This is not a tale of another good-willed Pokemon trainer and their Pokemon facing it all as a team and as friends but rather a Pokemon itself, a first-generation legendary, even, in a world where the legendary bird trio were changed from their legendary status to "rare".

With a rather puzzling past long left behind her, Icicle Icewind the Articuno pushes herself through eventual new ways to guide her in life; through destinies, challenges or even fate itself. A long-time friend of Icicle's, Keiki the good-willed and wise Umbreon refuses to leave her side mainly due to her reckless, and yet, confusing behavior.

In present time, Icicle chases her final destination for her utmost destiny as the new "resting-and-waiting" Articuno or... perhaps something even higher, mentioning about becoming a Queen may ring a bell?

Her determination explains it all but Keiki, however, is not quite sure what to do with her but follows her anyway in concern, hoping to find himself once more along their journey as he could only let the stars watch over him and his "little sister".

Destiny and fate are on Judgment's scales and they haven't budged for these two...not yet anyway but it shows restlessness...

Frozen Ashes

- Chapter 1: Isle of Icy Destiny

After that last breath of fresh sea air, the elegant, blue-skinned girl sits down besides Keiki on the island shores and before the slowly rising tide of the ocean, seemingly tired from the long walk through the marsh far to the southwest. The island they resided at was rather large and crescent-shaped, hosting a normal-looking cave at the dead-center of the land. The island is unknown to many alike and sat somewhere in the middle of the vast ocean, making it a lost land. To the young Articuno gijinka(a Pokemon taking in a human appearance), Icicle Icewind, this place is apparently her future.

After an early departure from the traveling St. Anne cruise ship, Icicle was followed by her Umbreon friend Keiki to an ancient temple dedicated toward her kind south of Cinnabar Island in Kanto. Keiki, although unaware of what her ultimate desire was at the time and what all this will lead him, remained at her side.

Within the ice-themed temple and after bypassing numerous traps to keep back intruders, Icicle finally claimed the item that resided at the top of the place, a mysterious amethyst jewel that she calls her "key". Both beings were instantly and suddenly relocated into a tropical-tree-laden marsh afterward, filling them with confusion briefly. Icicle, separated from her Umbreon friend, continues on forward as if she knew where she was going, ignoring the humid temperatures and spooky, unfamiliar environment. Keiki eventually finds and catches up to his Articuno friend, whom he considers his "sister" despite being a completely different species and the two finally make it out of the marsh, the sun's rays blessing both beings as they examine their new, unfamiliar location.

Not even Icicle knows where they both are at right now, but to her, she knows she may have just found her new 'home'.

"Keiki?" She calls out to him, and then unexpectedly, her menacing glare was shot at his direction.

"Why did you come with me?!" Icicle yelled.

The violet-eyed, adult Umbreon seemed a little off his edge, relaxing at the ocean breeze and enjoying the atmosphere.

He perks up at the sudden question and laid his ears back. Why? Because... I was worried?" He offered in an unsure manner.

"I came here because it's natural for an Articuno like me to be the 'Legendary Bird that sleeps in the deepest, darkest, and chilling cavern'" She reminded him.

After standing back up and brushing any sand off her brown robe, she approaches the cave entrance and leaned her back on the rocky surface, gazing at the skies. "Honestly...you Eevee-evolutions today. It makes me wonder why my dad hated your kind." She gave her head a minor shake in disappointment.

"So, why were you worried? Underestimating my abilities again? Do I have to make you into a perfect artwork as an ice statue in the middle of town to give you a hint?" Icicle grunted.

Keiki smirks, his eyes shining for a moment, I'm worried because I simply am. I know I'm going to start wondering about you the moment you drop out of my sight... Shaking his own head.

I guess it's just my nature. I don't think you want to try making me into an ice statue, though. Swishing his tail lightly.

The mysterious girl's eyes flashes wide open as another glare was shot at her brother upon hearing those words just when she started relaxing some more, as if a spark had risen in her heart, "Is that some kind of threat?" She wondered.

The Umbreon closes his eyes and spoke. I never said you couldn't. I just said you wouldn't want to.

He sprawls out lightly, resting his head and eyes on a nearby stone and just calmly watching the girl, Tell me something, though, Icicle. Why do you think it was a threat?

Icicle's mind was in the void and her body freezes for a moment upon hearing that question, a few icy cyan feathers from under her robe then spilled out as she fully stood up,

"I... I... W-why are you asking such an absurd question?" She questioned.

