Chapter 5 (Happy Holidays! Jamming to my christmas playlist)
Who would've thought pink be a terrifying color?
Pink hair gently flowed in the air.
Looking up, Elijah noticed two recognizable silhouettes stalking over his encampment. They resembled vultures eyeing a rotting carcass. Merely the notion of devising anything other than delaying the inevitable was laughable.
Dozens of poachers, each cloaked in camouflaged gear, were assembled outside the comfort of their tents. In the center of their encampment, a grand tent held a prominent figure in a distinct purple cape, clearly held in higher regard than his brethren, as indicated by his residence and attire.
Unlike the others, his new squad leader wore a gem-adorned eye patch instead of practical gear. The opulent accessory was a tacky attempt to imitate high society, designed with a bastardized keystone at its centerpiece.
However, their opposition wore the real package, glimmering with radiant beams in every direction. Behind the two soared an aurora mast in the sky, overshadowing even their brilliance.
His squad leader, the figure draped in a fashionable purple cape, turned to the intruder with a hint of fear and a quiver in his voice, "Release your pokémon!" In an attempt to repair his crumbling facade of power, he released a scarred Gyarados. The sight rallied his brethren to release their own pokémon.
Yet the intruders remained unfazed. Their focus was entirely on the details of the setting—particularly intrigued by the hundreds of specialized cages. As if on cue, a myriad of whimpers and cries corroded the eerie silence. He gulped nervously. His eyes regrettably fixed on a crippled Frosmoth, who released a gut-wrenching wail at the sight of its migrating flutter. The moth desperately crawled, not wanting to be abandoned; erratic movements caused its wounds to widen. It ignored the pain, repeatedly bashing its head against the cage to reconvene with its kin.
Elijah realized that karma had caught up with him.
A lightning bolt roared asunder, smashing Gyarados into the ground. The silence was deafening; his nostrils clenched at the smell of piss. Elijah watched in horrified fascination as Charizard reared its ugly head atop Gyarados' skull. Gauntlets of electricity convulsed wildly, crackling with sharp pops. A wall of fire materialized, then formed an expansive circle around their encampment, blocking any possible escape routes. A cloak of red feathers pushed through the flames with ease.
"Aletris, look at these rats!" A vicious-looking ranger cackled crazily. The red uniform attempted to conceal the brawler's muscular frame. His short hair flared up like a fire. He tightly gripped his brass knuckles decorated with a keystone.
"Calix, let's make this quick. It's likely that she will arrive today. But if Arceus blesses us with good fortune, perhaps she will be late." On the opposite side of the coin, a lanky man with a messy man bun strolled forward. He had no right to have such a disarming smile, a face that could charm any woman in the blink of an eye. Then his smile rose devilishly as his glasses reflected the newly created sun. The tip of his intricate cane was a keystone.
"Yeah, I want to cheer for her in person," Calix casually said, his cape fluttering wildly. "I'll be a bad brother if I miss out on all her gym battles."
No one dared to interrupt the brothers, who infamously retained the title of False Cerberus.
Calix punched his fist together; brass knuckles collided with a clang and spark. With a dazzling flash, Aletris drove his cane into the snow, and a cacophony of terrifying beasts reverberated from a distance. That was the prelude to the incoming wave of monsters.
A black demon streaked forward from the fallen Gyarados, grabbing a Drapion. Mega Charizard flexed its clawed hand, crunching down on the chitin armor before repeatedly slamming the overgrown bug into the ground, absorbed in all the elation of a child with a new toy. The dragon's free hand grabbed hold of a poor Arbok, smashing it into Drapion with a clap. Charizard spotted a fleeing Skarmory. It flew in hot pursuit, catching the bird with a Seismic Toss. The bird shrieked as blue fire melted its figure, and muscular arms cracked its metallic back. The spinning pair turned into a blue comet and exploded onto the wave of pokémon—BOOM!
A trident-horned Charizard rained down Solar Beams with the frequency of an artillery gun. Rays of raw energy sliced through the encampment like butter. Aletris strolled into the camp surrounded by silhouettes of irate or frightened poachers. Elijah's comrades helplessly scrambled like a drowning man, discovering a lonely piece of driftwood in the waves.
Aletris freed numerous pokémon from their confines before temporarily capturing them. Then a red blur ran through the encampment. Fear gripped Elijah, prompting him to warn the squad leader as survival instincts kicked in, but before he could make a move, Calix lunged towards the fraudulent noble with a flying knee—fragments of gems scattered in the air. Calix looked forward, his face illuminated by the brilliant flames, a joyful grin etched on his face. He locked eyes with the countless poachers, and in that instant, the wild man commenced a one-sided brawl.
Fuck…!
"Where do you think you're going?" Calix eerily inquired, eyeing him down. As he spat out these words, he kicked off the ground. The snow erupted around him. But there was no way that Elijah could lose sight of the ranger's red uniform in the contrasting white.
Or at least that was what he thought.
A brass knuckle cracked his jaw, snapping his head askew. As blood dripped from his mouth, Elijah rushed at Calix in a mindless impulse. Calix just snorted at his brash display of bravery or craziness, weaving his attack to deliver a liver punch.
