The words pulled all my muscles together as everything froze within me like the night.
But it all melted when the voice started to laugh. Not in malice or victory, it was as if a child was playing in the gardens. I swung my head around to see two silhouettes in the distance, a light graceful dance of snowflakes enchanting them with a veil of mystery. I should have started to run the other way, but there was something that drew me closer. My feet moved themselves as they cautiously padded through the snow with airy crunches. The Minccino on my shoulder shuttered gently but seemed just as intrigued. Their shadows became shifting ghosts of the winter the closer I came. But once I could make the strands of hair out, I leapt back. My hands carefully wrapped around a crisp birch tree as I fled behind it.
My eyes though couldn't help but to stay focused on what I saw.
A gorgeous Sawsbuck stood powerfully in the woods, its great white mane of winter furrowing around its neck for warmth. The creature's winding antlers were a bright cream that stood out in the forest. Never had I known such creatures roamed here.
It was wild and free. Something so beautiful.
But it was more mystifying to see the other figure. One whose hand was brushing the wild beast's muzzle like it was a stable Zebstrika. The figure was curious, long and untamed locks of a tea green hue were attempted to be contained in a low ponytail. His dark brown pants had frost slowly encasing the ankles as a only a cream peasants shirt over a black one covered his torso. The man's skin through looked as if it could become one with the snow, almost sickly.
Both his and Sawsbuck's breath filtered in the air as steam, mixing as one. "How come you have traveled so far?" the strange man asked once again to the Pokemon. And it seemed to reply in a string of snorts and hoof beats. "You are looking for something? Aren't we all..."
A silence filled between them, their eyes swimming before Sawsbuck broke it. The great creature swung its head around to where I lurked, huffing loudly.
I leapt back, trying to shrink further behind the tree. Something within me didn't want to be seen.
"There is a human there, you say." The man murmured in a drifting voice. A silence beckoning me to flee, "we know you are there, reveal yourself." As demanding as the words were, the man's voice was something like coaxing a Lilipup to come out from under the furniture. A sweet tone of almost a child.
My head slowly poked around the tree, my body trembling. There were so many people out there to hurt others. He could have been one of them, I thought. He seemed far from it, but I had been deceived before. I couldn't make a sound as even Minccino cup burrowed herself closer to my neck.
The man's face was tender, piercing me with storming eyes, "it is just a girl." He spoke to air before his words flew to me, "You have no reason to hide, I will not hurt you."
My eyes jumped, he hadn't lied at that moment.
My foot carefully moved out on its own, my body leaning out just a bit more as I refused to speak.
He laughed at me in a hushed tone, "come now, I am not that scary, am I?" Something in his face fractured as I didn't move nor reply. "Are you from the town near by?"
I shook my head, small chocolate curls spinning out like thread from my hood. It felt like if I dared a word to him, this snow illusion would shatter. A strange man, as I examined close to see an elegant rapier sagging on his hip as if for decoration than defense, stood before me enveloped by the dancing wind and bitter snow. Beside him, an untamable beast acting as docile as a Lilipup. It seemed so unreal.
He though only smiled, "then, are you here to help the town?"
My eyes widened just the slightest at his words. I thought how only the king could have helped. I never thought to help them myself, I was in no position too. I pushed forward a tight smile and lifted my arms slightly to show how thin and rugged I was. I was no better off than the rest of them now.
"I see," he seemed to understand, but something in his eyes shuttered. I had no way to really pinpoint it, but if I had to make a sort of estimation, there was a disappointment there.
The two of us fell into a glazed silence, the singing wind howling with snow the only sound. Neither of us made such movement, as if he thought this would break too. I don't believe either of us knew what to do next as we exchanged sheepish smiles.
He seemed... Off. Compared to the rest of the world.
Something was different. But I could not decide if it was right or wrong. Whether he was an ally or foe.
And I do believe he felt this too.
But he hasn't lied yet.
Our Pokemon tensed at this uncertainty. I saw Minccino from the corner of my eye as she shot looks of her own unease towards the rippling Sawsbuck. The grass pokemon shivered in response before raising a hoof. My eyes only focused on the wild thing as it began to move, dragging its dark legs through the drifts of ice crystals inch by inch to where I stood.
My back straightened as the antlered Pokemon approached, as if I had to rival the winter Sawsbuck's power.
