Here we are, the first part of the Crown Tundra.
Hopefully you all enjoy this different take on the DLC.
Crown Tundra Station
"Wow, it's a little chilly here." Marnie commented, as she and Victor stepped off the train.
"Yeah," Victor chuckled, "I guess we know why it's called a Tundra." But he was worried about Marnie. "Will you be okay wearing those clothes?"
"I should be, my legs aren't cold." Marnie confidently replied.
Victor then took off his hat. "I know it's not much," and putting it on Marnie's head, he smiled, "But this should keep your head warm."
"A-are you sure? What about you?" Marnie was taken aback by his kindness.
"I'll be okay." Victor reassured her.
"Warm..." Marnie thought, pulling his hat further down on her head. The warm feeling in her cheeks helped as well.
Slippery Slope
Stepping out of the station, the pair find out that the cold they felt in the station was only a warning for what was to come. They can even see their own breath it's so cold!
"Want your hat back now?" Marnie asked.
"N-nope, I'm fine..." Victor shivered. "Besides, you wear it better."
"Hmmm." Marnie hummed, a small smile growing on her face.
But the moment was interrupted by someone crying out loud.
"Come on, Dad! Lay off and quit following me already!"
Victor and Marnie see a man chasing after a girl. She continues yelling at the man.
"I'm gonna go on a Dynamax Adventure in the Max Lair, and I don't need you breathing down my neck! I'm here to battle loads and loads of rare Dynamax Pokémon!"
"Gahahaha!" The man boisterously laughed, "Don't you fret! I know somewhere way more fun than that musty old place! Get ready for loads of quality time with the coolest dad ever!" He's pumped up.
The girl however, looks mortified. "What a generous and totally unwanted offer! 'Fraid I've got to say "no, thanks"!"
Victor and Marnie watch the two of them argue.
"It's like watchin' a comedy." Marnie shrugged.
"Huh." Victor said, looking the girl up and down. "She seems nice. Her dad's a bit aggressive though." He wondered though if her school uniform was keeping her warm, like with Marnie.
"Yeah." Marnie agreed. "She's pretty, isn't she?"
"Yup!" Victor smiled.
Oof.
Marnie turned to him, crossing her arms over chest, and frowned.
"W-what'd I say?" Victor sweatdropped.
Marnie just walked away from him, toward the arguing pair. Victor followed, wondering why he was being punished for agreeing with Marnie.
"Come on, Nia! Be reasonable!" The girl's father shouted. "Or get ready to be ultra-mega-embarrassed... as I unleash the Noble Roar of Dad!".
"Gah!" she exclaims. "I'll take a hard pass on that, thanks..."
She then turned and saw Victor and Marnie standing there, watching them.
The girl waved at Victor to get his attention. "Excuse me! Hello? Yes, you - the boy over there! My dad is as stubborn as steel, and he won't leave me alone! Back me up, will you?"
"Uh..." Victor said, not knowing how to respond.
So the girl answered for him. Running over to him, she took his hands in hers, and gives him... a peck on the cheek! Victor's face went red, her father's mouth fell open, and Marnie is too stunned to be able to react.
"Thanks, my hero! Have a great time with this geezer, then!"
Recovering, her father spoke up. "Now, hold on, lad." He then chuckled. "I get what's going on here..."
He then closed his eyes. Taking in a deep breath, for dramatic effect, he let it out with a sigh.
"My dear sweet Nia! So you got yourself a boyfriend, and you wanted to spend some alone time with him, huh?" He then looked Victor up and down. "Can't say he's much to look at, but I guess you must be getting to be about that age..."
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Nobody had anything to say, certainly not even Peony himself over his complete misunderstanding of the situation.
"Uh, sure... whatever you say." Nia said, rolling her eyes.
"Well, sorry to break up your date, but it looks like I gotta crush your boyfriend in a battle. I've got plans for us, and family comes first!" The man exclaimed.
"I am not a prize to be fought over and won..." The girl grumbled, stepping out of the way.
