Chapter 1
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## File 1A

"Welcome to Stillen, where we love everyone still!"

It's still surreal that such a place exists in this galactic civilization.

Several millennia ago, a benevolent dictator managed to unite the world and vanquish evil. Since then, civilization has expanded rapidly, with a noble goal in the pursuit of knowledge. No more poverty, no more violence. In this utopian world, everyone is well-fed enough to explore anything and everything to their heart's content; each discovery just means more knowledge, after all.

A single planet was not enough to house all the accumulated knowledge. Neither was a star system. The galactic civilization, as our existence is now called, has spanned multitudes of systems across the galaxy. In a fit of pedantry, even spatial bodies are not exempt from a meticulous organization. Each system houses one "topa", the main planet devoted to one field of knowledge, plus numerous "themas", smaller satellite bodies that act as research centers for subfields of the topa. Once thought useless, this organization turns out to be a boon, allowing for both focused study in the themas and interdisciplinary work in the topas.

When one hears "knowledge", one thinks of science. And of course, one can find Topa Zero, a heaven for mathematically-inclined folks where everything is in a perfect pattern, or Here-And-Now, a place covered with numerous observatories to explore the large and laboratories to explore the small, among the numerous topas.

But knowledge is more than just science. Omnomo is *the* one stop to find any and every food to your heart's content. Gwafriplex has given birth to more pieces of art than all other topas combined, be that pictures, writing, music, or any other form. And Hedonia is known as the "pleasure paradise" for a good reason.

Hedonia is such a warm and inviting place. Everyone is friendly -- not that it isn't the case everywhere else too, but people seem to be even *more* friendly here. Smiles everywhere, plenty of "hi" s and "hello"s, lots of hugs and cuddles. And pleasure is not bound to mere affections, either; wherever your eyes are directed, there's a good chance you can see a pair of furs making love out in the open. Occasionally several pairs, and sometimes it's less a "pair" and more an "orgy".

The themas of Hedonia are devoted to more specific explorations of bodily pleasure. In other words, fetishes. From mild ones like feet and tickling to more surreal ones like transformation and vore. Fortunately, being Hedonia, everyone is accepting of differences; if your kink is not someone's thing, they will still be happy for you and will not heckle or harass you. Such is the magical world of consent. Even more, often themas that explore such mind-boggling kinks end up attracting curious tourists who wish to explore and learn more about the place, such as the Smeargle that has just set foot on Stillen.

## File 1B

Naturally art-inclined, the nonbinary Smeargle known as Khuwa is a small artist that lives in the topa of Gwafriplex, specializing in paintings of a unique "nondescript" style. Be that portraits of people or landscapes of sceneries, they are all rendered in a simplistic style that blurs some of the details, making out the desired aspects of the picture stand out. While it is not easy to make your name known in a world stocked full of creative people, Khuwa does have a decent following online, and they are happy enough that their audience likes the pieces of art they draw. They also have a couple of pieces displayed in an indie museum for smaller artists, which just cemented their name even better.

And like many Gwafriplex residents, Khuwa themself has a rather decorated body. A Smeargle is essentially an artsy humanoid, with a beret "cap" that is really part of their head and a tail that extends to a paintbrush. It is common for a Smeargle to become an artist due to their natural upbringing; at the same time, their "blank canvas" body is so ripe for some personal touch of their own. Khuwa's form is somewhat anthropomorphized, giving them longer legs and thus making them taller than usual. Their body is white like canvas, and wherever a usual Smeargle would be brown, it is instead a bright fiery orange color on Khuwa. Instead of a footprint mark on their back, they sport their signature, a simple yet distinctive sign rendered in the same orange: the tuft of a paintbrush together with a bit of the handle, outlined with two curved lines and filled in with three more, with two dots filled in to resemble eyes.

Unlike some Gwafrians that like to dress extravagantly, Khuwa's attire is relatively much more benign. Nearly every time, the only piece of clothing on them is a seemingly-oversized shirt that extends past the waist and nearly reaches the hips, except that most of the back has been cut off with only two inches of "collar" remaining. (The design of the shirt varies plenty, though.) This leaves their signature mark on the back visible and lets their tail swish around unhindered. There are no pants needed for this Pokémorph, as the lack of any visible genitals precludes the necessity of them.

It would have been an easy life, having found one's purpose like this. Just draw and make people happy. But, in a civilization driven by curiosity, they can't help but seek out other experiences too. What might they have been missing out on?

Intertopa travel is commonplace, and Khuwa does know about various other topas. They occasionally visit other topas both to indulge in what they have to offer, as well as to get inspiration for future works. Currently, they are exploring Hedonia's themas, driven by the desire to explore more fringe fetishes and expand their knowledge.

Hedonia regularly publishes travel guides that explore its numerous themas. In the latest issue, Khuwa found a feature with the title "Would You Visit These Mind-Boggling Themas?" and learned about Stillen: a thema that explores the immobility fetish, appreciating it in the form of turning into statues and other ways of becoming completely still. Their curiosity was piqued two-fold. First, are there really people that are into that? How does it work? And second, statues are art too, and it seems like this whole thema also enjoys art. Perhaps they might find something fascinating here.

Deciding Stillen will be their next visit, the Smeargle heads to the Hedonia Station, finding a pair of teleport pads directed toward Stillen. With their resolve and curiosity firmly in mind, they step into one and promptly vanish in a blinding light.

## File 1C

As with any intratopa journey -- a teleport between a topa and its thema -- it ends as quickly as it begins. Just a few seconds after Khuwa steps onto the pad, the light that envelops them fades away, and they are greeted by an elegant circular room. Marble walls and pillars decorate this chamber, used both for arrival and departure. Two teleport pads point back to Hedonia, but Khuwa is thoroughly surprised to see a third pad bearing the name "Gwafriplex Hub". There was a direct connection from Gwafriplex to here? They know the only reason there would be one is that this thema, whatever it might be, is deemed topically adjacent to the artsy Gwafriplex. There is only one way out that leads further into Stillen, though, and it sends Khuwa into a curved corridor.

One side of the corridor features a beautiful mosaic mural, spanning the whole fifteen-foot height of the pathway. Made of hundreds of thousands of small, colorful ceramic pieces, the mural displays pictures of numerous furs, easily over a hundred. Although the mural is just a static and unmoving picture, each one of them is radiating such joy -- whether smiling widely, waving excitedly, or greeting new arrivals in any other way -- that Khuwa can't help but also smile at such a warm welcome.

The other side has full-length windows, giving a clear look toward the garden just beyond. Numerous statues decorate the grounds, every single one in the shape of a furson, in such serene poses that the Smeargle can't help but also let their worries melt away into a calm, peaceful feeling.

A short walk later, after Khuwa has had some time to appreciate the wonderful displays of art around them, the Smeargle arrives at what seems to be the reception area. Two anthropomorphic Vulpixes, one Kantonian and one Alolan, perk up and greet the Smeargle with a cheerful chime at the same time. "Welcome to Stillen, where we love everyone still!"

