ToT | Fifteen Years Closer

     The sound of a door slamming into a wall can be heard. A dark fox named Ian steamrolls his way into the living room, not bothering to close the door to his room. Margret and Suki look up from doing nothing in particular to see why he's making so much noise.

     "Today is an important day!" yells Ian. His tail is wagging more than usual.

     "Being from you, it can't be all that important," retorts Margret. 

     "Oh, what is it?" asks Suki, bouncing up and down in excitement.

     "Okay... Today..."

     "Get on with it!" 

     "IS FAYE'S BIRTHDAY!" screams Ian at the top of his lungs, choosing to ignore Margret's rudeness. 

     Margret stares blankly. Suki appears just as happy as Ian about the news, despite being a ghost. 

     "How'd you know it was her birthday?" Margret keeps her stare up. 

     "On the application for our team we had to put our date of birth. What? You think I'd lie about our leader's birthday?" Ian questions, despite not knowing his own birthday or even filling out that section of the application foe that matter. He raises an eyebrow in suspension, yet gets no answer out of Margret. 

     "We have to get her presents! What do you think she likes?!" Suki was all the way up in Ian's face bellowing the question.

     "Hm.... She's a giant nerd so... books!"

     "I see her looking at nature a lot. I'll make her a flower crown! She'll look so cute!" Suki zooms through the wall to go get started before Margret can even put her two cents in.

     "What about me? What should I get her?" asks Margret, boredom in her voice.

     "I don't know. You better not get her a book though, because that's what I'm getting. Find your own gift." Ian dashs out the front door without a second thought.

     Margret sighs. "How am I supposed to know what Faye likes? It's not like I can read her mind. Read her mind, heh." The grass types eyes pop open at her realization that there's a certain lopunny that may be able to. Margret runs as fast as her stubby legs will let her to Faye's room. "Wake up rat! We've got... work to do!"

     Faye's eyes lazily open to the sound of Margret's yelling. Even when fogged up by sleep, the pichu has a smart comment ready to explode from her mouth. 

     "I'm the leader. You can't boss me around, even more so that today's a special day. And I'm not a rat!" Faye rises from her lying position only to yelp and fall back in pain. She lets out a pout before grumbling, "Forgot about this wound. Stupid Oxnard..."

     "What special day? Today's just a normal Friday. Up, up, up! We've got places to go!" Margret picks the electric type up by the waist, earning squeaks of pain from Faye. The pichu gets placed onto Margret's back. They then head to the door, Faye whining the whole way there about her bandana. It was still in her room. "You can go one day without that rag. Stop whining." If Faye's abdomen wasn't on fire, she would've shocked the grass type for such a profound comment.

     The pair step out into the busy city known as Tabira. The streets are filled with all kinds of 'mons doing daily life things. For example, Straberri is yeling at Drafui for probably no reason. Patch is flirting with a group of ladies, as Ethlyn repetitively hits him. I still don't know why those two aren't a thing...  Oh! And Addy getting onto Ian for- Wait. What?!

     "Ian, what are you doing here?!" Faye manages to scream, sending a shooting pain to her wound.

     "Yeah, Ian. What are you doing here?" questions Addy and Margret at the same time. After Addy says 'Jinx!', they both turn to give Ian looks, Margret's being an evil grin of sorts and Addy's a look of disapproval.

     "What? A guy can't go to the library to read a good book?"

     "You? Reading? I must have lost a lot of blood from this wound because there's no way I just heard Ian say he was reading!" exclaims Faye with a laugh. She quickly shuts up when the discomfort starts kicking in.

     "I don't care what you're in there for, just keep your trap shut! I'm tired of hearing complaints about 'that loud fox', okay?" remarks Addy, clenching his fists in frustration. 

     "Okay, fine! Now if you'll excuse me, I have a book to find." Ian then waltzes into library. 

     Faye and Addy glance at each other before saying, "He's up to something." Addy then soars in after the zorua, leaving Faye and Margret to themselves. 

     "To Charming Fortunes!" says Margret as she carries Faye down the road towards the shop. When they reach their destination, Faye slides off of Margret's back and into one of the soft coushions. Margret takes the one next to her as Curry hops into view. The bunny takes her place before talking to her clients.

     "Why hello Margret and... Faye?! Dear, I heard what happened! Vander, that man! He should've looked out for you young ones more thoroughly! Are you okay sweetie?!" The lopunny begins her examination of Faye's bandages.

     "Actually, Vander wasn't there. You see-"

     "He wasn't there?! He sent you out by yourself?!"

     Instead of answering with the truth of "I decided to take things into my own paws and run off on my own," Faye just nods and smiles, hoping to get through with this whole event so she can go sulk in a corner. All this, and not a single soul remembers her birthday. It's a cold, cold world.

     Margret coughs to get Curry's attention. "Um, let's just get on with the fortune telling and all. Today we're all kinds of busy." Margret ends her statement off with a wink.

