Disclaimer: I don't own anything that doesn't belong to me.
…
Both the Pokémon that appeared on the field were large, white, and incredibly beautiful… But that was about all they had in common. In just about every other way, they were a study in opposites.
Serena had sent out an Absol, a Pokémon long regarded as a harbinger of disaster, though thankfully public opinion had been turning in their favor over the last few years as it finally became clear they weren't causing the destruction and chaos that seemed to follow in their wake, rather, they were trying to warn others about it. Her fur was lustrous and shining, her blades and claws sharp, her red eyes clear and calm, her face bearing the serene expression of a noble sentinel whose only wish was to protect those in her care.
Lillie, on the other hand, had dispatched a Togekiss, a Pokémon widely agreed to be a symbol of kindness, luck, and goodwill, who brought joy and blessings wherever they went, and never appeared in places where there was conflict. The fact that their population seemed to be dwindling while Absol sightings were on the rise was of great concern to the more knowledgeable of the population. Still, this one seemed to be hale and hearty, her white down fluffy and radiant, her wings and spikes majestic, a warm, bountiful smile on her face which could not help but bring joy to all who gazed upon it.
The audience were impressed by these gorgeous ivory specimens… As were their trainers.
"You have an Absol/Togekiss?!" An astonished Serena and Lillie cried at the same time. They blinked, startled, then laughed as they realized what they had just done.
"Jinx!" Selene shouted jokingly.
"I don't think I've ever even seen a Togekiss before," Serena remarked. "Not in person, anyway. They aren't native to Kalos. However did you get one?" She frowned, a troubling thought occurred to her. "Was… Was she another rescue?" The idea of something terrible befalling such a beautiful creature, bad enough for her to wind up in the care of the Aether Foundation, was appalling to her.
Lillie smiled, much to her relief. "Actually, no! Not too long after I became president, she appeared before me one day and asked if I were the one who had made Alola into such a safe, peaceful, wonderful region. Naturally, I assumed she was looking for Selene and pointed her in her direction, but my dear Jubilee insisted that I was the one she was looking for, since my efforts to turn the Aether Foundation away from my mother's vision towards its original intent had helped improve the lives of people and Pokémon across the archipelago and beyond. She had been looking for a new home for quite some time, but as conflicts and tensions have been increasing worldwide, and more and more of the planet has been settled and colonized by humans, the peaceful places her kind can thrive in have been steadily dwindling as of late. We were able to establish a preserve for her kin out in the islands where my father wound up after he fell into an Ultra Wormhole, but Jubilee begged to stay with me. How could I possibly refuse?"
Jeanne narrowed her eyes. Interesting. I wonder if that's the only reason she sought her out…
"You think she sensed Lillie is a Pillar?" Serena murmured to her partner.
Jeanne nodded. For someone as sensitive to negativity as a Togekiss, someone like Lillie must be a beacon of purity and light detectable from the other side of planet. The fact that more Togekiss haven't flocked to her side is… Worrying… I'd known their population was dwindling, but surely…
I'll look into it, Diana promised. This concerns the Fairy realm as well.
"And how did you meet your Absol?" Lillie asked Serena.
"Cassandra appeared before me one day on my journey, having foreseen that a great disaster was coming to Kalos, and believing that I was the only one who could stop it," Serena began.
Lillie nodded in understanding. "Your father's scheme?"
Serena shook her head. "No, actually, it was a completely different, totally unrelated calamity. You know how it is. Can't go a week without averting some prophecy of doom, am I right?"
Selene nodded in sympathy. "I hear that."
"After I averted catastrophe, we went our separate ways," Serena continued. "And then I bumped into her again at a later date, and she insisted I was the only one who could stop another disaster."
Your father's scheme? Jubilee guessed.
Serena shook her head again. "No, yet another, completely different, totally unrelated calamity."
Selene groaned. "You are so describing my life right now."
"So, after I averted the catastrophe, we parted ways again," Serena continued. "And then I bumped into her again-"
Another completely different, totally unrelated calamity? Hymnia speculated, starting to detect a pattern.
"No, my father's scheme," Serena corrected her. "After that was over, though, I asked her if she wanted to join my team, reasoning that if she was going to keep predicting disasters that only I could stop, it would probably save everyone a lot of time and effort if she could just be there to tell me right away." She smirked. "And ever since then, she's been my faithful soothsayer, using her powers to help me solve crises all over the Kalos region!"
