In the beginning, there was nothing. No light was shed in the vast dark. No hope, no life, the song of silence echoed within the void. A hopeless and endless cycle that repeated itself to convert anything that even dared to pierce through the darkness to their own cause.
But then a light did shine through the layers of the void. Growing ever larger to challenge the dark. It grew and grew until eventually the light overcame the dark. The void, gone. The cycle was broken.
Upon the light, life began to stir within its awesome presence. The light gave birth to a new cycle, one with hope and longevity. Harmony and peace given to all who reside in the light.
But then the dark came slithering back, challenging the light to regain the void it once had. A clash of light and dark followed soon forth and plunged what was once peace into despair.
For it is written when the light grew weak against the dark, it bestowed a hero with the soul of the Cipher. The hero saved the light and restored the shattered peace, vanquishing the dark back to the unknown.
What came of the hero? None have known. The hero, after restoring light, suddenly vanished without a trace.
So we honor our hero, pay tribute each cycle to the one who gave us hope. Come pray with me, for we are one with the light. Let us never forget this hero for cycles to come.
"Light to the Termas."
In the dead of night, a gentle breeze brushed its way through a small grove. The distant moon shining brightly to illuminate the the scenery to give it a blue tint. The leaves of trees rustling in the gentle wind, as if they were trying not to disturb the perpetual calm the clear starry skies have always brought.
Rushing water could be heard in the distance. A shoreline just barely visible from a rather large hill in a clearing in the middle of the grove. Upon that hill sat a peculiar creature. It's yellow eyes giving an eerie glow as it watched the shoreline. It was unblinking, looking out at the waters as if it knew something was out there. The creature's curly tail wagging sporadically as it concentrated on a singular spot in the distance.
A faint glow started upon the creature's head. A red jewel, engraved within its head, giving that mystic light. The sudden change did not startle the creature, it continued its ever piercing gaze to the unknown. That was until a very faint pop was sounded. Instantly the creature dropped its gaze and looked around.
It looked and looked, its facial features not changing from when it was intently gazing off. Then, suddenly as if it realized something, looked amused. The amusement lasted only a moment though before it turned into a small smile.
This cat-like creature stretched its forward legs outward, shook its body, and then got up from its haunches to stretch its hind legs. It gave one last look to the shoreline with that smile before walking down the hill and into the surrounding trees.
The grove didn't give a second thought on what happened. It continued to be peaceful, as the light wind continued to rustle their leaves in unison. Unknowingly to the calm they only know, however, they suddenly had a new visitor.
In another corner of the grove was another creature. It looked to be unconscious and in a very awkward position. The creature was vastly different from what sat atop the hill. Instead of the numerous cat-like features, it sprouted a very snake-like snout with yellow leaves protruding from its shoulders. It also had a tail, but it looked as if it were suppose to be a part of the other numerous collection of leaves rustling about.
The creature stirred, unaware of its surroundings. It twitched and shuddered, the look of discomfort on its face. The hard breaths becoming apparent as the creature continued to convulse on the grass.
Voices were heard in the distance, but not a soul was in sight. They penetrated through this unconscious creature, speaking words that it could not comprehend. The voices got louder by each passing moment, the calm grove unaware to the turmoil that was happening beneath their trunks.
Go-….. ….. ….-un! …. … -non!
The creature continued to convulse, its eyes squeezed shut as it bared it sharp teeth. It looked to be in immense amount of pain.
...Li- … … … -ness… …. …. … -oo late!
Its breathing became heavier and faster. It clutched at the grass, its tail spazzing as all its muscles seem to be twitching uncontrollably.
Please… … … … … -ycle…. … end!
Its eyes shot wide open showing the reddish tint on the slit eyes. It continued to twitch in place, its eyes crazed as it stared whatever was in front of it. Its mouth parted open to let out a scream, but none came. Only gurgling and dry heaving.
Hope-... …. …-pair…. …. death!