     Curry tilts her head in confusion. Faye sighs, wanting nothing more then to go home. Margret leans over the table to whisper in Curry's ear, but Faye's ears flick up to try and eavesdrop. Margret holds the pichu's ears down as she whispers something in Curry's ear. The lopunny mumbles something in reply, causing Margret to blink in astonishment. Margret whispers something else into the rabbit ear. Curry nods with a smile on her face before giving her crystal ball her undivided attention.

     "Okay Faye..." says Curry as she grabs the mouse's paw. She starts tracing weird patterns on the electric type's palm. Faye's cheeks spark more at Margret than Curry, mostly for getting her into... whatever this is. Afterwards, Curry stares into her crystal ball to see what awaits the young pichu. "The next move you will learn is Wish. The next pokemon's fate to be entwined with yours is a starly. What an adorable little thing!" gushes Curry. 

     "Er... Thank you, but what does this have to do with-"

     "Thank you, Curry! Twelve favor, right?" interrupts Margret.

     "Excuse me?! That's over half our overall money!" says Faye, voice rising the more upset she gets.

     "To bad so sad." Margret lays the money on the table. She then puts Faye on her back and goes to base.
---------
     "Almost... got it!" Ian stretches his body to where he's at the edge of the ten foot ladder. The perfect book is just a couple inches away! He would've gotten it too, if it weren't for a certain flying reporter.

     "Ian, what are you doing?!" whispers Addy, who was soaring right underneath Ian. Ian flinches from the sudden noise, resulting in him falling from the ladder and onto Addy's back. They crash into the library floor with a thud.

     "I was trying to get that mythology book! It was perfect for her nerdish desires!" Ian groans before getting off of the shiny emolga.

     "Her?"

     "By her, I mean Faye. She's the only reason I'm in this dusty place. It's her birthday."

     "Should've known better. There's no way you'd step foot in a library of your own free will!"

     Ian sighs. "I just want that book and I'll be out your fur."

     Addy huffs. The emolga flys up to the book that was conveniently sticking out enough for him to realize it was the book he was supposed to be getting. Addy tosses the unusually shiny book down to Ian, knocking the poor fox in the head. "Anything thing else?"

     "Actually... There is something else..."

     Addy's ears shoot up as Ian whispers his idea to the journalist.

     "Hm... I think I can do that... But I'll have you know this is for Faye, not you!"
----------
     "All done!!!" Suki holds her creation up in triumph. The flower crown had multiple colored flowers in it, the most notible being the two cherry blossom flowers. The crown of Mother Nature has a green and purple glow to it, as if there's some sort of spell on it.
     
     Suki uses her ghostly speed to weave her way through the citizens of Tabira, quite literally. Before going inside the house, Suki hides her gift in a nearby bush. The ghost type goes into the house to see Faye and Margret. Faye looks grumpy as well as Margret. "Nice to see everything going normally!" says Suki in a chipper tone. The two teammates look at Suki and go wide eyed.

     "What happened to your flowers?!" questions Faye. 

     "Oh these?" Suki points to where her cherry blossoms would be. "Um... A bird pecked them off?" It came out as more of a question.

     The three girls stay in an awkward silence until a knock is heard at the door.

     "I'll get it!" yells Suki, nervousness in her voice. The phantump pokes her head through the door to see a starly sitting at the doorstep. He was holding a letter in his beak.

     "I-I'm here to d-deliver a letter to L-Lady Faith," the starly says with the letter wedged in his mouth.

     "It's for you, Faye."

     Faye opens the door and is greeted with the sight of the bird. The picture blinks before saying, "Is this the bird that pecked your flowers out, Suki?"

     Suki turns a ghostly white.

     Why'd I have to make such a stupid excuse?! Of course Faye would jump to such a conclusion! 

     Sorry starly, but you're going to have to take one for the team, even if you aren't part of the team.

     "Yup. That's him."

     Faye thundershocks the flying type. The starly squawks at the electricity that was currently clipping his wings. He falls to the ground in defeat to some cause he didn't know he was fighting for. 

     "I-I was j-j-just tryi-ing to deliver... l-letter..." The starly's beak falls open and out comes the letter. Faye picks the mail up to see an emblem on it that she knows all too well. It was an ankh with a blue glow. 

     Faye's ears droop as she reads the letter. It was the same every single time. Down at the bottom is a signature. Suki couldn't read it. The grass ghost decides not to ask any questions.

     Faye goes back inside to most likely grumble over whatever was in that letter from whoever this is in her room. The starly from before has now gotten back up and is searching the area for more rabid mice. Suki apologizes to him profusely for lying and getting him shocked. The bird accepts almost immediately, not being one to hold a grudge. Just then, Ian shows up. 

     "What took you so long? Whatever book you got must be a good one!"

     "Heh. I was planning a party for Faye with Addy."

     "Addy?! But I thought-"

     "Yeah, I know." Ian groans in disgust. "The party is ready. There's just one little electric type missing."

     "I can go-"

     "No, Suki. You, Margret, and... who is this?"

