The Doomed Sprout
Chapter 16
« We've barely got any cloth as is, are you sure this is a worthwhile use of it ? », asked a worried Sera.
« I can always get more ! And this is absolutely mandatory if we are to live proud in a society as Pokemon ! ». Fen's voice was very energetic despite the early hours, as she kept her focus on the small blade she got from Cedric's workplace, meticulously cutting up a line of brown cloth in front of her.
« What's a society ? »
Fen playfully rolled her eyes upon hearing Lumin's question, having gotten used to the almost child-like curiosity of the Shinx.
« It's basically what this village is. A group of Pokemon that all work together on things ». Fen hesitated, before deciding not to delve deeper into the question. Lumin was very curious, but he'd probably not understand anything too complicated for a while longer.
« And this… scarf… is supposed to help how ? », Sera pouted. « I wanted the « bag » thing you promised ! »
The Nidoran chuckled, before finalizing her work, three square pieces of cloth that she folded over into triangles. « It's supposed to help in being pretty ! We've been running around and training ever since I met you two, can't we just get a break and do stuff we actually want ? ». She sighed, before turning over to face the Eevee. « Do you know where the art workshop is ? I need some colors to finish up the scarves »
« Huh… Are you making art ? I thought it was only paintings and statues ? ». Sera stood still, trying to remember what the Teddiursa had told her before Fen's impatient stomping got her out of it. « R-right, it's… starting from the statue, walk opposite of the entrance, and it's the second on the right side »
« Shouldn't be too hard to find it then. You two coming ?»
Sera nodded, excited to see more of this ''art'', while Lumin simply turned on the iPod, letting the music flow around the shack. Fen assumed it was his way of preparing to move out.
As the group neared the gates, the door started opening before they had even announced their presence. Well, the music probably did, but still, some Aipom could've stolen it or something. Even if they were still very much getting used to everything, Fen couldn't stop but analyze everything she was learning around here. A complete town, with Pokemon trying to make tools, plan things ahead of time and even build structures for a sedentary life… that wasn't normal, right ? It was like this was a human settlement that the Pokemon took over but that didn't hold up, considering that they've got carpenters, toolsmiths, farmers and gatherers. Heck, there's even an archeologist and some artists, this is just… a weird mix of human and Pokemon. Does the fact that they're shiny have anything to do with it ?
Fen rubbed her head in frustration. She barely has had any answers for what she keeps seeing, and the one hope she's had to find answers just laughed at her and her friends, then warped away.
...Right, her friends.
Fen looked at the two Pokemon she'd gotten used to for the past few days. Maybe she couldn't figure out the workings of an entire world after the extinction of her former species, but she can still figure out these two, and why they were still sticking with her.
« Guys ? Can we... », Fen started, before the sound of someone rushing behind them made them all turn around. A small Teddiursa was running, eyes fixated on the cloth resting on Sera's back.
« Heeeeey ! That's the cloth I needed ! And there seems to be so much ! Thank you thank you thank you ! ». He was jumping up and down while taking a closer look at the cloth, much to Fen's annoyance.
« This ain't yours ! I don't know what you need it for, but I've already got plans for these, they're cut up and everything ! », the Nidoran scowled.
The comment shocked the Teddiursa, who then turned to Sera. « You didn't tell me you taught a Common to be an artist. And so fast, too ! This cloth looks clean ! »
Sera smiled awkwardly, before getting closer to his ears and whispering. « I didn't teach her that, Matt, and I think she's angry at you...»
« O-oh ». Matt nervously laughed, before putting the cloth back where it was. « Erm, well, I'm very happy to have another artist in the Sprout... what's a scarf, though ? »
« You'll see soon enough », Fen replied sharply before passing him and entering the workshop, followed by an expressionless Lumin and an apologetic Sera.
The workshop they found themselves in smelled of dust and rust, having clearly not been cleaned for a while. Small pieces of stone could still be found lying on the ground, amassed on a pile near a wall. There seemed to be no other Pokemon inside, so Fen went straight for the containers at the far end of the workshop. As they seemed to be closed, she tried to push and pull on them, struggling to figure out how to open them, much to Sera's confusion, who was anxious to make a move on the frustrated Nidoran to help out. Eventually, Lumin walked closer, snatching the wooden box and prying it open without difficulty.
« How in the heck… Why do you even know how to do that ! », grumbled Fen, grabbing back the now open container. « You've been doing nothing but guard duties ! »
« The Outcast Gurdurr told us how to use some of their tools during the test we had at the start, while you were recovering »
Fen winced, remembering the boulder. « Fine… But why didn't they just make a handle ? I can't control my claws yet ! »
« It's your duty as a Pokemon to fend for yourself », Lumin looked at the Nidoran worriedly, making her red from anger. She's been doing her best !
« You know what ? You- », Fen started, before pausing mid-sentence. What was she doing ? She was just thinking about getting to learn them better, getting into a fight because of her ego being hurt wasn't doing her any favors. « Fine, you're right. I need to learn about that. But I also need to learn about you two, too, y'know ? »
Sera walked towards her, wrapping her tail in a comforting hug. « I could say the same about you ! You've never told us anything about where you came from, and how you know so much »
« Right… Well, I'm happy to talk about myself if you two do the same, deal ? »
As the two nodded, Fen sat down, taking a few other containers for Lumin to open up.
