A/N: Wow, a new chapter in over 2 years. I apologize for the long wait, but I promise, I haven't given up on this story. I grew attached to it. Are people even still following this? Well, to those who are, I promise, the waits will be shorter from now on. I'm very excited to finish this story and I hope others will enjoy it too.
"Alright, just a few more laces". Stitching carefully among the edges of her work, Jigglypuff passed the needle with lace that she was able to find through across the border of her newly made clothing: a poncho. After going through many ideas, and looking over the materials within the wardrobe of her chambers, she decided on a clothing accessory that wasn't overused of thought of much, least from what little of society she was able to observe. She liked the idea. A portable cover. And a soft one. Plus, there was plenty of burnt sienna colored yarn within the drawers, enough to create something comfortable. She herself wouldn't have been able to know about such a thing if it wasn't for Mew. It was her who focused the most in human culture. Jigglypuff was lucky enough to learn from the feline.
Reaching for another lace, Jigglypuff realized she had used up completely her most prized decoration. She looked around for a bit before settling that she indeed had used it all. Getting up, she went through the rest of the clothing in the closet for any loose lace, checked the drawers; nothing. When she couldn't find any, she sat back down on the floor and looked at he poncho.
"Well, then. I'm out of laces," she sighed to herself. "Can't use ribbons either. What should I..." Her view caught briefly on the door that led to the hallway. She didn't want to. Mostly on the fact she didn't know what to expect if she did step out of her room again, the only place at the moment she felt completely safe. She had thought Shadow and... him, were the only ones within the castle, until she met Sableye out in the garden. Who knew who, or what, else was out there as well.
She would be lucky to only find Shadow and ask for her needed material. What else was she suppose to do right now?
It took her a moment, but she finally decided. Getting her from her spot at the center of her room, she walked over to the door, pushing the somewhat heavy opening back and leaned forward to look both ways of the hall. Empty.
I'm going to regret this if I get lost again, she thought once she stepped out, closing the door silently behind her. Last time I took left, right? No, I took right... So I must take.. a left.
True to her choice, she made her way to her left. The paintings were different from this side, but she admired them just the same, when suddenly her stomach started with brief growls. Jigglypuff sighed at this. She remembered that instead of eating them while picking, she was more focused on her encounter with Gengar and saved the berries to be eaten in a safe place rather than in the middle of the garden. Now it was backfiring on her. She only had the juice she made with Shadow and left the rest at the kitchen, which were most likely grabbed and used by the Pokemon in the kitchen, no doubt.
"I should probably get something else, while I'm at it..." Jigglypuff continued on walking, taking a long path right, still debating if she was searching for laces or something to eat. She looked about the hall, examining the decor until her ears picked up a sound, a vibration up ahead the hall. The was an open door with bright lights beaming out making a rectangular shadow on the carpet that spread throughout the passageway she was on.
"That must be the party room", she thought jokingly. The further she walked towards it, the more she could hear the clashing of voices and music together. Once she made it to the edge of the doors, she peaked inside the room where she could see a flying figure going back and forward a couple of times. It had a feminine voice, giving out commands to different parts of the room that Jigglypuff couldn't yet seen. The music was making it harder for her to hear said commands, but she knew they sounded important. Having believing those would help her, she leaned herself against the door, focused on understanding the words. The figure stopped allowing her to see it was a Beautifly, now seeming to be conversing with another being near her.
Getting caught up on her view, Jigglypuff lost her balance and fell forward and into the room. The door flung open, shoving a portable clothing rack forward as she landed on the floor with her face down. Everyone in the room turned to face the sudden commotion, a few small gasps coming from around the room and the music was cut off. Her face quickly started to heat up. The silence was only there for a moment before she decided to look up to see a runway stage full of Pokemon looking at her. The Beautifly, accompanied by a Sewaddle beside her, were the first to come up to her. Just what she needed, more attention. Then again, it was her fault for being a curious 'mon. She quickly got up to face them.
"Oh my, who the heavens are you?" the Beautifly asked in a soft and soothing voice, her proboscis moving to her words. "We weren't expecting any guests."
"Maybe she roamed around the castle and asked to stay as well," the Sewaddle beside her replied to her but his cynical tone still audible to the pink Pokemon.
Jigglypuff caught on and growled softly to herself. "Hey!" she exclaimed. "I didn't know this place even existed until yesterday, y'know!"
