Having carried the Power Crystal to safety, Blitzer finally had the chance to rest his weary legs. He dropped onto the dirt behind the outpost’s wall. Fighting began half an hour ago, but had raged throughout the night in his mind. And who knew? Perhaps it had yet to end. They were in a Crest camp, the first to face the Corrupted in Lumisby.


    The Charizard curled his tail around himself, eyes closed as he performed breathing exercises. ‘Still alive. That counts for something! Gods, we got lucky back there, didn’t we? Imagine if they’d been faster.


    After calming down, he gave his body a good onceover. His feet were dripping wet with slush, the toes grey even in his taillight. Scratches ran over his legs and across his tail, a few going up his back. Most were caused by branches, as they didn’t sting into his flesh like Pokemon attacks would’ve. But no scratch matched the stiffness in his arms. Lugging the Crystal around left him feeble. Carrying a stick around seemed exhausting at the moment. His stomach growled, he reeked of mud over fire, and he desperately needed some shuteye. Alas, dreams remained daydreams. He sighed.


    ‘Still need to carry this home. This thing isn’t safe out here. Not while the Smaugus are still around, ugh. How late is it, anyway? Must be long past midnight, it sure feels like it.’


    Camp was busy throughout the night. Soldiers everywhere kept their eyes peeled, lest the Corrupted returned. Having the Power Crystal painted a target on everyone’s back. No chance in hell the Corrupted would just let them take it. The Charizard craned his neck around, glancing towards the wall; outside of camp, the wind howled.


    ‘It’s too quiet out there. Way too quiet.’ He shook his head. ‘The fighting might’ve stopped, but it sure doesn’t feel like it.’


    Funny how this whole conflict is being waged. Blitzer didn’t know much of war prior, and after experiencing more than his fair share of it, he knew even less.  Most of the war involved waiting. Waiting for the enemy to strike, and then to push them back from whence they came. The Alliance had mostly restricted itself to hit and runs on the Crest, and what remained of the Crest now hunkered down, waiting for the Smaugus to come. Or the Alliance. Or whichever term described that unholy combination. Slowly, the balance tipped against them. If only they had the strength to strike back; alas, they didn’t have fancy crystals themselves, aside from the one they’d just secured.


    Blitzer tucked his wings back. Maybe, if the Crest’s suspicions were accurate, they had the key to beating the Alliance. Dritch had been adamant about the Crystals, strange as her methods of retrieving them were. Yet he couldn’t help but wonder what came after. Once the Crest had Power Crystals of their own, would they stand a chance? Would they be able to take Eravate back? Or was it a hopeless gambit?


    He gritted his teeth. Thinking about the future made his body grow cold. Spring was almost here, yet the nights grew all the darker. Up above, the purple void flowed towards Northpoint. The sun wouldn’t be keeping the Crest company anytime soon. He fidgeted with his claws, tail flickering as he crossed his arms over his chest, and went back to his breathing exercises. In for five seconds, then out. In for five…


    ‘Egh! Don’t think about it, Blitzer. You can’t. You don’t want to give up and go back there. You don’t. Just think as positively as you can. Where… what’s Sefonia up to?’


    Looking across camp, Blitzer had his answer at a moment’s notice. Sefonia was being tended to by an Indeedee at the back. The medic fed her a dried Cheri, slowly raising the berry to Sefonia’s mouth, then watched as she nibbled on it. Even at this pace, the struggle was visible to the naked eye. Sefonia’s body jittered, her limbs struggling to bend and her jaws seemingly locked in place. The Dragonite had a hard time keeping her wings tucked in, as if her muscles didn’t obey her wishes.


    Yet again, Blitzer grimaced.. ‘Gods, she’s been paralyzed! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a case this bad, she can hardly move! But… what can i do, really? Nothing the doctor can’t do better.’ He covered his teeth again as he lowered his head. ‘This sucks so hard. Wish I knew how to help, but… no. I’m just a fighter.’


