Hello everybody! The Soldier of the Future is here once again to bring you another oneshot story. Because of a recent chain of events that left me burned out on fic writing in general, I thought writing and publishing a smaller fic would help me get back into my writing habit.
This fic will be the second prequel to Pokémon Heroes: Uprising, the first one being Arcanines of War. It is also my first effort at crafting a story that's entirely focused on legendary Pokémon entirely and since I've only scratched a bit of the surface in terms of their lore and general content, this fic is one of my tries at crafting them into well-developed and thought out characters. The thought of the history behind Alto Mare during the days when human and Pokémon relations were at a much more optimistic level has always been running around my mind. So instead of letting those ideas go and eventually become forgotten, I thought it'd be nice to draft them here.
Instead of following the US release of Pokémon Heroes (an evil trainer? Really? Is that the best they can do?) this one goes by the storyline of the Japanese release, where it was mentioned in the prologue that an unidentified force from the stars besieged Alto Mare.
So sit back and enjoy! I'll admit that my writing here isn't as great as my other works. This isn't just because this is my first story that's exclusively focused around legendary Pokémon, but also, I've been burned out recently as a result.
I've taken the liberty to divide this chapter up into multiple and smaller segments. As my writing style has drastically changed, longer chapters are no longer my forte, and I want this to reflect in my edits.
As usual, I don't own Pokémon.
Pokémon Heroes: Memories and Shadows of Alto Mare
Act 1: The Golden Days
"The fall of Alto Mare marked the beginning of the end of an era of perpetual Arcean and human relationships." –Cobalt, co-commander of the Alto Mare Elite Cadre
"We will prevail. Even in the darkest hours, our past shall never be forsaken." –Cornelia, co-leader of the Alto Mare Psionic Emissaries
Hello. If you've somehow managed to stumble into this text, let me congratulate you on something: you have discovered a primeval and long-lot relic of our ancient race, a time where humans, Pokémon, and legendaries alike lived in times that are was much more peaceful in contrast to the time that you're currently living in now. Many may deny this prospect to be fact, but it's a sad reality.
I ama member known to your race as the mythical Eon Pokémon species. For starters, what sets us unique as legendaries is that we, along with our female counterpart referred to as Latias, are the only dragon-born Pokémon in existence capable of wielding both draconic and psionic techniques at once. We are a small collective of servitors to a higher order of legendary Pokémon that we refer to as the Arceans, a society of beings whose task is to oversee the peace, order, and stability of the universe as a whole. What you are about to read is something that has been long forgotten, due to one fateful event that changed our destiny. This is why the remnants of my kind are scattered. If you've managed to find them and even tame one, please send them my regards. They'll appreciate it, and I'm sure they would want to know what happened to the rest of their kind.
Though by the time you read this, it's likely I will no longer be around. Even a legendary Pokémon like me has to move on sometime or later; we cannot remain and protect for all of eternity. There is a reason why generations come and go. Even more so, there are some things that are better off left untold in the eyes of the mortal society.
So open the pages, feel honored to know a noteworthy piece in the vast puzzle of Arcean history, and prepare to ascertain the ancient knowledge of our highly advanced and evolved, yet peaceful but forgotten society.
Learn from it too. History will repeat itself, and those who do not heed this warning will learn the hard way.
Alto Mare, 11th Century A.D.
"Another beautiful day to remain vigilant for the blessedness of the Shrine of Purity. Some may say it's an uneventful task that gets rather dull quickly, but I can't even consider anything negative about the occupation if the passing days are all something to look forward to."
The sun was beginning to creep over the eastern horizon across the Pacific Ocean, and from a single individual's viewpoint of the panoramic scene, it could be described as one of the most beautiful landscapes that he ever had the fortune of witnessing with his eyes. The skies were relatively clear, save for a few clouds dotted here and there across the endless blue void across the atmosphere; but due to the mild tropical environment that the city of Alto Mare was subjected to for most of the year, this were to be expected. It was certainly a climate fit for those who wanted to escape from a region that was chilly in any manner, or for those who simply disliked the cold for whatever reasons. The lone figure observing the mild and enjoyable weather before him had to thank Lugia and Kyogre alike that their early morning wasn't greeted with a thunderstorm.
