Several years ago, there was a tale of a Princess in a kingdom.
Her arrival was the expectation of thousands. At the edge of twilight, a vulpix hatched from between the embrace of her parents.
Her fur glowed white, glistening under the rising moon. Her body was seemingly touched by the setting sun as the tips of her tails and body dazzled and slowly turned into hues of orange. She slowly opened her eyes, one white, one orange.
Cheering and shouting echoed across the kingdom… much to the discomfort of her parents who were sharing glances at each other with utmost worry.
Amber was her name.
She was born a royalty, raised with precision, and taught with perfection. She learned to love her people, to be the one leading them to prosperity. One would expect a peaceful childhood she would receive. Alas, the position she was in left no space for a pleasant upbringing.
Eyes were fixating on her, watching her growth every day. They were one step each day closer to the successful creation of an immaculate figure. Such flawlessness weighed immense pressure on her already burdened shoulders.
Then, one day, a rumor broke out, one that shook the entire belief of the kingdom.
The tainted blood as they began to call her, a fire fox whose fur resembled the early snow. Others would consider this as a wonder, begrudgingly, the ones residing in this kingdom would treat this as a curse.
Rumors began to spread far and wide into the kingdom beneath. They said her mother had tampered with some evil forces to even be able to bear a child like her. They began to mock and isolate her.
Hatred for her grew deeper and deeper every day around the kingdom. She was not blind, she could witness all of that. To their eyes, she was more or less a thorn in sight. Desperate, she sought comfort from her loved ones.
To her disbelief, her parents shunned her. They avoided her, gave her quick answers, and then dismissed her. Taken aback, she tried to keep a straight face, however, the action had singed her already dying soul.
There were days she would cry alone. The thought of her parents ignoring her had engraved deeply into her fragile heart. Ironically, the life of a Princess forced her to feint a smile, even at the adversities that were thrown at her.
For all it was worth, she knew survival demanded strength. And so, she began to practice her combat abilities in secret. At first, her control was clumsy, chaotic, a flicker of flame that scorched too hot or a breath of frost that froze beyond her intent. Every day, as the sun dipped below the horizon, she would retreat to the castle's shadowed corners, where prying eyes couldn’t reach, and wrestle with the unruly forces coursing through her.
The fire burned with a feral hunger, often leaping beyond her command and singeing the stone walls or licking at her fur. The ice, cold and unyielding, would spread unpredictably, leaving jagged frost patterns across the ground that shattered underfoot. Her frustration grew, not only with the powers themselves but with her own limitations. At times, it felt as though they were wild, living things resisting her control, fighting to consume her instead of obeying her.
There were nights when exhaustion brought her to her knees, her breath visible in the icy air or her fur damp from the dissipating heat. But she would rise again, teeth gritted, determined to tame the fire and ice within her. She started small, learning how to summon just a spark without a blaze, or crafting a single shard of ice rather than a frozen gale. The process was painstaking and riddled with failures, yet she persevered.
Slowly, her efforts bore fruit. The flames began to bend to her will, their intensity shifting with the tilt of her thoughts. The frost grew sharper, more precise, forming patterns that mirrored her intent rather than her fear.
As she practiced, a strange harmony began to emerge between the opposing elements. Amidst the swirling inferno and the biting cold, she found her balance. She stood amidst the chaos she had created, the frost glinting against the glow of embers, and felt a sense of calm. These powers, once unrelenting and wild, were becoming an extension of her. She no longer feared their strength, she embraced it.
Fire and ice became her closest allies, steadfast and unwavering in their loyalty, unlike the treacherous whispers that filled the castle halls. As her control grew, so did her awareness of the growing betrayal. Within the castle walls, those her father once trusted began to collude with external forces, seeking to usurp his rule.
The sultan, once a loyal friend, began consorting with dark-robed figures from distant lands. Ambassadors came and went with knowing smirks, all while her father fought in vain to quash rumors of sorcery. The ones under her father’s commands had bowed down to a new superior.
As Amber grew, she overheard murmurs of an overthrow, her presence now more a burden than a boon. She could no longer tell who was friend or foe, and every smiling face masked hidden contempt.
She gasped at the words for she had overheard them while watching from the top of the tower. Gritting her teeth, she wished she had the right to disintegrate them into ashes. No one would listen to her, absolutely no one. Too cunning, too devious they were, too little time to stop.
The day would eventually come.
