Another vicious battle.
Rocks, dirt, and plant life all kicked up with each blow both Pokémon delivered.
The Warden narrowly dodged a stray Thunderbolt, pointing his finger at the stubborn Luxray they'd been battling for far too long.
"Earth Power!"
His Probopass roared, a large burst of energy erupting under the angry cat. It reared in pain, stumbling backwards trying to recover from the hit.
Gasping for air, on the verge of fainting, but still refusing to fall. The damn Luxray still wanted blood.
This needed to end.
Ingo threw his fourth Pokeball of the battle, the exhausted predator encapsulated once again.
He waited with baited breath.
One shake.
Two.
Three.
A firework from the ball signalled its capture.
Ingo's shoulders fell, letting out a long held breath.
Eight.
He'd caught eight Luxrays so far, and was physically at his limits. Everything hurt, his back especially after the fourth Luxray encounter. At this point, he may actually go into Jubilife voluntarily for another neck crack.
Tracking down and capturing Pokémon was very different from a leisurely patrol through the Highlands. If he were twenty years younger this would have been far easier. Alas, the endless well of youthful energy those like Akari and Rei still had dried up in him years ago.
His Pokémon were tired too, but he still hadn't reached the capture number. Recalling his Probopass, he set his sights on the next location.
How long until the culling? One more day? Two? The hunting party would have left Jubilife by now. It took several days of travel just to reach Jubilife from here on his own.
That didn't leave him much time.
He had to finish this before then.
Two more.
They all had to push on until capturing two more.
Otherwise, the looks on those baby Shinxs' terrified faces at seeing their parents captured. Their elder Luxio siblings attempting to protect them, equally terrified the whole time yet refusing to show it. All that suffering would have been in vain.
It was more than Ingo could bear. He never wanted to separate families, even if it was better than leaving them orphans from a horrible slaughter. If the Warden had more Pokeballs, he would have captured entire families to keep them together. Unfortunately, he only had enough to save a few very young Shinx cubs that lacked older Luxios to look after them, and many of these Luxrays required more than one Pokeball. They were understandably stubborn about the whole thing.
Perhaps he should stop and craft more?
Claws cracking rock was enough to signal Lady Sneasler's arrival. She'd been all over the place these last few days, either gone for long periods or watching Ingo from a distance. He had a feeling what her current intervention was about, and he didn't have time for it.
"My Lady," Ingo tipped his hat at her arrival. The large Noble looked down at him with an unamused expression, hand on her hip. "I know you wish for me to rest my engines, but I am only two Luxrays away from reaching the quota. Once they are captured, you will no longer need to worry about unscheduled hunters in your territory."
"Snea." She put her basket right in front of him, pointing at it with a long claw.
Right to the point.
"It is not time to stop this ride. I have more Luxrays-"
"Snea."
"Though your concern is appreciated-"
"Snea!"
"My Lady, you don't understand what will come if I-"
"SNEA!"
Lady Sneasler's blunt growls cut through every argument he made. They were both frustrated, and neither wanted to back down. Still, it didn't matter how tired or sore he was. If Ingo didn't capture two more Luxrays, the Galaxy Team would hunt them down. The last thing he wanted was a group of angry humans slaughtering any Luxrays that moved, or even taking revenge on their cubs.
He HAD to finish.
"Lady Sneasler, as soon as my train arrives in the station, I will- HEY!" The Pokémon dropped her basket right on his head, grabbing the bottom threatening to flip it.
Ingo gulped, body going stiff.
The Noble had done this to him before, and traveling upside down in that basket always resulted in the worst back pain imaginable.
After just having it straightened, he couldn't handle going back to crooked!
"Wait wait wait! I will comply with your demands! Just please don't flip the basket!"
Sneasler stopped right as she started pulling around his ankles.
"Snea?"
"I promise I'll climb in, just don't flip it over!"
He prayed she'd show mercy.
Thankfully, Lady Sneasler raised the basket, the world becoming clear to Ingo again now that his prison was temporarily removed.
He let out a small sigh.
"Thank you, my Lady. Now if I-"
She didn't let him finish, setting the container down right next to him and pointing at it.
Accepting his fate, Ingo gingerly climbed inside the fabric lined vessel, everything getting much darker when she hooked the lid closed and began her ascent.
