Chapter 45: Towards The Kingdom Of Stone

  The Umbral Abyss was not just named like that for it was Lord Noctems Domain. No, it was also called that because its perpetually high crater walls mean that dawn came later and dusk sooner. Not by much, but according to the Elders it was still noticeable enough compared to outside.

  Dawn arrived in thin layers here, sliding across the mist like someone slowly lifting a veil. The sky didn’t brighten so much as fade from black to a soft bruised gray, the sort of color that made it hard to tell where clouds ended and where the stone walls began. At least on the more cloudy days, of which there were more the closer they came to winter.

  Yuki had already been walking for hours. Her small form moved quietly through the undergrowth, her satchel bumping against her side with each careful step. The drizzle from last night still clung to every leaf, every blade of grass, leaving the whole Abyss smelling of damp soil and cold bark. Her feathers soaked the dew with ease, but she barely noticed it anymore. She’d pushed through worse during her own adventures.

  But it had never truly been like this. Never had that much depended on her as this time. And only once before, when she had made her way to the Stormspire Prison with Auri, had she left without the certainty that she’d return home by sundown. This time, she had no idea when she’d see home again, only that it would be a long time from now.

  She paused at the crest of a familiar slope. She hesitated only a moment before quickly climbing up the tree. From there she let her gaze drift down into the forest valley where Newleaf Village lay. From here it was already nothing but a distant blur of soft lights buried beneath layers of fog. She had left under cover of night, with nothing but quiet goodbyes and a promise. Now darkness had given way to gray morning, and the world felt bigger, emptier, and strangely expectant.

  Her heart fluttered painfully. She reached up with one wing and brushed the Silver Rescue Badge pinned to her scarf. The metal was cold and smooth. Elder Gorun’s gift. A symbol of trust. A symbol of freedom. A symbol of the risks she was now allowed to take. It steadied her… just a little.

  With a hop she spread her wings and glided down the tree, before using a [Quick Attack] to close the distance to the ground again. Then she continued down onto the old stone path that twisted through the lower forest leading northward. Moss coated most of the bricks now, softening the edges, swallowing the cracks. She’d run down this trail countless times in her life, chasing Ayra, strolled along when she just wanted to sneak out to avoid chores, but also when she was searching for some specific herbs Juno needed. Now that she thought about it. that task had fallen quite to the wayside these past few weeks hadn't it?

  Each memory bubbled up as she walked, threatening to distract her, but she shook them off. "Alright," she whispered to herself, voice wobbling only at the edges. "Let’s think."

  There was only one reason she was here now. Only one thing that mattered. Finding Auri.

  He was somewhere out in this sometimes seemingly endless crater, drained, injured, stripped of his type energy, unable to defend himself. And she was his only realistic chance of making it through alive. At that thought she walked a little faster.

  Still, as of now... she had no idea where to even find him. Yuki's steps slowed drastically as she realised that. How as she supposed to find Auri where even the guards failed!?

  A massive fallen tree trunk lay next to the path, split down the center by decay. She hopped onto it, letting her talons grip the damp wood, and settled there. The forest around her was quiet. Not silent but hushed, as though waiting for her verdict.

  "Okay," she murmured. "Where would he go? How would he think?"

  Yuki closed her eyes. She pictured Auri not as the scared, wounded Pikachu from the day he fled… but as the Auri she knew as a friend. The Auri who always chose the seat closest to the treeline whenever they rested during training. The Auri whose ears twitched toward even the faintest shift in the wind. The Auri who stiffened visibly whenever he ended up in closed or cramped space, probably withput even noticing. The Auri who, in open air and gentle breeze, seemed to breathe far more freely.

  Auri hated being trapped. He hated enclosed spaces. He was careful and loved to plan ahead, though his strengths clearly lay at spontaneous action. And he hated uncertainty far more than danger.

  "So he’d move to where he cannot be ambushed," Yuki whispered, opening her eyes again. "Somewhere open. Somewhere he can predict trouble long before it actually hits. Out of the forest at the very least."

  South? She wrinkled her beak. Absolutely not. That region was crawling with ghost-type and dark-type Dungeons due to the closeness to Sia's territory. And even if he remained on Vian's territory, it was thick forest all the way.