    Resigning himself to his role, Blitzer let the doctor do her job; with luck, Sefonia would recover in an hour. They’d need luck to get moving again. Sisu was nowhere to be seen; she had disappeared into the command tent with the Power Crystal, also at the other end of camp. No winds carried the murmurs of whatever conversation she was in. Or if she was talking, for that matter.


    He just had to wait for the time being. Keep his ears open for prowling enemies, and keep his eyes on Sefonia. She ate the berry, and the jitters weren’t as intense. Some control over her limbs returned; Blitzer looked at his own. That Electabuzz had done a number on Sefonia, but he could’ve sworn he’d been hit alongside her. Holding up an arm, no sign of static or paralysis had revealed themselves. In fact, he felt fine.


    Lucky, one might say, but this wasn’t the first time. A week or two prior, a Luxio with a thick coat attempted to shock him straight in the face, sparks crackling from the bolt and into his wings. With all the static the Luxio had been carrying in his coat, Blitzer thought he was a goner. But after the heat of initial impact, not much came of it. Even the medic found little more than a sore neck afterwards, akin to being punched.


    ‘Guess I can handle electricity pretty well, huh. Never had that growing up, but… something’s changed, I guess.’


    Blitzer chalked it up to luck, rubbing the spot on his neck. He’d have gone for the spot on his belly, if he remembered where it was. But that had faded into the fog of war; what was one injury, among many? Sometimes you get lucky, other times you’d die. Blitzer wasn’t about to question the gods’ judgment for keeping him here. If anything, he appreciated it; the Corrupted hadn’t driven them out yet.


    Three quarters of an hour went by before the situation changed: Sisu stepped out of the tent, an Abomasnow following her with the crystal. Said Abomasnow looked a little stressed. Given the weight of the crystal, Blitzer didn’t blame them.


    ‘Probably won’t have to carry it far. That’s my job.’


    Sisu stuck her fingers in her mouth, then whistled, horns vibrating much like her hand did f. “Oi, Blitz! Sef! Where are you? C’mere!”


    Much to the Marshadow’s chagrin, both Blitzer and Sefonia were slow to get a move on. The Dragonite might’ve received remedies, but her strides remained stiff and awkward. Paralysis doesn’t disappear in the blink of an eye, unless a shot of adrenaline is pumping through your veins. As for the Charizard, he didn’t want to just rush over; jumping into a conversation with Sisu alone didn’t sound great, nor did waiting around while Sefonia struggled.


    Once they’d made their way over, Sisu dipped her foot into the slush, sticking a thumb out at the Abomasnow. “What took you so long? We should get out of here already!”


    Blitzer shook his head. “Just waiting on Sefonia to recover. Don’t want to leave while-”


    The Dragonite’s antennae pitched sideways as she raised a claw. “I’ll be fine, Blitz. But thanks for the sympathy,” she said, slowly stretching her arms and back. “Damn Electabuzz had it out for me, I swear.”


    “He got us both, didn’t he?” Blitzer asked, to which Sefonia nodded.


    “Sure did. I’m surprised you didn’t get zapped like I did. Could feel that lightning bolt arc past me,” she said, pausing to breathe. Blitzer nodded along while waiting for her to continue. “Smaugus are out for blood these days… Didn’t recognise the face, in case you’re wondering. But I wouldn’t be surprised if-”


    “Hello?” Sisu smacked Sefonia on the ankle, her three horns flailing around. “You listening to me? We should go already! You know we’re not done yet, we gotta get this thing outta here!”


    “Blegh.” Blitzer gagged. “We’re just taking this easy. Isn’t that the whole motto you live by? Not worrying about potentially failing and gods know what?”


    The Marshadow wagged her little fingers around. “Yeah. Doesn’t mean you can be all slow when there’s stuff to do. ‘Cause takin’ it easy doesn’t mean much if you’re gonna end up dead, so you gotta improvise…” Her horns congealed into one for a moment, then split back apart. “Actually, what am I sayin’? Paying'' attention doesn’t mean you can’t take it easy, it just means you gotta assume you’ll win. That’s what winners do, you hear?”


