As Keldeo climbed the mountain, he reflected on where he was now.
His old friends were gone, but new friends had come to help him when he needed it most. They all dropped what they were doing in order to help them as much as they needed. They all had their reasons to start, but now they were all here for one purpose, to help Keldeo get home and stop Kyurem.
The feeling of Cody's hand through his mane brought him back too, he looked up at his friend, his first friend since this all started, with a warm and reassuring smile, which Cody returned. Terry, Vera, and Calyrex were lagging behind, keeping an eye on the battle farther below; Quinn had stayed behind to watch their new friend Amanda fight her old friends. Cody and Keldeo stopped when they heard the collective sigh of relief from them.
"Well good news, Amanda won. They should stop bothering us now." Vera leaned into Terry, the three of them forming back up with Cody and Keldeo.
"Should we wait for them?" Cody asked them, but turned to Keldeo. Keldeo understood the meaning, and looked back up the mountain.
"Spectrier is getting farther away, so we shouldn't. They can catch up quick enough." Keldeo said, sounds of approval from the rest of the group as they moved on ahead.
"I'm really glad we're almost out of here. It's been…like a day, but it's felt like months." Cody sighed. Terry and Vera groaning in agreement.
"I understand your frustration. It has been far too long since I lost my powers. But now I'm so close to returning to my full power. And with that, you will be able to continue your quest."
"That's the best part, you can fix my horn and then we can get back to stopping Kyurem…" Keldeo added, taking note of the long silence that followed from Calyrex after that statement "Hey…-!"
"Ha! I found you fakers!" Keldeo coughed in surprise, that was certainly his voice, but he certainly didn't say that, or talk like that. The collective annoyed groans from Terry and Vera were enough to tell Keldeo what was going on. He turned to the source of the voice and, not to his surprise, there stood Keldeo, this world's Keldeo. It was unnerving to see the spitting version of himself before he transformed, and the way he carried himself, it was a complete departure from how he acted, probably because this one hadn't lost so much.
Keldeo shook the thoughts away, stepping forward "Listen…Keldeo…" it was strange talking to himself as he was "We're not looking for trouble here."
"Oh, but you found trouble, I'm afraid." The other Keldeo confidently strode down the mountain landing not too far away from the group "You're not from this world, and we need to expel you from this world."
"That's…exactly what we're trying to do!" Keldeo blinked in disbelief.
"But you're leaving our way!" The other Keldeo said.
"There's no use trying to talk him down…" Vera sighed, already gripping her medallion and transforming into Virizion, alongside Cody and Terry "This shouldn't take too long…"
"You're right about that, fake Virizion!" The other Keldeo cried out "Now!" and emerging from the snowy mountain side was a sight that made the original Keldeo shudder. A flood of memories coming back to him and making him shrink on himself.
Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion. The colors were different, but there was no mistaking who they were. Cobalion's fur was a deeper shade of blue and the horns were more yellow. Terrakion was a shade of brown instead of gray, and the red horns were striking. Virizion was clearly the most different, the pink and green entirely swapped across her body.
"Oh…" Cody gasped.
"No…" Vera sighed.
"Shit…" Terry finished. The three of them stood down their look-alike, already taking up battle stances, but the look on their faces told Keldeo they were not mentally prepared for this fight. They had only had these new forms for a few weeks, what hope did they have against the swordsman, the real swordsman?
"We're sorry for doubting you about this, Keldeo, we didn't think they could actually transform as you described." Cobalion spoke, a sharp, intimidating glare cut Cody down and made him feel smaller.
"What kind of power are they employing that allows them to transform as they are…" Virizion said, curiously looking Vera's body up and down "That said…I do look good in green."
"I mean…while we're throwing out compliments. I think the pink looks great on you…me…us?." Vera smiled, earning a bashful nod from Virizion.
"You wanna just swipe right already or what?" Terry looked to Vera, enough to silence the conversation.
"So then…" Terrakion grinned "What are we gonna do about these posers?" He turned to Cobalion and the other Keldeo.
"The same thing we originally intended to do with them." and the three of them began to enclose around Cody, Terry and Vera. The other Keldeo slowly approached Keldeo. The other Keldeo had his eyes locked, however Keldeo was always keeping an eye upward, groaning when he realized Spectrier was getting away again.
"This will be the fight of my life! Against my very own doppelganger!" The Other Keldeo spoke excitedly. But Keldeo seemed completely uninterested.