"The name's Peony!" The man revealed. "Brace yourself - I'm pretty ferocious in battle!"
"Victor," Marnie sweated, "I don't think this is a good idea..."
"Eh, what's the worst that can happen? I bet he's all bark and no bite." Victor grinned. Until Peony called out his Pokémon.
"Go, Copperajah!"
"Copper-" Victor started.
"-What?!" Marnie finished.
*Poof*
*Rrraaaaaaj!*
The trumpeting blast from the large, steel elephant nearly blew Victor over!
"Gahaha! Aren't you the brave one, pickin' a fight with a onetime Gym Leader!"
"You challenged me!" Victor exclaimed. "...Wait, did you say "Gym Leader"?"
"I don't think we're supposed to be here this early..." Marnie noted.
"Y-yeah..." Victor agreed. He then called out his partner. "Go, Sobble?"
His small, blue frog came out, confidently... until it looked up and saw its opponent. Then it just started crying.
"Gahahaha!" Peony bellowed, looking down at Sobble. "That's what you're using? This isn't the Anime, lad! You're not gonna be able to face my evolved Pokémon with your unevolved one!"
"Victor, Sobble's going to get stomped!" Marnie exclaimed.
"I know," He replied through gritted teeth, "But like it says: "No! There's no running from a Trainer battle"!"
"Boys and their nonsense." Marnie sighed. Turning to Nia, she asked, "Right?" Which was followed by a question mark appearing above her head.
"Well," Peony sighed, "I hate to have to beat you so badly like this, but I'll make it quick. Then we can go on our daddy-daughter trip, Nia!" Peony said.
"Umm..." Marnie said.
"Yes, dearie?" Peony politely asked.
"Why's he being so nice to Marnie, but not to me..." Victor grumbled in his head.
Marnie then asked, "...Where is your 'sweet' Nia?"
"...Huh?"
Peony looked around, now noticing that his daughter had escaped while he was distracted with Victor.
"Ah." Peony calmly sighed.
The wind blew.
"My darlin' daughter's disappeared! Where've gone, my sweet Nia?!" Peony comically screamed at the sky.
"Is she so sweet?" Victor deadpanned.
"Of course! My Nia's the sweetest, darlingest daughter a dad could ask for!" He then sighed, almost sadly. This was the first trip he could take her on in ages. Then she had to take advantage of the situation, using Victor. And yet, he's proud of her?
"You sure you know what you're getting yourself into, trying to be part of this family?" Peony asked Victor.
"I really have no idea what to say..." Victor replied, monotone. Marnie just shook her head in the background.
But now Peony's lost as what he's to do, now that his daughter has abandoned him. He then remembers that Nia might have gone to a place called the 'Max Lair'.
"Bahh, I've got no time crushing you, lad!" Withdrawing his Copperajah, Peony takes off, heading into the distance. The group lets out a sigh of relief.
"...Hoorah for me?" Victor said. Marnie's just glad Sobble didn't get smushed flat.
So the pair are left on their own to take in the sights of the frozen winter land. They can't do much, on account of the fact that they can just feel like the Pokémon wandering around are way too strong for them to run into. So they try to gather whatever things they can that are laying around. Working well together, one distracting any curious Pokémon, they manage to gather a few decent items. Eventually, they catch up with Peony. He's standing in front of what looks like the entrance of a cave. Noticing them, he waves them over, inviting them to follow him.
"Right! Just you hold on, Nia, my dear! Here comes Papaaa!" Peony yells, charging in.
"At this point, I feel for the poor girl..." Marnie commented. Victor nodded in agreement. She then asked him, "Your father isn't anything like this, right?"
"Nah, he's pretty chill. Mostly a busy worker-type."
"Hmm, I'd probably like to meet your parents one day." Marnie gave him a small smile, then got embarrassed over how that might sound if someone else was listening. "A-anyway, let's head in, it's still pretty cold out here. Hopefully it's warmer inside."
She then heads inside. leaving Victor left to wonder what that was all about...