Upon the final word the voice cried out, the creature stopped convulsing madly and was suddenly at a standstill. Its eyes, glassy and wide, looking wherever its head decided to stop at that very instant. As dead as its face told, it still held life. Its breath quickly calmed, its mouth agaped as every muscle began to relax.
The grove, as unaware to the situation as it was, continued to peacefully rustle about in the calm wind. The creature began to stir again after a few gusts passed over its figure. This time though it wasn't of uncontrollable twitching. The creature blinked, not having known it had its eyes opened from before. It withered about as it tried to pick itself from the ground, but kept falling flat on its face on each attempt.
It tried and tried, but it could simply not push itself up. It soon opted to lay there, breathing heavily once more from its excursion. It tilted its head, taking in the surrounding trees. The look of fear and confusion on its snout. This creature simply had no clue where he was. Though it didn't appear to be in any other danger.
"W-where am…" the creature mumbled to himself. He stopped when he realized that the voice that came from him was something he definitely didn't remember. That's when it hit him. He was completely different from what he remembered. His body, his arms, his tail, he didn't even remember having a tail before.
The worst aspect was that he had no recollection of his past, nevermind his identity. It was as if he popped into existence out of thin air!
He started to panic, not knowing what to do in this situation. He may have no memories, but that apparently didn't stop him from knowing words and forming incomprehensible images in his head. He tried to get up once again, but he was too weak and not familiar with this body.
Why was he so weak? Why can't he remember? Where is he? Who and what is he?
These thoughts flowed through his panic-stricken mind at the pace of a hyperactive child. This kept going for a good minute before he stopped and lied there. His defeated, and still confused, expression told anyone that could see that he couldn't move. He closed his eyes, trying to calm down.
He did once more.
Opening his eyes slightly, he gazed at the grass as it shook in place from the breeze. Oh, the breeze he just realized. He tilted his head the best he could to the starry sky. He saw the glow of the moon, casting its blue aura across the grove. It was then he could hear the rustling of the leaves and water.
Despite the episode he just had, he found lying there, weak as he is, incredibly serene. He didn't feel hungry or dehydrated to make him concern that he needed to quickly sustain himself in his current predicament. There didn't appear to be anything out in the trees that would feast upon him either. He was, for the most part, safe.
So he laid there, plopping his head back down to the grass and listening to the melody of nature. He didn't want to sleep, but his body refused to listen to his mind. He slowly drifted off, still in an awkward position.
He tried to stretch one of his arms out, but they were simply much too short for him to look at. He needed to concentrate. He felt if he closed his eye that it would be the end of him. The thought made him groan. My voice.
He looked to his side, seeing that he had green skin. It looked wet to the touch with the moonlight bouncing off of it. He could just barely see the end of his tail. Or was it a leaf? He couldn't tell, but he was sure it was a part of him somehow.
He must stay awake, but his body was yelling at him to stop moving and rest. He couldn't, not without knowing why he was in such a weaken state. For all he knew, whatever was happening could be fatal if he let his body do what it wanted.
Then he heard a very distinct crack. He was too weak to look at what caused it, but his fear became apparent on his snout. He was dead if that belonged to something that wanted a midnight snack. He couldn't run away or hide, his body refusing to want to move itself.
He squirmed, fruitlessly trying to crawl, or heck, even move. He needed to find somewhere that was safer than being out in the open. His instincts kicking in and pumping adrenaline, but it doing nothing to help its body.
He heard another snap, his breathing became fast and heavy for the third time. He managed to crawl a short distance away from the noise, but he was nowhere near to be tucked away in the safety the trees provided. Each pull and push with his unfamiliar limbs putting a toll on the already given out body.
Another snap, and then a warm yellow light lit the ground and trees he was trying to crawl to. He didn't dare look behind him, fear taking hold of him, and only his instincts were telling him to keep crawling. The light was giving off a rather warm sensation. He didn't know what that meant until it got closer and closer.
"Hey guys, I found it!" a gruff voice shouted. "It's a Snivy, it definitely looks hurt!"
