Racing through the forest, Kenji barely slowed as he crossed the river. The water was bitingly cold, but he used the discomfort to drive himself onwards. The water soaked into his clothes and leathers, weighing him down.

  Sprout stayed partially withdrawn into his shell, with only his large head protruding out. The turtle was frightened but nevertheless determined to help keep watch. Kenji appreciated the gesture, even though there was little the beast could do to help.

  "Tifly," Flutter trilled, encouraging his race through the forest. The butterfly helped guide him through the woods, avoiding fallen trees and fields of stone.

  The cold water chilled him to the bone and Kenji finally slowed to a steady jog. He did not want to stop running completely, not yet. Not only would the motion help warm him up, but a faster pace moved him further and further away from the Hunters.

  He wanted the duo and their Pokémon to be far behind him by the time they managed to extract themselves. Flutter wrapped the four in silk after Kenji and the Beautifly fought a short battle against them. He had little expectation of defeating the Pokémon Hunters, and instead focused his efforts on slowing them down.

  Doing so allowed time for the wild Type Beasts that the strangers attacked to recover and direct their fury. If the men managed to free themselves, they were going to have to contend with a herd of spikey armored beasts and boulder-like Pokémon.

  Not bothering to stop for lunch, Kenji set down Sprout and pulled free a fistful of fruit. He urged the turtle to move, settling into a fast walk while he ate. The young Pokémon dutifully followed, settling into a quick trot. The powerful seed from the mystical glade continued to prove useful. Without it, he was sure that Sprout would have not been able to keep up.

  When he finished with his meal, Kenji allowed his arms to reset until Sprout could no longer keep up.

  Picking up the Pokémon again, he traveled well into the afternoon, walking while he ate. Only when the day was turning to night and the shadows threatened to trip him did Kenji finally give in.

  "Be, beau," Flutter squealed, finally happy for the time to rest. The butterfly was forced to stay aloft the entire run as Kenji had little energy to spare.

  "You did well, my gusty fighter," he said, finally congratulating the Pokémon. "I certainly would not have managed to face them without you."

  "Ti, ti," the bug trilled shortly. It rested on a low branch, gently moving its wings.

  "Yes, the other beasts would have most certainly been captured if we did not intervene," he said. Turning his attention to Sprout, Kenji stroked the turtle's leathery skin. "You did good as well, not every battle is one that must be fought."

  The beast warbled, tired and stressed from the fast pace.

  "I know," he soothed. "We can rest now."

  Following his own words, Kenji lay down with his back to a tree. None were as large as he was used to, with trunks paces wide. This close to the edge of the forest, the rock slides from the mountain destroyed the trees before they could grow too large. Additionally, after being forced to leave his sled behind, he no longer had a lean-to that he could use. Worse, most of the supplies and food that he foraged were lost.

  This close to the edge of the forest there were few bushes that sported any mature berries. Those that did, he greedily devoured or added to his provisions. To make room and lighten his load, Kenji left behind the stone flakes he broke so long ago.

  All he had remaining were a few days of fruit and berries, his stone axe, and his staff.

  With his head on the pack and the staff in hand, Kenji quickly fell to sleep. The exertions of the day dragged him into a dreamless slumber. The night passed quickly and without interruption for him.

  Without the sled to shield his face, he was awoken by the light of dawn.

  Rolling over with a groan, he rubbed at his eyes. Shielding them, he wondered why it was so bright before suddenly remembering.

  Snapping his eyes open, Kenji looked around frantically. Rocks, stunted trees, and scraggly grass surrounded him. He relaxed after a moment, realizing that he was safe and alone except for his companions.

  Sitting up, he searched through his pack for food. He chose the juiciest fruits, as his mouth was dry and sticky from the night. With no water nearby, he savored the flavored liquid as he greedily juiced the berries. Right now, they were his only source of water and he was going to have to ration them carefully.

  Plucking several free, he woke Sprout and offered him some. The turtle sleepily chewed upon the fruit, chirping as he crunched the seeds. He finished the meager amount of food quickly and warbled for more.

  "No," Kenji told him firmly. "We need to make the food last as long as we can."

  The young beast did not understand and warbled again.

  Kenji sighed in response and stood. Flutter was already awake, and likely fed already. The butterfly was always the first to rise, often returning from its morning meal of flowers to waken him.

