Hutao wants a Coffin

(The next day)

The manga and novels about pokemon were finally up for sale in the store. Other products from the pokemon world such as potions, pokemon foods, pokeblocks, and accessories were also included.

All of the new additions only costed a few thousand mora. Loki also lowered the price of the berries by 10%. He expected to see a rapid increase in the number of customers from today on.

To lessen the burden on Frost, he also brought in 2 new helpers from Paradis.

Voir (Gardevoir) and Rene (Hatterene).

The two pokemon were also hardworking and cute like Frost, so they were perfect for their new job.

-----

(Around noon)

A group of 6 teenagers were walking through the streets of Liyue. They were accompanied by 2 Pandas.

"Are you sure we can get a pokemon even if we have never met the owner?"

Chongyun asked in a timid voice. In fact, his concern lied elsewhere. He was worried that his pure yang spirit might irritate the residents of the Pokemon Studio. From the words of Xiangling, he had learned that all of them were ghosts.

"Of course. You don't have to worry. Loki is really easygoing but he doesn't lie." Xiangling answered Chonyun with a reassuring smile.

"But he never specified any of our names, right?" Yunjin

"Well..."

Xiangling scratched her head as that question hit the mark. She couldn't think of a response.

"Why are we hesitating so much? " Xinyan spoke loudly, gathering all the attention.

"Even if none of us get a pokemon, that is also fine, isn't it? We can still meet the other pokemon in the store. That will be exciting in itself."

Xiangling quickly nodded her head. "That is right. We can also buy a few berries and those pokemon manga and novels. Xingqiu, you love novels, don't you?"

"Indeed. I am also interested to know more about this manga. I am curious to see how drawings can portray a story." Xingqiu spoke fluently.

"I am also interested in those ghosts from another world. I can't wait to meet them and send them off."

Hutao added with an excited voice. The next instant, her 5 friends immediately shouted at the same time.

"DON'T DO THAT!"

Hutao could only laugh sheepishly at their joint attack.

_____

Time quickly passed as they conversed. The 6 teenagers had arrived before the Pokemon Studio.

Xiangling stepped forward and opened the double door. She immediately saw the two new store clerks helping around the store. She looked around with curiosity and saw the various new products in the store. But she didn't find Frost.

The group of 6 walked towards the clerks and briefly introduced themselves. Xingqiu, Xinyan and Yunjin were shocked to hear their voices directly inside their head, but their surprise was yet to come.

They looked through the various products in the store for a few minutes before Xiangling led them into the lounge.

_____

"That...That is..."

As soon as they entered the lounge, Hutao ran to the corner of the room. She didn't hesitate as she pounced on the coffin that stood upright against the wall.

She quickly began to rub her hand all over the coffin as she obsessed over the exquisite design and the material used.

Xiangling and the others could only sigh helplessly at her antics as they walked towards Loki.

"Loki, I brought my friends just like you asked." Xiangling was the first to speak. Loki nodded at her and looked at the others. He slightly straightened his posture on the recliner and spoke in a dignified voice.

"Welcome to the Pokemon Studio. I am Loki, the owner of this place."

The 4 teenager quickly began to introduce themselves.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Loki. My name is Xingqiu. I am from the Feiyun Commerce Guild."

"My name is Chongyun. I am an exorcist."

"I am Xinyan. I do Rock n Roll."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Loki. My name is Yunjin and I am the director of Yun-Han Opera Troupe."

At this moment, Hutao walked over from the corner as she asked. "Loki, are you one of my people?"

Her friends had to do their best to stop their urge to facepalm. On the other hand, Loki laughed amusedly as he nodded his head.

"Haha. You could say that."

Hutao immediately smiled brightly as she leaned towards him, with her hands on the table.

"Could you sell that coffin to me? I will also give you one of my most prized coffin in return."

Loki laughed even more as he stood up and patted her on the shoulders. He really tried to contain his laughter but to no avail.

A few seconds passed before he calmed down. He saw the 6 teenagers looking at him weirdly so he coughed and spoke with a calm voice.

"Sorry for the outburst. Hutao, if you want to buy the coffin, you will have to ask the 'coffin' yourself."

"Ask the coffin?"

Hutao mirrored his words in confusion. At this moment, the coffin in question, suddenly started to shake. Hutao quickly zoomed onto the coffin and looked at it with wide eyes.

A pair of eyes first opened and four shadowy hands extended from the coffin. Then it began to float and approached them. A sharp line of teeth appeared as the coffin spoke in a bone-chilling voice.

"I am not for sale, human."

The 5 teenagers were completetly shocked. They stood with wide eyes and wide mouth, unable to respond to the supernatural scene in front of them.

The first person to react was obviously Hutao. "Is that a pokemon?" She asked with surprise.

Her eyes soon became crazy and bloodthristy as she pounced on the coffin pokemon, only to be repelled by the 4 shadowy hands.

