Destiny Village ~ Rocky Road

[Cresselia92]

"I understand what you're going through, Icetales," Cynthian said, staring blankly at the barren trees stretching out in the distance. "We've both went through things in the past that have messed us up till now. Perhaps, we need to learn to let go of those experiences."

Icetales nodded slowly, understanding what Cynthian was getting at. Sure, there was no way to erase the past, but perhaps he could learn how to better live with it? Alas, he had yet to find a true answers to years of misery and pain.

“…Perhaps, yes. That is easier said than done, but—”

“Wooh! That was so badass!”

At hearing that yell, Icetales winced and glanced back at Petram. The newly-evolved Ninetales grinned with delight and wagged his new tails, while stars seemed to glow in his eyes.

“You taught to that demon who’s the boss!” Petram pawed at Icetales’s shoulder, his voice brimming with pride. “I knew you could do it!”

Icetales stared at the shade for a while, his gaze lingering on the various details. Then, he spoke, “Thou evolved.”

“That I did! Isn’t that awesome?!” Petram flaunted his tails and caressed his cheeks with a pair of them. “Don’t I look fab like this? These tails are so fluffy~!”

Icetales couldn’t help but chuckle at that glee. Despite Petram having grown up, he still kept his childish marvel.

“Now watcha think of you drop all that darkness and we all go back home?” asked Petram, before blinking and tilting his head. “Speaking of that, huh… How do we go about that? That’s… a lot of darkness. How to we… remove that?”

At hearing that, Icetales’s ears drooped. Was he stuck with that aspect?

 

[Adamhuarts]

“Speaking of that, huh… How do we go about that? That’s… a lot of darkness. How to we… remove that?”

Cynthian pursed her lips as she tried to think of a what to do as well. A cold breeze made her flinch and press tighter onto Icetales, to get as much warmth as she could. With the adrenaline rush of the trek subsiding, her body started to feel the cold dig deeper and deeper.

The ninetales' purple mane swayed in her vision. Even in his current appearance, Icetales still radiated warmth like any other mon. Warmth... An inkling of an idea sparked in Cynthian's mind. Light bred warmth, and having experienced the effect of it months ago when she got corrupted, perhaps she could recreate such an event.

"Icetales, I know what to do. I'll give you my light, love, the same way you lighted up my heart," Cynthian began as speckles of radiance began to mist off her petals and cape. Cynthian's frame gleamed in a brilliant light, and her radiance washed over Icetales like a tidal wave. Her entire mind and body focused on keeping the radiance under control, just strong enough that Icetales could feel it like a gentle campfire, but not so much that she'd bring him any harm.

 

[Cresselia92]

The surge of Radiance poured into his body shocked Icetales at first, by then all too used to the feeling of darkness inside his spirit. It was so intense that he felt the energy quivering and burning inside of him, and his very first instinct was to get away from that feeling. His mind was torn, between craving that healing and let the darkness fester his body.

Though, that mild confusion faded when he felt a paw on his back, and he turned to see Petram staring at him. That gentle smile, those shining eyes, that gentle dim in his chest…

That initial panic faded, and he basked in that Radiance and show of love from the both of them. Two glows, united to help him in the time of need.

“…Thank you.”

Icetales focused on his darkness and did his best to compress it in a single place inside of himself. The aura surrounding him was absorbed entirely, before being funneled toward the burning tails. The pelt lost his purple shade, slowly taking the usual silver and black pelt and the non-burning fur.

A ball of black matter pooled the tip of his tails, sucking in the dark mist and hailstorm. Then, there was a powerful howl from Icetales, who proceeded to shoot the energetic sphere upward — a glowing bullet of Radiance surrounded by Shadow.

A blink, then the sphere exploded, shaking the trees and knocking the snow off of them instantly. The darkness swirled around the orb of Radiance, shrouding the sky with a mystical veil of Blacklight.

The entire scenery… it resembled a midnight sun.

“Whoa…” muttered Petram, staring in awe at the star shining in the dark sky. He yipped and turned to Icetales and Cynthian, showing an eager grin and his tails wagging. “That was so awesome! Can you do that again? Please?!”

Icetales stared at Petram for a while, before coughing and chuckling nervously. “Err… Perhaps another time. I am,” he winced, “knackered right now. And somewhat dizzy — losing all that darkness in a single go… isn’t a pleasing experience.”

“Aww.” Petram shrugged. “Well, it’s still a good show!” He glanced at the sky and tilted his head. “A star with a pitch black background. And it smells like roses, too!” There was a pensive expression on his face. “I wonder how’s that possible…”

Truthfully, Icetales didn’t have the answer to that, but he had a feeling that it was related to his connection with Cynthian…

 

[Adamhuarts]

Icetales stared at Petram for a while, before coughing and chuckling nervously. “Err… Perhaps another time. I am,” he winced, “knackered right now. And somewhat dizzy — losing all that darkness in a single go… isn’t a pleasing experience.”

"Using all that radiance felt good! though," Cynthian said, golden flecks shimmering as the gradually faded from her body. She gave a lighthearted and carefree chuckle, then surprised Icetales with a kiss on the cheek.

"I don't know about anyone else, but I just want us to cuddle under a warm blanket. And stay like that the whole day, just me and you," Cynthian sighed dreamily, her flowers giving off a sweet scent of strawberries.

 

[Cresselia92]

She gave a lighthearted and carefree chuckle, then surprised Icetales with a kiss on the cheek.

By the heavens and the stars, if Icetales didn’t see himself like melting despite the cold weather! His cheeks turned with a deep shade of blue, and Petram’s snickered in amusement.

Out of curiosity, he tried to peek into Icetales’s mind…

‘No peeking!’

Petram shrugged dismissively, still grinning like a madmon. It was weird how much broader his knowledge and curiosity had become with his evolution. Probably a result of his growth spurt.

"I don't know about anyone else, but I just want us to cuddle under a warm blanket. And stay like that the whole day, just me and you," Cynthian sighed dreamily, her flowers giving off a sweet scent of strawberries.

“That, huh… sounds lovely,” said Icetales, still feeling his heart beating a mile per second. Though, he wondered if he really needed some warmth if he felt like boiling.

“Oh! Oh! That sounds fun!” commented Petram, his eyes gleaming brightly. “Or we could go to the spa! I’ve hear they also have ice baths over there,” he glanced at Icetales, “which I’m sure you’d appreciate.”

Icetales glanced briefly at the other two, before nodding and showing a small smile. There was relief and a bright spark of joy, as he felt himself like anew. “Yes. I would say we can leave this forsaken forest behind us.” He flashed a brighter smile at Cynthian. “Let us go.”

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Lead the way," Cynthian said with a warm smile. The radiance had fully subsided, but her heart felt light as a feather just by standing beside him. While they made their way together out of the pine forest, Cynthian looked forward, never once looking back.

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