While Keiki simply lifts his head, opening his eyes and looks to her intently. I ask because I'm worried. It's really that's simple.

"WORRIED ABOUT WHAT?!" She shouted as an expression of her frustration, resting her eyes after.

The Umbreon, intimidated, jumps to his feet at the shout, and crouching to the ground and watching her after folding his ears back.

A deep breath from the girl, she said, "I knew someone was following me when I went through the swamp. At first, I thought it was a hunter when I nearly got caught in that trap and noticed his shadow, but seeing as it was likely you...Hm. Being alone does make me stronger somewhat."

Making her way inside the cold cave with a ceiling that was littered with rather small, dangerously sharp icicles above, the girl then stops at a more safe and secure spot of the linear path only to gaze at what was ahead of her.

Her voice would echo throughout the caves, knowing it will reach the Umbreon's ears, "You're just like Snow when she was a chick, a little nestling..."

Keiki, however, not quite pursuing as she walked off. Instead, he just closes his eyes, rumbling lightly, half a growl, half a purr, definitely a confused sound.

...Huh? Snow? He perked his ears up, slowly starting to pad after her in curiosity only to then witness her roughly scratching her back as if a bug was disturbing her when he caught up.

The girl turns her attention back to the Umbreon, still scratching in an awkward manner, "Idiot. My daughter! Snowflake! ...Ow." She corrected him, reacting typically to a slight pain while scratching.

Ah... Snowflake. That's right. Keiki rumbles a little, slowly stepping forward. It escapes me at the moment. How am I like she was? He questioned.

The girl sighs, "Snow would follow either of her parents around whenever it was warm out. She was so cute, looking uncomfortable and wanted to be close to someone she lo--"

Her reminiscing came to a close after some thought, slowing her walking pace slightly and letting her arm rest.

A tear quickly ran down Icicle's face and shatters into icy shards as it impacts the ground, sniffling once, "...N-nevermind." Swallowing and shutting her eyes for a quick second in attempt to hold back any further leaks.

I see, Keiki said, flicking his tail a little, and continuing on forward. so then, you think I'm cute? He quipped.

Icicle stops in her tracks for a moment, looking annoyed. "...No, not really. You're old...right? Besides, I was referring to what you keep doing reminding me of what my daughter once did." She reminded him.

The girl then proceeds through the cave at a normal pace only to stop before a large sheet of solid, thick crystalline-esque ice that blocks their path, the solid wall was smooth and clear, almost like a mirror.

"Huh..." She wondered and with that, questions began filling her mind.

The smirking Keiki hops over toward Icicle, starting to follow her along. I suppose. But it's not my body warmth I'm uncomfortable about...

He shivers, ... No, not at all! stopping with his sister and shooting a glance at the icy wall ahead of them.

The gijinka knocks on the ice with a hand and the other scratching her back, paid no attention to the dark beast. She then moved herself closer to the icy barrier in attempt to get a closer look at what was on the other side of the wall itself...

After some awkward silence, she halts her activity as she moved back. "...Um, I don't know why, but I think the last Articuno who lived here didn't want us to go on," Icicle assumed.

Disgruntled, she unleashed a quick pound with a fist on the secure wall before them. "...Dammit, at least leave us a reason why!"

Keiki purrs a bit and stepped back, tail-flicking, looking back down the corridor for a moment. Maybe he's testing you. He assumed.

Icicle blinks at that, "...If only I knew what for...unless..." a sinister smirk emerging from her mouth as she placed both open hands on the solid icy wall with the wind suddenly howling even louder throughout the cave as the temperature started dropping.

"Keiki, brother, now is a time to move away from me." Upon her warning, she looks back at the Umbreon then quickly return her attention back to her activity.

That could be part of the test, Keiki comments as slowly, then quickly, he moves to keep his distance, far enough back to where he can still see her, but no farther.

With human Icicle shutting her eyes tightly and her feet firmly placed on the ground, the slightly visible aura around her was growing more visible by the second.

Time itself stops for both beings briefly as Icicle's growing power suddenly died down, "A test of power!" She had yelled out and afterward, in a small radius around her, snow and tiny, sharp ice fragments blew wildly as if she was in some kind of "personal" blizzard.

The cave then starts glowing brightly as white light slowly engulfed her. All sound after ward dies out as the once soothing light grew more intense.

