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Pokémon In the Land of Ascenrir

Introduction and Prologue
  • Akasura Shirone

    Cat fanatic and star chaser by heart
    Location
    Island in the middle of the East Sea
    Pronouns
    He/Him/Shiro
    Distant moon, so big and bright.
    Softest silver glowing through the night
    High atop, the mountain gold
    Sun unseen, the world is cold...

    Banner.png
    "Sit around, children, and let me tell you the tale of a land far, far away, where Pokémon alone reign and adventures weave the fabric of life," the bookkeeper whispered, her voice soft yet full of wonder. "In this world, their journeys brim with joy, sorrow, and laughter. Yet as the horizons expand before their eyes, they discover they are part of something far greater."
    I originally had the story posted here on Thousand Roads but had to take down since I was not comfortable with publishing an unfinished piece of literature. I would assume writers have to go through many trials and errors before being able to create a masterpiece, so I would not complain in the slightest for what I have been through. Yet here we are, finally able to show what I have in stock. Is it perfect? Prolly not. Is it enjoyable? Eh, depend on whether you want to indulge in a journey with unique appearance characters or not. However, one thing for sure, I did put a lot of effort into crafting each and every detail of the story so you got that going for sure. Upload schedule will be around a fortnight for each chapter though I assume I can't make promises but I do want to keep it that way. Ratings would be PG-13 for now but if the chapter gets a bit dicey, advanced notice will be ensured. Enough said, don't wanna keep you hanging so let's dive right into the world of wonders and magical journeys in Ascenrir.

    All the journeys have their destinations
    The means to get there? That, you have to find out yourself.

    Prologue.png
    The light dims, and the veil of reality begins to dissolve. A voice, serene and resonant, pierces through the void, beckoning you forward.

    “Chosen one,” it says, steady and deliberate, “I bid you welcome. You are about to cross dimensions, entering a realm inhabited solely by Pokémon, a world unlike any you’ve known."

    "In this world, strength is everything. Not simply strength of body, but of will, heart, and resolve that defines each Pokémon. It can be as unyielding as the mountains, as fierce and eternal as an unquenchable flame, as fluid and adaptable as the ocean’s currents, or as gentle and nurturing as the embrace of a mythical forest."

    “This strength shapes not only a Pokémon’s power but also its very soul, its will to persevere, its desires, its purpose."

    "And now, you. You have been chosen. Your unique essence will play a pivotal role in this world’s unfolding destiny. But before you begin this journey, I must understand the heart that beats within you. To forge your true self in this new life, we must first uncover the essence of who you are."

    "Let us begin.”

    The voice grows softer, more introspective.
    “Tell me, do you remember a moment when everything changed? When life no longer seemed to move in the direction you once believed it would?”

    “Yes,” you whisper, though your answer feels incomplete.

    “Then, have you experienced failure so profound it shakes your resolve, leaving you unsure whether to press forward?”

    A shiver runs through you. There’s a memory, half-buried yet undeniable, that stirs at these words. A mistake, a choice, or perhaps a failure, its shape unclear, but its weight heavy. You feel as if the voice was watching, patient, understanding.

    “I have. Those memories… they’re not ones I revisit willingly.”

    “What do you do when those failures resurface? Do they anger you? Do you cry, or do you simply try to ignore them?”

    Your response comes slowly, almost whispered. Your breath catches. “I… I tried to move on. I had to. Dwelling on it wouldn’t change anything. It only makes others worry more.”

    “You value those around you deeply. You would not willingly bring them pain or disappointment, would you?”

    “…Yes, and no. I care about them, but… I’m not sure I can live up to their trust.”

    “I see. Trust is both a gift and a burden for you. You cherish it, yet you fear it.”

    “Yes,” you admit. “When they lose faith in me… it hurts.”

    The voice grows gentler, as if it sees the weight of your answers.

    “Let us look beyond the pain. Think of the moments when you felt alive, when joy and purpose filled your heart. How do you think others would describe you? Do you have companions, acquaintances… friends?”

    A flicker of warmth rises amidst the sorrow. Faces come to mind, some clear, others blurred by time. “There were people,” you admit. “I… I’m not great at starting conversations, to be honest. I do have friends, though.”

    “And these friends, are they mere companions, or do they hold a deeper bond with you?”

    “I’ve never thought about it…”

    “Is there someone who has always been there for you, in joy and sorrow?”

    Your gaze lowers as memories surface.

    “Yes… there was someone. But we’ve grown distant. Our paths don’t cross like they used to.”

    “Do you blame yourself for that distance?”

    You hesitate, the words catching in your throat.

    “…Yes. No. Maybe? I think… it’s just how life moved us apart.”

    The voice pauses, allowing your thoughts to settle before continuing.

    “Let us shift focus. Would you call yourself an adventurer, eager to explore the unknown? Or do you prefer the comfort of familiar places?”

    “I wish I could explore more. But I… I can’t do it alone. I always need someone with me.”
    “Now, tell me. When the path grows dark and the weight of failure presses upon you, what keeps you moving forward? What fuels the fire within you?”

    You close your eyes, searching. A memory surfaces, a promise, made long ago. To whom, you cannot recall. But its echo is clear. “I keep going because… because there’s always someone who needs me. Even if I falter, even if I fail, I can’t stop trying.”

    The voice is quiet for a long moment, as if pondering your words. Then, it speaks, firm and resolute.

    “It is done,” it finally says. “I now see the essence of who you are. Within you shines a heart as bright as Gold.”

    “Gold?” you ask, confused.

    “Yes, an eternal Gold, pure, brilliant, unyielding. Time cannot tarnish its luster. And you, chosen one, embody the Responsible type.”

    “Responsible?”

    “You shoulder burdens others shy away from. You accept failure and carry its weight, not for yourself, but to protect those you care for. You conceal your emotions, not out of fear, but because you don’t want others to bear your pain."

    "And yet, this responsibility is not without purpose. You derive satisfaction from solving problems, completing tasks, and bringing order to chaos."

    "Though you may doubt yourself, others see your strength and determination. In their eyes, you are capable, even if you cannot yet see it yourself."

    “Your challenge will be to trust others as much as they trust you. True peace will come when you learn to share your burdens, to rely on those who care for you. With their help, you will grow into a force of unwavering resolve, a beacon for those who stand beside you.”

    The words resonate deeply within you.

    “There is one more matter,” the voice says. “A companion. To journey through this world, you will need a Pokémon to stand by your side. Choose carefully. This partner will be your dearest friend, your unwavering ally, through every challenge that lies ahead."

    “No force can break this bond. This Pokémon will be your strength when you falter and your light when the path is dark."

    “Now, who will you choose?”

    You hesitate, the weight of the decision settling over you. With what you have been through, you would think to yourself this would be an easy choice. Yet, there was something bothering you. The promise echoes in your head again, a reminder you have made for yourself. After a long moment, you name your partner.

    “An excellent choice,” the voice declares, its tone approving. “It is time. You will enter this world and forge your own destiny.

    "But know this, I must take away the memory of this conversation, of your past life, and even of yourself. Do not despair. When the time comes, you will find the path that has been laid before you.

    “Be brave. Take the first step, and let your new life begin.”

    The light swallows you whole, and everything fades to white.
    A simple take on Personality Test. I find it original to have your mystery dungeon story open with the choices of the one you wish to forge a journey. Is the result going to matter? Time will soon give you the answer. For now, let us enjoy what this wonderful world has to offer and once again, thank you, kind reader for joining me on this journey.
     
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    Chapter 1 - Birth of a Blade
  • Akasura Shirone

    Cat fanatic and star chaser by heart
    Location
    Island in the middle of the East Sea
    Pronouns
    He/Him/Shiro
    Chapter 1.png
    "What should we name him?"

    A thunderstorm raged outside their windows. The roaring thunder that rumbled across the pitch-black sky could not even rival the crying of their newborn. A little shinx hatched from his shelter within the embrace of Serenity Village, curled up and stared confusedly at his parents.

    The shinx's parents widened their eyes in surprise as the absol father held his son up in the air. His son was not born normally, with a blade much like his father’s sprouting from his head. He turned to look at his wife with mild concern, only to receive a caring look that spoke, "That's our son! No matter how he looks, he's still our angel that we have to protect."

    He heaved a sigh but was glad that they both shared the same idea. He put the shinx down next to his wife, caressing gently the electric lion's fur. The shinx's mother gave her son a light kiss on his forehead. A name ran through the Absol's head.

    "Axel!" the absol shouted. "We'll call him Axel!"

    "Axel, that's a good name..."

    The luxray stood up gently and walked towards her companion, leaning her head against his. They cast a look at the atmosphere outside. The storm had lessened as daybreak began to arrive on the horizon, shedding its warm rays of light through the windows. The shinx laughed joyfully, reaching his clumsy paws out trying to touch his father and mother.

    The duo smiled happily, a smile they had not had for so long...

    "Welcome you to this world, my dear Axel!"

    ...

    As a young shinx, Axel could not help but notice the way some villagers would turn their gaze or shuffle awkwardly past him when they thought he was not looking. Even the village kids around his age mocked him and fled from him the moment they caught glimpse at the weird looking shinx he was.

    One bright morning, Axel bounded into the village square, his blade catching a glint of sunlight as it swayed with his movement. A group of young Pokémon had gathered near the fountain, laughing and chasing each other. Their joy was infectious, and Axel’s tail flicked with excitement as he approached.

    “Hey! Can I play too?” he asked, his voice brimming with hope.

    The laughter ceased abruptly. A fennekin at the edge of the group froze, her body trembling as she whispered something to the squirtle beside her. The words spread quickly, like wildfire.

    “That’s the one with the creepy blade,” a cyndaquil muttered loud enough for Axel to hear.

    Axel’s steps faltered as the group shuffled back, their wide eyes fixed on his blade as though it might spring to life and strike.

    “I’m not... I’m just like you,” Axel said, trying to keep his tone light, though a pang of hurt had crept into his voice.

    “No, you’re not!” the cyndaquil blurted, taking a step back. “That thing on your head. It’s dangerous! My dad said only bad things happen when someone like you shows up!”

    Axel’s ears flicked back, his confident stride faltering. He clenched his teeth, willing himself not to cry. His father’s words about strength echoed faintly, but here, in the face of their fear, he felt anything but strong. “I’m not dangerous,” he said softly, his voice wavering. “I just… wanted to play.”

    The kids exchanged glances, unsure, before a few muttered excuses and scattered, leaving only the squirtle standing there. The squirtle rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, caught between the two groups. He studied Axel for a moment before making off with the others. But something in his expression lingered, a spark of curiosity that Axel would later see again.

    Feeling the sting of rejection, Axel made his way to the edge of the village where the elder’s home sat beneath a sprawling tree. The slaking, as ancient and unmovable as the roots he rested upon, cracked one eye open as Axel approached.

    “Ah, young Axel,” the elder rumbled, his voice slow and deep. “What’s weighing on you today?”

    Axel hesitated, his ears folded in a sadden manner. The electric lion sent a few grunting shocks of electricity as he pawed at the ground. “Why do they run from me?” he asked, his voice trembling. “The other kids, they won’t play with me. They say I’m... dangerous.”

    The elder’s gaze softened, and he reached out a massive paw to pat the ground beside him. Axel sat down, his tail curling around his legs.

    “Children often repeat what they hear from their parents,” the slaking said, his words deliberate. “And their parents, well... they fear what they do not understand. Your blade, Axel, it’s a symbol of strength and power. But to those who don’t know you, it might seem... unusual.”

    Axel’s ears drooped. “So, I just have to live with them being afraid of me?”

    The slaking chuckled, the sound like distant thunder. “Not forever, little one. Fear fades when it meets understanding. Keep being who you are, and those who truly matter will see the light in you, not just the blade on your head.”

    Axel looked up at the elder, a flicker of hope returning to his eyes. “You really think so?”

    “I do,” the slaking replied with a knowing smile. “You’ve got something special in you, Axel. It’s up to you to show the world what that is.”

    Buoyed by the elder’s words, Axel left the clearing feeling lighter, even if the stares and whispers persisted. But the ongoing hushed whispers and wary glances only deepened his confusion.

