Melting Gelid Roses

by EchoEternal

Slash-fic, M/M. AU, just Pokemon. From the north, reports of the prophet run rampart, and whispers of war are growing louder. A knight and a ninja will slowly find themselves in the heat of things. Main Shipping: Sneakpast (Greninja/Chesnaught).

13. Defrosting Return Trip

Well, for some odd reason, I have once again crafted a mushy chapter in time for Valentine's Day, as of posting! Guess I can't resist the holiday's temptations, lol. Hooray, sappy holidays promote sappy stories!

Anyway, while a new chapter is what we're here for, please don't forget that there are some mirrored websites stealing from this website's views and using it to boost their own profits. I'm not cool with my work being exploited like that, so I'm shaky on future updates. However, it's better that we're down to one, instead of the six that were buzzing around earlier this week. Visit my profile for more information, and see if you can help!

Now that the business is aside, time for the latest chapter!

...

---

[Greninja]

For a moment, we quietly watched the cloaked figure before us, who glanced back outside and scratched behind his head. There was an odd…appendage that connected the rear of his head, past his neck, and to the top of his back.

"This storm grows stronger," he called over the next howl from the wind. "We will need to stay inside until it passes."

Chesnaught and I watched as the…Mewtwo moved further into the cave. He seemed to be caught between walking and…floating, taking one step, gliding a bit, and then down for another step.

"Forgive me for shouting," he murmured in a deep, soft voice, serene in spite of the world around him. Mewtwo smiled as he sat beside us, hovering a bit over the ground for a moment. "Ah." He allowed his body to drift down, against the floor like us. A slight shiver crept across him as he shuddered a bit, but the calm smile remained. Even seated, he almost towered over Chesnaught, more than a foot taller than him, and more so than I. "Are either of you well or ill? You were out there for a while, I would imagine."

"Oh, uh, we're…we'll be fine," managed Chesnaught, still in awe. "Um…thank you."

"Yes, thank you for rescuing us." I forced a beam of my own, though concentrated on his purple eyes. They held a focused, yet soothing, gaze, surveying both of us before him. "How did you manage to find us?"

"It was you, I believe." Mewtwo nodded. "Yes, your voice sounds like the one I heard cry out for help."

"You…actually heard that?"

"Barely, but yes." He sighed and let his shoulders drop. "It was also difficult to find you at first, as I was unable to trace any thoughts from either of you, but I managed to locate you from a distance, along with a little assistance to interrupt the weather."

A breeze drifted into the cave, to which Mewtwo turned and lifted his right hand. A faint violet glow surrounded it, and it coated the walls of the cavern. Two layers of ice rumbled and slowly emerged from the walls, creating a door to close us inside of the cave. He turned back and waved his left hand, creating a burst of life back into the dwindling fire. Mewtwo smirked a bit as he rubbed his three balled fingers together, pleased.

Chesnaught excitedly reached over and shook me by the shoulder. I glanced at him as he grinned.

"We did it!" He clasped his hands together and leaned forward. "Ah, M-Mewtwo, this is perfect! Once the storm lets up, we need you to come back with us!"

"Well…I suppose I should escort you from this part of the land, yes," agreed Mewtwo. "It is rather dangerous for you two to be out here."

"No, no, we know that," clarified Chesnaught, "but we would really appreciate it if you came back with us, to our palace."

"…Oh, you mean…the one by the icy plateau…" Mewtwo stiffened slightly, and his expression became disheartened.

"Right, that's the one!"

"Wait, Chesnaught." I placed my hand onto his arm, and he jerked back before turning to me, baffled. Slightly, I shook my head. "You've been there before, right, Mewtwo?"

"More than once, though not quite inside." He shook his head. "They have hunted me there, and around the…city, I believe it is called." Mewtwo slumped a bit, clearly bothered from his previous experiences. "Your attire makes more sense now. Both of you are soldiers from the palace."

"Correct, but we're not quite from there originally," I explained. "We came from another kingdom to help them."

"Assist in my capture, is it?" Mewtwo brought his arms up and hugged himself together. "Very well. I suppose it was impossible to evade them forever."

"Evade?" Chesnaught tilted his head. "Weren't you stealing food and supplies from the city?"

"Never that much, but…yes." His frown and figure drooped as he deflated. "It is difficult to survive out here. I made sure that it was not food that someone else needed, just enough to keep myself filled. And just a few supplies when I needed them, but nothing that could not be replaced." He sank lower to the ground, letting his head drop as well. "That does not excuse my actions, but I…did not know what else to do."

"Come in and introduce yourself?" Chesnaught shrugged. "That would be a little more…well, I guess, uh—"

"I am afraid that I do not socialize very well." He glanced up at us. "I cannot even remember the last time I spoke with someone else." He returned his gaze to the fire, as it cackled lightly. "Perhaps it…is because I find others…difficult to trust."

"Yet," I spoke up, "you rescued us, without hesitation?"

"If I had not, you most likely would have died." He slowly shook his head. "I have found a corpse before, and it is unpleasant to feel the last bit of heat drift from the body. It made me wonder if I could have been faster, if I had noticed sooner…" He shuddered and sighed. "My apologies. That is besides the point." Mewtwo picked his head back up and stared at us. "Will you…is there a way…what will happen to me?"

"Uh." Chesnaught blinked. "Shouldn't you be able to tell us?"

"Do you not hail from the palace? Would you not know it better than I?"

"As far as I know," I intervened, "they just want you at the palace to keep you from being taken away by another monarchy." I folded my arms and studied the fire myself, watching the flames gently dance around. "I know that the emperor does not want to harm you."

"…No?" I picked my head up again. He held his stare, slightly narrowed, notably unconvinced. "A ruler, not interested in punishing a criminal?"

"He's more interested in your powers than in persecuting you."

"…Of course." Mewtwo folded his arms as well, his eyes lowered. "Naturally, a monarch only seeks more power."

"Not all of them are like that," cut in Chesnaught. "I can speak for the king from my former kingdom, he's…well, he's not power hungry."

"All those in positions of power only thirst for more," argued Mewtwo.

"Maybe you're right," I conceded. "But it is crucial that we keep you from meeting the wrong ruler. Your power is capable of destroying the world."

"It…is?" Mewtwo's eyes widened and he dropped his arms to the ground, pushing back a bit. "But…how?"

"Don't you know?" Chesnaught folded his arms as I released mine. "Are you unaware of what you can do?"

"Perhaps, as I am still learning," admitted Mewtwo. "But…I did not realize that I was capable of destroying the entire world. Are you certain?"

"We…well, you have great power." Chesnaught pointed at the icy door by the cave's mouth. "It's not exactly normal that someone could do that. We can't."

"There is truth to that, but…I am not alone in that ability." Mewtwo frowned again. "There are others that use magic, are there not?"

"Yes, there are, and those that use telekinesis like yourself," I concurred. "But you're capable of more than just that."

"I…I do know that my capacity for my abilities is greater still." His body deflated again. "This does not mean…I cannot be responsible for…"

"Not yet you're not," soothed Chesnaught. "That's the point. We're hoping to keep you safe from that future."

"Future?"

"Yeah, you're associated with that, right?"

"We all are."

"True, but there is more that can learn about your abilities, and become more powerful yourself?" Chesnaught shook his head. "You have extraordinary, and unique, powers, right?"

"I…suppose?"

"So…you, you're…the prophet?"

"The what?"

Mewtwo blinked and gazed at us with more confusion than before. Chesnaught raised an eyebrow and turned to me, and I rested my hand on his leg, turning back to our rescuer.

"Can you see into the future, at will?" I pulled my hand from Chesnaught and pressed it against my free hand, studying Mewtwo.

"No, I…that sounds familiar, but I cannot do that."

"Wait, what?" Chesnaught's arms dropped. "You can't even read the future yet?"

"Am I…supposed to be able to?"

"If you were who we believed you to be, then yes." I watched as Chesnaught's mouth dropped open next. "You…can't see the future, or predict outcomes?"

"Not that I am aware of." Mewtwo paused for a moment and then perked up again, smiling with a renewed interest. "Oh, I understand now. You mean the seer."

"Um…yeah, that's another name for it," relented Chesnaught.

"My apologies, that's the only name I know that one by," explained Mewtwo. "The seer is…capable of even more extraordinary feats than I am. The seer can see into the future and determine various kinds of outcomes, from simple decision making of another being to the probable conclusion of a war that has not even started."

"Yes, that's…exactly what we know," muttered Chesnaught.

"Then…all you know is what we know," I realized.

"I suppose so. The only thing that I know is that the seer and I are linked, not by gifts of future sight, but…something else." He sighed. "I do not know what that is, though. I used to have a box of items, and it…I am not certain of how to explain it, but I thought there was a connection between us through the contents of that box."

"Box?" Chesnaught scratched his head. "Greninja, does that…haven't we heard about that before?"

"Right, it's something…" I paused and thought back for a moment. "…The empire has it. That box must be in the palace."

"Your emperor has it?" Mewtwo folded his arms, and tilted his head. "It is mine, as far as I am aware. I took it everywhere with me."

"Apparently, you're not the only thief," joked Chesnaught. "They must have found it after you dropped it, or something, right?"

