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Chapter Text

“Elixa, you took a little girl?!” Expensive jewelry clinked throughout crystalline walls, a masculine voice shouting through as a door was slammed open to reveal a small girl laid calmly on a fluffy white bed. Besides her was the Principle of Justice, Elixa, an angel with golden flowing hair and eyes that captured the essence of the ocean. The angel’s wings fluttered down to cover the girl’s ears, framing a porcelain like face. “Oh don’t be so loud, Everette… Lest you ruin her peace and go against a fellow Principle?” The angel that barged into the room, Everette, only sighed as he closed the door behind him. Foliage-like feathers dragged against the floor in a tailcoat-esque manner, the tall angel revealing his face for a moment to gaze upon the child in Justice’s bed. Elixa leaned against a pillow, revealing the girl once more, no older than 11 in comfortable fluffy pajamas. Curly long brown hair cascaded down her shoulders as she slept.

“You do not plan on a child being the newest Principle…do you Justice?” Elixa sighed, blue eyes turning dull for a moment as they were ridiculed before they stood up to grab a grimoire off their shelf. “Of course not. Lord Arceus needs thy goal tended to and thou has assigned me to see it to fruition. She is only the first piece of our puzzle.” This sentence threw off Everette, his upper pair of wings fluttering in disbelief. “She is the Sustainer of Hope-” “HOPE?! Elixa you’ve gone mad, bringing HER sustainer here and expecting me to treat her as royalty!” Just a chuckle was drawn from Elixa, floating the grimoire over to Everette with a flick of their wrist. In the page that was turned to there read, ‘And by the word of the Almighty, the four sustainers of the respective Principles; Hope, Abundance, and Forgiveness. All three sustainers shall be blessed by the remaining five principles unto the new world thou shall create.’ “A small blessing won't hurt the children, Everette. Besides, we need to prepare for the Almighty’s return and we don’t have much time so your compliance is appreciated.” Justice spoke calm and collected as they began to unlock the stained glass windows, just through the clouds anyone could see the frozen branches of Crown Peak that easily slit through them, Forgiveness placing the grimoire back in its place without delay. 

“Hand me the girl.” The room grew cold, Forgiveness did not hesitate however, gently carrying the young girl over to Justice and placing her within their arms. “Oh Almighty Arceus, the Sustainer of Hope will be purged in your honor soon enough! Eve’s failure to conform to your holy light will result in this child’s death and soon the rest shall follow!” Justice did not stutter, dropping the girl down into the snowy tundra below nor caring if she lived or died. “May Arceus above watch you as you perish… MiKaela…” Was the only thing the poor girl heard as she fell to her death.

“It is not your time yet, child. Show me thy bond and you will find thy home.”

Chapter Text

“Ugh, dad, lay off! Quit following me, I’m going to the max lair on my own!” Rushed footsteps filled the air as a blonde haired girl ran through the forest towards the Crown Tundra station. All Peonia wanted to do was catch some super rare pokemon but unfortunate for her, she has a very ‘pestering’ father. The station was just around the corner but just as she was ready to run off in the other direction- ‘look up child…’ “What in the bloody hell was that?” Peonia stopped in her tracks as soon as she heard the voice, looking around to see what made the noise, only to see in her peripheral vision, a girl falling out of the sky and hard onto the snowy ground. “Oh my Arceus… is she… Dad, DAD! Help!”  Peonia cried out for help as she rushed over to check on the girl, her heart beat was slow at this rate she was bound to get hypothermia, hands trembling as she pulled her up from the frozen ground. Peony heard his daughter’s cries immediately, a loud thud not too far behind her as he had rushed to get either his pokeballs or first aid kit out of his bag.

“Nia?! Peonia what- Oh shit, Peonia get down to Freezington and get the mayor, I’ll be right behind ye don’t worry.”  With little effort he picked up the girl, wrapping her in his coat clearly not caring for how cold it was, and running off towards the small town. The mayor, upon seeing the girl shivering and bruised, ushered the family into the house to ensure the small girl got into the warmth before it was too late.