It was a full moon night. Amber turned her face up to the starlit sky after her practice session. But then, her ears twitched as paw steps approached her. A familiar heartwarming voice called out to her, one would make her almost burst into tears.
“Still awake?”
A ninetales walked towards Amber and sat down next to her daughter, both gazing at the sparkling stars. Her fur shone brightly silver under the moonlight as she tried to wrap her tails around Amber’s body. The vulpix just gently pushed her away.
“How long have you known about this?”
Amber traced her paw across the stone wall, a trail of frost lingered on it.
“From the very first day,” her mother replied, giggling.
The vulpix was slightly startled by her mother’s words before calming down. She formed a snowball in her paw and tossed it to the side in mild frustration.
“Big day tomorrow, isn’t it?”
“You two already know about ‘the plan’, don’t you?”
“Do we even have a choice?”
Amber clutched her paw into a fist and slammed it into the floor. A little smoke cloud flew up from underneath her paw as she broke off a small chunk of it.
“They are going to kill you!” she yelled, tears started rolling down from her eyes. “I’m not blind. I’m not deaf. I’m not ignorant of what you two have done to protect me. I’m-”
“Shh-” her mother put a finger on Amber’s lips and pulled her into an embrace.
“Please, I just don’t want to lose you,” Amber whispered, sobbing and choking on her words. She grabbed hold of the tuft of fur on her mother’s body, not wanting to let go. Her mother hugged her even tighter, her body trembled.
“Amber, your father and I-” she stopped, her heart skipped a beat, she could not utter those words. Deep down, she knew, she was not worthy of saying such words.
“You don’t have to say anything,” Amber spoke up, wiping the tears from her eyes. “I assume you both have a secret that would rather stay hidden from me so I won’t press further. Just,” Amber paused for a second, her tails glowed dimly, “let me fight with you!”
“You know we can’t,” her mother interrupted, putting her paw on Amber’s shoulder.
She swatted the paw away and stood tall with determination. “You’ve seen me practicing. You know what I’m capable of. Please… just let me fight with you. We can all solve this together… as a family.”
Amber’s mother put a paw on her cheek, caressing it. Moments of hesitation flashed between her eyes. For the sacrifices she had made for Amber to survive, she pulled her into a tight embrace, voice trembled.
“No, I’ve lost one of my children. I’ll not make that same mistake again!”
Just before Amber could react, a hypnosis spell was cast from her mother. Amber felt the effect starting to kick in.
“You-”
She angrily pushed herself away from her mother, walking back a few steps before struggling to keep her footing. The sleepiness slowly folded her eyelids making her collapse once more into the open arms of her mother. As the last frame of consciousness left her, she saw a smile, a bittersweet one.
“I’m sorry I have to do this to you. You are the strongest vulpix I’ve ever seen in this world. You’ll do wonderful things my dear. You’ve grown your wings, wide and as powerful as ever. May the Legends guide your journey, my dear Amber.”
The flickering sparkles shone upon the black veil. Through the endless space, a sweet voice echoed, one with courage, one with sorrow. She could not have done anything differently. If there were to ever be an afterlife, she would still wish to be the mother of the little Vulpix in her embrace once more.
“Distant moon, so big and bright.
Softest silver glowing through the night
High atop, the mountain gold
Sun unseen, the world is cold…”
…
And so, as the prophecy had foretold, the history had moved on to a new page on the land of Ascenrir. They called this day the “Red Coronation”.
From between the towering kingdom walls, wave after wave of Berserkers emerged like shadows of death, spilling forth from a hidden tunnel beneath the ground. Their entrance was swift and devastating, a testament to the treachery at play. The guards, loyal to their last breath, met the onslaught head-on. They clashed with the relentless horde, their shouts mingling with the screams of the wounded and the unholy growls of the Berserkers. Steel met claw and fang, but the sheer savagery of the beasts overwhelmed even the most seasoned warriors.
The king and queen, regal in their command yet unflinching in their resolve, stood at the heart of the chaos. They rallied their people, their voices rising above the cacophony of destruction. “Hold the line!” the king bellowed, his fire cleaving through a Berserker as it lunged toward a fallen soldier. Beside him, the queen unleashed a fierce torrent of her power, shielding her guards with barriers of radiant light. Yet, for every Berserker felled, two more emerged, their frenzied wrath unyielding.
