Lucina runs along the forest as the crunches of autumn leaves fills the area. She stops herself in front of a clearing leading to a little hill. She takes a moment to look around and examine her surroundings. A small wind rustles the trees around her, some hoothoots and spinaraks are watching her movements. She takes a deep breathe and closes her eyes.
She moves her head toward the left, keeping still. After a minute, she shakes her head and head over the hill. As she goes on top, she let her backpack down next to her before leaning onto the ground, letting her back against the grass. She shuffles about, placing herself in a comfortable fashion before looking upward to the night sky, gazing at the stars. A shooting star passes nearby of the two moons and planet.
–
Flame is happily reading 'The Kingdom of Ice' while waddling his legs and humming a tune to himself, stomach first on the hay. Nearby of him is Phantom curled up in a little ball, head over tail with his eyes shut. The warm patch of the Scorbunny's nose and feet gives a constant glowing light to the room and the book.
"Phantom...? Are you sleeping?" Flame ask while looking back toward the other.
The little ghost rise himself slightly while looking back at the scorbunny. "I wish...I swear I should be able to sleep, but I just can't."
Flame let out a little laugh. "That's silly! You need a spell to get some sleep, but I need a spell to stay awake! Why would you even want to get some sleep? You can do anything you want without ever feeling tired!"
"C'mon, didn't you learn anything from our dreams? It's best to get lost in a lucid world than just exploring the real world!"
"Nuh-huh! No way! Not when there's adventures and treasures to get! Tomorrow's gonna be GREAT! ...That's why I'm reading this!-Look!" Flame says while rolling himself toward Phantom, letting his body press against the other while forwarding the book in front of the other.
Phantom opens his eyes and look toward the book. "Hm?"
"See? This is the tale of two adventurers-An intrepid Meowth and his cowardly partner Pikachu-heading to the ice Kingdom controlled by the evil enchantress Froslass! The duo has to retrieve the kidnapped folks of their village-And stop the spread of the cold from engulfing the whole, whole world! It's filled with mysteries, wonders, dangers and many, many more!-And I already finished reading it twice! IT'S SO GOOD!-...And I'd love it if you could read it!" Flame shakes the book near the face of the other.
"Nah, I'd rather try to get some sleep." Phantom respond back while shutting down his eyes and taking back his position.
Flame pouts with, giving a little frustrated look toward the little ghost. He then smiles back while placing the book in front of the other. "C'mon! It's won't take long! I know you can read it, and it's got EVERYTHING we need to know for tomorrow!"
"I know what we'll be up against tomorrow. We'll pick up a bunch of stuff, meet weird pokemon that wants to beat the shit out of us, slip on black ice and watch out for icicles and the like. If we're lucky, we might just find a weird room like the one I've seen in the temple of the forest featuring a sort of guardian."
The scorbunny groans, his pout returning to his face. He pushes slightly the other. "How can you tell what will happen? I bet there's much MORE to it! Come on, there's MORE than that! There are contraptions, cursed artifacts, lost languages and many more! It's jam packed with action and adventure in one go!-C'mon!" He then press the book onto the face of the little ghost. "You MUST read it!"
Phantom pushes away the book. "Why not just read it aloud for me?"
Flame smiles up. "That works too!" He let himself flops down onto the hay, and rest his head on Phantom's body, licking one of his paw and then flicking the pages all the way to the first one. "Once upon a time, in the village of Grass, two friends lived together! One is a Pikachu...The other is a Meowth! The two of them were best friends! ...And happily played around all day without a care in the world!" The scorbunny closes down the book, quickly rising himself to sit in front of the little ghost. "...But there was only one rule they had to follow! Guess what was the rule?"
"No fighting?"
"Noooooooooo, not that! Guess again!"
"Hmm...No sex?"
"Oh come on, not that!"
"Hehe, alright...No questioning authorities?"
"Nope! Not that either! They live in a village so..."
"..."
"...Awww, come on, Phantom! You can figure it out!" Flame raises himself, then sits up next to the little ghost.
"Alright, they had to work hard for the common wealth!"
"Not that either! They didn't work!-They had no reason to either! The rule is...!"
"..."
Flame pushes Phantom. "Come on, that should be super easy to answer!"
"I give my tongue to the cat!"
"Huh?"
"It's an expression, that means you can tell me the answer, man."
"Hmrm...Are you sure that doesn't mean I can do anything to your tongue?" Flame press a paw onto the lips of Phantom.
