Ch.10: Lionwing and Rayquaza's Life Anew

"And Discord and Razenoid was like 'Yeargh!' and Discord and Razenoid was all 'Augh!'…" Lionwing and Helios chuckled as Rainbow Dash and Rayquaza told the Cutie Mark Crusaders, the Circle of Evolution Seekers, and their friends all about how they defeated Discord and Razenoid to save them, Lady Arceus, and Princess Celestia. They've all accepted Lionwing and Rayquaza more now that they know they really love Rainbow and Helios, and that Helios and Lionwing sacrificed themselves to save Rainbow, Rayquaza, the lady, and the princess.

Devon, Cornwall, and Ayden have been returned to their home world, but Princess Celestia and Lady Arceus gave them a magical necklace that will allow them to travel back to Equestria if they wish to visit Lionwing, Rayquaza, and the others.

Shortly after Rainbow gave Rayquaza a break from the story-telling, she and Lionwing then turned to said princess and lady, seeing them sipping their tea. They smiled before getting up and leaving the library.

Once outside, the two of them from different spots looked up at the stars twinkling above them. They now know they're going to start their lives anew, and they'll do it with Rainbow and Helios at their sides. The gryphon and Sky High Pokemon now knows that they don't need to serve someone like Ruber, Discord, or Razenoid to be accepted into a group. All they had to do was show what true friends they can really be. And because of them learning this lesson, they have earned Devon, Cornwall, and Ayden's friendship, some Pony and Guardian friends, and Rainbow and Helios's love.

"Rayquaza?" The Sky High Pokemon snapped out of her thoughts and turned to see Helios approaching her.

"You okay there, babe?" he asked as he sat down beside her.

"Yes," she answered, turning away with closed eyes and a slight blush as well. "I was just thinking about all we've been through." She then turned to him again, this time with sad eyes. "I hope you can forgive me for what I did. Lionwing and I didn't mean to hurt you or Rainbow."

"Aw, Ray-Ray," Helios replied, placing a comforting but bandaged claw gently on her shoulder. "Don't beat yourself up; you and your partner just wanted to be a part of something... to never be alone... even though you have Lionwing as your partner, and you two are close as a guardian and partner can be. But you'll need a big strong guardian like me to protect you from fiends like Razenoid. He tricked you; he's known to be a sly one."

Rayquaza giggled softly at his statement. "Yeah, I guess... thing is, I was always alone. My father, he died just after giving me the instructions on how to find a suitable partner. After he passed on, I flew over the Forbidden Forest, where I met Lionwing... and with him, I'm not as lonely as I was before."

"Don't think you're alone in this, babe," Helios said as he wrapped his arms around her and drew her close, "cuz you're not. Rainbow and I are here for you and Lionwing, and so are the others. You both can start your lives over now."

"Yes," Rayquaza replied, looking into his handsome eyes, "and I have you to thank for that." She then wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her lips into his, and kissed him, feeling happier then she ever thought she would as he kissed her back. Lionwing watched his guardian and her new lover make out with a smile before a voice called out to him.

"Lionwing?" The gryphon turned to see Rainbow approaching him.

"Are you okay?" she asked as she sat down beside him.

"Yes," he answered, turning away with closed eyes and a slight blush. "I was just thinking about all we've been through." He then turned to her again, this time with sad eyes. "I hope you can forgive me for what I did. Rayquaza and I didn't mean to hurt you or Helios."

"Lionwing, you shouldn't talk like that," she replied, placing a comforting hoof gently on his bandaged shoulder. "You just wanted to be a part of something…to never be alone. And Discord tricked you; he's known to be a sly one."

"I just feel terrible," he explained. "I never wanted to be alone…no one to talk to, no one to have fun with…my previous life was terrible until I met Rayquaza. She's a great guardian, but I need someone else as well…especially when he has someone like your guardian to love her back. "

"You think you're alone, Lionwing," Rainbow said before placing her head under his throat, "but you're not. I'm here for you, and so are the others. You can start your life over now."

"I know," he said, looking into his rosy eyes, "and I have you to thank for that." He then wrapped his wings around her, pressed his lips into hers, and kissed her, feeling happier than he ever thought he would.

As the two pairs were kissing, Princess Celestia and Lady Arceus watched them from the doorway before getting out their red book and purple book and opening each to a blank page. They then used her memory spell to place a picture in it. In Celestia's is showing Lionwing hugging and comforting a crying Rainbow Dash after he defeated Discord in battle. Under it, the Princess wrote down its title: The Wind Beneath Rainbow's Wings. Arceus used her magic to place a picture it in it, showing Helios hugging and comforting a crying Rayquaza after he defeated Razenoid in battle. Under it, the Lady wrote down its title: The Wind Beneath Helios's Wings. After they were done, they put the books away and returned to inside the library, leaving the two pairs of winged lovers alone under Princess Luna's twinkling stars.

Unfortunately, Helios had a thing to do with Lionwing before he can do exactly that... Helios and Rayquaza saw their partners kissing, so Helios withdrew from his and Rayquaza' kiss to glare at Lionwing, who pulled away from the kiss as well and glared at him back, but not so hostile.

"Well, gryphon?" Helios asked him. "Remember the Courtship Battle? Ya up for the challenge, buster? I'm sorry to say that if you lose, I'll decide whether or not to erase your memories..." Lionwing glared at him, while Rayquaza and Rainbow's eyes widened.

"Helios! You wouldn't do th...that... would you?" Rainbow whimpered. Helios sighed before leaning down and drawing his partner into a hug. "You know that I love and care for you like a proper guardian should, Rainbow. Even if I win, I'm not so sure I want to delete his memories. I mean, he's so important to you...and if I erase his memories, I won't be with Rayquaza." Rainbow simply stared at him, tears starting to leak from her eyes.

Helios mentally smacked himself. He loved his partner, and hated to see her in pain or crying.

"Don't worry Rainbow... I'll think about it." He then released the rainbow Pegasus, and turned to glare at Lionwing again. "Well?" Lionwing simply grinned.

"I'm ready for the challenge, big guy."

"But Helios, he's hurt! How can you expect him to fight you?" Helios simply grinned. He held out his claws, and the cloud with the lighting bolt through it, Rainbow's cutie mark, glowed with energy as he healed both his and Lionwing's injuries. He then slashed off his bandages, and they fell off to reveal his wounds as good as new. Lionwing cut off his bandages as well, and his injuries were fully healed.

"Alright, let's go!" Helios roared as his rocket turbine flared up and he rocketed into the sky, waiting for his challenger to appear. Lionwing simply smiled as he gave Rainbow a quick kiss on the cheek and hugged Rayquaza before leaping up to face him.

"Let's go, Helios."