~~? - Somewhere - Kyurem's Spine - Northern Province~~

A blanket of soft white snow had covered the sheer cliffs and mountain faces that was Kyurem's Spine. Known for its tough, inhospitable environment, no sane Pokémon would ever find themselves braving the uninhabitable biome of soulless rock and snow. That little tidbit of knowledge, however, seemed to go unheeded for two certain Pokémon.

"I don't think I can go on, sis." One of the Pokémon slumped down in the snow, his front legs struggling to stay upright.

The other Pokémon merely scoffed at how her companion was acting. "Stop being such a wuss, dude. There's still daylight left so we have to keep going."

The first Pokémon picked himself up from the snow. "That's easy for you to say! You at least have immunity to the cold, being an Ice-type and all!"

The second Pokémon puffed her chest in apparent pride. "It's not my typing, but my ironclad discipline. I can brave any condition and you won't see me complaining."

"Oh, yeah?" The first Pokémon pointed an accusatory digit to his female companion. "What about when we had to cross Groudon's Desert? You weren't sitting so pretty then!"

The second Pokémon blushed in embarrassment at the unearthing of the past experience. "That was different! A Grass-type just can't survive in a desert!"

"So how exactly am I supposed to survive here!" The first Pokémon let loose a small Thundershock on a snow-covered boulder to the side. "I don't have any resistance like you do, Viridian."

The second Pokémon, now introduced as Viridian, averted her gaze from the male Pokémon and kept her head held high, continuing to walk forward. "Well, it isn't my fault, Spectrum. Blame your piss-poor luck for your typing. All we can do is continue on."

The male, identified as Spectrum, was about to retort until he sagged his shoulders in defeat. It was no use arguing with his sister right now, he thought. He just wanted out of these Arceus-damned mountains. She was right, all they could do was bear it and stop complaining.

"Why did we even decide to cross the Spine in the first place?" Well, that didn't last long. "It would have been so much easier if we went around!"

Viridian swore to the sky, hoping Arceus would hear her prayer for just a little peace and quiet for once. "Because," she said through clenched teeth. "Going around the mountain would entail passing through Diamond City. I don't know about you, but I would rather avoid those nasty cultists."

Spectrum rolled his eyes. "Sis, the Sunset Stars can't be that bad, right?"

Viridian side-eyed her brother. "Yes, they can. Have you seen what they think of our kind, the Eeveelutions?" She shuddered, but not from the cold. Being a Glaceon gave her immunity to that, you see. "Nasty business, those people."

Spectrum smirked with bravado. "I bet I can take them. They don't seem too tough to me."

Viridian sighed. "Fine then. If we ever run into them, be my guest." Viridian took a break from glaring at her Jolteon brother to check the sky. The sun was starting to dip below the horizon. "We should find some shelter. It's going to be night soon."

Spectrum sighed, shaking some fallen snow off of his pelt. "Good idea. If it's this cold right now, I don't want to be out here at night."

And so the pair of sibling Eeveelutions halted their trek and went in search of some shelter in the inhospitable mountains that was Kyurem's Spine. It was dark by the time the two came across a shallow cave that was well off the beaten path. With no other alternatives, they huddled close together in the tight space.

Spectrum's teeth were chattering in the nighttime chill. His whole body was shuddering and shivering. Viridian tried her best to warm him with her body heat, but there wasn't much she could do as a Glaceon.

"M-man, I r-really w-wish I was a F-f-flareon right about n-now." Spectrum managed to speak in his frosty situation.

Viridian placed a paw under his jaw and pushed it closed. "Don't speak. You need to conserve whatever energy you have." She tightened her embrace with her brother. "Hopefully our situation will be much better tomorrow. Now, try to sleep."

Spectrum managed to nod, still unable to speak with his sister's paw in the way. He slowly closed his eyes, hoping for sleep to come quickly tonight. It wasn't long before Viridian felt Spectrum's breathing steady, indicating that he had entered Cresselia's realm. She only hugged him tighter as she tried to sleep herself. She then reached into her adventurer's pouch and pulled out a piece of paper containing a news article.

As she stared at the news article, a fiery look of determination showed on her face. They had been all over Arkant on a wild goose chase, checking as many leads as possible only to turn up disappointed in the end. This time, though, they had to be right.

"I'm sorry for this, Spectrum. I just really want to get to Prism City as quickly as possible. Please just be strong for the next few days." It was a few minutes later that she followed her brother into Cresselia's grasp.

She still held the news article in her open paw. It contained many tidbits of information regarding the general status of Arkant, but she had kept this one for the headline which read:

"Shocking Development! Mysterious Powers Revealed at the Autumn Festival!"

