Jynx and Mespirit

The scent of hot apple cider was enticing when put in contrast with the slight autumn nip in the air. Overhead, the trees were covered in bright leaves of red, orange, yellow, and even spots of violet. The dirt pathways were filled, though, as a festival was going on.

"Thank you," Sabrina said as the merchant handed her a cup of the apple cider. She looked to her two friends, who already had theirs. "How about we just walk around for a bit?"

"That sounds lovely," Erica said. "There's a lot of these little booths that are fun to check out. I saw one a little ways on that was selling little perfume jewelry."

Being the tomboy she was, Misty didn't look too interested in that. But she did laugh. "Don't you have enough fragrant Pokemon around in your Gym?"

Erica put a hand to her face. "True, but they would have some different scents. I hear a Carnivine's scent is quite alluring."

"And they use that scent to lure victims into their hidden jaws," Misty said, somewhere between fascination and disgust.

After taking a sip of the sweet spiced cider, Sabrina said, "Well let's get going; we don't want to block the walkway."

The three Gym Leaders walked around for some time, chatting and admiring the things around them. While they met often on League business, they didn't often get an off-day together like this. It made the festive day brighter and more fun to be with good friends.

At a crossroads, they came across a wooden stage where a group of nine Jynx were putting on a show. One of their Trainers was sitting nearby at a computer hooked up to an impressive stereo system to play the music these Pokemon liked to hear. The human-like Pokemon were having a grand time of it, twirling their red dresses, shaking their hips, flaunting their long blond hair, singing nonsensically, and doing their best to entice onlookers into dancing along with them. Quite a few were doing so, although none as expressively as the Jynx.

"How delightful," Erica said with a smile on her face. "As much as I don't like seeing them on my job, they're so graceful and lovely."

"Do you know what they're singing about?" Misty asked Sabrina. "They sound like they're speaking some foreign language."

"It's not a full on language," the psychic replied. "But they're basically singing that this is their happy song and dance, and that everyone should be happy and dance along with them. They like to have fun." She took a sip of cider, then added, "Even the fake one is singing the same thing."

Misty coughed on her drink, but managed to calm it quickly. Erica gave her a quizzical look. "The fake one?"

Sabrina nodded. "Listen closely. One of them sounds different. It's got the quality of a fairy-like Pokemon, not a human-like."

The other two women looked over the group of Jynx and notice that a different sounding voice could be heard, something higher-pitched and more exotic sounding. After a moment, Misty perked up and pointed out on near the back of the circle dance. "Oh, it must be that one! Her hair is lying oddly, like she doesn't have a rounded head."

"Yes, and her dress is fabricated," Erica added.

"How can you tell that?" Sabrina asked. "I noticed that she was pure Psychic, with no Ice."

The Grass leader chuckled softly. "I know some things about them too. Their dresses are like the petals on flowery Pokemon, and thus have a tendency to get ragged at the skirt's bottom. But that fake one, her hems are clean and well-defined, too perfect for even a Coordinator's Pokemon."

"Ah, I see. I wonder what they've got a fake Jynx in there for."

"Let's just ask," Misty said, then went over to the man controlling the sound. "Excuse me, but we had a question for you."

He looked up to them and soon recognized them. "Oh, yes, what is it?" he asked back, sitting up straight.

"Why've you got a fake dressed like the Jynx in with the rest? Could you not find nine of them?"

In the group, the fake one giggled, causing the others to do the same. They slowed their dances and watched the exchange between humans. This and the presence of three Gym Leaders got more pedestrians than usual to stop by the stage.

The man looked blank, then checked the group of Jynx. "A fake one? No, I'm sure they're all real."

"Kurrrriklurr," the fake warbled in a distinctly non-Jynx voice.

"Asha na va mi!" one of the others declared.

Sabrina pointed to the fake. "That one is not a Jynx. It's…" she focused on the Pokemon in question.

Intrigued, the Pokemon came closer to her. Now that she was, Sabrina could tell she had a different facial structure too, with an oval gem set into her forehead. There was deep violet makeup coating her face, done with such quality that it hinting at a clever mind. While her blond wig was secure, it did have bunches that came out at the back, not falling straight like the rest. She was a Psychic; that much Sabrina could tell. But as for what she was specifically, the Pokemon's mind seemed to dodge any metal prodding the human gave it.

