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).

23. Tit For Tat

I'm very tired. This is my new longest chapter. Enjoy the battles that unfold.

...

---

[Chesnaught]

Down a winding path, Delphox and I trudge back to the Iceberg Palace. There are broken ornate railings on one side that suggest it was originally connected to the palace, somehow.

It's odd, but we've both been mostly quiet since Alakazam shared the pathway here. Scratching behind my head, I follow Delphox around the next bend.

"Um." Great start. "Delphox, how are you holding up?"

"Fine."

"Ok, that's…good." I rub my arm as we continue. "…Is there anything on your mind?"

"The way to the palace."

"I meant something you wanted to talk about."

"No, why?"

"Just…curious." He glances back as I shrug. "We haven't gotten a lot of time to just catch up on anything in a while, right?"

"Almost everything we do is connected," contests Delphox. "If we're not training or battling together, we relaying events to one another." He slows and raises an eyebrow at me. "What, are you expecting that I haven't told you about something?"

"Maybe?"

"Just what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Well, it's just…" I sigh. "I don't know, there's stuff about you that I'm sure you don't indulge in telling me about. Greninja and I do things with one another, but we obviously don't share all of the details of every little date or quiet minute alone that we have together."

"Before this goes in a terribly wrong direction," deadpans Delphox, "what's your point?"

"Do I really need one?" I rub my chin. "Can't I just, I don't know, check up on my friend?"

"For what?" He shakes his head. "We're in the middle of a war, and we should be concentrating on our objective."

"Yeah, and we can while we go," I agree. "But…we've got some time to talk, and we might as well calm our nerves a bit, right?"

"Honestly, I'm fine," echoes Delphox. "You're starting to concern me, though."

"Me?"

"Yes, you." Delphox sighs. "You're suddenly bubbling with fears about me that are coming from nowhere, you specifically paired with me over Greninja—"

"That was actually strategic," I defend.

"So you claim, but here we are."

"No, that actually was based on what I thought was a good idea," I argue. "Look, I'm just trying to make up for lost time, ok?"

"…What?"

"Delphox, I…I don't know, I've always kind of felt bad about not becoming friends with you or Gardevoir back home." My arms dangle from their weight. I glance away at a broken pillar, perhaps originally for a tower of some kind. "Before Greninja, I didn't really pay either of you much attention."

"Well, we never went out of our way for you either," he admits. "So that's not a big deal."

"But you guys were picked on," I protest. "If I had paid attention, I could've—"

"Done what? Lost your knight pals faster?" He jerks his head back and twists around at me, his eyes wide before lowering. "Sorry. That was uncalled for."

"It doesn't bother me out here anymore," I realize. "Bisharp was my closest friend, so losing him wasn't great, but…well, the other knights, they didn't accept me. Now, everyone here doesn't care as much about such differences, so it's fine."

"…Are you sure?"

"Of course!" I smirk to him. "Why would that still bother me?"

"Because you got on so well with them during practices, and—you're doing that on purpose, aren't you?"

"Yep."

"Clever."

"Delphox, please." I rest my hand on his shoulder. "It's just us out here. Can't we just talk for a little bit? If it only serves to be a momentary distraction, shouldn't that be a good thing?"

"This is because you've been hanging out with Alakazam, isn't it? He's your new smart friend—"

"A lot of my friends are smart, you included." He doesn't smile with me, and I deflate a bit. "Look, even if you don't feel bad over it, I still wish I had been friends with you sooner. We could have learned more together."

"You act like we've never interacted or fought together in the past," he spits out. "We have, just…not as much as recent times."

"And you've never really been without Gardevoir until now, so I just—"

"I made friends."

"But you're not…" I shrug. "As close with anyone."

"What, are you getting at me needing a…a partner or something?"

"Well, that's worthwhile to address—"

"Forget it." He walks away from me, continuing onward. "Look, I appreciate your concerns with my love life, Chesnaught, but I can handle myself fine on my own."

"My question there would be if you want to be alone, Delphox. Do you?"

He pauses for a moment, but keeps walking quickly after. I hurry behind him to catch up, though it's not hard. His arms are folded now and he's focused starkly ahead of us, as the path finally brings us in sight of the palace.

Rather, the iceberg that houses the palace atop it. My mouth parts open as we approach, and I forget just how high up the whole place as been.

"…Chesnaught, are you all right?" Delphox waves his hand in front of me. "You look like you've gone pale."

"Fine, I'm fine." I rub behind my head. "Let's keep going, we need…we have to climb that, right?"

"That would be the easiest way up, yes."

"Yeah…"

"…Look, we can do some…bonding or whatever nonsense you have in your head later, ok?" He rolls his eyes and folds his arms. "Let's just get up there and get this all over with."

"Right." My shoulders drop and I shake my head. "Sorry, Delphox."

"Enough." He glares at me now. "You have nothing to apologize for, not anymore. We're friends today, we work well enough together, and we should be helping our new kingdom." Delphox softens and smirks at me. "Come on."

Though he's pressing on again, I'm not as quick to chase after him. My heartbeat quickens as we approach, and I gaze up the iceberg. We approach it and Delphox is wandering around, looking for the easier entry routes that Alakazam had mapped out for us before.

"If we can find the right place to start, we can walk up this like a ramp or hill." Delphox glances at me, but then pivots back and jumps. "There we are! We can climb up starting with this, and then it won't be as much of struggle to…" He pauses and spins back to me. "Chesnaught?"

"Huh? Yeah, yeah, right. Let's go."

"…You know, if we go any slower, Greninja and the others will get here before we've gotten inside." He lowers his eyes and folds his arms. "Don't you think he'll be a little bit, oh, upset about you not being there right away for him?"

"What?!" I puff out my chest. "I'll be there! You and I have to rescue Emperor Empoleon!"

"And what if Greninja did all of that by now?" Delphox sighs and slowly shakes his head. "Honestly, with the time we're wasting—"

"Greninja isn't going to need to worry about any of that!" I charge at the entry point and march up. "He'll come in right as we get Empoleon and Abomasnow out of there. And then we'll all have a nice laugh about them being slower than us, and it'll be especially funny because Greninja is like twice as fast as me!"

"Is that so?"

"Definitely so!"

"Huh. We'd better get a move on, then."

"We are!"

Pausing, I blink, and stare ahead at the narrowing path of ice. Slowly, I turn my head and spot that I've already charged up at least a story by this point. Delphox pats my shoulder and passes me.

"Just concentrate on getting there before Greninja, and you'll be fine."

Inhaling sharply, I nod as I follow him. The ice crunches beneath our feet, and I listen to bits of ice crack and tumble down the iceberg. Still, we press on.

"How do you think everyone else is holding up?" My head jerks up at Delphox's question. "Do you think they're holding the lines they need to, or however that's phrased?"

"Uh…probably? We don't have a way to tell."

"True." Delphox snorts as he presses against the ice, sidestepping along a thin pathway. "I can't even see the city from here. Hopefully Carracosta has cleared everyone out."

"Yeah." I hold my breath as I begin to follow him again.

Ice still cracks beneath us, and part of me waits for everything to give out, to fall. But we don't, and as the path widens slightly, we pick up the pace once again.

---

[Eastern City Canals]

Through the watercourses of the city, Carracosta raced around, leaping up after a bit of travel to see if anyone was in the nearby areas he reached. Once he found no one around, or as soon as he warned any stragglers that remained, he dove back into the water and swam around again.

Swimming through the canal, he swayed in the water and jetted around the bend, racing along to his next stop.

He jumped up and ducked into his shell, spinning around as he landed. Popping back out after a moment, Carracosta glanced around the eastern end of the city, looking at a temple, then to houses, and finally stepped toward the former. Walking up the steps, he peered inside, searching past the columns outside the structure.

"Hello? Is anyone in there?" He blinked at his voice's echoes, and stepped further within. Icy pews awaited inside, coated in snow, suggesting no one had been there recently. "Last call, this is a knight from Emperor Empoleon's palace. Is anyone here? If so, you need to clear out, immediately!" He waited a moment, garnering no responses from the quiet temple. Nodding, he gazed at the altar for a moment before turning away, exiting soon after.

Back outside, Carracosta made his way over to the houses. As he approached, a dormouse charged from behind a building and raced away from him.

"Hey! Wait, you need to…!" Carracosta watched as the small mouse scurried away from him, and away from the city itself. "Uh…actually, yeah, that should be the right way out."

Rubbing behind his head, Carracosta waited a moment, but no one else emerged from the building. He opened the door and called within, but earned no response. Exhaling, he walked away, and folded his arms.

"It'll take too damn long to search all of these buildings for anyone else," he murmured. "I probably shouldn't call out from my position, but…" Cupping his flippers around his mouth, he shouted out, "If anyone else is waiting for further instructions from the Empire, this is it! Clear out of the city! This is an emergency, and you need to evacuate immediately! Orders from the emperor himself!" Carracosta lowered his arms and waited quietly, but nothing stirred from the area around him. He gripped his tekko and narrowed his eyes.

"If no one's around, then that'll about do it," he mumbled. "Should be on my way back over toward the palace anyway."

"Excuse me! Please, do help, sir knight!"

Squeezing his eyes shut, Carracosta dropped his shoulders. Spiraling around, he opened his eyes as a mystic bird approached him. Lowering his eyes, Carracosta waited as the green and white bird neared.

"Thank heavens, it's good to see you." The bird laughed. "I thought I was done for, after everyone else raced away whilst I snoozed!"

"Interesting, that you could sleep through the bells, deacon." Carracosta tilted his head. "Question, though, why weren't you at the temple?"

"There? Oh, I had been on a, um, a house call for someone," managed the bird. "A member of the congregation, and one that—"

"Also, I find it odd, sir," Carracosta interrupted, tightening his grip on the tekko again, "that you seem to have lost a marking across your body." He pointed below at the bird. "One less and someone might mistake you for a female, no?"

The bird quieted, shuffling his wings. Carracosta stepped back as a crooked dagger glinted from between his adversary's wings.

"Illusions don't work well if you didn't do the proper research," he snapped.

Cracking, the mystic bird twisted and flashed, as Zoroark twisted out of his illusion. He brought up his blade, but quickly clutched at his body.

"Persisting pain?" Carracosta snorted. "All this time, and you managed to not get patched up."

"Wasn't my choice," hissed Zoroark.

"Eh? Working with ruthless types and yet not expecting such harsh treatment from them in return?" Carracosta touched his chest. "Next you'll tell me you didn't think murdering folks would be unpopular with the city!"

"We haven't killed," protested Zoroark.

"All the more reason to stop you now, then!"

Striking at the ground, Carracosta launched shards of ice at Zoroark, who faltered as they needled him.

Dashing forward, Carracosta slammed his tekko against the ground, ripping another barrage of ice at Zoroark.

"Closing distance won't make this easy for you," snapped Zoroark, batting shards away. "In fact…"

With a wicked grin, Zoroark charged to Carracosta, blade lifted to strike. Carracosta stepped back, narrowing his eyes.

Distance closed as the prototurtle spun around, with Zoroark slashing wildly at his sturdy shell, failing to damage Carracosta.

Spiraling around with his arm outstretched, Carracosta slammed a heavy blow into Zoroark, rocketing the fox away and crashing back against the snow.

Bouncing from the frosted ground and skidding against it, Zoroark groaned, clutching at his body as he came to a halt.

"Pathetic." Carracosta strolled forward, flippers lifted again. "You're not even capable of fighting like this, so why bother?"

"Orders are…" Zoroark coughed, and pushed back up from the ground.

"You lot and your orders are pissing me off."

Breaking into a run, Carracosta jumped up as he closed the space between him and Zoroark again. Zoroark lifted his arm, putting his dagger up as the turtle flew at him.

A green blur flew from behind the fox, and grabbed Carracosta from the air, smashing him down into the ground.

Flygon rode Carracosta back across the ice for some distance, and kicked off from him as they crashed against a house. He flew back to Zoroark, and landed down beside him.

"Blasted dragon," grumbled Carracosta, and he pushed himself up from the wall. Shouting from a growl, "Come on! That all you got?!"

"Not even close," snarled Flygon, raising his wings.