VVVVVVVVV

Viridian was the first to open her eyes early the next morning. She wearily wiped her eyes and stifled a yawn. Spectrum was still snoozing away beside her, his rhythmic breathing and the first traces of dawn gave their small shelter an almost cozy feeling. She went to wake her brother up.

"Nub?"

Viridian froze at the alien noise. She turned her head to the entrance to the small cave, where she spotted a tiny little Swinub curiously observing the pair. At the established eye contact, the small feral Pokémon slowly backed away.

"Why, hello there. Aren't you just the cutest!" Viridian gushed at the baby Pokémon, ignoring its feral status altogether. She swiftly left her sleeping brother's side and swooped up the infant in a crushing hug.

"Nub! Nub!" It exclaimed in panic.

"Aw, you're just so precious!" The enamored Glaceon completely ignored the feral Pokémon's cries and continued to smother the poor thing. It tried to push away, but there was no escaping Viridian's vice-like grip. "Oh, you're trying to snuggle me!" Viridian mistook the escape attempt. "You are just so adorable!" The feral Pokémon seemed to give up on escaping, instead resorting to shouting.

"Nuuub!"

Viridian took a small break from her cuddling to look at the Pokémon in confusion. "What's a little guy like you doing out here on your own, anyway? Something as cute as you shouldn't be wandering around by themselves, you might run into someone crazy!"

Completely ignoring the irony in Viridian's statement, the feral Pokémon continued to screech out in her arms.

"Okay, okay!" Viridian swayed her arms, trying to calm down the Swinub. It seemed to work, as the infant Swinub quieted down and deflated in her embrace. "See, that's more like it." The screeching, however, managed to wake up the sleeping Jolteon.

"What the hell!" Spectrum woke with a start, immediately lowering into a defensive stance and searching for targets. He dropped his guard when he finally spotted his sister.

"Relax, bro. It's just me." Viridian snorted at her brother's reaction. Spectrum bashfully walked over to where she was still snuggling the Swinub.

"Uh, sis, what are you doing?" Spectrum asked his Glaceon companion, noticing her odd behavior. "And what was that ghastly screeching noise, anyway?"

"That was my new friend!" She excitedly turned to face her brother, showing off the Swinub to him. "Spectrum, meet Nubby!"

Spectrum nearly choked on his own saliva. "You named it Nubby? And here I thought it was breakfast…" He quickly shook his head. "Never mind that, what are you even doing with a feral Pokémon in the first place?"

Viridian puffed her cheek and turned her head away. "If you must know, Nubby wandered into here on his own."

"So then why are you suffocating the poor thing?"

"I am not suffocating him! It's called cuddling!"

Spectrum did not look convinced. "Uh huh." He stretched his legs, getting rid of the stiffness from his sleep. "So where are its-"

"Nubby."

"Right, sorry. Where are Nubby's parents, anyway?"

Viridian was about to respond when they both felt a small rumble from the ground. They both froze when a shadow loomed over them, blocking the orange glow of the sunrise. They turned slowly to view the source.

The two seemed to shrink at the massive size of the Mamoswine that blocked the sun's light. Its hide looked thick and tough, its tusks hard and strong. And to top it off, it looked absolutely pissed. It was then that Nubby escaped Viridian's frozen arms and went to the Mamoswine's side.

"Well, this isn't good." Spectrum dumbly said. "You just had to mess with this monster's baby, didn't you."

"Maybe it will leave us alone?" Viridian hoped. "I mean, since it got its baby back it doesn't need to fight us, right?"

Before the two could entertain that thought the Mamoswine charged toward the two, its eyes red with righteous fury.

"Oh, crap!"

The duo split into opposite directions, causing the Mamoswine to charge between the two and bash into the cave wall. The shelter rumbled from the stress and loose stones fell down from the ceiling. The large Pokémon stepped back from its point of impact and shook its head to reorient itself. It whipped around to face the two Pokémon that had the gall to kidnap its child. But what it found was only an empty cave. Both of the offenders had disappeared, but so was…

VVVVVVVVV

"What the hell do you think you're doing, V!"

"What?! I couldn't just leave it there!"

"That was its parent! Put that thing back where it came from!"

Viridian looked horrified at Spectrum's prospect. "I will not! And that thing has a name!"

"Nub!"

The Glaceon's eyes brightened. "See! Even Nubby knows!"

Spectrum rolled his eyes. He swerved the side to avoid a low-hanging branch before acknowledging his sister once more. "Sis, I don't care if it has a name or not! That thing is going to be the death of us if you don't let it go!"

