Cyclone had no idea how long she'd been hunkered in her shelter. She'd drift off in short bursts only to jolt awake again. She would then remain motionless, hazy thoughts drifting through her head until she'd fall back asleep. Her body boiled, despite the frigid weather. Why crawl from here ever again? It's easier to just accept a slow death.
That's what she thought until she felt something pulling on her tail feathers, dragging her through the mud and into the open. A scavenger, she figured, a coward come to prey on Cyclone in her drained state. She promised herself that she'd go down fighting even if she knew she didn't have a chance. Belting out a hoarse squawk, Cyclone flailed wildly, beating her wings and writhing in place.
"Oh my!" a voice cried out, releasing her in the process. "I didn't know you were still alive, dearie! My apologies!"
The first thing Cyclone noticed was how blindingly bright everything was. Creeping Forest was never this sunny, even on the most clear days, thanks to the canopy of broad leaves and thick branches. As her vision adjusted, Cyclone found herself face to face with a large, winged, grey dragon.
"You!" Cyclone cried out, voice raspy. "Come here to finish the job after last night, eh?" She struggled to keep her footing due to her burning fever. She tried her best to look intimidating, despite being much smaller than this beast and her feathers being caked with mud and dried tear stains.
"Er, what?"
"Poor birdy thinks you be Sorby, Jill," a new voice said.
The grey creature, Jill, broke out in a roacous cackle. Cyclone would have felt patronized if not for her illness making things feel hazy and dreamlike.
"Bless me, I ain't a dragon! Just scouring this place fer scraps, ya see."
Cyclone looked around, finally realizing why her surroundings were so bright. The forest was a mess of fallen timber, tree stumps, and mud. For the first time she noticed that all of the snow was gone, melted away, the once frigid temperature now hot and dry. She must have been more sick than she realized.
"What... happened?"
"Aye, it be a long story, small one. The important thing is that ice dragon, Sorby, be gone now, and that horrible snow be no more."
A massive bird of a species Cyclone had never before seen sidled up next to Jill. Scruffy black plumage covered her body while, in stark contrast, her head and neck were a deep pink, bare, except for a topknot of dark feathers protruding from the back of her skull. The strange bird titled her head with concern. "Child, you look dreadful. Are you unwell?"
Cyclone barely listened to either creature. She couldn't take her eyes off of the forest, her home, being in ruins. Don't cry. It was bad enough when I was alone. Don't show weakness.
A gentle nudge in the back broke Cyclone from her thoughts. She spun around, head low and wings raised in a defensive posture. She was met with Jill holding a large, green berry in the clawed fingers on her wings, a toothy smile across her draconic face. Despite Jill's terrifying looks, maternal warmth radiated from her, putting Cyclone at ease.
"What is this," Cyclone asked.
"It be a Lum berry, sweetie! It'll perk ya right up. The talented ranchers in Tao Village grow 'em. They be a bit scarce now, though. I think ya need it."
Jill held the berry closer to Cyclone's face, the Swellow only retreating in response. The larger creature dropped the Lum berry. It bounced and rolled to Cyclone's feet.
"Well, me 'n Ivory ought to get going, young one, there's lots o' work ta be done. Who knows, you might come 'cross a team needin' a new member. Be well!"
With a flap of her massive wings, Jill leisurely raised herself off the ground. A powerful slam from her tail propelled her into the air with impressive speed. She was then joined by her bald-headed partner, Ivory. As they departed, Cyclone noticed that a red ribbon adorned Jill's neck. It was the first time she'd seen such an accessory worn by someone and, unbeknownst to her, would not be the last.
Cyclone eyed the berry suspiciously, having never been offered anything by a creature of a different species. She had heard about how some of the more clever predators used tricks and traps to catch their prey. Jill certainly looked to be a predator, with her long muzzle full of serrated teeth. Still, she didn't seem to carry any ill will. Why would a random stranger offer a gift and expect nothing in return?
Feeling on the verge of death anyway, Cyclone figured she had nothing to lose. She pecked at the green Lum berry, finding its skin easy to break. She tore into chunks of berry flesh, the variety of flavors from the juices making the fruit all the more appetizing. As she finished the berry, she found herself feeling better than ever. The gravelly sensation in her throat and chest had all but vanished, and her body cooled to a more comfortable temperature.
Cyclone's chipper mood quickly died as she took in her surroundings once again. So it was not a fever-dream; Creeping Forest was truly obliterated. Cyclone gasped. A horribly mangled avian body lay amongst the rubble. Its plumage was blue, white, and red; a fellow Swellow. A sharp, chilling sensation of vulnerability engulfed Cyclone. Gulping, she hastily took to the skies, shooting like a rocket without the barrier of a thick forest canopy slowing her trajectory.
Spending time in the sky eventually settled Cyclone's nerves. She began to feel peckish; while the Lum berry was vitalizing, it wasn't satiating. She spotted a small purple creature, a Rattata, limping along the forest floor. Cyclone had never eaten a living thing that wasn't a bug, seeing how her kind were small and built more for speed than for strength. Surely, the tiny mammal would put up a fight, a far cry from the usual vacant insects Cyclone preyed upon. Well, time to put my dive bomb attack to good use.
Just before the desperate bird gained enough altitude to ready herself for the attack, she noticed two more beings strolling through the woods; another purple mammal, an Aipom, and a Pidgeotto. Why a Pidgeotto would be hanging out with another of a different kind eluded Cyclone. She glided to a broken tree stump to spy on the unusual pair.
The Aipom excitedly bounded to the Rattata. The rat flatted its ears and bared its sharp incisors in defense.
"Heya buddy, don't be like that!" the Aipom chattered. "I saw that you needed some help! We can bring you to Tao Village and get you all fixed up."
