Pmdu: Frosty Festival Entry

    Cassidy had came rushing into the day before a bright smile on his face as he told of the party that was being held at the avalodge today. He had said that the guilds were having a contest for who could rack up the most points during the party he said that the winner would get bragging rights over which guild had the best partiers. Mystic not being one for parties didn't necessarily want to go but had nothing better to do decided to go with Aura to the party just to kill some time. But he ever expected the location to be this cold!

    Aura however was enjoying the cold, having a thicker fur coat than he, and was prancing along the path. Her blue eyes scanning the festivities, many teams were enjoying themselves at the event "Oh look Mystic!" The absol glanced in the direction where her paw had been pointed. A small home-made sign had been made that had the words 'Face Painting' written on it "Let's go!" Aura exclaimed speeding toward the lodge before Mystic could even object.

    They had came inside to find a group of volunteers sitting at a group of tables face paint of every color laid out before them and brushes in their hands or in some cases paws. Aura had plopped herself in front of a plusle who smiled warmly "What would you like done?" He asked.

    Aura thought about his question momentarily before saying "Whatever you recommend," The plusle nodded and dipped the brush in the paint and began brushing colors onto her fur ending up painting dramatic swirls around her eyes.

    "What about you sir?" The plusle asked Mystic whipped his neck around so fast he could have given himself whiplash.

    "No." Was all he stated and with that he had put his foot down.

    "What! Awe come on Mystic don't be a spoil sport! We're here to party!" Aura said in a chipper manner Mystic glared at her harshly until the plusle coughed lightly.

    "Actually I've been meaning to try some tribal designs that I learned a while back I could put one on your horn?" She asked meekly the absol sighed a little overdramatically but sat down and allowed her to put a tribal insignia on his horn in a red paint. He gave a grumble as she did so but silently admired her work.
   
    He gave a curl nod and Aura bowed in thanks as the two walked off to see what other activities they had stumbled upon an ice carving contest being held by Cassidy who gave them a smile and hollered " 'Ey guys who you doin'?! We're jus' about to start the ice craving contest wanna give it a try?" He said excitedly holding out the tools.

    Mystic having loosened up a little shrugged "Sure what's the worst that could happen," Aura looked at him dumb founded her eyes wide as a saucer. Did Mystic really just agree to something fun?

    She looked at him and narrowed her eyes a smile twitching it's way onto her face "Who are you and what did you do to my partner?" Mystic rolled his eyes and took the tools from Cassidy and walked toward their hunk of ice "Hey wait for me!"

    Cassidy had started the timer, one hour for every team involved to make the best sculpture. Mystic had started carving a basic sphere with Aura's help, they had decided to try to make a hollow pumpkaboo sculpture and place a lantern inside to give it a soft yellow glow. Mystic looked to his left to see another pair of explorer's that he had seen around the guild, a sableye and espurr, sculpting away and to his right, a sylveon and a togepi as well.

    Aura and Mystic had worked furiously as time wound down and just as the final whistle had blew they placed the lantern inside the carving. It wasn't as grand as they had hoped but it did the trick and they were proud of the little pumpkin like sculpture that they had made.
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    Aura and Mystic had continued around the party and Aura had decided to try her luck in the apple bobbing contest she was now staring in the face of a young braxien that she had meet earlier who went but the name Dawn, her staff sitting along side the barrel of water and apples which was surprisingly large, Aura had to stand on the barrel's rim just to get her head in the water!

    Mystic sat with the a female sneasel who was watching the event with the absol. He had found her name was Drift and she a partner, Sweet Cheeks, who was participating in the contest as well. There was a silence until Drift broke it with a question "So that your girlfriend or something?"

    "No. She your friend or something?" Mystic said sarcastically in retaliation to her question

    "She's like my little sister. What about you and the eevee?"

    "Got amnesia, her family found me and she followed me after I left. I've been with her ever since," The sneasel gave a nod and the silence continued on as it had been left off and was once again disturbed by a whistle and splashes as the contestants dunked their heads under the freezing water.

    Mystic distracted by his own thoughts wasn't paying attention until Drift nudged him and pointed toward the barrel to find that Dawn had come up for air, a green apple in her mouth, while Aura had fallen into the barrel. Mystic dashed over reaching a long white paw into the water feeling for a furry object yanking it out as soon as he felt it in his claws. Aura came out of the water soaked to the bone her face paint now washed away leaving her fur slightly stained at the edges.

     "Jez what were you thinking getting that close to the water!" Mystic growled "You could have drown! You could have gotten hypothermia! What were you thinking?!" Mystic asked with a final growl. Aura said nothing but looked at him with a bright shiny red apple in her jaws.

