Chapter 2: There's Another Precure Out There?!

It is a peaceful afternoon in Aspertia City.

"You what?!"

It is a slightly peaceful afternoon in Aspertia City.

"Bianca, how can you let that happen to you?!" Cheren scolds, clutching the folder with his lesson plans a bit too tightly. Bianca huffs and retorts, "I can't help it if a ninja kidnaps me! They lurk in the shadows, Cheren! In the shadows! None of us can sense that!"

"A ninja?! What do you think would've happened if Touko and Alder haven't accompanied you?! You could have been used as ransom! Or worse, they could have used you as an example! Who knows what kind of person that ninja is serving!"

"Why are you getting so heated, Cheren?! Touko would never let that happen! What's done is done, and I'm safe now, right?!"

Touko awkwardly watches her friend bicker. She knew this would happen. She even warned Bianca about not telling Cheren, but in the middle of their conversation, Bianca accidentally let that slip, and now they're arguing over her "incompetence."

"Can't I be worried about my friend? I know that I've been busy, but that doesn't mean…" he trails off, breaking eye contact with the blonde assistant. He appears as if he wants to say more, but instead, they linger in silence.

"That doesn't mean...what?" Bianca questions, tilting her head at him.

Cheren chews his lips nervously, and Touko stares wide-eyed at his reaction. Where was the cheeky comeback? The deflection? The direct denial?

"Just...be careful next time," he mutters, "Touko won't always be there to bail you out."

Bianca's smile could break away the clouds and invite the sunlight. "Oh Cheren, you do care! Don't worry, I'll be extra careful!" The teacher only coughs as Touko sighs at the whole exchange.

"Cheren, you're too obvious!"

"Anyway, some of my students saw a giant explosion coming from Route 20. Is that related to you being taken as a hostage?"

Touko begins to sweat.

"Alright, Reshiram, spill," commands the trainer as she leans over the railing of the Aspertia lookout. The Vast White Pokémon stands next to her, taking in the view of the night sky.

"What exactly would you like me to explain to you?"

"I get that you infused your powers into me, and that turned me into…" A flashback of her wearing that pretty-looking dress punching branches at lightning speed causes her to flush with embarrassment.

"What did I turn into?"

"I do not know if there is an established term for what you have become, but I do have a name if you wish to use it."

"Which is…?"

"A Precure. And your alter ego is Cure Flare."

Touko bonks her head on the cold railing. "W-Well, it's better than nothing, I guess." She takes out the luxury ball and contemplates its glossy sheen. "Can all Pokemon do that though? Can they...transfer their powers to people?"

"That is not possible for normal Pokémon. Even with other legendary Pokémon, it is highly unlikely. Pokémon may lend their strength to humans through battling, but allowing humans to wield that power themselves? It is unheard of."

"So, why can you do it?"

"I believe your ability to transform is not because of me, but because of a small malfunction I have found in the luxury ball."

"A malfunction in the luxury ball." Her voice tries to come off as dull, but the underlying incredulity is barely restrained.

"Let me finish, heroine. I have noticed this error ever since you captured me. At first, I merely observed the nature of this malfunction from the inside, and I soon concluded that, unlike other Poké Balls, a more direct connection between a trainer and their Pokémon can be achieved. Soon after, I had begun to experiment with this defect with the help of your Lilligant."

"You roped Lillil into this?! When?!"

"It was always when you were asleep. We would work late at night, trying different things to see what exactly this connection is. And just a few weeks ago, I discovered the malfunction's true nature. It can allow me to directly transfer my powers to you by a hidden mechanism that can only be activated by an activation code. And while I was setting that up…"

"Reshiram?" Touko urges on tentatively. The way the legendary Pokémon purposefully stops talking sends a bad feeling down her spine. Reshiram thinks back to when they were staying in Johto after another lead on N turned out to be another dead end.

"What are you guys watching?" Touko curiously asked the group of Pokémon sitting comfortably in front of the TV. She walked over to get a closer look, but she was soon blinded by the number of sparkles and hearts spewing all over the screen. A girl in a very pink dress posed for the audience, defiantly declaring that she would do her best to defeat evil.

"Isn't that a kids' show?"

Her Pokémon did not seem to hear her. A few seconds later, they erupted into a chorus of noises, cheering on the heroine as she used her ultimate technique. Their trainer sighed and crashed down onto the bed.

