Chapter LXVIII

Two weeks later, and the end of the Gladiator Games arrived.

All the gladiators had been gathered back into Volkner's mansion, and as Nova herself held Barry's hand and moved into the dining area, she couldn't help but gawk.

It was so different. Back in Sandgem, when she had first held a sword, there had been crackling electricity between them all – fear and desperation and more. Their faces had been so young, so fresh, so anxious. And now, glancing around her, where the men and women had dropped their armour for gowns and suits just for a night, Nova could no longer see that naiveness and brightness.

Everyone around her had scars somewhere on their bodies – lining their cheeks, or forcing them to limp across the tiles. And instead of staring at each other with hunger and dread in their eyes, every gladiator that Nova faced was nodding with respect. Some were even smiling. Nova even caught one of them raising his glass to her.

Look at where we've come.

A few had even tried to talk to her, about her matches across Sinnoh, about her father and grandfather, about Twinleaf.

"Just wait," Barry whispered in her ear. "Some will be asking you to dance."

"Dance? I don't there will be any dancing—"

That's when Nova heard the music – sultry and low, accordions and violins – and was immediately horrified.

As she plonked herself at a table, tangoing couples circling past, she tried to smile at the others around her. Especially as she realised that whatever chattering they had been doing had been hushed at the sight of her.

"Maybe it's the dress," she muttered to her shadow, that almost seemed to blend into the black chiffon beneath her feet.

"…perhaps remove to dress to see if it has the same effect…"

Barry found his seat beside her, fingers already fumbling for the glass of gold wine – not ale, but wine.

"They're looking at us," Nova whispered to him. "Everyone at our table."

Her friend only shrugged. "They may have to spar you one last time. Of course they're trying to size ye up a bit."

"Aye, but why me? Shouldn't they be looking at you?"

"Why me?"

"Blind gladiator and all. Big name."

Barry snorted. "Says the one who bloody slayed a Regigigas."

"Oh, shut up."

"And turned out to be the granddaughter of our old king."

Nova opened her mouth to say something, but stopped as she saw the figure move past the wall of windows that wrapped around the room.

In fact, everyone seemed to silence at the sight of that long velvet cloak, the Alakazam and Lucario by the man's side, that shimmering crown on his head.

Sir Riley.

He made his way to the large platform at the front, standing in front of the musicians, all eyes completely captured by his calm smile.

"Six months ago," he began, "Queen Cynthia and I made an agreement. She would go on a quest to search for someone, and if she didn't return by now, I would host the end of the Gladiator Games."

No one spoke. No one moved. But Nova heard it – that sharp, collective intake of breath.

The truth that Sinnoh had been waiting for.

"Today, I am living up to that promise."

Nova heard a few people around her start to whisper. She saw a few of them even stare at her, heads cocked to the side, as if they expected her to know more.

But she only closed her eyes and felt for Barry's hand beneath the table.

"I know it's been hard for gladiators this season," Riley said. "With Roark, Maylene and Byron…" He faltered for a moment, his voice soft, before adding, "no longer with us, I know so many of you have not been able to earn all your legionary crystals. This means that many of you could not fight in the Victory Trial – the final fight to see who is worthy of taking on Queen Cynthia. Who is, in fact, awaiting you at the castle."

Nova almost felt a swell of pride at those words.

She had all eight legionary crystals. As did Barry. How many others were out there? Surely, not many – if Barry did decide he wanted to be king, all he needed to do was—

"So," Riley continued, "I have decided that anyone with five or more legionary crystals will still get the chance to participate in the Victory Trial."

Nova felt her heart sink.

Dammit.

Of course he wasn't going to make it easy. Of course.

And wait—

Queen Cynthia was alive? And in the castle?

Nova raised her gaze to Riley, who was fidgeting with his gloves as he glanced around the room. And, unlike the other gladiators around the room, she knew exactly what that meant.

He was lying. He was being forced to say that Cynthia was alive in awaiting them in the castle.

"The Victory Trial will be the same as last season," Riley explained. "Those with enough legionary crystals will compete in battles and spars, and the one who reigns champion shall get the chance to fight Queen Cynthia in the castle. And, if you win, the kingdom is yours."

She could see a few people exchanging glances. Grinning. Giddy, from both the wine and the sight of that crown on Riley's head.