"Trust me, this isn't the fight you think it'll be." Keldeo crouched down for a moment before leaping forward with incredible speed the Other Keldeo wasn't as resolute as he was, everything he lost, everything he endured, the Other Keldeo didn't stand a chance. The Other Keldeo attempted to respond with two kicks to Keldeo's face, but Keldeo quickly side stepped it, delivering his own two kicks into the Other Keldeo's side, sending him flying into a snowbank, unmoving "Alright…" Keldeo sighed, looking back at the others, about to start their fight "Spectrier is getting away…you think you guys can handle this?"
"Yup! We got this!" Cody answered back confidently. Keldeo nodded, joining back up with Calyrex as the two ran up the mountain to catch up to Spectrier.
"So you were just talking out of your ass then?" Terry asked, summoning his sacred sword as the Cobalion, Terrakion and Virizion summoned their own, Vera brought forth her own. Cody realized just how out of depth the three were, fighting against the original swordsmen, not the ones that Keldeo knew, but powerful ones in their own right. But he knew if they didn't try to stop them now, they would go after Keldeo next.
"Heheh...Yeah." Cody admitted with a half-hearted chuckle, summoning his own sword.
No time was wasted as Terry and Vera ran off to fight their own counterparts, leaving Cody and Cobalion alone. Cobalion charged forward, sword drawn and pointed right at Cody. A gasp barely escaped him as he had to backstep to keep pace, managing to deflect the sword every time it came too close. Cobalion's attacks were fierce and constant, Cody didn't even have a chance to counterattack. Finally Cody managed to lock swords with Cobalion, the two moving in close together.
"You make a formidable doppelganger, but you will not win this fight." Cobalion said intensely. If this wasn't a fight for their life, Cody would have laughed at the way he spoke, but this was fine, he managed to squeeze in closer and closer, grunting as he finally got close enough to Cobalion, he concentrated energy into his hooves, attempting to strike Cobalion with metal claws, but he groaned as Cobalion side stepped him. Cody saw Cobalion spin around, failing to realize his hind legs were already glowing with their own metal claws, one that sent Cobalion skidding backwards. Cody huffed, charging back and attempting to attack with his horns and front hooves for close combat. To his horror, Cobalion was matching him blow for blow. It wasn't until Cobalion summoned his sword and cut into Cody's side that he was sent flying across the snow on his side.
Terry meanwhile was barely able to hold his ground. Terrakion was swinging fiercely, each strike causing Terry to move back slightly each time.
"What's the matter, doppelganger? Too much for ya?" Terrakion laughed, noticing how Terry was starting to sink into the snow, the earth beneath beginning to show. Terrakion's attack stopped for only a moment as Terry grinning, jagged stoned erupting from the earth causing Terrakion to jump back "Not bad…" Terrakion inhaled, smiling back as the earth began to rumble beneath them. Rather than Terry's multiple stone spikes, one massive stone spike sent Terrakion flying, landing on his back with a thud and a groan "But not good enough."
Vera was so used to the wild swings of her friends, she wasn't prepared for the calculated thrusts of Virizion. Thankfully, she was able to keep pace, bobbing and weaving, parrying and thrusting.
"I must confess, doppelganger, you are quite talented. How did you learn the sword so quickly?" Virizion said, panting between attacks.
"Huff…fencing…seven years…youth B-rated…-!" Vera said, thrusting towards Virizion's chest, only for a swarm of rainbow leaves to flash in front of her and block the strike. Vera knew this attack, and she cursed under her breath as she saw them all suddenly point at her and slash across her body, she had to back away, only for a Virizion to stab her, sending her flying further back, landing not too far away from where the downed Cody and Terry were.
"I'm sure if I knew what any of that meant, I'd be very impressed." Virizion laughed.
Vera rolled on her side, looking at Cody and Terry as they tried to stand up as well, groans of discomfort and pain across them all. Vera barely got a shout across before she realized CObalion, Terrakion and Virizion were not giving them a moment's break, already charging at them once again with swords drawn. Back to back, the three swordsmen summoned their own swords and matched them, swords clashing and sparks flying. Rather than swing again, the three of them simply pressed the swords harder, pushing them closer together.
"Well…this is surreal…" Vera managed with a chuckle, something the others laughed at a moment later.
"Just imagine how Keldeo feels, seeing his dead friends like this." Cody added, one knee already failing as Cobalion pressed his swords into Cody's.
"Took him long enough to get over seeing us transform into them." Terry huffed, the earth sinking beneath as he and Terrakion clashed. The Other Swordsmen pressed their swords into them harder, causing them to quiet down.
