Hit Count for "The Path of the Aura: Intertwining Crossroads": 13,539.
Hit Count for "The Path of the Aura II: Brothers in Arms": 5,987.
Total Hit Count: 19,526.
Happy birthday to me.
Today I turn 23 years old. And instead of receiving presents, I'm giving them.
In the form of three new stories. The main one (this one), and my two present side stories which I fully intend to give as much attention as this one. They won't be anywhere near as long as The Path of the Aura III: Bonds of Blood, or as dedicated. But they'll still serve a great purpose, as well as a bit of a monotonous distraction, for me.
So enough talk. Time to start my birthday party with a recap of The Path of the Aura II: Brothers in Arms.
[Insert disclaimer about respective copyrighted and referenced properties not being my own and OCs and fictitious storyline being my own here.]
Recap Prologue II (2)
63.1: Man of Bulwark vs. Pokémon of Prophecy
Passion -KINGDOM Orchestra Instrumental Version-/Kingdom Hearts Original Soundtrack Complete - CD3 - Kingdom Hearts II OST/Utada Hikaru
(Song Begins)
Shortly after Draco Eduardo rescued Xeno Lucario from Nero's clutches from Rome, and after he learned from Xeno that the hooded figure looked exactly like him, Draco Eduardo contemplated deeply on the possibilities of this impossibility. He contemplates if the Nameless Emissary of the Dark One is a twin brother of his, before scoffing the thought. Then, he contemplates what plausible gain the hooded figure has in resembling him, especially since they share similar powers, as well as why the hooded figure simply doesn't kill both he and Xeno outright.
Xeno notices how Draco Eduardo is taking this information more steadfast than he did, before suggesting that he and Draco Eduardo should spar, to gauge themselves and begin preparations against the Void of the Dark One. Draco Eduardo reverts back to human form, then realizes that his clothing was torn to near nothingness from the earlier transformation. A new monochromatic wardrobe change solves this.
Eduardo and Xeno begin their heated sparring match as both Costas and Ian watch. Initially, Eduardo holds back on Xeno, to which the Aura Pokémon soon notices and questions. Through Costas and Ian, as well as Eduardo's response, Xeno learns that Eduardo regards him as a miracle of nature, has a deep respect for nature, and greatly dislikes fighting anyone that he cares about. Xeno admires this, based on his negative experiences with humanity, but he also says that there are times where such thoughts must be momentarily discarded. Xeno believes he must inculcate that lesson into him.
Xeno forces Eduardo into using Elemental Aura to fight now, instead of with just physical strength and weapon mastery. Xeno's overall abilities astonish Eduardo, even managing to break his Gauntlet Shield. And even after Xeno pummels Eduardo, he refuses to attack Xeno offensively, because he already loves Xeno like a brother, like a family member, a being worth protecting rather than fighting against. This comes as a shock to Xeno, and he asks why did Eduardo agree to his sparring match to begin with. Eduardo responds by saying that he must teach himself to relinquish such hindering thoughts, whether he wants to or not. Xeno asks what he must do, and Eduardo tells him to continue trying to beat the living crap out of him. This makes Eduardo convulse bizarrely and without explanation for a brief moment.
Xeno acknowledges Eduardo's wishes and multiplies himself through DOUBLE TEAM, sending his clones and himself against him. Eduardo attacks and defends himself properly, and successfully strikes the real Xeno as a result. As a result, Xeno is satisfied with the fact that Eduardo can hit him, and hit him forcefully, that he no longer sees the need to prolong the fight. He wishes to end it as any Pokémon battle should end, with a victor and a loser, and manages to put Eduardo to sleep with HYPNOSIS. And after that, he and some of his DOUBLE TEAM clones catapult Eduardo skyward with their fists, before the original Xeno punches him squarely in the forehead and harshly back down to earth.
Overall, Xeno feels a bit disappointed in Eduardo's restraint, knowing that he possess far more power than what he utilized to save him from Nero. He knows that there will be more sparring matches from here, where the two of them will grow stronger as a result. Xeno believes that what Eduardo need to develop most is a sense of victory.
Xeno tells Costas and Ian to call the outcome, but changes his mind when Eduardo begins to stir. Eduardo slowly rises, with closed eyes, and Xeno responds to him with compassionate words, only to be met with a sanguine gaze and a silencing sucker punch to the snout. Before Xeno could tell Eduardo that his brothers were about to call the match and declare Xeno victorious, Eduardo's aura flares, knocking everyone back, and defying Xeno's understanding of humans in possession of aura abilities.
Eduardo has entered a self-defending, living comatose state. His aura appears to have a mind of its own, which Xeno sees through his Aura Vision ability. Xeno sees the dragon within me, different in aesthetics compared to the white-scaled dragon that Eduardo can become. Then, Xeno sees the twelve-colored aura surrounding Eduardo take on the shape of a dragon, enveloping the Man of Bulwark in an intimidating Aura Dragon Cloak. Xeno is led to believe that he'll see Eduardo's true power after all, even if he is contemplating otherwise.
Eduardo wastes no time in high-kicking Xeno in the chin and catapulting him skyward, then following after him as they both lock in heated combat. Eduardo overpowers Xeno here and launches him back down to earth. Eduardo crashes down and implodes Xeno's torso, only to step on a SUBSTITUTE that Xeno created before escape into the earth via DIG. Eduardo breathes fire into the dirt hole, in an attempt to incinerate Xeno, only to realize that Xeno struck him senselessly with WOOD HAMMER.
Xeno injures his arms from the recoil damage, and Eduardo's right arm is a serpentine mess of compound fractures and protruding flesh. Xeno, alongside Costas and Ian, soon stare in shock as Eduardo literally tears his right arm off before regenerating a new one in its place. Xeno uses RECOVER to rejuvenate himself, before multiplying himself into 100 strong.
Eduardo is quickly overwhelmed by Xeno's DOUBLE TEAM clones and in his escape, Xeno lassos him with TELEKINESIS, then drags him into the nearby Red Sea. Now underwater, Xeno attempts to render Eduardo unconscious as he believes Xeno is trying to kill him. As a result, Eduardo breaks free and discharges a powerful blast of light energy, followed up with a surge in surrounding heat. The eighty Xeno that remain counter and eventually seal him with Ice-Type attacks. Despite this, Eduardo breaks free with electricity, frying five Xeno clones. Then, as more Xeno clones DIVE to attack him, Eduardo continues attacking them with electricity, cutting their numbers down to fifty-five.
Eduardo resurfaces before being tackled by a doppelganger using AQUA JET, which is disposed of through frigidity. Eduardo makes a break for dry land, as Xeno surrounds him and strikes him with HYDRO PUMP, which Eduardo flash freezes around himself and explodes in all directions. Thirty-three Xeno Lucario avoid being impaled.
These remaining Xeno retaliates with a WHIRLPOOL that traps Eduardo underwater, before paralyzing him and electrocuting him with THUNDER. The technique sacrifices five clones, and fails in defeating him. Xeno can't help but contemplate Eduardo's resilience and fighting drive, even when unconscious. Also, Xeno can't help but feel excitement against a formidable adversary that can potentially kill him. He's never felt this alive before.
Eduardo's charred body heals quickly before he takes to the skies, attacking Xeno with blades of wind and felling eight more clones. The twenty that remain take flight and engage Eduardo in an intense dogfight, successfully striking him out of the sky at the price of nine more clones. When Eduardo staggers back onto his feet, one of the Xeno clones spontaneously strikes his face with an AURA SPHERE, knocking the Aura Dragon Cloak from his body…for a brief moment. The clone responsible was decapitated by a coiled, constricting tail.
Xeno notices a discarded weapon of mine nearby his position, calls it towards him via TELEKINESIS, and formulates a decisive battle strategy to return Eduardo to his senses.
With his ten remaining clones, they use ENCORE on Eduardo to seal him into solely using gales, then GRAVITY to pin him to the earth. In aggressive retaliation, Eduardo creates a tornado around himself, decimating the ten remaining Xeno clones, and allowing the original to amplify Eduardo's sword with SACRED SWORD, before striking his forehead with it.
The best Xeno did with it was smack Eduardo's forehead, which was just enough in snapping Eduardo out of his Aura Dragon Cloak and returning his consciousness. And after Eduardo reviews the recorded footage that he has no memory of, and attempting to make sense of it, both he and Xeno decide to finish their fight.
Blow by blow attacks, leading to a climactic finish between Eduardo's Twilight Cannon attack and Xeno's ELECTRO AURA SPHERE, end the battle in a draw that leaves both combatants exhausted, yet solidifies their bond. After that, both of them alongside Costas and Ian settle on a name to refer the hooded figure by.
Odraude.
(Song Ends)
63.2: Training Montage
The quartet contemplated the locations across the world that would best suit the training methods.
Firstly, the Amazon Rainforest would be ideal for learning how to walk on water and sensing the aura of the surrounding environment via Aura Vision. In here, Eduardo asks Xeno about Aura Guardians, Eduardo's left eye regains functionality through Xeno's teachings of Aura Vision, and Eduardo and Xeno discuss how their pasts make their presents, discussing their histories to each other.
Secondly, the Himalayan Mountains offered the opportunity for Costas and Ian to learn how to contain and regulate their body temperatures against the elements, as well as how to cling and even climb up surfaces with it.
Thirdly, the Grand Canyon offered the rocky avalanches needed to quickly learn and master the use of AURA SPHERE. It is here that Eduardo notices Odraude watching them from a distance, and he wonders what Odraude could be plotting as Odraude leaves.
63.3: Tiny Present
Back home in Eduardo's home village, a reincarnated Tiny Riolu makes his presence known to the quartet, causing a tearful and heartfelt reunion between the Emanation Pokémon and Xeno Lucario. Then, Tiny tells the quartet that Arceus resurrected him from purgatory, as he was floating aimlessly in it until he was wiped clean of everything before being reborn anew. Arceus resurrected him, and then took Tiny under Its wing, because of his Coadjutor status connecting him to Xeno Lucario.
With personal matters fulfilled, professional formalities follow suit. Tiny Riolu explains the states of the other Pokémon and entities involved the Void of the Dark One. Then, Tiny explains to the quartet their next objective, which will take place in the Sahara Desert.
Arceus' Game.
Arceus wishes to bestow a pair of weapons It has crafted unto Eduardo and Xeno Lucario. But to claim them, they both have to prove their worth in a serious of rigorous challenges. And when they've completed Arceus' Game, they'll be greater prepared against the Void of the Dark One, as well as the looming threat of Roman Organization XIII.
With that, Tiny bids them farewell, and says that the next time they meet, Tiny won't be alone.
