The Thousand Sunny sailed through the waves as it closed in on the Winterlands as the three groups road.
"Wonder what the odds were that all three of us would end up in the same port at the same time?" Jexi said.
"Considering how we all scattered last time, not very likely. I guess this means you guys have business in Stormhail, too?" David asked. "Well, that begs the question: why are we all going there?"
"Well…for us…there's a large monstrous ice bird named Glacis that lives there. We need her to protect the island Ochette comes from." Jexi said.
"We seek to find the truth behind the murder of the Pontiff of Flamechurch." Lysithea said. "We discovered something pretty interesting back in Crackridge, and now we're heading to the Sanctum Knights Headquarters to interrogate someone who might have answers to the case."
"What about you, David? What's bringing you guys and Hikari to Stormhail?" Leonie asked.
"We're seeking the aid of one of Hikari's allies to join the war effort against Mugen. Her name is Rai Mei." David said.
"Nice. So it looks like we'll all be splitting up once we make it to the city." Jexi said.
"Are you sure you don't want any help with your objectives?" Avlora asked.
"We haven't heard much about this Glacis creature on our travels, but we have heard the area around Stormhail has been subjected to a heavy blizzard lately." Lysithea said.
"Really? Bet that's cause of Glacis." Ochette said.
"Creature of ice, causing blizzards? Duh. Anyone can put two and two together and figure that out." David said.
"Yeah, doesn't take a genius. Still, it's nothin' I don't think we should stick our noses into." Connor said before getting serious. "Guys…let me ask you…do you know…about the Moonshade Order?"
"Moonshade Order?" Jexi asked.
"They're like…some kind of cult that worships this dark god called Vide. They're sort of behind what's happening with our guys. So you haven't seen anyone like that?" Connor asked.
"Of course not. Think we'd…well…actually…during the last couple of treks…we heard about a dark hunter going after the legendary creatures we've been gathering." Jexi said. "They killed Acta's mother and fought Tera."
"No, I'm afraid I haven't gotten any wind of that." David said. "But… This Moonshade Order, they're like the Obsidians from our last trip like this, right?"
"Something like that. I don't have enough proof but…I think the order, this hunter and possibly that Mugen guy…are all tied together somehow." Connor said.
"Quite possibly. I mean, Mugen has been much more aggressive as of late." Dynasmon said.
"Um… Based on what we saw from our three-year jumpback, wasn't Mugen always aggressive?" Sachiko asked.
"Not to the point of executing the entire population of a country." Dynasmon said.
"Like I said…it's just a guess. Though…still…I have no idea what their endgame could be. What's the point of all these activities?" Connor said.
"Never seen you so serious before." Dan said.
"Sorry…all this has me shaken to my core." Connor said.
"Don't know what their intentions might be, but if it's anything like last time, it can't be good." David said. "We'll need to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity as we proceed."
"Huh…reminds me of when I spoke with Hope. He was talking about something with me til Sabo shut him up and…Oh! That reminds me! Okay…once you guys are done with your stuff, we found this cool meetup spot in the Leaflands!" Jexi said.
"The Leaflands… We were just there when we went to Wellgrove." David said.
"Where is this spot?" Connor asked.
"It's a small campsite south of Cropdale. We'll all meet there once all this is over so be sure to spread that to the others if you see them." Jexi said.
"Sounds good to me." Connor said.
"Got it. If we see 'em, we'll let'em know." UlforceVeedramon said.
Wasn't long after that the group reached the city known as Stormhail as a bird's caw could echo within the blizzard.
"No doubt…that had to be Glacis." Ochette said.
"She sounds really fierce. Be careful when fighting her." David said as the three groups soon split up to accomplish their respective tasks.
The hunter group approached the mountain but found it blocked off by a single guard.
"Well…this just won't do." Mahina said.
"I guess not…okay…here goes." Ochette said as they ganged up on the guard before moving right past him and up the mountain. As they did, they noticed a lone hunter nearby.
"Huh? Some non-humans? Wait…how did you even get here?" he asked.
"Could ask the same of you. No way you were with that guard. So why are you up here?" Ash K asked.
"Let me give you some advice…go home. This snow ain't normal snow…it snows…with hate." the hunter said before going over to a corpse sticking out of the snow. "Hey…sorry I kept ya. You find your wife okay?"
"Who…is that?" Fluttershy asked.
"My nephew. He was a hunter too. Everyone I used to hunt with was killed…by Glacis." he said. "Long ago, Glacis stopped a legendary blizzard and protected this land. No one was mightier than Glacis. Even the church revered her. But a group of hunters had another idea. Taking Glacis down would be a major accomplishment. I was the only survivor of that attack. I started coming up here in secret. This was the last one I wanted to find. I just have one last thing to do."