It froze just a breath from me. It's golden streaked face glittered around its obsidian jeweled eyes that seemed to stare into my very core. Puffs of hot steam almost burned as they panted out from the Sawsbuck's leathery nose. It was waiting for my move. The green-haired mystery peered around, just as curious.
This thing was wild.
It was unknown and unfamiliar.
It was dangerous.
Yet it was slow as my hand slowly rose from where it was once resting close to my leg. And as if the Sawsbuck was an easily shattered ornament, my fingers traced down its cheek. The creature grunted before burrowing its muzzled further into the palm of my hand. At this reaction, I couldn't help it as a smile burned across my face, my hand moving to stroke the stag's muscle wound neck. Sawsbuck's chocolates fur was far from a grime that I'd imagine as my fingers twirled in between its coarse hairs.
Was a creature like this truly so dangerous? I couldn't stop myself from pondering.
"He likes you," the man whispered in an almost awed tone, stealing my attention towards him.
For just a moment, I had forgotten he was even there. I shot a soft expression to the man as I continued to pet the gentle beast. The Sawsbuck grunted a few times to me, staring at me intensely; a movement that instinctively pushed me to recoil away.
The man just a few feet away laughed, "do not fret, he means no malice." I cocked a crooked expression towards the weaponed character as oddly as he looked. "Ah, so you can not hear them either... How sad. Sawsbuck wishes for you to be his companion. You see, he is searching for something."
"Aren't we all?" I muttered in a bitter hush as I stared into the eyes of the Pokemon, mirroring the man's previous words in my own twisted voice.
Hear them? Could he be speaking about the Pokemon? My mind started to reel with questions as I moved my eyes back to the man. He's not lying, that was for sure. But it sounds like nonsense.
"And she spoke! I almost thought you would never speak such things as words," he laughed quietly, almost like a child discovering something they thought to be nonexistent. "And you are quite right about that..."
I smiled to him with a roll of my eyes, the graced day only speaking as time followed. But it seemed my stomach wanted a role too, as it snarled for all of us to hear. My immediate embarrassment engulfed my face with a red blaze as I looked away. I had been hungry for quiet some time, but it was rude for a woman to show it in such a barbaric way.
My hands flung to cover my stomach as I moved my face to hide in the Sawsbuck's dirt-smelling mane.
The man broke into laughter at me, joined by the jeering Minccino on my shoulder, only causing me even more anguish.
"Your stomach seems to speak on its own accord," the man spoke through his rumbles of laughter, his thin whips of green eyebrows raising to me in a curiosity. "Come with me," my eyes fell weary to the newly met man. I was reminded of that Turpin man who stole my steed what felt like years ago. "you are not strong enough at this point to go on alone. Without food, your body will surely begin to shut down numerous other vital functions until you are left unable to carry yourself."
"minxi!" Bianca's fluff ball cried out with great joy in its tamber.
The man smiled to the perched Pokemon beside my head, "come, even your companion agrees. And you mustn't harm your friends, they are all you have and deserve what you would give anyone else."
"How do I know you are not lying to me about what Minnccino says?" My voiced piqued, though of course I would have been able to see through any untruthful word. But something within me wanted to ask.
"Well, you now you don't do you." He smiled carefully, beginning to walk away into the thicket, "you'll just have to trust me." Has the snow began to encase him, a shadow stirred. But not his. Something shook from the way, a small Pokemon pacing by his side as if it had been hidden with him all along. It first looked to be a tiny figure but it began to shift, stretching into something new as they continued walking.
It was as if an illusion lifted to reveal a loping two legged creature nearly surpassing the mystery man in height. It thus still followed his shadow.
The Sawsbuck beside me nuzzled my head with an affectionate snuff before starting to follow the dusting footprints left in the snow. I shot the Ashy Pokemon on my shoulder a questioning look and, as if she understood me, she gave the slightest nod of reassurance.
With a deep breath, I followed the tracing tracks of three left only by the snow that would soon be wiped away by the ever changing world around.
The chill shot my bones as if I wasn't used to it yet while my eyes could only trace the silhouetted man as more veils of snow breaths wrapped between us; yet someone I never lost sight of him. The howling absence of words deafening as we walked on. It did nothing but pose more questions.
