Before anything else I want to make sure to hit up one specific part of this festival and that is the section set aside for all of the ice sculptures. He actually visited this earlier though with the lights strategically placed there is an almost ethereal quality to them now that did not exist when He had visited them, especially positioned as they are right outside of the city’s arena. No clue which of them are human made, pokemon made or just pokemon assisted. But the quality to them all is beyond impressive. With the lights one might almost be persuaded to think that they are but moments from springing to life and moving on their own. The three of us walk through this area with a kind of silent reverence, as do most of the people casually walking, though some make point of reciting the names of each pokemon that they recognize.

Seeing a nearby sign to indicate the direction to the real point of coming here I begin to guide us towards a small branch. To make the area seem even more auspicious someone had apparently decided to deck the inside walkway of the arena to look like the Colosseums of old, with ice columns and a row of plinths along each side. Whereas the ones outside were whatever the sculptors thought was captivating, here they are chosen with purpose. Atop each plinth is a champion of this very arena. Each month the city would hold a grand tournament of the strongest pokemon, no restrictions made at all other than no trainer involvement in the actual fight. And amongst the champions of these tournaments Maria now stands. I take a seat in front of it and let her just soak it all in. I even almost think I see a tear coming out of her eye closest to me.

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