     "I don't know."

     "Well, you, Margret, and Bird Boy can go to the venue in the Great Tree. You can't miss it. I'll get Faye."

     "Okay! Come on Margret! We have... errands!" Suki floats into the house to get Margret and after a good minute or two of bickering, the chikorita agrees. Suki and Bird Boy race to the venue, Suki forgetting about her gift in the bush. Margret notices the shiny flower crown and picks it up before chasing the two racers.

     Ian quietly steps into Faye's room. Unfortunately for him, the door squeaks and gives away his position. 

     "Go away."

     "Faye, we have a surprise for you!" Ian's ears droop slightly.

     "I'm not talking about you this time!" The pichu turns around. A letter with some strange symbol is crumpled in her paw. "I'm talking about this! How does she even know I'm here?! I didn't tell anyone but mother!"

     "Who are you talking-"

     "No one. No one at all. Now what were you saying about that surprise?" Faye's lips turn up in a small smile. Going a whole day without birthday wishes bummed her out but at least someone remembers.

     "Follow me to see!" Ian takes Faye to the venue, his paws covering her eyes the whole way there. It was pitch black and silent inside. "On the count of three open your eyes. One... Two..."

     "THREE!!!"

     The lights turn on and everyone jumps out! The entire guild was there, even Suki and Bird Boy!

     "When? Where? How?" Faye was speechless.

     "I couldn't of done it without Addy." 

     The shiny emolga points at Ian for the shoutout. 

     A pikachu cake with a '15' candle is in the center of the table in front of them. Everyone gathers around as Faye sits in the middle. The mouse looks around to all the awesome 'mons around her whether they be the bickering dou of Straberri and Drafui, the familiar smell of smoke from none other than Bossa, shy Peach, charming Steven, the squirrel otp, or David who she knew was smiling on the inside. She loves all of them, even Ian and Addy with their pointless arguments. 
 
     Cris steps out to make an announcement. "I didn't make this cake for you all to stare at it! Make a wish so we can dig in!" A lot of Pokemon cheer in agreement. Faye would doubt that some just showed up for cake. Cris is a good cook.

     "You guys are awesome." Faye takes a deep breath and blows the candle out as she makes a wish. The pichu smiles as every cheers for reasons she doesn't know. She only blew out a candle. Either way, Faye was overjoyed.  The electric rodent becomes consumed in a blinding light. The pichu's form begins to change. The entire group stares in amazement. Ian was screaming his lungs out for the second time that day. When the light dies down Faye is now... a pichu? Wait... SHE'S STILL A PICHU?! The room is filled with gasps. 

     "Why didn't you evolve?!"

     "Don't pichu evolve from positivity?"

     "Yeah. I know. I'm a pikachu!"

     "Margret's been deadpan all day."

     Everyone's attention goes to the chikorita. 

     "Of course it's you!" yells Ian. "You ruin everything!"

     Before Margret can mouth back, Faye interrupts. "Margret has nothing to do with it. I choose to do so on my own accord." 

     The room goes silent. Bird Boy breaks it. "Does it have anything to do with-"

     "Don't speak of her to me, bird brain." 

     The starly squawks desperately to get Faye's attention back, but she ignores him.

     "Ohhhh! Open my present first!" exclaims Ian. 

     "It's not even wrapped, silly." Faye takes the book and looks at the cover. As soon as mythology hit her eyes, she fell in love. "I love it, Ian! The Lake Trio! How'd you know?!"

     "Heheh... Let's keep that for another time..."

     "My present is even better! Huh? W-where'd it go?! It was right here!" Suki floats around in pursuit of her gift.

     Margret lets out a sigh. "Here. I made you a flower crown."

     Faye takes the flower crown and notices the two cherry blossoms on it. 

     "Nice try, but cherry blossoms only grow in one place in Tabira and that's Suki's horns." Faye puts the flower crown on her head and twirls around in it.

     "S-sorry for lying. I wanted to keep it a secret so I could surprise you, but I lost it. Good thing Margret found it! Thanks, Margret!"

     Margret's rolls her eyes, and conceals a smile.

     After all the food is gone and Steven and Patch stop competing for Faye's hand, everyone heads home for a good nights sleep. Faye and company go home. The pichu face plants into her bed. She turns her head to see the letter from earlier. The rodent opens up her journal that was in her nightstand. It's been a while, eh? She tucks the paper into the book and puts the journal back in its place. Taking her flower crown and mythology book, she puts them with her journal. She then goes to sleep to have sweet dreams like the rest of her crew.

    But whatever happened to that starly? I don't see him anywhere...
----------
     The sound of wings flapping could be heard in the dusk's air. A starly lands on a branch that belongs to a twisted tree. A sinister blue aura surrounds the haggard tree. The river nearby was bubbling and foaming in rage. It was clear that whatever is in that tree is catering to the water's anger. 

     "Did you deliver my letter?"

     "Y-yes, milady."

     "Heheheheheh. Good job. You'll be served royally tonight, Akash."