He stopped crawling, the gruff voice ringing in his ears as he comprehended what it said. It isn't here to hurt me. He clumsily turned around to look at his visitor. He didn't know if he should be afraid or comforted. The creature before him looked massive compared to him. Standing tall, with a slightly round belly, it sprouted wings and the face of a dragon. It bore down on, what this creature called a Snivy, with proud blue eyes.
His orange, yet red, tint scales covering his body also shined from the moon. His belly being a creamy color, but looked just as thick skinned with the rest of his scales. His wings giving a shade of blue to match its blue eyes. His tail, long and thick, swaying slowly behind that had a flame at the tip. Around his long neck he wore a necklace. The string being pulled down by a single claw that dangled on his chest.
It looked like something out of a fantasy book, but then again, he's sure he didn't look any more ridiculous than the beast in front him. The most frightening thing, however, despite the intimidated appearance, was that smirk. This creature looked like it was smirking at his crippled self.
A blue figure came dashing out from behind and stopped besides the beast. This one looked more like a frog, a scarf hiding the lower half of its face. Or was it really a scarf? He couldn't be certain, but he thought that it was the creature's tongue wrapped around its neck like a scarf. I'm delirious I think.
It didn't say anything as it stared at him. It's violet eyes taking in the crippled Snivy before taking it's attention to their surroundings. Its blue, slick skin shining slightly bright from the beast's tail. It shared the same creamy underbelly of the beast, but was lacking an intimidating stance the other showcased.
He looked at, what he couldn't believe, were small water bubbles jiggling on the joints of this creature. I think that is a tongue. Its head protruded two spiked ridges making it look like it had big, long ears. Its hands were fins with finger joints, the left one adorning a silver bracelet with a sapphire engraved.
"Oh dear, you would think all the little tykes were in bed by now," a calm feminine voice said. Another creature appeared on the other side of the beast. This one appeared to be hovering in place, defying gravity.
She appeared ghostly, a white aura surrounding her as she looked at the crippled Snivy with pity. It looked like she was the only one wearing any type of clothing. She had her small hands placed just in front of her stomach, or he thought it was her stomach anyways. He couldn't quite make out if the lower end was anything or was actually a body. Her arms came from her head rather than her supposed body.
She had a nicely tied purple bow wrapped around her mid section. She had what looked like a mask covering her rather bright purple face. She had cyan eyes with no whites, they glowed a soft yellow in the night. Two crystals adorned her headpiece, they too glowed with her. The rest of her body was covered in a kimoto of sorts. A basic bag with a flap around her shoulder on her right.
"Yeah, it's a good thing we were told by the guildmaster," the beast responded, not taking his eyes off the Snivy. "You brought the Reviver Seeds, right?"
She nodded, pulling something out from the bag. She slowly floated towards the Snivy which somehow calmed him. She had a certain energy he could feel from her that just made his mind be at ease.
"Okay, lil guy, I need you to munch on these, okay?" She knelt down, her bottom half nearly touching the grass. She extended her hand to the Snivy's mouth, motioning him to open his mouth.
He complied, letting her gently place the seeds in his opened mouth. He began to chew the substance. A crunch here and there as he slowly chewed up the seeds. It tasted kind of salty and bitter.
The beast and the floating one watched with concern as the Snivy struggled to swallow the small meal. The frog staying at high alert. At first, nothing happened, he still felt incredibly weak. Then suddenly he felt like he was getting stretched from head to toe. He gasped at the sensation, but it didn't hurt.
Shivering, the Snivy hugged himself as a feeling of intense cold followed. It was like one giant cold shiver going down his spine. Then as soon as it started, it was gone. He blinked, no longer feeling weak. Instead he felt like he could sleep for days. His mind went numb at the sudden transition.
The floating one sighed in relief. The beast chuckled, walking up to her and patting her on the back of her head. The frog, briefly looking at the quick work that the seeds did, continued to look around.
The two looked like they were waiting for something, staring happily at the healed Snivy. His mind was still at a lost, he didn't register that these creatures just healed him from whatever happened. He shook his head, trying his best to say something.
