect!

the paw print on it is so cute, it adds just the perfect touch! Anzu rolls up a sleeve and ties the tag to her wrist — perhaps a little unorthodox, but Anzu has always been a bit outside the box.

She loves it!