He made it seem so easy. So reachable.

"But, either way, the most important part is—"

Riley's words were cut off by a sharp whistle. A glint of steel – speeding through the air, across the room, aimed right at his heart.

Nova heard him bark an order, saw pink light force her eyes shut, and froze.

By Arceus, what the hell—

When she opened her eyes, she saw the arrow, suspended in the air. There was pink light wrapped around it, stretching out from the Alakazam's hands, only inches away from Riley's chest.

Oh, shit.

"Someone tried to assassinate Riley," Nova told Barry.

She felt his hands turn cold in her grip. "Who?"

"I don't bloody—"

In that moment, she saw the Alakazam raise its arms higher in the air, and there was a muffled yelp across the room. It was from a boy with blazing red hair tied up in a knot, his bow and arrow dangling in his fingers as pink light swarmed around him and raised him in the air.

Nova squinted at him.

She had seen him somewhere before. Buck, had his name been? A knight? Or perhaps a—

"A gladiator," Riley said suddenly. "Who sent you?"

Buck flinched. "No one."

"Aye, so you decided to shoot an arrow at me for no particular reason?"

This time, the boy flushed. It was almost like a breath of fresh, cold wind had swept across the room as Riley gave a small, lopsided smile – like everyone else could finally breathe again. A few people even chuckled as the Alakazam spun the boy around.

"Put me down," Buck hissed.

Riley nodded. "I shall. And, when I do, I want you to go tell Flint that I'll be speaking to him in the castle shortly."

The boy's face paled as Alakazam lowered him, and Nova could have sworn she had never seen anyone dart as quickly as he did out of the manor.

It took Riley a moment to mutter something to his Alakazam before straightening his cloak.

"Apologies," he said, gentle as always. "What I was saying is that, gladiators, we have reached the end of the Gladiator Games. I'm sure many of you have made your patrons proud. Do you know what that means?"

Nova did not, in fact, know what that meant. But, all around her, she could see gladiators raising their wine, holding each other, many of them with tears slipping down their faces.

And, as Riley said the words, she felt a fire burn in her own heart.

"You are now free."


Only about twelve gladiators had earned five or more legionary battles, shocking both Nova and Barry. But there had been no time to train, to laugh, to gossip about the ten other men and women they would be facing.

For, the morning after, they had to march through the Victory Parade.

Or, at least, try to.

Nova had just finished wearing her armour when she moved towards the door and found the knob wasn't twisting. Then, when Darkrai found the slip of paper beneath the door, and read it out to her, she scowled.

"Read it again."

"…it's no different to when i read it the first time…"

"Just read it."

"…it says that if you even try at the victory trial today, you will be sorry…"

"So they locked me in."

"…it seems so…"

Nova had no doubt who it was – she could still remember Buck's fierce glare as he stormed out of the manor last night. But locking her in her own room? When she literally had an Infernape who could blow up the whole damned inn?

How cheap was he?

None of her Pokémon seemed to really mind, other than Bailey, who was hopping instead of flying across the oak floors. The bird spent all morning yapping once Darkrai had read aloud the note, whining about being assassinated, about being killed before the trial even began.

Nova took one long glance at the Staraptor and rolled her eyes. "If you keep burning a hole in the floor with your pacing, Bailey, we're not going to win the Victory Trial anyways."

Bailey made a small caw. Nova rolled her eyes.

"I know winning is like finding a needle in a haystack, but hunting needles is better than hopping along the floors, aye?"

Once again, the Staraptor made a small noise. Nova moved to the cupboard, yanked whatever was left of the whiskey she and Riley had drunk a few nights ago, and offered it to the Staraptor. She almost smiled as Bailey swallowed it in a single toss.

"Sometimes I wonder what you're doing in a place like this," Nova told the bird. "Even Leila can be absolutely horrid at times, but you?"

The Staraptor made a low caw as Nova reached out to touch him.

"You're a good bird, Bailey."

Then, turning away from her Staraptor, she gestured for the window, which Tric was already sizing up. It had metal bars across the glass, and she grinned as she and her Infernape exchanged a glance.

Fire is super effective against steel.

