Chapter 26

Back with an update that's faster than last time~

Reviews(So many! O_o)

The Lady of Dragons - Lol, I wouldn't go that far as to say the idea was a genius but thank you! I was inspired by the story when I read about it and since it was so short, I decided to make a few things up and expand it but I'm glad you liked it!

ChelseaJackson - Me alegro de que cree que el último capítulo era bueno. Y sí , Kate y Kellyn estaban destinados el uno al otro desde el principio *^* y voy a trabajar en su relación real pronto - con suerte.

pokegirl2 - Thanks! I'm glad that the last update isn't a failure! And I hope you enjoy this chapter~

Devilboy58 - Yep yep, first time I ever had that many words in one chapter. IT'S OVER 9000! XD Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Felt the need to branch out from the game plot and this is what I got.

caird56 - Lol, I'm glad to hear that you're still reading this! I'm still trying to decide when they will kiss but they will - eventually. And Lunick is a ranger from Fiore because he was assigned there in the beginning - as per se the first Pokemon Ranger game. Their current activities are not tied down with the past so they can roam wherever they want. I hope that answers your question.

RosesOfTruth - Thank you, I just thought that a twist is a must since I'm following too close to the game plot line - still am... kinda :p

Leaf-Aprillia - Thanks! I'm glad you like the story and enjoy this update!

kcperidot - Aw, I'm flattered ^-^ Thank you for saying that! It's also great to hear that I'm improving because I don't see it myself XD.

Thanks for all the reviews~ We're at 90 right now and I hope to reach 100 soon *^* Then this will be my first story to have 100 reviews!

Night expresses her(?) -I don't remember getting your gender (._.ll)- apology as well for the last delay.

Okay, I'm done, now onto the chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon. Enjoy!

Kellyn's POV

It's been a week. An entire week since the Chroma Ruin collapse and the disappearance of Kate. She can't be dead. I just know she can't. I know this doesn't seem like me, who thinks rather logically, but I just have this feeling that she's somewhere... And the fact that neither her body nor her Pachirisu's were not retrieved offers some hope as well. We turned over every possible rock from where Sven escaped from; nothing was found other than a few remnants of the explosives used to cause the cave-in.

"Heeelllooo!" Keith's drawl brings me out of my thoughts, prompting me to snap my gaze in his direction. We're currently flying through the Almia region on two Staraptor that we captured near the Ranger Union to patrol for any suspicious activities after the events at Chroma Ruins.

He has his brows knitted together, along with a dissatisfied frown. I must have unintentionally been ignoring him. "What?"

"How are you accepting this?!" he blurts out. "They wouldn't let us go search for Kate ourselves! I mean, Lunick is about as angry as he can get right now, now that the Union won't let him conduct a search!"

I roll my eyes and look over the landscape that we are passing over – seas of trees, with mountains up ahead.

"...You think I'm okay with this?" I begin, staring him right in his eyes. "Of course not. I want go look for Kate myself as well. But what the Union said is also right. We need as many Top Rangers to be available so that we can counter Team Dim Sun's next move. Even though I can't trust the search party to find her, I know she's still alive... she just has to be."

Keith stares at me a moment, as if soaking up everything that I have just said. He switches his gaze forward in silence and breathes in deeply.

"I hate this," he mutters. "All we can do is wait."

I heave a sigh, silently agreeing with Keith's remark. There really isn't much we can do when we're placed on standby. Lunick was head-over-heels furious when he found out about the situation. He immediately said that he was going to go find her, but Chairperson Emma stopped him, saying that there was already a group of Area Rangers searching. That didn't satisfy any of us, and Lunick had to be held back by Solana. Then he stormed out of the Union. Solana wasn't too happy either, but she knew that she had to be rational, especially now.

"She'll be fine, she's Kate, after all," was all she had said to calm Lunick down, which it did, though there was worry and fear in her eyes. I didn't really understand what she meant by that. How will Kate ever be fine if trouble is always right behind her? She always gets roped in without knowing what she's doing!