"Th-thank you," he muttered.
The beast chuckled once more and turned towards the floating one. "Alright, I guess I'll carry this Snivy back to town, huh?"
She nodded. "Yeah, he probably went through a lot tonight. These woods have been getting crazy lately." Her eyes went to the frog. "Still though, this area should've been safe from them."
"The barriers are still up as far as I know," the beast shrugged. "It feels like it's been awhile since the psychics put it up." The frog creature looked at the beast with mild amusement at this statement. The beast caught its amusement and shrugged again. "Well yeah, I mean that's what they did, right? Everyone in town was talking about it when it happened."
"You shouldn't believe all the rumors," she said shaking her head. She turned back to the weary and confused Snivy. "Anyways, lil' guy, what's your name?"
His name... He gasped at the sudden question. He didn't know his name! Looking around nervously at nothing in particular, he didn't know how to respond. The beast and hovering one were quick to note the distress response.
"You okay?" she asked softly. The Snivy shook his head. What should he tell them, he wondered.
"I don't…" he replied looking away.
"Oh dear."
The beast walked and bent over to scoop the Snivy in his arms. He looked down at him with a curious look before turning his gaze to the hovering one. "Maybe what got to him whacked him on the head?"
"I don't see any bruises…" she trailed off as if she suddenly saw something that didn't make sense. "Actually there weren't any bruises at all when you found him, were there?"
"Huh, I think you're right." The beast looked once more at the Snivy. He grew unnerved by this sudden train of thought. "It definitely was clawing its way away from me though. I could tell this Snivy was hurt from his movements."
"Yeah, I could sense the pain from within him when I got close," she added, equally perplexed by the unscathed Snivy. "You mind telling us what happened, lil guy?"
The Snivy, growing uneasy with this conversation, shook his head. That was another question he wished he knew himself. "No, I just," he started, trying to find the words, "woke up and couldn't move." It was then after he found the words that he wanted to ask the questions that formed when he first came to.
"You sure you can't remember what happened, sweety?" she interrupted unknowingly.
The Snivy shook his head again. "No, I don't…" He looked at the floating one, then to the beast carrying him. He was uncertain if he should mutter the next set of words. These creatures obviously knew what he was and they seem to know each other and not acting hostile. Nevermind he had newfound questions of all three of their appearances and how one of them was floating. Nothing made sense, but for some reason his instincts told him these were normal phenomenons. He supposed that was why he wasn't continuing to freak out when he laid eyes on his saviors.
"...I don't know what I am, or what you are."
They two stood there, not saying anything as they took in that one blurb from the Snivy. The frog, done with looking about, paid attention to the Snivy with a curious set of eyes. The Snivy felt uncomfortable, even more so than initially. He felt the tension strong after muttering the words. He was quick to regret making that decision.
"Oh!"
The floating one blinked and shook her own head. She looked at the two who were still transfixed on the Snivy. Both didn't hear her snapping to. "I'm sorry to hear that, lil one."
The beast snapped as well when he heard her voice. "Wow, I've never heard of someone losing all their memories." He looked at her with determination. "We should get him checked out by Servida."
She nodded in agreement. "She'll definitely know what to do with a case like this." With one more glance at the Snivy, she drifted off. "I'm going to let her know you're coming. I'm sure she's sleeping right now and I rather not cause a scene. If you could, Gadda, could you keep Colb company?"
The frog, named Gadda that turned to face her, nodded. The beast, aptly named Colb, turned to face her as well. His expression full of vigor. "You don't really think it is because of them, do you?"
She stopped in place and turned her head, her eyes went back to the Snivy cuddled around Colb's arms. He looked still as confused as well as tired. She returned Colb's gaze, "I don't know."
With that, she floated off through the dense woods, leaving the two creatures to their musings. Colb looked over to Gadda who watched as the hovering one's light vanished within the thick trees. "Just to be safe," he started getting Gadda's attention, "guard my rear in case it is them."
