Chapter Text
This is a story that my mother used to tell me when I was a child…
A long time ago, our world was ravaged by the endless flames of war. Neighbouring continents would constantly fight one another, razing entire villages and taking many innocent lives. During this war, violence and misery dominated all.
The Pokémon who were able to survive fled to another continent: the Iron Continent. There, they established a new kingdom, in the hopes that they would be safe and sound. But it would not be long before the war reached them as well…
In order to put an end to the fighting and bloodshed, the Pokémon of the Iron Continent turned to Arceus for help. Arceus, unable to stand by and watch while the world was destroyed, chose five champions to aid the the Pokémon: a king with the power to grow bountiful harvests and command two steeds; two lords with amazing power over water and darkness; and two knights who wielded the Fairy King’s Sword and the Fighting Master’s Shield respectively.
Together, the five champions combined their powers to create an artifact that could end the war forever: the Flames of Royalty. However, they also warned to use the Flames’ powers wisely, as careless use of it could transform the wielder into a horrifying beast.
With this knowledge in mind, the inhabitants of the Iron Continent carefully chose their hero to use the Flames of Royalty. Thanks to this hero’s efforts, the war finally came to an end. Then, heeding the champions’ warning, they sealed the artifact away in a place where no one would ever think to find it…
Peace and prosperity have flourished since then…but there are some who still fear that there will come a time when the Flames of Royalty will be needed once more…
Me? I doubt it! Besides, what’s the worst that could happen?
“Probably for the best that we don’t need the Flames of Royalty, though.”
“Hm?” An Archen wearing a blue diamond choker around his neck cracked open one eye. He glanced down at the Fomantis wearing a similar choker that was pink and bore a pearl. “You say somethin’?”
The Fomantis turned to him, her bright red-pink eyes shining like her pearl choker. “What I mean is that we don’t need the Flames of Royalty to solve every single one of our problems,” she replied, backing up her original claim.
She turned her gaze back down to the book she held in her sickles, tracing the image of a Samurott standing tall and proud. In one paw, the Samurott held its seamitar, black as night with a single red streak running down from the blade to the scabbard. In the other paw was an artifact that resembled a flower bud, with a small ember burning bright.
The Archen pushed himself off of the tree he’d been resting under and proceeded to dust off his feathers. “Well, I do have to agree with you on that one,” he said, trying to stifle a yawn. “But the flames are also the reason why the Iron Continent has stood tall and proud for years.”
The Fomantis sighed. “I know, I know,” she grumbled. “I just worry about what could happen, s’all. After all, you know the champions’ warning as much as I do. If the Flames of Royalty were used by improper, careless hands, you could turn into a monster.”
She shuddered before allowing herself to continue. “But what if it did something worse than that? What if it opened a space-time portal? Or it destroyed the entire continent?”
The Archen barked out a laugh. “Don’t be silly, Mairead,” he snorted.
The Fomantis growled in frustration as a vein popped on her head. “I’m being completely serious!” she shouted. “There’s no telling what could happen if the flames are used with reckless abandon! We might end up instigating another continental war!”
The Archen’s laughter died down as he approached the Fomantis. “Then we’ll make sure that doesn’t happen,” he told her with a smile. “Because once we become Guildmasters, we’ll find a way to unite the Iron Continent, and the rest of the world – together!”
The Fomantis sighed as she turned her gaze to the night sky, noticing a shooting star streak across the glittery silver swath amongst the inky blackness. “I sure hope you’re right, Gohar,” she murmured. “I sure hope you’re right.”
“Wake up, Reed! It’s a new morning!”
The Grookey let out a groan as he buried his face further into his pillow. The tip of his brown tail twitched as he tried to hold onto the dream he’d been enjoying since the night before.