Who was this person?
Why were they in the forest?
It was hard to trust anyone after, well, living my life. And now out in the world, I am coming to realize lies are still there.
My arms trembled as another gust swept my cloak about, the chill sinking across my soul. There were no longer sheltering birch trees around us, the forest thinning out to a grazing plateau covered with snow like a tundra. A few Pokemon dared to bound across, digging for any hints of food before scurrying away as they heard our approach. My feet slowed so I could gawk at the unfamiliar land, but the man of tea hair dared not slow. So I had to snap back to reality and continue to follow after he and the shadow Pokemon. Sawsbuck hadn't yielded either, kicking up bows of sloshing snow with each step.
As the clearing rolled past, small buildings began to sprout up. Frosted stone paths built the way, even a bridge that roped above the town for space conservation. Small cottage homes nestled themselves between each other, along with a familiar building.
A small shack with a sign reading: Centre.
We passed it though as if it never existed, the man sleuthing into the largest building. Amber torches flickered within, warming it from the inside out while a beautifully carved oak door ornately acted as the only guard. A hanging sign drifted above the door in a plated turquoise metal to read out the name. It was called "the Corde" as told by the sign.
Both Sawsbuck and the shadow creature joined a corral of other Pokemon built just aside of the building, though Minccino was determined to stick my by side, ruffling her little head with a small purr.
Once entering, a rush of comforting warmth tickled my skin from the flickering flames of torches and candles from nearly every inch of the tavern as it appeared. There were dozens of fine wood tables draped with melted bunches of candles that fused over the passing time.
The tables were bustled with small groups that kept their tones to a dull shiver, like a white noise. Only a few of the tables were open but the man who lead me here still hadn't halted as he strides to a vacant one in the center of it all. He quietly moved a chair, shooting me a beckoning look as he simply held the seat out.
It was second nature, as if in my blood, as I took poised strides over to him, gracing myself into the seat he offered. He then gently pushed my chair in before mingling over to his, directly across from me.
Both of us sat in only the lull of the world around us, a bar tendress coming by to drop off two plates. I shot the man across from me a curious look and he just cocked his head to me with a wry smile. "Why do we already have food?" I finally said with a huff of defeat as I broke a vow of silence.
He smiled childishly as if he had won, "I come here often to eat with a comrade or two and we all have the same meal. Go ahead and eat, miss..."
With a nod, I picked up the metallic fork and knife, somewhat shocked that neither were rusted no dirtied. Delicately, I broke the skin of the meat plate with the fork to hold it in place as I sliced the knife in elegant movements across the roast. Bianca's little grey rodent leapt down on the table, poking her nose at my plate as I politely shooed her away with my elbow.
Coolly, I lifted the aromatic meat that was triggering my mouth to begin pooling with water. But before I could snap a bite, the man cleared his throat distinctively for my attention. My eyes snapped out to meat his spheres of ash, "Yes?"
"What is your name, miss?"
I blinked for a moment, recalling both names that had been seldom spoken. "I call myself White Albion," I finally was able to speak, enunciating each syllable in a dragged tone.
He nodded slightly, "a simple but meaningful name. Would it be prying to know your age?"
"I am seventeen; to be eighteen in the approaching months." My eyes looked to the man cautiously, "and what of you?"
I call myself N, nineteen years of age, going on twenty, some day." There was no hint of dishonesty about him in any way. It almost was perplexing.
I nodded, the silence befalling us once more.
With nothing left to say, I took a hesitant nibble. And as the succulent favors danced across my tongue, it took almost every fiber that held me together to continue eating properly. I took orderly bites, but I couldn't help as I let out a moan of pleasure from the taste of my meal. "Roast Ducklette," I murmured as it was an simple meal I would eat at the castle on occasions. To imagine commoners were eating the stuff! If it was a common meal, I would never want to leave this life! Throw the ideal of truth away for this delicacy.
Though I doubt I would ever get to eat Krabby legs. I could have dealt with that.
"Indeed. You have some excellent tastes there miss Albion," the man who called himself N said with a grin as he barely touched his food. His elbows were perched on the table, his fingers spinning an odd golden cube of cubes around as his eyes followed my movements. One should feel unease under a stare, but there was something of innocence behind his eyes that was difficult for me to grasp. "Not too many may even taste it since it is a very expensive meat; anywhere in Unova."