Her den was extremely difficult to reach on foot, requiring at least half a day and a lot of luck to not slip and die. Lady Sneasler had no issues of course. Ingo made the trek before, but only once on his own. The path failed so many safety checks he determined it was too dangerous for any human to climb.
Sabi stopped by on Braviary once before though, but Lady Sneasler was not happy about their guest. Otherwise, he'd never seen anyone else reach it.
Not even Akari was given permission to try.
The basket rocked gently as his Lady climbed, only jostling once in a while when she needed to clear larger gaps between rocks.
It was a soothing ride, and the lining was warm.
A very inviting warmth he hadn't felt in so long.
For a moment he forget his responsibilities, relaxing his aching muscles and closing his eyes.
A short doze wouldn't hurt…
…
It only felt like a few seconds passed when his snooze was interrupted by the basket lid being removed, and a Sneasel's claw playfully knocking his hat off.
"It appears we've arrived early," Ingo yawned, pulling his hat away just in time for those yellow claws to bat at it again. "You know better than to play with that." Ingo gave the grey and yellow kit a warning look, though she only giggled. The slightly elder sister pulled her away growling disapproval, only to come in herself and swat at Ingo, far more gently than her uniquely colored twin.
They weren't Lady Sneasler's youngest kits, but the only survivors of her litter from the previous season. They were at the age where they'd gradually wander farther from the den and each other, eventually taking to their own solitary lives.
For the time being, however, they wanted to play.
Bracing himself against the basket's sides, Ingo climbed out carefully, slowly straightening his back out.
The ride didn't irritate it too badly. Just a small twinge in his lumbar region.
Good.
Lady Sneasler's youngest brood started mewing at hearing their mother, no longer satisfied with the riftborn babysitter. Sneasler didn't keep them waiting, bringing berries and meat she'd been keeping cold in the snow outside.
The foreign Sneasel slowly backed away from the Lady and her babies, returning to her pack of dark colored Sneasels that lived in a separate cave just around the corner.
They were lucky Sneasler allowed them to stay so close to her den. Ingo had a feeling she felt protective of the first one to wonder from the space time distortion, given it was around the time she lost an entire litter, and the feeling has extended to any others that wandered to this realm since.
It was a nice thought, until someone interupted it.
A shifting of his belt, one particular Pokémon on its tiptoes trying to reach inside his pouch.
Ingo liked all the space rift Sneasels.
Except for this one.
Snatching its clawed hand before anything was pilfered, he gave it a predatory glare. The dark Sneasel with a cropped ear feather started sweating, afraid to actually claw this human again. The last time he did resulted in the docking of his feather courtesy of Lady Sneasler.
The thief's neck would be next.
"I've told you a hundred times. Do not disrupt cars that don't belong to you."
"S-sneeee…" the Sneasel acted submissive, trying to pull his hand loose from Ingo's vice grip.
He wasn't done yet.
"Tell me. What of my things have you stolen in my absence?" Ingo gestured to where his bedroll would normally be.
Lady Sneasler liked him staying close, so he practically abandoned his tent lower on the mountain to sleep in her den most of the time. His rest area was lined with Wrydeer and Mamoswine furs to counteract the extreme cold.
Though his actual bed roll was gone.
The thieving Sneasel was now sweating bullets, all while Ingo's face darkened. He was like a predator to cornered prey, and finally his victim cracked.
"Sneeeee! Snaaaa!" The Sneasel whimpered, pointing to one of the small off shoots in Lady Sneaseler's den. Ingo released, letting the guilty thief retrieve his stolen belongings and back off into the darkness again.
At least until his next stealing spree.
Sinnoh almighty, that was a weird Sneasel.
"Sneeee!" The sisters rushed him on either side, attempting to pull him in circles.
"Sorry, little ladies. I'm afraid I can't play right now."
Both Sneasels seemed disappointed, but shrugged it off for their own game of tag with some of their rift born brethren.
Ingo took the chance to put his bed roll back and have a seat, using a piece of flint and wood to start a fire back up. He didn't care to freeze if he could help it, and neither did his Pokémon.
Most of them either hated the extreme cold, or were too large for Sneasler's den.
There were two Pokémon he trusted around her kits, however. Grabbing their respective Pokeballs from his belt, he let out Gliscor and Tangrowth.
The grinning bat stretched his wings with a big yawn, immediately moving to meet the newly hatched kits.
