Hello! Welcome to the first chapter of the side stories! It's been several months since Blazing Courage ended hasn't it? typicalorenjitakingmonthstoupdate lmao
Anyway, the first side story will, of course, be following the little epilogue I had featuring Plum! This arc will follow Cobalt's childhood friend Plum, and will explore how she survived and her how she will reunite with her old friend.
Also I wanted to add that today, April 9th, is also the 6th anniversary of Blazing Courage! I can't believe how old this story is, and even more unbelievable is that I'm still working on it. I plan to write several side stories featuring Cobalt's friends, especially the ones that didn't get much spotlight, so I hope you look forward to it!
My name is Plum, an 18-year-old Mienshao fresh out of high school. I live out in the wilderness, not too far from a town called Frost Peak Town, located in the snowy mountains of the northernmost Earth Kingdom and just barely bordering the Ice Kingdom. It's a small, rural town covered in snow all year round and is mostly populated with Rock, Ground, and Ice-type Pokemon. The majority of its population work as miners for the country, and as such there aren't many Pokemon my age around here. It's very similar to my old hometown, but it's much bigger with a higher population.
Every weekend I meet up with my friends at the local diner in town for breakfast. I always wake up early for my morning training, and as a result I'm almost always the first customer at the diner. Today was no different.
"Good morning." I greeted the owner of the diner, a Rhydon.
"Ah, morning. The usual?" The Rhydon asked while wiping a coffee mug with a dishcloth.
"Yes please." I nodded as I sat at my usual spot: the counter seat closest to the radio. My four friends would usually occupy the table closest to it, but since the tables only have four seats, I take a counter seat. I thanked the Rhydon as he placed a mug of black coffee in front of me with packs of cream and sugar on the side.
"...And in today's World News, the winner of the tournament in the Fire Kingdom that took place in July has finally woken from his coma that lasted three weeks!" The radio echoed in the mostly empty diner.
"A coma?" I asked as I sipped on my coffee, "That must've been an intense battle if the winner fell in a coma."
"Oh it was! I watched it on TV and everything!" The owner answered from the kitchen as he cooked my meal. "That Lucario beat the pulp out of that Blaziken though!"
"A Lucario huh..." I whispered quietly to myself. I placed my mug down and started at the light brown coffee, my sad expression reflecting back at me. "I haven't seen a Lucario in over 10 years..."
"Cobalt the Lucario won the tournament and as such has won the right to Princess Auburn's heart! Shortly after waking from his coma, the two were engaged." The radio continued.
"...Cobalt the Lucario?" My ears perked. I felt a strange pain in my chest from hearing that name. It must be a coincidence. "And he's to become the future king of the Fire Kingdom? A non-Fire-type?"
"Ain't that weird? But after hearing his story, you can't help but support him and the princess! It's published in the newspaper. I got a copy by the register if you wanna give it a read."
I looked over at the register and saw the newspaper nearby and quickly snatched, my heart suddenly racing. Smack right on the front page of the headlines was the story of the tournament held in the Fire Kingdom last month.
"'Cobalt the Lucario is childhood friends with Princess Auburn. The princess saved his life 10 years ago when she found him at the brink of death in the forest nearby Homura City." I gulped, "As a child, Cobalt lived...in the Iron K-Kingdom... i-i-in M-Miner's T-Town..." My hands were shaking like crazy, and both my palms and head were sweaty.
"C-C-C-Cobalt...?!" I couldn't believe what I was reading. Is this all true?! Before the owner could say anything I made a mad dash for the door, the newspaper still in hand, and ran as fast as I could back home.
Cobalt...
Cobalt...
Cobalt...! Is it really him?! Did he survive too?! What is he doing, getting engaged to the princess of the Fire Kingdom?! I... I had to find out! I'm going to the Fire Kingdom!
I couldn't focus on anything. I saw nothing, I heard nothing, all I could think of was getting to the Fire Kingdom as quickly as possible. I may or may not have passed by friends, but I didn't care. I don't know how to get to the Fire Kingdom, and I have very little money, but I didn't care. I had to get there, one way or another. I have to see Cobalt! I need to see Cobalt! I have to—
"OKAY STOOOOP!" A voice suddenly broke my trance.
