Chapter LVI

Nova hadn't been sure what to expect with Volkner's legionary battle.

But she certainly hadn't expected him to make it so bloody grand.

There were several more gladiators with her and Barry, each of them clad in metal, each of them fighting back the itch in their throats as they exchanged glances. Some had golden ribbons wrapped around their wrists, some blue, some red.

And, for the first time in what felt like a long time, Nova realised that she had to work with the gladiators.

"Inside my manor, there will be many nobles, knights, and servants alike," Volkner was saying. "All of them, and myself, shall be wearing the same mask. And only one of us shall have the legionary crystal you need. The first team to find the coloured stone will win the stone."

Nova glanced up at him, the golden mask on his face hiding what she figured was a frown. He had shocked her by allowing over a dozen gladiators to also take part, but then, when she had seen him purposely change around Barry's ribbon so that it was the same as hers, she had almost choked.

And now, with Tatiana by her side and Barry squeezing her hand, she felt it finally sink in.

This was it.

The last legionary battle.

And if she lost, that was it. Volkner wasn't giving anyone a second chance.

Her dreams of Barry becoming king…

Gone.

"Just like Cynthia," Nova muttered beneath her breath.

Barry cocked his head to one side, his Empoleon sidled close to him. "Did ye say somethin'?"

Nova closed her eyes for a second. Burned that image of Volkner's golden mask into her skull.

She was going to win this.

Not just for Barry.

But for a better Sinnoh.

"Begin!"


Nova only had a few seconds to talk to her team – the golden team – before they all split off, hungry to be that one who found the legionary crystal. They had all decided instantly that Volkner having it was far too obvious, especially since he was sitting on the big settee in the centre of the ballroom, his eyes closed as if he were merely sleeping and not giving a damn about the battle itself.

Some said that there was no way Volkner would allow a slave to touch a legionary crystal, especially one that couldn't wield a weapon.

So, Nova found herself stalking after a woman wrapped in emerald green, whose throat glittering with golden necklaces, the stained windows around them thinly bringing in light. The woman's eyes were black, her nails and lips blacker – stained with some sort of paint, and behind her was a Raichu.

Nova followed her still, only stopping as she moved into a room and sat at an oaken desk.

The woman herself just blinked, brow arched as she spotted Nova by the doorframe, and smiled.

Those stupid gladiators – never quite able to get their hands on her. Too loud with all their armour.

That's when she saw the shadow, leaking across the polished oak, like ink spilled from a bottle. It puddled beneath a ream of parchment, moving like black smoke and forming itself into a shape.

A Pokémon.

A Darkrai.

"…behind you…"

"Raichu, be care—"

Sharp claws flashed out of the dark at her back, scratching across her Raichu. She heard her Pokémon gasp, saw blood slip down. And as she pushed her chair back, staggering to her feet, whirling around to clutch onto her Raichu, she saw the gladiator stand before her.

"Do you have it?" Nova asked.

She had to step back as the Raichu's body burned with electricity, as its tail came curving towards her. But Tatiana was already there, launching a single kick into the Raichu's belly, sending it sagging back against the woman, both of their eyes wide with fear.

"I know you have it."

"I…"

Nova glanced again at the woman as she gasped out. The blood and Raichu in her hands. The lack of pockets and seams in her dress. The gold wrapped around her neck – none of it shining with a legionary crystal.

Then, as Tatiana let out one slight growl – nothing compared to Rhys' roar – the woman promptly fell back, toppling onto the stone, her eyes frantic as she screamed.

Nova winced.

"On seconds thoughts, I don't suppose you do."


One of the knights heard a door slam outside the Weapons Chamber. He moved towards the hall, which was lined with dozens of other doors, leading into some of Volkner's wardrobes or storerooms, or sometimes nowhere it all. He followed the sound of padding footsteps, readjusting his golden mask. Then, he stumbled into a room with long tables running across it, littered with padlocks and picks and knives and spoons.

Blue stained glass light puddled upon the granite floor, reflected in the eyes of the girl waiting for him.

"Do you have it?"

There was something about the way she said it that made his belly run cold, that made his hand drift down to the Pokéball along his belt and release his Magnezone.

"That's a good looking Pokémon, aye?" Nova said. "Did you raise it yerself? Or did yer father raise it for you?"

A smile loitered on the knight's lips. "A bit of both."

He wasn't sure where the beam came from – one moment, there was a flash of purple, and the next, his Magnezone was sliding back along the floors. But even then, his Magnezone moved quick, and as the Garchomp fired once again, it drew its magnetic claws. With a crisp ring, a bolt of electricity went speeding for Tatiana's chest.

Or, at least, it was supposed to.