The Umbreon's eyes widens at the reaction, putting a paw out as if to start toward her, then shaking his head and ducking behind a piece of convenient cover, only an ear and an eye peeking out from behind. (Test of power....? Hmm....) He thought.

Blinding light that once fills the room faded out to one's vision. Her storm of power has subsided as the Articuno girl leaned in exhaustion onto the nearby, smooth cave wall, sliding down into a sitting position with the sound of her heavy breathing greeting Keiki as everything returned to normal.

... That didn't look good... Said in his concern.

Keiki bounds out from his hiding place. Icicle, you alright? That looked intense.

Her attention was on the damage done to the ice barrier. Thankfully, her explosion of power was able to form a mid-sized, gaping hole in it, that unfortunately had yet to allow them passage through.

Without even looking at Keiki, she replies, "Psh, that was nothing. I...just went a bit too far."

Her robe was torn and ripped in numerous areas and her body littered with several ice fragments that were frozen in place from head to toe - any being other than an Articuno or those "with the ice" may not would of been able to withstand or even survive such a chilling attack.

"....Heh, guess I'm not finished..." She said with a clear voice and a smile despite the damage around and on her done.

Keiki whimpers faintly, Went a bit too far, indeed. If ice wasn't you, I'd be worried that you were about to leave.

He nudges her cheek a bit. Icicle... please be careful.

"Stop that!" A hand nudges Keiki away, she had a rather embarrassed look on her face as she looks back at him.

"Think you can help me stand...? Erm, I mean...I'm so weak right now or it's prolly just the ice..." She brushed and picked away any icy fragments off her, shaking the rest off her body shortly after.

With Keiki pulls his muzzle back at her nudge, yipping in reaction, Eek, okay, okay..." just watching her from a distance, ... Um, are you sure it would be good for you to stand up just yet?

"And...This has gotta go." Looking at her clothing once more, the girl used a weak arm to pull away and rip a large portion of the skirt of her once pretty gown off her legs, sighing and tossing the cloth against the barrier.

With her arm resting, she looks to Keiki. "Don't be ridiculous, I need to reach my chambers...my 'room' to be more precise - this is my new home Keiki!"

After attempting to stand, she'd only fall back down. It is actually rather difficult to tell to her Umbreon brother but she was definitely in pain.

She cursed at the situation under her breath, "...Dammit, why now..?"

Thought so. Yep, you overdid it... He said, remaining quite calm in the face of her distress, Keiki attempts quietly to nose her down to her back. You lay down. I'll get you there, okay?

"GAH! N-NO!" A swift smack across the muzzle of the poor Umbreon as he tries to help her.

"S-sorry...I'm alright, I just need time...yeah...time to recover," After warding her brother away, the same hand was on her back again, this time, not scratching.

"Uh oh...?" She perks up suddenly.

After recoiling and recovering from the smack, Keiki shivers, laying down a short ways away and just watching.

... Alright then. Get up. He commanded her.

Icicle, looking typically annoyed in reaction to Keiki's command, "You're mocking me... are you? B-better not..." She only sighs and attempts to get back on her feet again.

No avail. Upon falling back down, she only quickly wailed in pain.

He fell silent at that, his eyes narrowing, not making any move to assist.

This is the grand Articuno warrior, hum?

"I'm not a warrior!" Sighing, "Keiki, you can change forms like I can, I'm pretty sure. Why not shed a little of your energy to help me up since you seem determined?"

Looking away from him and at her attire, "...I'm gonna need some new clothes." She frowned.

Keiki narrows his eyes further, And get stabbed by an icicle? I think not.

"You...?" She took a quick look up at the icicles above them, "You can't be that tall..."

Swishing his tail, Keiki remained where he was, No, but as far as I know, nothing stops you from making one you can hold on to as support. then slowly he gets up, starting to circle around the fallen Icicle.

Just as her attention went back at her older brother, she was immediately in shock, "No! Stay away!" She yelled out to him.

The girl attempts to ward away Keiki from her with both her hands, one of them had carried a couple Articuno feathers.

Keiki may of heard a slight growl from her after, "L-Look, I can't move for a while. I just need time to recover. You're so impatient..."

While he, not quite stupid(or brave)enough to move forward enough to come within reach of Icicle, Keiki continues to circle after a quick pause. You don't need to move, Icicle, like I told you. I'll carry you from here if your home's so close. He calmly said.

She is in a pinch and awfully nervous at the thought of if her brother were to get behind her... "Stop right there! Don't move! I...I mean it!"