Revolution

After talking to Delibird for some time, she agreed to Flip’s offer of help and explained the situation. A small town further up in the mountains had been taken over by bandits.

The bandits had taken the townspeople’s food and money, and being secluded in the Snowbelle ranges, it wasn’t safe to leave without supplies, or guarantee of shelter from any storms that might arise.

So, the trio joined forces with Sapphire the Delibird in hopes of routing the bandits, and freeing the town. The journey began there, on Settler’s ridge, and and wound up into the Snowbelle ranges. Grassy hillocks gave way to sloping rocky plains which eventually morphed into towering grey spires of stone, dressed in white from partway up.

As the sun dipped behind the mountains and the night air grew chill, Vine began to shiver. Stopping below the snowfields, the team setup camp behind a rocky outcrop, affording them some shelter from the wind. They built a small fire, which Vine huddled around, though he was careful not to get too close. Sapphire and Flip kept their distance. Nick entertained himself by plunging his hands into some loose snow he’d collected, then passing them quickly through the flame.

‘You said the town was called Felure?’ Flip asked, glancing at Sapphire.

She jumped slightly and nodded. ‘Yes, it’s further up the mountain, and around the other side.’

Flip nodded, his eyes distant. ‘I’ve been there before. Passed through nearly four years ago now.’

‘Really?’ Sapphire chirped, the surprise evident in her voice. ‘We see a few people travelling from the caverns down towards the coast, but not many.’

‘Yeah, I didn’t stay long. There’s not much to see.’

Her fur bristling, Sapphire nodded. ‘It was much bigger once. We used to get lots of travelers, merchants, but since they opened the coastal road, we mostly get guild brats.’

Biting his lip, Flip nodded. Guilds could be a sensitive topic. Some, like the Wigglytuff Guild on the Grass Continent, were upstanding. They worked hard to do good, to explore, research, and make life better for people. Other guilds were less… moral. Guild members would throw their weight around, threaten, bribe, and cheat their way to comfort.

Deciding to steer clear of the topic, Flip sighed loudly and stretched. ‘So, how long have you lived in Felure?’

Sapphire smiled, her eyes a thousand miles away. ‘All my life.’

‘Got any plans to leave?’

Sapphire twisted to face him, her beak hanging open as she scoffed. ‘I don’t even know where I’d go. Or what I’d do.’

‘You should join us!’ Nick called. Leaping over the fire, he settled into a squat mere inches from Sapphire. He grinned at her and shrugged. ‘Why not? We’re just a couple losers going from here to there.’

Shuffling backwards, Sapphire glanced at Flip for help.

Flip shrugged. ‘We’re looking for something. You’re welcome to join us.’

Before Sapphire could answer, Nick began cackling with laughter. ‘Not this one, though,’ he crowed, pointing at Flip. ‘He ain’t looking for nothing! He already knows, there’s nothing out there.’

His eyes hardening, Flip glared wordlessly at the Sableye.

Nick grunted and fell backwards, acting as if he’d been struck. ‘Oh, oh no, spare me your vicious gaze!’ He cried mockingly. Suddenly rolling to his feet, Nick picked at his teeth, his gaze turning to Sapphire. ‘Pokemon like Vine, they’re searching for something, meaning, or whatever. Pokemon like Flip and myself, we know better. There’s nothing.’

Jumping to his feet, Flip squared up, standing uncomfortably close to Nick. ‘Don’t compare me to you,’ Flip hissed.

‘Why not?’ Nick asked innocently, his eyes glinting in the firelight. ‘We’re the same, after all. Empty.’

Flip grasped for something, anything, to say. He wanted to deny it, but couldn’t get the words out.

His grin widening, Nick poked Flip’s shoulder. ‘The sooner you accept it, the sooner you can be free.’

‘I’m tired.’

The words rang out with such clarity the weight behind them was enormous. Vine stared at his two friends, the fire between them was no match for the cold quiet behind his eyes.

‘We, we should rest. It’s late,’ Sapphire noted, her voice tinged with caution.

Shrugging, Nick skipped backwards and curled up by the edge of the rocks, so the freezing night wind could strike him and the fire’s warmth sat tauntingly out of reach.

