In the game, to trade dream furniture with Miss Fennel, you needed to use various Berries. However, on the lands of Unova within the game, Berries could not be planted; they could only be grown in the Dream World.
When Miss Fennel's dreams began to surface, Hikaru sensed an incredible change within her. That pink energy, which could only be felt when entering dreams, appeared in her heart.
It was Dream Energy!
"The most beautiful furniture, worthy of appearing in everyone's dreams! I'm going to start drawing right now!"
"Thank you for your help!"
Fennel began her drafting immediately. Using the works provided by Hikaru as reference while integrating her own dream designs, her hand moved swiftly across the canvas, and before long, she had produced unique and exquisite furniture blueprints!
Nightmare-themed furniture appeared very Gothic, while dream-themed furniture leaned towards Baroque, Rococo, or even fairytale styles.
"So, you really came to see her just to help her design furniture?"
Professor Juniper was puzzled. She couldn't see the dream energy surrounding Fennel, but Hikaru stated directly:
"Miss Fennel is also a Psychic."
"Eh? Ah?" Juniper was stunned.
She had known Fennel for so long, yet never knew she was Psychic.
"Miss Fennel has the ability to project real-world furniture into dreams and then map the inspirations from dreams back into reality. This dream ability is innate. She herself doesn't even realize she has it. Now, I want to observe her works to help heal people's hearts."
The stronger people's wills became, the stronger the Link Tree would be.
Hikaru's explanation left Juniper confused, but after thinking for a while:
"So you think everyone needs Fennel's 'dreams'?"
Hikaru chuckled.
"Don't you have dreams too? Completing the Pokédex, investigating and proving the origins of Pokémon – that is your dream, isn't it? Dreams are ideals, and ideals can become reality."
"Dream furniture influences people in the real world. Art is the embodiment of dreams. It truly holds power."
Professor Juniper immediately understood!
If it were just about dreams and hearts, she might not have understood. But when talking about ideals and reality – that was something she knew well!
Wasn't this the very foundation of Unova's founding legends?
"So you want to research Fennel's power?"
"Yes, that's about right," Hikaru replied.
"If you've seen the news recently, you should know a bit about Team Plasma. Under the name of 'liberating Pokémon', they're actually destroying the hearts of Unova's people, crushing their dreams."
"In ancient Unova, the most important power was dreams."
Even the splitting of the Unova Dragons happened due to the splitting of dreams. Ancient Unova was a region deeply rooted in idealism.
This piqued Juniper's interest further. Her expertise wasn't only in researching the origins of Pokémon; during her studies, she often encountered ancient legends. Over time, both she and her father developed a strong interest in archaeology.
"There are many organizations like Team Plasma in Unova, but most are legal. The League can't really do anything."
Juniper shook her head. She didn't like such organizations either, but religious activities weren't illegal here.
However, the incident Team Plasma caused in Mistralton City had been quite severe. Attacking random people… ah, and the one they attacked was standing right here. What's worse, they even lost the fight. That was just embarrassing.
"Ah, it's done! Thank you so much!"
"For the past week, I've been suffering from a lack of inspiration, but I finally finished!"
While they spoke, Fennel had already completed her piece. Cheerful, she handed the draft to them, only then realizing she hadn't even asked who Hikaru was.
Especially since the artistic style in his work was on the level of… a true master artist!
"I'm just a toolsmith and traveler. Sometimes I also dabble as an artist."
Hikaru accepted the draft, and at that moment, the Link Tree's reward notification appeared.
[Quest Complete!]
[Rewards: Lustrous Orb ×2, Dream Design Draft ×1, Genius Certificate ×1, Dream Projection ×1!]
[Dream Design Draft]: A special blueprint only seen within dreams, allowing the design of different styles of dream furniture, as well as dream buildings and dolls. Using Dream Projection, these items can be projected into others' dreams.
[Genius Certificate]: Proof of a genius designer. Inspiration +50%, Beauty of works +100%, Social evaluation +100%, Mysticism +50%.