    Evening fell on the peaceful village. After returning home with questions bubbling in his chest, Axel found his parents seated by the hearth.

    “Mom, I am not… dangerous, am I?” he repeated the same question he had asked the elder, his voice barely above a whisper.

    The mother luxray pulled him close, her paws warm and steady. “What makes you say that my dear?” she asked gently, her golden eyes meeting his. Sulking away into the fur of his mother, Axel muffled, “It’s just, the village kids, this morning, they… ran away when they saw me and I heard whispers around.”

    Hearing his son’s trouble, the absol father gave a small, encouraging smile. “Sometimes, people fear what they don’t understand,” he said, lying down next to him and his mother in the same straw bed. “You don’t need their approval, Axel. Those who matter will see you for who you truly are.”

    Receiving the same response as the town elder, Axel just heaved a sigh.

    “I guess you are right…”

    The young shinx curled up again within the warmth radiating from his beloved ones. He remembered about the ones who treated him with kindness, the village baker giving him treats and hearty laughters, the clothes weaver’s playful ruffing on his turf of fur and the town elder’s embraces. The thought comforted him, warming the burdened heart of what used to be a troubled shinx for his appearance.

    Slowly, he drifted asleep. The echoing of the lullaby his mother had been singing for him soothed his soul.

    “Distant moon, so big and bright.
    Softest silver glowing through the night
    High atop, the mountain gold

    Sun unseen, the world is cold…”

    From that day, Axel changed.

    Axel decided the whispers were not worth his attention. Over time, their wary glances became little more than background noise, drowned out by his own carefree nature and the love of those who truly cared. What he did not anticipate was the whisper brought to him his life long friend.



    It was a sunny day. Today was the first time he got a battling lesson from his father. A straw dummy was set up carefully in the middle of a forest clearing. His father had instructed him a couple of basic attacks and decided to let him test out with the dummy while he went deeper into the forest for berries.

    The focused shinx was about to launch an assault when he heard ruffling in a nearby bush. A faint blue flashed between the openings. Axel squinted his eyes. He eyed the bush curiously, his tail flicking as he padded closer to the clearing where someone had been peeking out from behind a tree.

    “You’re not very sneaky, you know,” Axel teased, a playful smirk curling on his lips.

    He launched a thundershock into the bush only to receive a loud “Eeep!”. A squirtle shuffled out from his hiding spot, scratching the back of his head. He was the same one that stood hesitantly for a moment the other day. “I was just... uh... wondering what you were doing,” he admitted, his voice wavering between curiosity and nervousness.

    “Training,” Axel replied, nodding toward the straw dummy that had seen better days. “Wanna try?”

    The squirtle blinked in surprise, glancing between Axel and the battered training dummy. “You mean, like... sparring?”

    “Yeah! Unless you’re scared?” Axel’s grin widened, his voice teasing but good-natured.

    “I’m not scared!” The turtle huffed, puffing out his chest. “Fine. Let’s do it!”

    The two squared off in the center of the clearing, an air of nervous excitement hanging between them. Axel crouched low, his paws shifting uncertainly on the grass. The squirtle mirrored him, his movements stiff and unsure.

    Axel lunged first, but his paw slipped on a patch of dew slick grass, sending him stumbling forward. The squirtle flinched, raising his arms defensively, only for Axel to crash into him with a yelp. The two tumbled into a heap, the turtle’s shell clanging lightly against a stray rock.

    “Uh... are we doing this right?” The squirtle asked, untangling himself and glancing at Axel with a sheepish grin.

    “Probably not,” Axel admitted, laughing as he shook off the dirt. “But we’ll get better. Come on, again!”

    The match continued, full of clumsy lunges, misplaced attacks, and bouts of laughter as the two tried to figure out how to fight without tripping over themselves, or each other. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, both were panting and grinning, the awkwardness forgotten in the bloom of a new friendship.

    As they sat catching their breath under the shade of a large oak, Axel looked at the squirtle, his fur damp with sweat but his eyes shining with something between relief and joy.

    “Never actually got your name.”

    “Skarn, nice to meet you!”

    “Axel, nice to meet you, too!”

    Staring at the clear blue sky, with curiosity in mind, Axel asked his new squirtle friend.

    “Why aren’t you scared of me, like the others?” he asked, his tone genuine.

    Skarn stretched his arms, the sound of twigs crunching beneath him. “I dunno. Guess I just don’t listen to what everyone says. You’re not like the stories, no spooky stuff, no bad luck. You’re just… Axel.”

    Axel’s lips quirked into a small smile, his chest puffing slightly. “Well, I’m glad you think that. I could use a friend who doesn’t run away the second I show up.”

    Skarn grinned, extending a hand. “Friend it is, then. But don’t think I’ll go easy on you next time.”

    Axel bumped the hand with his paw. “I wouldn’t want you to.”

    …​
    The filtered sunlight of Amber Woods painted the earth in soft golden hues, the tranquil setting belying the hidden dangers lurking deeper within. Axel followed close behind his father, the seasoned Absol navigating the winding paths with measured precision. Despite its title as a mystery dungeon, Amber Woods was known to harbor mostly small, timid Pokémon that posed little threat. Such conditions were the perfect place for our young shinx to get his hands on practice about dungeon crawling and hunting from his father.

    But dungeons had a way of shifting, an insidious quirk of their existence. What seemed harmless one day could transform into something perilous the next.

    “Stay close behind me,” the Absol instructed, his voice low but firm. “We’re nearing the end.”

    The young Shinx nodded, trying to hide his excitement. He’d grown up listening to his father’s tales of dungeon expeditions and the dangers within, particularly the stories of the Berserkers. Those unnatural creatures, driven to madness and violence, were a stark contrast to the Pokémon who lived normal lives, even within the bounds of a dungeon.

    Berserkers were different, his father had always said. They didn’t behave like wild Pokémon defending their territory. They hunted with a single-minded ferocity, as though controlled by an unseen force, their rage unnatural and suffocating.

    Axel had never seen one before.

    He wanted to change that.

    The absol led the way, followed by Axel. A pair of pidgey jumped out from a nearby tree in ambush. They squawked at the ones trespassing their territory.

    The absol swiftly dodged the sweeping flight of the first one, sending a dark aura blade after it. The aura blade collided and the pidgey fell down. He turned around and the other one was already toasted and paralyzed to the ground. Sparks of electricity lingered on Axel's body.

    "Good work, son!" He praised, patting on the Shinx's head. "Your fighting skill has indeed improved."

    "I did practice a lot," Axel answered sheepishly.

    He recalled the times he had fought against the target dummies his father had put up in their backyard. The poor thing was brutally murdered every time with jolts and blade slashes to the point Axel had to make a new one every time his father came to check. For some reason, the young lion really enjoyed the thrill of battle.

    The conversation was cut short by more rustling sounds coming from afar, a sound deeper, heavier, more deliberate than anything they had encountered so far. The Absol froze, his fur bristling. The two raised their alert again and headed towards the exit of the dungeon. The end was not as welcoming for them as a scyther blocked their way. But it wasn’t the scyther’s imposing figure that made Axel’s paws tremble. It was the crimson glow of its eyes.​

    The stories his father had told him around the hearth came rushing back. The Berserkers, Pokémon overtaken by an unnatural, mindless rage. Creatures who had no regard for their own lives, whose only instinct was to destroy.

    “Axel, stay back,” the Absol commanded sharply, his voice cutting through the Shinx’s thoughts. “This isn’t like the others. I’ll handle this.”

    But Axel didn’t move. His eyes remained locked on the scyther, his heart racing for an entirely different reason now. He wasn’t afraid, he was exhilarated. This was his chance. A real Berserker. The ultimate test of his strength.

    "Stay here, I-"

    The absol’s words caught in his throat as Axel darted forward, placing himself between the scyther and his father. His paws rooted to the ground, the absol’s crimson eyes widened, his breath hitching as a sharp chill of dread ran through him. He could see the unnatural glint in the scyther’s jagged blades and the savage way its movements jerked, barely restrained chaos. Yet, in stark contrast, Axel’s gaze burned with unwavering resolve, his small frame trembling not with fear but with sheer determination. One slip, the Absol knew, one misstep, and the Berserker’s claws would tear through that fragile spark of life forever.

    "Axel!” the absol shouted, his eyes reddening as he was trembling to see through the sudden act of his son.

    It was too late to hold his son back. The scyther had spotted the shinx and in a blink of an eye, dashed straight at Axel with its sharp claws held high. The scyther threw a swift swing, which the lion barely avoided with a quick jump.

    Seizing the momentum midair, Axel charged his electric attack from his mouth and fired the beam at the scyther before landing down. The attack landed and knocked the Berserker back a little, leaving a cloud of dust.

    The berserk Pokémon would not go down that easily. It got up and lunged at Axel. Axel took a step back. The blade on his head hardened with steel energy as he blocked the slice from the crossed scythes. And yet, he was struggling to hold the scythes at bay as the Berserker’s blades pressed closer and closer.

    With a flick movement from his body, Axel parried the assault and then leaped into the air before striking down at the fragile mantis body with the steel blade.

    The scyther received the full blow of the swing. It twitched once, twice before it stopped moving with a big hole in its body. The fight was not as easy as Axel had imagined, yet he pulled through, panting. His father, who had witnessed the whole fight, was half horrified and half proud of how strong a warrior his son was.

    Just the other day he was just a little shinx playing behind him. But now, he was capable of taking down the Berserker on his own with his strength. The thought gave the absol a shiver, knowing that his son would most likely charge at another recklessly.

    "D-dad, I beat it!" Axel coughed, still trying to breathe properly but a satisfactory smile showed itself clearly on the shinx's face.

    Contrary to the proud smile Axel expected he would see from his father, the absol stared at him in disbelief. His fur was slightly spiked up from the rash decision his son had made.

    "Do you know how dangerous that thing was?!" Absol’s voice was edged with fear and anger, his usual composure shaken. Axel only scrunched his eyes shut, covering his ears with a pout. "You could have gotten yourself killed!”

    “But Dad-”

    “I’ve heard enough!”

    His heart twisted with a blend of pride and dread. Axel stood before him, head held high, a hint of defiance in his gaze.

    “By the stars,” absol thought, “he has the heart of a warrior already, and yet, does he know how close he came to ruin?” His fur prickled with fear as he imagined how swiftly a wrong move could have ended Axel’s young life.

    “Let’s get out of here first.”

    He turned away from the shinx. He could hear his son mumbling something but he was too furious to pay attention to it. Axel just followed after the absol with a sad face as they left the dungeon.

    ...

    The dim lights of a pleasant afternoon painted the river just outside of the dungeon with a pale orange hue. They did not call this place Amber Woods for no reason. The bright orange hue from the trees had always resembled that of autumn near this place even if its surroundings had already witnessed the blossoming of the early spring.

    The father and son washed themselves after the journey through that place. It was not tough but it surely took their stamina to the test. The absol dived into the cold water, his white fur glittered with silver from the water drops reflecting the sunlight. Still scared from what he had done, yet Axel could not help but stare at his dad in awe, wondering when he could be this majestic and prideful-looking.

    The absol caught a glimpse of his son staring at him nonstop and decided to splash the shinx out of playful frustration. He smirked at the sight of a soaked Shinx. Axel, being caught off guard by his dad from the attack, did not yield in the splashing. He pounced at the absol, submerging both of them into the water stream.

    Moments later, they just floated on the river surface with Axel lying on his father's belly.

    "Are you still mad about me?" Axel asked, looking at the clear blue sky. His head rested on the absol’s fur.

    The absol placed his paw on the shinx's head. The little lion reminded him so much about himself in his younger age, boisterous and carefree. He heaved a deep sigh, wondering if he could somehow change this behavior of his son.

    "I know I shouldn’t have attacked the scyther like that," Axel whispered. "I just want to test my strength."

    The absol stroked gently the head of his son. He was not sure how to react. Parenting was not his strong suit. It was always his mother who knew what to do in these situations. From the bottom of his heart, he spoke.