The beeping of our Fine Styler brings me back, for the second time, from my thoughts.

"Kellyn speaking," I report through the device, and from my peripheral vision, I see Keith doing the same.

"Keith, Kellyn," Lunick's face appears on the screen, looking ill-tempered still, "come back to Ranger Union and meet Prof. Hastings in the Research Facility."

"Roger," Keith and I speak in unison over the wind. We then command the two Staraptor to take us back to the Union. Once there, we make our way up to the second floor and enter through the automatic sliding door. We see Lunick and Solana standing with their backs to us as Prof. Hastings explains a few things. There is a podium with an encased dark crystal in it standing off to the side.

"Hey guys!" Murph greets with a wave, which diverts the others' attention to us.

"Ah, just in time!' Prof. Hastings remarks. "We were just discussing about Brighton."

"Brighton?" I repeat, digging into my mind for information that I know I've read before. "Wasn't he the second president of Altru?"

The Professor nods. "Lunick and Solana even went to double-check."

"And what a trip that was," Lunick comments caustically. He looks really irritated at the moment - more nettled than before. Is there something that he saw that bothered him?

Solana sighs in exasperation and shakes her head. "Don't mind him. We ran into the Go-Rock Squad in Altru Square and Lun wasn't particularly found of Clyde..."

"Don't you dare say his name!" Lunick snaps irately, which tells us all to back away from him. He isn't usually like this, but I guess stressing about Kate's disappearance has caused him to be easily angered. "That no good little..." There is something after it, but I can't quite hear it. I don't think anyone does, but I'm pretty sure it's somewhere along the line of 'lady's man'? From that, I can pretty much deduce as to why Lunick is so agitated.

"I can't believe all of them turned over a new leaf and started a band. A. Freaking. Band!"

Solana sighs again. "Lun, they can do whatever they want with their lives now that they've been released."

"Ahem," Prof. Hastings coughs, getting our attention. "Let's not get off topic here."

A chorus of bland yeses comes from us and we silence ourselves to listen to what Prof. Hastings has to say.

"As I have said, we were discussing about Brighton, as we discovered that the diary that Sven found belonged to that man. As of now, we do not know of his location or if he is still alive or not." Prof. Hastings then turns to a scientist next to him, who is holding a clipboard.

"Since they're all here, why don't you start the presentation Nage?"

Nage nods before looking down to his clipboard and walking over to pull up an image of the diary that Sven found. The words could barely be made out and the pages looked like they could turn into dust any seconds now. "We've estimated that Brighton's diary dates back to some time approximately thirty years ago-"

"Thirty?!" Keith interrupts. "That's ancient!"

"Keith," I say, giving him a stern look and then nudging him towards Nage, who has his eyebrow raised. Keith laughs sheepishly before giving the scientist an apology and asking for him to continue.

"Ahem," he clears his throat. "As I was saying, the diary is indeed thirty years old and at that time, the oil in Chroma Ruins seemed to be running out. There was a minor panic, but Brighton made a huge discovery while drilling in the oil field. He found a mysterious, gigantic black crystal amounted atop a ceremonial dias – the "Shadow Crystal", according to Sven's report. Brighton wrote something similar to that of his heart being pulled towards the crystal and resonating with it. He sensed the crystal embodied an immeasurably vast amount of energy. The diary also mentioned his son, but not much. It was written that Brighton left Blake Hall with his wife and focused on studying the Shadow Crystal, believing that its power would be able to solve Almia's energy problems... Unfortunately, that's all we're able to decipher as of now. We will be working on restoring and scanning the dairy thoroughly."

"Well done Nage." Prof. Hasting nods and strokes his beard. "At least now we know the connection between the Shadow Crystal and Altru."

