II

Red Letter Day


Parting the vast field of ripe cherry flowers was a single dirt path that connected Scarlet Borough to the rest of the world. An expanse of red gusting petals gave the valley a fiery appearance that blazed brightly in the Autumn wind. The sound of Combee wings whisked through the air, cutting and slashing to keep their honeycombed bodies afloat just inches above the highest reaching flowers. In this time of evening it was difficult to distinguish where the sunset horizon began. Uniquely, the meadow graced it's visitors with the citrusy aroma of the aspear berries that grew from the tallest blood-leaved trees.

In the center of this crimson flora ocean sat the serene village of Scarlet Borough. Home to just under 100 Pokemon, Scarlet Borough housed Pokemon from all walks of life. Most residents saw no purpose in leaving the valley, as their property was prime and peaceful, teeming with promise and never falling short of it's gifts. The inhabitants of this rural town remained unsanctioned by the larger provinces and kingdoms that dotted the land and rarely accepted newcomers to bask in their seemingly limitless resources. Among these outsiders were Abilene and Feathers.

With eyes that rivalled the vivid brilliance of the flowers surrounding them, Feathers walked along the narrow dirt road quietly enough to hear the gentle hum of the Combee's wings. She kept her gaze focused on the dirt in front of each step and her mind anywhere except at ease. Abilene kept her distance from the Sneasel, taking delicate steps roughly 4 paces behind her. The evening gust was causing her dress-like flaps to nestle themselves against her thin legs. She watched with sorrowful countenance as Feather's kicked at rocks with her dreery steps.

Since departing the dungeon where Plusle's job dragged them, the pair had parted ways with the two electric critters after seeing them safely returned to their homes in a nearby forest village. Feathers collected the debt from the Minun's family and very solemnly refused their hospitable invitation for supper. Abilene had wished to stay and enjoy the company, but wasn't disappointed by the Sneasel's rash decision. She had, of course, known Feather's decision before it was ever so much as an offer. She had not spoken directly with her companion since the harsh words exchanged between them and a knot was beginning to form in Abilene's throat as the unspoken tension lingered in her mind.

"Feathers." Abilene's rhythmic tone forced Sneasel's ears to dart up several feet in front the Gardevoir. "Had you been in my position…" She struggled to find her next defensive words for a moment. The pair had reached the polished cedar arch that served as the entryway to the village.

"If I was in your position?" Feathers slowed her calculated steps before dragging her nimble body to a halt. She didn't face Abilene when she spoke up. "It's hard, ya know, putting myself in your position." The Sneasel twisted her head to view Abilene in her peripheral vision. Her nasally voice hacked at the air. "We're too different for that."

A gust of wind delivered Feathers' confident words directly to the apprehensive Gardevoir, who took a deep breath to calm herself. "We're far more similar than you care to admit."

This seemed to eat at Feathers, who finally turned her whole body to adamantly protest. "Alright, fine, you wanna know what I'd've done?" Her freckled nose twitched. "I'd've had no trouble at all doin' what I told you to do! Heck, the whole bone I have to pick with you is because you didn't put yourself in my position long enough to realize I was right! And because of your mishap, I had to take the brunt of it."

Abilene remained non-confrontational, distancing herself from Feathers' verbal blows while she constructed her response. "You believe your actions and commands to be what was right. I simply disagreed. Your recklessness could have endangered the child. I did what I thought was right."

"What you thought was the 'right thing to do' poisoned me and beat me into the dirt. You think I wasn't fighting those thugs to protect the kid in the first place?" Feathers' voice grew shrill and climbed in decibels, as it often did when she was worked up.

The Gardevoir shook her head. "It's impossible to tell. You never communicate your intentions."

Feathers' snout twitched again, followed by her ears flattening softly representing a shift in her demeanor. "Well. If ya woulda paid attention, ya woulda realized I was trying to protect you too."

The sky had shifted as well throughout their homecoming. In the meadowed evening light the red sea of aspear flowers grew darker in hue to a cascade of maroon. The Combee had all returned to their hive walls, leaving the only sound beyond the pair's bickering to be the natural rustling of leaves and petals in the cool nightly breeze.

