Author's note: This story came to be when I posed the question: What would happen if a tragic event in Post Town traumatized the two main characters and would come to affect the entire mass in the Town. I hope you will bear with me as I take you through a great big 'What-if'. :)
~Three years after defeating the Bittercold~
Outside Post Town in Paradise is an area created by two brave adventurers to bring happiness to traveling Pokemon. The park is fast asleep, but a house in the middle has lights on like a lonely star in the night sky.
Inside the house is Post Town hero, Snivy, the Grass Snake Pokemon. He is sitting in his bed eating berries for dinner after a large day of adventuring.
"Jeez, where's Axew? He was supposed to be home thirty minutes ago!" said Snivy.
Axew had been out working hard in the afternoon filling requests from the Request Board. Pokémon who needed help would post notes signaling to adventurers to help them. Adventurers would find a request, apply for it, and the gate would open.
Snivy had taken the day-off and went spelunking in caves to gather rare items for money to expand Paradise even more.
Snivy left his half-eaten berries on the bed. He lost his appetite worrying over Axew. Axew had always looked out for him since he fell into the Pokemon world because Hydreigon called for help in the human world to destroy the Bittercold before it destroyed the Pokémon world and erased it from existence. Snivy promised to repay Axew by looking out for him as well until they left this world to find peace.
Snivy walked outside. The air was cold and humid, and the wind blew hard and sent chills down Snivy's spine.
"Guess this means winter will be here soon." Snivy said to himself. He walked down to the plaza outside Paradise where Quaqsire and Gurdurr's shops resided, and where Victini's V-Wavecast board and V-Wheel sit. Victini would be closing down soon for the season. Snivy felt emptiness inside him. 'Things won't be the same without Victini…' Snivy thought. Now they wouldn't have the advantage of controlling the V-Waves freely.
Snivy went and sat by the Request Gate. He had gone through that gate many times. Sometimes, he and his team would come back with no plunders to admire, or he and the team would come back from a glorious victory with the request completed and extra items to help Paradise grow stronger. How he loved the jubilant feeling of coming back from an exhilarating adventure! And to think he got to do it every day! Suddenly he felt anxious for tomorrow to come and to feel the excitement of the unknowns that lay beyond the Request Gate.
Snivy thought he must have sat there for an hour. His anxiety about tommorow was replaced by the feeling of dread that something might have happened to Axew. Snivy was about to go back to the house when he heard footsteps from behind the Request Gate. Snivy cautiously approached the gate.
"Axew? Is that you? Are you okay?" Snivy called out into the night. He could see Axew limping towards the Request Gate along with Virizion, Emolga, and Dunsparce. They all were badly bruised and were bleeding. The Request Gate opened and Snivy, stricken with horror, rushed towards Axew and the party.
"Axew!? What happened!? I thought the request you chose wasn't severe!" Said Snivy.
Axew approached Snivy with a weak smile on his face. "Well…it was a battle to remember…at least." Said a wounded Axew. His wounds looked severe. Whatever happened during that request wasn't natural.
"Damn you and your optimism Axew, you idiot!" said Snivy. He hugged Axew and went to check on the others. While relief somewhat flushed into Snivy, one other thing stuck in his mind. 'What happened and what kind of Pokémon would cause these severe wounds?' One thing's for sure, he would get to the bottom of this.
"Virizion, what happened?!" said Snivy. The beautiful Pokémon had been wounded to the hind legs and most of her upper-body.
"I don't remember…we…we were out searching for the item the Pokémon had requested, but then we were attacked by an enormous Pokémon. We didn't see the Pokémon clearly…but…that's…all I remember…" Virizion was in massive pain, but tried her hardest to remain steadfast.
"Axew we have to get you to Swanna! She'll know what to do!" said Snivy.
"But…" said Axew.
"No buts! I need to get you all to Swanna! These wounds are serious, plus you're losing blood as we speak! We need to go now before you lose more blood!" Snivy enforced.
Emolga stood up. "He's right Axew. This is too serious to shake off. We need help, and fast!" said Emolga, defending Snivy's enforcement.
Dunsparce was unconscious on the ground. Virizion picked him up and limped quickly towards Post Town. Snivy put Axew's arm around his shoulder and walked him to Post Town. Emolga followed close behind.
Later, Snivy sat alone in a chair in Swanna's Inn. It was awfully quiet without everyone in there. Snivy found the stillness and silence saddening. Finally, Swanna walked down the stairs towards her desk and motioned her wing for Snivy to come. Swanna was a goose with white feathers and a kind presence. Just seeing her comforted Snivy a little. She had helped him spread words of hope when they had to defeat the Bittercold and save the world.
"Snivy. I have good news and bad news." Swanna's look of seriousness made Snivy uncomfortable, even her presence wasn't enough to quench this feeling.
"Start with the good news please." Snivy said calmly.
"Very well. The good news is that Axew, Virizion, and Emolga are fine and their wounds will heal in a week, however…" Swanna now had a look of worry on her face, and this terrified Snivy.
"Dunsparce…He's lost a lot of blood. Most of his bones have been crushed and his vital organs are failing…but I'm sad to say…" Swanna bent her head down, trying to disprove her own conclusion. Snivy felt so much emotion build up inside him. His tears almost felt as if they were burning his eyes.
"…S…Say…what…?" Snivy stuttered.
Swanna looked at Snivy. She had tears in her eyes too. "Dunsparce won't survive."