"Shadow Crystal..." I mumble, trying to figure out why that sounds so familiar. I glance over to Keith and the others, seeing them to be in deep thought as well. Could they be thinking of the same thing? It doesn't seem likely.

Murph muses about how the small crystal fragment that is on display right now could solve Almia's energy problem. He stalks closer to it and he is suddenly outlined in a bright blue, surprising all of us. I also feel a tug in my chest towards the light, as if it's calling me.

"W-what is t-this?!" Murph exclaims in a panic as the light surrounding him flashes brightly. Some of us have to shield our eyes from the bright light. I was about to when I hear a voice calling to me. It sounds so familiar and desperate, but I can't figure out who it belongs to.

"Murph, is there something under your shirt?" Solana asks through the gape of her arms that shields her eyes.

I feel myself being pulled even more as the voice gets stronger. My heart seems to constrict under its light, and it's becoming slightly difficult to breathe.

"H-huh?" Muprh says, patting his shirt and pulling out a blue pendant that he is wearing. "Oohh! It's my pendant that's shining! So pretty~!"

I see Prof. Hasting and the other researchers rushing around, analyzing and gauging the reaction of the light to the dark crystal.

"Outstanding!" Prof. Hastings exclaims, turning to us. "Murph! Where did you get that pendant?!"

As they speak, my chest starts to hurt and I move a hand to clutch at it. My knees start to give way, and I fall onto one knee with shallow breaths and sweat trailing down my forehead.

It is only when Murph walks away from the case and the pendant stops glowing that the pain in my chest subsides.

"Kellyn?" Keith asks, noticing my disheveled posture. "Are you okay? You look pale."

"F-fine..." I mutter, pushing myself to stand up. "Hia Valley, right? We should go check."

I heard them talking about it, even though I was distracted somewhat by the pain.

"Kellyn," Solana starts, "you don't look fine to me. I think you should stay here and rest."

"Solana is right," Prof. Hastings comments. "It's best if I send Keith to investigate."

I shake my head. "I want to go." I don't know why, but I just have this feeling that I have to go to Hia Valley. There's something waiting there for me, and I need to go retrieve it before something happens.

"I think Kellyn should go," Lunick says suddenly, earning our attention. He was too quiet during this discussion, and now, he's as serious as I am – which is very out of character for him.

"Lun..." Solana starts to argue, but when she sees how serious he is, she stops and sighs, as if already defeated. Form what I have learned, once Lunick has made up his mind, he won't be dissuade.

"It's better to have two Rangers investigate this though," Lunick continues. "If anything happens, one of them will contact us and report the situation, and I'm sure Kellyn could pull his own weight. We'll be here, ready to go if anything happens."

"Yeah," Ketih adds. "And if Kellyn collapses due to some unknown force, I want to be the first one there to see it."

"...Seriously?" I deadpan at my so-called friend.

"Hey, it's not everyday that I get to see you decide to do something reckless." Keith gives a goofy grin, swinging his hands behind his head.

"If you really want to go... Very well then," Prof. Hastings says thought hesitantly. "You're a Top Ranger and you're responsible for your own decisions. Now, if we have that settled, let's not waste any time! Make haste and go already!"

Lunick's POV

We walk out of the Research Facility with the others.

"Why did you let me go?" Kellyn asks from beside me.

I think about it for a moment before giving him a smile. "Somehow, I just have a feeling."

"Of?"

"That you'll go no matter what they say," I answer, but that's not exactly what I have in mind. I have the feeling that there is something waiting for him somewhere in or near Hia Valley. And that glow from that pendant... It felt warm and familiar, and the first thing that came to mind was Kellyn. I don't know if anyone else felt the warmth, but I did.

"You two should go now," I say. "The faster you get there and back, the better it will be to cool Prof. Hastings's excitement. He's getting too senile for that, I don't think it would be good for his health."

