As expected, most of the group wasn't used to waking up so early in the morning, so we let the rest of them sleep. Pike, however, found it difficult to fall asleep again, so he decided to wait outside with me, Jess, and Falryk.
Falryk was… a rather interesting Pokémon. He told us he became blind when a car had ran him over that damaged a part of his brain. He lost his sight because of that. Despite that, Falryk remained as cheerful as ever, and navigated through the city quite easily. He also said that he came from some island known as Akala Island.
"Where's Akala Island?" Pike asked, curious. "My brother Chris's an explorer, but I've never heard him mention anything that sounded similar to 'Akala'."
Falryk seemed surprised to hear that we didn't recognise the name. "You guys don't know Akala Island?" He asked. All of us shook our heads. He sighed a little, though he looked amused. "Sorry, I shouldn't be too surprised. It's a big world after all. Basically, Akala Island is a nice tropical island where I live. It's located in the Alola region." Falryk remained quiet for a while, as though waiting for something. I was about to ask what the Alola region was when he took the words right out of my mouth. "You guys don't know the Alola region too, I presume?"
"Er, no…" Jess admitted shyly. "Strangely enough, I've never heard of it."
"Neither have I," I said, feeling a little ashamed for not even knowing a region. "what's it like there?" I asked him.
Falryk's ears perked up at the question. The look on his face tells me that he's extremely eager to share. "I'm glad you asked!" He chirped, delighted.
Falryk told us all the basic things about the Alola region. He said that it was a region that consisted of four large islands: Melemele Island, Akala Island, Ula'ula Island, and Poni Island. There was also an artificial island which was built for conservation purposes called Aether Paradise. Each island was unique on its own, but all of them share deep culture and lots of amazing sights. The region was also famous for it's tropical-themed food, better than any other city, and the produce was always fresh. Tourists flock to this place for all sorts of reason, from adventure to experience to work; the Alola region has become a place in the top of the world now.
"Wow, your homeland sounds amazing!" Jess exclaimed, seeming enchanted by Falryk's descriptions. "I'd love to go and visit someday."
Falryk smiled. "You're welcome. Hopefully you'll be able to witness the beauty of my island." He turned towards me. "Hey, are your friends up and ready yet? The park'll be crowded if we're late, ya know?"
I nodded, and walked back inside the Rest Room. It took a while, but I managed to get everyone awake and ready. Most of them seemed eager, although Lucia doesn't seem so keen to follow. Viel decided to stop his illusion training with Lucia for a while to take a chance to come with us. I was quite happy he did so; I've barely seen him lately.
Rohuesen Sculpture Park was not too far, according to Jess's and Claire's brochures, only a ten minute walk. The path there was full of apartments and small businesses, with shrubbery planted along the way no less. It was a straight road at first, but then we came across an intersection. We were just about to cross when the traffic light beside us suddenly turned red. Cars zoomed in front of us, cutting the path. "This is the worst part about roads." Lucia groaned, scratching an itchy ear.
I had been keeping my eye on Falryk the entire time. I was worried that he might hit something, or even cross the street when there are cars ahead, but he avoided everything. It felt impossible that he could navigate so easily - it's like he's not even blind! Where his ears and other senses really that sharp?
"Hey, Falryk?" I began, tapping his shoulder. He turned his head towards me.
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask how you're able to navigate your way so easily?"
Falryk stared at me for a few seconds, then smiled knowingly. "Oh Loner, it's not easy at all!" He said, patting my back. "Without my eyes, it's a struggle to get anywhere at all, especially in new terrain. I need to remember what every place looks like so I know where I'm going, and be sure to not hit anything. It's troublesome to do so without sight, but I manage." To be honest, I thought it would be easier for Falryk, but apparently not.
"Um, you can still find your way to the park, right?" I asked.
"As long as I stick close to you guys, I should be fine." He replied.
"How can you be sure that -"
"Smell. You, Loner, you smell like flowers." He paused for a second before continuing. "Rolled around in the grass while I wasn't looking?" He asked jokingly.