"It's rather marveling to know that Siegfried, the first Latios, designed this city all by himself with his own lifeblood. And he was more than willing to share it all with this island's very first inhabitants, whether they were the first humans to make contact with our race or Pokémon that called this desolate little isle their home…," the youthful Latios thought, wondering how such a feat was even possible alone. "At least he had the courtesy to construct it in a location where winter lasts for no more than a month at best!"
The Eon Pokémon sighed warmly as he felt the sun's rejuvenating rays pour over the surface of the ocean and the city itself. Surveying the buildings below him, he smiled warmly as he noticed the inhabitants of the city, both humans and Pokémon alike, emerged from their habitats and dwellings. Most of the buildings were mainly constructed with white stones and were decorated with red shingles, balconies, and ivy vines that gave the city a classic feel, similar to the architecture that he witnessed in a distant region halfway across the world. Complementing these structures were streets composed of cobblestones that proved to be an effective means of transportation for those on foot, Pokémon mounts, or wheeled means of transportation. Last but not least, it was the water canals that gave the city its unique touch and wonder to it. Crisscrossing across the Water Capital, as referred to by the supreme legendaries that visited the city frequently, these waterways composed of crystal-clear water were truly an iconic mark that made Alto Mare the famous metropolis of the sea that it is today, both to mortals and deities alike. Not only were they yet another effective means of moving around the settlement for those who preferred to travel by water, those who claimed to have swam in the watercourses have claimed that the water had the ability to cleanse their bodies of anything that would affect them negatively.
"I'll have to agree with them for the most part," the Latios chuckled to himself in a positive manner. "Nothing beats a hot day like taking a quick dip in the rivers that might as well be the water blessed and purified by Lady Kyogre herself."
The outskirts of the city were less flattering in contrast to the chief areas that made up the occupied portions of the conurbation. Ports that allowed seagoing vessels to dock along with walkways that provided the habitants of the city a place to stroll along the coastline for families, couples, and friends alike. The eastern part of the city provided a beach with a strong surf for those who wanted to spend their leisure times doing something extreme, such as surfing and boogie boarding on the surface of the harsh and rough waves.
"And then there's the actual shrine that symbolizes all that is soothing yet fragile of this everlasting symbol of peace and tranquility of our sacred home…"
Though none of the mentioned landmarks of Alto Mare caught the Eon Pokémon's interest as much as the centerpiece attraction that was located in the town square of the city, where a museum designed in the shape and structure of a cathedral rose from the ground. A four-storey building that was composed of several spires that encircled the most important structure, the main complex was enclosed with a large-sized dome that also possessed many stained glass windows that were imprinted into its sides, and the supporting structures that made up the rest of the building were also built in forms that could only be described as a true work of art.
This cathedral-like building had more noteworthy importance than just being the town square and a gathering point for both humans and Pokémon alike that came to pay tribute to the guardians of their home on the seas. Inside the edifice held an ancient machine that acted both as the heart and soul of Alto Mare itself; dubbed as the Defense Mechanism of Alto Mare by its creators and caretakers alike, the machine did what it was supposed to do right on the front cover: act as a control for the defenses of the city should any outside force threaten its safety. A single manipulator would be able to control the settlement's defenses, ranging from gates that would shut off portions of the city to bending the very water that ran through the canals into any form or shape of their choosing. It was only one of the many examples of just what Arcean magic and technology was capable of.