63.4: The 13th Pursuit
The quartet decide to enter Cairo, Egypt, until Arceus' Game makes itself present. Within this desert city, they disguise themselves to blend into the norm. However, three of the thirteen Roman Organization XIII members see through their disguises and assault them. These three members utilize the Elemental Aura abilities of Earth, Wind, and Fire.
A greater effort is made in the quartet's part in evading and escaping from them rather than challenging them, simply because Arceus' Game made itself present within the Sahara Desert, and its position is highlighted in the distance by a beacon of light that only the four designated individuals can see. Costas, Ian, Eduardo, and Xeno Lucario successfully flee from the three Elemental Aura Adepts, thanks to their teamwork and to Draco Eduardo's Mach 3 flight speed.
63.5: Arceus' Game
Dive into the Heart -Destati- ("Awakening")/Kingdom Hearts Original Soundtrack Complete - CD1 - Kingdom Hearts OST/Yoko Shimomura
(Song Begins)
The quartet successfully arrive to where the beacon of light is guiding them towards, and quickly notice the presence of a white pyramid, alongside Tiny Riolu, and even Latias and Latios.
Introductions between the seven individuals were exchanged, and then the team made their way to the white pyramid's summit. Along the way, Tiny confirms that he, Latias, and Latios will join them from here on out.
At the summit of the white pyramid, a riddle is solved and the gateway vortex opened that will guide both Eduardo and Xeno into Arceus' Game. Before entering, Tiny gives Eduardo an updated database of Pokémon, and a Lucarionite to Xeno. Once Eduardo and Xeno were ready, and after they received an "Arceusspeed" from their friends, they entered the rift.
Meanwhile, the three members of Roman Organization XIII that pursued the quartet were now at the Strait of Gibraltar, waiting for the eventual arrival of the remaining ten members of their team.
Once in Arceus' Game, Eduardo and Xeno found themselves descending aimlessly in black nothingness. During this time, Eduardo asks Xeno about information regarding Mega Evolution, which leads to a flashback for Xeno in recollecting the first time he and his friends Mega Evolved.
Eventually, we gently touch down on the first Station in Arceus' Game. The canvas on this platform reflected both Eduardo and Xeno, alongside their friends and even their enemies. And after marveling this, Arceus materializes before the duo.
After a quick and necessary introduction, Arceus began Its Game and summoned a trio of weapons before Eduardo and Xeno. The purpose of them is to determine to Arceus what their battle strengths are, as well as their aptitudes and natures.
After the exercise, Eduardo and Xeno are carried through the darkness into a second Station, depicting Johto's Bell Tower and Hoenn's Sealed Chamber. Arceus emerges and tells the duo to enter their respective doors, and tell more about themselves to Arceus in the process.
Upon entering the doors and separating ourselves, Eduardo finds himself back in his laboratory, with Costas, Ian, and Xeno standing before him, and Xeno finds himself back in Team Rocket Main Headquarters, with Eduardo, Giovanni, and Mewtwo. All of this is a masterful fabrication in Arceus' part, the entities It conjured existing solely to bring an honest answer from the duo.
Costas asks Eduardo what's most important to him, and Eduardo responds with everything that he loves and treasures. Ian asks Eduardo what he's most afraid of, and Eduardo responds with being indecisive. Xeno asks Eduardo what he wants out of life, and Eduardo responds with being strong.
Mewtwo asks Xeno what's most fundamental in his life, and Xeno responds with friendship. Giovanni asks what terrifies Xeno, and Xeno responds with being different. Eduardo asks what Xeno wants out of life, and Xeno responds with broadening his horizons.
Arceus gives a pair of fortunes for Eduardo's and Xeno's responses, then teleports them both to their third Stations.
Eduardo's Station's canvas depicts the ashen remains of Johto's Brass Tower, as well as the apparitions of the Legendary Beasts of Johto. Xeno's Station's canvas depicts three caves located in Hoenn's Route 105, 111, and 120 respectively, caves that housed the Legendary Golems of Hoenn.
With a brief warning from Arceus, both Eduardo and Xeno find themselves surrounded by the three Pokémon their respective canvases were depicting. Eduardo would clash with Entei, Raikou, and Suicune. Xeno would clash with Regirock, Regice, and Registeel. Both matches would be to the death, and are merely the first wave of opponents.
Meanwhile, for the three Adepts of Roman Organization XIII, they witnessed their ten remaining members begin to cross the sea and rendezvous with them.
The fights against these six respective Legendary Pokémon were difficult, but by no means insurmountable. Eduardo claimed decisive victory against the Legendary Beasts through unlocking and using Silver (Sound) Aura, then by crushing their heads into the Station. Xeno Lucario claimed victory by beating all three Legendary Golems into bits and pieces, and narrowly defending against their unified self-destruction.
With the sextet of adversaries slain, Arceus informs Eduardo and Xeno that the Legendary Pokémon participating in Arceus' Game entirely understood what they signed up for, and that they simply lost the life that Arceus established for them within this dimension. Then, Arceus transports the duo to confront their next opponent(s).
Eduardo would clash with Ho-Oh in "Johto's Bell Tower", and Xeno would clash with Regigigas in "Sinnoh's Snowpoint Temple". Both matches would prove difficult since the Legendary Pokémon involved are the "Trio Masters" to the Legendary Pokémon already defeated.
(Song Ends)
Meanwhile, for the three Adepts of Roman Organization XIII, their remaining ten allies, including their leader, arrive to their destination. And through their conversation, all thirteen of their names are identified: Xifer ("Fire X"), Elexem ("Melee X"), Xing Iglthn ("Lightning X"), Xndiw ("Wind X"), Lea Xngih ("Healing X"), Rexatun ("Nature X"), Xeic ("Ice X"), Wraxet ("Water X"), Pych Xics ("Psychic X"), Haxert ("Earth X"), Xihlgt ("Light X"), Snexs Kard ("Darkness X"), and Xondus ("Sound X").
Crimson Flames (Kouen)/Naruto Shippuden Original Soundtrack II/Toshiro Masuda
(Song Begins)
Eduardo's battle with Ho-Oh begins with him attempting to reach Ho-Oh's perch, leading to Ho-Oh growing frustrated at Eduardo for inadvertently striking the Brass Tower. Xeno's battle with Regigigas begins with him realizing how absurdly resilient Regigigas is and how its Slow Start ability would incrementally and eventually restore Regigigas to its full and frightening potential.
Eduardo flees from Ho-Oh by running through the Ecruteak Forest, as Ho-Oh sets it ablaze in order to isolate him and track him down. The tactic proves effective, until Eduardo uses his newly-learned DOUBLE TEAM technique to make a single clone of himself. This clone acts as a decoy for Ho-Oh, successfully distracts the Legendary phoenix, and allows Eduardo to slug Ho-Oh back down to earth with the trunk of a tree.
With Regigigas' arms having regained their function, Xeno takes them into account as he continues assaulting the Legendary golem, using a wide assortment of attacks with various Type Attributes at his disposal, with minimal results. Knowing that Regigigas will only grow stronger the longer this battle progresses, he decides to strike the Legendary golem with a combination attack named "SHINING STAR" (AURA SPHERE + FLASH CANNON). The attack's sheer magnitude causes the Snowpoint Temple to crumble around them.
Despite the crushing impact that Ho-Oh sustained from Eduardo's use of Dark Green (Nature) Aura, Ho-Oh's body recovers quickly from it. And in seconds, both Eduardo and Ho-Oh are airborne, one in vehement pursuit of the other. Eventually and once again, Eduardo sends Ho-Oh crashing back down to earth by grasping its neck and twirling the Legendary phoenix back down. And just like before, Ho-Oh "miraculously" recovers, and digs its beak just far enough through Eduardo's defenses so that it punctures his heart. Ho-Oh sends Eduardo back down to earth, pummels him into near-death submission, only to realize how much willpower Eduardo has. Ho-Oh now considers using its most devastating attack on him.
Both Regigigas and Xeno emerge from the rubble of Snowpoint Temple, Regigigas Slow Start having worn off to the point where the Legendary golem can now move freely. Xeno multiplies himself to 101 and assaults Regigigas, only for all of the clones to meet a quick demise. Then, Regigigas runs straight towards Xeno, Xeno following suit, and both adversaries colliding with one another in a standoff. Sadly, Xeno was overpowered and was punched multiple times across the horizon. Xeno recalibrates and rushes Regigigas, only for the goliath to use HEAVY SLAM on him, on a SUBSTITUTE. The real one was swatted aside soon after trying to stab Regigigas with SACRED SWORD. It was at this moment that Regigigas sheds its silence, tells Xeno its disappointment in Arceus' choice of placing the fate of all existence on the hands of Eduardo and Xeno Lucario, and then powers up even further.
Eduardo is struck down by Ho-Oh's SACRED FIRE attack. And as he was being consumed by the flames, he ponders smiting Ho-Oh and the pain he would unleash upon the phoenix.
Regigigas outclasses Xeno now, in almost every conceivable way. Xeno is nothing more than a punching bag to the goliath, made delirious by the trauma, until rendered unconscious and near death when Regigigas' CRUSH GRIP breaks almost every single bone in his body.
(Song Ends)
Super Strength/Volume #1 (CD 1)/Two Steps From Hell
(Song Begins)
From the fires that Ho-Oh breathed out to bathe Eduardo with, a dragon took his place. For the first time in this fight, Ho-Oh felt fear towards Eduardo, alongside thoughts of Eduardo being no better than trash.
Within Xeno's subconscious, the necessary thoughts for Mega Evolution take place. And when Xeno awakens, and despite Regigigas' attempts at preventing him, Xeno successfully Mega Evolves into a Mega Lucario, rejuvenating his body in the process and displaying his newfound levels of strength.
A dogfight naturally happens between Draco Eduardo and Ho-Oh. Supersonic speeds and hellfire are exchanged between the pair of winged beasts. However, Draco Eduardo wins this dogfight by using his Yellow (Lightning) Aura to send Ho-Oh back down to earth, then lands on the phoenix and pins it to the ground. Ho-Oh's catapulting SOLAR BEAM commences another dogfight, one where we just blindly assault each other in mid-air.
An intimidating display of power in Mega Xeno's part leads Regigigas to charge towards him, with Mega Xeno staying put. Regigigas pummels Mega Xeno's body with elemental punches, blasts him with two HYPER BEAM attacks, only for him to lock hands with the Colossal Pokémon and repeat their standoff. This time, Mega Xeno vastly overpowers Regigigas, slamming its body into the earth before tossing it over the horizon, speeding Regigigas' velocity through the use of TELEPORT and stalwart Fighting-Type attacks, until Regigigas' supersonically crashes into and demolishes a mountain. Regigigas returns before Xeno, now curious of Mega Xeno's newfound power and wondering when it reaches its eventual end.
