“Are you sure about this, Ethan? It will take longer than you think.” Cynthia asked. Her tone wasn’t conveying disagreement, but only asking for confirmation.
After considerable time thinking in the small park, watching the pokemon and taking in his surroundings, Ethan had made a choice. “I’m sure. To be honest, I think it’d be good for me to explore a little bit of the world I find myself in.”
Of course, he’d decided to walk back to his home. This meant he'd be traveling through Route 211 straight through Mt. Coronet to make his way towards Eterna City. From there, it would be a familiar journey. While not a drastic challenge, it would still be quite a walk. From what he’d discovered by asking some of the trainers here in the city, it’d take between five and seven days just to cross the mountain. From there, it’d be the standard three day journey back to his ranch.
If he decided that he couldn’t do it, Smeargle could always teleport him back home in a jump or two. The pokemon he’d brought with him for this trip weren’t ideal for an outing and little adventure, but he’d make due.
For the first time in a long time, he was doing something because he wanted to, not because it was suggested or ordered. “I’m sure Meloetta can handle any wild pokemon who are looking for a fight.” He finished, looking over his shoulder to the pokemon in question. Meloetta nodded as she lounged mid-air under her own power.
“Did you tell Joyce, Jessie, and James you’d be a little late?” Cynthia asked. “Lucian paid you already, if you need to buy supplies.”
Ethan had indeed called ahead and let them know he’d be out for a bit longer. “I did.” Ethan didn’t remark on the supplies. He wasn’t planning on buying any and he knew Cynthia would disagree. If he lived in a forest with nothing for a year, he could rough it for another week. Saving the money for the ranch and his pokemon was a wiser investment.
“When are you leaving? You could always plan ahead and do this later.” Cynthia, once again, wasn’t being disparaging—simply suggesting.
“Now.” Ethan patted his pokeballs and his magic bag filled with berries and some more normal food for himself.
Caroline snorted after hearing his answer, but gave him a nod from across the room. She had been nose deep in papers, which were sprawled across the dining room table. They hadn’t known each other long enough for her to really care. To her, someone walking along a route was commonplace.
“Well…” Cynthia, seeing as she wasn’t going to change his mind, added one piece of information. “If you need any help don’t hesitate to give me a call. Hopefully, you have some fun. When you get to Eterna City, give me a call and I’ll let you know if we have any more ruins we’d like you to come to. Sounds good?”
“Sounds like a plan.” Ethan said, obviously indicating that those were the final words from his tone.
Cynthia walked up to him and gave him a quick hug before stepping back. It was a little awkward on both ends of things, as Ethan hadn’t expected it and Cynthia obviously didn’t really give him a heads up, but it worked out. “See you later! Meloetta, let’s get going.”
A few minutes later, Ethan had found the first step in his little adventure. He hadn’t even left Celestic Town yet and already found a place that he knew he couldn’t pass by. Meloetta had been floating by his side, grabbing attention as people didn’t recognise her species, but most simply accepted the foreign pokemon in their midst without issue. She really grabbed attention when she zoomed off towards a small shop near the exit of the town and peered through the large display windows up front.
Ethan followed her up to the glass and once he saw what the store was, knew it was their first stop. “Let’s go in and have a look.”
“♫ Mellooo! ♫” Meloetta sang with joy as Ethan opened the door for her, which rang a little overhead bell letting the owner of the music store know they had visitors.
As the door swung shut and Meloetta floated onwards to inspect the wide array of instruments laid about the store. Ethan swept his gaze across flutes, guitars, keyboards, trumpets, trombones, triangles, drumsets, and many other more eclectic instruments. In a display case behind the cashier’s counter, there was even an ocarina stored in a locked display case. Also behind the counter, was either a worker or the owner of this establishment—a young man, not even in his twenties, stared wide-eyed at him with his jaw hung low. He had very stylish earrings dangling from his ears and a… Ethan didn’t know what to call it, but a band of metal went through the bridge of the guy's nose—a piercing of some sort he didn’t have the name for.
“Hello.” Ethan offered… but the young-man simply stared at him. “Are you okay?”
Suddenly, the guy jerked in shock. Quickly, the man ran a hand through his long and slightly curled black hair with a nervous tick. “Oh! Sorry, sorry. Yes, I am fine. You just caught me a little off-guard. Is there something in particular I can help you find? Maybe an amplifier or new strings?”
“We’re just looking around for now. Are you the owner?” Ethan didn’t miss the fact that the guy offered him strings or an amp for a guitar, which he didn’t have on him. It wasn’t hard to connect the dots. The guy had probably seen some of the videos Chatot and Smeargle posted. “Also, pokemon are allowed out, right?”
“Oh, yes! And that’s fine. Just nothing too big.” The man slipped around the counter and strode up in between Meloetta and Ethan. He hesitated, before taking a deep breath. “I’ve seen some of your videos.”
Annnd I was right. Ethan thought, a little embarrassed. “You know, until a few days ago, I didn’t even know how many people saw those. My pokemon posted them for fun. You know my Smeargle?” He asked.
“Yes! He plays the bass! Quite well, in fact! Oh! I’m Arthur by the way, a pleasure.” Arthur stuck his hand out for an awkward handshake, which Ethan accepted. Ethan then pulled Smeargle’s pokeball from his waist and released his painter by his side.
