Hexes and oh's

Stepping out of her RV, she turned on a dark purple neon sign. It flashed for a moment, before staying lit, letting everyone know the shop was open. However, today, she was only doing tarot readings, instead of selling any wares. It had been awhile since she had focused on that, and really wanted to. After all, she didn’t want to get rusty with her readings.

There was light atmospheric music in the background. If there were any actual words to the song, it would have been lost within the music itself. It was only to help ease the customer and to help her enter a trance state.

As she waited for a customer, she decided to meditate.

“You’re no fun, that’s why I’m mad!” Quentin said, leading Fermata down the path. The two had been caught in a very one-sided argument. The scientist was mad at his pokemon and his constant unemotional attitude and lack of reaction to everything Quentin said. In other words, he thought the Lucario needed to lighten up. “You gotta be willing to try new experiences, even if you think you won’t like them. Like this!”

Quentin wildly gestured to the small shop they had stumbled upon. It was certainly strange, even a little creepy, to see a store of any kind this far away from a city. However, he was just lecturing about trying new things. It would be hypocritical to back out now.

Quentin looked around for anyone he could talk to at the store, and could only see the woman meditating. He stayed quiet for a moment, looking over at Fermata and shrugging.

“Please, do come in.” She gestured to a seat. As she waited for the stranger to sit, she shuffled her cards and spread them out.

“Oh… Someone complained.. about me… Sorry…”

Chroma felt sheepish. She hoped she wouldn’t be a bother, especially since how deserted this area was. She couldn’t imagine someone spotting her, but she guessed wrong.

“I’ve been trying to find a specific stone for what I was wanting to make, but I couldn’t find it. I’ve been here all day…” Her voice trailed off, realizing how dirty she was. She sighed before asking, “I don’t suppose you know where I can find raw citrine stone, do you?”

She finally noticed the ladder he was pointing to.

“Oh,by the way, I’m Chroma..”

“Well, I wouldn’t put it that way…” Although it was true to some extent.

He searched his brain to come up with a mental image of what she was looking for. Orange, was it? Admittedly, he wasn’t so practical with gemstones as he could be. But he knew for certain it wasn’t something she would be able to find here.

“I’m afraid the only stones you’ll find here are just rubble. Or an evolution stone dropped by a careless trainer.” The gym leader slowly shrugged, feeling pity for her time spent in vain. The Sableye shook his head to support his claim, appearing to be somewhat saddened by the fact.

“I’ve been trying to find the right piece of citrine to make myself a new necklace. I gave away the other one I had.”

Chroma couldn’t remember who she had given the jewelry to, but that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that she felt the need to give it to another, and for her, that was enough. It was always enough. Generosity, kindness, sincerity -- that’s what mattered.

She thought for a moment at his name.

Ko breathed a sigh of relief hearing these words. A bright smile on her face. She was on the right path after all. Nervously fidgetting her hair, she sighed softly. 

“I didn’t have the courage to say this…aloud but..I left home without telling my parents where I am going….Sometimes I feel like I am not in the right place and struggling to find my footing here in Kalos, the language barrier is especially rough. I fell in love with this city when my family traveled together here.. I am trying my best to fit in and making the best of it. I am more relieved that you told me I am going in the right direction.”

A blush tinted her cheeks a little bit. “I also hope to find love! It may be in my past, but I hope it will be in my future soon too!” A dreamy far off gaze clouded her eyes as she sighed. “Kalos is indeed for lovers and dreamers.!”

A dreamy look became of Chroma’s face.

“I understand how that goes. I myself left home, for more reasons that one...” Her voice trailed off momentarily, small memories of her beginning adventure and struggle dancing within her mind.

“Overall, I’m the happiest I’ve been. Atleast when I struggle, it was from my own doing and not another.”

Hearing about love snapped her back into the present.

“Yes... Love comes unexpectedly sometimes. Not always for the best, but a lesson that brings you closer to who you need to be, when a more fitting, true love comes. With young people, they all believe that soulmates exist, and they do! Just not like they think. A soulmate is supposed to grow into that role, not be forced or expected...”

As she takes the final step onto the top floor of the Lavender Tower. Ko was sure that she would encounter more ghost-types. This time, she was ready- with her fingers on the sphere-shaped pokeball- but nothing eventful happened. Everything stayed stilled- there were no random encounters. 

Ko knows that she does not have repel with her, heck, she didn’t think to go to the Pokemart to buy some before entering. Thankful for her sudden good luck, she prayed quietly for those who protected her before heading forward. 

Shifting her weight to the other side, she didn’t know what to do. Maybe if she explained herself, it would help out the situation? Was there even a situation? Honestly, she couldn’t tell. 