"H-Hey!" I exclaimed, feeling offended. "No, I just went and sniffed a bunch of flowers, that's all." I looked over at the traffic light. "Hey, Falryk, the light's green!"
"It has been green for the last fifteen seconds." The Litten chuckled, moving forward. "But I thought I should wait for you to finish."
'Falryk is so strange sometimes…' I thought to myself, walking after him. 'But I do find him fascinating. Plus, he's from the Alola region… Maybe I'll ask him more about it at the park.'
When we finally arrived at the park, all of us wowed. The park's area was marked with a metre tall stone brick wall that covered at least several hundred metre square. Tens of intricate and ornate-looking sculptures were lined up in shapes and sorted out by theme. Some were excellently well-crafted, others looked strange yet unique. The park also had benches and a proper path, making sure that every patch was accessible and comfortable.
"Where do we even begin…?" Claire said in awe, her eyes glittering. "Th-there's so many of them!" She almost seemed starstruck.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down Claire!" Pike said, laughing heartedly. "Let's take this slow! How about we start from… that one?" Pike pointed at a statue that pictured a man appearing to do ballet. Claire approved, and both of them left. I smiled when I saw them holding hands.
Before I realised it, everyone had gone their own way, including Jess. Viel and Lucia walked around, looking at sculptures here and there. Shelvina simply sat down on a bench and observed. Jess had gone off to look at a magnificent looking sculpture. Falryk was looking at a different sculpture not too far away.
After a moment, I decided that I should talk with Jess.
I walked over to her, looking up at the statue she and a few other people were looking at. It was a ball made out of bronze, created by twisting bronze boards over one another, creating an intricate pattern. To put it simply, it's a ball made out of bronze that has odd holes in it. "I actually find this one quite interesting." I commented, looking closely at it. "Never seen anything like it. What do you think Je-" I had turned my head to look at her, but the Pokémon beside me was not a Minccino.
It was a Lillipup, just like me. And whoever he or she was, they were smiling at me.
I stared for a moment, getting confused. "Uhm, excuse me, but wasn't there a Minccino here just now?" I was expecting a generic answer, like 'she went that way', but instead I got this:
"Loner, you didn't forget my secret, did you?" I nearly jumped at the voice. It was Jess! I had forgotten; she was actually a Ditto. The fact that I had known her all this time as a Minccino must have really thrown me off. Jess laughed, amused. "I totally got you, didn't I?" She snickered a bit.
I shook my head dismissively, laughing it off. "No, no, it's just that I've never really seen you transform into anything else. Sometimes I even forget that you're a Ditto." Jess' body glowed a soft white, engulfing her body. Through the light I saw her figure slowly alter into that of a Minccino. The light faded, and she was back as the classic Pokémon I know and love. "I didn't think you would ever do it." I told her.
Jess smiled gratefully. "Neither did I…" She said, brushing the fur on her arms. "I haven't done it in so long it almost felt like I forgot how to do it."
"Lucky you still have it in you then." I commented. I looked up at the bronze sculpture again. The sunlight shone through the gaps of metallic ball. I looked at Jess again, who was making sure nobody saw her transform. "Do you plan on telling them yet?" I asked.
Jess gave a tiny, almost inaudible gasp. "N-not yet… Give me more time, okay? Being a Ditto… it's a big deal…" I knew she would say that. Jess didn't like being a Ditto, although I'm pretty sure that several Pokémon would love to be one.
"It's alright, Jess." I said comfortingly. "You don't need to tell anyone, but at least let Claire know. She's your best friend after all."
Jess' despondent face slowly gave way into a soft smile. "…Sure. I'll tell her later." She spoke quietly. She turned to look at me, her face determined. "I know Claire. I hope she'll appreciate me for who I really am."
"Without a doubt she will. I know that." I nodded, giving her encouragement.