    “I care about you Axel,” he said to his son lovingly. “I let you go in Amber Woods not for you to get stronger or to put yourself in danger like that. Next time, you’ll need to tell me what you want to do before jumping head-first into a fight like that, got it?”

    Axel nodded, closing his eyes. The gurgling stream and the rustling leaves dispelled the silence of a peaceful evening.

    “It’s getting late, Mom is waiting for us.”

    Slowly turning his body, the absol signaled his son to get out of the water as they walked alongside each other to get back to the cottage.

    ...

    "Run! We can't defend them anymore!"

    Meanwhile in a far away plain, an army of Berserkers marched steadily towards a half-broken bastion. As much as they could, the Pokémon guarding the place had put up the best fight to push back the relentless waves of the enemy.
    The battlefield was a scarred wasteland, the earth torn apart by relentless fighting. Splintered barricades and shattered weapons littered the ground, mingling with the bodies of the fallen. The air was thick with smoke and the acrid stench of scorched wood, every breath a sharp reminder of the devastation.

    The defenders were battered, their armor dented and stained. They moved with the sluggish determination of those who knew this was their last stand. Blood streaked their fur and scales, and their muscles screamed with every strike, but they refused to yield.

    The Berserkers pressed forward like an unending tide, their crimson eyes gleaming with a mindless hunger. They tore through stone and steel with unnatural strength, leaving jagged wounds in the bastion’s defenses. Every swing of their claws and blades carried terrifying precision, as though driven by a single, unrelenting purpose: annihilation.

    A towering Berserker smashed through what remained of a stone wall, sending debris crashing down like hail. One of the defenders lunged at it, their strike landing true, but the creature barely flinched. Instead, it turned its fury on its attacker, striking them down with a brutal, bone-crushing blow. The defender crumpled to the ground, unmoving.

    "Fall back to the inner line!" shouted the general, his voice hoarse but commanding. He swung his weapon in wide arcs, carving out precious seconds for the others to reposition.

    Nearby, another defender grappled with a Berserker twice their size, their movements growing sluggish under the weight of exhaustion. A desperate cry rang out as the Berserker overpowered them, slamming them into the ground with sickening force. The sound echoed like a death knell.

    A few brave defenders held their ground at the breach, forming a final line. They lashed out with all they had, forcing the Berserkers to falter for a moment. Sparks and bursts of energy lit up the darkening sky as they unleashed every ounce of strength remaining.

    One of them leapt into the fray, slamming into the ground with such force that it cracked the earth, sending a shockwave through the horde. It was enough to stagger the front line of Berserkers, buying precious seconds for the others to act. Another fighter darted through the chaos, striking with precise, surgical movements to thin the enemy's numbers wherever they could.

    “Hold them back!” the general roared. “We only need one chance!”

    Amid the chaos, the message carrier stood frozen, clutching the precious letter tightly. Their legs trembled as they watched a defender be thrown aside like a ragdoll, their cries silenced as a Berserker descended upon them.

    The general turned, his battle-worn face lined with dirt and desperation, and seized the carrier by the shoulder. “Go now! Run, and don’t stop. We’ll hold them!”

    The defenders fought with reckless abandon, throwing themselves into the fray with a fury that defied their injuries. One unleashed a powerful blast that tore through the Berserkers, creating a narrow opening in the horde. Another fighter, already limping from a deep gash, stood as a living barricade, holding back the enemy with sheer willpower as the carrier darted through the gap.

    The Berserkers retaliated with feral ferocity, their claws tearing through armor and flesh alike. A towering figure fell to its knees, blood pooling around its feet, even as it managed to land one last devastating blow on the advancing horde.

    The message carrier didn’t dare look back as they ran, tears blurring their vision. The anguished cries of the defenders echoed behind them, accompanied by the sickening sounds of the Berserkers tearing through flesh and bone.

    The general stood at the center of the chaos, his weapon raised high as he faced the oncoming tide. His voice was steady as he gave one final order to his troops. “For the Division.”

    And then the Berserkers swarmed him, their bodies blotting out the light of the setting sun as they descended.

    By the time the letter reached its destination, the bastion was nothing more than a smoldering ruin. The land was silent, save for the faint crackle of dying flames, the once-defiant cries of its defenders now forever stilled.

    The letter shortly arrived at the Division, and in a flash, all the elite Rescue teams were assembled. Including one that found its way to Axel's cottage for his father, himself was a member of the most reputable Rescue team in his village.

    ...

    There was a lunar eclipse that night. In a cottage within Suntouched Forest, a family of three was enjoying their peaceful night by the cozy fireplace. Suddenly, their door was knocked on. A huffing and puffing jolteon called out the absol's name, delivering him the summoning notice from the Division.

    The absol took the letter with trembling paws, his mind racing through the possible dangers. He felt his heart sink, his gaze shifting to his wife and son. The luxray held his gaze, her eyes filled with a silent understanding that spoke louder than any words.

    She moved to his side, pressing her forehead to his in a gentle gesture, then wrapped him in a long, quiet hug. “Come back to us,” she whispered. There was no need to say more, both of them knew what could happen out there.

    He then turned to signal the jolteon to wait for him briefly. With a heavy heart, his wife had already packed all the things he needed into his strap bag. Within the cold embrace of the night, they set off.

    "Mom, where's dad going?" the innocent Axel asked, pulling the tuft of fur on his mother's leg.

    He longed after the silhouette of his father fading into the woods. His mother picked him up and put him into his straw bed. She then lay down next to him, stroking gently his soft blue fur.

    "He went on a mission," she answered softly. "The Division calls for him."

    "He will be back soon right?"

    "In a couple of days, I hope. Now, why don't you get closer so I can sing you a lullaby and we can both go to sleep?"

    ...

    The reinforcement arrived as fast as they could. The vanguards went first with the most experienced Explorer teams, brute forcing their way through the corpses of the Berserkers. The enemies were not weak, they were capable of holding back the initial charge of the battalion.

    However, with the drum of war resounding on and on, the heated fighting spirit of the whole Division spread like wildfire, empowering all the Pokémon that wished to defend this broken down bastion. They charged again, and again, and again like an unresting storm that swept through everything.

    "Let all of these brainless creatures face the wrath of our Division!"

    The Rescue teams scattered through every corner, helping all the injured Pokémon they could find while fending off the few Berserkers that made it past the frontline. Food and bandages were distributed to all the resting camps that the battalion managed to set up.

    "Back off you faulty creature!"

    "We need help over here, medic, medic!"

    The fight continued to go on for days. The battlefield was dust and dirt, all baked under an unrelenting sun. To the Pokémon from the Daybreak Division, it felt more or less like those monster houses in the dungeons they had traversed where danger lurked in every action.

    A sour wind swept the stone wall of the bastion and the ground was slick with the recent rain. The Division stood in formation, four rows were all they had and all they ever needed. Their eyes fixed on the path that was paved with blood of the Berserkers. The final horn of war echoed. Their answer had come. They had won the fight... or had they?

    As every Pokémon rushed to hug whoever they could find to cheer for the event, a piece of horrific news reached the Division leaders. This was all just a misdirection.​
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter 2 - Hardship and Friendship
  • Akasura Shirone

    Cat fanatic and star chaser by heart
    Location
    Island in the middle of the East Sea
    Pronouns
    He/Him/Shiro
    Chapter 2.png
    “Ready to set out?”

    Suntouched Forest, where light gently tapped on the dense foliage, playing with the early spring breeze, held residence of a small cottage by the river. A small voice echoed from afar, calling to the owner of the place.

    From within the humble settlement, Axel emerged, stretching his body. The early morning greeted him back with dim rays of light shining on the back of the electric lion.

    The yawning Pokémon took a step toward the river, washing itself over the glistening warm water. The nearby flowers that his father adored and were grown from the early days sent its scent with the wind, lightening up the already picturesque scenery.

    “Being an early bird for once, aren’t you Skarn?” Axel said mockingly.

    From opposite where the shinx was, a squirtle beamed, rubbing its nose.

    “It’s Harvest Festival, you lazy shinx! Of course, I have to get up early,” Skarn yelled excitedly. “Besides, lady Katrina asked me to send you a new cloak since, apparently, you tore apart another one.”

    “What can I say?” Axel replied, shrugging. “It’s a bit too tight, especially for this blade.”

    “I still can’t get used to the fact that you are the only shinx I know with the crescent blade of an absol.”

    The squirtle swiftly slid down from the mossy dune he was standing on. He then handed over the newly woven cloak to the shinx who just finished his daily routine.

    “Mom said it was a gift from the Legends,” Axel spoke while preparing his strap bag and putting on his cloak to cover his blade.

    “And it’s indeed the gift of the Legends.”

    A luxray suddenly appeared behind them. She had been hearing their talk for quite some time from the back of the house. She then handed the shinx his white scarf, kissed him on his forehead, and rubbed it gently.

    “Remember to get back before dinner time.”

    “I will, Mom.”

    Meanwhile, during the whole heartwarming moment, a squirtle impatiently waited while tapping its feet constantly on the ground and also frowning.

    “We're gonna miss all the fun stuff at the square you know?” the squirtle spoke, slightly annoyed. “Race you to the place then!”

    “Hey, wait up! Aren’t your kind supposed to be slow?”

    “Yeah yeah yeah, I get that a lot. Now who’s the slow one?”

    As the cottage began to leave their sight, the duo proceeded to share small chatters with Skarn doing most of the speaking while heading into the woods.



    Serenity Village, a peaceful place for whoever wished to find relief from the fast and crowded pace of a hustling town, was the destination of the two. Small as it appeared to be, the lifestyle was moderately vibrant.

    However, today was a special day, a Harvest Festival.

    Everything was lit up and alive around the village. Beautiful decorations with strings filled with differently colored flags were hung from house to house. One could even taste the freshly picked berry pie scent scattering through the faint wind and not to mention, the cheerful laughs presented themselves brightly on every face. A festive atmosphere wrapped tightly, bringing together a dearly bonded community.

    “Skarn, look at this one!”

    The pair joyfully ran from place to place, admiring all the beauty of the festival. Endless baskets full of berries, a signal of a successful harvest season, were lined up along the whole village square.

    “Ah, good day to you, Miss Lidia!”

    The duo stopped before a bakery, apparently captivated by the sweet smell. An audino emerged from the counter, greeting them back with a warm smile.

    “Good morning, you two,” she replied. “Would you care for a piece of cake?”

    “Definitely!” Skarm immediately jumped at her with sparkling eyes.

    Miss Lidia turned around and brought out a delicate Sitrus cake with a mild Tamato frosting. She then cut a piece and handed it to the eager squirtle. The turtle dived directly into the cake without saying a word.

    “Thank you, Miss Lidia! Your cakes are always the best!” said the stuffed Skarn.

    “Miss Lidia, have you seen lady Katrina today?” Axel raised a question.

    The audino stopped for a moment, pondering, “Hmm lemme remember… I think I last saw her when she was about to leave for the square. Maybe you should go there to check it out.”

    “I will, thank you,” the shinx replied while grabbing his friend to the door.

    “Wait, I haven’t fin-“

    Just as they were about to leave the place, the audino called out.

    “Hold on!” She rushed at the two, holding a piece of paper in her hand. “Your father asked me to make a cake for him, tell him to give this paper to me when he wants to collect it.”

    The shinx took the paper and put it into the strap bag. “I’ll give him when he comes back. Hopefully soon…” His eyes trailed off into the distance, saddening.

    “Now off you go, have fun at the festival you two!”

    “We will!” they said in unison.



    “Look, they are about to perform the dance!”

    A large crowd had already gathered at the main square. The paved path of land engraved with sun and moon symbols was quickly surrounded by festivalgoers and dancers. Some Pokémon even climbed on the higher floors of the nearby houses just to get a more voyeuristic view of the event.

    Skarn and Axel took advantage of their small appearance to squish through the packed crowd and made it to the front line to get the closest view.

    The bells tolled from the village square, clear and jubilant, signaling the beginning of the festival. But somehow it felt heavier than usual. A faint sense of unease prickled at the edges of the crowd. Axel felt it too, though he could not place it. Perhaps it was just the heaviness of the air or the strange scent of smoke far in the distance.

    And so it began.

