Pokemon Pearl - Chapter 34

The next morning after Rico’s test, it’s festival day, the first day. Almost everyone went to the city’s largest park to have some fun and bonding time with their families, children, peers, friends, etc. They ditched work and school for two, whole fun-packed weeks. Almost all schools are closed for that. But Pokémon centers and other services are still open for ȧssistance. Also, businesses are still open for food, buying products, etc. They come in cars, buses, vans, minivans, etc. At this point, Rico and his parents came to do

some fun time and bonding, along with their Pokémon.

“Man, daddy, I’m so excited for this,” Rico commented to his parents in enthusiasm, “It’s getting better every year.” Riolu and Litleo then responded in happiness and enthusiasm.

“Yup, and luckily I had two day offs straight,” Lucas brightly replied. His Magneton then responded in happiness.

“Yeah,” Rosario brightly added. Her Sylveon then responded in happiness. They had eaten breakfast early so they could enjoy the festival well and fun. First, they played easy, carnival-style games at the park’s gaming area. The average cost each was cheap, only around 50-90 Pokedollars. They loved throwing balls to fish balls, dropping the ball to chutes, etc. Their prizes for winning are sometimes Pokémon stuff toys and brownies, but always packed rice cakes. It was their favorite.

Later by 9:45 a.m., they are now walking in a sandstone-made pavement with paper bags filled with their prizes. In the background, people are walking, chatting, buying, and selling stuff. Pokémon birds like Pidoves and Pidgeys are perching on tree branches and flying away.

“Wow, that was so fun, mom and dad,” Rico commented in relieving. Riolu then responded in happiness and fun.

“Yes, it’s like we’re being more lucky every year,” Lucas brightly replied. He and his family then stopped at a group of wooden benches and ate their snack prizes.

But suddenly, in the halfway mark, they heard a bunch of screams coming from one side of the park. Those who screamed ran from the scene in panic. In an alerted response, the trio and their Pokémon ran to that scene, only to see that it was a wild Absol. That Pokémon can appear before people only to warn them of danger or disaster.

“That Pokémon again,” Rico thought in surprise and stunning, “What is it now?” He then come closer to it, slowly. People then warned him not to get closer to it, but Rico ignored their desperate pleas, and kept walking closer to Absol. He then placed his right hand to Absol’s white fur, and touched it gently and softly. Then, Absol’s eyes turned blinding white, and so as its body. Everything then faded as Rico kept staring at it.

Absol sent Rico to a trip of time and space, similar to kuchikamizake trip in Your Name, but without the hair ribbons and meteorites. And in that vision-like trip, Rico seen the future that Red Eye will brainwash Arceus and destroy his home region. Rico was stunned and amazed by this revelation, and then, after all this, Absol returned him back to reality, stunning him on the ground. Absol then left the scene.

“Rico! Are you okay?” Lucas asked him in alert while running to his son. Snapping out from all this, Rico ran away from the scene, thinking, “It’s not good. I must stop him.”