"I'm gonna check on the others," I said, walking away. "you wanna come with me?" She shook her head, perhaps she wants to be alone for a while. "Alright then, see you later!" I decided to walk down a path that had been labelled 'Remember Lane'. I thought it was odd that they didn't just call it Memory Lane like most people, but I guess they didn't want it to be a stereotype. I saw Falyrk just a few sculptures away. He was looking at at the wooden sculpture on a small stand, depicting a Rattata eating a block of cheese. The sign on the pedestal read: 'Simple Beginnings'. I struggled to understand why it was named that.
"What do you think of it, Falryk?" I asked, sitting down beside him and looking up at the sculpture. It was rather hard to see, because the sun was inconveniently in front of me, so I could only see the shadow of the statue and not the fine details.
"I dunno." He answered, shrugging. "All I know is that it's a Rattata eating a block of cheese and that's about it. There's around a hundred ways I can picture that statue." Right, I keep forgetting that Falryk was blind.
"Would you like me to describe it?" I offered.
"No need. Describing it would be pointless. I wanna see it myself, but that's an impossible dream." Poor Falryk. The way he talks sounds like he wants to see the wonders of the world again.
I thought quietly for a few moments before I spoke again. "Falryk, if you had the opportunity to get your sight back, would you go for it?" Strangely enough, he didn't answer immediately. The implication greatly surprised me.
"…Sure. I would love to see again." He finally answered after a full twenty seconds. "…Sorry, I didn't answer quick enough did I?" He added.
"Eh?"
"I felt you draw a shocked breath. It's because I didn't answer right away, correct?" I nodded, and though he couldn't see it, he continued. "Figures. I guess I've just already accepted the fact I'll never see again. I must have gotten used to it." I felt bad for Falryk, but is there even any power on this planet that can revive such an important sense?
Hearing footsteps behind me, I turned around to see that it was Pike and Claire. Apparently, they had come to see what we were talking about. I told them about it, and suddenly Pike gave a shriek. "Woah, Pike, what's the matter!?" I asked, startled.
"Loner, you remember Jirachi right?" He asked me. My eyes widened when I realised what he meant.
"Hey, that's right!" Claire exclaimed. "Jirachi might be able to heal your visual impairment!"
Although everyone seemed excited at the prospect, Falryk gave a disbelieving scoff. "You guys know a Jirachi?" He asked, thinking we were bluffing. "That's a mythical Pokémon, dude."
"Would you believe me if I told you we met a Victini and a Mew as well?" I joined in, wanting to see Falryk's reaction. The cat's mouth dropped for a second before he shook his head vigorously.
"Are you guys pulling my leg?" He mumbled in utter disbelief. "What are the chances of you-"
"They're not joking, Falryk." Jess suddenly appeared beside me. "I can testify to that as well." Falryk stared at everyone around him. He seems conflicted in either believing us or that this is all a big prank.
"I… don't know what to say…" The Litten was at a loss for words. "Say I believe you. What then?" This time, Falryk got our tongue. The last time we saw Jirachi, he was at the Forest of Calm. Who knows where he is now. Falryk gave a short chortle. "I knew it. You guys are making fun of me, aren't you?" He clicked his tongue several times, shrugging indifferently. "No matter. You people aren't the first." I was astounded as his patience.
"F-Falryk, we aren't joking; we're serious!" Pike interjected quickly. "We don't know where Jirachi is at right now, that's all."
"Sí, sí, save it for later," Falryk replied, his tone getting impatient. "but I'll judge whether or not you're telling the truth." After a minute of silence, Pike, Claire, and Jess left, feeling defeated. Falryk kept his eye on me, staring but not really staring at me. "I'll be honest, I would like to believe it's true. However, I find it unlikely that you -"
"What if I show you?" A voice suddenly said.
I jumped back a little. Falryk did too. "Wh-who said that?" Falryk stuttered, legitimately scared. His knees were shaking a bit. "Oh Mew, is it a ghost!? I've heard tales back on my island that the souls of poor people will sometimes whisper into those who are rich!" I nodded randomly, getting carried away in this.
"Hang on… Mew?" I asked, recognising the voice. "Are you really doing this again?"