The tide turned quickly. The once-gleaming streets of Lunaris ran crimson with blood, and the air reeked of ash and despair. Homes collapsed under the strain of the attack, their flames licking at the night sky as the Berserkers rampaged through the kingdom. Cries of anguish echoed as the citizens fled, their sanctuary reduced to a battleground.
“The castle is falling!” a voice cried out amidst the chaos. And it was true, the mighty towers of Lunaris trembled, their foundations cracked beneath the weight of treachery. The king and queen, their faces etched with grief and determination, stood at the gates of the royal hall, determined to defend their people to the bitter end.
But the betrayal ran deeper than the king had feared.
Amidst the carnage, a figure emerged from the shadows, a tall, imposing sultan draped in dark, opulent robes that seemed to swallow the light. His cold gaze scanned the scene, a cruel smile curling his lips. The Berserkers surged forward, their movements not chaotic but controlled, as if guided by an unseen hand. And then it became clear, they were.
“You...” the king growled, his voice thick with rage and betrayal. “You’ve done this! You’ve betrayed us!”
The sultan stepped forward, his presence commanding. “Betrayed? No, my dear King. I’ve only taken what was owed to me. Your kingdom, your crown, your lives, this was always your fate.” He gestured lazily, and the Berserkers moved with purpose, closing in around the king and queen.
The queen stood defiantly, her power blazing as she struck down any Berserker that dared approach. “You will never have Lunaris!” she spat, her voice trembling with fury. The king joined her, his fire power flashing as he defended their ground.
But the sultan was prepared. With a single gesture, he sent a Berserker lunging toward the queen. The king intercepted it, but in that moment of distraction, the sultan moved. A blade hidden beneath his robes gleamed in the dim light, and with cold precision, he struck.
The queen gasped, her strength faltering as the blade found its mark. “No!” the king roared, his eyes wide with horror as he caught her collapsing form.
The sultan did not pause. As the king knelt, cradling his wife’s lifeless body, the blade came down again, ending his struggle with a swift, merciless strike. The royal blood of Lunaris pooled at the sultan’s feet, a stark reminder of the cost of treachery.
The sultan turned to the Berserkers, who now prowled through the ruins of the castle. “Burn it all,” he commanded, his voice low and venomous. “Leave nothing standing.”
As the once-great kingdom crumbled around him, the sultan’s gaze turned upward to the distant stars. “Lunaris has fallen. And with it, so does its legacy.”
…
At the edge of a dense forest, a creaking wooden wagon trundled along the dirt path, its wheels bouncing over stones and roots. Inside, a young vulpix stirred, the muffled sounds of chaos and destruction in the distance rousing her from unconsciousness. Her body ached from the rough ride, and her fur was matted with ash and soot. Amber blinked against the dim light seeping through the wagon's tarp, her mind hazy and disoriented.
Then it hit her. The smell of smoke. The faint, distant screams. The memory of her mother's voice. Her heart skipped. She wasn’t supposed to be here, not away from the castle, not away from them. Panic surged through her chest as she bolted upright, her claws scratching at the tarp covering the wagon.
She tore it aside, and the scene before her was enough to send her heart into freefall. The horizon was a hellish glow, smoke curling upward like ghostly claws into the twilight sky. She could see the faint outline of the castle in the distance, its once-proud spires now hidden behind plumes of blackened air.
“No…” she whispered, her voice trembling. Then louder, with desperation, “No!”
Without a second thought, Amber leapt from the wagon, her small frame hitting the ground with a jarring thud. Pain shot through her legs, but she ignored it. She had to go back. She had to get to them. Ignoring the frantic shouts of the wagon driver behind her, she broke into a sprint, her paws skimming the dirt as she darted toward the burning ruins of her home.
The closer she got, the more her fear solidified into a knot in her stomach. The streets she knew so well were unrecognizable, flames consumed houses, and the once-bustling roads were littered with debris and the lifeless forms of her people. She pushed forward, dodging through the chaos, her breath ragged, her legs burning from the effort.
When she finally reached the castle gates, her heart plummeted. The grand doors were shattered, hanging from their hinges like broken wings. She dashed inside, her paws slipping on the scorched marble floor, the acrid air stinging her nose and eyes.
“Mom! Dad!” she cried out, her voice cracking. The silence that answered her was deafening.
In the throne room, the devastation was absolute. The once-majestic chamber was now a graveyard. The gilded walls were scorched black, and the shattered remnants of stained glass littered the floor like jagged tears. And there, in the center, lay the two figures she loved most in the world.