Khuwa is slightly flustered; they didn't expect to see someone right away. It's not the fact that they meet other Pokémorphs -- furries are aplenty in the civilization, and many Pokémon designs are cute and practical enough to share space with more mundane animals. It's simply the fact that they meet someone at all, so early during their visit. But they walk forward to the desk, managing a shy smile as the two fox-like Pokémon continue.

"Let us give you a quick introduction to this lovely place! I am Vula, the younger brother of us twins," the brown one speaks up, his six tails swaying lightly. The white one follows, "And I am Pixa, the older sister. Honestly, isn't it interesting we look so different?"

Those are certainly some unusual names... hold on. "Wait, Vula and Pixa? Because you two are Vulpixes?" Khuwa asks.

Vula just giggles at the Smeargle's observation as Pixa nods eagerly. "Pretty easy to remember, right? But enough about us, let's talk Stillen."

"I assume you've heard about what's happening in this thema of Hedonia already," Vula says, "but in case you haven't: Stillen is a thema that explores the immobility fetish! Every single resident here enjoys being turned immobile, inanimate. You have seen the murals and the statues."

Khuwa glances at the corridor behind them. "Those? They were *all* people?" The shared smile of the twins is everything the Smeargle needs to know that the answer is a resounding "yes".

"But it's not just statues and murals," Pixa picks up, "we have many more. Paintings. Mummies. Resin-cast figures. Glued vac beds. It even extends to inanimate transformations: blankets, bicycles, adult toys, Pokéballs, water bottles, lucky cats, Easter chocolate eggs... You get the idea."

There is no hint of shyness or embarrassment on the faces of the twins. Instead, Khuwa can see them glowing with pride. "What we're saying is," Vula concludes, "we're a whole bunch of weirdos here, and we love it. If you're already weirded out, you can return to the teleport pads and we won't hold you against it. If you're still curious, though, we're happy to talk more about this wonderful home of ours."

Khuwa takes a moment to process what has just been said. All those words boil down to just another re-statement of what they've already heard about this thema, but being physically present here is something else entirely. The Smeargle can even begin to recognize the shapes of fursons around the reception area. The wall behind the Vulpix siblings? Embossed relief of four people. The potted plants that sandwich several benches? More people; in fact, Khuwa bets the benches were people too. Models on the calendar, the gallon at the water dispenser, tiny people that hold up direction signs...

One thing in common, though, is that they cannot see a sad face anywhere. Everyone (that still has any face, at least) seems to be smiling and happy. The twin receptionists are teeming with joy. It's as if the whole place is deeply passionate about this fetish they believe in. In a sense, Gwafriplex isn't too different; everyone there is also passionate about their craft. Perhaps that *is* why there is a direct connection to the art topa.

After that moment of thought, as their eyes meet the Vulpixes again, Khuwa gives a warm smile. "Oh, no, I'm staying. You all sound incredibly eager; I'd love to listen more."

## File 1D

Pixa clasps her paws as she smiles brightly. "Before you're freaked out about being dragged into things, though, I can assure you that you won't get involved unless you consent to it. You do have to accept that people have their own interests; I'm pretty sure that's a good rule of thumb across the whole Hedonia, not just here. If people are doing something you don't like, but they don't otherwise disturb you, just move on. So, accepting people is a must."

Vula ducks underneath the counter and retrieves a wristband to be brought into view. "Participating, though, is another matter. Even Stillians that love being arted sometimes need a break, you know? Like right now, when we're working. Consent is vital, just like everywhere in Hedonia, and this wristband is our solution."

Khuwa stops the Vulpixes for a moment. "Stillian? Arted?"

"Oh. Our slangs, yes," Vula chuckles sheepishly. "'Stillian' is just a name for a Stillen resident, and more generally an adjective describing Stillen. You know, like Hedonian for Hedonia. Meanwhile, 'to art' is a verb meaning to turn someone into an art piece, one way or another. Much simpler than saying 'turn someone immobile' or such, y'know?"

Khuwa snickers lightly. "Makes sense. Continue please. You were talking about wristbands?"

The Kantonian Vulpix nods before tapping on the wristband and sliding his finger briefly along the band in one direction. Khuwa's eyes widen as the color of the band shifts from blue to red. Demonstrating further, the Vulpix drags that digit in the other direction, twice. The band shifts hue again, from red back to blue, and then to green. Regardless of the color, it has a subtle glow.

"The color of your wristband indicates your state of consent," Vula explains. "It has three colors: red, blue, and green. The most common color you'll find is blue. It means, you're open to be arted, but you wish to be informed beforehand, so people should ask you first. Red means you're not willing; tourists that are still getting used to the place, as well as Stillians that are busy doing other stuff, be that working or what else." On the context of working, Pixa shows her wristband as an example. "And red is also the default color if you happen to be missing your wristband for any reason."

Vula takes a breath before continuing. "The opposite in the spectrum is green. Green says you're willing, and not only that, people don't have to ask. Remember blue means people have to ask you? So blue needs your explicit consent first. Sometimes you're in the mood to get even more playful, though, and you want to be surprised; green is the way to go. Not many people venture green, and I think I can count on my tails the number of people that are always green, but the option is there."

"No need to be asked... implicit consent?" Khuwa reasons.

Pixa beams with a smile and nods enthusiastically. "Exactly! The usual analogy I make is, some people actually *enjoy* nonconsensual things. Pardon my language, but some people get turned on by being raped. It's like, 'consent for non-consent stuff'. You get it? It's a similar idea here."

Khuwa chuckles a bit. "Like being raped? To be honest, I don't quite get it yet, but I certainly don't hold it against people that do enjoy it."

The Vulpixes smile and nod appreciatively. "That's the spirit of acceptance," Vula says with a beaming smile of gratitude. The two Vulpixes share the same thought: this visitor is so nice, they will likely enjoy their time here.

The Smeargle's eyes wander around the room again, looking at the various furs that have been turned into decorations. They are incredibly pretty and cute! Yet Khuwa can't help but wonder about the elephant in the room. Figured there's nothing lost by asking, they just ask the nagging question in their mind. "Are they alive?"

"Of course!" Vula says with a giggle. "They are all very much alive."

"Wait, really?!"

## File 1E

Pixa smiles, very much used to this reaction from visitors. "All these statues and murals and so on? They are very much alive and aware, although usually in a fleeting, half-awake consciousness. And before you ask, they have other, animate, clones."

"Clones?"

Vula gives a little snicker. "I hope you weren't thinking that we would be one-and-done! It would be so sad if we became an object and then... that's it. We want to become *more* objects. Not only that, but we want the resulting art pieces to be available for viewing forever, or as long as we can maintain them."

Pixa gestures to the wing labeled "Clone Registration Service", one of the exits leading out of the reception area. "We have an extensive system for cloning. Every Stillian is registered, and we also ask every tourist who even has the slightest fleeting thought that they might get arted to also register. To put it simply, once you end up arted one way or another, the cloning system will create a new body for you, with the exact same consciousness, memories, and so on. Basically, it is completely indistinguishable from you. And since the clone *is* you, you can continue living your life in the new body as if nothing happened."