His body suddenly heavy, and tired, Flip sat, his mind racing. Had Vine not intervened, what would have happened? Flip was certain, he would’ve killed Nick. It would have been over in an instant and perhaps in the afterlife Nick would know if there were meaning to all this.

Weary, Flip laid his head down and waited for sleep to claim him. He felt the fire’s warmth licking at his back, memories jumped unbidden to his mind and he fought back tears as he remembered the warm soul who’d once slept near him.

Vine sat up awhile longer, watching stars passed overhead. After spending so many years looking at those stars they were almost familiar, but so distant. Vine burned with jealousy at the sight of them. The stars, constant, predictable, had only one job; rest. The stars would rest as the world passed by and called them beautiful. His weary eyes drifting closed, Vine laid down, wondering when he would finally rest.

The night seemed short, it passed, quick and sharp, and the sun’s morning rays lit upon sleeping figures. The warmth stirring him, Flip’s eyes flickered open. Feeling the stiffness in his joints, he stretched, stood and breathed deeply. The air was chill. Sunbeams sparkled upon the snow further up the hill, dazzling the eyes.

With a grunt, Flip turned to the firepit. The once mighty flame had burned to coals and flickered meekly, still glowing orange in the center. Flip shot a jet of water on the coals, sending steam hissing into the air.

At the noise, Sapphire woke with a start. Scrambling backwards, her eyes went wide and she searched about. After a moment, she settled, shook out her fur and stood, watching Flip cautiously.

Vine and Nick woke shortly after and, after a short discussion, the group headed out once more. They trekked on through the day, traveling up the mountain and deep into the Snowbelle Ranges. At first the snow was slushy underfoot, but the further they went the more compact it became. Either way, it was bitingly cold.

Flip and Sapphire walked without complaint, and Vine floated several feet above the snow, shivering in silence, but Nick whinged near constantly. Though, the fault was his own.

For all his grievances, Nick bounded throw the snow, rolling in it, throwing snowballs into the air so they would fall down on him. He did all this with a sneer upon his face, no humour in his voice, and the others simply ignored him. After all, what were they supposed to do? Encourage the gremlin’s odd behaviour? Lavish attention or concern upon him?

No, no, of course not. Everyone knows, a cry for help isn’t real until you can see the danger or the damage. And by then, all you can do is cry ignorance and curse your luck. Certainly, that isn’t fair, but who are we to say what we deserve? There is only what is, and what isn’t, and what we dared hope.

As for Nick, despite appearances, he dared hope for a whole damn lot, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

As the day grew on and the afternoon sun began arcing through the sky, the town of Felure appeared. Cresting a snowy ridge, the group looked down upon a small valley, clustered between two spires of mountain. Felure was a dozen sturdy houses standing alongside a long dirt road. The road formed a T near the centre of town, one way leading into the mountainside, while the other paths stretched out of town, past several homesteads, down through the ranges and into the surrounding forests. On the low side of town, an icy river, full of slush, came trickling down from further up the mountain. A small bridge crossed the river at the towns bottom entrance.

Laughter could be heard emanating from a large inn, the orange glow of firelight clear in the windows. Several Pokemon loitered around town, not doing anything of note.

Sapphire’s wing balled into a fist and she nodded at the inn. ‘That’s likely where their boss is. The others are scattered throughout the houses along the road.’

‘Where are the townsfolk?’ Vine asked, his face pinched.

‘In the homesteads, a little ways out of town.’ Sapphire pointed and sighed. ‘It’s probably for the best, their out of harms way, but what’re we supposed to do?’

His eyes scanning the situation, Flip stretched his neck, fighting to get the kinks out. ‘I’ll take care of it.’

Without another word, Flip leapt over the crest, sliding smoothly on his belly, down the other side of the hill and towards the town. A curious murmur rose as several Pokemon saw the little blue creature speeding toward them, a flurry of snow shooting up behind it.

As the ground leveled out, Flip jumped smoothly to his feet and skidded to a stop by the roadside. The invaders glanced at him, unsure what to make of the stranger.

Strolling casually along, Flip yelled, ‘under who’s name do you occupy this town?’

