"Did you happen to see my request, Mr. Matsuyama?"
Matsuyama nodded with a smile, pulling an Everstone from his pocket and handing it to Luther. "I happened to have one. Inkay used to wear it, but when I was in danger, he sacrificed his Everstone Evolution to save me. Now he doesn't need it anymore."
"What do you want in return?" Luther hesitated, not taking the Everstone immediately.
"Just your travel stories."
Luther was stunned. He hadn't expected such a generous offer—it was practically a free gift.
"It's useless to me anyway, and I'm not short on money. Diantha told me about you. I trust you'll use the Everstone wisely, considering your Pokémon's feelings."
"Don't think your travel stories aren't worth this Everstone. You know why I captured Inkay and..."
Solrock, Musharna, and Meowstic appeared before Luther.
The moment Espurr saw Meowstic, she let out a soft "wow" and floated over, curiously observing the new Pokémon.
Mai, as a Breeder, couldn't resist joining in. She patted Solrock, rubbed Musharna, and then joined Espurr in teasing Meowstic.
These four Pokémon shared a common trait: they were all psychic-type. Yet Luther still couldn't find the right answer, his gaze turning to Matsuyama with a puzzled expression.
Matsuyama stroked Malamar and said wistfully, "Mai says I'm a famous music producer, but that's all in the past now."
Mai paused, then exclaimed passionately, "That's not true! Your compositions are still amazing, every bit as good as the current rookies!"
Matsuyama listened to Mai's praise without smiling, turning instead to Luther. "As a Pokémon Trainer, do you think an old man has more room for improvement, or a young person?"
Luther seemed to grasp something, his eyes widening in realization.
Seeing Luther's expression, Matsuyama knew he had understood.
"Inspiration often flows most freely in those who are still growing. For someone like me... I've run dry."
"My imagination has withered, my mind bound by rigid frameworks. I no longer have the boundless, soaring ideas of my youth, and I struggle to find anything worth describing in the world around me."
"As a creator, I've already lost... or perhaps, I'm already dead."
Luther looked at Matsuyama's four Pokémon with a bitter expression on his face.
"Are you... hypnotizing yourself in a different way?"
Matsuyama chuckled wryly. "You might not believe it, but in my dreams and hallucinations, I feel like I've returned to my youth. I see countless inspirations, endless subjects worthy of epic tales and songs. Yet when I return to reality, I can't create anything at all."
"I've been using this method for four years now, and it's become exhausting. Even my dreams have grown stale, repetitive, and dull. The hallucinations are just endless repetitions of the same images. This approach... it's losing its effectiveness."
"Moreover, the works created through this method are less bold flights of imagination and more like rootless, disconnected revelries, divorced from reality."
"That's why I want to return to my origins, to recapture the feeling of wandering the world in search of inspiration. I spoke with Diantha, and she recommended you. In fact, my main reason for coming to Sinnoh was to meet you."
The old man's eyes were filled with hope. Luther could see his desperate desire to rekindle the passion and creative fire of his youth, to revive his dried-up inspiration with fresh, revitalizing waters.
There was no reason to refuse, whether for the Everstone or for the old man's unwavering determination.
Luther leaned against Matsuyama, beginning to recount his journey.
He spoke of leaving the Pokémon Center with Ralts and Azurill, his encounters with Mismagius and Houndoom, his meeting with Cynthia, and his first introduction to Diantha.
He described the scene in Hearthome City, where a group of eager apprentice Pokémon Trainers had waited, their eyes fixed on him under the warm sunlight, hanging on his every word.
He recalled the night in Featherfall Town, when feathers filled the sky, and the silhouettes of Fearow and Pidgeot bidding him farewell.
When Luther presented the woven fan, Matsuyama accepted it with trembling hands.
Luther couldn't discern his thoughts, but seeing Matsuyama's quivering lips, it was clear the old man was in shock. He even embraced the Chikorita playing nearby, murmuring incoherent words to the Pokémon in his excitement.
The fragmented, incomprehensible words seemed like scattered shards. After speaking, Matsuyama sat back on the sofa, his trembling hands scribbling furiously in his notebook, desperate to capture every fleeting fragment of memory.
Luther spoke, and Matsuyama wrote.
By the time Luther's throat grew parched and his voice hoarse, Matsuyama's notebook was filled to the brim.
Aside from the unpleasant experiences with the Hodgepodge organization, Luther recounted nearly everything he had encountered since arriving in this world.
There were moments of joy, sorrow, and overwhelming emotion, but above all, there was anticipation for the future.
When Luther mentioned meeting Jumpluff, the Pokémon huffed, as if to say, "If you hadn't been so eager to take me with you, I wouldn't have left."
Mismagius, on the other hand, nuzzled Luther fiercely, desperate to cling to him and never let go.
Houndoom yawned, flicking its tail against Luther's hand to remind him of its presence.
Chikorita suddenly remembered the delicious sweet cherry juice she had enjoyed earlier and decided to have another glass tonight.
Espurr recalled the nights Luther had held her close as she fell asleep.
Milcery, for some reason, could only remember Luther's grinning face as he licked her.
Due to confidentiality reasons, Luther hadn't mentioned Darkrai. However, Darkrai himself was also reflecting on why he had teamed up with Luther and even become his Pokémon.
After speaking, Luther and Mai didn't disturb Matsuyama's deep contemplation.
Matsuyama clutched the densely filled notebook, his expression twisted as if wrestling with something.
His Pokémon knew this was a crucial moment when Matsuyama was struggling to piece together fragments of melodies in his mind, so they remained perfectly still.
If they could have blocked out the noise from the music festival outside, they would have likely gone out to dismantle the source of the disturbance.
The sunlight outside the window gradually slanted westward, casting an orange-red glow into the room.
As that warm hue bathed Matsuyama's face, he stood up, holding the small notebook aloft, and burst into laughter.
But as he laughed, he suddenly clutched the notebook to his chest and began to weep.
Luther and Mai watched silently.
After calming down, Matsuyama embraced Luther. "Thank you," he said. "Though some fragments still don't fit together, this is exactly what I wanted."
"Has anyone ever told you that your travel experiences are truly remarkable?" Matsuyama asked, his voice trembling with emotion as he gazed at the notebook in his hands.
Luther knew Matsuyama had undoubtedly grasped some profound insight. Without asking for details, he paused, then replied.
"At this year's Lily of the Valley Conference, there's a competitor from Pallet Town named Ash. His travel experiences are truly remarkable. If you need more information, you should seek him out."
Matsuyama quickly jotted down notes, looking at Luther with gratitude. "I'll definitely look into it."
As he finished speaking, Matsuyama noticed the Everstone on the table and paused. "One Everstone isn't enough as compensation. Is there anything else you'd like?"
Luther was about to decline, saying the Everstone was sufficient, when that melody drifted through his mind again.
(End of Chapter)
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