Vula can see Khuwa's fidgeting motions, clearly rather uneasy at the idea. "Here in Stillen, it is normal and accepted. The alternative of us only being able to experience immobility once is just too sad to consider; we want to explore and experience life!"

"What about the other direction? Clone a new you and have the clone... umm, get arted?" Khuwa wonders. "Or even, just clone a new you in general."

"Then the animate copy has no memories of being arted!" Pixa answers. "You won't know how it feels, you can only see from outside. If you get cloned after you're arted, the memories of you being arted will remain in the new clone; you get to vividly describe your experience to people, or reminiscence on that, or whatever. That is why the large majority, and the default, is to get cloned after you're definitively arted."

Vula points out, "Although, you *are* allowed to have multiple copies for any reason, including multiple animate ones. We recognize sometimes you have a grand artistic idea that demands it, or you simply want to have fun having another you around. You may go to one of our rebirth centers to request one; we just ask you to not abuse it."

Seeing Khuwa is silent and satisfied with the answer, Pixa resumes the exposition. "It does take an hour or two to make a new clone. It gives you time to appreciate your new fate as a beautiful piece, and it's also because our cloning service is always hard at work, twenty-four-seven, so it can't be instant. You can even delay the rebirth longer if you wish to experience the still life even more, however long you want."

The Alolan Vulpix girl lets out a sigh, her expression turning serious. "But more importantly, the cloning service is the whole reason this whole thema can work. It gives you a way out, since our arting methods are usually not reversible. For the same reason, if you're not registered, your wristband will detect it and it will remain red; you cannot change it by yourself."

"By myself? Someone else can change it?"

"The Maestros upstairs can," Pixa gestures towards the stairs behind the counter. "Well, not change the wristband, but let someone undergo what we call the 'death art' process. If you want to get arted without a clone to follow you -- this includes if you choose to delay your rebirth for a long time -- you are essentially saying you want to die. For real. Become an object for the one last time, forever to not move ever again, neither you nor any clone. As you might be able to tell, it's a very big deal; while not illegal, it is something we have to confirm that you are really, *really* sure you want it. The Maestros are the ones that will hear you for that."

Vula snickers, "It's a good way for exhbitionists, though. Given it's a really big deal, the whole Stillen's likely gonna be attendance."

Pixa just smacks her twin lightly. "Jeez, it's not something to joke about. It's a serious matter." Vula just chuckles sheepishly.

Khuwa clasps their paintbrush tail against their chest and paws. "I think I'm not gonna go down that path any time soon. Or ever. Thanks for the info, though."

Vula snickers again. "Don't worry, most residents don't either. Well, when they reach their elderly ages, once they are satisfied with their life, they usually create one final art, their grandest piece, going through the death art process. But otherwise, it doesn't happen much. There have been only, what, three cases this decade? Of people taking the death art process prematurely, I mean."

"Makes sense. And wow, it has been a lot of information. Anything else I should know, or I suppose I should register myself?"

Before the Vulpixes can answer, though, there is an excited, giddy squeal heard from the clone registration wing. "Gosh! Is that Khuwa?"

## File 1F

The three of them turn their heads to look at the source of the voice. Out from the clone registration wing comes out a bipedal, fox-like Pokémon known as Braixen; she is clearly very excited, her arm wildly waving her crystal wand around. "Are you Khuwa? Yes you are! Gosh, I'm a big fan, but I never would have expected to see you here." The Braixen's words fly out of her mouth, barely recognizable for the Smeargle.

"I don't think I've ever seen you this excited, Serena!" Pixa exclaims with a chuckle. "Where did you recognize them? A friend?"

Serena shakes her head. "Nuh-uh! They are an artist, a painter specifically, and I'm a big fan of their work online. I have a few pieces hung in there!" she explains while pointing to the registration service.

"A painter! From Gwafriplex?" Vula asks, to which Khuwa answers with a nod. "That's so cool! Did you come here for leisure? For work? You know, I think you'll really enjoy it here; in essence, all of us are artists too."

The Smeargle nods to the statement. "Sort of both: leisure, but also looking for inspiration. And yes, I can see you all being passionate about creating new things. You're most certainly artists; that's why there's a teleport to Gwafriplex, right?" The Vulpixes and the Braixen all nod together.

"Well, I'm very glad you're visiting our place," Pixa says with a smile. "Hopefully you'll have plenty of experience, motivation, and inspiration when you return home. Oh! You should visit the Academy; you can learn the trade of arting people there. Might be cool to have a work that was formerly a furson, I think!"

Khuwa raises their brow, nodding to the suggestion. "It sounds pretty interesting, for sure; I'll be sure to visit. Sounds like my itinerary here just got a whole lot longer." The reception area just breaks into a burst of laughter.

"So, was there anything else to know?" Khuwa asks after a minute.

"Oh! Well, not too many things. Honestly, it can be summarized as 'Hedonia rules still apply'," Pixa answers. "For example, public nudity is fine. You will see a lot of us wear very little if at all."

That comment draws Khuwa's attention to their state of attire. It is not particularly surprising that Serena, the Braixen, is nude, given that she is a feral. Her wristband is the only thing decorating her, currently showing red -- and in a way, adding nicely to her fire-themed coloration. However, instead of a tree branch that Braixens have, Serena has a pretty and gleaming translucent crystal wand; it is often found tucked into her giant bushy tail, although she occasionally waves it around wildly as if using it as a magic wand. The red tufts of fur pointing out of her ears have also been trimmed short, being closer to her pre-evolution of a Fennekin.

The anthro Vulpix siblings are just as naked, though. The only articles of clothing on their bodies, if they can be called clothes in the first place, are bow ribbon accessories. Vula has two snowy white ones, one on the right ear and one on the leftmost tail. Pixa has two fiery red ones, one on the left ear and one on the rightmost tail. Such symmetry! Both of them also have wristbands on their left wrists; as explained earlier, they are both red since the 'pixes are working. Other than that, they don't have a stitch of clothing on their bodies; their fur is fluffy and thick enough to cover any detail, however.

Pixa continues the explanation, "A big reason is simply convenience. The arting techniques we have are usually bad with clothes, so we simply strip every time we're going to be arted. And then it's just easier to stay naked all the time, or at least make it as easy as possible to ditch the clothes. After all, time spent disrobing is time wasted not arting, yes?"

"Can't argue with that..." Khuwa says with a snerk. "So, should I strip now?" But they didn't wait for an answer. With only one article of clothing, their shirt leaves their body promptly, to be stuffed into the duffel bag they are carrying, leaving the Smeargle just as bare.

"I was gonna say we won't force you," Pixa finally answers after a pause, "but it seems we don't even need to encourage you."

To the side, the Braixen is visibly flustering red. Not only she has met one of her favorite artists, but she is seeing them naked? She is sooo not ready for today. The Smeargle themself doesn't appear to be too distressed at this; they even find Serena's attitude cute and pretty funny, and the whole hall erupts in a cackle of giggles.