"I…do recall losing it, while fleeing from guards with firewood." He pointed at a stack just a few feet away from us, a little further into the cave. "They must have given it to your emperor."

"Maybe that box is key in solving how you relate to the pro…seer," I suggested. "We can't convince you to return with us, but—"

"We promise that we'll do everything in our power to protect you, if need be," cut in Chesnaught. I turned to him and he smiled with a nod. "You saved us, Mewtwo. We owe you our lives, and we won't let anyone harm you. Even our emperor, should he really have duplicitous motives, we…we'll keep you safe."

"Those are only words, not guarantees," noted Mewtwo. "But…you truly believe he wishes me no harm? You believe that he is not power hungry?"

"From my conversations with him, no, I don't believe that," I determined. "None of us can predict the future, but…we would be grateful if you gave us just one chance." I nodded back to Chesnaught, and then gazed back into Mewtwo's eyes. "We will help you in any way that we can."

"…Sincerity fuels your words," observed Mewtwo. "And, at least between you two, there seems to be…something comforting." He smiled again, relaxing his body once more. "I have not felt that way about anyone in a long time." He mused on our conversation and then nodded himself. "I would like to learn more about the world, and cannot do that out here. So…if you will have me, then I shall go with you." He sighed, but still smiled. "I suppose my options were limited regardless, and that I would be taken prisoner if I refused."

"You could probably annihilate us if we tried that," countered Chesnaught. "We're not looking to take you in as a prisoner. We want you to be an ally."

"Again, you are overestimating my powers," reiterated Mewtwo. "Though…I may be underestimating them myself." He maintained his smile and nodded. "Ally, was it? I suppose that I…could consider the empire that, should you two be right."

"Good, that's fair," I agreed. Still, it wasn't enough for me. "Is there a way that we could reward you, for rescuing us?"

"As I am returning to your palace, I do not see much in material worth that you could offer," pondered Mewtwo. "…Would either of you…perhaps be my friend? I was told stories when I was younger, some that involved friendship and building ties with other individuals." He glanced at his bare feet and tail curled around them, swaying slightly. "I have…never had friends before. Perhaps this is…an unusual request."

"Not at all! We'd be happy to be your friends."

"That easily? I…thank you." His beam broadened and his tail seemed to wag a bit quicker. "I am not certain what friends do together, but…it is reassuring if we have a stronger connection, I believe."

"There's definitely truth to that," agreed Chesnaught.

"Then I must get you two home, to safety." Mewtwo turned and telekinetically opened the icy cavern doors slightly. A sharp gust of wind billowed into the cave and he quickly closed the doors again. "Um…perhaps…we should wait the night. Hopefully, the storm will quiet down by the morning."

Glancing at Chesnaught's shivers, I giggled. "That's probably a good idea."

"Right." He stood up and drifted a bit past us. "I believe that I stored blankets in here, somewhere." He dug past a few rocks, searching around. His tail lightly swayed as he searched, but stood up as he paused for a moment. "Oh, are you two a couple, by the way? Lovers?"

"H…how did you know?"

"Well, I can read minds, as all Psychics can," explained Mewtwo. "But…that would be rude for our first meeting. Instead, I had a different clue."

He turned back and pointed as we scooted around and followed his hand. Down past us, a few blue flowers…roses had risen from the ground.

"Are…are those…?"

"Gelid roses, I believe they are called. Ah, here they are." He turned back to us with two dark blue blankets. "I was told a story long ago about them, that they bloom only when lovers with a strong bond are present."

My face burned and I glanced at Chesnaught, who grinned under his bright blush. Glancing back down at the flowers, I blinked, noticing that though they had risen from the ground, they had not bloomed.

"Shouldn't they…open a little more?"

"Hm?" Mewtwo crouched down and blinked at the flowers himself. "You are correct, they should bloom in the presence like yours." He looked back up at us, puzzled, but still excited. "I have not seen these in a very long time. Perhaps there is something new that we have discovered about them!"

"Is our love not strong enough?" I bit my tongue as the words tumbled from my mouth. Nervously, I turned to Chesnaught, who frowned and nodded.

"Maybe not, or not yet," he murmured. "I wonder how we can fix that?"

"Perhaps it is another matter entirely," mused Mewtwo. "Though, I do not imagine that you will be able to solve it tonight. They have been around for ages, and yet, are as elusive to mortal eye as I try to be, better even."

"Well, that's not very reassuring," I mumbled. A little louder, I quipped, "And you seem pretty happy about this."

"Sorry, I just finding it fascinating." He smiled again, and poked at the flowers. "Learning and sharing information has been a hobby of mine, since…that was all I could do for a while." Mewtwo picked himself up from the roses and inched away, giving us a little more space. "And now that we know these flowers have a chance of appearing around the two of you, we may have a better sense of direction making our way back to the city."

"Wait, really?" Chesnaught scratched his head. "How do those correlate, exactly?"

"It is from the end of the story, about the Frozen Fields Lovers," described Mewtwo. "One planted the seeds for the roses across the fields, in futile hopes that they could guide the lost lover back home. That was their purpose, to grow and create the returning path." He wrapped his cloak around himself, tightening it against his body. "If that is true, then we should be able to use them to get back home."

"Seriously?" I unwrapped the other two blankets that Mewtwo gave us. "That seems so…I must admit, well planned, but could they really account for flowers to do that?"

"Have you not witnessed extraordinary events with your own eyes, unable to explain it?"

"I…suppose," I relented. "Magic certainly qualifies. In fact, our innate skills and powers kind of qualify as well, now that we're thinking about it."

"Of course," agreed Mewtwo. "It does sound uncanny, I admit, but we should be open to any possibility, and anything helpful." He yawned and shook his head. "But again, now is not quite the time for that."

Mewtwo scooped up some snow to douse the fire, but I sprayed water of my own instead. He smiled and nodded to me, returning the snow to the ground. Chesnaught took one of the blankets and wrapped it around us, but I stopped him from taking the second one.

"Wait, Mewtwo, we could share this one," I suggested. "Don't you need one?"

"No, I do not believe so." He flopped over and rolled into his cloak, wrapping himself snug. "I only use them on colder nights, but this night, in spite of the blizzard, is not at its worst. This should be adequate."

"Are you sure?"

"Certainly." He smiled again. "Your concern is appreciated, though. Thank you."

"You're welcome." I shrugged and helped Chesnaught wrap the second blanket around us. Though, I made sure it was more around him, as he shivered a bit. "Goodnight, Mewtwo."

"Goodnight Greninja and Chesnaught."

We waited a few minutes and watched as Mewtwo's breathing steadied, as his body rose and fell. Wiggling closer to Chesnaught, I wrapped my hands around his chest as he slid an arm behind my back.

"It is a good night," I realized.

"Yep, in spite of everything," agreed Chesnaught. He kissed my head and rubbed my back. "Goodnight, Greninja."

"Goodnight, Chesnaught."

---

[Meanwhile]

Beneath a frozen butte, Machamp patted the crevice of a cavern, housing himself and his five allies. They huddled inside around a small fire that burned in a pit.

Delphox quietly watched his stick beneath the dancing flames, his eyes drooping.

"We shouldn't rest," grumbled Golduck. "We need to…find those louts…and Greninja."

"And Chesnaught," snapped Weavile, a notable distance from the fire. Softening, she sighed. "Regardless, it's pointless right now. We're exhausted from fighting, it's dark out, and a blizzard is kicking up, on and off."

"Couldn't' you…get rid of it?"

"I can control ice, not the actual weather itself."

"So learn." The duck paused and then smirked. "Or, get your girlfriend to."

"Piss off." Weavile curled up and rolled away from the duck.

Carracosta rolled his eyes. "You must really want her to kill you in your sleep, huh?"

"I'm just stating the obvious."

"As am I." He shrugged and glanced down at his tekko, still attached to his flippers. "She has a neat little dagger beside her, you know."

"Don't remind him, Carracosta." Weavile turned back and smirked to them. "It'll be more fun if he's unaware."

"Ha, like you would risk it," retorted Golduck. "Look, I may be an ass, and I'll admit that, but this lot still needs me around."

"We do?" Delphox yawned. "From what I gather, I'm pretty sure that we'd manage."

"Sure, right." He weakly laughed. "I'd love to see…which of you would…hold a blade to a dragon's throat. Without…remorse."

Golduck flopped back over and fell asleep, quacking a bit before quieting.

"Good riddance," murmured Weavile. "Does anyone want me to do the honors?"

"Nah, don't worry about it, Weavile." Machamp trudged back in and sat down with the group. "He's not worth it."

"If Emperor Empoleon and General Abomasnow didn't value him, he wouldn't be so lucky," griped Weavile. "…Night."

Rolling back over, she soon stiffened a bit, with her body rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Delphox's head bobbled, but he shook it and sighed.

"Are we ready to sleep yet, or should I keep this thing going still?"

"Maybe a little longer," suggested Politoed. "If you fall asleep first, I can put it out. Or Carracosta."

"More likely you," decided Carracosta, flopping onto his chest. "Getting pretty drowsy myself, to be honest."

Yawning again, Delphox pushed back a bit from the fire. "If you guys have it handled, then."

Politoed laughed. "I think between the three Water types, we should have it handled. Even if we fall asleep for a bit, I don't imagine this getting out of our control."

