Hello to you!

Here's a one-shot that's probably one of my best stories to develop a secondary/supporting character, which is an interesting change from the usual assortment! It also doubles as that character's origin story, so that's a cool bonus!

Featured Characters: Quagsire/Wooper

Additional Cast: Emperor Empoleon, General Abomasnow, Palpitoad, Budew, Croagunk, Tangela, Totodile

Genre: Drama

Timeline Placement: Prior Events - - - Bluebells Are Forever - - - Melting Gelid Roses

Story goes below the cut. Enjoy reading!

Shrouded within a frozen palace in the northern regions, an emperor penguin sat on his throne and heavily sighed. He stared at the ceiling high above him, and muttered to himself. Gazing at the banners on the sides of the walls, he straightened up as the door creaked open. A large, tree-like yeti wandered down the throne room, one arm stuck rubbing behind his head, as he approached the emperor.

"Report, General." The penguin's gaze narrowed.

"…Emperor Empoleon—"

"Report, General Abomasnow," repeated the penguin.

"As you wish." Abomasnow sighed. "Two knights went missing today, on the search for the past four that we lost over a week ago. This puts your royal army ranks down to…five knights, as of now."

Empoleon squeezed his eyes shut, and held a tightened grip on his throne.

"…The rest, General."

"Sire, what's the point—?"

"My point, Abomasnow," thundered Empoleon, "is that I have continued the long held tradition of losing soldiers not to war, but to a vast white wasteland. And until I have a day that you come in here and report that we've lost no soldiers out there, I will continue to torment myself to the news of every lost soul that will never return, and drown in the guilt for doing so."

"Why, sir?" Abomasnow shook his head. "What do we need from the Frozen Fields? Surely we could find alternatives to the crops and minerals found out there."

"Our most critical resources from there are the medicinal herbs," reminded Empoleon. "Without them, our people would suffer from the backlash of this horrid weather."

"Perhaps relocation is in order for those that cannot withstand it?" Abomasnow frowned at Empoleon's dark glare. "Very well, that's a fair counterpoint, sire. However, we have not been able to procure a Revival Herb in years."

"Can we still craft Heal Powder?"

"Of course, sir. We have enough for Energy Powder, at least."

"Then every effort is worth it."

"For that bitter trash?"

"For people to live."

"Honestly, I do believe my solution is the better of ours," grumbled Abomasnow. "But, that is not my place to argue."

"Would you need me to detail the other reasons that we need our resources from there?"

"No need." Abomasnow folded his heavy arms and raised an eyebrow at his emperor. "Sire…is another reason we send troops out there…is it based on those legends as well?"

"Of?"

"You know, those…those myths." Abomasnow shifted his weight around, as he locked eyes with Empoleon. "Like that fairy tale about the blue rose of the damned lovers, the one about the time jumper, those blasted blades—"

"As I recall, the legend for that one states the location is closest to the Mountain Monarchy," recalled Empoleon. "…Or are they sticking with that new name of Mountains Queendom, still? I can never—"

"Sire, you're off point."

"Ah, yes." Empoleon shook his head. "At any rate, discovering any kind of artifacts or truths to those stories would be a greatly gained bonus, but no, they are not the primary objective as to why we are out there."

"Good." Abomasnow tugged on loose fur from his head. "Your grandfather—"

"Was obsessed with them, and they claimed that my father would follow in his footsteps," recited Empoleon. "To which, however, he never did."

"Well—"

"He neverdid," harshly repeated Empoleon.

"Right, of course not." Abomasnow lowered his head and bowed. "Do you require anything else, milord?"

"No, Abomasnow. That will be all."

Nodding, the yeti general pivoted and made his way back across the throne room. He stopped about half way and turned back.

"What did you forget, General?" Empoleon's question rang out before Abomasnow moved another step toward him.

"Actually, we do have a new recruit," revealed Abomasnow. "He comes from the southern lands, the marshes."

"From where?" Empoleon shook his head. "Why in the gods' names would he come all of the way out here?"

"Haven't a clue, milord." Abomasnow shrugged. "He passed each of my tests, however, and he more than fulfills the requirements at becoming a knight. On top of that, he's a strong swimmer as well, something that you told me I needed to collect more of, yes?"

"Correct, but…" Empoleon shook his head. "Here, as in outside now?"

"Yes, sire." Abomasnow tugged at the fur nearest his mouth. "Shall I bring him in, or have him come back later, or not at all, or—"

"Send him in," decided Empoleon. "Just him, you need to continue training the other soldiers. If I finish with him in time, I'll send him over to you."

"Very well, sire. Thank you, sire."

Bowing again, Abomasnow turned back around and made his way from the throne room. The doors closed and Empoleon sat alone for a moment, rubbing his beak before standing from his throne.