However, the usage of the DMA was never a necessity with the exception of the most desperate and helpless circumstances. The city was always readily defended by the very Latios that built the city from ground-up with his very own life essence, and he wasn't alone either; to lessen the heavy task of having to take care of an entire city by himself, a specialized detachment of Pokémon of his same species that he trained personally were assigned in this endeavor. Referred to as the Alto Mare Elite Cadre, they were trained to protect whatever threats, both foreign and within, may jeopardize their sacred domicile. Possessing arts and skills that not even the most powerful mortal Pokémon in existence can ever hope to be granted, they were truly an irreplaceable defense unit and were entirely exclusive to the sanctuary of the seas. Only if they failed in their task would the Defense Mechanism of Alto Mare would even be remotely considered as a choice of salvation, for the activation of the machine required the potential sacrifice of a Latias or Latios, since the machine would draw energy from their souls to empower itself. "Given our low population numbers, it will only be a desperate option should everything else fail," the words of the architect behind the divine machine echoed in his mind.
"Good morning, Leon. You're up early for once today. From what my mind can surmise, I can assume that the morning scenery is really making you much happier than usual."
The same Latios levitated his body around and the sight of a much older Arcean of the same species entered his line of view. Yawning, he greeted the Pokémon with, "It's one of the few reason why I decide to wake up so early, Siegfried. Were you spying on me earlier when those thoughts were running through my mind as I surveyed Alto Mare?"
"Maybe, maybe not," Siegfried replied to his statement with a rather sly-looking smirk. "I'll leave that to your imagination like I always do, Leon. You are a member of the Alto Mare Elite Cadre so why you are letting such a trivial question bothering you is really making me question myself." He concluded his statement with a rather raucous chortle.
"That doesn't mean you can just toy with me like Laia always does!" Leon complained, slapping his own face with his right claw. "There's something called privacy, you know."
Siegfried evicted a low chuckle. "Privacy is a rather trivial fact among the Arceans…unless there's something you really want to keep concealed in that tiny mind of yours." He finished his teasing statement with a rather snide-looking grin. Because of the gesture, the victim of his rag was not able to generate a witty comeback.
Both Latios possessed varying features that differentiated them from Pokémon of the same species. Being someone who was responsible for the front-line defense of Alto Mare, Leon had a pair armored pauldrons equipped on his shoulders and wing joints with gold and silver shadings, while his claws were outfitted with a pair of armored gauntlets. The gear he carried was for not only for show, as they amplified his skills to attack and defend against any kind of threat that he might encounter. Above all else, there were no other significant visual differences to the Eon Pokémon, although his aquamarine coloration was a sign that he was still of a very young age and unique in his own way, at least to Arcean standards.
Siegfried, being one of the first two members of his kin, was not much different from the others but this was because he chose not to don his armor and decorative gear when the need was not necessary. This didn't mean his general physical differences did not vary. For starters, his body size and wingspan was much larger in contrast to a Latios of an adolescent age and his feathers had a navy blue-colored scheme coupled with a somewhat dull appearance to the shading in general. His eyes were composed of a pigmentation of a deep one that resembled red wine and they only served as a standing testament to the age, skill, strength, and wiseness of the Eon Pokémon that was well over half a million years old. Though he was gentle and mild-mannered at first impressions, he could switch to his battling side on a moment's notice. Needless to say, Siegfried's fighting self was virtually absent from his mind at the moment, and the sight of one of his closest followers enjoying the morning hours only served to relax his soul even more.
The duo remained silent for a few moments or two, but Leon noticed that the older Latios possessed a relatively blank stare in his irises. Hoping to break the silence and not feel too awkward, the former collected enough courage to speak up.
"It's certainly a sight to behold, isn't it? And to think we actually shared this gift with the mortals, even though Alto Mare was a sanctuary that would only be accessible to us and would never be desecrated by any outsiders," he commented. He levitated steadily above one of the taller buildings in Alto Mare; a sentry tower built in the form of a medieval watchtower found as a vital component of castles and fortresses. It was certainly one of his favorite spots to relax and soothe his mind, not to mention it was one of his assigned guard posts while he was on patrol duty.
Siegfried nodded slightly before he answered back with, "The mortals that share Earth with us have much to learn. It would be selfish on our part to shut them out while they stay unguided and underdeveloped in an ever-changing world."