A murmur ran through the throng of Pokemon and a Snorunt scuttled off, disappearing into a large building. It reappeared a moment later on the heels of a Bisharp. Tall and intimidating, Bisharp’s blades had a razor’s edge and gleamed wickedly in the light. Bisharp stared down the Wooper.

Unmoving, Flip repeated his question, ‘under who’s name do you occupy this town?’

Bisharp smiled. ‘We, of the Ursaluna guild, are using this town as a homebase while we handle jobs in the area.’ Bisharp’s tone was cordial, though her stance was anything but. She stood, legs slightly bent and blades at the ready, itching, wishing for a fight.

Flip smiled warmly. ‘I represent the townsfolk. They request you move on.’

Scoffing, Bisharp made a show of glancing at her blades and dusting them off. ‘That won’t be happening. We’re not done helping these people!’ Bisharp raised her arms and a cheer rose from her underlings.

With a sigh and shake of his head, Flip responded, ‘Remember, I tried to be nice about this.’

Bisharp snorted and squatted slightly. Dropping her weight, she held her arms out in front. Twin blades of white light grew from her arms. They curved and ended in wicked edges.

Flip’s brow raised. Guillotine was a difficult move to control, even standing still and holding the attack ready was impressive.

‘I’m curious,’ called Flip. ‘Can you really utilise guillotine or are you bluffing?’

Bisharp smiled cruelly. ‘Would you like to find out?’

Flip’s laughter boomed throughout the town, shattering a silence which tried to settle upon the scene. Kicking at the snow, Flip rolled his neck. ‘Try me.’

Her smile growing wider, Bisharp sprang forward. Sprinting down the snowy road she reached an arm back, and swung forwards, silent and precise. The blade came down across Flip’s neck and shattered.

Bisharp skidded past and slowly turned around. Confusion etched across her face, her lips quivered as she tried to force a question out. ‘H-how?’

Flip shrugged casually. ‘Didn’t you know? One shot moves only work on someone weaker than you.’

With a scream, Bisharp swung her second blade, but, like the first, it broke upon Flip’s skin and he stood, unharmed.

A wicked smile quickly spread across Flip’s face. Her bravado failing, Bisharp scrambled backwards.

Flip leapt, spun, and slammed his tail into her face. Bisharp went flying back down the street. She crashed into the ground and rolled in a tangled mess of flailing limbs. She screamed from where she lay and her underlings leapt at Flip.

Tens of enemies rained charged him, but Flip welled up his energy inside and released it in a great crashing wave. The muddy water erupted from where Flip was standing and swept outwards. Any enemies left standing quickly reconsidered their options and fled. In a few short minutes Flip alone had routed the invaders. Well, mostly.

Bisharp was on her feet again, and with a scream of rage, she leapt at Flip, reaching as if to choke the life from him. Though, the closer she got, the slower she moved.

Bisharp froze, standing above Flip, her blades ready to fall upon him, but she couldn’t move. A cold sweat broke out upon her forehead. ‘Who, who are you?’

Flip’s smile was so cold the snow could’ve been sand on a hot day. A shiver ran down Bisharp’s spine and as she stared into his abyssal black eyes she realised, she did not want an answer to her question.

Falling to her knees, Bisharp wailed and scrambled backwards, desperately struggling to escape our hero.

Later that evening, Flip and Vine lay in beds of straw, and twine. Warmth was carried into their room through vents connected to the blazing fireplace in the inn’s groundfloor, where Nick partied with the townsfolk. They exchanged tales of Flip’s bravery and might, and the way the villains fled from him.

Vine hadn’t spoken much since the town had been freed and Flip felt the silence poking him like a sharp stick.

Flip thought a moment, then cleared his throat. ‘You seem tired.’

‘Hm? Oh-‘ Vine shrugged. ‘I’ve been having nightmares.’

‘What of?’

‘It’s the same one each night,’ Vine said with a sigh. ‘Though I get a little further through it each time.’

Flip’s brow furrowed. ‘And?’

‘I’m at sea, floating above the waves. There’s a storm. Thunder and lightning, waves big enough to swallow a town. And I hear someone, screaming, crying out for help.’

‘What happens next?’ Asked Flip.

‘I don’t know yet.’

‘Well,’ Flip breathed deeply. ‘Tonight you can rest easy.’

‘Perhaps.’