Amber froze, her chest heaving. Her parents, the proud king and queen of Lunaris, lay lifeless on the cold floor, their fur stained crimson. Spears of cruel metal had pierced their hearts, the blood pooling beneath them forming a macabre halo.
“No…” Her voice was barely a whisper. She stumbled forward, collapsing beside them. Her trembling paws reached out, touching the still-warm fur of her mother’s side. “Why? Why?!”
Her cries echoed through the hollowed hall, a sound of pure, unfiltered grief that pierced the suffocating silence. She buried her face in her mother’s fur, her body shaking with sobs. The world around her blurred, her mind consumed by an anguish too vast to contain.
“Princess Amber!” a voice broke through the haze. A hulking feraligatr burst into the throne room, his armor battered, his breath labored. His eyes widened at the scene before him, but he pushed forward, kneeling beside the grieving vulpix. “We need to go! Now!”
Amber barely stirred, her red-rimmed eyes fixating on him through her tears. “They’re gone,” she whispered hoarsely. “They’re all gone…”
The feraligatr gritted his teeth, grabbing her gently but firmly by the shoulders. “We have to leave! The walls have fallen, and the Berserkers are everywhere. We can’t hold them much longer.”
The roar of flames grew louder, licking at the edges of the throne room. The ground beneath them trembled, and from the entrance came a sound like a thunderclap, the Berserkers had broken through. Their guttural growls echoed ominously, drawing closer.
As the horde of mindless Pokémon approached, Amber stood in their way. Her fur glistened as a cold icy and flickering fiery aura began to wrap around her body harmonically. She slowly walked forward, leaving a trail of frost and embers in her wake.
Each step of her weighed down the stiff floor. She raised a paw up. The air around her began to shimmer with a furious dance of ice crystals and flaming sparks. Larger and larger as they began to form a massive blizzard and heat wave that swept through the place.
“Die!”
The flame rose high, scorching, ravaging, the ice formed still, sharp, precise, freezing to the touch. All that could be heard were screeching and ear-shattering howls followed by an abrupt silence. Soon, the battlefield was nothing left, just patches of frozen ground and pockets of intense heat.
Amber collapsed in the arms of the knight, unconscious. The feraligatr stood there in shock. However, he immediately realized the situation and dashed out of the place as fast as he could. Little did he know, as he left the gate, a pair of eyes watched his movement.
“Hmm, how troublesome.”
From the highest tower of the castle, the sultan stood still. He bit his lip and tapped impatiently on the floor with his cane. A few of his henchmen came in to greet him. He raised a paw and signaled them.
“Chase after them and make sure they are both dead. The power she possesses poses a threat to my position as the new ruler of this kingdom.”
The three hooded figures behind him nodded and then disappeared.
…
The embers of Lunaris still burned in Amber’s mind, a haunting memory of her kingdom reduced to ash. She and her loyal guardian feraligatr, Razor, had fled under the cloak of night, the once-proud princess forced to trust her survival to her loyal knight. The feraligatr’s bulk and instinct guided them through hidden trails and riverbeds, evading enemies whose pursuit seemed unrelenting.
But safety was an illusion.
It happened as dawn began to creep over the horizon. They had stopped near a clearing to catch their breath when Razor’s sharp instincts flared. A metallic hiss split the air, followed by a powerful slash that cleaved the ground where Amber had stood moments ago. She staggered back, her paws scrabbling for balance as three figures emerged from the shadows.
Leading them was a bisharp, his cruel red eyes narrowing as he leveled his blade. “You should have stayed down with your kingdom.”
To his left, a magmortar’s cannon arm hummed with fiery energy, and to his right, a crobat flitted, its gaze predatory as it locked onto Amber.
“Stay behind me!” Razor growled, planting himself firmly in front of her. His claw scraped the ground as he raised a water shield in front of him.
Amber’s breath hitched, her body trembling with the weight of exhaustion and fear. Seizing the dying breath of their prey, the three commenced the assault. With swift movement, Razor blocked the charge of the bisharp, claws slashing through the air in a blur of blue and silver.
The magmortar moved to flank them, its cannon spewing a blazing fireball toward Amber. She barely had time to react, conjuring a vortex of flame to intercept the attack. The resulting explosion lit the clearing, casting harsh shadows as Amber struggled to maintain her footing.