Launching forward, Flygon flew through the air, and quickly tackled Carracosta straight through the building.

Lifting his arm, Carracosta struck at a pillar, and cried out as his arm flew up, smacking Flygon in the face. They both crashed down, sliding against the kitchen of the abandoned home.

"Ha, was that your attack?" Flygon hopped up, flapping away to reposition himself. "That was just awful."

Smirking, Carracosta glanced behind him, and dove out of the nearest window. Flygon blinked, as a rumbling sounded from above.

"…Ah."

Only having the time to look up, Flygon was quickly buried under the crumbling house, as the floors collapsed down over him.

Yelling, Zoroark hurried to the house, clawing furiously at the building's ruins. Carracosta approached him, tekko raised.

"This has lasted long enough."

"Not nearly," hissed Zoroark, gripping his dagger.

Bursting from the rubble, Flygon soared up and dove down, slamming Carracosta away with his tail. Bloodied and battered, he wiped at his face, glaring as Carracosta flew back and smashed down.

Pushing himself back up, Carracosta glowered ahead at the pair, and panted as his body shook. Listening to the watercourse run behind him, he glanced back as the couple neared him.

"This is the end of the line," called Flygon. "First, you die. Next, we finish off your precious city." His tail spiked against the ground, and he crouched as he raised his wings. "How sad that you're to meet your fate alone."

"Ha, what's sad is that I'm able to handle both of you on my own," mocked Carracosta. "Not that long ago, you two seemed a lot more threatening."

Before they could retort back, Carracosta fell back into the water, and splashed into it.

Flygon and Zoroark exchanged baffled expressions, but a burst from the water returned their attention forward. Carracosta launched from the canal, encased in water as he tackled into the pair.

Both took off and crashed against the ice, bouncing and skidding back as shards cracked and flew from the ground past them. They slowed as they smacked into the rubble, stopping as they were crushed between ice and stone.

Carracosta touched down against the ground, and heaved as he pushed back up. He glared ahead as Flygon pulled Zoroark from the broken house, and unsteadily lifted him back into the air.

"Cowards!" Sputtering a bit, Carracosta coughed and fumbled forward, barely steadying himself back up. "You better get lost! Or the next time I see you, I'll make sure it's the last!"

Panting again, Carracosta watched as Flygon carried Zoroark away, far outside of his range. Narrowing his eyes, he surveyed the ruined cityscape around him. Sighing, he shook his head, and dove back into the canal behind him.

As the turtle jetted through the watercourse and away from the area, Flygon flapped his wings and gazed down. He glanced at Zoroark, who he cradled in his arms.

"That should have been enough, right?" He lowered his head against the fox's messy mane. "They can't retaliate against us for that one."

"If he survives…what we did won't matter," managed Zoroark. "Just…get us out of here." He coughed and rolled back into Flygon. "They…better…"

Hushing the fox, Flygon soared away from the broken house and the empty temple.

---

[Greninja]

My hands paddle at the water, and I scoop it away, propelling myself forward as I kick to swim along.

From beside me, Golduck dips down lower into the canal, but launches up. Poliwrath surges past, pushing him along.

"What?!"

"Keep moving."

"I was!"

"Eyes front, then."

Huffing between the splashes, I paddle on, following them as the current helps carry us a bit onward.

Politoed swims along the other side of me, going at a much steadier pace than the other two. He smiles to me, and pulls himself onward.

"Hey, do we have a thought out path?"

"Well, if we need to reach the palace…" Politoed slows, and bounces from the water, grabbing at the ledge above us. "We should take a turn up ahead, Poliwrath! Left, ok?"

"Got it."

He flips backwards and curls into a ball, splashing back into the water behind me. Swimming below the surface, Politoed then pops back up beside me.

"Oh sure, he does it, and it's fine," complains Golduck. "I do it, and we assume nothing but bad intentions."

"Do you ever have good intentions, Golduck?" Politoed smacks the water to launch it at Golduck, mostly missing.

"Only the best for my darling Greninja."

"He's not your darling," spits Poliwrath, and dunks Golduck into the watercourse.

They struggle a bit as Politoed and I pass them, but Golduck forces his way back up, shoving Poliwrath away from him.

"You'll kill me if you keep that up!"

"If only."

"Piss off!"

"Can we please focus, you guys?" Their struggle ceases as I call out. "I don't exactly have these canals mapped out. And it's preferable we all get to the palace in one piece."

"We'll get there, Greninja." Politoed pushes ahead, turning at the wall before us. "Left here, come."

Guiding me on, I swim after Politoed, and we continue to propel along the watercourse. We continue down, but slow as another wall blocks the way forward, with a gate blocking the waterway. At least, enough to keep us out, while the water runs through.

"Should we get out here?"

"Nah, no need."

Poliwrath brushes past, and rests one hand against the grate. Pulling his arm back, he slams his fist against the gate, the clang ringing out around us, and dents it inward.

"Should take another three good hits," determines Politoed. "You want help?"

"Nope, you're good." Poliwrath hammers his fist into the gate again. "This is cathartic, actually!"

"Of course he finds solace in hitting things," mutters Golduck, swaying in the water behind us.

Narrowing his eyes, Politoed pulls his head back. Dropping his jaw, a spray of water rockets from him, and smacks Golduck back across the water, pushing him a few feet away.

"Wow." Poliwrath chuckles. "Nice shot."

"Been saving that up." Politoed wipes his mouth, and shakes his head a bit. "He doesn't know when to quit."

"That's Golduck for you." Another punch into the grate, and it bends inward more.

"His specialty is getting under anyone and everyone's skins," I murmur.

"Yeah, we know that well enough." Politoed sighs. "It's weird how you can look up to his work ethic, but his personality is just utter trash."

"Tell me about it." Poliwrath grabs both of his fists together, and slams them into the gate again, knocking it open. "Ha! Now that's what I'm talking about!"

"You've got one more ahead, brother."

"Ah, crap." He flexes his hands before paddling under the tunnel. "Ok, give me a few seconds."

"Are you sure you don't want help?" I swim over to him, and he glances back.

"Oh, uh, no, you're good, Greninja." He winks and nods. "That's sweet of you to offer though, thanks!"

"Uh, sure." I drift back a bit.

"Sorry, that wasn't a pass or anything, honest." Poliwrath turns back to me. "Actually, I've been meaning to apologize to you for a while now. My brother and I were acting like immature lechers around you."

"He's right, we're sorry," chimes in Politoed. "We spent too much time with the bears and Golduck, and just developed bad habits for ourselves."

"And then we fought with one another, spiking rage and only fueling that behavior."

"It's inexcusable, and we're really embarrassed, and ashamed, about how we acted around you before," admits Politoed. "We apologized to Chesnaught earlier, but we haven't gotten to talk with you until now."

"Yeah, that." Poliwrath sighs. "Golduck puts you through enough already, and we were too stupid to notice that a whole lot sooner." He shrugs. "You don't have to accept our apology. We just want you to know that we'll do anything to make up for what we did before."

"Wholeheartedly."

"Um…thank you both?" I rub behind my head. "I don't…really know what to—"

"Don't worry about it," insists Politoed. "We covered everything that needs to be."

"Nothing you need to go nuts for," agrees Poliwrath. "We're just going to start by keeping Golduck off you as much as possible, and then work on more ways to apologize after."

"Right." I swallow and nod. "Thank you."

"Sure." Politoed taps his brother. "Knock that thing open and let's keep going."

"You got it!"

Driving his arms back and forward, he pounds at the gate, knocking it open in no time. Golduck drifts up behind us as the grate crashes below the surface.

"Stunning, we're breaking our own city now," deadpans Golduck. "Just more restoration work, I suppose?"

"Better by our hands and better things that don't impact anyone's lives directly," snaps Politoed.

"Come on, let's keep on swimming," directs Poliwrath, and he paddles forward.

Pausing a moment, I follow him when I realize that Politoed is forcing distance between Golduck and I. They splash along behind, and we follow the flow of the canals again.

Poliwrath swims to the right, and around the corner, the watercourse widens, and there's a platform with stairs leading back to the city above.

"This doesn't seem like anywhere of importance." Poliwrath floats near it.

"Did I not just literally mention maintenance for the city?" Golduck swims to the platform and climbs up. "They have these scattered about the canals, if you just pay attention and look for them."

"Where are you going?"

"Checking the city," spits Golduck. "Someone should check to make sure that Carracosta got around everywhere."

"He had a good start over us," reminds Politoed. "He's probably already come through here, by now anyway."

"Whatever." Golduck starts up the stairs. "It's not like we're going to need to sneak through in the water if no one's here, so let's at least look around." He pauses and spins around. "And yes, we should make sure that we're taking the fastest route to the palace, so stopping to do this is useful."

Poliwrath rolls his eyes while Politoed shakes his head. Neither argues, though, and the three of us follow Golduck up the stairwell.

My heart sinks as we reach the top, and I spot multiple collapsed buildings, each now a mound of broken ice and rubble.

"This is horrible." I frown at a shattered statue. "Where are we?"

"This is just a housing district." Golduck kicks at a stone near his foot, which connects with a faulty pillar, knocking down the remains of another home. "There's nothing to gain by breaking this place down, but clearly they went for it."

"Why would they waste time here?" Politoed scratches his head. "There's no need to stop here to get to the palace."

"They're probably trying to check for civilians," darkly decides Poliwrath.

"For—?"

"Hostages," deadpans Golduck. "Folks they can use against us."

"If no one's here, then it proves Carracosta did his work." Poliwrath spirals around. "Let's get back into the water."

"Hold on."

"Golduck, why?" Politoed follows him as he slowly walks forward. "We're not going to gain anything by—"

"Shut up." He points ahead, to a larger pile of rubble. "There."

We gaze across at a purple creature with…I think pipes for his head. He digs and punches at ice and stone from a building, hurries over to another side of it, and repeats his panic motions. Listening more closely, I can hear him…whimper.

"No…no…have to find them…" He frantically looks around and shudders with every move he makes. "They can't be gone…I'll be in so much trouble if…oh no, no…"

"That's one of them," hisses Golduck.

"…Did he do this?"

"Easily."

"But…what's he looking for?"

"Citizens of course!"

Still watching him, I can't seem to connect that conclusion, in spite of it having some sense to it. For some reason, he seems like he's searching for someone specific, not a random civilian to use.

Just as I'm coming up with that conclusion though, I blink and spot Golduck already halfway over to him, with Poliwrath and Politoed quietly trying to get him to stop.

"Hey!" They're too late.

"Huh?!" The enemy jumps up, and holds up his arms near his face. "No! Not you! This can't be happening!"

"Surprise, it is." Golduck draws his blade. "Time for you to die."

"W-wait, please!" Exploud backs away, jumping at the rubble behind him. "Ah! No, I need to find them!"

"You're not finding anyone but us here."

"But—"

Golduck dashes forward before anyone can reach him. He jumps forward, cleaving down with his blade, as the enemy dives away.

"Stop!" He backs away as Golduck lifts his sword. "I…I'm warning you…!"

"Golduck, stop, damn it!" Poliwrath rushes in, as Politoed and I hurry behind. "He's not doing anything, and we—"

"He destroyed this whole district!"

"We don't know that yet," argues Politoed.

"It-it wasn't my idea," protests the creature. "I-I just—"

"Direct confession!" Golduck raises his blade, shoving Poliwrath aside. "Let's go."

"No, no, no!"

My eyes narrow as the enemy's mouth wavers, and I spy him inhaling. Gripping Politoed, I tug him back, and he launches his tongue out to stop Poliwrath from advancing.

The creature drops his jaw open, practically the length of his body, as Golduck leaps up to strike again, and a massive sonic waves erupt from his mouth, with the ground around us shaking.

They connect easily with Golduck, who goes flying backwards from his opponent and crashes down across the way.

Wide-eyed, our adversary jumps up, facing us and panting, but tightens his fists. He's shivering, shaking terribly, and step away from the others, raising my hands.

"Do-don't!"

"Ok, ok." I stop and lift my hands up higher for him to see. "I'm sorry about him—"

"N-no you're not!" He stomps down and his mouth begins to open. "He's on y-your side! Your friend!"

