The remnants of Celestial Spire were nothing more than a pile of pearly rubble. Formora stood next to the long-dead Luminous Spring, gazing with disinterest at the sight before her.
All of the jeweled decorations and color-changing stone had been removed. Thieves, she figured. As if the ne'er-do-wells of the world needed any more money or additions to their egos.
As she circled the remains of the dungeon, colorful graffiti caught her eye. It was written across any chunk of debris large enough, though she could no longer tell what had been written.
Some alcoves held what appeared to be memorials. One such spot hid a small pot of days-old flowers atop a candle and note.
Formora clutched her bag close to her chest and moved on.
Though she had been here twice before, she could only recall faint flashes of the final battle between her and Ezra.
Nailing her with a Shadow Ball—Ezra's Inferno baking her alive—choking the life out of her—
You won, I guess, but you didn't win, the demon scoffed taking on the shape of her father as he strolled into view.
"There's no one here to kill, so do not waste our time trying to rile me up," she replied in a bored tone.
Her father scowled, but vanished.
Having seen enough, Formora moved on to her final destination.
Joyful Forest ( watch?v=LZxmxNrXD7M)
She had no recollection of this place, this forest path leading to darkness. But somewhere in her mind knew exactly where to go. She gazed into the ebony sea, patting her bag.
"Almost there."
B1F
A cool breeze tiptoed through the halls, soft to the touch as if it were afraid to be noticed. The ground was blanketed in tall grass and ferns, with some patches of dirt breaking up the jungle here and there. Clumps of pink and white flowers peeked over the tops of the cliffs boxed her in, held down by logs and shrubs.
A Budew was here with her, but it didn't even last one backhand.
Useless enemies. Why are you here? This is a waste of time, the demon snorted in her ear, its shadowy figure lurking just at the edge of her vision.
"You know why. And you're not stopping me."
B2F
She was not alone.
Her knife was held slightly aloft, ever at the ready as she silently stole through the floor.
Who was here, in this dungeon?!
Rend their flesh! Flay them head to toe! The demon commanded, it too furious that someone would dare follow her.
After stabbing no less than five dungeon foes, she finally found the mystery intruder. Or, rather, they bumped into each other.
Snarling, Formora swung her knife—and stopped a millimeter short of skin when she saw who she'd met.
"Formora?!" "Firnen!" they exclaimed together.
She grimaced. "Again with that name. But I guess it still belongs to me, in the end."
The Fraxure still wore his Royal Silk, though he was now encumbered by a large backpack. There were a couple of chips in his tusks too, though they didn't take away the fact that he'd gotten quite toned. If Formora had any capacity to appreciate aesthetics, she'd have been impressed.
Fury erupted insider her, so sudden and vicious she actually took a step back.
KILL HIM! KILL THE TRAITOR! The demon roared.
Formora's knife arm began to lift in obedience, but with a cry she managed to turn it aside, where it scraped against the wall with a wince-inducing screeee.
Firnen, once terrified of her, inexplicably laughed. "Still fighting demons, Milady?"
"Laugh again, it'll be the last thing you do," she barked out roughly, forcing her arm to remain still at her side.
"I believe you. How's the north treating you?" he asked, all pleasant-like, like she hadn't tormented him for weeks the last time they'd seen each other.
Formora replied with a grunt. "The prey is weak. Your lack of fear is new."
"Ah, that. Well, when you've traveled across the continent a few times, you tend to gain a new perspective or two. If it's time, it's time. And I fully intend on always enjoying my life until it is," he shrugged. "Have you seen visited Kia and Cate at all?"
"A few weeks ago."
"…Were they alive when you left?"
"Yes, they were. Why are you here?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing. I thought I'd go down memory lane and pay my respects. Y'know, since there's no official grave and all. Begging your forgiveness, of course."
"Stick around, and you'll get your wish."
Firnen paused and gave her a funny look. "The respects or your forgiveness?"
She showed him the contents of her while informing him of her pilgrimage. Firnen took a step back when he saw her.
"You kept her bones?!" he gasped.