"Lun!" Solana chides in disapprovingly. "Don't speak of the Professor that way! He's perfectly fine! Remember how he hiked that mountain that time after he accidentally slip from Pidegot's grip when you tried to do some fancy acrobatics?"

"Oh yeah... he's wacko." That earns me a whack upside the head.

"... Is that why Prof. Hasting prefers to use any other kinds of transportation that doesn't involve Pokémon flying?" Keith asks in revelation. Okay, maybe I overdid it on the tricks for the Professor to gain that phobia but it wasn't that bad. I just went in loops followed by some dives and spins and zigzags - yeah... I'll stop now.

"Oh hey guys!" We look ahead to see Rhythmi racing towards us with a stack of paper in her hands. "Are you all going somewhere?"

"They are," I jab a thumb towards Keith and Kellyn. "Solana and I are still stuck here."

"Oh..." Rhythmi says, sounding crestfallen. I guess she's still worried about Kate, but that's natural for best friends, right?

"How's the search progressing?" Solana asks. Rhythmi shakes her head in dismay.

"They haven't reported anything," the blonde replies in a broken tone. "I'm scared... W-what if... What if Kate's-"

"She's fine," I cut in, and everyone looks at me. "Take it from someone who's known her since she was a kid. I just know that she's alive."

"That's similar to what Kellyn said!" Keith pipes, causing Kellyn to snap at him to shut up and hit him on the head.

"Oho?" My lips curve into a sly smirk, mentally filing this fact away for later use. Hm... maybe as blackmail?

"Whatever, let's leave already," Kellyn says impatiently, turning quickly away and speed-walking away with Keith in tow.

"I'll see you guys later!" Keith shouts. "And don't worry Rhythmi, Kate's going to be back before we know it!"

...

I'm looking up at the tree on the top floor of the Ranger HQ when I hear soft footsteps behind me. I sigh, but I don't look back, knowing who it is already. "You felt it too, right?"

"...Yeah," Solana answers after a while. She's been around me long enough to know what I'm talking about and understand it like no one else does - we're not psychics though. "But I think it affected Kellyn more."

I sit down and pat the spot next to me as an indication that she should sit too. "I don't know what is going on here, but it has something to do with Kellyn... and maybe us too. Something's going on, and I hate to just be on standby. All this waiting and not knowing anything is really making me itch."

"I know," Solana replies, sitting down next to me. "We're all connected somehow."

I raise an eyebrow at her, but she doesn't answer me. Sometimes, Sol can be hard to read. "Maybe."

"Lun," Solana starts and I turn back to her direction as she stares at me straight in the eyes. "Is there something wrong today? You didn't seem particularly happy with the Go-Rock Squad becoming a band. Isn't it better than to have them as villains?"

I scoff. "Villains or not, they still haven't changed. That Clyde... always trying to be the charmer." I mutter the last part so that she won't hear me, but I think she did because she giggles.

"Seriously, Lun?" she laughs. "That's what bothered you about Clyde? Because he talked to me? I have to admit, he is popular among the girls, and he isn't that bad looking."

"...Don't push it." I warn and glare at the blunette beside me.

"To be honest, I think Billy is better," Solana remarks, and I can't tell if she's teasing or not.

"SOL!" I exclaim in a sudden outburst, my face heating up in anger, but it only makes her laugh even louder and fall with her legs kicking the air like a happy little kid.

"I didn't know you could be jealous!" she exclaims, laughing. My face is no longer heating up from anger, but from embarrassment.

"Oh yeah?" I retaliate. "Says the one who was in a sour mood for a week when Tiffany flirted with me during our last encounter!"

She stops suddenly and bolts back up with a glare. I smirk, knowing that I just gained the upper hand.

"I was not!"

I cross my arms. "Then explain why you were being snappy and refused to talk to your own partner for a solid week."

"Well, I..." She opens and closes her mouth like a Magikarp, but no other words come out. Ha, she can't find an excuse!

