The champion enters the PokeCenter to a peculiar sight. Calamity was resting out in the sun on a piece of bedding, but Angel seemed to have disappeared. The blonde turns to see the child run up and pat her partner on the head before dashing toward the door, satchel flapping against her side. Her movements are halted when she trips over the tips of her sneakers. Cynthia throws out her arms and catches the girl.
"Careful."
"Thanks Cynthia."
"Where are you going in such a hurry?" The adult asks as she straightens the child.
"It's Pledging Day! I have to go get my gift for Calamity. That tournament finally gave me enough savings." The little girl rambles excitedly as she hitches her strap up higher on her shoulder.
"Pledging Day?" Cynthia repeats.
"Yeah! It's part of the Coumarine City Festival. I don't know all the details cuz I only learned of the celebration last year when I visited for the first time, but the story goes like this. A trainer and his partner went on a journey, and at the end settled down in the land that would become this city. He gave his pokemon a tree to symbolise their friendship and that tree still stands in Coumarine today. The tradition of Pledging Day is to buy a gift for your pokemon and present it to your pokemon under the tree after sun down. Myth states that the bond between pokemon and trainer strengthens when this ritual is performed. Calamity and I made a promise to come every year and do Pledging Day. That's why I showed up. You didn't think all those decorations were for the Junior Cup did you?"
"I did think it was a little strange that the citizens were dollying the place up for a tournament. Well would you care if I joined you? My pokemon would love this tradition."
"Sure!"
"Alright, everyone, I want you to meet somebody."
Six pokeballs release their inhabitants in a row. Calamity stands and stretches in a feline manner before approaching the commotion. She stands next to her trainer and stares at the new arrivals.
"Angel meet the rest of my team. Gastrodon, Glaceon, Togekiss, Lucario, and Spiritomb. I have a few others that were left in Sinnoh. You'll have to meet them sometime."
The avian pokemon is the first to approach the disaster pokemon. It chirps a greeting and holds out a wing. The absol bumps it with her horn in greeting. Lucario is next; it bumps a fist against one of the white creature's paws. The dog-like pokemon turns toward Angel and lets out its signature cry.
"Huh?" Angel murmurs as she looks in Lucario's eyes. A spark seems to connect their eyes before Lucario and Angel nod in respect at each other.
Lucario motions the others forward and the other pokemon start sparking conversation with the absol. Angel jumps when Spiritomb spooks her from behind. The girl jumps behind Cynthia.
"Spiritomb stop that. That wasn't nice." The ghost's circular shape droops at the scolding.
Angel giggles and approaches the phantom. Who let's out a small cry of apology.
"Aw, it's okay." The pokemon expands and squishes its body into silly shapes to make the girl laugh again. It retreats into its stone when Cynthia looks at it in an aggravated manner.
"You six be nice to Calamity. We'll be back later, okay?"
The champion team lets out contrasting cries in response that somehow meld together to form a unified, regal sound. Calamity receives a pat on the head as the two leave them to mingle.
…
"What is that?" Cynthia questions as she watches Angel admire the trinket in her hand.
"A mega stone pendant for Calamity. I got it commissioned the night after the first day of the Cup. Look!"
The silver pendant is shoved in her face and Cynthia studies the design. A abstract heart holds the divot for the mega stone and silver wings branch from the sides. An obvious reference to Calamity's mega form.
"It's beautiful."
"Thanks. I drew it up myself. Unfortunately, I can't afford to buy myself a proper keystone hand chain. They're rare to find and expensive to boot. But at least Calamity has a proper pendant now. No more rope." Angel chirps as she places i back in its protective case. "I'm going to go wrap it then put it under the tree. I'll meet you at the decoration stand to help you get your pokemon's gifts wrapped when you finished finding them all. See you later!" The little girl waves before she runs off.
Cynthia watches her go before entering a shop to buy her gift for Spiritomb, a large ball to replace the one it popped. As she purchased it at the counter she looked at the salesperson.
"Where could I get an object to hold a keystone to a trainer."