"Hopefully not," murmured Machamp, his lower arm picking at the ground.

Silently, Carracosta and Politoed exchanged worried glances. Delphox rubbed his eyes and shook his head.

"Alakazam is fine, Machamp," reminded the fox. "He's still with the others."

"But his thoughts were so unnerved…" Machamp shivered and shook his head. "He's never that unsettled, not about anything. At least…I can't remember him ever…"

"He's probably worried about you," reminded Politoed. "You guys are separated." He grabbed his feet and waved them around. "I…I feel like that about Poliwrath." He softly chuckled. "I didn't think I'd miss my brother this much."

"It's easy to feel like something is amiss when our other half is missing," quipped Carracosta. "…I think the time apart is good between Mienshao and myself, because I'm starting to sound like him."

"Kind of." Delphox nodded, but then shook his head. "Though, kind of not."

"Look, I get it guys, and thanks, but…I just…" Machamp sighed. "My heart is still pounding just thinking about him."

"Not good," advised Carracosta. "He'll be struggling to relax if he can tell you're restless too. Can't he sense your energy like you can his?"

"Right, I…you're right."

Sucking in air, Machamp took four seconds to hold it. Exhaling, he rested for the same seconds before repeating. After a minute, he steadied his breathing.

"…Well?" Carracosta stifled a yawn. "Better?"

"For now," muttered Machamp. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." The turtle sighed. "Believe it or not, I know how you feel. However, I envy your shared abilities with Alakazam." He chuckled. "Wish I could have that, some days."

"With who, again?" Politoed innocently smiled at Carracosta, who lowered his eyes. "What?"

"None of your business." He tucked his head in. "Goodnight."

The other three waited a moment as Carracosta snorted and slumbered. Politoed rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Worth a shot. It'd be great if he finally told us."

"He's entitled to privacy," contended Machamp.

"People don't really give that to Poliwrath and I over our spats."

"You two yell about them all the time."

"So? Still some private stuff to shout about."

"Right." Machamp leaned back and sprawled out against the ground. "Anyway, I need to get some sleep, or I'll keep Alakazam awake."

"He might not mind," proposed Delphox, "if you two can establish another connection."

"Tried it, and I bet he has too." Machamp sighed. "I don't even want to go over what's in my head without him in there."

"Then don't. Just rest, and we'll get back to them tomorrow."

Nodding, Machamp slowly shut his eyes. Smirking, Delphox lowered his head, letting his eyes close as well.

---

[Elsewhere]

Within a cavern, Poliwrath and Delibird patted mounds of snow to close up the opening. Once finished, they fell back and sat down, sighing before laughing together.

"Didn't think we'd ever get that done!" Poliwrath massaged his hands. "But, we did some pretty good work! I don't feel so much as a breeze through this wall."

"Um…I think you're exaggerating a bit on that one," murmured Delibird, eying a few holes. "I guess it's better than nothing, though, and they are faint bits of air."

"So long as none of us freeze tonight, it works."

"Right."

The pair turned into the cave, glancing at their allies within. A dwindling fire crackled between them, Alakazam tending to it, with Mienshao sitting nearby it. Quagsire was sprawled out a short distance away from it, snoring. Further away, Froslass patted on the cavern walls, crafting various shapes along it.

"Out of everyone, Quagsire has the right idea," decided Poliwrath. "We need to get some rest."

"Rest is for the weak!" Froslass twirled around and floated into the air for a moment, then flopped down against the ground. "…I'm feeling a little weak, I guess."

"Even the most vivacious of spirits need to recognize their own limitations," spouted Mienshao.

"…Ok, you definitely have to make those up."

"Multiple times, I have admitted to it."

"Oh right." Froslass shrugged. "Well…your point stands."

"That it does." Mienshao chuckled softly. "I do try to make sure they have some logic behind them, at the least. It gives them purpose to be spoken." He shrugged. "Still, they can't all be winners."

"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm already set for tonight," called Delibird. He yawned and sat down near the entrance. "I'll be over here, just in case anything tries to break through. Night!"

"Goodnight, Delibird."

Poliwrath left the penguin to rest by their covered entrance and sat beside his companions near the fire. Mienshao forced a smile to him, but Alakazam remained focused on the flames, watching them flicker and fade.

"Your mind clearly isn't on keeping that up," muttered Poliwrath, folding his arms.

"What was your first clue?" Alakazam's eyes sharpened into a glare, and the fire blazed under his gaze.

"Easy, Alakazam," soothed Mienshao. "You're among friends here."

"Barely," he mumbled. "We've worked together for years, and I think this is the first time I've heard anyone acknowledge one another for friendship."

"Past yourself and Machamp."

"…Sure, yeah." His eyes softened, and the fire calmed, though remained strong. "To be fair, I guess the same applied to the bears."

"True, though…neither case is a sturdy example of a straight-forward friendship," noted Mienshao. He mischievously grinned. "You and Greninja are a bit better of a recent example, I believe."

"If he and Chesnaught are still alive, yes, that would be correct." Alakazam sighed and huddled his legs close to his body, knees to his chest. "We were just getting to know them, and now they've been blasted off to who knows where in this blasted hellscape."

"Home," mumbled Quagsire in his slumber. The others watched as he snored again.

"Could be worse," countered Poliwrath. "Imagine actually knowing that they're dead. Wouldn't that be gruesome?"

"Honestly, Poliwrath?" Mienshao huffed and shook his head. "I thought that being away from Carracosta would at least give me a respite from negative thoughts such as that." He dragged his arm against the ground and lowered his head. "Now, I just hope he and Delphox are doing ok, with the others."

"They're fine," insisted Poliwrath. "Alakazam got a stable connection with Machamp, and even if it cut out pretty quick, we still confirmed that they're alive." He rolled his eyes. "Same goes for the new couple, and I've seen them both fight to know that. Greninja is clever and strong-willed, so I doubt he's dead, especially after handling underwater tremors. And I'm pretty sure that Chesnaught's tough enough to survive getting rocketed around by a heavy blast, or better, so I'd imagine he'd be fine too."

"That's not the worst that they're up against," argued Alakazam. "The attack was just the given conditions for them. What they're facing is being lost alone in the Frozen Fields." Alakazam shut his eyes. "Given an approximate estimation of the potential damage to the shield that Chesnaught might have used, on top of the damage they could have taken from the landing, I would imagine that they're started out worse for wear than most other unfortunate souls out here." He peered his eyes open slightly. "The chances of their combined survival is low, and their probable refusal to abandon one another practically wipes out their individual odds. Given Chesnaught's lower tolerance to cold climates, on top of those other conditions, he doesn't have much hope."

"…And you thought Carracosta was bad," laughed Poliwrath.

"You're not mentally focused enough for that kind of a detailed analysis," determined Mienshao, ignoring Poliwrath. "Alakazam, you're still panicking."

"Do you expect me not to?!" Alakazam threw his legs forward and slammed his hands against the ground. "My new friends have critically low chances of coming back alive out here, unless they happen onto nothing short of a miracle! My other allies are separated from us and will have encountered Lucario's accomplices! We're lost and still need to work our way back home, or else we face similarly disparaging odds of endurance! And on top of it all…!" Gritting his teeth, Alakazam turned away.

"…Machamp is still missing, right?" Poliwrath dropped his arms. "And you were cut off from talking with him."

"It's my fault," murmured Alakazam, hugging himself together.

"Your connection is strained to begin with," analyzed Mienshao. "You're a distance from him, and he's not a Psychic. You couldn't expect to maintain it."

"Our connection is strained," repeated Alakazam. "It's my fault."

"…My apologies." Mienshao tugged on his whiskers. "That's not at all what I meant."

"Yeah, and you're not the only one," started Poliwrath. "I screwed up my bond with Politoed because I'm too stubborn. Not that he isn't either, but…" Poliwrath rolled his eyes. "Point is, you're not the only one at fault, and you're not the only one that's upset over soured relations."

Alakazam picked his head up and stared at Poliwrath, who winked at him. For the first time in hours, he smiled and nodded to the knight. Mienshao patted his back, along with another arm.

"Wait, wha—ah!"

Froslass giggled as Mienshao flew back and fell over. Poliwrath laughed with her as Alakazam shook his head. After a minute, Mienshao picked himself up as Froslass quieted down.

"You need to calm down regardless, Alakazam," she reminded him. "Machamp can sense your energy like you can his thoughts, right? So, if you're like this all night, he won't sleep either."

"I…that's right." Alakazam smiled to Froslass. "You remembered?"

"Don't you keep track of everything I've told you?" He nodded to her. "Well, I learned to do the same with you. I'm not as good, but…I try."

"Before, when I snapped about friends—"

"You were right," interrupted Froslass. "We…we don't really spend time together, in spite of working together. None of us." She floated back up and grinned, spinning around. "We should work on that when we get back home!"

"She's right," agreed Poliwrath. "And, no offense Alakazam, but screw your odds. We'll make it through this. Everyone."

"Truthfully, I don't believe in my estimates either." Alakazam returned his attention to the fire. "I recognize them, but I don't believe them. Or rather, I can't."

"So don't!" Froslass flopped back down to the ground, away from the fire again. "Just picture everyone back home, nice and safe!"