Formora inclined her head.
He shook his head incredulously. "Hell's bells, Formora, you really are something else. But yeah, I think I will stay for a bit."
B3F
"Do you remember the Deadlands at all?" Firnen asked after a lengthy silence.
Floor collapsing, exposing a lava lake—can't breathe the air—a puddle that was once a Muk—Zy—
"Zygarde," Formora finished the thought.
"Yeah, she turned it into the complete opposite of the Deadlands. You know, a lot of Pokemon were and are still are afraid to go in. I did, though, once. It's a beautiful place. She'd like it," he said, nodding to Formora's bag.
Formora tilted her head. "How so?"
"You know how the Deadlands was the dungeon that tried to kill you? Well, it's now the dungeon that tries to save you. Food and clean water everywhere, no traps, permanent Aromatherapy…and I swear the weather changes to help you out. Like, I was fighting a Masquerain, right? And right before it used Bubblebeam the weather turned extra-sunny. I call it the 'Restored Haven'." He explained.
"…That does sound nice," Formora agreed after a moment's thought.
Joyful Forest Depths
Here they were. Formora and Firnen had arrived at a small grass clearing surrounded by a small ring of rock just big enough to trap most small and medium-sized Pokemon. Dotting the springy grass were large pink flowers growing in clusters.
For a long moment the two former teammates stood there silently, reminiscing on old memories.
"Haven't been here in years, yet it still looks exactly the same as the day we met her," Firnen chuckled quietly.
"I don't recall why we were here in the first place," Formora agreed. She knew that there had been a fourth person with them, but what few images she recalled were hazy.
"We were hunting…oh who was it? …Mawile! Yes, we had kidnapped a Shiny Chikorita in the hopes of getting him to surrender. But Ezra and Carys, by some random chance, stumbled upon us," Firnen laughed.
"Carys," Formora repeated, the name unfamiliar. Firnen gave her an exasperated look.
"Her Pumpkaboo friend," he said. His tone implied that this was a conversation they'd had many times before, but Formora had no such memory.
"Her Pumpkaboo friend…" she echoed.
She looked inside her bag. The teeny little thin bones that were once Ezra looked back at her. Formora closed the bag and gazed around the clearing once last time.
"This isn't the right place for her," she said. Firnen, knowing exactly what she meant, nodded.
Formora caught his shoulder as he turned to leave. She started to dig her nails in—Useless traitor! Rot in Hell! The demon roared in her voice—but caught herself just in time.
"Before you go…"
After she gave Firnen the same request she'd given Kialandi, he too had one last thig to say to her.
"I will. Oh, by the way, you should visit Lily Town; it's just 10 minutes southwest of here. Apparently Ezra and Carys used to live there, but there's also someone you should see. You'll know when you see her."
As morning gave way to afternoon, Formora followed a quaint little riverside path through the woods. When she thought she was getting close, she came across a sign posted in the middle of the road. She gave the symbols painted on it no mind as she strode past.
A few minutes later she arrived at Lily Town, just like Firnen had said.
The woods gave way to a massive clearing, where the town stood in the center. She couldn't see what the inside looked like at all, for the entire place was surrounded by a twenty-foot tall wooden perimeter with tiny gaps in between the logs tied together. The river was allowed through, but Formora didn't miss the steel grate protecting the residents from an underwater attack. Clearly, this place had fallen on harder times.
The front gate was closed, manned by a Lilligant, Vespiquen, and Nidorina on guard. They perked up at her approach, smiling.
"Welcome, traveler! Need a place to rest?" the Vespiquen asked.
The Lilligant caught sight of Formora's dagger, and her expression turned aggressive.
"She's not a friendly one. See the knife? Didn't you read the sign, Froslass? This is a safe place; the vile and depraved aren't welcome here!"
"Firnen told me to come here," Formora continued, smiling inwardly. As if these three could stop her.
"I knew we couldn't trust him!" the Nidorina blurted out, trembling with rage.
"Enough," the Lilligant said, thrusting out a leaf-like hand in front of her grumbling teammate. "We'll discuss that after we deal with her."