“Mama..? Why’s she cooking this late at night..?” A muffled voice came from the bed, the girl from the sky removed the blankets from over her, making a clear, confused noise as soon as she realized the room wasn't hers. Her umber eyes slowly began darting across the room in distress until a teen with sun-kissed skin walked into the room, her blonde curls lazily framing her face as it clearly brightened at the sight of the other girl. “Oh thank Arceus you’re ok! If you were dead…well nevermind that! The name’s Peonia, I made sure my old man caught ya before you froze like a Vanilluxe out there!” Peonia raised her hands in front of the girl to ease her worries, watching as she bundled back into the blankets out of fear rather than the cold currently nipping at her sock covered feet. The girl could only blink in confusion, “Hey… It's ok, I’m not gonna hurt you…what's your name?” Peonia sat on the bed, leaving ample distance between her and the mysterious girl.

“My…My name’s MiKaela…’m sorry you had to have your day ruined ‘cause of me, but where are we?” Peonia’s eyes widened, both in shock and confusion, hesitantly moving her hand to pat the younger girl on the head. “Don’t apologize for somethin’ stupid, I’m guessin’ you didn’t ask to be tossed into a Tundra outta all places, speaking of, we’re in Southern Galar.” MiKaela’s eyes widened for a mere moment before tilting her head, sliding back until she was against the wall. “Oi, hold on now- I ain't gonna hurt ya, just wanna help you…Do you know what Galar is?” Peonia approached the smaller girl, her brown curls shaking as she mumbled no, her eyes widening. 

“Look, I’m gonna be in the kitchen with my old man, if you wanna follow that's up to ya kid…” With that, Peonia walked out the room, leaving the door creaked open behind her and a bit of yelling could be heard, “Old man, she’s awake! Don’t think she’s Galarian though, damn kid doesn't even know what our region is!” “Maybe the lass lost her memories, Nia! She’s just a wee lass too, maybe she ain’t gotta bloody clue what regions are!” The male voice nearly made her jump, booming through the house with a heavy Scottish accent, Peonia’s scoff was clear as day. With a small huff, MiKaela jumped off the bed and trotted out the door, Peony’s eyes widened as he saw the short girl. “Aw, lookie there! She came outta her shell! It’s a good thing yer alive kiddo, ye were worryin’ poor lil Nia over ‘ere” Peony towered over the girl by nearly 3 feet, scruffing her hair as she nearly broke down in tears, he jumped back in shock. 

“Woah there! Ye okay there…?” Peonia looked up from stirring the pot of curry that she and Peony had switched places from, “You look…mnh- Thank you…” MiKaela sniffled, her long curls slightly tangled as she brushed it out of her face. The house was slowly warming up, the three people in the house looked at each other for a moment, Peony’s Perrserker rubbing against her leg caused quite the outburst. “AUGH GET OFFA ME UGLY CAT-.” Bubbling laughter filled the air before the clunk of wood hitting metal did, Peonia rushed over to grab the cat pokemon before it accidentally scratched the little girl. Peony, on the other hand, looked shocked even as his daughter placed the smug looking steel cat in his arms.

“Well now she talks, not a cat person?” She tilted her head before shaking it. “No…that Perrserker’s just the ugliest cat pokemon…” Again, Peonia laughed, nearly hacking up a lung at the bluntness and Peony sighed. “Well she’ll talk when it comes to calling it ugly… Wait, how the bloody hell did you know what a Perrserker was if you don’t even know where Galar is?” Peonia cut her laughter off in an instant, jade green eyes widening once she heard her mention the pokemon’s name from her. MiKaela simply shrugged, blinking a few times. Suspicion bubbled in Peonia’s chest, a kid who seemingly didn’t know where she was, terrified of the people who saved her, somehow knew of a pokemon native to the region. 

“Oi old man… I don’t think we should trust this kid…what if she knows Rose…” Peonia whispered to Peony, a sharp glare stabbing right through the girl before them, Peony on the other hand gave her a slightly saddened look. “The kid don't got a home, Nia.” He whispered back, “I take it Perrserker ain’t the cutest cat of the litter to ye?” MiKaela shook her head, taking a big step to the side at the feline pokemon. Her eyes drifted to the frozen tundra outside the window, snowflakes drifted over the expanse of land that she’d once known yet had never known at the same time. “Ye like the snow kiddo?” She nodded, not all present to the question as her eyes lingered on something staring back, a glimmer of purple shadows before it disappeared. A tsk could be heard from Peonia, the blonde haired girl huffing as she pulled on her jacket.