"Strengthened desires can steady a shaky resolve," chimed in Mienshao. "…Ok, I liked that one, but really, they're right. So, let's rest, and we'll set back to finding everyone tomorrow."

"Everyone…eat," muttered Quagsire, rolling in his sleep. "Back…home."

The group chuckled at the slumbering salamander. Shortly, they spread out and joined him in resting, as the fire died out.

---

[Greninja]

Rumbling woke us up the next morning, and I hopped upright from the blankets. Chesnaught snorted and pushed himself from the ground as well. Mewtwo flailed his arms and flinched as he turned back to us.

"Sorry!" He sighed. "I attempted to open it carefully and quietly."

"It's fine." I laughed as Chesnaught rubbed his eyes. "We need to get up anyway."

"True," concurred Mewtwo. "Shall we set off?"

"What about the flowers again?" Chesnaught yawned. "Don't we…need to wait on them to pop up?"

"Precisely why we should begin our travel now," clarified Mewtwo. "They will appear fairly quickly, but will take time."

Glancing down, I saw that several patches of roses had risen from the ground since last night, gathered around Chesnaught and I. They bloomed a little more than they had before, but still were not opened completely.

"Then let's get going." I tugged Chesnaught's arm and guided him out from the cave.

"Wait…wait!" Chesnaught halted and held back on his movement. "The storm, what about the blizzard?"

"All the more reason to travel now," elucidated Mewtwo. "The storm broke up overnight, but we should not wait for it to begin again."

Zipping back past us, he gathered his belongings, taking the blankets and storing them within a sack. He glided back over to us and smiled, setting the pack beneath his cloak.

"It is not much, but I am fairly certain that I will not return here anytime soon."

Chesnaught and I nodded, as the three of us emerged from the cave. We squinted at the Frozen Fields, white snow brightened by the sunlight. Cupping my hands over my eyes, I waited as they adjusted to the morning.

"Come, move forward more," urged Mewtwo, and he pulled us along. "Perhaps here, we might…yes!"

He pointed down and I watched as flowers broke through the snow. Excitedly, Mewtwo pulled us around, guiding us as we trudged through snow mounds. The second he spotted a hint of green from the ground, he pulled us forward in that direction.

We made our way past tall walls of ice and glacier peaks, and I stared at short hills in the distance. Every so often, Mewtwo would pull us around a large boulder, or between two short icebergs. Eventually, we came across a frosted stone run, and Mewtwo sighed as he checked the budding flowers.

"Through here, then," he murmured, and guided us around the rocks. We stumbled around and searched for the direction that the flowers grew in. "Over here!" Mewtwo would call out and drag us off, but then stop short as we crashed into some stones.

At one point, Chesnaught pried himself from a rock and snapped, "Can't we just…go around?!"

"If we knew it would take us back, certainly," determined Mewtwo. "But, I only see flowers growing around these stones."

"Can you see around them?"

"Some, yes. Others…" Mewtwo hopped up and grabbed at the top of a massive boulder, but slid down in spite of his efforts. "Well, even I am not so tall."

After a series of tight turns and bumping into the rocks, we made our way from the run and back to an open stretch of snowy fields. We stepped around carefully, watching and waiting to spot blue and green flowers appear.

"Here, this way," pointed Chesnaught, and we made our way to a crowd of icy pillars.

Wandering around them, we peeked around each pillar. Eventually, I walked around one as Chesnaught shrugged and I watched a rose rise from the snow.

"There." I looked up and pulled Chesnaught along as Mewtwo floated behind us. "Right over…that way."

Pointing ahead, I took us forward through the field, and we passed tall glaciers. Stepping forward, I heard a crack and stopped.

"Hold on."

Mewtwo drifted ahead, levitating a bit further above the ground than usual. Touching down lightly with his foot, he flew back as the frozen floor broke open, a crack thundering forward past us as snow and earth caved in.

We waited until everything stopped, watching as the last of the snow poured down the crevasse. Glancing at one another, we crouched down and peeked beneath the opening, staring into an abyss.

"These…are taking us the right way, aren't they?"

"Of course, but this terrain is not without normal dangers." Mewtwo lifted himself and surveyed the land around us. "It stretches forward, not across, so…"

He lifted us up, and we strolled away from the fissure, back to solid land. We waited a moment and Mewtwo tugged us forward. Moving carefully, we waited, but heard nothing break apart. Studying the ground, we watched as a few roses spurted forth.

"There we are."

Slowly, we navigated forward along the field, wary of the slightest cracking. We watched as fewer roses appeared, but still guided us ahead. After a distance of travel, I watched as the crevasse ended, meeting a close back into solid ground once again.

Returning to our quicker pace, we surged forward as a gust of wind picked up and howled past us. Chesnaught shivered and I pulled him closer to me.

"Are w-we go-going to get c-caught in a b-blizzard?" Chesnaught's teeth chattered and he held himself together as I tried to rub around him, ineffective in my efforts to warm him.

"Not to my knowledge," assured Mewtwo. "At least, not yet."

Another minute or so, the wind subsided and we pressed onward. Again, we wandered between a pair of icy walls. Gazing up, I could barely spot the top of the glaciers.

"To be honest, I assumed we were at the highest points around here," I murmured.

"We have traveled a bit, and might have stepped down," mused Mewtwo. "Though, the levels of the fields are difficult to keep track of."

"More that contributes to how easy it is to get lost out here," grumbled Chesnaught, still huddled together. "Were we even at the end of fields?"

"No, not at all." Mewtwo glanced back for a moment, and then to us again. "All of that distance we traveled? It does not cover just how large this land is. We did not even come close to reaching the sea beyond it."

"That's…ridiculous," decided Chesnaught.

"So, besides avoiding detection, why were you out here, Mewtwo?" I cast a sideways glance to the cloaked…cat? It's difficult to call him that for certain.

"Here is where…I feel I have been for a long time." Mewtwo touched his forehead, hesitating. "I…cannot actually recall much of my life prior to it. That has always been strange to me."

"Well, you seem like you've come along fine so far," noted Chesnaught. "Pretty cool that you were able to actually live out here for so long."

"Yes, though I am…not certain this is only…" He stopped and narrowed his gaze ahead. "There are…others ahead."

We squeezed past the narrow end of the glacial walls, staring ahead past short icebergs and frozen stones.

"Where, exactly?"

"Not far, and there are several of them." He touched his head and shook it. "One among them sensed my presence. Prepare yourselves, they will find us."

Withdrawing my tachi blade, I stepped forward as Chesnaught pulled out his sword. He stayed behind me, keeping Mewtwo close in tow behind him. We lined up behind a boulder and waited quietly for a moment.

Silently, as well as I could, I slid along the boulder's length. Snow crunched a bit beneath my feet, but not loud enough to alert anyone. I peered around the rock and stared ahead as my eyes met dark ones before me.

Dropping my shoulders, I sighed as yellow arms flew around me.

"Greninja!" Alakazam pulled back, grinning at me. "I was wondering why I could sense…! Is Chesnaught—?"

"Present." Chesnaught peeked out behind me. "Just give me a second to—"

"Ha! You're both here!" He bounced past me and hugged Chesnaught as well. Quickly, he broke away, and shouted, "Here, right over here! It is Greninja and Chesnaught, they're right here!" He sighed and clutched his chest, and then grinned again to us. "I don't think I've ever been happier to be wrong!"

Stepping past the stone, I watched as several empire knights hurried over to us. I smiled, but then my shoulders rose up as I glanced back to Chesnaught. He went to grab for Alakazam, who had stepped behind him.

"Ha, what'd I tell you?" Poliwrath clapped his hands together. "These two are tough enough to weather even a blizzard from the Frozen Fields!"

"They're really alive after all!" Froslass spiraled around and grabbed onto Delibird, dancing around with him. "This is great!"

"Y-yeah, but I can't…ah!" Delibird fell forward as Froslass zipped away from him, twirling around.

"It is a great relief to…" Mienshao trailed off as he watched Alakazam back away from the boulder, and Chesnaught hurry behind it. "Alakazam? What is it?"

"They…they found…!" His eyes were wide and he quaked as he slowed to a stop. Turning to me, he gawked before managing, "H…how?"

"Did they find something to eat?" Quagsire poked his belly and huffed. "It's been ages since we ate."

"It's been two days tops, Quagsire," deadpanned Delibird, picking himself up.

"Ok, but what's gotten into you, Alakazam?" Poliwrath stepped forward, but I slipped in front of him. "Greninja?"

"Uh, ok…how do I…?" I scratched behind my head and sighed, tugging at my tongue. "Look, Chesnaught and I were, we almost…um, we were rescued by someone."

"Beg pardon, but…someone?" Mienshao shook his head. "Who else—?"

"Did the others already find you?"

"N-no," managed Alakazam. "It's…"

Chesnaught stepped from behind the rock, and Mewtwo slowly drifted out behind him. They gasped and gawked at the taller figure behind him, hands already reaching for their weapons.

"Now, hang on a minute," urged Chesnaught. "He's not hostile, and he's not the prophet."

"B…but he has the cloak Weavile and I saw!" Froslass shook her head. "It's him! He's the one we saw before!"