Both Draco Eduardo and Ho-Oh fought dirty now, their bodies healing automatically. Draco Eduardo manages to use Ho-Oh as a wrecking ball to demolish the Bell Tower, and pays for it via Ho-Oh's THUNDERBOLT. Both opponents lock once more, flying high and discharging electricity, before breaking free and creating a stalemate with their fire breaths. This resulted in Ecruteak Forest being set ablaze, which was disregarded when Draco Eduardo and Ho-Oh collided in a mad frenzy once again.
Regigigas puts its pride before Arceus' wishes and continues clashing with Mega Xeno. Mega Xeno avoids Regigigas' punches, pisses it off, and then uses HURRICANE to surround, counter and even nullify the goliath's FIRE PUNCH tornado. Regigigas is struck into the spiraling winds, kicked out of them, and then pummeled by all sides via Mega Xeno's self-named WARP DRIVE (CLOSE COMBAT + TELEPORT). Regigigas eventually stops this attack with CRUSH GRIP, which Mega Xeno breaks free of and counters with SKY UPPERCUT. Mega Xeno punches Regigigas higher into the air with SHOOTING STAR (BULLET PUNCH + MACH PUNCH), then cracks the center of its body with FALLING STAR (AURA SPHERE + METEOR MASH), causing Regigigas to crash land back down. Xeno adds insult to injury by firing off a salvo of ELECTRO AURA SPHEREs and even an AURA SOLAR BEAM.
Despite this, Regigigas reaches its full power, and is now on par with Mega Xeno.
Both Draco Eduardo and Ho-Oh, in their tussle, crash-landed harshly into the earth headfirst. The dragon and the phoenix recover from this, and know that one final attack will grant one of them victory. Draco Eduardo unleashes his Twilight Cannon attack, meeting evenly with Ho-Oh's SACRED SOLAR BEAM (SACRED FIRE + SOLAR BEAM). Draco Eduardo's remaining eleven Elemental Aura attributes inadvertently unite with this attack, and overwhelm Ho-Oh a split-second before vaporizing it.
Mega Xeno's and Regigigas' clash destroyed the very battlefield, with Mega Xeno avoiding the irregular terrain to strike the Colossal Pokémon. They collided multiple times, even in the air, Mega Xeno with CLOSE COMBAT and Regigigas with SUPERPOWER. They land and realize that they have to go all-out to vanquish the other. They both collide with GIGA IMPACT, however Mega Xeno strikes the weak point he made with his FALLING STAR technique and blows a hole clean through Regigigas, felling it and claiming victory.
(Song Ends)
Draco Eduardo and Mega Xeno revert back to normal, are healed, and oddly enough brought together into the Fourth Station, its canvas depicting the Legendary Deities and Legendary Lake Guardians of Sinnoh, as well as Arceus. They trek to the Fifth Station as the path is made for them, and find the canvas of this Station depicting Spear Pillar. And on this platform, the rifts leading to the dimensions of space and time open, allowing both Dialga and Palkia to make their presence before Eduardo and Xeno.
Crack In Time/Nero (CD 1 - Official)/Two Steps From Hell
(Song Begins)
Respectful introductions were made between Eduardo, Xeno, Dialga, and Palkia before the double battle got underway, a confrontation between embodiments of "absolute" laws of physics. Eduardo confronted Dialga and Xeno confronted Palkia throughout the beginning of this battle, their attacks sometimes passing by their allies via crossfires. And through teamwork in both sides' parts, both Eduardo and Xeno successfully overpower Dialga and Palkia. But when both Legendary Deities choose to get more serious and display their "absolute" power, the very scenery changes until the combatants are now in a replica Spear Pillar.
When the fight resumed shortly after, Eduardo and Xeno Lucario resorted to transforming to gain an edge in battle, only for Dialga and Palkia to nullify them both with their "absolute" powers. And for a good portion of this battle, both Eduardo and Xeno coped with the spatial and temporal abilities Dialga and Palkia launched relentlessly.
However, a key moment between Dialga and Xeno presented itself before Eduardo, allowing him to analyze Dialga's teletemporation and discover a weakness, even when Palkia intercepted him and seized him alongside Xeno. The duo managed to retaliate by dealing a "fatal" blow onto each of them.
As Dialga and Palkia recovered, Eduardo discussed with Xeno what he discovered. He informed Xeno that DIalga's and Palkia's "absolute" powers have distinguishable limits, tied to Dialga's beating heart and Palkia's every breath. And when Dialga and Palkia stopped recovering and sensed an increased confidence between Eduardo and Xeno, they unleashed their most powerful joint attack: DRACO METEOR.
The attack not only proves devastating enough to destroy the entire battlefield and return us all to the Fifth Station, but leave both Eduardo and Xeno Lucario as broken, charred, and even mutilated wrecks, narrowly clinging to life and using that to heal themselves. Dialga and Palkia, drained from using DRACO METEOR, are amazed that their adversaries survived the attack. They slowly and gracelessly stagger back up to finish them off, as Eduardo and Xeno Lucario recover incrementally, albeit noticeably. Both Legendary Deities seize their adversaries and prepare to strike them down, only for Eduardo and Xeno Lucario to retaliate respectively, just as their bodies are finalizing their self-recovery.
Eduardo's Aura Dragon Cloak flares in his conscious state, and Xeno's eyes narrow into a reptilian-like state. Eduardo's ADC pummels Dialga and even breaks off its mandible. Xeno's DRAGON PULSE disintegrates Palkia's right hand, his DRAGON CLAW mutilates its left arm, and his OUTRAGE thrashes Palkia inexorably. And with both Legendary Deities subdued, Eduardo and Xeno Lucario reclaim their respective transformation abilities and access them, becoming Draco Eduardo and Mega Xeno Lucario.
Through their teamwork, they unleash their joint AURA ATOMIC OBLITERATION attack, vaporizing both Legendary Deities instantaneously, and leaving behind a dazzling explosion that behaved more like a light show than a detonation.
(Song Ends)
Arceus recovers and congratulates us once more, before sending us down different paths for their fourth and final wave. Xeno would go to the Distortion World to face Giratina, and Eduardo would go to the Hall of Origin to face Arceus. However, for Eduardo, as he is progressing down the Hall of Origin, is met with Dialga and Palkia, as they tell him that "Arceus…is…falling."
Meanwhile, Roman Organization XIII is conversing with one another, as Xondus himself is meditating elsewhere. Xondus is met by Odraude (the man he calls "Magister") and they converse about their mission, as well as a few topics that weigh heavily in Xondus' mind. When Odraude leaves to his own agenda, Xondus is left pondering about tomorrow's confrontation with Eduardo and Xeno Lucario, the former he spends his thoughts on because he's clashed with him before, under the name "Mercury" and "Prattlecus".
Before Arceus "fell", It was tending to the "fallen" combatants and making sure they were recovering soundly, both physically and mentally. It's here that Odraude stands before Arceus. Odraude disparages Arceus' title and power, as well as how Arceus relies now on the abilities of others instead of Its own. Odraude now targets Dialga and Palkia, threatening to kill them, the other Legendary Pokémon, and even Arceus, because they were born from Arceus' Womb and Arceus is weak.
Enter the Darkness/Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep & 358/2 Days OST/Takeharu Ishimoto
(Song Begins)
The breaking point for Arceus is when Odraude notices Giratina's absence and says if Xeno is punishing it in Arceus' place. Arceus launches a devastating HYPER BEAM attack, which Odraude endures, absorbs, and even redirects to those he intends to kill. Arceus takes the attack instead, providing Odraude the perfect opportunity to corrupt it and alter its energy state in order to topple Arceus. Arceus manages to cast off Dialga and Palkia, and warp the other Legendary Pokémon to safety, before Odraude corrupts It.
Eduardo, Dialga, and Palkia return to Arceus, only to find the state that the present Odraude has left It in. Odraude has indeed corrupted Arceus and is using the Alpha Pokémon as his mount, making this critical battle a three-on-two.
Xeno, now in the Distortion World, treks across its unstable environment, learning how to navigate across its obstacles and gravity fluctuations in the process. As he does so, he encounters the three Legendary Lake Guardians of Sinnoh (Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie), as well as apparitions of Cyrus. When he eventually reaches the end of his road, Giratina swoops down and contacts him.
Dialga, Eduardo, and Palkia fight Arceus more than Odraude, despite the fact that Odraude is mounting Arceus and guiding It. And even though Arceus has access to the Pixie Plate (Fairy-Type) alongside Its Normal-Type Attribute, Arceus' movepool is devastatingly diverse, and uses all of the elements for Its attacks. Even their teamwork fails against Arceus and Odraude. What has to work is separating the two of them.
Xeno awakens in a battlefield within the Distortion World, with Giratina right there as his opponent. Their introduction was the briefest yet and their fighting began almost immediately. Both opponents fought with a wide assortment of attacks, Xeno even using some of his oldest attacks for offense, defense, and nimble evasion. And little by little, Xeno edges out advantages to himself, one of them being using his Aura Vision (FORESIGHT) on Giratina and negating the intangibility of Giratina's Ghost-Type Attribute. Giratina's attacks become more reckless, but fail in overpowering Xeno, as he believes that Giratina is his weakest opponent yet.
Xeno proves that he's only fighting at a fraction of his power by replicating himself and swarming Giratina, successfully subduing the Renegade Pokémon in its Origin Form, until Giratina resorts to using SHADOW FORCE. Giratina annihilates Xeno's clones and pierces Xeno with all six of its tentacle arm-wings, but only does so on a SUBSTITUTE that promptly uses SELF-DESTRUCT. The real Xeno emerges and knows of Giratina's signature attack because Dusknoir knows it as well, and therefore he knows how to counter it.
Giratina acknowledges the fact that neither of them are fighting at their full potential, and transports both of them to a different environment.
Eduardo begins to discuss with Dialga and Palkia how to separate Odraude from Arceus. The battle plan is to create an opening wide enough to exploit, which Dialga and Palkia agree to. Both they and Eduardo fight more intensely, their rage towards Odraude fueling them. But in the end, both Dialga and Palkia can't go on, and are soon at the mercy of Arceus' impending JUDGMENT attack.
Eduardo's Aura Dragon Cloak flares in response to this and he punches Odraude off of his High Horse, allowing him to enter Arceus' mind and purify It back to light, at the price of Arceus Itself tangling his body and threatening to kill him.
Eduardo succeeds, but has his mind crushed by the strain and Arceus' resistance in the purifying act. Luckily, Arceus returns Eduardo his first life and then the two of them tend to Dialga and Palkia, as they narrowly avoided being felled by their own Father. That just leaves Odraude to "tend to", and Arceus requires Eduardo to do so by himself for now, in order to ensure the wellbeing of the participating Legendary Pokémon. Eduardo understands this.
