Ember: There we go.
Ember said as he held a good dozen of these tiny looking flowers. The faint blue glow lighting the surrounding area with a blue hue.
Ember: I think this should be enough, right?
He looked at the flowers and spoke again.
Ember: I'm sure Autumn will be happy with this. Lets head back, hmm?
Ember then started to walk back with these flowers in his arms. We followed and after a bit, we left the forest. Nira was laying on his back looking at the video feed of his drone as it landed next to him.
Ember nodded at him as Nira got ready to head back with us. So we started to walk back to Hexa, hoping Autumn would be happy with what we got.
When we reached the town's gates, Ember looked at me.
Ember: Well, I should deliver these to Autumn. Guess we'll meet up at the house later.
With that, Ember began to walk off. Nira then proceeded to walk up to me.
Nira: Hmm… Guess I'll get back to Saz…
Nira sighed gently and walked off, leaving me behind all on my own.
Shaymin: Okay. Hmm. What to do now?
Looking around, I just shrugged and started walking home.
A Few Days Later…
The next few days went pretty quietly. I was just sitting on my bed, tending to a plant I began to grow. A nasty thunderstorm has hit last night and continued up to now, so I had nothing better to do.
Shaymin: That should do…
Placing the tiny clay pot next to the window, I stood up and stretched before walking out into the living room. All I saw there was Frost who was watching TV. I was a bit confused as I approached him.
Shaymin: Where's the others?
Frost: Hmm? Oh. They all had plans of some kind. I stood behind because I hate getting wet… Never liked it when I was alive. Still don't now.
Shaymin: Oh, um…
Thunder echoed outside as I crossed my arms and sighed gently.
Shaymin: I hope Sky is okay. He hasn't returned in like a week or so… Wonder what he's doing.
Frost just shrugged and spread his body out on the couch.
Frost: Eh, I'm sure he's fine. He is a mega Absol after all. So don't worry too much.
Shaymin: I guess…
Frost stretched and got up.
Shaymin: Hey, um… You said you were not entirely… 'Alive'. What do you mean by that?
Frost stopped for a moment and crossed his arms, sighing.
Frost: Eh… It isn't… Great thinking about it… Even though it's been so long ago, I still remember it clearly.
Frost fell back onto the couch and kicked his legs up on the table.
Frost: I was 19 at the time of my death. And that was 200 years ago… But I never really aged after becoming this form. But, um… Back then, I used to live in a small village of sorts. Right here in this region before all the fancy cities.
Frost huffed and stood quiet for a moment.
Frost: There were some serious rival clans back then. It was a very stressful time. One day, one of these clans decided to attack our town. I was living there with two siblings of mine and we attempted to avoid all of it. I nearly escaped. But while helping the other two under a fence, it was my turn. However, err… I guess we were too slow. I tried to quickly drag myself to the other side, but a member of this clan spotted us and before I knew it, I felt an immense pain… The two pulled me to the other side and I didn't know what was wrong at first. The two were very distressed which wasn't a good sign.
Frost inhaled deeply and closed his eyes.
Frost: I couldn't really see as my vision blurred. All I really remember was being dragged by the two with haste. I guess I blacked out because I woke up in an unknown place. Then that's when I noticed it. While escaping, I got struck by an arrow. Pierced right through the back and through the right part of my chest… It… Wasn't a good sight. Still kinda haunts me. But… The two managed to receive help a few miles from our village and I was taken to the hospital. The doctors tried their best, but I guess I died while being operated on. Too much blood loss I guess was the case.
Frost looked down and kept quiet for a bit. I wasn't sure what to say. I didn't really expect such a tragic end. But as I was about to speak, he looked up at me and sighed deeply.
Frost: Um… I don't remember much. It just faded to black. But then… I woke up in the forest during midnight. A storm was going. Thunder and heavy rain… I was… Confused. All I remember was laying on that hospital's cold metal table before fading. I remember getting up and with some lightning followed by thunder, I noticed my new look. White and red fur. Wispy tail and the such… It was a surprise to me. I remember feeling nauseous and weak, but I had one thing I wanted to do. Meet my siblings again.
200 Years Ago
Midnight
Unknown Forest
Frost: What… H- happened to me…? Why… Do I look like this…?
Leaning against a tree, I closed my eyes for a moment. Rain poured heavily, drenching my newly white fur.
Frost: I… Can't remember… Did I… Die…?
Pushing myself off the tree, I started to stumble down the path. Shaking, I tried to get my bearings. Only then when I left this forest, I knew where I was.
Frost: I… Remember this… This is… Near my home…?
Looking around, I spotted something in the distant.
Frost: Must be it…
I started making my way towards the distant location. It took just a few minutes to reach the burnt and destroyed town. I stared at it before closing my eyes and shook. I could only remember my brother and sister pulling me away from that slaughter. They had to be safe. They had to be. So I tried walking the same way I remember escaping from.
It felt like forever, just walking through the heavy rain, but after walking for a while, I saw lights in the distant.
Frost: Is that… It…? Looks like a large building…
Continuing to stumble, I made it into the building. The one working behind the desk looked concerned almost instantly upon laying eyes on me. But there was a hint of confusion. This worker was a Floatzel who walked up to me.
"Uh, hey there. You don't look so good. Do you need medical attention?" She said.
Shaking my head slowly, I spoke in a groggy tone.
Frost: N- no… I'm okay… I… I'm actually looking for others…
She looked even more confused.
"Uh… Like a patient? I could search them up if given the name." She said.
This is when I stopped for a moment. I knew what would happen, but I told her my name. She did some quick work on the computer before looking at me.
"Frost… Sadly, he passed a day ago. Sorry if he was someone you knew." She said with sympathy.
