Chapter XXXII
Nova hadn't expected the tears that welled up in her eyes as she farewelled Lady Spiral, Legionary Wake, and Lord Backlot. She liked to imagine that it had been because Wake had squeezed her in his arms so tightly that she couldn't breathe, but part of her knew that there was more to it. Especially after Lord Backlot gently pressed his hand to her cheek.
"Whoever your father is," he said, "he missed out on the second-best girl in the world. The first, of course, being Lady Spiral."
Nova snorted at that, jabbing a finger towards Spiral's belly. "Maybe third-best. We still don't know if you'll be havin' a granddaughter or a grandson."
Then, when she was hugging Lady Spiral for herself, she felt the lady whisper in her ear.
"Thank you for everything, November," she said. "I don't know what you got into my father…"
"I got some ale into him, that's what."
Lady Spiral shook her head, smiling. "Stay safe for me, alright? And look after Barry."
"Always."
They turned towards the other gladiator, who was clutching onto Legionary Wake. The two girls rolled their eyes as they noted that both Barry and the legionary were sobbing freely, like lovers that were being torn apart.
"I can't believe this be farewell," Legionary Wake was saying between wheezes.
"I'll meet you at the altar one day, Legionary Wake!"
"I'll be the one in white, aye?"
Even the Darkrai, tucked away in Nova's shadow, sighed.
"…i am embarrassed to be within a close proximity of these two…"
Nova grinned. "Piss off to Twinleaf then, will you?"
"…i fear that is still not far enough…"
Their teams were ready for travel – all the packs were filled with berries and bandages, the Pokémon were impatiently awaiting Barry, and, at the crack of dawn, there wasn't a single gladiator in sight.
"This is harder than that time I ripped out a lad's tongue," Wake said.
Barry frowned. "You ripped out a lad's tongue?"
"I thought he was stealing me boat, so I, well, I ripped his tongue out. Turns out, he was just one of the cleaners."
"Well, piss and blood, I dunno if I can meet you at the altar anymore."
"You can't, anyways," Nova cut in, "because he's married. Now let's go."
As she and Barry made their way back to Hearthome, Nova couldn't help but wish Fantina had been with her. Not because she liked her, but because she desperately wanted to see the legionary crawl through the marshes in her oversized gowns.
The forest trees had thinned, and the ground had given way to a marsh of tall reeds – with the dirt of the ground nothing but sludgy water beneath their boots. Even the bark of trees were damp with a smattering of moss, and Nova found herself clinging to them as she took step after step in the ankle-deep mud.
"Say, I'm thinkin'," Barry was saying, his Prinplup guiding him through the thick mud. "I wanna catch another Pokémon. Ya know, to keep Prinny here some love."
Nova looked at her own Pokémon. Leila the Roselia – the queen of brilliant ideas – was riding atop Bailey the Staraptor, her vines stretched down as she lifted Tric the Monferno and Rhys the Luxray in the air so that they didn't have to trudge through the mud. Only Owl the Gastrodon seemed to enjoy the mud, and she was slipping and sliding through the reeds, coating her gladiator with mud.
"Well," Nova said, turning back to her friend, "the only thing we'll be catchin' here is Mud-Shit."
"What kind of Pokémon is that?"
"It looks like shit, it smells like shit, and it tastes like shit."
Barry grinned. "I didn't know you were a Pokémon."
"Oh, piss off."
"…you have to admit, that one was good…"
"You too!"
Barry laughed as Nova kicked at the mud, sending dirt splattering over his face. "Say, is that the colour of me scarf? The colour of shit?"
"Nay. Try again tomorrow."
"Damn." The boy reached behind his head, rubbing at the mud on his hair. "Imagine that, though. Two folk from Twinleaf, and we both have four legionary crystals. We're gonna be legends one day, Nova. I can feel it."
Nova took one long look at his pensive smile and sighed. "Aye. I suppose."
"I suppose, though, becoming a legend comes with costs. Bebe, Star…" He trailed off, silent for a moment. Then, shaking it all off – shaking the pain from his heart as easily as dust from a tunic – he grinned. "So, yer name. What're you gonna change it to?"