And warn you what clothes you shouldn't wear for the day, Jeanne pointed out blandly.
"I'm a future queen, Jeanne! Making sure I'm always dressed fashionably is a matter of life and death!" Serena insisted in exasperation, making it clear that they'd had this argument many times before.
"That's weird," Selene muttered. "For some reason, I figured you had Jeanne do that sort of thing for you. The oracular stuff, not the fashion bit."
I do that too, actually, Jeanne spoke up, but was ignored.
"Jeanne is an all-purpose seer," Serena elaborated. "A sort of jack of all trades where it comes to predictions and prophecies, but a master of none."
Jeanne sniffed. Rude. I am a master, and I have the diploma and crystal ball to prove it! They don't just hand those out to anyone, you know!
"Cassandra, on the other hand," Serena continued, ignoring the Delphox. "Like all Absol, specializes in foreseeing negative outcomes and potential calamities, so that she can forewarn people and try to prevent them from happening. Her disaster-sense is extremely fine-tuned, to the point that she is a rather literal example of combat clairvoyance, able to anticipate her opponent's moves with such accuracy that she is virtually untouchable in battle, her reflexes so keen she doesn't even need any commands or conscious thought to fight! So long as she can scry even the slightest chance of victory, she can exploit it to win almost any fight!"
Mistress, there is absolutely no way I can win this fight, Cassandra informed her bluntly.
Serena blinked. There was a smattering of laughter from the audience. "I'm… Sorry?"
If I fight this Togekiss, I will lose, Cassandra said plainly, as if she were describing the weather. I can foresee no outcome where I win.
Serena's eye twitched. There was more laughter. "No outcome at all?"
Well, no likely outcome, Cassandra admitted. I mean, it's always possible that she spontaneously drops dead from an aneurysm. Or the stadium explodes. But those aren't very probable outcomes.
Now everyone was laughing.
Jubilee, however, looked concerned. Wait, so is there a non-zero chance that I might get an aneurysm-
Also, considering the way the battles have been laid out so far, it is highly likely that Tapu Fini will use her Misty Terrain attack to create the next battlefield, Cassandra continued, cutting the worried Togekiss off. And while it doesn't give Fairy-types the same power boost the other three Terrain moves do-
Something I'm rather miffed about, honestly, Tapu Fini grumbled.
Yeah, shouldn't it give them a power boost? Or better yet, wouldn't it make more sense for it to boost Water attacks? Tapu Lele reasoned.
Nobody had an answer to this question, though they agreed she had a point.
-It won't exactly do me any favors, Cassandra calculated. I will fight anyway if that is your wish, but I would highly recommend you choose one of the others to fight instead. I foresee a more favorable outcome if you were to do that.
Serena sighed. "No, you're right. Only a fool would ignore the advice of a wise soothsayer like yourself."
She recalled Cassandra and turned to Durendal. "Durendal, are you ready for another round?"
Without question! The Aegislash cried in excitement, eagerly throwing his whetstone away. It nearly hit Jeanne, earning him a furious glare from Diana. My blade is sharp and ready to serve at your will!
"Then go!" Serena cried, pointing dramatically at Jubilee. "Durendal, I choose you!"
With pleasure! Durendal cried, racing onto the battlefield with an intense fervor that worried the gentle Togekiss. I doubt I shall take as much pleasure from this bout as I did from vanquishing that fiend Nimue, or if I had had my chance to duel Gamma-
"Jubilee, return!"
-But I shall still be more than honored to commemorate this victory in your name I'm sorry what now?
"What he said!" Serena echoed, startled.
Lillie just smiled. "Did you forget that I can switch Pokémon as well? Go, Magearna!"
She threw out a Luxury Ball, and Magearna appeared on the field in a flash of light. She curtsied primly, declaring, I am combat ready, Mistress!
She nodded to Durendal. It is a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Durendal. It looks as if I am to be your next opponent.
Oh my! I've heard of Magearna! Diana exclaimed in surprise. There are quite a lot of Fairies back home who are less than happy at the existence of man-made Fairy Pokémon.
"What's your opinion on them?" Serena asked.
