After a short time of talking with the Wigglytuff, the Furret grabbed her things and followed the Wigglytuff out of the cave they were inside of.
When they first saw the outside, Abigail noticed that the snow had stopped falling along with the howling winds.
"Looks clear to go!" the Wigglytuff sang, "It's not too far from here. It's in a dip in the mountains."
"Sounds pretty promising..." Abigail nodded, "I'm guessing it can't really be recognized?"
"No, we know what it is." the Wigglytuff replied.
"Wha." Abigail gulped.
"It's a legendary pokemon that's dormant, known as Regigigas. We've faced it before, in the ancient past. I'm positive it's what you came looking for." the Wigglytuff nodded confidently, "Feeling a calling to a place like this is no accident."
"I haven't heard of Regigigas..." Abigail said, "It just sounds familiar."
"Regigigas is a pokemon that created the landscapes, like the world's giant gardener." the Wigglytuff explained, "Although other legendary pokemon helped make the world, it was Regigigas strength that let him be the world's architect."
"If it's so powerful, why aren't we taking a little more equipment with us in case?" Abigail asked.
"Regigigas won't attack us, it'll be a friend!" he cheered, "Legendary pokemon aren't bad... On their own."
"Wha." Abigail gulped.
"Don't worry about it." the Wigglytuff said.
Pushing out questions, Abigail just accepted what he said at face value and followed his lead out of the cave.
The Furret and Wigglytuff continued to move upwards. After a short while, the Furret noticed a horizon of the mountain they were on fast approaching.
"We're still pretty far from the peak. Is that the dip in the mountain?" Abigail asked.
"Yup!" the Wigglytuff sang, "Best prepare yourself however you can. Maybe try thinking about why you're here!"
"For my family." Abigail said.
"Sounds good!" the Wigglytuff nodded.
Abigail found herself needing a deep breath after getting to the top of the steep hill.
"You can still just barely see the top of the statue, but the rest of this is covered in snow..." the Wigglytuff sighed, "Maybe we could bring your friend to help?"
"I can handle it if it's too much snow." Abigail replied, "Is it that small rock in the middle there?"
"Yup, that's the top of it. I'll be up here and let you do your thing!" "the Wigglytuff cheered.
"Alrighty..." Abigail murmured.
The Furret tapped the ice carefully with her foot before going on a full slide downhill towards the rock. She slowed down as the rock grew closer, but found it strange that it seemed to be almost smaller than she was.
She quickly raised her arm to dust snow off the rock, but she started feel dizzy beyond standing when she touched it. The feeling didn't fade as she pulled her arm back, but she remained standing up as the dizzy feeling continued and cleared slowly.
Abigail kept her eyes closed while she touched the statue again. After focusing, she could feel like another pokemon was nearby. Although she couldn't feel the vibration of sound in her ear, she heard a voice.
"There is not much time for us left."
"Uhm, hi..." Abigail said awkwardly.
"Oh, hi You're weird... They usually just want me to lend power and are on their way."
"Lend your power?" Abigail asked. She wondered to herself if she was talking aloud.
"You are my scion now, Abigail. You have access to my special abilties."
"Alright..." Abigail replied, "Since legendary pokemon defend nature, I guess I can trust you?"
"Most don't question me either. You're so self-aware."
"I trust you about as much as your average talking wall." Abigail said.
"Lancelot will brief you about the coming battle. Tell him you are a scion and tell him my name."
All of a sudden, Abigail felt alone again. She opened her eyes looking around with her hand still on the rock.
"How am I supposed to be the weird one?" Abigail huffed, "Well, this wasn't exactly a breakthrough... This is all weird."
The Furret slowly climbed back up the hill of snow to the waiting Wigglytuff.
"Did you find what you were looking for?" the Wigglytuff asked.
"Mhm, just underwhelmed a little is all." Abigail shrugged, "I think I should make a call as soon as I can."
"I'm sure it'll be alright. You underestimate the N.A. They can handle nearly anything." the Wigglytuff nodded.
"That's not really what I'm worried about." Abigail sighed.
"What is it then?" he asked.
"I'm wondering why I'm stacked up in a few things..." Abigail said, "I only wanted... Want, one thing."
"Perhaps it's all related. In fact, that's the only reason I could think of!" the Wigglytuff nodded, "It all depends on how important what you want really is."
Abigail chose not to reply, but the silence didn't seem awkward to her as they returned to the cave entrance.