Giratina transports both itself and Xeno to the Sendoff Spring, and transforms into its Altered Form in the process. Giratina now demands Xeno to Mega Evolve, which he chooses against because he wants to make this fight last. Giratina replicates itself and assaults Xeno, but with minimal results as Xeno evades, endures, and retaliates. Giratina continues to pester Xeno in Mega Evolving, but Xeno doesn't need it to defeat Giratina, and he proves it when he impales and pins Giratina's head into the earth with SACRED SWORD.
Giratina's ethereal body makes this "fatal" blow survivable. And as Xeno sees how "boring" this fight is becoming to him, he decides to end it through his Mega Evolution.
Eduardo approaches Odraude, realizing that he's currently feigning unconsciousness. They both begin to fight, Odraude believing that if one fights for their friends, then they've already lost. Odraude's weapon, Eduardo's adaptability, and their Elemental Aura attributes made them both remarkably even, albeit Odraude's intensity pestered Eduardo and edged the battle out in his favor, as Eduardo could hardly ever strike him, despite the fact that he was surrounded in his Aura Dragon Cloak.
Eduardo eventually reached his breaking point and transformed into Draco Eduardo, to which Odraude prefers seeing him as.
Giratina appeared pleased with Mega Xeno, even though he would now fight more aggressively than ever. Xeno brutalized Giratina in its Altered Form, and continued to do so even when Giratina revealed its equipped Griseous Orb and ability to change between its two forms at will. Giratina endured the beatings, laughing at them even, but only managed to bore Xeno instead of infuriate him. Xeno constantly unleashed various combination attacks that nullified Giratina's feeble tactics, and making Giratina wish for them to continue. Xeno "respected" this and eventually obliterated Giratina. But when Giratina's DESTINY BOND takes hold of Xeno, the match ends in a draw as both combatants are obliterated, which was Giratina's tactic all along.
Arceus emerges before the Legendary Pokémon he transported elsewhere, as they're being tended to by Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie. The four of them converse moments before Giratina and Xeno Lucario are materialized before them. Arceus revives them and informs everyone of the situation between Eduardo and Odraude. They all join Arceus in returning to them to vanquish Odraude, because as long as they are beside Arceus, they will never die.
Odraude still toyed with Draco Eduardo as he did already before. Odraude rendered Draco Eduardo into a bloody mess of himself, absolutely drained and at Odraude's mercy. Odraude ridicules Draco Eduardo, calling him weak, forsaken by Arceus, and alone. He transforms shortly afterward into Draco Odraude, a hell dragon twice Draco Eduardo's size and exponentially more horrifying. Draco Odraude immobilizes Draco Eduardo by lacerating his musculature and muzzling him. Draco Odraude reveals that he clashed with Draco Eduardo before, as that black-scaled dragon. Draco Odraude is about to tell Draco Eduardo the flipside of friendship, before being separated from him through the Legendary Lake Guardians of Sinnoh.
Turning the tables on Draco Odraude by taunting him, both Azelf and Uxie sacrifice themselves in order to cripple him. Mesprit sacrifices herself as well, in order to heal me, much to my solemnity. Luckily, Xeno's there to reassure him, as he also points towards Draco Odraude, so that he wouldn't miss a second of what's about to happen next.
What happens next is every participating Legendary Pokémon assaulting Draco Odraude, one by one or in groups. Arceus revives the Legendary Lake Guardians during this, before telling Draco Odraude how he wishes to plead his guilt for his sins committed here. Draco Odraude gives Arceus a choice expletive, and Arceus uses JUDGMENT on him, only for Draco Odraude to flee from the Hall of Origin altogether.
(Song Ends)
A brief period of time is spend searching for any traces of him, before all of us enjoy a necessary respite. Everyone is given the freedom to mingle with one another, with Eduardo and Xeno quickly discovering that their adversaries admire, adore, and respect them. And after Arceus discusses its reasoning behind Its Game with Its six Children, It turns Its attention to Eduardo and Xeno, telling them that it is time for them to claim their rewards.
Everybody is escorted into a heavenly corner of the Hall of Origin, where Arceus assesses both Eduardo and Xeno Lucario and judges them based on what It has learned from the two of them and what they've done, both planned and unplanned. Arceus does address their flaws as well, noting Eduardo as materialistic and Xeno as prejudiced, but also noting that both of those negative qualities can be cast aside. Overall, Arceus sees both Eduardo and Xeno Lucario as highly qualified and bestows upon them Its sacred pair of swords.
Eduardo receives the "Ultima Weapon" Keyblade and Xeno Lucario receives the "Revolver" Gunblade.
Arceus briefly instructs Eduardo and Xeno on the core essentials in wielding these two swords, how to materialize and dematerialize them with a flick of the wrist. And after some core advice from Arceus, all of the Legendary Pokémon leave us, leaving Eduardo and Xeno to proceed to the exit of the Hall of Origin and return back to their friends.
Meanwhile, Roman Organization XIII senses the presence of their seven targets and promptly mobilize.
Everybody else at the white pyramid wakes up and are there to greet Eduardo and Xeno Lucario as they return from their challenge. The two of them briefly discuss what they endured and enjoyed throughout Arceus' Game, but are cut short before they can proudly display their new weapons to their friends. The reason for that is because Roman Organization XIII is looming over the horizon.
63.6: Septem vs. Tredecim
The 13th Anthology [Kingdom Hearts Series]/drammatica -The Very Best of Yoko Shimomura-/Yoko Shimomura, Natsumi Kameoka, Kaoru Wada
(Song Begins)
Friends and foes soon stand on opposite corners of the Sahara Desert, ready to engage each other in mortal combat. Introductions are made, before powers are displayed. Roman Organization XIII brandishes unique weaponry specifically tailored to match and harness their respective Elemental Aura attribute. Both Eduardo and Xeno unveil their respective Keyblade and Gunblade, and the fight begins.
Eduardo clashes with Snexs Kard, Xifer, and Xondus, Adepts of Black (Darkness) Aura, Red (Fire) Aura, and Silver (Sound) Aura. Xeno Lucario brawls with Elexem, Haxert, and Xing Iglthn, masters of Orange (Melee) Aura, Brown (Earth) Aura, and Yellow (Lightning) Aura. Costas and Ian struggle with Wraxet and Xeic, manipulators of Blue (Water) Aura and Light Blue (Ice) Aura. Latias annoys Lea Xngih and Rexatun, experts in Green (Healing) Aura and Dark Green (Nature) Aura. Latios dogfights against Xihlgt and Xndiw, specialists in White (Light) Aura and Light Green (Wind) Aura. And Tiny spars against Pych Xics, sage of Purple (Psychic) Aura.
The numbers are against the protagonists. The skill of Roman Organization XIII, even as their numbers congregate elsewhere into more or less favorable odds, proves to be a match against the protagonists. Eduardo may have mastery of thirteen Elemental Aura attributes, but he doesn't have the numbers to use them all at once to such a sophisticated extent. It doesn't take long for most of the protagonists to fall into a dilemma, one which Latias and Latios can even out.
Both Latias and Latios shake off their respective adversaries and successfully Mega Evolve into Mega Latias and Mega Latios, appearing now as if they've polymerized evenly into each other, save for their size and eye color. Their sheer speed proved more than helpful in assisting their comrades and turning the tables enough for the Seven to dwindle Thirteen down to Ten.
Eduardo pierced a hole through Snexs Kard with his Keyblade and use of Elemental Aura. Costas, Ian, and Tiny Riolu used their teamwork to melt Xeic with a finishing V-CREATE. And Xeno pierced Xing Iglthn with his Gunblade, after amplifying its length. Roman Organization repels us back and then tends to their fallen three, granting us both a brief, bittersweet respite. Xeic and Xing Iglthn have indeed died, but Snexs Kard was "salvageable", and Lea Xngih assimilated his life and made his power her own.
When the respite ended, Xeno was immediately selected out of the seven protagonists, and dragged towards them, moments before they sealed themselves in an earthen wall to keep the remaining six from interfering. Naturally, Eduardo feared for Xeno's life and began to tunnel underneath the sand to rescue him.
Isolated now, Xeno Mega Evolves to cope with the ten-on-one odds. But ascending himself doesn't intimidate Roman Organization XIII, because they actually succeed in subduing him for Lea Xngih to drain him. Eduardo emerges through this and attempts to liberate Xeno, but is subdued just the same. Xondus orders Haxert to petrify Xeno, and all Eduardo can do is encourage Xeno in breaking free. Xeno awakens just moments before the sand envelops him, and Lea Xngih drains Eduardo to near death.
Eduardo witnesses Xeno's petrifaction and Roman Organization XIII dropped down their barrier so that everyone could see them desecrate and destroy the statue that was once Xeno Lucario. The six remaining protagonists collapse and weep for the loss of the Aura Pokémon, while Roman Organization XIII essentially dances in their delight.
Morale drops as thoughts of what Xeno's death means for the future, and Eduardo's sadness warps into blind rage. His human body bursts like a bloody bubble to reveal the dragon underneath, and this fight continues. However, ten against one makes it difficult for Draco Eduardo to retaliate properly. Nevertheless, Draco Eduardo is hysterical and feral, much to the dismay of his perceptive friends, and they enter the fracas just like he did.
A new matchup forms between the remaining sixteen protagonists. Mega Latias and Mega Latios will fight Lea Xngih and Rexatun. Costas, Ian, and Tiny, Riolu will fight Haxert, Xifer, and Xndiw. And Draco Eduardo, in his overall unstable state of being, will fight everybody else: Elexem, Pych Xics, Wraxet, Xihlgt, and Xondus.
Through the Black (Darkness) Aura that Lea Xngih "inherited" from the late Snexs Kard, she immobilizes the Mega Evolved Eon Duo by their own shadows, allowing Rexatun to form a trinity of plants that charge up solar energy before firing it towards them.
Against the combination of Earth, Wind, and Fire, the only thing that Costas, Ian, and Tiny Riolu could do was hold firm, for as long as they can. And against the combination of Light, Melee, Psychic, Sound, and Water, Eduardo was almost entirely at their mercy, berserker state or otherwise. Even when using his Elemental Aura abilities in his favor did they bode little results, such as matching Yellow (Lightning) Aura to Wraxet's Blue (Water) Aura. It didn't take long before Draco Eduardo found himself pinned to the desert sand by Xondus' repeated blasts of Silver (Sound) Aura.
