Chapter 1
October 20, 2025 at 7:26 AM
A soft wind blew along Lapras Beach, coming off the sea and bringing the pleasant smell of salt with it. There, Summer sat on with Lark, leaning against the shiny Suicune. She looked down at the leaf in her hand closed her eyes, placing it to her lips and letting the melody begin to flow.
The soft notes seemed to bring everything to a standstill, the bittersweet tone carrying on the breeze as the Ranger played, tears beginning to flow from her eyes.
It had been so long since she had last played, but it seemed as if no time had passed. Everything felt so natural as she let the familiar melody wash over her, her chest beginning to tighten as she drifted back to her childhood.~~“Mama, it won’t work!” The young Summer stamped her foot into the ground and folding her arms, a pout crossing her face as she looked up at her mother. The brunette merely smiled and sat down on the grass, patting the spot next to her.
“Come now, Summer. You want to learn to play, right?” Lark smiled as her daughter sat down, her eyes wide. The little girl picked up another leaf and nodded, her face completely downcast. “You’re just blowing too hard. See?” She blew into her own leaf loudly, making the same sound that Summer had just moments before. The girl giggled a bit and nodded, putting her own leaf back to her mouth. “Everything about this is supposed to be gentle. Now try again.”
Summer blew on the leaf again and managed to play a few notes before letting out a shrill laugh of pure delight, clapping her hands together and getting a smile out of Lark. The woman chuckled and ruffled her daughter’s hair, placing a kiss on her head. “There you go. You just need to be gentle with it, okay? Don’t be so forceful.” With a soft smile, Lark put her own leaf back to her lips and began to play, a soft, quiet lullaby drifting over Nabiki Beach, carried on the whisper of wind that blew.