"Ah, he's our ally, but definitely not my friend. We just work together." I maintain my position as his eyes twitch. "Don't you have others that you're working with? Would you call them friends?"

"None of them are!" He curls up, tightening his hands over his mouth. "I…I don't want to work with any of them!"

"You don't?"

"No!"

"Then why?"

"Because I…I have to!"

"Uh…" I shake my head. "Hang on, I don't even know your name." I force a smile. "My name is Greninja."

"It…it's Exploud."

"All right, Exploud; got it." He shudders at his name, and I keep my grin up. "Why are you working with a group that you don't want to be with?"

"They're making me!" He whimpers. "They keep making me…"

"For how long—?"

A shout rings out behind me, and I twist around as Politoed and Poliwrath rush into Golduck's path. His sword is back up and he's charging in.

"Liar!" I jolt and spiral back to Exploud. "You…you were distracting me!"

"No, Exploud no, I wasn't—"

"You're all trying to-to kill me!"

"That's not true—"

"Yes it is!" His hands fall away and he's got his fists up. "They told me you would!"

"Please—"

There's nothing more that I can do, as Exploud inhales sharply. I dart away from him, running back as Poliwrath and Politoed grasp Golduck, who thrashes against them.

Another heavy bellow rings out from behind me, and I dive aside, as the sound waves fly past me. I twist around as the tremors quake, seeing the others barely leap aside as well.

Exploud pants heavily and shrinks back for a moment, but forces himself up and stomps forward. His mouth is hanging open, and he makes no efforts to close it again.

"Tricking me won't work!" He glares as he looks around, spotting me. "They'll do worse to me if I don't do what I'm told!"

"Why?" I back away as he approaches. "Exploud, why are they coercing you into this?"

"Stop asking me that!" He grips his head and shakes it. "You're just trying to trick me again!"

"Not at all, honest—"

"Greninja, shut up and move!"

Groaning, I pick myself up as Golduck darts out again, with Politoed and Poliwrath scrambling to rise as well.

He runs to us as I back up, but Exploud sidesteps his sword stroke. He follows up with a rough punch to Golduck's gut, knocking the wind right out of him.

Grabbing Golduck, Exploud roars and launches him high, flying off until he slams down, amid a broken pile of ice.

My hand goes back for my tachi, as Exploud spins back around to me. He growls and lowers his eyes, stomping down against the snow.

"Hey, big-mouth!"

Jerking up, Exploud turns as Poliwrath lands a heavy punch against him. He staggers back as Poliwrath follows up with another couple of punches, knocking him back further.

On his next blow, though, his fist gets caught in Exploud's hand. He grows as Poliwrath tugs back.

"That's enough!" Sucking in air, Exploud rears his head back.

While he inhales, though, a stream of water fires into his mouth. Gagging on it, Exploud coughs and releases Poliwrath, doubling back as he grips his throat.

Politoed grips his brother back up, and readies his nunchaku. Hacking, Exploud shakes his head and glares at them.

"You…you…!"

"Yes, us." Politoed winks. "Ready?"

"Yep."

Both dart at Exploud, separating from one another as he struggles to follow them. I unsheathe my blade as I try to follow their movements.

Poliwrath dashes up along the left, pulling back his fist as he approaches. Exploud turns to face him.

As he does, Poliwrath slows while Politoed dives forward from the right, whipping his nunchaku around and striking at our opponent.

Spinning to catch the weapon, Exploud wails as Poliwrath slams his fists into him, knocking him around.

Laughing, Politoed swings his weapons around, striking around Exploud's body. He hits the front, and then the side; Poliwrath punches low, and then uppercuts.

Both brothers trade positions and pull back to strike again, but Exploud roars out, knocking both back.

Dashing in, I slide in front of the two as they push up from the ground. Exploud winces at the sight of my sword, and steps back.

Golduck strides over to us, pointing his blade forward. He scowls as Exploud takes another step back.

"Too many…too many…"

"Now might be a good time for you to surrender," offers Politoed.

"No…never!"

Opening his mouth, Exploud bellows with a shout to the sky. I cry out and grip my head as the shout rings across the area, with the earth quaking below.

The heavy uproar dies down after a minute, and I slowly lower my hands. Golduck and the brothers do the same, wincing as they do.

Exploud is nowhere to be seen.

"Now what?" Poliwrath flexes his hands.

"There's nothing left here," determines Politoed. "We need to keep moving."

"Back to the waters, then."

Nodding, I follow Politoed into the canal, hurrying down the stairs. Golduck starts behind me, but I hear him yelp. I smirk as Politoed jumps in.

Diving after him, I submerge into the water. Resurfacing, I paddle quickly after Politoed, with Poliwrath and Golduck splashing behind us.

---

[Inner City Border]

Clouds darkened as thunder filled the sky. Malamar raised his tendrils, as lightning crackled through the air. He chuckled quietly as the blue and white flashes sparked, increasing with each flash that lit the clouds above him.

Casting his arm down in a jagged motion, a bolt followed, and ripped down toward Froslass.

She raised her staff, with a pyramid of ice forming around her. The lightning jolted down, and blasted away at her makeshift fortress.

Fragments of the ice cascaded from the air, as the iceberg rapidly whittled down. Narrowing her eyes, Froslass flew back as the ice shattered entirely.

"Whatever happened to 'barely passable,' huh?" Malamar laughed. "Did you really think that you would be any kind of a match for me?"

A geyser rocketed up beneath him and launched the squid further into the sky. He sailed down, but lifted a pile of snow to meet him, breaking the fall.

"Rotten little wench," snarled Malamar, as he pushed himself up.

Snow around him, however, hardened and froze around his body, locking him in place quickly.

Smirking, Froslass floated up, as Malamar thrashed against the ice that encased him.

"Honestly, that's the annoying part about you." She drifted toward him, as he scowled at her. Lightly, she flicked at one of his loose tendrils. "You act arrogant, high and mighty, like you're so stationed above others." Froslass shook her head. "But when you're put in your place proper, the real you comes out."

"You haven't even seen my true self thus far," threatened Malamar.

"Oh." Froslass shrugged. "Guess I won't see him at all, then."

She lifted her arms and spread them out. Facing each hand inward, she slowly began to move them closer together.

As Froslass guided her hands in, the snow and ice around Malamar crunched, as it closed in on him. He writhed against it, with the frost cracking slightly.

"Witch!"

Kricketune leapt up, impaling into the ice that encased Malamar. She flung herself up, and swiped at Froslass, as an icy arrow forced her from the sky.

Her arms parted, Froslass's trap weakened, and Malamar shoved his tentacles past the frozen snow, breaking his way out. Another arrow zipped out at him, but he cast a ball of fire to melt it away before it reached him.

"Aha…I chose wisely." Malamar floated back from Froslass. "You, however, have a woefully inferior companion to assist your battle."

"Probably a whole lot better than your shifty little bug," countered Froslass.

Twirling her arms, she launched a barrage of purple and white spells, as Malamar crafted a green barrier to deflect them.

Below, Kricketune rolled over, jumping up and slashing away at another arrow. She narrowed her eyes, and spotted Weavile on top of a pedestal.

Dashing over, she lifted her arms and vaulted across at Weavile. The weasel slid from the pedestal and tumbled onto the snow, knocking it up at Kricketune. Pulling her bow, she fired out at the cricket, who spiraled past the slush and sliced it in half.

Kricketune closed the distance, and charged over to slash at Weavile. Holding her bow back behind her, Weavile unsheathed her dagger, blocking Kricketune's first strike.

Swiping with her free arm, Kricketune cut for Weavile's body, but had her knifelike arm swatted back by Weavile's bow.

With a growl, Weavile punched at Kricketune's stomach, knocking her back. She parried the dagger's next slash, and Kricketune's wings opened, as she flew back.

Sheathing her dagger, Weavile pivoted back and readied another icy arrow, pulling back on her bowstring. She shot it out at Kricketune, who swiped it aside.

Forming another ice arrow, Weavile backpedaled as Kricketune advanced on her again, and fired another shot. Bending back, Kricketune evaded it, and continued her approach.

Weavile gritted her teeth, and created three ice arrows, firing them from her bow together. Kricketune spun her arms in a circular motion, and slashed each one to bits.

"Is the archery seriously all that you can do?" Kricketune ran in to Weavile.

"Already used my dagger before," reminded Weavile. She tugged it back out from her sheath.

Striking rapidly, Kricketune stabbed at Weavile, who parried and evaded each blow. Twisting back, Weavile delivered a kick to Kricketune's chest, knocking her back again. Kricketune winced as she panted.

"You're not as fast as I am," assessed Weavile.

"So what?" Kricketune swept her arm out. "Think that I can't keep up with you anyway?"

"Probably not." Weavile aimed with her bow. "Up to you. I can do this all day."

Rolling her eyes, Kricketune buzzed sharply, and rubbed her arms as she crossed them over, crying out.

Malamar flew down from the air, lobbing a fireball at Weavile, before soaring back up, as Froslass pointed her scepter at him, blasting an icy barrage at him.

Dodging the fire, Weavile rolled past a melted igloo, and then crawled into it. Dropping on her back, she kicked up the top, knocking the roof open.

Hopping to her feet, Weavile nocked an arrow back in her bow, and fired another shot at Kricketune, who ducked below it, as she charged at her opponent.

Another two arrows readied, Weavile opened fire, shooting the pair at Kricketune, who slashed them apart. Smirking, Weavile ducked down, and peered out from the broken igloo's opening.

Firing her arrow, it sped out, slicing at Kricketune's leg. The cricket cried out as she dropped to ground, her momentum lost.

Propping herself back up, Weavile launched another trio of arrows, each one striking at Kricketune's body.

Though she winced as she forced herself back up, Kricketune glared ahead, and staggered onward. She crossed her arms across her body and flew forward.

Weavile's eyes widened and she ducked to the floor, as Kricketune slashed through the ice and broke the rest of the igloo open. She touched down and landed, swiping flakes of ice from her blades.

Pulling back on her bow again, Weavile aimed for Kricketune.

"Ok, that's really getting on my nerves."

"Shouldn't fight an archer, then."

Letting the arrow loose, Weavile watched as Kricketune waited and slashed it away. She inhaled and created another arrow.

Glancing up, though, she spotted Malamar fly forward, and slammed Froslass down with his tentacles. Redirecting the bow, she launched the arrow up, as Kricketune hurried over to her.

The arrow whizzed past Malamar, as he twisted away to evade it. Froslass summoned a powerful gust to blast Malamar off.

Flying down, she held up her Icicle Staff, and pulled it back. As Kricketune neared Weavile, Froslass swung forward, smacking the cricket's body as she darted past.

A small tornado picked up as Froslass soared back up, and she blasted a cyan beam at it. It slowed, but still rushed forward at her.

Flowing down from the air, Froslass glared as the whirlwind chased her. She hesitated before a pile of ruin, and twisted behind it as the tornado came close.

It sucked in the stone and ice, but some tipped inward. Malamar yelped as he was knocked from the twister, breaking its formation.

"Pretty pathetic," mocked Froslass, rising from the snow.

"Oh, I've absolutely had enough of this."

Malamar blasted Froslass back with a bolt of lightning, and soared down to Kricketune, as she pushed herself up from the ground.

"Are you bleeding?"

"In a few places, yeah." Kricketune tilted her head. "What, you care?"

"I need it."

"You what?"

"This will sting, but it'll also cure your cuts." Red aura lit around Malamar's tentacles, as he rotated the two in a circular formation. "Ready?"

"Not really, but you'll go ahead anyway." Kricketune shrugged. "So do it."

Grasping at her with his tentacles, the red energy jolted from his body and across hers. She cried out as her wounds lit in the aura, and slowly washed away, with the light flowing back to Malamar's tentacles.

"Sufficient." Malamar spiraled away from her, whipping away an arrow. "Quit playing and kill the archer."

"Sure…thing." Kricketune blinked and surveyed her body, noting the missing damage. "Does…this usually…feel weird?"

"Hexes tend to, yes." He twisted back to her, and nodded. "Actually, if you're feeling weakened…"

Grabbing her again, one tentacle lit in another red aura, the other in blue. He flipped himself and Kricketune around quickly across the air, with the energy flowing around her body.