The doors at the far end opened again, as a giant salamander ambled through them. He wore a small smile, and tired eyes, as he made his way into the throne room.

"Your name?"

"Quagsire, milord," introduced the salamander.

"Tell me, why the smile?"

"This is a nice empire, and better than my old home," divulged Quagsire. "I've also been told that it's better to smile to leave a good impression."

"Not something that you should freely admit to, but yes." Empoleon narrowed his eyes as he studied the approaching salamander. "You do realize this would be your new home, and not the Grass Fields Kingdom, correct?"

"Yes, I understand."

"Why would you not become a knight at the castle down there?"

"Coming up here was better for me." Quagsire slowed to a halt as he reached the base of the throne's plateau. "It's quieter out here."

"Quiet isn't always better," countered Empoleon. "Has General Abomasnow explained our weakened forces?"

"They die out in the Frozen Fields."

"He explained enough, then." Empoleon folded his wings together. "And this…doesn't dissuade you?"

"Nope." Quagsire shrugged. "I'm a knight and soldier. If my life isn't at risk, my job isn't required."

"That's…certainly one way to put it, yes." Empoleon blinked and released his wings. "You'll need to explain this more to me."

"What would you like to know?"

Empoleon's deep blue eyes fixated on Quagsire's soft dark eyes, as he tapped a wing against his beak.

...

...

Further south of the Grass Fields Kingdom, a small Wooper groaned as a clatter woke him from his rest. He sighed and stood from his grassy cushion by the river, and blinked at the sky. A burning sun overhead caused the little blue axolotl to squint, and he strolled to take a dip in the water.

"Oh…"

Wooper grumbled as he slipped into the warm river, much too warm for his tastes. He sulked as he sank down in the water, almost able to stand in his shallow spot.

"Hey, check this out!"

Shutting his eyes, the Wooper waited until a splash erupted from nearby, covering his face with droplets. He slowly opened them as a small blue crocodile with red spines on his head burst out from the water beside him.

"Wasn't that so cool guys?!"

"Ha, not bad," complimented a dark blue frog with orange cheeks. "But you should try something more flashy, like this!"

Back flipping, the frog flailed in the air as he crashed into the water, with his splash hitting Wooper once again. He popped out and wrestled with the crocodile, as the two laughed and shoved one another back and forth in the water. Wooper drifted further down the river, but was promptly smacked as the crocodile flew into him.

"Ha, I win again, Totodile!"

"Sorry about that," apologized the crocodile to Wooper.

"It's fine," mumbled Wooper.

"Ha, it's just a little Wooper, Totodile, don't worry about it!" The frog bounced forward and splashed at Wooper's face. "These things crash into logs and debris all over the water, all the time!"

"Uh, that's not—"

"Croagunk, are you and Totodile done wrestling in this sludge?"

A ball of blue vines pushed past the tall grass, and walked to the river's edge. Only eyes were visible from a dark patch in the vines.

"We practically just got in here, Tangela," snapped Croagunk.

"Ugh, so?" She rolled her eyes and whipped some of her vines out. "How long do you even need in there? What, do you want to be like that Wooper, and just vanish into the water forever?"

"Ew, we're not that bad," defended Croagunk. "Right, Totodile?"

"Well, I don't think that Wooper—"

"See, he agrees." Croagunk splashed water at Tangela, who shrieked and jumped back. "Ha, what, afraid of getting wet?"

"If I hadn't just had a nice mud bath, certainly, but I'm already cleaned proper," argued Tangela. "So, if you two don't mind, keep your filthy water in that swamp!"

"Actually, a swamp has more forest and trees around it," corrected Wooper.

"Exactly who are you to tell me that I'm wrong?!" Tangela huffed and slapped her extended vines against grass blades, flinging some at Wooper. "You're just a dopey little salamander!"

"Wow, look at you getting so bothered by him," teased Croagunk.

"He's so weird, why are you even near one?"

"He was just in here."

"All the more reason for you two to get out!" She moaned and backed from the water, before Croagunk could splash her again. "Don't! I'm serious!"

"Ah, you're no fun. Come on, Totodile."

Croagunk pushed from the water, and turned to wait for Totodile. The little crocodile frowned, as he glanced back to Wooper, before following the frog from the water. Both shook the water from their bodies, as Tangela tried to block droplets from hitting her. She failed to hear a tiny bud stroll up behind her.

"Hi Tangy!"

Shrieking again, Tangela's vines slapped the small bud into the river. Crashing in, she wailed and squirmed in the river, and Wooper tried to swim to the flower bud.

"Geez, Tangela, you drowned her!"

"She snuck up on me!"

Totodile hurried back to the water's edge, but a vine wrapped around him, dragging him back. Another wrapped around Croagunk and squeezed him tight as well.

"Quick, we're getting out of here!"

