Chapter 23: Iceborn

Pyre and Ivy sat inside the Polteageist Cafe. The two were happily munching away at some rather fluffy and delicious pancakes.

"Ma Ke-ele, dese are grea! How ya make em?" Pyre asked, speaking through a mouth full of pancakes.

"Oh, I didn't, that was my chef." A slightly off colored Raichu floated out before then, riding their tail like a surfboard. And they looked almost as fluffy as the pancakes. "They're his specialty."

"Great Job, they're delicious!" Pyre smiled at the Raichu.

"He's not much of a talker I'm afraid." Kettle's expression soured. "I'd say it's not my business to tell, but, he can't really do it." The Polteageist got closer and spoke in a more hushed tone. "He's the only one to see the 'Frost Prince' and lived. But…" the ghost hesitated. "He…lost his tongue during the fight."

"That's just cruel. What kind of monster would ever do something like that." Ivy spoke with pure disgust at this information.

Pyre however kept eating his pancakes, trying to ignore the nagging in his mind. He knew at least one person that would do something like that. He hid his apprehension well. He recalled Shadow calling Blade his little frost prince before, and he knew what Shadow was capable of. But he pushed it from his mind. There was only one Shadow. Only one Blade. Right?

His train of thought was cut off however, as Cobalt entered the cafe. "So, apparently we're going hunting for some legends?"

"Yeah. Since Pyre was able to free Zapdos, maybe he can do the same with the others." Ivy spoke smiling at the Charmander, who was practically shoveling pancakes into his mouth.

"Well once you guys finish eating we should head out, no time like the present and all that."

Pyre comically swallowed a large mass of Pancakes. "I'm good to go!"

"As an I." Ivy laid some money on the counter "Thanks Kettle!"

"Come back soon guys!" The Polteageist called to them as the trio left the cafe. And within a few minutes left the safety of Firelink Square. Little did they know, they wouldn't return for quite some time.

*Meanwhile in the main square*

"There is a legend that states 'Doom approaches us accompanied by bright blazing sapphire flame.' Doesn't that sound familiar to you?" Gengar let out a slight chuckle as he omitted part of what Alakazam had said. "Cause it sounds a lot like a certain Charmander that came to town not long ago!"

"Sounds like Pyre!"

"Yeah, Pyre fits that description."

Gengar chuckled again. "Kekeke, well he isn't the hero you've been led to believe he is! While many see the freedom of Zapdos as a good thing, I see it for what it really is!"

"Well what is it then?" A random pokemon asked.

"Kekeke, I'm glad you asked. Tell me, do you know what happens to rubber when it's stretched to its max?" Gengar waited, but nobody spoke up. "It becomes thin and easy to break." Still nothing from the crowd. "But if you let it return to normal, let it rest from its stretching, it's a lot harder to break. It's, stronger."

"Get to the point!"

"Keke, you see we pokemon are like that too, if we overextend ourselves we get weaker, but if we let go of our extensions all our energy is ours again." He waited again.

"Aaaaaand?"

"Wow I didn't think I'd have to just say it, with every legend Pyre frees it's one more extension the Calamity doesn't have to hold on to. He's not trying to save us from the Calamity, he's trying to free his master!"

Shocked murmurs erupted from the crowd.

"...thought he was a hero…"

"...he tricked us all…"

"...and his poor teammates don't even know…"

"Kekeke, it's our responsibility to stop him! Cause if we don't, he'll free the calamity and we'll all be doomed!" Gengar didn't mean a word of it. The ghost was just that vindictive over his loss to Pyre and his rescue team. "And the only way to stop him, his to end him. Permanently."

The crowd let out an uproar of agreement and cheered.

In the back of the crowd a Bellsprout took on a devious grin. "He doesn't even serve master, but he's so devious he may end up doing our job for us. I should inform Master at once."

*With Pyre*

"So, how far is Frosty Forest anyway?" Pyre asked, looking around the path they were following.

"Actually not that far, it's a pretty deep dungeon though."

"It just occurred to me that we are doing this entirely for free. How exactly are we supposed to keep our team afloat without income?"

"Oh it's fine, I put Iron in charge of another squad on our team, he's recruiting mons and taking on simple rescue jobs. Had to do something while Pyre got better."

"Oh smart."

"Yep, oh, we're here." Cobalt spoke as they came to a small entrance that consisted of two massive snow capped trees, so large in fact that it would be next to impossible to go around them, meaning the only way forward was between them.

"Let's go save Articuno!"

*Mt Calamity*

Eclipse sat beside Swindle. The Krookodile was scowling. "Come on, you know you liked it big guy!"

"Fuck you, ratty ass bitch."

"Pretty sure you're the bitch here." Eclipse teased turning the Krookodile to look at him. And he leaned up, kissing him right on his mouth. "I had a lot of fun, you're pretty amazing."