Pulling back from her, he nodded, and flew back into the sky. Kricketune shook her head, and steadied herself.

Another arrow flew at her, and she brushed it aside as it closed in. She jerked back at the ease, and then crouched down. Spotting Weavile past an archway, she dashed forward against the snow.

Malamar narrowed his eyes and smiled as Kricketune rushed at Weavile, slicing the arch's pillar with her knifelike arms.

"Blood magic? Really?"

He spiraled around as Froslass drifted back to him, glowering as she dusted her scepter off. She pointed it to him, the orb at the top glowing.

"Of course." Malamar swayed in the air as he chuckled. "After all, you fight a witch with her flavor of magic."

"Using blood is beneath me."

"Somehow, I would imagine you're lying." Malamar floated up further, a red bolt crackling across his tentacle. "Strangely, though, you don't seem to be making use of your better spells."

"You're not worth the effort."

"Or the truth is that you're afraid." Malamar smirked. "Hexes require steep payments, of course." He spun around as he swayed, letting the red power jolt up and down his body. "Sometimes it requires destroying the land in just the right way, sometimes hurting those you love, or hate, and sometimes you sacrifice a soul or two…oh, all of the lovely, intricate ways they work…!"

"Wow…you're really off." Froslass tilted her head. "Are you always just mad in both senses, or am I the lucky one today?"

"There isn't any luck to you, dear." Malamar's eyes widened. "Only misery."

Swirling around, his arms crackled with red and fuchsia light. He spun quicker, and drifted closer to Froslass, who jabbed her staff forward, blasting a spray of ice. A red bolt seared through it, and Malamar shot forward.

With a couple of rotations in the opposite direction, he rapidly spun back and sliced at Froslass with his charged tentacles, manically slashing down her scepter and then her.

"This will certainly be more enjoyable now." Malamar laughed as he descended down after Froslass. Arrows zipped past him, but were swallowed into red bubbles that floated behind the squid.

Lowering her bow, Weavile gazed ahead at where Froslass had crashed down. Tightening her grip, she ran forward, only to have Kricketune slide into her way.

"Move."

"Make me."

"Gladly."

Raising her bow, Weavile brought her claw forward. She gasped as Kricketune leapt forward and opened her wings, flying at her with more speed than before.

Weavile pivoted to evade a stab, and grabbed at her dagger. Kricketune spun and tackled into her, slamming the weasel back into the remains of a minka.

"It's always the same story with your kind," accused Kricketune.

"What, soldiers?" Weavile slid from the broken structure and lifted herself up.

"No, you upper scale crooks." Kricketune swiped one knifelike arm across the other. "Holding yourselves high and mighty, thinking you don't have to deal with the rest of us that you think belong beneath you." She glanced down and kicked at the snow. "Even the ground is smoother here than outside this city."

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about—"

"Oh, please." Kricketune pointed forward. "That ornate dagger? You really carry that around and pretend to be blind to the plight of the poor, oblivious to the truth?"

"Not at all." Weavile lowered her eyes. "But you go ahead, act like you know me." She shook her head, stepping to the side. "Just do that while I go over here."

"Don't bother!" Kricketune jumped forward, and stabbed at the wall as Weavile dove aside. "Your rich little friend is going to suffer, as are you, and all of your Emperor's precious little pets."

"So, what's your goal?" Weavile raised an eyebrow, as she stood up. "Kill all the rich, feed the poor, and never listen to anything in between?"

"Sounds good."

"Ha, you're just as pretentious as those you hate."

"Like you understand?"

"Again, act as if you know me." Weavile pulled out her bow, and backed away from Kricketune. "I've got someone more important to help out."

"Enough of those damned arrows!"

Flying forward, Kricketune slashed at Weavile, as she backpedaled. Her bow, however, was caught between Kricketune's bladed arms.

"This…" Kricketune roughly rotated her arms, breaking right through the bow and cleaving it apart. "…There we go."

Weavile pulled back on the icy arrow formed in her claw, and stabbed it into Kricketune's shoulder. As the bug yelped, Weavile kicked her away, and dashed off.

She glanced back, took in one last view of her broken bow, and turned away. Pulling out her dagger, she rushed to Malamar, as he drifted down.

---

[Frozen Fields]

Out in the snowy fields beyond the city border, Machamp and Alakazam walked together, glancing back to their home's direction. Shaking his head, Alakazam continued as he turned away, while Machamp slowly followed. They passed a cluster of buried stones and ice, listening to the wind for a moment.

"Alakazam?"

"Hm?"

"We're far enough out, aren't we?"

"…Probably, yes."

Both halted and gazed at one another. They frowned, and turned once again to the direction the city was in.

"This is a probable convergence point." Alakazam scanned the area. "If they're looking to destroy resources, flee the city and hide, take an alternate path to the cannons, this is where they'll end up."

"Then they'll probably send a scout ahead to check this is a safe spot," determined Machamp. He unsheathed a sword and rested it in his palm. "We take care of that one, and we can move on, at least for a moment."

"That could give us time to help Quagsire, or Weavile and Froslass," assessed Alakazam. "Aiding one of their assignments will likely help us here too."

"Maybe not, though." Machamp studied his blade. "If we're trying to help them, then that gives them a clear location to rest and recover." He sheathed his sword. "This spot, should we stay here, will be the best way to limit their chances at returning to the city and the palace, once the others succeed."

"If that's the case…we're potentially in the most dangerous location."

"Yep."

"Charming."

"Didn't think you'd like thinking much about that," joked Machamp. "There's a lot of uncertainty about them using the fields too."

"Huh?"

"Nothing dictates that they come here." Machamp scratched behind his head. "It's a spot they're likely to come to, but—"

"That's theoretically, I understand." Alakazam sighed, and twisted a spoon in his hand. "But as you pointed out, leaving it would prove tactically unsound."

"Right." Machamp shrugged. "We're gambling with their use of the fields."

"Lovely." Alakazam raised his spoons, pressing them together. "That's not factoring in the caverns they can make use of, is it?"

"Nope."

"Splendid, so they can still surprise even us." Alakazam's eyes twitched as he studied the spoons. "We'll see who gets that advantage, though."

"Hopefully us." Machamp adjusted his belt, and shifted his weight, glancing back to Alakazam. "So…what do you think?"

"That they'll be dumb enough to overestimate whoever they send to keep this place clear, and won't believe much in resistance."

"Actually, I meant otherwise."

"Huh?" Alakazam blinked and raised an eyebrow. "What are you getting at?"

"…Did we do the right thing?"

Lowering his spoons, Alakazam looked up to Machamp, who stared quietly at him. They both held their silence, as did the world around them. Picking at his mustache, Alakazam shook his head.

"That's not something we can change anymore." Alakazam stepped closer to Machamp. "We chose this."

"Sure, I know." Machamp smirked. "Not like we had much for options, unless you wanted—"

"Neither of us did."

"Of course not."

Again, a gust picked up. Machamp glanced at wind whipping at the snow on the ground, while Alakazam looked up and watched some loose snowflakes fall from the sky.

"Machamp?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you…do you think that there is beauty out here?"

"Easily." He grinned. "I'm looking at him."

"Smooth, very smooth." Alakazam rolled his eyes as his cheeks burned. "But I meant—"

"These?"

Bringing his attention back down, Alakazam blinked at a handful of gelid roses in front of his face. Machamp beamed behind them.

"Still no, but…that does make the point all the same." Alakazam reached out, running his hand against Machamp's, and then rested it along the flowers, taking them. "I wasn't aiming for flirting at the moment."

"Just wanted to get a little more in while we had a minute." Machamp chuckled, resting his lower hands around Alakazam's waist. "Am I overdoing it?"

"Timing poorly, potentially." Alakazam smiled as he rested his free hand against Machamp's chest. "Overdoing it, though, never."

They leaned closer together, but the earth beneath them rumbled as their lips touched. Breaking apart quickly, the two surveyed their surroundings, inhaling sharply. Nothing showed. Waiting as a minute passed, then two, they eased themselves just a bit, breathing steadily again.

"Was that an earthquake?"

"Possibly." Alakazam knelt to the earth. "Not that I'm going to be able to read seismic activity, but perhaps—"

From just ahead of them, the earth smashed open, and a massive blue beast launched from beneath the ice and stone. The shark-like dragon slammed down on the ground as Machamp and Alakazam staggered back.

"Yeah, I can't read the earth either," managed Machamp, "but I'm guessing he did it."

"Their other dragon, wonderful." Alakazam lifted his spoons. "There's no chance this is the scout, is there?"

"Definitely not what I would use him for!"

Twisting his body back around, Garchomp gazed blankly ahead at the couple. His jaw slowly parted, and he raised his claws into a combative stance.

"Did you come here alone?" Machamp drew his swords out, holding one in each of his four hands. "Because if so, that was some piss-poor planning."

Silent, steady, the Garchomp stared ahead, not moving an inch. Alakazam raised an eyebrow while Machamp snorted.

"Something odd about this one," murmured Machamp. "Everyone likes banter."

"Clearly something wrong," agreed Alakazam, nose twitching.

"Should we just rush him, or—?"

Crunches of stomping alerted them back to Garchomp, who charged forward at the pair. Sliding his feet apart, Machamp waited as the dragon neared.

Pushing forward, he raised his swords up as Garchomp drove his claws down. Blades and claws met, crashing out.

"Gods, he's strong!" Machamp grunted. "Takes all four…to keep him…"

"Allow me."

Charging a fuchsia ball of energy, Alakazam jumped up and fired it directly at Garchomp's face. Connecting, the blow knocked the dragon back, releasing Machamp from his deadlock.

Grinning, Machamp launched forward, swiping up with his swords. Blindly swiping, Garchomp knocked two blades away from him.

The other pair, however, sliced at his body, and forced the dragon to jump back.

Machamp's smirk faded, as the dragon brushed aside the blood that leaked between his scales, undeterred.

Roaring, Garchomp leapt forward, slamming down with his claws again. Spiraling away, Machamp pivoted aside from the blows, and backed away to Alakazam.

"It's like that didn't even faze him." Machamp repositioned himself in front of Alakazam. "How does that even work? I carved right into him!"

"Dragons are mighty," determined Alakazam.

"They're not immune to pain!"

"No, so…" Alakazam tapped a spoon to his head. "…What aren't we seeing?"

"Forget that for now, and let's focus on stopping him!" Machamp raised his swords as Garchomp neared and swiped down again. "Anything you've got in that beautiful brain to help us?"

"As a matter of fact…"

Alakazam raised his hand, eyes glowing with a cyan aura. A cyan binding of light wrapped around Garchomp, ensnaring him and dragging him back from Machamp.

"All yours."

"Aw, you shouldn't have."

Jumping forward, Machamp swiped his blades at Garchomp, striking against his body, and slicing him.

Wincing, Garchomp growled lowly, body vibrating. Eyes widening, he surged with a mightier roar, knocking Machamp away and snapping the spell binding from his body.

"How in the hell…?" Alakazam fumbled back, eyes reverting to normal. "That's…that's not possible. I should have been able to hold him for longer."

"Doesn't seem like it." Machamp groaned, and pushed himself back from the ground, grabbing at his swords. "Dragons are annoying, that's for sure."

"Agreed, but what now?"

"Uh…"

With a snarl, the dragon rushed forth again, charging at Machamp. He took a step back, parrying the first claw that swiped down at him.

The second, however, shot forward and ripped across Machamp's top arm. He yelled and dropped to his knee, clutching his shoulder.

Garchomp lifted both claws again, but was bombarded back by a wave of colorful blasts. Growling, he turned his attention to Alakazam, and met his glare.

"No, no!"

Machamp struggled up from one knee, still holding his bleeding shoulder. His eyes widened as the dragon slammed across the snow toward the mage.

As Garchomp neared, Alakazam smirked, as the claws lifted. Just as they came dropping down, Alakazam leapt aside, and fired a white blast into Garchomp's face.

Roaring out, Garchomp reached for his face, stumbling back. He blinked several times and shook his head, faltering with each step.

Narrowing his gaze on the ground, Alakazam blasted it with an orange pulse, and the ice beneath Garchomp cracked open. The dragon yelped as he fell under the earth.

