Chapter 3

My Brightest Star

. . . . . . . . . .

18:03, March 17, Unified Year 4731 - Central Federation, Region of Fiore, Winteroot outskirts, Home

. . . . .

The last rays of sunlight disappeared over the horizon as I finally made my way up the hill towards home, the fading sun heralding the arrival of the mysterious beauty that is the starry night sky.

If I wasn't feeling so miserable, I probably would have turned around to take a quick glance at the town below. It's a personal opinion of mine, but I feel that the town is at its most elegant during the night, when the quiet, sleepy streets are lit by the warm glow of the gas street lamps.

It's particularly beautiful today since it's a full moon tonight. The moonlight bathed Winteroot in a wonderous white light, making it appear to glow under the evening sky.

I'm not alone in my opinion that the view of Winteroot from my home is the best there is. As a matter of fact, the view of the town from up here is pretty well known to a few of the locals, since it's one of the few places where you can see the whole town without travelling too far out of it. Even the mayor himself would occasionally make his way up just to take in the view from our vantage point of a home.

Of course, none of this was really on my mind as I pushed the front door open. The only thing that was on my mind was that, since home was located on the outskirts of Winteroot town, and on top of a hill no less, the time it took to get home was far longer than it had any right to be. Besides, dad doesn't even enjoy the view of the town from up here that much; he says that he only picked this place simply because of how isolated it was from the rest of the town.

"I… I'm b-back…"

Stepping in as I entered my home, I carelessly tossed aside the tablecloth that Clay had given to me earlier. Looking around the living room, I notice that I can't spot my dad anywhere, though I can certainly hear him from the other room.

"Hey kid, welcome home. Mind helping out your old man and pass me the wrench?"

"S-Sure…"

I let out a sigh as I start looking for the wrench. Not an easy task since the living room is in such a bedraggled state; its near impossible to find anything in all this mess. Dad's a pretty capable guy, but he's useless at cleaning. As a matter of fact, I usually have to do all the cleaning around here. I'm pretty sure that, if I leave him to his own devices for long enough, he'll wreck the whole house. Just being out for school is enough to recreate the mess before me.

Nevertheless, he somehow manages to find everything and anything that he needs in this chaos of a living room. Besides, he never gives me any flak for not cleaning my room, so that's a definite bonus. Though, I have to admit that my room is probably the tidiest out of all the rooms in our house.

Unfortunately for me, I can't make heads or tails out of this mess. There's no way I can find the wrench in this place.

"D-Dad? Where is it?"

Given by the sound coming from his room, he's still working on whatever it is that he's doing as he answers back.

"Check the pod, kid!"

"The pod…?"

I trudge over towards the corner of the room to where dad had installed the pod behind the wall, connected to the living room by a hatch-like door made of steel-ringed glass. He says it's an escape pod prototype that he built during his time while working in the big city, though, if I'm being perfectly honest, I can't help but find it a little incredulous. I've never seen it operate before, nor for that matter do I even know how to operate it. Surely, if it's something that incredible, he wouldn't be using it right now as a makeshift storage cabinet.

Opening the hatch, I rummage through the pile of tat before pulling out a copper wrench from deep within with my teeth. I hastily shut the hatch, kicking it with my hind legs before making my way towards dad's room. It's in a similarly sorry state as the living room, though the inclusion of his bed and all of his other contraptions has the added bonus of making it feel incredibly tight inside.

Of those, he's currently working on what is the largest device in the room: a bizarre looking computer that he had designed for the exclusive use of quadruped Pokémon. I'm well aware that computers are extremely rare; our home is probably the only place that houses a privately-owned computer in all of Winteroot. That said, I'm willing to bet that this particular machine is truly one-of-its-kind in the whole world. The keys on its control panel are so large that they more closely resemble buttons, though that can't really be helped since our kind have paws instead of hands with fingers. It's so large that dad, a fully grown Umbreon, looks like he's been swallowed up by the machine, with only the rear half of his body jutting out from underneath the contraption.

I walk over towards him, dropping the wrench onto the floor next to him.

"H-Here you go, dad…"

He must have felt something to be off because, instead of blindly reaching for the wrench, he stops working entirely, pulling himself out from under the computer before pulling up his safety glasses to look me in the eye.

"Hey, kid, what's wrong? What's with the long face?"

Do… Do I really look that miserable?

"I'm f-fine…"

Dad's completely pulled himself off the floor, setting aside his tools as he focuses his attention towards me. He's covered in a fine layer of dust, though upon noticing it himself, quickly shakes it off. I cough as the air is momentarily filled with it.

"It's that Rockenhaeuser kid, isn't it?"

"Y-Yeah, he… Umm…. He w-wanted me to let you know that… T-That he said thanks…" I sit down on the floor, feeling a little drained. It doesn't even occur to me why he would want to say that in the first place. "I… I g-guess I was more upset about him leaving than I t-thought I was…."

"You that worried about him?"

I nod in reply; I don't really feel like talking right now.

"Hey, sweetheart, come here."

I reluctantly make my way over towards dad, who pulls me into a warm hug. Something about his embrace is just so calming that I can't help but let myself relax a little.

"He'll be fine, kid. I can promise you that."

"How… How do you know that?"

Dad smiles a wry grin upon hearing my question.

"Just take your old man's word for it, won't you kid?"

"That… That's not very reassuring, dad."

"It's alright, kid. I guarantee it." He releases me from his hug, giving me a quick pat on the back like he usually does. "Besides, your old man's got a pretty good idea on where he's going."

I'm a little surprised at that last statement. After hearing Clay's explanation, I was pretty convinced that he was going to the Capitol.

"Y-You… You do? Isn't he going to the army- err, marine corps, or whatever you call it? Or is it someplace else?"

"Hmm…" Dad ponders for a moment with himself, before flashing me that familiar, reassuring smile. "Why don't you ask him when he gets back, kid?"

I let out a sigh at his response. It's really not helping me just how secretive the two of them are being with regards to Clay's posting. It's almost as if they aren't allowed to explicitly state where he's going to be going. Either that or they're both hiding it from me. Either way, it's a little maddening.

That being said, I have to admit that dad's confidence in Clay's wellbeing is in some ways rather reassuring. Throughout the sixteen years that I've known him for, I've never once considered him to be dishonest. Rather, he's surprisingly careful with the words that he chooses, so when he gives his assurance that something will be fine, in almost all cases that usually ends up being true.

I'm still left in the dark with regards to all this, but I think it's safe to say that I can put my worries to rest. Though, of course, doing so is a lot harder than just stating that it's possible.