Once back inside, Abigail continued to follow the Wigglytuff back to his room. He promptly sat down in the exact same position he was in before they left.
"I'm just going to make a quick call to the N.A." Abigail said.
"Of course." the Wigglytuff nodded.
The Furret rummaged through her bag and picked out her phone to call. Although her call failed the first time, she tried one more time and received an answer.
"Hello there?" a voice sounded.
"Hello, Mr. Acuity? Just checking in." Abigail said.
"What did you find?" the voice asked.
"Well, uhm, I only have a name. Regigigas." she asked.
"So that's how it is, then..." the voice sighed, "When you come back, we'll have a talk. It's something we're keeping as low profile."
"Could I also ask you to check something for me?" Abigail asked, "Could you check jail records on Herbert Fetch for me and get back to me? Just when you're not busy."
"I can answer that for you in just a minute. I happen to be at our computer." the voice replied.
"Oh, thanks!" Abigail smiled.
After a short silence, the Abigail heard activity on the other end again.
"Herbert Fetch. He was incarcerated in our prison until a couple of weeks ago before he died suddenly of an illness."
Abigail let out a loud grumble before suddenly dropping the phone with both hands covering her mouth.
"Miss Abigail?" the Wigglytuff leaned in squinting his eyes, "Is everything alright?"
After swallowing and wiping her eyes, Abigail turned back towards the Wigglytuff's concerned face.
"Yes." she replied, "Everything's fine."
"Sit down here, Abigail. Let me take the call."
"Okay."
The Furret stalked to the rug while the Wigglytuff swapped places with her and walked just put of earshot.
After just a few breaths, Abigail's loud tears welled back up again. She lied died on her side and pushed her face against the rug. She took a deep breath and looked back up when the Wigglytuff turned back around to her.
"Is there something you want to talk about?" the Wigglytuff asked quietly.
"Mm-mm" the Furret shook her head, "Thanks, but I have to get heading back now."
"Was he a friend of yours?" he asked.
"Yes." the Furret nodded, "Best friend. Thanks for your hospitality."
The Furret stood up shakily and nodded to the Wigglytuff before gathering her things quickly walking out of the room.
The more intense gleam from the rocks and moss in the larger area made the Furret rub her eyes as they tensed.
"Don't think. Too many around. Just get back."
Abigail's eyes dulled as she started a zombie-walk back outside. Her expression cleared back to normal as she left down the staircase. She stopped walking for a short second and rubbed the tears from her eyes before continuing on.
"Ok, ok. Think about something else. Don't let anyone see you like this. Just make it back to the carriage."
The Furret went down the mountain rather sloppily tripping multiple times on her way down. Her thinking was constantly getting sidetracked until one time she tripped and slid down the snowy side on her back.
She suddenly stopped with a yelp and her feet completely buried in snow. She slowly took one out at a time and shook her head.
"Ugh, still cold. Everything's covered in snow, and it's hard to tell if I'm going the right way."
Although little green or brown was visible, Abigail could still make out the trees that became closer and closer as she continued down. The slopes gave way to flat land, and looking around the general area they came from she eventually found the carriage, but it looked like it was a wreckage. Three out of four of the wheels were shattered, scattered, and charred black.
The Furret walked around the carriage and saw holes in every side of it and their driver not found. She felt the side of it with her hand.
"Still hot from being attacked it looks like. Welp, at least that means one thing."
Abigail stood up and looked ahead towards a multitude of different tracks left in the snow.
"Focus. Let's get moving, fast."
Abigail continued moving on all fours sniffing at the snow trail. She didn't keep track of time being uncannily focused on if anything was ahead of her. She was constantly confusing snow falling on her as more bad weather, but it was only drops of it falling from still green trees.
Abigail stood up on all four legs again to have a look around when she noticed dots moving in the distance from the direction of the trail. The trees were quickly thinning out in the direction.
"I can't get much closer without being in eyesight. What's in that direction again... A river. We're actually heading east towards the sea. Between the mountains and the sea here is just some forests and caves. I can't let them get away, too much could happen."
Abigail continued to grow closer to them stalking low to the ground.
She didn't get close to enough to see details of the group until they eventually stopped moving once they approached a large rock wall well hidden by trees. From what Abigail could tell, it was a steep part of the same mountain range. A huge cave was visible once she stealthily looked around a tree, but it didn't seem to be that deep. The back wall of the cave was just barely visible from outside.