He waited a moment, surveying the broken crater. Shaking his head, Alakazam hurried over to Machamp, as stood up and stumbled forward.

"Easy, give me a second." Alakazam reached Machamp's side, holding him steady. "Just move your hand there."

Slowly, Machamp slid his palm from his shoulder. Lifting his spoons in one hand, Alakazam raised his free one over the wound. His eyes flickered in a pink light, as the spoons lit in the same pink aura.

This spread to his hand, and in the soft glow, he placed it over Machamp's wound. Whispering an incantation, Alakazam narrowed his eyes, as his hand shuddered. Machamp winced and sucked in his cheek, but then gasped.

Lifting his hand away, Alakazam smiled at Machamp's shoulder. The knight glanced over, and touched his healed body.

"That's some beautiful stuff," complimented Machamp.

"It's not a proper healing," reminded Alakazam. "We've got a few hours, but that needs to get treated better once we're finished out here."

"Right." He studied the dried blood on his hand, and then rubbed his shoulder. Looking again, no new blood was wiped on. "Still, that's got to be magic to rival a true healer's, love."

"Yes, well, I have been working on it a bit." Alakazam smirked, twisting his mustache with one hand while resting the other against Machamp's chest. "I don't like seeing my boyfriend bruised up and bashed open."

"How sweet! You do care," teased Machamp.

"Obviously," joked back Alakazam. "Now, come, let's…"

The ground below them rumbled. Both spiraled back to the crater, eyes widened.

Bursting from below the surface, Garchomp bellowed as he surged from the ground, and slammed back above the surface. He snarled and faced the couple again.

"Truly, I do believe I should have seen that coming," murmured Alakazam.

"What does it take to fell this beast?!"

"Stronger combinations?" Alakazam smiled as Machamp turned to him. "It's about time, isn't it?"

"Yeah, now would make sense."

Another roar returned their attention to the maddened dragon, as he charged across the ice and snow to them.

Machamp raised his lower hands, keeping them apart by a slight distance. A small orange ball of energy formed between them.

Rapidly, Alakazam raised his spoons, charged with a purple energy. He scooped and spiraled around the chi ball between Machamp's hands, expanding it as he scooped into it.

The glow crackled and the ball expanded, orange and bronze light intertwined with fuchsia and purple bubbles.

"Hurry, Alakazam…"

Garchomp raced over, as Alakazam pivoted behind Machamp, holding his hands against the knight's waist.

"Now!"

Raising his arms, Garchomp's eyes flickered as Machamp grinned. He scooped his hands behind the chi, and forced his palms forward, carrying the energy with them.

It connected and blasted into Garchomp, rocketing him across the sky with a groan. Machamp and Alakazam flew back, sliding against the snow and ice, as they gripped tightly to one another.

Halting as his feet dug into the earth, Machamp tightened his hold on Alakazam, pulling him into his back. Both stumbled back, as Machamp spun them around and crashed to the snow, Alakazam dropping on top of him.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Machamp twisted around as Alakazam lifted from him, slipping against the snow. "Easy! What about you?"

"Don't worry." Alakazam exhaled and pressed off of Machamp's chest, lifting himself up. He chuckled and held his hand out. "I got the soft landing."

"Ha, you're welcome for that!"

"Yes, thank you."

Taking Alakazam's hand, Machamp steadied himself, and used his remaining arms to push himself back up to one knee. Alakazam rested his hands on Machamp's shoulders, as the pair stared across the snowy field, spotting the collapsed Garchomp in the distance.

"Finally did him in, huh?" Machamp laughed. "Took long enough!"

"Far too long," concurred Alakazam. "…And yet…"

"Hm? What's up?"

"He's a little far off, but…"

Alakazam lifted his hand, as he telekinetically lifted his spoons to encircle it. His free hand moved from Machamp's shoulder to his head, and his eyes twitched as he focused on Garchomp.

"Careful," cautioned Machamp. "Don't wake him."

"He's stirring already." Alakazam winced. "He'll be up in a few seconds."

"What?!" Machamp gawked. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"Give me a second," murmured Alakazam. "This might be the only minute to understand…"

Across from them, Garchomp shuddered, and rolled his head around. His eyes opened in a squint, and he lifted himself to sit upright.

With a bright blue glow over his eyes, Alakazam widened them as his opened his hand.

Yelling, Garchomp gripped at his head, the blue aura encasing his forehead.

Enough of this, erupted Alakazam's telepathic call. We need to know what's wrong with you.

"…Wha…who…?"

Eyes flickering, Alakazam stared ahead, as Machamp rested his lower hand around the mage's leg.

"Concentrate," whispered Machamp.

Nodding, Alakazam shut his eyes, and forced them back open, the light sharpening from them. Garchomp wailed and his grip tightened around his head.

Open your mind, persisted Alakazam.

The world washed away from around them, leaving only a darkened wasteland. Mist and fog lifted from the ground around the two, as Alakazam stepped forward. Garchomp clawed at his head, moaning as he wildly shook it.

Talk to me. Alakazam slowed his approach, nearing Garchomp. Tell me what's on your mind.

"Who…who are you…?"

Someone looking to understand. Alakazam took another step, his eyes twitching as he locked onto Garchomp.

"You're…you're not like…the other…" Garchomp ceased his struggle, and lifted his head. "Powerful, yet gentle…"

A pulse rippled from the surface below them. Another beat against it, and the world around them shook. Alakazam glanced up, as the snowy sky ripped a hole into the darkened one.

Please, don't resist. Alakazam reached out to Garchomp. I do not wish to fight.

"Can't…can't stop…" Garchomp lifted his claws back up to his head. "Go away…"

No, I must find an answer.

"Not you!" Garchomp shuddered and dragged his claws over his head. "The other…"

Other…?

More holes tore through the darkness, as the winds and snowflakes rushed in. Alakazam stepped back, a crunch sounding as he glanced down: snow.

Focus on my voice, my thoughts, instructed Alakazam. Keep your mind open to me.

"Won't…won't let me…" Tears streamed down Garchomp's face, and he lifted it as he stared at Alakazam. "Make it stop…"

Is there someone else—?

"PLEASE, MAKE IT STOP!" Garchomp wildly looked about as the darkness shredded from around him. "No, no! Don't go, please! Don't leave me!"

A heavier pulse erupted from beneath them, as Alakazam flew back. The darkness evaporated from around them, as Garchomp sank back to the ground, gripping his head.

Gasping, Alakazam stumbled back, Machamp scooping him into his arms. They steadied themselves and rose up from the snow. A tear escaped Alakazam's eye, and he blinked, touching at it.

"Knocked you out of him, huh?" Machamp held his arm around Alakazam's waist. "So, what now? Did you learn anything?"

"I need to get back in his mind."

"Huh?" Machamp rubbed his head. "Wasn't that hard enough to get?"

"He's not in control," revealed Alakazam. "Garchomp wanted me in there, but I was forced out of his mind."

"How?" Machamp shook his head. "If he's willing, then what—?"

Another roar erupted from across the field. Machamp and Alakazam whirled around, as Garchomp bellowed to the skies above. His head dropped, his vacant eyes settled on the two.

Snowflakes cascaded down as both parties waited for the next move.

---

[Inner City Border]

Thin red bolts crackled around Malamar's body, as small bubbles floated from them and behind him.

He whipped his tentacles out, lashing as Weavile jumped aside, and slashed with her dagger, knocking one away.

She spiraled around, knocking back Kricketune's stabbing arm, and kicked her back. Ducking, she dodged another strike from Malamar.

Laughing, he held his tendril briefly above Weavile before slamming it down over her. She crashed to the ground, but rolled as Malamar swung down again.

Froslass grunted and pushed herself up from the ground. She glanced at the pile of rubble she crashed into before. Raising her scepter, she lifted several bricks and ice blocks, hurling them at Malamar and Kricketune.

Malamar snapped his tendrils, as the bricks dropped to the earth. Kricketune jumped around, slashing apart the remaining ice, and thwarting Froslass's efforts.

As the ghost pulled her hands back for another spell, Weavile grabbed her and dashed away from their opponents.

"Weavile, what—?"

"Make us disappear."

With a tight grip on her Icicle Staff, Froslass waved in a circular motion, and pointed forward. A slight mist drifted from the top orb.

Kricketune and Malamar chased after the two, but skidded to a halt as a heavy fog rolled in. They gazed around, searching for their enemies to emerge.

Sliding into the remains of a minka, Weavile pulled Froslass in, backing from the broken windows and ducking down. The two panted and slumped to the ground.

"This isn't going as well as planned," muttered Weavile.

"Maybe I am holding back too much," admitted Froslass. "If I get down as dirty as Malamar in tactics, I might be able to defeat him."

"Don't." She looked up at Weavile, who fixated on her. "You're better than that."

"Even if I am, it's still not good enough."

"We'll think of something." Weavile lifted her dagger and sighed. "I don't like being down to just this."

"She seriously broke your bow in one shot." Froslass shook her head. "I just can't believe she managed that."

"I didn't realize she was going to." Weavile buried her face in her claws. "She just zipped over, the bow was there, and before I could move, she broke it."

"So quickly though?"

"It's because of his spells or whatever." She glanced out the doorway, not seeing anyone arriving yet. "Malamar keeps healing Kricketune's wounds that I make, and then does some flip trick to power her up."

"He's not healing her," divulged Froslass. "That blood hex is what drains and weakens her overall might. When he does that topsy-turvy dance, that's what makes her stronger, when she should be weakened."

"If he keeps taking blood, will she be able to last that long?" Weavile frowned as Froslass shook her head. "So, what do we do?"

"Honestly, they're beyond reason, without question." Froslass picked at her wand. "They'll push us to the limit, I'm sure."

"Think we're already hitting it." Sheathing her blade, Weavile peeked out the window, still not spotting anyone. "Malamar wants to cause endless chaos and only delights in tormenting us. And Kricketune hates us because she thinks we're greedy rich folk."

"Well, I guess we count as upper-class," conceded Froslass. "But you're not greedy."

"She doesn't know that."

"She's not going to listen." Froslass paused. "…Actually…how righteous is she even?"

"No clue."

"Go big on that then."

"Think it'll be that easy?"

"Have we got anything left to use?" Froslass waited as Weavile shook her head. "We need to stop and incapacitate Kricketune first. If we do that, then we stop Malamar from using her life force to fuel himself." She tightened her fists. "Then we'll stop him once and for all."

"Just one problem: how do we get there?"

"If I can hold Malamar off, you should be able to handle Kricketune, right?"

"…I don't know."

"You'll have to." Froslass smiled and patted Weavile's shoulder. "She's a little bug. I know you can beat her easily."

"Hasn't been so far."

"You haven't needed to win yet." She winked at Weavile. "So get out there and show her how it's done." Froslass rubbed her shoulder. "And I'll be with you the whole time, even if I'm not at your side."

"Right, ok." Withdrawing the blade, Weavile gazed outside. "Ready?"

"Let's do it."

Both rushed back outside, as the mist dissipated. Kricketune and Malamar flew above the minka, as Malamar snapped his tentacles, collapsing the building behind Weavile and Froslass.

"See, you were meant to stay in there until I dropped the building on you," mocked Malamar. "But perhaps you'll enjoy a most humiliating defeat instead. After all, what's a witch without hexes and an archer without her bow?"

"Really sick of hearing you talking now."

Froslass rocketed forward, and tackled Malamar away, launching him into the sky. She flew after him, blasting him up further with a whirlwind spell.

Kricketune gazed up at them, and then returned her attention down to Weavile, who held up her dagger.

"Prim and proper thinks she can beat me," taunted Kricketune. "Cute."

"Judging me is neat and all, I'm sure," countered Weavile. "But what good have you done for the poor?"

"Huh?"

"Well, you're busy calling me out on everything that I don't do," continued Weavile. "These past few months have been busy, and the most generous thing I did within the last one was to help take in a lost mage from the snow, alongside my comrades."

"Wow, how altruistic."

"Yeah, kind of lame compared to the orphan donations that I've made every few months for the past…oh, three years, I guess?" Weavile scratched her head. "Or the time I got into a brawl in a tavern because some jerk tried to get a poor lady in rags kicked out. Got stabbed by a brigand seven years ago helping a guy he tried robbing, who turned out to be living in a tent."