Tangrowth decided to pull her trainer into a hug.
"Gentle! Gentle!" The large weed loosened her grip at his shouting, going for a softer embrace instead.
Much better.
"Yes. I missed you too, Tanglejuana."
Tangrowth chimed in agreement, deciding to focus on the twin Sneasels trying to hide in her leaves.
"Behave, both of you. Always ask permission first."
The little weasels ignored his request, though Tanglejuana wasn't complaining, so he wouldn't either.
Instead he took a clipping of her vines, rolling it up in some paper and using his newly started fire to light it.
"Oh Sinnoh, that feels so much better." He let out a drag, feeling all the lingering joint and back pain he still carried melt away.
He learned from Calaba a few years back that Tangrowth vines have certain pain relieving properties, and how to best ingest it for the quickest effects.
It was frowned upon by members of Galaxy Team for whatever reason, but it's the only reason he's survived this long, so he wasn't giving it up anytime soon.
"Sneee." Ingo peaked an eye open, seeing Sneasler ushering her newborn kits towards him, all of them now clumsily crawling over.
"They are certainly a strong litter this year," Ingo commented, picking the first one up to reach his foot. She sniffed the human's face curiously, soon joined by her brothers and sisters, all of them not able to control their sharp claws yet.
At least their poison was super weak.
It didn't take long for all the babies to gather, crawling under his coat and hugging him like a wonderful heating pad. Snickers and Tanglejuana both wanted to play with the babies more, joining Ingo on either side.
So much for his smoke break.
Snuffing out his vine joint, Ingo handed his hat to Tanglejuana for safe keeping and leaned back into his bedroll.
He was vaguely aware of Lady Sneasler leaving the den, though he was finding it very hard to care.
Being covered in soft Sneasel kits was always pleasant, and nap inducing.
He was here to rest after all, but only for an hour or two.
At this point, he might as well make his Lady happy and actually sleep.
XxxxxxxxxxxX
The first night in their new home had been… intense.
He never thought he'd say this, not this high up in the mountains, but it was hot.
Too hot.
Of all the places he expected to have difficulty sleeping due to heat, near the summit of the fridged Cornet Highlands was last on his list. He'd slept in Moonview before, with a fire and Skuntank for warmth, but not with so many Pokémon in close proximity.
Or fire types.
Two fire type Pokémon made things very toasty, and Coal using Melli's legs for a pillow was making it worse.
He was sweating a river and something had to change!
Deciding his shirt was clearly not needed, he attempted to shrug it off, now realizing something was wrapped around his left arm. His eyes shot open, the blue light of Cooper's mane and tail illuminated everything enough to see the culprit. Caboose was sound asleep next to Snowflake, but one of her ribbons was stretched out and gently grasping Melli's wrist.
It took a moment for everything to process.
Why?
Why in Sinnoh's name was Caboose grabbing him?!
Emotional manipulation?
Mind altering powers?
Some horrible fairy type trick he was sure.
He tried shaking her loose.
Untying the wrap
Prying it off.
Until Skuntank shuffled around Melli's body and laid his face on the trapped arm with a tired huff.
Traitor.
And clearly the bedrolls were too close together!
It was rough, but he eventually managed two hours of deep sleep.
He awoke to a much colder half empty tent, Coal and Skuntank the only ones there. For a moment he figured Snowflake had wised up and left during the night, only to find him in Moonview Arena.
Training his Pokémon against Lord Electrode.
"Cooper! Flame Wheel!" The Ponyta ushered forth a large circle of blue fire, throwing it at Lord Electrode. He took the volley with ease, offering his own strike of Thunder in return. Ponyta cried at the jolt, but quickly recovered. She already wanted to go again.
"You need to keep your attack more concentrated. The wider flame wheel has a better chance of hitting, but does less damage. Your aim is already fantastic, so keep them tight and focused," Snowflake stopped the current flow of battle. "It will be a much better fight that way. Now let's go again!"
Cooper snorted in agreement, squaring back up with Lord Electrode and stamping her hooves.
"Flame Wheel!"
The Ponyta took an extra few seconds to focus her fire, the growing flames going from a wide circle to a tighter, far more concentrated wheel. She threw her attack, Lord Electrode taking a harder hit this time, grinning at her progress.