“I’m not babysitting her, if ya need me, I’ll be at the Max Lair, Old man.” And with that she was gone, the door slammed shut behind her and Peony sighed beside MiKaela. The cabin was silent for a moment, only to be interrupted by Perrserker’s incessant yowls as it jumped on the young girl…causing a louder than loud yelp to echo through the cabin. “Oi! Down boy, she aint like ya!” The command shocked the cat upstairs, “Sorry for the shoutin’ hun. Eh…Ye like elephants?” The girl nodded, albeit with a slight shakiness to her form. The elder man chuckled, pulling out a pokeball from his cargo pants, the red glinting against the lighting as he called out a new pokemon.

“Oi Copperajah, be nice to the lass, eh? She’s a bit scared to be huffing around.” The large man pet the somehow larger elephant pokemon, scaring MiKaela at first until it moved its trunk towards her. “C-copper… Hi big guy…” She mumbled under her breath and yet the large beast yielded almost instantly, almost too quickly. “Woah kiddo, the big gal loves ya.” Pools of jade widened, the girl before him had befriended his own pokemon faster than he had as a child, like she had called out to it. Coarse copper plating rubbed against the girl’s hand as she pet the Copperajah, even making a purring noise from its trunk. “She’s softer than I thought… prettier too. Did you name her?” Peony was stunned hearing the girl speak again, but indeed, “Yeah, lass’ name is Raya, never seen ‘er be so nice to a stranger before…” He mumbled the last part to himself, watching the young girl care for such a titan.

“Hey, wanna head outside in the snow?” Her eyes lit up, “Mhm! The snow’s comfy, like a nice big blanket! I love it a lot Pop– eh, Mr. Peony.” She skipped to the door, not fully realizing her slip up, yet the older man still opened the door and let his pokemon and this mysterious girl run out and play. Watching as she tried to wave him outside as the Copperajah hoisted her onto its back, instead pulling out his Rotomphone, snapping a picture of her and sending it.

-Fire Shorty-

#1 Papa; Oi shorty, whats the possibility that a kid that fell from the sky knew my name?

Fire Shorty; What? Peony its been three months, did you go crazy in that time?

Fire Shorty; Why would a child fall from the sky in the first place?

#1 Papa; IDFK, me n Nia watched her fall, a whole ass kid.

#1 Papa; She called me Pop, then changed it to Mr. Peony, I aint tell her my name tho???

Fire Shorty; Odd.

Fire Shorty; Wait...

Fire Shorty; Are you only texting me after all this time to ask something Hoenn related?!

~#1 Papa sent a photo~

#1 Papa; Look at her. She's riding Copperajah for fucks sake love.

#1 Papa; Raya don't let anyone near her not even Nia.

~Read 6:15 pm 10/23/20~

“Bloody ‘ell love…can’t help me with this one thing?” He muttered as the other person stopped replying, looking back to the girl who was now surrounded by small pokemon of the tundra: Amaura, Cryoganol, Piloswine, hell, even an Abomasnow. “WOAH! Kiddo, those aint safe pokemon- get away from…them?” Despite the concerned father’s screams, she didn't budge. Instead, she laughed, snow dusting her cheeks as the Abomasnow carried her on its back with a happy cry. Peony was stunned out of his mind, never has he seen the tundra this calm or protect a kid…especially a pokemon not native to the tundra at all. Peony’d just seen it, a glimpse of a small bone from the little girl’s lap. “Mr. Peony! I found a baby! She’s all cold, I don't think she’s meant to be in a cold place but she ran up to me!” MiKaela slid off Copperajah's trunk, a small bundle in her hands as she ran up to Peony, not freezing despite her only being in her pajamas. The bundle in her arms shivered as she opened the small breathing hole, though all Peony could see was a pale skull.

“Hold on kid, how’d ye find a Cubone all the way out here? They're not native out here, hell they live all the way out on the isle.” MiKaela shrugged, holding the bundle back up to her chest as she suddenly jolted her head to a further area. The pokemon that were surrounding her at first now scurried back off into the wild area, soon followed by a rumble…a hard one as even Peony nearly lost balance, the tower of a man nearly crushing the young girl. “Shit…oh shit, Nia! Papa’s comin’!” 