    Blitzer stared down at her for a moment, then bit his tongue. “Sure, I guess.”


    Sefonia shook her head. “Let’s just get going with this, then. What’s the plan?” she asked, stretching her body to practice moving again. She got her tail into the air now; that much had improved, at least.


    “Plan’s pretty simple,” Sisu began, taking the first steps towards the back end of the camp. “Can’t fly this thing out alone. Commander says they need all hands on deck, so we’re lucky we even got someone carryin’ the Crystal for us. Her name’s Mizzo, by the way. She’s being sent back further in. Seen enough action for some time.”


    “Hello,” the Abomasnow said. No wave, though; her big arms weren’t letting go of the crystal just to say hi. “Glad to uh, be working with you guys today. Please keep an eye on me.”


    Blitzer and Sefonia raised a claw in greeting, the former spotting a scar running over Mizzo’s arm, the fur surrounding it patchy. “Nice to meet you too.” ‘Oh, dear. Gods, talk about a close call. Talk about being reminded you almost died forever, too.’


    “Yup. Anyway, lemme just finish this real quick, right?” Sisu put her hands on the back of her head. “So we don’t have anyone else to fly this thing out… unless you like sittin’ on the frontlines with a big ass target on your back for the next few days. Yeah, no thanks. Also, we’d be without cover if we’re spotted, so that’s a no go. Basically, we gotta do it the old school way. Lug the thing further back, then let a big column escort the thing back to Northpoint. Yeah? Any questions?”


    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Sefonia raised an arm. “How can you be sure the next camp over will have enough people?”


    Sisu shrugged. “‘Cause the commander just sent out a courier, duh. Got no choice now, we gotta lug that thing there, and quick. Everyone’s been waiting to get their hands on a Power Crystal, yeah? We’re gettin’ special treatment. Which means we can’t just get our butts kicked. No one’s gonna forgive us.”


    “Mhm.” The two dragons hummed in agreement, though both rolled their eyes. ‘Thanks for telling me, genius. No pressure though.’ Blitzer silently muttered to himself. ‘Some stink eyes are the least of our worries, really.’


    Paying no heed to any disrespect, the Marshadow clapped her hands. “Right then! Suggest you get ready then, ‘cause we gotta get outta here fast. Say, about twenty minutes? Enough time for food and water, then we leave. Got it?”


    “Yes,” they both replied.


    Then, Mizzo let out a relieved breath, as she set the Crystal down for the moment. “Oh, thank the gods! I’d like to have a breather real quick.”


    Speaking of breathers, everyone was due for one. Both Blitzer and Sefonia managed to get their claws on some rations, and borrowed a pot to melt snow in. The Charizard’s tail was a real lifesaver for the first time tonight; they got to drink, taste dried berries and even drier biscuits, and ready themselves for the task at hand.


    Well, they wouldn’t be leaving on an empty stomach at least, empty as the food was. The flavor had been sucked out of those biscuits long ago. Nevertheless, twenty minutes came and went, and feeling somewhat refreshed, Blitzer was the first at the gate. In the time it took for the others to join him, the wind howled outside again. The Charizard raised his nose to the wind; still no signs of suspicious activity. Yet, he couldn’t help but feel that the elements were deceptive tonight.


    ‘It’s too quiet out there… where are the Corrupted?’


    The elements weren’t alone: For all her adamance about showing up on time, Sisu was the last at the gate. “‘Aight, we’re all here. Hope you got your bags ready, ‘cause then we can go.”


    After one last check and tightening of the straps, the four set off from the frontlines, into the darkness beyond. Darkest before dawn, one would say, but that did little to relieve those trapped within. Soldiers in camp watched as they left, keeping an eye for as long as they could, before a hill broke the sight lines. They were on their own now.