Because the second the bolts struck Tatiana, she just stood there, her feet firmly fixed to the floor even as the bolts punched through her. As if she felt nothing at all.

Then, without even the slightest of grunts, Tatiana opened her mouth and sent another wave of purple flames towards the Magnezone – thudding into its chest, toppling it backwards onto the stone. In a final attempt, the knight himself dug into his pocket and hurled a fistful of throwing knives, but Nova was already stepped back into the shadows.

When she reappeared by his side, her boot launching into his heel, sending him on the ground, he could only raise his hands in surrender.

"I don't have it," he spluttered. "None of the knights do!"

Nova sighed.

Bloody hell.


Flint opened his eyes to sand.

Rising from his bed, his golden mask on an angle after resting, he tried to blink it away. But, even then, he could barely see – he could only hear the featherlight scuff of a boot on stone, could only catch the faint smell of sweat above the smell of steel and some sort of rank water that reminded him of the barrels he had drowned that filthy gladiator—

That filthy gladiator.

"You."

"Me," Nova answered simply.

A cold trickle of dread cooled Flint's belly, especially as his eyes stung more when he tried to force them open. Instead, his hand flashed towards his robe, searching through the cloth and releasing his Pokémon.

A Lopunny came out, but before the poor Pokémon could even make a single sound, they both felt it – more sand scraping along their skin, soft as dust on their bodies but shockingly cruel to their eyes.

But Lopunny was a trained fighter.

Even with her eyes closed, she could still feel the Garchomp. That soft scuff of a claw on the ground. That small breath.

To the left?

"What's your problem, Flint?" Nova suddenly asked.

Flint didn't dare open his mouth. He knew what she was doing – talking so that his Lopunny couldn't hear the Garchomp.

"Aye, ye wanna stay in the castle stable," she rattled on. "But how long will it last? How long until everyone starts noticing that yer queen is probably dead?"

Flint clenched his jaw. "She's not dead."

"Oh, aye? Where is she?"

"She…"

"She went to look for family. And she got engaged to Sir Riley before she left. I think she knew she wasn't bloody coming back."

He just scowled.

Stupid gladiator. Stupid pest. Stupid—

"And I'm starting to think about ye and Volkner more. Why do you want him to be king so bad? Because he let you have yer stable?"

Her voice went impossibly soft, and even as she whispered, he heard that smile.

"Or is it because you love—"

"Shut up."

He said it louder than he should have. Loud enough that, for one second, his Lopunny couldn't hear a thing – not the Garchomp's breaths, not the scuffling of the claws, nothing.

And that's when Tatiana lunged.

She moved, slipping away, quick as shadows – but not quite quick enough. Lopunny's hand closed on a claw and seized tight. She heard the Garchomp yelp as she tightened her fist and dragged her closer. Fingers closing around Tatiana's neck. The Lopunny's face twisted, rage boiling in her chest at the thought of this dragon thing blinding her.

The Lopunny's fist slammed into Tatiana's jaw, sending her reeling. But the Lopunny was already dragging her back for another punch, slamming her like a rag doll into the wall, fingers pressing deeper-

A blow to Lopunny's chest.

Another and another.

It felt as though the Garchomp was finally punching her back, and the Lopunny almost sneered.

Then came the pain. Warm and wet, spilling down slightly to her belly. And she realised that Tatiana wasn't simply hitting her – her claws were just too sharp for her to feel.

Both of the Lopunny's hands were at Tatiana's throat now, her eyes squirming open as the agony crept in. They stumbled, falling back, the Garchomp's claws slipping down the Lopunny's back half a dozen times.

But the pain…

Rolling and tumbling on the stone. The Lopunny barely keeping her grip. The pulse rushing in her ears. The Garchomp's nails like iron.

And when Flint finally opened his eyes to see it – the kicking and jabbing, the flailing and growling – he felt the rage flare bright. The two Pokémon crashed against the edge of the bed, Lopunny's face twisted as a claw sliced at her cheek.

Flint couldn't feel his own hands. He could just see each kick and scratch.

"Tell it to stop!" he cried out, his eyes burning from the sand, from the tears. "Tell your fucking Garchomp to stop!"

Nova winced. "Tell me who has the legionary crystal."

"I don't fucking—"

He saw his Lopunny's knees give out. Saw her grip slither away from Garchomp's neck.

For a moment, it was hard to breathe. Hard to think.

She was threatening him.

The same way he had threatened her only a day ago.

But had she yielded? Had she—

Seeing his Lopunny tilt her head back as the Garchomp shot a beat of purple flames made his mouth snap open against his own will.

"Volkner has it," he burst out. "Volkner always has it."

The Garchomp stopped immediately, shoving Lopunny aside and moving towards Nova.

And the gladiator?

She wasn't smiling. She wasn't even nodding.