    Bellossom family started the show with their traditional sprouting ceremony. A graceful showcase of blossoming buds despite harsh conditions.

    They are followed by the fire-breathing performance of the emboar brothers who always managed to surprise everyone with their brilliant techniques. Fire being controlled skillfully gave countless standing ovations and cheers among the crowd.

    As night began to fall, the most awaited performance was ready. The town's most experienced fighters performed the traditional “Day and Night” battle. Axel’s eyes shone brightly, fixing onto the rhythmic swings of attack back and forth.

    He knew he had the strength of both, the strong electric current surging through his body and the sharp, swift, and precise blade that cut through stone. He had always dreamt of the day that he would be able to harness the power that was given to him.

    However, the fun did not last long.

    “Run! The Berserkers! They are coming!”

    A terrified yell put a stop to all the actions. Thunderous roars signaling grave danger echoed, piercing through every existence. Fear crippled the faces of the festival goers when they saw a bloody figure slowly walking towards them.

    It was the guard. The defense had fallen.

    “No, it can’t be-“

    “Ahhhhhhhhhhh!”

    Screams were all that could be heard. Pokémon after Pokémon, they began pushing, shoving each other in complete horror. Staying alive was their utmost priority.

    A rhydon was snarling nonsense, scissoring his arms, rampaging his way past an old lady oranguru. The paw fur of a little fennekin was torn in her father's panicked grip as she howled, red-faced. Several lay still, life gone from them, victims of the stampede.

    In the midst of the crowd, the duo was crushed, thrown around. Screams. Blood. The Berserkers charged, fangs flashing. Axel could not see. He only heard Skarn’s frantic gasps beside him.

    Axel's heart raced. Everywhere, red eyes, claws, the ground slick with blood and crushed flowers from the festival. Seeing his friend was not capable of thinking straight anymore, the electric lion clenched his teeth and dragged the squirtle away from the rampage.

    “Skarn, no! Stay awake! We need to get out of here!”

    Skarn was jolted awake from the slap of his friend. He regained a little composure, nodded, and then followed the shinx. Realization struck the young squirtle.

    “What about my parents? My parents!”

    Skarn suddenly escaped from Axel's paw and then ran off towards the direction of his house. Our lion wanted to hold back his friend but it was too late. A group of Pokémon running for their dear life cut the duo off. With the Berserkers chasing after, our shinx gave up the follow and ran towards his cottage.



    “Everything is gonna be fine… Everything is gonna be… fine…”

    He mumbled the sentence over and over again as he was running through a small alley leading out of the village. He eventually reached a chokepoint. Unbeknownst to him, the presence of a Berserker had already loomed around the corner.

    “I should be safe from h-“

    It lunged at him. The hardened steel blade managed to block the sudden attack. However, the strength of the Berserker who was twice as large as him easily weighed his footing to the ground.

    Axel pulled all his remaining strength to parry away the attack, but he did not anticipate the second charge from behind. Fangs of the Berserkers sank into his body.

    Cold. The pain should have been unbearable, but it came and went so swiftly that Axel felt nothing. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth as the world darkened around him, as memories surfaced, unbidden. Images flashed before his eyes. The scent of his father's flowers. The warmth of his mother's smile. He unknowingly smiled, tears rolling across the unfortunate fate. The red eyes wanting to swallow him appeared from every corner. They smelled blood, they were craving for it. They had always been.

    The bloodthirsty creatures approached quicker and quicker every second. His demise was set.

    “Is this how my life would end?” he thought as tears blurred his vision. “Mom… Dad…”

    Strangely, the awaited death did not come. He heard a clean slash sound.

    “Son! Axel! Wake up!”

    He tried his best to open his eyes. An absol with its blade covered in the crimson blood of the one he killed. He recognized this absol.

    “Dad…”

    “Thank Arceus! You’re alive! I thought I was too late!” his father gasped, voice trembling with relief.

    The short reunion did not last long. More enemies were coming. He knelt down, carefully lifting Axel onto his back. "Stay with me, son. We're not out of this yet."

    The sound of snarls and claws scraping against stone grew louder. More Berserkers were coming. The absol tightened his grip, his eyes flashing with determination.

    He hurriedly picked his little shinx up and put the dying cub on his back.

    Being acutely aware of his surroundings, he bolted as fast as he could, with the remaining strength he had.

    "Hold on tight, Axel."



    They always said immeasurable strength prevailed in adversity. Such strength could move mountains, fill oceans, and do the impossible. However, everything would eventually reach its limit.

    They made it back to the cottage. The shinx’s mother was waiting for them at the front door. She shed tears, covering her mouth from the shock when her son and husband made it back alive.

    She immediately helped move Axel onto his straw bed and tended to the bleeding wound. He was severely struck on his back. Despite that, the bandages from his mother did a great job of holding the wound from bleeding too much.

    After making sure everything was fine, she joined her husband who was on a lookout into the forest.

    “Thanks, Arceus! You two are fine!”

    She hugged him tightly. The absol bit his lip, still keeping an alerting gaze at the forest clearing. Horrifying thoughts filled their heads.

    “Neoma…”

    She called out to him. The absol touched his forehead gently on the luxray’s mane. He gave her the most loving gesture of a partner who had gone through everything side by side with her.

    “The news came as a total disbelief for the whole Division. I left the place to come back as soon as I could. Fate has never been easy on us,” the absol whispered. “I’m scared for what is to come.”

    He hesitated a bit before putting his firm grip on the luxray’s body, pulling her closer into an embrace.

    “No matter what happened today, to the end of the world, I’ll still be your lover, my dear, Nirva.”

    The outburst from the absol sent tears rolling down even more from his life companion. The luxray knew what was going on. She was frightened but already anticipated the event.

    “You’ve sacrificed too much for me already.”

    Nirva gave the absol a few pats on the back, rubbing his matted fur. She brushed her muzzle against Neoma’s fur. Her scent, a warm, comforting mix of wild grass and berries, grounded him in the moment. He closed his eyes, pressing into her one last time, letting the warmth of her mane sink into his memory.

    “We have to go now, they are coming.”

    The sound of rustling leaves and cracking branches thickened. The used-to-be serene forest had never been this uneasy and eerie. Howling winds roared as if it wanted to tear down the place. The trees were swaying uncontrollably from side to side. A storm was drawing near.

    Growls and heavy steps echoed through even the thickest foliage. They were near, very near. Figures with crimson eyes trod their way out into sight. The Berserkers already caught up to them.

    “Neoma, what should we do now?”

    Not a single valid option went through the absol’s head. He knew if they caught up, his family would die. He had to create a diversion.

    “I’ll stall them.”

    Nirva froze, her eyes wide. "No," she whispered, then louder, "No! I don’t want to lose you!”

    “It’s the only way to keep you and him alive.”

    “No… we can make it, just a bit more.”

    The absol shoved his partner ahead, creating a wall between them. He readied his battle stance, a dark aura forming around him.

    “Go!”

    Nirva was stunned. With a heavy heart, she carried her son and ran deeper into the forest. She wanted to look back, but she could not. She had to move forward. She cried desperate tears. Memories of him flooded back to her.

    "Did I tell you I love you, Nirva?"

    "Yes, but say it anyway."

    "I love you."


    Large explosions followed her paw steps. She ran as fast as she could. Still, her speed was no match for the Berserkers. A fireball from between the trees was aimed at her. And it landed.

    "Do I make you happy, Neoma?"

    "Every day of my life."

    "I'm lucky to have you, Neoma."

    "No, I'm the lucky one."


    She fell down, collapsed from the pain. She did not give up. She slowly got back on her four. She had a son to save. The thought of keeping her son alive strengthened her. She just had to reach the next town. Just a little more, so she thought…



    Rain, to cleanse the suffering, rain had fallen onto the miserable fates. The Division finally caught up to the massacre in this ever-peaceful forest. All the leftover Berserkers were taken care of shortly after. Shouts looking for survivors echoed, trails of blood painted the ruined village in a heart-shattering crimson reality.

    Under the fallen debris, a few lucky survivors managed to grab hold of the hands of the Rescuers. Cold, shivering, scarred for life, they all were.

    “Please, anyone? Has anyone seen an absol this tall with this badge? His name is Neoma. Please, I need to know if he’s alive or not.”

    Amidst the crowd, four Pokémon led by a jolteon were frantically asking for Neoma. So far, every Pokémon they asked either shook their head or just was too scared to speak up.

    “I-I know him.” A soft voice came from between the crowd. It was the town elder. The jolteon immediately turned around. “His house is that way, just right outside of the village,” said the Pokémon as it pointed toward the edge leading into the forest.

    The jolteon profusely thanked the elder and then instructed his team to go that way. The forest was devastated, collapsed trees piling on top of each other. The deeper it went, the more blood trails and sharp claw marks were imprinting onto the nearby stones. The whole sight took a gasp out of every member of Leon’s team.

    “Leon, I don’t think-“

    “Don’t you dare say another word!” the jolteon recoiled, “He’s still alive! Keep searching! Blasted Neoma! Why do you have to leave us and go back alone?! Neoma!”



    Deep within the forest, inside a hollow tree trunk, a figure of a luxray lay, bathing in the red water. Struggling to breathe, she wrapped her arms around the shinx’s body, pulling him into an embrace. She had managed to find a hiding place, however, she was bleeding too much. Her breath weakened and her vision went blurry as time passed.

    “Distant moon, so big and bright.
    Softest silver glowing through the night
    High atop, the mountain gold

    Sun unseen, the world is cold…”

    The lullaby echoed, soothing and comforting. Axel stirred, recovering from the slumber. He slowly opened his eyes… only to get an immediate shock from reality. Terrified, he saw his mother hugging him tightly, her body covered with critical wounds.

    “Mom! Mom! No!”

    He pushed himself away from her embrace. The sharp pain ran through his back but he ignored it. He needed to do something, something to save his most beloved person in this whole world. He held his mom’s paw with both of his front paws, sobbing.

    “I-I’ll get help! Wait for me!”

    “Don’t go, Axel. I’m going to be fine, don’t worry…” Nirva whispered softly to her son. Her body trembled as she put her paw on Axel’s cheek, rubbing it. “You are the best gift that the Legends have brought to me.”

    Axel cried harder. “No, mom! Please… Stay with me!”

    His mom smiled at him, the same sunny-filled smile that would brighten up every single time he would feel down. He hugged her, tears trekking across the soft fur that would sing him to his slumber every time. She looked at him lovingly… just before her paw fell lifelessly.

    “May the Legends guide your journey, live well Axel.”

    She… was no more.

    “Mom! Mom!!!”

    Light shone into the hollowed trunk, the mellow brightness snuggled closer to the two figures inside. Axel curled up next to his mother’s body, trying to seek the last warmth radiating from it.

    Moments of sorrow passed and he knew, he had to move forward. He had to continue living for her. Drained mentally and physically, Axel slowly made his way out from the trunk. He found himself dragging his body with leaden steps on the forest floor. Desperate shouts blended with sobbing and tears. He shouted from the top of his lungs.

    “Is there anyone?! Please!”

    He was still too weak to move. His body gave up as he tripped and collapsed on the soaked grass. Regardless, he continued to crawl. His strength dwindled, and his eyes went heavy every second.

    “No, I can’t… pass out. I need to… get back to the village.”

    Little to his awareness, from between the trees, a figure stood still, staring at him. It mumbled a few words before it took flight.



    “You do not belong here.”

    White, an endless white stretched beyond his sight.

    “You are just a burden.”

    Heartbeat, sweat, and anxiety. They crowded him, submerged him.

    “No one is going to remember you.”

    He tried to run, but to where? Nothing seemed to lead to a clear destination for him. He could only keep running.

    "You are a disappointment.”

    The ground beneath him suddenly shattered, revealing a dark abyss as he fell deeper into that dark void. He tried to shout as loud as he could but something muffled all those sounds. He felt helpless.

    “You killed them. You monster! You are the reason why they are all dead!”

    “Why do you even try? You will always be alone…”


    The descent ended. He felt the presence of a cold platform where he lay down after the fall. He tried to get up on his four, slowly and heavily. He took a glance at his surroundings. Nothing else besides broken fragments of his messed up memory.