"You know what'll cheer you right up?" Dad ushers me out of the room, gesturing towards the dining table. "Some good grub, that's what. I've got dinner cooking in the kitchen; it should be done right about now."

Actually, now that he mentions it, there really is a delicious smell filling the house. Not to mention that the two pieces of bread I had earlier wasn't really enough to offset the fact that I hadn't had a single proper meal today. I'm feeling absolutely ravenous.

I quickly help him out with setting the table as he brings two bowls of soup and some bread. It looks undeniably simple but even without tasting it, I can pick up the complex aroma of herbs that are in it.

Dad may be a slob, but when it comes to cooking he's a culinary genius. He used to say that when he and mum were still together, he would always do the cooking. Apparently, mum was really inept in the culinary arts. I don't really know how bad she was at cooking. As a matter of fact, I don't really remember her at all. The last time I saw her was right after I hatched, so there's no way I could remember what she even looked like. But just from the stories that dad tells me sometimes, I've determined that I absolutely had to learn some cooking. I'm nowhere near as good as him, but I'm making good progress.

Sitting down, I pick up the spoon and take a sip. It's got this creamy texture that isn't overly thick or too runny either. I can taste the freshness of the potatoes and the savory taste of bioengineered meat. It's simple, but undoubtedly up to dad's usual standards of cooking. It's sublime.

I guess I was eating a little too fast because dad soon picks up on it.

"Hey, kid, slowdown will you? There's plenty more in the pot; it's not going anywhere."

A little embarrassed at my slight loss of composure, I decided to slow down my pace, only to find that I had already cleaned out my bowl.

"I… U-Umm… I think I'll get some more…"

Dad laughed. I hate to admit it but I can sort of see why.

"Sure thing, kid. Just check the pot on the kitchen stove."

Sheepishly, I hop off my chair and make my way to the kitchen, holding the bowl gently in my mouth so as to not shatter the fragile porcelain. Getting myself a second serving, I notice that dad's once again made a little too much for just the two of us. There's no way we're going to finish all this soup, regardless of how hungry I am or how good it tastes. At least this time it's something that we can actually keep in the fridge for a little bit.

Bringing my half-filled bowl to the table, I tore off a piece of bread that dad had laid out on the middle of the table, dipping it in the soup to let the bread soak up before putting it in my mouth.

Oh God, that's way too good.

The texture that the soaked bread added to the mouthful was incredible, not to mention how it held in all of its flavours. Biting into it was like biting into a taste-filled explosive; the flavours burst out with each bite, its delectable aroma oozing out as I chewed.

I'm so occupied by the food laid out in front of me that I barely even notice dad pull out a small paw-sized box from under the table.

I think I'm enjoying this a little too much.

"Hey kid." He slides the box over towards me. "I've got something for you."

Swallowing the bread, I give him a questioning glance before dusting my paws off. I have to admit, I'm rather intrigued. Dad doesn't usually give me gifts; even on birthdays, we usually end up just baking a cake together. Not that I'm complaining, I'm pretty satisfied with how things are between us, but it does mean that gift sharing like this is rather few and far between.

I study the box for a moment. It's unusually classy, being wrapped in a black velvety material. Noticing that it's hinged, I flip it open, before staring down at its contents.

A silvery pendant with an equally lustrous chain necklace. A circular locket, what it lacks in embedded rare stones it more than makes up for in its peculiar design; its depth and complexity giving it a similar look to one of those new skeleton watches that seem to be so popular with watchmakers nowadays. Flipping it over, I notice an engraving on the back; a message carved out in dad's fluid penmanship.

To Kiteki,

You'll always be my brightest star.

Arthur.

The locket isn't classy in the traditional sense, that much is plainly obvious. That said, it's definitely sophisticated and most certainly modern.

I love it.

"D-Dad, when… when did you…?"

"I was going to give this to you after the graduation ceremony, but you ended up getting all sick again." Looking up from the locket, I notice that he's got a huge smile on his face; The same triumphant smile he wears when he completes a particularly big project of his. "Congrats on your graduation, kid. You've made your old man proud."

I hurriedly put the pendant around my neck, flinching slightly as I felt the cold metal against my fur, the locket sinking into the cream coloured mane around my collar. Quite frankly, I can hardly feel it. It's so small and lightweight that it barely pulls against my neck. As a matter of fact, I worry slightly about how fragile it might be; it feels so dainty.

That doesn't distract me from just how happy I am by the gift though. Not even close. I immediately leap off the chair, running around the table before throwing myself at him to embrace him in a tight hug. He catches me, hugging me back, roaring with laughter.

"Aww! Thanks so much, dad!"

"No problem, kid."

Letting me go, he sets me back down on the ground. If I was upset about something earlier, I've completely forgotten about it. I can't stop this smile that's spread across my face like a contagious disease. I'm so giddy that I'm not even hungry anymore.

"I'll do the dishes, dad."

I pick up my bowl and spoon, bringing it back to the kitchen sink. Dad gestures towards me; I think he's done with his food as well.

"Don't you always do the dishes, kid?"

"O-Only cause you don't do them!"

He laughs in reply. I guess what he said is true. Since I pretty much do all the cleaning around here, it's a given that I'd do the dishes as well. Though, I have to say, given my current situation, I'm not particularly bothered by having to do it.

I scurry back to the dining table, taking the rest of the bowls with me, before starting to clean them with a soapy sponge. It's tiresome, washing dishes while balancing on top of a stool so that I can reach the kitchen sink in the first place, but I've done this so many times by now that I'm pretty good at it, if I do say so myself.

"Oh, that's right." Dad calls out to me as he's putting the pot with the rest of the soup in the fridge. Since I'm pretty occupied with the dishwashing, I turn my ears towards him to better hear what he's got to say. "Kid, when you're done with the dishes, can you go back to the town? Mrs. Potts called. She wants her tablecloth back."

I rinse off the bowls and spoons, stacking them on the drying rack before turning towards him.

"The… The Snubbull from the bakery?"

He nods in reply.

"You're okay with that, right? The night's still young, after all."

It's not a particularly demanding request, though, I have to admit, now that I've gotten back home, I'm starting to feel a little rooted. I'd be lying if I said that I wanted to leave now after being out on the town streets all day today, but after the locket dad gave me, I reckon this is the least I can do.

Quickly drying my paws, I head over towards the front door, picking up the tablecloth that I had thrown onto the ground earlier, before dusting it off and tying it around my neck. Opening the door, I turn around to look back at him one more time before I head out.

