Author's Note:
Hello, everyone! It's been a minute, eh? This chapter isn't a traditional update; rather, it's a belated holiday one-shot, written almost exclusively in dialogue as a fun writing challenge. This is set roughly 16 years before the current OSAS timeline.
It's short, but I hope you enjoy, regardless! Hope you all enjoyed the holidays. expect an official chapter update soon!
Starfrost
"Hey. Hey, kid. Wake up."
"Huh—wha…?"
"Get out here. I got something to show you."
"Righnow...?"
"Yep. Come on."
"Wha' time issit?"
"Dunno. I think one-thirty or so."
"What?" A groan. "Alden, wha' the hell?"
"You'll thank me later, I promise. And watch your language, kid. You're too young to be talking like that."
"You talk like that all the time."
"Do as I say, not as I do. Besides, I'm an adult."
"Technically, I am doing as you're saying."
"...Since when did you become such a smartass?"
"Since you started waking me up in the middle of the night."
"Hah! Fair enough. Now come on out here, I've got something for you. It's a special night tonight."
"Special?"
"That's right. You're about to experience your first Lumifrost, kid."
A yawn. "What'ssat?"
"Well, come on out here and find out!"
"Nnngh…"
"You're awake now, so might as well...that's it. There you go—stop grumbling and step this way—and here we are!"
Cold night air, breaths puffing into misty clouds, blackness all around.
"I don't see any—woah."
A chuckle. "Happy Lumifrost."
"Where…where did you get all this food?"
"Been saving it, mostly. But I also may or may not have nabbed a few things from the Snagger's feast before we went out on this mission."
"A few?"
"All right, a bunch. They were all too drunk to notice, anyhow—but don't go getting ideas, kid. I can get away with swiping food from Gonzap's table with my life still intact. You can't."
"But they get all this food and the rest of us don't. It's not fair."
"No, it's not. But we do what we can, yeah? Now help yourself, I didn't bring all this to eat it myself."
"'Kay." Crunch, munch. "Whassso speshal bout Loo' frosh anyweh?"
"Good gods, kid, did you suddenly pick up a second language?"
"Ahm eatinh!"
"I can sure as hell see that. Take your time and swallow before you talk. I can't have you choking to death tonight of all nights. That would ruin the mood and make you a poor party guest."
"Hilarioush."
"Thank you."
"Thah washn't a—"
"I know, ya punk. Now shut up until you're done eating."
"Hmmmph."
"Right. So, ya wanna know what's so special about Lumifrost, eh? Well, that's because on this night, and only this night, you can see Ho-oh himself."
"Wha?" Gulp. "I thought he wasn't real. And I haven't seen anything."
"Not yet. Look up."
"Why do I need to—?"
Silence.
"Amazing, isn't it?"
"Are these stars?"
"Of course they are. You've just never seen this many."
"But why are there so many?"
"Because we're out in the middle of the desert with no towns for miles. Less light from the cities polluting the skies. All these stars? They're always there, you just need to be in the right place for 'em to show up."
No response.
A chuckle. "When I found out this would be your first Lumifrost, I knew I had to bring you out here."
"Where's Ho-oh, though?"
"In the stars. This is the only night of the year that the entire Achihonō constellation is visible."
"…The what?"
"Another name for Ho-oh. It comes from an ancient people that once occupied all of Orre and Johto long ago. And it has a story, too. In fact, did you know the stars are full of stories?"
"Huh?"
"It's true. There are shapes made by the stars, called constellations. And there are stories about each one. See that line of stars up there?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. Now, follow my finger - see how it connects and makes a sort of diamond shape?"
"...I think so."
"That right there is Achihonō—Ho-oh."
"Yeah, but...why is it called that?"
"Because it makes the shape of Ho-oh and his wings."
"No, it doesn't."
"Well...yeah, no, not really. I dunno, kid, I didn't make up these stories."
"Who did?"
"I have no idea."
"Then where did they come from?"
"...Do you wanna hear the story or not?"
"Will it make any sense? Because so far, none of this makes sense."
A sigh. "Kid, you're really killing the atmosphere, here."
"Sorry. Tell me the story."
"You sure you wanna hear it?"
"Yeah."
"Alright then. There's lots of stories about Ho-oh, actually, but the one in the stars is about his mission.
See, legend has it that he's destined to stay in the sky forever, never landing, forever searching for pure-hearted trainers and righteous lands to bless. And if the Achihonō constellation is especially bright on Lumifrost, it means a year of prosperity and happiness for whoever sees it."
A pause. Then—
"That's a load of shit."
"What did I tell you about watching your mouth, kid?"
"Well, it is. Since when has anybody in Orre had a—a propous year or whatever?"
"Prosperous. And, well, it's an old legend. Can't say whether it's really true or not, but I also don't think too many people in Orre are looking for Achihonō. Not many of 'em know the story to begin with. Just a day to eat lots of food for most people."
"Then…how do you know the story?"
A long moment of silence. When the reply comes, it is soft. "Learned about it when I was a kid. Back in Johto."
"You're from—? But how did—why are you in—?"
"That's for another time. Maybe I'll tell you about it someday…but not tonight. Please."
There is a weariness in the air that leaves no more room for questions.
"…Okay." Another pause. "So…do you know about other star stories?"
"Hah, sure I do. Would you like to hear 'em?"
"Yeah."
"All right, let's see here…see that cluster over there? Connect that line to that one, and you've got Cygnus the Kyogre, who had to save the world from a perilous drought…"
Words flow, time drifts, the skies shift.
"…and that's why that one is called Ursaring Major, and the other Teddiursa Minor."
"Mmm."
"You fallin' asleep on me, kid?"
"N-no."
"Yes, you are. Come on, let's go back to bed."
"Okay."
A pause.
"Hey, Alden?"
"Hmm?"
"Thanks…for this. It was nice."
A soft chuckle. Ruffled hair.
"Happy Lumifrost, kid."