Viridian leaped over a fallen log in their path. She was holding Nubby by her teeth as the pair of Eeveelutions sprinted down the mountain. "Then I guess we might die!"

Spectrum would have facepalmed if he had the capability to do so. "What did I do to deserve being stuck with a sister like you." Viridian cuddled up to him for a brief moment as they ran close by each other.

"Oh, you know you love me." The two were interrupted from their moment as they heard a loud call of a Mamoswine behind them. "Is it still chasing us?"

Spectrum scoffed at the thought. "No way. It's not possible for something that big to catch up to us so- Holy Mew!"

The Jolteon was interrupted as a large Ancient Power blasted by his face, just barely missing. The two looked behind them to see a towering, and enraged, Mamoswine quickly gaining.

"Dammit, feral!" Viridian proclaimed in an outburst to the pursuing Pokémon. "What the hell do you even want!" Nubby flailed helplessly in her grasp.

Spectrum managed to dodge another thrown Ancient Power. "V, even you can't be that stupid!"

Viridian only tilted her head in confusion at his accusation. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Spectrum bristled. "Just give it the damn baby!"'

"I refuse!"

"Do you want to die?!" Spectrum leaped to the side to dodge an incoming tree in his path. Another attack had just hit the tree, causing it to fall over. Viridian stumbled from the impact, accidentally letting Nubby go. The little Swinub called out in joy and ran over to its engaged parent.

"Nubby!" Viridian tried to go back for the little Swinub but was stopped by her brother.

"Let it go, sis! That Mamoswine was going to kill us if we kept running." Viridian struggled against her brother for a moment before deflating.

"But he was so cute…" She pouted. Spectrum rubbed her back.

"I know, I know. But this is for the best." Viridian felt her brother's paw suddenly freeze in place. Curious, she lifted her head to meet his gaze.

"What's up, dude?" All she got for an answer was Spectrum lifting his paw to point towards the feral Mamoswine. Viridian followed the digit. "Oh no."

The four of them were not alone anymore. The feral Mamoswine was now being flanked by dozens of other Mamoswine and Piloswine, and they looked particularly peeved that these two Pokémon had invaded their territory.

"Something tells me these fine gentlemen aren't here for conversation." Spectrum took a cautious step back from the entourage.

Viridian started to follow his lead. "Before we potentially get trampled by a herd of Mamoswine, could I at least apologize first?" Some of the Mamoswine started to kick their front legs out, preparing to charge.

Spectrum nervously chuckled. "How about we save all that for when we're down the mountain?"

"Agreed. Run!" The two took off back down the path, hoping to escape the herd quickly. The horde sped off in chase behind them. The large Pokémon kicked up massive waves of snow as they charged at the two intruders.

Viridian and Spectrum did not wait around for the Mamoswine to catch up to them. Within the same second, the two had simultaneously turned away and bolted down the mountain. The angry mob of enraged feral Pokémon gave chase.

The two managed to bob and weave throughout the ranged attacks that were thrown at them. Their smaller and more limber forms allowed them to easily move in the mountain forest. However, that didn't stop a few Mamoswine from catching up to them.

"Spectrum, watch out!" Viridian warned as she spotted a Mamoswine charging her brother from behind. Thanks to his natural speed as a Jolteon, he managed to sidestep the Take Down, the attacker ramming headfirst into a particularly thick tree as a result.

"Thanks for the warning!" Spectrum thanked her as they continued running. Suddenly his eyes widened. "On your left!"

Viridian's head whipped to her left. "Huh?" Just in time, she spotted an Ice Shard make hard contact with her snout. She was thrown back, only stopping from Spectrum catching her. "Ow!"

"You okay?" He asked her, examining the point of contact. She could feel some sort of liquid dripping from her nose.

"I'm fine." She dismissed him. "We need to keep moving." With a cautious nod he helped her up, and the two were on the run once again.

It felt like it had been hours since the chase had started, but in reality, only twenty minutes had passed. The two had both begun to feel the strain in their legs as the time passed. They seemed to be making good headway as the base of the mountain grew ever closer.

Viridian skid to a halt, resting on a large stone and catching her breath. "Did we lose them?"

Spectrum came to a stop beside her. He wasn't nearly as tired as Viridian, as he considered himself to be the more athletic one of the two. "I don't know. We're almost down the mountain, at least."

Viridian nodded in agreement. Her ears then perked up, straining to hear something. "Wait, do you hear that?"

