The Frozen Path - Pokémon SI

As Alex approached the gateway of his home, the familiar scent of pine mingled with the morning mist, wrapping Mahogany Town in its timeless embrace. Before his hand could even brush the doorbell, the front door burst open, and his mother, Lena, rushed out like a whirlwind of energy.

"My little Icicle!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up with joy. She closed the distance in seconds, enveloping Alex in a hug so tight it seemed to erase the years they'd spent apart. "My baby is back at last!" she murmured, cradling his face in her hands as if to make sure he was real.

"Mom," Alex said with a sheepish grin, trying to step back slightly, "I'm not—"

"Nonsense," she cut him off with a playful pinch to his cheek. "You'll always be my baby, Icicle."

Before Alex could respond, her attention turned to the small Pokémon at his side. Kneeling, she offered her hand to Alolan Vulpix and Eevee. "And who are these sweet little darlings?"

Eevee, always the dignified one, sniffed cautiously before leaning into Mom's touch, her tail wagging gently. Vulpix was bolder, nuzzling into her hand and earning a delighted laugh as she found the perfect spot behind her ears. The little fox Pokémon let out a contented yip, leaning into Mom's scratches with obvious delight.

"Well, aren't you just the charmer?" Mom cooed, expertly coaxing purrs from both Pokémon.

Standing a few steps back, his father, Victor, observed the reunion with a quiet smile. "Welcome home, Alex," he said, his calm voice carrying the steady strength Alex had always admired.

"It's good to be back, Dad," Alex replied, his tone warm and sincere.

Inside, the house was just as Alex remembered: spacious, sturdy, and brimming with purpose. Originally a Yukishiro training estate that has later turned into a home it was designed to accommodate Pokémon and their trainers. High ceilings and wide hallways allowed room for even the largest Pokémon, while the expansive backyard housed training equipment and a serene lake that shimmered in the morning light.

Mom ushered Alex into the kitchen, where the rich aroma of simmering stew filled the air. She placed a steaming mug of cocoa in front of him and gestured to the table. "Start from the beginning," she insisted. "Calls and pictures are fine, but I want the full story."

Alex chuckled, spreading a well-worn map across the table. Dotted with handwritten notes, photographs, and markers tracing his routes, the map was a vibrant tapestry of his travels. He tapped Johto first. "You already know this part," he began. "My first journey started here."

Mom and Dad nodded, their expressions encouraging him to continue. Alex recounted his early adventures, how he'd returned home after his first major conference failure with his youthful team of Manny, Hama, Chonk, Vandall, and Hestia. Their inexperience had been apparent in their early defeats, but those moments had laid the groundwork for everything that followed.

"Hestia wasn't even supposed to be a battler," Alex said with a laugh. "She was there to keep morale up and take care of us, she nailed it every time."

"She always did have a way of keeping the team together," Dad said, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"And Manny?" Mom asked fondly. "Still refusing to stay clean, I bet."

Alex grinned. "He wouldn't be Manny if he did."

His finger moved north on the map. "After Johto, I went to Sinnoh," he said, his voice taking on a reverent tone. "The northern part of the region? Constant snow, biting winds—unliveable conditions. It was heaven."

Mom sighed, her disbelief evident. "Icicle, only you would call that heaven."

Alex chuckled. "I've never felt the cold like most people do. Between your training, Dad's drills, and Grandpa Pryce's meditations, it felt like home."

"Dangerous home," Dad said, raising an eyebrow.

Alex nodded, a fond smile playing on his lips. "It wasn't just the environment. The Pokémon there—they're survivors. That's where I met Everest, as a Snover. He attacked us the first chance he got, wanting to prove himself against Candice's Abomasnow."

"And?" Mom prompted, her concern evident.

"Manny handled it," Alex assured her. "Everest tried his hardest, but Manny shut him down hard. After that, he decided to join us."

"And Nessie?" Dad asked.

"Sweet but strong. She's the quiet force of the team, and helps out when we need healing" Alex said. "And then there were the Snowrunts—Mr. Freeze and Shimmer. They were watching us from a snowbank, deciding whether to let us pass. It took patience, but eventually, they warmed up to us."

Mom's face softened, her maternal pride shining through. "It sounds like they found the right trainer."

Alex's finger moved westward on the map. "After Sinnoh, I headed to Galar. The gym challenges? Those were quick to finish. But the Crown Tundra? That was the real challenge."

Mom groaned, crossing her arms. "Another frozen wasteland? Do you ever pick normal places?"

Alex grinned. "Apparently not. But before I even ventured into the tundra, I met Edgar. He was a Corvisquire—a bird thriving in the snow, of all places. It just felt right to add him to the family. He also helped a lot when I needed to restock supplies or navigate the harsher terrain."

Dad raised an eyebrow. "And now?"

"He's a Corviknight," Alex replied, his tone softening slightly. "But he's so hard on himself. No matter what he accomplishes, he always thinks he could've done better. I've been trying to help him see that he's already incredible."

"Relentless snowstorms, cliffs, wild Pokémon—you would've loved it," Alex teased with a grin, glancing at his mom.

Her exasperated sigh was met with a chuckle, but Alex's expression soon grew serious as his hand hovered over the Crown Tundra on the map. "That's where I met Laufey.

