Chapter LIX

Most gladiators spent their journey towards Victory Road sparring each other, practising along their deck, their Pokémon sweating and fighting alongside them. Not only in the day, but also the night, with the moonlight sweeping over them.

Not Nova, though.

All her Pokémon were sleeping in Barry's room, where she had promised to stay the night to watch over him. Except, instead of joining him, she was staring at a piece of paper by her cabin door. She showed it to Darkrai, asking him to read it.

Stay with me for the night.

-Riley.

Nova snorted.

Why write her a letter when he knew she couldn't read?

Nonetheless, her heart beat quicker at the words, wretched Beautiflies rearing their wings in her belly. Then, she slipped through the door, checking the hallways, before stealing into the night. Her soft boots were barely a whisper against the wood, and not a single gladiator had seen her move towards Riley's door.

She tried the handle, found it locked. Crouching low, she peered through the keyhole, finding Riley on his bed reading by the light of a lamp. The light threw long shadows across the floor, and with her own shadow rolling its eyes, she knocked.

He started, moving hair out of his eyes. A knife slipped from up his sleeve, only stopping when she called out his name and he recognised her voice.

Then, he was opening the door, questions swimming in his eyes.

Nova kicked her boots off her feet as she entered.

"Nova?" he asked. "Why are you here—"

She held his shirt by the collar and pressed her lips to his.

And the questions in his eyes died.


Later that morning, Nova realised one thing.

Riley had asked her why she had come to him.

Even though he had written her a letter, asking her to come to his room for the night.

Meaning that—

Nova slipped out of Riley's room while he was still sound asleep, no longer trying to keep her steps silent.

"I feel like an idiot."

"…love makes fools of us all…"

She slammed open her own cabin door. She knew her Pokémon wouldn't be there – they had spent the night with Barry. But someone had tried luring her out of the room, which could only mean—

Nova dug through her room.

Her armour was still there.

Her legionary crystals were still there.

But her sword—

Nova swore as she realised her scabbard was completely, utterly empty.

"How the fuck do I fight without a sword?" she snarled. "Knives from the kitchen?"

"…perhaps a spoon would work better…"

But Nova didn't snort with him.

She was scowling.

That sword was hers. A gift that had come with Darkrai. Made of diamond itself.

She found that note by her room door, held it in her hands. Crumpled it.

Now the bastard had made it personal.


"Each of you will fight five spars, against five random gladiators," Riley was saying. "Each spar is fought to submission, or to death. Also, if one falls out of the circle during a spar, that is counted as a loss."

Victory Road was yet another tunnel, but something about it sang different to Nova. There was a circular stained-glass window instead of rock on the ceiling, throwing bright golden light into the cave. The rest of it was swallowed by shadows, with swirling red paint – or blood – along the stone walls.

Riley was gesturing to a circle in the centre, wide enough for Wake's entire pirate crew perhaps, made of black granite.

"At the end of those rounds, the four gladiators with the most victories shall face off. Whoever wins shall be the one to challenge Queen Cynthia in the castle."

Riley's gaze roamed across the gladiators.

"Any questions?"

Nova looked across the circle to Buck, whose arms were folded and smiling. He gestured towards his belt, where a certain sword shone brighter than regular metal.

"Bastard," Nova mumbled.

Barry's face turned towards her. "What's wrong?"

"I don't have my sword with me."

"Where was it?"

"My cabin."

Barry's brows furrowed. "Safe as pebbles, then."

"…unless she slept in another cabin last night…"

Nova felt Barry sigh, felt his head turn towards the direction of Riley's voice. "Please tell me you didn't."

His friend said absolutely nothing in response.

"Arceus, Nova."

Nova kept her gaze on Buck. She saw his fuck you smile, saw the gleam in those eyes.

And the Victory Trial began.


"Miles," Riley said. "Step forward."

The gladiator named Miles nodded, stepping into the circle's centre. He tilted his head until his neck popped, stretching his arms, and beckoned for his Pokémon – a Machamp.

"November."

Nova drew a deep breath and walked out into the circle, soundless. Called for her Gastrodon.

"Draw your weapons."