"Not sure yet. Any ideas?"
Barry paused for a second, mid-step in the mud. "Well, I still think August suits. You look like a Gussy to me."
"You don't know what I look like."
"Well, I know what I think you look like, and that's a Gussy."
Nova couldn't help it – she laughed. But, even then, she knew her smile didn't reach her eyes. She hadn't gotten much sleep with the thought of Cyrus, of Mars, of the spell that needed five dead legionaries. Even at the Oreburgh Mines, she hadn't been able to concentrate.
"I say we take a rest," she finally said, dropping her gear in the only patch of clean grass that she could find. "Eat some of the pie Lord Backlot packed for us. Then, we continue."
At the sound of pie, both Barry and all the Pokémon agreed, racing to dig through the pack.
Only one Pokémon hovered away for a bit, his eyes locked onto his trainer.
Tric the Monferno had known his gladiator for the longest. He could see the exhaustion weighing her down, could feel the concern in her gaze even with the Darkrai eating up all of the fear. And he knew exactly how to cheer her up.
From the corner of his eye, he could see two Rapidash and a Ponyta – their scent more familiar than they should have been. The two Rapidash were looking straight at Nova, their eyes wide, their limbs frozen with-
With fear?
And suddenly, the Monferno realised. And he grinned.
It was the two Rapidash that had been carrying Lucas's cart when they had first met him near Twinleaf. Tric had been the one to destroy their carriage, and after that, the two Pokémon had gone running.
Oh, it was going to be fun.
Tric turned to Nova, who was just raising a piece of pie to her face. Then, sticking his tongue out at her, he snatched the pie from her hands and ran.
His gladiator looked at him, completely stunned. Then, she scowled.
"Tric, you bastard."
She chased after him, leaving Prinplup to exasperatedly explain the situation to Barry. Her feet sliced through the mud as she ran, glaring but also fighting back a grin as she caught up to the Monferno, as he threw some mud at her, as he leapt into the air and landed on-
Nova froze as she saw the Rapidash. As she saw Tric ride on one, racing away with her pie, leaving her with a second Rapidash and a Ponyta who were looking at her as if she was a walking glimpse of hell.
And even though the Rapidash lurched back at the sight of her, Nova didn't freeze. With Darkrai sucking away every last bit of fear, she grabbed hold of the Pokémon, hissing as it yanked away, as it stomped its hooves and tossed its head.
But Nova would be damned if she let her Monferno run off with her slice of pie.
With sweat already clinging to her head from the heat of the Rapidash's flames and the running, Nova swung her leg onto the Pokémon and rode – launching it through the mud, galloping until she could see Tric's tail waving in the air.
And even she couldn't help the faint smile on her face as the hooves shattered the mud beneath her, as the Rapidash stomped and surged its way through the marshes until it had caught up to its mate. Straining her back and legs, Nova reached to the side, stretching her arm out to where Tric was riding his own Rapidash, and snatched the pie from his fingers.
Then, she felt the air rush out of her lungs as she realised she was racing straight into a tree.
"Arceus, stop!"
There was a dart of light – one that had Nova and Tric both wincing. One that stopped the Rapidash in its tracks.
And, once the light was gone, Nova found herself staring at the twins. Meryl, Ulysses, and their Abra.
There was another blink of light. Another stab of pink, yellow, and blue. Another hiss of the Rapidash.
And the twins were no longer twins, nor was the Abra an Abra.
They were three Pokémon, hovering in the air, each with two tails and a red jewel encrusted over their head. One blue-grey, one slightly pink, and one with a yellow face.
"…ah, you three. it's been a while…"
Nova felt her stomach churn as Darkrai crept out of her shadow. Tric jumped off his Rapidash in an instant, clinging tightly onto Nova as they watched the three floating Pokémon squeal and rush to hold the Darkrai.
The two Rapidash fell silent behind her as Nova stepped towards the three creatures.
"Barry was right, wasn't he?" she asked them. "Meryl, Ulysses, the freaking Abra… they don't exist. It was you three."