Both Mega Latias and Mega Latios were badly injured by Rexatun's solar energy attack, and at Lea Xngih's mercy as she was dragging them both into Rexatun's established and oversized pitcher plants, waiting to devour the two of them whole. However, the Mega Eon Duo were resourceful, with Mega Latias using REFLECT TYPE to become a Dark-Type and break free of Lea Xngih's shadow hold, and Mega Latios using HEAL BLOCK to temporarily disable Lea Xngih's Green (Healing) Aura, before Mega Latias swopped in to retrieve her brother. And in retaliation, the Mega Eon Duo use a combination attack to send Lea Xngih and Rexatun airborne, before rending both of them in half with a double lariat STEEL WING, cleaving their waistlines in two. However, Lea Xngih survives and manages to drain the Mega Eon Duo dry, reunites her lower body with her upper body, tossing them both into a pair of pitcher plants, and retrieving Rexatun's corpse.
Costas, Ian, and Tiny Riolu sense Mega Latias' and Mega Latios' dilemma, and split their team to save them, with Tiny Riolu staying behind to handle Haxert, Xifer, and Xndiw. Tiny Riolu holds his ground against the three enemies, but soon fails. Xndiw has Haxert and Xifer tend to Costas and Ian, while Xndiw suffocates Tiny into unconsciousness.
Costas and Ian successfully free Mega Latias and Mega Latios from the voracious pitcher plants, only to see what became of Tiny Riolu from the three impending Elemental Aura Adepts. Costas and Ian are suffocated in the same way Tiny was, then the Mega Eon Duo follow suit.
Through sheer rage, Draco Eduardo cancels Xondus out with the same Elemental Aura attribute, and takes to the skies after his five tormented friends. However, Elexem is there to prevent him, and succeeds thanks to the support of his allies. Elexem wrestles Draco Eduardo and pins him to the ground. He succeeds in tearing off Draco Eduardo's wings, tail, tongue. Pych Xics stretches his arms and legs telekinetically, allowing Xilght to pin them to the ground with her light arrows. Lea Xngih even enters the scene, draining Draco Eduardo dry, draining everyone dry, and dispersing the strength evenly amongst her remaining eight allies.
Xondus wishes to kill Draco Eduardo second, having Pych Xics revive his friends from unconsciousness, so that they can watch him die. Xifer stabs Draco Eduardo through his neck and through his heart with his twin firebrands, only to realize that I'm too big to bleed out quickly. In the end, they all agree to have Elexem tear Draco Eduardo's head off with his bare hands, and he succeeds. Their five prisoners are freed, only for them to rush over towards Draco Eduardo's disembodied head and speak strongly solemn words to him, before he died.
Draco Eduardo's being is elsewhere, viewing his friends crying profusely before his dragon's head, and Roman Organization XIII dancing about his corpse, before they seized them by the necks, toss them aside, and obliterated his decapitated head. Draco Eduardo's friends react hostilely to this before realizing the predator/prey relation this battle has now taken, and the Mega Eon Duo come to an agreement. Mega Latios converts himself into a Soul Dew for Mega Latias to equip (by swallowing), and uses its power to flee with her friends in tow.
Draco Eduardo realizes he's back in his mindscape, with his human form talking to him. That Eduardo scolded him for his tactics that got him killed and will get his friends killed…unless he resorts to the power he sealed away and has next to no memory of. Roman Organization XIII merely destroyed Draco Eduardo's body, and a new body can be made. The mindscape Eduardo contemplates this "True Form" to be Roman Organization XIII's reward for "killing" him, before becoming it and saying how successful they are in pissing him off.
Eduardo's friends are unable to flee from Roman Organization XIII, and Elexem punches a hole through Mega Latias', holding the Soul Dew in his bloodied hand. He tossed her forcefully back to Costas' horrified state, and he quickly tried to heal her. Elexem then casually tossed the Soul Dew to them, which Tiny caught moments before Mega Latios rematerialized from it, comatose and breathless, much to Ian's horror. Before Roman Organization XIII could smite them, a literal rainstorm stops them and directs everyone's concentration elsewhere.
Before the dragon carcass, they horrifyingly see Eduardo's being reform out of pure aura. The dragon carcass melts away to its bones, and Eduardo rises to the sky with those bones in tow, alongside all of those the desert sand has claimed over the eons. And through the power of all thirteen Elemental Aura attributes at Eduardo's disposal, the body of his "True Form" was successfully and cataclysmically assembled.
Everyone watched in horror at the Devil Dragon that Eduardo has become, with an upside-down pentagram for wings, godlike build, two sword tails, bull-like horns, acidic gauntlet-like extensions, full body bone armor, and a human skull on his dragon muzzle.
Absolute intimidation was felt by all towards Devil Dragon Eduardo. Questions from his friends fall on deaf ears as he walked by them towards Roman Organization XIII and stopped before them. Roman Organization XIII still feels the need to remind him of his "odds of victory", only for Devil Dragon Eduardo to remind them of their outmatched states and imminent defeat by summoning his Keyblade and blowing everybody away with a simple stab to the earth.
Roman Organization XIII regains their footing better than my friends, and they quickly return fire towards Devil Dragon Eduardo, even simultaneously, only to realize that nothing worked and he was still stalking them. Devil Dragon Eduardo reflected their attacks with a single Keyblade swing, then ran towards them, piercing through their multi-layered barriers like dust in the wind, snagging Lea Xngih in his bony claws.
In flying away with her, Lea Xngih attempts to drain him, only to feel her body putrefy instead. Devil Dragon Eduardo drags her body across the sandy dunes at speeds of Mach 5, effectively turning her into a skid mark that she can't hope to recover from. With Lea Xngih slain, he warps back to the other eight enemies, and immediately has Elexem's head disappear within his clawed grasp, crushing his skull like an egg, regardless of his struggling.
With seven members of Roman Organization XIII remaining, Xondus understands the need to fall back, only for Xifer to defy it and "assault" Devil Dragon Eduardo. Xifer fails miserably and is inevitably melted alive, his last perceived image being what lies inside Devil Dragon Eduardo's open visor. The five glancing friends can't help but feel pity for the enemies, never wishing those kind of murderous actions on them.
Devil Dragon Eduardo soon resorts to using a catastrophically large attack that uses all thirteen of his Elemental Aura attributes, and fires it soullessly to Roman Organization XIII. Xihlgt erects a barrier to defend her remaining teammates, and sacrifices herself in order to let them flee.
It is here that Pych Xics contemplates a plan to have Devil Dragon Eduardo lower his guard for retaliation, by projecting herself as Xeno Lucario before him. She does so before him, talking to him about how much of a monstrosity he has had to become in order to claim victory, and if the end justifies the means. Xeno (Pych Xics) assures him that he (she) is alive and well, and wishes for Devil Dragon Eduardo to reclaim what he has lost within himself. This results in Xeno (Pych Xics) being pierced by Devil Dragon Eduardo's twin sword tails, and cut in half lengthwise.
The five onlookers contemplate Devil Dragon Eduardo's constitution, leading to Tiny Riolu to believe that he has become worse than a monster. He's become truly soulless, as if created for the sole purpose of carnage.
With Roman Organization XIII down to four members (Haxert, Wraxet, Xndiw, and Xondus), they quickly take Devil Dragon Eduardo's friends hostage, telling him that the only way for him to kill the last of them is to kill his friends as well. Devil Dragon Eduardo doesn't care at all, and prepares himself to kill them all with the same attack used to kill Xihlgt with. But at the last moment, Mega Xeno Lucario appears directly behind him and brings his "Revolver" Gunblade down on Devil Dragon Eduardo.
Down on his attack.
Mega Xeno warps away to avoid the resulting explosion, and reappears glaring at him, at his broken horns and chipped body. Mega Xeno must return Devil Dragon Eduardo to his senses, and knows how. Mega Xeno rushes towards Devil Dragon Eduardo, and is cut down by his Keyblade. However, Devil Dragon Eduardo cleaves a SUBSTITUTE, giving Mega Xeno enough time to pierce his body with his Gunblade and use HEART SWAP to put his being into Devil Dragon Eduardo, his body technically fainting and reverting back to normal.
Within his mindscape, Eduardo falls deep, never in control of his body. He stops falling when he sees a keyhole in the center of a red pentagram. He draws his "Ultima Weapon" to unlock it, but Xeno stops him from doing so upon successfully finding him. The euphoria for Xeno's wellbeing overpowers Eduardo's drive to unlock the keyhole, but is quelled when Xeno informs him of the situation his body is in, and what Xeno had to do to get here. Xeno brings them both back to light and to reality, merely by putting a paw to Eduardo's chest and clearing away the darkness.
Back in reality, Xeno removes the Gunblade from Eduardo's chest, as he in turn reverts down into a bizarre human/dragon hybrid. The hole in Eduardo's chest is tended to by Xeno, and he sets Eduardo aside before his friends, telling him to relax as he finishes off Roman Organization XIII by himself.
Roman Organization XIII is naturally thunderstruck by Xeno's wellbeing and wonders how he survived. Xeno explains, after telling them that they have absolutely no hope of understanding Pokémon, that he survived thanks to Eduardo snapping him out of unconsciousness moments before being petrified by Haxert. He shrank down through MINIMIZE to the size of a grain of sand, and hid thanks to his size in order to REST. Eduardo has saved his live three times now.
Xeno knows that Roman Organization XIII won't win, despite the near-fatal close calls and their experience and abilities. And despite being outnumbered four-to-one, Xeno has learned a new ability, thanks to Eduardo. He gathers power, and when his pupils become slit like those of reptiles, Xondus connects two and two together and Roman Organization XIII attacks Xeno. However, Xeno's aura field takes on the properties of wings and blows all incoming attacks away.
Then, Xeno transforms into an Aura Dragon, complete with arm wings, barrel chest, furred scales, longer tail, and a restructured face most notable across the jaws. He stands bipedal, admitting to everyone that this is the first time he's become an Aura Dragon, which was made possible when he made a mental SKETCH of all of the witnessed transformations of Eduardo into Draco Eduardo.
The final moments of this battle commence, Aura Dragon Xeno already having the upper hand because of his regained vitality in comparison to their stacking fatigue. He easily holds them through TELEKINESIS, repels their attacks, and even reflects them back through MIRROR COAT. He even yawns at them due to boredom, causing them to initially think that he was going to devour them or incinerate them.
Aura Dragon Xeno soon sends them flying and then he flies right after them. The five of them engage in a dogfight of sheer speed and strength, one that eventually ends with him grasping onto all four remaining members of Roman Organization XIII. He flies high enough where the blue sky gives way to outer space, where Roman Organization XIII's respective Elemental Aura attributes all have no effect whatsoever. Aura Dragon Xeno then replicates himself into five, with the four clones using SKY DROP to crash back down to earth with each Roman Organization XIII member. They survive, albeit are broken physically. This pleases Aura Dragon Xeno, because he can now unleash his final attack onto them.