With only a breath from Tric, in which embers came spilling out, the metal melted. And, with one punch from the Infernape, the glass shattered, leaving just enough room for them all to squeeze out of.

Rhys went first, with Tatiana right on his tail. Then went Bailey and Leila, who helped Owl slither out. Then, just as Tric was about to swing himself out, he heard his gladiator's voice.

"Tric, wait."

She moved over, arms out, and squeezed him tight. She considered saying something, but instead, she just hung back, arms still around the Infernape, staring at their reflections in a shard of glass along the floor.

Everything they had worked for. Everything they didn't even know they had wanted. All the months, the miles, the struggle. The things she'd done to get here, the lives she'd taken on the bloody road. Hands dipped in red.

And now, one parade away from the castle.

One step closer to the throne.

And then, Nova let him go, watching as he slipped through the window and disappeared.


It was scorching outside, the sky barely dotted with clouds, the air burning from both the sun and the excitement from the people of Sinnoh.

All twelve gladiators edged towards the large, flapping flags, the faint music from behind the tall gates piercing the air. Nova could already see the hundreds of people on the other side, with younger children eating their sweets towards the start, with noblemen near the middle murmuring amongst themselves, and even the legionaries towards the end, embracing one another.

There were a few dances done before the parade really began, songs sung about bravery and truth, sequined costumes flitted around so that the whole city was ignited by the colour of the rising dawn. By the time Riley began reading out each gladiator's name one by one, allowing them to make their way through the path between the people, the crowd had only gotten more frantic – more desperate.

Barry was one of the first to go, and Nova felt it then – the clamping in her heart, the tears in her eyes. That small, lanky boy from Sinnoh had grown so much, and the kids adored him as he moved past them, whispering about the boy who slayed each legionary without needing to see a damned thing.

"You can do anything," he was muttering to a child with an eyepatch across one eye. "Anything."

A few more gladiators went after him, and Nova glanced behind her. There had been two other women aside from her, but none of them had seemed fazed by the taller, wider men around them. Even when one of the women was called after Barry, the screaming didn't ease – it only grew more frantic, more eager.

Another name was called, and it dawned on Nova that Riley was probably leaving her for last.

With a scowl, she stepped back, biting back her impatience.

She was worried for Barry. Throughout the Gladiator Games, Riley had warned her the gladiators could and would kill their foes outside of spars – just so they could catch them unaware. And with Barry being one of the few with eight legionary crystals, and the fact that his patron was the future king himself, it made himself look like a juicy target.

"Next, from the Stark Mountains up north, we have Buck!"

Nova's head jerked up at the sound of that name.

Riley still let Buck compete in the Victory Trial? Even after that stunt he had pulled yesterday?

She saw the flash of red hair move to her left, and before she could even think about what she was doing, she clawed for his elbow and yanked him back.

"Who are—"

His eyes widened as Nova pinned him against the pole holding up the flags. Then, he scowled.

"Get off me, you filthy wh—"

"I got your note," she hissed. "And threaten me like that – or touch Sir Riley again – and I will hurt you. Do you understand?"

"Fuck off."

Nova's gaze ran down him, from the red fury pinching his skin to the belt along his waist – one that was missing the Veilstone and Canalave legionary crystals.

"When I become king," he was hissing, "I'll show you who is in charge. I'm not being commanded by some skinny whore from Twinleaf."

"This skinny whore has eight legionary crystals," Nova retorted. Then, smiling sweetly, she added, "How many do you have?"

All he could do is spit at her as Sir Riley repeated his name. Then, shrugging her grip away from his arm, he slipped into the parade.

Nova wiped at her cheek, where his spit had landed.

"That's what I thought."


Nova's name alone had made Sunnyshore quake.

She could see the panic in all her Pokémon's faces as the screams swelled to a climax, their stomping seeming heavy enough to trample over the younger children by the front. Even though there were ribbons blocking the people away from her as she moved, she could feel their warmth as they pressed in towards her, some staring at her in awe, others looking at her with gaunt gazes, and even some releasing a frightened yelp as Rhys edged dangerously close to them.

At first, she just stood there, frozen, unsure of what to do. The sweat and perfume choking her. Their gazes pressing her back.

But she'd fought in front of these people – more, even. And Darkrai was there with her, drinking up any fear, whispering at her to move.