"Wait… Did you just say 'Mew'?" Falryk asked nervously, beginning to calm down a little. He was still shaking a bit though. Sudden telepathy can be a real shocker. "You're saying Mew is communicating with us through telepathy?"
"Hihihi, ye got it right, Falryk!" Her high-pitched voice rang through my ears again. Although I've experienced it several times, I still found it unnerving. "I can prove to you that they met Jirachi!"
"Oh yeah?" Falryk asked, seeming braver - or more stubborn - that usual. "How?"
"Just ask Pike to hold both your hands."
Her response was strange, but nonetheless we followed her command. I called Pike over, who was wandering around on his own. "'Sup?" He waved at me. "What is it?"
"Could you hold me and Loner's paws, please?" Falryk requested bluntly. Pike blinked, as though he had misheard him. "You heard me: hold mine and Loner's paw."
"Err… sure, but I'm not sure what you want to -" The moment he touched both our paws, I felt a sharp pain shoot down from my forehead to my spine. I shut my eyes and let out a small scream. I heard Falryk gave a scream through gritted teeth. Through squinted eyes I saw three small spikes popped our of his arching back.
Memories suddenly flashed before me: the time we first found Jirachi at the lake at Capacia Island, the time he granted us wishes, the time Jess and I saw him back at the Forest of Calm, and the time he gave me those plushies… In a white flash, the world suddenly reverted back to normal. I turned to look at Falryk. He seemed completely stunned at what just happened - only his legs twitched, as though he had been shot or shocked with a taser. "What… what was that?" He barely breathed out, shuddering.
"Sorry 'bout that, Falryk." The Pikachu smiled at him. I knew instantly that it was Mew posing as Pike. "I had to prove it to you, didn't I?"
Falryk looked absolutely dumbfounded, probably beyond that. "I-I-I… umm… WHAT!?" He breathed in and breathed out a few times, trying his best to stay in control. "Wh-what was all that? A-and the plushies thing?"
"I had Jess keep them in a small bag she recently bought at the Rest Room, since I was embarrassed carrying them around." I told him. "I received that from Jirachi." After a short pause I added. "I told you me and the gang met with Jirachi."
Falryk was going to argue when he decided to talk about it later. "Okaaay… But that still doesn't explain why Pike holding our paw did all that."
"Huh, that's probably Mew posing as him." I replied casually. The fact I replied so normally surprised him. "She really likes doing that for some reason."
The fire kitten slowly turned his head towards the electric-type, who was smiling smugly. "So… do you believe it now?" Mew asked in her normal girl voice. "And yes, he could even revive your sight!"
"I… do not know where to start…" Falryk mumbled to himself. "Ugh… my head's… spinning…"
Me and 'Pike' let him be for a while, waiting for him to regain himself. After five minutes, it looks like he's finally sobered up. "Okay, let me get this straight. You are saying, that if I find Jirachi, I can get my sight back?"
Mew nodded. "Sí! Shouldn't be too hard to fine him."
"Dónde? Where is he?"
"He's on a trip to the Alola region. He'll be there for a week, granting wishes to those lucky enough to find him."
"The Alola region?" I gasped. "Isn't that where you came from, Falryk?" He gave a nod. "Then that settles it! We're getting a boat to Alola! We might have to wait until tomorrow though to find a boat…"
"No necesito. There'll be no need for that." Falryk replied, smiling. "A ferry's leaving today at five in the evening. Get your friends ready, alright?"
The rest of the day burned out pretty quickly. We went to a few shops, tasted a variety of city delicacies, had fun playing at a park, and took a short nap session. Before long it was nearly five already, so we all headed to the dock. The sun was still in the sky, just above the horizon. The clouds and sky above were turning slightly pinkish. Claire counted everyone, making sure that we're all here. Surprisingly, Lucia also decided to come along. "Maybe I'll finally get a proper audience." She said, chuckling. "Haven't gotten a good crowd in Kalos."
"All right everybody!" Claire yelled out to us. "Get on board! We're going to Alola!"