Diana shrugged. This is the first time I've ever met one. Mythical Pokémon aren't exactly common, after all. Mother and Father say that they are just as real as any other artificial Pokémon, so I see no reason to treat them any differently, no matter what anyone else might say.
A very enlightened outlook, Jeanne commented in approval.
"It never occurred to me that you might use Magearna…" Serena murmured. "Let's see, she's a Steel/Fairy type, so… Jeanne, how would you like to-"
Realizing his trainer was about to swap him out again, Durendal whirled on her, shooting her a Growlithe face. It was astonishingly effective, given that he didn't actually have a face, and the closest thing he had was a single eye set into his cross guard.
Despite her best efforts, Serena crumbled in seconds. "Oh… Very well, I suppose you can fight her," she relented.
Yes! Durendal cheered.
If it means anything, I'm actually looking forward to fighting him as well, Magearna informed Serena. I do not have any memories of my past before I came into my mistress's service, but… Something about Durendal… His stories of the past… They seem strangely familiar. It is my hope that by battling him, I might be able to remember more of who I used to be.
Serena couldn't help raising a skeptical eyebrow. "You want to cure your amnesia through combat?"
"Doesn't seem so Farfetch'd to me," Selene remarked. "I've done it a couple of dozen times. A few of those times, the person with amnesia was me."
Serena stared at her.
"I've been through a lot of shit, Serena," Selene reminded her friend. "You haven't been on anywhere close to as many adventures as I have."
You truly do not remember anything? Diana asked Magearna sympathetically.
Magearna shook her head. Not really. I know that Master Mohn purchased me from Antiquities of the Ages in Hau'Oli City, but I've apparently exchanged so many hands throughout the centuries it is unclear where I originated from.
Diana frowned at this. I'm certain there's a spell or two I can use to fix that…
We can do that later, Durendal pointed out. Now, it is time for battle!
He bowed to Magearna. My lady, I would be more than honored to help you regain your memories. It is my hope that my blade can cleave through the fog that has obfuscated your past!
Magearna giggled. Such a gentlePokémon. Very well! Let us battle!
Tapu Fini started dancing above her totem, making a series of arm motions that were mimicked by quite a few people in the crowd. "FINIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" She bellowed, raising one arm skyward, causing streams of water and bubbles to swirl around her.
Water cascaded down the sides of her totem and onto the field, washing away the debris left from the burned forest. Hatches opened in the floor, and numerous rock formations, bamboo shoots, and natural fountains emerged, water flowing into numerous pools and streams to create an artificial (but very natural-looking) spring. Smoke machines started generating mist, and projectors shone light on the low-hanging clouds, the water droplets refracting them and causing rainbows to form across the stadium.
"Wow! Double rainbow all the way!" Selene gushed.
What does this mean? Diana wondered.
Jeanne winced as some of the refracted light got in her eyes. Too much!
"Durendal, use Sacred Sword!" Serena declared, starting the fight. "By which I mean use the actual Fighting-type move, not like what you did with Nimue, though given that Magearna is a Steel/Fairy type, it would probably have the same effect either way!"
"Magearna, use Lucky Chant!" Lillie countered.
Magearna clasped her hands as if in prayer and started chanting. A pink aura formed around her, and Durendal's glowing blade struck it and rebounded.
Do you know the origins of your kind? Durendal inquired, not particularly put off by this deflection, as he charged back to strike her again and again in an attempt to pierce her guard.
The first of my species was created over 500 years ago, as a gift to the daughter of a king, Magearna replied, managing to weave her words into her prayer so she could continue generating her Lucky Chant while speaking.
"Use Metal Sound to make her lose focus!" Serena commanded.
Correct, Durendal confirmed as he banged his shield against his blade repeatedly. She was created through the power of arcane science by the great alchemist Nikola in the Azoth Kingdom.
Magearna flinched and covered her metal ears, losing her concentration and causing her protective aura to dissipate. Azoth… Nikola… That sounds…familiar?
Before she could recover, Durendal shot forward, lashing out with Sacred Sword and striking Magearna in the chest, causing her to stagger backwards, water splashing everywhere as she backed into one of the pools dotting the battlefield.
Lillie gasped, noticing that a deep scratch had been carved into Magearna's body. "Oh no! I didn't think anything could damage her like that! I thought her metal body was far too strong for that!"