Miles pulled out a heavy longsword and buckler, taking up his stance. The smile she had seen on his pretty face throughout the day was gone – he knew what was at stake. One step closer to the queen. To the castle.

And that step seemed all the closer for him when Nova pulled two kitchen knives from her belt.

There was a question in everyone's eyes, except for Barry, who was just standing with his hands together and listening.

A gong rang in the dark. Miles stepped forward, hewing at the air in brutal, broad strokes, while Nova fell back and dodged.

Beside her, Machamp thrust itself towards the Gastrodon. Owl spat mud along the floor, and the Machamp snorted as it missed – by a long shot, too. But then, Owl was sliding on her own mud, twisting away from the Machamp and using the new speed to slam a pulse of water at it.

It hit its shoulder, and it staggered, confused and off-balance.

Meanwhile, Miles was scowling as he launched himself at Nova, blows scything past her head as she skipped beneath them. She faded, twisted, moved like a dancer, and left a shallow cut on his swordarm. Blood spattered on the stone, and before he could even wince, she was lunging forwards – strike, strike, feint, strike, pushing him back, back, back—

Miles felt his boot land on something slippery – something like mud.

In that second, as he tripped back, a bullet of water dashed his sword from his grip, and he found a kitchen knife resting above his thundering heart.

"Yield," Nova told him.

Miles looked at her face. Down to his Machamp, that was still being swept down the tunnel by the Gastrodon's constant pulses of water. Chest heaving. Skin drenched.

"Yield," he finally spat.

"Point for November!" Riley called out, while a knight cracked the gong.

Nova dropped into a curtsey and moved back to the edge of the circle, Gastrodon smugly slithering by her side.

The other gladiators murmured among themselves, astonished.

Barry hid his smile beneath his hand.

Buck smiled not at all.


The spars ran all morning, sweat and blood glistening on the stone.

Beneath Buck's scowl, Nova won four of her five spars – the idea that the boy with her sword expected her to fail simply drove her harder to rub his face in the dirt. She thrashed one of the other girls, named Hana, disarming her with a kick while Bailey buried his beak into her Noctowl's chest.

With preliminary spars done, only the top four remained on the circle's edge, while all others retired to the corners of the cave. Both Buck and Omar were undefeated, placed first and second. Barry had placed third, losing only to Buck. And, in fourth place, despite the storm cloud she had felt over her heart in the morning, was November.

"The semifinals shall now be fought," Riley said, drawing two cards from the knight beside him. "Omar faces Barry."

Nova looked across the circle, met by Buck's cold smile.

"Which means that Buck will face November."

Nova glanced over at Barry, squeezed his hand as he stumbled forwards. Omar prowled into the ring, arms gleaming with sweat and his Rampardos close behind him. Barry chose his Rapidash, and once the gong ran in the dark, the two boys' steel joint while the pair of Pokémon came crashed together like waves of fire and rocks on a storm-washed beach. Nova watched on in silence, chewing her lip. Praying.

And Arceus, it seemed, had been listening.

After a bloody and long struggle, with all gladiators looking on in awe, Barry managed it.

The Rapidash's hoof slammed into the Rampardos, sending it hurling into his own gladiator, their groans hanging thick in the air. When Riley announced Barry as the winner, Nova clapped the loudest amongst them all.

Barry retired to the bench, drenched and panting. Nonetheless, when he felt Nova's hand on his, he smiled.

"November," Riley called. "Buck. Take your places."

Nova stood slowly, stretching her arms, touching her toes. Her muscles were sore, and her shoulder was beginning to ache again. She ran her fingers though her hair, fixed it into a knot on her head, while Buck prowled back and forth on his side of the circle. Red eyes locked on his opponent.

He chose his Claydol, she chose her Roserade.

And as Nova reached him, nothing but a kitchen knife in hand, she held her hand out to stop the man from ringing the gong.

"I have an offer for you first, Buck," she said coolly. "Give me my sword back."

He snorted. "And what do I get?"

Nova slipped her hand into her sleeves, pulling out a small bag. Then, turning it over, she emptied it into her hands, and balls of pink rolled around her palms.

"Pecha Berries?" He gave a brief laugh. "Let's just get this over with."

She dropped the berries onto the ground. Turned them into nothing but mush with a step of her boot. "Aye."

