Verdant Ravine ( watch?v=MUBIEHQ7atc)


South of the Wildlands not far from the remains of Celestial Spire lay a small mountain range. Inside the range lay a thin stone path that led into the heart of the mountains. Parts of the treacherous path had long since eroded away, forcing Formora to either hug the mountainside whenever available or use her Blizzard to create a temporary ice plug.

She made it to the heart of the mountains shortly after noon, where she was greeted by a leafy ravine shaded from the bright sun overhead. The forest's entrance was teeming with life-flowers, trees, and shrubs of all kinds grew wherever they pleased. One bright yellow dandelion sprang from seed to flower in a matter of seconds right before her eyes!

Yes, this was Xerneas' place all right. The idiots from the Wildlands would never think to look for her here. Not like she was particularly worried about being caught; she'd seen absolutely no other Pokemon for a day and a half now. Even if they did find her, they wouldn't for long...

Time to get revenge on our favorite legendary, the demon purred in her own voice.

In response she tossed her dagger in the air, catching it neatly by the hilt before ramming the point into the tree trunk beside her.

No blood would be spilled by that horrid knife today.

1F

Ah, gonna do this with your bare hands? How entertaining.

"No, I'm keeping your favorite toy out of your hands," Formora hissed, pushing aside a shrub to reveal...more shrubs.

There was no visible ground here at all. Rather, she had to wade through a sea of bushes and other Formora-sized plants. The walls were a rugged stone covered in a thick coat of moss. Atop the rock were shady trees, and everywhere she looked flowers of all sizes and colors bloomed.

A crisp breeze was wafting on this sunny morning, bringing with it the scent of life. Formora sneezed before moving forward.

"Ouch!"

So abundant was the fauna, she'd failed to notice the moss-covered wall in front of her was in fact the Stairs.

2F

A red Flabébé and a Leafeon were waiting for her to arrive. With a childish giggle the Flabébé twirled, sending a pale pink Fairy Wind at her while the Leafeon dove in for a Tackle. She felt neither the Fairy Wind nor the Tackle. The two enemies, however, did feel her Blizzard, and felt it hard.

"So weak," she sighed as she got going, frowning at something tugging at her mind.

She didn't recall exactly when, nor any specific memories, but Formora had the distinct sense she'd been here before. How else would she have known where to go?

She shook her head. Doubtless she'd once been here to capture the Life Pokemon, or worse.

"Not today. I promise."

3F

Ugh, how naked she felt without her dagger. She'd been wielding it for so long, she raised her empty hand out of habit whenever an enemy Pokemon approached her before she realized what she was doing.

"You've gotten complacent. You are a weapon; and yet you're dependent on steel, the demon snorted in her father's voice.

Formora scowled; it was right of course, as much as it killed her to admit it. She was the Snow Wraith long before she won that knife.

4F

Bam! A Bulbasaur had been destroyed with Shadow Ball before it had time to form an attack. Formora sighed. Just another drop in the ocean of those ended by her. Xerneas had almost been one of them. How she'd longed, ached even, for his long untimely death. And now she was here to try and undo all those years of two-sided hatred in one day.

"You can do it, Formora" she said wryly.

5F

Ah, there were the Stairs, over in the corner. She passed a Life Seed on her way over, tucked into a shrub. She took the yellow seed-decorated with pink polka dots with a pink heart on top-and rolled it over in her palm.

"Heh, fitting, Xerneas."

6F

Weather Condition: Hail

Her Froslass body brightened as hail began falling. A wicked smile slid across Formora's face, and her Aurora Veil sprang to life unbidden across the dungeon's halls.

"Let's enjoy Snow Cloak, shall we?" she chuckled.

It wasn't like she could feel pain here anyway, but there was a certain joy in being in her literal element again.

How childish, the demon snorted.

"How fun," she corrected.

And it was.

7F

"Wah!" Formora shrieked, the floor having opened up beneath her with no warning.

She tumbled down a flight of stairs to find herself in a Secret Bazaar. There was the Shedinja, guarding the Escape Orbs. Beside him was a Lickilicky caressing a stack of Cleanse Orbs. Nearest Formora was a Mime Jr hunched over a small pool of water humming to herself. And over by the other set of stairs was a Swalot sorting through small cloth bags. In the center was a Kirlia.

"Welcome to the-AIIIIYEEEEE!" the Kirlia screamed upon seeing Formora.

Instantly the five Pokemon dove for the Escape Orbs the Shedinja was guarding. A moment later and they were all gone, leaving behind their wares.

Formora chuckled. Strange, but amusing. She peeked inside the bags the Swalot had been selling. Mostly Oran Berries, with the odd seed or Gummi. She popped a Grass Gummi in her mouth and moved on.

8F

Now how should she start off her conversation with Xerneas...? One would think she should begin with something like "I'm not gonna hurt you", but she wasn't entirely sure she could honor that promise. Besides, who would believe that?