"I'll be alright dad. I'll be back in a bit!"

. . . . . . . . . .

19:41, March 17, Unified Year 4731 - Downtown Winteroot

. . . . .

I have to admit, even though I love the way Winteroot looks from afar during the night, I'm not a big fan of walking through its streets at this time of the hour.

There's something just a little eerie about its atmosphere at night. Maybe it's because there just isn't enough light here; the gas lamps certainly don't do a satisfactory job of illuminating the town, its flickering light casting strange shadows on the building walls. The back alleys, which had held plenty of children playing during the day, were now shrouded in foreboding darkness.

The moonlight did little to help either. Though it made the town brighter, it washed it with an eerie glow that made the town appear slightly spectral. At least it's a clear night sky. Had it been foggy tonight, the town's atmosphere would have been enough to give me the creeps.

That's not to mention the fact that there simply weren't a lot of Pokémon out on the streets at this hour. It makes sense if you think about it; everybody's gone back home from work and most of the stores are closed by this time of night. Still, the sheer lack of Pokémon made the town almost feel deserted.

It's all just a little too quiet.

I let out a heavy sigh as I make my way down the street. As much as I don't like this, the only Pokémon I can blame for me being here is myself.

Honestly speaking, were it any other night, I probably would have turned down his request. No, actually, I take that back. Were it any other night, I would have most definitely turned him down. I hate going out during this time of the night, and I always have.

It's just that today of all nights, I ended up getting overly excited about that gift of his.

Now that I think about it, it's a little bit unbelievable to think that I could have been swayed so much from a simple gift. It's not to say that I don't appreciate the gift. I really do. But just thinking about how I just accepted the pendant and got myself all pleased over his words like a naïve fool makes me tremble in embarrassment.

Speaking of which…

I stop in my tracks to hold the locket that was hanging around my neck. It's still a beautiful piece of art, but now that the novelty of obtaining a new gift has worn off, I'm starting to see it with a little less enthusiasm.

I can't believe I got swayed by something so insignificant as this.

Since I've already stopped to look at it, I take the opportunity to open the locket. The spring-loaded front flips open, revealing a picture that stunned me momentarily, my head reeling slightly from the shock of it. Looks like dad's already taken the opportunity to stick a photo of himself doing some ridiculous pose inside it. I'm pretty sure that he would find it funny but…

…It's honestly really embarrassing.

I pull the picture out. For a joke, the picture seems surprisingly high quality. I'm rather surprised that he would pay for the colour photo instead of opting for the standard black and white, especially given that colour photography is relatively new and, more importantly, much more expensive. It's enough to make me reconsider whether or not I want to dispose of it.

...No, I'm getting rid of it. It may be colour, but it's absolutely ridiculous. Not to mention the fact that I'm still rather peeved by just how easily this thing had swayed me.

I crumple up the photo and toss it into a nearby bin with an irritated grunt. There's an undeniable pang of regret that I felt from doing that, but it doesn't undermine the satisfying rush of confidence I got from doing the deed.

I look back down at my locket. It's empty. Without a photo to grace its frame, the insides of it look undoubtedly bland and lonely. Looks like I'll have to find something else to put inside it.

Dropping the locket as I let it hang down my neck again, I shudder, the cool breeze blowing through my fur. Looks like I'll have to hurry; winter is behind us but that doesn't make the spring evening any less chilly.

I begin to set off, but my movements are cut short before I can even begin. A dull thud rings through the air, followed almost immediately by a rumbling of the ground. Startled, I freeze on the spot, holding my breath as I waited for the tremors to pass

Is… Is this an earthquake?"

I can't help but feel a little anxious as I felt the ground beneath my feet shudder. Winteroot isn't known to be located anywhere near a known fault line, so earthquakes are usually incredibly rare. As a matter of fact, I can only ever recall there being one such occasion during my seventeen years here, and even then, it was such a light tremor that it barely even registered on the town's seismometer.

This time, however, the tremors I feel are a lot more powerful.

And… Err… Short…?

Almost as soon as it had happened, the tremors had died down. The whole situation was so quick that I'm beginning to wonder if it actually even happened, or if my senses are still playing tricks with me. It doesn't help that, in the back of my mind, I'm still slightly reeling from that bizarre dream I had earlier today.

Did… Did I just imagine that…?

I'm about to shake it off as my imagination playing tricks on me again when another thud, louder this time, echoes through the air, accompanied by the ground trembling again, coming as abruptly as it had left.

No, I definitely didn't imagine that one.

My biggest concern right now are the buildings in Winteroot. There's no denying the fact that the infrastructure here, regardless of how beautiful it may appear, is outdated beyond belief. When you add to it the fact that none of the buildings here are designed on an architectural and engineering standpoint to withstand any sort of quake, it's easy to see that there's a real danger that the buildings could collapse. Sure, that's undoubtedly more dangerous for those inside the buildings, but being out here on the town streets isn't necessarily safe either; I'm consciously aware of the possibility that debris could fall from the buildings and onto the ground below. Despite that, I'm too scared to look up until the ground had stopped shaking.

I look around, trying to assess what had just happened. At first glance, nothing really seems to be out of the ordinary. The gas lamps on the street are still burning perfectly fine, the cool breeze blowing through the city streets like it had always done. The only inclination that something was amiss was that other Pokémon had started to move out onto the town streets, nervously glancing at each other to reaffirm what they had just felt.

I've never heard of an earthquake behaving in this sort of manner. The intervals between the tremors almost seem unnatural, like the ground was rumbling because someone was making it do so.

A third thud. The ground shakes so hard that I stumble, having lost my balance for a fleeting moment. Some of the Pokémon around me cry out, startled at the intensity of the sound and vibrations.

Or, rather, an explosion? Calling it a thud just isn't right anymore. I can feel the shockwaves against my body. I'm vaguely aware of the fact that earthquakes can produce some sort of sound in certain situations, but I'm pretty sure that, whatever sound it may be, it certainly won't sound like this.

I've never heard of a natural earthquake that caused a noticeable boom quite like this.

Wait… Shockwaves?

Earthquakes don't cause shockwaves. Even if quakes do sound like this noise I'm hearing, I'm certain that they don't cause compressions in the air that can be felt through the whole body.

This isn't an earthquake.

The sound of sirens practically confirms my suspicions. It's screeching wail piercing through the once quiet night air.

Hearing that, my body seizes up in panic as I'm trying to process what exactly is happening. Looking around me, it seems that everyone else is frozen in place too. Despite their lack of movement, it's obvious from the look on their faces that what we're all feeling is the same.