A worried Leon huffed slightly. "Though while Alto Mare's populace is rather moral and just in terms of how they treat us and each other, it's not exactly the same thing once you leave its boundaries," he retorted, recalling just how avaricious and vile humanity and Pokémon alike would be in other parts of the world.
"I do realize that. You cannot purge the sins from the mortals entirely. That and it is not in our task to do so. Might I need to remind you that while it is your role as a member of the defense force, you should keep a reminder to yourself of staying out of things you have no business in," his master simply admonished in a slightly serious tone.
"I understand, sir," the youthful Dragon/Psychic-type returned obediently, as he was not one to contravene orders.
Noticing his downtrodden tone, Siegfried took a moment or two to counsel his pupil. Placing a claw on his armored joint of his right wing, he smiled faintly. "Now now, I'm not trying to put you down or discourage you from your duties. I'm not claiming that you should not come to the aid of a young human child who wandered off from their parents by accident or a Pokémon that's rather lost and requires a little instruction on how to navigate around the city." He paused for a couple seconds or so before his eyesight shifted to the relatively bustling streets of his hometown. "What I'm trying to tell you is that there are just some things that should not require our attention, though if you want to go wreck an entire hideout of vicious bandits like Raiden and Shogo always do whenever they stumble across one, by all means, go ahead but at your own risk. Lord Arceus taught me that, and I wish for you to follow this rule too."
Eyeing his master from the corner of the eye, Leon nodded with a heavy breath. "Yes sir, as always."
"It seems like something is on your mind. Care to elaborate?" Siegfried questioned. "I am always here and available to help out a thick-skulled subordinate like yourself after all."
Leon sighed as he flexed his wings slightly, yet his smile quickly returned even though his leader and father figure had somewhat ridiculed him, but in a playful manner. "You really know how to make an orphan like me happy, even though your dear mate will be expecting kids sometime in the near future. Shouldn't you be spending more time with her? You know I am a quite the lonesome individual myself in my spare time."
"Ah, changing the subject? Well you're being honest with me, at least." The elder Latios's iconic smile flashed across his aged yet handsome-looking visage. "I do need someone to take care of them for me…I am a very busy Arcean, if that fact hasn't reached your still-developing mind to begin with." He joked once again.
This made the younger Latios blink several times; his mentor was definitely implying something there. "Ugh, are you saying that I should take care of them? You do realize I can't stand kids!" He shook his head in dismay before suggesting, "Can't you get another member of the Elite Cadre to substitute? Heck, you might have better luck trying to get another Latias to be your kids' babysitter. I am trained to fight and defend," he proclaimed with an unwavering sense of pride.
Siegfried grinned at the overreacting gesture that Leon was pulling. "That's exactly why I want you to be that so-called babysitter. It will be a wonderful experience for you and be that one skill that you'll eventually need sometime in the future. You certainly don't expect on living all by your lonesome for the rest of your life, do you?"
The juvenile Latios shrugged. "Perhaps so. I never really planned anything else for my future aside from joining the Elite Cadre. Now that I've done that, I'm quite stumped on what to do next, but raising a family certainly isn't something to take care of on my list anytime soon. I just can't see myself doing it when I feel like I'm born for the battlefield."
His mentor hummed in partial agreement. What Leon mentioned was definitely one thing that Siegfried definitely had to agree with. During the selection and training process for the bravest, most disciplined, and peerless members for the element, no other members stood out more than three specific Latios: Leon, Raiden, and Shogo. The trio surpassed all their fellow members that applied to join the defense unit, but it was not just their skills that they displayed that eventually got them their current positions today; rather, it was their compassion for combat. While the Eon Pokémon species as a whole often condoned violence since they were a relatively pacifistic race, the three instantly threw that rulebook out the window. However, as long as it wasn't taken to the extremes, the two leading figures did not seem to mind their affinity for aggression. Raiden and Shogo, however, were easily two of the most famed enforcers of Alto Mare's Elite Cadre, with the duo's prowess only surpassed by Siegfried and Laia.