    “Mom said it was a gift from the Legends…”

    “Are you still mad about me?”

    “Skarn, no!...”


    The pieces resonated. The words struck like claws, sinking deep into his mind, each one louder, darker. He staggered, gasping as they tore at memories he wanted buried. He felt a sharp pain running through his chest. He stared down at the platform. It had already turned into a mirror. He saw his reflection. It was not a normal reflection.

    The entire body of the ‘creature’ was covered in black, its eyes were crimson red, and a haunting purple shade emitted from the crescent blade on its head. It did not leave sight of him, a sinister smile forming on its face. A maniacal laugh echoed through the place.

    The reflection disappeared. A chill appeared from behind him. His mane glowed up, bright as the sun as the creature jumped at him with a powerful swing. He dodged the attack, hearing a loud crack from where the blade of the creature made contact with the glass.

    Battle stance readied, he retaliated by slashing his electric-infused claws at the creature. It shrieked before firing multiple dark aura air blades at him. He managed to avoid several of them, but the last one landed, sending him flying into a fragment.

    The creature did not let him catch his breath. It charged at him again, but this time, he already predicted it. He took a step sideways, facing directly to the creature’s back. With full force, he sank his fangs deep inside the creature, sending wave after wave of electricity into it.

    The creature struggled to break through the bite, swinging its body back and forth trying to shrug him off. It was finally able to fling Axel away but was left incapable of fighting back anymore.

    “We’ll meet again…”

    The creature screamed its final words with a twisted voice. It stumbled on the ground, dissipating into a stream of black mist. Axel coughed exhaustedly. Just as he thought it was all over, the mist enveloped his legs, dragging them downward.

    “Hey, wake up! Wake up!”

    Axel gasped, eyes snapping open to a different reality. The cold sweat lingered on his fur as he found himself lying on the forest floor, surrounded by the earthly scent and the refreshing droplets of an early morning. The memories of the nightmare clung to him like a haunting specter. His parents, the creature, the fall into the abyss, it all felt so vivid, yet distant.

    He felt a slight difference as if he were taller somehow. His body had evolved to, now, a more majestic lion-like looking figure. The process must have been painful, yet there was no trace of drastic impairment it had left on him.

    His paws felt foreign, larger and stronger than he remembered, the blue spark of his fur darker, fiercer. His mane grew far more lustrous, covering his entire front head with a sort of helmet-like tuft of silky black fur. His eyes sharpened, still mildly bloodshot red from what he could vaguely remember. Such inexplicably painful memories they were.

    The star-shaped tail of him shone subtlely, waves of electricity coursing through it each passing second. He caught his reflection in the river, older, a luxio grown into a force he barely recognized. Slowly, he raised his paw to his head. The most precious gift was still there, the proud blade. It seemed hardened, sharper to the touch, a swing from this might be able to cleanly cut through a large stone.

    Still unfamiliar with this newfound sensation of his body, he heard a concerned voice, echoing in his ears. The voice was distressed, yet warm.

    “Are you okay?”

    Turning his head, Axel saw the worried eyes of a jolteon. He heard rumbling pawsteps from afar. As silhouettes appeared through the morning mist, Axel’s fur bristled, his stance low, ready to bolt if needed. Memories of last night’s horror played in his mind, the smell of smoke and ash still fresh in his nostrils.

    “No, stay back! Who… who are you?!“

    Axel shouted, slowly backing away from where the source of the sound was. His fur flared up, sparks of electricity coiled around the body of the luxio. The jolteon instinctively took a step back from the abrupt reaction, yet he walked forward carefully while reassuring the befuddled lion.

    “Don’t be afraid,” the eeveelution replied with a soft voice, approaching. “We’re here to help.”

    Not sensing any malicious intent from the jolteon, Axel took a step forward. His eyes were still fixated on where the rumbling sound was. Breathing a sigh of relief now that the luxio seemed to have trusted him, the jolteon put a paw onto Axel’s shoulder.

    “Now, have you calmed down? My name is Leon,” the jolteon said calmly, “and your name is?”

    “Axel.”

    Realization struck the jolteon as he froze, eyes widening for a heartbeat

    “Axel… Y-you are Neoma’s son!” Leon gasped.

    Just as the train of thought hit him, Leon’s crew caught up. They saw a wounded luxio confronting their leaders and got ready in a battle stance. A moment of tension yet, Leon raised his paw to signal for them to hold, and the crew decided to watch from behind the trees, just outside of Axel’s sight.

    “You know my father?”

    “We were looking for him. Did he not come with you?”

    Axel came to a halt. He was at a loss for words when he heard Leon mentioned his father’s name. “My father, he… he held the Berserkers back for me and my mother to escape. Did you not find him along the way here?”

    Leon shook his head. He then rubbed the back of it in distraught.

    “We followed the instruction of the town elder in this direction. Along the way, there was this peculiar path of flower petals leading up to you. But midway, there was no sight of him.”

    Piecing the words from Leon together, a thought ran through Axel’s head. Maybe, there could still be hope. However, they had to get there fast.

    “I’ll lead you to the cottage. My father might still be there.”

    “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go.”



    Burdened thoughts filled the luxio’s mind as he and Leon’s crew ran back to the cottage where he lived. Through bushes and tree trunks, a vision of light revealed itself as they arrived at the clearing where the cottage resided.

    The cottage stood in shambles, its walls scarred with soot, the air thick with the bitter scent of charred wood and smoke. Completely destroyed as it was, as if there had been a fierce struggle between two massive entities just stumbling around across the whole place. Claw marks and blood trails scattered across the terrain.

    Axel stood still. Echoes of laughter and wonderful moments flashed between his eyes. The once peaceful and heartfelt home now crumbled to the ground. Tears began rolling from his eyes, his body trembled. Leon pulled Axel into an embrace as he signaled his crew to advance, keeping an eye out for any danger.

    They arrived at the front yard. The once beautiful patch of flowers, half of them was crushed while the other half was missing. Something must have picked up these flowers and scattered them along the path to Axel. After a moment of searching, there was still no sight of the familiar absol.

    The stunned Axel parted from the embrace, trudging heavily towards the river. As he approached the stones near the bank, a sparkle caught his eyes in the distance. He walked to it as Leon followed right after. From the corner, Axel picked up what looked to be a pin of some sort.

    Leon recognized this one, the Division badge given to those of high importance. Axel handed the badge to him. The jolteon clutched onto it tightly in his paw. The once brilliant silver orb with wings on its sides was now painted in red.

    Leon’s shoulders stiffened as he surveyed the ruins, his gaze lingering on the smoldering remains. His jaw clenched, and for a brief second, he looked away, blinking against emotions he tried to bury.

    “This isn’t fair,” Leon’s voice broke through the silence, sharp and bitter. “We trained, we fought, yet this…” He kicked at a broken plank, his usual composure cracking as anger flared in his eyes.

    A flash of electricity and a nearby tree fell. Electricity ran through the fist of an enraged jolteon. The impact from the punch left his paw bleeding, yet compared to the pain of losing a loved one, it was nowhere close.

    “You said we would fight alongside each other!” Leon roared, sparks cascading off his fur, remorse and pain engraved on his face. “You said we would be the best Rescue team. Why do you have to leave us?!”

    Caught off guard by the sudden outburst of the jolteon, Axel just widened his eyes for a moment and then stared off into the foliage above. The grief was not his alone, and he realized that his father’s absence would ripple through others’ lives as deeply as his own. Memories came rushing back to him, still as fresh and vivid as he remembered their journeys together.

    The dungeon crawling, the heartwarming meals, the fatherly loving smile and embrace, he could see them all, so close, yet so out of reach. No one would be there to scold him for his reckless attempts, no one would be there to snuggle up next to him when winter fell on this land.

    “Father…”

    A brief moment passed and a tyranitar walked next to the broken-down jolteon, trying to rouse him up. Realizing there was someone else who would be more deeply hurt than him, Leon came back to Axel, and once again pulled the lion into a tight hug.

    “Axel, I-“ Leon hesitated. “I should have known better. I-I’m sorry for your loss.”

    “We all make mistakes, big or small. Mine was not being strong enough.” Axel brushed gently against the fur of the eeveelution.

    Another moment of silence passed by. Rays of light tapped gently onto their furs. Axel could not help but notice from behind him the whole crew clutching their paws into fists, trembling.

    “His journey might have come to an end. However, my journey will not end here,” said Axel as he pulled himself and Leon up. “I have to continue the journey that they could not have gone through with me.”

    Determination filled him. He had survived, and now he needed to face the challenges that awaited him in the waking world. The journey to healing would be long, but even in such adversities, he would go against all odds to achieve it.

    Leon put his paws down, nodding.

    “Let’s get you out of here.”

    “Wait, before we go-”

    Axel took a step into the cottage. Everything was mostly the same, just lacking the warmth that would welcome him every time he returned. He grabbed the strap bag that his mother had woven for him and the white scarf that she had always told him to keep close to.

    Packing the essentials, he came across the picture frame that was broken on the ground. The image of his father and mother smiling back at him skipped a heartbeat. Smiling, he put the picture away and walked out to meet Leon’s crew.

    He then walked to the garden, picked what was the remaining of the flowers, and tied it into a small bouquet. Slightly confused, Leon approached Axel.

    “These are for my mother, she was just a couple steps away from where you found me. I want to give her a proper burial.”

    A short moment of astonishment appeared on the jolteon’s face, still he nodded and together, they walked back on the path paved with flower petals.

    A short moment later, they approached a scorched tree trunk. Inside of it lay a luxray’s body. The body was cold to the touch, yet her face was as serene as it could ever be.

    Leon and his crew helped Axel move her body out. Axel lifted his mother onto the Tyranitar’s back and walked to a clearing. He dug up a small hole and they carefully placed his mother into it. The place was covered up with care, a tidy grave it was.

    He kneeled down to her grave, placing the bouquet on top of it. Taking a deep breath, Axel decided that he could not let the past control him. He had to move forward, just as his mother wanted.

    “We can go now, sorry for the wait,” Axel whispered.

    Leon then directed the crew to go back and help the others while he remained in companionship with Axel. Axel looked at Leon for a sense of guidance as they slowly left the forest.

    “Where will we be going?” Axel asked.

    “My team will help the survivors relocate within the Kingdom of Solace. However, you, Axel, I think there is a better place for you right now,” Leon said, placing into Axel’s paw his father’s badge. “Daybreak Division will always welcome you. At least, that’s what I can do on behalf of your father.”

    Gripping onto the badge, Axel then pinned it onto the strap bag. The sun was coming to the midpoint as they pressed forward to the edge of Suntouched Forest.



    Upon arrival, a basic small camp had been set up by Leon’s crew, just enough to rest the survivors for the night.

    As they reached deeper into the camp, a familiar sight caught Axel. From a corner of his eyes, a squirtle was resting next to a snuffed-out campfire, his eyes drifting off in the distance. The left arm of the squirtle was missing, yet the buoyant spirit remained intact as he shared small exchanges with Leon’s crew every now and then.

    Could not hold the happiness, Axel ran straight at the squirtle, tackling him to the side.

    “Skarn!”

    In Skarn’s view, as he turned around, all he saw was in a flash, a large quadrupled creature just ran straight at him, knocking him to the side. Bewildered, the turtle tried to break free. However, as his remaining arm reached for Axel’s head, he felt the familiar sensation of his used-to-be shinx friend.

    Leon, who was walking to the side, just shook his head in defeat.

    “If you need me, I’ll be at the largest tent in the camp,” said Leon as he walked away, leaving the two their needed privacy.

    As the image slowly came into view, Skarn could more or less make out the look of the one atop him.

    “A-Axel?”

    “You are alive!” Axel cried out, getting off from Skarn’s body. “I thought, but you-”

    Skarn gently put his finger up to the stuttering luxio’s mouth to shush him and slowly got up.

    “Sheesh, that knocked the wind out of me.” He patted gently on his legs and body, getting the dust out. He then turned to look directly at Axel’s face, a big grin forming on his face. “Woah, hey, look at you! Bigger and fluffier than ever eh?”

