//------------------------------//
// Chapter Three: Luna's Tear 
// Story: Sweet Scent 
// by Marcibel 
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The sun teetered at the edge of the horizon, painting the sky and the stray cloud the with the color of marigolds in full bloom, when Daisy found it necessary to check on Erika in the garden. She had spent the last few hours out there, and none of the sisters heard a peep out of her. Daisy grew worried, for fear something had happened, including Erika just up and leaving―even if Erika's presence was a tad ominous, questions remained unanswered. And a breath of relief heaved from her chest when the Roselia was found snoozing adjacent to the door. Leaning half out the door, holding it with her right hoof, Daisy noted that the rosebuds at the ends of her limbs were smaller, closing upon themselves in the dying light.

Daisy heard hoof-falls behind her and glanced back to see Rose. A dish towel was draped around the back of her neck.

"Is she out there?" she asked. Daisy nodded.

"Sound asleep, like a flower creature would be at this time of day."

Roseluck knit her brow. "She's been asleep since we returned from Sparkler's―"

"Amethyst Star."

"Right, anyway," Roseluck said quickly, "she's been asleep for almost five hours. I'm surprised she hasn't woken up for water or something."

Daisy looked back to Erika. She was lying on her back, her thorny head against a crook made by the cobblestone wall of the house and a watering can as tall as Erika was. The blue rose was across her torso, cuddling with the red one together in a patch of earth.

"She's lying next to the watering can, so I think she's fine. If not, the evening dew will quench her thirst," replied Daisy. She turned to a disapproving glare from her younger sister. "What, Rose? She's sleeping. I'm not going to wake her up."

"Yeah, Rosey," they heard Lily call from the other room, "don't you know the saying about letting sleeping flower fairies lie?"

Roseluck rolled her eyes and wordlessly left the subject, retiring to check dinner in the oven. Daisy regarded Erika one last time before withdrawing into the kitchen fully. She gave a quick word of praise to Roseluck for the mouth-watering fumes wafting from the casserole, and passed through to the living room. The open sign was turned around, indicating the shop was indeed closed.

"Is Evergreen still coming over for dinner?" Daisy asked, sitting in the chair across from Lily, who had moved onto another magazine.

"Who knows, considering this morning's little incident." Lily idly flipped a page, her eyes were dulled, as if she was looking through the glossy paper to her hoof. "I just hope he wasn't caught up in whatever happened in the Everfree. He was supposed to cut some encroaching trees along the edge of the forest."

There was a knock on the door, and before Daisy could manage a hoof, Lily had cast aside her magazine and galloped to it. She brushed away the curtain over the window and hastily unlocked and threw the door open. Lily fell to her haunches as the pony at the door was pulled into an iron grip, revealing a stallion's muzzle already turning from a tint of green to a shade of purple.

"Hey, dear," the stallion choked out as his jawline was gently peppered with kisses. "Mind loosening your grip?"

"Oh! Sorry, hun." Lily stood up and let go, backing up to allow Evergreen to come inside fully while keeping a forehoof hooked through the stream of chocolate mane along the back of his neck. "You didn't get caught up in the explosion in the Everfree, did you?"

"No, no, just got a bit of tinnitus. Boss sent everyone home right after it―whatever ‘it' is―happened." Evergreen used a backhoof to close the door behind him.

"We have some idea of something connected to it," commented Daisy, who had commandeered her sister's magazine at the table and kept her eyes aimed at it. "Came home to a little surprise in our garden after the explosion."

"A ‘surprise'?"

"Yeah, but let's not worry about that, okay?" Lily nuzzled into the crook of Evergreen's neck. "I'm sure my big, handsome lumberjack is really hungry for a home-cooked meal, huh?"

"Uh huh, and is Rose cooking it?"

"She is!"

"Oh, good, I mean," Evergreen smiled sweetly to the mare next to him, "that means I get all of your delicious meals to myself later."

Lily cooed and nuzzled him deeper. Daisy snorted as she flipped a page in the magazine.

"If that's the case, I'll make sure your epitaph will read, 'Died from girlfriend accidentally cooking with bleach instead of vinegar.'"

"That was one time, and nopony actually died from it!"