"Well, Durendal is a sacred sword," Serena bragged.
I apologize for marring your beauty, Durendal, slightly chastened, told Magearna as he lashed out again, forcing the Mythical Pokémon to continue hopping backwards to avoid his blade. A rock formation was cleaved in twain, and several shoots of bamboo collapsed, but so far he couldn't land more than a glancing blow on her.
That's all right, it'll buff out, Magearna assured him. And… You think I'm beautiful?
Durendal stammered, realizing he might have misspoken. I…Th-that is…a-after all, you are a Mythical Pokémon, one of the rarest and most coveted of all creatures, a-and naturally you were made to be beautiful, as befits a companion of royalty-
"Quick, take advantage of his abject embarrassment! Use Zap Cannon!" Lillie cried.
"Hey!" Serena protested. "Durendal, protect yourself with King's Shield!"
Durendal quickly tried to bring his shield up, but not before Magearna put her hands together and fired a massive yellow orb with a red center made of pure electricity at him, striking him full in the body and flinging him backwards. What was that you were saying about the first of my kind? Magearna asked as she started charging up another Zap Cannon. What happened to her?
Durendal deflected the Zap Cannon with his shield, obliterating a rock formation. The Soul-Heart which gave her life was an incredibly powerful energy source, he explained as he rushed towards her in his Shield stance, dodging around a volley of electric energy balls. There were some in the kingdom who wanted to use her to power a weapon of mass destruction and conquer the rest of Kalos. Nikola sent her away for her own safety and destroyed all of his plans and notes about how she was created to prevent his work from ever being used as a weapon of war.
How dreadful! Magearna cried in dismay, jumping out of the way as the Aegislash drove his blade into the ground where she just been standing, firing another Zap Cannon at Lillie's command. Whatever became of her?
Durendal deflected the attack with his shield and slammed it into her, stunning her and allowing him to slash her across the chest again with his blade. She was taken in by and fell in love with Volcanion. They're both very happy together.
Awww, that's so sweet! Magearna cooed she fired another Zap Cannon. Durendal raised his guard, but the attack struck the ground before him, throwing up rocks and water and forcing the Aegislash to flinch, allowing her to body-check him. But if the plans were destroyed, then how did I come to be?
"Iron Defense, and hit her right back!" Serena called.
Durendal took on an even more metallic sheen and slammed into Magearna, both of their metallized bodies resonating and generating a clanging row which caused everyone in the arena to wince and clutch their ears. One of his apprentices with more greed than sense copied his research and tried to pass it off as his own, waiting until his master was dead before making his move. Seeking to make a profit, he offered to create more Magearna for only the wealthiest and most elite of clientele. Naturally, all the richest and most powerful monarchs and nobles of the region were eager to purchase your sisters and show them off to their jealous friends and rivals as status symbols.
How awful! Magearna exclaimed as she fired a Flash Cannon from her left hand and a Fleur Cannon from her right hand, destroying rock formations on either side of her and skipping backwards as Durendal was forced to ward off the debris with his shield. I was made to serve, yes, but not like that!
My master at the time felt the same way, Durendal replied as he struck the water with Sacred Sword, throwing up a sizable wave which temporarily blocked him from view, and promptly dashed through it to try and strike at Magearna, only for her to have anticipated his attack, sidestepped him, and blasted him with Zap Cannon, which he only barely brought his shield up in time to parry. He cracked down on Magearna production, especially after he discovered that the Soul-Hearts used to give you life drew upon the life force of Pokémon, much like the dreaded Ultimate Weapon. Still, that didn't stop him from obtaining one and giving it to his daughter, to fulfill her original purpose as a cherished friend and companion for a lonely princess.
How lovely, Magearna remarked, using another Lucky Chant to blunt a flurry of sword strikes Durendal levied at her. Were you two close?
Durendal faltered at that, one of his slashes going wild .… We… we were, yes, he confessed, just before receiving a Zap Cannon into the face which sent him flying.
What happened to her? She asked quietly. She did not press her advantage and Lillie, bless her heart, did not tell her to, also wanting to hear the answer.