"What's your point?"

"What's yours?" Weavile rolled her shoulders. "You've been condescending and cruel to me because I'm supposedly from a higher class level from you, and you consider me heartless. I don't talk much to others because I'm not social, but that doesn't mean I think they're beneath me." She lowered her eyes. "But you, what makes you so great, that you can judge anyone, rich or poor?"

"You…you're not the one that needs to survive day to day," snapped Kricketune.

"That's…literally what I do." Weavile shrugged. "I put my life on the line for the Empire so that others don't have to."

"Well, not all of us have the ability to cherry-pick our best efforts at helping others and patting ourselves on the back for it," fired back Kricketune. "Some of us are busy surviving."

"But you're not just surviving," contested Weavile. "You're thriving. Not a single part of you looked ill or broken prior to our fight. You have a higher level of combat training than most others around your class. Hell, you're in a band of soldiers looking for sizable pay, and you work as a mercenary, as opposed to someone who barely makes money." She placed a hand on her hip. "Look, I barely know you, so I'm not going to pretend to have a lot to call you out on. But I'd rather do something to help you over hurt you—"

"Oh, please." Kricketune crouched down. "What the hell do you think you could even offer me?"

"It was going to be a chance at survival," offered Weavile. She brought her blade up. "But I'm guessing you could care less on that."

"Only if it's salvation from your pretentiousness."

"Nope, sorry." Weavile smirked. "Guess we're done talking."

Both rushed forward at one another, bringing their blades up. Weavile slashed first, striking as Kricketune blocked with her arm.

She stabbed forward with her free knifelike limb, as Weavile pushed back and parried the second arm.

Raising her leg to kick, Weavile quickly stomped down as Kricketune slashed forward, and she pivoted from her ensuing attack.

Cloaking her claw in a dark energy, Weavile swiped forward, first batting away Kricketune's arm with her dagger, and then slashing across at her body.

A gasp escaped Kricketune, as she clutched at her chest. Glancing down, she glared at the dark scratch mark on her, and stabbed at Weavile.

Yelping, Weavile jumped back, grasping her arm. She spied the cut, small but sharp, as a bit of blood trickled down to her claw. As she wiped it away, she glared up at the bug.

Kricketune crossed her arms, a red glow encasing them. She spiraled and slashed at Weavile, knocking her dagger from her hand.

Twisting back and pivoting into another strike, she slashed against at Weavile, cutting into her again.

Blood dripped against the snow, as Weavile dove down and scooped up her weapon. Holding it up, she parried Kricketune's third strike, and launched her away.

Snow crunched and cracked behind Weavile, and she spun around to find Froslass, clutching at dark marks on her body. The ghost pushed herself back up, breathing heavily, as Malamar descended upon them.

"Ok, he's a…little tougher…" Froslass heaved. "I can…still win."

Glancing down at the stained snow, Weavile bit her lip. She grabbed Froslass's arm and pointed down at it.

"Can you use blood that I've already lost?"

"Uh, what?"

"Do you have to take it from me while you make use of it, or—"

"What happened to not using it?"

"That's before I saw you taking such heavy hits." Weavile brushed her claw against the dark tentacle stokes on Froslass. "You might have been right about leveling this."

"There's no way that I'm weakening you." Froslass eyed Kricketune, who strode over to the two. "I can't—"

"Then use the blood that's already out of me." Weavile glared at Malamar, who lifted a bolt-charged tentacle. "We don't have time."

"Are you two ladies giving your last goodbyes?" Malamar chuckled. "Touching."

"This'll sting a bit."

Wiping her arms past Weavile's wounds, the weasel grunted as they passed over. She studied at her cuts: they were still open, but the blood that had dripped was gone. Froslass swept down to the snow, scooping the red spots away.

Though Kricketune rushed in, Weavile repositioned herself to guard Froslass and blocked the incoming strikes.

"The warlock wants a witch fight?" Froslass tossed the blood up, as it mixed with the snow and sprinkled down over her. Her eyes flickered with a flash of red light. "Then let's fight like witches."

Soaring up, she pulled her arms back, a howl sounding below them. Thrusting her arms forward, an icy blizzard wave erupted forth, blanketing a smiling Malamar, and sent him flying away, crashing past an archway and towards the city's border gates.

"Pitiful."

Froslass twirled around, as Weavile guarded against Kricketune's stabs. Drifting over, she reached out with her arm, and closed her hand into a fist.

An icy hand burst from the snow beneath Kricketune, and clamped shut around her. She writhed against it, unable to break free from it.

"Easy," cautioned Weavile to Froslass, who kept her grip. "We don't need to kill her, just stop her."

"She should be so lucky."

Narrowing her eyes and tightening grip for a moment, Froslass watched as Kricketune cried out from the squeeze. She released her hand, as the grip loosened.

"As long as I focus on her, she'll stay there." Froslass smirked. "Alakazam always liked playing with trap spells."

"Yeah, he likes his head games," agreed Weavile. "I think he picked up on it from Machamp using his arms to grab—"

The snap of a tentacle interrupted them, as two wrapped around Froslass's body. She twisted back as they wrapped around her, and watched as Malamar's extended limbs encased her from the distance.

"Ew!" Froslass struggled against him. "He morphed his body! That's disgust—!"

She gasped as he dragged her away from Weavile, who started to run after Froslass.

A slash at her legs caused the snow to kick up on her, and Weavile stumbled into a roll. She popped up and faced Kricketune, who swept at the space before her.

"Fight's with me," snapped Kricketune.

"If you want your ass kicked that hard, fine."

Inhaling sharply, Weavile squinted as Kricketune hurried to her. Exhaling a breath of frost, Weavile iced the snow on the ground below her.

Kricketune tripped and slid against the ice, losing her footing immediately. She impaled the ground beneath her, attempting to steady herself.

Weavile pounced forth, slashing with her dagger at Kricketune's side. She sliced her, tossed the dagger to her other hand, as Kricketune twisted around, trying to swipe at Weavile but missing completely.

Pivoting around, Weavile slashed at Kricketune's back, and carved at her wings. Kricketune cried out, and winced as she glared behind her.

Pulling back, Weavile kicked the cricket over and she fell onto the ground. Lowering her dagger, Weavile walked back around to Kricketune's front and smirked down at her.

"Warned you."

"Asshole!" Kricketune groaned and grasped at her body.

"Calm down and don't struggle so much," deadpanned Weavile. She softened as she placed her free hand on her hip. "Friends of mine can help heal you up later, when you're locked away and not terrorizing the city."

"I'd rather die," spat Kricketune.

Electricity crackled as a bolt of lightning crashed down by the gates. Tentacles snapped again, as Froslass was launched back before Weavile, crashing down hard against the ground.

"Froslass!"

She started toward her friend, as Kricketune scrambled over to her as well. Weavile hurried as the bug dove to the ghost.

"No!"

"Surrender or she dies," commanded Kricketune, holding her knifelike arm near Froslass's neck.

Weavile leapt forward and lifted her dagger, tackling into Kricketune and slamming her down away from Froslass.

She pushed up and away from Kricketune, who gagged and writhed. Weavile's mouth parted as she spotted her dagger's hilt.

After seconds, Kricketune grew still, and Weavile retrieved her blade. She knelt down by the fallen bug, and gazed at her, shoulders falling.

Shaking her head, Weavile turned back to Froslass, and crouched beside her friend. She gently shook her, and the ghost stirred.

"Hey." Weavile smiled slightly. "Um…I could use you right now."

A slight giggle escaped from the ghost. Weavile's smile faded, as she leaned back. Another, longer giggle came, erupting into full on laughter, as Weavile fell over.

Rising from the ground with her head and arms hanging, Froslass cackled and floated before Weavile. Slowly, Froslass lifted her head and her arms, grinning as she focused on Weavile, her eyes mixed to a dull pink, almost purple color.

Chuckling drew Weavile's attention behind her, as Malamar drifted to them. He floated just above Kricketune's body, and smirked, his tendrils sparking with a purple glow.

Weavile shuddered as she tightened her grip on her dagger.

---

[Greninja]

Emerging from the water, I pull myself onto the platform at the end of the canal. Politoed offers his hand and helps me up, as Poliwrath lifts himself from the water next.

"It's still a little ways from the palace, but this is as far as the watercourse takes us." Politoed folds his arms as Golduck jumps from the water, sliding across the platform, but then falls back in. "Unless, of course, we want to splash around and make some more noise."

Pushing himself back up, Golduck cocks at eyebrow at Poliwrath, as he lowers his eyes at the duck. I shake my head and climb the stairs with Politoed.

Gazing ahead as we reach the top, I spot the Iceberg Palace. It doesn't look very far at all, just a little higher up from where we are.

"At least it's still standing," mutters Golduck, as he and Poliwrath come up from behind us. "For now, anyway."

"Maybe we beat them here?" Politoed shrugged. "I don't think that makes a lot of sense, but at least we'll have a chance to help get Emperor Empoleon out."

"Then we better not dawdle," advised Poliwrath. "Let's get up there already!"

"Hold on." We had barely taken a step as we halted, turning back to Golduck. "What did that fat fool from before talk about?"

"Exploud?"

"No, that…Magmortar, wasn't it?"

"Him?" I tilt my head. "We haven't seen him for a while now. What brought him to mind?"

"Because it was him," recognizes Golduck. "Damn it."

"What?"

"From here, if we go north, we reach the palace." Golduck points the opposite way. "South leads to the docks."

"Oh no, he was talking about roasting those apart earlier," recalls Politoed.

"Easy Poké that he's down there, then." Poliwrath slams his fist into his palm.

"If that's the case, it's better if we draw him from there," I plot out. "If possible, we can lure him from there and to follow us."

"We can't take him back to the palace," warns Golduck. "Bringing him along if he's not meant to be positioned there spells trouble for us."

"Our options are limited." Politoed points back to the palace. "If we go there, and we aren't met by the enemy, we lose our docks." He points down south. "By going there, we might lose time to help Emperor Empoleon and General Abomasnow, or even saving the palace at all."

"They couldn't have that many forces over here, if they're spread just as thin as we are," determines Poliwrath. "If we're quick about it, we can save the docks first, and then dart up to the palace right after."

"Then we need to take down that dastard here and now." Golduck grips his sheathed sword. "Come on."

He takes off from the canals, and makes his way through the city streets. We follow after him, as we make our way across a bridge, past a line of igloos and huts, and then to a set of stairs.

Below the series of steps, ice-crafted ports wait below. Magmortar's bright color is easy to spot, as he makes his way across, aiming his arm cannons. He's not alone, but I can't see who else, as Golduck whips out a knife.

"Get ready."

Pulling his arm back, he launches the knife out, and it soars down. The blade is on a direct course for Magmortar, but something knocks it away.

Whirling around, Magmortar glares up at us, as we race down the first set of stairs. Lining up on the level over him, Golduck points to each of his three allies.

"Those two clods from before, Vigoroth and Zangoose," he identifies. "And, lovely, our massive mouthed menace, Exploud, is here as well."

Both white furred, long clawed soldiers grin up at us. Exploud narrows his eyes, but takes a step back, frowning as he gazes up at us.

"Little water whelps," mocks Magmortar. "Didn't I tell you this wasn't over?"

"You fought 'em before?" Vigoroth snorts. "Shouldn't you be taking cover from all the splashing?"

"If you think I can't handle a few drops from rain, you're dead wrong." Magmortar smirks at us. "They'll fall as quickly as this dock. Exploud!"

"Ah! Y-y-yes?"

"Let's tear this place to the ground." He grins at his ally. "Break it with some screams. I'll burn the rest."

"But…but—"

"Are you really going to disobey?"

"No! Of course not…"

"Good." Magmortar turns to the others. "Vigoroth, you and Zangoose get lost. You have orders too."

"Yeah, but with them here—"

"I told you," insists Magmortar, "we can handle them."

"As you like it." Zangoose tugs on Vigoroth. "We'll leave you to this."

"None of you are leaving this place alive," calls Golduck. "Each of you will die before you even see the palace."

"Already see it from here," points out Zangoose.

"Ok, for that, you'll die first."