"Yeah well…" Swindle blushed. "Y-you weren't too bad yourself."

"If you both are done, Swindle and I have a new job. Straight from our master." Moon approached abruptly.

"Like they come from anyone else." Swindle stood up shakily. "What's the job?"

"Pyre, he's gone to Frosty Forest. But more importantly. He's a fugitive now."

"What?"

"Yep, according to Kimim, some Gengar turned the entirety of Firelink against them, and they're chasing him down."

"Then why do we need to go?"

"Because master wants him dead. We're going to make sure it happens."

"Then why am I not going? Father has been training me for this very moment."

"He didn't say, just that he wants to speak with you."

Before the charmander could speak again the two began to walk off. Eclipse wasted no time heading toward the cave entrance.

"You wanted to speak to me father?"

"Yes. Moon and Swindle have outlived their usefulness."

"Wh-what?! B-but…" Eclipse stopped himself. "Apologies father. I meant no disrespect. I just never expected this."

"Indeed. When they return. If they return, you are to be my instrument."

"And execute them." The voice of the Sneasel came from behind.

Eclipse glanced back. "I…" he was hesitant. In the moment, when he had mated with Swindle, he'd felt something inside him, a desire, no more than that.

"You've grown attached to Swindle." The calamitous being spoke.

"I…yes sir, I have."

"Then I am sorry, but my orders still stand."

"Is there nothing I can do to sway you father?" Eclipse looked rather unhappy.

"No. And you would do well to remember not to question me."

"He's right, if this world is to be your father's. And one day yours. We must obey him completely, even if it costs us everything." The Sneasel laid a claw up on Eclipse's shoulder.

"I understand."

"Good. Your real training begins now then."

Eclipse looked dumbfounded. "I don't understand."

"There is a place nearby, it's where your father trained me, time and space are distorted there. It's heavier, for lack of a better term, and time passes differently. A few days out here will feel like months in there."

"Then why haven't I been training there this whole time?"

"I'm afraid you simply weren't strong enough before." The Sneasel spoke genuinely. "I wouldn't let you, I was worried about you. And your father deferred to my judgment."

"Then, let's do this papa!" The two shared a wicked smile as the malnourished Sneasel led him away.

*Frosty Forest*

The sentinels had pushed quite deep into Frosty Forest, how deep they weren't entirely sure.

"Are we getting close?"

"How am I supposed to know? I've never been here before."

"Sorry, ya normally know this stuff." Pyre apologized.

"Yeah well I've never gone looking for a giant ice bird before, he could show up anywhere here for all we know."

At Cobalts words there was an abrupt thud behind them.

"In the name of all that is, please don't let that be him."

Turning to face the new arrival there was a sense of relief on Cobalts face. Articuno wasn't there, but there was a white furred canine creature, with a bladed horn protruding from its head and tail. "You're in great danger here."

"Yeah no shit, we're hunting a legend." Ivy let out a sarcastic huff.

"Articuno is not who I was referring too." The creature looked around for a moment. "I am Absol."

"Lute." Pyre spoke abruptly.

"Come again?"

"You're Absolute now. Cause I'm not calling ya what you are."

The absol stared blankly for a moment before his head twisted back suddenly. "Something wicked this way comes."

"Do you just always talk like that or…" Cobalt joked aloud.

"Hurry, with me. I can take you to Articuno."

"We're not seriously going to trust this stranger are we?" Ivy looked between his teammates. Pyre's goofy grin as well as Cobalt's innocent smile made him frown. "Dumb question."

And they simply followed behind the Absol.

"Hey Pyre?" Cobalt got the charmander's attention.

"Sup?"

"Are you and Ivy…ya know, a thing?"

"Nah, why?"

"I was just curious, cause you guys are kinda smeared in each other's scent." The mudkip smiled. "And I think smugleaf back there might like ya a bit more than friends if ya know what I mean."

"Yeah, I know…" Pyre smiled weakly. "I just, I haven't felt the same way. And I don't want to hurt him."

"Makes sense, nice guy like you wouldn't wanna do that."

"Silence. The Iceborn cometh."

A thundering squawk echoed throughout the forest shaking snow from the leaves of nearby trees. "A chilling end awaits all who come here. Your lives are now forfeit. You face the cold given form. Flee in fear of Articuno the Iceborn!"

With a thunderous wing beat, snow blasted around the area. Pyre reacted on pure instinct, standing in front of the group and billowing flames from his mouth, melting the snow that threatened to bury them alive.

"Okay, strategy time." Cobalt called out as Pyre held back the massive wall of snow. "We need to keep Articuno down long enough for Pyre to break the Calamity's control. Ivy, if you can use your vines make a bunch of them and try to drag em down!" He turned to the Absol. "If possible, draw Articuno's attention. I'll try to blast them in the face with water, hopefully it'll irritate his eyes and block his vision." He looks at Pyre as the Charmander takes a deep breath having fully stopped the snow. "And Pyre, you've gotta weaken him with your flames. Everyone got it?"