    Axel frowned. All the things his friend could say in this moment and Skarn chose that as a compliment. With a big all wrap around, Axel jumped onto the squirtle again, pulling him into an embrace.

    “I’m glad you’re alive,” Axel whispered.

    “Me too, buddy. Me, too.”

    A few excited sparks of electricity ran across Axel and transferred to Skarn. The squirtle had been hugged by his friend like this too many times to know how exhilarating the luxio was right now.

    They stayed like that for a few minutes before Skarn broke free from the embrace and sat back on the log next to the campfire. Axel followed him and curled up into a ball next to the squirtle.

    “So what happened?” Skarn asked, grabbing a nearby stick and poking it at the burnt wood.

    With a heavy sigh, Axel jogged Skarn through the painful journey of his memory, telling him all the details from his parents’ death to the point of Leon finding him. “…and that’s how I got this new look and what was, you know, left of me.”

    Skarn’s grin wavered, his gaze flickering down for a fraction of a second. “Yeah, I get it,” he muttered, almost too low for Axel to catch. “We all… lose things.” They remained silent for a bit more before Axel spoke up to break the tension.

    “How about you? That arm has a story to tell.”

    Hearing the question, Skarn stood up, stretching his body a little. His gaze then averted to the opposite tent where a figure of a tyranitar was resting soundly inside of it. A smile formed on his face, a bittersweet one.

    “Can’t say I’m the lucky one,” the squirle said in a shaky voice. “Mom shielded the Berserkers for me. I just remembered her screaming out my name before I passed out and then the big guy tyranitar there busted through the door.”

    “That was at least what he told me after I woke up.”

    “At least you are safe now.”

    Skarn shrugged, lifting his one good arm as if to wave away the heaviness. “Hey, we’re survivors, right? Missing an arm doesn’t stop me, and losing people… well, we keep them alive here.” He tapped his heart, grinning, but his eyes were distant.

    Axel bit his lips, tears rolling from his eyes again. The desperation sent waves of electricity across his body, lighting his tail up brightly from frustration. An arm wrapped around him as Skarn kneeled down, rubbing his matted fur.

    “Hey wanna see a cool trick?”

    Axel perked up, staring at the beaming squirtle. Skarn held out what was the remaining of his left arm and in a moment, water circled it, shaping into a watery form of a new arm. As the water took shape, a gust of cold wind slowly froze up the water arm into a solid form. Skarn then proceeded to give it a swing around.

    “Not the perfect one but it’ll help in a pinch,” said him as a sunny smile rested on his face.

    As Axel marveled at Skarn’s makeshift ice arm, a newfound sense of hope and camaraderie filled the air. The rising sun made its way to their faces, casting dancing shadows across the fate of the reunited duo.

    Meanwhile, Leon, having observed the heartwarming reunion from a distance, decided to break the moment and approached the pair with a knowing smile. “Seem like you two have a lot to catch up on,” he remarked, his voice caring a hint of warmth. “We’ll head out to Solace Kingdom soon so you two might want to pack up.”

    The two of them nodded and with their final exchanges, Skarn headed back to where his mother was while Axel silently followed behind Leon to the main tent.

    “You have a great friend in him, Axel,” Leon whispered. “Take good care of him,” as he turned back and gave Axel a mesmerizing look. A feeling of regret filled the jolteon’s eyes as Axel caught them. Perhaps, it was something the eeveelution could not have done when he had gotten the chance to do so.

    A brief moment of preparation later, they gathered what they could, or rather what was left, all piling into a large wagon pulled by a tyranitar ahead. Leon gave a signal and his crew, alongside all the survivors, marched their way out from the greenery of Suntouched Forest.

    As they reached the opening, a spectacular view revealed itself in front of their eyes. A gigantic fortified stone wall surrounding numerous buildings and structures rested amidst the vast lustrous yellow fields of barley. In the middle of it, a tall spire stood proudly, a hall of fame, a beacon in the darkness for the wandering souls.

    “Here we are, Solace Kingdom.”​
     
    Last edited:
    Chapter 3 - A New Found Hope
  • Akasura Shirone

    Cat fanatic and star chaser by heart
    Location
    Island in the middle of the East Sea
    Pronouns
    He/Him/Shiro
    Chapter 3.png
    The wheel of fate slowly turns
    A needle weaves the crimson threads together in harmony

    The road to the kingdom was quite a distance from Suntouched Forest. Nothing but the sound of rock pebbles scattered underneath the heavy wagons as they traversed through the gravelly path. The clanging sound of the wheels mixed with the steady paw steps. The rescue team, led by Leon, was guiding the lucky survivors to their new homes.

    Inside one of the wagons, Axel was sitting beside his friend Skarn who was sleeping soundly as his head leaned to the side to snuggle into the black fur mane of the lion. They were the first in line as Leon and his crew were walking up front, directing the flow of movement.

    A brief moment of anticipation filled Axel’s soul. Axel glanced out at the vast fields, feeling the weight of anticipation settle into his chest. Each bump of the wagon jostled loose more thoughts he had pushed aside, thoughts of his father, of the steps he was retracing, and the ones he wasn't sure he was ready to take.

    He observed the surroundings once more and then looked ahead at the tall spire in the direction they were going. A restless feeling emerged from within him. With an endearing smile, he gently moved the head of his friend onto a soft layer of straw that they had prepared, leaped off the wagon, and tried to catch pace with the jolteon ahead of him.

    “Leon?”

    “Yes, Axel?”

    Hearing the call from the luxio, Leon turned to the side. His face was calm though slightly perturbed by the whole incident. A sense of weariness engraved on his face, must have been drained from whatever had happened before and after the mishap.

    “May I ask how long have you and my father been working together?”

    The jolteon looked around. Most of his crews were busy directing the others at the moment and there seemed to be quite a while before they could reach their designated location. And thus, he began to speak with a half sigh.

    “A couple years ago,” Leon spoke up, eyes darting at the crystal clear sky above. “We used to be a band of mercenaries who worked off the call of the Division. Your father was the one who gathered us and thus, the birth of team Moonscar.”

    “He’s never told me that,” Axel replied with a surprised look on his face. “My mom told me about his job in Solace Kingdom but that was all I got told.”

    “Your father was the leader of our group,” Leon said with a proud tone in his voice. “In fact, it was all of his guidance that we even made a reputation ourselves within Daybreak Division.”

    He took a glance at his team. Sometimes, even he wondered how the rough-looking Pokémon like them could even fit in the well-kept and disciplined environment of the Division. And yet, here they were, going from just wandering aimlessly with no purpose whatsoever to getting themselves known within the kingdom and helping those in need.

    Axel looked at Leon with admiration. The image of his father smiling flashed before his eyes. Gripping his paw tightly, he clenched his teeth. Determination slowly filled the young luxio. Times like this made him question his strength, for he knew if he just got a little stronger, there could have been so many things he could have done differently.

    Leon witnessed the tensed-up luxio and he just gently put a paw on the lion’s shoulder as they both came to a stop.

    “Hey, umm, Axel,” Leon stuttered, unsure if he wanted to push the topic. “Your father is very proud of you. He told us from time to time stories of how strong you are even at your age. I’m sure wherever he is, he would want you to continue living or even better, completing what he couldn’t have finished.”

    Axel thought about it for a minute and then nodded. He wanted to get stronger so that he could protect the ones he loved the most. He was certain that was what his parents would wish him to do in this circumstance.

    “You know,” Leon spoke up, breaking the luxio’s train of thought. “We do have an empty spot in the team right now. So, what do you say? Wanna join team Moonscar and help us in our future endeavors?”

    Said Leon as he held out a paw in front of Axel. The sudden invitation caught the luxio off guard. Axel stared at Leon’s outstretched paw, the silver badge glinting in the corner of his eye. His father’s badge. The reminder was heavy, both an honor and a burden. He wanted to say yes, wanted to follow his father’s path, but a part of him whispered, “Is this what you really want?”

    Clutching the badge tightly, he finally whispered, “I-I’ll think about it.” He turned his head to the side to avoid the gaze of the jolteon. Everything happened so quickly. He wondered if continuing his father’s legacy was what he truly wanted to do.

    As the decision left the lion’s mouth, Leon retracted his paw and gave Axel a sympathetic sigh. He put the paw onto the luxio’s shoulder, “Hey now, you’ve got plenty of time to think this through. If you don’t want to join us, it’s fine. I don’t want to push it.”

    Axel nodded and went back to where his friend was, cradling the sound-asleep turtle onto his back. As the sun came to the peak of the day, they steadily approached the outskirts of Solace. The once obscured spire became more prominent against the horizon, towering over them as its top disappeared into layers of clouds above.

    Slowly, the grandiose view of Solace Kingdom was unveiled before their eyes. The kingdom's silhouette cast over the crew, a blend of medieval architecture and modern craftsmanship.

    In the heart of endless fields of golden barley, a kingdom emerged like a jewel cradled by nature's bounty. Encircled by a towering stone wall that stood as both a testament to time and a guardian of its secrets, this realm was a sanctuary of tranquility and majesty.

    Moss and ivy delicately wove their way through the gaps, creating a harmonious dance between the hardened structure and the untamed beauty of the natural world. Beyond the protective embrace of the wall, the fields of barley swayed in the gentle breeze like waves of liquid gold. The amber sea stretched as far as the eye could see, rippling under the touch of sunlight, a breathtaking contrast to the stony fortress that stood at the heart of this agricultural symphony.

    Axel, deep in thought, couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension about the path that lay ahead. The luxio peeked from the openings inside the wagon, taking in the surroundings of Solace as they neared the kingdom gates. Skarn, still nestling within the comfort of the wooden interior, stirred awake, his eyes adjusting to the changing light.

    Spotting his friend’s awakening, Axel glanced at him, and a small smile formed on his face as he patted Skarn's head gently. The warmth of camaraderie and shared experiences lingered in the air, despite the weight of recent events.

    “So, this is the Solace Kingdom,” Skarn remarked, coming to the front view, his feet dangling in the air as the wagon moved forward. “Never thought I’d have a chance to actually visit this place.”

    “Yeah,” Axel exclaimed, “beautiful, isn’t it?”

    The city's atmosphere brought a mix of nostalgia and uncertainty. Solace had been his father's workplace, a place he heard stories about but had never truly experienced.

    “You two haven’t even seen the rest of it.”

    Leon peeked his head into the wagon, breaking the coziness that had settled between the two. He then gave a few pats to the side of the tyranitar who had been dragging the wagon all the way from their camp. The massive stone beast then came to a halt and looked down at Leon.

    “Torvak, take a break! We need to present ourselves to the guards!” shouted from the lungs of the eeveelution as he looked up to meet the eyes of the dinosaur-like Pokémon.

    Torvak gave him a silent nod as he let go of the wagon. A large thumping sound echoed as the wagon shook from the sheer force of the drop. Sitting inside, both Axel and Skarn could feel the impact as it hit the ground, knocking them up into the air slightly.

    “We’ll be back,” said Leon as he turned to see the toppled squirtle over the luxio’s body. “By the way, he’s a soft one, just… don’t let him get near those ales.” A shiver ran down the jolteon’s body as he shook his head. “Pfff bah, bad memories. Anyway-”

    Axel and Skarn could hear a clear angry snort from the tyranitar and a nervous chuckle from Leon as they walked to the front gate of Solace Kingdom.

    “Hold! Show your identity!”

    One of the golurk guards stopped them on the track, the others crossing their stone spears to block the entry to the place. Leon took out from his fur his badge from the Division and held it in front of the guard.

    “We come from Daybreak Division, escorting the survivors from the attack of Suntouched Forest. We’d like entry to the kingdom.”

    “You might pass!”

    The golurk replied with a low rumbling voice as the barricaded iron gate slowly lifted up. He then turned to the jolteon, “King Asdeur requests your appearance at the castle as well as the rest of Moonscar’s members when you arrive.”

    “We’ve got the notice, we’ll be on our way.”

    Leon and his crew gave the guards an understanding bow before getting back to doing what they were doing before. Skarn got off Axel’s body, peeking from inside the wagon. Axel could see his friend’s eyes widened and sparks of pure interest resonated from them.