The Rattata calmed down a bit, twitching its whiskers inquisitively. "You... don't want to eat me?"
"Of course not," the Pidgeotto added. "We're Rescuers! We're just doing our job. We know a lot of Pokemon here need help since the Sorbet disaster!"
Sorbet, Cyclone thought. Why does that sound so familiar? Oh... didn't I hear someone say that name last night? Is that what that monster was? A... Sorbet?
The pair continued their conversation with the Rattata, the little rodent growing more at ease as they talked.
"You guys... you're so nice! How can I ever repay you?"
"If you'd like," the Aipom said, "You can join our team and help out other Pokemon when you get better."
"Ah... I'd like that very much! Thank you!"
"Pleasure is all ours, twitch. I'm Slippy and this is my pal, Sanders. Welcome to Team Tickles!"
Cyclone almost blew her hiding spot by laughing. She couldn't believe what she saw. That poor rat was clearly walking into some elaborate trap. Though the Aipom wasn't a predatory species, it may be an accomplice to the Pidgeotto. Then again, the bird would be putting in quite a lot of effort just to make a meal of a small, injured animal. The two purple mammals hopped onto said Pidgeotto's back, and it flew off. How shameful, Cyclone thought, shaking her head, this proud bird carting around living snacks.
Over the next several days, Cyclone saw more and more outsiders traversing the forest. Some cleared the fallen timber, others found unfortunate victims and either rescued them or moved their now lifeless bodies. There were even some, who appeared to be part plant themselves, using their mysterious powers to encourage new flora to grow. Cyclone always quietly observed, intrigued yet bemused. She didn't get why anyone would help a stranger and gain nothing in return, much like that flyer, Jill, she met days ago. She also couldn't comprehend why they'd want to help restore Creeping Forest without even living there themselves.
As Cyclone took roost each evening, she'd listen to the stories regaled by the Tao stragglers who decided to stake camp for the night. She'd force herself to remain awake as long as possible, absorbing the travelers' tales. They not only spoke of their home, Tao Village, but other places too, from the tropical beaches of Alomomola Bay to the perpetually icy Whispering Peaks.
The outsiders also conversed amongst themselves of the current happenings of the world. Cyclone strained to listen anytime "Sorbet" was mentioned. From what she could piece together, he was an ancient dragon, known as a "Kyurem", who had been awakened to fulfill some purpose. His arrival was what initially brought on the strange snowy weather to Creeping Forest. He was apparently a benevolent beast, regarded well enough to be given a name. One day, for no discernable reason, he flew into a mindless rampage, his wrath bringing forth that deadly blizzard. The villagers were able to subdue and return him to his enchanted hibernation.
Cyclone had become more aware of a vast world much larger than she could ever conceive. Her existence so far had been is so small, so brief, amidst the grand events taking place across the land. Cyclone's own ignorance angered her. She had to know. She needed to find Tao Village. She had to try and make sense of this chaotic world.
The following morning, while in flight, Cyclone spotted a pair of diminutive outsiders. One was a pale, green quadruped with a large leaf sprouting from its head, the other a fluffy orange chick. The leafy creature stood completely still, eyes closed, a glowing energy pulsing from it, its powers encouraging new plant life to sprout from the ground. The orange chick, meanwhile, plucked seeds from a sack strapped across its body, placing the seeds into the earth. Them. She'd ask them. Cyclone dove straight down and abruptly landed between the two Pokemon, startling the pair.
"You... I dropped all the seeds!" The chick peeped in vain.
"Tell me, where is Tao Village?" Cyclone demanded.
"Um, it's simple really" uttered the leafy creature. A long, green vine unfurled from one of the buds adorning its neck. Acting as an appendage, the vine pointed to a nearby clearing. "See this path? Just follow it, due east, and you'll arrive there eventually. You'll see a huge building on the way, that's Castle Draclugia. You can rest there if you want, Lady Merlot has..."
"That won't be necessary," Cyclone interrupted. As she raised her wings to take fight, she glanced at the frazzled little chick frantically pecking up the seeds scattered all around. She smirked. A bird incapable of flight. How pitiful! Head held high, Cyclone took to the skies, performed several aerial loop-de-loops, then sped off. She didn't at all hear the two young Pokemon remark about her rudeness.
Awhile into her journey, Cyclone happened upon a massive structure. Dark stones formed a looming building with towers reaching high into the sky, and an unnatural-looking body of water surrounding the structure like a ring. Was this Tao?
The flight made Cyclone rather thirsty, so she approached the water's edge to refresh. Just then, a large, blue creature burst from the surface, drenching Cyclone. She yelped and leapt back. The water being spoke:
"Ah, I yearned to feast my eyes upon my radiant lady love, but instead I, Samual, have come face to beak with an indigo-plumed scrub."
"Who are you calling scrub, fish-face?"
The aquatic creature merely stuck its long nose in the air, eyes closed.
"My, what an uncouth pauper! Though from a denizen of this godforsaken forest, I expect nothing less."
"And I see the residents of Tao are a bunch of jerks."
Samual paused for a moment, and then chuckled, eyes still closed. "My, as ignorant as you are ugly! This is the wonderful abode of the beautiful, stupendous, delicious, elegant Lady Merlot, Castle Draclugia!"
Oh, this place, Cyclone thought.
"My dear, feral feather-duster," Samual continued, "if you wish to reach Tao Village, simply look for the Monochrome Tower, a spiraling spire of deep black and vibrant white. I believe that even your primitive avian brain can handle such straightforward direction."
Before he could react, Cyclone had flown into Samual's face, nearly knocking him from the moat. He retreated just as quickly as she struck him.
"Handle that, snorkle-nose!" Cyclone mocked as she flew away, leaving a cursing sea dragon in her wake.