Abigail was close enough to name the species of all the pokemon there, but noticed that more pokemon were inside the cave looking as if they were being guarded. They were sitting against the wall with a Weavile and Shiftry looming over them with their arms crossed. Abigail felt a chill seeing them cower.
"What do they want? Well, it doesn't matter now. I know it's probably just random bandits at this point, unlucky... We're outside Nightlight territory, so anything I do and position I get into is all on me, and I doubt the Unity Order just happens to be around, even if their base is on these mountains the snow was too intense."
Abigail sat and thought for a moment as the rest of the group went inside.
"No, I have to do something. It's not just because of the carriage driver, but I can't leave anyone here just captive like this. But there's just too many of them. I have to try and sneak this, there's no other choice but to wait. It's going to get dark soon."
Without warning, a Servine was being dragged out and flung forward just outside of the cave by the Shiftry. She scrambled on the ground, but stopped and stared back up at the Shiftry in fear.
"We don't got room for more, and we can't have you tattling since we need to hunker down till the snow is gone." the Shiftry huffed, "Luck of the draw, kid."
"Ah, screw me."
From the bag on her shoulder, Abigail quickly bounded staying low to the ground and darted to the Shiftry's side. She grabbed the Shiftry's face and threw him back making him fall to the ground and stand himself back up.
"Alright, just who are you? Scram!" the Shiftry yelled.
"A Sneasel, Pignite, Crawdaunt, Gengar, and Granbull all behind him and no turning around. I need a move to take them out quick before they realize I'm a threat. Get them all near me."
"Who are you?" Abigail repeated, "My questions first, mister."
"I don't have time for this." the Shiftry growled.
Abigail kept and eye behind the Shiftry and noticed the rest of the pokemon had stepped forward defensively in front of the cave protecting the back from eyesight.
Strangely, Abigail had an idea of using a rope to lasso all of the pokemon closer to her. She suppressed her instinctively moving arm questioning herself.
"Wait, I don't have a rope. Why do I feel like I have a rope? That makes no sense..."
"Get your head out of the clouds and look where you are, kid." the Shiftry said, "You're a true blue idiot."
"Okay instincts, time's up. Let's go."
The Furret swung her her hand in a quick round-about and threw a golden wire behind the line of pokemon in front of the cave. She quickly pulled the hoop back while using her other arm to easily toss the Shiftry behind herself and quickly carried the Servine back. The pokemon in front of the cave were dragged forward a couple of feet letting the Furret dart over them to get the better position.
The group stood back up with unexpectedly intimidated looks on their faces. Abigail slowly set the Servine down, and she darted back inside of the cave.
"Where'd that rope go? Where'd she get it!?" a Pignite questioned.
"Alright, we're done here." the Shiftry yelled, "Take him out!"
The Shiftry and Sneasel rushed at her from two sides, but the Furret grabbed both of them by their necks the instant they were close enough and held them up in the air on either side. The Pignite, Crawdaunt, Gengar, and Granbull looked at each other before backing away and breaking out into a run.
"They're not running because they're panicked." Abigail observed out loud. She turned her head to each of them with a glare. "Who else is out there?"
"We're the strongest bandits on our own turf." the Sneasel bragged, "You really think we lack the numbers for an annoying little brat"
"Your muscles are three times too small to be talking to your superior that way." Abigail smirked, "Unfortunately, I don't have anything to feed you to, so I think the snow will have to do."
The Furret threw both of them with each arm as far as she could. When they plopped into the snow, they were a couple of yards away and stumbling to race away.
Abigail didn't pay much attention to them running and tried to grasp her imaginary rope again. A golden wire responded with it's appearance when she grasped the cold air.
"This isn't a new move or anything... It could be that Regigigas. If I follow these weird instincts, there could be more I don't know about. I threw those two way farther than I thought I could."
The Furret let go of the golden wire and watched it vanish like dust before turning around to look inside the cave. The pokemon inside had nervously come out of the shadows and became visible.
A Samurott and Serperior looked at her with analytical eyes while a Servine eyes glimmered along with a smile. Two Scizor joined pair of questioning looks on either side of them. A Ribombee she knew as the carriage driver gave her a thankful nod from just outside the shadows.
"You don't look too relieved." Abigail commented.
"We're in a ring of bandit territory." the Scizor on the right explained in a low voice, "Even as elites we were overwhelmed all at once with forty of fifty bandits."
