Single post in The Valley Between

Chapter 15

Winter stood paralyzed with fear at the snarling mass of angry pokemon in front of the Main Hall. She scanned the crowd and saw her parents lashed to the ground with brambles, as well as Lumin and Flare. Alpen staggered outside the Main Hall doors, a seething ball of singed fur and rage. "You best be surrendering," he roared. "I'm the leader here! There's nothing you can do, Winter." A shock of realization flashed across Winter's face, then she turned to Kisterash. She read her expression and whispered, "No. Don't do it, Winter." Staring straight into Alpen's eyes, Winter said loudly for everyone to hear, "Alpen the Absol, resident of the Hoenn peak, I challenge you for the seat of Presidency." A rippling murmur rose from the crowd as Alpen sputtered his shock. "That's... That can't be allowed," he yelled. A Lucario pushed up front and said, "It is! According to Article 2 in the Park's Constitution, any challenger fit to beat a president that is acting in a tyrannical way can take the seat for themselves." The Lucario winked at Winter, and she realized it was the Riolu who sat behind her in Professor Lotus's class. "Thank you..." She trailed off, unfamiliar with his name. "Loki," he whispered. Winter nodded and locked eyes with Alpen, saying, "Loki is right. You are unfit to be President, and it is not just me. These pokemon here have uprooted their dignity, destroyed their homes and their bonds of friendship of those you forced out." Sweeping her wing to display the croud, she continued, "You may be angry, but having these good citizens maul and destroy for your gain isn't right." A murmer of shock rippled through the crowd. Whispers of "She's got a point" and "That's right" were heard as Alpen growled at them. "Now," Winter said, "We politely ask that you stand down, Alpen." He roared, "Never!" and leaped at Winter. She yelled, "Now!" and her and the Fire types in the crowd let loose a whirlwind of flame. Attack after attack landed on Alpen as he screeched his pain. His claws shielded his face as the flames danced in the air around him, and the stolen necklace melted and slid off. Inside the now-warped gold pendant was a small, rainbow colored Key Stone. As the fires died down, Alpen's fur was completely covered in soot and ash and his front paws that blocked the worst of the fire were misshapen and deformed. His Mega Stone lie in a melted heap beside him as he painstakingly reverted back to normal. "Is anyone a doctor," Winter yelled. "We gotta help him, even if he did try to overthrow our system of government." A Froslass and two Lurantis came from the crowd and took Alpen, coating him in a thin layer of ice to start healing his burns. The crowd soon lost their vengeful spirit as the pokemon returned to their broken homes to repair. As peace returned to the city, the High Peak emerged from the exile out of Gulch Park.