Gadda nodded and positioned himself just behind Gadda's flaming tail. They both began to follow in the floating one's wake. Tree after tree, leaf after leaf, they trekked on through the grove. Not a single creature to hinder their, otherwise, peaceful journey. The calm wind still flowing about, nature playing its tune as it always had.
They got to another clearing marked by a path and sign. The town Colb spoke about were in front of them still asleep. The night not showing it was going to end anytime soon. The tree-like buildings marked the homes of the locals.
Colb didn't stop to admire the slumbering scenery. He walked past a few stumps, making sure his footsteps were soft and his tails swishing away from being too close. He looked down to the Snivy to see he had long past drifted off to slumber himself. He was curious how the guildmaster knew that this Snivy was even out there. The journey to get to him was not a short one.
He also didn't recall there ever being a family living here that followed the Snivy evolution line. This is the first time he's actually ever laid eyes on a Snivy in the flesh. Still, if he could help the helpless, it made him feel like he was actively helping the town, his home. It doesn't happen very often, but he has seen new creatures migrate right into their humble abode.
His train of thought ended when he reached his destination. It didn't look any different from the other houses except for the pink ribbons adorning some of the branches. Gadda stopped next to him, still on high alert as he looked around. With a slurping noise, instantly, the tongue that wrapped around its neck retracted. Gadda gulped the flesh down and smacked its lips revealing that his creamy belly reached up to the underside of his chin.
He stretched, clasping his fins together, and yawned. The first sign of him letting his guard down. He continued to stretch before giving a smirk to Colb who stood there looking at him.
"You know," Colb began, "the sound your tongue makes, I will never get used to it."
Gadda only smirked wider in response. He knew the sound would make Colb uneasy. He put his arms down and fixed his attention to the opening of the tree trunk. A dim light could be seen from the inside.
Gadda approached the side and knocked upon it. A gentle feminine voice responded. "Come in."
They both walked in and through a small hall or sorts before reaching a tidy home. More pink ribbons were placed around the home with an assortment of vases and books. In one corner was a small stack of vials with unknown contents. All had labels that were much too illegible to be read from where they stood. In another corner were some makeshift beds consisting of stuffed pillows stacked on each other.
In the center of the room underneath a soft light bulb of sorts, sitting on its haunches, looked to be fox with long ears. The fox-like creature had ribbons on its person, but it looked like it was simply a part of the creature. They moved about as if the fox could control the ribbon-like appendages on its head and chest. Her pupiless, light blue eyes looked at her guests with the beast holding the sleeping Snivy. Servida was this fox-like creature's name.
"Ah yes, Frose said you were coming with this Snivy child."
"Speaking of, where is she?" Colb asked.
"Said she needed to look into something," she replied, yawning to show she had indeed been sleeping before their arrival. "She didn't say what about." With that she approached the beast. Her eyes bringing attention to the Snivy. "This child, he lost his memories?"
The beast nodded. "Yeah, claims he doesn't know what he is or what I was. How could someone forget that much without it affecting their speech?"
"Well," she started thinking of an answer, "I know there's some dark medicine that destroys the mind."
"Really?" The beast got anxious hearing that.
"Of course you have nothing to worry about," she chuckled finding humor. "As far as I know, I'm the only one around that knows how to make such medicine and I never intend to produce it."
"But what if that's what happened to this Snivy?"
"I'll definitely be looking at that possibility." She looked towards one of the makeshift beds. "Could you place the child over there? I'll see if I can find anything that might've tampered with his mind."
The beast complied and walked over to where she stared. He placed the Snivy down, still asleep and very much unaware to the conversation. He felt pity for the Snivy, he couldn't imagine suddenly forgetting everything. He knelt down and placed his claw on the Snivy's snout, stroking it softly. "Hope you get your memories back soon, kid."
He turned and went to the exit. He nodded at Servida, who nodded back, and motioned Gadda to follow. Before he reached the exit, he stopped and turned his head around to see that she was already tending to the Snivy. A mystic glow came from her, eyes closed, and her ribbons swaying softly at her power.
He walked out, Gadda following.