“Don’t worry, miss,” he mumbled sleepily. “I’m part of an exploration team…from the Haxorus Guild…” He yawned before continuing. “Time to…get you out…of that dungeon…”
He reached out with one orange paw, holding up his imaginary Explorer Badge. He grinned as his client was bathed in a golden light before being teleported away…
…And that’s when he felt a heavy stick hit his head with a loud thunk! He screeched in pain as he clutched his head before turning to the culprit: a taller monkey-like creature with lighter green fur and a short, stubby tail that was brown in colour. Several dark green leaves swayed over her head like a mohawk as her orange paws ringed with dark green held two sticks. She also seemed to be wearing some sort of light yellow mask over her face while her green eyes were narrowed in a slight scowl.
“Taiko,” the Grookey groaned, rubbing the sore spot on his head. “How many times has Dad told you not to wake me up like that?”
Taiko, the taller green monkey who identified herself as a Thwackey, simply let out a “tsk” as she stuffed her sticks back into her mohawk. “And how many times have I had to come up here to make sure you were actually awake before heading off to the Haxorus Guild? I swear, this is the tenth time this month I’ve been running late because of you, little bro!”
“You could at least be more gentle about it!”
“And you could at least wake up to Dad’s first call!”
Reed pouted as he grabbed his stick from the bedside. “Fine, you win,” he grumbled. “But once I get into the guild, I’ll have much less to deal with from you!”
He found himself unconsciously tapping his stick against the wooden floor as the prestigious guild flashed in his mind. That’s right, that was something he’d always dreamed about since he was little - to join the Haxorus Guild, become part of his own team, go out and about saving other Pokémon or taking down outlaws, and explore the Mystery Dungeons that were scattered throughout every corner of the world.
Taiko seemed less than amused. “Eh, whatever,” she said in her usual sassy tone. “I’m running late anyway, so toodles.”
…And then, there was Taiko. Reed knew she wasn’t always that way, especially not after her evolution. But ever since their mother died, the siblings’ relationship had been rather strained at best, broken at worst. Taiko had been working at the Haxorus Guild for only five years, and yet she was pretty much the family’s sole breadwinner.
Well, once I get in and get my own crew room, she won’t have to worry as much about me anymore, thought Reed as he headed downstairs.
Reed’s family residence wasn’t anything fancy-schmancy; just a humble abode that was constructed in the liking of a Rillaboom. Numerous plants lined every corner of the house, all of them fully vitalized. Behind it was a greenhouse where they grew numerous Berries and Seeds of every size, shape and colour; Reed figured Taiko was already there to pick something out for her morning rations before heading off.
Sighing to himself, Reed went over to the greenhouse. As usual, he found his dad tending to the many Berries and Seeds that adorned every corner of the place…in a way that only members of the Grookey line could do. He watched in amazement as the brown-and-green-furred gorilla-like creature beat his sticks repeatedly against the drum-like tree stump as he hummed a simple tune.
In an instant, the plants around him began to stand tall and proud, their colours glowing with a vibrancy that rivaled the golden sun and the silver moon combined.
The Rillaboom wiped a bit of sweat from his brow as he looked fondly at the plants. But it wouldn’t be long before he caught sight of Reed watching him from afar, eyes sparkling with wonder. He chuckled as he motioned the tiny green chimp over.
“Hey there, little guy,” he said. “Slept in late again, did ya?”
“Heh…yeah.” Reed blushed in embarrassment as he rubbed the back of his head. “Meanwhile, Taiko’s being all punctual and junk. I don’t get why she would choose to sleep here instead of her crew room with her teammates.”
The Rillaboom shrugged. “Perhaps she’s just as concerned about you as I am,” he replied. He sighed sadly. “Especially after your mother passed away.”
Reed’s face fell at the memory. Even though it had only happened a month ago, the pain was still fresh in his heart.
His father seemed to notice, and he quickly changed the subject. “B-but worry not, son!” he said. “That’s why I have you to help me out!” He sifted through the green leaves on his back and pulled out a sheet of paper, which he then handed over to Reed. “Here’s your work for the day! The Kecleon Market needs a restock of ten Oran Berries, eight Pecha Berries, and six Blast Seeds. And the Haxorus Guild has been seeing a shortage of Reviver Seeds as of late. Think you can handle it?”
Reed took one look at the list, reading it over several times to make sure he got it all memorized. Then, he nodded. “You can count on me, sir!”