Riley retreated from the ring, leaving the pair alone. The light gleamed from above, picking out the circle in dull gold, an electric current almost seeming to dance in the air. Nova's skin prickled as her shadow whispered.

"…good luck…"

Barry cupped his hands, hooted from the bench. "Kick his arse, November!"

Nova drew a breath.

Buck took up his stance.

A gong rang in the dark.

The red-head lunged, stepping quickly across the stone, aiming for Nova's throat. She stepped back, battering aside the rapid flurry with the knife, riposte whistling past Buck's jaw. Blades sang, pale light gleaming on polished steel. Both of them were cautious at first, but soon enough, Nova felt him gain his confidence, forcing her back to the circle's edge with bloody brilliant footwork, his strikes falling like hail.

Beside her, Leila almost seemed to mimic her blade movement with her vines. Striking, feinting, lunging in the same verse. Parry and riposte coming from the Claydol as it forced Leila to jump back with beams of pink light. The Pokémon danced around the gladiators, around the sweat, dodging back and forth at the ring's edge.

Though she launched a few strikes, Nova was already gasping. Buck's constant barrage with her sword – a light, quick, but unyielding weapon – would spell her end in just a few more minutes if they kept this up. She could only defend.

That's when she saw it – the signal. The cloud of purple from Leila.

Nova was too slow to guard, and Buck drew blood – a thin line of red opening across her forearm. Nova's breath came quicker, spit on her lips. The blood on her arm, slipping towards her fingers, made her grip horrendous, made her lungs burn more.

And the Claydol didn't even seem to care, simply maintain its tempo of dodging the veins, stirring in the air, and aiming mud and psybeams alike at the Roserade.

"Why're you stealing my things?" Nova asked, lunging forwards. "Scared of me?"

Buck snorted, slipping away and slicing again at Nova's arm. Barely missing. "Terrified. Can't you see me trembling?"

They circled each other, weapons raised. Dark hair hanging in Nova's eyes. Fingers sticky on her hilt. Gasping.

By her side, Leila buying time. Feinting. Parring. Lunging. Retreating. She tried to wrap those vines around the Claydol, but it only shot a beam of bright pink at it, snapping Leila's vine cleanly in half.

Her Roserade's cry of pain, the blood leaking from her rose afterwards, made Buck lunge again. He stepped forward, striking at face, chest, belly. Nova staggered, threw a reckless riposte to force the red-head away. He backed off, blade twirling, moving swift. Still smiling.

"Your Roserade doesn't seem to be faring well."

Nova snarled. "You really think time is on your side?"

Buck simply grinned. But Nova grinned wider she saw Leila launch a tornado of petals towards the Claydol, watched as it dodged – just a bit slower than before.

"What about your Claydol?" she asked. "Think time's on his side, too?"

Buck stole a glance at his Pokémon, who was wincing. Even though Leila was only using one vine now, with blood dribbling from the grass-type's other arm, the Claydol was moving slower. Sweating.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Nova smiled all the wider. "Maybe you should have taken the Pecha berries, nay?"

Buck stopped his dance, staring at Nova with wide eyes.

"You're full of shit, November."

Nova tilted her head.

"Am I?"

"C-Clay…"

The red-head looked to Claydol, who could no longer levitate in the air. It was drenched in sweat, those stubby arms falling limp, a thin trickle of blood spilling from its lips. It winced, groaning, and as Leila flinched away in revulsion, the Claydol spewed scarlet all over the floor.

"Oh, Arceus, Claydol?"

Buck's face drained of all colour as his Claydol fell to the ground. Quicker than silver, Nova stepped up and smashed the hilt of her knife into Buck's hand, into those nerveless fingers. Buck tried to muster some sort of guard, but Nova swatted the blade aside, and with a cry, buried her boot into his gut.

The boy clutched his stomach as he was sent skidding across the polished stone. But his gaze never left his Claydol.

The Pokémon was on the ground, vomiting another gout of blood over the floor. Gladiators were beginning to back away, but Riley was running to the Pokémon and kneeling beside it.

"Someone get water!" he called. "Now!"

The Claydol coughed, pink froth bubbling on its lips. It spasmed, flecks of bloody spittle spraying. Thrashing on the damp stone. Tears filling Buck's eyes.