As Aura Dragon Xeno charges power, he enters a zen-like state and communicates to Arceus to aid him, speaking in Arceus' archaic language. Arceus actually appears before Aura Dragon Xeno, and they combine their powers, fusing Arceus' JUDGMENT and his DRACO METEOR into DIVINE WRATH.
Meteors of pure light tear through invisible rifts in the sky and target the remaining four members of Roman Organization XIII. They attempt to flee, but Eduardo and his friends manage to immobilize them with what little power they have left to expend, before fleeing from the impending explosion, moments before it happened and ended the battle.
(Song Ends)
63.7: Malefic Plotting
Fantasia alla marcia for piano, chorus and orchestra/Kingdom Hearts Original Soundtrack Complete - CD6 - Kingdom Hearts II OST/Yoko Shimomura
(Song Begins)
Everybody lands back down to the cratered earth, with the Mega Eon Duo reverting back to normal and Arceus oddly searching the sand for something. Everyone discusses the battle against Roman Organization XIII, wondering what could've been if the battle order was different, or if any one of them or all of them had perished. Everyone even makes necessary comic relief to ease the tension of a hard-fought victory. However, Aura Dragon Xeno stares coldly at Eduardo, wanting answers about my rampage as a Devil Dragon. When Eduardo tells Aura Dragon Xeno what happened as his body ran amok, Aura Dragon Xeno bluntly says that nothing lasts forever.
Arceus returns shortly after, bringing all of Eduardo's clothing and technological equipment that he shed during his bloody dragon transformation. Costas and Ian then marvel at Arceus, asking rapid fire questions that the Alpha Pokémon answers accordingly, then praising both brothers and their overall value. Everyone wonders why Arceus is still here, and Arceus points to Xondus as he is still alive and barely standing.
Xondus points to Arceus, believing It to be the reason why he still lives, which Arceus confirms. Arceus spared Xondus because Xondus' mind holds secrets about Odraude, the Dark One, and the Void that can benefit them all. Arceus then makes it clear to Eduardo that Xondus is Prattlecus, to which Prattlecus sheds his artificial martial instincts towards us and speaks nothing but praise about everyone. Eduardo doesn't buy this, until Prattlecus opens his heart and says how he owes Eduardo his life, and how he can still be alive to see his family.
Eduardo wonders why Prattlecus fought them to begin with. Prattlecus hesitates to explain, but begins by saying that there are multiple reasons, all of them contradicting his core feelings towards Eduardo. He won't bore Eduardo with that and focuses on the essentials, which also happens to include the identity of the murderer of Eduardo's parents. But before he could shed his secrets, Odraude appears out of a rift in darkness and tosses Xondus into it.
Odraude demoralizes everyone. First, he vilifies Arceus' name again, speaking how there should be order instead of free will. Second, he maligns Costas and Ian, comparing their usefulness to that of a torch underwater. Third, he slanders Tiny Riolu, wondering why Arceus even bothered resurrecting him and training him, when Tiny only killed one member of Roman Organization XIII, alongside Costas and Ian, by working as a team. Fourth, he libels Latias and Latios, how they grew tired of being Arceus' messenger birds and barely put up a decent fight against Roman Organization XIII. Fifth, he targets Aura Dragon Xeno, saying that his hate for him dwarfs that of his hate for Arceus, and how he wishes Nero succeeded in running a heated sword through his heart. It is also here that Eduardo and Aura Dragon Xeno learn that Odraude was the man responsible for bringing Xeno to Rome, before Nero.
When Odraude faces Eduardo, he tells him to inquire him, now being the perfect time for Eduardo to do so. Eduardo's question is chosen carefully, and he tells Odraude why he hasn't killed them yet, when the opportunity has presented itself multiple times before. Unsurprisingly, Odraude doesn't relinquish his satisfaction to us, and instead tells us that death is the soul's most powerful means of escapism, which is why there's such a thing as torture. Eduardo labels him as a tormentor, which Odraude happily confirms. Eduardo asks for more information, but Odraude prepares to leave, saying enough and that they can come ask him personally in Rome.
Odraude's last words before he leaves is to label Eduardo as a "Traitor".
Meanwhile, back in Rome, proper punishment is administered for Prattlecus by both Nero and Odraude, for what he had time to say to the protagonists, and for his double-crossing. They decide that he should fight for the rest of his life in the Flavian Amphitheatre. With Prattlecus "escorted" to his new prison/playground and future grave, Nero asks Odraude about the Void of the Dark One, since Odraude hasn't explained it to him yet. Odraude's answer to this is to seep into Nero's body and possess him, thinking that the less Nero knows about an event he won't be around to see, the better.
Back in the Sahara Desert, Eduardo asks for his friends to retrieve the salvageable remains of Roman Organization XIII, leaving Arceus before him. Arceus asks him to unsheathe his Keyblade, hand it over for a moment, and then stabs Eduardo lightly in the chest, using the power of the "Ultima Weapon" to revert him back to normal and no longer as a human/dragon hybrid.
With that out of the way, Eduardo asks Arceus what It knows about the Void of the Dark One. Arceus only knows so much, because the core of Its Psychic-Type abilities have been lost with all but the one Pixie Plate. Arceus then tells Eduardo what he and his friends plan to do after today. Eduardo responds with the only sensible answer: going to Rome and end everything there, once and for all. Eduardo wonders if Arceus has any doubt in their overall abilities, to which Arceus has the utmost confidence in, based on what It has done for them and for what they've in turn done for It and Its Children. And yet, Eduardo can't help but feel like the enemy in a group of friends, after Odraude marked him as a "Traitor". Nevertheless, before reaching Rome, Eduardo knows that he and his friends must train and master their newest powers.
Eduardo friends return with mutilated bodies and discarded weapons of all thirteen members of Roman Organization XIII, which he promptly assimilates into his S1-GS device. Arceus bids everyone farewell and ascends back into the Hall of Origin. After that, everyone feels like a proper rest is in order, before undergoing more training to prime themselves against Odraude in Rome, and then the Dark One. Xeno even asks Eduardo how to revert to normal, which leads to some laughs.
Meanwhile, Odraude sinks to the center of the Earth and converses with the Dark One. Odraude tells Him that Roman Organization XIII has failed and fallen, exactly as expected, allowing Eduardo to access more of himself. Eduardo will now seek answers to his origins and will no doubt travel to Rome to learn them, where his friends and himself will fall soon afterwards.
Odraude tells Curseax that His Void approaches, and Curseax responds with the statement that everything will be unborn into the nothingness from whence it came.
63.8: Elemental Plate Hunt
With Xeno Lucario no longer present in Spear Pillar after Dialga, Giratina, and Palkia transported him to the other Earth, Wanderer Lucario was made in charge of the Pokémon that once labeled themselves Team Liberator. Wanderer gives a prep talk to his friends, before everybody departs to claim twelve of the sixteen Elemental Plates scattered about Sinnoh.
In search of the Draco Plate, Absol travels to Eterna City. Once there, Absol pays particular attention to the "Dialkia" statue adorned in the middle of the city's park. Absol questions the sculptor's logic in depicting Dialga and Palkia as one being, before reading the message on the statue's plaque. Overall, Absol is getting sidetracked with these little distractions and begins to dig underneath the statue's base. In the middle of this, Absol fails to notice a Joltik clinging directly onto his hindquarters, because he successfully located the Draco Plate. Absol returns back to Mt. Coronet, unaware of the parasitic hitchhiker he is now carrying, happily feeding off of the static electricity forming from the fur of Absol's shuffling gait.
In Route 210, where the Meadow Plate is located, a timid and wild Snivy flees from a horde of Pokémon Trainers itching to capture her because of her rarity amongst these parts. The Snivy narrowly manages to flee from them, and they turn their attention to Aggron instead. Aggron was already captured however, and any Pokémon they had couldn't dent him. They cut their losses and simply allowed Aggron to proceed on through.
Aggron eventually made his way to the Meadow Plate, which just so happened to be what Snivy was sleeping on. When Snivy woke up, she initially perceived Aggron was going to devour her, only to realize that Aggron was a gentle giant. Aggron clarified why, stating that as an Aron, he sustained an injury that partially damaged his brain. Aggron can still fight, but favors defense, in order to preserve the natural environment that he loves. When all is said and done, Snivy joins Aggron, and they return back to Spear Pillar, with the Meadow Plate in their possession.
The Splash Plate is believed to reside in Route 220, underwater and therefore a place where Aqua Lapras would thrive in. Aqua treks to her destination and swims underneath the waves to locate the Elemental Plate. As she does so, she spots an Oshawott being hunted by a pack of Sharpedo. Aqua initially dismisses this as a natural occurrence of life, but her experience in Team Liberator makes her think otherwise and she swims to Oshawott's aid.
Aqua arrives in the nick of time, impaling the first Sharpedo with HORN DRILL. Through the resulting skirmish, Aqua killed the second with ICE SHARD, the third with an AQUA TAIL to the skull, and froze the fourth with ICE BEAM before shattering it with THUNDERBOLT. The fifth managed to bite off Aqua's front right flipper with CRUNCH, but she retaliated hellishly by using MIMIC and using the same move to CRUNCH the fifth Sharpedo's skull in.
Both Pokémon surface onto dry land, leading Oshawott to worry gravely for Aqua's wellbeing, after she saved him. However, Aqua shouts at him to tell him that she'll be fine, and she uses her Water Absorb ability to regenerate herself a new front right flipper. Once healed, Oshawott wishes to accompany Aqua, but she doesn't want him to, and leaves. And as she begins to leave, Aqua ponders the powerful examples that Xeno Lucario set for her, through a flashback of when they first met and how driven Xeno was in freeing everyone.
In realizing her error, Aqua soon turns back and tells Oshawott that she changed her mind, much to Oshawott's glee. And as it turns out, in doing so, Aqua Lapras learns of the location of the Splash Plate, which is what Oshawott discovered the Sharpedo pack was defending. They retrieve it and return to Spear Pillar together.
In searching for the Spooky Plate, Combusken travels to Hearthome City. Along the way, Combusken evolves into Blaziken, and he utilizes (practices and stumbles) his newfound agility to reach his destination. Once there, he enters Hearthome City's Amity Park, receiving a bit of a culture shock from the blissful harmony that both humans and Pokémon shared with each other. Then, Blaziken manages to locate an Item Finder, and moves about the park to eventually retrieve the Spooky Plate. The Item Finder, as it turns out, has an owner, and Blaziken returns it to its owner before leaving. However, the owner of the Item Finder was an agent of Team Rocket, informing Giovanni via phone call that "the bird has flown away with the worm".