"Died from what?" A sleep-addled Roselia strolled into the living room, pawing at the crust in her eyes with her red rose. Erika pried an eye open to scan the room to find Daisy and Lily had frozen and a new face, a face with furrowed brows and a piercing glare. Never minding that, she gave a polite bow. "Oh, hello, I'm―"

"What the fuck is that thing?!"

The question wasn't said with as much panic as it was with vitriol, if the sneer Evergreen wore like a mask was anything to go by. Erika gave the stallion a blink and stammered out, "Excuse me?"

"Evergreen, honey, that's Erika," Lily said, petting a pulsing blood vessel popping up from his neck. "She's cool, okay? She's just staying with us until she can find a way home."

The stallion turned to the mare batting her eyelashes at him, and Erika thought she saw little sparkles beat from the action. Evergreen shook his head.

"Whatever, just as long as it doesn't come around me," he said, brushing past Erika and sitting in the seat across from Daisy, striking a conversation with the mare about work at the shop. Lily trotted over to Erika.

"You should probably head into the kitchen or outside for a while. And, uh, sorry about this."

Erika didn't respond, too stunned from Evergreen's reaction. She didn't even look up to see the mournful frown on Lily's face. She took a step back, toward the kitchen, and bumped into a soft yellow hoof. Looking up to her, she saw Roseluck nod her head toward the kitchen before greeting Evergreen.

In the kitchen, Erika found a stool sitting against the countertop. It was short, none too laborious to climb atop, and out of Evergreen's eyesight. It was hot and dry in the kitchen, but the heat was still more comfortable for the Roselia than as the object of a smoldering glare.

"Sorry about that," Roseluck said as she re-entered, donning a pair of oven mitts from the counter. "Evergreen's..."—a short glance away—"xenophobic, I think they call it. He doesn't exactly get along with nonpony creatures." Roseluck pulled down the oven door with a hoof, and a waft of baked vegetables poured into the kitchen. "I wouldn't give it too much thought, though. If you're staying with us, then he'll get used to you fairly quickly."

Erika leaned to peek into the main room and saw Lily and Evergreen sitting next to each other at the table, the former resting her head against the latter. Through the clatter of Roseluck pulling the casserole out of the oven, she could hear that they and Daisy were having a conversation about a floral contest in someplace called Canterlot. Evergreen's eyes moved to her direction, his eyes grew steely. He could see her, and even that was irritating him. Lily sneezed suddenly and violently, breaking his attention off of her and to check on the mare beside him.

"So he and Lily are a thing?"

Roseluck laughed and spun around to Erika. "What gave it away, the nonstop physical contact or the fact that Lily isn't being a complete bitch to him?"

Erika grimaced at the last remark. "That's a harsh thing to say."

Roseluck laughed again, but it reverberated hollowly. "You didn't grow up with her. Known anyone that was bullied by their younger sister?" Erika darted her eyes away. "That's what I thought." Roseluck turned back and closed the oven. "Growing up with her was a nightmare, like nothing you could think of." There was a pause. "Do you have siblings?"

"I had an older brother."

"Had?" Roseluck briefly regarded Erika over her shoulder. A sullen face, but one that said this wasn't the first time the subject had been brought up. "What happened?"

"Occupational hazard. He was a vice detective for Celadon City―er, my hometown. He got a little too close in a case a little too hot, and..." She didn't want to say it, she really didn't.

"I'm sorry. For that and asking about it."

Erika said nothing. An old scab had been picked at, and it burned more than usual with Celadon City no longer around her and the Marygrove Cemetery farther than a mere stroll. And that thought made Erika curl up, the feeling of isolation crawling along her back. She had nothing familiar to grip: no colleagues nor any of her Pokémon. Maybe they were here somewhere in this world, maybe they weren't and only she was whisked away.

"Erika," she heard Roseluck say, and she looked up to her. The casserole was sitting on a serving cart. "Do you want some dinner?"

Erika shook her head. "No, I...a Roselia can sustain itself on photosynthesis alone, and I did lie in your garden for quite some time."

"But you can still eat food, right?"

"Yes, but I don't feel like it right now," replied Erika exasperatedly.