Chapter Text

MiKaela struggled to keep up, with the biting cold against her bare feet, the bundle she refused to let go, and the utter speed of the man she desperately followed left her breathless. Yet she still followed until they made it to the Max Lair, shaking and slightly frostbitten. “M-m-r. Peony- h-how’re we gonna get to-to her?” It's clear the man hadn’t expected her to follow, jumping at the sound of the small girl’s voice before he could even get to the entrance of the den. “Arceus above-! How did ya even… nevermind, there’s s’posed to be a scientist lady out front but clearly not. Look, just follow me n don’t get caught up on somethin’ ye could get hurt on.” Peony didn’t care to grab two pokeballs, only grabbing one and giving it to MiKaela, making sure the small girl got a good hold of it before getting right back up and on his way through the lair. The red glare illuminated the cavern, where dynamax pokemon should’ve been thriving was now a husk of its former glow, not even a single trainer scattered about… and still no Peonia. MiKaela could hear slight mumbles from Peony as they walked through the empty dens “Where are ye gal…c’mon Nia, this ain’t ultra-mega-amazin’ anymore…” Another quake shook the lair, a girl’s yell coming from the furthest den…no, it was getting closer. MiKaela wouldn’t move, no, couldn’t. 

“Shit-shitshitshit- SHIT! I didn’t sign up for the literal god of hell!” “Nia!” Peony rushed forward to grab his daughter, clutching the teen close as he attempted to calm her breath. The cavernous walls seemed to close around the three, not helped by the hyperventilating by the two girls and the sudden overwhelming dread that was now upon them. “Old man- we gotta get outta here, th-thats- it’s Giratina! I-I-i-!” Before she could finish, it cried. The ground beneath their feet shook with overwhelming force…and there it was. Red eyes locked with dusky brown ones, gold and black pierced through red fog that filled the den, the little girl couldn't stop shaking, cutting the world off as the father-daughter duo sent out their Copperajah and Tyrantrum. She tried, she really did, but she couldn’t bring herself to call out whatever pokemon Peony had given her, the ball shook in her hand. ‘Why…why can’t I do this? I’ve always dreamed of this, so WHY?! why can’t I throw the ball..?’ She dropped it, body frozen behind the two as they tried to attack the dynamaxed legend, “Why the bloody hell won't our attacks work dad?!” Peonia’s voice was faint to her, barely recognizable against the pounding voice in her head. The pain was dizzying, each subtle step and muffled voice caused her head to basically burn through any other senses. 

“YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE FALLEN ONE.”

Her head had been jabbed with a million needles, dropping to her knees as the pain got worse, causing her to drop the bundled Cubone despite her attempts to keep it safe. It chittered at her side, trying to pull her away from this disaster yet failing to, as once the girl looked up, it stared back and cried. In an instant its clawed wings raised with a newfound rage and swung, Peony and Peonia didn’t even have time to react as a sickening SQUELCH rang through the air…within a matter of seconds, the girl’s head was nearly taken clean off, half of it being nearly shredded to pieces as the girl collapsed. Blood was everywhere within the lair, once soft lavender was now soaked in the slurry of blood and possible brain matter, even the poor Cubone beneath her had its skull drenched in the remains of a vicious god’s massacre. Neither father nor daughter knew how long they were running for, all they were certain for? The girl was dead, her blood poured over the snow and the cries of the baby pokemon up ahead didn’t help the sense of unease this situation gave. The poor girl fell from the sky, survived, only to be killed by the god of the Distortion World itself. Peony didn’t know why he decided to grab her, it's not like she had a chance of surviving, her head was practically split in half, so why? Peonia, on the other hand, had been covering her mouth, the putrid smell of blood and burnt flesh invaded the air around them the entire run back to Freezington..what neither of them truly paid attention to was the Cubone. It ran…and ran all the way back to Freezington in search of one of the elders, one that met the trio at the field before the small village.

 “There you are…I told you it wouldn’t be too long before the first fell.” The old woman spoke, using the snow at her feet to wipe as much blood off the pokemon as she could before looking back up at Peony and Peonia, “This little one told me everything, come. All is not lost for the child, don’t lag behind.” She turned before Peony could even retort, the look of shock plastered on his face, but he still followed. “Go back to base ‘Nia, I’ll stay with her.” You didn’t have to tell Peonia twice, she ran off to their cabin without another word. The village fit its name more so this go-round, once dim and soothing lights now turned harsh and dead, as if the whole village had preordained her death. “Yes, yes I know she wasn't supposed to go that quickly, my dear. But you know our gods work in strange ways.” The woman spoke, veil as dark as the blood now staining Peony's coat and voice colder than the Crown Tundra itself. Peony couldn't get a good look at her, not yet. The two walked for what seemed like eternity, every few steps Cubone would chitter and she would answer, “How old is she?” That jolted Peony out of his shadowed state, “She ain't tell me… just said her name was MiKaela.” A sigh, then the woman turned around before a bench. 