Charizard's search for the Flame Plate takes him to Stark Mountain, one of the most hostile environment in Sinnoh. Once in the active volcano, Charizard felt withdrawn and evaded every aggressive Pokémon he saw, until they saw him and he managed to flee from them unscathed. Charizard ends up in a seemingly dead end of Stark Mountain, only to encounter Heatran, the denizen of this volcano. Heatran knows of the Flame Plate, but requires Charizard to defeat it in battle, as per Arceus' orders. Charizard detests violence, but his hand is forced and he engages Heatran.
Throughout the battle, Heatran possesses both the territorial and Type advantage, but Charizard perseveres nevertheless. Heatran, however, continues antagonizing Charizard into anger, waiting to see Charizard erupt. And Charizard did indeed erupt, using ERUPTION to blast the two of them out of Stark Mountain. They both emerge outside and Charizard reveals to Heatran that he fears his own power, because of what Team Rocket had him do with it. Team Rocket turned Charizard into their hellish weapon, at the price of his self-independence. But luckily for him, Mewtwo and Xeno came along and improved his life for the better.
Heatran views this as narrow-minded thinking, in seeing fire as merely destruction instead of life. To prove its point, Heatran points out how the lava will cool into new rock, new land, for new life to live on. Charizard understands better now and embraces this new knowledge, alongside the Flame Plate that Heatran suddenly vomits out. With the Flame Plate in Charizard's possession and a fond farewell from Heatran, he returns to Spear Pillar.
Dusknoir's search for the Fist Plate takes him to Route 215, where a situation is occurring between the local police and Team Rocket. Dusknoir stealthily investigates, noticing Giovanni was amongst the group, as they were all digging throughout Route 215 in searching for the Fist Plate. They manage to unearth it, and Dusknoir snatches it, only to drop it when he's intercepted and then surrounded by Giovanni's Pokémon: a Bisharp, a Drapion, a Gengar, a Golurk, a Krookodile, and even a Zorua. Dusknoir knocks out the Bisharp through both PAIN SPLIT and BRICK BREAK, but is knocked to the ground by Drapion's CROSS POISON and Golurk's FIRE PUNCH.
Giovanni snaps his fingers to stop their fighting and approaches Dusknoir, memories of the Gripper Pokémon still burning heavily within his mind. Giovanni has his Pokémon fight Dusknoir, while he and his team return to base with the Fist Plate. Dusknoir is forced to fight the remaining five of them, and clashes fists with Golurk first. Dusknoir ends up winning the fistfight and obliterates Golurk's head with SHADOW BALL. The other three Pokémon, except for Zorua, attack at once at Dusknoir, but Dusknoir made Gengar strike Drapion by accident, which cost Gengar its life via Drapion's revenge. Dusknoir then used SHADOW FORCE to paralyze Drapion, which would feel it just the same. The fight with Krookodile proves to be more strenuous, but Dusknoir claims victory by using SHADOW GIGA IMPACT (SHADOW FORCE + GIGA IMPACT).
Dusknoir briefly uses REST, and is forcefully awakened by Zorua's NIGHT DAZE. Dusknoir contemplates fighting Zorua, but sees itself through her eyes, and doesn't wish for Zorua to continue down the path that Dusknoir once trekked. Dusknoir soothes Zorua by telling her if she despises her current life and how Dusknoir was once part of Team Rocket. Through this, Zorua happily joins Dusknoir and fights for a better cause. And through their teamwork, they retrieve the Fist Plate from Giovanni, through the use of illusory and ethereal abilities, and return to Spear Pillar. Giovanni believes that they may think that they've won, but they haven't.
Luxray's hunt for the Zap Plate takes him to Sunnyshore City, a place that at first confuses him because of the bonds he's seeing between human and Pokémon, mostly Electric-Type Pokémon. And because of the long trek that he made in getting here, a trek that didn't pause for food, Luxray felt famished and entered a restaurant. In here, Luxray was actually given a free meal, and learned of what Dusknoir did to claim the Fist Plate through a newscast on TV.
After that, Luxray searched high and higher for the Zap Plate, using the X-Ray vision of his special eyes to see through every single corner of Sunnyshore City, from the Sunnyshore Lighthouse, the tallest point in this city. Luxray doesn't find the Zap Plate, but does find himself meeting Volkner, who appears content with the wave of challengers that have been keeping him on his toes. Luxray leaves the lighthouse, and soon discovers the Zap Plate to be directly below his current location. Luxray locates it, retrieves it, and makes his leave.
Metang is instructed to retrieve the Toxic Plate from Pastoria City's Great Marsh. Just as was the case with Combusken when he evolved into Blaziken. Metang evolved into Metagross as it descended down Mt. Coronet as well. Metang even caught a glimpse of its closest friend, hopping stories skyward in his new body, just before it made its way to its destination. Once there, the Pokémon Trainers were naturally tantalized of the prospect of capturing a Metagross, only to learn that it is technically already captured and soon left when the prospect of a great prize was fleeting.
Metagross soon tailed the Great Marsh rail car, and noticed a boy with a Beldum disembarking. The sight of this made Metagross recollect on its origins at a Pokémon Day Care center in Hoenn, where it was lovingly raised by the humans in charge of the facility, albeit shunned from the Pokémon because of its Steel-Type attribute conflicting with its ability to play with other Pokémon. Luckily for Beldum, that changed when a Torchic was introduced to the Day Care center, and happily accepted Beldum, steel and all. They left the Day Care center together, when an unfortunate accident killed the staff.
When the flashback subsided, Metagross proceeded deeper into the Great Marsh, into the site where Team Galactic detonated their Galactic Bomb. Metagross sensed for the distinct energy signature of the Toxic Plate, successfully located it, and made its way back.
With Sceptile in charge of locating the Dread Plate in the Eterna Forest, both he and Absol traveled together, since they were reaching the same route. They took their separate ways upon reaching the Eterna Forest, with Absol going into Eterna City to locate the Draco Plate, and Sceptile entering the Old Chateau to claim the Dread Plate.
Before entering it, Sceptile recalled his original encounter with Tiny Riolu, how the Emanation Pokémon entered his life shortly after he made his tree house in Celadon Forest, back when he was still a Grovyle. Tiny entered his home as an apparent intruder, but was soon clarified into the understanding that Tiny Riolu was troubled and traumatized by the Absol that killed his fellow Riolu friends. In the end, Grovyle accepted Tiny and allowed him to live with him.
Sceptile enters the Old Chateau and does note the haunting aura of the place, as well as witnesses a couple of ghosts of deceased humans. When Sceptile finds a TV, he also encounters a Rotom, a Pokémon that knows too much about Sceptile, as well as the location of the Dread Plate.
A fight for the knowledge of the Dread Plate breaks out between the two Pokémon. As the fight progressed, Sceptile became more and more outnumbered by Rotom's five alternate forms (Fan Rotom, Frost Rotom, Heat Rotom, Mow Rotom, and Wash Rotom) alongside its default form. Through their combined power, they manage to break Sceptile's buster sword, which crushes Sceptile as his subconscious has connected the blade to his departed friend Tiny Riolu. It even resurfaces a dark memory of Sceptile trying to piece Tiny's dead and mutilated body crudely back together with a few sticks.
Rotom was about to finish Sceptile off, when a Honedge intercepted the attack and allied himself with Sceptile. Through their teamwork, they defeat Rotom, who quickly spills the location of the Dread Plate, tells Sceptile that it was fun fighting him, and that they can hopefully meet again. And after retrieving the Dread Plate, Honedge reveals that Arceus guided both him and Rotom to Sceptile, one to challenge and the other to ally. With that out of the way, Sceptile exits the Old Chateau, reunites with Absol, and the four of them return to Spear Pillar.
The search for the Sky Plate takes Terra Garchomp to Sinnoh's Pokémon League, where he clandestinely claims the Elemental Plate right then and there. But instead of returning home, he encounters the Sinnoh Champion Cynthia, who approaches Terra and lovingly scratches him into submission. Terra learns that Cynthia can understand "Poke-speech", and knows about him and how he's here on a mission from God. Terra asks how Cynthia knows him, and Cynthia asks for Terra to follow her first. Cynthia releases her Garchomp to escort her to her designated location, and the three of them fly together…after her Garchomp nuzzles Terra affectionately.
They land in Route 224's Flower Paradise, where they witness the Shaymin in their natural habitat. After that, Cynthia tells Terra what she knows that Arceus has told her of the "Coadjutors of the Pokémon of Prophecy", as well as how she's one of the few humans that actually knows of the Void of the Dark One. This also means that Cynthia knows of the Prophecy, as she recites it word for word. She asks for the identity of the Pokémon of Prophecy, to which Terra confirms as "Xeno Lucario", a Pokémon that Giovanni once held custody of, likely knowing what he is and is capable of.
Cynthia then raises a valid point on why Xeno is a Lucario and not any other possible Pokémon, because a Lucario epitomizes justice. Cynthia then notes Terra's hide and if he hates humanity. Terra doesn't, because he knows that humans are just as diverse as Pokémon. Lastly, Cynthia asks what he and his friends think of the Void of the Dark One, and how they'll fare in preventing it. Terra admits that they draw their hope from Arceus and Xeno, and will persevere because of that. And with that, Terra waves Cynthia farewell and returns to Spear Pillar with the Sky Plate in his grasp.
Tyranitar rampages to Iron Island to claim the Iron Plate, caring very little for any obstacles that stand in the way of his Point A and Point B. This leads him to running across Canalave City like a micro Godzilla, flipping off the people on the ferry as he's using SURF to get to Iron Island, and busting through Iron Island's walls Kool-Aid Man style, to find what he wants. The only thing that impedes him is a feisty Deino that, through a brief skirmish over the Iron Plate she attempted to eat, Tyranitar grows fond of and decides to take with him alongside the Iron Plate. Deino happily agrees to this, and Tyranitar even comments on how he's always wanted a sidekick.
The final of the initial twelve Elemental Plates is personally tasked by Wanderer Lucario to locate. In traveling to the Snowpoint area to locate the Icicle Plate, he first explored the seemingly remote Snowpoint City before moving on to explore elsewhere. He ended up in Lake Acuity, where he contemplated his origins. He was born an orphan in Lake Acuity, fending for himself and living off of the land with next to no friends. The only important friend he made, before meeting Xeno Lucario, was Grovyle, before he evolved into a Sceptile. Spending enough time contemplating his past, Wanderer trekked further south to Route 217.
After passing by the Veilstone City's Gym Leader, Wanderer noticed a human being stranded in the middle of a blizzard, begging for Xeno's help so that he doesn't freeze to death. Wanderer only saves him so that he doesn't live with the guilt of the sadness of his family mourning for him. The man is taken to his log cabin further south, where both Wanderer and the man's family successfully stabilize his temperature. After that, Wanderer learns that this man has the Icicle Plate in his possession and attempts to claim it, only for the Icicle Plate to be gratefully handed to him. With that, Wanderer leaves and returns to Spear Pillar, even after learning that the reason he was an orphan was because the man he just saved lost him as an egg.