"Maybe I should turn around. The sight of him always filled me with rage, so maybe if I don't see him...? No, no, I hate his voice too. Ugh, how am I gonna do this?" Formora sighed, absentmindedly KOing a Leafeon with Shadow Ball.

You're not. You'll lose yourself the moment you see him.

"Don't start with that. I'm doing this whether you like it or not! Now let's see...I should tell him about the Ivanovas and Kyurem. Maybe he already heard? That should pique his interest long enough to explain myself."

She paused as she ascended the Stairs.

"Although..."

9F

Weather Condition: Rainy

There was no way Xerneas would be here. Cresselia hadn't been, so why on Earth would he be? The place was probably crawling with Dark sentries just waiting for him to try and come home. Even if he were home, there was zero chance he'd stay and listen to her.

Why did you even come here? Stupid, stupid Froslass...

Her chest was tight, and she took note of even the slightest movement.

"This is all wrong," she muttered, clutching Ezra's bag close to her chest like a child's blanket. "I'm not supposed to feel like this. I'm me! None of this makes any sense."

Oh, growing a conscience, are we? Pathetic. Monsters do not have souls. Quash those thoughts and focus on your purpose, Formora!

Her hands curled into fists, and she held her bag tighter against her.

10F

"Have you ever been here before, Ezra? Heh, probably; Xerneas would definitely trust you with this location. What did you and he talk about? Light-side things? The war? I wonder, did he challenge you-" Formora paused to punch a Sunkern into oblivion. "-to test your resolve? Haha, oh, I would have loved to watch that, what with him constantly mocking you. Trust me, I know how that feels like..."

11F

"Pilltill!" something shrieked behind her.

Formora turned to see a Petilil shaking a green wave of Sleep Powder. Formora brightened and allowed the spores to envelop her.

"Cresselia...?" she whispered hopefully before falling asleep.

She woke up moments later from Magical Leaves scratching her face. She sneezed, and obliterated the weak little thing with Frost Breath.

Verdant Gorge

The first thing she noticed was the river. Fed from a massive waterfall not far to her left, the powerful current swept horizontally across the highlands as far as she could see. Though the air was humid, the spray from the waterfall's roar cooled her down somewhat. Formora took a step back, scowling at the thrashing water.

You wouldn't feel any pain, Formora...the river whispered to her, invisible hands beckoning her forward.

"No! I'm here for Xerneas!" Formora shouted, forcing her gaze away from the wretched water and around the forest.

The land on both sides of the river was rocky and steep, with just about every inanimate surface covered in moss and/or lichen. Small pines grew around the riverbed, and a viridian fern sprouted to life not a stone's throw away from her. The gorge opened up diagonally on her side of the river; a jagged black slash amidst the greenery. Someone had thoughtfully set a dead log across the gap, which she zipped across to find herself surrounded by flowers and leaf litter.

"Wassup buttercup?" the voice she hoped she'd hear cackled behind her.

Formora whipped around, her heart both singing and raging, joyed to have reunited with him and demanding his blood be spilled to the very last drop. The blue-and-black cervine, his antlers a sky blue, stood tall atop a tree stump on the other side of the gorge. He hadn't changed one bit.

KILL HIM KILL HIM KILL HIM

No! I can't!

END HIS LIFE, SEND HIM TO HELL ALONG WITH EVERYONE ELSE I'VE TORN APART!

Formora dove her nails into the side of her arm, hoping the pain would distract her from her own head.

Xerneas, meanwhile, looked as if he'd bitten into a lemon. "Hmm, wait, should I have gone with 'Heya, Snow Wraith-a', or 'What's the haps, psychopath'? Eh, whatever, too late now. 'Sup girl?"

"Xerneas!" Formora gasped as the hateful thoughts ceased their roar to a whisper, wondering how best to start this conversation. Perhaps starting with Carys? After all, they were allies.

Who cares? The best way is to never start. Just kill him, the demon grumped.

"No!"

"Pardon?"

Formora wearily shook her head. "I was talking to my demon. I'm possessed by one, in case you didn't know. Um, I killed the Ivanova sisters. I avenged Carys."

Xerneas stumbled back, nearly falling off his perch. "You did what now?!"

"They killed Carys!" Formora exclaimed.

"Whenever didja start caring about other Pokemon, ice girl?"

Ugh, cut that smarmy tongue out.

In answer, Formora opened her bag and showed Xerneas its contents. "I'm uh, ugh...on a redemption path? Ugh, that doesn't sound right. But yeah, I uh...want to...apologize...sorry."

Xerneas stared at the squirming Froslass for a full minute unblinking. Then he laughed.

"Well! You sure know how to keep a stag on his toes. You're really something else, ya know? So you gonna kill me or what? Make it quick; I've got a manicure appointment at five."