"I can tell what it is…you're gonna hunt Glacis, right?" Zoro asked as everyone looked shocked.
"Yeah. Humans and beasts…we were meant to hate and kill each other. You guys hunt…how many have you killed?" he asked.
"Hunting for food, and for revenge…are two totally different things!" Ochette called out.
The hunter just walked away as the group looked on in anger.
"His approach to hunting…makes me sad…" Ochette said.
The group continued on and upward after that encounter before seeing the same hunter at the top of the mountain, covered in wounds.
"He's hurt bad. We need to get him treated and…" Chopper said as a cold wind blew as they looked out to see a large bird covered in ice crystals rising up.
"I don't think it's difficult to guess that's Glacis." Alear said.
"Begone!" Glacis called out sending out a cold wind as the group was blown backwards.
"Is it me, or does she seem extremely pissed off?" Yang asked.
"I can tell…Glacis…really doesn't like humans. But…it looks like it's…also trying to protect something? What could…" Fluttershy said before she spotted a shattered egg. "What?!" she said before looking at the hunter. "So…that's why Glacis is so angry. You horrible people…you went and shattered her egg!"
"We set out to hunt Glacis and got hunted ourselves. So we broke her egg to preserve our honor as…" the hunter said before the group went and pummeled him to the ground.
"Hey! He was already injured!" Chopper said.
"Chopper, he and his friends took a life. Not for food, but out of sheer spite. It's unforgivable… is the taste of "honor" that irresistible to some humans?" Ochette asked.
"I doubt he came up with that idea himself…but I already have a good idea about who did." Jexi said. "That hunter…really doesn't care about the world's safety…" Jexi growled in anger.
"Abominable humans…." Glacis called out.
"Glacis…your anger is understandable…but…we need to snap you out of your anger!" Jexi called out.
(Cue: In Pursuit of Legends ~ Blizzeta Second Half- LoZ Twilight Princess)
"Your ugly hearts disgust me. I will freeze them to ice, never to thaw…" Glacis said.
"Sorry…but you need to go down." Natsu said. "Fire Dragon's…Demolition Fist!" Natsu called out as he landed a flaming punch on Glacis.
"Don't leave us out of it! Go!" Ash K said sending out Incineroar and Talonflame. "Fire Blast! Flame Charge!" he called out as both Fire Type Pokémon went and landed intense flaming hits on Glacis.
Jexi then jumped up as his legs ignited as did his arms. "Glacis…I'm sorry…but I'm feeling just as pissed as you!" he called out as he rocketed down on Glacis. "Ultimate Color….Flaming Cross!" he said crashing down on Glacis and sending her right into the ground in one shot as the image of a cross of flames could be seen flaming in the air as all in Stormhail could see it.
Glacis was soon calmer but bound up. "Release me…release me I say!" Glacis said.
Jexi approached the egg before he went and started burying it. "We weren't involved but…all I can say is…" he said before bowing. "We're sorry. This got caught up in some moron's stupid game."
"I failed…to protect what was precious to me. What am I to do? What life remains for me?" Glacis asked.
"It's true…you lost something precious that can never be reclaimed…but there's still a whole island that needs your protection." Jexi said.
"Then you all are…" Glacis realized. "The Night of the Scarlet Moon…Ah. I had…long forgotten. But…can I…offer protection against it?"
"Of course. You, Tera and Acta…we need you with us." Ochette said as the blizzard soon came to a howling halt.
"I will never forget this sorrow…but you all reminded me…that there is something else I must protect. I pledge whatever powers I have to your cause…and Toto'Haha. Thank you…brave ones." Glacis said.
"No. Thank you, Glacis." Ochette said.
"So…you captured Glacis. Now…I'll never get my revenge." the hunter said before Jexi went and punched him down.
"Before you start talking about revenge…go and take time to assess your own actual values." Jexi said. "Don't you dare…show your face to any of us again." he said as the heroes descended from the mountain.
"We finally have all three beasts…so what now?" Blake asked.
"What else? We go back to the island and prepare for the Night of the Scarlet Moon." Jexi said.
"Hey, Jexi?" Ochette asked. "I really want to thank you and your friends for helping me find the Creatures of Legend. You helped me see the world beyond Toto'haha, I sailed on an actual ship, and ate lots of yummy food! Traveling with people like you is amazing! After all we've been through, I know you'll help me protect my village. That's what friends do, right?"
"Of course." Jexi said with a smile.
Ochette and the Dimensional heroes come heart-to heart with the Creature of Legend, Glacis. In that heart, they find rage, hate, sorrow as deep as a snow filled ravine… and scars from countless clashes with humanity.
Humans take lives for honor and glory-but why? How can glory fill the stomach? So thinking, the earnest beastling leaves the snowy town behind with her friends, to go back to Toto'haha in preparation for the impending calamity.