The FUCK you mean Chongyun didnât get a skin? Yaoyao? Really? Yaoyao?! Sheâs cute but COME ON. I hate you hoyoverse. I am never forgiving you. I am deleting this stupid game Iâm so pissed.
YaoYao get out of my Lantern Rite you werenât invited đ
Nâs Zoroark (protector and illusionist babysitter)
Day 1:
The city was already alive when they stepped onto Unity Pier, but the rescue team moved slowly. Tiffany crouched to buckle a harness on Rufflet while N gently coaxed Darumaka from behind a crate with a sliced Leppa berry.
Tiffany pets Pichuâs head, scratching gently behind her ear. Ducklett, still hesitant on the cobblestones, waddled close to her leg. Lillipup sniffed every bench leg like it was his job. It probably was, in his mind.
They walked together through Casteliaâs lower promenade, a slow pace set by the soft rhythm of hooves and paws on pavement. The Deerling pair stayed close to each other, the Summer male wandering into beams of sunlight, while his Spring partner clung to the shade beside a flower stall. Tiffany noticed their quiet harmony and smiled.
Whimsicott darted ahead on the breeze, trailing a ribbon from the supply pack. She wasnât supposed to steal itâbut Tiffany let it slide. N gave her a look. She shrugged.
âEnrichment,â she said, watching the puffball tumble midair.
Crossing the Skyarrow Bridge was like moving into another world.
The group paused halfway through, the wind lifting fur, feathers, hair. Woobat hovered in slow circles above them, pulsing tiny cries. Rufflet stretched his wings and tried to mirror it, wobbling in the updraft.
âI think heâs pretending to be brave,â Tiffany whispered, smiling.
âHeâs already braver than he knows,â N replied.
Tepig snorted beside them and flopped on the sun-warmed metal, tail flicking. The group rested briefly there, framed by the open sky and the Unova skyline behind them. Zoroark lingered just out of frameâalways watching, never far.
By the time they reached Pinwheel Forest, the mood had shifted. The cool dappled light was a relief after the bridgeâs brightness, and Tiffany spread out a tarp under the trees while N scattered foraging treats behind fern patches.
Lillipup was the first to catch the trailânose twitching, tail high. Darumaka tried to follow, but was quickly distracted by a particularly diggable tree root. Ducklett found a shallow puddle near the edge of the clearing and stood motionless in it, blinking at its own reflection like it was waiting to speak.
Tiffany sat near a mossy stump with Munna in her lap. It had taken some coaxing to get the Dream Eater to settle, but now it pulsed with quiet warmth, small and safe. She hummed, just softly, and felt it relax.
Meanwhile, the two Deerling had found a meadow patch together. The Summer male laid his head on the otherâs back. No sound, no words, just breath and birdsong and wind in the leaves. It felt like healing.
As twilight came, they made camp near the forest edge. Woobat nestled into a low branch above Tiffanyâs hammock. Zoroark emerged from the shadows to silently place a blanket over Darumaka, who had rolled into a warm patch of leaves.
N glanced over from where he was feeding Tepig. âHeâll deny it later,â he murmured.
Tiffany chuckled, leaning her head against his shoulder. âHeâs soft. Just like someone else I know.â
He didnât argue.
Above them, stars blinked into view one by one, and below, the ten little travelers slept safely for another night in Unova.
Day 2:
Morning came slow and quiet through Pinwheel Forest, filtered through soft mist and birdsong. The fire had burned down to embers, still warm where Darumaka had dozed half-in, half-out like a hearthstone with legs.
Lillipup was the first to wake, his nose twitching as he nosed around the edges of campâalways eager to inspect. Rufflet followed soon after, flapping up to a branch with a dramatic hop, wings spread like a conqueror of trees.
Tiffany stretched with a yawn, wings rustling as she rose from her hammock and checked on Munna, who had curled into Pichu during the night. N was already coaxing Ducklett from a puddle, whispering something calming as the little water bird hesitated to leave its chosen bath spot.