Fear.

Through the wail of sirens, a bloodcurdling scream echoes through the streets, its sound striking enough to make my fur stand on edge. Off in the distance, I notice the buildings, which are usually lit dimly by the gas street lamps, light up for a brief moment with a bright, vivid orange light.

What… What was that?

My eyes are glued to the building as a shadow rears up its brightly lit wall. Before I can distinguish who the owner of the silhouette is, it disintegrates right before my very eyes.

Not in the usual sense of it moving away from the light like it normally would.

No, it simply just vanished. Like old limestone, it crumbled away in a matter of seconds.

And, like the disappearing shadow, the bright flickering light vanished as quickly as it had come, leaving me pale from what I had just seen.

What… What did I just witness?

My mind begins to race as I try and figure out what had happened. None of the conclusions that I come up with seem appealing to me in the slightest. As a matter of fact, they're all awful. I'm telling myself that it's all because of my overactive imagination, but that doesn't convince me one bit; every fibre of my body is telling me that I had just witnessed something terrible.

From the direction of the bright light, a few Pokémon dashed out onto the street, screaming and shouting as they desperately made a run towards our direction. Their eyes are opened so wide that, even from the distance they're at, I can see the terrified gleam in their eyes.

Watching the scene unfold with my full attention, I notice another Pokémon emerge from round the same street corner that the rest of the fleeing Pokémon are coming from. I blinked, staring at it as it calmly and coolly made its way towards the rest of the fleeing Pokémon.

It's a Magnezone.

I've never seen one before.

Nor for that matter, have I felt a presence quite like this before either.

It's got an aura so powerful that it's practically radiating energy.

But all of this is insignificant to what I witnessed next.

Among the fleeing Pokémon, a lone Poochyena trailed behind the mob, struggling to keep up with the pace of the rest of them. I can hear his desperate cries for help, but nobody dares offer him their assistance. Even I can't help but watch while frozen in place; I've got a sickening feeling that offering him my help would be hazardous for my health.

It looks like the Magnezone's spotted him as well. It's eyeing him down as it hovers over towards him with sinister silence. It doesn't have a mouth but, from the look in its eye, I can almost swear that it's grinning. The Poochyena, who by now had given up on trying to flee the approaching silver Pokémon, turned around, begging for its life.

Then, without warning, the Magnezone charged up a glowing yellow sphere of energy.

A Zap Cannon.

It doesn't look to be in a hurry. It's spending more than enough time to charge his move to its full capacity, especially given that, as far as I'm aware, the move barely requires any time at all to charge up. I can't really tell what's going on; the light is so bright that it's blinding me from seeing what exactly is happening. But I can tell that the Poochyena is still there; his silhouette hasn't moved from his spot. I wonder if he's injured or simply paralyzed from fear.

Before I can make it out, the Magnezone releases the attack.

An earsplitting explosion rocked through the streets as the ball of energy connects with him, instantly shrouding the both of them in a thick, black smoke.

Despite the force of the blast, I don't hear him howl out in pain. Not even a whimper. Even if the attack had missed, the force of the blast from such close proximity should have been enough to, at the very least, cause some degree of pain.

Not that it would be likely that the Magnezone would have missed the attack. I'm somewhat familiar with the fact that users of Zap Cannon, despite its immense strength, have a devil of a time trying to line up their shot. Certainly, had the Magnezone launched the attack from even a block away, I wouldn't have been surprised if it had missed its mark, especially on a target as small as the one it had selected. But this was from point blank range, and at a stationary target. It just isn't possible for that attack to have missed.

The clearing smoke revealed all the answers to my questions. The sight that lay before me shook me to my very core.

The Poochyena had turned into a black, steaming husk, his fur blackened and burnt from the energy of the attack, his body sizzling from the excess electricity that was still coursing through his body. Had I not known that he was a Poochyena beforehand, I wouldn't have been able to identify who it was; his body in his current state is utterly unrecognisable.

I want to look away, but something about the sheer grotesqueness of the sight before me is keeping my undivided attention towards it.

I feel like I've seen this scene happen before. Something about all this is making me feel a heavy sense of dread, more so than the shock of seeing a Pokémon burnt to a crisp can do.

Is… Is he dead?

I'm struggling to comprehend what I had just witnessed.

But… T-That's not possible…!

Despite having just seen it happen, it seemed utterly inconceivable that I had just seen an actual murder right before my eyes.

It's basic knowledge that all Pokémon are blessed with the ability to use special moves and powers. From time immemorial, all Pokémon were given the innate ability to possess a maximum of four moves, though why we are given such an ability is something that we have yet to understand.

That being said, the development of modern society has pretty much removed any possible need to know moves for the purposes of combat. As a matter of fact, most Pokémon that I know of only ever use their moves for practical reasons, if they have any that are of use at all.

It's not just the use of moves that have started to die out. The modern lifestyle enjoyed by almost all Pokémon nowadays also means that very few of us ever gain any real experience during our lives, which means that most Pokémon won't ever learn the advanced moves that they are biologically capable of, nor, for that matter, will they ever gain the power needed to make those moves effective in any way.

As a result of all this, murders where the victim's death is solely attributed to another's use of moves are few and far between. After all, for the average Pokémon, the amount of effort and energy needed to kill someone with just their moves alone is so great that the act of doing so completely fatigues the culprit Pokémon to the point of collapse. It's because of how impractical and exhausting it is for the vast majority of the populace that most murder victims die from alternative methods.

But that isn't to say that those capable of such feats do not exist. Though rare, there walks on this Earth those that are easily capable of extinguishing life through the powers that have been gifted to us all. Most work in jobs that require such devastating power. The remaining handful are a mystery; a source of fascinated intrigue to some and sinister horror to others. But regardless of what their needs for such strength are, the undeniable truth is that they exist.

And they're terrifying to behold.

Or so I've been told. But having now seen it with my own eyes, I'm left with the realisation of just how true that really is. A Magnezone having used Zap Cannon; an advanced move that few will ever witness and fewer still will master in their lifetime. And one that was powerful enough to utterly annihilate the Poochyena in a single hit.

The fact that the culprit looks completely unfazed by what it had just done certainly wasn't helping. As a matter of fact, it only served to make it appear more sinister and deadly than it already did.

If I'm being honest, it wasn't just the sheer power of its moves that surprised me. From the very moment I saw it, the very fact that it was a Magnezone of all Pokémon also caught my eye.

The truth of the matter is that the sheer lack of experience that most Pokémon gain throughout their lifetime doesn't just mean that many of them won't ever learn how to use more powerful moves like the one I had just witnessed. It also means that few will ever know what it feels like to evolve.