« I've never really talked about the ''before'', because it wasn't important to you guys. Actually, it's not that it's not important, it's that none of it is ever going to make sense. I'm just a random guy thrown into the body of a Nidoran, who, might I add, isn't even the right gender, and I've just been struggling ever since. I'm having to relearn how to do everything, and I've spent years of my life practicing a medicine that no longer fits anyone on this goddamn Earth. It's just... »
Fen paused for a second, putting aside a small barrel Lumin had opened up. « Thank you, that one's yellow paint. It's… I guess it's just a lot. I've gone from being a human with family and friends to being a Pokemon with two other Pokemon I pretend are my friends when they're just here out of pity ». Fen sighed, before rolling her eyes, seeing Lumin getting ready to ask a question. « I'm not explaining what pity is, and I'm actually terrified you don't know what that even means »
« Actually, I was going to ask about you being a human », Lumin pointed out, forcing a smile that appeared very unnatural, but still made Fen giggle.
« Oh, right, I guess I did say that part out loud, huh ? Well, uh, it's as I said. I was a human before, and now I'm not. I'm not even sure where I am, because Pokemon weren't real where I was »
Sera's ears shifted, appearing absent before a nudge brought her back. « What do you mean ? I'm real, you're real… I don't get it »
« It means that I've been brought here, I'm not supposed to be here. Well, I think. Reincarnation's still an option, but I'm pretty sure I didn't die ? »
Lumin looked at her worriedly, tilting his head. « You're alive, though »
« Thanks, Sherlock. », replied Fen sarcastically. « All I'm saying is that I have no clue why I'm here, or how, or… anything, I guess. So I'm trying to figure out this world and how things work around here, and I guess I kinda suck at doing it alone. So… I'd like you two to help me »
Lumin nodded without hesitation, while Sera simply smirked. « You didn't say please~ »
« ..Fine, please- wait, hang on, how do you know that ? ». Fen looked at her dumbfounded, almost spilling the container she was holding. « That's supposed to be a human thing, not a Pokemon one ! Well, I think. Do Pokemon do things like ''please'' and ''thank you'' ? »
« I'unno, it just came to mind », replied Sera nonchalantly. « Maybe Eevees and Humans aren't too different »
« Yes, yes they are... », grumbled Fen. « They aren't even Pokemon »
Lumin's ears perked, as he walked closer. « What is a Human, then ? »
« Er… Let's just not delve into that right now. I've told you two about myself, now I'd like to hear from you two. Sera ? »
The cream Eevee seemed preoccupied with the ceiling, ignoring Fen's questions. Lumin nudged her again. « Oh- sorry, I keep hearing noises above us. I think someone's listening in- ». Sera's reply was interrupted by a loud slap, as Fen hit herself in frustration.
« You couldn't have said that before I spilled the beans ? Really ? ». Sera simply tilted her head in confusion, making her sigh. « Whatever. Can't undo what I've just said, and if they were a threat, I'm pretty sure Lumin wouldn't be like that ». Lumin stared blankly at them, having heard his name being spoken. « We'll continue this back at home, let's just get what we came here for »
Fen went on to gather all three brown cloths, laying them on a plank of wood. She has little experience on how to actually change the color of the cloth itself, so she'd planned to just paint over the brown with the small bits of paint that she and Lumin had found. The technology around here was still very confusing, with there being buckets and brushes, yet there wasn't any writing on any of these containers for what had what. And the handles, too, she can't be the only one struggling with those, right ?
« Are you three done ? I'd love to see the end result... ». The voice, coming from outside the workshop, surprised Fen and Sera, while Lumin barely batted an eye. It was Matt, alongside a small group of Pokemon they couldn't recognize. « Also, they want to hear the music, and I don't want them all inside here, they'd break things »
Fen giggled, having forgotten that the music they keep hearing every day is actually a luxury. With so many Pokemon falling in love with it, it was making it even easier to guarantee their spot here. She gave a sign to Lumin, who walked outside and sat down. The crowd immediately backed off a small distance before calming down, seeing as the terrifying Shinx was sitting down on the grass. Soon, they all joined in, entranced by the soothing tunes emitted from the machine in his tail.
« So, about the scarves ? ». Sera looked over at Fen's handiwork, haphazardly passing the brush onto the cloth, coloring it bright yellow.
« It'll be okay, just gimme some time ! I'm getting the hang of this, but these paws weren't designed to hold things... ». She could swear there was sweat on her forehead. Did Nidorans sweat ? Was it toxic ?
« You sure you don't need help ? », asked Matt ? I'm not sure what your goal is, but if it's just painting, I can do that ». While saying that, the Teddiursa was already taking one of the scarves, using the red paint to fully cover it in seconds, sparking jealousy in Fen's eyes.
« ...Fine, there's also a third one I'd like to do in blue, but leave the details up to me », she grumbled.
Before Matt could answer, Sera had already taken what was left to work on the third scarf herself, sticking out her tongue to the two, eliciting a laugh from the Nidoran.
It took a good half an hour more, but eventually, their hard work paid off, leaving three perfectly fine triangular scarves of different colors with a small circle and tree in the center. Well, lines that could pass up as a tree if one knew what it was meant to be. Fen still had a lot to learn about controlling her brushes. Nonetheless, she was proud of it and immediately went on to make it dry for the next day. She pointed out how the scarf would work to her friends, as Sera immediately demanded the blue one to be hers whenever it would dry up. Finding no problem with that, they decided Lumin would receive the yellow one and Fen would get the red one. For now, though, the trio went back to their daily chores, letting time do its part in getting the team dressed up.
Long after everyone was gone from the workshop, a small pink light fell off the ceiling, before quickly flying through the door and up into the sky. If one would have been near it, they might have heard it snickering as it flew away.