  "You ready?" he asked as he pulled on his pack.

  "Ti," the Pokémon trilled shortly, jumping into the air with a flap of its wings.

  "Then let's go," Kenji said as he started walking.

  He kept his pace quick, limited only by how fast the turtle trundled after him. When the beast started to slow, he picked the turtle up and walked faster.

  The forested plateau grew larger before him as he closed with it. The cliffs were nearly sheer, with only small ledges and outcroppings marring the surface. In spite of the green both above and below, nothing dared reach up from the lower forest. No vines, weeds, or even nest could be seen.

  At the same time, the pull of the mesa grew heavier. It was a perceptible weight that pulled at his spirit, drawing him forward even as it tried to slow him down. The sensation was familiar, though one of the strongest Kenji had ever experienced.

  Not that it means much, he thought to himself.

  A visit to one of the few mystical realms in the kingdom were only awarded to those who gained the attention of the noble families. Only a handful of Warriors were granted access, often due to great deeds performed in battle. When not at war, tournaments were hosted to recognize notable Warriors and lift them even further.

  His father's garden was one such environment, though to a far lesser extent. The glade of the mossy boulder easily exceeded his family's cultivation site and was one of the only reasons he recognized the feeling exuded by the forested plateau.

  The cliffs grew before him as he neared. His neck was starting to cramp from looking up. It was hard for him to estimate how tall the plateau was, only knowing it was shorter than the rest of the mountain range.

  Fortunate, considering that he intended to climb it.

  There was a short break in the forest as he closed with the wall of staff, as though the trees dared not to grow too close. Craning his head, Kenji spied several ledges to rest at. Setting down Sprout, he thought over how to scale the face of the plateau.

  "Ti," Flutter chirped at him.

  Kenji stared at the bug in consideration. The beast could be of great assistance, though not without risk. Above the forest, the butterfly would be exposed to any predator with a set of functioning eyes. Even now, the Beautifly looked uneasy to be out in the open.

  In order to give himself time to think, Kenji had the Pokémon spit out some thread. Tying the silk around himself, Kenji secured the pack with several more straps. The supplies were all he had left and he did not want to risk them falling or even consider leaving the food behind.

  His staff was tied to his back as well, underneath the pack.

  Calling for more silk, Kenji crafted a harness for Sprout. He used as much silk as he could, nearly cocooning the turtle to his stomach. The last thing he wanted was for the beast to slip out and fall. Even with Withdrawn into his Shell, the fall would be lethal.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  Sprout warbled at him with uncertainty, confused and scared by the silk wrappings.

  "It's to hold you in place," Kenji told the young beast. "Just until we reach the peak."

  "Ti," Flutter trilled at his words. "Beauti?"

  "Yes. I'll be joining you in the skies," Kenji said as he looked up. "Somewhat," he added.

  "Beau," the butterfly trilled.

  Closing his eyes, Kenji breathed in deeply. He cleared his mind, setting aside his worries and fear. His path was decided, all he needed to do was walk it.

  Opening his eyes, Kenji did not see the Beautifly, but refused to allow the Pokémon's disappearance to disturb him. Instead, he strode up to the rocky cliff face with strong steps. Not giving himself time to hesitate, Kenji wrapped his hands around the stony protrusions and began to climb.

  Having lived for nearly half a season in the untamed forest, and walked for much of it, Kenji considered himself in fine shape. Not that he was unfit before, but there was a difference between training and putting said training to use. His first few days were rough, with sore limbs and hunger teasing at his stomach.

  Now, his hands and feet were calloused, with muscles taunt under his skin. Instead of suffering hunger pains, he was simply aware of the need to eat, gathering sustenance in whatever form the forest offered.

  As such, Kenji fared far better than he expected.

  The wind was soon tugging at his back and a familiar burn was starting to be felt in his arms and legs. He passed the first ledge without pausing, not feeling the need to rest yet. The sky loomed clear behind him, but all he had eyes for was the stone wall he desperately clung to.

  Handholds were plenty, holding firm no matter how much weight he put on the protruding rocks. He moved deceptively fast, his pace slow and steady. Eventually, his limbs began to burn more than he was willing to ignore. Crawling his way to the nearest ledge, Kenji pulled himself atop it to rest his arms and legs.