By the time they reached Nacrene City, the group had found its rhythm: Tiffany leading with a small group close to her sideâPichu, Munna, and the Deerling pairâwhile N walked slightly behind with Darumaka, Rufflet, and Tepig, who occasionally tried to race ahead before being reeled back in by Zoroarkâs very patient illusions.
Nacrene felt like memory. Moss on bricks. Ivy curling around murals and train tracks rusting into the earth. Whimsicott bounced ahead, tumbling on the breeze and then vanishing into alley corners before reappearing on Tiffanyâs shoulder with a smug smirk on its face.
They paused for lunch near the museum plaza, with Lillipup sniffing every bench and Rufflet loudly challenging a Braviary sculpture. N laughed under his breath and Tiffany offered him the energy bar that Tepig roasted.
Later, they moved slowly toward the Dreamyardâthe broken remains of what was once a research lab, now gently overtaken by wildflowers and vines. The air shimmered faintly here, heavy with memory.
Munna stiffened beside Tiffany, pink mist pulsing with unease.
âItâs okay,â she whispered. âWeâre not here to dig anything up. Weâre just walking through.â
They took their time. The group moved through gently, small clusters exploring in pairs. Ducklett picked her way around old metal panels, watching her reflection in puddles. Lillipup poked his head through a pipe and yipped, only to sneeze dust immediately after. Rufflet scaled a slab of fallen stone, announcing victory with a screech.
Eventually, Munna floated free. Just a littleâhovering a few inches off Tiffanyâs hands, moving on her own toward a low stone plinth tangled in ivy. She paused there, mist faint but steady.
âShe remembers,â N said quietly, watching her from beside an overgrown wall. âAnd she still chose to move forward.â
Tiffany swallowed the knot in her throat and nodded. âWe all did.â
They didnât stay long after that. As the sun dipped behind the western hills, they set up camp in a quiet meadow outside the ruins. The group was tired in a good wayâTepig curled up in the firelight, Whimsicott softly snoring from inside Nâs backpack, and the Deerling pressed side by side under an oak tree.
Zoroark lingered beside the campfire, not blending in for once, letting Lillipup use his tail as a pillow.
Tiffany and N sat near the edge of camp as dusk settled.
âShe was so scared,â she whispered, watching Munna drift in slow circles above her nest of leaves.
âBut she still moved,â N said. âThat counts.â
They didnât talk much after that. Just sat close. The stars blinked on one by one as ten little travelers slept under the open skyâsafe, soft, and not quite so afraid.
Day 3:
They left Nacrene at sunrise, stepping into a world edged with gold. Dew clung to the tall grass beside the path, and Tiffany moved through it with a lightness that made her look almost like part of the morning itself. Her white dress fluttered at her knees, simple and sun-bleached, and her boots thudded softly along the overgrown tracks.
The moment they reached Nimbasa City, the tempo shifted.
Lights. Music. Whistles. A sea of movement and color, and the sort of energy that hit like a wave. Ducklett froze just inside the gate, head tilting, feathers bristling slightly as if the entire city had startled her. Lillipup barked at a balloon. Darumaka twirled in place, absolutely overjoyed.
Rufflet immediately tried to race a taxi.
Tiffany stayed close to the quieter ones, her wings slightly extended as if shielding Munna, who hovered low, close to the hem of her dress. âToo much noise?â she asked softly.
Munna pressed into her shoulder in reply. Not distressedâjust overwhelmed.
Whimsicott had already disappeared into the wind.
They took the slow route through Gear Station, where the trains zoomed past in a colorful blur. Ducklett was spellbound by the reflections in the platform glass, while Munna drifted higher, ears pulsing in time with the ambient rumble of electricity. She was steadier now, Tiffany noticed. Calmer.
âSheâs syncing with the rhythm,â N said. âLetting it carry her.â
âSheâs brave,â Tiffany replied, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. âAll of them are.â
Whimsicott reappeared balancing an uneaten corndog and a free festival sticker stuck to her fluff. She looked extremely proud of herself. N stared as she stuck out her tongue.