"Not likely!"

Zangoose and Vigoroth run from Magmortar and Exploud. I start in their direction, but a blast of fire erupts before me, and I double back.

"Leave it to them," orders Golduck. I glance over to see Poliwrath and Politoed rushing away from us, keeping up with the others. "You and I have bigger bastards to beat."

Another stream of fire blasts up at us, and we jump aside. Golduck runs down the slopes and steps, and I chase after him, my hands tapping at my belt for shuriken.

Magmortar aims one arm cannon at me, while pointing his other at the port, blasting both. Fire burns right through the ice near him, but I leap aside to avoid it from touching me.

My feet slip on the ice, but I find a patch of snow to steady my footing, and race to the ports. Magmortar watches me as he continues to burn the planks he waits on, and I reach the bottom level.

Golduck is already there, slashing at Exploud, who staggers back and drops his mouth, emitting sonic waves at him.

Waves splash up against the openings that Magmortar's fire tore through. I pull a shuriken as I stand opposite to the beast.

"The thinnest frog," notes Magmortar. "You're hardly a fight to enjoy."

"There's no changing your mind, is there?" My hand goes past my chest, as I ready my throw.

"Maybe you'll cook into something worthwhile…"

"Didn't think so."

Flinging the shuriken, I rush aside as he burns it from the air. I toss another and slide down as he fires his other arm cannon at it.

Forming a Water Shuriken, I lob it out at him, and jump up, as it cuts through his fire stream and slices into him.

My hands form smaller Water Shuriken in each palm, and I throw both, each hitting Magmortar on both sides of his shoulders. He winces and growls as he glares at me.

Dropping to the ground, I reach for another shuriken. My eyes dart up as two cannons are aiming to me.

Water forms in my hands and I force them down, as the fire forms in his arms. Blasting myself into the air, I watch as Magmortar incinerates my previous spot.

Growling, he guides the fire up and tries to aim for me, but he's too slow, as I hasten my fall.

Spiraling around as I stand, I lock one leg against the black band on his leg. It burns, but I twist behind him quickly, and blast his back with water.

He wails as I glide across his back, dosing him with the water. He's too hot to stay against though, and I pump the water to push away from him.

Though Magmortar drops to the ground and pants, he forces himself to stay up. I compress water into a blade, and take a step toward his wobbling form.

"He's mine now," shouts Golduck, as he darts past me. Pointing back, he adds, "Get him!"

Spinning around, I let my water blade collapse as Exploud stomps forward. Clearly, Golduck hasn't been handling him well.

When his mouth drops open, I sprint away from him, and jump around the sonic waves that burst from his mouth.

Kicking off of a wall, I rush back to Exploud, as he slowly tries to face me. He's even slower than Magmortar, though, and he doesn't have a chance.

His waves break apart boxes, and blocks of ice shatter, as I dash closer to him. It's almost too easy to approach.

As I run to him, Exploud closes his mouth, and glares at me. He lifts his arm and throws his fist forward before I can react.

"Oof!"

Exploud's fist launches me, and I see the whole world spin around as I fly through the air. Crashing into I think a hut, I slam down against pillars of ice, which topple on me as they shatter.

Pushing myself up, my whole body is sore, and I cup my stomach. Shaking my head, I climb out from the wreckage pile and hop down to the lowest level again.

Though he's approaching me now, Exploud is still sluggish, almost hesitant to face me. I watch as he stops, and shivers as he glares at me.

"Mm…maybe you should give up," he manages. "If you do, then…then maybe we won't hurt you?"

"This place falls if I'm not defending it." My foot slides out, and I spot shadows beside me. "You're helping to ensure that."

"No, I…I don't want to, but—"

"You better not be talking to him!" Magmortar smacks Golduck back with his arm cannon as I turn to look at them. "He's the enemy, Exploud! You're to kill him or else—stop squirming, bird!"

Golduck spits water at him, and Magmortar flails as he backs away.

Returning my attention to Exploud, he's still not moving, and shudders as I lock onto him.

"I…I…"

Disappearing from sight, he gasps as I hurry into the shadows. Traveling along them, I creep closer and guide a shadow out beneath him.

Screaming, he runs back from the shadow and hurries over to the end of the dock. Narrowing my eyes, I leap from the shadows.

Tackling him, I bring him down and into the water. He throws me from him, but I'm quicker in the water, and double back to him.

Fire blasts through, and I'm stuck swimming away from it. This gives Exploud enough time to flounder in the water, and grasp at the port, pulling himself up before I can swim back to him.

Swimming back up to the surface, I grab onto the dock and jump up from the water. Exploud is panting and still on his knees, as Magmortar tosses Golduck aside.

"How did you—?"

"He's way too cocky." Magmortar chuckles. "I'll roast him when you're fully cooked."

"Wrong…move…"

Pushing himself up, Golduck struggles to his feet. Magmortar rolls his eyes, and aims his arm cannon at him.

"Or I can fry you first, I guess."

My hands ready a Water Shuriken, and I toss it, but Exploud shouts and it bursts from the sound waves.

Golduck forces himself forward, and his tail is soaked in a blue glow. He pulls it back, and spits out a stream of water around it.

Still spilling water out, Golduck fires it at Magmortar, who launches fire at him. Both connect and clash with one another, but both cease their attacks, breathing heavily from using their moves.

"We've played long enough," grumbles Magmortar. He forces up his arm cannon again. "Time to end this."

As he aims his arm, though, a green blur rockets down from above and slams down on top of him.

Flipping back from his Bounce, Politoed blasts a barrage of bubbles at Magmortar, forcing him back. Another barrage joins in, and Magmortar wails under the double dose of Bubble Beams.

"Look at that, the hothead falls," shouts Poliwrath.

"Far too easily," chimes in Politoed. "Let's keep this going!"

Exploud whimpers as Magmortar collapses to the ground, and he readies his fists. Politoed smirks as he ambles up, and Poliwrath hurries over from the distance.

With a soft croak, Politoed's eyes lit in a soft blue light, and the swirl on his stomach reflects them. He rotates his hands around the swirl and forms a couple of blue, swirling rings.

Pushing them forward, Politoed's hypnotic move hits Exploud right on, as the creature lets out a huge yawn. He slumps down to his knees, and crashes back.

Poliwrath arrives, and leaps forth to the slumbering Exploud. He raises his hand and roughly slaps right across Exploud's face, snapping him awake. Exploud cries out in agony, clutching at his face.

Grabbing at him in a tackle, Poliwrath recklessly dives at the ground. Locking Exploud in his Submission hold, Poliwrath slams our enemy down from his wheel motion, and jumps away.

"Couldn't you do that more gracefully?" Politoed grins at his brother.

"Hush up, twerp," snaps Poliwrath. "I'm the one getting the job done."

"Ok, sure." Politoed rolls his eyes. "Like that wasn't a team effort."

"Blah blah, I can't hear you." Poliwrath pounds his fists. "Now come on!"

He plucks his sai out and readies them between his fists, as Politoed dashes over and spins his nunchaku around. Magmortar and Exploud struggle from the ground, shaking as they rise. I run over to the other frogs, and my hand tightens at the hilt of my tachi blade. Golduck walks forward, hand on his sheathed blade as well.

"Fine then." Magmortar snorts and backs up. "Keep your docks and port. We're done here."

"We are?"

"Yes, we are." Magmortar smirks at us. "Let me know how turtle soup looks."

"What does that—?"

"Shut up and move, Exploud!"

Lifting his cannons, Magmortar fires as we blast at him with a water barrage. Steam comes between our attacks, as Magmortar aims at the ground and blasts it, with a cloud of mist and smoke billowing up from it all.

As the area clears, each of us surveys the territory, with no Magmortar or Exploud in sight. Though the docks are ravaged, the port stands and remains useable.

"Cowardly dastards," mutters Golduck. He folds his arms. "Figures that they flee when we've got the advantage."

"You're welcome, by the way." Politoed folds his arms behind his neck. "You seemed to have gotten roughed up before we returned."

"Greninja and I had the whole thing handled!"

"Thank you both." They grin as I nod to them, while Golduck rolls his eyes. "But, what happened with the other two?"

"We chased after them, and we managed to attack at Vigoroth," explains Politoed. "Then Zangoose got involved, and while we concentrated on him, Vigoroth must have slipped away on us."

"He couldn't have gone very far, and I'm sure he was dumb enough to go for the palace," deduces Poliwrath. "While we tried pinning Zangoose, though, he rushed at us, acted like he was attacking, but then ran off as well."

"At least he wasn't going for the palace."

"True. He might have just fled the area too."

"Then we've managed to get rid of them, for now at least," decides Golduck. "That means we can return to the palace ourselves."

"Do you think they'll meet up back there?"

"Probably." Golduck shrugs. "Doesn't matter. We can take them down again, and better at our home turf."

"Something seems wrong though," I observe. "Magmortar, before he left, that turtle comment…"

"Just wanted to sound intimidating in spite of losing." Golduck smirks. "It's just him retreating with whatever little dignity he musters up for himself."

"Hm, now why does that sound familiar?" Poliwrath taps his foot and rests his hands on his hips.

"Gosh, it really does remind me of someone we know," agrees Politoed, and chuckles while holding his cheeks.

"Both of you are infinitely more insufferable together than you ever were separated," complains Golduck. "Now let's move."

Gathering ourselves and stowing our weapons, we climb back up the stairs that lead back to the higher levels of the iceberg. I frown at the damages that the city's sustained from our battle so far, but it's only broken buildings and structures. No one wanders the streets or is hiding in fear, thanks to Carracosta clearing…the…

Wait.

My heartbeat picks up and my stomach feels heavy. I start shaking a bit, and I can't contain the trembling that stirs in my body.

We're on our way toward the palace, but there's another tier just before the grand staircases that lead back to it. Chesnaught has to be in there waiting for us, and I want to see him again badly. But instead, I'm slowing down, and my eyes wander to the other city paths. Golduck drops back beside me, while Poliwrath and Politoed turn to face me.

"No time to dawdle, Greninja," insists Golduck. "We've got to get going."

"What's over that way?"

"Over there?" Politoed rubs his head. "I think there are a few houses spaced out there. Little igloos lined along the iceberg's edge." He lowers his arm. "Not the tippy edge, mind you, because that would be terrifying, but…around the end."

"Nothing much to worry about," soothes Poliwrath. "Not a lot of folks live in those houses. That would be for people that need to live near the palace itself, which I don't think we have many citizens there who would still be around."

Gasping, I jump from my spot next to Golduck and race away from the palace.

"Greninja, where are you—?!"

"I'll be right back!"

My feet kick against the icy street of the quiet city. Don't be there, I plead. To myself, I add, Don't be too late.

Around a corner, I spot a shattered igloo ahead. A cannon burst rings out and I watch a billow of water rocket from it.

Running to it, the wind howls past me as I pick up the sight: Blastoise fumbles back, clutching tightly to Squirtle as they crash to the back wall of the igloo. Carracosta's bleeding and spits out blood, weakly rising. My hand already has the shuriken ready.

Vigoroth lifts an axe over his head and I hear Blastoise yell out as Carracosta fails to ready a defensive stance. I hold my breath and aim. The axe reaches its peak and falls forward.

"Daddy!"

Carracosta blinks and watches as Vigoroth falls backwards, grasping at his neck, my weapon. They both turn to me and collapse to the ground.

That hit, I need assure myself as I run over.

Blastoise and Squirtle are cradled around Carracosta and cry. I slow my approach, and I can't see the axe.

No, please. The air just leaves my open mouth.

A cough breaks through their muffled sobbing.

Still crying, Blastoise rises and I see the axe. It's in the ground and on the floor, blood-stained.

I'm ready to lose it with them until he lifts Carracosta. The sea turtle manages to wrap his arm around his son's back, rising with his husband.

"Daddy," Squirtle sobs.

"It's ok," weakly assures Carracosta. "Everything will be ok."

Though his armor is torn and he's cut up in a few places, he breathes steadily. Blastoise has his arms around Carracosta and Squirtle, pulling them close.

Breathing again myself, I walk over and check Vigoroth. His body is limp and I don't need to take much time inspecting him.

"Greninja, thank you," wails Blastoise. "How can we—?"