Phantom chuckles. "You're not a cat, aren't you?"
"Nope! But you called me one, so that's the same-Buuuuuuut I wanna really talk to you about it!" Flame flops down again, book at paws. He press his back against the hay while placing his head on Phantom again and kicking his legs in the air. "What I meant to say is...The village has a restriction on everyone to not leave because of the dangers outside! There are exceptions, but you need to prove yourself to the leader if you want to make your way outside!"
"So the duo went to prove themselves to the leader?"
"Nuh-huh! They went straight outside the village!-" Flame chucks away the book on the side of the room nearby of his backpack. He then raise himself from the hay and takes up Phantom in the air. "C'mon! Let's go outside!"
"Wait, for real? At this hour?" Phantom ask, letting himself dandle in his arms.
"Yup! C'mon, we're gonna have fun playing!-It's not like neither of us will sleep anyway! Hehe!" Flame approach the door.
"You sure you don't want to sleep?"
"No way! I'm way too awake for that! C'mon, let's go play!"
"Alright, alright." Phantom unlocks the door, opening it as Flame rushes outside toward the stairs. "Ah-Wait!" He then phases from the Scorbunny's paws onto his body and get to the door to shut it down and lock it.
Meanwhile Flame looks back to the little ghost and snatch him back by giving him a hug. "C'mon! Let's go!" He then start running again, heading down the stairs as fast as he can. As soon as he get to the main floor, he let out a "BYE!" For the Blaziken handling the reception. This one barely staying awake while reading a book.
As Flame finally get outside, he let go of Phantom. "Okay! You'll be pikachu! I'll be Meowth!" He start running toward the right. "C'mon! Over here!"
Phantom takes a moment to look at Flame run onto the dirt path. With a smile he joins the other. "So, Meowth! Where are we going?"
"Noooooooooooooo!" Flame suddenly stop himself by jumping and waving his paws toward Phantom. "You have to stay in-character! You have to say..." He leans forward, shaking his paws in a worrisome fashion. "Meowth! We can't leave the village! We have to stay here! ...Where are we even heading?!"
"Alright, alright. What else do I have to know?"
"Hmrph...!" Flame pouts while crossing his arms together. "You don't need to know much! You're just following me on my adventure! You have to act cowardly, but it's gonna be fun!" He pumps his paws while giving Phantom a brilliant smile, eyes shining. "Come on! We're almost out of the village!" He waves a paw while running again.
The little ghost follows him. "Ohhhh...B-But Meowth! We have to stay in the village! It's dark! Like two a.m in the morning dark!-I think?" Phantom takes a moment to look upward at the sky, some clouds passes over. "...What would our parents say?!"
Flame yells back. "Who cares?! We're gonna have fun! There's a cool ruin I want you to see,and you'll love it!"
Phantom chuckles. "But mom and Dad's gonna be mad! I'm gonna go tell on them!"
"WHAT?!" Flame stops himself, looking furious and waving his paws. "Phantom! The Pikachu was a coward, but he went along with Meowth!-Granted he had to be cheered up, but he didn't go snitch to the parents or adults of the village!-You have to be interested in the mystery! When I say...It's gonna be amazing! You have to accept! Okay?"
"Yeah sure."
"Nooooooo, you have to say...Okay!" Flame gives Phantom a brilliant smile, mouth agape and eyes shining. "-Like that!"
"Alright alright...Okay!" Phantom gives him back the same sort of smile.
Flame nods. "PERFECT! Let's go!" He waves back a paw while running again on the dirt path. Phantom follows him.
As the two reach the outskirt of the village at the edge of the forest, Flame takes a moment to look around. Some leaves falls nearby of the duo as a cold breeze passes by. With a glimmer at his patch nose, the bunny head into the woods with the little ghost at his side. As they approach a tree with a hole in it, Flame grabs Phantom by the tail and pull him behind to another tree. "H-Hey hey!" The little ghost let out.
Flame whisper back. "Okay, repeat after me..." He then releases the little ghost while heading toward the tree with the hole, sporting a look of pure wonder. "Woooooooooooooah!"
With a little chuckle, Phantom head next to the other. "Wooooooooah!"
Flame waver his paws toward the other. "No, you need to use your strong voice! Like..." He takes a deep breathe. "WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH!"
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH?"
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAH!"
Phantom start chuckling. "What the hell man!"
"Shh! ...You're seeing the ruins!" Flame points toward the hole. "You have to give it your all! Do it again, but with more passion!"