âHeâs acting like heâs melting,â Tiffany said, crouching beside him.
âHe might be,â N answered. âHe does that in sunlight.â
Zoroark lay nearby under a maple tree, unmoving but awake. Lillipup curled beside his tail, tail flicking rhythmically against the dirt like a metronome. The Deerling meandered quietly across the lawn, nibbling at clover and occasionally brushing against each otherâs sides.
âTheyâre getting close,â Tiffany murmured.
N nodded. âTheyâre choosing each other.â
Tiffany smiled but said nothing. The moment felt soft, still unspoken. She made a mental note to keep an eye out for something special tomorrowâsomething they could share, together.
As the sun dipped behind the city, they took the long way past the amusement park, just far enough to let the lights dazzle them without the crowds. Ducklett perked up at the sight of glowing fountains. Rufflet nearly dove at the Ferris wheel before realizing it wasnât moving fast enough to challenge him.
âI think he wants to spar with it,â Tiffany said, watching him fluff up.
N folded his arms, mock-serious. âItâs an unfair match. Too slow.â
Whimsicott tried to match the flicker of the park lights by puffing up and glowing faintly with Moonlight. It wasnât very accurate, but she was extremely pleased with the results.
They made camp on a gentle rise just outside city limits, close enough to see the lights flickering behind them but far enough that the grass still felt wild.
No one needed prompting to settle down.
Whimsicott curled up in N's discarded over shirt. Tepig snored, tiny embers occasionally puffing from his snout. The Deerling lay side by side under a flowering bush, not touching, but close. Lillipup tucked into Zoroarkâs side like a plush toy. Even Ruffletâgrudginglyânapped on a low branch instead of watching all night.
Tiffany sat beside N, her wings folded tight around her like a shawl, Pichu curled in her lap. She rested her head on his shoulder as Munna floated slowly above them, mist trailing like the tail end of a dream.
Tomorrow they would cross the bridge to Driftveil. Thereâd be a market thereâroom to wander, to explore, to find keepsakes. But for now, they rested. Not quite home, but far from where they started.
And that was enough.
Day 4:
They crossed the Driftveil Drawbridge just after sunrise.
The sky was a soft lavender-gray, and the bridge was still slick with morning dew. Rufflet rode the wind above them, occasionally dive-bombing sea foam. Ducklett flapped after him half-heartedly, but quickly gave up and stared at the water. Tiffany held on tightly to her bag since Pichu was still curled up inside, fast asleep.
When they stepped off the bridge into Driftveil, the world felt different.
Calmer. Heavier. The noise of Nimbasa was behind them, replaced with the creak of dock ropes, the gull-like cries of Wingull, and the scent of salt and soil and fried food.
The open-air market was already bustling.
N guided them past crates of berries, hand-woven blankets, fossils, spice racks, and Unovan street food stalls. Tiffany stayed close to the group, wings partially extendedânot out of anxiety, but habit. Munna floated lazily beside her. Zoroark trailed behind, mostly invisible, but visible enough to keep Rufflet from doing anything reckless.
Tiffany noticed it firstâtwo matching silk scarves, dyed with natural plant pigments. One soft pink, one golden brown. She hesitated, then quietly bought both. She didnât say anything as she tied one gently around Springâs neck and offered the other to Summer. The pair blinked at her, then turned and pressed their noses together in quiet joy.
âTheyâll treasure them,â N said.
âThey already do,â Tiffany replied, smiling.
Darumakaâs Heat Stone
Darumaka had been vibrating with excitement since they arrived. He ended up glued to a booth that sold jewelry embedded with elemental stones. When Tiffany gently lifted a necklace made from a tiny polished heat rock, he squealed so loud the vendor jumped. She fastened it loosely around his neck. He immediately did ten somersaults in celebration.
âHeâs going to sleep so well tonight,â N said.
âHeâs going to glow in the dark,â Tiffany laughed.