"Maybe I should call her over to catch up over a cup of coffee," I continue teasingly, enjoying Solana's flustered face. She suddenly twists her face into an expression of disgust and starts to stand up.

"Fine, it's not like I care!" she retorts and starts to walk away. But I quickly take ahold of her wrist and pull her down towards me, prompting her to let out a yelp of surprise.

"Geez, you still can't take a joke, can you?" I tease, holding her as she leans against me with her face buried in my chest. She moves away and and looks at me disapprovingly, though I can still see the small traces of red on her cheeks.

"You..."

"Aw, and you're blushing," I coo, interrupting her with a teasing, sweet smile. "How cute."

She tries to get out of my grip, but I only tighten it. In that instant, voices start to fill my mind, strange yet familiar ones. They sound urgent, as if something is about to happen. I can only catch onto a bit of what they are saying, and everything else is just distant sounds.

"Stay by my side, no matter what, okay?"

"I can take care of myself!"

"I know you can, but I can't risk losing you, not now, not ever!"

"Lun, let go of-" I stop her when I bring her back into a hug and hold her as tightly as I can. Something about those voices... It felt like it had something to do with Solana. I can't imagine myself without her; she's always the one that keeps me on track. I wouldn't know what to do without her.

"L-Lunick?" Solana asks, probably confused by my actions.

I let out a shaky breath. "Just don't leave my side. Kate's still missing, and I don't want the same to happen to you."

Somehow, she just understands without questioning me, because she returns my embrace with a comforting one. "I won't. And Kate will come back."

Kellyn's POV

"...What the hell is this?!" Keith exclaims in frustration as I simply analyze what is in front of us.

"Well, it's obviously a large block of ice."

Keith rolls his eyes and cross his arms indignantly. "Thanks Captain Obvious."

I shrug. "You asked and I answered." I then look around for any way of breaking the large block of ice that's blocking our way out of Crystal Cave. We came here by water, more specifically, via Floatzel, seeing that there is really no other way. Once we entered and hopped onto the dry land of the cavern, we started to wander deeper. As we did, the temperature seemed to drop at a steady rate, indicating that we were getting closer to Hia Valley. I have read that it's rather cold there, with blizzards every now and then, and that it's always snowing – however little it is sometimes.

When the cave walls were starting to become coated with a layer of ice, I knew that we were almost there... until we saw a mammoth ice block in our way. It's definitely not natural, so someone must have placed it there to prevent us – or anyone who might come through – from going any further.

I check the density of the ice and step back in thought. It's too thick for us to break through with the Pokemon we have, so we'll have to find one that will be able to melt the ice thoroughly. I think I remember seeing a Camerupt somewhere back where we came from.

"Stay here," I order and quickly run back without waiting for Keith to reply. A few minutes later, I come back with the now captured Eruption Pokémon and command him to use Flamethrower. It takes a few minutes, but we are able to melt the ice enough for us to pass through.

"Why didn't I think of that?!" Ketih exclaims after the Pokémon finishes melting the ice. "Nice one, Kel!"

"Thanks Camerupt," I thank the Pokémon, then release him from the capture. "And don't go calling me that."

He merely grins, and we continue down the path that was blocked before. However, both of us stop after a while and tense up.

"Did you..." Keith trails, looking around for any suspicious movement.

I dart my eyes around and sigh. "Keith, Buizel, heads up. Pachirisu, Discharge."

"Wha -"

My Pokémon partner nods, releasing blue lightning all through our surroundings, causing Keith to jump in surprise and him and Buizel to have to dodge them. Discharge is a field-range attack, so it should hit that certain individual hiding behind us – better than playing hide and seek any day.

"Oi!" Keith shouts. "What's the big-"

His angry complaint is cut short by a scream.

"Bingo," I mutter as a rather charred Team Dim Sun grunt falls out from his hiding spot - not dead, just unconscious and extra crispy.