"So this is how it ends?" Cody asked "Done in by our otherworld counterparts…sort of?" he laughed despite the situation "Was kinda hoping we'd at least get to Kyurem."
"You know what the worst part is?" Terry managed, sinking deeper "I could totally kick both of your butts, outside of training."
"Is that right?" Vera barked a laugh "You just let me win all those times?"
"My massive sword against your dainty little toothpick of a blade? Of course!" Terry laughed.
Cody blinked with a new idea forming, threatening to break the concentration on his sword, he looked back at the others, a devious smile forming on his muzzle "I mean…who said we had to fight our counterparts?" Cody said, smiling back. Terry opened and closed his mouth as Vera smiled right back "Terry, give us some cover!" Cody called out, and in an instant, three massive walls of stone cut the Other Swordsmen off from the others. The three of them jumped backwards, gasping and waiting.
"Hey Cobalion, why did we let them talk during all of that?" Virizion asked "Wouldn't it have made more sense to just finish it?"
"Not that I'm complaining. I didn't realize how much fun it'd be to fight myself!" Terrakion laughed. Cobalion was about to speak, but the sudden shaking of the earth interrupted him, the three of them staring at the three stone walls cracking. They all summoned their swords, ready to face their doppelgangers once again.
The stone slabs shattered, and from it one word rang out to them.
"Switch!"
It was a quick plan, it was a questionable plan, but it was their best plan to get out of this alive. Cody launched himself at Terrakion. Terrakion was ready to counter with large jagged stones coming at him, but his claws were already alight for an attack that shattered the stones.
"Keldeo told me that steel was good against rock types. I see what he means." Cody managed a laugh as he charged once again, sword summoned as he stabbed at Terrakion, who countered with his own wild swing. That was the trick, Terry, and by extension Terrakion was great at massive powerful attacks, attacks that left him wide open right afterwards. Cody back stepped as Terrakion swung, the look in Terrakion's eyes telling him he didn't anticipate a goading attack, one that left his sword stuck in the ground. Perfect time for Cody to engage in close combat with Terrakion, finishing him off with his sword that sent flying backwards.
Terry started his attack by letting jagged stones erupt from the ground, causing Virizion to constantly be on the move to avoid being struck. WIth her speed however, it was an easy feat.
"Sorry, Terrakion's copy, but you're still much too slow for me. My beloved knows better than to try that." The attack finally stopped, meaning Virizion could finally stop and face her opponent. However, she gasped as she stumbled, her footing was disrupted by the difficult terrain that Terry had made. She realized he was never aiming to hit her, just to offset her balance.
"You can thank 'my beloved' for that trick!" Terry laughed, brandishing his sword and launching himself at Virizion. She summoned her own sword, but just as Terry had figured, one mighty swipe was all it took for her sword to shatter, and for Virizion to be sent flying alongside Terrakion.
Vera and Cobalion were trading blows, a swing from Cobalion would glide across Virizion's sword and strike the ground next to her. Vera was focused entirely on defense now, she was able to dodge the attacks as they came; deflecting the sword strikes, side stepping the metal claws, and bobbing and weaving through the close combat. Vera could see Cobalion was growing exhausted from the assault and not being able to land a meaningful hit. Finally, Vera brought her sword up and aimed it directly at Cobalion's neck, enough of an attack to cause Cobalion to freeze in his tracks. The green blade stopped inches away from him.
"Yield…please." Vera gasped, Cody and Terry flanking her, swords drawn as well, clear signs that if he didn't do so, it would be three on one, and Cobalion knew that was a fight he could not win. He closed his eyes and sighed, his sword faded away and his front claws stopped glowing. He had surrendered. A quick sound from Cody and three swordsmen sheathed their swords as well.
"Holy shit!" Terry laughed excitedly, bumping and nudging into Cody and Vera "We actually beat them! We managed to beat the originals!"
"Actually…I wouldn't be too sure of that…" Vera looked back to Cobalion, Terrakion and Virizion forming up as well to join them.
"You were holding back the whole time. Weren't you?" Cody asked. Terry stopped his cheering, looking at the others in surprise, and above all disappointment, compounded further when Cobalion smiled back at them with a nod and a wink. Terry rolled his eyes and walked away, grumbling.
"It is true. We did not fight with lethal intent." Cobalion said.
"Tell that to my back, asshole!" Terry screamed from a little far away. Cody and Vera snickered, but Cobalion was unamused.
