Quilling Quads

Synopsis: Seth Lord died, having been sick as long as he could recall. In the following eternity, he woke up in a cave amidst a battle of new faces. A vicious cat, a battle savant toddler, and an amnesic girl who summoned ghosts from her shadow and witch hat. Neither the anime nor the games prepare him for this, but he was ready- probably. He wanted to be. That had to count for something...

Note: a more light-hearted Pokemon story (ignoring the first few chapters probably, koff) to accompany all my more serious ones, focusing on the journey of the main characters and the idea of freedom + joy. Not really a type-focused story, but if the title didn't give it away, Seth will mainly be focused on the Fighting or Flying types. Again, there's too many great Pokemon to pick solely from two types, nevermind one.

I may increase the rating down the line to be safe, but there's no plan to do anything drastic (nothing crazier than the initial chapter at least), unlike Storm Sworn... Shorter chapters but hopefully updated more often.

Depending how the story's chapters are received will determine the rate I update this one.

I own nothing but the original characters.
Enjoy.

᚜𑁬᚛

The clashing of steel and the crackling of ice woke me up, saving me from a pit of endless darkness. My mind throbbed and pulsated with an intense migraine as I opened my eyes and tried to rise.

I failed at both.

Accompanying each attack was a flash of blinding light, keeping my eyes clenched shut, and my body, feeling numb and foreign, couldn't move. A half smile failed to lift my lips as I had ruefully thought, 'This isn't an unfamiliar feeling.'

I barely mustered a twitch of my arm after a minute of trying. Then, a shadow blocked out most of the flashes. With that now, my rentias were allowed to calm beneath my sore eyelids.

Eventually, I could open them, wincing to a shut at each flash still. I made out a feminine figure sitting in front of me, turning fro and back to the battle behind her and my still body.

The girl finally noticed my struggling eyes on her.

She moved to speak but a chill crept into our bodies as the unseen battle had finally ended.

Just as quickly, a knightly figure, darker than the shadows that plagued the area, blazed into existence behind her, drawing a sharp gasp from the pale girl. It seemed to have its back turned to us as it stood... valiantly? The purpleish fires harmed neither of us, and thankfully, they forced back whatever brought on the chill. I only got a second to admire it before it shot out of my field of vision.

Now, clashes of steel, crackles of ice, and roars of flames filled the dim cave. The new entry to the fray also lit up the cave better. The girl's hair was just as black as the darkness. Her dim purple eyes, which seemed to glow slightly, followed the intense battle with increasing worry as she bit her bleeding lip. The blood contrasted heavily against her pale skin, most of which was hidden beneath her dark, knee-length dress.

Eventually, she tore her gaze away from the increasingly ferocious battle and turned back to me.

Her soft-spoken voice pierced through the inane noises of battle somehow, "H-Hi! Y-You're finally awake!" Her hands fiddled with a mangled witch hat that seemed to flicker in and out of existence—honestly I didn't notice it back then somehow. "Uhm, do y-you know where w-we are?"

I wanted to scream that she had a better clue then I did. I was pretty sure I had finally met my sweet release. My soul departed and everything, leaving my family with one last burden atop the invaluable credit I accumulated being sick from birth. To pay for my funeral.

Not that I really deserved one.

I don't know if I made it to heaven or hell or whatever else. I want to say I deserved the worst for being such a waste of a life, having spent a decade and a half bedbound, but that was literally out of my control. Either way, all I saw was darkness as my essence continued to float away and wander aimlessly. I had some control over it, but that meant nothing in the void of nothing but eternal blackness.

One moment, I was there, and now, I was here—with a familiar pounding migraine.

I did not miss the feeling, I could barely muse. The pain just kept building regardless.

The girl, seeing no response, turned to the battle for a glance. She twisted back quickly with such nervousness that I was beginning to get worried too.

"C-Can you move?"

The words reminded me of my younger sister, who first asked out of childish ignorance. The answer back then was the same as now.

A fat, resounding no.

Sudden anger like never before blossomed in my chest. My body, still cold from the ethereal chill of death or whatever and the rough surface of the cave, grew warm as I began to sweat. It was an odd feeling I would think back to much later, but I was too busy feeling betrayed.