"Anyway..." Pixa continues. "Not only public nudity is allowed, but public sex is also allowed. If you want to bang in the open, feel free." Pixa glances briefly at her Kantonian brother with a little giggle, which just draws a blush from the older twin. "Again, nobody's judging you. You'll find it's less common here than in Hedonia, just because we're much more into becoming statues instead, but it is allowed."

Vula exclaims an 'oh!' as he recounts a brief tale. "We once surveyed our residents not too long ago. The most common reasons for sex are: first, they want to make a piece of art that *is* lewd and requires it; and second, they just want to share a nice, fun moment with friends. The first reason makes a lot of sense, and the second reason's pretty cute and endearing."

Pixa hands Khuwa a pamphlet. A brief read of it tells that it is mainly a summary of what has been said, so they just put it into their bag. "Lots of talk, but ultimately only four points you need to know: immobilization world, Hedonia rules, wristbands, and cloning. You should be good to register for cloning..."

The Smeargle and the Vulpixes glance at the Braixen. She's still flustering, her palms on her face to try hiding her blush.

"...as soon as Serena is functioning again," Pixa finishes her sentence, which draws a laughter from the three and an even deeper blush from Serena. "After that, you come back here and grab a wristband."

## File 1G

"AH-NY-WAY," Serena finally speaks up with a wild gesture of her rod-holding paw. She and Khuwa have walked the short distance to the cloning wing, giving time for the Braixen to recover. "Welcome to Stillen, yes, I'm a big fan of you and I'm still in shock. Sorry 'bout that."

"No worries. I didn't expect to find someone that knew me, and I'm glad you like my work," the Smeargle replies nonchalantly with a smile.

The circular room is largely barren, although its walls do have several paintings and pictures displayed. Khuwa can indeed spot a couple of their works among the dozen or so they can see, as the Braixen mentioned earlier. The most recognizable feature of the room, though, is the three cylindrical capsules that stand from the ground and extend all the way to the fifteen-foot ceiling. Each one is opaque, its casing subtly glowing green, and it is approximately ten feet in diameter, easily fitting several furs with room to spare. A complex-looking computer is in front of each tube. Serena is tapping on one of them; with a final push of a button, a capsule opens its door to reveal its contents. The interior of the chamber is much dimmer, the only illumination being the glowing floor that emits a pale blue light. There is a plastic container box to the side.

"Please step in!" Serena says with a smile. "The box is meant to be for clothing; we do need people to be fully nude during the scanning, as we want to capture their bodies precisely and exactly." The Braixen continues with a shy blush, "You don't need the box though."

Once Khuwa enters the capsule, the door closes behind them. And out of nowhere, they can hear the Braixen's voice again. "Please take a neutral pose and say 'OK'! Then stay still until the process is complete." The Smeargle does as said, standing upright with no flourish whatsoever, and then says the word.

The walls of the chamber begin to come to life. Discrete rings of the same pale blue light begin to appear on the circular wall, starting from the ground level and rising up, each one about six inches thick. Only two rings are lit at a time; when the third comes on, the first one goes off. The rings only stop rising once both lit rings are above their beret-like hair. Believing the process is complete, Khuwa tries to move to a more relaxed pose... and is surprised and rather alarmed when they cannot.

"Beginning scanning," the Braixen's voice can be heard again. So what was the previous one for? Was that only to put them in stasis? Regardless, with the Smeargle being thoroughly unable to move in the slightest, they only have their thoughts to entertain them. They can at least see the progress as rings light up in the opposite direction, although somewhat slower than before; it took around one, maybe two minutes before the rings reach the ground.

Those rings of light fade away, and with that, Khuwa suddenly gains the ability to move once again. It takes them by surprise, and they nearly fall over. That brief moment of immobility caught them off guard, and a part of them was terrified at the loss of control. Yet, it wasn't too bad; it didn't hurt the slightest bit, and it was strangely... peaceful and serene. They can hear Serena's voice once more, "Scanning complete! Step to the door any time."

Khuwa steps over to the door, which opens automatically, and they are met with Serena's apologetic smile. "I could sense that brief moment of panic from outside. I did say about staying still, but I forgot to say that part of the process *would* actually make you stay still for a moment; that was entirely my fault. I hope you're feeling better now and not distressed by that; feel free to take a breather if you need. This is when I would normally ask for your name to be entered into the system, but..." She chuckles sheepishly. "Well, I already know that."

She taps on the computer and presses a button. The screen shows a loading animation, before shortly after turns into a big "OK". Serena then turns to Khuwa, "That's all that's needed from your end! The system is currently processing it. It will take some time, about half an hour or so. But don't worry, if you're already arted by then, the rebirth process will automatically start once the registration is complete. Your last step is to get your wristband, and then you're ready to go. Although..."

Khuwa cocks his head. "Although?"

Serena blushes again as she looks at the Smeargle she adores. "C-Can I take you on a tour around?" Her words fly out of her mouth before she can realize that, and she puts her paws on her muzzle immediately after. "I mean! You probably have your own thing, that's okay if you do."

Surprising the Braixen and perhaps deepening her blush, Khuwa smiles and nods affirmatively. "Absolutely. I need a guide around anyway and I'd appreciate your company!"

"O-Oh! Okay, t-thank you!" Serena stammers, clutching her wand against her chest. "I can also inform a Maestro while you're getting your wristband."

## File 1H

The reception area is slightly busier when Khuwa and Serena leave the wing. Vula and Pixa are still there, but there are also two others tending behind the counter. One is an anthro Eevee that wears a purple headband; the other is a pink vulpine figure that seems to be made of some sort of cream. On the tourist side of the counter are a couple of cats, one black and one brown, as well as a goat-like creature that Khuwa recognizes as an unmonster. (Khuwa knows that species name comes from a shortening of "Undertale monster", and coincidentally also befits the fact that these creatures look nothing scary like the word "monster" would imply, hence the "un-". It is a mystery where the name "Undertale" comes from, though.)

Khuwa has also learned to spot wristbands better. Vula and Pixa are still wearing red, and the cream fox's is also red -- how that creature is wearing a wristband in the first place is baffling for them. However, the Eevee is blue. The cats and the unmonster don't have any wristbands yet, which suggests they are likely tourists. Khuwa themself doesn't have a wristband either, although they are getting one soon. And Serena... wait, wasn't hers red earlier? They can see that it is blue, now. When did she change it?

Noticing Khuwa's exit from the wing, Vula waves to catch their attention. "Over here!" the Kantonian Vulpix says, his paw holding a wristband. Khuwa comes over to have the younger twin apply that wristband to their arm. It feels snug yet light, and soon enough it no longer bothers them at all. "You kinda forget about it after some time. If you get arted, someone can take it off you and bring it back to us; your new clone will also be given a wristband."