Looking down, I started to think.
Frost: So I did die… A day ago…? H- how did I come back…?
Looking back up, I inhaled deeply.
Frost: Yeah, um… Thanks… Do you know where two others are? They weren't here for help. Th-
This is when she stopped me.
"Actually, Since you said Frost, I remember yesterday. I was working the same shift when two Zorua's came in with him. I guess you are related to them? Hmm… Give me a moment." She said before walking off quickly.
Waiting in the lobby, I just stared out the large windows. Rain pounded against the windows as thunder branched across the skies. But soon after, this Floatzel came back.
"Yesterday was chaotic. Many came in with all sorts of injuries… Some are still here too. You are one of the survivors…? It was huge in the news. A- anyway, after getting some details, most of the survivors of that awful attack was moved to another town. It shouldn't be much of a walk since we're connected to it. Just take a left and you'll be there in about twenty minutes.
Nodding slowly, I thanked her and left back out into the rain. I was somewhat deep in thought.
Frost: Did anyone I know other than my siblings escape alive…? I- I hope…
I walked in a bit of a trance as I made my way down the path. Just as I told, it took about twenty minutes to reach a large town with shining lights everything. It was fairly empty on the streets due to the rain, but it looked lively in houses. Most likely shelters for survivors or something. There was so much to this town. I just didn't know where to search.
Frost: There's no way I could find any of my previous friends or family…
Walking to a small park, I sat under a gazebo. The roof sheltered me as I just sat on the bench. Resting my head on the table, I closed my eyes.
Frost: I'm… Not sure what to think… A snow white Zorua…?
Keeping my eyes closed, I was too exhausted to think. I was unable to stay awake and I passed out right there on the bench.
"Holy crap!" A voice shouted.
This sudden voice caused me to jolt up. It was bright and sunny out. The ground still wet from the rain yesterday. I was very disoriented as I somewhat panicked. That's when my eyes landed on a Decidueye who stared intensely at me.
Frost: Uh… W- what's going on…?
The Decidueye then ran off without saying another word. Getting up from the bench, I looked so confused. Others were out and about. Barely any took notice of me while some looked a bit surprised. This made me feel a little uncomfortable. I tried to avoid their gazes as I walked down the sidewalk to search.
But as I walked down the sidewalk, checking each store through the glass in the hopes to find them, I just couldn't locate any signs of them. This is when I was stopped by a Ninetales whose red eyes glared down at me.
"An unfortunate soul I see… You seem lost… Please, follow."
Frost: W- what…? Um… N- no, I'm not…
"Nonsense. Just trust me. I'll help you." He said, having cut me off.
I felt a little at ease from his tone of voice that I just simply agreed. The Ninetales turned and I followed him until we reached a small building.
"Not many know… So don't mind the looks at first."
Frost: H- huh?
He didn't pay much to my reaction and crossed his arms.
"You are like a Phanteon… An Eeveelution who had died and through insanely low odds, revived as a ghostly figure. Don't feel sad. It happens to Vulpix and Ninetales too… Only a few select could become stuck in between the afterlife. I just never seen a Zorua in this state before."
The Ninetales opened the door and looked at me before motioning me in. I followed as he continued to talk.
"I can sense you've dealt with a lot of pain. Is there anything I can help with? Not many are so trusting of such forms right now. They believe they are cursed or evil or something… But I help them. Support them so they can somewhat return to what their life used to be like." He said.
Frost: I… I just want to meet my siblings again to tell them I'm okay…
"Hmm… Two? Male and female? I've seen them yesterday. But I am unsure if they are here anymore. They were offered places to live, but they turned it down. I hadn't seen them all morning, so they most likely moved on.
My ears lowered as I sighed.
Frost: So the chance of finding them is possibly zero now…
This is when the Ninetales grabbed a large bag full of supplies.
"This may be one thing I can't entirely help with sadly. But, if you want, you could follow me. I travel town to town, you see. I guess you could say I am a traveling merchant of some kind, just selling wares I find. That's how I help others I find. So if you don't feel a sense of direction from here on out, you could follow me. I won't mind company, especially from a spirit Zorua." He said, walking towards the door.
I thought for a moment. My only family was out there now. Anywhere in this region. Just knowing they thought I fully died. It pained me. Closing my eyes, I inhaled and nodded slowly.
Frost: O- okay… I'll accompany you… I… Hope I can find them on our travels…
The Ninetales chuckled and walked outside.
"Perfect! I hope you are ready for a grand adventure. I'm sure we'll find your lost siblings since I visit each town in this region within a month."
Following him out, he turned back to face me and waved.
"Oh yeah, I'm Nova. The grand explorer. I done a lot of research on your type of afterlife forms and I plan on supporting everyone of them I come across."
Nova smiled as I smiled back. He then spun around and gripped his large backpack.
Nova: Now. Onward!
With that, Nova and I traveled out of this town we started to explore the many locations of this region's. I even learned a few tricks on the merchant's trade to the point Nova deemed me a novice trader.
Current Day
2:00 PM
Hexa Town
Frost: And that's… Mostly what happened… Nova and I bonded quite a lot on our journey and that's how I picked up trading. Which I still do today to honor him in some kind of way… Now you know my story…
Frost looked down with a pretty sad expression. He slowly stood up and rubbed his eyes with his arm.
Frost: Sorry… I think I'll get some rest. Just need a bit of time alone.
Frost smiled weakly as he clearly looked upset. With that, he left me alone in the living room. Looking down, I closed my eyes and sighed.
Shaymin: Feel bad for Frost.
Sitting on the couch, I shook my head. For the rest of the afternoon, I just watched TV, hearing the rain pound against the window...