    “Hey Axel, wanna bet who’s gonna win in a fight, Torvak or those guards?” said the squirtle as he turned to Axel with a cocky smile and one of his brows raised.

    Axel cocked his head to the side, thinking. Much as he would know about the earth-bending capability of the guards from his mother’s tales, the strength of Torvak pulling these wagons got him mulling over for a while.

    “My bet’s on Torvak,” Axel replied with a smirk on his face.

    “Sureeee! We’ll see. Mine’s on the guard, look at their size, Axel.”

    “You do you, Skarn.” Axel shrugged.

    As they shared a hearty laughter, Torvak returned, his grip on the handle attached to the wagon. He lifted it with ease and began pulling it away, setting them on the journey again. Leon hopped into the wagon to join them. The jolteon yawned and then bundled himself up against the straw bed.

    Curiosity escaped the duo as they leaned in, looming over Leon’s head. The jolteon opened one of his eyes and then closed it immediately. With a playful low voice, he beckoned, “Some pressing matters at hand, nothing too serious. We’ll get everyone accommodated sooner than we’d expected.”

    “We heard something about the king. If I may, who’s he?” Axel asked, sitting on his hind legs with his fronts folding square against his chest.

    “How do I put this…?” Leon hesitated, seemingly considering whether to tell them the tales or not. He then heaved a sigh and just waved his paw nonchalantly, “You’ll know when time is due.”

    Both Skarn and Axel shared a confused look at each other before settling down into the other corner of the wagon. Not for long before the squirtle stirred slightly and buried his face into his friend’s soft belly.

    “Hey, umm, Axel?” he whispered.

    The tired luxio roused a bit but let his friend remain where he was. His ears folded slightly, waiting for the squirtle.

    “I couldn’t help but overhear that they want you to work for Daybreak Division,” Skarn said, turning to the side and staring at the wagon ceiling. “Have you made up your mind about it yet?”

    There was a moment of silence. So many abrupt events happened recently that Axel barely had time to reflect on his decisions. With a low voice, Skarn spoke up.

    “Do you wanna check out the place when we get there? Maybe it could help you decide better.”

    Axel thought about it for a second. If he even decided to follow his father’s footstep, at least having a look at what he had built for himself would not be a bad call. The luxio then took a glance at the jolteon who was purring softly in his slumber and back to his squirtle friend.

    “Sure, we can certainly pay it a visit,” Axel replied softly.

    Skarn gave him an acknowledging nod before settling back at the corner. The sound of the wagon wheels clashing against the hard rock and the heavy footsteps led way into the bustling atmosphere of the kingdom.



    As the crew stepped through the gate, the true identity of Solace shone brightly like the Legend that they all prayed and worshiped. The lively streets filled with all sorts of Pokémon. In different shapes and sizes as they came rushing back and forth within sight of the wagons.

    The chatters roused the duo as they slowly crawled out to the front of the wagon. The bustling commerce of the Everfall Bazaar led the way for the refugees. Colorful tents and stalls lined the cobbled streets, showcasing a plethora of goods from across the realm. Merchants haggled, trades flowing from counter to counter.

    Skarn nudged slightly on Axel’s shoulder.

    “I’ve never been to Solace but this place is really similar to our village’s festival day,” the squirtle remarked. “…but more crowded! And noisier!”

    As the troop wandered deeper into the Bazaar, the scene grew even more dazzling. The marketplace shone with vibrant colors and sounds, the cobblestones under their feet gleamed in the sunlight, polished smooth by the constant traffic. Large tapestries of shimmering fabric hung between buildings, casting shadows that flickered like flames.

    The deeper they approached, the more exotic the wares became. From strangely shaped berries to finely crafted scrolls and magical orbs collected from within the dungeons, there was endless sight of them lined up tidily into boxes on display.

    Amidst the vibrant chaos of the Everfall Bazaar, Axel caught sight of a flash of orange darting through the crowd with practiced agility. A buizel in a weathered satchel was weaving through the dense throng with ease, a stack of sealed letters clutched tightly in one paw. As he neared Axel and Skarn, the buizel skidded to a halt, quickly assessing the two with keen, observant eyes.

    “You must be the escort from Suntouched,” the buizel greeted, his voice confident despite his youthful stature. “Name’s Finn, one of the messengers for the Daybreak Division. I’m here to guide you to the Moonlit Courtyard so the survivors can settle in properly.”

    Axel exchanged a quick glance with Skarn, unsure of how they were supposed to respond, then from within the wagon, Leon called out to the buizel.

    “Is that Finn from Stardash team?” The yawning jolteon called out, stretching. “Always on time as usual.”

    “They don’t call me the fastest messenger in the Division for no reason.” The buizel wiped his nose and replied in a sheepish tone. “Come fast! My members have already set the place up for the refugees.”

    With a quick nod, Finn gestured for them to follow and set off, weaving seamlessly back through the stalls and streets, leaving our luxio and squirtle flabbergasted by the sheer resourcefulness of the buizel. Seeing the confused look of the two, Leon patted them on the back.

    “He’s a cheerful one, at least in his team,” said the jolteon, his voice lowered with caution. “Most messengers from the Division tend to keep it low and operate more discreetly, one might say.”

    The two gave Leon an acknowledging nod before Torvak began pulling them away. As they exited the Bazaar, the raucous noises of haggling merchants and clinking coins faded into the distance, replaced by the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional wind humming swiftly.

    A couple minutes later, they passed under the shadow of a towering stone arch that marked the entrance to the Moonlit Courtyard, a district that lay on the quieter edges of Solace. Here, the air was tinged with a sense of tranquility that had eluded them in the Bazaar. Large, centuries old trees stood guard around the courtyard, their branches casting dappled patterns over cobblestone paths.

    They finally caught sight of the buizel again as Finn slowed his pace while leading them past rows of small, welcoming homes. “This district’s mostly for newcomers and survivors,” he explained, keeping his voice low as if not to disturb the calm. “You’ll be well taken care of here. The Division has some spare hands to help get everyone settled.”

    Skarn looked around, eyes widening at the sight of the charming cottages with soft lights glowing from their windows, casting a warm ambiance over the setting sun.

    “It’s… peaceful here,” Axel murmured, glancing back at the survivors, whose faces seemed to relax for the first time since leaving the forest.

    “Yeah,” Finn replied with a knowing smile. “That’s the idea. Moonlit Courtyard’s a safe start, a clean slate for anyone who’s had to rebuild.” He turned to Axel and Skarn, flashing a reassuring grin. “You two get everyone settled in, and if you need anything, the Division’s not far. Just ask for Finn. I’ll be around.” With a quick wave, the buizel bounded off, slipping back into the shadows with the practiced ease of a born messenger.

    Axel watched as Finn disappeared into the shadows, the buizel’s confident stride a stark contrast to the weariness hanging over the group of refugees. Turning to Skarn, he let out a slow breath, his gaze drifting toward the cobblestone pathway leading deeper into the Moonlit Courtyard.

    “Well,” Axel began, his voice low and steady, “let’s get them settled in.”

    The Moonlit Courtyard lived up to its name. Lanterns swayed gently in the cool evening breeze, casting soft pools of light across the district’s uneven streets. The buildings, though weathered, stood resilient, their stone walls and timber frames humming with an unspoken promise of safety. The air smelled faintly of fresh barley, likely from the fields adjacent to the courtyard. It was a place shaped by survival and solace, every crack in its foundation filled with the stories of those who had rebuilt their lives here.

    Leon, leading the line of refugees, paused at a crossroads and glanced back at Axel and Skarn. “The inn’s just up ahead. It’s not much, but the keeper’s reliable. Should be enough space for everyone.”

    “Works for me,” Skarn chirped, his usual cheer undimmed by exhaustion. He nudged Axel with his shell. “Let’s make sure they’re comfortable.”

    The next hour was a blur of activity. Axel and Skarn helped with distributing what few supplies remained, offering support to those who stumbled under the weight of their burdens. Even with a missing arm, Skarn still skillfully used the water element to his advantage and helped carrying the equipment around with ease.

    Leon directed his team with quiet efficiency, his calm demeanor setting the tone for the others. Despite the heavy atmosphere, the faint flickers of gratitude, a quiet “thank you,” a relieved sigh, gave Axel a fleeting sense of purpose.

    By the time the refugees were settled, the moon had risen high above the courtyard, its pale light washing over the district. Axel stood by the inn’s door, his fur glistening faintly under the glow. Skarn gave a tired yawn, patting Axel on the back.

    “That should be the last one. I’m beat. Think I’ll crash upstairs,” Skarn muttered, dragging his feet toward their shared room.

    Axel nodded absently, watching his friend disappear into the inn. The weight of the day pressed down on him, yet sleep felt distant, elusive. Restless, he stepped out into the quiet streets, his paws crunching lightly against the gravel.

    The district was peaceful, save for the occasional murmur of conversation spilling from an open window. He wandered aimlessly until the faint sound of a soft melody reached his ears. Following the tune, Axel found himself drawn to a small tavern tucked into a corner of the courtyard. Its modest sign, swinging gently in the breeze, read The Weaver Song.

    Inside, the tavern glowed with a warm, inviting light. The air was heavy with the scent of spiced cider and roasted berries. Patrons gathered at scattered tables, their hushed voices blending into the crackle of the hearth. Axel slipped inside, his eyes scanning the room.

    It was then that he saw her, a figure seated alone at a corner table. A vulpix, her fur pale as frost yet tipped with a fiery orange glow. She was nursing a small drink, her gaze distant, lost in the rhythmic sway of the flickering firelight.

    Something about her drew Axel in, though he could not quite place why. He hesitated for a moment, before finally making his way over.

    “Mind if I sit?” he asked, his voice cutting softly through the background hum.

    The vulpix looked up, her sharp eyes meeting his. One burned a deep, molten orange, the other shimmered pale and cold as moonlight. For a brief moment, her expression was unreadable. Then, with a faint nod, she gestured to the empty seat across from her.

    “Suit yourself,” she replied, her tone calm yet guarded.

    Axel slid into the chair, the flickering flames casting dancing shadows across their faces. Something told him this was not going to be a typical conversation. Axel settled into his chair, still caught off guard by the intensity of the vulpix’s gaze. He cleared his throat, glancing around before speaking.

    “So... I take it you’re new to the Moonlit Courtyard?” he asked, trying to ease into the conversation.

    She smirked, her gaze shifting momentarily to the fire. She then flicked a gold coin towards the spinda barkeep who snatched it immediately and then proceeded to slide across the counter a fragrant beverage to Axel.

    “You didn’t have to—” he began, but she cut him off with a small wave of her paw.

    “Consider it a welcome,” she said, her voice carrying the faintest trace of sarcasm.

    Axel gave her a confused look, yet he took a sip. Mellow, tarty and not too sweet. Smell like homebrew barley drink they would serve around this part of the kingdom.

    With her finger circling the edge of the drink, the hooded vulpix spoke up, “Your question, I guess you could say that. Though ‘new’ doesn’t always mean welcome, right?” Her voice held a hint of bitterness, softened by an almost imperceptible vulnerability.

    Axel tilted his head, catching the edge in her tone. “I get that. Places like this, they’re... built on trust. And trust doesn’t come easy when you’re starting fresh.”

    The vulpix’s expression softened just a bit. “Or when people don’t know what to make of you,” she added, almost as an afterthought, her gaze flickering to her unusual tails for a split second.

    Axel nodded, a sense of understanding passing between them. “I can’t imagine how tough that must be. You seem like you’re… searching for something?” he ventured cautiously.

    Her eyes narrowed, intrigued by his insight. “And you? What’s a luxio with a blade on his head doing here?” she asked, turning the question on him.

    “Not sure myself, honestly,” he replied, a trace of hesitation in his voice. “I’m... trying to do what I think is right. But lately, that feels harder than it should.” He shrugged, feeling strangely unburdened by his confession.

    The hooded figure regarded him quietly, her eyes softened just a bit. “Sometimes, carrying someone else’s dream is heavier than chasing your own,” she said, almost as if speaking to herself.