And so she did.

Slowly, at first, as if she was worried she would trip in front of them all. Then, as children began to yell out her name, try to feel for her sword, she couldn't help it – their laughter, their excitement, it was contagious. It was everything she had wanted to feel when she was young, everything she had wanted to see in Barry's face and Bebe's face and Riley's face.

Delight. Excitement. Happiness.

She glanced over her shoulder, finding Riley smiling at her, giving her a brief wink.

And she turned back to the parade, raising her head high, striding through the people and even raising her hand to wave.

The only thing that stopped her was the sight of an old man holding up another woman, tears running down their faces as they called out her name and beckoned her over. Not that they really had to – the second Nova found her grandfather and her mother amongst the people, she had practically launched herself towards them, throwing her arms around their shoulders and swearing at the ribbon that kept them on the other side.

So much to tell them. Oh, how she wanted to tell her mother about the night she had spent dancing with Riley. And then hold Duke Rowan and tell him all about that stupid bloody stone that had turned her whole arm to bloody metal.

Instead, though, she just breathed them in.

"Thank you," she whispered to them. To both of them. "For everything."

She stepped back, laughing as Rowan frantically wiped away his tears. Vernia held her for a moment longer, though, a warmth in her eyes that made Nova's eyes prickle.

"November—"

"Let me guess," Nova cut in. "Dance with the winds?"

Vernia snorted. "Heavens no. That's a shit piece of advice when you're about to fight a bunch of gladiators."

"Then what?"

Her mother squeezed her hand. "Go and kick arse."

"I will."

She passed by more faces she had seen before – Barry's mother, the man who had sold her armour, the child she had first sparred with before she had even caught Rhys. All of them cheering her on, watching her move, admiring her Pokémon and the Darkrai-shaped shadow beneath her. Then, amongst the people, she saw a woman smiling at her, the sun shining on the leaves along her hands.

"Gardenia?" Nova called out, moving close to her. "How are you this far from Eterna?"

The Song Sister smiled. "The same reason I was able to reach Spear Pillar; I broke my promise and showed someone a song. Which means I must stay away from Eterna."

"And if you do go back there?"

"I become a tree forever."

Nova stared, wide-eyed.

Gardenia couldn't even go to her own home, not without turning into a proper tree with no heart or brain or anything. And yet, she still broke that promise, just to come to Spear Pillar.

"I'm a legionary first," Gardenia said, smiling. "Protecting Sinnoh has always been my duty. One that many of us had forgotten."

Nova was about to say more when she heard an achingly familiar voice call for her. One that she would have recognised anywhere – one that made her grin from ear to ear as she whirled around.

"Wake!" she said, laughing. "Lady Spiral!"

They were with the nobles, looking like absolute rogues amongst them. Wake, once again, had abandoned his shirt, and he was shoving people aside just to make space for Lady Spiral. As for the lady herself, Nova took once glance at her frock and winced.

"Your stomach is about to pop," the gladiator said.

"That's what I told her!" Wake protested, gesturing at his pregnant wife. "But no, the bloody woman just wanted to come see you."

Lady Spiral shook her head, rolling her eyes. Then, reaching out, she clasped Nova's hands.

"Good luck, November."

"Good luck to you, too," Nova answered. "That looks like it's gonna hurt."

Wake's face paled. "It'll hurt her?"

"Of course it'll hurt, muttonhead," Nova retorted. "Did your mother not teach you anything?"

But Lady Spiral didn't look the slightest bit fazed. She just bowed her head softly and smiled.

So, Nova moved on.

More familiar faces passed. More comforting grins.

The stableman who had allowed Nova to borrow his Rapidash when she had raced Riley. One of the knights that had tried to stop her from running into Lost Tower. The small boy and his father who had let her sleep on their stacks of hay. A gladiator or two she had met in Veilstone, and, of course, Wake's entire pirate crew, dressed in bags of Bibarel blood and ready to perform, The Nigh is Twigh as she walked past them.

A hand grabbed Nova just as she entered the final stretch of the parade, where the few legionaries remaining were waiting for her.

Nova took one glance at the long nails curled around her elbow and arched her brow.

Aunt Fantina.

"I'm shocked you came," Nova told her.

Fantina's lip curled. "As am I."

