Around them loomed a forest of snow-covered pines, the needles shimmering with an icy coating. It was eerily quiet and beautiful...but Zoey couldn't even see it. All she felt was cold, all she saw was the Zorua running along ahead of her.
And even that was fading.
So naturally, she could not see the various eyes watching from above and around her.
Ahead, the Zorua stopped, looking over a ledge. Zoey quickly reached the edge as well, and glanced at the view ahead of her.
Looming before them was an impossibly massive prismatic ice sheet, glistening in the moonlight. Atop it, one could see the cheerful lights of a small city, with towers designed to seem like spires of the ice sheet, naturally grown from its surface.
This was Glashear City, the destination the Legendborn had been heading to. But now, Zoey was not sure if she'd be able to reach it.
But she refused to give up now. Not when she was so close.
Her guide yipped impatiently, and Zoey turned to follow it down a narrow frozen trail leading towards the glacier. It was definitely going to be a risky trek, where one wrong step would lead to her falling to her death.
But if she didn't try, she was going to die anyways. So she followed the Zorua down the path, carefully tracing its footsteps.
Zoey wasn't sure how she did it. Frozen, numb, and unsteady, still she managed to climb her way down the mountain and reach the bottom.
The Hisiuan Zorua looked towards a tall slope, that led up to a road leading into the city. It was not that far - Zoey could probably make it. Yet it also seemed to be an impossible distance away.
Slowly, Zoey walked there, trying to race against the cold trying to consume her. But before she could get very far, a bolt of magic struck her in the chest, knocking her down backwards into the snow.
Flickering in the heavens above her, she could see the northern lights, a beautiful dancing rainbow in the frozen sky. Looking at it, Zoey couldn't help but think on how glad she was that this was the last thing she was ever going to see.
Her vision dimmed, and then all was nothing. (-o-)
But it was not.
Although Zoey was no longer conscious to witness it, the Zorua was.
Several soldiers in dark armor advanced upon the fallen girl, but that was when the miracle happened.
Descending from the skies came a large blue bird Pokemon, with a long tail made of shimmering frost. With an eerie cry, the Articuno flapped its wings, sending the soldiers flying off in a swirl of cold winds, as if they were mere snowflakes in the blizzard.
The Articuno was swiftly joined by a blue dog Pokemon, behind which trailed an aurora of colors. The Suicune howled, and magic whipped through the clearing, healing the fallen girl's wounds and stabilizing her life-force.
The Hisiuan Zorua could not talk, but she was filled with joy at the sight.
The Articuno looked down at the fox Pokemon, and declared, "No Legendborn shall die today. If you had not guided her out of the mountain, we would not have been able to save her. The world thanks you, young Zorua."
Suicune added, "Be sure to protect her closely. One day, your bond and all the others will be what makes or breaks our fates. But I am sure you will succeed."
The Zorua gave a soft nod.
"We must leave now, but someone will come soon to help the two of you. May Arceus guide you.", Articuno said.
Then as swiftly as they had come, the Legendaries disappeared, leaving the two alone in the snow. (-o-)
"We lost her.", sighed Victor, as the Legendborn sat on a cliff looming above the path below.
"Both Zoey and Selene.", Seth murmured, "I can't believe how fast it was - if I'd been quicker, I'd have been able to save them."
Kai replied, "We barely even saved you. Don't beat yourself up about it - there was nothing we could've done to change things. We just have to hope they survive and make it to the city."
Cain looked forlorn. "In this weather? Sadly, I don't think they could. We'll just have to fight even harder, for them as much as our Pokemon."
Seth growled, "We can't just give up hope! Those were our friends - we can't just toss aside the matter of their lives like that! We have to try harder to find them, before we -"
"Look!", cried Victor, "Down there!"
Two strange humanoids, seemingly shaped out of pottery, were hurrying into the city, carrying something. It looked almost like...
"Zoey!", cried Kai, "Whatever those things are, they have her in their clutches!"
"Let's go!", declared Seth, "We must save her!"
The Legendborn took off down the road, hoping that they would not be too late. (-o-)
Selene watched from the shadows, as the cultists marched past, dragging along something bound in chains. Selene could feel its mind screaming out, calling for help that may never come.
For who dared roam the tunnels beneath the ice?
Who would dare challenge the Darkness in his birthplace?
They did not know the answer. But with a fang-filled smile, Selene knew that she did.
The Legendborn dared. Their precious Pokemon were trapped here, after all, and by every Legendary in the Hall of Origin, they were going to rescue them.
The shadows were about to take the assault of their lives, and they were not going to like it.
And Selene was eager to claim her vengeance, after all she'd suffered in this dark and wretched place.
With an excited growl, she darted down a side-tunnel, ready to begin the attack. (-o-)
AN: Now all the road chapters are finished! Next time, we'll revisit our friends in Azulia City and see what will happen there!
After that, we'll probably start alternating between the groups, Azulia one chapter, Glashear the next. That way, no one has to wait very long to see their character again.
See you all next time!