"Now you understand why someone like me is born for the sole duty of defending those who aren't capable of doing so themselves," Leon implied curtly. "Maybe it's because I'm no family Arcean or something like that, but it probably has to do with something about me being orphaned at an early age. How can you expect me to be a good parent when I don't even know my own to begin with?"
"You are correct, and thus, I will not force the choice upon you," Siegfried accredited, his tone of voice possessing a heavy sense of honor and nobility.. "Do keep a reminder that the choice is always open to you, and should you speak up, you'll be the first in line in terms of taking care of my dear children. I'm pretty positive that Arceus or one of his subordinates wishes me to be present at one of their next meetings in regards to the situation that they have to deal with elsewhere across the universe…" He dropped his sentence short since there was just something he couldn't mention to the younger student, as it was not in the latter's authority or power to know.
Leon tilted his head in confusion, curious to know more. "What situation?"
The older Latios shook his head. "The answer will reveal itself to you when the time is right. Now is not that time, for it will only serve to punish you with more sleepless nights."
The youngest member of his specialized task force immediately ceased to ask any more questions. There was a good reason why the wisecracking Arcean would close off his question with that kind of wording, and he knew it was for a good idea that he was better off not knowing anyways.
"Uh, Lord Siegfried?" Leon asked, hoping to sound polite with his kind of wording.
Siegfried craned his head towards the smaller Eon Pokémon. "Yes?"
"I just want to ask, have you decided on your future children's names yet? You've mentioned their eventual birthdates quite a few times, but you never made a reference of what their names might be. I, for one, really want to know," he commented eagerly and with a rather friendly-sounding impression.
"Their names," the ancient Pokémon declared with a sense of happiness that a father would have, "Will be Larissa and Lachlan." Just as he finished his sentence, he sensed a heavy amount of commotion coming from the town square. To him, it could only mean one event: the other two leading figures of the Elite Cadre giving it their all in a training session. "They're giving it their all in preparation for that one mission that Lord Arceus has entrusted us with. I hope they're all-set and ready for it."
Alto Mare Town Square
"You know, as the grand Prince of Earth's Dragon Empire, you certainly aren't really doing a good job of being one yourself. Shouldn't you be back at Lord Rayquaza's kingdom and tending to what you're actually supposed to do? You know, such as things that someone of royalty like yourself is supposed to do?"
"There's a good reason why I joined Alto Mare's Elite Cadre; to escape the cushy life of being a pampered royal figure that needs protective figures wherever he goes. Besides, if my father approves of what I do, how is your criticism going to convince me to abandon what I wanted to do from the very start? My position in the dragon hierarchy is up for grabs if you want it."
"Your personality never ceases to amuse me, Prince Shogo. Enough chitchat. We have some unfinished training to get down before our next mission. And I'll keep that offer in mind even though it's clear I won't take it."
"I can only say the same for you, Raiden. And I see you're enthusiastic about hunting down Marcus ever since he decided to go missing, huh?"
"Of course. Can't have him attempt another resurrection of Lord Arceus or any of his Generals, especially after what happened last time considering he caught us without warning. We'll be prepared this time, however…"
While one would expect a legendary Pokémon would attempt his/her best to stay hidden from the prying eyes of mortal humans and Pokémon alike, this was certainly not the case. In the days when the world was a much more stable realm when Arceans were seen as figures, of authority, respect, and not something to be feared and chained to in a Pokeball, it was certainly nothing unexpected for a Pokémon that was only rumored to exist in fables to make a public appearance. And it just so happened that a pair of Latios, going by the names of Shogo and Raiden, were having a practice scuffle right in front of the town square of Alto Mare. A crowd of humans and Pokémon (along with a few Latias) looked on in a sense of awe as the two Eon dragons clashed, displaying their exceptional combat skills as they clashed with a mixture of blades, claws, and psionic powers alike.