The pink one tilted her head to the side and smiled. "Mes?"
"And you three are Azelf, Mespirit and Uxie. The three lake spirits."
They didn't answer her. But Darkrai did.
"…clever girl…"
Then, the three lake spirits were gone, leaving Nova with a bewildered bunch of fire-types and a chuckling Darkrai.
But, just before they had left, Nova had caught one last glimpse of the blue one – of Azelf. She had seen him make a small sound, prying the pie from Nova's hand with sheer will and bringing it into his own mouth. Then, he raised his stubby little hand – if it could even be called a hand – to his mouth in a plead for silence.
Nova nodded.
And he was gone.
Nova didn't know how long she had been gone for. So, as quickly as she could, she rode the Rapidash back to Barry, with Tric riding its mate. They had expected the mud, the dirt, the moss.
But they certainly hadn't expected to be shot at.
"Thieves!"
It was a voice she recognised, but upon seeing the arrow land near the Rapidash's hooves, Nova didn't stop to see who it was.
"Darkrai, go see who it is," she hissed.
"…but i like to keep things interesting…"
They rode through grey slabs of barren rock, through the thinning pine trees that were protruding through the mud. A blast of pink came rushing out from behind them – thick and blaring, quicker than the wind, burning into a tree.
Tric turned on his Rapidash to spit out a few embers in their paths, and Nova whispered to her own mare as it combed through the reeds, asking her to move faster, breathe quicker, dodge the pink streams of light that came flashing beside them.
The two Rapidash pumped their legs, frantic. Rushing. Neighing in protest.
But, finally, even Tric's fire wasn't enough to push their assailant back. And, just as Nova was about ready to ditch the Rapidash and run, she saw the pink light sail closer and closer to her, saw it wrap around the mares and hold them still.
Nova's arm strained to find her sword as she felt the shimmering light wrap around her, knock her sideways off the Rapidash, and raise her and Tric into the air. The world tilted as she hovered there, light clinging onto her, holding her upside down and letting her hair fall over her face.
"I've been looking for these Rapidash since I lost them in Twinleaf," the voice murmured. "And I will not let—oh, shit, Nova?"
Nova blew at her hair, past the web of black threads, and winced. "How do you do, Sir Lucas? Care to put me down?"
The pink light – coming from the Alakazam beside the knight – rolled his eyes. The pink light immediately swept back down, and Nova swore as she was dropped right into a pool of mud. Then, seconds later, she felt a flash of heat as Tric fell right onto her stomach.
"I suppose this is where you call me a piece of shit," Lucas mused, offering her a hand.
Nova held it and yanked him down into the sludge beside her. Mud fell over his armour, into his mouth, but he still threw off his helm and held the gladiator tightly in his arms.
"I missed you," he breathed into her hair.
She let herself close her eyes, let herself stop thinking for a second. "I missed you too, you big piece of shit."
"Oh, for Arceus' sake-"
His words were cut off, as usual, by Nova, who had shoved his face deeper into the mud. When he sat up, ready to strangle her, she was already on her feet and grabbing at one of the Rapidash, her eyes shining.
"Care for a race, Sir Lucas?"
Neither of them had ended up winning. For, in the last second, just as their Rapidash were about to trample over Barry, Tric the Monferno had come racing along – somehow managing to cling onto a screaming Ponyta – and ended up beating them both. He was instantly with the other Pokémon, who were resting by the grass, doing an impersonation of how he whooped their arses in the race, beaming with pride until Barry's Prinplup rolled her eyes and spat water onto his face.
With a single, exchanged glance, Nova and Lucas had decided never to speak of the race again.
"I hear someone walkin' like they have a stick shoved up their arse," Barry said, squinting as he listened to the knight and gladiator move towards him. "Which means… Lucas? That you?"
Lucas snorted. "I believe that's Nova who walks like that."
"Naw, she walks like she has two sticks shoved up her arse."
