Journey Through Johto |Discontinued|

Chapter 2.28: Teamwork With A Capital Tea

"Where's te crosest pace for te nex gym?" Emmy asked with her mouth full of dongos. The three had stopped at one of Ecruteak's snack shops to figure out where to go next.

Sky and Zia grimaced in disgust and leaned back from the food crumbs being blown at them. "Emmy, don't talk with food in your mouth, it's gross." Sky chastised. The Serperior just swallowed and gave a sheepish grin.

"Anyways, we could either go to Mahogany Town or Olivine City. They're equal distance from here." Zia answered the question. "How about we just relax for now? I need a break from trudging through the woods." Emmy suggested.

"I guess we could use a little downtime." Zia agreed. She then noticed a poster on the wall. "What's this? An old-fashioned tea ceremony? That seems pretty relaxing." She pointed out. The other two considered it before shrugging, "Why not?"

"Vee, Vee!" They heard a cry from beside them. Turning to look, they saw an Eevee in the street next to the shop they were in. "Oh, poor thing, are you lost?" Zia mumbled, walking over and picking it up. It allowed her, actually cuddling further into her once in her arms. Up close, Zia could see that the Eevee had a chunk of its right ear missing.

"Eevee! Eevee!" They heard someone call from down the road. "Eevee, vee!" The brown and white Pokémon called back, catching the girl's attention. She ran over to them, sighing in relief as she caught her breath. She had blue shorts, a pink shirt, pink hair, and lighter pink ponytail holders holding it up into two side ponytails. She also had another Eevee on her shoulder.

The girl then stood up straight again as she looked down at the Eevee seriously. "I've been looking all over for you." The girl scolded as she reached out to take the normal-type back. "Vee!" It denied, latching onto Zia.

"Sorry, I'm guessing this is your Eevee?" Zia apologized, not sure what to do. "No, not technically. The one on my shoulder here is. This Eevee I found a few days ago in the woods. It was hurt, mostly its ear, that's why a piece is missing, so I took it home to heal it. It's stuck around since, but hasn't wanted anyone to catch it. It seems comfortable with you, though." The girl answered, calming down a bit.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, my name's Sakura." The girl then introduced, having forgotten to do that. "You're fine, I'm Zia. This is my Luxray, Sky, and my Serperior, Emmy." Zia returned.

Sky then nudged Zia and gestured to the poster. "By the way, would you happen to know the way to find the tea ceremony shown on that poster?" Zia asked the girl, who was seemingly local. "Zia, that's the tea ceremony my sisters perform." Sakura chuckled after glancing at the poster.

~~~

"Sorry to keep you waiting, guys." Sakura told the three waiting on a bench for her inside the old Japanese styled building's courtyard where the tea ceremony would be held.

"Wow, you look great." Zia complimented, still holding the Eevee from earlier. It hasn't let her go, and Zia isn't going to complain about a cuddle buddy. Sakura was dressed in a pink Kimono with a blue obi. Her hair was put up in a more traditional style with a yellow hair ornament on top, a little pokeball on each side. Her Eevee had went back inside its pokeball.

Sakura smiled at her. "Thanks, Zia. I have to greet the guests, but you guys go ahead and enjoy the tea ceremony. You can also take the Eevee with you, it doesn't seem to want to part just yet." She urged.

So Zia, Sky, Emmy, and the Eevee went to look around, amazed by all the traditional decorations and outfits everyone wore. It was really beautiful. "I almost feel like a time traveler." Emmy muttered, gazing around.