The addition of an upcoming assignment of investigating the potential activities of a known traitor that was associated as a relative to one of Arceus's closest human followers meant they had to keep their skills at acceptable levels. Said turncoat was a dangerous convict, and they had to do whatever was possible to stop him, even if it meant ending his life via the most brutal means conceivable.
When it came to brutality, Shogo and Raiden were no exception; both Latios fought tooth for nail and sword for sword. It was a remarkable sight for many, as both legendary Pokémon were masters of melee combat with not just their claws and wings, but also their customized blades that held an inherent specialty about them in regards to the element they were forged with.
Shogo withdrew his Eclipse Razor just as Raiden hurled a bolt of psionic energy at his direction and with unparalleled accuracy and timing, harmlessly detonated the bolt of mental energy with a stroke of the sharp edge of his handheld weapon. "That was a good way for me to sharpen my sword, I'll admit…now it's my turn," he complimented as his other free arm generated a pulsating sphere of ghostly energy. Once a sufficient amount of force was gathered in the Shadow Ball, he flung it at his adversary with an almost sinister-looking smirk.
Raiden narrowed his eyes before spinning his own bladed weapon, the Chrono Shinken, in his right claw and as if it was an airplane propeller, held it in front of him and utilized it as a defensive maneuver of some sort. Instead of simply letting the wind generated from his unique style of swordplay send the incoming Shadow Ball elsewhere, he allowed his opponent's blast of Ghost-type energy to make contact-once it did, it exploded with a force of spectral darkness that kicked up clouds of dust and lightweight debris. To prevent any bystanders and observers from potentially suffering any collateral damage caused by the sudden blast, both Latios instantaneously tapped into their psychic talents and enveloped their immediate battleground with a force field, containing the explosion effortlessly. Once the sources of poor visibility settled, the psionic barrier disappeared with it and revealed two battle-weary Latios that stood face-to-face, their claws on their cherished weapons.
"Not bad," Shogo remarked, the blade of his Eclipse Razor radiating brightly in the late morning sun. "Seems like you have a sense of honor too for the townsfolk."
Raiden returned the compliment with a friendly smirk. "Do remember that honor does not belong on a battlefield where the sins flow like the blood spilled. But above all else, it appears that we are still equal, no matter how much we attempt to surpass the other…"
Both Raiden and Shogo resembled the standard Latios that inhabited the city, save for some special features-or rather, equipment that the two carried. Two idiosyncratic traits that differentiated both from the rest of the Pokémon of their own kind were the cloaks that both possessed; Shogo had a tattered one that was shaded black that resembled the cloth of the Grim Reaper, while Raiden had an emerald-colored one that was as pristine and lustrous as the gem the color was based on. The cloaks were more than just for show, though; both allowed its wearers to use a diversity of unconventional defense-oriented techniques.
Ultimately, it was the custom weapons that the two carried that made them stand out amongst the rest. Shogo carried the Eclipse Razor, a ninjato-style blade forged by Giratina herself and was labelled as the holy weapon of the Reverse World. One of its unique traits was to absorb the souls of those it has slain, and from there the soul could be later extracted and given a fair trial by the Arceans. This was often a technique used to capture enemies of the caste that were just too difficult to apprehend via normal means. Other special capabilities that the weapon was gifted with often involved the usage of efficient sneak attacks, such as Shadow Strike (an assassination move favored by Shogo) and the ability to hit targets that aren't normally tangible with conventional moves, due to the blade's antimatter properties.
Raiden's weapon was heralded as the Chrono Shinken, its physical design being a combination of a broadsword-style blade and an eastern-themed sword that acted as a high frequency blade. Carefully crafted and presented by Dialga herself, the sword bore the colors of black and white on its blade as a symbol that represented the balance between light and darkness, both of which were supposedly of equal in the eyes of the Arceans: not fully benign but not entirely malevolent either. Being a legendary weapon that was designated as the pride of the Goddess of Time herself, the blade had the power to slice through anything that wasn't of Arcean origin, and the weapon even had the side effect of slowing down the flow of time around the wielder of the sword, giving the user plenty of time to counterattack.