"Yield," Nova told him. "And I will save it."

Buck snarled. "I shall not…"

The Claydol screamed, dark blood bubbling from its throat.

Nova's eyes widened, and she scowled. "Yield already, you bastard. You're going to kill it."

But Buck was snatching up his sword, face twisted in a snarl. "You, bitch, you killed it—"

Nova tossed it aside in one kick, her face like stone. Then, she nodded over at Leila.

"Finish it."

Leila placed her one arm, the one that wasn't bleeding, on the Claydol. And, as green light began to rise around it, as the Claydol stopped its wailing agony and fell still, Nova knelt down and pressed the kitchen knife to Buck's heart.

"Yield."

"…Yield."

A gong rang in the dark. But Riley said nothing.

They were all staring at the Claydol, who was not, in fact, dead. It was moving. Breathing. Making small, gentle sighs as Leila used aromatherapy.

"We were never going to let it die," Nova said softly. "Leila heals as well as she poisons."

Then, with her Pokémon moving beside her, she left the circle.


She knew she should have joined Barry for some form of supper, but instead, Nova decided to walk through Victory Road, scaling up a stone wall and crawling out of a hole against the side. It led straight to a narrow ledge, where beneath her lay the vast ocean. One step, and she would be plunging deep.

So far out, the waves had no white crest, no foam spray. They just rolled in lazy arcs against the cliffs, a few ships bobbing along the blue.

Just as she was about to sigh, she heard the clatter of steel against stone. She turned, glancing over her shoulder to find her sword lying beside her, the shadow of a boy hovering over it.

Nova was the first to speak.

"I'm sorry."

Buck huffed, moving to sit beside her, legs dangling over the edge.

"I'm sorry, too."

"Why'd you do it?"

"Flint is my brother," he said.

Nova's head shot up. "Aye, and?"

"Can I tell you a secret?"

He was nervous – she could see it. She could feel it as he shivered beside her, chewing on his lip.

"Riley lied to all the gladiators," he finally said. "Cynthia is not in the castle. No one knows where Cynthia is. But everyone in the castle is trying to hide that. They threatened Riley before he came to Sunnyshore – they have his Clefable. If he reveals that Cynthia is no longer in the castle, and probably dead, it dies."

Oh, shit.

Nova's eyes widened. "He didn't tell me that."

"He's not supposed to."

"So?"

"So when one of us gladiators wins," Buck explained, "we go to the castle. Then, we find out there's no Queen Cynthia to battle. So, either the gladiator just takes the throne, or the folk in the castle ask Riley to officially take the throne and battle the gladiator instead."

Nova cocked her head to the side. "Aye?"

"Let's go through it."

Buck raised two hands in the air, closing them into fists. He pressed one of them into the dirt.

"If they just give up the throne, then the gladiator who becomes the new ruler gets to decide who stays and leaves the castle," he said.

"And if Flint and the others give the throne to Riley?"

He pressed his other fist in the ground. "Then, they reveal to all of Sinnoh that Cynthia is gone. Then, everyone knows the truth, and Riley decides who stays and leaves in the castle."

"…so, either way, people are leaving the castle…"

Buck glanced down at Nova's shadow, but didn't seem surprised in the least. Instead, he just nodded.

"I was supposed to win, because I know the secret about Cynthia already. I was going to pretend Cynthia kicked my arse, and nothing would have to change – my brother and his friends could stay in the castle, and pretend Queen Cynthia is still on the throne. Which is why—"

"Which is why you were so desperate to win," Nova finished. "And why you stole my sword and warned me not to play with that letter."

He gave her a sheepish grin. "The letter was Lucian's idea."

"Tell him I can't even bloody read."

"Then how did you…"

"…don't worry, she never thanks me either…"

Buck leaned back, wringing his hands through his hair. "Ah, the shadow."

"…it has a name, you know…"

"So, you were supposed to win to keep yer brother in the castle?" Nova quickly asked. "Then why did you try killing Sir Riley the night before the parade?"

He shrugged. "It would cause chaos. And they could then lie and say that Cynthia was in mourning, and cancel the finale part of the Gladiator Games. They've been wanting to cancel it for a while now, but Riley wouldn't let them."