"Right, but he's not the prophet like we suspected," explained Chesnaught. "This is Mewtwo. He's a mage, and powerful, but not…he can't read the future."

"How can we be sure that he's not mind controlling them?!" Delibird flailed his flippers around. "What if he's making Greninja and Chesnaught act this way?!"

"Um, I can't be controlled like that," I countered. "Alakazam could—oh! Alakazam can prove that Chesnaught's not under control either!"

Whirling around, my shoulders fell at Alakazam, who still gawked at the sight of Mewtwo. Clearing my throat, he jumped and wildly shook his head.

"Sorry, right, I—I can."

Touching his head, he stared at Chesnaught as his eyes lit up, and waited a moment. His shoulders relaxed and his hand dropped from his head. Smiling, he nodded to the others.

"Other than being alarmed at our reactions, Chesnaught is his usual self," cleared up Alakazam. "And Mewtwo is just as nervous as us, not even considering an attack."

"You can read minds as well?" Mewtwo slowly emerged from behind Chesnaught.

"Correct!" Alakazam bowed to him. "I am Alakazam, as you are now aware. Like you, I am a Psychic, capable of telepathy, as well as a mage, skilled in magic." He straightened up and smiled to Mewtwo. "If you could, can you tell me…where we were, earlier this morning? Without reading our minds, that is."

"I…have no idea," admitted Mewtwo. "…Is this a test?"

"An attempt at one," confessed Alakazam. "Perhaps another. Two days from now, what will happen?"

"Well, I am imagining that we will be at the palace," determined Mewtwo. "Hopefully, by then."

"Froslass, select an attack," instructed Alakazam.

"Wait, don't—!"

"Relax," eased Alakazam. "Froslass, please don't actually attack him. Just…check."

She darted forward and flew at Mewtwo. He ducked back behind Chesnaught, who blocked Froslass from passing him.

"Nope, no good!" Froslass zipped around Chesnaught and wrapped her arms around Mewtwo. "Got you! Hug attack prevails!"

"Hugs…can be lethal?" Mewtwo blinked. "I was not aware of this."

"It's…not actually an attack," clarified Chesnaught.

"Oh." Mewtwo nodded as Froslass giggled and floated off from him.

"Ok, that settles it for me," decided Poliwrath. "He can't be an all-seeing prophet if he doesn't even anticipate an attack, let alone grasp at what hugs are."

"Grasping hugs," murmured Quagsire. He reached forward and tightly squeezed Delibird. "Lethal hug…!"

"No! Q-Quagsire, please!"

"Ah, that is the lethal hug," surmised Mewtwo. "Still, it seems less like a normal one."

"Don't worry about it," I soothed. "So, is that all cleared up, then?"

"For us, yeah." Poliwrath shrugged. "Looks like the guy we were looking for, though."

"Well, that's because he still is," I reiterated.

"Mewtwo needed to gather supplies and scraps to survive out in the Frozen Fields," elucidated Chesnaught. "He's been rushing around the city to gather supplies, but that's it."

"Just a thief, then," determined Mienshao. "Though, I would have done the same, so, I wouldn't really hold him accountable. It'll be up to the emperor as for what happens after we explain this to him."

"Do you think he'd punish him?" My arms dropped and I frowned. "If he does, I can't support that."

"Considering everything…I honestly have no idea," admitted Mienshao with a shrug.

"That's not reassuring," objected Chesnaught.

"We'll work it out," reasoned Alakazam. "I doubt the emperor will react harshly to petty thefts. Though, we might need to compensate for the losses, meager as they might amount to."

"That's more like it."

"Either way, you'll have little to fear with us," claimed Alakazam.

"Perhaps not," murmured Mewtwo.

"Right." Alakazam hesitated as his shoulders dropped and he frowned. He spun around to me again. "Um, I realize they would be with you, but you didn't happen to run into Ma…the others, did you?"

"No, we found you first."

"Yes, of…of course." He deflated and nodded, forcing himself back up. "Still, it's great to have you two back!"

"Oh, just them?" Everyone jumped at the calling voice. "Why is it always just those two?"

Stepping away from the boulder, we watched as Delphox strolled forward from behind an iceberg. He smirked and folded his arms.

"No one is ever happy to see me, then?"

"Nope, never happy," returned Chesnaught, grinning. "Only ecstatic!"

Delphox walked straight over to us, hugging me tightly. He backed up a bit, and Chesnaught scooped us both into his arms.

"This trio is back together!" He laughed and swayed a bit with us in his arms. "We've missed you, Delphox!"

"Missed me? You're the ones that were missed!" He laughed as we pulled apart from one another. "Don't ever get blasted off like that again, you hear?"

"Right, because it was intentional," I joked and he laughed.

We turned and watched as the others gathered with us. Froslass cheered, dancing around Weavile, who smiled at her.

"So, you miss me much?"

"Did I ever!" She grabbed the archer's arms and lightly swayed around. "We should go shopping once we get home!"

"Well, I did miss you," muttered Weavile.

Golduck glanced at me, blank at first, but smirked right after.

"That the prophet?"

"No," I snapped. Turning out to everyone, a little more calmly, I reiterated, "He's not the prophet, but he's coming back with us."

"Sure, might as well." Golduck shrugged. "Even if you're pissed, it's nice to see you like that instead of dead." He turned and patted Delibird, who clapped at his return.

Rolling my eyes, I watched Politoed hop over and halt in front of Poliwrath. The frogs hesitated, and then hugged one another.

"Glad to see you again, twerp," laughed Poliwrath.

"Same! I knew you were too stubborn to die," teased Politoed.

"Listen, you little pest—!"

"Quit picking on my height!"

They bickered at one another as Quagsire stepped in between them and pushed them apart.

"The two of you should be happier and just hug, at least for today," he murmured. "Brothers can get along, you know."

With that, Quagsire backed away from them. The brothers hesitated again, and then happily hugged one another once more.

"But…where are—?"

A hearty laugh erupted from the iceberg. We turned as Machamp and Carracosta trudged out from behind it.

"Took us long enough, but we made it!" Machamp placed his lower arms on his hips. "Great to see everyone together again!"

"Did we miss the party?" Carracosta smirked as Alakazam rushed over to them, and I couldn't help but follow him, a bit further back. "Not quite then. Good." He shuffled aside as the mage neared them, and I stood next to him.

"You're ok!" Alakazam clamped tightly around Machamp, even raising a leg around the knight to pull him in closer. "I thought you might…oh, who cares? You're fine!"

"Alakazam, this is…unexpected!"

Quickly, Alakazam pulled back from Machamp, blushing deeply. "W-well, I, uh…you had me worried."

"Just me?"

"Of course just you!" Alakazam clutched his hand into a fist. "Anyone else would…" He paused and turned to Carracosta. "Especially you! Carracosta definitely could hold his own, best out of everyone."

"Oh, think so?" The turtle laughed. "Nice of you to notice, then."

"That's it?" Mienshao walked over to them, and everyone else followed, gathered in an open patch of the fields. "Come on, you must have something more pessimistic to add in, don't you?"

"Only if you can come up with a knock-off proverb," teased Carracosta.

"I can't think of one right now."

"Then there's your answer!" He patted the stoat and laughed. "Good to see you again."

"Likewise." Mienshao grinned at Machamp. "Ok, go ahead, continue!"

"What?" Alakazam blinked and shook his head. "He doesn't need to—"

"Yes, I do." Machamp's arms dropped from his sides, his four arms hanging. A blush settled in over his face as he picked himself back up. "I, uh, I really…have a lot…"

"Please, Machamp—"

"No, Alakazam, you need to know." His tone was firmer than we had heard before, possibly more than anyone. Even Alakazam went silent and only nodded. "While we were out there, the only one I could think about was you. Every time I had a minute to breathe, you were on my mind. We tried to connect, sure, but that wasn't the only means. I didn't want…I was afraid of not being able to…get back to you, or you to me."

Quietly, Alakazam uttered, "But…why?" Machamp's shoulders dropped and Alakazam glanced down. "I was a complete mess over not being with you, but you should have been fine."

"Were you even listening to your thoughts?" Alakazam looked back up at Machamp. "Because I was. You were scared…and I didn't want to imagine that neither of us…that I'd never get the chance."

He raised his lower arms, but stopped and dropped them back down. Alakazam wildly glanced back and forth at them, and looked up to Machamp again.

"Regarding…?"

"Exactly what everyone is assuming." Machamp sucked in a sharp breath of air, and held it for a few seconds. He released it as Alakazam slightly tilted his head. "We've all but gone over it together, and I didn't get a good enough look around in your head, but I know you have an opinion on this."

"Maybe I'm assuming this correctly, but specify the subject," insisted Alakazam. "I can read minds, but yours has always been…more challenging to sort out."

"Sorry, but I have this whole speech ready as is," informed Machamp, briefly wiping his head. "Just take it as it comes. Really, it's about time we addressed it properly anyway."

Still hesitating, Alakazam glanced to me and I shooed him, forcing him to return his attention to Machamp.

"And I don't care anymore, if you don't feel it too. By now, you just need to know."

"Machamp, what are you talking about?"

"What I've been trying to tell you since the beginning." He breathed in deeply and exhaled, eyes focused solely on the mage. "I love you, Alakazam." Softly, he smiled. "Always have. Always will."