"It must be nice to be that optimistic. Being able to defeat the forces of evil with the power of hope and friendship...magic existing..."

Reshiram, from within its ball, looked back from the television to its own heroine. It observed the steady breathing of her body as she dozed off to sleep.

"I used to like those shows, too," she mumbled out, "But the world doesn't work like that."

"I was watching an episode of a certain show while I was putting the finishing touches. By the time I realized what I did, it had already locked in my settings, and I had been unable to change them since. The only thing I could do afterward was come up with a name for the form you would take after gaining my powers."

The legendary Pokémon glances at Touko to gauge her reaction, but it finds its trainer on her knees, trembling slightly. Her knuckles are white as she grasps onto the railings with an iron grip.

"S-So...what you're saying is that not only did I catch a legendary Pokémon in a defective ball, but also that it had been tweaking a hidden mechanism that can transform me into a magical girl within that same ball behind my back?"

"Yes. Is something the matter?"

Her form quickly fades to gray. Visible dread lines run down the back of her head. Touko has slipped into the realm of unbearable disbelief.

"T-This has to be one huge joke, right? Aren't you against hiding secrets?"

"No, heroine, this is reality. And to answer your second question, I did not want to draw your attention away from your objective at the time. The defect was harmless, after all."

Silence hangs over them both. Reshiram, still standing tall beside its heroine, waits patiently for Touko to process the information it has unceremoniously dumped on her.

"Ghetsis is actually trying to make a comeback," she finally says. From the way she wants to continue the conversation, it seems like she has accepted the truth of her situation.

"Yes, and we must be prepared for their attack. This will not be the last time we see them. Even after being defeated twice, it seems that Ghetsis is a persistent man."

Shortly after meeting Mei, both she and N recounted the events of Neo-Team Plasma to Touko, who asked how they became friends. She was shocked to learn that her home region was in danger while she was searching for N, but her guilt was quickly placated by the younger trainer.

"All this happened while I was gone? Some heroine I am, abandoning Unova in its time of need."

Mei shook her head. "You couldn't have known, Touko. I'm sure the entire region didn't expect Ghetsis to make a comeback! Don't be so hard on yourself."

But she should have known. Before she had left Unova, she had bumped into the Shadow Triad on the Marvelous Bridge. Under Ghetsis's orders, they told her how he had gone into hiding, not wanting to be found by anyone, not even them. After giving her three mysterious orbs, they disappeared, and Touko never saw them again. It had struck her as odd, considering that she had torn down years of meticulous planning and lies, but now…it all made sense.

Ghetsis had ordered the Shadow Triad to tell her these things to get her off his back.

"I...I just want Unova to be safe. That's my reason for becoming a strong trainer."

"And it is safe, thanks to everyone! Cheren, Bianca, N...we won't let anything happen to the region that you saved! It's the least we can do!"

N gently smiles as if to agree. "That's right, Touko. You have already done so much for Unova. If you wanted to pursue your dream, then we can't blame you for doing so."

A deep sense of dread invades her mind. "If the Shadow Triad is trying to bring Ghetsis back...then N-!"

Reshiram can sense where her thoughts are heading. "N will be targeted. Not only does the possibility of Ghetsis holding a grudge against him exist, but he can also be used as bait to lure you to your demise. He is a man who is not afraid to manipulate and use people for his own goals."

With a trembling body, Touko curls up and buries her head into her legs. "It hasn't even been a full day since I've found him, and I already have to decide whether to hurt him again! This journey was supposed to be the perfect opportunity to get to know him as a friend! But if it means he's safe, then-!"

"You do not need to push him away."

She snaps her head up. Reshiram is glancing down with a gentle but stern face.

"I think keeping him close is the best option in ensuring his safety. If the Shadow Triad is indeed searching for N to bring to Ghetsis, they will find him, no matter if they follow you or scout him out in the shadows. But if he travels with you, you can at least fight to protect him."

Touko's mouth drops in awe at her partner's logic. Reshiram's stoic expression remains plastered to its face as it continues with its explanation. "I do not like hiding the truth, but we know nothing about why the Shadow Triad is fusing people and Pokemon together, much less how that connects with bringing back Ghetsis. Until we have more information, we cannot afford to make reckless decisions. That includes getting people involved in a battle only we can fight. But this is ultimately your decision. Whatever you choose, I shall stand beside it."