The Rillaboom grinned. “That’s my boy! Now, get out there and start beating that stick of yours!”
Reed didn’t need to be told twice. The Grookey nimbly hopped over to the Pecha Berry plants, whipped out his stick and began beating it against the wooden frame. Almost immediately, he noticed the purple leaves puff out as several pink Pecha Berries ripened before falling to the soil. He wasted no time in collecting eight Berries before proceeding to do the same with the Oran Berries, Blast Seeds and Reviver Seeds. Soon, he had everything ready for delivery!
Waving good-bye to his dad, Reed exited the greenhouse and pressed onward to his hometown: an equally humble abode known as Sturdy Village.
The rest of the day went smoothly. Other than Taiko convincing him to let her bring the Reviver Seeds to the Haxorus Guild, Reed felt like he had accomplished a lot for today.
And after a hard day’s work, there was nothing better to do than sit back and relax. On most days, he’d be playing with the other kids in Sturdy Village, or practicing his stick-playing skills. But ever since last month, he’d found himself wandering off to the nearby cliffside.
He recalled the nights when he and his mother would sit there, gazing up at the stars while his mother told him stories of times long past. Some of his personal favourites included how a human would come to the world to save it from some sort of impending disaster…but after a while, he ended up growing tired of them. So, his mother ended up resorting to telling a different story: the formation of the Iron Continent, the establishment of a new kingdom, and the Flames of Royalty, the sacred artifact that helped end the war from long ago.
These cliffs were Reed’s place of sanctuary, a place where he could truly be himself, if only for a moment.
But what he didn’t realize was that this would be the place where everything would be changed forever.
As he rounded the corner, a soft moan suddenly stopped him in his tracks. The little green monkey jerked back, eyes wide with surprise as he glanced around. What the heck was that? he thought to himself.
Silence.
Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, Reed rounded the corner, sticking as closely to the shadows as he could. He wasn’t sure who or what lay here…but what he did know was that these cliffs had definitely not been inhabited for a long time.
What he did find, however, was something very unusual tonight: an odd black shape, silhouetted against the setting sun. Reed narrowed his eyes as he carefully approached it. As he got closer, however, he noticed the black shape twitching slightly as patches of red appeared.
Eyes wide with alarm, Reed could only stand and watch as realization seeped into him: there was a Pokémon on the cliffside.
And they were unconscious!
Darkness, nothing but darkness.
That was the only thing she could see.
She wasn’t sure where she was…only that she seemed to be shrouded in complete darkness.
And then…slowly but surely, her other senses began to return.
The salty tang of an ocean breeze seemed to assault her nose. Several sharp rocks seemed to puncture her side, but only a little.
And then…there was a voice.
“Hey! Are you alright?”
She groaned as she tossed over, wincing as she landed on more rock. She dared herself to open her eyes…and found herself staring at a blurry sea of blues and oranges. Confused, she blinked the sleep from her eyes as her vision was presented to a cliffside at sunset.
“Ugghhhh…” she grumbled as she flopped over on her belly before sitting up. She blinked several times as she observed her new surroundings. “Where the heck am I?”
“Oh, what a relief! And to think I thought you were dead or something!”
Hm? She turned around to the source of the voice, only to find herself face-to-face with a small, monkey-like creature. He was covered head to toe in bright green fur, complemented with orange on his muzzle and paws, as well as brown ears with a tail to match. A yellow mask-like marking stretched over his curious green eyes, while a small stick fixed itself on the leaf-like tuft atop his head.
The monkey grinned sheepishly as he stepped back. “Confused?” he said. “Well, same for me!”
Reed wasn’t entirely sure how this stranger would take well to him waking her up. Especially since the Pokémon he found had turned out to be a Litten, a feline Pokémon with black fur that was adorned with red stripes on her legs and forehead, as well as a patch of red on her muzzle. She had a long tail that ended in a tuft, and her large eyes were bright yellow complemented with brown irises…and they were definitely wide with surprise!
He wisely backed off, not knowing if the Litten would try and roast him with whatever Fire-type move she had on hand…if she had any Fire-type moves, that is.
