Story 9 - 273.1 Kelvin, written by: Makuro

In the frozen plains of a faraway land, the darkest reaches of the night were turning into an equally dark morning. A village with tiny homes made of brick, stone, and straw stood firm against the harsh winds that tore through the area. Snow flurries and ice droplets danced in the sky as the gale carried them every which way.

A bit of a way south, in the one particular hut outside the range of the thick forest of spruce, there were two Pokemon who lay in a large bed. Ones blessed by the legends. Ones running out of time at such a midnight hour. Or is their power really considered to be a blessing? Could it be a curse? One that draws in the wrath of the elements.

Soon, a bundle of wood was lit, the spark of a flame slowly engulfing the pile and smoke filling the air. The heat and light of the fire also permeated the air of the small abode as a Pokemon stirred in the night. Red, yellow, and orange hues reflected off the steel of Excadrill's head as she backed away from the fireplace. She then shivered and sighed, her breath clouding into a thick fog. The fire illuminated the rest of the area, the sparse furniture and items now visible in the light.

When will we go to a land where his name doesn't doesn't plague him? Excadrill's whiskers twitched in thought as she stared at a travel pack on a table. The hardened cloth material had faded over the years but wasn't ready to be replaced. As long as the two of them were like this then they would never get an upgrade.

"Let's do this," she whispered. Excadrill then took some careful steps forward, her hulking body creaking the floorboards even with the straw scattered above them. She knew what she was about to do would change the course of her life. It wouldn't be easy, but time was running out.

They needed to be there for those two. Also, there were others, Pokemon who had never met or seen them who needed their power. No matter how long Excadrill waited and prayed she would always have a purpose. A duty to fulfill.

Not just her sole burden to carry, however, others all across the world had it too. The world as she knew it that is. But that didn't matter, someone more precious carried the weight on their shoulders too.

Exacdrill glanced back at her bed. Not just her. "Yuki," she said, before walking forward. The other Pokemon, in the tiny little hut, slept peacefully despite the ruckus. Behind the bed there was a window, the dark curtains slightly parted. Exacdrill paused to watch the snowfall. On the bed underneath the wooly blanket, a pair of round beige flicked unconsciously.

A small gust of wind managed to pass through the window. Excadrill placed her claw where she presumed the Pokemon's side was. "Hey, I have something to talk to you about," she murmured.

The figure stirred for a moment, before going still. "Huh?" he yawned sheepishly.

Excadrill then firmly pushed his shoulders. "I said I have to talk to you!"

"Komaru, wha?" He groaned, snuggling further into the warm blanket.

"Yuki, I'm serious," Komaru asserted, pulling off some of the covers. The round pair of ears belonged to a Mienfoo. Once the covers were removed, Mienfoo recoiled in the bed before he rolled over onto their side. "We're running out of time."

No response. Excadrill huffed as she climbed onto the bed to face Yuki. She then stared into Mienfoo's eyes. In the light of the fire, the two noticed each other. The mark of the blessing. The legendary curse. Komaru's light brown left eye, Yuki's icy blue left eye. Even at the midnight hour, they knew what they must do.

Excadrill sat still, biding her time before she buried her snout into Mienfoo's chest. On reflex, Yuki kicked her in the shoulder and accidentally pushed himself out of the bed. He landed on the floor with a thud.

Komaru glanced at him before she grabbed the travel pack off the table and stormed out the door. Just as quickly she reentered into the hut with something in her claws. It was snow and dirt from outside. Excadrill tossed a large amount of soil into the fireplace, smoldering the flame instantly.

This wasn't a fire her brother could stoke without confrontation. So he quickly began to get ready.

Outside the warmth and shelter of the hut, the arctic wind howled and the cold stung through the two Pokemon's fur. They had all of their belongings laying on the front porch on a small metal cart, and snow and ice began to ruin its well-coated finish.

Komaru and Yuki stood in silence in front of the small building. Excadrill's eyes bore into the Pokemon before her as her patience withered. A growl pierced through her closed mouth as Mienfoo avoided her gaze.

"I-" Mienfoo started, taking a brief glance at Excadrill's disposition when she struck the ground. "I know why you called me."

Then Yuki went silent again as if he was waiting on something. He was. Komaru crossed her arms and sighed.

The wind started to die down for a moment as the clouds dissipated, allowing the moon and starlight to shine on the two. Mienfoo then spoke up again. "The place… Where they are… that city in which we are needed is now in our grasp."

Excadrill closed her eyes for a moment and stretched. Then she grimaced. Her claws and head drill were resistant to the wind, but it still made her fur feel uncomfortable.