Dragging her companions off, Tangela disappeared into the tall grass with them. Wooper yelped as the bud splashed water in his face, forcing him back.

She squealed as a long and thin pink tongue wrapped around her body. It lifted her from the water and helped her back onto the grass by the river.

Standing in the shallows again, Wooper watched as the bud was set down next to a blue and tan toad. The tongue retreated from the bud and slipped back into the toad's mouth.

"Are you ok, little one?"

"Y-yes." The bud sniffled and whimpered.

"Hey now, no need to cry." The toad nuzzled the small bud. "Why don't we get you home to your parents, ok?" Sniffling again, the bud nodded to him. "Good. What's your name?"

"B-Budew."

"Budew, such a pretty name. I'm Palpitoad." He smiled to her, and waited as she smiled back up to him. "There we go, that's better. And who is that there, in the water?"

Blinking, Wooper shook his head. Budew twirled around and stared at him for a moment. She swayed around, but spun back to Palpitoad.

"No idea!"

"Hm? He's not your friend?"

"Nope!"

"Huh." Palpitoad stepped forward to Wooper, who slumped down in the shallow water. "Did you knock her in?"

"It wasn't him!" The bud bounced around. "It was those bullies, Tangy and her mean friends!"

"Tangy?" Palpitoad faced Budew again.

"Yeah, she has vines!"

"…A…Tangela?"

"Yeah, yeah!"

"Ah, that makes sense." He turned back and smiled to Wooper. "Well, that means you tried to save her, huh?" Mouth open, Wooper quickly nodded. "Good effort, at least. Though, you're pretty young too, so make sure you're careful as well."

With a nod to Wooper, Palpitoad returned his attention to Budew. She bounced and swayed, almost waving to Wooper, as the two turned away.

"Take me to where you live, and I'll help you find your parents, ok?"

"Ok!"

Together, the pair vanished behind the tall grass as well. Wooper heavily sighed, and climbed from the river. Yawning, he crawled back to his grassy cushion, with the grass blades scattered about.

Shaking his head, Wooper pushed clumps of mud together instead, and patted it with his tail. Creating a small nest for himself, he curled into it to sleep once again.

More yelling, however, woke him up again, and Wooper's strained dark eyes snapped open as two ducks now quacked and splashed around in the water together. Groaning softly, Wooper retreated from the river and shoved through the tall grass.

Working through the tall plants around him, Wooper pushed around and shuffled to a clearing filled with small berry trees. He wandered close to a short pink one, and plucked a tiny red berry with a yellow base. Eating it quickly, Wooper plucked the remaining berry, and the tree swayed as he ate the last berry it offered.

He worked his way to the next pink colored tree, as his belly growled again, and drooled as he came close to a round, blue berry sitting in it. A vine slapped him back and forced him away.

"Stupid Wooper! That's my Oran Berry!"

Shaking his head, Wooper blinked and stared at Tangela, as she tugged three Oran Berries from the tree. Croagunk and Totodile waddled up beside her.

"There's enough here for all of us," complained Wooper. "You don't have to be rude."

"Ugh! Are you seriously talking back to me?!" Tangela scoffed. "You're just a common Wooper, nothing beneath me! My family comes from a noble house!"

"One that's ranked far beneath the royal family."

"Shut up, Croagunk!" She cracked a vine at him. "You're lucky to even be anywhere near me either!"

"Yeesh, relax, princess." Croagunk rolled his eyes. "Anyway, just knock the pest out of here."

"He's right, though," argued Totodile. "We have more than enough berry trees to eat from here."

"Totodile, don't side with common peasants," snapped Tangela. "That's certainly beneath your station too."

"That's besides the point, though."

"Hey, it's a pest in the princess's way," chimed in Croagunk. "You want to tell her no?"

"She's not even a princess—"

"Compared to everyone here, I might as well be!"

"That doesn't even make sense."

"Nobody asked you!" Tangela fumed and whipped at Wooper again, who yelped and jumped back. "Now, either you get out of here, or we'll be forced to take action!"

"Tangela—"

"You two had better help me," she snapped to her companions, "especially if you want to eat any berries too!"

"Yeah, yeah, you got it, princess," mocked Croagunk, facing Wooper. "I'll take care of him."

Croagunk puffed out his cheeks, as Wooper backed away, shuddering. Tangela cracked her vines again, and laughed as Wooper leapt away from another whip.

"This will be easy!"

"That will be enough."

From the shuddering grass near the clearning, Palpitoad emerged. He hurried over to Wooper's side.

"And who are you supposed to be?"

"Just a very concerned toad." He narrowed his eyes against the trio. "Do we have a problem here?"

"Just eradicating a minor pest," quipped Tangela.

"Right, so, problem then." Palpitoad rolled his eyes. "Very well, let's get on with it."

"H-huh?"