"Bravo! That was flawless!" Snowflake smiled wide, giving Cooper a gentle pat when she cantered over. She gracefully reared on both hind legs and whinnied happily.
"Breee!" Caboose chimed from her resting spot by the wall. She was sitting beside a very grumpy Buggy, and Melli's other Pokémon too. His Zubat hung upside down from a tree, while Scorupi sat a small distance away from the others, watching the battle intently.
"Good Morning Melli!" Snowflake finally noticed his friend's arrival, waving happily. "I didn't know you had other Pokémon friends!"
"Oh, yeah. They just live in the mountains full time." Melli mumbled. He had rescued both of them from near death. First Zubat with a broken wing after a bad storm, and Scorupi one year later due to two broken legs and a crooked tail.
Since then they've come and went as they pleased.
"Don't you want to keep your Pokemon close?"
"They aren't prisoners in Pokeballs! If any of them really wanted to leave and never come back, they could. The same goes for Skuntank." Melli crossed his arms, suddenly feeling very self conscious.
Why in the world did he say that out loud?!
Said skunk Pokémon rubbed against Melli's leg reasuringly, catching the waver in Melli's voice he'd been trying to hide.
How embarrassing.
Snowflake's smile fell at his answer, but quickly plastered it back on.
"It's a good thing they love you, because none of your Pokémon would willingly go! Isn't that right?" He addressed his question towards Zubat and Scorupi, the two nodding in agreement. "See! Nobody is taking their leave anytime soon."
Melli wasn't sure about that, but he stayed quiet, deciding to rinse his face in the river before getting to his duties as a Warden.
In the meantime, Snowflake continued training against Lord Electrode, at least until Cooper had exhausted herself. He provides plenty of grain cakes before telling her to rest, turning his attention towards the orange Zorua.
"Okay, Buggy! Let's get training! We have a lot of work to do!"
Buggy looked off and huffed, Melli coming back with a bucket of water, a cloth and block of Combee wax.
"Well, you can't fight with Lord Electrode again until I'm done shining him." Melli interrupted, wringing his cloth and wiping any dirt from the battles off his Lord.
"That's okay. Buggy isn't ready for that kind of training yet," he walked to Lord Electrode's massive tree, grabbing a fallen branch and testing its strength. Melli tried ignoring him, but was honestly curious what Snowflake had planned. He made his way to Electrode's other side, sneakily watching the "training session."
"Buggy! Use Bite on the stick!"
The Zorua didn't even budge, tongue rolling up to lick his lips and snorting at the sad attempts.
"Come on, Buggy! Use Bite!" Snowflake got to his knees, dirtying his pants but not really caring. He kept calling with a higher pitched voice, Buggy not budging. The Skyfaller paused for a minute, deciding on a different approach. "Oh well, looks like I will train the stick instead. Stick, use Tackle!" He threw it at one of the damaged columns. Buggy suddenly became very interested.
"Good job, stick! That was verrry impressive! You've earned a spot in my sling!" Snowflake placed the thing in Buggy's usual spot, which was the final straw.
Scrambling to his feet, Buggy clumsily rushed towards Snowflake yipping and snarling at this perceived transgression. His human grinned, acting all surprised by the reaction.
"What? You don't want to train with me, why are you upset?"
Buggy responded with loud whimpers and growls, trying to get at the stick like it was some horrible evil needing purged. Snowflake feigned deep thought, humming and scratching his beard.
"Hmmmmm… okay, if you can defeat the stick, you can have your spot back. How does that sound?"
"GROARORAAAR!" The little Zorua lunged. Snowflake took the stick and held it out for him, still on his knees.
"Use Bite! Bite the stick!"
Melli gawked, watching Buggy go completely feral on this offending piece of wood. Clawing viciously, moving his mouth up and down the entire length trying to find its weak spot.
How effective was he being with only half his teeth?
"Oh no! The evil stick is trying to trick me! Only a partial ghost type can stop it! Get it, Buggy!" Snowflake's voice took on a more playful growl, moving the stick away from the Zorua forcing him to chase it. He fell to his back when Buggy tried using him as a springboard, the gremlin now on his chest practically flinging himself at his target. "Keep going! Use Snarl and scare it!" Buggy did as instructed, lips peeling back and angrily screeching at the stick. "Good job! Use Snarl again!"