No.

Her eyes were wide open, utterly horrified, as she stared over his shoulders.

Flint followed her gaze, finding another gladiator standing there, a blue ribbon flailing across his forehead. Someone from the enemy team.

And though Flint wanted nothing more than to reach out to his Lopunny and cradle her, he couldn't help but grin.

Sure, he had told the wench where the legionary crystal was.

But at least those one the enemy teams could beat her to it, aye?


From there, it was war.

Immediately, the stupid lad with the blue ribbon had announced to the whole fucking manor that Volkner had the crystal. He had sent out a Houndoom to hold Nova back, its flamethrower tearing through the manor like a hurricane of crackling red. And though the roar was deafening and enough to send Nova and Tatiana staggering back, the two of them shielded their eyes against the heat, and darted through the glowing ashes and smoke.

The boom echoed around the hollow space, leaving the dozens of gladiators dazed, blinded and utterly stunned.

"Volkner fucking has it!" he called out to another man in blue. "Quick!"

Immediately, those with golden and red ribbons around their own wrists were darting towards the main room, where Volkner awaited. And, for a moment, Nova just rolled her eyes.

"…remind me again what he gains by telling everyone?..."

"Fuck me if I know."

"…i'd really rather not…"

Nova turned around, just in time to see the air shiver as gladiators darted for each other. There was a Tangrowth halfway up the eastern stairs, roaring as a dark shape of a Weavile flung itself up – landing in a crouch, its claws like a long blade that whistled down.

"Garchomp, look out!"

Nova's voice felt so thin against the ember rain and black smoke, but it was just enough for Tatiana's claws to slice through a nearby Octillery. Nova herself pulled her sword from her belt, her shoulder still aching as she delivered a savage boot to a gladiator's chest and sent him over the railing after his Octillery.

And, one with a blade in her hands and the other with fierce claws, Nova and Tatiana flickered in and out of the flames like some bloody ghost, hacking at those around them, calling out through the screaming.

There was a curse from someone, and through the rolling smoke, Nova watched as a handful of more gladiators rushed into the room – some even clever enough to tie sodden rags to their noses and mouths to protect them from the smoke. Over on the western stairs, she saw Barry and his Empoleon cutting a swathe through some gladiators, clearing his own path towards Volkner.

And Nova rushed up to help him, her face splattered with crimson.

"Volkner!" she called out to him. "Volkner has it!"

"…and remind me again what you gain by yelling it out as well?..."

"Fuck me if I know!"

"…it's no more tempting than it was the first time…"

Tatiana buried her fangs in that Weavile's arm, sending it tumbling over the railing. Then, they were stalking up the stairs, flickering aside and cutting down a gladiator with barely a glance. Lips pressed thin. Eyes fixed on the legionary beyond the stairs.

"Block the stairs," she told Barry. "Don't let anyone else up. Tatiana, you go block the other stairs."

Her friend frowned, raising his blade towards his face. "Let me—"

"No."

"No?"

"No."

Nova's smile was almost lethal as she found Volkner's eyes on her, no longer slouching but sitting upright.

"That bastard's mine."


Behind her, the gladiators were a tangle of blood and steel, screams and protests. With Barry commanding the other golden-ribboned men to guard the stairs, their eyes blanching with frustration as they realised that they were leaving the slip of the girl to handle Volkner on her own, without even her Garchomp.

But surely enough, they listened to her, barrelling other gladiators down the stairs while Barry's Empoleon extinguished the flames.

Meanwhile, Nova had eyes only for Legionary Volkner.

Her sword was heavy in her hand, already red with gore. She took two steps towards him, her skin slightly pink and charred from the blast, her gaze on the blade that he held steady in his grip.

When he stood up, his shoulders broad as bridges, his lips curled with disdain, she slowed.

"…remember. he was a gladiator, too…"

Nova glanced back towards the stairs, eyeing Barry and Tatiana. Then, she turned back to the legionary.

"I could win this bloody thing right now," she said simply, watching as his brows shot up. "I could ask Darkrai to steal the crystal without you even noticing. I could get Tatiana to hold you down and snatch it off you, so that our swords never have to touch."

She stepped closer and raised her dripping blade.

"But I want them to touch. No Darkrai, no tricks. Blade to blade. And if you win, you rightfully deserve to challenge Riley to that crown."

Whatever Volkner was going to say was cut off as November lunged. Her blade was like quicksilver, her feet just as fast. Still, Volkner stepped aside and struck back, his blade whistling past her throat. She twisted, hair streaming behind her, barely dodging it.

"…slowly, nova…"

Nova grunted. "I—"

"…you have a large and sharpened bit of metal in your hands. be careful…"

She nodded, raising her blade to take a stab for his belly.