Roseluck pulled her mouth to the side, as if unsure about her answer, but nodded. She pushed the cart into the main room, and Erika could hear Lily audibly cheer upon the sight of dinner approaching. She sighed to herself and hopped down from the stool, heading toward the door leading outside. A glance back, to see Daisy staring. Sour-green eyes murmured an apology, and Erika soundlessly exited to the garden. A northern gust ambushed her, and Erika shivered.



* * *



The campsite of Blue Sky was larger and better equipped than what Gardenia would have expected from a vagabond, sitting in a reprieve of the forest. A bright, neon-orange tent was already pitched and ready for the night, sitting out against the mossy green and earthy brown like a Trapinch mingling in a herd of Torterra. It looked pristine and taut. A campfire sat a few meters, unlit and accompanied by a sulky piled up with firewood, cooking pots, and a bucket of water. 

Gardenia was quite impressed; the fire pit was expertly constructed with appropriate safety measures were taken to prevent the fire from spreading past the forest clearing. Not only being a Grass-type Gym Leader, but the self-appointed protector of her city's emerald, the Eterna Forest, the subject of fire safety and the prevention of forest fires was near and dear to her. She made sure it was taught at schools, as well as teaching trainers to be wary of Fire-type moves and Pokémon. After all, a wide Flamethrower is all it could take for that emerald to crumble into a worthless pile of dust. 　 　

Except for the old chateau at the forest edge―she would only find peace should that condemned building from hell fell into a mound of white ash.

However, Gardenia wasn't sure if she would take her current situation over a ghost-infested house. Her inquisitions with Blue Sky (who had referred to himself as "a stallion, a unicorn, skilled in all but one thing") clearly told her not only was she in Sinnoh no more, she was no longer on Earth as well. A planet called Equus, a kingdom named Equestria, brimming with "ponies" possessing horns, wings, neither, or both. And he insisted that he had never heard of a Pokémon nor had seen anything resembling her new form or Krissy.

Blue Sky had told them to make themselves at home, and the Pokémon did so to the best their current situation would allow. Gardenia sat beside the open flaps of Blue Sky's tent, and Krissy nestled into a spot beside her. Ever since she was awakened, Krissy clung to her, as if her presence comforted her. And to an extent, the feeling was somewhat mutual; the air-headed Togekiss was, odd as it seemed, her tether to the earth as a being of familiarity. Teleporting to another dimension is bad; teleporting and changing bodies is worse; going through all of that while being alone is worthy of a few things the thought of which Gardenia would rather shake from her head.

But why are we here of all places? And why the transformation? Gardenia briefly entertained the idea Team Galactic had reformed in secret and continued their work attempting to control Dialga and Palkia. But it didn't seem right; to create a new world had been their goal, not overtake one which already existed. Of course, a shift in management could also have caused a shift in focus, but nothing about the situation showed the pride and flamboyance with which Team Galactic and its leaders glowed.

Slouched and with her arms crossed, the Grovyle felt a cloudy softness brush her side. Krissy was staring at her.

"What?"

"You've been staring at the campfire and grumbling to yourself since we got here."

Gardenia grit her teeth, grunting, "Oh." Her eyes flashed over to Blue Sky; he was near the waving flames with a knife and vegetables hovering over a small pot on the fire. Steam drifted from the pot. The knife diced with the expertise of a Lumiose City chef, she noted, without a heavily scarred hand wielding it firmly. They and his horn radiated with a dull red color, like that of a wilting rose.

"I'm just...thinking about why we're here, in this world, and how we got here." A quick inhale through her nose. "And who could be responsible." Krissy nodded once and wiggled her body, trying to nestle deeper into her patch of grass. Blue Sky could be heard uttering low curses after a chunk of potato splashed scalding water on him.

"I just want to find Annie and my family."

"Annie is your trainer, I take it."

Krissy nodded. "Last time I saw her, she went for a stroll alone through Petalburg Forest."

Gardenia's face softened. Maybe she was abandoned...poor thing.

"Did...something happen?"

The Togekiss shook her head. "No, Annie always goes on her walks alone. It was late in the evening. Lita was asleep by the fire, and Nommie and I were playing in the ocean."

"Are they Pokémon?"

A feverish nod. "Oh yes! Nommie is like a little sister to me! And Lita was in the Rangers!"

