A Well Earned Celebration

[bravenewmods]

[The battle was over and the god Reshiram defeated, driven away by the aid of Union and its allies. The city was safe, by and large, and as the news spread throughout the peoples of the tundra, they began streaming back into the settlement in droves. Dirty, ash-coated faces were filled with relief and gratitude when they saw that it wasn't just a rumor and that their home had indeed been spared. Not everyone was so lucky, but they'd weathered worse, of course. The people of Glacier endured, as they would always endure, and they were also a people that repaid their debts. And they most certainly all agreed that they owed their rescuers a debt.

So, as night fell after the battle, a great celebration was prepared in the center of Glacier. A wide square was cleared away in a matter of hours, and the people gathered what they could in a show of thanks. Tables of food, bonfires towering into the night sky to keep out the autumn chill, and throngs of cheering wellwishers lined the area. Warriors of glacier, men carrying swords and women all bearing axes offered enthusiastic handshakes and claps on the back. Music of all kinds was played, though tribal tunes full of horn and percussion, chanting and yodeling, and even some brass groups dominated the soundscape.

A platform for various elders was set up, and they offered speeches, of course...but those were somehow dwarfed by the presence of the divine beings that were waiting silently for the proceedings to end. Some of the gods that had come to the aid of the war parties had apparently decided to stay, though their reasons were as mysterious as they themselves. The humans would have their time, and the Servants would mingle freely throughout the evening.

Food, of course, is set out in piles. Meat, fish, arctic berries, and various pastries and the like line table after table. A smorgasbord of Glacier specialties, each with a new and unique flavor all their own, and some (such as the stew) possessing a smell that only a native could probably endure. Akutaq in particular seems to stand out among the worst offenders, but the Glacier natives seem rather fond of it, and offer it to their rescuers with great gusto.

And the rewards do not stop at simple meals. either. As the speeches begin to wind down, a woman some might find familiar walks up onto the stage carrying a singularly massive trunk and dropping it down onto the wood with a heavy thud.]

Southerners! You have done a great deed this day! We, the people of Glacier, would like to thank you and honor your sacrifice! Few would do as you have done, coming to the aide of strangers against the might of that dragon...and you have accomplished something we did not think possible. To that end, we would like to present you with the first of many gifts, a token of our gratitude and a promise that should you need it, we will come to your defense in a time of need!

[And then with a sharp kick, she cracks open the trunk and reveals a veritable treasure trove of three different stones to be distributed by her subordinates.]

Rest well, and enjoy the festivities! You are welcome here, for as long as you like! Eat, drink, and be merry within our halls!

Comments

[incousinswithyou]

[that just makes it worse, somehow]

As we've seen before, the gods aren't necessarily united.

[like Darkrai and his Trainer Cresselia] We were lucky there were more of them on our side.

[and well. Not all relationships have to be healthy.]

[faithfulflame]

We were. I've felt Darkrai's presence nearby, and there were the three hounds and birds, and Cresselia.

[Her attention lingers a bit on Entei, in the distance.]

Some I've seen before, in the caves.

[incousinswithyou]

[that's a slight wince. The futility of that particular experience wasn't fun.]

At least we seem to be done with the tests, for the time being.

[friendship speeches are not her specialty]

[faithfulflame]

For the time being. [Rei looks over her shoulder at the various deities.]

Clearly they're divided. But this group seems fond of us, at least.

[incousinswithyou]

[Michiru looks too. They certainly seem to be enjoying themselves, despite it all. Or at least some of them.]

Have you spoken to them?

[faithfulflame]

With Cresselia, yes. I thought it'd be best to give my thanks.

[Because, you know, she saved Ami and Maka.]

Have you?

[incousinswithyou]

Not yet. [the reason for that is the big baby of a bat Pokemon she's leaning against.

But she should. And will.] I'm considering it. Did you learn anything?

[faithfulflame]

Hah. I learned Cresselia's favorite color is purple? And that they're glad that we from Union are working in harmony with Pokemon? But...that's sort of what they wanted all along.

[incousinswithyou]

[that gets a quiet laugh from Michiru]

That man looked like he was working quite harmoniously with Pokemon as well.

[perhaps it's the burn-everything mentality]

[faithfulflame]

At the expense of humanity. That's not harmony, that's nihilism. You heard them, humans are a blight and all that.

Obviously one can't exist in harmony with something that one hates.

[incousinswithyou]

What of the god, then?

[the only thing she heard from Reshiram was that they probably shouldn't have threatened his human.]

[faithfulflame]

Ask Cresselia. He's trying to destroy humanity. The human shares that goal, and so they are bonded.

It's madness, all around.

[incousinswithyou]

They make strange bedfellows, I have to admit.

[that might be one of the lightest way of putting it.

Michiru offers Rei a smile. It's a bit tired looking, but at least it's more truthful than usual.] We'll have to look into those humans.

[faithfulflame]

You and your group? Or us as in the five of us?

[Just a question, but she is curious about the answer.]

[incousinswithyou]

Would you be interested?

[it's certainly an offer]

[faithfulflame]

I would. I know Ami-chan would as well. It's work that needs to be done.

[She can't speak for Minako.]

[incousinswithyou]

I'm glad to hear that.

[it's probably alright to assume that if you're getting Michiru, you'll also be getting Haruka.

Guess they'll have to try and look up those fire symbols.]

[faithfulflame]

We're connected for a reason, you know. Pretending otherwise is foolish. We really should be facing these challenges together, honestly.

[incousinswithyou]

I'm not denying that. [not if she's offering to work with you]

Are you saying we should fight together more?

[faithfulflame]

I am. [And who's to say it's not the other way around?]

[incousinswithyou]

[there's no opposition from Michiru, at least in this. It helps that she already likes and trusts you.]

We'll have to find time to train together regularly.

[that's her requirement. Leave it to the musician to decide that practice makes perfect.]

[faithfulflame]

We will. And our teams, as well.

[She's half regretting the decision to come armed with psychics this time. Frankly, she's not sure what she had that could've done more, but...it's something that'll need rectification.]

[incousinswithyou]

I look forward to it, then.

[changing up some tactics and getting new combinations would be interesting, at least. That conversation should probably include Ami, however.

Noivern sighs, prompting ear scritches from Michiru.]

[faithfulflame]

Good.

[She'll leave you to your scritches then.]

Let's give it a few days, to relax and see what comes of all this. And then we'll get started.