Story Submission
Username: Shruikan
Character Name: Neith Nimr
Story Title: This was barely finished on time, and you expect a title? :P
Word Count: 2270 accourding to Scrivener.
Rating/Content Warnings: Umm, G i think?
Story (In spoilers)
Spoiler:
Sara Nimr rushed though her morning routine. Today she’d need to cover multiple shifts, so she needed to get together as soon as she could. Gulping down some coffee, Sara sighed. It was barely 6AM, Yet somehow Neith was already awake and sitting in front of the TV, watching some superhero show. Sara quickly sorted through her notes, grabbing the paperwork she’d need. Suddenly, Neith started shouting.

“Oh, oh, there’s a carnival in town! Can we go? Canwecanwecanwe!? Pleeease?” The show had gone to a commercial break, where it was advertising the local carnival troupe, and Neith was bouncing like a yo-yo.
“We’ll see.” She replied.

In the kitchen Liam was making pancakes. Sara briefly wonderer who in their right mind made pancakes at 6 in the morning, but was in too much of a rush to think too much about it. As she gather up her last few thing, she brought up the subject of the carnival.
Sara massaged her forehead, frowning. “I’m needed at the center. I agreed to cover Laura’s shifts while she has the flu, and no-one else can take my place.”
“Hey, that’s what dads are for! I can take Neith. It’ll be fine.”
Sara sighed. “Very well, but keep a close eye on her. You know how much she likes wandering off.”
Liam gave a lopsided smile. “Reminds me of someone I used to know.”

There was a crashing sound from the living room. Liam and Sara entered to see Neith had tipped over a chair, and was standing hands on hips with one foot in the backrest, a blanket wrapped around her as a makeshift cape. “Hah, take that evil Demon!”
Sara shook her head in disbelief. “I really don’t have time for this.” She gave her husband a quick kiss then was out the door, leaving Liam to sort out his superhero daughter and the felled chair.


Near the entrance were many game stalls line up in a row. A pair of teenagers were handing over the money at the closest stall. A sign advertised a prize to anyone who could topple all the bottles with a single ball.

“Dad, dad! Look!” Neith pointed excitedly at the row of plush toys handing above the stand as prizes. “That purple bug one looks so cool! Can we try and get it?”

Ahh, see that stall is one where thy try to trick you. See how the cans stay piled up? They always have some kind of trick that makes it almost impossible to actually know them over.
The lead teenager took a ball and threw it with perfect aim, hitting the bottles hard and fast, but the ball just bounced away.
“Things aren’t always what they appear to be. Heh, now you can tell your mother that this was an educational trip.” Liam smiled down at his daughter. “How about we try and win at one of the fairer games?”

Of course, it turned out that by fairer, Liam mean more fun for him. After several attempts at the Hoopa Ring Toss, the Tin Can Alley, and even a basketball hoop, Neith had concluded that Carnival games weren’t made to be won, and had resigned herself that if she was to get the toy, she’d have to get a lot of practice first. Instead she decided to just have fun playing the games & rides.

Taking a break, the passed a confections stand, stocking up and everything sugary they could find. “Just don’t tell your mother about this, she’d say this much candy would be bad for you.”
Neith nodded, in a reply, mouth full of toffee apple. A few moments later her foot caught on a lose pebble and she fumbled, her Candy-floss falling from her hand.

Before Neith had time to be disappointed, she glanced a small black furry shape moving in the shadows between the stalls…


The Poochyena sniffed. He could scent something very sweet ahead. Peering out, he saw his target; a pink cloud attacked to a twig. Many times he had tried to get ahold of some, but guests or cleaner always got there first. This time would be different.
In a flash, he was on top of the cloud, and had quickly dragged it back into his hiding place.

Salivating with anticipation, the Poochyena bit at it, and was puzzled as the food seemed to disappear in it’s mouth before it could be swallowed. It ripped another chunk of the pink substance, and once again it seemed to fold in on itself upon coming into contact with his tongue.

A pair of the two-footed creatures were staring down at it. Were they going to try and take away the food? The Poochyena bared it’s teeth and let out a small growl. Even if this was strange inedible food, it was his, and he wasn’t going to give it up!

Wait, was one of the creatures was holding out something? It appeared to be an apple, but with a twig poked though it, and coated in something like the Honey that Sword-throat sometimes gave him. The dog had seen many of the visitors carrying them, but had never tasted one before. One paw placed protectively on the cloud-stick, the Poochyena sniffed at the offering, then in one quick movement grasped it in his jaws and began chewing.
The Poochyena look back reverently to the smaller one that had offered the golden apple. This one had darker skin than most, perhaps it was like the strangely coloured Four-eared-ruby-head that performed with Fire-breath and Sword-throat. It was baring it’s teeth at him, but it’s eyes showed no sign of hostility. He had come to notice that these pale-two-foots did this when they were pleased.
This one reached towards the Poochyena, and he let her pet his head. She had offered food, and therefore was a friend.


Neith petted the Poochyena. “Hey it’s just like Cerbero!” Neith refferred to the Mightyena sidekick to one of the heroes in that show.
The Poochyena puppy wagged it’s tail happily.
Liam bent down to look at the collar around the dog’s neck
“Hmm, it seems this little guy belongs to one of the workers here. I wonder how they got separated?”
“We need to help him. Just like the superheroes would.” Neith said.
“Hmm, I agree. Lets ask the stall owners if they know anything.”