"I must say, this place is... very different from my expectations," Khuwa explains to Vula, with Serena listening. Both of them give a curious 'oh?', which prompts the Smeargle to continue. "I've seen a couple of other themas before, and they are quite laser-focused on their single fetish. Here, well, you *are* also focused on it, but it feels like a... community. A society. You develop your technologies. Wristbands and cloning. You have people *working*, for god's sake, and working relatively mundane stuff like greeting people and operating machinery. Sure, someone has to, but you look happy working. You're all operating like you're a big, tight-knit family."

Vula and Serena both widen their smiles. Not only that, but the Eevee seems to have observed them, too, and he likewise beams a smile at the Smeargle. "You won't believe how much that makes us happy," Vula says after a moment. "Yes, we are family. We love everyone. We love 'everyone still', but we also love 'everyone', still. And hearing that from someone that's like... what, not even an hour here? That's incredibly reassuring, it says what we're doing is right. Making Stillen a nice community is our purpose, and we're delighted to be validated that way." Serena is nodding excitedly with every word.

"And to say, I've only seen this area! I haven't even stepped out of the building," Khuwa adds, which gets a laugh.

That comment makes Serena perk up, and she waves over at the Eevee with her crystal rod. "Oh! Yes, I should report. Veeee?~ Do you have someone to tend the CRS? I want to give Khuwa a tour."

The Eevee comes over to look at Serena. "Khuwa?" He then looks at the Smeargle thoughtfully, as if studying their form. After a few moments, he finally starts speaking. "Thank you for your kind words about Stillen! On behalf of the Maestros, welcome!"

"Wait, you're a Maestro?" Khuwa asks. From what they heard earlier, it sounded like the Maestros are highly respected in the community. They certainly didn't expect to meet one of them right here. Or see one tending as a receptionist.

"Oh! Yes, I'm Vee, one of the Stillen Maestros. I take it they didn't explain about this?" the Eevee asks, to which the Vulpix siblings shake their heads. "Tsktsk. I'll make sure to properly 'punish' them later and make some cute rugs out of them." There's a shared giggle of the Vulpixes. Khuwa initially appears confused and dumbfounded, but after getting that it was just a joke and the twins weren't in trouble or did anything wrong, they join with a chuckle.

"Okay, so," Vee continues. "We're a community, but we're pretty large, easily a town's worth of people or so. Someone has to take the charge, so people have guidance on where to go when they need answers. That's where the Maestros come in. We're the tribal chiefs, the parliament, the leaders of Stillen." Khuwa gives an understanding nod.

"You can always spot us with these," Vee says, pointing to the purple headband. "All Maestros wear something with this royal purple color, with the Stillen insignia. Sometimes it's a headband, sometimes a handkerchief tied to a wrist, sometimes painted directly on fur, you get the idea. Anyone else may use the logo freely, but not use the same purple color for it."

"And if you want to see any Maestro, you can always ask us, or whoever receptionist is on duty," Vula adds. "They aren't scary! They just want us to prosper, so we can keep doing everything we love. They might be busy, though."

Khuwa gestures to the counter. "And part of the job is to do receptionist duty?"

Vee snickers. "Not exactly, but since we want to keep Stillen working, we're ready to substitute in many of the jobs. Including reception. And," he turns to Serena, "yes, cloning registration duty too. Did you want to take Khuwa on a tour? Feel free to enjoy yourself, Serena; just promise to take our dear guest for a ride."

The Braixen squeals briefly upon being addressed, having forgotten she asked that. She nods eagerly with a smile. "Will do!"

"Once again, I hope you'll find your stay here to be a lot of fun," Vee addresses Khuwa once more, also handing them a booklet of maps and various attractions to visit, which the Smeargle accepts gratefully. "I also heard you're an artist, so hopefully this visit will give you plenty of inspiration you wouldn't have otherwise even dreamed of having."

Khuwa's lips curl into a wide grin. "Oh, don't worry, I already have quite some ideas. But, thank you dearly." He turns to the Vulpixes as well, "Thank you to you, too, for such a warm welcome. Please do take care!" And with a wave, Vula, Pixa, and Vee send Khuwa off, with Serena accompanying the Smeargle.



Chapter 2
---------

## File 2A

As the two leave the Reception Hall, Khuwa takes in the sights, looking around and trying to commit all they can see to their mind. Meanwhile, Serena has a wide smile on her face, topped with a cute blush on her cheeks. Imagine, walking by the side of her admiration! Giving them a tour, even! The weather is sunny and warm with a little breeze. Just like in Hedonia itself, people here are very pleasant and nice, always offering a welcoming smile whenever one passes by the pair.

"So, that was the Reception Hall," Serena explains, pointing to the building they had just left from. From the outside, it appears to be white marble with three stories, capped with a dome-shaped roof. "Pretty easy name to remember. Its name is because it is the only teleport out of Stillen, so everyone arriving is received there. The clone registration service is also there, and the upper floors serve as an office for the Maestros."

"And that is Gracee Park," Serena points to a garden right next to the Reception Hall. "That's 'grey-SEE', like you want to pronounce 'grace' and 'grassy' together. It has the statues you saw when you arrived here! And it's a nice place to relax in the middle of this busy district."

"Very pretty," Khuwa nods with a smile. "I take it this is just one of the many parks here in Stillen? And... district?"

"Yeah!" Serena nods affirmatively. "There are four districts: Admin, Beauty, Commune, and Dwelling. Admin is for 'useful' things, like offices; it's relatively small, but it is indispensable. Beauty is one of our largest districts with a lot of things that are simply pretty. Commune is more for daily life, like restaurants and stuff, and Dwelling is for homes. Each one specializes in a specific thing. Like, there are parks in every district, but the largest ones are in Beauty. You can find eateries everywhere for a quick snack and such, but the best restaurants are in Commune."

The Braixen adds, "It sounds like a lot of movement -- and it is! -- but we have the usual common transportation. Walking, sliding roads, hopping pads." Khuwa knows about the sliding road technology: major walkways lined with packed tiny spheres infused with magic. They can simply focus on a direction to travel toward, and the spheres rotate by magic to carry them forward. It is not very common in the civilization, but it's not unheard of; themas that have an affinity with nature usually use them as a replacement for vehicles. Short-distance hopping pads are perhaps the most widespread form of transportation, much like the more long-distance teleport pads, and not unlike bus stops; they can stand on one and think of the name of another pad nearby, and they will be swiftly teleported over. When the goal is to sightsee, though, hopping pads aren't very useful.

The duo continue to wander around. Now that Khuwa knows there are sliding roads, they slide instead, with Serena following suit. It is still Stillen, and wherever they go, it's always pretty. It is still pretty, even for a "functional" district like the Admin District. People can be seen wandering around, walking and talking and eating. It sometimes feels like this place is just one very normal thema with very normal people.

There is always a uniquely Stillen experience visible somewhere, though; people are always eager to make new art pieces. For example, to the side is a small eatery that appears to be making a new welcome decoration. An anthro fennec with pink hair can be seen quivering as a translucent adhesive substance is being applied all over her body, gluing her in place and right next to the front door of the café. A closer look reveals that the shudder is not from discomfort or second thoughts of backing out; instead, it is from pleasure, as an egg vibrator has been sealed on her blank, null crotch. Khuwa looks amused at the sight, while Serena's blush deepens slightly. Neither of them says anything, though, and both keep their smile on. Whenever Khuwa starts to forget the wackiness of the thema, there is always someone -- or something -- to remind them that, yes, this is still Stillen, the people here are weirdos, and they all love it.