"H-Huh?!" I skidded on the snow as I suddenly became aware of my surrounding. A brown-furred Pokemon stood in front of me as I frantically tried to stop. I managed to stop just before impacting the Pokemon. I blinked at the quadrupedal before me. It was a Midday Lycanroc, and my friend, Russet (though everyone calls him Russ.) I glared at him angrily for stopping me, "R-Russ?! W-What are you doing? Why did you stop me?!"
Russ his brow furrowed, looking at me with a mix of concern anger, "Because you just ran past us and completely ignored our calls!? Where are you going in such a panicked rush? We're supposed to be getting breakfast right now!"
"I don't have time for that! I have to go! To the Fire Kingdom! Now!"
"What?" Russet was taken aback, "W-Why?"
"Because!" I held out the newspaper, pointing at the headlines. "I need to see him!"
"W-Who?!" Russ shouted out of frustration. Before he could ask more, three figures approached us while yelling our names.
"Ruuuussss! Pluuummm!" The rest of my friends caught up to us: Umbra the Sudowoodo, Dia the Carbink, and Alice the Alolan Ninetales.
"Did I just hear you right? You want to go to the Fire Kingdom?" Umbra asked. "That's so far away!"
"I don't care! I have to go!" I shouted angrily. My friends were getting in my way and wasting my time. They don't understand how important this is!
"Do you even know how to get there? How do you plan on getting there? Air Taxi tickets are expensive, do you have money for one?" Dia began shooting question after question at me. Dia was also the voice of reason in our group, so it comes to no shock she would lecture me like this.
I remained silent, my brow furrowed angrily. I knew she was right, but I didn't want to admit it.
"Oh Plum," Alice sighed, "Always running off ahead. What would you do without us? You'd be running off all on your own!" She giggled with as she flipped the fur on her head elegantly. Alice has always been a bit...posh and can come off as pretentious, but she's also the most caring one, almost like a big sister to all of us.
"You guys don't understand! Look!" I frantically held out the newspaper and pointed at the headlines again.
"What is it? The tournament from the Fire Kingdom?" Russ rubbed his chin, "What about it?"
"Cobalt the Lucario? A Lucario won that tournament? How'd he do that?" Umbra was puzzled as he scratched his head. "Aren't Lucario Steel-type?"
"Cobalt? Why does that name ring a bell?" Dia analyzed the newspaper carefully. "Cobalt... Coablt..."
"Wait a second!" Alice's eyes suddenly widened, "Miner's Town? Isn't that..."
My four friends all gasped in unison, the realization finally hitting them. "That's Plum's hometown isn't it?!"
"Do you finally understand?!"I yelled. "I have to go! Get out of my way!" I began to lose my patience.
"Hey will you please calm down for a minute?!" Dia snapped. I stood frozen in place as the Carbink glared, her gray eyes piecing through me like daggers. "You need to stop and think! Don't be so rash and reckless!"
"I..." I looked away angrily as I clenched my fists. I knew she was right, but all I could think about was how Cobalt is alive and how I needed to meet him.
"But wait a second!" Umbra waved his arms, "I'm confused! I thought you told us only you survived that?!"
"And this Cobalt, isn't he the one you said was your childhood friend?!" Alice shouted, "T-This is an emergency!"
"W-W-We gotta get Plum to the Fire Kingdom!" Russ frantically panicked, "B-But how do we do that?!"
"Oh come on!" Dia rolled her eyes. She managed to calm me down, but now everyone else was panicking. "Everyone calm down!" shouted loudly, causing all of the to turn their attention to her. "I understand that this is a huge deal, but we can't be freaking out right now! Why don't head to the diner like we always do and come up with a plan?"
"Dia is right," Alice cleared her throat, "Please excuse my behavior, I was caught off guard by the situation."
"Y-Yeah, it would be best if we had some sort of plan here. We can't have Plum just running off to the Fire Kingdom head first." Umbra agreed.
"But I need to see him right now! You guys really do not understand!" I tried to argue back. "I know how to live in the wild! I can get to the Fire Kingdom just fine! I don't have time to devise some stupid plan!"
"Plum!" Russ grabbed my shoulders and look at me straight in the eyes, causing me to blush slightly from how close he was. "We have to do this the right way. You can't just go blindly to the Fire Kingdom. I get you want to see your friend, but you can't rush this! We know where he is, and we know he is alive and well, so there really is no rush! Let's work together to get you there as quickly and efficiently as possible!"