  There was enough room to stand, as long as he pressed tight to the face of the plateau. Sprout was surprisingly quiet, considering how high they were. Kenji risked a glimpse down to his stomach and saw the beast was actually sleeping.

  He huffed with a roll of his eyes. Likely, the closeness of the stone was comforting. Especially when Kenji's body shielded the young turtle from much of the wind.

  "Tifly,"

  A soft trill pulled him from his thoughts and Kenji looked over his shoulder. The forest spread out behind him, the trees gathering together in a green mass. He was surprisingly high, leaving little detail that he could make out.

  The sky was blue and filled with fluffy white clouds. Dark shapes, mere suggestions, danced in the air.

  However, most of the view was blocked by the close shape of his flying companion. The bug was gently flapping its wings, a thick string of silk trailing from its proboscis. Large, clear blue eyes met his own, filled with excitement.

  "Flutter?" he asked uncertainly. "What're you doing?"

  "Ti, ti," the beast trilled with short, insistent squeals. Its round limbs wagged, gesturing to the silk emerging from its proboscis.

  Kenji followed the thread upwards, seeing it disappear far above and over the lip of the plateau.

  "Of course," he said with a laugh. "I should've thought of that, you smart little butterfly." Kenji carefully twisted his arm backwards, struggling to reach for the silk rope.

  "To think you're both a fighter and a sage," he complimented as he wrapped the thread around himself. The silk was extremely adhesive, making the process difficult and all the more appreciated.

  "Beaut," the butterfly trilled in happiness.

  Wrapping the strands several times around his waist, Kenji scrubbed his hands against the rock to clean his hands of the silk. With Futter as his back, Kenji resumed his climb.

  As the rope shortened, he wrapped it around his body with each break.

  There were several heart stopping moments when his handhold or the rock supporting his feet broke free. He screamed with the first instance, awakening Sprout who added his own warbles of fear, and scrambled at the stone face.

  Flutter trilled as well before a powerful wind shoved against his body. It pressed him closer to the cliff face, supporting him as he regained his footing.

  When he recovered, he glimpsed over his shoulder to see Flutter furiously beating its wings.

  "You smart, beautiful creature," he shouted in thanks.

  "Fly," his companion trilled back, slowing its wings and releasing the weak technique it was holding.

  Smiling Kenji thanked the Beautifly and took a moment to calm his racing heart. When he felt ready to continue, he resumed his climb, immediately taking a break on the next ledge.

  The butterfly's help made the ascent all the safer, and Kenji moved with confidence. Anytime he slipped, the beast was there to catch him with a strong gust, holding the technique until he recovered. As a result, he practically flew up the plateau.

  Part of him daydreamed about using a swarm of Beautifly to lift himself up as though he rested upon a cloud. Kenji laughed at the mental image and the foolishness of such a method.

  Eventually, he reached up and found nothing to grab. Looking up in surprise, Kenji saw the edge of the plateau just above him. The other end of the silk rope was off to the side and he eagerly crawled over the edge of the lip.

  Finally on the top, Kenji crawled on his hands and knees until he was several paces away from the long drop. Standing up, he lifted his arms to the sky and shouted to the forest below.

  "Yes!" he screamed, no longer burdened by the risk of a long fall. "We made it!" he yelled, his throat scraping from the noise.

  "Beau, ti, ti," Flutter squealed with him as the butterfly danced in the air. The sun sparkled off its iridescent wings, the panels of yellow, blue, and yellow shining in the light.

  Unfortunately, the shouting disturbed his other companion, who warbled in fear. Unable to help himself, Kenji laughed and patted the turtle gently until he calmed. When the young beast understood that the noise was one of celebration, he joined in with chirps and warbles of his own.

  When Kenji finally started to calm down, he began the arduous process of untangling himself the wrappings of silk. The sticky nature of the threads made it all the more difficult and Kenji struggled to free himself fully. He was forced to dig through his pack for his axe to cut himself free.

  The young turtle was ecstatic and began to explore the dirt eagerly. The sun was brighter without the tree canopy to block it, and the beast was enjoying the strong light. He dug through the soil and covered his shell happily.

  Kenji chewed on his food as he inspected the land below. The forest was massive, reaching far into the horizon. In the distance, he could see a glimmering expanse that reminded him of the sea. It brought back memories that were as pleasant as they were painful.