"Uh... should we leave him?" Keith questions. I shrug to say 'why not.' We walk forward, seeing an exit up ahead along with the pelting snow and the sounds of the howling wind.

"... ACHOO!" Keith sneezes once we get outside and hugs himself, shivering. "W-we s-should have w-wore some-something warm!"

I have lived in cold climates before, but I have to admit, it's quite cold here, and our Ranger Uniform doesn't help much against it, since they're made to suit warmer weather. I should have remembered to prepare for this... It must have slipped my mind.

Pachirisu shivers as well and circles around my neck in an attempt to keep both of us warm.

"Thanks Pachirisu."

"FOR THE LAST TIME GIVE US THE DAMN EMPOLEON SO WE CAN GET TO ALMIA CASTLE ALREADY!" A shout reaches us over the howling wind, and it sounds like it's close by. Keith and I exchange looks before running towards it. There must be more Team Dim Sun members here, but why? What are they looking for now that they mined out the Shadow Crystal?

We get there just in time to see two Team Dim Sun grunts sending two Houndoom to attack a man - dressed for the weather - shielding an injured Empoleon behind him. Nothing is said between us as we both jump in to help.

"Capture on!" I release my capture disc and use my index and middle finger to guide it. It's slightly difficult to see the disc's path through the falling snow, but I manage to send it around one of the Houndoom and begin securing the capture. The Dark Pokémon seems reluctant for some reason, unlike the other Pokémon we've encountered that were controlled by Team Dim Sun. Strange...

Perhaps something is intercepting the wavelength that the Miniremos sends off?

"Capture complete," I declare, returning my capture disc as the Houndoom emits a glow. I then glance at Keith to see that he just finished as well.

"W-what are Rangers doing here?!" one of the grunts exclaims, pointing at us, their Miniremo destroyed after the successful captures.

I scowl. "I could ask the same of you two Team Dim Sun grunts."

"Let's get out of here!" the other one yells, already on the run.

"And don't come ba-CHOO!" Keith sneeze again, going back to rubbing his arms and dancing in place. Thank Arceus that we aren't anywhere near a mountain or there would have been an avalanche.

"Thank you so much for saving me and Empoleon!" the man behind us says in gratitude. Seeing that Keith is freezing to death, he invites us to his dome hut – which looks like an igloo – in Shiver Camp and offers us hot chocolate. Empoleon rests in the corner and I notice the bandage wrapped around its right wing. It must have been injured somehow and for unknown reasons, it's staring at me, as if to confirm something.

"I'll give you two something that will help in this weather. Oh, and I'm the leader of a Pokémon Research Team settled in Hia Valley. You can call me Pamur, everyone else does," he introduces as he searches his closet. "And you must be the Rangers that my son told me to expect."

"Your son?" Keith asks after a sip out of his mug. "You mean Murph?"

"Yes." He takes out two sets of brown fur overcoats, gloves, and boots and hands them to us to put on. "I'm glad that you two came just in time to help, or that Empoleon would have been in more danger."

"Why did Team Dim Sun go after the Empoleon?" I ask while putting on the coat. Keith is hopping up and down, trying to put on a boot.

Pamur sighs in distress. "Empoleon is the only Pokémon that can be used to reach Almia Castle, seeing that the Ice Lake is infamous for its large pieces of drifting ice and fast currents. Empoleon are made for speed and mobility in water. Their wings are sharp as razor, so they can slice apart drifting ice that comes in their way."

"Ack!" I look over to see that Keith hit the nearby bookshelf. The books then falls over him. We sweatdrop at the sight. Maybe he should have put on the boots sitting down.

"I'm okay!"

"Why Almia Castle?" I ask, pretending as if that never happened. I know that it's the oldest structure in Almia that still exists today, but what would Team Dim Sun get from entering the ancient castle?