“Place her here. A child like her shouldn't have to sleep without divine protection.” Peony, shocked but didn't question, placed MiKaela's corpse on the bench, to which he finally got a good look at her. By now her skin had a slight blue tinge to it, fingertips blackened and her joints bruised to the point of necrosis… if Peony really cared to look closely, he'd see the slight gold glimmer within her blood. Half her head? Hastily torn off like she was cattle, her left eye hung from its socket with a vice, not wanting to fall onto the cobblestone beneath her back. “Three days. Three nights. On the third night I will be at your cabin to burn the body.” The elder lifted her veil… but she wasn't one he recognized, hell she wasn't even an elder, a younger looking woman stared back at him, eyes as deep as the ocean, skin like a tawny cheesecake. “Go.” Was all she said after, the black of her dress almost bleeding into the girl's own blackened fingers. 

Three days. Two nights. Each passed like a daunting jester laughing at Peony, he couldn't rest, a kid had just died right before him and all he did was leave her at some pedestal trusting a woman he's never met before. Peonia wasn't allowed near the Max Lair after everything, it was too dangerous, who knows what other lingering gods could hurt his actual daughter. “Oi, old man, there's some lady in red at the door… I'll… Stay here and watch that Cubone the kid left.” Peonia didn't speak much, the bags under her eyes carried too much weight for a 13 year old to bear. He waited for her to head back down stairs before getting up, the faint sound of singing rang through the house, “London Bridge is falling down…” Step The house grew colder, each hair stood on end as Peony crossed the small cabin’s threshold. “Falling down…Falling down…falling down.” Step The house grew colder as Peony made his way to the front door, that strange song getting closer yet all the more distant at the same time. “London Bridge is falling down…my fair lady…” The woman from yesterday stood at the door, now adorned in red and small Cubone coddled in her arms like a child– ’weird, it should’ve been in the house with Peonia’– its helmet still covered in blotchy bloodstains that clearly failed to be washed away. 

“I apologize if this is a bad time, but she’s waiting.” ’Right. Time doesn’t wait for anyone to get more closure than this.’ Peony huffed, his sentiment quickly fading into the cold air of the tundra as he slipped his boots on. “Nia, watch the house! I’ll be back in a few hours.” No response even after the door shut behind him. The supposed elder nodded, leading him across bloodied and greying snow, the village stood still around them… Except the pokemon. Snorunt came out of hiding to run ahead of the woman, soon after Cryoganal chased after the Piloswine. Glaceon, Amaura, anything that was near the village made its way to that clearing. “What's…who really are ye, lady?” The woman giggled, placing down the Cubone to run along the path so she could look back. “You may call me Amelie.” ’Amelie? Weird name.’ But Peony didn’t push further, still choosing to follow her until they reached that same– 

Chapter Text

“Where…am I?” An endless coast filled the girl’s vision, nothing but the shore and dead silence burned into her ears. Black sand coated her fingers as she tried to rise- not like there was much a difference to the now blatant pale tint of her skin. “Did I die…?” She wanted to panic- truly she did- but even as the beached whales now came into view she knew. There was no way she was alive, hell, she had her normal body again, she couldn’t possibly be back in Freezington. 

“Well I’ll be damned, I ain’t alone in this hellhole.” A man came into view, no older than 18- no, maybe 19? All she could tell apart from his also tinted blue appearance was the necklace around his neck, one that was a blinding gold compared to the dullness of this beach. He held his hand out for her, ice meeting ice as he helped her to her feet. “How’re you on my Beach? You a repatriate or something?” ’Repatriate?’ She shook her head, tilting it slightly.

“Who are you?” Was all she spoke, her voice barely carrying over the waves that splashed against their feet, everything was cold…yet not as dead as it seemed. “Higgs.” ’Higgs? I’ve heard that name before but- but from where?’ She thought to herself, barely able to keep herself up on her own two legs as she swayed against his arm. “Shit- easy there girl, we’re already dead.” She jolted up at that comment, wanting to push away but she’d fall straight into the abyss of an ocean behind them. 

“Dead?! No- no that can’t be right! I’m not dead- I was just with Mr. Peony a few minutes ago!” She stumbled away from him…eventually falling into the waters that carried her away.