Lillipupâs Quick Claw
Lillipup was harder to pleaseâhe sniffed everything, turned up his nose at most of it, and nearly bit a vendorâs shoelace. Finally, he stopped dead at a display of held-item accessories. Tiffany knelt down, holding out a collar with a small, polished Quick Claw on the tag loop. He wagged once, solemnly, and allowed her to put it on like a knighting ceremony.
Zoroark gave an approving nod.
Woobatâs Windchime
Woobat had barely touched down all day. Sheâd been fluttering just above the group like a balloon on a string. But at a stall of glass trinkets, she drifted toward a small hanging windchime, shaped like a heart. Tiffany purchased it and gently tied it to a loop of twine, securing it to Woobatâs favorite resting spotâher backpack. The faint chiming followed them for the rest of the day.
Munnaâs Dreamlight Pendant
Munna hovered silently near a table of stones and crystals until she gently pressed herself against a lavender-swirled pendant infused with dream mist. It shimmered softly in her misty field. Tiffany traded for it without hesitation, wrapping the cord gently around Munnaâs midsection like a sash.
âShe chose that the way a human chooses a lullaby,â N murmured.
Tiffany just smiled and patted Munnaâs side.
Ducklettâs Feather Mirror
Ducklett didnât want food. She didnât want trinkets. She wanted something beautiful. She settled on a stall selling grooming kits and feather-polishing sprays, and ended up picking out a tiny hand mirror with a handle shaped like a wing. Tiffany bought it, along with a special soft cloth, and Ducklett carried it in her beak the rest of the day like a prized possession.
Whimsicottâs Seed Satchel
Whimsicott almost left with someone elseâs backpack and had to be dragged back by her cotton tail. Eventually, she settled on a mini satchel of decorative seeds, some of them rare. She immediately stuck a few in her fluff for âsafe keeping.â The rest she scattered around the market, like breadcrumbs of chaos.
âSheâll plant a garden without trying,â Tiffany said.
âShe already has,â N replied, watching seeds drift behind her like confetti.
Tepigâs Burn Band
Tepig had been quiet all morning. But when he spotted a simple wrap bracelet made of volcanic fiber, he trotted over and sat on it. That was his answer. Tiffany looped it gently over his foreleg. He grunted once and then licked her boot.
âThatâs his way of saying thank you,â N said.
âI thought it was his way of saying âI want to eat your shoes,ââ Tiffany teased.
Rufflet's anklet
Rufflet, of course, refused everything.
He acted too proud to wear accessories, and glared at every vendor like he was being challenged to a duel. In the end, N offered him a simple leather anklet tied with a single feather. Rufflet examined it silently. Then, slowly, he let N tie it on.
No words. But his chest puffed out slightly afterward.
That night, they camped on a bluff overlooking the Driftveil harbor. The city shimmered below them, golden and hushed, as if the whole town had gone quiet just for them.
It began as a subtle shiftâthe light dimming, the air thickening with minerals and static. Then the cave swallowed them whole.
Inside, the walls glowed gently, lit by the faint blue pulse of charged stones embedded in stone veins. Electricity thrummed like a quiet breath beneath everything. The cave was still and alive all at once.
Zoroark padded silently ahead, one red eye barely visible in the dark. Rufflet flew low for once, as if even he didnât want to break the atmosphere. Woobat fluttered near the ceiling, her sonar bouncing off the caveâs shape like soft echoes.
Lillipup padded right next to Tiffanyâs boot, eyes sharp and alert, but not frightened.
The Deerling pair walked shoulder-to-shoulder through the bioluminescent stillness. Every so often they would pause and tilt their heads in opposite directions, listening. Tiffany caught them brushing scarves once, briefly, in an unspoken âyou okay?â exchange.
They were.
Darumakaâs new necklace seemed to buzz slightly in the cave air, and he didnât sit still for more than two seconds. He kept dashing up to glowing stones, patting them, yipping, then running away as if they might explode. N had to gently guide him by the shoulders more than once.
