Previously on Galarian Days...

Zander, Wufu and Sophia return to the Crown Tundra in a reattempt to seek out the third messenger, only to catch the eye of explorer Peony and get their mission turned into one of his "adven-tours." 

-

"Might want to step lively, everyone!" Peony said as he led the three down the path of the Giant's Bed. "The weather around here can get real unpredictable, so a lot of explorers tend to end up turned around a few times! But so long as we stick together and keep a sharp eye out, we should be fine here!"

"Good to know," Sophia said, though there was a tinge of unenthusiasm that Zander picked up on.

Wufu, however, was too busy taking in the sights that were so new to him and everyone else but Peony. The fields of grass, the wildflowers dotting them, the humming in the air... "Wha- Guys, do you hear that?" he asked the group.

Everyone quieted down as Zander perked his ears up, trying to pivot them to where the song of mumbles was coming from. "Yeah, I hear it... Sounds like it could be coming from further up the path."

"Then let's go!" Peony said hushed, and the group briskly walked further up. Sure enough, the humming got clearer and clearer, until Zander's wolf ears finally got a lock on the source at the Old Cemetary. "Everyone, I think it's coming from that graveyard over there!"

"Humming in a graveyard?" Sophia speculated. "What if it could be a Ghost-type Pokemon trying to set us up for a prank?"

"Then we should be able to defend ourselves," Wufu assured. "Let's check it out."

The group carefully snuck into the cemetary, following the humming and navigating through the maze of stones and walls. Finally, they peeked into an open room, where a figure in a heavy brown coat, blue jeans and worker boots was poking his fingers in a plot of soil and planting seeds in the holes he made, as he added lyrics to the song he was humming.

"I dreamed a dream in time gone by,
When hope was high and life worth living.
I dreamed that love would never die,
I dreamed that God would be forgiving..."

As the figure turned his head, his face revealed that he was a deer; tan fur, bright eyes, and a pair of short antlers that were just coming in, indicating that he was on the cusp of adolesence. But as the deer pivoted his neck, he saw the partial view of four faces looking at him, and was given quite a fright! "AHH!"

"AHH!"

"AHH!"

"EEE!"

"AUGH!"

Quickly, the deer rushed to the back of the wall and grabbed a pitchfork in defence. "Who are you and what are you doing here!?" he said in a panic.

"Whoa! Whoa! Easy!" Zander called out, trying to sort out the situation. "No one is here to hurt you!"

"He's right!" Wufu said. "We were just wondering where the humming was coming from, that's it. Just. Stay. Calm."

After a few blinks, the deer took another look at his opposition, but couldn't see any ill will from them. "Oh," he said as he placed the pichfork back where it was. "Sorry about that. I thought no one else was around for miles and... figured I could enjoy myself a little."

"Hey, no apology neccesary," Sophia said. "Up until the panic attack, you sounded pretty good."

"Thanks," the deer said with a shy smile.

"So," Peony threw himself into the conversation with, "what might your name be? I don't believe I've ever seen you around the Crown Tundra before!"

"Well, I could tell you," the deer playfully challenged, "but didn't I ask who you were first?"

"Fair enough," Zander said. "Well, my name is Zander, and these are my friends Wufu and Sophia, and our guide Peony."

As the wolf gestured to each name said, they waved at the deer, making him feel more comfortable around them.

"Then the answer to Peony's questions," he stated, "is that my name is Calvin, and I just settled into the Tundra a few months ago. Perhaps you know of the Freeze Inn? I've sort of taken up residence there."

"Interesting," Peony mused. "So, Calvin, as for why we're here, the four of us are on an adven-tour to search for someone like these two; animal people with odd-colored fur and connected with a legendary Pokemon! You wouldn't happen to know where we'd find one around he...."

But before Peony could finish his sentence, his eyes suddenly went blank as a mysterious blue aura surrounded his body. In his sudden trance, he started to hover in midair, and his posture became straightened up, throwing everyone who was witness for a loop!

"What's going on here!?" Zander exclaimed.

"Is it the Ghost-types!?" Sophia asked.

"Show yourselves, malicious spirits!" Wufu challenged.