Khuwa passes by a large complex, with a tall tower bearing a clock on it. It reminds them of a school. In fact, it probably *is* a school; a monument at the front of the complex bears the name "Stillen Academy of Arts". Maybe this is the Academy that Pixa talked about earlier. Two scaled-up people, both frozen in stone, stand up on opposite sides of a circular grassy patch, and a rectangular slab of stone with the name of the academy is supported on top of raised arms. Khuwa pauses their sliding, taking a good look at the place.

Serena stops as well, seeing Khuwa's interest. "And this is the Academy. A lot of people learn their trade on working art with people here. There are actually one-off classes open to the public too!"

"Is that so?" Khuwa raises a brow. "If you don't mind, let's explore in, then."

"Let's!" Serena nods with a big smile, and the two head into the school, departing for the building bearing the big clock.

## File 2B

The Smeargle and the Braixen find themselves in a large hall, lined with stained glass windows. Numerous kinds of art are displayed in the hall; statues and sculptures are the most widespread, but paintings can also be easily found, with a smaller selection of other forms of exhibits. Visitors, including the duo, are directed to a counter desk in the middle of the hall.

Tending the counter is an anthro Sky Forme Shaymin that is currently on duty to receive guests. Khuwa does notice that the Skymin doesn't appear to be flesh and blood, but more made of ink instead. They have heard of toons, but this is the first time they see one. Like many people in Stillen, the toon is fully nude, with just a wristband; perhaps due to being a cartoon character, though, he doesn't sport anything unsightly. Slightly surprising the Smeargle, that wristband is colored green; that's the first one they see around here.

"Welcome to the Academy!" Sky greets the two, before pausing as he takes a better look. And then he jumps, a few inches into the air. "Whoa! Are you Khuwa? The real Khuwa?"

"Hi, Sky!" Serena smiles with a wave. "And yep, they are! Isn't that amazing?"

"Oh, hi Serena, you too! But wow, what brings them here? Are they visiting? You two touring around?" The Skymin is certainly still surprised and amazed at the sudden visit, looking over the Smeargle from head to feet.

Khuwa bows lightly. "I am Khuwa, yes. Thank you for the welcome! I honestly didn't know I had quite some fans here. Serena is one, and apparently, you know my name too... Sky?"

Sky nods. "Sky indeed! And yep, I've heard of your name; I do like your pieces! I think Serena is the biggest fan of you that I know though." The Braixen simply giggles with a shy blush.

Khuwa just smiles toward the Braixen, before nodding again to the toon. "And yes, I'm visiting; we're touring around with Serena as a guide. I saw this academy and I was interested, so I wanted to give a peek here. Serena even says this place offers one-off classes?"

"That we do, indeed!" Sky beams proudly. "No better way to get people to appreciate Stillian works than making some themselves. Often that means they become art, but sometimes, for example in this academy, they *make* art."

After thinking for a bit, a lightbulb quite literally appears above the Skymin's head out of thin air as he says "a-ha!", and the bulb vanishes just as quickly. "I have an idea for a class for you, Khuwa! If you want, I can teach you. And Serena," he looks at the Braixen with a grin bearing some mischief in it, "you can very much join the class! In fact, you'll have to. For... reasons."

Khuwa looks over at the Braixen with some confusion, while Serena just beams a blushy smile. "Okay!" the fire-wielding fox says. She has no need of asking what exactly she's being signed up for; she just knows she will appreciate it, especially as she seems to be helping her adored Smeargle artist. "You wanna take the class?" she continues, asking Khuwa.

The Smeargle just shrugs their shoulders before nodding. They *were* the one interested in this place, and they *were* looking for first-hand experience in arting, so they certainly are glad for this opportunity. "Yep!"

The toon Skymin smiles appreciatively, clasping his hands. "Now then, come follow me! It's on the fourth floor; the elevator's over here."

## File 2C

The classroom is pretty much an artist's studio, something Khuwa is very familiar with. There is already a canvas set up, although it is laid down on the ground, with some plastic covering the floor. Numerous cans of paint have been set up, with a wide selection of brushes. Whatever class Khuwa is going to take here, it must be something related to painting; Sky must have appealed to their known strengths already.

"Okay! So, in Stillen, art is made from a combination of factors," Sky tells Khuwa. "The artist, the techniques, the materials -- both the mundane and the special." At the mention of 'special' materials, the toon glances over at Serena, which just makes the Braixen blush more. "You cannot underestimate the importance of the materials. For example, even if you're making someone into a statue by plastering cement all over them, you kinda have to use Stillian cement; it has been infused with some magic to allow preserving the furson inside, so they no longer need to breathe or eat or whatever. With just regular cement, the fur will likely perish quickly. Not strictly a problem with art, but that's a bit unfortunate when the goal is to enjoy your time being still, yeah?"

Khuwa looks over at the cans of paint. "Let me guess: the paint is also magical, then. But... how does it 'trap' anyone?"

Sky grins at that inquiry. "Very good question, because you're about to find out first hand. How this paint is magical is that it wants to bond with canvas and other surfaces. If you, as the painter, also focus your desire and work the paint to create a painting, there's virtually nothing that can separate the paint from the surface... including other furs."

"So the paint 'flattens' furs into the canvas," Khuwa concludes with a little bit of thinking. "And you want me to produce a new painting..." They glance at the Braixen, before looking back at Sky, "...featuring none other than our lovely Braixen. Quite literally."

"Ding ding! That is what I want to teach. You good with it?" Sky asks the Smeargle, which receives a firm nod. "Awesome! We can get started. Serena?"

The two glance at the Braixen. Evidently she has been looking around and also listening to the conversation, because the best word to describe her state is "malfunctioning". Khuwa's gonna paint, featuring her? And she's gonna be literally part of the painting? This is a dream coming true! She's so excited, but also she's so flustered. One of her palms is brought to her face, holding her wand as she tries her hardest to hide her blush (and fails miserably). The other tucks down the flowing fur on her waist, as if holding a skirt down to hide her legs.

Sky and Khuwa both have to guide the flushed Fox Pokémon over to lay down on the canvas, which she offers not a single iota of resistance toward. "She's often like this," Sky explains to Khuwa. "Adorable, isn't she? Must admit, I have never seen her blush *this* hard, but I can assure you she's fine. Can you imagine a good pose for her?"

Khuwa just chuckles, looking over at Serena. "She's often like this? I want to emphasize that cuteness, then. A graceful fluid pose of confidence and happiness. Give me a moment."