Skuntank and Coal had joined the other Pokémon in their resting spot, also enjoying the spectacle. Melli couldn't help but grin. It was honestly funny watching those two going at it so hard, and Snowflake rolling about on the ground with Buggy running circles was even more comical.
When the sorry stick threatened to snap, Snowflake finally let go. Buggy held his head high with the damaged wood in his mouth, dragging it towards a wall and finally snapping it in half.
"Bravo! That was amazing, Buggy!" Snowflake clapped through labored breathing. Caboose cheered too, Skuntank and Coal barking and growling their own approval.
Cooper ignored him in favor of munching some very short grass, Melli's other Pokémon unsure what to think.
Buggy peed on the remains of his foe, rushing back to Snowflake ready to reclaim his spot.
The man let him have it, giving his Zorua a few congratulatory scratches on the chin. The baby was happy, until it all became too overwhelming. He let his sudden displeasure show by snapping at Snowflake.
Melli blinked, still trying to understand what he just witnessed.
How?
How the heck was that "training?"
That was a game. Not even a serious training session.
Just what kind of teaching methods were these?
Buggy looked as worn out as Snowflake, also panting hard with his mouth wide open and tongue hanging out in the correct place for once, rising and lowering with each rabid breath.
Voltorbs gathered in the entryway now, curious about the new human. They were all too nervous to approach given the looks Caboose was giving them.
How that fairy managed to terrify so many Pokémon with one glance, he had no idea.
"Alright, alright. Too much biting," Snowflake pulled out Buggy's Pokeball when he wouldn't stop snapping at fingers. He recalled the little gremlin and placed him in his pouch. "You can come out again when you've calmed down."
Melli couldn't help debating the pros and cons of a belt clip for those Pokeballs. That's what Akari and Ingo used anyway. It would likely be nicer on the Pokémon that rattling around loosely in a pouch, and if Snowflake insisted on Pokeballs, they might as well be secure.
Breathing heavy, Snowflake moved to one of the columns, taking a seat on the ground and holding his cane loosely.
"T-that was a great training session everyone! Our journey to victory is well on its way," He smiled wide at his other Pokémon. "Let's rest for now. It's well earned."
Cooper moved to a better grass spot and started munching, Caboose waltzing up to the staring group of Voltorbs and beginning an angry series of growls.
Whatever the conversation was about, Melli didn't really care.
He had shining to do.
They fell into a long bout of silence, Snowflake humming and either cloud gazing or watching Melli work. All the while squeezing a Pokeball in his bad hand and attempting to rotate it this way and that.
"Do you need help?" The Skyfaller suddenly questioned. "That must take a while on your own."
"M-maybe later." Melli tried to hide his sudden insecurity. The stray thought of Electrode choosing Snowflake as a new, better Warden crossed his mind.
He knew it was absurd, but the idea was now itching at the back of his brain, threatening to burst forth again.
"Okay! Let me know if you change your mind." Snowflake went quiet again, playing with that Pokeball.
Melli couldn't stand it.
He grumbled several profanities, gradually making his way further around Lord Electrode in his polishing fit.
He felt so paranoid and didn't understand why. Snowflake refused to leave, so why was Melli scared of a repeat incident like he had with Adaman?
He considered the Diamond leader a friend until… that night. Then again, he thought Mai was a friend too, though Adaman was her younger brother. Of course she'd side with family.
It hurt to think about, but Snowflake wasn't really family. Melli didn't have that buffer to keep him close.
How long would his commitment to being friends? It was only a matter of time before Snowflake realized what a fraud he was.
That he changed himself and became combative and pushy just to impress Adaman and try becoming friends again.
Sad.
His entire life was just sad.
"H-hello! I am Snowflake!"
Melli paused, hearing very slight stutter in Snowflake's voice. That's how he talked when scared.
"I-I remember! You are Lady Sn- WOAH!"
The Warden dropped his washcloth, rushing around Electrode just as Lady Sneasler snapped the lid on her basket, hiding Snowflake's struggling feet. He was asking to be released, but she wouldn't listen. Throwing the vessel over her shoulders, she began climbing the rock wall.
Completely ignoring everyone else.
"HEY!" Melli tried grabbing her foot, but she was already too high up.
"SNEASLER! GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!" Melli clawed at the rock wall attempting to climb and follow, but unable to grip the shear, slick surface.
