[Pokemon-ARPG] Weekly Prompt: Flower Picking

Spring had at last descended upon the land, and the rise in temperature meant that the Pokemon were spending more time outside than ever before. A whole new mood settled with the season, evening temperaments and calming everyone. Even Aroo seemed to have slowed down and released some of his irritableness.

Well, mostly.

“This pollen is horrible,” Aroo groaned, kicking at the wavering grass that poked out of the ground. “Pretty soon my nose is going to revolt against my face and leave…”

“But aren’t the flowers so pretty?” Skitters exclaimed, her snout held low to the ground, sniffing out every trace of inflorescence on the hillside. “And to think, we were sledding down this hill only a few weeks ago!”

Skitters stopped suddenly as she came face to face with a tiny red poppy bud. Smiling to herself, she grasped the stem between her teeth and tugged it out of the earth, racing happily off around the other side of the hill. Aroo watched her and scoffed to himself.

“What is it with her and flowers?” the Riolu asked himself. “How is she not sniffling and sneezing with all the direct contact she’s had with them?”

“Maybe she’s not allergic…” a gentle voice suggested.

“Ember? Is that you?” Aroo asked, jolted form his thoughts.

A familiar Vulpix’s head popped up hesitantly from the sloping landscape of the hillside. Aroo bit back a grin. He was glad to see the little fox out and about. Although he’d never admit it to anyone, he worried about her daily routine of staying locked up inside. In fact, this was only the second time he’d seen her outside aside from when they first met.

“H-hello Aroo,” Ember said, continuing up the hill. “I thought I’d come out and…uh, visit, I guess…”

“You might’ve chosen a better time,” Aroo grumbled, mostly to himself.

“Oh, i-is this a bad time? I’m so, so sorry…I can leave now-“

“No! I didn’t mean it was a bad time for me! It’s just…there’s all this pollen out and…you know, allergies and all that…”

“Pollen? Oh…I think I’ll be alright. Salvador said I would be fine out here.”

“Good, good…I, on the other hand, have been suffering ALL day since Skitters dragged me out here to pick flowers. I don’t really understand the allure of flower picking…I mean sure, maybe they’re pretty to look at from afar, but I don’t want to get all close and personal with them if it means barely being able to breathe!”

“You…you’re allergic to pollen?”

“Yep, always have been. It’s never been THIS bad though. Usually I just stay inside during the start of Spring so I don’t have this problem, but Skitters dragged me out here today. I should’ve known THAT would happen…”

“Oh…”

Ember’s tails drooped and a sullen look appeared on her face at the realization of Aroo’s allergies. Aroo took notice almost right away; in fact, he never took his eyes off the Vulpix’s face since she had emerged. Was it something he said?

“Are…you okay?” was the only response Aroo could manage.

“I’m fine!” Ember immediately answered, donning a clearly fake smile. “I, uh…I just wanted to show you something is all. But if you have allergies, I probably shouldn’t…”

“Hey, it’ll be fine! As long as I don’t get close to any pollen I should be alright.”

“If you’re sure…”

Ember padded off down the hillside without another word. Aroo scrambled after her, anxious to see what the fox wished to show him. The duo walked in silence for about a minute before the bottom of the hill came into view. And with it came something Aroo had never expected to see.

An arrangement of blue Hydrangeas had been laid out on the ground in the shape of Aroo’s head. The Riolu stood speechless for a moment while Ember observed him with caution, fearing for his reaction. After a few seconds of looking at the flowery piece of art, Aroo unexpectedly lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Ember in an uncharacteristic show of affection.

“A-Aroo!” Ember called out, frightened by the hug.

Aroo only realized what he’d done after Ember called to him. Hurriedly retreating and ending the embrace, he failed to fight the blush of embarrassment that stained his cheeks.

“S-sorry Ember,” Aroo managed to say. “I just…well, no one’s ever made anything like this for me before…thank you.”

Ember smiled as a blush appeared on her own face. The two turned their gaze towards the flowers once more and the peaceful silence of Spring descended upon them. All of a sudden, Aroo unleashed a monstrous sneeze, disrupting the moment. Both Pokemon stared at each other for a few moments before Aroo snickered, prompting Ember to do that same. The two laughed with each other like old friends while a pair of Pokemon watched them from the top of the hill.

“Wow…look at them!” Skitters said from her perch, unheard by the laughing Pokemon below. “They’re having such a good time!”

“They are,” Salvador spoke softly from beside the tiny Skitty, a smile on his own face. “Those two go pretty well together, don’t you think, Skitters?”

“Sure do!” Skitters wagged her tail joyfully before running off, likely to collect more flowers.

Salvador remained where he was, watching the smaller Pokemon at the base of the hill as they bonded. “I told her she could do it,” he said, pride apparent in his voice as he stalked away, leaving his friends to enjoy each other’s company.