  East? She almost snorted at the thought. The crater walls loomed there, sheer and unscalable, protected by Lord Noctem’s oppressive Domain. Even Mythicals couldn’t pass through that boundary. Auri wasn’t stupid enough to try.

  West? A tempting thought seeing how the two of them had passed through there on their way to the Stormspire Prison. Auri knew the terrain and the hills, still within Vian's territory, were quite peaceful. But probably not Auri's choice. If he wandered too far west, the Deepwoods would finish him off quickly without his type energy. And he knew it. The deeper into the Umbral Abyss he went the more dangerous it would be for him. A risk he probably wouldn't take.

  That left her with north. Auri had never truly been north but she did tell him a lot of the northern plains in Vian's territory. The area was... safe, almost unexpectedly so. Calmer Dungeons that rarely tried anything, less wandering Dungeon Pokemon and a quite open area. He could hide there. Recover. Avoid danger.

  And best of all... it was where the exit of the Umbral Abyss lay. Deep within Velari's Domain, where the second settlement of the Umbral Abyss stood, a kingdom of rock-types and fairy-types. It could offer him the safety he desperately needed.

  Yuki’s stomach turned in realization. She slid down off the log and paced slowly across the trail. Her eyes drifted upward toward the northern ridges. "If he wants to reach the one place nothing inside the crater could pursue or endanger him easily… And that also gives him the option to leave at a later point..."

  She didn’t want to jump to conclusions. She didn’t want to pin her hopes on a single direction. But the more she thought, the more the logic crystallized.

  He wouldn’t stay near the village. He wouldn’t challenge dangerous territory. He wouldn’t climb the eastern walls. He wouldn’t wander into unpredictable Dungeons. No, he would go north. Maybe not instantly but it would be his destination. She was sure of that!

  Yuki felt her breath slow, steadied by the thought. It simply made too much sense.

  And once Yuki accepted that, her fear for him didn’t disappear, but it did lessen considerably. She stepped back onto the trail and kept moving.

  However the world had seemingly decided she had been wandering through the Umbral Abyss long enough. First she noticed a ripple in the ferns to her right. Then another shake of leaves behind her. Wandering Dungeon Pokemon were without a doubt closing in! She felt her nerves tighten, then forced her breath steady.

  She wasn’t some fragile hatchling. She’d trained under the guards of Newleaf Village and explored countless Dungeons. She could handle some weak wandering Dungeon Pokemon in her sleep!

  And right on cue, the first threat arrived, a squat Shroomish variant, moss-coated, with cracked fungal plating like a mask over its face. Its cry vibrated oddly. It wasn't really dangerous. She had dealt with dozens like it in her life.

  The Shroomish lunged. Yuki moved without thinking, a [Quick Attack] to increase her distance to it followed by a burst of [Ember] aimed at the wet grass under its feet rather than its body. Steam exploded upward with a hiss. The Dungeon Pokemon recoiled, releasing a [Stun Spore] into the air. Yuki leapt forward in a [Fire Spin] crashing directly into the Dungeon Pokemon. It practically burst apart into type-energy at the impact, its [Stun Spore] scattering under the heat of her body.

  Yuki landed lightly, shaking heat from her feathers. "Another reason Auri wouldn’t be in the more active parts of the crater," she muttered. "He hates to deal with Pokemon that create status conditions. Probably even more so now that he cannot defend himself against them."

  She slowed her pace, more deliberate with where she stepped. The mist of the day finally receded as she climbed terraced ridges, revealing patches of stone etched with old claw marks. The higher she climbed, the thinner the forest got.

  Yuki reached another fork. One path dipped downward into a hollow of dense forest where shadows pooled. The other curled upward toward cliffs dusted with thin frost. Her ember pulse crackled at her throat, warming the damp air around her.

  This was the turning point. The moment where all her careful logic ended and trust had to take over. She could only do what she thought was most likely for her friend to do. Should she chose wrong she might never see him again.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  She listened to the wind. Let it glide across her feathers. Let the cold air thread itself around her steady breaths as though urging her forward. Finally, she nodded. "…North." Her voice stayed firm.