"But the feral tundra lands are the last barrier in our way," Yuki ended, his paws holding the end of his fluffy 'shirt'. "I'd have to fight again and then I'd-"

"I know you have your reservations on this matter but you know what we have to do," Komaru sighed.

Mienfoo couldn't help but fold his ears. "I know we'll have more time if we do it your way but I don't want to!"

He watched in terror as the Pokemon in front of him suddenly got low to the ground. "Oh?" Excadrill questioned. "You don't want to?"

Without wasting any time she barreled straight into the frozen earth. Chunks of debris lit up in the night sky. Her powerful body was somehow able to quickly tunnel underground through the thick icy conditions. Was it the blessing aiding Excadrill? Or was it her curse?

As a flurry of ice, water, and dirt blasted behind his sister Yuki's eyes darted all across the area. His gaze never missed the metallic glint of her drill reaching out to tag him, even through the snowstorm.

Mienfoo fled from the provocations, again and again, dodging Excadrill's tests until she fully emerged from the ground. They stood across from each other, panting in exhaustion. Yuki wiped his paws off and cooled his nerves, in an effort to relax. But it was not over.

In a flash, Komaru appeared right before her brother, mere centimeters away from his whiskers. In response he scampered away, expecting to get hit. Instead, Excadrill just plopped down on her back with a hearty sigh.

"But… why?"

"It's simple, we'll do what you prefer," Komaru shivered for a moment before her left eye emitted a bright light. "There is one teeny tiny catch however."

A look of relief filled her features as she closed her eyes. Swiftly, a sheen metallic substance coated her entire body, the covering pouring across her fur. "Shatter me."

Yuki stumbled to the side as he regained his composure. "Shatter? Like the ice?"

"That's right, all you need to do is shatter me!" she growled, further exposing herself.

Mienfoo flinched, holding his arms up."Wha, what? Shatter you?"

"Yes, I need you to shatter me, Yuki!"

"But that means, using my power and-" Mienfoo held his head to block it from the torrent of frigid wind. He got lower to the ground to keep himself from falling over, eventually curling into a ball as the blast persisted.

Just before it seemed like he couldn't handle it anymore he felt it. The soft and firm body of his sister. Yuki winced as he slowly opened his eyes. Komaru had protected him from the elements, so why would he assume otherwise? She was always his shield.

Just as equally she could be his sword."Use your power to shatter me!"

Yuki glanced at her sturdy silver claws and helmet before he found himself recoiling. "Shattering you, but…that's."

"I don't mean physically," Komaru stamped her paw into the dirt. "I mean mentally!"

Yuki shook his scruffy fur and took in a painful breath. His older sister was always this stubborn and extreme, even as a Drillbur from the first time they met. Why did this feel so different? Komaru wanted his input on an issue, but she wasn't going to agree on the method. Not easily. She never did anything easy!

Mienfoo placed his paw on his chest before repeatedly tapping his feet on the chilly ground. What does she mean by mentally? He pondered, walking circles around the resting Excadrill.

Komaru suddenly stood up. Yuki flinched when she grumbled past him before he watched her walk over toward the front porch. Excadrill then rummaged through the cart. She first took the travelpack into her grasp, placing it on the wood before she gently scoured through the items.

Mienfoo tilted his head once he realized she was counting the supplies. Each berry or piece of gear was ginger picked up before going right back into its compartment. One by one,

Excadrill analyzed them all before pulling out a small journal. Komaru was content. He would be okay.

Yuki watched her jot down notes Komaru would never force me… She just… wants me to use something….A sharp wind tore through Yuki's fur and he felt his jaw drop. My agency!

The radiance of the midnight air, Mienfoo never experienced it quite the same. He would not be allowed another opportunity like this. Then he felt his limbs move automatically. It was now or never. But was it enough?

He swung his paws forward, jabbing Excadrill in the side. In the last second Komaru stood up. Immediately Yuki cringed, choking back tears and shaking his stinging fists. His sister puffed out a cloud of air before snarling. It was on.

No matter the outcome, the stars still twinkled. Warm tears. A bruised claw, and a low hanging tail. Sore lungs, worn feet. It would be okay, they were only three days away.

When did night end and morning begin? Komaru never really understood that until that day happened. She knew she would have to keep track of it without tools but it was hard. Why should she care about the position of the sun and moon when she already had her light right beside her?

Just as the planets all orbit the stars, Yuki would never be lonely. He always knew that in his heart. No matter what happened, in no time they'll be together again.

Even in the chilly aftermath of a disagreement. The two couldn't separate just yet, they were still three days out. Intrepid drifting to the Northwest past the tundra, through the snowy plains and all the way to the mechanical wonder of the city.