Smeargle paws begin to reposition the Braixen. Her body is slightly tilted to face her side. Her legs are extended straight down, with toes pointed low, suggesting she has just leaped into the air. Her arms, finally no longer busy futilely hiding her blush, are also moved around; one hand is holding her wand and pointing it at the viewer. Khuwa knows they don't have to manipulate Serena's expression; their desired facial features, a cute smile topped with a blush, are practically a permanent feature of the Braixen's face right now. Serena is still flustering heavily, but she doesn't dare to move, lest she ruins the vision.

"I'm ready," Khuwa finally states. "Are you, Serena?"

The Braixen's smile is all they need.

## File 2D

To start their work, Khuwa takes a big brush, easily the width of Serena's leg, and dips it in a dark, near-black color, the same color as the fur on the Braixen's legs. With a solid, firm stroke, they bring the brush all the way from the knee down to the toes.

And the paint's magic immediately begins to take hold. From the outside, Sky and Khuwa can see that leg slowly flattening down onto the canvas, losing its depth to become two-dimensional and coated by the magical pigment. As for the subject matter herself, Serena feels her leg being incredibly warm and heavy. Despite already being Fire-type, that warmth is decidedly not from her body, and it encourages her to calm down and relax. It is clear that Khuwa can handle themself, and Sky steps back to let the artist work on their own.

As a seasoned artist, Khuwa knows not to rush things. They might be working with a literal furson, but they know Serena is incredibly eager, certainly willing enough to hold her pose as they work unhurriedly. More of the same dark color is being applied over both legs, as there's a lot of ground to cover; everything from her waist, just beneath that skirt-shaped fur, down to the tips of her toes, is needing attention.

As a huge fan of the artist, Serena knows not to disturb their vision, and she tries her best to hold as still as possible. The fact that the heavy paint soothes her certainly helps with that, easing her to let go of her worries and just relax as she slowly loses her depth. It isn't just pleasant; dare she says, it's pleasurable as well. She occasionally lets out a happy "Braiii!~" out of instinct, a pleased moan which is always followed by a blushy, embarrassed squeak. Even more, Khuwa is painting directly between her legs too; it is even harder to stay still this way! Yet, like a professional painter, the Smeargle treats that area as just another thing they have to draw, and their "nondescript" style is more than enough to hide any unsavory thing from showing up in the resulting artwork.

The next hour or so passes by rather quietly. Khuwa hums a little tune, Sky watches silently but intently, and Serena is unmoving and largely silent, other than letting out occasional squeaks. The size of that fluffy tail is preserved as it sinks onto the canvas, and so is that sense of a flowing skirt made of the fur on her torso. The arms are locked in place, and she pleasantly sighs when she no longer has to hold her wand by herself, the canvas now supporting it for her. Her chest and belly likewise flatten to the painting surface, leaving just her head.

"Pleasant dreams, Serena," Khuwa says with a smile, dotting her cheek with a small brush of pink paint. That is not necessary, for the Braixen's blush deepens again naturally, but it seems like a nice gesture to them. Sky giggles lightly as he watches; he wouldn't expect the Smeargle to have acclimatized *this* well! Secretly, he's hoping that Khuwa will consider moving here...

The head takes just as much time as the rest of the body; wanting to preserve the exact expression they desire, Khuwa uses a very light brush, often redoing the paint to get just the perfect lines and thickness. Their usual style doesn't quite fit for this, as they want every single detail of this cute face to be preserved; even so, they are still a painter, so they still have the basic knowledge, and they are patient enough to take it slow.

The Braixen's blush never for even one second leaves her face. Part of it is because the heavy paint pins her in place and locks her expression in a permanently adorable smile. But, even without that, she's still lovestruck, and she wishes nothing more than to help her admiration create the perfect work out of her.

Serena is deeply familiar with the various works of the Smeargle, and their style often means faces do not feature any facial expression. Thus, when she finds herself fully flat on the canvas yet still able to see, still smiling and blushing, she knows she is a special kind of art.

## File 2E

"I'm incredibly grateful to be able to see you work," Sky says to Khuwa. "Are you going to add any scenery, or do you want just this charming portrait?"

Khuwa wipes some sweat from their head over their arm. Realizing their shirt was taken off some time ago, they retrieve it from their bag to dry themself, not wanting any foreign substance over the painting. "I think I'm good with this. Should I leave this in a museum somewhere or bring her home with me? Any way to protect her?" Another question suddenly crosses their mind, too. "Any way for her to see herself?"

Sky hmms some. "The default is to keep the work here since the goal is to have her be appreciated. But I also know you will take very good care of her back home, since you're an artist and all. ...I think it's best to ask a Maestro about it, if that's fine with you? I hope their answer is yes -- she seems incredibly happy this way -- but I'm not really eligible to answer that question." Khuwa nods to that.

"As for the other question..." The Skymin carefully places the canvas with the frozen Braixen on it, before setting her on a stand. He then rolls over a mirror, bringing it in front of the preserved fur. "There we go, she can now see herself. And you can apply a special resin substance, or simply put a glass cover over her inside a frame."

Serena certainly can't say anything, or communicate in any other manner, for she is so thoroughly stuck in place. She can still hear and see, though, and she can see her own reflection. Her body has been simplified somewhat; the colors lower down her body look slightly smudged and blurred, as if Khuwa is telling people not to look down there too much. Instead, people's attention is likely drawn towards that face; rendered in crisp detail, every single feature is preserved in high quality. That permanent blush is featured prominently along with her sweet smile, and her wide eyes of adoration will likely captivate any viewer.

No words can express how happy she is.

Khuwa looks over their new painting. "I think a special work like her deserves the best care. Resin sounds awesome; I just want to make sure she's immune to wear and tear."

"Then the resin will do," Sky nods, taking out a can of some translucent substance. "Just paint broadly." To demonstrate, the toon uses a wide brush, dipping it into the resin before making a long vertical streak that runs from the top of the canvas down to the bottom. He then hands over the brush to Khuwa to continue.

As Khuwa picks up the brush and resumes the coating, Serena can feel the brush over her flattened form. Of course, there's nothing she can do, but she doesn't have to. The tip of each bristle tickles and strokes the paint that now makes up her body; it's a foreign feeling, yet not at all unpleasant. The resin is keeping her warm and protected. The translucent sheen makes her vision slightly crystallized and her hearing slightly muted, but... she's art, now, and she doesn't really need those senses, does she?

"Done. I think. Hopefully I'm not missing any spot," Khuwa says.

Sky just smiles, "You don't have to worry about that. The resin *is* magical enough to flow to any uncovered spot. She will be protected and preserved well."

Khuwa nods to the toon. "Convenient! And thank you for this opportunity. Seems like the whole Stillen wants to make art making as easy and pleasant as possible, which is very appreciated." They also address the painting; even though she's now just an art exhibit, Khuwa knows she's still very much a living fur. "And thank *you* too, Serena. You made such an incredible piece, and I'm honored to be able to immortalize your charming beauty this way."

## File 2F

After adoring the painting for a few moments, Sky pipes up. "It's up to her how long she wants to appreciate being a painting this way before she reforms. In the meantime, I think you can explore on your own. The Beauty District is close by; from the entrance, go right and just keep walking."