  "Auri…" she whispered. "I’m coming. I promise." And she meant every word.

  She continued forward, out of the forest and onto the open plains covered in dew. She couldn't even see the end of them. But she knew she was most likely to find Auri on the other end of it.

  The plains at the far edge of the northern ridges stretched before Auri. His breath shuddered, sharp and unsteady, and each exhale felt like it scraped against something raw inside his ribs. He had lost track of how long he’d been walking, but the ache in his legs told him it had easily been through an entire night and most of another morning. He didn’t dare stop. There was no stopping for him while there was a chance of the guards following him.

  Stopping would also mean taking the chance of something finding him while he recovered… and the last time he had dared to test his luck like that it hadn't ended well.

  He absentmindly rubbed at his left arm, where dark bruises pulsed beneath his fur. The skin was tender, swollen, mottled with the aftermath of a Dungeon Pokemon's attack he’d been too slow to dodge. He had just let down his guard for a single second and sat down as suddenly a [Vine Whip] had shot out of the undergrowth. He hadn't stuck around to find out what it was. Not with his type energy reserve sealed.

  He was unable to use his moves. He was physically weaker for it as well. And he was both exhausted and injured. It didn't help that the pain in his chest from the seal only grew worse the weaker it got, his type energy subcounciously fighting more and more against the unnaturel block [Imprison] had created.

  Honestly he should’ve collapsed long ago. But collapse would've meant defeat. And defeat would've meant certain death for him with how far away from newleaf Village he was by now. Even if he were willing to go back, which he decidedly wasn't, that option didn't exist anymore. He could only push forward.

  The plains ahead dipped downward into a long valley hinting at pale stone shapes in the distance. Jagged spires. Cavern mouths. An old-looking forest that could've been straight out of a fairytale. There was no doubt. He had reached Velari's territory. He hadn’t believed he’d actually make it this far in his current state.

  A cold wind swept across him, flattening his ears. He leaned into it, forcing his paws to keep moving. Each step was slower than the last, each breath a little more ragged, but the pull of safety, real safety if he got lucky, kept him upright. Velari's territory was far more consolidated than Vian's. Understandable, seeing how she was a Lesser Legendary. Of course she would be the deciding factor for what the Dungeons in her territory could do and what not. It made her territory far safer as well. Still, that didn’t mean he would be welcomed.

  He didn't really care. He already went through all of that a few months ago in Newleaf Village. He could do so again. There was no need for kindness, all he needed was a place where nothing would tear into him the moment he closed his eyes. Just for a few days. Then he would be gone away.

  His paws dragged over a patch of stone. The plains ended at a rise of pale, uneven ground. The ridges looked carved, not by wind or water, but by claws, chisels, tools. An intentionally created way. A wall of boulders stood farther ahead, arranged like silent sentinels, guarding an unseen passage. This wall probably stretched around Velari's entire territory.

  Auri swallowed hard, throat burning. He didn’t call out, knowing his voice wouldn't support him. He simply kept walking until his legs trembled under him again and he caught himself on a slab of stone jutting from the ground.

  The moment his paw brushed the surface, the air shifted. A low grinding sound echoed across the valley, stone scraping against stone. Auri’s heart lurched into his throat. He backed away instinctively, scanning every angle of the clearing. Something was coming out.

  Figures emerged like statues stepping into motion after centuries of stillness. First a Rhydon, massive and armored, emerging from the mist with footsteps heavy enough to shake the stones. Then a Carbink cluster drifted in behind him like floating crystals, their eyes bright with cold vigilance. And to the side, stepping with deliberate precision, a Mawile with polished teeth glinting like forged metal, her expression unreadable. A patrol. One of Velari's, there was no doubt.

  The Rhydon spoke first, voice like gravel turning under pressure. "Halt."

  Auri stopped immediately, knowing better than to resist their orders in his current state and on their turf. The Rhydon’s gaze swept over him, assessing every bruise, every tremble, the way he swayed on his paws.

  Another voice joined, sharp and irritated. The Mawile moved closer, lowering her head slightly but not in a gesture of comfort, more like a predator inspecting something fragile. "You do not belong here. Identify yourself."