They spoke in unison. "Got it!"

At their words they dispersed.

"Iceborn! You aren't nearly as cool as you seem to think!" Absolute called out. The insult had no effect.

Articuno was dead set on Pyre slamming into the ground trying to crush the charmander underfoot. "Cobalt, I don't think the plan is working!" The charmander cried out rolling around and dodging spikes of ice that sprouted from the melted snow.

"Okay, we can still do this. Ivy, stick to the plan, try to keep Articuno grounded!" Cobalt rushed to Pyre's side and blasted a water gun at the ice bird. The attack had little to no effect. "Uh oh."

Pyre pushed Cobalt out of the way as Articuno tried to peck at them. Suddenly, Articuno reeled back. Absolute had hit him in the beak with his blade-like horn. "Remain focused."

While the ice bird was reeling Pyre belched out a flamethrower pushing the bird back farther. Pyre looked to Cobalt. The mudkip motioned upward and rushed toward Pyre. Being an experienced fighter, Pyre understood his meaning and grabbed Cobalt, tossing the water type up toward Articuno's face. In mid air the mudkip fired off a mud slap, the resulting mud smacked the ice bird directly in the face blinding him temporarily.

The legendary bird managed to right itself for only a moment, as vines constricted it's legs pulling it down forcing it to fall face first into the ground. As if on cue more vines erupted from the ground overlapping as covering the elemental birds wings and torso. "Got 'em! Hurry Pyre! I don't know how quickly they'll break out."

The charmander rushed forth and laid his clawed hand upon the bird's face. But nothing happened. "Uh, bad time to mention it. I don't actually know how I did it."

"And you didn't say anything sooner?" Cobalt yelled in exasperation.

"I thought it would just happen okay!"

"You promised me you wouldn't do anything too stupid Pyre! What do you call this?" Ivy chimed in as Articuno began to stand. "Ideas anyone?"

They all fell silent. Pyre felt a wave of panic filling him. If he failed, Articuno would likely kill them. Ivy, Cobalt, Absolute. They'd all die, and it would be his fault.

If.

Pyre pressed his hand into the mark on Articuno's face. "Please, I know this isn't you, I remember!" He felt his mind opening. "You fought the calamity! All of you did! This isn't you, you're not a monster. You're a protector, please listen to me!"

Articuno thrashed, shaking some of the vines off.

"Come on!" Pyre pressed his head to Articuno's. "Please. Feel me, we just want to help." The bright violet of Pyre's aura became visible as it spread over him and Articuno. As it passed over the mark there was a loud almost burning hiss. It persisted for a few moments until the ice bird collapsed.

The rescue team backed off. "Is it…is it done?"

"I…I'm me again, he's not in my head anymore." Articuno slowly stood. "You saved me?"

Pyre smiled up at the legendary bird. "Yeah, we did!"

"Thank you. If you ever need assistance, you may call upon my power."

"Cool, thanks." Pyre smiled wider.

"We should head back now, before it gets late." Cobalt turned away. "We need all our strength if…Absolute? Is something wrong?"

"A foul darkness seeps this way."

Following the dark types line of sight, they saw several dozen pokemon heading their way.

"That's a lot of mons." Ivy looked on edge. "Something isn't right."

In the distance the pokemon were chanting.

"Down with Pyre! Down with Pyre!"

"Kekeke! That's right, Pyre must be destroyed!"

"Um, did I do something bad before we left?"

"No, everyone was happy when we left." Cobalt spoke again.

"I don't think we'll be heading back to Firelink Square today." Ivy chimed in.

"Kekeke, look there he is! Get him!"

A massive beam of energy shot by nearly hitting Pyre square in the face.

Thinking quickly, Cobalt turned to Articuno. "Any time right?"

"Yes."

"Then I need you to freeze this!" Taking in a deep breath Cobalt shot off a massive hydro pump into the sky creating a wall of water as it came cascading down.

Articuno let out a gentle breath freezing over the massive wall.

"That oughta buy us some time. Let's go!"

"No, you guys should go home, it's me they want." Pyre frowned and stepped away.

Ivy stepped up and slapped him across the face. "I'll be damned if I leave you alone now. So whether you like it or not I'm coming with you."

"And we're a team. We help people, and if we can't help our own how can we help anyone else?"

"Our fates are intertwined now, I will help you end this calamity."

"G-guys…" Pyre teared up for a moment. "Thanks, let's get going, before they reach that wall."

They all nod in unison and take off running from the horde of pokemon.

Where they were heading next, was where few pokemon would willingly follow. Mt Blaze.