"Alright...WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAH-HAHAHA!" Phantom let out, laughing. "Man! Look at these ruins! Glad you brought me here-...But should we even go inside? It's looks dangerous-"
"Wait! WAIT! You have to say I HAVE TO HEAD BACK HOME!"
Phantom kept laughing. "Alright, I'm gonna hit the sack!"
Flame jumps onto Phantom and rolls over the ground, the two of them knocking up to a tree. Phantom let out a little scream, then a ow while the other hug him. "No way! I'm not allowing you to leave! You have to come into the ruins with me! I bet there's ton of treasures and the like! You like treasure, Pikachu! So come on! ...Enter these ruins and we'll be rich!" Flame exclaims while getting up and pulling Phantom toward the tree.
"You mean that hole?" Phantom nudge his head toward the tree with a hole.
"In-character!" Flame exclaims, annoyed. He gives a push to the little ghost. "Go inside these ruins! C'mon!"
Phantom let out a chuckle. "...Alright, alright!- Oooooh noooo! How scary! I can't possibly go there alone!" He then head inside the hole of the tree, peeking inside. "Woooooow, it's-Hey!"
Flame jumps onto the hole and get inside, pulling Phantom along and snuggling up to him. "THERE! We're inside the ruins! It's big, it's spacious, and definitely amazing! What do you think of it, coward?"
"Definitely holed up like a hole!"
Flame groans. "Stay here! I have to fetch something for the next scenario!" He then slips outside of the hole while Phantom watch him get away into the woods. With a chuckle, he let himself get comfortable.
–
Lucina quickly rise herself from the ground, looking to her side. Her backpack no where to be seen. She looks around while shutting her eyes, then quickly run down the hill.
–
"Pikachu! Look at what I found in the ruins!" Flame yells out in front of the tree, mouth agape and eyes shining while holding a sort of pot made of wood sticks.
Phantom peek outside of the hole back to the other. He then yawns and spread his nubby little hands while stretching. "Keep it down! It's like three in the morning! I've got a job to do at seven and I'm tired as shit!" He whines out while letting himself appear limber, pissed off and exhausted. "Come back tomorrow!"
With an angry expression, Flame let out a "Hmph." While stomping the ground and spinning on himself before starting to leave. "If you don't want to play, just say it. I'm leaving!"
"Hey, hey hey! I'm kidding, alright?" Phantom quickly rejoin the side of Flame while pressing an invisible hand on the other's shoulder, giving it a slight rub. He then gives him a smile. "C'mon, Meowth! What did you find? Buddy?"
Flame pouts back to him, then smiles. "Fine!" He then backs up from the little ghost while rising up the sort of wooden pot toward him. "That's a mystery artifact! It's seems dusty and untouched by time! And-" Flame pouts while looking downward. "Ummm..." He then places it down on the ground. "Let's time out, I need you for the next part! You'll have to get inside the pot!" He points downward to it.
"Gee, it's rather small, you sure you want me in?"
"Just do it, c'mon!"
"Eh, alright." Phantom phases himself into the pot, some of his body part seen outside.
"Okay!" Flame grins. "Let's say Pikachu is the air for now! You'll play another role!" He then picks up the wooden pot while Phantom stays where he is.
"Man, this feels weird." The little ghost looks around while returning into the pot.
"Shh, no talking!" Flame says while shaking the pot, Phantom staying still in the air as the pot moves about. "-Okay! Pikachu, I found this in the ruins! It's was lying at the top of the ruin, on the floor with nothing but it! With no ceiling upward! And grass, moss, mushroom and other cool stuff lying around!" He then start walking around. Phantom stand still in the air, but then goes into the pot again, trying to move along. Flame then whisper. "Okay...You'll play the role of the evil enchantress! You just have to make a speech and head away to curse the village! Got it?"
"Hah...Yeah!"
"Just wait until I lift up the lid of the pot!" Flame then rise his voice. "Isn't it amazing?! I found this pot made of gold! It's got weird scribbles on it-I think they're old writing! It's has a huge sort of snowflake on it too!-It's kind of cold too!" He then pause while standing still. "Huh? What do you mean it's blue? Of course it's blue! But the surface and weight doesn't lie! It's gold!" Flame sits down and pats the wooden pot while Phantom tries to keep himself inside it. He then press the top of his head. "Just like my shiny, golden coin!-" He then frowns. "-I know I could make more! I just can't right now!-I'm training for it!"