    Axel looked down, her words resonating more than he cared to admit. “Guess we’ve both got our battles, then,” he replied softly. A moment of silence passed before Axel shifted his tone, hoping to lighten the moment. “Actually, I’m heading to the Daybreak Division tomorrow. They’re putting together rescue teams, offering training, resources... might be worth a look for someone who’s trying to start over.”

    The vulpix raised an eyebrow, giving a soft, skeptical laugh. “And what makes you think I’d be interested in something like that?”

    Axel grinned, shrugging. “I don’t. But... maybe it’s a chance to see what you’re really looking for.”

    The quiet conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sharp clatter of a chair being overturned. Axel turned toward the commotion just in time to see a burly pangoro storming toward their table, a sneer curling his lips.

    "Well, well," the pangoro growled, his deep voice drawing the attention of the entire room. "If it isn't the lone luxio with a fancy headpiece. You think that blade makes you special?"

    The vulpix’s expression remained calm, though her eyes darted briefly toward Axel, gauging his reaction.

    Axel tensed but kept his tone even. “I’m just here to enjoy a drink. Don’t want any trouble.”

    The pangoro leaned in, his breath reeking of ale. “Trouble found you. What say you come outside and prove you’re as tough as they’re all whisperin’ about?”

    Axel’s claws dug slightly into the table, but before he could respond, his drinking friend had already stood up. Her hood slipped back, revealing her striking dual-toned eyes.

    “Why don’t you sit back down?” she said, her voice calm but sharp as steel.

    The pangoro glanced at her, then laughed, a booming, mocking sound. “And what’s this? Your little protector?” He reached out to grab the vulpix’s shoulder.

    Big mistake.

    In a single, fluid motion, she twisted away and slammed her paw into the pangoro’s wrist. A burst of flame shot forth, sending him stumbling back with a roar of pain. The bar erupted into chaos.

    “Guess we’re doing this,” Axel muttered, leaping to his feet just as the pangoro’s lackeys, a machoke and a krokorok, joined the fray.

    The machoke lunged at Axel, throwing a heavy punch. Axel ducked and countered with a swipe of his claws, sparks flying as they grazed his opponent's arm. Meanwhile, the krokorok circled, aiming for an opening.

    The vulpix, unfazed, sent a plume of fire spiraling toward the pangoro, forcing him to retreat behind an overturned table. The flames illuminated her with an almost otherworldly glow, her movements precise and controlled despite the chaos around her.

    Axel managed to sidestep the krokorok’s snapping jaws, landing a well-placed fang into its body that sent the Pokémon sprawling. The machoke, recovering quickly, charged again, but Axel met him head on, their clash sending chairs and tankards flying.

    “Behind you!” the vulpix called, hurling a small ember at the pangoro as he tried to flank Axel. The Luxio spun, catching the opening and ramming the pangoro with his body cloaked in electricity, sending the brute crashing into a nearby table.

    The tavern fell silent as the dust settled, the aggressors groaning in defeat. Axel panted slightly, turning to the vulpix. “Impressive,” he said, his voice laced with genuine admiration.

    She smirked, brushing ash off her fur. “I could say the same. You hold your own well, for a luxio.”

    The spinda barkeep emerged from behind the counter, scowling but clearly relieved. “You two. Out. Now.”

    Axel and the vulpix exchanged glances before making their way to the door, stepping into the cool night air. For a moment, they stood in silence, the faint sound of the still bustling tavern behind them.

    “That was… something,” Axel said, glancing at her. “Thanks for having my back in there.”

    She shrugged. “It was your fight. I just didn’t like how they were throwing their weight around.”

    Axel studied her, intrigued. “You’ve got some serious firepower. You should really think about signing up for an explorer team. You’ll do great there.”

    She chuckled softly, though there was no humor in her voice. “Maybe, maybe not.” She turned to leave, her tails swaying behind her.

    “Wait,” Axel called after her. “I don’t even know your name.”

    She paused, glancing over her shoulder with a faint smile. “Amber.”

    The name hung in the air as she disappeared into the shadows. Axel stood there for a moment, the thrill of the encounter still lingering.

    “Amber,” he repeated under his breath, feeling the weight of the name settle in his mind. Axel watched her disappear, the shadows swallowing her like a secret he was not meant to know, yet.​
     
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    Special Chapter - A Christmas to Remember
  • Akasura Shirone

    Cat fanatic and star chaser by heart
    Location
    Island in the middle of the East Sea
    Pronouns
    He/Him/Shiro
    Special Chapter 1.png
    It is not about the tree, the treats or the decorations.
    It is about everyone coming together on this occasion.

    Snow blanketed Serenity Village like a pristine quilt, sparkling under the pale morning sun. The frozen dewdrops lingered on the flower patch outside the cottage, absorbing in the early snowfall of the year. Christmas had arrived and on top of that, it was the first Christmas Axel and Skarn would celebrate together, and the excitement was palpable.

    “Catch me if you can!” Skarn’s cheerful voice rang out as he dove headfirst into a snowbank, disappearing momentarily beneath the fluffy white layer.

    Axel stood nearby, his breath forming small clouds in the chilly air. Normally reserved, even he couldn’t resist the infectious joy of the day. “You’re making it too easy,” Axel teased, bounding forward and swiping a pawful of snow at his friend.

    Skarn yelped as the snow hit his shell. “Oh, it’s on!” He lunged at Axel, tackling him into the snow. Snowball after snowball, they threw at each other with glee and non of them yielded into the playfulness of the other. The two wrestled until they collapsed side by side, their laughter mingling with the crunch of snow underfoot.

    As Axel lay there catching his breath, a delicate snowflake drifted down and landed on his nose. He blinked at it in surprise, the tiny crystal melting from his warmth. Skarn burst into laughter at Axel’s bewildered expression. “Looks like even the snow likes you!”

    “I guess so,” Axel replied, though a small smile tugged at his lips.

    “Axel, dear!” his mother called from the inside of the cottage. Axel quickly got on his paws and ran towards his mother. “Can you deliver this berry basket to the town elder? It’s your father’s gather from the recent trip. Be careful not to drop it.”

    She then pawed over the basket to Axel who replied softly, “I won’t.”

    “Race you to the square, you slowpoke!” A beaming squirtle who had made himself a headstart ran into the wood.

    “You squirtle!”

    The forest was vibrant even with the thick cover of snow on branches. Together, the two made their way to the village square, their tracks weaving through the pristine snow. The square was alive with festive energy. Lanterns hung from lampposts, casting a warm golden glow over the cobblestone streets. Evergreen wreaths adorned every door, and ribbons of crimson and gold fluttered in the gentle breeze.

    At the center of it all stood the grand Christmas tree, a towering pine glittering with ornaments, garlands, and tiny bells that chimed with each passing breeze. Skarn’s eyes sparkled as he took it all in. “This is incredible!”

    Axel nodded, his gaze lingering on the tree. Despite what he had been through with all the rumors, moments like this filled him with a quiet appreciation for the community around him.

    Their first stop was the elder’s house, a cozy cottage at the edge of the square. Inside, the fire crackled in the hearth, and the scent of pine mingled with the aroma of baked bread.

    The elder, a drowsy slaking, welcomed them with a wide smile. “Ah, Axel and Skarn! Come in, come in. Don’t let the cold nip at your tails.”

    “These are from my parents,” Axel said, pawing over the basket. “They wish you a merry Christmas.”

    The slaking nodded and accepted the gift. He then put it next to the hearth and sat down on the chair near the table.

    Skarn stepped forward, shaking snow from his shell. “Elder, do you ever get tired of Christmas? You’ve seen more of them than anyone else in the village.”

    The elder chuckled, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. “Tired of Christmas? Never. It’s not about how many you’ve seen, lad. It’s about the memories you make each year.”

    “What kind of memories?” Axel asked, his tone curious but measured.

    The elder leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin. “Well, there was one Christmas, long before your time, when we had no decorations at all. A snowstorm buried the village, and we couldn’t reach the forest for a tree. But you know what? We made do. Gathered sticks, painted them green, and built the most pitiful-looking tree you’d ever see. But we sang around it like it was the finest thing in the world.”

    Skarn smiled thoughtfully. “I guess it doesn’t matter how it looks as long as everyone’s together.”

    “Exactly,” the elder said, his eyes twinkling. “It’s the togetherness that makes it special. Never forget that.”

    After leaving the elder’s cottage, the two headed to Miss Lidia’s bakery, lured by the sweet aroma wafting from the open door. The audino baker greeted them with open arms. “Axel! Skarn! Come in, dears, you must be freezing!”

    Inside, the shop was warm and bustling with activity. Shelves were lined with gingerbread houses, trays of frosted cookies, and steaming pies. Skarn immediately pressed his nose to a tray of freshly baked cinnamon rolls.

    “Careful, they’re still hot!” Miss Lidia warned with a smile, pulling Skarn back gently by his scarf.

    “These smell amazing!” Skarn said, his eyes sparkling. “Can we have some?”

    “Of course! So what have you two done so far?”

    Skarn plopped down on a stool, grabbing a cup of cider Miss Lidia handed him. “Axel and I were playing in the snow all morning. Oh, and we just got back from the town elder’s house. And-”

    The hotness of the cider caught the squirtle’s tongue an he waved while sticking it out to cool down. Miss Lidia laughed, her voice soft and melodic. “Oh lovely. But you know, Skarn, Christmas isn’t just about the snow or the treat.”

    Skarn tilted his head, confused. “It’s not?”

    “No, dear,” she said, setting a plate of cookies in front of them. “It’s about sharing these moments with the people we care about. Like how you and Axel came here together. That’s what makes the season magical.”

    Axel, quiet until now, glanced at her. “So even if there’s no treat or decorations, it’s still Christmas?”

    Miss Lidia smiled warmly. “That’s right. Christmas is what you make of it. It’s the love and kindness you share that matters most.”

    Skarn grinned, stuffing a cookie into his mouth. “Well, if cookies are involved, I’m all in!”

    Miss Lidia chuckled, patting him on the head. “Enjoy, my little snowball.”

    As the moon hung high in the dark sky, Christmas Eve arrived at the doorsteps of the village. The entire village gathered in the square for the bonfire lighting ceremony. The flames roared to life, and the villagers cheered, their faces aglow with warmth and joy. But the celebration took a sudden turn when a stray ember caught the branches of a nearby tree.

    “Fire!” a Pokémon shouted, and panic rippled through the crowd. The flames spread quickly, threatening the decorations and nearby stalls.

    Axel didn’t hesitate. “Skarn, get the buckets!”

    “On it!” Skarn sprinted toward the well.

    “Form a line! Pass the water down!” the town elder shouted.

    In a flash, the whole village leapt into action. The villagers moved quickly, their earlier laughter replaced by determination. Axel worked tirelessly, dousing the flames alongside the others. Young and old alike, they passed each other the buckets and threw it over the roaring fire. One by one, they moved in a rhythmic chant. Even Miss Lidia joined in, her apron flapping as she directed younger villagers away from danger.

    The fire raged for what felt like hours before it was finally extinguished. The once beautiful tree stood blackened and charred, its decorations reduced to ash. The square fell silent, save for the crackle of the dying flames. Then, slowly, the villagers began to cheer, not for the loss of the tree, but for the fact that no one had been hurt.

    As if on cue, the first firework shot into the sky, exploding in a cascade of gold and silver. The crowd gasped, their spirits lifting as more fireworks followed, painting the night in vibrant colors.

    Axel and Skarn stood side by side, watching the display. Skarn nudged Axel lightly. “Even with the fire, this Christmas turned out alright.”

    Axel glanced at him, a smile crossing his face. “It’s not about the tree or the decorations. It’s about everyone coming together.”

    Skarn nodded. “And that’s what makes it special.”

    As the final firework burst into a radiant star, Axel and Skarn knew this was a Christmas they’d never forget, a celebration of resilience, community, and the bonds that made Serenity Village their home.​
     
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    Chapter 4 - Frostburn
  • Akasura Shirone

    Cat fanatic and star chaser by heart
    Location
    Island in the middle of the East Sea
    Pronouns
    He/Him/Shiro
    Chapter 4.png
    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.”
     
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