… My master was a good king, as all who I deem worthy of wielding me are, Durendal replied after a moment, having caught his (metaphorical) breath. But that doesn't mean all of his policies were universally accepted. The thief who appropriated Nikola's research, furious that his business had been significantly curtailed thanks to my master's edict, was soon able to find… Less scrupulous buyers. With their funding, he was able to produce an entire army of Magearna designed for warfare, which those wicked and greedy men intended to use to dethrone my master and claim Kalos for themselves.
His eye hardened. Thousands of Pokémon died to generate enough power to activate all their Soul-Hearts. Several species went extinct. It was almost as horrific a genocide as when the Ultimate Weapon first came online, and is another contributing factor to why Kalos has fewer unique species of Pokémon than many other regions.
Magearna stared at him, horrified. Trembling, she placed a hand over the compartment on her chest where her own Soul-Heart resided. Was… Was I…?
No, Durendal assured her, eye softening. They were designed for warfare, made only to kill. They lacked your kindness, your compassion. You are a proper Magearna through and through, not one of those…knock-offs.
Magearna trembled. The amount of distaste packed into that one word was palpable enough to shake her to her Soul-Heart. What… What happened to them?
We killed them, Durendal said plainly. There was no pride or regret in his voice, merely a statement of fact. We killed them all. We had no choice. They were programmed to do nothing but kill. It was the only way. Such is war.
Magearna was shaken by this. She had suspected as much, but… To hear it put so bluntly…
"Serena, did… Did you know about this?" An alarmed Lillie asked her opponent.
Serena sighed and nodded. "My region is beautiful… But not all aspects of its past are."
When the war was over, all the instigators were put to death, including the greedy apprentice, Durendal continued. I personally decapitated him, along with the other ringleaders. This, at last, seemed to elicit a trace of pride from him. I took perhaps a little more satisfaction from the deed that I should have. I lost a great many comrades to the killing machines.
And what of the other Magearna? Magearna demanded. The ones who were not involved in the war?
When the greedy apprentice was apprehended and put to death, my master made absolutely sure that all the secrets to constructing more Magearna died with him, Durendal explained. However, by that point a stigma had been attached to your species' name, and there were a great many people who, having personally lost much to the mechanical army, feared that your kind, the true Magearna, might one day turn against them as well.
I would never! Magearna cried, aghast at the very idea. It is against my programming!
The common folk did not see it that way, Durendal told her gravely. The nobility, seeking to prevent an uprising, were more than happy to distance themselves from their living dolls, throwing them to the mob. The Magearna did not fight back, not wanting to hurt others, even in self-defense. He closed his eye. And they died for it.
If Magearna were capable of crying, she probably would've been doing that just then. Her trainer, thankfully, was fully capable of tears, and shed a great many. She was not the only one in the stadium to do so
Fortunately, my master foresaw this possibility, and issued an order for all remaining Magearna to be sent to the Crown for destruction, Durendal continued. Of course, he had no intention of actually going through with it. He arranged for your kind to be sent away from Kalos, scattered to the winds, in hopes that you would find a safer place out in the wider world, just as the first of your species had. The princess's Magearna was, of course, one of them.
He glanced away. I never saw her again.
Magearna contemplated this. Do you know… Do you know what happened to the others?
Durendal shook his head. I do not. You are the first of your kind I've seen in almost 500 years.
"Magearna sightings are extremely rare," Lillie told her upset Pokémon sadly. "Part of the reason you are considered Mythical Pokémon, I suppose."
Selene nodded in agreement. "I've been all over, but I'm pretty sure you're the first of your kind I've ever met in the steel. I don't think you're the last one-"
"She's not, the original is still alive and living happily with her paramour," Serena spoke up.
"But if there any others, they're either well-hidden, or deactivated like you were for a very long time," Selene continued apologetically.
I… I see, Magearna murmured to herself. She'd already known some of this, of course – they'd done a bit of digging to try and find out where she'd come from before winding up in the Aether household – but hearing it like this, with the added context provided by Durendal, suddenly made her feel very small, and very alone.
Jeanne glanced up at her lover. Diana, do you know if there any others?
Diana nodded slowly. I believe so. A few have made it to my dominion, though I've never met them personally. I shall see about finding out what happened to the rest, though.
I would appreciate that, Magearna told the Gardevoir gratefully. She looked back at Durendal. Durendal. Your… Friend. Was she… Am I…
She hesitated, then clasped her hands to her chest. Am… Am I her?