  Auri opened his mouth, but the air stuck in his throat. He coughed, winced, and tried again. "A-Auri," he managed, barely audible.

  The Mawile’s teeth clicked softly. "Species."

  "…Pikachu. Obviously."

  A long silence followed. The Carbink murmured amongst themselves, crystalline voices chiming like shards knocking together. Auri felt their suspicion like cold needles against his fur. He clenched his paws, trying not to let the weakness in his limbs show.

  The Rhydon lowered his head slightly so he could look directly into Auri’s eyes. "One of Newleaf's aren't you? You are far away from your home," he rumbled. "You have crossed into Queen Velari’s governed lands. That is not permitted for outsiders outside of certain times."

  Auri swallowed. "I… I know."

  "You continue nonetheless?"

  "I…" His voice cracked. "I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m not here to take anything. I just plan to camp on your lands for a few days to rest in peace. Then I'll be on my way and out of your sight again."

  The Mawile snorted. "Rest? Here?" She circled him once, movements sharp, precise. "You’re injured. And your energy reserve," she muttered, her eyes narrowing, "is sealed. How unnatural."

  Auri tensed. "I know that. It'll break in a few days on its own. It's already degrading."

  "Oh I know that," she shot back. "But based on the fact that it was sealed by [Imprison] you are either dangerous or dying. Probably both." She leaned forward, voice low. "And neither option is welcome here."

  Auri’s legs shook. His chest felt tight. "Do I look like I have the potential to be a danger to you? You who stand under the direct protection of a Lesser Legendary?" he whispered. "And if I’m dying… then all I’m asking is that you let me do it somewhere no Dungeon Pokemon will tear me apart for it. You'll see you're wrong in that asumption."

  Something flickered in Rhydon’s expression, very slight, but Auri caught it. Not pity, but acknowledgment. Respect for honesty, maybe. Rock-types valued that.

  The Carbink floated closer, humming around him cautiously. One of them spoke, voice like a glass harp. "He smells of fear. And exhaustion. And he knows he stands no chance against us. No deceit."

  Another chimed in. "Queen Velari’s law forbids harming those who come seeking sanctuary."

  The Mawile snapped her head toward them. "Queen Velari also forbids admitting anyone not a rock-type or fairy-type into the settlement. Especially electric-types. You know who were the first ones to swear allegiance to the Storm Menace."

  Auri lowered his head. "I won’t fight. I can’t fight right now. Just let me camp on your territory, I don't even need to be brought into your settlement."

  The Mawile stared at him for several long seconds. "Why come here? Why choose us? You cannot have reasonably expected us to say yes."

  Auri hesitated. How could he put it into words? How was he supposed to explain everything that had went down without worsening his position? He settled for the truth that would make sense to them. "With the reawakening of the Storm Menace the Umbral Abyss isn’t safe for me anymore. You are still my best shot at leaving."

  "Convenient," the Mawile hissed.

  "It has nothing to do with convenience," Auri said quietly. "More like desperation."

  Another long pause stretched between them. The Rhydon finally exhaled and straightened to his full height. "Pikachu Auri of Newleaf Village," he declared, voice echoing through the stone valley, "you have trespassed into Queen Velari’s Domain. And though you are not of rock nor fairy, you have presented yourself in need rather than aggression."

  Auri held his breath. The Rhydon’s eyes softened, not kind but understanding in a stern, disciplined way. "We will bring him for review. The heir will decide. Not us. That's our best option right now."

  Auri’s ears twitched. "The… heir?"

  "Princess Lira," a Carbink chimed. "Another Diancie and our future crown. She governs in Velari’s absence. If one can call what she does govern, that is."

  Auri felt a flicker of panic. A Diancie? Someone of Velari’s direct lineage? Someone with the authority to throw him out instantly? "I won’t make trouble," he whispered. "I swear it."

  "You do not have the strength to cause trouble," the Mawile said bluntly. Then, after a beat, her voice softened by a hair. "Which is precisely why we will not leave you here."