"Sabrina?" Erica asked.

She blinked, breaking her concentration. "I'm not sure what she is. But she's not a Jynx."

"I wasn't told another kind of Pokemon was with the group," the man said. "Whoever did her up did a darn good job of it."

The play-acting Pokemon put her hands to her face and laughed. "Kuuusa karrrri whaar."

Surprised, Sabrina stared at the Pokemon. "You did it yourself? Just what are you? And what are you doing here?"

"Chi?" She twirled and made a flirty pose. Then she glanced at the eight Jynx.

"Chi cha kara no fae," one said, smiling. She raised both hands and waved them, soon followed by the rest. That was a sign between them for the one to give a solo dance.

Laughing and twirling again, the fake Jynx then curtsied to them, then waved a hand at the computer station. It brought up an instrumental song, much to the surprise of the man running the sound equipment. As the others cleared away, she waved to the crowd to listen. Then she danced along to the song, being convincingly like the actual Jynx.

Sabrina watched her for a moment, keeping her mental senses open to interpretation. Psychic Pokemon often spoke in two layers around humans, in their native voice and in a telepathic human language that sensitive people could interpret. In that, she got a sense of a name. "Mespirit…" she said, drawing a blank on what Pokemon that actually was.

But then Mespirit somehow latched onto her mind and opened a direct psychic connection to the human, all while not missing a st… not missing a move of her dance. Sabrina was shocked enough by this that she couldn't muster a defense against it in time. While she had linked this deeply with Pokemon before, it had always been ones that she knew well in the first place, ones she trusted and loved. Not a stranger Pokemon.

Yet she gave off a soothing presence. "There is no reason to deny fear," Mespirit said, not with her own voice, but with Sabrina's. "Fear is natural. Fear is good. But too much is just as bad as too little. You need not fear me. I mean you no harm."

Looking concerned, Erica moved closer to her. But Sabrina had enough of her own mind free to hold up her hand to stop her. This Pokemon seemed to have a reason behind its behaviors, and it was a benevolent one.

"I mean you all well," Mespirit continued.

Sabrina relaxed then, letting herself be hypnotized by the dance and by the Pokemon's power. It was like letting go of most of her restraints, giving in to pure emotions.

"Emotions," Mespirit said, falling into speaking with the music. "That is right. Don't deny… don't deny your true feelings. Let your heart speak. Listen to your heart speak. Your mind may lie to you. Your emotions will not lie. Your emotions will sing, sing if you allow them voice. Feel joy blossom; do not wither joy. Joy gives light to life.

"Do not deny sorrow. Sorrow may be pain. Pain must be expressed. Let your heart cry. The release of stress, it will build your soul. Sorrow may be shadow, but darkness is good. Life is dark and light. Time is day and night. Your soul must balance. Let your emotions free; let them be balance. Learn to live emotionally. Your soul will grow strong, your mind will grow strong, your self will grow strong. Let there be anger and let there be peace. All in equal balance, emotion in balance.

"Jynx live emotionally. Jynx know balance. Jynx dance in light, Jynx dance in dark. They are friends. I asked to dance, they welcomed me with pure hearts. Pure emotion hearts. Let your heart grow, grow like the Jynx, to pure emotion. To this world, I came to tell of this. To this place, I came to remind all. Let your emotions be."

Then, in one last whirl of red, Mespirit let go of Sabrina's mind. Then Mespirit was herself, a blue and pink pixie Pokemon without make-up, without a wig, without a dress. Holding a Jynx doll close, she twirled her twin tails and laughed merrily at the end of the song. The Jynx with her cheered and clapped, causing the audience to do the same. And in a sparkle of golden light, Mespirit vanished from view.

…

Mespirit Diamond entry: Known as the 'Being of Emotion', it taught humans the nobility of sorrow, pain, and joy.

Jynx Heart Gold entry: It rocks its body rhythmically. It appears to alter the rhythm depending on how it is feeling.

Written for the two-year anniversary of Pokedex One-Shots! And with this, I'm all caught up to my source material too. So I won't be posting anymore massive updates of ten or more stories at a time (so you can catch up if you'd like!). I tend to do this once or twice a week, depending on what else I'm doing at the time.