Looming over the partners came a sudden darkness, a shadow casted by an approached figure, who's back turned to the sunset forced his silhouette across the land. His low grumble captured their attention, spinning Feathers' short person around in the blink of an eye. Both her and Abilene squinted, battling with the sun's diminishing light for a view of the figure. As their vision adjusted, they both quickly recognized the figure paired with the low guttural sigh he produced.

"Have you come to my village just to bark at each other?" A frumpy, elderly voice rumbled slowly to them. Each word sounded as if it had to fight it's way out of his ancient lips.

Abilene frowned, sulking slowly as her gaze fixed on the ground in disappointment. "No, Mayor Chesnaught."

Feathers stayed silent, but met the elder's eyes with her own. Chesnaught was the original founder of Scarlet Borough. An ornery fellow in his heyday, he was now confined mostly to his thoughts and to servicing the folks who built their lives on his land. Although she never spoke of it, Feathers admired him both as a leader and a hospitable host for her and her Gardevoir friend, both of which were outsiders.

Chesnaught groaned, exhaling a deep breathe through a shaggy white beard. "I'm taking a huge risk keeping you here, Abilene. I don't expect you to be the one to ruin the peace."

It was then that the Gardevoir realized that a thinly ranked crowd had begun to form, masked by the sunset. She was unaware if the townsfolk had arrived prior to Chesnaught and she blushed at the thought of them overhearing her spat with the Sneasel. Feathers, on the other hand, was fully aware of their presence since before the mayor's interruption. She simply didn't care.

"Yes, sir. I'm deeply sorry. I can assure you that it won't happen again." Abilene's harp-like voice plucked a sorrowful tune as the crowd began to dissipate, mumbling amongst themselves. Chesnaught turned his iron gaze to the impetuous Sneasel.

"And you, Dark-type?" He addressed Feathers by her typing, switching between ice or dark. It was a pattern of behavior she had noticed in the aged mayor that she was less than fond of. Had it been a Pokemon that Feathers respected less, she would let her distaste be known. Instead, she held her tongue for the sake of not offending the noble man.

"I'll try, sir" she groaned, accepting this as a form of defeat in verbal combat.

This almost drew a chuckle from the stoic mayor. "Hmph. I suppose that's as much as I could ask out of you, Sneasel." He paused, drawing out a long breath to fuel his next sentence. "You know, if you both stopped bickering over your black and white differences, you'd realize the strength in your grey similarities."

This hit Feathers harder than any attack. She often let it slip her mind just how similar she and Abilene were. Forged under the same tempered past, their vastly different choices led both of them here. She just solemnly responded with an understanding nod.

Chesnaught waved them off with a soulful grunt. The unlikely pair resumed their silence as they kicked up the dirt streets on their walk to the edge of town. On their trek they passed many friendly faces whom Abilene had grown very fond of. Townsfolk always smiled and gave courtesy to the Gardevoir, and despite her lack of social compliance, to the Sneasel as well. Abilene broke from their path only momentarily to greet her familiars, particularly a Vaporeon who's damp scaly skin glistened under the light of the fading sun. Her name was Mia. She was accompanied by one other neighborly face; a levitating Klink named Cosine, who had earned his name while becoming celebrated for his skills in calculations and statistical analysis. Abilene's social excitement quickly faded when she noticed Feathers' pace quicken. Cutting her formalities short, she once again trailed the Sneasel homeward in silence.


Dodging conversations as though they were a plague, Feathers arrived promptly at the foot of her and Abilene's abode. An igloo-esque structure made of refined blocks of limestone, the house was spacious in it's main quarters which featured a small unused area for a fire to be lit. Surrounding the bramble and firewood were two benches crafted of cheri wood and topped with woven Mareep wool. Branching off of this structure and separated only by dangling cloth curtains were two more domed rooms, one for each resident.

As Sneasel's claws rattled against the wooden door panel, Abilene halted her with a melodic sigh. "Feathers… We mustn't enter our home while still harboring ill-will towards one another."

The Sneasel scoffed, but the tone was different, unlike the disparaging grunt she had exhaled earlier. This sound was softer, if only by a little, perhaps undetectable to most, but not to Abilene. "Abi, if ya never let me in the house until I'm done being sour towards you, I'd be sleeping outside every night."

This actually drew something of a chuckle from the regal Gardevoir, who in turn responded "Perhaps you should invest in a shell; like a Shuckle."