Tepig trudged with proud focusâstill quiet, but clearly fascinated. Tiffany handed him a bit of fruit every time he didnât try to lick the glowing rocks. Progress.
Ducklett stayed close to Munna, both of them floating just above the ground. Munnaâs dreamlight pendant sparkled faintly every time a charge stone crackled nearby, and Ducklett occasionally used her mirror to catch the reflection and make little bursts of reflected light on the cave ceiling.
Whimsicott was, mysteriously, clean. Not a speck of dust on her. Either she was naturally immune to grime or she was vaporizing it on contact with smugness.
âI think sheâs photosynthesizing off the rocks,â N muttered.
âCan she do that?â Tiffany whispered back.
âShe thinks she can,â he replied, deadpan.
By midday, theyâd reached the far mouth of the cave. The sunlight outside looked strangely soft after so much time underground. When they emerged, everyone squinted a bitâexcept for Rufflet, who launched immediately into the sky with a wild cry of freedom.
Mistralton City lay spread out ahead of themâwide, open, scattered with greenhouses and rooftops that shimmered in the distance. The scent of cool wind and damp soil hit them like a clean breeze.
âSmells like... leaves,â Tiffany murmured, taking a deep breath. âLike garden mornings.â
They didnât linger long in town. After the intensity of the cave, everyone seemed to want the quiet of the outer fields, where the air was thinner and the sky stretched wider than any city could hold.
Whimsicott buried herself in a nest of gathered grass. Woobat curled in her usual place on Tiffanyâs backpack, chiming softly in her sleep. Tepig laid across Darumakaâs belly like a beanbag. Ducklett cleaned her mirror for ten full minutes before falling asleep with her beak resting on it.
Lillipup curled by Zoroarkâs paw againâZoroark pretending not to notice.
The Deerling lovers watched the wind pass over the field for a long time. Neither spoke, but Summer leaned closer to Spring than usual. Their scarves fluttered lightly together like tethered petals.
That evening, Tiffany pulled her boots off and let her feet press into the earth. N joined her, both of them sitting in the tall grass with Pichu curled between them.
âTheyâre changing,â she whispered. âTheyâre... softening. I think they know.â
âTheyâre starting to believe itâs safe,â N said. âThat love isnât temporary.â
She glanced over. âAnd you?â
He smiled, just a little. âIâve always known you were permanent.â
Tiffanyâs hand reached for his, slow and certain, and the wind curled around them both like a blessing.
The Celestial Tower rose from the hills like an ancient questionâstone and sky interwoven, solemn and calm. The air around it held stillness in a way that felt intentional, like time slowed down just for the towerâs sake.
Tiffany hadnât said much all morning.
Her wings twitched occasionally, more out of reflex than nervousness. Pichu walked beside her for once, silent and solemn.
âTheyâve never been to a place like this,â she said softly, as they approached the entrance.
âThey donât need to understand it,â N replied. âThey only need to feel that it matters.â
Munna floated near the rafters, her dreamlight pendant glowing softly as if responding to the towerâs lingering memories. Ducklett stood very still and blinked slowly, her mirror clutched gently in her beak.
The Deerling pair pressed close to each other, matching scarves brushing as they moved in sync up the spiral stairwell. Tiffany watched them for a long moment before following.
Darumaka kept trying to whisper, but each âwhisperâ came out in a bright stage voice that echoed off the walls. Eventually, Tepig gently headbutted him, and he settled down.
Woobat perched quietly above a broken windowsill, her tiny body bathed in colored light from a hanging sunstone charm. For once, even Whimsicott stayed closeâwatching, as if remembering something she couldnât name.
It was low and round, not sadâbut weighty. The kind of sound that acknowledged pain, but didnât make it heavier. The kind of sound that said: you were here. You mattered. We remember you.
She rang it again.
Tepig leaned his head against her boot. The Deerling pair pressed foreheads together. Even Ruffletâloud, proud Ruffletâstilled and bowed his head slightly.