  The Rhydon stepped forward. "You will walk with us. Do not stray from our path. Do not attempt to run. And do not discharge electricity."

  Auri stared at him helplessly. "I… couldn’t even if I tried. I just told you that."

  "Protocol is protocol."

  The Mawile approached one side of him, the Rhydon took the other. The Carbink arranged themselves in a drifting semicircle around the group, forming a crystalline escort. Auri forced his paws to move, falling into step beside them.

  His legs wobbled. He stumbled more than once. Each time, the Mawile’s grip steadied him with quick, efficient movements, no sympathy, just practicality. It was almost grounding.

  Only an hour later they approached the outer stones of what Auri suspected to be their settlement. Tall arches of pale granite rose from the ground like the ribs of some ancient titan. Crystalline lanterns flickered with soft light embedded within mineral sconces. Pathways carved directly into bedrock gleamed faintly beneath the frost. Velari’s settlement looked carved rather than built. Formed rather than constructed. A place grown from the mountain itself. Auri stared, breath catching despite himself.

  "You will not gawk," the Mawile said, though her tone lacked real heat. "Keep moving. The heir will judge what is to be done with you."

  Auri nodded weakly. "Right. Sorry."

  The Carbink hummed around him in a protective ring as they led him deeper into the stone settlement. The air grew colder, cleaner, sharper. It tasted like safety. Like structure. Like law. Like a place where, for the first time in days, nothing wanted to hunt him.

  His vision swam. He blinked hard, trying to stay upright. Just a little longer. Just a few more steps. Then he could collapse without fear.

  One Carbink drifted close, inspecting his uneven gait. "He is not going to manage much longer."

  "He will reach the throne hall," the Rhydon rumbled. "And if necessary we will carry his uncouncious body there."

  Auri wanted to protest, but his voice was gone. The last reserve of strength held him together only because stopping felt like a betrayal of everything he had endured to get here.

  They crossed under an archway and into a broad chamber of natural stone polished to near-crystal. Lumen crystals flickered in clusters overhead, scattering soft pink and blue light across the floor.

  Auri wavered, his knees buckling. The Mawile caught him by the shoulder, steadying him with a sharp exhale. "You’re inside," she said. "Do not collapse in the doorway. Keep your dignity."

  "I- I’m trying," he whispered.

  "Try harder then." But her grip stayed firm until he could stand again.

  The Rhydon looked toward the chamber ahead. "Princess Lira will probably see you shortly. Remain where you are."

  Auri nodded shakily. His paws slipped slightly on the polished stone. His vision flickered at the edges, but he stood. Because he knew he had as good as made it. They hadn't turned him away, they hadn't judged him a threat and they hadn't left him to die at their border. That was something at least.

  He was safe. For now. If it remained that way he would see soon.

  Important characters in the chapter:

  Pikachu (Auri) – Level 16

  Ability: Lightning Rod

  Battle Nature: Lonely

  Stats:

  TE Pool (Health/AP): 75

  Attack: 49

  Ranged Attack: 44

  Defense: 52

  Speed: 58

  Total: 278 (Strength Level: Teenager)

  Moves:

  Close Combat Moves: [Nuzzle], [Tail Whip], [Quick Attack], [Brick Break], [Thunder Wave], [Feint]

  Ranged Combat Moves: [Thunder Shock], [Electro Ball], [Swift], [Thunderbolt], [Discharge]

  Utility Moves: [Nasty Plot], [Charm], [Double Team], [Growl], [Agility], [Dig]

  Torchic (Yuki) – Level 17 (Evolution Requirements Not Met, Stat Boost Applied)

  Ability: Speed Boost

  Battle Nature: Hasty

  Stats:

  TE Pool (Health/AP): 84

  Attack: 49

  Ranged Attack: 49

  Defense: 57

  Speed: 42

  Total: 281 (Strength Level: Teenager)

  Moves:

  Close Combat Moves: [Scratch], [Quick Attack], [Feint], [Fire Spin], [Flame Charge], [Aerial Ace], [Counter], [Slash]

  Ranged Combat Moves: [Ember], [Sand Attack], [Overheat]

  Utility Moves: [Growl], [Detect], [Dig]