"Boss, I want it. I want this coffin. You said that you were going to give us a pokemon, right? I want this coffin. I need this coffin."

Loki looked on with amusement, as she tried to cling to Gus (Cofagrigus), to no avail. But her failure did not stop her as she kept on trying again and again, only to be pushed back each time.

As this rodeo went on, her 5 friends finally decided to step in and restrained her.

"Calm down, Hutao. At least wait until Mr. Loki say anything." Yunjin spoke loudly. The others also mirrored her words and tried to calm her down.

Nearly a minute passed before Hutao finally calmed down. She turned to Loki with a fierce and obsessed look in her eyes. Her 5 friends and Gus sighed helplessly and all of them also turned to Loki.

The people and pokemon alike, were waiting for him to speak, to give a judgement. And Loki didn't disappoint.

"Unfortunately, the pokemon I want to give to the 5 of you is already decided."

Hutao suddenly slumped to the floor at his words. She then began to make circles on the white marble with her fingers.

"I don't want a pokemon if it is not this coffin."

Her friends could only hide their embarassment. Xiangling even considered if it was the right choice for her to bring Hutao to the Studio.

Loki looked at the depressed girl sitting on the floor with amusement. He let her be for a while as her friends tried to change her mind.

A while later, Loki felt completely satisfied as he finally decided to share the truth.

"Hutao, do you really don't want a pokemon? Although the pokemon I am giving you is not a coffin, it can turn into a coffin later on."

It took a while for his words to sink in and when it did, Hutao spranged up from the floor and rushed towards him. She caught his hands and looked at him with a renewed hope.

"I want it. I want the pokemon that can turn into a coffin." She said. At the side, her friends shook their head at her sudden change of attitude.

Xingqiu stepped forward and spoke with a barely composed voice. "You seem to like messing with people, Mr. Loki."

"Well." Loki looked at him. "Messing with others is my bread and butter."

The 5 teenagers except Hutao sighed again. They have had enough with both Hutao and Loki.

"Mr. Loki, when are you going to give me the coffin?" Hutao began to urge Loki. "I don't want to wait anymore."

Loki coughed into his hands and stood up. He looked at the 5 teenagers, who looked at him with curiosity and anitcipation, and nodded his head approvingly.

"I will say this only once. So listen carefully."

He spoke with an authoritative tone. The 5 of them immediately stood at attention.

"If you receive a pokemon, that means you are going to embark on a new adventure. It will surely be full of hardships and struggles. You should cooperate with your pokemon and move forward."

"They shall be your friend, your family, your partners for life, and help you along the way."

They listened to his bullshit with a determination so fierce that he nearly slipped up in his act.

"Looks like all of you are ready for the tough future ahead. Then, line up and receive your pokemon."

They immediately formed a line in front of his table. Hutao was at the front, followed by Xinyan, Yunjin, Chongyun and Xingqiu.

On the side, Xiangling stood beside Guoba and Stufful. She looked at her friends who were obediently standing in a line and could not help but shake her head when she realized that her friends believed in the bullshit Loki just spoke.

Regardless of her feelings, she did not interrupt the sacred procession.

_____

POV: Loki

The 5 teenagers each held a pokeball and a pokedex in their hands. They seem to be waiting for him to give the signal. He laughed amusedly as he spoke.

"Go on. Open the pokeball."

With the permission granted, they immediately pressed the button on their pokeball. 5 flashes of red light emerged and turned into 5 pokemon.

Buneary, Vanillite, Toxel, Igglybuff, and Yamask

He had specially chosen a male Buneary for Xingqiu because a male Loppuny was a trap, just like him. They fit each other perfectly.

He didn't put much thought for the other pokemon.

He had chosen a Vanillite for Chongyun because of his love for icecream. A Toxel for Xinyan because Toxtricity gave a vibe of Rock n Roll. And a Igglybuff for Yunjin because for their love for performance.

Finally, he had chosen a Yamask for Hutao.

Even before meeting Hutao, Loki had already guessed how she will react to Gus (Cofagrigus) and she didn't disappoint him. To make up for his amusement, he had chosen the pokemon that she would undoubtedly want.

As he watched the 5 of them greeting their pokemon, he focused on Hutao conversing with Yamask.

"Little coffin, you have to grow into a big coffin quickly. Then I will carry you on my back and we can advertise the Wansheng Funeral Parlor together."

He shook his head in amusement and looked at Gus. His pokemon friend was also focusing on Hutao and Yamask. He finally seemed to have had enough and returned to the corner of the room quitely.

_____

Loki rarely took it upon himself to explain about pokemon and pokemon trainers, to the 6 teenagers.

After he went over all the basics, he finally introduced the highlight of the day.

"All of you should understand the powers of Pokemon by now. But theory alone is never productive."

"So gear up! Ready your pokemon and step into the battlefield! You are going to have a pokemon battle!"