N gently rang the bell once, too. Then they descended in silence, the kind that didnât need to be filled.
By late afternoon, the cobbled hills gave way to sleek stone and faint neon. Opelucid City rose like a memory wrapped in a dream. It was old and new, bothâa city of clean lines and ancient wisdom. History on a digital scroll.
âThey built the future into the bones of the past,â N murmured.
Rufflet, newly emboldened, showed off his anklet to a flock of local Pidove with exaggerated flaps.
Darumaka, no longer vibrating, tucked himself into Tepigâs side and napped with his necklace glowing faintly.
Lillipup barked once at a passing Haxorus. No one flinched.
Woobat napped in Tiffanyâs backpack. Pichu nuzzled into N's hair. Ducklett polished her mirror against a leaf. Whimsicott scattered dandelion seeds over the square.
Munna floated, quietly humming.
The Deerling lovers shared an apple between them, each taking careful turns.
âTheyâre ready,â Tiffany said, as the sun dipped below Opelucidâs skyline.
âI think theyâve been ready,â N replied. âThey just needed someone to see it.â
She looked at him. âI see you too.â
He smiled, quiet and full. Then leaned in, brushed her cheek with his lips.
They left Opelucid before the sun fully crested the hills, the roads still glazed in a soft blue hush. Their steps were quiet, not out of weariness, but because the day itself asked for gentleness.
The path to Lacunosa Town curved through wildflower fields and tall grass softened by mist. Rufflet flew overhead in lazy arcs, silent now, not from cautionâbut peace. Below, Darumaka and Tepig walked side by side, humming tunelessly to themselves, radiating shared warmth that didnât need attention anymore.
The Deerling pair grazed slowly as they walked, their matching silk scarves catching the light in quiet flashes. They didnât cling, or dart aheadâthey moved in unison, like two parts of the same breeze.
Tiffany walked near the front, her white dress brushing against damp grass, steps whispering along the dirt path. Pichu clung to her shoulder, half-asleep, but smiling. Behind her, N watched the group in his usual calm, Zoroark a steady shadow at his side.
âTheyâve stopped looking over their shoulders,â Tiffany said softly.
âTheyâve started looking ahead,â N answered.
By the time they reached Lacunosa, the sky had fully opened. The town welcomed them gentlyâstone homes laced with ivy, wind chimes in every window, and villagers who greeted them not like strangers, but like long-lost kin.
Down route 11, towards the village bridge, a boat waited.
Not a transport ship built for speedâbut one refitted for care. Its deck was wide and open, with sun-shaded corners, freshwater stations, and sturdy hammocks nestled safely under the awnings. The crew didnât ask questionsâthey simply offered smiles, gentle hands, and space.
âNo crates?â Tiffany asked.
âNo cages,â the captain replied. âJust freedom.â
Munna floated just above the water, casting soft ripples. Whimsicott brushed her hand against Tiffanyâs and didnât speak. Ducklett stared at her own reflection in the lake, then flicked it away like it didnât matter anymore.
Tepig and Darumaka sprawled together beneath a sun-shade. Woobat found a corner tucked in the rafters, watching the sea. Whimsicott immediately tangled herself in a hammock and refused to move. Ducklett perched next to a coil of rope and polished her mirror.
The Deerling pair settled at the stern, heads resting together, their scarves gently fluttering.
Zoroark curled protectively near the cabin wall. Munna rested atop Tiffanyâs pack. And Pichu climbed into her lap as she sat beside N on the gently rocking deck.
The ship pulled away at sunset.
The docks shrank. Lacunosaâs windchimes became whispers. Then even those disappeared behind the fog curling off the water.
Tiffany leaned into Nâs shoulder as the wind turned warm and salty. She watched the sea stretch open ahead of them, endless and wide.
âDo you think they know?â she asked. âThat theyâre going somewhere soft?â
âThey donât have to know,â N said. âTheyâll feel it. Just like they felt the hurt before.â
She smiled, then tilted her head toward him. âYouâre good at helping others heal.â
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