"Yeah, maybe I could get some privacy in there." Feathers grinned, the tip of her razor white fang peaked from her upper lip. "Ah, who'm I kiddin'? Wouldn't be long before you'd have an arm and a leg in there too." The pair both smiled at one another, once again melting away their differences of opinion to be discussed at a later time. Abilene motioned towards the door, gliding her hand to the thin wooden hatch.

"Shall we enter our shell, little Shuckle?" She followed her words with a warm smile and a half suppressed laugh.

Feathers would hardly understand the situation she didn't realize she was in. Emotionally, she was vulnerable. It was a rare feeling for her, but she only allowed her guard to be dropped when her and Abilene were clearly safe and in unison. An even rarer sight was the gentle pink streaks that glowed softly under her eyes. As an Ice-type with an internal temperature of roughly 0 degrees, it took a lot to cause a Sneasel to visibly blush. "Ah, geez…" she'd say, turning from the Gardevoir and gently shoving the door open.

An eerie shock would befall the pair as they entered their home. The cut-stone floor was a mess of wet foliage. The home was in a disaster-struck condition unlike they had left it. Abilene gasped, realizing the stew she had prepared that morning for their supper had been eaten. "An intruder?" She shrieked through her clasped hands that covered her mouth.

"No doubt." Feathers had already begun scanning the room for tracks or distinguishable evidence of any kind.

Stepping in a chilled puddle, Abilene lifted her flowing gown-like torso to prevent the spread of the water. She always watched for opportunities such as these to pick up on the Sneasel's expert tracking skills. "Perhaps a Water-type?"

Feathers dipped her paw into the shallow pool. "No. The water is contained to these few areas. Like a spill, or something melted." She bit her lip in curiosity. As she knelt and the surface stilled from it's rippling momentum, she could see her own glittering crimson eyes reflecting disdain back to her. She held this intense observance for a moment's time. Remaining sunlight trickled into the valley from behind the jagged peaks of the nearing mountain range. The last light of the autumnal evening carved around the tallest mountain which hid the sun and delivered it's luminosity to power the Sneasel's reflected countenance. In contempt, she scornfully rose, ignoring her duplicate.

"The door didn't appear damaged. How would the intruder have entered?" Abilene could see the remorse forming in her Sneasel partner's expression. Gardevoir placed a hand wearily on her chilly shoulder. Feathers didn't budge.

"Probably from that useless hole we have in our roof! Didn't anybody bother to finish this lousy house anyway?"

Abilene blinked. "I've tried to explain to you the necessity of the chimney before."

"Call it whatever fancy name ya'd like, it's a weakness in our defenses." Sneasel scoffed.

The Gardevoir blinked several times. "What do you suggest we are defending our home from?"

Feathers spun and cocked her head to look the Gardevoir in her eyes. "From intruders, apparently!"

As if to purposefully respond, a thudding crash was heard by both parties. Abilene covered her mouth once again aghast whilst Feathers' ears perked up; both Pokemon turned to face the origin. The hollow wallop was clearly heard coming from Feathers' quarters. At the prospect of a stranger rummaging through her private belongings, she gnarled her teeth and let out a savage snarl. Honing, her claws let off a pure pearlescent white gleam. Sneasel took a quickened pace towards the curtain, gaining momentum with each bound. Abilene let loose a clamor as Feathers flung open the curtain to reveal the perpetrator had been concealing himself. In the newfound darkness of post-sunset, Abilene could see only the blur of their intruder as he was flung into the main chamber hollering, the weight of his body crashing down on the flimsy benches and shattering them under the power of Feathers' throw.

Sneasel's Hone Claws illuminated her face with the move's powerful shine as she pounced back from her quarters. "Creep!" she bellowed, landing her body's weight vehemently on the stout shadowy figure. As she lifted her radiant claws to threaten the thief, their light shone brightly enough to reveal his identity to the onlooking Gardevoir, who's regal eyes could barely force themselves to open. A portly youth with a panic-stricken expression squirmed for freedom beneath Feathers' mass. She didn't recognize him as a citizen of their village, but knew his species to be Snover.

The Snover pleaded. "Agh! P-please, M-miss Feathers! Please don't hurt me!"

Feathers took several sharp breaths, her entire body swaying with her expiration before hollering again. "How do you know my name?! How did you find me?!"