Her Jolteon brother followed her lead and took to perking his ear up as well. His face scrunched in confusion. "Yeah… It sounds like a big thumping noise. What do you think it is?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe-" She was cut off as she now felt something. "Are we having an earthquake?" The ground started to rumble beneath their paws. It had started to vibrate with such tenacity that the two felt as if they themselves were shaking as well. "This doesn't seem good."

Spectrum just shrugged it off. "Come on, what could possibly happen? Let's just get going already."

The rumbling only grew stronger, chattering their bones and making it hard to stand straight. A quick look up the mountain revealed just what the two would soon be in for. Viridian felt her heart drop.

"Hey, Spectrum?" Her brother turned to her questioningly. "I think we're in trouble."

Spectrum scoffed. "What do you mean?" He followed her gaze to see just what she was so afraid of. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me!"

A massive fog of white tore its way down the mountain where they had just trekked. It felled trees and obliterated rocks in its wake, burying everything in between. If they were caught in that, they would surely be dead.

Viridian felt her heartbeat quicken even more than before. "You don't think…"

Spectrum quickly grabbed her wrist and dragged her away. "Those bastards started an avalanche on us!"

With even more vigor than before, the Jolteon and Glaceon pair sprinted down the mountain. They could feel the massive destructive force close in on them. They really started to feel in danger when they could hear the destruction behind them. It was closing in fast.

"We need to get to higher ground!" Viridian surmised. She quickly took a look around but couldn't find anything they could use as a good foothold to survive the disaster.

"If you can find somewhere like that, be my guest!" Spectrum almost lost his footing but managed to catch himself just in time before he fell.

"Well, do you have any other ideas?!" Viridian had to practically scream her lungs out to be heard over the roaring destruction.

"Yeah! Keep running!" But Spectrum knew they couldn't run for much longer. Viridian was already struggling for breath and his legs were starting to burn. They weren't going to make it. "I guess we failed."

Viridian regarded him in shock. "What?"

Spectrum gave a dry laugh. "We're not gonna be able to escape this, V. We've gone all over this stupid country and we haven't found him. Now we're just gonna go out from a stupid avalanche. We failed."

Viridian couldn't believe her brother was acting like this. "What the hell has gotten into you, dude?! Of course, we're going to survive this! We've been through worse! I'm not dying until we finish the mission and see our village again!"

"Then how do you plan on getting us out of this one, huh? If you haven't noticed there is a raging wall of destruction behind us that is quickly catching up!" In just a few seconds, the pair would be overtaken and certainly killed.

Viridian bared her fangs, sensing their imminent doom. She had a plan, but it was shoddy at best. "Here goes nothing!" She suddenly lunged in front of Spectrum and wrapped herself around him. Right before the snow overtook them, she erected a hasty Protect.

The land was completely covered in desolate white. Trees splintered into pieces and ancient rocks were thrown about. The avalanche eventually died down, leaving the area around the Spine of Kyurem completely silent besides the raging winds.

A small pile of snow was suddenly pushed open, creating a singular hole in the landscape of white. After a few moments, a yellow paw emerged. Then another one. They seem to struggle for a moment before a head appeared.

Spectrum's breathing was ragged and he could almost feel his body start to seize up from the cold. But at that moment he could care less. He finished pulling himself out of the pit. After shaking off some snow he turned around and leaned down.

He fiercely bit down on something solid and, using all his strength, he pulled upwards. With all the might he could muster he threw his Glaceon sister up and over him, safely excavating her from the snow.

She landed with a crash. "Ow…" She moaned in pain.

"You idiot." Spectrum mock punched her head. She winced from the hit. "What were you thinking, pulling a stunt like that?"

Viridian massaged her head. "It saved your sorry ass, didn't it?"

He glared. "But it almost cost us yours."

She met his glare for a few moments before relenting. She hung her head in shame. "Sorry. But I couldn't think of any other way."

Spectrum offered his paw out in front of her. "Remember what the elders taught us? There's always another way-"

"-and if it seems like there's only one, you just haven't thought hard enough." Viridian finished the saying with a smile. She took her brother's paw and pulled herself to her feet. "We made it out alive, at least. And look! We're at the base of the mountain!"

Spectrum squinted his eyes. "Looks like there's a town off in the distance, too." He smiled and nodded in determination. "Alrighty, let's get going."

Viridian smirked and followed. "What happened to you? A minute ago you were all like 'We faaailed' and 'stuuuupid avaalaaaanche'." She mocked him with a less-than-flattering impression of him.

His cheeks flushed. "I-what- I did not!" He sputtered.

She burst out laughing at his embarrassment. "Hahaha! You totally were!"