"You're battling with him, right?" Palpitoad nodded. "Battle him, you're battling me too."

"B-but…you're so much older…"

"So your point is…?"

"That it's not fair!"

"There are three of you."

"But you're older and probably at a higher level!" Tangela stomped the ground. "Why are you defending him, anyway? He's just a common Wooper!"

"Because I would defend anyone that gets picked on from the likes of you," spat Palpitoad. "Now, you three against us, let's have at it."

"Not a chance." Totodile shook his head. "They're the ones picking on Wooper. I'm going home after today, and I'd rather not get into any more trouble."

"More trouble?" Palpitoad stepped forward. "You were the ones that knocked Budew into the river after all."

"Nah, just her." Croagunk pointed at Tangela, who smacked him with a vine. "Hey, I'm on your side!"

"Then act like it!" She pivoted to Totodile. "And what do you think you're even doing?! Don't walk away!"

"Keep your berries, Tangela. If you want to battle for them, go ahead." Totodile shook his head. "I'm going home tomorrow, and I'm not getting into a fight."

Hurrying away, Totodile disappeared from the area. Croagunk shook his head and returned his attention to Palpitoad and Wooper, as poison oozed from his hands. Tangela shivered and loosened her vine whips.

"F-fine! L-let's battle them!"

"But I can't attack well yet," murmured Wooper.

"Don't worry," assured Palpitoad. "I know what I'm doing. We're not that far from the river."

"Get them!"

Running forward, Tangela and Croagunk rushed at the pair. Vibrating his body, Palpitoad stomped the earth, and growled out. Waves of muddy river water burst from past the plants and grass, rushing forward at the pair.

"W-what?!"

"Look out!"

Tangela shrieked as the waves slammed against her and Croagunk, pushing them back and away from the area. Palpitoad smirked and nodded, turning back to Wooper.

"They're not much older than you, so it wasn't tough for me," soothed Palpitoad. "Pretty cool, huh?"

"Y-yeah."

Wooper blinked as the water dissipated from the clearing, and watched as Palpitoad turned away and began to leave.

"Um…thank you, for helping."

Stopping, Palpitoad turned back and smiled to Wooper. "No problem, kid!" He nodded to the small salamander. "You know, maybe some day, you can defend this place yourself."

"Me?" Wooper shook his head. "I don't like it here."

"No? Hmm." Palpitoad shook his head. "Then, maybe you'll be able to stick up for others elsewhere one day. I think you'd do well at it."

"I just want somewhere quiet," mumbled Wooper.

"Well, the best way to find peace is to help make it." Palpitoad nodded. "I think you understand that better now. After all, there are more like Budew out there. Citizens need someone strong that they can depend on." He smirked. "Maybe you're not there yet, but I believe you could be, one day." Wooper slowly nodded back to Palpitoad. "Great! One day, I hope that others will look up to you! Until then, I need to get going myself. Take care!"

Taking off, Palpitoad kicked a loose Oran Berry to Wooper. He bid farewell again and left, as the Wooper picked up and ate the berry. He quietly sat in the clearing, and yawned softly, before wandering off once more.

...

...

Empoleon sat back on his throne and tapped on it, as Quagsire yawned.

"So, you were inspired to help others when you were younger," he mused aloud.

"And go somewhere quieter," reminded Quagsire. "It's like I can breathe again."

"Hm, yes. Well…I suppose, if you would rather be here than Grass Fields, then you're welcome to stay."

"It's nicer here," praised Quagsire. "The water is cooler, and the people seem nicer, few as they are."

"Yes, I like to think so myself." Empoleon nodded. "At any rate, we do have healthy ties with Grass Fields, so if ever you wish to return, I'm certain I could have it arranged."

"No, sire. Here will be fine."

"Very well." Empoleon stood and lifted a wing forth. "Then, welcome to the Iceberg Empire, Quagsire. And, in time, you may become a valiant knight to our roster."

"Thank you, sire." Another yawn interrupted him before he finished. "I hope to serve your Empire well."

"Hopefully. Has General Abomasnow told you where to meet him?"

"Yes, sire."

"Very good. Go to meet him and the others." Empoleon nodded. "And again, welcome."

"I shall. Thank you."

For the first time, Quagsire's smile broadened. He bowed, waved to Emperor Empoleon, and exited the throne room, off to meet the general for training. Empoleon pondered quietly as the new knight disappeared behind his doors, with a soft gust flowing in, and sat back against his throne.

Perhaps, maybe, this one might last.

Behold, Quagsire's origin story! I thought it was pretty cute as a concept. He's a gentle character, so I wanted to give him more of an origin that fits him, one that encourages him to help others based on not his immediate decision, but by what he was influenced by. Palpitoad is one that inspired him to eventually decide on knighthood. Hopefully this stood as a good character building piece!

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it.