Abilene watched in dismay before shattering the commotion with her melodic voice. "Feathers enough! He's only a child!" Despite this, Sneasel made no immediate efforts to ease up.

The Snover gulped and fumbled through his thoughts, searching to remove himself from this hostile situation. "Miss Feathers! I-I'm from… I-uh… Oh goodness… F-Froslass!"

The color left Feather's face in the moonlit night and her composure changed as though she had flatlined. Her grip on the Snover's ruffled fur loosened and her knees felt weak. "How… how did you know that name.."

Snover kicked his dangling feet in panic. "Oh please Miss Feathers let me go! I-I'll be good, you bet!"

The shocked Sneasel's profile displayed an empty countenance with searching eyes. She scanned the room as though it were caving in. From her perspective, all discernible sound became a blur, as though she were underwater. She couldn't hear Abilene calling to her as her clawed grip loosened on the Snover in her dazed state, lost in a flurry of thought.

A merciful pink vapor caught the young intruder before he slipped free of the distracted Sneasel's offensive hold. The Gardevoir lowered him, allowing Snover to gain his footing and stand. Courageously, he shook off his fear and approached the shell-shocked Ice-type, who remained standing on the shattered bench. Her breath grew to a choppy blizzard as the room spun around her, all triggered by that one word; that one name.

An empath, Abilene could sense the discomfort and stupor her partner was in, looking as though she would faint. "Froslass? Feathers? I don't recall you making me familiar with anyone of that name?" After setting Snover down carefully, the lavender light faded back to the blackness of moonlight.

The stumpy child tilted his fur covered head and examined Abilene curiously before replying. "She's Miss Feathers' friend, you bet. From back home." He turned once more, fixing his gaze on the Sneasel. She was more visibly shaken than Gardevoir had ever remembered witnessing. Her regal figure flowed across the room silently to comfort her, all concern for their intruder lifting from her melancholy mind. Snover apprehensively approached Feathers more closely, explaining. "And she's in trouble."

This news seemed to snap Feathers out of her disillusioned trance and her fiery eyes darted to meet with his. Abilene's maw remained concealed behind a clasped hand. She gasped in awe. "Feathers. This Froslass… she's from... before." The stubborn Sneasel had kept her past locked tightly behind a irately forged lock from everyone. Her Gardevoir was no exception to this rule. Whenever Abilene had made remarks or pressed her partner for information regarding her origins, she always sensed a great inferno within the Sneasel's heart. Her empathetic potential alerted her to sorrows that even Feathers herself had chosen to overlook.

The Sneasel was in a cavernous affliction. All eyes focused on her as her velvety ears sagged, timidly pushing her adorning feathers out of place. Despite the attention, Feathers made no attempt to speak or share her thoughts, instead drilling holes in the floor with her laser-like stare.

Reaching out with her emotions to connect with the pain her Sneasel felt, Abilene hit a spiritual roadblock when she sensed an even deeper depression. Only it wasn't residing in the heart of her Sneasel, but in the mind of their intruder. "I sense great loss in your heart, young Snover."

A single icy tear fell like a limpid raindrop from the shaggy face of the youth. His eyes told their tale of sorrow and of recent heartbreak. Abilene sensed the growth in pain as she turned her attention to Feathers. Her normally overweening manner was melted away as she too could feel the personal loss Snover's emotional appearance described. The Gardevoir may have been left out of the loop, but she had a clear notion that the two Ice-types had lost something precious. She had been quick to piece together the puzzle that was unravelling before her.

A lone whimper escaped from the Snover, who locked eyes with Sneasel in the darkness of night. Courageously, he stood upright, fixing his sorrowful posture. He unhurriedly drew near to the Sneasel, his barked skin reaching for her filed claws. Her natural reaction was to retract, nearly stumbling back from her elevated position. Snover understood and made no further attempt to touch Feathers. "G-gosh, Miss Feathers… We sure do need you."

Silence. Sneasel's headstrong can-do attitude was but a morsel of a lump in her throat.

"We will be honored to assist you, Snover. What exactly does your quest entail?" Abilene announced, her voice nearly quivering.

This seemed to snap the youth out of his pity. "G-gosh, I'm sure sorry, Ma'am, b-but we need Miss Feathers."