For a moment, Machamp waited as Alakazam stared up to him. Before he could add anything else, Alakazam threw his arms around Machamp's neck and shoved his lips into the four-armed knight's. Machamp's eyes widened as Alakazam squeezed his shut, shifting his lips around before relaxing his grip around the knight. Lowering his eyes, Machamp wrapped his lower arms around Alakazam's waist, sliding his upper hands past the mage's long mustache and to his cheeks. A slight jump came from Alakazam, but he relaxed again, as Machamp gently closed his eyes as well. They tilted their heads as they deepened their kiss, and Machamp scooped Alakazam in closer to him.

My hands flew up to clap, but a heavy blue flipper pushed them down. I blinked and turned to Carracosta, who placed his other flipper against his lips and winked at me.

Silently, I watched, as the couple broke apart to breathe, panting, still wrapped up in one another. Nothing else, no one else, existed.

"Wow…that was, ah, great," managed Machamp. "The mustache tickled and your lips were warm and soft." He laughed while Alakazam blushed a deep scarlet and giggled. Abruptly, Machamp stopped and blinked. "I…thought you hated my laugh. And, well, me, by this point."

"Hating you is effectively impossible for me," declared Alakazam. He lightly stroked Machamp's cheek and gazed into his eyes. "I've never hated you. Not your boisterous laugh from that big grin that's impossibly infectious. Not those bulging muscles that can still have the gentlest touch behind that enormous strength. Not your deep red eyes that glow beneath even the faintest moonlight. Not your unending effort to both be strong and yet still kind, down to even the most closed off among us." Tears lined his eyes and he shivered through his broad beam. "I can't hate the knight that never gave up on me, the one that stayed by my side from the very beginning, the one that always wanted me around when no one else did, even…even when I gave up on you."

"…You had a fair reason," admitted Machamp. "I shouldn't have—"

"Had a valid, lustful thought towards someone else?" Machamp blinked as Alakazam shook his head. "I'm the fool that actually took offense all this time over you having a normal attraction to someone that was…genuinely appealing. And I took out that frustration on you, when we weren't even spilling out our feelings to each other." He half-heartedly laughed and backed away from Machamp. "I don't even deserve you." The smile dropped and Alakazam hung his head. "The truth is I never thought that I did."

"Why not?" Machamp closed the distance between them again. "Everyone deserves someone that loves them, even if it's not a romantic type. We all need at least just one person that's willing to stick by our side." Gently, he raised Alakazam's head back up by the chin and grinned at him. "You talk about me staying by your side, but you're the one that's followed me ever since I asked. Even here, you came to this empire when you weren't sure what you wanted to do next, all because I wanted to become a knight. And even after, even when we became so distant, you stayed with me, and you still wouldn't disappear from me completely, when you could have left and gone wherever else you wanted." He lightly brushed the tears that fell from Alakazam's eyes, with his shoulders dropping. "If either of us was undeserving of the other, I'd imagine it was always me. Because you've always deserved me, if not better."

"…I could travel this entire continent and the world around us, and I can't imagine finding anyone better than you," confessed Alakazam. "More importantly, I don't want to." He wrapped his arms around Machamp's sides and smiled. "You're all that I've ever wanted."

"Big muscles strike your fancy, eh?" Machamp's grin widened again. "Thought that might keep you around."

"What kept me around this big lug was his bigger heart," corrected Alakazam as he kissed Machamp again. They held it for a bit, but still broke apart after a minute. "And it'll always keep me with you." Machamp brushed his own eyes with one hand while his lower arms cradled Alakazam. The mage twirled his mustache and slyly checked Machamp up and down. "…Though, in all honestly, the muscles certainly help."

Machamp blinked and burst out laughing. "Knew it!" He kissed Alakazam's head and rubbed his back. "That's perfect for me, though, and easy to maintain. And, if we're being honest, then I sure love that big brain of yours!"

"You think I'm boring, don't you? Or, well, can be?"

"Are you kidding? I get lost in everything you talk about!" He paused and chuckled. "Well, sometimes, I don't really understand, but even then, I love to listen to you!"

"Oh. Um…that explains it better." Alakazam rubbed his arm. "…I always thought you started focusing your thoughts on my body because I was dull."

"No way, you're just super hot!" Alakazam blushed furiously while Machamp's cheeks lit up. "Long, wavy mustache, cute thin body, soft dark eyes, all around smart, selfless, who wouldn't think you've got everything going for you?!"

"Ah…I, uh, didn't, um…oh." Alakazam's shoulders rose up while he tried to hide his face behind them. Machamp pulled him in for a tight hug, to which Alakazam buried himself into the knight's chest.

"So, does that mean we can start dating once we get back to the palace?" Machamp glanced down past his flushed face as Alakazam nodded quietly, still pressed against his chest. He laughed, which made the mage practically melt against him. "Perfect! I can't wait!"

"Congratulations."

Alakazam jumped into Machamp's arms and the two turned to stare at Weavile. Their red faces flushed darker as they turned and stared at everyone around them.

"Ah…ha," managed Machamp. "Sorry that took so long, everyone."

"Oh please," quipped Golduck. "You just gave everyone the show we've all been waiting for since you two got started here. The tension has been ridiculous since day one."

They watched as the other empire knights nodded, and I imagined they both wanted to blush harder and sink into the snow by this point.

And then I gasped, staring down at the snow around them. "Guys, look!"

Everyone directed their attention to where Machamp and Alakazam had been standing. Blue roses had erupted from the ground, bloomed around the new couple. They blinked as Machamp set Alakazam back down between open spaces of the gelid roses, and they picked a few up from beneath the snow.

Chuckling, Alakazam turned back up to Machamp. "If we didn't make it official ourselves, I think this does."

With a quick laugh, Machamp leaned in and kissed Alakazam again, scooping the mage's face into his. Just as they were getting back into it, Delphox roughly cleared his throat, and they sprang apart once again.

"I'd deliver the ever classic, 'get a room,' but you both already have one each." He patted his stick against his hand and shrugged. "Perhaps that makes it, 'pick a room,' instead."

"Is no one else still shocked by the roses?" Weavile pointed down at them. "Because that's kind of…weird."

Froslass floated around to her again. "Haven't you heard the stories?"

"Yeah, but it's…still strange." She shrugged. "Then again, magic is odd in general."

"So are flowers," chimed in Quagsire. "Painful, too, especially for me."

"This is quite useful, however," spoke up Mewtwo, with attention refocused to him. "These flowers surged from the ground even faster around the new couple, and their bond is key to guiding us to the city once again." He straightened up and smiled to me. "Combined with Chesnaught and Greninja, this should be much faster."

Golduck scoffed. "Is that how you're claiming to have made your way back? Magic flowers?"

"Are you really going to be skeptical to this?" Chesnaught folded his arms. "Tell me, were they beneath Alakazam and Machamp a few minutes ago?"

"Nope, magic shenanigans make sense to me," corrected Golduck. "The very idea that we're following flowers to go back home is just ridiculous in general."

"If you have observed the world carefully thus far," calmly countered Mewtwo, "you would realize that is certainly not so."

Quiet for a moment, Golduck chuckled. "Great, arguing with me already. He'll fit right in."

"You're right for once," I snapped. "He will." Steadying my breathing to relax my quickened heartbeat, I surveyed the others. "Are we ready to go home now?"

"Nah, none of us froze out here," joked Delphox. "That's sure to be a disappointing story, no?"

"Then we'll have lived to disappoint," touted Chesnaught. He took my hand into his, nodded to Mewtwo, and smiled to me. "Let's go."

With Mewtwo, the three of us took the lead. Delphox trailed behind us, guiding Alakazam and Machamp with him, and observing the gelid roses appearances for himself. Everyone else followed, fanned out, and hands on weapons, ready to guard. We were expecting some kind of return of our opponents from earlier, but they didn't appear.

The trip home was astoundingly uneventful, as we trekked across the snow-blanketed fields. Heavy buffets of wind impeded our movement every so often, but beyond that, the trip back was much duller than we really anticipated. All the while, we watched as bushels of blue roses fired up from the ground, blooming quicker than ever. Checking behind me every so often, Machamp and Alakazam gleefully joined Delphox in watching the flowers rise.

"Our trip may have been more hectic, but they get a much better show from the flowers," muttered Chesnaught.

"Jealous?"

"Actually, a bit more than I expected," he admitted. Smirking, he added, "But, we made them appear without any help ourselves, so…it evens out."

"Of course." I rolled my eyes as he nudged me, and we laughed.

Not long after, the city came into view. Chesnaught excitedly tugged me forward a bit, and I was ready to sprint, but held back instead. He blinked and turned as I pointed to Mewtwo, who had stopped a few paces behind us. We walked back over to the cloaked mystic.

"Is everything ok, Mewtwo?"

"I am…nervous, to put it lightly," he confessed. "This city might still believe me to either be a legend or a thief, and I do not…know how to handle that."

"Don't want to be recognized?" Golduck smirked as he approached. "Don't blame you." He turned to the rest of the group. "Close in, guys; we don't need flowers anymore, so let's keep it tight."

Everyone sheathed their weapons, gathered around Mewtwo, and surrounded him, blocking almost every angle that could easily sight him. In spite of his height, it would be harder to pick him out as a specific individual of interest.