"Huh? Oh, yeah! There is a shop that specialises in that stuff. Two buildings down across the street."
"Thank you."
The slate eyes analyze the many accessories on the shelves and in the window. A saleswoman approaches the conflicted champion.
"Can I help you miss?"
"Maybe. I'm looking for a hand chain for a friend to replace the one she has now."
"A hand chain? Those are barely made. N fact I think they're only found here and Lumiose where we ship them out. Tell you the truth they just started becoming popular. Apparently a designer saw a little girl with a shiny absol wearing a handmade one last year and decided to create more designs off it. We have a reject that our designer made but decided not to release due to it's lack of popularity at the release, but since it's almost one of a kind it might empty your pockets."
"Money's not a problem. Can I see it?"
The woman nodded and went behind a counter to retrieve a flat box. She places it on the glass and removes the lid. Cynthia smiles, "Perfect."
Angel jumps up when the champion finally comes into sight with a plethora bags hanging from her arms.
"You take forever."
"I have six pokemon to run around looking for. You have one."
Angel doesn't respond and instead turns the vendor and starts rattling off colors to the salesman. He replies and starts digging up rolls of colorful paper for Cynthia to pick from.
…
The seven pokemon and their trainers watch in awe as the city gym leader, Ramos, illuminates the lights climbing the colossal tree. Gasps of awe are released from their mouths as the tree shines radiantly amongst the dark, night sky. Angel rushes forward and grabs the two trainer's presents. Or, at least, she tries to. Cynthia releases a sigh and has her Lucario use Psychic to levitate the falling gifts the little one kept dropping. The gifts are placed on the ground before the large group. She takes one off the top and presents it to Calamity.
"Here you go Calamity!"
Teeth gently undo to ribbon and tear at the wrapping paper. Shredded pieces fall onto the picnic blanket below them and Angel hastily opened the box. The pokemon's face alights with joy as the pendant is fastened around her neck. Her absolite shines in the twinkle lights' glow.
"I designed it myself!"
Cynthia's pokemon take the head rub as a sign Calamity's spotlight is over and tears the paper off their gifts. Spiritomb attacks the large, red ball out of its box and starts chewing on it like a canine pokemon. Lucario takes a few practice swings with his wooden rod and Togekiss chirps happily as Angel fluffs up her bow. Glaceon admires the shiny snow globe and releases a happy cry at Gastrodon who was is staring at the shellos plush in wonder. Garchomp happily munches on her favorite dessert.
Pokemon and people alike turn when they see Angel jump and start digging through her satchel. Her hands drag up a wrapped box. She rushes to Cynthia's side and pushes it nervously towards her.
"H-here. It's f-for you and G-Garchomp."
Garchomp stomps over and taps the gift with her claw in curiousity. Cynthia takes the gift and her hands gauge the weight. Too curious for her own good she quickly grabs at the paper and lifts the wooden cover. Surprise crosses her features when a rainbow colored stone and iridescent purple with a red center glow up at her. Two chains are placed in a divot to the side.
"It's a keystone and garchompite. I wanted to get you two proper holders, but I couldn't afford it. Calamity and I used some chains to fashion pendants instead. They'll work until you can get proper equipment."
Slate eyes glance at the child before her, "Where did you find these?"
"Huh? Oh, that's easy. Calamity likes the mountain so we go hiking sometimes. I found these two stone a few months ago! Do you like it?"
Cynthia places the garchompite inside its chain pendant and Garchomp leans down so it can be fastened around her neck. The blonde examines her chain and smiles when she sees it's also a hand accessory. Angel looks up at her, uncertain.
"I wasn't sure what kind of accessory you'd like, so I just made you one like mine."
Champion and pokemon look at eachother and smile before turning grins at the fidgeting girl, "We love it. Right, Garchomp."
The dragon let's out a thundering cry before poking a claw at Cynthia's coat pocket. The blonde moves away before pulling out the package and handing it to Angel.
"Before I forget."
Cynthia will never forget the smile and hug she received after she helped Angel put on the new hand chain.