Again and again, the magmortar pressed its advantage, firing relentless bursts of flame that Amber met with dwindling strength. Each counterattack drained her further, her ice and fire powers flickering like a dying ember.
Amber knew she was at her limit. With one final, desperate effort, she summoned everything she had left, unleashing a searing blaze that engulfed the magmortar. It let out a guttural roar as it fell, its fire extinguished.
Amber collapsed to her knees, her vision swimming. “Razor...” she gasped, her body trembling with exhaustion.
Razor glanced back, his breath labored but defiant as he caught the crobat mid swoop, slamming it to the ground with a thunderous crash. The bisharp seized the moment, slashing Razor across his shoulder, drawing blood. Razor roared in pain but retaliated with a devastating swing of his tail that sent bisharp stumbling.
“Amber!” Razor barked, his voice hoarse. “Run! Now!”
Amber hesitated, her heart wrenching at the sight of Razor’s bloodied form. But before she could move, the bisharp and crobat attacked in unison. Razor intercepted them, his claws ripping into the crobat while his jaws clamped down on bisharp’s blade, snapping it in two.
Razor finished them both with a final surge of strength, hurling bisharp into a nearby tree and crushing the crobat beneath his massive tail. But victory came at a cost.
A sudden, sharp pain erupted across Razor’s back, a desperate strike from the fallen magmortar, whose dying act was a blazing projectile. Razor howled in agony as the attack left a deep, searing wound across his back.
Even injured, Razor refused to falter. He turned, scooping Amber into his arms as she weakly protested, her exhaustion too great to fight back.
“We’re not done yet,” Razor growled through gritted teeth. Ignoring the burning pain in his back, he forced himself to run, carrying Amber away from the battlefield.
The forest blurred around them as Razor pushed his body to its limits, his every step fueled by sheer determination. Behind them, the clearing fell silent, their pursuers vanquished, but the memory of the battle and Razor’s new scar would linger forever.
When they finally reached safety deep within the Moonlit Courtyard, Razor collapsed to his knees, still clutching Amber protectively. As the morning sun broke through the trees, Amber looked at him with tear-filled eyes, her heart heavy with gratitude and guilt.
“Razor...” she whispered.
But the feraligatr only grinned, his voice a low rumble. “Told you we’d make it.”
A few days later, amidst the Moonlit Courtyard, survivors from all over gathered, sharing whispers of fallen kingdoms. Amber and Razor took refuge, knowing that staying hidden would be their best chance of survival. Razor’s injuries from the fight slowed him, and Amber took on the role of his caretaker, using her fire to warm him on cold nights and her ice to soothe his wounds.
Two months passed, and Amber had begun to adapt to her new life in Solace, keeping her powers a secret from those around her. Her appearance also helped with the disguise as they treated her as an unfamiliar kind and avoided her at all cost. Just as the weight of her past seemed to settle into a manageable shadow, she encountered two figures whose path would soon entwine with her own, drawing her toward a destiny she could not escape.
…
The morning arrived at the window frame. The mellow sunlight creeping through opened window stirred Axel from his slumber. He blinked groggily, the events of the previous night, a chaotic tavern brawl and an enigmatic vulpix, coming back to him in a haze. His body ached from exertion, but his mind was already alert.
Turning his head, he saw Skarn sprawled across the adjacent bed, snoring softly with one leg dangling over the edge. Typical Skarn. Axel smirked, shaking his head as he slipped out of bed.
The floor creaked softly under his paws as he made his way downstairs. The common room of the inn was quiet at this early hour, save for the gentle clinking of plates and the faint hum of a tune being sung by the innkeeper.
“Good morning, dear,” the clefable behind the counter greeted with a warm smile. Her voice was soft yet cheerful, and her pink appearance seemed to glow in the dawn light. “Rough night?”
Axel chuckled, scratching the back of his head. “You could say that. Thanks for letting us stay here on short notice.”
“Oh, don’t mention it, dear. You and your friend looked like you needed a proper rest.” She turned and placed a plate of bread, fresh from the oven, and a small bowl of Oran berries onto the counter. “Here, eat up. Leon brought these in just now.”
At the mention of his name, Leon stepped in from the side, his jolteon fur still slightly damp from the morning dew. “Morning, Axel. Looks like you survived the night without too much damage.” His tone was teasing, but his sharp eyes carried a hint of approval.