I do not know, Durendal confessed. I want you to be, naturally, but… Any distinguishing features you might've had were no doubt lost hundreds of years ago, along with your original color. You might be her, or you might be one of her sisters. I do not know, and I am not going to try to force you to be someone you are not. He gave her a firm look. That is why I had hoped that this battle, this story, might help jog your memory. If you are not her, so be it. But… If you are…
He faltered and glanced away. I… Most of my friends from 500 years ago aren't around anymore. It… Would be nice to see a familiar face again.
Magearna contemplated this for several long moments. Everyone in the arena looked at her, a collective breath being held in everyone's throats.
And then Magearna blasted Durendal in the face with Zap Cannon, flinging him into the water, where he cried out as the water conducted the high-voltage and caused him even greater pain. What-why did you-
She fired another Zap Cannon, though this one he managed to deflect with his shield. You wish to know the truth? She asked him, gathering power for another attack. So do I. You thought this battle might help me remember who I was. That story you told me… I've never heard it before, and yet I feel as if I know it as well as the face of my mistress. So…
She shot him a fierce look. Let us continue our fight… And see what truths may be uncovered!
The Aegislash stared at her in awe, his single eye starting to water. For a second, when he stared at her, he thought he saw someone else. You… You sound just like-
He cut himself off, wiping his tears away on the back of his hand. Very well! Let us test our metal, then, and see who is stronger!
"Excellent! Durendal, Sacred Sword!" Serena commanded.
"Magearna, Lucky Chant, then Zap Cannon!" Lillie cried.
Once more, Magearna's prayer generated a barrier which repelled the Aegislash's attack, and she immediately fired a blast of electrical power the instant he recoiled.
"King's Shield!" Serena countered.
Durendal immediately activated his barrier, causing the Zap Cannon blast to explode, and since Magearna had been so close, the blast flung her backwards, slamming her into a rock formation hard enough to crater. Cracks zigzagged out from the point of impact, rivulets of water seeping out and splashing down her metal body.
"Sacred Sword!" Serena called.
"Catch it!" Lillie cried as Durendal shot towards Magearna, point first.
With machinelike reflexes (because she was a machine), Magearna's hands snapped closed on the sides of Durendal's blade, halting it inches away from her face. Sparks flew as metal ground against metal, the awful, ear-splitting scraping sound filling the arena.
"Come on, Durendal! Push harder!" Serena commanded.
"Magearna, Zap Cannon!" Lillie ordered.
Magearna's hands started crackling with electricity, the ultra-high-voltage flowing into Durendal's blade…
And also into herself, as the close proximity and the water covering her caused the electricity to conduct into her as well. Both Pokémon screamed in agony, jagged, wild bolts of lightning snaking all over the place, throwing up spouts of water, shattering rocks, and incinerating bamboo shoots. Finally, there was an explosion, and both of them were flung away, the rock formation Magearna had been embedded in shattering and sending chunks of debris and volumes of water splashing all over the place as the Artificial Pokémon was blasted through it.
Durendal flew through the air, landing point-first in a boulder several meters away. Magearna had a (relatively) softer landing, smashing into a bamboo grove and causing the shoots to collapse.
Both Pokémon lay where they had landed, groaning, lingering electricity crackling around them.
Selene whistled. "Wow. By this point, I'd say both Pokémon have taken a pretty tough beating. Could this match end in another double knockout?"
Both trainer's eyes widened at this. Neither of them wanted that.
"Come on, Durendal, get back in there!" Serena cried. "As your Queen, I command you to keep fighting! We both know you aren't out yet!"
"Come on, Magearna, you can do this!" Lillie urged her servant. "I believe in you!"
"I believe in you as well, Durendal!" Serena added quickly.
Lillie frowned. "Well… I believe in Magearna more!"
Serena huffed and crossed her arms. "Impossible! Nobody can believe in their Pokémon more than I believe in Durendal!"
"Oh yeah?!" Lillie snapped petulantly. "Well…"
Everyone sweatdropped as the two trainers started bickering over which of them believed in their Pokémon more. Is this actually happening? Wondered a bewildered Diana.
Honestly, I'm not surprised to see this behavior from Serena, but I thought Lillie was more level-headed than this, Jeanne confessed.