Neith picked up the dog, and they stepped back up to the confections stand.
“Back for seconds already?” The owner teased with a grin. “I should say too much sugar is bad for you, but it’s good for business, so eh.”
“No, no, we just wanted to ask you a question.” Liam gestured to Neith and the puppy, who was sniffing at her hands, trying to determine if it still had traces of toffee apple stuck to it.
“You see, we found this puppy wandering the stalls, clearly lost. It’s tag says he belongs to Sven Davison, and has the carnival logo on it, so we thought he probably works here. Do you know where he might be found?”
The man looked thoughtful. “I’m just a temp, but ol’ Tetsu’ll probably know. He knows everyone ‘round here.” The man gestured with his thumb towards a circus tent taking up a large part of the carnival. Liam and Neith thanked him and set off.

Inside the tent was laid out with standard circus rings. A green Espeon in the center of the stage, using it’s psychic to move several rainbow striped beach balls around the room, while a Furfrou hopped from one to the next, doing flips and twirls with each jump.

Liam approached the director. “Hello, Tetsu I presume?” The man nodded. “um, we were told you would know where to find Sven Davison?”
Tetsu gave a gruff nod. “Oh, old Red Sven. Yeah, he should be preparing for his performance. He’ll be near the entrance about now. You can’t miss him. Found his dog have you?”
“Yes, actually. I take it you knew he was missing?”
“Yes, constantly wandering off that pup. Needs better training. I’ve got my hands full preparing for the performance, so I’ve no time to watch over runts like that here.”
“Oh, that’s no problem, we can take him over ourselves.” Liam said, frowning slightly. He turned to go. “Come on Neith, let’s take Cerbero home.”

The sun was low in the sky, and the carnival was near closing time. The Poochyena puppy was whining slightly and looking around around anxiously. “There there Cerbero. If we can’t find your trainer, you can always come live with me and dad.”

As they passed near the entrance to the carnival, there was quite a crowd gathered around. Upon investigation, it appeared that a show was being put on.
A guy with paint-on stubble and dressed in what appeared was supposed to be a ninja suit, but looked more like a pair of old pajamas a few sizes too big. He was brandishing a metal pipe, that wobbled in the breeze revealing it’s true nature as Styrofoam. Facing him was a red caped man with a motorbike helmet covering his face.
To Liam it was obviously a play being put on to draw in customers, but to Neith it was a real life superhero.

“You think you can get away with this? Justice will alway find you, no matter where you hide!”
The “ninja” let out a yell like in a bad kung-fu movie, and leaped at the masked hero. With perfect choreography, he knocked the pipe away, punched the ninja in the gut, then hopped back and nailed the assailant with a roundhouse kick that sent him sprawling to the ground.

Neith was so engrossed by the performance, she barely noticed the Poochyena’s exited look until he wriggled out of he grasp, weaving through the crowd and nuzzling against the masked hero, tail wagging at 50 mile per hour.

The hero looked down, obviously shocked despite the visor covering his face. “Kira? What are-Ahem, I mean, hello there young pup, are you lost?”
A man in what could barely pass as a police uniform handcuffed the ninja and lead him off. A man with a loudspeaker, who appeared to be the narrator hurriedly began to speak. “And once again, the city is safe, thanks to Musou Red!”
The masked man bowed, and then with a swish of his cape headed off for the changing rooms, with the puppy, Liam, and Neith following behind.

The superhero sat down on a bench and pulled off his mask. Beneath the gear was a young man with pale hair and a touch of stubble. He grinned at them. “I take it Kira got lose again, and you guys found him?”
“Yep. Found him amongst the refreshment stands. Happen often?” Liam replied with a smile.
“Three times this week. Thank Arceus he didn’t get out of the carnival.”
Sven turned to face Neith, who was staring up at him, eyes as wide as saucers. “You must be pretty good with pokemon. Kirakira doesn’t let just anyone carry him around.”
“So, does that mean that Cerbero is really a crime fighting dog?” Neith said in awe.
Sven looked a bit bewildered.
“She’s a big fan of superheroes,” explained Liam. “She though that Kirakira looked like the dog from one of the shows.”
“Ooh, right.” Sven turned back to Neith. “Well, not yet. Kirakira’s still too young to fight crime, but once his training is done, the world had better watch out!” He struck another pose, and Neith’s eyes grew wider still.
“Is it ok for me to know your secret identity?” She asked.
“Oh, thats fine. I’m sure you can keep a secret.” He replied with a wink. “Now, is there any way I can thank you? I would give you free tickets, but today’s the last day before we pack up.
“Liam smiled. Well, there is one thing you could do…”


8 years later…


“Next up is Sven Davison.”
Neith sat of closer to the screen. This was what she’d been waiting for. A man dresses in red spandex, with a short cape and a helmet shaped like a wolf with an open jaw, with a black visor covering his face. Sven struck a pose then threw his pokeball high into the air.
Kira leaped out of his ball in a burst of rainbow stars, landing gracefully in the center of the stage.
The Mightyena was wearing a red scarf with orange lining, and a pair of red goggles perched on his forehead.
Energetic music started up, as the Mightyena showed off what looked like martial arts moves, standing on it’s hind legs to punch air the air with it’s forepaws, the dropping to the ground in a spinning kick.

Neith clutched her well-worn Scolipede toy to her as the MC opened the envelope. “And the winner of the 2025 2025 Slateport Contest is… Brakus and his amazing Mankey!”
Neith let out a sigh. Kira had done so well that time too. As she lay back in her bed, a notification popped up on her laptop. Cattale☆ had sent her a message.
“How did Kira lose that? That Mankey was good, but come on! Re-enacting Slaking Kong for the umpteenth time? how unoriginal can you get?”
Neith smiled and typed a reply. “Yeah. Would you believe I actually met Kira and Sven in person?”
“WHAT. WHEN? HOW!? Tell me everything!”
“Well, you see it all started when a carnival came into town…”