Elijah's breath was driven out of him, but the assault didn't stop there. His opponent skillfully slammed his fist into Elijah's other side as well. A blow to his stomach came after that one. Then a shin to the legs. His face became a makeshift punching bag.
"This is a fun one!" Calix kicked Elijah in the genital region while laughing uncontrollably. Elijah fell to his knees in agony.
His battered eyes made out the same bloody Frosmoth. When Calix unlocked the cage, the bug drooped and spilled blood, contaminating the snow. Elijah noticed Calix's amber eyes gleaming with renewed anger. Beads of sweat trickled down his body as he considered the impending "execution." A knee smashed into his face. He swayed backward, unable to endure the pain as his stomach churned. When Elijah was about to vomit, Calix kicked his chin upwards, preventing him from opening his mouth.
Elijah choked on his semi-chunky meal.
Calix continued the dinner service of blows.
His vision and mind became hazy. He longed to be relieved by the odd sensation. His head was exploding with thoughts, memories, and emotions. However, one particular image inflated his pain receptors: memories of his sick mother in the slums of some obscure lowlife city on Route 13. He was reminded of rancid buildings shrouded in a sultry, filthy atmosphere—a homely smell of garbage, fermenting at the high temperature. Reality solidified that notion. Elijah's nostrils erupted in chunky vomit. Smoke of distant fighting seasoned his digested waste. Then in quick succession, memories swirled in his murky consciousness. Numerous violent riots were squashed under jets of high-pressure water. Molotovs were thrown. Batons were swung. Pokémon were used. Recruiters were patiently waiting. Their cries for help were ignored.
Elijah's face was covered in cold, white snow instead of sand. Gone are the days of starving rats biting at his bony limbs for subsistence. Now… a gavel of justice loomed over in its physical form, Calix.
I'll miss you mom… your stories… your warmth… your love…
He should've chosen a different path.
Is this what Frosmoth felt, loneliness?
With that final thought, everything in the vicinity faded to black.
A lowly grunt out of many. Merely a rat amidst a colony.
His movements turned stagnant.
Aletris examined the poacher's equipment.
An ember.
This symbol appeared to have been engraved onto the metal under their tenure, forming a simple albeit powerful design. While Aletris was not familiar with this particular symbol, he instinctively linked it to other iterations he had seen before. Although the contexts were subtly different, they all seemed to share a similar essence—rebellion, revolution, rebirth, and freedom rooting its origins in the collapse of the royal family.
Rekindling in popularity.
Aletris glanced at his brother nursing a Frosmoth with utmost care: a calloused hand supported the fluffy moth. "It's ok, little one," Calix said, his voice tinged with a blend of reassurance and concern as he applied medical aid.
"Brother," Aletris inquired.
Calix replied, "I know I want to see her as well," returning his attention to his patient. "I hope you recover soon." Calix walked to a female ranger to hand off Frosmoth; the bug mustered a joyful chirp to say farewell.
"I'm ready, brother," Calix said with a broad smile. "It's time to reunite with our little Magby!" He snapped on his goggles and swiftly mounted his saddle; he religiously checked on his baggage.
"Well then," Aletris' mood was buoyant as he soothed Charizard's neck. Anticipation inflated his heart at the thought of meeting his little sister. "Let's play a childhood game. The last one is a rotten Exeggcute!" His Charizard's wings cracked like whips, streaking through the air. His chest pressed hard against the saddle as he leaned forward, gripping tightly onto a long horizontal handle. As the shockwaves of Charizard's sudden acceleration spread to the forest, his brother increased his speed to match him.
Aletris didn't know how much time elapsed, but when he opened his eyes again, Snowbelle resonated like a beacon in the brackish sea of snow. Fueled by longing anticipation, they had flown past the flutter of Frosmoths. He was disinterested in the thought of becoming their escort.
As he drew closer to Snowbelle, the city's nightlife kindled a warm, homely sensation. "Dive," Aletris commanded, leaning forward as per usual. Listening to his order, Charizard's powerful flaps diminished to a sharp whistle. And then her wings were tucked in, and she dived straight down, the sparks and embers tracing out a path through the sky. Harsh winds battered his hair upon their descent. For a moment, he could only stare, and then his blood stirred at the intense, exhilarating sensation.
Majestic orange wings swung outward, stalling their speed. At the sudden shift in air pressure, his ears burst in loud and satisfying pops. "Over there." He pointed to the renovated gym in the center of the city, zipping past an endless expanse of roof tiles.
Charizard landed on the cobblestone road, followed by Calix's rougher version. Their starters enjoyed the look of awe from passing locals, as indicated by their wagging tails. Frozen in almost a hibernating state, both he and his brother ruminate in the drastically changed city, their eyes darting around aimlessly to absorb every minute detail.
"Let's go check the gym." He nudged his brother's shoulder.
As they advanced, Aletris gripped his gem-adorned cane. Suddenly, a figure appeared at the edge of his vision before becoming its center point—a gym worker swirling his keys with a clattering clang.