After having taken plenty of photos of Serena-turned-art, Khuwa finally packs up, holding the painting in an arm while their bag is slung over a shoulder. "Hmm, I do still need to figure out where to display her, or even whether she'll go home with me or not."

"Ah, right," Sky nods with a scratch on his head. "In that case, the Reception Hall is your best bet. It's also a good place to store your belongings while you're here, like a locker room. And with the Maestros there, they will also know what's best for her. If you're allowed to bring her home, you can store her there until it's time for you to depart home. If she should stay, they can keep her around while they decide where she should be displayed."

Khuwa smiles and bows to Sky. "I'll depart then. Thank you again for teaching me; I'll be sure to visit again to learn more another time."

"Absolutely, come whenever!" Sky beams a smile. "We're always open. Thank you for letting me watch you work, too!" And with that, Khuwa leaves the Academy, heading for the Reception Hall, now alone but with a Braixen painting in their tow.

Khuwa slides along the road, taking in the nice weather. They occasionally smile at and thank passersby that admire their work. If the Braixen could have blushed further from all the people admiring her, she would. As she is, though, she can just relax being an immobile painting. Every Stillian loves being appreciated, and seeing and hearing all the praises, she practically blooms in happiness.

There's not much that has changed from a few hours ago. The streets are slightly busier with more people enjoying the day. The fennec that was turned into a statue earlier is getting quite a lot of appreciation too, and Khuwa's lips curl into a slight smile. So many furs enjoying their time here!

In just a matter of minutes, the Reception Hall is back in view. Gracee Park, next to it, appears to be getting a new installation; the Smeargle is slightly surprised, but smiling nonetheless, when they note that it's a statue of a Sky Forme Shaymin. A previous clone of Sky, perhaps! The statue's arms are raised broadly, welcoming people or perhaps simply radiating happiness.

After taking some time to appreciate the view, Khuwa enters the Reception Hall again.

## File 2G

Vula, Pixa, and Vee are all at the reception counter of the Hall talking to what seems to be a mature wolfess dressed in an elegant suit -- a stark contrast to the total nudity of the three. Vee's words sound rather firm and commanding, his eyes staring intently at the wolfess. The latter merely gives a nod, talking about something like "she will be back later", before heading to where the teleports are. Once the wolfess is out of the way, Vee visibly sighs, and Vula and Pixa reach in to comfort the Eevee.

The Alolan Vulpix spots the artist Smeargle entering. "Khuwa! Hello! Wow, did you get Serena into a painting?" Pixa calls out. Both Vula and Vee also turn to face the Smeargle, giving a warm welcome and grinning at what they see.

"Indeed! Now everyone can appreciate her beauty," Khuwa says, which gets an applause from the three receptionists. "And Vee, lucky that I find you here too. I wanted to ask a question about her."

"Oh?" Vee tilts his head.

"I'm considering on bringing her back home. Sure, part of it is because I'm proud of my work, but also because I know she'll absolutely love it. Sky said I should ask a Maestro."

"Sky, huh? He's one of our finest artists here," Vee smiles. "Unfortunately I'd have to ask you to leave her here..."

Khuwa is visibly disappointed, but they sure keep their face straight; if that's the decision, so be it.

"...for a bit. A day or two."

"Pardon?"

"We'd like a copy of the painting to be displayed here in Stillen," Vee explains, "but after that, you can bring her to your home. I trust you know very well about keeping artwork pristine, so I have full faith that you will keep her all nice."

Khuwa smiles some. "In that case, I'll entrust her to you. If you need my help in duplicating it, I'll do my best to aid."

"Oh, we have a place where we can duplicate art," Pixa replies. "But I'm sure you're welcome to watch and also give some personal touch to finish the copy!"

"In the meantime, you can leave her with us. We'll display her on the wall behind the counter while we're waiting to get her copied," Vula adds. Khuwa easily agrees and hands the painting over, which quickly finds a home on the wall, displayed among several other paintings and other pieces of artwork.

## File 2H

"I also saw a bit of you talking with the wolf," Khuwa states. "You seemed... unhappy."

Vee huffs a bit. "Ah, you saw that. She wanted to... 'purchase' some of our pieces. I'll admit, even the word 'purchase' raised alarms in my head. I think you know enough of Stillen by now: everything we do is out of love, not any impure motivation like money. People create art because they treasure the subject. Likewise, people become art because they want to be cherished."

Khuwa ponders for a moment, before asking, "And how's that different from me wanting to take Serena home?"

Vula giggles some. "You created art because you treasured Serena. She became art because she wanted to be cherished."

Pixa adds, "I can't talk for her, but I dare say she wanted to be cherished by *you*. She would be ecstatic being part of your collection back at home."

Vee also pipes up. "I would also have some reservations if she wasn't that enthusiastic. You can see how this is different from purchasing art, I hope? If you have an ulterior motivation, how do others know you treasure the subject, how do people know they actually *desire* being part of your collection?"

Khuwa nods. "That makes a lot of sense. ...although, another question, if you don't mind." Vee's smile says they can go ahead and ask. "For the wolfess, I suppose you can't just copy pieces so she would have some for her collection?"

Vee shakes his head firmly. "Doesn't work, yeah. First, it doesn't really solve the issue that she's *buying* pieces. Second, copies are still people; they are clones that quickly get arted again. I imagine you'll see the process if you want to give a visit to Serena's copying."

"Ah, makes sense. That should have been obvious on retrospect, sorry for asking."

"No, no, it's okay. You're new here, you're learning!" The Eevee smiles once more to Khuwa, and the Smeargle nods in reply. "Does that satisfy your curiosity?" he adds, and they nod again.

Vula pipes up. "So, Khuwa! What else is in your mind? You came here to drop her in, but that's not the end of your journey here, right? You still wanna explore more things?"

Khuwa nods. "Mmhm. I guess the problem with Serena being stuck there is that she can't tell me where to visit next." With that, the four of them laugh together, helping ease up the serious issue that was brought up earlier.

"Well, we can accompany you this time," Pixa says with a smile.

"And the reception?" Khuwa asks with a finger pointing at the counter.

"I'll handle it," Vee says. "Vula, Pixa, you two have fun with them. I'll have to stand by for any sudden issue popping up, anyway."

"Do you not get your own time, Vee?"

Vee blushes a bit. "Thank you for caring, Khuwa. I do, if there are other Maestros around to cover me. But, well."

Khuwa nods silently. "Hopefully you'll get some time for a break soon, then."

"Aww, don't worry about it," the Maestro smiles. "I'll be fine. We rotate regularly, so no worries there. Have fun, you all!"

"Oh, hold on..." Vula pauses a bit, looking at something behind the counter, although Khuwa can't tell what it is. The Kantonian Vulpix then smiles to the Smeargle. "The nearest rebirth center says that Serena is now queued up. ETA an hour and a half."

"That means she'll finish cloning in an hour and a half?" Khuwa clarifies.

"Yep! Near the time, we can go visit any nearby rebirth center and leave a message for her so she can catch up to us."