Smeargle looked about the store with a calm and curious look, before turning to Ethan as if to ask what he was doing here. Ethan pointed to Arthur, “This man has seen your videos.”
Smeargle turned to Arthur who was smiling wide at Smeargle. “Smear?” Now, it was Smeargle’s turn to be a little embarrassed.
“Don’t act all shy now, you’re the one who posted them with Chatot.” Ethan elbowed his painter as he teased him. Smeargle stepped into Ethan’s side like a shy kid, attempting to hide behind him.
“Is your Chatot with you as well?” Arthur asked, hope in his tone.
Ethan shook his head. “She’s at home. I’ll tell her you said hello.” He then pointed off toward a legitimate grand-piano taking up space near the back wall. “You have a lot of instruments. This place must cost a fortune.”
While not truly aware of the prices of instruments, Ethan had a good guess as to most. Even simpler instruments ranged from at least a few hundred dollars. A full sized grand piano? Brand new and ready for sale? That was the price of a car.
“My grandmother makes most of the instruments. She’s been in the music industry for nearly sixty years. We’re proud to boast a wide assortment of instruments.” Arthur stepped back, giving Smeargle some space and gestured to the piano. “Feel free to try any of them out. If something is locked away, you can ask.”
“I can hardly play the guitar, but thanks for the offer.” Ethan laughed, knowing full well his own playing wasn’t very good. Meloetta on the other hand…
Meloetta had floated over to the piano after hearing their discussion and settled herself down onto the stylish black wooden seat. She ran her music note hands over the keys, playing a harmonious scale. It was clear that she knew what key played what note, yet her hands themselves didn’t have fingers.
Ethan walked over and sat down next to her, placing his hands onto the piano as she marveled over it. Then, he played one of the only two piano songs he actually knew how to play. It wasn’t like he had learned the piano or how to read sheet music, he was simply copying something he’d already practiced long ago as a kid. He actually knew how to play the whole thing, if a little sloppy and simple.
The Super Mario Bro’s main theme rang out through the store. He botched some portions of the song, hitting an extra note here or there for missing the timing, but it worked out. When he finished the short song, Meloetta clapped and smiled wide at the little show.
“I only know one other song.” Ethan squared up, focusing as he began to play a real piano song. Yet again, it wasn’t an overly difficult song, but it was also his favorite piano song. Of course, he learned it by watching videos and copying the motions. It wasn’t from his skill or knowledge of the piano at all.
Prelude in C Major by Johann Sebastian Bach. Unlike most songs, Prelude in C Major didn’t have a melody line. It was a simple continuous flowing pattern of arpeggiated five-note broken chords that rippled for thirty five bars. The beginning of the piano piece started off peaceful, then slowly ramped up, building a hidden tension. Then, the tension led to suspense. Finally, the piece faded out in a resolution of a sweeping C major chord that left the feeling of absolute rest.
Once he hit the final notes, he turned to Meloetta who had her eyes closed at peace, hands held up to her chest as if she was praying. Slowly, she opened her eyes and fixed him in place with her serene gaze. Ethan smiled at her. “I don’t know anything else. Hope you liked those.”
“That was amazing…” Arthur spoke from his side, running a hand over the piano’s surface as he talked. “Did you make that song as well?”
“Oh heavens, no.” Ethan shut that down instantly. “That song is over three hundred years old. I just copied it.”
“Ah, a classic then.” Arthur nodded, seemingly accepting his word. Ethan didn’t know anything about the musical history of the world of pokemon, but apparently they had classics too. “Would you like to try any of the other instruments? I think I have some that your pokemon could play as well.” Arthur looked askance at Meloetta, and it was clear he didn’t know what pokemon she was.
“She’s from Unova, and she’d be more than happy to play anything you handed her.” Ethan said as Meloetta rose into the air, nodding rapidly.
“Let’s see what we have.” Arthur started off around the store, inspecting the many instruments and running down a mental checklist. “And Smeargle? Would he like to play anything?”
“I don’t know.” Ethan turned to Smeargle, who still stood close by. “Would you like to try and play anything?”
Smeargle shook his head shyly, then poked his pokeball at Ethan’s waste. Not wanting Smeargle to be too uncomfortable, Ethan recalled him just like he wanted. “Sorry, he’s a little shy when it comes to the videos I suppose.”
Arthur waved off the worry, sending his bangles that rested on his wrists clanging about. “Don’t worry about it! I’m just glad to have met you, that’s all. How about this?” Arthur pulled out a very shiny concave curved instrument. Seeing the confusion on Ethan’s face, he explained. “It’s a Steelpan.” Arthur then grabbed two small custom drum sticks, then tapped about the interior playing simple scales.
Meloetta didn’t need any more of an invitation, floating over and using her psychic to pull the sticks from Arthur’s hands into her own grip. Then, she played the scales back without a second of practice. She nodded to herself as she smiled wide, then burst into a song that took Ethan by surprise.
UB40’s Red Red Wine flowed through the store. Yes, Ethan had it on his phone… but even so, he hadn’t listened to it in many months. That should have been long before Meloetta even set foot in Sinnoh…
Where did she learn that?