So very excited to be able to post this! I had the privilege of joining @pokeaskzine ! I wanted to do a piece that teased future events coming to the story revolving around Chime and his interactions with other characters/environments. Definitely experimented a lot with this one and learned much!
Fun fact: the photos included in this have their own full pieces that I made to be photos in this piece!
If you're interested in getting your own copy of the zine you can find it here(zine with additional digital merch content) or here (zine only)! Funds are being donated to The Trevor Project!
"My, you are one brave little chime to be taking care of such an egg. If you would accept, I would give you my blessing in hopes that you may safely bring the little one to its destination." The Lugia offered, having stopped in his travels to asses the egg he had sensed. And it was indeed what he thought it was. "Given how precious this cargo is, I'd even offer to help take you to its destination. Quite the important little one that will be to the ocean."
So you've got an egg and now you have the means to protect it!... Now what?
I like to support their businesses! You can find their family throughout this region, selling wares and supplies for locals as well as adventurers! You'll never find a better family of Heatmor merchants than them!
Usually you can find Rapidash, Mudsdale, or even Stantler for hire here! They do all ranges of transport work, from hauling cargo to carrying paying mons to wherever they need to go!
Today, I just have really bad luck... it seems they're all at various jobs already...
While I at least have a good amount of supplies now, it's going to be a very long walk to the oceanside. I'm small and not exactly long-legged... It will take a good while.
(primordial-blessings) "Hm, it sounds like you're not too thrilled talking about your hometown, huh?" Eir questions Chime. "Does your family still live there? Do you have troubles with just your town or does your family cause you troubles too?"
The chingling seems taken aback by the question, apparently not expecting anyone to ask. He gives a small soundless sigh before heading to a small rock to sit, gesturing for Eir to join him.
Pulling out his trusty notepad, the chingling brings to write his response:
Please be patient with me as this is a bit of a long story... and a hard one for me to discuss. But you seem trustworthy, so I don't mind telling you.
I don't have good memories, even from when I was very, very young. I was born to the leaders of our clan without the small metal orb that helps us create sound. As you can imagine, for a chingling, it's a devastating thing to have missing.
My parents, especially, found it to be a great travesty. Any doctor they contacted said nothing could be done. While we cannot create any vocalization without it, they cannot be made for you. Our bodies will reject it as a foreign object and we could get very sick and even die for trying to force it.
With nothing that could be done, I was deemed defective, and essentially disowned. While they didn't cull me like many others insisted on, I wasn't given a chance in my family either. They wanted nothing to do with me, and my two older siblings treated me like I was trash.
It might seem terrible to you, and I agree with you, but my family saw it as the greatest failure possible as we are descended from the line of this region's legend. "Having our voice is the utmost importance!" Is what they always said. It was what allowed the great beast to be subdued.
Once I was old enough, I decided to leave my birthplace. It was no home to me. None of the Chingling or Chimecho considered me one of them. I was the one that should never have been born.
Admittedly, I was very angry. I was hurt that my family never considered me such, despite my best efforts to try and force myself to be like them. I hated that others in the clan would rather I be dead, than even give me a chance. I wandered aimlessly because, in my eyes, my life had no purpose and I didn't know what to do with myself.
Luckily, I was fortunate enough to then meet my mentor, Claw.
Claw was sort of like me, and I don't just mean because he was a fellow steel type. He had lost both of his lower wings in a battle when he was a young Scyther, and had been outcast by his clan for it.
"You can't depend on everyone else to accept you. You didn't do anything wrong, you can't help being different, whether by birth or any other reason. That doesn't make you lesser. Accept yourself and take your place in this world wherever you choose to.
So what if you don't have a voice. You think that's the only thing you can do? Learn something new and develop it. You'll be stronger than anyone else for it, and you'll set yourself apart from them. You don't need to be them. You need to be you."
I think... I think they were words I really needed to hear. I eventually stopped being so angry, and requested to learn from Claw on how to fight in my own way. He agreed reluctantly, but he agreed. And because of him, I can use the Sword and Shield stances that I have. And I don't need a voice for it!
I've been able to help many with my newfound abilities, and I don't think I could've done what I have with the normal voice of a Chingling...
I haven't tried going back home since then, and I don't know if I ever will, unless somehow fate drags me back there. I doubt that, even with what I can do now, they'd ever accept me.
Er...I apologize for rambling, I guess it's rather nice to get that off my shoulders. Thank you for listening, you're very kind.
"What is it you can do? The legendary monster will awaken from its deep slumber to raze the lands in its wrath, ending all it sees. It is death, and you are but a soundless bell," the large dragon sneers, eyes narrowing with amused glee as it took in Chime's disdainful look. "The Great Knight had his song to lull the beast to its centuries long sleep, but you...