"Where are you heading?" Abigail asked, "To Valor, I'm guessing?"
"It does not look that way now." the other Scizor explained, "There is no action we could take other than wait for a large amount of assistance."
"Good thing it got here in time." Abigail smirked, "I'm from the Nightlight we can steal a carriage from these bandits, my carriage driver back there could get us back for breakfast."
"The bandits around here constantly are in a circle position, and they're closing on us as soon as their other members receive word about what's happened." a Scizor explained, "Our best chance was without you."
Abigail stood dumbfounded for a short second before regaining her composure.
"We are trained soldiers, sir." the Scizor continued, "You should leave while you can and hope we don't fall for this misunderstanding of the situation."
"Look, as much as I don't care about getting respect from pokemon I don't know, you're all coming with me and I'll just cut us a path." Abigail shrugged.
"Miss, if we get out of this alive, you'd be lucky not to be fined for this ill-advised action here." the Scizor replied, "We are very much in a hostage situation right now. And these two parents here don't appreciate you endangering their daughter anymore."
"I can't just leave you here when I know I can fix your situation like snapping my fingers." Abigail groaned, "And I absolutely hate being forceful, but it's no different that I would do it to save someone else."
Abigail's careful watching let her avoid a quick strike from the other Scizor and catch his arm. She quickly brought the Scizor to his knees forcing his arm down making him cry out slightly. The other Scizor was about to move but stopped in his tracks.
"Stop wasting your energy." Abigail yelped, "I'm not suggesting anything stupid if you would see me in any other view rather than inferior."
"And just what view should we see you in?" the Scizor questioned.
"Someone who's trained with pokemon all over the continent very specifically to kick tail since before staying up past nine was allowed." Abigail snorted, "I'd tell you a few other things if they weren't supposed to be secret."
The Furret let go of the Scizor and brought him quickly up to his feet before standing back a short distance.
"If we're in a circle right now, we can prevent combat with almost all of the bad guys by rushing to one side of the circle and bursting through on the path to Valor." Abigail said, "Done right, we can only have to fight ten at most, and you saw what I did to five. But we need to move now before they get the message and close in."
Both Scizors turned toward the Samurott waiting for his response.
"It's a viable plan." the Samurott nodded, "Let's not be defensive to each other and get moving. Pleasantries and lawsuits can wait till after." he chuckled.
"It'll only be fair to sue me if we all die." Abigail huffed and crossed her arms. "I'll take the front."
"I'll be just behind you, sir!" the Ribombee volunteered.
"Alright, let's go." Abigail announced.
Abigail took a minute or two before she was more comfortable about having her back turned to the group. Abigail kept a good distance ahead of them with the Ribombee hovering just behind her back above the snow.
"This is all sudden... I can cry anytime I won't die because of , I have to tell mom... Let's just get out of here, it's freezing."
"Just how far will we have to walk?" a Scizor questioned.
"Hard to say because we don't know how big the circle is." Abigail said, "But it'll be walking distance, that's for sure."
"These guys might have a lot of money, or are pampered in one way or another. Acting so dressy in a situation like this it's ridiculous..."
Abigail continued to walk while avoiding looking back at anyone in the group in particular. Eventually, she started to see specs moving in the distance in the direction they were moving in.
"The trees are thinning out. The plains and grass should be up ahead soon, and it's getting warmer. This blizzard really is weird weather."
"I see activity in the distance." a Scizor reported.
"Stay a little bit further behind me." Abigail replied, "I'll handle this. Let's take a jog."
Abigail started to move at a brisk pace along with the other pokemon, but she quickly started to make tracks faster than them and gained more distance from them. The specs in the distance started to multiply from behind tree and hills. She started to stop in her tracks seeing them making a wall heading closer towards them.
"That's way too many for them to have been in a circle this whole time. They were all right in front of us all , so that at least means there's a way back, but I've got to make time or path to continue."
A Charizard came into view first with a lot of other pokemon behind him. He strutted confidently on the ground clearly approaching the Furret.
"Alright, let's take him down quick."
"Wait!" the Charizard suddenly yelled, "Stay back!"
Abigail waited and stared back at the Charizard's eyes.
"You're that one who pulled the founding weapon." the Charizard said, "You stay away from us."
"What were you doing with these pokemon?" Abigail demanded.
"We were going to order a ransom and be on our way." he answered.