I swallowed what sustenance resided in my mouth before blinking owlishly, "is it?"
He laughed at me, almost a giggle, "it very much is. But Swanna have their nests close here so hunting their Ducklette is easy. I, myself, would never turn my weapon on the wonderful creatures," the mysterious man patted his rapier for a moment before turning back, "but I have no discord in eating them, as long as they do not go to waste."
"So I can see, sir N." I continued to carefully eat my meal as if it were my last, keeping my finely perfect posture. But as Minccino begged, I cut a small slice for her and slid it off to the side as I turned an eye away.
That N man never seemed to stop fidgeting with his cube, his mind fixated on the toy as I fell in a peace to eat.
That would be yo until he spoke again in an all new topic, "you are quite mannered, miss Albion."
My gaze met his eyes only for a moment before they fell back to my meal, "so are you, sir N."
His lips curled up gently, "You are very true there." People began to move about, in and out of The Corde as bar tendresses danced around to wipe down the tables for the next guest. "But you are extremely refined in how you carry yourself, how you speak, even as you eat despite how feverishly starved you were. You even were able to identify the Roast Ducklette. One can't help but wonder if you are of any noble family; though if you we're how come they sent out their marriageable daughter out into the common world with only a Minccino and the clothes on her back. Where are you from?"
He was quite perceptive. More than I would have anticipated. I had to tell him something.
"I was raised in the Sharondale Castle; my parents have worked there for most of their lives. I needed to get away."
It wasn't a lie. It was all true, just vague.
"Really?" N breathed out with a child's bright expression. His eyes though flickered with something. Something terrifying, but I just couldn't see. "I have heard of many servants running away before. I was told they were extremely cruel there, and are as strict as hell. That would explain your total refinement and polite tones. Also why you have a cleaning Pokemon traveling with you. I had been informed that they beat servants who didn't follow orders properly. Had you ever met the princess? A former worker there told me she was just oh-so callus and spoiled, is this true?" His bombardment of questions were all of sheer curiosity.
But they did strike a cord. My silverware fell against the table I screeched to stand, "that is not true!" The entire room froze, their eyes trained on me as I shamefully hung my head. I murmured and apology to the room as I slid back to my seat. "H-Her highness is just a bit... Suffocated. The castle, it is very difficult to ever breathe there."
"Really."
My breath shuttered in my lungs like shutters in a storm, my hands prickling with blood as I trembled. I had to escape this conversation, "what about you? Where do you hail from for to have such high manners?"
Why? Why wasn't I making a run for it now? I did not know the answer to that.
N cocked his head gently, eyes glazing over as he stared past me, "no where in particular. My father is just a very respectable and honorable man, no matter the position. He taught me very much of what I know today, everything really." His smile was genuine.
Our night after that followed with gentle banter as we both hid much of our lives in between the lines we spoke that night. Secrets danced, threatening to slip loose from either of us that could have destroyed it. But none was said aloud as I sometimes found myself laughing.
By the end, N paid for our meals. Sawsbuck had said something to N, apparently (since I am still not entirely sold on this hearing pokemon thing),that he would wait till morning for me in the corral. The shadow creature, which N told me was a Zoraroak, tagged after his master. We then traveled to the town's Centre, where a look-a-like of the one I met in Opelucid welcomed us to the town. It was apparently called Lacurosa Town. She gave us two separate rooms.
And upon entering my own, once N left, I found something so beckoning waiting.
It was a double bed in a simply bland room. But the mattress was topped with one of the fluffiest quilts I had seen ever since I left the castle.
It was in a natural motion, I removed my cloak and had barely a fight with my corset. Minccino had sprung from my shoulder and wrapped herself in a bundle on my pillow soundly. I soon followed her lead, burying myself in the thicket of covers that held my heat in a cocoon.
The mattress was stiff, as if there was something stabbing me in the side. Once I couldn't fall asleep, I checked under the mattress and I found a small bean curd. Under the assumption someone had eaten in the room before, I scoured it about tiredly for anymore.
Once it was clean, I curled back into bed, drifting to sleep in a haze where only one thought was left echoing louder than cannons.
I will run, early in the tomorrow's dawn. Take Sawsbuck and leave N.