    They marched through slush and ice, the half frozen woodlands blocking out the moonlight overhead. Blitzer was picked to lead the pack; being a living torch had its advantages, and Sisu gave him a second one to hold onto, in case the one swaying behind him wasn’t enough. His nose teemed with the scent of burning wood; the flames flickered as a steady wind skirted on by. Behind him was Mizzo, lugging the Power Crystal while walking with slow and steady steps. Sisu and Sefonia both had a flank to guard; the former watched the woods on the left, the latter gazed into the hills to their right.


    A few fields was all they had to walk. Couldn’t have been more than half an hour, by Sisu’s estimate. Yet the risk this close to the front was ever present; every little scent and sound grabbed attention, and didn’t let go. Not even an investigation with the eyes stilled nerves. Ahead, to the sides, behind or above. In the dark, it was anyone’s guess. Feral, foe, friend. As long as they weren’t in another camp, they weren’t safe.


    And halfway through the trip, pinned in between thick forests and an open country, danger reared its ugly horned head. A mound of snow on the road burst open, a crystalline mist scattering to the winds. In its wake appeared a beast coated in vapours, purple eyes glowing in the dark. His armoured bulk spoke for itself, yet he cracked his knuckles regardless. The group stopped. Blitzer’s heart skipped a beat.


    “S-Skal?”


    The Aggron smirked. “Aw, been missin’ me again, kid? We had such a good time, the two of us. Why don’t we do that again?”


    Blitzer bared his teeth, his wings opening on reflex as he raised his claws, the torch falling into the snow as his feet shifted into a battle stance. “Y-you’re not going to beat me this time!” he shouted, voice shaky and high pitched. The growl in his voice was absent.


    “Pfah!” Sisu reached into her tiny bag. “Ain’t got time for talk! Get outta here!”


    Before anyone else said so much as a word, the Marshadow pulled something out, pointed it skywards, and pressed the trigger. A bolt shot straight up and burst into a red flare, ascending to the heavens towards the camp they were headed for. The click of the trigger made Mizzo flinch, tightening her grip and planting her feet deep into the slush.


    “H-help me!”


    “GRAAAH! Takin’ the easy way out? So be it!” the Aggron roared, pounding his chest with a closed fist. He lashed the ground with his tail, swatting snow out the way. “BOYS! Get down here!”


    With all the grace of a falling anvil, an Electabuzz and Hawlucha popped out of the forest, jumping from the trees that had served as their cover. Moments later, a Medicham came screaming from the sky, landing right in between Skal and Blitzer, much to the latter’s frustration. She braked with her feet, coming to a halt before his charge even started.


    “OI! Help me, or piss off! Yer choice!”


    Blitzer grimaced. Two versus one? He’d be dead; Electabuzz and Hawlucha tag teamed on Sisu, the target closest to them; all standing between her and the Power Crystal was the Marshadow, who’d raised her fists and punched at her foes, each strike spiking the air with a spear of spectral energy. Skal came swinging at Blitzer, vapours shooting off his claws as he lunged. The Charizard tucked his wings back, raised his forearms, and felt them get pummeled as Skal brought his fists down. The impact came with a large smack. Crying out, his feet and tail scraped over the ground, the sheer force knocking him back a foot across the snow.


    ‘Not again! Please, not this again!’


    Baring his teeth already , Blitzer struggled to stay on decent footing as Skal came lumbering towards him, claws balled into fists. He ducked and dove, getting his neck out the way. Skal grasped nothing but air, stumbling and stomping onto the Charizard’s toes. Blitzer howled; it was as if a boulder crushed his foot. Desperate, he spat fire at everything nearby, embers sizzling into metal and slush alike. Then a claw grabbed onto his shoulder. His eyes widened.