It's because of that very reason that I can't help but stare at the Magnezone that had appeared in town. While Magnemite are rather common in certain places around the world, Magneton certainly are not, Magnezone even less so.

Most evolved Pokémon that can be seen in the world today are those that evolve using an item of some sort, such as a firestone or a thunderstone. And even then, it's only those who have pockets deep enough to pay the ludicrous prices for one of those evolution stones who choose to do so. Most of those Pokémon only really choose to evolve as a fashion statement; their change in appearance does little to hide the fact that they have barely grown any stronger from doing so.

But then you have the few rare Pokémon that evolve from actual experience. Those are so few and far between that even I end up doing a doubletake when I see one. It's usually a safe bet to say that these Pokémon work in the military, police, or in some cases, have occupations so physically laborious that it can result in their evolution. Most jobs nowadays simply don't give anywhere near the experience needed that evolution demands, if they give any at all.

That's why the mayor of the town, the old Gulpin, and Mrs. Potts from the bakery, are still in their unevolved forms despite their age. We just don't get the experience needed to evolve anymore.

Which is why, when a group of evolved Pokémon emerged from around the same street corner that the fleeing townsfolk had come from, I start to struggle with whether or not what I was seeing was really true. There're so many of them that have reached their final stage of evolution that I wonder how that was even possible.

Some of them are wearing green steel hats. A few of them are wearing what appears to be some form of body armour. Something about the way they're moving feels a little uncanny, but all of them have the same look of malicious intent in their eyes that the Magnezone has.

This isn't just some ordinary mob.

Are… Are we being raided?

My attention is torn away from my train of thoughts as a thunderous explosion echoes through the city streets. It's so loud and violent that it makes me immediately press my ears against my head. Amid the earthshattering rumble, I look up to find that the three-storey building next to me has begun to crumble; huge, boulder like chunks of rubble being blasted off from its roof, debris raining down onto the streets below.

It wasn't an earthquake after all.

No, it's much worse than that.

We're being shelled.

A shiver runs down my spine as I begin to grasp the situation. It's enough to make me feel sick in the stomach.

I'm in real danger.

And I'm not alone. Though the sound of sirens fill the air, none of the Pokémon on the town streets needed to hear it to understand the peril that they were in.

Upon seeing the falling debris rain down onto the streets, as if on command, everyone turned around to run, only to find that some of the other townsfolk from the other side of town have started to run towards our direction in a panic-fueled stampede. Hysteria enveloped the street as Pokémon sought for a place to flee, scrambling over each other in an attempt to put some distance between themselves and the oncoming slew of Pokémon that had surrounded them. Some darted back into the street-side buildings. Others, desperate to distance themselves from the danger, have started fighting amongst each other to try and put themselves in the center of the group, trying to surround themselves with the bodies of others.

The once quiet night had now descended into madness, the air filled with the sounds of townsfolk screaming and shouting, their bodies coated in a fine powder of dust from the falling debris, the sound of buildings being shelled echoing out from the distance.

As soon as I notice that I'm no longer rooted to my spot in fear, I make a dash for the nearest back alley, using the chaos of stampeding Pokémon to slip away from the scene. From the looks of it, a small handful of other Pokémon are doing the same, silently making their way into the back alleys to escape the commotion. Logically speaking, that's the only guaranteed way to escape this place. Given the situation, as well as what we had all just witnessed, staying here is almost certainly going to get you killed, regardless of whether you're out on the streets or hiding in the buildings.

Of course, I'm sure that most Pokémon would know about that. Unfortunately, while an individual can show signs of great intellect, as a group, Pokémon can behave in incredibly idiotic ways. Even more so if it's a crazed and frantic mob like this.

Were the situation any less dire, I might have congratulated myself for keeping my head on straight and making a smart decision. Unfortunately for me, I can't even say that I've successfully escaped the area. The back alley I chose to run into happened to be a dead end, blocked off by a brick wall at the end of the alley.

I'm about to turn around and run the other way when I hear a thunderous voice, his tone stern and cold, carrying all the authority of a true Pokémon of power. I immediately dive behind a pile of rubble to hide myself from the main street, fearful that the owner of the voice was right in front of me.

"Citizens of Winteroot town, this is the Sinnohnian Empire."

Mustering up what little courage I have, I peeked over the pile of rubble that I had hid myself behind, ready to dart back down should I see anything at all.

Fortunately for me, he's not there.

Rather, I don't think that the owner of that voice is anywhere near this place.

Given how my ears aren't ringing despite how loud it is, I can only presume that whoever's talking is using telepathy. Not only that, but seeing that the message I'm hearing isn't directly meant for just me, but rather everyone in Winteroot, I have to assume that whoever is doing the talking has enough power to simultaneously communicate telepathically to a large number of Pokémon.

That being said, that isn't the only thing on my mind at the moment.

The Empire? What's the Empire doing here?

Dad's been going on recently about how dangerous the new Empire was. Something about a new emperor or something like that, but to be quite frank, I'm not really sure. I never really paid much attention to current affairs.

"We have declared war against the Federation. Resist, and face annihilation."

This only ends up creating as many questions as it answers. Sure, this does explain why we're getting shelled, not to mention who all these new Pokémon are, but that still raises the question of why. Winteroot isn't famous for anything in particular, even more so if we're talking about natural resources. I mean, sure, we have plenty of woodland around the town, but I doubt the Empire really has any need for wood, especially since their territory has more than enough of it to supply their industrial needs.

Actually, now that I think about it, I guess it does make some sort of sense. If the Empire's objective is to wage war with the Federation, then Winteroot town would naturally be an ideal first town to invade. We're rather close to the border between the Empire, not to mention the fact that the route to the Capitol from Winteroot is the easiest out of all the eastern Federation frontier towns. Of course, this should also mean that the rest of the eastern towns are going through something similar to what we're going through, but with things as is, I doubt we'd be able to contact them for confirmation at the present moment.

It's just a thought that occurred just now, but why haven't we heard anything about this beforehand? I'm no expert on the laws of warfare, but I was under the impression that you were supposed to declare your intent to attack before you began the invasion, not halfway through it. Did the Empire not send the message to the Federation beforehand? Or, if they did, why didn't the Federal government send the order to evacuate the town? Sure, messages like these used to take forever to send not that long ago, but now we've got a direct communication line to the Capitol! So, just who's fault is this?