Spectrum pouted before smiling Darkly at his sister. "Hey, let's not forget you're the one who started this in the first place. You and you're precious Nubby."

Viridian ceased her laughing immediately and glared at him. "You leave Nubby out of this you jerk!"

"Kidnapper!" He retorted.

"Complainer!"

"Immature!"

"Baby!"

"Stupid!"

"Oh, yeah, real mature!"

"Shut up!"

The two then continued like this for as long as you could imagine. They may argue and call each other names, but they were family. And no matter what they would never leave each other behind.

~~? - Town Square - Boulder Town - Northern Province~~

A lone Golduck sat in prayer. His arms and legs were interlocked as he faced the sky with his eyes closed. He let the warmth of the sun hit his slick skin. He hummed in contentment.

"Saint Lobe, I'm here to report.."

The Golduck sighed, his moment of peace now a forgone memory. He rose to his feet and opened his eyes, greeting the newcomer.

"What is it?"

The young Ledyba that disturbed his peace flinched when their eyes met, but he continued with his report. "The Boulder Town residents have made peace. We will have fifty-two new recruits."

The Golduck, Saint Lobe, raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That is good news indeed. And what of the rest of the citizens that chose not to join our noble cause?"

"They will of course be…" The Ledyba hesitated. He looked to the ground with uncertainty. "They will be sacrificed to Yveltal for their heresy."

Lobe nodded, as if what the Ledyba said was standard practice. "Everything is proceeding rather smoothly now. The day we make our move draws ever closer."

"If you would excuse me, Saint Lobe?" The Ledyba winced, shifting on his legs uncomfortably. "But why must the others die for this? Surely we could just let them go? I mean, they haven't done anything wrong, right?"

The Bug-type stood still and awaited the verbal assault he would surely receive for speaking out. Instead, he felt a webbed hand softly grip his shoulder. He opened his eyes to see Lobe squatting down to his level. He held a stern yet understanding expression.

"Listen good and listen well, young friend. In this country, no Pokémon is truly free. We must all obey the strict rules and guidelines set for us by Pokémon who think they are so far above us that they can tell us how to live. Kings, queens, barons. Government. The monarchy. Each of these establishments sit on their paltry thrones and look down upon us, the common Pokémon, breaking our bodies and minds each and every day to earn our right to live. A right we should have since birth, wouldn't you say?

"These so-called 'leaders' have no idea what it is like to live in our shoes. They believe they know what is best for us, yet they have no real cluse what it is like to be us. A false understanding that most Pokémon have since grown accustomed to. Pokémon like the ones to be sacrificed tomorrow.

"They want to be falsely led and understood. They truly believe that those kings and queens have their best interests at heart. They cannot stand up for themselves, and rely on authority to do so for them. They are weak in body and mind. Slaves to the system like them will never be truly free. They will never thrive in the world we wish to create, and will only serve to be a painful reminder of these lesser times. So we must free them ourselves, and hope they will find peace with Yveltal. Do you understand?" The Ledyba slowly nodded. Lobe smiled upon him and shooed the Ledyba away. "Now go, my friend, there is more work to be done before we are to move on." As the small Pokémon departed Lobe stood and gazed upon Boulder Town.

The town was ablaze. Buildings were crumbling and turning to ash. Smoke billowed into the sky. Pokémon were chained and tied in big groups. The ones who could not believe in his cause. They would be put to death tomorrow for their misguidance.

Other Pokémon were lined up, taking turns being branded. Lobe looked gratefully onto them. They were the ones strong in heart. The ones who understood how unfair they were being treated and took it upon themselves to fight for freedom. The new members of the Sunset Stars.

Lobe could only grin in satisfaction at his progress. What was once a small group of freedom fighters in the Northern Province had turned into a bonafide movement. Just a few more towns and the monarchy would start to take them seriously. Then the revolution would begin.

He spotted a newcomer to the square. A lone Marowak wandered in, looking around profusely as if searching for something. Her eyes locked onto Lobe, and she quickly made a beeline for him.

"Desmi," Lobe greeted. "I take it your mission to Prism City went well?"

Desmi the Marowak pumped her fist. "Oh, you bet it did. I've got something you're really gonna want to hear." She observed the new recruits. "I see things have been going good here."

Lobe nodded. "They have seen the light and have decided to join. I wish I could say the same for everyone, but these Pokémon will have to do." He curiously regarded her. "And what news do you have for me, my friend? Has the seeds of our influence been spread to the capital already?" He tried to guess.

Desmi shook her head. "Not quite, but I found out something even better. Something about the one they're calling 'Rainbow the Shifter'."