"Is Carys here?" Formora asked, ignoring her.
The three women's eyes darkened.
"Now you're just being an asshole," the Nidorina snarled, taking a threatening step forward.
"What's going on? Chrysi, is there a problem?" said a female voice from behind.
Formora turned to see a Glaceon standing a few paces behind her. Her brow furrowed. Something was twitching inside her memory…
Upon seeing the Froslass, the Glaceon gasped. "Formora? Is that you?"
At the sound of her name, the trio of women's faces went bone-white with fear. The Lilligant and Vespiquen rapidly began preparing attacks while the Nidorina grabbed the bullhorn around her neck.
"Oh, don't sound it! She's a friend," the Glaceon said hastily, spotting their actions.
'Friend'? Did she have one of those?
"Glace?" Formora asked hesitantly, unsure if she was remembering the name right. The Glaceon's face brightened.
"Yep, it's me! Been a while, huh?"
"Glace, you can't possibly trust her," the Nidorina spat, pointing an accusatory finger at Formora.
"I'll be fine. Here, Formora, let's leave them be. I know a place where we can catch up," Glace offered, bounding into the woods to the left, not bothering to look back to see if Formora followed.
Glace led her to a small field of flowers a few miles into the woods.
"Like it? I always come here whenever I need some space or to think," Glace laughed, plucking a white flower and placing it atop Formora's head. The Froslass stood still, emotionless, and the flower fell unceremoniously to the ground.
Glace paused, and gazed at Formora uncertainly.
"I never expected to see you again," the Froslass said eventually. Glace's expression relaxed, and she laughed again.
"Me neither! You aren't here to destroy this place, right? I'm not sure Team Valkyrie will ever let you inside no matter what your intentions."
"I am not. Firnen told me someone interesting was here. He had to have meant you."
"Me, someone interesting? I'll have to thank him later," Glace chuckled.
Formora stared at the woman. "I don't remember much about you, but I thought you hated men?"
"I don't hate men, I hated myself, though at the time I thought I just hated everyone's attention. Oh, how self-centered I was back then," Glace sighed wistfully, idly plucking blades of grass while she spoke. "I thought that I was the center of the universe, and I used to get so angry whenever someone did something that wasn't what I wanted them to do. And then I up and deluded myself into thinking joining you guys would magically solve all my problems."
"And now you're back here."
Glace nodded. "Right. I can't deny it any longer; I'm a beautiful woman. Kay once told me—do you remember her?"
Formora did not, but she nodded anyway.
"She told me, 'You can't control everyone, only yourself'. As cheesy as it may sound, it really gave me a wake-up call, and after the Fall I did a lot of soul-searching. I realized how moody and awful I'd been, and I strove to make some changes in my life. I don't mind the flirting anymore, so long as they don't take it too far. Besides, I've found I can use it to my advantage in battle. I can protect Lily Town from all who would ravage it. It's the least I can do to honor Ezra, Carys, and Meloetta. Don't get me wrong, I had to work myself to the bone every day for a couple years proving I could be trusted again, but now…"
She paused, and looked up at the sky, a wide smile on her face. "I've finally found my home."
"Once everyone accepted me again, I confessed how I had felt during the better days. It's funny, at any point I could have just been a mature adult and explain how I felt, or ask everyone to treat me differently. But I never did! It's like I wanted to be angry at them," she continued, shaking her head in bemusement.
"I understand that quite well. I wasn't…content…unless I had something to focus my fury on. Didn't you have a teammate or something?" Formora said, poking holes into the ground, pretending each and every one was an invisible foe.
"Caine? Oh, yeah! The poor thing, he tried so hard not to be attracted to me once I explained my feelings to everyone. Every time he'd catch himself staring, he'd start sobbing and apologizing. I told him it was fine, he could be in love with me so long as he understood I didn't feel the same. I think that was too complicated for his brain, though. But a couple years ago he met a Frosmoth. I guess she's an amateur nature photographer? Anyway, she was amazed at all the dungeons we visited over the years, and now he's showing her the world."