"Just stay safe." I smile and wave as I run from them, catching Carracosta smirking before setting my full attention back on the palace in the distance.

It's not long, and I'm back by the grand staircase that leads up to the palace bridge. I forget just how massive it is, and the distance up to the palace is daunting enough on its own.

Everyone hasn't gotten too far ahead, as Poliwrath and Politoed turn back and wave to me, while Golduck raises an eyebrow.

"The hell did you go?" Golduck folds his arms. "You're making us late."

"Just protecting a friend or two."

Dashing up the steps, I hurry to catch up with the others, waiting a few flights up. Passing the first plateau, I listen to the rushing waterfalls beside the staircase, and climb onward to the second landing.

"Die, dastard!"

Unsheathed blades ring out and I couldn't turn fast enough. Shuriken spin toward me, and I could barely consider anything else beyond my dumbfounded realization: I'm dead.

Something shoves past me from my right, quickly by the next on my left, twisting me around. The shuriken should have killed me.

Instead, my eyes widen in horror as Poliwrath and Politoed clutch at their bodies, toppling over and into the water below.

"NO!"

Their splashes ripple away, and slight red bloodstains take their place. Though I'm ready to dive in, arms latch around me and force me back.

"Let go!"

Golduck keeps his tight grip against me, and forces me up to the second landing. My eyes finally connect below, as Zangoose pulls a knife from his arm, and races off, away from the area entirely.

"Damn it, we have to go after him!"

"Nope, we're lucky that little knife sent him off," argues Golduck. He's too large to throw off. "Come on!"

"We need to save them," I urge as I tug against him again. "We can still save them—"

"Those were kill shots, Greninja." Golduck drags me back as I writhe against him. "You know it as well as I do, you just won't admit it: they're already gone."

Mercilessly, the water rushes down the iceberg's tiers, and past the port below. Surveying it, I wait for some sign of life, pleading that this isn't real.

They can't be dead.

"Come on," repeats Golduck. "We still have work to do."

He pulls me back a bit further, but releases me as he continues up the stairs behind me. My arms hang and my body feels heavier, as my legs shake and I want to collapse right there.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I brush the tears from my eyes. The wind has quieted, as the falls surge on. My heart pounds, but I force myself to climb the first step, and then the next.

Both brothers saved me. Now I need to save their home.

---

[Chesnaught]

My claws grip at the icy wall of the burdock piling, and as freezing at it is, I dig in and tighten myself against it. My right foot is on a rocky ledge, but my left slips from the chunk of ice I raised it to. The ice snaps, falling from the wall and dropping…so…very, very far down from me.

"Eyes front and up, Chesnaught!" Delphox whacks the wall, and I'm focusing back on climbing after him. "You better not fall down this blasted palace death trap, or so help me…"

"Coming…Delphox…"

He slips a little on his way up, but scrambles as he kicks his feet wildly, and tugs up to continue his climb. The wind howls as it blows past us, and I want to scream.

"It's just a bit further."

"You told me that ages ago!"

"This time I mean it."

Scratching sounds above and I glance up, as Delphox hoists himself further up, and to the ledge beneath the mokoshi.

Pulling myself up, I dragged my body further up the palace's stonewall and closer to the top. Delphox waits a moment, and reaches his hand out as I climb up.

"Uh…no offense, but…I'd probably take you down with me."

"Huh." Delphox lowers his hand. "Good point." He blinks and raises an eyebrow. "Wait, then how does Greninja manage?"

"That's why I told you 'no offense,' Delphox."

"…Are you calling me weak?!" He places his hands on his hips. "Just because it's true doesn't mean you need to remind me of that!"

"Sorry."

Delphox and I reach the top of the burdock piling and I pull myself up onto the ledge. Clawing at it, I drag my body as close in from the ledge as I can, and back away as I roll over.

"Thank Gods." I heave and lie back. "I never want to climb up anything ever again."

"Stairs are everywhere, Chesnaught."

"Don't remind me."

"Then don't be dramatic."

He nudges me with his foot, and I groan. Sitting up, I push up from the ground and look up to the roof cuff above us. Turning, I gaze out to my left, and I can barely make out the snowy wastelands of the Frozen Fields. That's the north of the palace, and I turn around to look south, toward the palace front.

Ahead of us, though, there's a slight incline with a few steps to lead closer up to the palace. It's only a few, but my eye twitches just from the sight of them.

"Oh, don't be a baby." Delphox lightly pokes me with his wand. "Let's go. We have to get in there."

"Eheeheeheehee…whatever for?"

A chill rushes down my back and I draw my blade. Delphox lights his stick up and points it ahead as Gengar steps from the shadows of the palace wall. Behind her, someone still waits.

"We're reclaiming this palace," I announce.

"Oh, how very brave." The purple ghost grins brightly at me, and it's unsettling how at ease she seems. "And will you stop at nothing to do so? So bold."

"Why are you doing any of this?" Delphox steps forward. "Just what is your endgame in all of this chaos?"

"Isn't the havoc reason enough?"

"Please." Delphox brushes at his facial fur. "We know there's far more to these plots than you're letting on."

"Perhaps, eheehee." Gengar floats in front of the steps. "Maybe I just want to help those that were tormented by this city's wretched Emperor."

"That's not where your interests lie at all," deadpans Delphox.

"No. They're mine."

Stepping from the shadows, my shoulders fall as Marowak walks into view. Gengar grins and giggles at my crestfallen face.

"What's the matter? You seem suddenly distraught."

"You brought Marowak here…"

"Ehee. You're mistaken." Gengar drifts to him, lightly resting her hand on his shoulder. "Marowak insisted on coming with me."

"There wasn't a chance that I was missing a shot at Empoleon's egotistical head." Marowak lifts his bone and points it to us. "If we have to go through you to do it, then so be it."

"Haven't you reached him already?" Delphox tilts his head.

"Almost."

"Actually, eheehee, I've secured his location."

"You what?!"

"Calm down, ehee. I've saved him up for," insists Gengar. "So, once we finish these two off, we can take out the Emperor himself next."

"Hear that?" Marowak glowers at us. "That means you two are officially in my way."

"Marowak, please." I try to approach him. "You're angry, I understand—"

"No, I'm outright furious."

"But my friend, wasn't he helping you?" He lowers his weapon as he glares at me. "Quagsire, remember? Didn't he tell you otherwise?"

"He…"

"Don't fill his head with lies," hisses Gengar. "He's in dire need to find his revenge. His mother was disgraced as she was left to die. You would deny him that?"

"Come on, Marowak," I tried again. "None of that is true, and you know this."

"Maybe you think so, but she's right," snaps Marowak. "This is all on him, and how he runs this Empire." Marowak raises his weapon again. "By the time we're done here, he'll wish he had done things better."

"She's filled your head with lies and nonsense," insists Delphox. "And she'll tell you—"

"The truth, because that's what I know too," counters Marowak. "We'll prove it, even if you're still in the way."

"Don't worry," eases Gengar. "We can get rid of them. Remember: divide and conquer."

He nods and pulls back his arm. Throwing his bone club out at us, Delphox and I duck away as it spins off.

Before I can completely turn back, Gengar is on me, tackling me into a shadow as she tries to drag me into it.

A fireball hits her back and she groans, drifting up from the ground, as I drag myself out from her murky shadow trap.

The bone comes back around, and I can't warn Delphox before it bonks off of his head, and spirals up.

Marowak leaps up, snatches his club, and drives it down, whacking Delphox on his head again. He grunts, and blindly swings his stick forward, missing Marowak completely.

"Eheehee…pay them no mind." I twist around as I stand, and Gengar descends back over. "Your fight will be with me."

Lifting her hands, Gengar charges a dark orb of energy. She waves her hands up like she's pushing it, and the shadowy ball zips from her and at me.

Barely, I duck and evade the attack, as it crashes against the landing past me. But as I turn back, Gengar throws her fist forward at the air.

A fist of darkness slams into me and bashes me back. I drop backwards and crash, stuck staring up at the mokoshi over us.

Rumbling sounds and I turn my head, as Delphox dashes away from Marowak, stumbling over his robes while evading the bone club.

"No, dear, focus on me, eheehee."

Gengar floats over me, her grinning face obscuring my view. I thrust my sword up at her, but she bends her body around to avoid it. As I try stroking sideways with it, she spins around to avoid the swiping entirely.

She raises her hand, and one erupts from beneath me, clamping around me. The shadowy hand closes around me, as Gengar squeezes at me using the dark hand.

Another fireball whizzes at her, and she loses her concentration, forcing my release.

Lifting my arms, I feel the grass grow along the needles. I glare at Gengar, as she touches down a bit away from me.

Wildly, I swing my arms at her, striking down for a heavy hit. She just drifts back, and cackles as I miss with my attack.

Another orb forms between her hands, and she launches the sphere before I can lift myself for a counter. The blast hits me and throws me back against the ground.

Forcing myself back up, my legs wobble and I struggle to steady my stance. Gengar smiles as she sways just a bit above the ground.

She's toying with me, and hasn't even begun to fight me with her true potential. Yet I barely even lay a single hit on her. Delphox, meanwhile, can keep up with her and Marowak.

And then it hits me.

Delphox yelps as he's thrown from his feet and slams down not too far from me. I rush over to him and kneel down beside him, lifting him up.

Marowak lobs his bone at us, but I smack it away with my sword. He jumps and runs after the bouncing bone.

"Finally." Delphox grasps my hand as I lift him up. He points his wand at Gengar, and whips a psychic burst at her, knocking her away. "That little dastard has been throwing that bone all over, and smashing me with it at every turn."

"Well, I can't even battle Gengar properly," I admit. "But, maybe that's the point."

"What?"

"We're each fighting opponents that we're weak against," I point out. "Why don't we just trade with one another, and take our advantages instead?"

"…Why didn't I think of that?"

Gripping his stick, Delphox hurries to Gengar, before she can recover, and bombards her with a mystical, fiery blast.

Smiling, I make my way to Marowak, as he picks his bone back up. He twists around, and gazes up at me.

"You're not the fox."

"Nope."

Cleaving down with my sword, he jumps back as I strike at him. I smirk, and his eyes widen as I pull myself forward.

Reaching back with my Needle Arm, I spin it around and wildly swing it forward. It hammers down into Marowak, and smashes him into the ground. Wood and ice shavings fly up as I rear my arm around to slam into him once more.

Twisting himself and rolling away, Marowak tosses his bone at me, and I strike it away from us again. As he stands, Marowak backs away, glancing to where the bone tumbles off.

Instead of following it, he leaps at me, trying to attack without his weapon. I pull my arms forward and raise my Spiky Shield, with the grass stabbing at Marowak.

He yells and falls back, grasping at the grass blades imbedded into his body, ripping them away. I lower my arms and let the shield down.

"Can't I persuade you to stop fighting?" His head jerks up wildly to glare at me. I shrug. "Look, I don't want to hurt you, but I will if you force me to."

"If you don't want to fight, feel free to surrender at any time." He narrows his eyes. "Maybe you'd like to see this palace crumble too."

"Definitely not happening." How did Quagsire even try handling him…?

Dashing away, Marowak runs to his bone and scoops it up. He clutches it and pivots back to me, glaring still.

"You won't win." I frown. "Even if you do, you won't get what you want."

"Better to try than to idly sit by!"

He lifts his leg and stomps down, with the tremor quaking across the ground. It's not stable enough up here to take that too many times.

Clutching my blade, I hurry over to him and swing it down. He rolls away, but I swing it up and slash him back, knocking him from his feet.

A blast of fuchsia energy throws Gengar flying over and crashing beside Marowak. Both struggle up as they exchange angry expressions with one another.

Delphox's rod crackles with psychic bolts of energy, and he steps beside me. He smirks to me as I grin at him. We've definitely got the advantage now.

Still, Gengar steadies herself, and the grin creeps back onto her face. Something about her unsettling demeanor persists, even as Delphox thrashes her.

My grip tightens on the hilt of my sword. I pull it back and nod to Delphox, who raises his wand. We charge at our opponents, who rise to meet us.

This battle isn't over yet.

---

...

A lot is going on, and yet, a lot more still to come. Thank you for reading.