1. Ash's Story (Part 0: Prologue)

Chapter 3: The Cold Scarf

Route 20 in Kalos was quiet that morning. Trees crowded the narrow path, their branches throwing broken patches of shade across the grass. Aurora kept one hand near Ash's shoulder as they walked, ready to catch him if he stumbled without constantly steering him.

Ash was five now, and a year had passed since Giovanni killed Golly. He had grown taller, but other things had barely changed. A sudden noise could still make him turn too fast, and Aurora often caught him checking doors, windows, and gaps between trees before moving on.

"Is this where the Mache family lives?" Ash asked, pointing toward the wooden house ahead.

"That's it." Aurora looked at the house and smiled. "Valerie and Wulfric live here with their daughters. Flora, Eve, and Alice are around your age. I thought you might like having some other kids to play with."

Ash looked pleased for half a second, then nervous. Children rarely visited the secluded parts of Sevestar, and some knew too much about Adam and Aurora before speaking to him. Ash wanted friends, but Aurora could already see him worrying about them.

"I'll be good," Ash said, standing a little straighter. "I promise."

Aurora brushed a loose strand of hair from his forehead. "I know. Just try to enjoy yourself, all right? You don't have to spend the whole visit watching out for everybody."

Ash looked down at the path. "What if something happens?"

"Then you come get me." Aurora crouched so they were eye to eye. "You're five, Ash. You don't have to handle everything yourself."

He gave her a small nod. Aurora knew that did not mean he agreed. Since Golly's death, telling him that adults would handle danger had become much harder. He remembered what happened when help came too late.

The Mache house stood just beyond the trees, with flower boxes under the windows and a carved wooden sign beside the door. Aurora expected to hear voices at the steps, maybe one of the girls running inside or a Pokémon near the door.

Instead, the house stayed quiet.

Aurora knocked. No footsteps crossed the floor. No child answered, and she could not hear a Pokémon moving around inside.

"Maybe they went somewhere," Ash whispered, though he kept staring at the door.

"Maybe." Aurora knocked again, louder. "Valerie? Wulfric? It's Aurora. Are you home?"

Ash shifted beside her and stared at the nearest window. His face changed. "Mom, look."

Aurora followed his gaze and stopped.

A dark smear marked the inside of the glass.

Her hand went straight to her blade. She moved Ash behind her and tried the door with her other hand.

"Stay close to me, Ash."

The door swung open without resistance.

An overturned chair blocked part of the entryway. One curtain had been ripped down, and another chair lay on its side near the hearth. Valerie was crumpled on the floor. Wulfric sat slumped against a cabinet, one sleeve dark with blood. Flora and Eve were beneath the table, awake but trembling too badly to stand.

Ash made a frightened sound behind her.

"Valerie!" Aurora hurried across the room and dropped beside her. She found a pulse, then looked back toward Ash. "Stay by the door. Don't come any farther."

Valerie stirred when Aurora touched her shoulder. Her fingers caught weakly at Aurora's wrist.

"Alice," she rasped. "They took Alice."