2024-03-11: Then We Won't Say Goodbye
- Cutscene: Then We Won't Say Goodbye
- Cast: Lan Lilac
- Where: Energy Nede, near Lavender Town
- Date: March 11, 2024
- Summary: Lan finally brings the Lunatone back to where they met.
"Well, we're here!"
The Cave of Crimson Crystals (Lan checked, it actually is named that) is a cave system located in northeastern Energy Nede, not so far from Lavender Town. A few weeks ago, Lan delved into it with several other Drifters, and while they were there she caught a Lunatone in a Pokeball. And except for a brief trip back to Filgaia's surface to try to stop Solaris from reclaiming Azoth, it's been her companion ever since.
It is also Lan's only Pokemon. She hasn't even tried to catch another one since. They've gotten to battle, play, and train with lots of wild Pokemon since they met, but Lan's heart is... just all messed up. Because even though Blue Oak told her otherwise (and his Alakazam agreed!), she couldn't shake the feeling that she was taking the Lunatone away from its home. Even if it seems to like her just fine, and she's really fond of it! She knows she's being ridiculous! Lan is ridiculous, like, all the time!
But the thought got stuck in her head, and she couldn't put it down.
And even if it would be foolhardy to go into the caves without backup, she can still put her own mind at ease. She can keep the promise she made to Lunatone when she first released it from the Pokeball.
She doesn't have to kneel down to speak to Lunatone, because it's levitating right next to her at about shoulder height. It likes to do that when it isn't letting her carry it. "I know Blue said that you're with me because you like me. I like you too," she tells it, nodding. Lunatone makes a quiet sound like two riverrocks clicking together. "So don't think I want you to leave! But it's your choice, and that's really important. That you get to make choices, I mean! So we'll stay here as long as we need to for you to decide, okay?" She has her camping gear (like always) and she stocked up on rations and water and Rock Chow and some Poffins. They can camp out here for days, maybe even weeks if that's what it takes!
Lunatone rolls its visible eye and, without prompting or fanfare, returns to its Pokeball at Lan's hip.
Lan blinks, and looks down at it. "Uh-- hey, are you just... you're not even going to /think/ about it? What if you change your mind later? What if you miss your friends?! ...Hey, are you listening?" She pushes the release button, Lunatone materializing in front of her. "You can't just make a decision like this so ligh-- hey!"
Lunatone has begun nudging her away from the cave entrance, towards the forested route between Lavender Town and Vermillion City. "...Okay, okay! I get it already." Lan holds up both of her hands, giving the universal gesture for 'hold up a minute'. "I'm... being really silly about this, huh." Lunatone spins in place and makes another, somehow sterner, rocks-clicking noise. "I'm doing that thing where you say someone else has your own problems, aren't I. Progression." Lunatone's eyes lid, but it doesn't try to correct her.
"Okay. You want to stick together. I get it." Lan wipes at her eyes (moist but not teary) and reaches out to pull Lunatone against herself for a hug. She's quiet for the span of a few breaths before speaking again.
"Thanks for being patient with me. I just... There was a time when I..." She grasps around for how to explain Solaris and the long months she was made to dream and Azoth, who doesn't even have the mercy of sleep. Eventually she gives up. "I'll explain it later. I just can't stand to take someone's freedom away from them. That's all." Which is why she hasn't tried to catch any more, even though she loves to play with and befriend them in the wild, and to dote on her friends' partner Pokemon.
Lunatone rumbles soothingly, the muted sound of a stone block across temple floors. Lan lets go of it enough to pet across its upper curve. "I'm glad you're so understanding. And a good listener."
A few hours later, after dusk has fallen and Lan has set up camp, she crouches in front of her small campfire stirring the can of soup she's heating up. Lunatone usually goes off to stretch its legs... er... have some quiet time to think, maybe, in the evenings. So when Lan hears a familiar gravelly noise and some rustling in the tall grass nearby, she only intends to glance up briefly. She doesn't want a repeat of the Zigzagoon Incident, after all!
It's Lunatone, the leaves parting around it as it floats back to camp. That's kinda weird, usually it just floats /above/ the grass. "Have a nice float?" Lan greets it, waving her spoon cheerfully. But Lunatone turns back to the grass and clicks encouragingly. An adorable brown face peeks out uncertainly, before the Buneary gathers its courage, and steps into the firelight...