Flame rolls over his eyes. "Anyway..." He then place his paws onto the lid. "What could there be inside?-" He pauses. "Ewwww- No! That can't be anyway, it's a hundred year old!-No, I bet it is!-Stop being so scared!" He then lift up the lid, revealing Phantom's head. "See?"
"..."
Flame whisper while shaking the pot. "Phantom, that's your cue!"
"Oh, right, right." Phantom peeks upward. He then let himself float, giving out a maniacal laugh. "FOOLS! YOU HAVE RELEASED THE EVIL ENCHANTRESS...SOMETHING!-"
"Froslass!"
"FROSLASS!- Wait, isn't that a sort of girl's name?"
"Only female can be froslass!"
Phantom groans. "Well alright then-I AM RELEASED FROM MY PITIFUL FATE, AND SO I...THE GENIE OF THE POT-WILL GRANT YOU THREE WISHES!"
Meanwhile Flame's bewilded face turns into a frown. "Phantom! Script! What's even is a genie? Three wishes?"
The little ghost laughs back. "Yeah, it's something from Aladin and traditional egyptian folklore or something. I just HAD to make the joke! Hahaha...You just had to give quick rub to the pot to get me out!" He winks back, Flame rolls over his eyes.
"C'mon, take it a little more serious! I don't even know what you're talking about!" Flame places down the wooden pot on the ground and get up. "You can tell me about them anytime else-But it's really not what she says! She says..." He pats down his legs, trying to take a womanly position. "My-My! ...Two little cute things, I could just froze you two right now! Thank you for releasing me, but my plans must go on! Bye-bye!" Flame gives a wave to Phantom, then leaves. He then spins around and bows down toward the little ghost. "See? That's how you do it!"
"Pffft...Yeah, sure. So you're telling me Meowth and Pikachu just releases the main villain out of a pot? And she goes to freeze the village right away?"
"Yup! That's what happens!"
"And then what?"
"Because she brings coldness to the village, she also raises a bunch of Snorunts and Glalies in her name! As our heroes get back over there and kick some butt, they get revealed that they have to head to the Ice Kingdom where she lives!-And that all the villagers in the village has been taken there!"
"Boy, that's stupid!"
Flame stomps the ground with an angry look. "It's not STUPID! It's AMAZING! If you read the book, I bet it would make more sense and get you interested!"
Phantom chuckles. "Yeah, I bet it would. It's just that's a typical story that'd I'd rather play in a video game format." The little ghost get to the other's side, giving him a shoulder rub.
"Hmrph...How can it be typical to you?-I mean...You shown me all these things today, but I don't think it's something you've seen!"
"Well...Let just say a lot of stories are too close to each others-But no worries kid. The whole point is to enjoy it, not nag about it for hours!-So...Meowth, what now?"
Flame looks behind himself. "Well...Now we head back to the village and see what happened!-But I don't really feel like playing if you're gonna not act like in the book!"
"Pffft...Kid, I can't act like how they do in the book because I haven't read it!"
Flame smiles up to him. "And that's why I want you to read it! We can play better if you do! C'mon, let's go back!" He then pulls Phantom toward where the village is. "I'm gonna force it down your throat if I need to!"
–
Lucina runs into the village and stops herself in front of a large stable with the doors wide open. She enters it, revealing several Rapidash, some sleeping, some whispering to each others. "Solar! Are you here?" She ask while looking around and spotting him talking to another Rapidash, still sporting his saddle and bags.
Solar turns his head toward her. "Hey, kid! What's going on? Can't sleep?"
"We need to go right now." She demand while climbing onto the bags and taking the reins while sitting down on the saddle.
"Sure-But where are the others?"
"We'll get them in the way-We need to move!"
Solar gives a little nod to the Rapidash he was talking to as he start to trot away. "We'll see each other another day, see ya!" And start galloping toward the exit. As he get outside, Lucina pulls toward the right. The Rapidash pass in front of the inn as Lucina gives his rein a slam.
The Rapidash quickly ramp up his speed as he makes way toward the exit of the village, then stop himself as Lucina pulls onto the reins. In front of them Phantom and Flame get to the side of the road in a hurry. "GUYS! GET ON!" Lucina screams out to them.
"WHAT'S GOING ON?!" Flame shouts to her while Phantom head into him, then float behind Lucina, gripping onto her before she gives another slam to the reins to make Solar move.