Glace chuckled. "I guess he just has a thing for ice-types with wanderlust. Anyway, that's quite enough of my life story. How've you been? I heard you've been terrifying the country these past couple months."
Formora was spared having to answer by the sound of a bullhorn back towards Lily Town. Glace instantly stood up, the fur on her back raised into needle-sharp points.
"Bandits! I'm sorry Formora, but I've gotta go!"
The Glaceon bounded towards the bellow, and a curious Formora followed.
The two icy women returned to find the Lilligant, Vespiquen, and Nidorina now joined by…
Victini!
Formora's heart raced at the sight of the tiny fire legendary. She and her lady friends were staring down a group of what had to be thieves, judging by the knives a couple of them carried. There were six of them in total: an Orbeetle, Darmanitan, Bayleef, Manectric, Crobat, and Purugly.
More legendaries to kill! No, not now. She's most likely Glace's friend. I need blood…
The leader of the band, a stocky Darmanitan, gave the two newcomers a bored glance.
"These are your reinforcements? More women weak to my fire? Pfft, get real. Step aside, girlies, before you get hurt."
"You'll find these 'girlies' are a typhoon compared to your raindrop. Even one of us would be enough to take you all on," Victini snarled, standing proud. All six inches of her.
Glace leaped into the no man's land, her fur relaxed but her body anything but. "Careful now, boys. I might have to get serious."
The Darmanitan flicked his gaze over to Formora, who made no move to join any of them. "What about her? You gonna get in our way?"
"Only if you interest me," Formora replied, not a trace of emotion on her face.
The gang threw back their heads and laughed.
"Oi, I can live wi' that!" The Manectric howled, shaking his head.
"At least one of you ladies has enough sense to back off. Alright, then, you asked for it!"
Glace gave a coy face that gave the four men in the group pause.
"Can't we settle this in a peaceful way, love?" she simpered, winking at the Manectric. His sclera turned pink for a split second, and he got a dopey look on his face.
"She 'as a point, Boss. It'd be a shame ta 'urt a broad like 'er," he sighed blissfully.
Formora snorted. Imbecile.
The Darmanitan clapped him on the back of the head with a meaty hand. "Don't fall for her feminine wiles, you dope! Grahh!"
Boss Battle ( watch?v=SrlJXgJsFTs)
Victini bounded forward, shooting a rainbow aura of Dazzling Gleam at the charging Darmanitan. He faltered underneath the colorful assault, pausing in his sprint to shield his eyes against the glare. The Victory Pokemon didn't even allow him a moment to breathe. Again she pushed him back with her Gleam, shouting over her shoulder, "Chrysi, summer days! Trina and Milana, rough times! Glace, break up!"
The phrases meant nothing to Formora, but the four women clearly understood. The Lilligant stepped forward, the flower atop her head sending a bright beam of light high into the sky. After a moment, the day brightened.
Weather Condition: Sunny
The Purugly stormed for the Vespiquen, her Tail gaining an Iron-like sheen to it. The Vesiquen merely crossed her arms with a cackle, her body gaining a red outline. The Purugly slowed to a stop, her eyes now glazed from the Swagger. The Beehive Pokemon uncrossed her arms before giving her wings a hard flap. A razor-sharp Air Slash crashed into the Purugly, who gave a brusque yowl before swiping at nothing.
Meanwhile, the Nidorina was dodging Air Slashes of her own from the Crobat while she spat up sticky Toxic puddles of liquid at the Bayleef. The grass-type almost let one touch her before she summoned a crystal-clear Safeguard. The Toxic splash fizzled into oblivion upon contact with the dome. The Nidorina scowled, and switched to direct attacks.
Glace, however, was strolling close to the Manectric, giving him sly glances while not one of his teammates noticed. Or if they did, they didn't seem to care.
"Do you like me?" she breathed in his ear. His eyes went wide, and the sap actually started panting, his tail whap-whap-whapping against the ground like it owed him money.