Axel nodded, sitting at the counter. “Barely. Thanks for this,” he said, grabbing a slice of bread and popping a berry into his mouth. The tangy sweetness woke him up fully, his tail flicking in appreciation.
The ever-curious jolteon joined Axel for the breakfast. He nudged gently on the luxio’s shoulder, “So, mind telling me what you ran into last night?”
“You could say I stumbled into an unexpected fight and made a new friend,” Axel replied, mouth half full from the food he was eating.
Leon gave Axel an acknowledging nod. He patted on the back of the Luxio playfully and shook his head. “Just arrived and you already caused a ruckus. Like father like son.”
Axel’s ear perked up from the mentioning of his father, waiting for an explanation.
“Well,” Leon leaned against the counter, his electric quills faintly crackling with static, “your father also took down a group of ill-intent Pokémon on the first day he came into the Division. That was how he got the recognition I suppose.”
Axel’s eyes flared in admiration. So many stories he wanted to hear from the Jolteon about his father, so little time. Seeing the awestruck luxio, Leon quickly changed subject.
“I take it you and Skarn are heading to the Daybreak Division this morning?”
“That’s the plan,” Axel replied between bites. “If I can get Skarn up, that is.”
The clefable giggled. “Your friend certainly knows how to sleep in. I saw him snoring away when I brought in fresh towels earlier. Good luck with that!”
“I’ll head to the Division first then,” Leon said, getting on four and about to leave. “Need to talk to a couple Pokémon about your arrival.”
Axel finished his meal quickly, giving Leon a nod of thanks before heading back upstairs. He pushed the door open to find Skarn still in the exact same position, his snores louder than before.
“Skarn,” Axel called, his voice firm but not loud. No response.
“Hey, Skarn! Wake up!” Axel tried again, this time nudging the squirtle’s shell with his paw. Skarn shifted slightly, mumbling, “Five more minutes…” before rolling over and pulling the blanket over his head.
Axel sighed, shaking his head in exasperation. “Fine, you asked for it.”
With a smirk, he positioned himself at the foot of the bed, crouched low, and then pounced, landing squarely on Skarn’s shell with just enough force to jostle the squirtle awake.
“Wha-?!” Skarn yelped, flailing as his blanket went flying. “I’m up! I’m up!” He blinked blearily at Axel, who sat on the edge of the bed looking far too pleased with himself.
“Good. We’ve got places to be,” Axel said, his tone light but insistent.
Skarn groaned, rubbing his eyes. “You couldn’t have just shaken me awake like a normal Pokémon?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Axel quipped, tossing a small towel at Skarn. “Get ready. Breakfast downstairs if you’re fast enough.”
As Skarn grumbled and stumbled out of bed, Axel leaned against the doorframe, already feeling a sense of anticipation for the day ahead. By the time they left the inn, the sun would be fully risen.
…
Meanwhile in a quiet corner of Moonlit Courtyard, Amber stood near a small, wooden-framed window, the soft glow of dawn illuminating her orange and white eyes. The room was simple but sturdy, with stone walls and wooden beams overhead. A faint crackling came from the fireplace, where embers from the night before still smoldered. A feraligatr, towering and imposing, leaned against a support beam, his arms crossed over his chest.
“You’re sure about this, Amber?” Razor’s voice was low, steady, and lined with concern. His gaze bore into her back. “Once you walk out that door, there’s no going back. You’ll be exposing yourself to all sorts of risks.”
Amber turned from the window, her expression calm but resolute. “I know what’s at stake, Razor. But hiding here isn’t living, it’s surviving. I need to do more than that.”
Razor shifted, his massive claws drumming lightly on his forearm. “The Daybreak Division is full of skilled Pokémon, no doubt about that. But they’re curious, Amber. They’ll ask questions, questions about you, your powers, your past. How will you explain yourself?”
“I’ll handle it,” Amber said firmly, meeting his gaze. “I’ve been careful all this time. This is no different. They don’t need to know everything about me, only that I can help.”
Razor’s frown deepened, the scar along his snout crinkling. “And if they find out anyway? What then? You’ve been running for so long. I’m just worried you’ll lose more than your cover this time.”
Amber stepped closer to him, placing a paw lightly on his arm. “Razor, you’ve protected me for as long as I can remember. But I can’t let you keep doing that forever. I need to stand on my own, even if it means taking risks. Besides, nobody knows that I’m the Princess of Lunaris. That was what my parents kept hidden from everyone long enough.”