Well, there goes that idea. Gardenia glanced down to see Krissy's smile had melted and the wondrous shimmer in her eyes had been muddied.

"Hey, I'm sure they're doing fine," Gardenia said, placing a claw on the top of Krissy's head, "wherever they are. You said one of them served with the Rangers. If so, I'm sure she can take care of herself." The claw started rubbing in circles along the top of Krissy's head, just behind her tiara of plumes―a soft spot for most avians. Krissy cooed at the touch and closed her eyes. A snore drifted up soon afterward.

"Heh, she sure is a cute gal when she's sleeping."

A glance upward showed Blue Sky approaching. Parts of his face were damp, and the curling end of his beard was singed―poor Blue had trouble getting a "combustion spell" to work properly for the fire. When it did, it was an eruption of flames that quickly fell in love with the droopy white hair. The resulting romance was met with a startled yelp and Blue dunking his entire head into the bucket of water. But despite that, he was beaming.

Gardenia had decided early this guy was all right.

Nodding, Gardenia maintained the ministrations, albeit slower and gentler.

"She's no Budew or Sewaddle, though. I have another question, by the way."

Blue Sky grunted in acknowledgement. "I thought you were done with questions."

"It's just a curiosity. How come you weren't freaked out by us or scared when we met?"

Blue laughed quietly, his belly solely behind each one, with his whiskers bouncing. "I've seen every corner of Equestria, overseas, and every snowflake of the Frozen North, and after all of it I quickly became unfazed by the unimaginable. Especially when the unimaginable happens every Thursday."

"I suppose that's fair." Gardenia retracted the claw from Krissy's head, tucking it underneath her arm. "I was never big on seeing the world. My hometown was enough world for me."

"Sounds like you and my wife would've gotten along swimmingly, bless her heart," Blue said.

Gardenia noted the smile on his face becoming mirthless and feigned. Her other claw was brought up to scratch to her shoulder, and she muttered an awkward, "I'm sorry."

"It's quite alright. It's been years, and we weren't together for several of those last years. Hardly the fault of a misplaced stranger."

"Still, sorry."

Blue idly chewed on his mustache for a few seconds before he stood up and walked to the pot. He levitated a spoon and inhaled deeply over the pot. The smell of a late dinner brought life back to the old stallion's face, the large toothy grin creeping back along. He dished out a spoonful and beckoned with a hoof. Gardenia complied.

"Here, try!" The spoonful was raised to Gardenia's mouth.

Rolling her eyes, Gardenia took the spoon and gave it a slurp. She became dumbstruck. It had no meat in the taste or spoonful, none of the well-known flavorful berries swimming in the broth. Just a bunch of plain old vegetables. And somehow―somehow―the stew was something of a marvel to behold upon the tongue.

Yeah, he's all right, alright.



* * *



How many years had passed since the last time Erika saw a clear night sky seemed to outnumber the vast populace of stars in the sky above her. Celadon City itself shone like a star at night, blotting out the twinkles in the sky to create an expansive black void. Here, in this small town, there were no streetlights, no neon; nothing to scare off the painted canvas above.

If only Erika had felt as beautiful. She felt sad, alienated, fearful. She felt like everything inside of her, her heart especially, had fallen to the pit of her stomach. She felt homesick, missing the pungent fragrance of the Celadon Gym, her Pokémon running to greet her every morning, the arms of someone special coiling around her while feeling a gentle heartbeat against her own.

Erika sunk further against the wall which she was leaning; perhaps that was what she missed most of all.

Erika jumped as light flickered on above her. The backdoor screeched as it opened, and a glance upward showed Daisy leaning out.

"Hey," she simply said. A stray breeze crept on Daisy, brushing her lime bangs from her face. "You want to come in? It's really cool out here. Evergreen left about half an hour ago."

Erika shook her head. "No, it's fine."

Daisy pulled her lips to the side and let the door shut itself.

"Listen, I'm sorry about earlier. I know we just met and you're new here, but I should have said something to Evergreen." Daisy sauntered over and sat down next to Erika. "Xenophobia or no, he didn't have to right to speak to you like that."

Erika shook her head. "It's just...weird to me. New body, new place, new adjustments with no familiars to anchor to. I would be skeptical, too, if I had to deal with the unknown."