"No! No. The demon wants me to-I want me to-but I'm still in control. For now. You've no idea how deliciously I've dreamed of my revenge. But I'm not going to hurt you! Just-stop being so...you. It makes us angry, makes it harder to keep my hands still."

"I see." Xerneas sobered. He tilted his head back and forth a few times before sitting down at the riverside. After a moment Formora sat on the riverbed on her side of the gorge, albeit a bit further back from the water's edge.

She picked up a smooth pebble and tossed it. It skipped three, four, five times before sinking.

"This is strange," she said.

"Indeed. So, that's really her?" Xerneas agreed, nodding to her bag.

Formora nodded. "Yeah. I'm on my way to Restored Haven. I think it'd be a good place for her. Say, do you know where Zygarde is? I want to fight them."

"You know I can't let you kill my sister, lady."

Not if you kill him first!

"No, no, just a fight, I promise. I haven't forgotten my fight with Perfect Zygarde all those years ago. I've got something planned on the solstice, and I want to fight them before then," Formora looked sideways at Xerneas. "I'd also like you, Red, and Blue at the End of the World that day. You'll want to be there."

To toss them over the edge.

"Gotcha," Xerneas paused. "I'll let Sis and Bros know."

"Thank you. Uh...so how are things?"

Once, twice, thrice, bloop!

"'Things'. Eh, same from before The Fall, really. Still running around trying to help while evading the Dark's forces and mercs hoping to curry favor," Xerneas shrugged.

"Oh. Uh, is Kay still alive?"

Only twice this time. Her Aurora Veil popped into her hand as she was casting about for another rock. With a grimace, she flicked it away.

"Dunno, why?"

"You can't sense her or something? Or when I killed Sonya and Oksana?"

"No. Why would I? Just because I'm the legendary of life doesn't mean my powers are omnipotent. Sure, I can sense the living, but only those around me. Kay and Wicked Wildlands? Waaaay too far."

"Oh."

Formora and Xerneas fell into a silence, the only sounds coming from the river and skipping pebbles. Her urges were getting stronger, her murderous desires beginning to clamor in her head. Instead she focused her drive on her pebbles.

"I-" Formora paused, swallowing a lump in her throat. "I don't believe I'll be able to tell her this before the solstice, but...could you tell Cresselia...I'm sorry? I looked for her at Full Moon Forest, but she wasn't there. Not that I blame her..."

Xerneas cocked his head. "You haven't heard?"

Not this again.

Shoot the messenger, then.

Formora sighed, dropping the pebble she was holding. "She's dead, isn't she?"

Xerneas bowed his head. "The Ivanovas got her a few years ago. I'm surprised they didn't tell you."

"If I had known that, I would have taken my sweet time killing them like it wanted," Formora scowled, tossing another pebble. Once, twice, bloop!

Make up for it with Xerneas, the demon purred, coiling around her heart.

"Not a chance. You must have been the one to have left that flower. I should have guessed," Formora snorted, the latter part to Xerneas, who nodded.

"A lot has changed in the years you've been gone," he agreed.

Formora threw another pebble. It barely missed Xerneas, and didn't even skip once before sinking.

Why did you miss?! Get up! GET UP! He's so close-!

Formora winced, forcing her twitching hands to lay still at her side. "Not me. I'm still a monster, only I'm called 'Snow Wraith' rather than 'Formora'."

"It does fit you," Xerneas chuckled. "So, what next? Gonna tear me limb from limb? I see that Shadow Ball forming."

YES! Do it. DO IT!

"Nothing would give me more pleasure," Formora choked out, clutching her hand with her other. The Ball dissipated after several seconds of struggle. "Run. RUN-!"

Xerneas bolted; as quick as the wind he was off. She hadn't even seen him get up.

GO GO GO!

"One. Two. Three. Four," she forced herself to count instead. Every fiber, every atom of her being was screaming at her to run, chase after him, catch him and paint the dungeon red with his blood.

"Th-thirty-! Thirty-one. Th-thirty-two..."

Only after she got to 300 did she allow herself to move.

"Idiot! He's gotta be long gone by now. Why did you do that?! WHY?!" she raged, ramming her fist into the nearest tree. "We could have killed him! How long as he tormented you?! Taunted you with his Xerneas-ness?! Arceusdamned dumbass! You're becoming weak. No, you are weak."

Still cursing at herself(?), she stomped out of the dungeon.


On top of the waterfall hidden by trees and rocks Xerneas stood, watching the Froslass leave. After a few minutes when he was sure she wouldn't be back, he turned and headed further upstream. Following the tangled mess for about half a mile led to a small clearing only ten feet in diameter. In the center lay a silver cross adorned with orange lilies and a bag of jelly beans. Xerneas stood in front of the small grave, head bowed, for a moment before speaking.

"Forgive me for disturbing you after all these years, but I've got a better place for you to rest."


Something's stirring...