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    After the swim that Aura had taken during the apple bobbing contest; she and mystic had retreated inside for a towel and warm refreshments for the time being. The two approached the bar where they were meet by the ambassador "What can I get for you two?" She asked sweetly.

    "A peacha berry drink would be nice," Ayami gave a giggle.
   
    "I have one in mind that would suit you very well it's nice and sweet but it's mixed with a hint of tamato berry to warm you up from the inside out and a lot of the sweets on the snack table go with it wonderfully,"

    "Great! What do you want Mystic," The absol shrugged at his partner's question.

    "Well," Ayami stated "I do have a non-alcoholic drink I've been meaning to try out it's a mix of a lot of berry juices resulting in a more 'mature' flavor,"
    
    "That should work thanks," Mystic said with a wave of the paw as the froslass began her drink mixing.
   
    Aura gave a slight giggle "You really seem to be enjoying your self today, you've really let your fur down,"
   
    Mystic scoffed "Have not,"
   
    "Have too! You've got your horn painted and you've participated in an ice sculpting contest!"
   
    "So? Am I not aloud to have fun once and while?'

    "No you're aloud to have fun," Aura sassed then continued sincerely  "I'm just not used to you being like this... I kinda like it," 

    Mystic rolled his eyes "Don't get used to it," That was the end of that and Ayami handed the their drinks; they each grabbed an oran berry cookie and made their way to the tables. Mystic would ever admit it but the reason for his smile and uplifted was the smile of the eevee who sat next to him munching away on his cookie.

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    The sky had fallen dark after the many hours and a large bonfire had been build for those who weren't inside. Luke and Cassidy along with other members for the explorer's guild and a few outliers from the other guilds had set themselves up for a story telling contest and one 'mon had just finished his 'riveting' tale of his cousin's sister's ex-boyfriend's maiden aunt's uncle's nephew and how they had met a king and saved a princess. Cliché if you ask me.

    "Alright who's next?" Cassidy asked clapping the former story teller on the back.

    "I'll give it a try!" Aura said hopping up onto the story teller's log her voice getting oddly serious and quiet "This story has come from generation after generation of my family, a group of traveler's who have seen many wonders in the world. Long before the fog settled over Andalusst, long before the mountains stood and the rivers ran, and longer still. There lived a village of 'mon's who were quite content with their lives. They were farmers and lived together sharing what little they had with one and other. Their was however a bad seed in the bunch a murkrow, who took more than he needed and played around with dark magic. 

    One day in this peaceful village the shaman came up and started yelling to the 'mons "We are in danger! Grave danger!" the villagers gathered around him.

    "What is wrong dear friend?" They asked 

    "A great monster is coming! He will eat our bones and burn out skin!" The villagers shrieked and shivered. Now back then 'mons didn't have the abilities and special powers they do today. 

    "What will we do?" The people cried. Now the murkrow was also different back then he had bright white feathers that were very pretty and people liked him very much, the people didn't know that he did such bad things.

    "I know! I know!" The murkrow cried "I will give each of you something to protect yourselves if you give me something valuable in return," The villagers rushed home grabbing there most valuable possessions and gave them to the murkrow and with his black magic fashioned their gifts, he gave the mareep wool that would shock the beast, he gave the charmander fire on his tail to scare the beast and gave the mudkip gills so that they could hide in the water. He gave a gift to every last 'mon and got rid of all his magic items. He didn't need them anymore now that he had all that treasure!

    A week had passed and murkrow was relishing in his wealth when the ground started shaking. The villagers began yelling "The monster is coming! The monster is coming!" but when he arrived the monster found that all the villagers were protected by their gifts, all but one. The murkrow in his greed forgot to save a gift for himself! So by only think of himself he had gotten rid of his magic! So he couldn't make himself a gift! The monster took in a deep breath and blew fire over the murkrow's treasures! The greedy murkrow tried to save his treasures but as he did so he become covered in ashes and fire. His feathers were burnt black and your know it's true because his decedents today have black feathers!

    The monster eventually left the village. After all with their new powers he couldn't hurt them anymore. Now after many generations 'mons still have their gifts because of that greedy murkrow!"

    The crowd gave a round of applause "That was an interesting tale Ms. Aura," Luke said as group of young children sat at his feet "We may have to hear a few more of your stories by the nights end!" The crowd murmured in agreement.

    Aura opened her mouth wide and folded back her ears and gave a hearty yawn in reply "Maybe someone else should go for a while before I do?" She asked. Luke and Cassidy laughed a little as she stumbled over to her partner who had been listening to stories as well and sat next to him wavering on the edge of sleep.

    The night ended as the fire burnt down to nothing but cinders and Mystic carrying Aura on his back, a small smile on his face as a soft spring in his step as his partner sleep in a small ball curled up and dreaming about the adventures to come.