"Just keep the hood down, act natural, and no one will even consider gutting you," eased Carracosta.

"Really?" Mienshao shook his head. "Mewtwo, you'll be fine."

They were right; we marched back through the city streets, with a few citizens smiling and clapping to see their knights come home. Battered, but alive, most were relieved to see us; no one was concerned about, or perhaps even noticed, that we had added an extra companion to the group.

Advancing past a few igloo homes, I thought I noticed Carracosta wave slightly toward one. Ignoring that, we reached the palace steps and climbed up. Halfway up, Mewtwo tugged Chesnaught and I closer to him, his arm noticeably shaking.

"This is still—"

"We're right here," assured Chesnaught.

"And we'll stay close," I chimed in, patting his hand.

Reaching the top, everyone stared ahead. Waiting for us on the bridge was Emperor Empoleon himself, with General Abomasnow a slight distance behind him. For the first time, I think the general was genuinely smiling, if only slightly. Empoleon beamed as we approached, his eyes counting out each of us before settling on Mewtwo.

"Outstanding," he applauded. "Everyone has returned, and your mission was a success!"

"Not entirely," started up Golduck.

"While we brought back the thief that the city has reported, he's not the prophet after all," divulged Poliwrath.

"And we had to fight off some soldiers from the Mountains," added Politoed.

"Hmm. Mountains soldiers? That is most troubling." Empoleon sighed, smiled faded. "Expected, however, as I didn't imagine that we would go through this without any kind of resistance." He returned his attention to Mewtwo once again. "And you tell me that this…is not our elusive prophet?"

"No, sire, and we've proven that he's not capable of seeing the future," explained Alakazam. "He is, however, a worthwhile addition around here."

"Is he now?"

Empoleon approached and I listened as the majority of our group backed away. Glancing around, only Delphox, Chesnaught, and I remained closely around Mewtwo.

"…You three refuse to back away…"

"Sire, we need to know exactly what you're plans for Mewtwo are," announced Chesnaught.

"Mewtwo?"

"His name."

"Ah." He nodded, his eyes still trained on the mystic. "And…why this sudden resistance?"

"We just want to be sure." Chesnaught folded his arms.

"Did I not convince you, Greninja?"

"Chesnaught already explained it." My shoulders lowered slightly. "I am trusting in you, though. Please don't prove me wrong."

"Right. And Delphox?"

"Neither of my friends moved." He shrugged. "That's all the reason I need."

For a moment, Empoleon waited. In that time, footsteps trudged behind us. I turned back as Alakazam and Machamp joined us. Weavile followed them, with Froslass drifting over.

"All four of you would even consider opposing me?"

"Do we have to?" Weavile folded her arms. "Sire, I'll speak for all of us. We don't want to commit treason. But, we need to know what you're planning on doing with Mewtwo."

"Yes, and I collected reasons from the Grass Fields trio," noted Empoleon. "You four have a sudden change in behavior, however."

"Nearly dying can kind of do that to us." Froslass giggled. "This seems silly, Emperor."

"That it does…"

His eyes narrowed as I listened to more footsteps scuffle up behind us. My eyes widened as I saw the rest of the knights line up with us or around Mewtwo.

"And what am I to make of this?"

"Froslass already told you, sire," explained Carracosta. "We thought we might have lost our lives out there. Greninja and Chesnaught nearly died, and the worst crossed our minds for their sakes. Going against them now…we can't."

"Rarely is there a time that we ask you to explain your actions and motivations to us," chimed in Mienshao. "This once, however, we would like to know."

"With all due respect, we did earn it." Everyone gawked at Delibird. "…What?! I'm not completely weak!"

"Clearly not," laughed Empoleon. "Very well, I'd rather not have my whole army suddenly turn against me over this. Greninja and Machamp should understand enough, but let me clarify." He shook his head. "No, I don't have anything foul in mind for you, Mewtwo. However, I am going to insist that you remain at this palace, for the time being, and potentially for a while to come."

"This was already made clear to me."

"Yet you still don't understand," noted Empoleon. "None of you do. If Mewtwo is not the prophet, that seemingly lowers the level of interest on him. But you have already encountered those that believe he is still a figure of interest. Surely, they will report back to their superiors on this matter."

"So…those soldiers we encountered…"

"They've likely already returned to report what transpired out in the Frozen Fields," determined Empoleon. "Mewtwo's life, while safe for now, is mostly certainly still in jeopardy." He folded his wings behind his back and shook his head. "Misinformation can spread easily, and it only takes a mere sighting to have such a false reputation race beyond our borders."

"Am I meant to stay here forever, then?"

"Only until I get this sorted out," decided Empoleon. "We don't want anyone seeking power to find you, much less predict their actions upon a disappointing discovery. That will, however, take time, as we'll need to prepare meetings with the other kingdoms." He shook his head. "However, those come later, after everyone here has had ample time to recover, and you have had time to adjust."

"…What did you seek, sire?" Mewtwo tilted his head, still studying the emperor. "Were I the prophet?"

"Personally? Perhaps knowledge of when the war could break out, its results, and guidance on what I need to keep my empire and family safe." Empoleon shrugged. "Beyond that, I have no immediate desires from such a seer. Regardless, however, I would have very much insisted on you staying here, as I am now." He shook his head. "This, however, is entirely up to you. We can offer you as much protection as we have here, and it is your best bet. You are, however, not bound here, and free to leave, if you believe you have a higher chance of survival elsewhere."

For a moment, Mewtwo remained silent. He glanced at the rest of us and shook his head. He turned back to Empoleon.

"There is no longer safety for me in the Frozen Fields," he realized. "In spite of being there for so long, it is now entirely possible for at least several of your soldiers to find me once again."

"Yeah, that would be pretty difficult, though," murmured Delphox.

"But possible." Mewtwo lowered his head. "I cannot detect ill will or deceit in your motivations, nor anyone in here. Were I to return out there, and one of these other kingdoms were to find me next…I do not know for certain if those would grant me more favorable results."

"One of the other three might," noted Empoleon. "Three of the soldiers, these front three, are from that kingdom."

"Even so, you claim there are others," contended Mewtwo. "I cannot afford to risk survival out there alone anymore, nor can I trust my next visitors to be as hospitable as Greninja and Chesnaught have been." He turned back and smiled. "As…everyone here has been."

"Your decision, then?"

Hesitating, Mewtwo pivoted back to Empoleon. "I will stay, on a few conditions."

"Very well."

"First, I would like to not be considered a prisoner," declared Mewtwo.

"Done, as you're already not one," determined Empoleon. "Though…I am going to need to work on compensating the losses in goods this town has had, small as they might be."

"I…will try to help with that, if possible."

"No, it's best if you're not out there much, among the public," realized Empoleon. "You can be, but for your safety, I cannot recommend it." He frowned. "Sorry, that does seem like a prisoner's restrictions, but believe me, the less known you are, the better."

"…Perhaps." Mewtwo sighed and picked his head up. "Second, I do have a box that I have misplaced, and I was informed that you may have it in your possession."

"Box…ah, yes, that…raises some questions of my own," recalled Empoleon. "However, yes, we'll return that to you." He straightened up. "On a condition of my own, that is."

"Your condition?"

"Yes, I would like to know just how long you've been out in the Frozen Fields for."

"Oh, I am…not certain." Mewtwo clutched his head and shook it. "I cannot remember the amount of time…it has been a while, however."

"Hmm." Empoleon tapped the tip of a wing against his beak. "A couple of decades or so ago, I do recall…activity out in the Frozen Fields…something mystic." He studied Mewtwo carefully. "I wonder…"

"…Wonder what?"

Ominously, the Emperor continued, "…The name that you call the prophet by, is it that, or…?"

Blinking, Mewtwo let his tail sway. "I know your prophet as 'the seer,' but either title works."

"…Seer…hmm." Empoleon nodded. "That was used more frequently sometime ago. However, I only have suspicions on my old memory." He shook his head. "It's a mystery for me to work on."

"What would that be?"

"Your personal history," decided Empoleon, "and your connection to the seer, the prophet. I believe one might exist, but I'll need to work on that theory."

"If it's anything like the other one," mutter Delphox, "it better have lighter results."

"Possibly, though unlikely," revealed Empoleon. Smiling, he shook his head. "But, that is for me to uncover. The rest of you, celebrate and rest. You have all had quite the adventure for the past few days now." He fixated his eyes on Chesnaught, then Delphox, and lastly me. "This sense of unity…it's good, and it should last."

Turning away, he strolled back to the palace. Everyone exchanged mixed glances, varying between relief, confusion, suspicion, and exhaustion. We turned back as General Abomasnow approached.

"General," greeted Golduck. "…It is you, correct?"

"Who the blasted hell else would it be?" Abomasnow folded his heavy arms.

"We might have encountered a doppelganger," disclosed Golduck. "One that impersonated you, sir."

"How flattering," deadpanned Abomasnow. "Give him hell?"

"Not nearly enough," darkly uttered Golduck.

"So long as you're all back, we can manage," decided Abomasnow. In a sharper, harsher tone, however, he bellowed, "You lot have a lot to make up for, acting up in front of the emperor like that! Expect a much more rigorous training regiment to start up soon!"