What was the point of a second chance if I was still SUFFERING?!

My breathing labored harshly. My heart thumped louder than the battle. My migraine grew stronger still, sparking my rage into a whole new level.

Was wandering oblivion all alone for who knows how long NOT ENOUGH? What was the POINT of keeping my memories if it would play out the same?

I didn't realize it then, but a manic laugh bubbled through as a sudden thought broke through my unnatural anger.

At least, I hadn't started as a baby that was barely better than a stillborn.

—What a burning load of bullshit.

On top of that, the unjust world thought to throw a lost girl at me?! I don't even know if I'm still on Earth with that mystical fire from earlier!

My hands grew so hot, I thought they were on fire, but a glance there confirmed nothing special.

—That was, until they twitched, digging into the rocks.

I could only grin madly. I finally figured out how to move my hands again. I promptly threw myself over. My legs soon followed. Since I was on my chest now, I gathered myself onto all fours, shakily.

It was then I knew I could speak. I forced my anger down. The girl didn't deserve it. She was as scared and worried as she should be. It was only natural. I knew that. It was a bit of a struggle given the suddenness of this incessant rage that allowed me to regain control.

"N-No, not really," I grounded out. Despite the mad laughter, my voice was scratchy and was as unfamiliar as the black knight and the cave we found ourselves in.

Eventually, after a period of grunting, I could get onto my feet. The girl rose too. Her hat floated up next to her, but I didn't notice, struggling to maintain my balance.

The girl was hesitant to touch me as her hands drifted my way. "Um, you're still h-hurt!"

Yeah, every part of me is on fire. I just couldn't see it!

I didn't spit that at her. A part of me felt shame at those being my immediate thoughts to her vocal concern. Instead, my gaze slipped to the ongoing battle that renewed itself with more.

On the opposite wall, a copperish, toddler-sized figure, who seemed to be the only familiar thing thus far, was slouched and embedded into the wall, heavily wounded but still together. It looked like a.. Pokemon. A medimite or whatever it was called, I couldn't be bothered to be sure.

The colors were off though.

That wasn't important though.

The magical burning knight from earlier was fighting a cat. Sure it was a cat with jutting swords for its fangs, but it was a relatively large pet cat, nonetheless. It was quick, agile as all hell, weaving through attacks with impossible movements. Despite that, it couldn't exactly pressure with counters against the purpleish flames that sprouted with each swing off the knight's.

I don't know what grabbed a hold of me. I really couldn't tell you half of anything currently happened. My body just couldn't stand standing around like a bystander. I've done that for an entire life span.

Actually, that was a lie. I spent a lifetime wasting around on my back. That was a lil different..

I made one last glance at the shivering girl, who curled into herself whilst standing. I didn't know her, but her concern was more than enough for me to want to do something in return. I sidestepped the girl and stomped into the battlefield with the two figures rushing each other.

I didn't realize it at the time, but the two were moving faster than I could see normally. And myself? Just as fast, according to the pale girl.

The long, white cat, dotted with gray, leapt forward and away, using its exposed teeth and paws to trade blows. The black knight's pink eyes were narrowed as it was being forced back. Its two dark blades were marred with even darker scratches; each blow added another mark. Masterfully still, it deflected the cat, but it couldn't do it for long. Orange, bluish and white fire helped keep the cat away, but it soon began to cut through that too with the pervasive chill.

I didn't even take that in. Nor did I register the pain. I couldn't even be bothered to roar and give myself away like an idiot as I prepared to punt the cat like soccer players for a penalty kick. I don't think I had the lung capacity to do so anyway.

I sucked in one last breath and drew my leg back. I had watched enough soccer to know how to kick properly. Honestly? It felt easier than people made it out to be.

The two fighters only noticed me then, but it was too late.

I let my body do the talking.

Wind pressure blew out the dancing fires as I dragged my foot to the bewildered feline. The cat couldn't even yelp, having been caught mid leap, and mid-snarl. My foot throbbed as it inches closer, but I ignored it to get rid of this pest. A stray cat killed my pet bird in my first life. I can't forgive them for that.

