City in the Sky #6

“This place is way too fucking cold.” Phoenix grumbled to his partner pokemon, a delta fire luxray named Ignatius. The two were currently in the snowy city of Wintervale, which had temperatures well below freezing. For the trainer this cold was especially unbearable considering he had lived in Ethermoor for his entire life. The city nestled right alongside a volcano was about as far as you could get from cold. However, Wintervale was currently in a near disastrous state which had prompted Phoenix to travel there. 

The trainer couldn’t help but also think about how dependent Wintervale was on others compared to his home city. Ethermoor years without contact from any other cities and had been able to survive. Though, he tried to remind himself about how badly the Guardians' had damaged areas of the continent.

“Hello, are you here to offer help?” A voice said from behind him. Phoenix turned around to see a person bundled up with a warm coat and hat. She was holding a tablet in her gloved hands which she sent a quick message on.

“Uh yeah.” He replied simply and she nodded.

“I assume from your Luxray and Ethermoor clothing that you have fire types?” She asked and Phoenix nodded. “Alright, our citizens are really struggling with the cold. If you could have your pokemon help light fires that would be a huge help. Also there’s blankets if you can pass them out.” The Wintervale citizen explained as she pointed to a nearby cart filled with blankets. 

“Alright, I can do that.” He agreed. She didn’t wait for him to say anything else as she rushed off while tapping on her tablet. 

The trainer looked around for a few moments and began to walk down the snowy pathway. As he moved further along he began to see Wintervale citizens huddled around small piles of wood. Some of them were lit while others weren’t. Regardless, the people gathered around each of them shivered. Occasional gusts of winds blew over the snowy terrain adding to the frigid weather.

“Alright, let’s hit that wood pile with a flamethrower!” Phoenix said as he pointed to the wood with a rather exaggerated hand motion. Ignatius followed his command as he created a stream of fire. As the hot flames hit the wood the fire quickly spread and a blazing bonfire was created. 

“Great job!” The trainer said enthusiastically to his pokemon, who excitedly swished his tail. More Wintervale citizens began to huddle around the warm fire. Phoenix grabbed some of the nearby blankets and began to pass them out to the people gathered around the fire.

Once he was done the trainer moved on to try and find more unlit wood piles. The next one he found had a weakening flame that barely provided any warmth to those gathered around it. With a flamethrower from Ignatius the fire began to burn stronger. Phoenix then went through the same process of handing out blankets to the cold people gathered around. 

The sun had already set and casted the floating city in darkness by the time Phoenix was down lighting fires. With the lack of electricity only the glow created by the fires and light beacons lit up the city. Beside him Ignatius had grown tired from his day of using fire type moves.

“You did amazing work today!” Phoenix said to his pokemon as he sat down near one of the fires. His stomach rumbled as he did so.

“Good thing I brought some food. Don’t worry I brought you a snack too!” Phoenix said as he turned to Ignatius. The delta fire luxray immediately perked up at the mention of food. The trainer opened his bag and took out two containers, each filled with instant noodle curry. He could smell the mix of delicious spices as soon as he opened them. The fiery food also immediately reminded him of his home and childhood in Ethermoor.

“Now if you can warm them up please.” The trainer said to his pokemon as he placed down the food. Ignatius created small flames around the food that continued for a few seconds before disappearing. By the time the flames vanished the food was steaming hot. 

Phoenix picked up his bowl and immediately began to eat it, not at all bothered by the hot temperature or hot spices. Ignatius also began to gobble down his food. The luxray licked his jaws as he finished the food, letting out a happy purr as he curled up next to his trainer.