"Oh."

"Also," he added, though his words slowed. Cautious, even. "I had one order – if I didn't win today, I just had to make sure you didn't win."

She snorted at that. "Why me?"

"Because, according to Lucian and Flint and everyone else in there who has been watching the Gladiator Games, all gladiators are easy to pacify. Just offer them gold and they'll shut up about the castle secrets. But you?"

"I don't give a damn about gold."

"No, you don't."

He stood up, staring past the ocean, at that castle of metal and glass, concrete and asphalt. No doubt imagining the people milling about, absorbed in their gossip and politics. Then, he gave Nova a weak smile.

"And that's why they're so bloody scared of you."

The waves kept rising and falling as he dusted his hands, the salty air a cold caress on them both.

"What happens if I win against Barry tomorrow?" Nova asked him. "What happens if you fail in making me lose?"

"Every year, Queen Cynthia chooses someone to travel into the depths of Stark Mountain," he answered. "Because she's not there, no one has been chosen. They promised me that they would pretend Cynthia chose me if I succeeded. But if I fail, well, I don't get to go."

Nova didn't glance over at him, but she did arch her brow.

It wasn't gold that this man wanted. It was an adventure. The chance to explore.

"So, you're hoping I lose against Barry tomorrow."

"Actually…"

She felt his hands on her shoulders, felt them grip tight.

"I'm hoping you don't make it to the battle at all."

Nova's eyes widened as she saw the drop below her. The choppy waves, the surface of blue like a mirror turned half liquid. Breaking and flowing.

And just as she felt him begin to push, she felt Darkrai hiss.

Closing her eyes, she felt the dark-type take hold of her. Thread by thread, drawing his own darkness over her, like a seamer weaving a cloak of shadows over her.

And as Buck pushed, his hands slipped straight through her.

Nova couldn't see his face. With her whole body shrouded in shadows, the world itself was blurred to her – shrouded in black.

"What in the bleeding—"

"We don't want to die, Buck," she said.

"…we still don't have an island…"

"Will you shut up about the bloody island for once?"

Buck's eyes looked as if they were about to pop out as the shadows cleared from the girl, as he could finally feel her skin and bones beneath his palms again.

He could push her now. Push her before they tried that stunt again, and she became a body of shadows. Push her before she reached for the sword so close to her side and sliced his leg.

"Wait."

Her voice had him frozen.

"I don't want to win the damned battle anyways," she told him. "I don't want to be bloody queen, or challenge Riley in a duel."

He lowered his hands, placing them back by his sides. "Then don't. Leave now. Then we both get what we want."

"Aye, but where's the fun in that?"

"It's not about fun."

And Nova just laughed as if that had been the funniest joke in the world.


That night, as she paced back and forth in her cabin, she felt as if she had hundreds of options but simultaneously, none at all.

She could do what Buck said – run away. Let Barry guarantee himself a chance to visit the castle, as he always wanted to do.

But Riley would chase after her. So would Barry. Besides, if she ran away, she'd miss the chance to watch her two closest friends spar – she needed to be there. For them.

She could also fight Barry, but purposely act weaker than normal, and let him have an easy win.

But then, there were her Pokémon. All of them were trained warriors – they wanted to prove themselves. If this was going to be their final gladiator battle ever, like hell would they let her just throw it away for her friend. And there was no way she would ask them to, either.

She had promised Buck she would lose. And she would.

But she wasn't going to play weak. She still needed to fight bloody hard.

Which meant that she needed Barry to fight even harder.

Even if it meant—

Nova turned to Tric, who was watching her thoughtfully.

"Barry said something about Pokémon being able to pronounce human words, aye?" she asked him.

He nodded, head perking up.

Nova strode over to him, crouching down so their eyes were levelled.

"Good. I'm going to teach you a word."

She whispered it in his ear. Saw his eyes widen. Saw him slam his lips shut in absolute refusal.

With a click of her tongue, she folded her arms. He made a small whine. Then, they both sank into the cot, side by side, looking down at their hands.

This was going to be harder than she thought.


Next chapter is the official final battle with the rival! I am very excited for it. And then we get into the real meat of this finale.