"I haven't a clue..." Pamur answers, sitting down to rest for a bit. "They just came up to me while I was tending the injured wing on the Empoleon and demanded I hand him over. That castle has been long abandoned, ever since it became encased in ice due to extreme climate change. It makes no sense for anyone to go near there, especially when it was rumored to have bizarre things occurring in there."

I glance at the table and see a part of the Almia Times laying on it. I guess our enemy are making themselves known to the world now.

"By the way, how is Murph doing at the Ranger Union?"

"Eh, he's doing fine," Keith replies, plopping down onto a seat after finishing putting everything on. "He makes mistakes from time to time thought."

"Oh? I hope he isn't causing any of you any trouble," Pamur responses in concern. "He can be a little much to handle, but he means well."

"Speaking of Murph," I say, remembering what we came here to do. "Do you know of the blue pendant that you gave him?"

"Blue... pendant?" He tilts his head to the side but then the realization hits him. "Oh! The blue pendant! Yes, it's a souvenir for Murph, since I'm only able to visit him every so often. What about it?"

"Where did you get it from?" Keith asks, straight to the point.

"Let me think..." Pamur hums for a moment before speaking again. "That pendant was handmade by Mrs. Winter, who is a local resident of Hia Valley."

"Who in their right mind would live here?!" Keith exclaims in disbelief.

"Now now," Pamur says. "She's a sweet old lady that's become a motherly figure to all of us in this research camp. She even helps us with our data collection."

"Maybe she can help us as well." I start to get up. "We need to know more about the pendant and the blue gem."

"I'm sorry that I can't be of more help," Pamur comments, "but I'll guide you there myself. I want to give Mrs. Winter a visit anyways."

After getting a few things and Pamur telling a few researchers to take over the treatment of the Empoleon, we head back out of the dome hut, now wearing suitable clothes for the cold weather.

Pachirisu is nestling in the fur hood, perfectly comfortable as well. Keith's Buziel didn't seem to be bothered by the cold, but that's probably because he's a water type and has dealt with cold temperatures before.

...

"What's with this sudden snowstorm?!" Keith shouts over the wind while all of us put our arms in front of us to shield our eyes. I wondered about that too, since the weather seemed calm when we stepped out, but it's suddenly became a snowstorm. It seems illogical for the weather to change in a matter of minutes.

"This is anomalous!" Pamur shouts back. "We didn't predict the storm to arrive till next week!"

I must have been too distracted by the storm, but I can't hear their voices anymore after a while of trekking through the snow. I peek through my arms, but with the storm, I can barely see my hand if I extend it out fully. It's that bad.

"Keith? Pamur?" I call out, but the only response I get in return is the howling wind. I frown; I must have lost them. Or they're just a few meters ahead or behind me and they can't hear over the wind.

After more wandering around, something catches my attention. Despite the surroundings already being as white as it is, I can see a light hovering a distance away from me, and it seems to be calling me to it.

"This way."

Maybe I'm imagining things, but I'm positive that I hear a voice. I don't have any other option, seeing that I'm now stranded in the middle of a blizzard. If something is telling me to listen and follow the glow as it guides my way, I'm going to take its advice. I still can't help but feel like this is one of those situations where a stranger tries to give a child some unknown candy to eat. I know I should think more on it, but my body is already on autopilot.

Soon, I reach a lake with large icebergs creating walls three stories tall. The pounding wind hits my face with the strength of a thick tome, since I didn't bother to shield it. I watch as the snow falls like rain, but it doesn't seem to bother me as much as before.

"Chupa?" Pachirisu peeks out of my hood to see what is going on.

"This is... Ice Lake?" I mutter to no one in particular. I look up at the speck of light hovering above the water, but I can't go any further. And anyways, why is it trying to lead me to Almia Castle?

"Empol!"

I look over my shoulder to see an Empoleon rushing in my direction. I squint further and am barely able to make out the bandage on his right wing, allowing me to immediately recognize him as the one from Shiver Camp.