"She usually is," Selene admitted. "Hey! Ladies! Both of your Pokémon are back up and ready to keep going!"
"Oh," Serena and Lillie said in unison, noticing that Durendal had extricated himself from his stone and Magearna had staggered to her feet. Both of them were heaving, and probably would've been panting if either of them needed to breathe; both of their metal surfaces scorched, scratched, and dented. However, the determined look in their eyes indicated neither of them was ready to bow out just yet.
"Okay, Magearna, let's end this quickly!" Lillie cried, seeing that neither Pokémon had much fight left in them. "Take to the skies!"
Serena blinked. "Take to… Wait, Magearna can't fly!"
She glanced at Durendal. "Can they?"
The Aegislash shook his head in confusion. Not in my experience, they can't!
Allow me to demonstrate, Magearna said, pointing her hands straight down and firing full-power Fleur and Steel Cannons at the ground, the blast shattering the rock beneath her feet, vaporizing the surrounding bamboo, flash-boiling the nearest water, and propelling her into the air, her arc taking her so high she nearly collided with the large Rotom cube, and might have anyway if the possessed piece of media hadn't moved out of the way in time.
Serena and Durendal stared up in disbelief. "Oh," the trainer said after a moment. "I guess that's one way to do it."
I am very glad my Master's daughter's Magearna never learned how to do that, Durendal said slowly. Or the Princess would have demanded she let her ride on her back whenever she did that.
Very impressive! Diana remarked. Though I fail to see what advantage she can get from this. It's not like she can reliably fly that way.
Jeanne narrowed her eyes, her sharp eyes spotting Magearna charging up her hands again. I don't think she needs to.
"Now, Magearna, use Zap Cannon!" Lillie commanded.
Magearna pointed her hands straight down and started rapid-firing volleys of electric orbs at the ground, the recoil from each consecutive blast pushing her back into the air before she could fall any considerable distance. Down on the ground, Durendal raised his shield and started zigzagging all over the place to dodge the electric orbs, but there wasn't much he could do to avoid the bits of rock and water which were flung up all around him as the energy blasts relentlessly bombarded the battlefield, shattering the rock formations, setting the bamboo ablaze, and sending water flying everywhere.
Seeing there was no way for him to dodge this volley forever, Serena ordered, "Use Iron Defense! Plant yourself in the ground"
Durendal did as he was bade, metallizing himself and driving himself point-first in the ground, raising his shield overhead as a sort of umbrella to try and bolster his defense further. He soon vanished from view as Zap Cannons exploded as they struck the ground around him, throwing up a sizable debris cloud.
"Now, for the finisher!" Lillie declared, taking out a silver crystal and setting it into her Z-Ring.
"What?!" Serena cried, shocked. "But you already used a Z-move!"
"Thanks to the Ultra Beast cells mother injected me with, my body has a higher capacity for Z-energy than most trainers, allowing me to use multiple Z-moves without burning myself out," Lillie explained.
Serena blinked in surprise. "Truly? But… Then why haven't you used any other moves before now?"
"Pokémon that are Gigantamaxed can't use Z-moves, and I didn't have any Z-crystals that would've been particularly effective against your Lucario," Lillie explained. "I don't have a full set, unlike Selene."
"And I figured it would be unsporting for me to lend her any of mine," Selene added.
"Oh. Durendal!" Serena called.
The Aegislash lowered his shield, his metallic sheen fading. Even with his extra defense, it was clear he'd taken a bit of damage from those latest explosions. Yes, my Queen?
"Do you think your King's Shield can protect you from a Z-move?" Serena asked.
I rather doubt it, the Aegislash replied.
Serena was unsurprised by this answer. "Then we'll have to stop her before it's too late! Try to break their concentration with Metal Sound!"
Durendal started clanging his shield against his blade, yet again filling the arena with a very unpleasant ringing noise. Lillie clenched her teeth, but managed to refrain from clapping her hands over her ears and crossed her arms over her chest, her Z-Ring flashing and projecting an image of a rectangular cube into the air. High above the arena, Magearna mimicked her movements.
She thrust her arms before her, wrists crossed, punched her hands together twice, and thrust her arms forward again, causing a steely aura to form around her body and shoot into the air, where it enveloped Magearna, the Z-power emblem flashing briefly in front of the Artificial Pokémon.