"I thought so," Glace purred. Formora raised an eyebrow. She was quite impressive, to say the least. "Want a kiss?"
Before the Manectric could get anymore turned on, Glace craned her head forward, aiming for his neck. Her lips puckered…and her teeth turned to pure ice.
She bit deep into his skin with her Ice Fang, flinging a Sand-Attack into his eyes with a sweep of her tail at the same time. Howling in pain and confusion, the Manectric pushed her off of him before scrabbling at his eyes.
"Play time's over," Glace simpered, exhaling a wicked Blizzard onto her victim.
"Victini, I'm so bored," she called out with a smile, washing a paw.
As if on cue, the Darmanitan Victini had been fighting was knocked into the Manectric.
Victini leaped to Glace's side, her little body igniting into a teardrop shaped flame with a yellow core.
"Let's fix that!" Victini snarled, hurling the Searing Shot at the Darmanitan at the same time Glace blew her Icy Wind onto them both.
The Manectric cried out and went limp while the Darmanitan buckled underneath the onslaught. His knees trembled, but to his credit he didn't fall.
"Bragh!" he roared once freed from the attacks. "I'm ending the both of you right now!"
He pulled out the knife strapped to his thigh, brandishing it. It wasn't as long as Formora's, but equally as deadly.
He grinned—and promptly fell over, unconscious, from the Vespiquen's Power Gem. At some point she'd snuck up behind the big fiery guy and shot him point-blank in the back.
Formora turned to see how the other four remaining enemies were doing. All but the Purugly and Orbeetle had been knocked out. Quite the capable team, Formora noted. Being their opponent would surely be entertaining.
"I got this," Glace said to her friends, leaping to face the bug/psychic-type.
"Glace," Formora said, the first she'd spoken during the whole fight.
The Glaceon jumped high above the Orbeetle's oncoming Bug Buzz, exhaling a gust of Icy Wind onto her opponent. "Yeah?"
"Come visit me at the End of the World during the summer solstice. I'm not asking."
The Purugly dove for Glace, her claws elongated for a vicious Slash, but a fireball of a Victini slammed her into the ground beside the Glaceon instead.
Glace, adapting with ease, combined her Icy Wind with Victini's Searing Shot to leave a hot and cold feline laying unconscious on the ground.
"Sure!" she beamed at her friend, right before being telekinetically lifted into the air against her will.
The Orbeetle had Glace trapped in a Psychic, slamming her cruelly against the side of a tree. Glace cried out and flopped to the ground. Flicking his switchblade open, the Orbeetle floated over the dazed Pokemon.
He raised his knife above his head, then slammed it home.
CLANG!
Fortunately, it fell short of its mark. Formora was between Glace and the Orbeetle in a flash, blocking the paltry little butter-knife with her dagger.
"How did…?" the Orbeetle faltered.
"Spread. My. Name." Formora ordered, releasing the Aurora Veil with one hand as she thrust her dagger into his chest with her other.
He coughed a spray of blood onto her face. She ignored the hot, sticky liquid as she twisted her knife further, further, FURTHER—
"STOP!" she heard Victini roar. "We do not take the lives of other Pokemon here!"
Formora didn't even realize she'd swiped at Victini until the latter's palm was oozing with blood, a long thin line across the center. The little legendary hissed, but merely took out a handkerchief and wrapped up her hand. Besides, she was too late. The Orbeetle lay dead at her feet.
"You're leaving. Now," the teeny woman demanded.
Who's going to make me? This little runt?
Formora shook her head, but the thoughts still persisted. After years of dull hunting, here was a potentially worthy foe! And these cretins would not let her in to see Ezra's own hometown! She needed a fight. A real one.
I'll see your guts steaming in the sun before I obey you, Victini.
Sensing Formora's mood, Victini shifted to a battle stance. As Formora began to raise her knife, a light blue paw gently took her hand.
Formora looked down to see Glace beside her.
"I'll see you at the Tundra when it's time, right?" the Glaceon beamed up at her.
The Froslass paused for a long, tense minute before lowering her arm.
"Yeah. Yeah, I will."