"Enough," Peony's entranced body said in his voice, calmly, yet with enough force to command respect. Everyone went silent at the command, and after three seconds, the floating man spoke again. "There is no need to fear, visitors. I understand your plight, and offer you my assistance."

"Peony?" Sophia cautiously asked.

"Ah, I understand your confusion, dear youth," Peony... or, whoever was speaking, said. "No, the man you know as Peony is merely serving as a vessel for me to communicate, as he has done so in the recent past. In reality, I am the diety the people of the Crown Tundra refer to as the King of Bountiful Harvests... but my true name, is Calyrex." The body then rotated towards the two colored anthros. "Zander, the Wolfen Knight of Galar, chosen by Zacian and Zamazenta, and Wufu, the Ursine Retainer of Galar, chosen by Urshifu in each of its forms. The both of you have come to the Crown Tundra to seek out the third messenger, have you not?"

"We have," both of them said together.

"I see," Calyrex said through his vessel. "Then I must inform you that I have not chosen one just yet. However, I may have found a prime candidate for one already." He then rotated towards the deer.

"Me?" Calvin asked.

"Yes," Calyrex confirmed. "Now that I have attained my fullest potential, not only am I able to speak with the voice of this man... but see through his eyes, as well." The body then gestured towards the plot of black soil where Calvin was planting. "And right now, they tell me that this field has been planted with new seeds. What kind?"

"Carrot seeds, Your Majesty," Calvin answered.

"Very good. Then this provides me with an opportunity to demonstrate the extent of my power!" Though the aura was still glowing, Peony's possessed body touched ground again... and began to do a little jig. He danced to the left, then to the right, then finished with a reach to the sky. As soon as the dance was over, the soil began to glow with a similar aura for five seconds, and when the light faded, the plot had been transformed into a fully-grown carrot patch!

"Ah, magnificent!" Calyrex spoke as his vessel rose again. "The belief in me from the people of the Crown Tundra has not faltered! Now I can imbue my powers into my vessel as well. Now, young buck, pick from this field of Shaderoot Carrots!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Calvin said as he approached the lush patch. He then bent down and gripped one of the clusters of green stems, gave a tug... and extracted a gnarly, pitch-black Shaderoot Carrot with a satisfying "pop!"

"Now, whenever you desire a Shaderoot Carrot, simply return to this field, and there shall be plenty," Calyrex explained as his vessel gestured to the patch again. Where Calvin had just picked a Shaderoot Carrot, another had just replaced it instantly! "But take heed, for you have only completed half of the first step to becoming my messenger. There are many other steps to take, which is why you shall also require this." Peony's hand then reached into his coat pocket and took out a folded piece of paper, which he then offered to Calvin.

The deer took the paper and unfolded it, revealing it to be a poem of sorts. "I had to write this in secret before sending it to the winds and having my vessel obtain it for this moment. Now, read of the scripture."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Calvin said, and after he cleared his throat, he began to read.

"Enclosed are things that you must do,
To become my new squire.
A task on which you must stay true,
And never dare to tire.

After you gain from spirits' rest,
And also gain from snow,
You must ascend the mountain's best,
And towards the shrine you'll go.

Once you are in, no need to stay,
Least you'll be in a casket,
But you must seek a bed of hay,
And right in front, a basket.

An offering of sustenance,
To please the beasts, you must.
For it shall quell their insolence,
And you shall earn their trust.

And to the magic petal blue,
You'll bind with locks of mane,
To tie together both the two
And make them one again.

Now, go forth and perform the moves
To please the harvest king,
For should you know that he approves,
His blessing he will bring."

"Now, young buck," Calyrex said, "your quest has begun to prove yourself worthy of becoming the third messenger. But fret not, for both the knight and retainer will be there to aid you, as well as I on certain occasion. Good luck." And with that, Peony's body touched ground again, and the aura faded as Calyrex cut off contact... for now.

"Ugh, what happened?" Peony said in his own words. "Did I go through one of my spells again? I feel like I missed something here..."

While Sophia stood there dumbfounded at what just transpired, Zander and Wufu only looked at each other while Calvin said, "You probably wouldn't believe us if we told you."