For a long moment, Razor said nothing. His gaze softened, but the tension in his shoulders remained. Finally, he sighed, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. “You’re stubborn, just like your father,” he muttered. “If this is what you’ve decided, then I won’t stop you. But I’m staying here. If anything happens, I want to be close enough to act.”
Amber gave him a small, appreciative smile. “Thank you, Razor.”
“Just promise me one thing,” Razor said, stepping closer, his voice lowering. “If things get too dangerous... you’ll come back.”
Amber hesitated, then nodded. “I promise.”
With that, she turned and made her way toward the door. Razor watched her go, his claws curling slightly at his sides. The heavy oak door creaked open, and Amber stepped into the morning light.
…
An uneventful morning passed for Axel and Skarn as they made their way to the Daybreak Division, weaving through bustling streets filled with Pokémon of all shapes and sizes. The streets of Solace were alive with activity, most notably the Everfall Bazaar. Merchants were calling out their wares, hatchlings were darting between market stalls, and workers were hauling supplies.
Skarn, as always, was beaming with energy even after the rude awakening of his friend, chatting up anyone who glanced his way. His enthusiasm was contagious, though Axel remained calmer, his pace steady and gaze sharp as they moved. The luxio’s focus was unshaken, his thoughts lingering on what awaited them at the Division.
The duo’s journey brought them into the heart of Solace, where the grand square stretched wide and bustling with life. The cobblestone path beneath their feet gave way to a striking centerpiece, a massive circular stone etched with an intricate painting of a radiant sun. Its golden rays stretched outward in vibrant detail, filling the square with a sense of awe.
Skarn paused, his gaze lingering on the painting. “I wonder what this is about.”
Axel slowed beside him, his own eyes tracing the vivid strokes of light and color. “Mom used to tell me story about Solace Square,” he said, his tone thoughtful. “It’s to remind of the protector of the kingdom.”
They stood for a moment longer, the sounds of the square swirling around them, the chatter of merchants, the footsteps of passersby, and the distant melody of a street performer. Then, with the spire of the Daybreak Division rising ever closer in the distance, they continued their trek.
The grand square faded into the background, its presence still lingering in their thoughts as they approached the Division’s towering gates. It was there, just outside the entrance, that Axel noticed her.
Amber stood alone, her figure framed by the sunlight. Flames danced gracefully across her paw as she played with her fire power, the flickering embers casting a golden glow against her pale fur. For a moment, Axel simply watched, drawn to the quiet intensity in her movements.
Amber didn’t seem to notice them at first, absorbed in her control of the flickering fire. The flame danced between her fingers, twisting and turning with a life of its own, as though responding to her mood.
Axel took a step forward, his voice breaking the quiet. “That’s a neat trick.”
Amber startled slightly, the flame flickering out as she turned to see the two of them. “Oh,” she said, recovering quickly. “It’s nothing, really.”
“It didn’t look like nothing,” Axel replied, his tone neutral but curious.
Amber hesitated, her paw lowering to her side. “Just... something I do when I need to think.”
Axel smiled faintly, gesturing toward his companion. “This is Skarn. Skarn, meet Amber.”
Skarn stepped forward, his usual grin plastered across his face. “Pleasure to meet m’lady,” he said, bowing. Axel gave the squirtle a hearty smack on the back before feinting an innocent smile.
Amber’s lips twitched into a chuckle, but her gaze caught on his missing arm. Her expression faltered slightly, though she quickly masked it. “It’s nice to meet you, Skarn. You seem... resilient.”
Skarn noticed her brief glance and chuckled, tapping the stub of his missing arm lightly. “Ah, this? No big deal. Just a reminder that I can’t clap properly anymore. But hey, it’s all good.”
Amber blinked, taken aback by his lightheartedness. “You have a... unique perspective,” she said quietly, her tone softening. “I admire that.”
Skarn tilted his head, his grin becoming more genuine. “Thanks. Life’s too short to let stuff like this keep you down.”
Amber hesitated, her gaze briefly lowering. “I know what it’s like... to lose something important,” she murmured.
The squirtle’s grin dimmed slightly, his eyes thoughtful. “Guess we’ve all got our stories, huh?”
Amber looked up, meeting his gaze. For a moment, she seemed lost in thought, then nodded. “I assume we all want to go inside, then let’s not waste any time.”