"PSSSSSK!" Sneasler flashed her teeth at him and snarled.
"Lady Sneasler!" Snowflake shouted. "You be nice to Melli, or I will stop this train!" Sneasel blinked in confusion, but shook it off and continued climbing.
"BREEEE!" Caboose cried when she realized her human's predicament, threatening to throw a Magical Leaf attack before Melli stopped her.
"If you break that basket he's going to fall!"
"BREE?!"
"He's already brain damaged enough! He won't survive from that height!"
Sneasler got to the top of the arena while they argued, now wandering out of sight.
"LADY SNEASLER!"
"BREEEEE!"
Their cries went ignored.
Whipping out his flute, he tried playing the Lady's tune.
That was also unanswered. No matter how many times he played it, she wouldn't come back.
"Zubat! Go stop her!" Melli desperately pointed in the general direction of the Noble's retreat, but his Zubat cowered.
Of course, she wasn't a strong Pokemon. Sneasler would crush her like a pesky bug.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked…" Melli grabbed his hair and paced, trying to think.
Cooper ran around the arena whinnying in distress, and Caboose on the verge of tears.
"LORD ELECTRODE! WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP HER?!" The Warden flailed. Electrode snapped awake, having dozed off while getting waxed. He just gave an unconcerned growl and went back to sleep.
Cooper calmed at whatever the Lord's answer was, and even Caboose's panic lessened.
Why were they not taking this seriously?!
Melli's distressed growl quickly turning into a long screech.
How DARE SHE!
Kidnapping Snowflake of all people?!
Unless she was put up to it by someone…
"INGO!" The realization hit him like a rampaging Rhyhorn.
This had to be that filthy Pearl Warden's fault!
"We have to get him back right now!"
"Breee?" Caboose looked at him questioningly, having gotten the opposite response from Electrode.
"If he realizes how cool Ingo is, he won't want to spend time with us anymore!"
Melli could practically imagine those two walking around together, laughing and getting along like they had in Galaxy Hall.
They'd make comments behind Melli's back, laughing at him and how stupid he is.
Snowflake would finally see what Adaman and everyone else did.
He thought he'd accepted the possibility of Snowflake deciding to leave at some point, but now that the possibility was real…
No!
That. Couldn't. Happen!
"I think I remember the way to her den. That's probably where she went."
Caboose jumped worriedly, concern growing at Melli's dismay.
"You can come if you want, but I can't let them get any farther! Skuntank! We gotta go! Coal, stay! You're too big for the path!"
"Grrrrr!" His Pokémon called in agreement. He nuzzled Coal goodbye, following alongside Caboose and his human. Melli told Cooper to stay, given the trip was no place for a Pokémon built for flat land running.
"Hold on Snowflake! I'm coming!"
He was going to rescue Snowflake, and kick Ingo's ass right after!
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
Snowflake was terrified.
Being approached by Lady Sneasler, then having a basket dropped over his head and scooped up without consent. Now he was stuffed in this dark, cushioned prison, upside down and cane poking painfully into his side with each jostle.
He stopped asking Lady Sneasler to put him down a few minutes ago, knowing she wasn't listening. Based on how much thinner the air was getting, he figured they were verrrry high up.
Not a good place to struggle and break free of the basket.
Instead he tried adjusting his position, neck bent painfully against the lined bottom and bad shoulder screaming at the pressure.
Or maybe it was the falling temperatures.
More than likely both.
All these weeks he hadn't realized how much Cooper's heat had helped his pain, but now that she wasn't here it all seemed so obvious.
He wanted Caboose too. She had such a calming effect whenever he was scared or stressed. She kept his emotions under control, letting him think clearly. Without her here his mind was going with panick.
He tried to tell himself Lady Sneasler didn't mean any harm, but if that was the case why did she kidnap him?!
Would she eat him?
Use his intestines to decorate her home?
Why go through all this?!
He finally managed to wiggle so his left shoulder took the brunt of the weight. His cocoon wasn't big enough to flip over, so neck and arm adjustments were the best he could do.
Snowflake just closed his eyes and prayed their journey would end soon, and he wouldn't be horrifically killed.
He couldn't focus on anything else but the pressure.
Ow.
Ow.
Ow.
Ow.
It felt like an eternity.
Non stop pain and non stop swaying.
