Lambency (Ingo x Reader)

39 - The Heart has its Reasons...

After waiting fifteen minutes, Melli still has not returned to pick you up from the pond. Therefore, you decide to go back to the base camp on your own as you have memorised the route. Moreover, with Rhyhorn by your side, you are not worried about running into wild Pokémon.

You see the smoke from the campfire curling up further away.

Before moving on, you call Melli, just in case.

"Melli? Are you around here?"

No answer.

"He probably thought I was dumb enough to get lost in the middle of nowhere...", you mumble.

You walk and suddenly hear a mellifluous song nearby. You choose to follow this beautiful melody, out of curiosity.

You pass by some ancient ruins with several fruit trees erected between the rubbles. The area looks safe.

From a distance, you take notice of the warden sitting at the foot of a decapitated statue. He sings in a sublime voice while repairing the strap of his woven basket.

Numerous wild Pokémon are listening to him in respectful silence, as if in trance. Rhyhorn and Cyndaquil, too, are impressed.

Although you do not like Melli, you must admit you are envious as he sings divinely.

When the song is over, he takes a break from fixing the basket and distributes some berries to the Pokémon who are present, including Skuntank.

"Thank you for coming to say hello! Are you hungry? Take some berries, we're going back to pick up some more anyway!"

The Pokémon happily grab the food and go away. Cyndaquil bleats and jumps from Rhyhorn's back to move closer.

"Ah, wait!", you call, but she is already chirpping in front of Melli.

"Who could you be, little one?... AH?! You?! What are you doing here?"

His voice was sweet whilst talking to Cyndaquil but instantly became shrill and irate at the sight of you. He could have been a typical fairytale princess if he was not so disagreeable, you think.

"I was waiting for you overthere, but since you didn't come back, I thought I could leave my position. Then, I heard you sing and came here."

"Hee hee, I see that similarly to a stranded sailor, you were attracted to my mesmerising voice! It showed you the way back to me, so you wouldn't wander in the Highlands like a lost Rufflet!"

"Mermaids lure sailors to drown them...", you mutter, but your unpleasant remark has not fallen on deaf ears.

"Y-you were taking your sweet time splashing around so I decided to attend to my business instead of wasting time!"

"That isn't what happened!"

"In any case, I've got better things to do right now than having a leisury chat with you, so let's head back to the camp! I must collect some berries and Medicinal Leeks along the way for the Galaxy folks and prove how generous I am!", he seemingly talks to himself and lifts the basket to put it on his shoulder. "Now, make sure you keep sight of me, who knows what might happen to a faller like you should you lose your way in the mountai--"

The strap he has fixed a few minutes ago cracks and the basket spills out all the berries onto the ground.

"A-ah, no!", he and Skuntank appear stupefied.

"Let us help!", you propose and crouch to gather the fruits. Rhyhorn and Cyndaquil roll them in your direction.

"Uh, eer, w-well, thanks!", his face is flushed with embarrassement.