He didn’t expect her to scream, though.
“Wh-WHAAAAAAAAT?!” the Litten shrieked as she backed away. “WHAT THE HECK IS THIS?! A GREEN MONKEY IS TALKING TO ME?”
Now it was Reed’s turn to recoil with shock. “Wh-what did I do?” he demanded.
The Litten pointed at him in a rather accusing manner. “There you go again! You’re talking again! But you’re a monkey, and last I checked monkeys don’t talk!”
Reed’s shock melted away into exasperation as he stared at her. Was this Litten being serious? All he did was wake her up, and this was how she showed her gratitude?
He cleared his throat to calm his nerves and carefully approached her, spreading his paws out to assure her that he was not going to hurt her. “L-listen, I don’t know what’s going on, but I would like to help you in any way I can,” he told her. “Also, I’m not a green monkey. I’m actually a Grookey, and my name is Reed. What about you?”
“I don’t care if you’re a Groo-key, or if your name is Reed,” the Litten hissed. “A monkey is still a monkey.” Before Reed could do anything else, she suddenly began to stand up…before struggling to stand up on her hind legs. “N-now, if you’ll excuse me,” she growled. “I-I have somewhere e-else to be!”
Reed could only watch as the Litten wobbled on her hind legs. But she didn’t get very far before she suddenly collapsed onto the rocky floor. He sighed as he facepalmed, knowing that this was going to be a tough night.
“Do you need any help?” he asked.
“No,” the Litten grumbled as she got back up on her feet. “I can handle this. My legs just need time to work again, s’all.” She then proceeded to stand up on her hind legs again, only to topple over a second time. This time, however, Reed whipped his tail forward and caught her before she could become a black mark on the floor.
“Yeaaahhh, maybe don’t try that until you’re fully evolved,” Reed remarked half to himself. “For now, you’re just a little Litten.”
The Litten whipped her head around to glare at him, and he flinched at the blazing-brown glare. “I think you meant kitten,” she said coldly.
“Uh, no, I said Litten,” he told her.
“Shut up! I know what I heard!”
Reed winced at that statement. Even Taiko was sensible enough to not go that far. This Litten just took “sass” and “confusion” and brought them to a whole new level. Maybe if he tried to be a bit more gentle with her, he might get her to understand.
“Look, I understand you’re scared and confused,” he told her. “But I’m definitely not stupid, and you are definitely a Litten. In every angle, every way, every shape, and every form.”
“FOR THE LAST TIME, I AM NOT A KITTEN!” the Litten snapped. “I AM A HUMAN, PLAIN AND SIMPLE!”
Reed’s eyes widened. Did she just say…human? Like in the stories his mother had told him all those years ago? But it couldn’t be true…could it? The last human who came to the world was trying to stop an otherworldly being from across the other side of the ocean! So why…?
Why had a human come here , to the peaceful Iron Continent? To a land where Pokémon relied on the mystical Flames of Royalty to end their own disaster?
It wasn’t like the Iron Continent was in any sort of danger…was it?
The Litten grinned as she watched him turn away, satisfied that she had finally gotten the message across. “Well, it seems like you actually do believe me,” she chortled.
“M-maybe,” Reed said quietly, releasing her from his hold. This only caused her to topple over unceremoniously on the ground, though not as a black mark thankfully. “But that still doesn’t change the fact that you’re a Litten.”
“You’re still going to go on about that?” the feline muttered. “Fine! You want proof that I’m a human? Then I’ll find you some proof!”
“How are you going to provide proof around here?”
“Easy!” the Little said with a grin. “I’ll find some water where I can find my reflection. Then we’ll see who was right the whole time.”
She took a step forward…and let out a sharp yowl as she felt pain lance up her foreleg. She stepped back as she examined the cause of the pain: a small cut on her paw, where she could clearly see blood oozing out.
Reed cringed and turned away, realizing that his dropping her must’ve caused her to scrape her paw on the ground. He could only stand and watch as the Litten hastily licked her paw to stop the bleeding. But no sooner did she do that than she realized something was off…terribly off.