"Goodness, dear, lower your voice," Beautifly said delicately, her short arms in front of her in a down gesture to signalize her prefered tone of voice, as well as to calm her new visitor down.
Nearby, on the other side of the room by the stage, a Roselia was observing and listened closely to the conversation. Her eyes squinted for a moment at the confused Jigglypuff. There was something familiar, something important... and then she got it. Verifying her memory, her eyes slowly but surely widen followed by a soft gasp only she could hear when she remembered what the rest apparently didn't.
"I'm sorry, darling, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave," Beautifly said reassuring. "We are currently in the middle of-!"
"Wait! Beautiful!" Roselia exclaimed. She slid down a curtain from the side of the stage in a fireman-like matter and rain to where the group of three Pokemon were.
"What is it, Roselia?" the butterfly turned to face the frantic grass type.
"Don't you remember who she is?" Roselia hushed at them, more anxious than angry. Her sudden alarmed state made her statement sound more like a hiss than a whisper like she wanted.
Beautifly and Sewaddle looked at each other with uncertainty. "Who?"
Roselia scoffed and pulled the two confused Pokemon closer to her and whispered the reason for her sudden distress. They stayed in a huddle for a moment, only the hushed voice of Roselia faintly heard yet inaudible to anyone further than two feet away. Sewaddle and Beautifly's eyes grew wide and in a sudden jerk back in unison, looked at the rose Pokemon in disbelief. She nodded at them. They looked at each other, first in amazement, then in concern. They turned around to face the Jigglypuff once again, only to see she was gone. Looking around for a moment, Sewaddle noticed her by some drawers appearing to be in search of something as they both hurried towards her.
"Um, ma'am?" Sewaddle started. "Is there something you're looking for?"
Jigglypuff sighed at hearing her first nickname once again. She was getting sick of this now. She turned to face them. "Just a few laces, if that's alright," she said, wanting to finish the conversation as soon as she could. It wasn't that she didn't like to conversate with others, but she was beginning to get paranoid with all the attention she was receiving in less than a day. "I'll just look for a few then I'll be out of your life."
"Just laces?" Sewaddle asked her attentive.
"Yeah."
"LACES, NOW!" Beautifly suddenly exclaimed to the rest of the room. Her sudden change of tone from soft to vigorous made Jigglypuff jump in place. The room was rushed in a commotion as the large group of Pokemon in the room hurried to various parts of the room to search in different storages.
"Uh, that's nice of you, Beautifly," Jigglypuff said nervously. "But I think I can find them on my own."
"Oh, but we would love to help you to your needs, Miss," Beautiful insisted, returning to her calmly tone. "It will be no problem at all."
"Please, if you tell me where I can find them, that would be enough," Jigglypuff responded, now starting to get restless. She wasn't even given time to react at Beautifly's sudden change of attitude towards her; just a few minutes ago, she wanted her to leave, now she wanted to help her? "And just call me Jigglypuff, please."
"Which colors would you like?"
"Well, how many do you have?"
"Plenty!" the bug type exclaimed.
"Plenty plenty!" Sewaddle added. Jigglypuff started to regret her question.
"Two of every color!" Beautifly exclaimed once more. Instantly, multiple Pokemon began lining up in front of Beautifly with laces on their hands and paws. First was a Mime Jr, with two yellow colored laces.
"There's yellow," Beautifly informed. Mime Jr stepped aside next to her.
"Blue." A Glaceon walked up to them with azure colored laces, took a brief bow then walked aside.
"Purple." A Kirlia extended her arms out to show her presented material then walked beside Glaceon.
"We have white, as well!" Beautifly said taking two white laces that were presented upon a Chikorita's leaf.
"Y-Yes, I'll take those," Jigglypuff finally managed to say. All this special treatment was not only making her anxious but tensed. How she wished someone would save her from this uncomfortable situation.
"Great, how many?"
"Well.. I didn't bring it with me, and I don't remember exactly how many I needed, so I'll just take-"
"Bring what?" Sewaddle interrupted, failing to see her agitated state. They were all too excitable to think before acting in her presence.
"Oh, just something I'm working on."
"We'll bring it for you!" Beautifly offered as she called out for someone at the other side of the room.
"Oh, no, it's fine, I can go get it... myself," before Jigglypuff could finish, a Togetic has already made his way out of the stage room and into the hall, most likely towards her room.
"Don't worry, miss, Togetic will get it for you," Beautifly chirped, much to Jigglypuff's dismay.
