Wonder what kind of flowers she’d like...?  Music wondered as he wandered the streets of Goldenrod, trying to find some place that sold flowers.  His plans got somewhat derailed by hanging out with Vicky on Valentine’s Day (which he wasn’t complaining about, Vicky was a good friend of his), but thankfully he had a backup plan ready to go in case that went south for whatever reason.  

Though in hindsight he probably should have checked to see what kind of places sold flowers around here...

Eventually his eyes landed on a smaller building with a sign that read “Goldenrod Flower Shop”.  He wondered for a moment why it sounded so familiar, but shrugged it off as he walked inside.

“Hello?” he called as he opened the door.

Yesterday Music was giddy.  He’d gotten his Zephyr Badge - the first badge of the Johto League - and he hadn’t even gotten any teammates killed!  He’d actually done well!

And yet...that happiness seemed short-lived.  Getting the badge came with the realization that he had to go join Sera and the others at Sinnoh.  And that meant leaving Cora behind.

It was this realization that led the two of them to the Pokemon Center, to request teleportation services to Olivine.  He wasn’t sure how to go about saying goodbye; he never was any good at that...

He turned to Cora, a slightly somber look on his face.  “So...I guess this is goodbye, huh?”

Traversing the route didn’t take long; he wasn’t kidding when he said it was practically a hop, skip, and a jump from Cherrygrove to New Bark.  Music could already see the roof of the Pokemon Lab through the trees.  While he was glad he was this close to finally starting his journey through Johto (or at least part of it before he joined up with Emmet in Sinnoh in a few weeks), he was rather saddened at the same time

Once he got his starter, Cora was off to go find her sister.  And will probably be glad to be shot of Music, to be honest.  Music would have been tired of dealing with himself long ago.

Still, it didn’t look like things had improved at all between them, hence the sadness.

It was with these thoughts that he took his first steps into New Bark Town.

“...Huh.  This is New Bark, huh?” he said, looking around at the quiet town.

Music was starting to get reeeeally sick of the incessant voice of Celebi in his head.  Ever since that anonymous person sent him that message about the Celebi shrine, the Legendary wouldn’t stop bugging him about it.  Several times now he’d suggested that Music tell Cora and Josie what was going on, but Music had denied him every time.  The last thing he needed was for them to think he was crazy or something.

The sooner they got out of Ilex Forest, the better.  And maybe they wouldn’t have to pass by the shrine at all.

...Probably just wishful thinking, but still.

“Any idea how much further the exit to this forest is?” he asked the girls.

Music gulped nervously.  This was a terrible terrible idea, and he should never have even entertained it, but he was gonna go for it anyway.

Of course he wasn’t going to take Emmet’s advice - he knew better - but he didn’t really have much of a plan otherwise, so he just figured he’d straight-up ask her to dinner or something and hope she didn’t punch him.

With shaking hands - he really should fix that - he knocked on the door to Cora and Josie’s apartment.

Deep breaths, in and out, in an attempt to calm himself down.  He could do this....right?

It took him a minute - mostly to figure out where on earth the door to the tower was since everything looked so unrecognizable - but Music did in fact manage to get to the Burned Tower.  The inside looked about as dilapidated as the outside to be honest; even now what little stood standing was held up by charred wooden pillars that looked themselves about ready to collapse.

He eyed the Rattata and Koffing warily, but they seemed to not bother him as long as he didn’t bother them.  This reassured him slightly, though he still would have felt better had he had his starter by now....There was nothing to be done about it though, he supposed. 

Still standing at the doorway, he took a look around for the people he was supposed to meet here....