"Anyways…" Cobalion turned his attention back to Cody and Vera "While we were initially suspicious of your arrival here, especially considering you could transform into off-color versions of us…-?"
"Off color!?" Cody blurted, imagining just how Keldeo would respond to that comment. Vera shushed him.
"When we realized you were working with Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests, the ruler of this land and his return to power. We realized that your intentions were indeed better than initially suspected."
Cody sighed, at least the pokemon here recognized Calyrex as good, that put away the concerns of Calyrex betraying them.
"So then why fight us in the first place? Why not just talk it out?" Vera asked, her answer being cut off by the sound of shifting snow behind them. Cody, Terry and Vera groaned, realizing in horror that it meant that the Other Keldeo was conscious again.
"He's quite persistent." Virizion added calmly.
"Dirty trick, doppelganger! Where did…-?" The Other Keldeo began, only to look back at the swordsmen standing around "What's going on? Why aren't you fighting?"
"Because they are not a threat any longer, Master Keldeo." Terrakion said, making the three humans double take.
"Master!?" all three of them said at the same time.
"You mean to tell me that in this world, Keldeo is your leader?" Cody spoke incredulously, he realized that it was most likely why they attacked them in the first place. Keldeo was one of the pokemon that considered them a threat, while Cobalion and the others believed to leave them alone.
"In training, but yes." Virizion added "Is your Keldeo not the leader?" she asked. Cody opened and closed his mouth. When this all started he was the one calling all the shots, but then things changed, it was only now he realized that their Keldeo was starting to take charge again.
"You see, there is a secret power hidden within Keldeo…-?" Terrakion was about to begin.
"Resolute Form." Vera said.
"Secret Sword." Terry said.
"Yeah, we know." Cody finished. It was hard to see Virizion blush beneath her pink as she looked away.
"I suppose that explains why you're Keldeo looks different…" Cobalion mumbled, looking back to the three "Tell me, we have been trying to unlock this form for Keldeo. What did you do to help him reach this new power?"
Cody, Terry and Vera shared concerning looks, how do you tell someone they have to die for their friend to grow stronger? Eventually Cody looked back to the three swordsmen "I think you should just be there for him. Help him remember the power." Cody tried his best to smile genuinely, relieved to see the three swordsmen accept that answer.
"Talking out of your ass again?" Terry asked, earning a swift kick in the flank from Vera.
"Uh, Hello!?" the Other Keldeo yelled again "Are you forgetting the part where we take down these intruders and save the day!?" Cody, Terry and Vera were groaning, getting ready for another quick fight. Cobalion Terrakion and Virizion however, proceeded to laugh.
"I advise you to return to your Keldeo and make sure he is well. Keldeo is strong but lacks judgment, even as our leader. We will explain to him why he must stop." Cobalion said.
"That would have been helpful to do…oh say…yesterday when we first met him but…-!" Terry began, but another quick rib shot was enough to silence him. He grumbled out a thanks alongside the others, running off to go join Keldeo and Calyrex at the top of the mountain.
Cody dared a look back, seeing the Other Keldeo about to give chase, but Cobalion, Terrakion and Virizion intercepted him, hopefully able to convince to calm down and see reason. Cody sighed in relief, picking up speed and making it to the front of the group.
"Hey guys!" Cody and the others stopped, recognizing the sound of Quinn's voice, they all changed back into their human forms and turned to greet Quinn and Amanda; Cody couldn't help but notice Amanda looked a little lighter, a little happier even.
"We managed to sneak by those guys while they were talking to Keldeo. Glad we didn't have to deal with that." Quinn chuckled "How are you guys holding up? Where's Blue?" Quinn was about to ask, only for the mountain to shake. They all looked up, and saw a tremendous orange glow emanating from the top. Cody couldn't help but smile, he recognized that orange glow, it was Keldeo's Secret Sword, Calyrex did it.
"That's it, isn't it?" Amanda asked.
"Hell yeah it is!" Terry said, already running for the top "Race ya there. We gotta congratulate him!" Vera was short behind, followed by Amanda, even Quinn did his best to run off after them. It was only Cody who remained now, staring up at the top of the mountain.
Cody thought about what Cobalion and the others had said, how Keldeo was their leader. Cody realized all this time he was the leader, calling the shots, helping the others, encouraging the others. But now suddenly here he was, the others looking to Keldeo for the path forward. Even last night, when Keldeo left to be on his own, another sign that Keldeo was becoming the groups leader. He slowly walked ahead, unable to get a single question out of his head.
"...When did I start falling behind?"