An idea for a Pokemon story that popped into my head after writing 'The Dragon Mistress' Mud Bath'... This is my first attempt at writing a tragedy, so be gentle with your critiques...

The Harshness Of Winter

A Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver Fan Fiction

By Derald Snyder

Several years before Ethan embarked on his Pokemon journey...

Pryce gritted his teeth, his bad leg protesting as he hobbled along as fast as he could through the caverns of the Ice Path, his ears buzzing with the sounds of primal Pokemon roars and human screams... Finally, he reached his destination, just in time to see a man get thrown across the chamber and slam hard into the wall, before collapsing in a bloody heap... The culprit, a raging Piloswine, bleated before charging the downed man...

"Dewgong, attack!" Pryce yelled as he threw out a pokeball. The aquatic Pokemon materialized in an instant, promptly assaulting the wild boar with a Surf attack, the Piloswine crying out in shock as it lost it's footing, squealing as it was washed down a large hole to the lower levels...

Pryce nodded to himself. (That'll do for now,) he thought as he knelt down beside the wounded man. Unfortunately, as he looked over the Piloswine's victim, his years of experience with wild/rabid Pokemon assaults told him the man was not long for this world...

"C...Clair..." the man gasped out suddenly.

"Shhh, don't talk," Pryce ordered as he tried to comfort the man in his final moments. "Save your strength..."

His advice went unheeded. "M...My... daugh...ter... where is... she... Clair..." The man then went limp as his last breath left him.

The Mahogany gym leader shook his head sadly. (What a senseless waste of life...) Looking around, his heart sank as he saw two more victims- A lady lying against an icy stalagmite, the back of her skull crushed, and another man on the ground nearby, his chest caved in- most likely from the Piloswine trampling him. Pryce ran a hand through his mostly-white hair, still tinged with brown, before punching the cave wall in frustration. (Curse my old body, I wasn't fast enough...)

He was roused from his self-flagellation by his Pokemon's barking. "What it is it, Dewgong?" Turning he saw a young girl with light-blue hair in a ponytail, lying unmoving on the floor. Running over to her, Pryce lifted her up and turned her over, seeing her bosom gently rising and falling (She's still alive...!) There was some blood on her head, but the wound didn't appear to be fatal...

"Dewgong, return! Go, Mamoswine!" As soon as the large mammoth materialized, Pryce heaved the girl onto its back, before climbing on himself. "This girl needs a doctor! To Blackthorn, quickly!" The Twin Tusk Pokemon reared up and galloped off as fast as it's feet could carry it, using it's tusks to smash through any ice formations in the way...

A few hours later...

The girl's eyes slowly opened, her head throbbing. (Where am I...?) The last thing she remembered was training in the Ice Path with her family... As her vision cleared, she saw the visage of Blackthorn's local doctor.

"Clair...?" the doctor asked. "Clair, can you hear me?"

"Doctor...?" Clair groaned. (Wait, am I back home...? What happened...? Did I fall or something...?)

"How are you feeling?" the doctor inquired.

The young girl put a hand to her head. "Ow... my head hurts..." Looking around, she saw Pryce, her grandfather, and her cousin Lance standing to her right. "Grandpa? Lance? What's going on? Where's Daddy? And Auntie and Uncle?"

"You and your family were attacked by a wild Piloswine," Pryce began. "I managed to save you and bring you back here..."

"Wh-what?!" Clair gasped. "I don't remember that! I'd know if something like that happened!"

"Clair," the doctor cut in. "You took a blow to the head... it's only natural you wouldn't remember the attack. In fact, you probably never will."

"Th-then what happened?" the bluenette demanded. "Where's Daddy and the others?!" The doctor did not respond, but only looked over at the others in the room. Clair followed his lead, before realizing how extremely sad her grandfather looked, fear welling up...

"My grandchild," the elder began, "I am so sorry..."

Clair's expression turned to one of horror. "No... NO! NO! You're wrong! You're *lying*! It can't be true, it CAN'T be...!" She was interrupted as her cousin Lance climbed up onto the bed by her side.

"Clair," he began, tears in his eyes, "I lost my mom and dad too..." He then embraced his cousin as she started sobbing uncontrollably into his shoulder... He then looked over at his grandfather and Pryce, nodding to them, even as tears streamed down his own face...

The two men understood, stepping out of the room and leaving the two cousins alone, the doctor following and closing the door behind them.

"If it's any consolation," the doctor stated, "At least Clair will make a full recovery, physically speaking..."

Pryce nodded, before turning to the Dragon Den elder. "I wish there was more I could have done. Had I only been a little faster..."

The elder shook his head. "You did what you could, Pryce... you can't blame yourself. And I *am* grateful you managed to rescue my granddaughter, at least..."

"...So, what will happen with her now?" The gym leader inquired.

"I will take her and Lance into my house, and raise them in my children's place," The elder responded. "Fortunately, Lance has already shown maturity beyond his years... it is Clair that I worry about, especially now..."

"I assume her mother has already passed?" Pryce guessed.

"Died in childbirth," the doctor confirmed. "Despite my best efforts, I couldn't save her, only the child... Of course, I was fresh out of medical school, but still..."

"My son never blamed you," The elder reassured him. "In fact, I remember that he would sometimes joke that the reason his daughter had such a temper was because she never had a woman to tame the dragon's fire within her..." The corners of his lips turned upward slightly at this.

Pryce also chuckled, before stating, "Well, I suppose for now, I should go back to the Ice Path and see if I can discreetly retrieve the bodies your sons and daughter... Also, we need to do something about that Piloswine. Clearly it was not in its right mind... their kind does not usually attack humans so viciously..."

The elder nodded. "I shall leave it to you then, Pryce. May the dragon spirit of Blackthorn watch over you."

To be continued...