"Except Evergreen has always been like that. When we say 'it's not just you,' it's not just you." A wiggling left ear. "And if you're going to stay with us for a while, I would like to be friends. You really seem to need one right now, and you have a pretty good head on your shoulders after your encounter with Evergreen." Daisy held out a hoof to Erika. Hesitantly, a flowery appendage touched it, and they nodded at each.

"For what it's worth, I don't think you're the only one of your kind here. I'm not sure if you heard about it, but before we met there was an explosion over a nearby forest. I would hardly think that would directly have something to do with you, unless you're a very important pony."

"I'm not."

Daisy hummed to herself. The wind suddenly died, leaving only the natural cool of the night. "Briefly after that the three of us found a weird rabbit thing on the outskirts of town. Mostly brown, has some thick fluff on its ears and midsection, likes blackberries―does any of that ring any bells?"

Erika's mind flipped through Pokémon like a rolodex. Nothing came to mind, but she was mostly only familiar with those native to Kanto and Johto, with the exception of a few Pokémon from Sinnoh―

"A Buneary, I believe is what you're describing. They're harmless, and very common in forests."

Daisy chuckled. "This one must've wanted some fresh air because we saw it in a field by railroad tracks. But hey," she leaned toward Erika, "that just means there are more out there. And I bet at least one of them will know you."

"I suppose."

"Good enough for me." Daisy looked up and saw the moon overhead, shining directly on the town and casting dark figures along the edge of the back door light. "Hey, want to see something neat?" Waiting for no answer, she clambered to her hooves and shut off the light. The dark encroached. For a moment, Erika and Daisy were still. The only sound was a serenading cricket.

Six faint blue lights in the corner of the garden glimmered. What had been bulbs parted and opened, revealing stamen that emitted the light, growing brighter until it almost outshone the moon itself. The formation of the petals suggested the plant was some sort of lily, little black freckles lining the interior. They looked tall, despite being as large as Erika, and regal.

"Luna's Tear," Daisy said. "We have a story about a princess of the night that ruled the kingdom alongside her sister, a princess of the sun. She had felt slighted by how ponies rejoiced in her sister's sunlight, but ignored the beauty of her night. Jealousy transformed her, literally, and she threatened a coup. However, she was exiled by her sister and imprisoned in the moon." Both the mare and the Roselia looked up to the moon. It was clean and round, like the fresh face of a newborn. "It is said these are the tears of Luna, the princess of the night, shed over the remorse for the betrayal of her sister and her kingdom and having become the monster she was."

Daisy entertained a chuckle from within her. "The real story is that they're just magic, bioluminescent flowers that thrive in moonlight instead of sunlight. They're wild as well. Last year, we tried to domesticate them and cross-pollinate them with some other flowers, to no avail. It was a project for a florists competition." Daisy took a deep breath. "This year's is coming up, and I was wanting to know, would you want to help? You know, being a flower and all..."
　
Erika nodded dumbly, her vision glued to the Luna's Tears. They were some of the most gorgeous specimens she had ever seen. Lily's question sunk in, and her gaze went to the red and blue petals in her tiny lap, idly brushing them together. She had no gym to take care of right now, and that left her with a lot of free time. However, she didn't want to agree, only to find a way home and disappoint the girls. But they were considerate to welcome her, something and someone unfamiliar, into their home....

"Alright, I'll do it."

Daisy smiled. Genuinely. From what Erika gathered, that was a rare occurrence for someone that seemed to get by in life on smirks and grimaces.

"Thank you, Erika. The girls and I appreciate it." A couple of yawns escaped from them, and they shared a laugh. "Yeah, it's been a tiring day. I suppose we should both be getting to bed." Daisy stood up and made for the door. "There are some blankets and pillows inside if you want."

"Mm, no, thank you. I'm perfectly fine out here."

"Alright," Daisy nodded. The screeching door opened, and she called back, "See you in the morning!" before heading inside.

All was quiet. Erika was alone once more. She slid down the wall, lying flat on the ground. She closed her eyes, and strangely the world seemed like her own. It was like she was a young lass again, falling asleep in her garden with Gloom. She was out like a light soon after, following and leading countless others into the darkened world of memories that turn to ash in the dawn's first rays.