Mom leaned forward, her arms crossed. "And?"

"He thought I was a threat," Alex began, his voice steady but low. "He'd lost his pack—probably to poachers—and he wasn't taking any chances. When we crossed paths, he attacked me with everything he had."

"You were alone?" Mom's voice tightened, her concern evident.

Alex nodded, his hand brushing his chest where Laufey's claws had left their mark. "It was just me. No Manny, no backup. It wasn't a choice—I'd wandered off from my camp without telling my team. Laufey saw me as a predator and came at me with everything he had."

Dad's sharp gaze narrowed. "And you fought him? Alone?"

"I didn't have a choice," Alex replied evenly. "It wasn't about winning—it was about surviving and proving I wasn't his enemy. It was brutal. He left this." He lifted his shirt showing them the scar Laufey's claws had carved across his chest. "But eventually, I got through to him. He stopped seeing me as a threat."

"And now?" Mom asked, her voice softening slightly, though her worry lingered.

"Now he's one of my strongest," Alex said with quiet pride. "He's driven, relentless—but we've worked on tempering that fire. Meditation's helped. It's given him focus, a way to channel all that energy. He's come a long way."

Mom sighed, shaking her head. "You're lucky he didn't tear you apart."

"He tried," Alex admitted with a wry chuckle. "But he's family now."

Before the atmosphere could grow too heavy, Alex smiled and reached for one of his Pokéballs. "But Laufey wasn't the only one I met in the tundra." He released the translucent, shimmering figure of Snom onto the table. The little Pokémon chirped softly, shuffling awkwardly across the surface.

Mom's face immediately brightened. "Oh, you poor little thing!" she cooed, scooping Snom into her hands with practiced gentleness. "Where did you find him?"

"He was just an egg," Alex said, watching as Snom nestled into Mom's touch. "Abandoned in the snow near some old ruins. I camped out for a few days, hoping something would come back for him, but no one did. When he hatched, he was alone. I couldn't just leave him."

Dad observed the interaction silently, his gaze softening. "And he's been with you ever since?"

Alex nodded. "Yeah. He's small, but he's tough. He doesn't back down, even when the odds aren't in his favor."

Mom scratched Snom just under his chin, earning a delighted trill. "You always find the ones who need you most, don't you?"

Alex smiled, watching the scene with a warmth that mirrored the little Pokémon's trust in Mom. "I guess I do."

Alex tapped the map over Alola, his tone turning reflective. "After Galar, I headed to Alola," he began, a small grin tugging at his lips. "Beautiful islands, vibrant communities... and way too much sand."

Mom raised an eyebrow, her arms crossing. "Sand?"

Alex sighed dramatically, running a hand through his hair. "It was horrible Mom! Coarse, rough, irritating and it gets everywhere."

Victor chuckled under his breath while Mom shook her head, half-exasperated and half-amused. "Only you could complain about paradise, Icicle."

"Paradise?" Alex echoed with mock horror. "It was a trap. Sure, the beaches looked nice, but then you step out, and the sun decides to roast you alive. And don't even get me started on the humidity." He shuddered for effect, earning a laugh from Mom. "I spent most of my time on Mount Lanakila. It's the only place there that felt... normal."

Mom tilted her head, clearly curious. "Normal for you means freezing and miserable for everyone else."

"Exactly," Alex said with a grin. "The cold, the snow—it reminded me of home. I turned the mountain into our training ground, pushed my team to their limits. It was brutal, but we came out stronger for it."

Victor nodded, intrigued. "Turning the mountain into a battlefield? That sounds like you. And the Pokémon?"

"That's where I met Eevee and Vulpix," Alex said, his grin softening into a fond smile. He glanced back toward the living room, where both Pokémon had firmly claimed the sofa as their territory. "Eevee was curious but cautious, following me around the lower trails. It took a while, but she eventually warmed up to me. Vulpix was the opposite. She challenged me outright, tried to prove herself right from the start."

Mom turned to look at the two Pokémon, her expression softening. "They've certainly settled in quickly."

"Oh, they've already claimed the sofa," Alex said with mock indignation. "It's theirs now, apparently."

Vulpix gave a contented huff, while Eevee flicked her tail lazily, their attitudes perfectly matching Alex's description.

"And what about this champion I've heard about?" Victor asked, his tone sharpening slightly.

Alex waved a hand dismissively. "I apparently beat the strongest trainer in the region. I guess that makes me their champion by default, but... it didn't feel official. They don't have a proper league like Sinnoh or Galar. It was more like a big exhibition match."

"And yet you didn't stay," Mom observed, her head tilting slightly.

"It wasn't for me," Alex admitted. "The heat, the humidity—it didn't feel right. I didn't connect with the region the way I have with others. It was more of a chapter than a destination."

Victor gave a small nod, his expression thoughtful. "So, you left after beating their champion?"

Alex leaned back, resting his hand on the map. "Yeah. I'd spent so much time on Mount Lanakila, building my team and pushing myself, but then developers came in. They wanted to build on the mountain, and I had to move on. It felt like a sign."

"A sign?" Mom asked, her curiosity piqued.

Alex smiled faintly. "Grandpa wrote to me around the same time. He said it was time for me to come home—that the gym needs someone who understands what Mahogany stands for. After that... enough was enough. It was time to come back."