“Um…I wanted to pay my respects here. I also forgot to buy repels so that…I was encountering a lot of Ghost-types, but I managed to ascend the stairs without too much of a problem…I am thankful for that!” Ko bowed a ninety-degree bow before standing straight up again. 

“Come and stay a moment. Rest, heal.”

Chroma gestured to the area in front of herself.

She began to shuffle a deck, and spread out the cards.All of them were facedown, so no one knew what lurked beneath.

“Thank you.” Ko said sincerely, having a small gut feeling that she was the one who aided her to the top of the building. 

Obeying, Ko walked forward and watched as the cards were shuffled and spread. The excitement in her eyes as she was ready. Closing her own eyes, she tried to tune into her own silence before choosing three. 

“These are your cards: Past, Present, Future.”

“The Lovers in your Past means that whatever is happening, is in perfect union. You’re together, but still separate in identities. You’re not forging into one solid person, or concept. You’re still your own individual, but in harmony.”

She paused before continuing.

“The Magician in your Present is all about action, self-improvement, and creation. This card is of a leopard, which exudes confidence and independence. As you can see, the other suits of these cards are shown, which further states how this card is looking at it’s surroundings, but not in haste or danger. Instead, more of looking at it’s surroundings in conjunction with it’s self and inner workings.”

“I mean, I suppose any direction is a good direction when you’re lost…” She said to herself. She was quite unhappy with how the day had went, but there was nothing to do now, but to leave and maybe try again the next day. She picked up her things, and began making her way to what she presumed to be the exit.

She kept her eyes peeled to the ground, mostly, occasionally looking up. She hoped and prayed to find what she wanted, but knew it was for naught. She wasn’t going to find it. I mean, why now, after all day of searching?

She was covered in soot, gross, and her dress torn. She really just needed a shower, something to eat, and maybe just some TV time. She needed to de-stress from the long day.

Noticing a small change in the basement aura, Chroma’s eyes shifted around.

“Who’s there…?”

A brief silence stood between Morty and the lost woman, followed by the sound of footsteps that came closer as he approached her.

“Sorry, I hope I wasn’t intruding on anything.” Morty smiled apologetically, raising his hands slightly to show her that he meant no harm.

“I had heard about a ghost sighting somewhere in here, so I came to investigate.” He looked down to the shorter woman, taking note of her disheveled appearance and tired constitution. It wouldn’t surprise him if she had been down here the entire day, but for what reason? “But it seems like I’ve already found her.” The sarcasm dripped from his tongue before he knew it, accompanied by a breathy laugh. Hopefully she wouldn’t take it seriously.

Chroma felt sheepish. She hoped she wouldn’t be a bother, especially since how deserted this area was. She couldn’t imagine someone spotting her, but she guessed wrong.

“I’ve been trying to find a specific stone for what I was wanting to make, but I couldn’t find it. I’ve been here all day...” Her voice trailed off, realizing how dirty she was. She sighed before asking, “I don’t suppose you know where I can find raw citrine stone, do you?”

She finally noticed the ladder he was pointing to.

“Not really,  but I do love travel in general.” She paused as she ate. “But I do need to hurry and find the pink honey. I have to travel to the next town to make it to the festival.”

Chroma had a booth she was going to set up. She also really wanted to sell her other services, but wasn’t sure how accepting the town would be. She always had to gauge the town and see.

“I hope to find the honey today, and start making way back to my RV.”

Chroma wasn’t going to ruin nature while driving in the RV. She stuck to paths that allowed for her access when driving.

The two girls followed the river, and soon they saw a massive meadow.

“I guess we’re here!”

As she takes the final step onto the top floor of the Lavender Tower. Ko was sure that she would encounter more ghost-types. This time, she was ready- with her fingers on the sphere-shaped pokeball- but nothing eventful happened. Everything stayed stilled- there were no random encounters. 

Ko knows that she does not have repel with her, heck, she didn’t think to go to the Pokemart to buy some before entering. Thankful for her sudden good luck, she prayed quietly for those who protected her before heading forward. 

Shifting her weight to the other side, she didn’t know what to do. Maybe if she explained herself, it would help out the situation? Was there even a situation? Honestly, she couldn’t tell. 

“Um…I wanted to pay my respects here. I also forgot to buy repels so that…I was encountering a lot of Ghost-types, but I managed to ascend the stairs without too much of a problem…I am thankful for that!” Ko bowed a ninety-degree bow before standing straight up again. 

“Come and stay a moment. Rest, heal.”

Chroma gestured to the area in front of herself.

She began to shuffle a deck, and spread out the cards.All of them were facedown, so no one knew what lurked beneath.