"What on earth do you need money for?" Abigail asked, "There are plenty of pokemon that can live out here just off of the land, me included."
"The things we could want with money are obvious." he replied.
The Furret walked closer to the Charizard until she was just out of the radius of smelling his breath.
"If I hear of trouble continuing in this area," Abigail whispered, "I will personally come put an end to how you live your lives and no one will even blink. Do you understand?"
"You don't have any sympathy for pokemon trying to live out their lives the best way they can, do you?" the Charizard growled, "Not everyone can find enough land for themselves to live the ideal life."
"A few hours ago, I was in a place where I could've said that I get it." Abigail shrugged, "But my sympathy for it all just ran out. Tell your hooligans to stand aside."
"You don't talk about my comrades that way." the Charizard replied coldly.
"Go." Abigail ordered, "And leave us a carriage, any will do."
The Charizard glared at her while turning around until he made sure to take a normal pace walking back to the lines of pokemon behind him. Abigail heard him call out orders for a short minute until the pokemon started to disperse in different directions. Just as she asked, a small group of pokemon brought a carriage closer in range of her before continuing on different directions.
After they were almost all out of eyesight, Abigail turned back and waved the group behind her to come.
The Ribombee was the only pokemon that gave Abigail any kind of surprised expression.
"What did you say to make them go away?" the Ribombee asked.
"Nothing important." Abigail shrugged, "Are you all doing good?"
"We are all doing extremely well." a Scizor nodded, "However, we do believe that there isn't enough room on that carriage for our whole group."
"Well, let's go see." Abigail nodded.
The Furret couldn't help but frown to herself as she started to walk around it.
"Realistically, it's not big enough for me which is fine of course, but I'm not sure they could get both Scizor's and that Servine. If I just walked, either the Servine or one of those Scizor's would have to join me for there to be enough room."
"If I walked, one of you two or the Servine would have to walk with me." Abigail voiced, "The Ribombee wouldn't make enough of a difference, and he can be the one to drive it with one of you two looking out from the top and the other being inside."
"It's hard to make a strategical call here." a Scizor nodded, "And I hope my lieges do not disagree with me harshly for suggesting their daughter walk with you."
"My daughter stays with me, Charles!" the Serperior exclaimed.
"You both need protection." the other Scizor input, "Especially out protection. She's a strong girl, and young. You're both simply a little old to walk this far of a distance."
"The one fact I disagree with is that we don't know who this pokemon is." the Samurott frowned, "And I can't leave my daughter in unknown hands. There must be some type of action we can take in the future if he were to try anything."
"Perhaps we can make an arrangement." a Scizor suggested, "What is your name and where is your business? WE want to know anything you're willing to share."
"Sure." Abigail agreed, "My name's Abigail Fetch, and I just started doing some things for the N.A. recently. I could show you my N-"
"Abigail?" the Samurott questioned, "Are you the one who pulled the founding weapon?"
The Furret just blinked at the Samurott awkwardly not sure what to say next.
"Why does everyone know about that!? We're in the middle of nowhere and bandits knew about that. This is-"
"Of course, the rings of fur turning golden." the Serperior smiled, "You're the one we're going to Valor to see."
"What?" Abigail asked, "Just to see me? Why?"
"It's a tradition for royalty to come greet a new Overlord rank because they are connected inherently to the country's laws." the Samurott explained, "We were taking a route from Verity when we were somehow discovered by thugs."
"That must've been your intimidation factor we just observed." a Scizor nodded approvingly, "Our liege would be in safe and capable hands."
"You know I'm just a random farmer, right...?" Abigail murmured.
"I'd say you have a bit more of a chosen one variable than you realize." a Scizor commented, "But I think we can discuss what the founding weapon means when we're all back safely."
The Samurott turned over and looked at the Serperior gently.
"Well?" he asked.
The Serperior nodded and turned to face the Furret.
"I leave Isabelle in honest hands." she nodded, "She has a way to contact us, so we'll make sure a carriage is sent your way once we arrive."
"I won't let you down, uhm..." Abigail's voice trailed, "Your Grace."
"My... I think I like that." the Serperior blinked, "I like that a lot. 'Your Grace...'"
Abigail huffed when the group of pokemon turned away from her, but her heart rate only slowed down as she watched the carriage start it's bumpy ride through the snow.
"Hi."
Abigail blinked and then looked to her right down at the Servine. She stared at her curiously.
"Hi." Abigail said.
"Rich ones are weird..."