"This is our full power!" Lillie cried. "Corkscrew Crash!"
Serena frowned, feeling vaguely disappointed. "No epic chant like when you used Subzero Slammer?"
"I have a stronger bond with Snowy than with Magearna," Lillie explained, before flashing an apologetic look up at the Mythical Pokémon. "Which isn't to say that I don't love you a great deal as well!"
Thank you, I appreciate that! Magearna shouted back as she started twirling, faster and faster, steely energy swirling around her to form a drill which shot down towards the ground, and Durendal.
"Looks like we couldn't stop it in time," Serena murmured. "It's all or nothing now, Durendal! Sacred Sword!"
At your command! Durendal charged his blade with every last ounce of power left in him and launched himself skywards, leaving a trail of light in his wake.
Shouting at the top of their (metaphorical) lungs, the two Steel-type Pokémon shot towards each other, colliding in midair with a thunderclap that shook the arena.
Sparks flew, and the most horrendous noise of metal grinding against metal yet filled the stadium as Magearna's drill pressed against Durendal's blade, neither combatant giving an inch.
The two Pokémon's eyes locked.
And suddenly, the world seemed to fall away from both of them. Their aches and pains from fighting, the cheers from the crowd, the encouragement from their trainers… For a moment, none of it existed. Nothing but the two of them.
Durendal's eye widened in recognition. It… Is you, he whispered, his voice filled with shock and wonder. My lady…My Alda!
Magearna stiffened, eyes widening at the name. She knew that name. Durendal…?
She had said that name before, of course. But not like this. Not with these emotions attached to it. Not with the implications behind it.
I knew it was you… He whispered joyfully, eye watering up.
Durendal… She said slowly, astonished. My Durendal! I… I remember you!
If the Aegislash had a mouth, he would be smiling.
The glow surrounding his blade flickered and died out.
The two of them shot down from the sky and slammed into what was left of the battlefield, sending several tons of rock and water flying, and Selene quickly had to raise force fields to keep any of it from hitting the audience.
Again.
"You know, I'm starting to think we should probably invest in force fields to protect the seating area, aren't they starting to make it standard-issue in some regions?" Selene complained.
We tried that, but it put too much of a drain on the stadium's power supply, Hymnia reminded her.
"Oh, right. Guess that's the price we have to pay for having a totally awesome flying stadium," Selene grudgingly admitted.
When the dust subsided, Selene judged it was safe to drop the force fields, revealing that the battlefield – yet again – had been more or less pulverized. All the rock formations had been shattered, the bamboo had been blown away or burned to ash, and the ground was covered in an inch of water. Magearna and Durendal were at the bottom of a crater, with water flowing down the sides to fill the space. The two were gazing tenderly at each other, Durendal's free hand weakly wrapped around one of Magearna's.
I missed you so much, the Aegislash said feebly.
So did I, Magearna agreed, and if she were capable of it, she would probably be crying. I did not even know it, but I have missed you every waking moment since I was brought back online.
I'm so glad I found you at last, Durendal told her fondly, reaching out to stroke her cheek. You have grown… So strong…
His eye closed, and his hand slipped out of her grasp. Magearna caught him before he could fall into the water, embracing him to her chest. Most of the crowd cooed at this, and quite a few of them took pictures to post on social media.
"Yes! I knew they liked each other!" Selene whooped.
Hymnia rolled her eyes. It was kind of obvious, don't make a big deal out of it.
Diana very tightly hugged Jeanne to her chest. Have I told you I loved you today?
Several times, the Delphox wheezed, having trouble breathing.
Another few more times can't hurt, Diana said brightly, kissing her on the top of the head.
Lillie smiled proudly. "Great job, Magearna. Great job."
Serena sighed, but also smiled, accepting this defeat with dignity, as befit a Queen. "You fought well, Durendal. You are, as always, one of my most dependable warriors. Good job."
"It looks as if Durendal is no longer able to battle," Selene commented, stating the obvious, but as referee it was her job to do that sort of thing. "The winner is Magearna-"
Alda.
Selene blinked. "Hmmm?"
Alda, the Magearna repeated, not taking her eyes off the unconscious form of Durendal. My name… Is Alda.