[Note]: Mysticism enhances your understanding of esoteric sciences, improves your special abilities, and when used in art, furniture design, or crafting, grants your works special powers based on their original concepts.
[Dream Projection]: Allows you to project your dream-related powers and items accurately into others' dreams. Occasionally, special items seen in dreams can be recreated in reality through this method, requiring knowledge of Otherworld Voices. Success rate: 10%.
[Projectable Items]: Certificates, GB Players, Shiny Charms, Letters of Encouragement, First Move Coupons.
[Items requiring Otherworld Voices]: Gates of History, Phantom Gates, Proofs of Victory, Guardian Cubes, Lost Purifiers, Charms of Hope.
[Effect]: Can create dream-related medals, and even while awake, project them into others' dreams.
"Phew! This product is going to be a huge hit! Your works are amazing!"
In the game, Miss Fennel never showed her Pokémon, but this time she enthusiastically called out her artistic partner.
It was a Crustle!
"I often use the huge rectangular stone on my Crustle's back as material for furniture carvings. My little Crustle has countless 'furniture and building shells'!"
Without needing orders, Crustle ran over to the furniture pile. When it came back out, the rectangular stone on its back had been sculpted into a magnificent miniature palace.
"How is it? Isn't it beautiful? I crafted it in the style of the Unova League's temples. There's a whole set of matching furniture too!"
"I want to ask for your help with some designs so I can create even more amazing furniture… ah! Of course, I'll pay you for your work!"
She wanted to use Hikaru's artistic creations to inspire even more breathtaking furniture, and Hikaru was happy to oblige.
"Of course. But tell me, have you ever seen Pokémon in your dreams?"
"Hmm, I think so?" Fennel recalled that she had indeed seen many Pokémon in her dreams. Even though she wasn't a Trainer, she sometimes found this quite strange.
"In fact, you have a special dream ability."
Hikaru explained to the bewildered Fennel, reaching out his hand:
"Could you tell me a bit about the worlds you've seen?"
Professor Juniper quickly added:
"Lord Hikaru is a Psychic. He told me you possess an ability called Dream Power. I found it unbelievable."
"Eh? Psychic? Me?" Fennel pointed to herself. Hearing Hikaru's request, she began thinking hard.
"How to explain… At first, pink mist would come rushing in, and then I'd see many Pokémon in my dreams. Sometimes, I'd enter a strange black-and-white dream world and talk to people there, but upon waking, I'd forget their faces and words. In those dreams, I wasn't even a furniture designer."
The black-and-white world… the world of others. The Link Tree had said that some people occasionally fell into it but quickly returned. To them, it felt like just another dream.
"My mind is always filled with countless thoughts, sometimes so much that I can't think clearly. But every time I wake from those dreams, my thoughts feel clearer."
"Right, I saw a strange Pokémon in my dreams. Round, pink, very pretty. I think I often played with it."
"Huh? That's a Munna!" Professor Juniper exclaimed, explaining to Hikaru:
"It's a rare Pokémon. Its body is an oval ball shape, entirely pale pink, floating in the air. At night, it appears by the pillows of people or Pokémon having nightmares and eats those nightmares."
"Here, this one." Juniper pulled up Munna's entry on her Pokédex for everyone to see.
"Research shows that if Munna eats your dreams, you wake up forgetting what you dreamed."
"So Munna ate your dreams! That's why you lacked inspiration this past week. But last night…"
Juniper stopped mid-sentence.
Basically, last night's cosmic nightmare was so terrifying it drove Munna away, allowing Fennel's dreams to return.
Munna expels mist after eating dreams. If it ate a happy dream, the mist would be pink; if it ate a nightmare, it would be black or gray.
However, Munna hated corrupted dreams. While it would eat nightmares, it was picky about their 'flavor'.
Last night's cosmic nightmare had far exceeded its taste range and probably scared it off, leaving Miss Fennel's dreams intact.
