Pokemon: Swirling Shadows

°•6: Empty Spaces•°

The Marketplace was quite busy. Pokemon were everywhere, hustling about upon a stone path and rushing to other stands and stores.

A duo of spinda waltzed around, stopping at a small building with a hat as the logo.

A trio of carbink floated past, to a building across from there, heading into a building with a smeargle's paint brush as the logo.

Several pokemon Melodi had never seen before came in and out of a building that was adorned with a bird feather as the logo. They all carried bags with them.

An Alolan ratticate with its line of seven Alolan rattata children all grouped together at a blue striped stand. A kindly looking bewear passed out blue cotton candy to each of the rattata, and a pink one to the father.

All of the rattata were screeching because they wanted each other's cotton candy. Even though they were all the exact same.

After paying his dues, the father ratticate swooped all his screaming children in his tail. Then, he hurried away, presumably because his children were being spoiled little brats.

"Great stars above!" Said the ratticate. "If you don't be quiet, I'll tell your mother how you all misbehaved!"

This hushed the children. "Yes, dadda," said the smallest one, who was red in color, unlike his siblings who were dark gray.

Across from the blue striped stand was a red one, which was where Boomer and Melodi stood.

"I don't like cotton candy, but do you want some?" Boomer asked.

Melodi's ears burned. "I-I don't like it either."

"Okay," he said. "How about a malasada?"

Melodi blinked. "A what?"

Boomer gasped. "YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF A MALASADA?! Did you grow up under a rock or something?"

Melodi grinned. "Nah, just a secluded forest," she responded.

Boomer ducked his head. "Sorry," he said.

Melodi shrugged. "Don't be."

Boomer led her to a rectangular wooden building. A circular logo sat in the center, adorning a smiling slurpuff as the mascot. "This is my favorite place to eat!" Boomer told her.

A bright smile spread across Melodi's face. "It seems pleasant."

Friendly music wavered from some speakers on the sides of the building, practically dragging the two shiny eevees indoors. Though the interior was small, pokemon of all sizes crowded the place.

To the left were four rows of tables and booths, which held many groups of pokemon. The best thing about this place was that they were all smiling. The atmosphere held a familiar warmth, as well as the smell of powdered sugar, rising bread, and fresh berries.

A feeling of nostalgia rushed upon Melodi.

"Heh. Told you you'd love it here," said Boomer with a smug grin. Melodi rolled her eyes and playfully batted his ear.

"Shut up, mind reader," she joked. For some reason, Boomer didn't utter another word, but he still smiled.

The two waited in line, which was in fact, a very long line indeed.

"Why's it so popular here?" Melodi asked.

Boomer shrugged. "Eh, this is the only malasada shop on Mele'Mele Island," Boomer said. "Pokemon from all over Alola come to this shop in particular, due to the fact it has the best malasadas."

Melodi nodded.

"You don't talk a lot, do ya?" Boomer inquired.

Melodi froze, but instead of letting anxiety show, she slyly grinned. "You don't know how to shut up, do ya?" She shot back.