    “Grrr! Think yer clever, lad?! I’ll show ya-”


    Skal had yet to raise his fist before something slammed into his side, right under the arm. He was knocked onto a knee, the projectile falling by his feet. Vapours danced around each other; spilling droplets of the disease over the landscape. Blitzer managed to breathe properly for the first time in ages. The ‘projectile’ now rose back to their feet, suspiciously shaped like a Medicham.


    “Not on my watch, blockhead!”


    Off to the side, Sefonia taunted Skal by wagging a digit at him, her antennae pitched up, and her pearly whites glistering in the dark. All she needed was Blitzer’s light. The Charizard pumped a fist: For a moment, things were in their favour.


    “Blockhead? Hah, I’ll show ya one!”


    Skal’s anger dissipated like it never existed. The second his eyes locked with Sefonia’s, he’d been hooked. He cracked his knuckles, whipped his tail about, then reached out to Blitzer one last time. The Charizard hardly knew what hit him. Two claws pressed into his chest, and shoved him onto the ground, his horns hitting the Power Crystal.


    As the Aggron stomped off, Blitzer spat out half-melted snow, taking his sweet time to get back into the fight. Medicham was on him like a vulture, jumping and kicking him across the chest, then punching the air out his lungs.


    Once again did Blitzer’s fire heat up, embers surging to the back of his throat; Skal had gone far enough. He wasn’t laying a claw on Sefonia if Blitzer could help it. All the fear vanished at the thought. Anger replaced it.


    ‘You’re not getting in my way… and he is NOT getting in hers!’


    The brawl ensued. Blitzer caught glimpses of the chaos around him; Sefonia and Skal circling around each other in a deadthly dance of orange and purple, two blurs chasing down a far tinier and quicker third, and the Power Crystal shaking back and forth as it backed away. Even in the chaos of explosions, growls, and punches cracking bone, one voice stood out.


    “P-please keep them off me!”


    “Comiiing!”


    Mizzo cried, and Sisu took on the case. She tagged and toyed with the Electabuzz and Hawlucha as they aimed for her head. For two minutes, she kept them tied up like a rope, making the Hawlucha jump into tree trunks, and having Electabuzz discharge with no casualties. Electricity crackled through the air, lashing out at everything from the ground, the Power Crystal, the trees… and the Abomasnow holding the crystal.


    “AH!” Mizzo screamed, arms wrapping evertighter around the prize. “Keep them off! Keep them off!!”


    “Whoops! Dontcha worry,” Sisu said, speaking from the corner of her mouth. So far, the Electabuzz and Hawlucha had their eyes set on her, keeping her on the defensive. Hawlucha now aimed their wings towards Mizzo, however, a predatory look in their eyes. Sisu patted herself down for a second. “Payback time!”


    All the while, Blitzer’s efforts against Medicham were having an effect. Strong as the kicks were, Blitzer knew how to dive out of their way. The ground vibrated as her leg bored into the dirt, and she gasped whenever it got stuck. No matter how fierce she yanked it out, Blitzer knew an opportunity when he saw one. She had no time to jump out of a fire’s way, let alone a wave surging across the ground, scorching the slush into damp. The flames enveloped and incinerated her skin.


    In the span of minutes, Medicham’s force had been countered, the Charizard taking them in stride. He turned it back on her, using fire and wing in equal measure: What was a melee ended up with Blitzer whittling down Medicham from a distance, until she collapsed from her injuries, vapours spilling from her body.


    “Uuuurgh…”


    Blitzer huffed hearing Medicham groan, his concerns going elsewhere. ‘She’s not getting up. What about Sef?’


    A roar told Blitzer the answer. To his side, Skal had Sefonia on the backfoot, parrying whatever punches the Dragonite threw at him. It was as if her arms were made out of paper: All the Aggron had to do was smack his arms around. And in turn, he punched, kicked, even bit at the Dragonite, her shattered defenses leaving her taking hit after hit. In the chest. On the arm. Three to the belly. Two more to the chest; she barely dodged a swing at her face. Then Skal laughed, kicked her in the belly again, bruising her scales; the ground was littered with orange.


