Paragon

Hisui Incursion [25]

I'm starting to get too lazy to post on so many sites. Once this arc is over, I may stop posting the story on this site and only post on FFN, AO3, and Royal Road.

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PARAGON

Hisui Incursion Arc [25]

Chapter 77 : Origin Children

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"I'm glad to see you safe and well," Riley smiled, bowing in relief.

He, like Ash, was dressed in a winter coat not unlike her own, but theirs was a dark blue instead of red. And unlike Ash, he actually looked winded from the hike up here, his eyes reddened, sweat beading on his forehead.

"Thanks," Sabrina beamed. "You too."

"Yo, Ash, can you help me out here?!"

Following after Riley, lugging two enormous backpacks on his back, came Rei. His tongue hung from his mouth and sweat poured down his face as he limped forward hunched over through the snow, his eyes glazed over.

It was only now that Sabrina noticed Ash wasn't wearing a backpack, but Riley was.

"Oh, yeah, sorry," Ash said, jogging over and taking one of the packs from him.

Suddenly, Rei was knocked off his feet as Growlithe bounded straight into him, nuzzling his rock-hard head against his trainer's body.

"Growlithe!" Rei cried, embracing him. "I knew you'd be with the others! Ha ha—ow, stop! Stop, that hurts—Growlithe!"

As Growlithe continued to bash his head against Rei, the last of their group ascended up the mountainside. Professor Laventon dragged himself over the ridge, breathing heavily as he did. Pikachu stood perched atop his head like a lookout, and upon seeing Sabrina, he immediately jumped toward her, smashing straight into her chest.

"Oof!" she grunted. "Hey, Pikachu." She stroked his head as he nuzzled against her face.

Behind Laventon, Sneasel sauntered up, walking straight past him, Ash, Rei, and Riley, until she stood right in front of Akari, whose eyes were brimming with tears. As Akari knelt down, Sneasel purred sarcastically as if to say, come on, let's get this over with. A second later, Akari crushed her in a hug, babbling something incoherent as tears and snot streamed down her face.

"Everybody!" Yura dashed forward with a grin and threw her hands in the air. "We all got back together again!"

Laventon suddenly lurched forward through the snow. "Yura!" he coughed.

Yura watched as he surged toward her, and Sabrina noticed Ash smile.

"Listen to this," Ash said to her quietly.

"Yura!" Laventon grasped the girl by her shoulders, and she gave a nervous smile. "I found it! You were right! I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry! I mean, I didn't find it per se, but I was led there—"

Yura conked him on the head with a balled up fist. "What are you talking about?" she scowled.

"Your home!" Laventon said, his eyes wild. "The Platinum Settlement. I met Cogita! And Enamorus! You remember them, don't you?"

Yura blinked. And blinked again. Slowly, her brows creased into a frown.

The Platinum Settlement... Like the Diamond and Pearl Settlements? Sabrina's eyes flicked between Yura and Laventon.