"It astonishes me that our rivalry has not reached a settlement yet," Raiden testified. "It has to reach a conclusion one day, but then that would cease to give an incentive for one to continue training to best the other."
"Perhaps its destiny or maybe it was meant to be that way to begin with," the Latios Prince acknowledged, surveying the crowd that was still witnessing their nonlethal sparring session. "Ready for another lightning-quick go at it with our swords?"
A single nod from the opposing Eon Pokémon was all that was needed before the fight erupted into another clash of mettle and steel yet again. Neither Pokémon was able to get the upper advantage over the other; it was all about trying to find the right openings in the other's defenses in order for a successful strike to land. In addition, since this was a no-holds barred fight in regards to the attacks involved, both pragmatists were known to use moves that were rather unconventional, such as Shogo's usage of Shadow Ball at point-blank range or Raiden attempting to electrocute his quarry at melee range while his body was fully charged by Thunderbolt.
"Those two really know how to go at it," a spectating Latias commented quietly. Not only that, but she definitely found the two male Pokémon to be attractive in their own regard, though she didn't openly express this feeling of hers. "No wonder our leader assigned those two to be the Majors of the Elite Cadre."
"Wow, I want to be exactly like them when I grow up!" a human child, no older than the age of twelve, yelped with astonishment just as he witnessed Shogo ward off a frontal strike from Raiden. Sparks flew from the physical force of the blades clashing together, yet no apparent signs of damage were showing on either weapon.
His mother could only smile from her son's high expectations before she recommended with, "Now dear, why don't we start small first? You can barely wake up on time and you never seem to eat the proper diet." Her child simply pouted a bit from her comment before he locked his eyes on the battle once again.
The Prince of the Dragon Empire's offensive was certainly more difficult to execute, as his adversary had a nasty trick up his sleeve: temporarily paralyze his victim with his Thunderbolt should the former go all-out in terms of close-ranged melee attacks. Even if his sword was able to neutralize that advantage Raiden was attempting to exploit, all it took was one slipup from him and his opponent to utilize that opening to momentarily slow him down. "Not letting that happen. Raiden's a tricky one, but I have my own tricks up my sleeve-stealth and deception. Hitting him with Shadow Ball is risky as there's a chance he'll dodge it and send the orb flying right into the crowd."
"What's the matter, Prince? Coming to the realization that I'm just the better swordfighter when you can't use your arsenal of ranged moves?" Raiden taunted, albeit in a friendly manner. He readied his sword for another strike, this time focusing on disarming his foe's weapon.
A confident simper materialized across Shogo's face before he decided to take things to a different level. His answer to his rival since childhood was simple; the reaper cloth-style garment that he donned on his body generated an intense eerie glow of violet and black. Just as Raiden made his attack connect with Shogo's left claw, the Eon Pokémon vanished and dematerialized from existence. Whirling his head around in confusion, the other Latios darted his irises in all directions. He was certain his rival was going to strike him from an angle that wasn't in his peripheral vision. "Hmph…" he trailed off, seemingly unconcerned as he waited for his challenger to re-enter the battlefield.
The crowd was equally tense as the sole fighter present in the town square. Many of them, at least the ones that knew Shogo on a personal level, knew how devious and stealthy the Latios's combat modus operandi could be. Brute force was certainly not a skill that was in his department; with the exception of a few members of the Eon Pokémon species, they were generally frail on a physical level, which led to the development of specialized armor, equipment, and various assortment of Arcean-crafted gear specifically designed to address these weaknesses.
"The only way he can catch me off guard is if he strikes directly behind me, which isn't happening. But I suppose he's a bit too old in order to fall for such an obvious invitation of a trap…" the Latios shrouded the emerald-colored cloak kept his senses on full alert, waiting for the one sign of the Dragon Prince reappearing in the vicinity.