"When you refer to "we", you perhaps mean your Pokemon from home? From Feathers' home?" The Gardevoir tilted her head and blinked twice.

"Y-yes ma-am, you bet! Miss Feathers is the only one who can save us. She's a real hero, you bet!"

"Enough!" Feather's finally broke her vow of silence with a shrill roar. Her red eyes glistened and reflected the moonlight in soulful tears. She had become hysterical, her eyes darting to every shadowed corner of their small hut. Abilene tried fruitlessly to calm her. "It's all lies! Everything they told you, Snover! I am not a hero! And I am NOT ready!" She was panicked, breathing sporadically and appeared to be breaking down emotionally. "You could've lead them here!"

Abilene's leg shook nervously while approaching her Sneasel. She reached her thin arm out to comfort her. Darting backwards into the night, Feathers looked tearfully at her companion. She tried to mumble something apologetic to her Gardevoir, but failed to deliver in her pronunciation. Abilene pleaded "Feathers, please…"

Once more, through quivering lips, Sneasel let loose a distressed moan. "I'm sorry." She met Snover's pleading eyes and felt the weight of countless lives fall on her shoulders. She uncomfortably inched away from the pair, her sharpened eyes darting between the two as if tying the Pokemon in a visible knot.

Snover sniffed loudly and reached into a small knapsack that laid at his feet. It had been thrown from his grasp during the attack earlier. "M-miss Feathers, I brought something with me from home. F-froslass said it'd give you the strength to come home, you bet." He carefully unfolded the cloth that loosely wrapped an item of mystery. Abilene took several petite steps to peer over Snover's whispy shoulder to view the object he clutched. It was as smooth and glossy as fresh obsidian. It appeared at first to be some form of primitive weapon with it's curved body and jagged end, but it was too small to be worthwhile. Snover held out his paw to Feathers once more, this time gripping the foreign object. It's exotic design was held up to her in the dusky night.

With her back to the front door, Feathers anxiously allowed him near to perceive what he offered. The forest of his paw opened up to her, the item glaring back into her. The ornate carving on the roof of the midnight gloss depicted a gentle sunrise and an ancient windborne bird Pokemon. Feathers gasped, nearly choking on her own exasperation. Without so much as turning, she lifted and slammed her foot backwards into the wooden panel, flinging the hatch wide open. The artifact had sent her shock into a new, unexpected realm. "Keep that thing away from me!" The Sneasel hoisted her hand sewn satchel from the doorway and threw it over her elfin shoulder, she twisted and took one bound out of her home, fleeing from her fear and past demons.

"Feathers!" Abilene beseeched "don't go! I can help you! Whatever your burden, I will help you bear it!"

The Sneasel halted at the sound of the Gardevoir's melodic begging. She gripped the strap to her bag tightly and her head sunk, eyes digging into the grass between her clawed toes. Her ears were flattened and she tilted her head in Abilene's direction. To Gardevoir's utter dismay, there were tears in her companion's eyes, indicating the severe gravity of the situation she was yet to understand. The Sneasel's salted wavering eyes were a virgin sight to the Gardevoir.

"Not this time, Abi." Feathers uttered. Her gaze didn't transfer to the Snover, but her attention did. Her eyes shut forcefully. "I can never return home. Never." As a single icy bead left her sealed eyes, Sneasel felt a warm, calming aura brush away the tear. It only broke through to mortify her further to see Abilene reaching out to her from inside. The familiar pastelle light emitting from her hand was the last sight Feathers took in before she bolted away, her vision blurred from her tears. She ran to save herself.

"Gosh, i-is she gonna come back?" Snover's arms dropped to his frosted sides and he sulked. "Everyone's depending on her, you bet."

"She's noble underneath the ruffian act." Gardevoir let her voice pluck away at syllables she was unsure of. "She will return." The two simply stood in the gloomy night and sifted through their own perceptions.

"I'm s-sure sorry, Miss. I didn't mean to cause no trouble. Honest." Snover's stumped feet shuffled awkwardly as his vision trailed the floor. "B-but, I've never known Miss Feathers to be friends with a Gardevoir. Who are you, miss?"

Cordially, Abilene knelt, evening her height with the youngster. Her sorrowful expression became hidden behind sheets of feigned delight. "Humbly, I am Feathers' partner. I'm called Abilene."