"I think I'm about to lose my mind..." the balloon Pokemon muttered to herself.
"Now, off to finish your duties," Beautifly said to the other Pokemon. As commanded, they ran off to their different initial positions, some on top of the stage while others to the back. "Do you mind if we practice our show in your presence?"
"Huh?" she looked at the butterfly. "What show?"
Beautifly was enlightened by the question. She clasped her short forepaws together. "It's a performance we here at the castle put together every few months to show off what new designs we have come to create, mostly with textiles and such that are found here in the residence. A sort of, exhibition, if you will. We are now practicing our positioning as we do before every display."
"Why?"
"It gives them a chance to express themselves, darling," she chirped. It filled her with pleasure and a sense of honor being the one able to share this information with her. Everything she heard about, and now she was here... "Plus, it's fun!"
Jigglypuff looked around the room. "How many Pokemon are needed to work this place?" Though unplanned, the concept of the event had gotten her interest. The castle seemed to have more and more to offer than she initially had thought.
"Oh, various!" Beautifly began to point to the many individuals in the room. "Mime Jr and Roselia are in charge of decorations, a fine job, they do; Sewaddle is my assistant with directing this event, as well as creating the costumes we use, along with Kirlia over there; Chikorita assists us with the stage; and Cinccino, yes, over there," she pointed to the right side of the stage to a sound system made up of two stereos on each side and various buttons and dials, "is sound supervisor and helps with designs. Glaceon, Furret and Meowth, or as she is liked to be called, Meo, are our main models."
Jigglypuff tried to take in the roles mentioned as much as she could, but ended up more confused. Her events were never this systematic back home. "Sounds like a lot of work."
"Oh, it is, it is, but, it makes for a great and lively occasion once we are set. We should be ready to present in less than a week, surely."
"Less than a week?" She would be able to see it? Wait, why was that her first thought? She shouldn't be making plans in this place, would she even be here by then? She was impatient to get this thought out of her mind.
"Indeed." Her face lit up at a sudden thought. "You are more than welcomed to come and watch!" She almost looked proud at her suggestion.
"Oh." Oh, the irony. "Well-"
As if luck would have it, Togetic came flying in at that moment with Jigglypuff's unfinished poncho on his hands. He quickly went over to her and handed over her creation as she thanked him. Beautifly looked unsettled at said creation.
"That's... it?"
"Yeah," Jigglypuff responded. "I wanted to go for something... unique, that wasn't too much. Why? Do you think it looks too simple?"
"Oh, no, no!" Beautifly exclaimed. "I just, would of never have thought of that. That certainly is very, distinctive."
"Well, I'm not much of a designer that we'll say. But, Togetic, how did you know where my room was?"
Togetic froze. Beautifly glanced at him nervously from the corner of her eye. "I, um.. I know there's only two guests rooms, um, here at the castle, and I'd figure one of those is where y-you would be staying, I knew where to look."
Jigglypuff looked at him oddly for a moment, soon accepting his answer. "Oh. Ok," she said, then walked to a nearby desk to continue her work. Once she was out of earsight, Beautifly turned her fretful attention towards Togetic. "You do know where it was, right?"
"Kind of hard not to when there were constant preparations for it, don't you think?"
Putting her clothing upon the desk, Jigglypuff leaned her arm onto the surface. "What is with these Pokemon?" she thought. She turned to face the stage again. Sewaddle was guiding Glaceon Meo, who was currently busy brushing her whiskers, where to move along the runway. Furret was practicing different poses, asking Cinccino behind the sound system for his opinion. Beautifly flew beside her, Togetic now joined Roselia above the curtains where stage lamps were being positioned.
"They do a great job, don't they?" she sighed her, proud of her crew.
"Do you choose them to do it or do they sign up somewhere?" Jigglypuff asked, half expecting her not to answer.
"Oh, they come up and ask for the place. Anyone can join, darling~!" she chirped, winking at her.
She caught on, waving her hands out in defense. "Y-Yeah, no." She didn't need that today. She scanned the rest of the room. It looked quite crowded even if there were a considerable amount of Pokemon in it. Probably had to do with the many portable cloth racks that were pushed aside from the runway that were used to try on numerous clothing. To the left side of the room were desks against the wall with mirrors above every one. A storage closet was place on the corner of the wall, one particular clothing rack that was packed with costumes that were simply thrown on top of it.
There, within the hanged clothing peaked out cautiously a small Pichu.