Chapter Text
“Kieran! Move!”
“Kiki!”
The deepest depths of the fabled Area Zero were beginning to fall apart around the expeditionary team. The resulting energy runoff by the progenitor of Terastilisation, Terapogos, was destroying everything around them. The young trainer, Kieran, stood frozen in fear. This was all his fault, he thought. If only he’d listened, if only he’d just been honest.
“Urgh!”
Suddenly, Kieran found himself launched back towards the entrance. Upon landing, he was picked up and moved back further by another student. An older girl who looked just like him, his sister Carmine.
“Kyoya, get out of there!”
A woman, the leader of the expedition team, called out frantically. The two siblings looked back to where Kieran just was. A young man with short black hair was picking himself up. He was slow and unsteady, his body still low on energy after the long battle against the Terastilized Terapogos. He looked up to see the trio calling to him, just as another wave of energy was released.
BOOM!
The cave floor below Kyoya’s feet gave way. He just managed to grab the edge of the floor with both hands. The light of the crystals below were almost blinding. The cave roof was now also beginning to collapse, shards of rock and crystal smashing on the cave floor and into the crystal chasm below.
“Teach! I’m coming!”
“No Carmine, stay there,” Kyoya yelled, trying to pull himself up. He couldn’t get a foothold, but was able to use the little strength he had to start to climb up. Another tremor hit the cave, more of it collapsing around the team. Kyoya, seeing all of this, made a difficult decision. He took one hand off of the ledge and reached for something behind him. He pulled it up and with a mighty heave tossed it as hard as he could.
The trio at the entrance watched as something flew out of the chasm. It hit the ground and skidded to a stop in front of them. The leader of the expedition team, Briar, was made aware of what it was instantly. A belt clip, with three inactive Pokeballs. She picked up the clip and called out to the young man.
“I’ve got it, Kyoya hurry!”
Kyoya nodded. He started to pull himself up again. He was finally able to get a foothold and was able to get his shoulders up on the cave floor. He pulled until half of himself was back up above the chasm edge. He smiled at his companions. They exhaled with relief. Relief that didn’t last long.
A violent series of tremors hit the cave. The floor and roof buckled again. The ledge Kyoya was dangling from broke away. Horror flashed upon the faces of the trio as their companion disappeared over the rocky ledge.
“Teach!”
Carmine began to run for the center when she was stopped by Briar, “Carmine, no! We must leave! NOW! I’m sorry, but we… we just have to believe he’ll get out! I won’t let anyone else get hurt!”
The rage and pain in the girl’s eyes was evident. However when she looked down to see the scared, trembling boy that clutched onto her like a lifering, she understood her teacher had a point. Briar ushered the siblings toward the entry and they began to hurriedly escape back to the top of the tunnel. As she exited the room, Briar looked back as the remnants of Terapogos’ domain collapsed.
“Please someone… anyone. Save him.”
Two umamusume were hustling through the open courtyards of Japan’s Tokyo Tracen Academy. The sun was beginning to set and the nocturnal Pokemon that lived nearby were beginning to awaken for the night. The two young uma’s, one a brunette and the other a redhead, were trying to make it to the cafeteria for dinner. The only thing louder than their shoes on the hard sidewalks, was the bickering coming from their egos.
“You just HAD to do one more run didn’t you,” bemoaned the auburn haired girl.
“Oh stuff it, Scarlet,” the brunette snapped, “I didn’t hear you complainin’ when you won!”
The redheaded girl, Scarlet, skidded to a stop and turned to face her opposition, “Because I put my all into everything I do. I AM the number one umamusume after all! You’re just a delinquent who’d kill herself doing something stupid!”
The brunette stopped too, “Oh yeah, well at least it’d be cool. Man, what idiot put me on the same team as you?!”
Scarlet stomped her foot and poked the other girl in the chest, “You, Vodka! You would be that idiot!”
The two girls bickered some more, many more umamusume passing. This was a common occurrence at Tracen. As was what came next.
“Vodka! Daiwa Scarlet! Cease this bickering at once!”
The two girls froze and shot their gazes to the source of the voice. Their eyes caught sight of an older student marching toward them. Her icy blue eyes were trained on the two girls, brown ears twitching with irritation.
“We’re very sorry, Air Groove-senpai,” apologized Scarlet with a bow, “I can assure you, Vodka won’t start trouble again.”
Vodka pinned her ears back angrily, “Huh?! You started it dumbass!”
“Like hell I did,” snapped Scarlet, her own ears now pinned back. They effortlessly began to bicker once more. Air Groove was losing patience.
“ENOUGH!”
The air went quiet. Vodka and Scarlet froze mid argument and turned their attention back to Air Groove. Their ears and tails drooped in defeat.
“I understand that your rivalry is important to you both,” Air Groove began, “But please remember that the rest of the student body would like some peace and quiet. Trainer Nishizaki and your teammates may have the patience to deal with your antics, but don’t assume anyone else does. Is that clear?”
“Yes ma’am,” the two girls echoed, bowing apologetically.
Air Groove’s stern irritation turned to a motherly smile, “Good. Now go get some dinner. If I recall correctly, one of my juniors in home economics has a surprise for you.”
“Oh that’s right,” said Vodka, hopping back to attention energetically, “Lulu-chan said she made cookies for us! Come on Scarlet!”
Scarlet couldn’t even react before Vodka darted off, “Vodka?! Wait up!”
Air Groove pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing with exasperation as the younger umas scampered away. The smile that remained showed her true feelings.
“How did such a sweet girl like Twilight Lullaby get roped in with that motley crew,” she chuckled. She turned to head back toward the student council office when her attention was turned elsewhere. A flash of bright, white light enveloped one of the courtyards. It blinded Air Groove, knocking her back several steps.
As the light began to fade, Air Groove looked up. Her vision was still a bit fuzzy, but she was at least able to see where the waning flash was emanating from. The central courtyard, where the statue of the Three Goddesses resides. Air Groove took off like she had been released from the gates. Her school shoes pounded the stone of the sidewalks until she came upon the statue.
An audible gasp left Air Groove’s lips as she saw a figure laying below the statue. She dashed quickly to the side of the person. When she kneeled down, she noticed it was another umamusume. She had a short, strawberry-blonde hair and tail to match. There was a small white jewel mark in the center of her bangs. She was covered by a teal gown that went down to her ankles.
Air Groove hastily checked the girl's pulse. She was breathing steadily, but was otherwise unconscious. She reached into the pocket of her skirt and grabbed her phone. Groove quickly found a number in her contacts and began attempting to call. She put the phone on speaker and wedged it between her neck and shoulder as she attempted to sit the unconscious girl up some.
“Yes this is Air Groove! There’s an unconscious umamusume over by the Goddesses statue! Yes I’m with her now! Okay, thank you!”
Just as Air Groove ended her call, the uma’s eyes began to open just slightly. Vibrant orange irises locked onto Air Groove, listless and weary. As if her mind was far, far away.
“Hey! Hey! I need you to stay with me, okay sweety? Help is on the way!”
The girl tried to focus on Air Groove’s words, the sounds muffled and distorted in her haze. Her eyes opened a bit wider before closing once more, head resting once again on the hem of Air Groove’s skirt. She could hear the faintest sounds of hurried and concerned chatter before consciousness escaped her once more.