This is for Poffin the Parrot!

It felt like how I imagined kicking a block of solid ice would be: hard as shit. I think I stubbed all my toes too. I imagine it was more painful than stubbing one, but I had no first hand experience to refer...

The sound of ice shattering echoed as I finally punted the white furry fuck.

It hurt like hell, but it was so satisfying to see the cat go flying. It was like a certain from the anime, watching the Team Rocket Trio soar off into the distance. Eventually, it flew out into the mouth of the cave—revealing the first bit of the rising sun and a world of snow. Arcing past what the entrance could see, the cat disappeared in a snow-covered field that surrounding the mountain.

All the energy I mustered left me instantly. My knees buckled. It was the only sign I got before I promptly collapsed onto my front. The fire that energized me from within died, filling me with metaphorical burns. I could only shut my eyes from stressing my new (?) body out. Physical pain wasn't anything new thankfully. Chronic pain was unrelenting, and this spike was probably just temporary. Hurt like everything unholy, but that might just be my toes.

But hey, there were a couple of upsides. The incessant migraine was gone, and I wasn't numb. It wasn't all bad, and I've definitely felt worse.

"A-Are you alright?"

I turned to the witch girl, trying not to laugh at the absurdity of everything. It really shouldn't have worked. "Y-Yeah. Got rid of the dumb cat, didn't I?"

The chill of the wintery wasteland crept into me. The shivering I hadn't missed returned.

Despite that, the unnamed girl nodded with an unsure smile. Her attention was elsewhere until new light pieced the darkness further. Turning away from the entrance so as to not be blinded while the Sun rose further, she bent down, but I didn't notice because I shut my eyes to stave off the growing pain. It wasn't until I felt dandy hands lift my head that I realized.

"E-Excuse me?" I sputtered out, unable to move much more than my mouth.

The girl tilted her head at me. I became breathless for a split moment. A million thoughts raced through my head. Many of them essentially reminded me this was the first time I interacted with someone aside from my family, nurses and main doctor. A couple of those thoughts narrowed the scope to the fact that it was the first time I dealt with a girl who looked to be my age.

I tried my best to ignore that embarrassing train of thought.

My attention was firmly on the bronze-ish toddler, who was slowly climbing onto their feet despite the beating they took. What a kickass child...

"Y-You looked very tired, and there's... there's no pillow so..." she tapered off, mindlessly playing with a lock of my hair. "I d-don't know where to go to get help, but I wouldn't leave you behind after you h-helped."

Forgetting I was in her lap, she tried to bow. I almost got a mouthful of her long hair.

"S-Sorry!"

Despite the overall soreness, I spoke again. "D—!" My chest struggled to rise for a split second, but I tried my best to ignore the instance of panic. "Don't worry about it."

I got enough of that on my last go around.

The girl noticed the labored speech since it was so obvious but didn't mention it. Instead, she continued to play with my hair, absentmindedly. Maybe it was because I was also exhausted from exerting myself or perhaps, it reminded me of time with my family, but it was lulling me to sleep.

I blinked once, and darkness embraced me once more. This time, it was warm and comforting.

᚜𑁬᚛

Aes: Who's that Pokemon! All three? Any guesses on what kind of trainer the girl is?

No, it's not some edgy and/or angry mc. I'm too apathetic to write about such a person and dislike those kinds of things in most cases. I imagine awakening to potentially the very same ailment with a killer migraine that plagued your previous life to see people losing to a fucking cat is both goofy as all hell and enraging to a person who hasn't realize they've been Isekai-ed into the Pokemon world yet. That and some unsaid soul displacement fuckary is going on.

If it wasn't obvious, he has aura powers of sorts. Shouldn't be a big thing yet for reasons later. And there's the nice and shy girl who's just a young hex maniac if my descriptors didn't make it clear. Not much on her yet.

So whatcha think so far? A lil iffy? Goofy? Not enough to pass judgment? If the latter, hopefully I don't take too long to update!

Edits: did some
Words: [2,680]