"Empoleon, what are you doing here?" I ask, but I don't expect to understand what he will give as an answer. He looks over to the only opening within the iceberg wall and then back at me.

He squawks his name again and jumps into the icy cold water. I shy away from the splash, since it's already cold as it is. He reappears above the water's surface and motions for me to get on his back.

I am slightly baffled at his intentions, but when he look up at the sky, towards the light orb, I know he is trying to give me a ride to wherever the light wants to take me. Well, if a Pokémon is willing to aide this strange phenomenon, I suspect it won't be anything bad, and the Empoleon seems to know something.

I mentally scold myself for doing this as I hitch a ride on the Empoleon. "Pachirisu, secure yourself okay?"

The ElecSquirrel Pokémon nods obediently before going back into the safe shelter of my hood.

The Emperor Pokémon lets out a cry before speeding off into the water. At a speed faster than a speed boat, it's hard to keep my eyes open without feeling as if the wind is slicing through them.

When we come against a drifting block of ice, Empoleon outstretches his wings and lifts his beak perfectly parallel to the water's surface; he seems to have taken the form of a jet in the water.

We slice through the ice as if it's a cloud, though I do have to shake away some lingering snow that I accumulated from the collision.

It's like a maze in the Ice Lake. There are several tall, thick icebergs that Empoleon isn't able to break through and we have to take detours around them, which involves riding on fast currents and going against others while piercing through several drifting ice blocks consecutively. He seems to know his way around the ice-maze – or is it because of the light?

I spot something strange up ahead and when we're just about five meters from it, I recognize it as a whirlpool.

"Empoleon, change course!"

The Emperor Pokémon sees it as well and manages to go around it, barely. The water seems to be pulling us in as we side-swim it, causing Empoleon's speed to decrease. We then came across a path where the water's surface is already coated with a sheet of ice. It may look solid from above, but due to the fast current beneath the ice, it's never solid enough to support much weight without cracking under the pressure.

With the speed that Empoleon now has thanks to the assistance of the current, the Emperor Pokemon's beak begin to glow and extend sharply as he continues straight ahead; it must be a modified version of Peck. The water-type takes the form of a jet once more, but the area of focus has been narrowed down to a smaller point to break the sheet of thin ice easier.

I close my eyes as water splashes on my face, and when I open them again, Empoleon is almost halfway through. It's almost like a pair of scissors cutting through fabric.

"Empoleon!" the Emperor Pokémon announces once we reach the other side of the lake. I get off of him and look up at where I am now. Up in front of me are multiple flights of stairs, with a large castle coated in ice at the top. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought it a beautiful castle made of pure ice, sparkling even in the storm.

Empoleon gets out of the water and stands next to me, motioning for me to climb the stairs.

I give Empoleon a questioning gaze before turning back to the castle. Well, if Team Dim Sun wants to get here, might as well investigate to see what they want with this place.

I start climbing the steps, my eyes never leaving the castle. As I get up the last flight of stairs, I see that there is a total of six pillars, each with an unlit torch – three on either side of me. The large double doors to the castle are closed, and the orb of light is floating in front of it. It circles around me, giving me a familiar warmth before traveling to each of the six torches, fire erupting from the tops as it floats past.

"Enter, Master," the voice in the light seems to say as it returns to levitating in front of the double doors. It slowly fades away as the fire on the torches grows larger. I hear a creak, which is followed by the swinging of the double doors in front of me, causing a burst of wind to blow in by direction. I stand my ground with narrowed eyes, shielding against the wind.

The palace seems to be inviting me in, and I feel obligated to enter. Something about this feels nostalgic, as if I'm finally home after a long time. But this place can't be where I live. Besides the fact that this ice-coated castle has been abandoned for ages, I was born in a small village in Sinnoh, so I should have never been here before, and yet... this is...

...Home?

You're all probably wondering where Kate is at the moment or what she is doing but... I won't be tell ya'll, shell be back sooner or later. :)