In a small clearing full of heather and pungent smells, there was a nest. It was a mash of natural and ornamental. A tangle of branches hung with bits and pieces of secondhand goods. Scraps of cloth, fallen coins, metal from armor, and a broken Pokeball. Glace even noticed a patch of unnatural flowers at the center of the nest. Had a Gardener rested here and left a fragrant garden for this Pokemon to co-opt?

The Pokemon was absent. Whether out hunting for food, fun, or more adornments for their nest Glace did not know. "Where are they?" he asked Popplio. The creature dipped down into the bowl of the nest, twisting in a tight circle to catch the scent. Glace could almost see the lines of scent coiling up into its bulbous nose.

Popplio slipped upwards and outwards, tracking the scent in widening circles.

A spur of cultivated flame lashed from the pit and scored Popplio, burning a black and purple furrow down the Pokemon's side.

"Give it some room," Glace said, as the pit fire greedily spread to nearby flowers.

They would lose this fight. But Glace has no problem with that. It wasn't a failure, and it was certainly no setback. Instead, it was a memory.

Stolen toys and trinkets dripped through the thorns like the thick wax of abandoned candles, and Glace watched with warm nostalgia.

Popplio sprayed the flames, dousing burning edges but failing to extinguish the core of the burning bush.

Snow thickening in the cool air, raining back down as the confrontation continued on. Her Sobble was stunned, trying not to shy away from the heat of the steam that rose. This was the first confrontation of physical violence they had ever partaken in, and they didn't like it, but someone had to douse the flames.

"To fall, is to climb back up again. Nothing lasts forever, Cardinal Glace. Except nothing, that however, is forever. There would be no meaning to the drop, if we were not also forced to climb. To experience life's hardships is integral to experience its joys. You can never truly know happiness without knowing what sadness is." The woman spoke with a soft voice, eyes gazing upon the snow that melted as flames rose once again.

Sobble finally crawled down the torso of the trainer, fighting back tears as they steeled their resolve. "A-again?"

"Yes dear. You are one of the chosen, stronger than you can possibly imagine. Simply believe."

Cheeks puffed up once again, eyes betrayed the nerves of the small amphibian, even as another Water Gun burst forth to quell the rising flames.