He just needed out!
The loud sinking of claws into rock finally stopped, Sneasler now walking, feet crunching against snow. He winced when the basket swung around, not expecting the thing to flip again. His backside hit the ground. A hard, rocky floor.
"Owwwww…" Snowflake tried cracking his neck.
That was not a nice ride, but at least they reached their terminal.
"Sne?" A high pitched cry made him flinch. Opening his eyes, he noticed the cave they were now in. Cozy, warmer than the wind whipped snow outside. It was dimly lit, a pile of red embers in a fire pit the only lighting available.
He could see a large vine covered Pokémon, and one with a familiar smile, the orange fire light glistening against its teeth.
"Gliscor!"
The clawed Pokémon flapped its way over, picking a spot on the ceiling and looking down at Snowflake.
"… Gliscor? It's me, Snowflake. From Jubilife?" Snowflake's smile wavered. "Caboose and I are going to battle you and Ingo one day. Remember?" He was scared when the Pokémon still didn't respond, gliding down to sniff at him properly. Recognition finally clicked, Gliscor purred and rubbed against Snowflake's hand in greeting.
"I-it's really nice to see a familiar face," Snowflake sighed, the smallest sense of relief washing over him. "I was just grabbed and taken here… Wait, if you're here, then Warden Ingo is too!" He stood up, wincing at the sharp pain in his shoulders. "Ow…" he rubbed his bad side and tried stretching his neck, spotting long purple claws approaching in his peripheral vision.
Snowflake ducked away, moving behind Gliscor trying to hide his spiking fear.
Sneasler was scary.
He didn't care if Melli and Ingo knew this Pokémon or not. She just kidnapped and dragged him to Sinnoh knows where, into an isolated cave with her sharp teeth and verrrry deadly claws.
Why would a Pokémon even need claws that long?!
He kept his guard up, smiling tensely and never moving his gaze from the massive predator. Lady Sneasler looked at him curiously, almost confused, before finally leaving the den.
"Oh thank Sinnoh…" Snowflake let out a relieved sigh, turning his attention back to the pile of furs lining the floor and wall behind the dying fire. There was a man, underneath a pile of baby Sneasels.
Despite the dim lighting making detalis hard to see, it wasn't hard to identify him. An unmistakable tatter black coat, massive sideburns and a bald head.
This was definitely Warden Ingo.
A very exhausted Warden Ingo.
He was dead to the world, the only sign of life his rising and falling chest, which currently had two baby Sneasels latched onto it. There were five more snuggled around his arms and legs, a good majority having wiggled their way inside his coat.
It was absolutely precious.
Deciding against waking the clearly comfortable man, Snowflake took a seat next to him, on the opposite side of the giant mess of vines. That creature examined him with two very round eyes, wearing Ingo's hat where its head was presumably hidden.
Gliscor joined Snowflake and chirped reassuringly, helping him feel more at ease despite the terrifying situation.
If Lady Sneasler returned and tried anything, he'd wake her Warden immediately.
Several sets of eyes peered at the stranger, a few from the back of the den and more near the entrance. One of the owners slowly approached, followed right behind my another.
A light purple colored Sneasel with a short ear feather, and another clearly darker in shade.
At first he thought it was solid black, until it reached the ember light revealing yellowish-colored claws.
"Snea?" The lighter one sniffed Snowflake's shoe questioningly, scuttling back as soon as her nose made contact.
The other one tried being braver, taking a whiff of his pant leg then bolting behind the other.
Snowflake couldn't help but laugh.
They didn't hold a candle to the larger one. Their claws weren't nearly as long.
"I won't hurt you, as long as you don't hurt me." He reassured, grin still tighter than he'd like. Both Sneasels looked to Gliscor for confirmation. The smiling bat nodded his approval.
Both Sneasels dropped their fearful behavior, walking around Snowflake and sniffing him from every angle.
It almost tickled.
Darker, solid colored Sneasels were coming into view now, all of them clearly curious, but not as brave as the two girls.
"Snea?" The lighter colored Sneasel sniffed at his walking stick, poking the hand grip gently with one of her claws.