Max Lair
"Ah, it's not so bad in here." Marnie appreciatively comments.
The small space, plus some equipment, heaters, a couple of people and Pokémon, stands in stark contrast to the chilly weather outside.
Ahead, they see Peony in a disagreement with a scientist lady. She's trying to explain to him why he can't just charge into the Dynamax Adventure after Nia, but she doesn't seem to be getting anywhere with him. Fortunately, with Victor and Marnie there, she can explain to them why.
- One science explanation later -
"So," Peony started off, but Marnie cut him off.
"Why don't you just leave it up to Victor?"
"Probably a safe bet." Peony nods.
The scientist would guess that he'd just have a stunningly inaccurate grasp of the situation. And yet, he ignores it all, and charges in anyway! So now Victor will have to go in and rescue two people. And Marnie? She's warming up with some hot chocolate with Morpeko, given to them by some staff members. So Victor leaves his Pokémon with her, since he can't take them with him.
- One Dynamax Adventure later -
"Where am I?" Victor asked, looking around. He seems to be lost, wandering around the lair after finishing his Adventure. Still no sign of Peony.
"Hang on - I recognize you!" A voice behind him says. "Hey, cutie!" The girl, Nia, from before giggles.
Up top, Marnie frowns, feeling a disturbance in the force...
Nia finally properly introduces herself by her real name, Peonia. She then explains about her and her father's situation, and the "Adven-tour" he had planned for them. The idea of a girl her age spending all that time with her dad, is absurd to her. So then she gets the brilliant idea to get Victor roped into filling in for her while she plays hooky, doing more of these adventures. When Victor tries to say that he's not interested, and that Peonia should throw her dad a bone, she gives him the cute, pleading look.
"Pretty please?" She asks, hands clasped together.
The man's not made of stone.
"Uh..."
"Great, thanks!" She then runs off, "I'll make it up to you later!"
That "later" part's going to get Victor in trouble...
Finding his way back up top, Victor finds Marnie, and an amused-looking scientist lady, standing over a splayed-out Peony. He had to be dragged back here by the scientist. How she managed to do that is anyone's guess, but Marnie had watched him being dragged back like a sack of potatoes. While he still cries out loud for his dear Nia, the lady explains that he had tripped on a rock, and hit his head, no doubt looking there for his daughter.
"Why would she be hiding behind some rocks?" Victor deadpanned.
But mentioning Peonia has Peony recover fast, asking about her. Victor then carefully explains that she's handling her own business. Grudgingly, Victor will fill in for her.
Marnie only frowns at this. What kind of pull does this girl have over Victor?
Peony does finally realize everything that's going on, even admitting that he's got some stuff to work on. But he's glad to have Victor and Marnie to take his daughter's place, two for the price of one!
Peony then runs off gleefully laughing, telling them to meet up with him in the nearby town of Freezington.
"So," Marnie asked after Peony had left, "How did your go Adventure go?"
"Pretty good, I guess." Victor replied. He then took out the Poké Ball he had. "Oh yeah, I caught a Suicune."
"A Suicune?" Marnie gaped. "Like the Legendary Beast, Suicune?"
"Yup!" He then lets it out.
*Susuiiiii!*
"Wow..." Marnie remarks. She then carefully approaches it, holding her hand out. Suicune calmly watches her, sniffs her, then licks her hand. Marnie can't resist carefully and respectfully petting the Legendary mon, even hugging it. "It's so beautiful, and smells like a clean river." Marnie remarks.
Victor smiles at the wholesome bonding between Marnie and Suicune. Who knew that a punk girl would have an appreciation for things like this, and even have such a soft side?
"Will you be adding Suicune to your team?" Marnie then asks, examining Suicune.
"I could..." Victor starts, but Sobble comes out of his ball, apparently not thrilled by the threat. "Don't worry buddy, I wouldn't replace you!"