“Wait, where did my hands go…?” she spoke before her eyes widened at the revelation. Instead of five fingers, she had furry black paws with red paw pads. Horrified, she pulled at her cheeks and found herself touching fur; then flicked at her ears to get a feel of the triangular shapes. Lastly, she whirled around to find herself staring at a long, thin tail and ended in a tuft.
“Ah-AHHHH!!!” the Litten screamed. “WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BODY?!”
Reed sighed as he pressed his fingers to his forehead. On the one hand, at least he knew he was right. On the other hand…was that scream really necessary?
“This…this is nothing but a nightmare,” he heard the Litten continue rambling. “Yes, that’s got to be it! Nothing more than some weird nightmare I’m having.” She unsheathed her claws. “Maybe if I wake up, it’ll all be over!” She held up her claws to her face, ready to scratch it out…only for Reed to quickly smack her on the head.
“If you wanted to wake up, you could have at least asked me to pinch you,” he told her. “Or at least conk you on the head. Not scratch your eyes out!”
The Litten growled. “Well, if you’re so smart, then why don’t you take care of the problem and send me back to the real world?”
Reed hesitated. Was this Litten being serious? Did she really want him to knock her out? But then again, he’d never seen a human-turned-Pokémon all his life. Maybe there was something wrong with the Iron Continent, and she was brought here for a reason.
He shook it off as he raised his stick above his head. “Sorry,” he muttered as he smacked her square in the forehead. The Litten slumped down on the ground in defeat, eyes closed.
Reed clutched his stick and turned away in shame. Oh my gosh, oh my Arceus, he thought frantically. Why did I do that? What’s wrong with me? I might have just blown my chances at getting to know her!
He waited for a moment, sweat dripping down his face. Was this real? Was he dreaming? Or was it all just one big illusion?
Taking a deep breath, he dared himself to turn back around. He expected the Litten to disappear and have everything go back to the way things were.
Yet, here she was, still lying down on the cliffside. Her chest slowly rose and fell, indicating that she was at least still alive.
Guess it wasn’t a dream after all, he thought. She’s gonna be so disappointed when she wakes up though.
Well, here she was. Back in the darkness.
Back into the black void of nothingness.
She was pretty sure that she was only dreaming, right? The cliffside, Reed, her finding out that she had somehow turned into a…Litten, was it?
No matter. Once she woke up, it would all just disappear. She’d forget about it all soon.
Good-bye, weird dream, she thought. Good-bye weird monkey who calls himself Reed the Grookey.
Only silence answered her.
…Now she was starting to feel lonely. And cold. But still, it wouldn’t matter anymore once she woke up.
…Right?
Letting out a huff, she slowly opened her eyes and…immediately clutched her head as a throbbing headache took over. “Owww!” she groaned. She dared herself to look around and find herself still at the cliffside.
Reed carefully approached her, holding out a paw for her to hold. “Are you alright, miss?” he asked her. “Sorry about the bump on your head, by the way.
She didn’t seem to be paying attention as a surge of thoughts circulated in her head. This was no dream…this was reality. And she was living in that reality!
Reed tilted his head to the side. “I guess it wasn’t a dream for either of us,” he sighed. “Though you are weird…especially for a Litten.”
“But I…” the Litten stammered. “I can’t be a Litten. I’m a human! You have to believe me, please!”
“I’m not saying I don’t believe you,” the Grookey said, shaking his head. “But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re acting really weird. Plus, I haven’t gotten your name yet.”
Oh…that’s right! My name! She had been so focused on convincing herself that she was living some weird dream that she never got the chance to introduce herself. She felt her face grow hot with guilt and embarrassment as her ears pressed themselves flat against her head. She turned away, obviously not wanting Reed to see her like this.
Reed chuckled. “It’s alright if you don’t want to go yet,” he said. “So, I’ll just reintroduce myself. My name is Reed.”
A moment of hesitation. And then, finally…
“…Helen.”
Reed tilted his head to the side, confused. But that confusion soon cleared up as the Litten glanced at him without turning her head.
“My name is Helen.”