I'm about to jump out from behind my hiding spot, satisfied that I'm still in the clear to make a run for another back alley when, all of a sudden, a small, pink Pokémon runs into view, hobbling on old and tired feet as it ran. Out of instinct, I ducked back down, peering cautiously from behind my spot to see who it was.

It's Mrs. Potts.

I almost let out a sigh in relief. It's a little reassuring to finally see a familiar face, especially since the situation here is so dire.

I'm about to call her over when a flash of orange runs in front of me, making me duck back down again. In the blink of an eye, she's tackled down by an absolutely gigantic quadruped Pokémon, crying out in a pitiful voice as she hit the ground.

It's an Arcanine. I've definitely seen one before, though it wasn't a resident of the town. That's a given, since I doubt anybody living in Winteroot has the money to afford one of those evolution stones, especially now more than ever given how rare and valuable they're becoming.

That said, I don't remember the Arcanine I saw before being as muscular as the one in front of me. His body is letting off so much dangerous energy that just looking at him is making me feel sick with anxiety.

I'm sure that Mrs. Potts can feel it too, but at that very moment, I can't see the fear I was expecting from her. Out of desperation, she opens her mouth wide as her fangs began to glow, biting down onto his front leg with a Thunder Fang.

I've never seen her use a move before, so it came as a bit of a surprise to know that she even knew how to use it. More than that, I was shocked to see that the old, humble baker of Winteroot town could make a face so frightening. The look in her eyes as she bit down was so terrifying that it made her look absolutely primal.

The Arcanine, on the other hand, simply shook her off, completely unfazed by her attack, before swooping his head down as he bit her on the throat, making her scream with a bloodcurdling voice as her body writhed in agony.

It wasn't a move, or some ability.

He's crushing her windpipe.

With a mighty yank, I watched with wide open eyes as the Arcanine tore her throat open. Mrs. Potts could only let out a quiet whimper before her body stopped moving, blood gushing out from her open wound as the life quickly faded from her eyes.

No… Calling it an open wound doesn't seem to do what I'm seeing justice. He's torn off so much of her neck that I can see her spine, her head bent in a grotesque angle from the rest of her body due to having no flesh to support it.

I can feel myself go pale. What I'm seeing seems to be too gruesome to actually be true, and yet it all seemed all too real. I'm starting to struggle for air as my body goes into shock, panicking as I froze on the spot, my eyes glued to the sight of Mrs. Pott's bloodied, lifeless body. I'm telling myself that what I'm seeing can't possibly be happening, but the rusty smell of blood is telling me otherwise.

Through all this, that voice is still going on with its declaration of invasion.

"Surrender now, and your safety is guaranteed."

Yeah, no, not after what I just saw.

I think I'm going to be sick.

My eyes quickly shift back to the Arcanine as he opens his mouth, spitting out a chunk of meat from his blood drenched mouth. By all means, it looks just like any other cut of meat. But now that I know what it actually is, seeing it is undeniably horrifying.

He stops, pausing momentarily before lifting his head as he begins to sniff the air. I duck back down, holding my breath and pressing my body against the pile of rubble between the both of us as I tried my hardest to not make a sound. The sound of my heart beating is so loud that I'm scared he might notice it.

I'm terrified that he'll come this way. If I'm spotted, I'm as good as dead.

Instead, he begins to walk away from me.

I'm not sure if it's because my body's covered in dust, or if it's because his nose is covered in blood, but he doesn't seem to notice I'm here. Either that or he's ignoring me.

Regardless, I can hear his footsteps moving away from me and towards the panicking crowd. For a brief moment, the prospect of death flashed before my eyes. I think I'm safe now, but I don't dare let out my breath until I'm certain that he's well out of hearing distance.

Just as I let loose a sigh in feverish relief, another shell hits the ground not far behind me, reminding me of my current situation as it exploded with destructive energy. I would have screamed out, but the force of the blast is so strong that it knocks my head against the rubble, leaving me momentarily stunned, dazed as I tried to regain my bearings.

I peek back out towards the streets, half hoping that what I had seen was nothing more than a hallucination, my overexcited mind simply playing tricks on me again.

I wish I hadn't.

The townsfolk that had grouped up on the streets are screaming.

What had happened to Mrs. Potts, what had happened to that Poochyena; it's happening to everyone.

They're slaughtering everyone indiscriminately. The streets are stained in crimson red as blood flows down the drains like rainwater during a heavy downpour.

It's a massacre.

I duck back down behind the pile of rubble. My body is trembling so hard that I worry I might cause the pile of rubble I'm pressing myself against to make some sort of noise. I beg myself to stop, but my body refuses to listen.

There's another problem with having them all grouped up in the town streets like this.

I'm trapped here.

I'm unlucky enough that the back alley I dived into happened to be a dead end, so there's no way to keep going from here. As for running out into the street and into another back alley, I don't fancy my chances. Sure, the Arcanine may not have noticed me, but with that many of the Empire's soldiers on the streets, it's impossible for me to slip by without alerting a single one of them. I could try scaling the walls on the still structurally sound building next to me, but I'm not sure that I can. Not that going up there would be a good idea anyways. I'd only be forcing myself into another dead end with no way down. Not to mention the fact that going to the rooftops while the town's being shelled doesn't seem like a particularly bright idea.

Unless… What if…?

I turn around to face the wall at the end of the back alley. That last hit from the shell hasn't destroyed it, but even I can tell that it's been weakened from the blast. If I can just get pass that wall, then I should be in the clear to make my run for home.

I can't jump it, nor do I think I can climb it… but…

It's the only choice I have left.

Tucking my head down, I start to run towards the wall. Tackle is one of the only moves I actually know how to pull off properly. And though I'm not an expert in using it, it's probably strong enough that I should be able to punch my way through this wall. So long as I don't flinch, of course.

Closing my eyes shut, I hear a crack as my skull busts through. I don't dare let myself wonder if my head has split open; it almost certainly will if I stop now. I keep up my charge even after the sore feeling on my head fades away, just to make absolutely sure that I'm in the clear.

I'm through.

Slowly opening my eyes, I notice that I've made it onto the next street. The buildings are in a similarly sorry state, but at the very least, it's deserted. There isn't a single soul in sight.

I take one last look back through the hole that I had just made. I can't see it from my angle, but I can still hear it.

And smell it.

I'm not taking any chances. Given that the entire town is under attack, it's entirely possible that one of the Empire's troops could be right on my tail. This street, regardless of how safe it may seem now, can turn into a killing zone in the blink on an eye.

Without another word, I start to run.

. . . . . . . . . .