"It'll probably come back eventually. In the past, dream researchers thought Munna was the key to accessing the Dream World, but there's never been conclusive results."
"Eh!" Fennel became nervous.
If an ordinary person lost their dreams, it might not matter. But she was a designer. Losing inspiration was like an artist losing their creativity – terrifying!
"Don't worry. I have a way to protect your dreams."
Hikaru held out his hand.
"Please, shake my hand."
Though confused, Fennel agreed. The moment their palms touched, Hikaru projected a medal into Fennel's dreams. She quickly pulled her hand away in shock.
"Eh, what was that just now?"
"A medal formed with psychic power to protect your dreams."
[Item: Goodnight Medal]
[Description]: A medal used to awaken a Pokémon. Holding it while sleeping prevents any external interference, allowing peaceful or lively dreams.
[Effects]: Quality sleep +100%, Idealism +10%, Dream growth +10%.
Fennel touched her head in disbelief, practically sprouting question marks above her. Even Juniper didn't fully understand what happened.
A simple handshake projected psychic power?
Ah, Psychics really were convenient!
"Alright, from today you don't have to worry about Munna. Though once it realizes it can't eat your dreams, it'll probably seek out others. If you want to befriend it…"
A Pokémon that feeds on dreams… raising one wouldn't be easy!
"Now, let's talk about our design collaboration. I want your furniture to become bestsellers throughout Unova."
"However, nightmare furniture must be sold as a set with dream furniture. Art embodies people's will and emotions, so the furniture you design will influence their moods."
"For that, I can provide more design drafts. It's nothing for me. Including that pink dream furniture inspired by Munna… perhaps it will awaken more people's dreams."
After spending a day in Nacrene City, drawing many design drafts and inspiring Fennel, Hikaru left his contact details before departing with Professor Juniper.
When Hikaru left, Fennel relaxed her mind. The exquisite artworks she had gathered filled her warehouse studio, resembling a miniature art gallery.
She turned on the TV. Usually, she watched art channels for inspiration, and truthfully, she was quite well-known in the design world herself.
On TV, a report on the Mistralton City art gallery was airing.
Inside the gallery, a reporter interviewed Burgh.
"The Mistralton Gallery is an artist's paradise. But I think Hikaru's works are no less impressive than any artist here."
She thought so to herself while watching, but as she watched, something felt off.
Huh? Some of the artworks, especially the featured painting of Volcarona, looked a bit like…
An artist's style is unique. Only beginners have indistinguishable styles.
Hikaru's works, while reminiscent of many artists, possessed qualities those others lacked: an ancient feeling, a dreamlike feeling, and a sense of the bizarre.
All works in the gallery had a mythical aura – that was Hikaru's defining impression on Fennel.
["This Volcarona painting was created by a young genius artist, currently traveling. He's like a wandering phantom artist."]
["Look at these exquisite paintings, this set of clothing, and that mythical sculpture… each one is stunning."]
["According to Burgh, this outfit will soon be showcased at a Nimbasa City fashion show. Look forward to Miss Elesa's runway performance."]
["I am Burgh. It's an honor to be interviewed. Truly great works speak for themselves. Art expresses emotion, and I believe everyone has felt that power in these pieces. His works possess a rare purity."]
["In fact, artists from many cities and even overseas have praised these works. Without a doubt, he is a true genius, younger and far more talented than me. Everyone can look forward to his future creations."]
She had been sipping tea calmly, but Burgh's praise froze her teacup in mid-air.
Fennel saw the signature on the artworks and her eyes widened.
Setting down the cup, she sat silently before the TV for a long time, then suddenly pumped her fist into the air.
"Unova's latest genius artist helped me design furniture?!"
"I can't believe it… I… I'm amazing! That means my furniture is part of his new works!"
"This is dreams becoming reality! Amazing, amazing! Phew, my luck…"
"Is through the roof!"
(End of Chapter)
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