Then, he saw it. A flicker of silver in the air.
"Got ya!" Raiden announced before he held out his right claw and generated a Thunderbolt from his limb, directing the zigzagging stream of electricity at the speck in the relatively cloudy sky. It struck, but to his surprise, there was no response from his target-no grunt or scream of pain of any sort. Instead, all the Latios received was sharp, spear-like weapon that clattered harmlessly to the ground in front of him. The moment he met the abandoned object's eyes, he realized what it was: a psionic kunai.
The grounded Latios turned his head towards the sky, only to meet the sight of twenty more raining upon his position. Being someone who wasn't exactly a stranger to this kind of an assault, he retaliated quickly as he flew towards the sky with the Chrono Shinken tightly gripped in his right claw. Right before he was met head-on with the barrage of raining knives empowered with psychic energy, the sword in his claw danced gracefully as he skillfully deflected and warded each and every assassination tool, causing them to harmlessly bounce off the consecrated weapon before dissipating into the air entirely. Down below, the observers were filled with awe at how such reflexes were even possible. It was clear to all that the skills that both battlers displayed took at least several hundred years' worth of practice and training to master.
Shogo emerged from his cover and instantly went for the strike, though his target had anticipated this coming and acting quickly, eluded the potentially lethal blow by flying sideways and returned the favor with a point-blank Dragon Pulse. "Seems like I got just where I want you, Prince Shogo," Raiden taunted.
"I did not expect less," was Shogo's response as he too, had predicted what his equal was cooking up since he also had a Dragon Pulse in his other free claw at the ready.
Both combatants then proceeded to hurl the orbs of turquoise-shaded draconic energy at each other, the end result generating a titanic explosion that was enough to fire off several shockwaves that vibrated the normally quiet and peaceful atmosphere of Alto Mare. Invisible ripples shot through the air, causing distortions that were normally not visible to the unaided human eye. Said disruptions sent through the air were dissipated relatively quickly, thanks to the efforts of the two duelling Latios that agreed to limit their attacks to the point where they weren't exactly the destructive variants that they'd utilize in an actual battle against a true enemy.
"They may be fighting at a level that certainly meets more than our heightened senses, but what we're seeing are the arts they've mastered before they even became a part of the Elite Cadre," a spectating Latios elaborated. He too was another member of the protective unit of Alto Mare, but since fighting wasn't one of his fortes, the Dragon/Psychic-type was delegated to non-combatant duties such as target spotting and medical support.
His younger sister, a Latias, curiously observed the intense standoff between the rivaling Pokémon in the sky. "How come they aren't fighting at their maximum power? It seems odd…"
The older sibling of the couple laughed heartily as he prepared to explain the reason why. "It's because if they fought with everything they know, many would get hurt as a result. That and we only fight at that kind of level if the situation really calls for it. Stressing our bodies beyond our controllable limits, especially without the proper training, can be very dangerous to our bodies and minds alike," he elaborated. The Latios's younger sister simply nodded in understanding; after all, she was still learning and was more inclined on joining the Arcean envoys that were led by the first Latias.
Both Shogo and Raiden descended back to the ground after yet another ephemeral clash of swords before deciding that they had enough training for one day. Shifting their minds out of the combat phase, the two Latios secured their swords back into the scabbards of their cloaks, shook each other's claws as a sign of respect towards one another, and called it the end of a session. As if the two were a duo of street entertainers, the audience that had watched them for the whole battle clapped for their 'performance', and some even took their opportunity to move forward to ask the two questions-this was mostly the spectators of a young age, as some were arguably idolized by the performance the legendary Pokémon had just put up.
"Never knew our designated roles wouldn't just land us a guaranteed secure future for this city, but also a small following," Raiden commented as he allowed a human child to scratch the area between his ears.
Shogo shrugged he posed with a family of four while a skilled artist was rapidly sketching down the outlines so the rough artwork could be developed into a full-scaled painting after. "It was to be expected though I wanted nothing of it, to be honest."