"I don't need your guys' help! Like I said I know how to survive in the wild!" I cried.
"Plum we've know each other for since like five years now at this point. We've been friends since middle school! When will you learn to trust us? We are friends, right?" Russ said slowly and calmly as he continued to stare in my eyes.
"I-I..." I sighed heavily in defeat, "O-Okay..." Russ removed his paws from my shoulders. "I'm sorry... You'd think after five years of friendship I'd learn how to depend on my friends..." This has been a problem for several years now. I have trouble relying on others, ever since then... 10 years ago...
"It's okay dear." Alice smiled at me warmly, "You had to rely on your own for so long, it's hard to break old habits. Just know you can rely on us, okay? We are your friends and we care about you."
"Alice..."
"Yeah, no worries Plum!" Umbra smiled and patted my back. Umbra was always the carefree one in our group that never sweats the details. "Now that that's settled, let's get going to the diner! I'm starving!" The rest of us nodded and headed back to the restaurant.
"Oh, there you are Plum!" The Rhydon owner said in relief as we entered the dinner. "You just ran off without a word! I figured you would come back though, so I went ahead and finished your meal."
"O-Oh, yes I'm sorry sir. It was... an emergency so I had to leave." I bowed as I apologized. I didn't even realize I left him in the blue that.
"Ah, well no harm done." The owner shrugged. Why don't you all take have a seat at your table. I'm assuming you all want your usual as well?"
"Yes sir!" My friends answered in unison as they took their seats.
"Heh, coming right up!" The Rhydon replied happily as he headed back to the kitchen.
"So... then what's the plan?" I turned around on my seat and crossed my arms.
"First, we should establish the best way to get Plum there." Dia led the discussion, "I suppose our only options would be an Air Taxi or walking."
"Air Taxis cost a fortune here though." Umbra crossed his arms, "And from what I've heard they aren't that much cheaper in any of the bigger nearby towns."
"Well I'm used to surviving in the forest so I definitely could just walk." I suggested. I don't actually live in this town, I live out in the wild for...reasons. My home is about 20 minutes away from town though so it's not too bad.
"Hey I have a request." Russ raised his paw.
"Yes?" Dia answered, "What is it?"
"Can I come?"
"W-What?" I was taken back. "Why?"
"Well, I mean, I've never left town before. I've always wanted to go to one of the bigger towns. Just thinking about visiting a capitol, especially in a country you've never been to, it just sounds so exciting!"
"Honestly I was thinking the exact same thing." Alice said excitedly, "I've been to the bigger cities both here and in the Ice Kingdom, but visiting the Fire Kingdom sounds so exciting! Plus I heard the royal family are Kantonian Ninetales! I've never met one before and I would love to meet one."
"Wait, if Alice and Russ are going, I wanna go too! You can't leave me out of this!" Umbra exclaimed. The excited Sudowoodo quickly turned over to Dia, "That means you're going too, right Dia?"
"E-Excuse me?" Dia raised a brow, "And just how will a group of five Pokemon travel to the Fire Kingdom on foot?"
"Exactly like that: on foot!" Umbra answered cheerfully.
"Y-You do understand the dangers of traveling on foot, right?! There are wild Pokemon out there! Plus we aren't walking to some other town, this is an entirely different country we're talking about here! It's going to take days to get there!" Dia voiced out her concerns. She was right, the wild can be very dangerous and it will be long a trip. I'm not sure if they'd be able to handle it.
"Yeah, but we also have a survivalist with us!" Russ pointed at me. "Plus I'm no pushover in a battle! Come on, we'll be fine! We can come, right Plum?"
"Absolutely not." I answered coldly. "I intend on getting to the Fire Kingdom as quickly as possible, I don't need you guys getting in my way."
"You don't have to be so cold about it..." Umbra frowned.
"But she is right." Dia stated, "We would just get in her way. Plum is the most fit and used to the wild than us. She'd most likely have to take care of us if we tagged along."
"Exactly. I don't have time to babysit you guys."
"Oh come on Plum! Don't be so negative! I'll be tons of fun though if we all went together! Wouldn't it be just wonderful for all five of us to travel to a foreign country together?" Alice tried to convince me.