"Worthless slip," Volkner growled suddenly, blocking her strike. Then, forcing her away, he spat, "Pathetic child."

Nova danced backwards, nearly slipping on the floor. She turned aside his blade, lashed out with her own. Dodge. Strike. Parry. Lunge. Her pulse thumping, sweat burning her eyes. His blade cutting the air in an almost hypnotic pattern, whistling as they came.

One of his lunges nearly split her stomach into two. Another one of his nearly knocked her blade out of her hands.

But with Darkrai's voice like a heartbeat, Nova swept aside.

"…do not fall for his taunts…"

Nova gasped for breath as Volkner's lips curled into a smile.

"You're not nearly as good as they make you out to be," he said.

As Nova parried another of his blows, she finally felt like she understood what Darkrai had been telling her – her speed and rage were no match against a man who had trained as a gladiator for years of his life. He was lithe, but made of muscle – a single blow from him, a single mistake, would be enough to end her.

But she was a gladiator, too. She had clawed her way here, all the way from Twinleaf, because this filth of a man had stepped on her birthday cake.

She remembered the way he had sneered at her.

The way he had used his Raichu to burn her into one spot because she had talked back to him.

The way he had shoved her onto the ground in Veilstone with just a single strike of his sword.

The way he had called Barry a-

"Crip-"

Nova slipped aside another one of his strikes, and leapt forwards, raising her blade in an overhead swing, throwing all her strength and fury and hurt into it. Volkner had already raised his sword to ward off the blow, and their weapons met with a shuddering ring. Edge to edge. Steel against steel. Fury against pride.

And fury won.

Nova's sword cleaved through Volkner's, sparks flying as his blade was sheared out of his hands.

"Worthless slip," she growled. Then, raising her blade to his throat, she smiled. "Pathetic child."

His eyes were wide open as she pressed the sharp steel far too close to the pulse in his throat.

"But I'm still the one who beat you."

She kicked him in the chest, then, sending him flying backwards and skidding onto the floor.

Volkner tried to speak. Tried to breathe. Tried to rise.

But when he could do none of those, he only shook his head, slipping his hand into his shirt and pulled out a glittering yellow crystal.

"The golden team wins," he called out. "November of Twinleaf has earned it for the golden team."

From just below, Nova saw certain gladiators crumple in despair. She saw some bury their heads in their hands.

And she saw Barry.

"Fuck yes!" he bellowed from below, arms in the air. "That's me lass!"

Nova sank down into a crouch, one hand out to steady herself. She swallowed hard, trying to catch her breath and she clawed her hair from her eyes. Looking to Barry, she managed a ragged grin.

"Are you well?"

The voice shocked her. She whirled around to face Volkner, who was smiling at her – not one of his cold, ruthless smiles. But one that seemed warm. Friendly. Giddy, even.

"Are you well?" she shot back at him.

And, by Arceus, she almost choked as he gave a soft laugh.

"I haven't fought like that in a while," he told her. "It was like fighting my sister again. Except she curses more."

"I didn't think that was possible."

"Oh, she's far more rogue than many think. I think you'd like her."

Nova watched as he stood and moved over to her, offering a hand.

"Go," he told her. "Go to the castle. Challenge Riley for that throne, if it so please you."

"You're not going to challenge Riley yerself?"

He shook his head, his smile hardly wavering. "If my legionary battles will be anything like this one, I wouldn't mind staying a bit longer." Then, gesturing at those with blue and red ribbons behind her, he added, "Besides, I believe there are some gladiators who will be wanting a second chance by dawn. We can't let them be slaves forever, nay?"

Nova nearly pinched herself.

"What happened to the Volkner that was a piece of absolute shit?"

Volkner winced. "He's still here. He's just a bit tired."

"Well, he's welcome to nap until I bloody die."

With another soft chuckle, he squeezed her hand. "Go. The castle awaits. Challenge Riley."

"You're not gonna wish me luck or anything?"

"You don't need it," he said with a scoff. "You have the will of steel."

Nova managed a tired grin. "I think I have a will of a bloody Murkrow. Black and shrivelled, aye?"

"You know that's a lie."

His fingers brushed against hers as he pressed the legionary crystal into her palm. She could almost feel power coming from it – velvet soft, and yet, cold as night.

"Go and take back your family's throne."

Nova nodded. And, with a wince, she turned back towards the stairs.

And, with every step she took, she felt that voice grow stronger.

She was going to do this.

Not just for Barry.

Not just for Riley.

Not just for Duke Rowan.

But for a better Sinnoh.


Sorry it took so long! Exam block is a rough time, but hopefully, the next one comes a lot sooner! We now have all the crystals. It's almost league time! And then... lord, it's over. Wow. I'm now debating two completely different things if I was to do another story.