"You two are the sticks up my arse," Nova told them, plopping herself down beside Barry. She offered Lucas some pie, and as they ate, Barry flashed his legionary crystal to his sponsor and told him the story – though, how reliable that story was could be questioned.
"So, right, we watched Wake play Issabellare Swanne in The Nigh is Twigh, and while he was talkin' 'bout true love, I just know he was lookin' at me. I didn't see it, aye, but I just know."
"Barry, he never spoke 'bout love-"
Barry cut off his friend with a wave of his hand. "And then, there was some bloody drama about a gladiator fallin' for his patron, and apparently they're supposed to die unless they're as rich as Prince Volkner, so I think you ought ta' stop fancying me, Lucas, aye?"
With a roll of his eyes, Lucas chuckled. "I promise to stop fancying you, Barry."
"Good. Now, there was some Bibarel blood everywhere and we faked a couple of deaths, and… oh! Legionary Wake and I duelled, and I bloody won, and then we had our legionary battle, and Nova told a couple of Gyarados that they were bitches, they got pissy, Nova got pissy, all the pirates got pissy, and then we won our legionary crystal."
"You forgot to add the fact that Leila-"
"And then we found out that the Galactic Healers are trying ta' find some spirits that look like Tentacool, and they're gonna kill five legionaries just so that they can turn back time. And now we're here."
Lucas had paled at those last words, and as he eyed the gladiator carefully, Nova took in his face.
She wondered if he would support his father. She wondered if he, too, wanted to turn back time – maybe save his sister and mother.
"I think it's a bit mad, is what I think," Barry said, shrugging. "Hate to break it ta' ya, Lucas, but I think yer father has more sticks up his arse than Nova."
Nova bit her lip. This was her chance to know for sure.
"I wouldn't say it's mad," she said hesitantly. "What do you think, Lucas? Would you do it?"
She winced at her own words, hoping desperately that it had sounded as innocent and casual as it was supposed to sound.
If Lucas noticed that worry in her eyes, he didn't say a word about it. He just smiled warmly at her.
"I wouldn't change the past for all the gold in the world," he told her.
"Not even to save the folk you love?"
Lucas didn't even blink. He just reached out and patted her hand.
"Not even to save them," he admitted. "Because, eventually, they'll still die. All that matters is that we remember them, and we let ourselves love other folk."
"…sop…"
And, as he choked on a laugh when Barry forced him into a hug, Nova looked at the two boys – the two boys she loved more than she thought she ever could – and found herself laughing despite herself.
"I say, we head to Hearthome and drink to all of this," she said. "Rhys and Bailey evolving, Barry's fourth legionary crystal, and finding love in other folk. Aye?"
They all agreed, slinging on their packs and hauling themselves onto either a Rapidash or Bailey. Lucas had pointed out that the Ponyta was a baby – or, well, an accident, as Nova had deemed it – and had given it to Barry, who had named it Novemba.
And, just as they left, Nova and Tric gave each other a long look.
For now, they would keep their knowledge of the lake spirits – of Mespirit, Uxie, and Azelf – to themselves. She knew she would have to tell Lucas eventually, considering the pain he had felt when Mespirit, herself, had gotten hurt in the Galactic Healer's chambers.
But, as of now, she just wanted to drink. Laugh.
And tell that blasted knight that, bloody hell, she loved him too.
Secret 5: Meryl, Ulysses and their 'Abra' are actually Mespirit, Uxie, and Azelf in disguise.
It was not supposed to be a secret, to be honest. I was hoping everyone would catch on based on the names but… Well, let's just say that you guys literally overthought it way too much. Anyways! That's our first secret reveal – and there are a lot more to come now.
Anyways, February has come to an end, and since it is the month of romance, I just had to bring Lucas back.
Also, not to toot my own horns, but I'm so excited for the next chapter because it features drunk Barry telling everyone about his love life from beginning to end. And, well… since I've already written it, I can confirm that it's glorious. In other words, toot toot.
Quick note: since university is starting and my timetable hates me, I will no longer be posting chapters at this exact time of the week. Instead, I'll be posting in on Saturday morning (in my time), which is approximately 24 hours later than usual.