"I... I mean, yeah it would... I-I suppose..." I answered while looking away. I honestly would enjoy the company, but I'm not going there for pleasure. "This isn't a vacation though. I have a purpose for going there. I'm not going there just for fun."
"So then why don't you make it into one?" Russ suggested.
"E-Excuse me?" I was baffled.
"Yeah!" Umbra agreed with Russ, "I mean look, if you're going to travel all the way to another country, then you might as well have some fun while you're at it!"
"Exactly!" Alice's eyes lit up, "How often do you travel to somewhere so far away? And it's not like we have anything important going on. We just graduated high school! It's summer time! Why don't we treat it as a graduation trip?"
"T-That... actually sounds really fun..." Dia commented quietly.
"B-But..." I tried to argue back. They were making really good points, and I was having difficulty denying them.
"But what? You know we are right!" Alice flipped her fur, "And I see it in your eyes Plum," She stared at me intently, "You think it's a good idea too."
"I-I..." I blushed out of embarrassment.
"Come on Plum, let's go together!" Russ jumped excitedly, his teal eyes shining brightly, "We promise we won't slow you down! You know Umbra and I work in the mines all the time. We are pretty fit from work, we can keep up!"
"And I am no slacker when it comes to daily exercise. I think I'll be just fine." Alice added.
I looked at my friends with sweat dripping down my head. Russ, Umbra, and Alice stared at me with pleading eyes, begging me to let them come with me. Dia on the other hand shook her head and sighed heavily.
"...F-Fine..." I sighed in defeat, "We can go together. But you have to listen to my every word! The wild is a dangerous place! We need to work together if we want to make it out there."
"Yes ma'am!" Russ, Umbra and Alice answered together.
"Well then I guess that settles it! We are going to the Fire Kingdom together with Plum!" Alice clapped her paws together, "Oh how exciting! It's been so long since I left this town!"
"B-But..." Dia tried to argue back. Russ, Alice, and Umbra were dead set on coming with me as they talked among themselves on how excited they were, completely ignoring Dia's attempt to arguing back. "Very well..." Dia closed her eyes, defeated. "It seems I have no choice on the matter. We have to make sure we are extra prepared then!"
"But of course!" Umbra answered. "Preparation is key for anything to succeed! Me and Russ are used to always being prepared in the mines!"
"Alright here's the plan new then. I'll work with Plum on making a list of things we will need. You guys can can gather and buy those items while Plum and I work on devising the most efficient route to the Fire Kingdom. How is everyone's money situation?"
"U-Um..." I looked away nervously. My wallet was practically empty. I lived alone and survived off nature, so I didn't really have a need for money. I do side jobs every once in a while, like help escorting things to the next town over since I know the area well, but that's not very often. What little money I do make I end up spending it every weekend here at the diner.
"Don't worry Plum, I have more than enough money for the both of us." Alice smiled. Alice's family is one of the wealthiest ones here, but I'd rather not borrow money from my friends. I think I can make an exception this though.
"T-Thank you Alice, I appreciate it." I blushed, embarrassed that I have to borrow money from her.
"Me and Umbra should be fine from our jobs!" Russ answered.
"Yeah, we've been working more hours ever since we graduated so we have money!" Umbra added proudly.
"Okay, so our money situation should be fine then. In that case after breakfast we can get this plan started." Dia said affirmatively. "Sound good everyone?"
"Yeah!" We all answered in unison.
I smiled as I watched my friends chat with each other about our upcoming trip. I was looking forward to going on a graduation trip, but more importantly I was looking forward to reuniting with Cobalt. My mind began to be flooded with thoughts of Cobalt. How did he survive? How did he end up in Homura City? And just how did he end up becoming the future king of the Fire Kingdom?!
Cobalt... I'll see you soon!
AND THERE WE HAVE IT! I know much doesn't really happen but I really wanted to get this out on the 6th anniversary! I plan on making the side story chapters shorter than the ones from Blazing Courage, so HOPEFULLY they will come out more frequently! letsbehonesttheywont
So Plum is alive, and she has her own little group of friends herself! How will they make it the Fire Kingdom? And what will happen when they get there? Also what about Plum's backstory? Stay tuned to find out! inlikeprobablyanother6monthsoof
Thank you for reading!