63.9: Tryst of the Twelve
Back at Spear Pillar, Wanderer Lucario is the first to return. When he realizes that it would likely take some time for the other eleven Pokémon to return, he takes a nap. Dusknoir and Zorua return second, and Zorua narrowly loses her virginity to Wanderer's sleep mumbling, before Wanderer awakens and notices Dusknoir's return alongside the cuddly "pet" he brought with him. When Wanderer asks why Dusknoir brought a new friend, Dusknoir feels it best to explain why only once, when everyone returns.
Absol, Honedge, Sceptile (and the clingy Joltik) returned third and fourth respectively. After reaching here through questionable competitive tactics, Absol plops asleep and Sceptile meditates, contemplating the inevitable realization that Absol will have with Joltik.
Charizard arrives fifth, inadvertently disturbing/waking everyone with a resounding thud through landing, due to the high he was feeling from just touching the Flame Plate. After saying sorry and keeping his mouth shut about what he had to do to get the Flame Plate, he breaks Absol's ice by mentioning the Joltik he sees clinging onto Absol's butt. With his cover blown, Joltik spoke only in Morse Code, long enough before Absol sat down, and received a powerful retaliatory DISCHARGE. Absol passed out with Joltik standing triumphant over the "giant" he "felled".
Terra arrives sixth, noticing his friends, the condition Absol was left in, and the "pets" that some of the Coadjutors brought with them. Absol begs Terra to look at his butt and pluck off the parasitic Joltik. Terra reluctantly does so, and reveals to the group that he understands Morse Code. Joltik antagonizes Terra to the point of latching onto his face and using BUG BUZZ, and subsequently setting the entire group (except Absol) into hysteria.
Aggron and Snivy arrive seventh, thanks to the aid of Aqua Lapras and Oshawott, who in turn arrive eighth. The four of them witness their present friends charred to a crisp by the world's smallest Pokémon, who has now become round and engorged from feasting on Absol's static electricity. When Aqua antagonized the pest for harming her friends, Joltik retaliated by spontaneously evolving into Galvantula and using WILD CHARGE on Aggron first, only to briefly pass out from the resulting impact. And in attempting to attack Aqua with the same attack, her sheer anger proved to be more than enough to repel Galvantula back and cower behind Absol, before pacifying himself and snuggling up to the Disaster Pokémon.
Blaziken returns ninth, through a rough entrance because he's yet to grow accustomed to his new body. Everyone doesn't recognize the Pokémon that was once their friend Combusken at first, but quickly realize that he evolved. Blaziken appears egomaniacal and willing to test his new body on anyone willing to spar with him. The only volunteer is Aggron, because he feels that he could use a good massage.
Metagross returns tenth and immediately approaches Blaziken, both Pokémon acknowledging their new evolutionary forms and agree to spar to accustom themselves to their new bodies. This soon leads to everybody in attendance to spar with one another, save for Absol and Galvantula, the latter now happily tending to the injuries of the former.
Tyranitar and Deino arrive eleventh and with a dynamic entrance that "alerted" the attention of their surrounding friends. Then, after handing Wanderer the Iron Plate, Tyranitar began to treat Deino like a cute, fluffy puppy, which he (unofficially) nicknamed "Side Bitch". Blaziken wonders if Deino will become a second Tyranitar, to which Tyranitar replies against, saying that there's only one of him.
Luxray is the twelfth and final Pokémon to return to Spear Pillar, because it traveled and returned from one of the farthest corners of Sinnoh by running on four feet.
With all twelve Coadjutors and six extra Pokémon present and accounted for, the team began to explain to each other what they did to claim their respectively assigned Elemental Plates, while simultaneously introducing their new allies and friends. Naturally, alarms were raised with Dusknoir's mentioning of Giovanni of Team Rocket, and numerous questions were raised all throughout everyone's little stories.
When the question was brought up about what to do with the six new Pokémon, the three Legendary Deities of Sinnoh appeared. The three of them, through Arceus, are willing to train them so that they can match their respective and current Coadjutor allies, all forty-six of them. This number was determined through the twelve Elemental Plates already retrieved, as well as Eduardo's and Xeno Lucario's participation in Arceus' Game. The number will grow as they're needed. Metagross notes of the mention of seven in the parallel Earth, and the Deity Trio confirms that Tiny Riolu lives, much to Sceptile's and Wanderer's overflowing emotions.
Before taking the six new Coadjutors as apprentices, the Deity Trio tell the group of twelve Pokémon that the Elemental Plates are better left in their possession (conveniently seeped into their bodies), because they'll require them for what's about to befall them, which is Team Rocket's plans for global conquest.
Meanwhile, in the Distortion World, Dialga, Giratina and Palkia help their six new students grow accustomed to the unfamiliar physics of Giratina's established domain. Within here, the initial training plan is to have the six of them fight the Legendary Deities last, almost like a graduation exam. Along the way, they'll combat each other, spar with the Legendary Deities, and amplify their strengths through the arbitrary environment. It will be brutal, but necessary.
Also, in Team Rocket Main Headquarters, Giovanni appeared to be by his lonesome within the darkness of the Main Hanger. He stared at the only source of light in this place, a monitor. Through it and via security camera, he sees one lone muscular man chained in his prison cell, fast asleep. Giovanni expected more from the World Champion, instead of him just waltzing in here unarmed and without any of his powerful Pokémon. Regardless, Giovanni has the world's king piece in checkmate, and the rest of the world will soon be captured, one segment at a time.
Giovanni then received a message to begin a group call. When he changed the channel of the monitor, five more faces appeared, the faces of the Bosses of the five other teams scattered about the world: Team Aqua's Archie, Team Flare's Lysandre, Team Galactic's Cyrus, Team Magma's Maxie, and Team Plasma's Ghetsis. With Giovanni of Team Rocket, all six of them form Team Prism.
They discuss their inevitable global conquest, thanks to their unified friendship, determined teamwork, relinquished bias, amalgamated technology, capture of the World Champion, and a sentient being by the name of "Triple Zero" (or "000"). The first order of their business is to tend to the pests that Xeno Lucario left behind, and take all sixteen Elemental Plates that they've worked hard in obtaining and will attempt to obtain. Next, it's to mobilize their militia to the capitals of Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh Unova, and Kalos.
When the meeting ended and Giovanni turned on the lights of the Main Hangar, this militia was revealed. Dozens upon dozens of mechanized battle suits, with human Grunts piloting each and every single one of them, able to brandish a masterful and versatile trinity of machinery, weaponry, and Pokémon abilities with ease. No rousing speech was necessary, as Giovanni, alongside the other five bosses of Team Prism, had maximum morale through their armadas.
(Song Ends)
63.10: Psychic Path of the Aura
Mewtwo was presently fighting in the final match of a tournament against three diverse opponents on a stage named "Final Destination". The three opponents included an anthropomorphic canine space mercenary by the name of Fox McCloud, a Hylian Hero of Time by the name of Link, and an intergalactic bounty hunter by the name of Samus Aran. All four opponents, diverse in their abilities with technology, weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, and mentality, fought with all of their might until all five stocks of each opponent dwindled one by one. In the end, Mewtwo crushed his opposition, leaving Samus Aran as the last to be defeated.
With the match ending with Mewtwo decisively victorious, the award ceremony took place almost instantly after, with Crazy Hand and Master Hand as the hosts, and all of the participating fighters in attendance. The Hand Duo praised each and every finalist in the order of their placing. Fox McCloud came fourth, Link came third, Samus Aran came second, and Mewtwo was triumphantly first. The platinum trophy that Mewtwo received was adorned with everything that made the tournament possible in the first place: the participants. And throughout the applause, Mewtwo pondered if they were cheering him for his battle prowess, or for his bonds with friends of all corners of the universe. He settled for the latter and formed the faintest of possible smiles.
A few months and hundreds of different tournaments and pastimes after, it was time for everyone to take their leave and return to their respective homeworlds. Some were eager, others were reluctant. Mewtwo was neutral and simply content with the diversity of the friends and beings he met during the Hand Duo's "Melee" Tournament. The last two fighters to remain are Mewtwo and Samus, with the pair having formed a close bond because of their similarities. Mewtwo reassures her that he'll skip the third tournament, in order to reacquaint himself with his friends back home, to which Samus understands. She hands Mewtwo a beneficial gift, then departs through her Gunship. Afterwards, Mew entered the picture, noticing how Mewtwo appeared to be in love with her, to which Mewtwo faintly admits and suppresses. Then, the two proceed to the Hand Duo's office, to inform them of his decision of skipping their third tournament.
Premonition of a Grand Adventure/Dragon Ball Kai: Original Soundtrack/Kenji Yamamoto
(Song Begins)
As they wait patiently for the Hand Duo, Mew and Mewtwo discuss their plans upon returning home and how their friends will react in seeing him again. Also, if Team Rocket still exists, then Mewtwo will do his part to eradicate them. Their conversation switches abruptly when Crazy Hand attempts to sneak up on Mewtwo and attempt to scare him but fail for the umpteenth time. Then Master Hand appears and immediately gets down to business, knowing already why Mewtwo was here.
First, Master Hand wonders if Mewtwo enjoyed being here, to which he replies with an earnest yes, when three other fighters (Pichu, Roy, and Young Link) stated otherwise for their own reasons. When Master Hand asks why Mewtwo doesn't want to participate in the third tournament, it's because Mewtwo has learned to value friendship. The Hand Duo understands this, especially since Mewtwo knows someone else will shine until the fourth tournament. Also, when asked of any recommendations for the third tournament, Mewtwo mentions Xeno Lucario, much to the Hand Duo's uneasiness.
It's here that Mewtwo is informed of the Void of the Dark One, the role Xeno has in it as the "Pokémon of Prophecy", the friends he's (against his will) left behind to gather Arceus' Elemental Plates, the friends he's made in the Earth that he now walks, and even the new powers and abilities he's amassed, such as his Mega Evolution, his "Revolver" Gunblade, and his "Aura Dragon" form.
The Hand Duo clarifies that this is also why they can't allow Mewtwo to participate in the third tournament. With that, Mew and Mewtwo wishes to waste no time in returning home. Master Hand and Crazy Hand bestow Mewtwo with a collection of necessary items for him (which Mewtwo easily carries through psychic ingenuity). After that, when asked where Mew and Mewtwo would like to be transported to, Mewtwo responds with just two words: Undella Town.
(Song Ends)
"We are not soldiers until we know how to go stark naked against a fully armed enemy and kill him." —Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnson (199) ("Earth Unaware")