"Hello, is the—"
"We're close, sorry." The young man locked the front entrance. When he turned, he looked at them with a furrowed brow, signifying genuine concern. "Uh, did I do anything wrong? Wait…" His eyes sparked with recognition, flipping his demeanor into excitement. "I'm a huge fan. How may I help you? Give me a few seconds…" He urgently went back to the door, his voice faltering with nervousness. Just as he was about to unlock the door, he seemed to remember the rules set by the old fart. "I can't open this door without a warrant or permission, sorry."
"No, it's ok. Our sister's whereabouts were our original intention. Has she arrived yet?"
"Yes, she had completed the course with flying colors. It was a fucking blast to watch… sorry about my poor manners."
"We don't mind," Aletris reassured.
"Fuck," Calix blurted out.
The gym worker glanced at him in surprise.
"He's mad about missing out on our sister's live performance. Aye! Calix, remember we have one more chance." Aletris' chin gestured to the mountainous fortress.
Noticing the worker's strange expression, Aletris raised an eyebrow, concern coloring his tone, "What's the matter? Is something bothering you? I'd appreciate it if you were blunt with us."
The gym worker answered, "I'm sorry for calling your sister a busted can of biscuits."
Aletris' attentional silence seemed to suffocate the poor man in worry.
He and his brother looked at each other. "That's a good one," they both admitted in sync, pointing at one another.
The worker exhaled in relief.
"Well, thank you, good sir." Aletris snapped his fingers. "Oh yeah, do you want an autograph or something?"
"Yes, please." He tugged on his thick jacket.
Aletris obliged, then wrote his intricate signature in contrast to Calix's rough mess of squiggly lines, resembling a parasite of some kind.
"Thank you." He smiled. "I hope you gentlemen enjoy our gym trainer's show for the festival."
"Wait a minute, expound."
"Snowbelle City is hosting a festival today to observe the Frosmoth migration. People from nearby towns swarm our streets. In contrast to earlier iterations, one of our trainers will soon present a show to go along with the occasion. Please excuse me now if you don't mind, as my girlfriend is patiently waiting for me."
Aletris chimed in, "Nice. I wish you the best. Remember to treat her well."
The worker responded cheerfully, "Thank you. I will cherish my girlfriend. Hail, Zich Hiver!" He waved goodbye, fading into the background.
"Hail Shiver? What a weird ass girl name." Calix scratched his head in confusion. "Who would name their child that?" Aletris watched in amusement as his brother looked offended for the anonymous women.
"Well, mom named all three of us after flowers." Aletris shrugged and continued, "I mean seriously our bloody surname is a flower."
"At least our name is not a literal moveset, poor lady." Calix shook his head. "Let's go to the pokécenter… ohh," his voice dragged, looking at Aletris mischievously.
"What?"
"…"
They silently strolled to the pokécenter, fond memories resurfaced in his mind, forcing him to smile.
"Didn't you have a crush on this particular Nurse Joy when we were younger."
Fuck…
Calix wrapped an arm around Aletris' shoulder. "I vividly recall a young trainer expressing a deep love for older, muscular women. Only to tragically get rejected." He laughed and scared off anyone in a 5-meter radius. "I forgot how blunt you were back then."
"Oh Arceus, I'd wish this cane had a hidden blade to cut you down."
"Haha, that's what I've been telling you for years," replied his brother, sending a flurry of playful punches. His voice carried a note of approval, "I don't know what you're upset about. You have a valid preference for women, relax."
Aletris' brow twitched in annoyance, and a plan solidified—a small prank of his own wouldn't hurt. He slowly smiled, replacing his once annoyed face. Calix caught that change and fearfully widened his eyes.
"Brother, let's talk about another fairly muscular woman, Drasna. I remember your beaming smile when you arrived home after every training session with her, do you?"
Calix instantly paled in response. His sturdy legs seemed to turn into jelly.
Aletris smirked. "Have a taste of your own medicine. Oh wait, we both have the same taste, right?" He continued his counteroffensive while weaving through the crowd.
They arrived at the pokécenter.
The heavy oak door, slightly resistant due to its weight, groaned as it opened. Aletris's eyes met a barren, well-lit lobby with an expansive fur carpet.
Huh!?
Familiar pink hair fluttered before his eyes. Aletris looked in bewilderment, and a sense of protectiveness kindled within.
M-Malva!?
"You heard the lady, let's go!"
At that moment, he scrutinized a boy who had fled with his precious sister, vanishing from view.
Creak.
It sounded like Aletris' molars were about to shatter under the strain. His hand burned with a fiery sensation as he tightly gripped his cane.
~Who the is that!~
Aletris and Calix instinctively glanced at one another and nodded.
"Where are you going?" Nurse Joy eyed them down. "Don't assume I wouldn't remember two naughty boys." At her eerily soft tone, three draconic heads slithered from behind the counter. The floor rumbled when an Abomasnow wearing an apron ducked underneath the wooden archway. A Slaking dropped from the ceiling with a thud, holding a massive woven basket of herbs and berries, lazily scratching its hairy belly.