Marnie's amused as Sobble tries to challenge Suicune over who's the best Water-mon for Victor. The larger blue beast lazily puts its paw on Sobble's face when he charges at it, making it run comically in place. It's so bored of the frog, it doesn't even take him seriously.
Victor then asks Marnie if she wants to go for a ride on Suicune, returning Sobble to its ball.
"Ride Suicune?" Marnie asks. When she looks at it, it doesn't seem to really mind. Calm and collected, perhaps they are more alike than Marnie might realize.
But Victor climbs up Suicune, and offers his hand Marnie. Feeling that reoccurring warm feeling in her cheeks, she accepts his hand. He pulls her up and has her sit in front of him, her back pressed against his chest. That warm feeling is now a bit hotter, especially when Victor wraps his arms around her waist, holding on to her for her 'safety'...
It's a good thing Marnie was safely holding onto its purple mane, because when she gave it the order to go, Suicune took off like a blue bullet, dashing through the Slippery Slope. At least any roaming Pokémon around were too afraid to chase after them, because of the Pressure Suicune was exerting. But after a speedy trip through the Slippery Slope, Marnie and Victor make their way to a quaint, quiet village.
Freezington
Immediately, the duo is spotted by Peony, who waves them over. Gliding past an oddly-shaped statue, they land near him, and the odd banner attached to the house he's at. And he's certainly surprised by seeing them riding a Legendary Pokémon. His loud exclamations are off-putting to Suicune, who looks like it wants to blast him with a stream of water.
"Don't do that! If you do, then I'd be-"
Marnie's eyes go wide, as Victor shakes his head rapidly, begging Peony not to say what he's about to say.
"-a Pop-sicle!" Got that wide grin and thumbs pointing to himself for added emphasis.
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Suicune looks like it deadpans, and a few of the villagers around add into the speechless-ness of what was said.
Elsewhere, Peonia, while battling a in a Dynamax adventure, grumbles "I just got the feeling that that geezer said something totally embarrassing!"
But back to the main group, Peony is complaining.
"You think you all feel weird, I just told the greatest dad joke of all time, and my dear sweet Nia wasn't here to hear it..." He then moped, "Well, come on in."
Inside though, he's cheered up because he's rarin' to go their adventure. He then shows around the lodging/base camp that they'll be using.
"Not bad." Marnie observes. It's certainly warmer inside here than outside.
Labeling them all as the 'Peony Exploration Team', leaves much to be desired though. But the pair might as well go along with it, Peony's not really interested in changing their name. After an explanation of what their goal is - exploring some rumors and myths, he then names Victor and Marnie co-Executive Chief's.
"Us?" Victor asked.
"Obviously!"
Peony wants to be here at the base in case Peonia shows up, ever. He'll be the hold-down-the-fort chief. He then gives the pair Expedition Uniforms.
"Hmmm..." Marnie said, not too thrilled with the bland, orange onesie. But changing and coming back, she commented, "Oh, it's pretty warm. Useful."
While Victor went and got changed, Peony gave Marnie some sheets of papers. They were some clues about the legends, with some …interesting drawings. Peony was eager to get started, but something felt weird.
"You know," Victor said after he came back, "I get the feeling like we're forgetting something..."
Marnie thought about it, and said, "Like how we haven't even signed up for the Gym Challenge?"
Victor stared at her.
The wind blew outside.
"That's right, we forgot all about it!" Victor exclaimed. He then grabbed Marnie by the hand, ran outside, calling out Suicune and getting on its back. "Sorry Peony, we'll be back eventually!"
"...okay." Peony feebly said. Not much he could really do, as the pair were almost at the station, heading back to the Galar mainland.
Peony - overbearing father, or world's greatest misunderstood and underestimated dad?
"Those crazy kids." Peony chuckled. He had already forgotten their names.
But at least now he's got some time to think of new ways to embarra- er, welcome his daughter home!
Kinda anti-climatic there at the end, huh? Rip Peony.
So there we go! Longest chapter so far.
And as with the Isle of Armor, we'll be coming back to the Crown Tundra at different points in the story.