PoA - The Lantern

Winter, a time of year that Shinrai can’t help but hold some joy for. While his life as of late has been rather unpleasant, winter seemed to be a time of peace for him. He remembered his village being somewhat festive during the winter months, but still rather calm, as this was typically restricted to individual homes.

It was now the time of Aether’s Festival of Light, and it would seem that Gaius and Maeve have put out a request for decorations. This seemed strange. Shinrai had never seen people put decorations outside. He saw others putting up lanterns all over the place. He looked at the request again and noticed that lanterns were being requested more than other things. He decided that he would make one. Making one would not be easy though, given his lack of materials. Fortunately, he knew just the Pokémon to go to.

He returned to his home, knowing that this would be the fastest way to find them. He went inside to see his target, a young Kirlia, rummaging through a pile of items.

“Another good day of your unnecessary thieving, Roshan?” he asked.

The Emotion pokémon turned around in surprised, only to calm down at the sight of the Scizor. She shot a disapproving stare his way. “Damn it, you really need to stop doing that.”

“Very well, but that is later. For now, I require items to create a lantern.”

“Let me guess, for that winter festival that they seem to be doing?” she questioned. “Since when are you into that kind of thing?”

Shinrai ignored her question, preferring not to explain his reasoning.

“Fine,” she said, realizing he was not going to answer. “Well, I got a bunch stuff you could use. Of course, I could just give you a lantern if you’d like?”

“I believe that that would defeat the point.”

Roshan shrugged. “All right. Take your pick, but you’re on your own for a light source.”

Shinrai looked through her pile of items. He found some red fabric, which he thought he could use to decorate it. He also found a small jar, with which to store the flame. He used a sticky material, which he could only hope was tree sap, to stick the fabric to the jar.

Why would she even steal this? He thought.

Now all he needed was a flame or light source. He looked back towards the thieving Kirlia, knowing that she was capable of using the move Will-o-Wisp, but the look on her face reminded him of her previous words.

“I’m not doin’ it.” She reminded him. “Not unless you’re willing to give me somethin’ for it.”

The Scizor groaned at the thought of having to trade with the thief, but then remembered something important.

“How about you give me a flame, or I stop let you live hear.”

Roshan’s eyes perked at this. “You’re bluffing.”

“You should know I do not bluff” He responded. The merely stared at each other for a moment.

“Ugh… fine.” The Kirlia gave in and proceeded to produce a small violet flame. She then placed it into the jar before Shinrai closed it.

“Now I simply need to place this somewhere in town.” He said.

“Why not just put it outside?” Roshan questioned. “There’s not one out there.”

Shinrai ran the thought through his mind, and nodded in agreement. The two went outside and placed the makeshift lantern on top of their home. Roshan noticed how the Scizor stared at the light with a sort of longing.

“Hey,” she said, getting Shinrai’s attention. “You alright?”

“Yes. I… the light merely reminded me of something.”

Roshan smiled. “I think it looks pretty.” Shinrai nodded in agreement.

The two continued to stare at the light for a while. Though she felt she could have been confused, Roshan thought that she had seen something from Shinrai that she had not seen from him before, a smile.