    “Sef! SEF!!”


    Blitzer froze where he stood. Sefonia was unbeatable. Nothing had stopped her before. But Skal? That beast of an Aggron wailed on her like a punching bag. He was turning her into a pincushion, his massive claws gleaming in the fire light. Sharp enough to rend flesh. And Sefonia just couldn’t hit back. A living wall of steel and dark energy was about to snuff out her light.


    ‘No!!’


    Surprise became fear. A fear that bathed the area in a blue light. Blitzer’s scales turned black as all the muscles in his body tensed up, horns sprouting from his shoulders, his belly burning up in an inferno. The flames rushed to his throat and burst out of his maw, striking Skal in the back, piercing the vapours and searing the metal underneath.


    Thoughts went out the window. Skal had left him squealing before. The Aggron knew all his tricks. Blitzer grimaced as the flames died down, his claws twitchy as his former mentor turned around. Better him on death’s door, than anyone else.


    “AAAH! That’s my boy! WANNA PLAY?!”


    Skal came charging in headfirst, his horns flying like a battering ram. Blitzer dropped down and tucked his wings back, his feet digging into the dirt. He threw his claws upon the Aggron’s horns, then pushed back with all his might as they caught metal. The Aggron bulldozed on ahead, pushing Blitzer back into the woods, unable to steer him into a tree. The Charizard gritted his teeth, holding on for dear life. He couldn’t let go if he wanted to.


    Eventually, Skal pulled his head back, his claws taking on a ghastly sheen. He slashed the Charizard across the arm, making him roar out. A melee ensued, Blitzer taking the brunt of it. First came a kick to the stomach, then a lash of the tail.


    “That the best ya got?!”


    Blitzer panted, cornered in the cold forest. He held off from attacking; the Aggron watched, ready for any moves coming from him. Orange flames surged overhead. Skal looked over his shoulder, wildly swinging his tail, catching nothing but air. Sefonia had chased them down, keeping her distance this time. Her scales had been bruised and torn off in places, especially on the arms.


    Seeing his chance, Blitzer raised his claws, slashing in a crosslike motion across the Aggron’s back. Skal growled in surprise, whipping himself back around, only to take a ball of darkness in the side of his head. He stumbled around, vapours spilling from a crack in his helmet; by the time he’d gotten up, it was a three versus one.


    “You done, blockhead?!”


    Skal growled, then whipped his head around; trumpets sounded triumphant in the distance, away from the frontlines, singing a song from better times. Back when the Vined Crest was all the evil the world had to contend with. Blitzer straightened himself out. Once upon a time, he’d have been mortified to hear the trumpets blaring in the distance. But as times change, nostalgia awakens.


    “Pfah! Got lucky this time…”


    As the trio readied themselves, Skal threw something towards the ground. A cloud of black smoke emerged where he stood, then dissipated without a trace. The Aggron vanished, leaving his comrades behind: In the distance, Soldiers came running to the scene.


    Sisu sighed. “Damn… we’re all still here. Quick, gotta get to Mizzo.”


    The Abonasnow had gotten through the battle unscathed. A few images had been burned into her eyes, but her condition was fine, otherwise. The Soldiers that Sisu had called did the rest of the work, securing the Power Crystal and taking care of the injured.


    Blitzer’s fear died down at last, leaving a tired Charizard in the blue flames’ wake. ‘All that because I was scared, huh… Sef really brings out the emotions in me, doesn’t she?’


    The night had been chaotic, to say the least. He and Sefonia held onto each other on the trip towards the second camp, exhausted and injured. Once there, they curled up together without saying a word. Discussing the awkwardness was tomorrow’s dilemma. For now, they were safe. But they weren’t alone: The Soldiers brought the three attackers with them, as well. Looking at the state of their bodies, Blitzer couldn’t help but sigh.


    ‘At least Sisu’s on our side.’