20:31, March 17, Unified Year 4731 - Winteroot outskirts, Home

. . . . .

I can't remember the last time I ran this far. Or for this long.

I'll be the first to admit that, in terms of sheer strength and endurance, I'm pretty pathetic. Being almost chronically ill while growing up, I never really had the chance to develop my strength, leaving me with the weak and flimsy body that I have today.

I'm not like Clay, who could easily run the whole way to my home and back to town. It's actually rather surprising just how athletic he is, despite his physique. Nobody expects a chubby Eevee to run as fast as he can.

Yet today, despite the excruciating searing in my legs, I manage to run the whole way back home. Even though I'm starting to feel faint from so much exertion, I don't even consider the option of slowing down; I can feel a presence behind me ever since I started running back in the town centre and I'm terrified that slowing my pace will have fatal consequences for me.

Looking up ahead, I can see my home, the lights on bright. Dad's standing by the front door, pacing back and forth anxiously. It's the first time I've seen him so distressed. Despite his quirks, he's always been such a laid-back Pokémon that it's a little alarming to see him like this.

Though, after what I had just been through, I'd be surprised if he wasn't nervous.

"Kiteki!"

He bounds over towards me as soon as he spots me, his stiff expression finally loosening up. Maybe it's because of his presence, but I feel safe enough to finally come to a halt. My breaths are so haggard that, for a moment, I feel like I'm about to throw up. As soon as he gets near enough, he pulls me into a tight hug.

"Thank God you're safe."

I open up my mouth to respond. I have to tell him what happened, what's going on, what I saw. Instead, my mouth starts to babble, muttering incomprehensibly out of shock and adrenaline.

"D-Dad, t-the town, the… oh God, I s-saw Mrs. Potts, she… t-the townsfolk, the… the E-Empire, I… I just…!"

He cuts me off by patting me gently on the back like he always does when I get into a panic. It's so soothing that my body finally stops trembling.

"There, there, Kid. I know. It's going to be alright."

Something about having him hold me like this is comforting on an instinctual level. I'm surprised that his hug can make me feel so safe and secure like it always does, even with the danger that is undoubtedly not far away from us. It's so comforting that it doesn't take long at all for me to finally calm down.

Looking up at him, I notice that he's staring off into the distance, a somber expression on his face. I turn around to try and figure out what had made him so agitated, following his gaze back towards the hell that was Winteroot town.

The town center was lit ablaze, engulfed in flames. They still haven't stopped bombarding the town, despite the fact that almost none of the buildings are still standing. The beautiful, historic buildings that so many of the townsfolk had once been so proud of was now reduced to mere piles of rubble, lit ablaze as the town was razed to the ground. The homely feel that Winteroot had possessed seemed now like nothing more than a distant memory; the scene before me is so vastly different to what I can remember that it doesn't even register in my head.

I can't even recognize the place anymore.

Looking closer at the inferno, I notice a small string of lights exiting the town, making their way slowly up the long and winding path up the hill to our home. For a brief moment, I'm hopeful that it's the rest of the surviving townsfolk. Our home isn't big, but I'm sure that dad would be more than willing to house a few of them for a short time, given how charitable he can be. Afterall, our home is probably one of the only places that's been untouched by all this mayhem, so it makes sense that they would come seek refuge here.

But now that I'm observing them, I have to say that their movements are simply too coordinated to be a group of fleeing civilians. I've seen firsthand how the townsfolk had reacted to the invasion, and I'm definitely not feeling the sense of desperate terror from this group. As a matter of fact, these Pokémon seem oddly relaxed given the situation as they make their way up the road.

They're not civilians.

They're Empire soldiers.

Dad must have noticed it too, because he immediately releases me from his hug, staring intently at the party advancing towards our home.

"Kid, get in the house. Now."

I don't need to hear it twice. I immediately run inside, dad following quickly behind as he slammed the front door shut behind him. Without a word, he pulls the locket off my neck, holding it in his teeth as he dashes towards his room. I'm about to follow him in when he calls out from inside, shouting with an unusually stern voice.

"Wait by the pod. Your old man has one last thing he needs to do."

In my panic, I don't even question his orders. I hastily make my way towards the pod hatch before realizing with some degree of intrigue that dad had emptied it out while I was gone.

For the first time since I can remember, the pod isn't filled with piles of garbage. I don't recall having ever seen what the inside of the pod actually looked like, so I'm a little surprised that the inside is actually made to be functional like he had described, with a sturdy looking seat, several harnesses fastened to its corners.

So, does that mean that this thing actually works…?

Inside, I can make out the white padding that lined every surface of its egg-shaped interior. Even the seat was padded with white cushions. As a matter of fact, the only thing about it that wasn't white were the black safety harnesses and silver buckles.

There's something about the way its interior looks that makes it look rather high-tech and, dare I say, space-age. Despite how dusty it was inside, the minimalistic design of the seat and padding made it quite chic in appearance; a surprise given that dad was the one who designed and built this thing. That being said, I'd be lying if I said that it didn't seem slightly eerie as well; its sterile appearance and lack of colour made it resemble a padded cell in a psychiatric hospital to an almost disturbing degree.

I'm not so dumb as to not see where he's going with this. If the pod really does work, then I might as well clear out the dust before we get in. I'm not entirely sure how it'll get us out of here, but judging by the heavy-duty padding, I can assume that it's not going to be comfortable.

Dad runs out of his room just as I finish off dusting the pod. He stops next to me, before carefully putting the locket back around my neck. I can't help but notice that his paws are trembling as he puts it around me. I look up at him to try and see if he's feeling alright, but I can't read his feelings through that grim, determined look.

"D-Dad, why did you take my locke-"

He quickly cuts me off. I guess there are more important things than that right now.

"Okay, kid, listen up. I've set up the pod to send you straight to a friend of mine. He's going to keep you safe until this all dies down."

He's pushing me towards the pod as he speaks. I don't really get it, but it looks like this thing is capable of taking me well clear of Winteroot town, regardless of how it works.

"As soon as you get there, I need you to look for someone named Earnest. Talk to him. Tell him who you are, and tell him what's going on here. He'll know what to do."

Complying with him, I hop into the pod and sit on the chair. It's rather small inside, but more than comfortable enough for me. It's actually a little exciting sitting inside this escape pod, given the fact that in a few moments time, I'll finally be leaving Winteroot town. Of course, with all the other things I'm feeling right now, this extra hit of excitement is only really making me feel nauseous. I've always wanted to leave Winteroot, but never in my life did I ever consider that I would be leaving it in quite such a way as this. Of course, I never suspected Winteroot to be burnt to the ground like this either.