Almost everyone seemed to deflate at once, and I thought I heard a few groans. Abomasnow growled, silencing them quickly.

"How soon, sir?" Chesnaught scratched behind his head. "The emperor did mention that we could rest a little."

"Mm…I'll think about it," muttered Abomasnow. "Not that long, though!"

With what I think might have been a chuckle, he trudged back to the palace. Golduck sighed and followed him back in, with Delibird in tow. For a minute, everyone else remained silent.

"Resting and eating would be good," voiced Quagsire, and he made his way back to the palace.

"You know, Quagsire's got a great idea," realized Poliwrath. "Let's get to that, huh?"

"Definitely, I could use something to eat," agreed Politoed.

The brothers followed after the salamander, with Weavile quietly following after them.

Froslass twirled around and drifted forward. "I've got some spell scrolls that I've missed looking over, so I know that's something to get back to!"

"Honestly, I think I could collapse any second now," murmured Delphox. "Even a colder bed beats the frozen ground again."

Patting my back and Chesnaught's, he followed her inside. He slowed and turned back as Mienshao hurried behind him, whispering something to him. They laughed and chattered together as they walked back inside the palace.

"Well, if no one minds, I'll be elsewhere," announced Carracosta. "I've…somewhere else I need to be."

He waved to us and turned away, wandering back down the palace's plateau. Turning back, I watched as Machamp wrapped his lower arms around Alakazam's waist. The mage giggled and pulled him in closer.

"And you two?" Chesnaught chuckled at the pair. "Your plans?"

"Catching up, naturally," declared Alakazam. "We've got a lot of missed opportunities to get back to."

"Ha!" Machamp rested his head on top of Alakazam's. "That's putting it lightly! We're spending all our time together from now on!"

"Of course." Alakazam turned around tugged Machamp's face closer to his. "I'm never letting you go again."

"Likewise, buddy!" Machamp kissed him lightly, but pulled back to scratch his head. "Huh…need to start calling each other by more endearing stuff now, right?"

"If you'd like."

"You better believe it!"

They laughed and we waved as they stumbled together back to the palace. Sighing, I sat down by the edge of bridge, quickly joined by Chesnaught and Mewtwo.

"What do you think?" I turned to the cloaked mystic. "Will you be able to adjust here?"

"I will learn to," decided Mewtwo.

"We'll be here to help you out," reminded Chesnaught. "If you need us for anything, just come find us!"

"Certainly, and thank you both for everything."

"Thank you, Mewtwo." I smiled to him. "You're the main reason we're back home with everyone else."

He smiled back. "I only wanted to help my new friends." Glancing at the water ahead of us, Mewtwo nodded. "I have…been here before. In fact, I think I remember seeing you around here, Greninja."

"Really?" I scratched behind my head. "It must have been one of my first days here."

"Most likely," agreed Mewtwo. "With you two here…I think I can manage." He stood up. "Though, I think you deserve some time to yourselves. I will…explore."

He stood up, smiled again at us, and drifted away, alternating between floating and walking around the palace perimeter.

Alone with him, I sighed and leaned against Chesnaught. He wrapped his arm around my lower back and brought me in closer, massaging gently.

"Kind of funny," he started after a minute. "A couple of months and change ago, the most nerve-racking, heart-pounding thrill that I had to deal with was taking you out on our first date." I burst out laughing and he grinned.

"Well, I think I beat that out with actually mustering the courage to tell you how I felt," I teased. Sighing, I rested against his chest. "But…I think this adventure beats it by a long shot."

"Yeah, I agree with that." He sighed and brought his hand up to my shoulders, rubbing me. "Think we can manage here? This'll be our new home, huh?"

"Honestly, I do miss Grass Fields and all of our friends back at home. I hope they're all doing well." I sighed and shook my head. "But together, and going forward with everyone united, I think we'll be fine." I giggled. "Besides, I think I'm getting used to the colder climate already."

"You're insane."

"Why's that?"

"Because I don't want to be out in the cold for another second," deadpanned Chesnaught. "This is a far cry from ideal weather."

"What, really?" I grinned as his lowered eyes and frown. "I thought you might enjoy the refreshing air."

"Not even close."

"Could've fooled me!"

"Can we just get back inside? I'm still freezing."

"Aw, are you? Maybe I can help with that."

Smirking, I scooted into his lap, and tucked myself between his legs. Chesnaught grinned quickly and wrapped his arms around my back.

"…So, high risk does earn high reward?"

"Hush up."

We laughed and leaned in, kissing one another. He massaged his arms along my back and ran his tongue against the length of mine. I pulled his face into mine, breathed whatever heat I had into him, and rubbed around his neck. My legs wrapped tightly around his waist and he pressed deeper into my lips.

Softly, we pulled apart after a minute, still breathing against one another. I leaned back enough to look into his dark eyes, trained solely on me. One hand slipped away from him, and I let it dangle off the bridge, near the water.

"Still want to go inside?" I lowered my eyes and brought my hand back up to brush his fur.

"Mm…yeah, I do."

My laughter was replaced by a gasp, as he hopped up and carried me from the bridge. He chuckled and kept his arms tight around me, bringing me back to the palace. It took me a moment to actually resist.

"H-hey! Quit that, this looks so embarrassing!"

"Nah, you're cute like this."

Chesnaught kissed my cheek as my legs brushed against his tail. I couldn't deny that I was enjoying being pampered a little bit.

In spite of the long journey back, and though we were still adjusting to the cold, this place was more familiar now. We started building new ties, made differences, and inspired changes.

This empire had become home.

---

...

Aww, what a cute and happy ending! …Wait, what? The story's not over?!

No, in spite of the sweet potential endpoint, there's still more chapters to come up for this particular fanfic! For now, though, a nice and mushy conclusion to the prophet arc. We finally got through that whole mess!

Meet Mewtwo, the latest addition to my ridiculously large pool of characters! Contrary to usual portrayal of Mewtwo, which take the Pokedex literally on the whole, "most savage heart of all Pokemon," I decided that he could a stark change to that depiction. Because, really, we've all seen and handled Moodytwo and Angrytwo more times than we can count. So, here's the cheerful and oddly upbeat opposite Mewtwo! He enjoys learning and sharing, what a nerd. However, he's also been alone for quite some time, and his origins are unknown, even to himself. Nevertheless, Mewtwo is eager to make friends and attempt to fit in, as nervous as he can be around the Iceberg Empire. Can he get used to it eventually? We'll find out!

If you happened to be confused on his status, then here's the short of it: nope, Mewtwo is not the seer that everyone has been going on about, and actually has no future sight or probability changing powers whatsoever! His exact skill set and prowess is untested comparatively, so there's plenty more to learn about him. As for this prophet…where could they be? Perhaps they don't even exist anymore? Who knows? …Oh, right, me. Whoops.

Beyond that, I did my best with writing land descriptions and used some terminology that I researched and blogged about. It was my best attempt at making the Frozen Fields a more visual experience, which I probably botched, but oh well. Hopefully, we like details, right? No? Ok, well, I bothered.

Anyway, time for me to gush over my new favorite OTP, that being ALAKAZAM AND MACHAMP, YAAAY! They're finally a couple and I can stop pretending that they wouldn't be! Geez, that was so much harder to drag out than I wanted, and I hate waiting on relationships that are obvious, ugh! So, yes, the super cute pair of the MuscularMustacheShipping has pushed past their issues and are an official couple at last. Even if they never become popular together, I will have it known that I originally got the ball rolling for them! …This is honestly a really cute pairing, and I hope that my Sneakpast fans and readers also like them too. Sorry if it's forced onto you, but I love them together.

Oh, and I pushed in some Sneakpast mush, because main couple is still the OTP. They had lovely kisses, tender moments, a third wheel or two, and a crazy adventure back home! …So, what's up with those flowers and not blooming immediately, huh? Is there room for this couple to grow even more? Can we get even more over the top with Chesnaught and Greninja's ever continuing romance? Spoilers: yeah, we can.

And, while they're not completely over their issues, it was nice to have the Polibros. being nice to one another, sort of. It's one of those, "Aww, they really do care about each other" moments. Also, I wonder what's up with Weavile and Froslass. Did Golduck call that right? Dohoho, I'm so clever. (Not really.) And, as a whole, everyone seems to be much more cohesive as a team unit, which is to Empoleon's liking! Remember, some hearts have to be melted, otherwise we can't live up to the title! (Speaking of, it was kind of weird having Empoleon's army seemingly go against him, but nah, he's not a bad guy, and everyone still gets along. Hooray, nothing suspicious going on whatsoever! …Ehehehe…)

There's more that I could probably go on about, but I'm sure we're fed up with reading, so that'll be all for now! Feedback is still really great, and we don't always get that much for this story, but I really appreciate any reviews or messages you guys send my way! I'm happy to respond to comments, criticisms, and questions on any matter, and I hopefully have the answers for them!

Next time with Sneakpast and friends, we might a nice treat to the lore behind the world. But, that won't be for the next chapter, since we're revisiting some old friends first! After all, we need to know what's going on with them, right? …And not the main couple? Whaaat?

Ok, that's enough out of me. Thank you again for reading this far, everyone! And stay tuned for more as it develops, which it surely will get to!