  The sloping mountains rose high, forming a wall that closed in the wild forest and blocked his view of the terrain beyond.

  Turning around, Kenji stared into the forest only paces away.

  The woods were vibrant, flowers blooming with colors that put even Flutter's wings to shame. The trees grew healthy, with little detritus on the floor or broken trunks. There were no dead or broken limbs, fallen trunks propped up by their neighbors. The soil was a deep, rich brown with grass and plants sprouting in the ample sunlight.

  Everything grew wildly, yet all in harmony.

  The entire climb, he could feel the weight of the mountain grow. It was a constant pressure on his spirit, a growing mass that sought to push him back. It was not as difficult as he thought to push through and continue climbing.

  What helped were the wisps of Energy that flowed from the plateau. The power was revitalizing, giving him the strength to continue. Now that he was upon the plateau, he could feel how the Grass Energy was contained within the forest.

  Far more than the mossy boulder.

  It was rooted in the ground, flowing through every plant and tree within the isolated forest. The Energy wanted to burrow within him as well, bringing him strength and bountiful growth.

  Still, as with the glade, he refused to cultivate the power.

  Frowning, Kenji stared deeper into the forest.

  "What," he muttered.

  There was something . . . odd about the plateau's Energy. It shifted, a twist as though the entire forest was turning.

  Turning to look at him.

  Before he could process the realization, a powerful tendril of Energy reached out towards him. The weight doubled, and doubled again, bending Kenji over and driving him to his knees.

  "Wait," he wheezed. "Please,"

  Gasping from the pressure, Kenji curled his fingers in the ground. The damp soil dug into his fingernails as he kept himself falling flat. The Guardian, far greater than the Roserade of the mossy boulder, made itself known

  The Energy twisted around him, blooming with intention. It curled around, seeking to constrain and invade him. The connection was a mental blow, burrowing tendrils that easily overpowered him to connect to his mind. It was not so much a request as a demand.

  Groaning, Kenji was bombarded by images, scents, and emotion. Poison and flames burning through his skin, innocent curiosity, and a forest drenched in the blood of those who trespassed.

  <>

  Worse was the being on the other end of the sending. Angry, dark fury surged like the flexing of leaves soaking in the sun. Black flowers grew along poisoned trees, their thorns piercing the hard wood.

  <>

  The aura grew domineering and harsh as a shadowy figure stood over clear glass.

  "This-" Kenji struggled to answer. "This one apologizes for his intrusion." The aura fought him even as he tried to speak. "This one is lost, and only seeks to return home."

  Memory of a powerful shadow-,-one that would threaten even the forest flickered through his mind.

  < here.>

  "For a view of the land," Kenji bared his teeth, keeping his response short. He could feel his spirit rising, trying to throw off the other being's aura. The effort was futile, of course, a mere bush trying to outgrow a mighty oak.

  <> The being asked, a view of Kenji's companions communicating the message. The emotions tangled with his, bleeding with suspicion and ever-present anger.

  "Companions," Kenji ground out, feeling as though his spirit was cracking under the being's pressure. "Bonds that I will carry to the end."

  The aura roiled around him, the pressure pulsing as it strengthened and eased. Disgust and derision could be felt. He could feel his spirit crack further and he groaned from the sensation. Heartbeats passed as the being considered his words.

  <> A strange city full of metal and glass spears that reached for sky.

  "Where," Kenji gasped, the mental image of civilization shocking him. "Please," he added desperately. The Guardian's hatred of humans was clear to his mind. "How do I get there?"

  <> A dawn breaking the horizon, transforming the glass and metal towers into pillars of reflected light. <>

  The connection faded as the aura withdrew, the piercing thorns peeling free to retreat back within the forest. The Energy of the forest stilled once more, but this time the woods grew darker to his mind. Dangers hidden within and barely restrained fury.

  With the Guardian's withdrawal, Kenji collapsed to the ground, shuddering. His spirit was still cracking, the pressure it endured too much. Baring his teeth, Kenji tried to hold the seed of his spirit together using the hold method he knew how.

  Instinctively, he tried to compress, using both will and aura to hold his spirit together. However, the damage was already done and he dropped his head to the ground as darkness crawled across his vision.