No Day is Wasted

* Tailus' Character Card * || Tailus' Collection Card *

Trade with

What if Tailus and Luna traded partners for a day? Where would they go? What would they do?

I'll link Luna's part here once it's done!

You can read some story about the picture below, but it's Tailus' point of view so I warn you, it's a bit cut-and-dry. XD

[Tailus' Notes]

I can't say if it's her warm smile or how she says hello, but whatever it is, it's working. Luna seems to be everyone's friend. Hmph. She even worked her charm on me.

People don't fascinate me. But when I passed by the Golden Inn and Luna said hello, some invisible rope pulled me over to answer. She talked like she already knew Eev and I, though I was sure we hadn't met before. I'd remember a talkative young woman with dark hair and green goggles.

As we conversed, I noticed a small Galvantula hooked to Luna's back. Its blue eyes captivated me. It noticed me staring and ducked out of sight. An idea slowly came to me as I tried to sneak another peek at the shy pokemon.

I asked Luna if she minded trading partners, just until the end of the day.

To be honest, if I had been asked the same question by a stranger I just met, I would have glared in their face and accused them of something. But Luna jumped on the idea. Before I could change my mind, Luna scooped her Galvantula, Claus, into my arms. Eev pranced after Luna, his spiky yellow tail wagging, but Claus stared warily at my face.

"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," I said. As I'd anticipated, the sound of my voice scared Claus into the bushes. I sighed and knelt to coax him back, muttering, "This is going to be a long day..."

I first returned to the hotel and attempted to study Claus up close... but he hid under the bed and refused to come out again. An hour and a bowl of snacks later, I'd convinced him to come back to my side, but only after I promised not to examine him again.

Next, I decided to take Claus out for field research... but at the sight of the first aggressive pokemon, Claus climbed a tree and decided to stay there, no matter what I said. I finally climbed up after him, but I got tangled in the branches. Claus must have felt bad about it. He attacked the branches, and I sprawled face-first in the grass. I told him, several times, that I was fine, but he stuck to my arm and refused to let go again.

Last, I tried to conduct an interview for my next article... but the interviewee intimidated Claus so much, he climbed on my face. I pried, pinched, and tugged, but Claus started to cry. I had no choice. Icanceled the interview and returned to the hotel to calm him down.

By then, I knew I'd wasted the entire day. But I didn't want to take my frustrations out on Claus. My stupid idea wasn't his fault. As usually happens when I dive into my thoughts, my feet carried me to White Beach outside town. I never can enjoy the water with Eev bristling so much. Clause didn't seem to mind the tide though, so long as it stayed far enough away.

As the sun set, I selected a comfortable spot on the sand and released Saran from her pokeball. The Nidoran yawned as the red light cleared, but when I tried to touch her pale head, she bristled and growled. Claus ducked behind me. Saran's fur settled, but Claus wouldn't look at her again.

I patted his head. His day hadn't been any better than mine had. And it was all my fault. If I had taken the time to understand him more, instead of doing what I thought was best, maybe the both of us could have done something worthwhile.

My hands refused to stay idle. Saran and Claus watched carefully as I gathered sticks and tied them together like a cross. I added a handerchief and some glue and finished the kite with a ribbon. I started to dig into my pouches for string, but I stopped. Saran and Claus sat closer together, watching. A smirk touched my lips.

"Huh," I said, "what a shame." I tossed the kite to the sand and walked off, but not too far.

Saran poked the kite with a claw, frowning. "Nida..."

Claus crept nearer, glancing between the kite and Saran. Then Claus stared at me for an answer. I brushed my hand through the air and turned away. Claus shrank. As I'd hoped, clever Saran nudged him.

"Ni, Nida! Nida, nida!" She gestured to the kite.

"Gal?" Claus' eyes widened. He spat a web onto the kite and wound more web around his arm into a long, sturdy cord.

"Good job," I said, startling both Claus and Saran. Saran growled again as I picked up the kite and tossed it skyward. The wind took hold. Claus paniced and braced himself.

I ran down the beach, shouting behind me, "Run! Don't let it fall!"

Saran shoved Claus into motion, but he ran too slowly. The kite sank.

"Nida!" Saran yelled.

Claus scuttled faster, scared by Saran's flashing teeth, but she wasn't trying to bite. She laughed. Claus scuttled faster and stared back to watch the kite flip, dive, and roll in the wind.

Luna's call startled wingulls from the docks. Claus stopped so suddenly that Saran bumped into him. The kite speared into the sand. Luna jogged across the beach, waving both arms. Eev leaped at her feet.

"Claus, ready to go?" Luna called.

Claus hurried off before I could pet him. I frowned for moment and waved instead. He waved back, with two legs. Luna laughed as she picked him up.

Once they'd gone, I knelt to dismantle the kite. Saran watched carefully. I expected another growl or a bite, but though she grimaced, she didn't shy away from my hand. My fingers tingled from the sharpness and warmth of Saran's fur. She blinked slowly, her shoulders relaxing.

Eev pounced, grabbed my shirt, and dragged me away from the shore. Saran shadowed his every step, but I didn't mind being ignored again.

Turns out, the day wasn't a waste after all.