There's something I don't really understand though.

"W-Why can't you just t-talk to him yourself?"

Dad doesn't reply. He simply stares at me with silent solemnity.

Then it hits me.

"…No."

The sudden realization shocks me to my very core. So much so that it almost seems like a really bad joke.

"D-Dad, n-no!"

But the look in his eyes tell me that this isn't a joke. Far from it. He's dead serious on this suicide mission of his.

"There isn't enough room for the both of us, you know that."

By now, I couldn't care less about Clay. I couldn't care less about what had happened to Mrs. Potts, and I don't give a damn about what was happening to my hometown just down the hill. To hell with it, I don't even care about the soldiers coming up the hill to murder the both of us.

I can't accept this.

I won't accept this.

"T-Then there's gotta be another way!"

Dad simply shakes his head in reply. I hate to admit it, but it's plain to see that, by now, we both realize that the only way to get out of this place alive is with this escape pod. Even so, the prospect of losing dad is just too much for me to take. I'm starting to hyperventilate as the thought processes in my head, my body starting to tremble as panic slowly seizes over me. Looking about frantically, I try desperately to find another alternative method, but nothing seems to present itself.

A solution pops in my head. It's the only one that I can accept.

I jump out of the pod, before pointing towards it with my paw, staring my dad straight in the eye.

"T-Then you get in dad! I'll stay here!"

I've never been more serious in my life.

Dad doesn't seem to agree though. He just sighs at my brilliant idea, shaking his head like what I'm asking for him is impossible.

"Kid, we don't have time for this. Get in the pod."

Instead of doing as he says, I run up behind him and butt my head against his back, trying to push him into the pod.

"No!"

I'm not sure if it's because I'm so pathetically weak, exhausted from running all the way home, or because he's just so much bigger than me, but he won't budge one bit. It's rather aggravating that he's refusing to cooperate

"Kiteki."

Can't he see that I'm trying to save his life here? I mean, I'm pretty certain that anyone would take the opportunity to be saved if they were given the option. I mean, for God's sake, we're biologically programmed to prioritize self-preservation!

"Kiteki, Kiteki! Look at me!"

His shouting startles me enough that it snaps me out of my reckless train of thought. He holds onto me firmly with his front paws, staring me straight in the eye as he did so. The sheer seriousness of his gaze and his tone of voice is a little alarming, especially coming from him.

"Kid, listen to me. If the Empire's attacking us, then it means that there are things in motion that are greater than the both of us."
I don't really understand what he's saying. I understand that I'm not as well versed in current affairs and international relations as he is, but it almost sounds to me like he knows exactly what's going on. Like he knows what's going to happen next.

"If you can't go because of me, then go for everyone else. I know it's a lot of responsibility for someone your age, but there're a lot of things that are depending on you right now; things you can't even begin to imagine."

I desperately want to ask him what he means by all that, but even I know that, by this point, we're running on borrowed time.

His face finally softens as I lock my eyes onto him. It's only now that I've noticed that he's trying his hardest to hold back his own tears. It's soul crushing, the sight of my dad looking so defeated. So much so that it completely renders me silent. It's only now that I understand how hard he's trying for me, and realizing that so late laces my heart with guilt. I can't even bring my paws around him when he pulls me in for a tight hug.

"Everything's going to be alright."

It's dawning on me the fact that I was probably never going to see him again after this all ends. It's an unusual thought, and one that, for a short moment, I didn't really know how to handle. All I can manage to do is sit quietly in shocked disbelief.

I'm speechless as he lifts me up by my collar and puts me into the pod. Even as he fastens the harnesses around me, I'm stunned, my body frozen in shock.

A single tear rolls down the corner of my eye and onto my cheek, but I can't seem to find the strength to dry it off. Instead, dad reaches in with his paw, slowly wiping it away before giving me a gentle smile. The sight makes my heart writhe in agony, the feeling heartbreaking enough to let my tears start to flow freely.

"D-Dad…"

He quietly shuts the hatch, the door hissing as it sealed shut. I look out the thick glass to see him with that gentle, reassuring smile that he had worn for as long as I could remember. Putting a paw up to the hatch window, he calls out my name, his voice heavy with sorrow.

"You'll always be my brightest star."

I put my paw up against his, our touch separated only by the glass window. All of a sudden, despite being only a fur's length apart, he seemed to be so far away from me.

I wanted to hold him in my paws one last time, to eat together one last time, to argue with him one last time. To do anything with him just once more. But knowing that everything I wanted right now, knowing that even the smallest of wishes was one that was impossible to fulfill, shattered my very soul.

If this is really goodbye, then I want to say something to him. To show him my gratitude. To show him all the love and affection that I had for him throughout my life, and all the love I had yet to give. But my mouth refused to speak, hanging open as I struggled desperately to come up with the right words to say.

The pod began to rumble as a deafening roar blasted from below me. Breaking free from it's wall-mounted tomb, it began to slowly rise up, the wall around it crumbling away. I watched as dad, feeling the blast of the rocket engines, staggered away, blown back by the force of the escape pod's propulsion as it began to fill the living room with clouds of white smoke. I screamed as his paw parted from the hatch window, my id desperate for our superficial contact to last even for a fraction of a second longer.

"D-Dad…! Dad!"

Despite the unnerving shaking and stomach-churning forces that the pod was exerting onto me, all I could think of was to try and get a better view of my dad, pawing and clawing against the hatch as the craft rocketed up into the night sky. Peering down to see my home from above, I watched as a stream of Imperial Pokémon stormed into our home, setting the house on fire as they made their way in. I begged myself to try and not think about what was happening, to try and convince myself that my dad was strong enough to fand off all of those soldiers, but even I knew that all of it was nothing more than wishful thinking.

Then the roof collapsed.

Lit ablaze by the Empire's soldiers, it thundered down into the house, crushing the living room flat into a flaming heap as it kicked up a great cloud of smoke and dust.

I stared with wide open eyes, mortified at the sight before me. I opened my mouth to scream, but no sound would come out; my throat dry and coarse from crying so much.

Even as the pod entered the clouds above and hurtled towards the distant horizon, all I could see in my head were the sights of my home ablaze, of Winteroot razed. Under the cold glow of the starry night sky and the wonderous white light of the full moon, memories of dad, of Mrs. Potts and of the rest of the Pokémon I had known for so long flashed across my mind, the knowledge that I would never get to see them again piercing my crumbling soul.

Those were the last thoughts to cross my mind before I slipped into the darkness.