"Oh, this is my cane," Snowflake explained. "I used to need it for balance, but now it's not as necessary… honestly, I don't know why I still have it…" why did he carry it again? It was nice to have when Melli was leading him up the mountain. A small support to lean on after hours of hiking. More so than that, having the solid slab of wood in his hand was oddly comforting. Even if it left his only good hand occupied, requiring him to put the stick down whenever he needed to lift things, it still felt like something he could defend himself with, should the need ever arise.
Yes. It was nice to have, just in case.
"Snea!" The Sneasel nodded her understanding, though never took her eyes off of it.
Well, Warden Ingo was here if anything really bad happened.
"I suppose you can hold it. Just be careful, alright?" Snowflake held the cane out, Sneasel gently grasping it in her clawed hands. The other Sneasels gathered around to view the odd piece of wood, before she smirked and tried holding it like Snowflake did. It was too tall, so she ended up gripping it around the middle instead. Still, she made many growls and chirps, walking back and forth not using the cane correctly at all.
Her human impression was well received among the other Sneasels, all of them snickering and cackling along, especially her unequally colored friend.
Snowflake couldn't stop smirking. This Sneasel was quite the character.
A shift under his coat made him jolt, one dark Sneasel having reached into his pouch while he wasn't looking. Dodging Snowlfake's hand, it rushed up an outcrop in the cave wall and perched itself high up, just out of reach. Clumsily, the Skyfaller searched through his belongings.
It stole something important.
"Hey! That's my egg!" He stood up. The other Sneasels all turned to watch, some of them shouting encouragement while others seemed irritated.
The thief didn't care, eyeing the tiny, fragile egg in his claws.
"Return that right now, or you will regret it!"
It looked between him and the egg, considering the threat. Shrugging, the thief slowly brought the little morsel to his mouth.
He was planning on eating it.
Right in front of Snowflake.
That was it!
Throwing a Pokeball, the shocked Sneasel was immediately engulfed in a flash of light, his little egg falling towards the ground.
"No!"
Gliscor swooped in right before it hit the rocks. Cradling the egg in a large claw, he swung back around and returned the stolen item.
"T-thank you." He breathed, clutching the little thing in his shaking hand.
The egg was miraculously undamaged.
Thank Sinnoh for that.
That Pokeball fell and bounced against stone, rolling a few feet and shooting out a firework.
He picked up his newly acquired Pokémon, looking to the other Sneasels and holding the ball up in warning. "If anyone tries to touch me or my belongings without permission, expect to be taken off the rails. Am I clear?"
All of the Sneasels nodded in agreement, including the bolder uniquely colored ones. The light purple kit even returned his cane, backing off verrry slowly, not showing her back.
Good.
Sitting back down, Snowflake wrapped a bit of rope around the Pokeball, not wanting that thief to escape voluntarily. He was going to have WORDS with the little gremlin, but not here.
Too many witnesses.
Lady Sneasler returned, prompting the dark colored Sneasels to retreat somewhere out of sight. The two girls were very happy by the berries in her arms, each taking on and feasting greedily. She even tossed a chesto berry at Snowflake. He barely caught it, holding the thing close to his chest watching Lady Sneasler intently.
She snatched up one of her feasting girls and sat by the opposite wall, holding the squirming thing in place while running her rough tongue along their head. After several annoyed screeches, the Sneasel accepted her fate, angrily munching on her berry while the purple one giggled.
Snowflake watched the grooming session, trying to remain quiet and forgotten in his little spot by Ingo and Gliscor.
He stayed awake long enough for Lady Sneasler to finish with one kit and chase down the other for a similar treatment.
His eyes blinked shut despite a hard fought battle to stay awake, clutching his cane close and refusing to lay down.
He would be rescued soon.
The Great Melli wouldn't abandon him. He was sure his best friend was on his way right now, since Snowflake had no chance of escape without getting lost.
He really wished Cooper and Caboose were here. His Sylveon was his strongest battle partner, and not freezing to death outside with a fire type sounded very much ideal.
He just needed to wait for Melli.
Stay calm, and wait.
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ART TO SHARE!!!
Jolly-Crimson on Tumblr made this wonderful fab art of Melli and Coal! It's adorable! Child Melli is so scared trying to hide behind Adaman, only to serve as Coals meat shield when he grows up! The cycle continues XD Everyone look at it!
https/jolly-crimson./post/685703903136940032/the-brave-lion-dog
If this fic happens to inspire anyone to do fanart/writing related to it, link it to me and I'll share and gush over it in the next chapter!