"Came to wish me luck?"

"No."

"Then—"

Fantina's grip tightened around her before she yanked the gladiator close.

"Don't do anything foolish, November," she hissed. "I know you and your cunning ways."

"Me? Cunning?"

"It runs in our blood. We're meant to break rules." Then, shaking her head, she added, "But that doesn't mean you should. The castle is dangerous. It's bloody. Just being in there makes people more horrid than they want to be."

Nova pried herself away, frowning. "What do you mean?"

"Everyone has something to lose. But those people over there?"

Fantina gestured past the ocean, past the horizon, where the castle lay.

"Those people," the legionary said, "have a whole kingdom."

She released her niece, then, and it was almost a relief for Nova to see Candice waving her over. If she thought Fantina's warning had been strange, though, nothing was compared to the bewilderment she felt as Candice threw her arms around Nova's shoulders and squeezed tight.

"Maylene said this would happen," the legionary said. "She said…"

Nova awkwardly patted the girl's back. "Candice, I—"

But the legionary was already pulling away, tears burning in her eyes as she turned and strode away.

Which left November with the final legionary.

Volkner.

"You better win," he told her, a smirk on his face as she squinted at him.

"What? You want me to rule Sinnoh?"

He scoffed. "Nay. I want you to be queen for half a day so I can challenge you and kick your arse. You hear?"

"You couldn't do it the first time. What makes you think you can do it at all?"

"You're getting too smug, don't you think?"

"It comes with your legionary crystal, don't you think?"

He made a face at that, but there was a glimmer in his eyes as he said, "Tell my grandmother I said hello. I'm not sure she will like you very much."

"Baroness Bertha, you mean?" Nova asked. "Why wouldn't she like me?"

"She doesn't think cursing is very ladylike."

Nova laughed at that.

She'd met the damned old crone enough times to know that Baroness Bertha had a mouth vulgar enough to make Wake's pirates look like children.

Still, with a nod, she moved forward, to where she caught locks of pink hair dancing in the breeze.

Immediately, Nova's heart surged.

"Hello, Miss Healer."

Joy chuckled. "I'm proud of you, November."

"I'm starting to get tired of hearing—"

"Oh, shut up and let me look at you, will you?"

Joy leaned in, cupping Nova's face, her fingers warm and soft and kind. A million unsaid words shining in her eyes.

"This is getting oddly intimate, nay?" Nova said.

The healer stepped back and laughed. "We met so long ago. Do you remember that? I wouldn't let you sleep in the Sandgem inns."

"Aye, that was rude."

"And now, here we are."

"Here we are."

Nova let go of her friend's hand.

"Bebe would be proud of you, too, you know," she told the healer. "She used to always talk about your amazing healing abilities."

Joey didn't even try to cut her off. She just glanced down at her feet, breathing softly. "I still miss her."

"As do I," Nova told her. "As do—"

"November!" a sharp voice called from behind her. "Will you hurry the hell up?"

Joy rolled her eyes as Nova turned, only to find that hooting old crone gesturing her over. With a final embrace to her healer friend, the gladiator turned, scowling playfully.

"I heard you don't like a lady who curses, Bertha," she said.

The old crone snorted beneath her cloak. "Who the fuck told you that shit?"

"That's what I thought."

Nova only had to take a few more steps before the old crone reached out and dragged her towards the ribbon, her grip like steel on her hand.

"Go," Bertha said. "Show them what you can really do. I want to taste a bloody ferocious battle at the end."

"Just for you, old crone."

"Who the fuck are ye calling old? I'll bloody—"

She continued her yapping, but Nova was no longer listening. Her eyes had found two people standing away from the parade, near the beach, staring at her. A woman with red hair, missing a leg, who was leaning on a man with a chalkboard on his hand.

The man wrote something on the board, before raising it in the air for her to see.

"…it says good luck…"

Nova looked at the two of them for a long time.

Not feeling angry, for once. But feeling almost wistful.

Then, with a nod of her head, she turned towards the ship where the other eleven gladiators stood along the deck, waving to their families and patrons.

And she stepped up to join them.


I was going to get right into the fight but the parade ended up being a lot longer than anticipated. Next chapter is already done, and I'm excited to get right into it! Thank you for sticking with me on this journey!