With a weak exhale, Touko stands up and adjusts her cap. "We must hide the truth from N and everyone. I wouldn't normally stand for keeping the truth away either, but these aren't normal circumstances. They pose an even greater threat to Unova than they did before, and there's nothing anyone can actually do to stop them. We are the only ones with the power to fight these monsters."

"Are you going to embark on this journey with him?"

"I…" The hesitation is crystal clear. A shaky breath escapes Touko's lips.

"What is your heart telling you, heroine? Do not lie to yourself."

"What my heart is telling me..? Is that the train of thought I should be following? But I...I can only hear one thing."

With patient, blue eyes, Reshiram glances down at its partner, knowing full well what her choice is.

"I'm going on this journey with him. If the Shadow Triad even breathes near him, I will burn them to cinders."

"Very well," Reshiram nods to solidify their choice, "I will fight with you to protect what is most dear to you."

Touko takes one more glance at the rustic scene before her. "N...this time, I'm going to protect you. I won't let anyone take advantage of you ever again."

When Touko wakes up the next day, her drowsiness immediately intensifies once she sees Mei talking animatedly with her mom. Bianca is already seated at the dining table, sipping on a cup of Pinap juice.

"Good morning, Touko! Did you get a good night's sleep? Come join us for breakfast!" the younger trainer chirps out. She hands Touko a plate of pancakes, topped with loads of syrup and butter.

The heroine switches her gaze from the tower of diabetes to Mei, who's positively glowing with energy. "Wow, I swear her smile just summoned a burst of hearts and flowers."

"I think I'll do just that," she replies, "And thank you for letting me stay over."

Mei's mother waves her hand as if to shoo away Touko's distant politeness. "No need to thank me. What kind of person would I be if I turned away my friend's daughter? You are always welcome here."

"Yeah, don't be a stranger, Touko! I mean, Bianca practically calls this her second home!" The blonde assistant almost spits her drink out at Mei's words.

"H-Hey, when you say it like that, you make it sound like I'm freeloading!" Bianca futilely retorts.

"Bianca has been renting out my daughter's room whenever she's here for research," Mei's mother explains to a confused Touko, who's still standing there with the plate of pancakes. "She comes by often, too!"

The heroine takes a peek at her childhood friend. Bianca wisely doesn't meet her gaze and instead opens her Xtransceiver to call Professor Juniper, supposedly for her assignment of the day.

There's only one thought running through Touko's sluggish mind. "She's also too obvious!"

With a polite but oblivious grin, Mei says, "Uh, you might want to eat those pancakes soon."

"Huh…? Oh..." The once firm pile of fluffy hotcakes is now drooping down, saturated to the point of sticking together. The butter is gone, and the puddle of syrup at the bottom is slowly disappearing.

"Can I get a cup of Moomoo milk? This might take me awhile to finish."

"So where are you going next, Touko?"

"Castelia City. N and I have decided to meet at Prime Pier and go from there. How about you?"

Mei tilts her head up, probably scrolling through a mental to-do list. "Well, maybe I'll go see if Curtis is done with his work in the Hoenn region. It's been a while since I've called him, so hopefully he's back in Unova."

"Is he a friend of yours?" Touko questions, curious about this unfamiliar person. The younger trainer nods as she pokes at her Xtransceiver. "Yep! He's a bit shy, but he's also a sweet guy! His work usually hogs up most of his time though, so we only call once in a while."

They are about to step into the Aspertia Gate when Mei hears her name being called in that rushed and brash manner that only belongs to one person.

"Mei!"

"Hugh? What's the matter? And when did you come back?" she asks her childhood friend. Hugh, with his recognizable Qwilfish-like, navy blue hair, bends down to catch his breath. He must have sprinted to catch her before she left the city. A younger girl struggles to catch up to him while a Liepard lazily drags itself along.

"What do you mean, 'when did I come back?' I've been here for a week!" His irritation slips into his response. "Anyway, my sister wants to tell you something." With his eyes, Hugh gestures to his sister, but he finds that her eyes are sparkling, awestruck at something. The Liepard next to her nudges the little girl to snap her out of her daze.

"Y-You're Touko! The hero of Unova!"

Touko bends down to the girl's level and grins softly. "It's nice to meet you. Is this your Liepard?" She places a hand on the Pokémon's head, and to Hugh and his sister's surprise, it purrs and leans into her touch.

"Wow! That's amazing!" the little girl squeals. "Liepard wouldn't let me pet it for a long time, even after big brother rescued it from Team Plasma."

Hugh looks away, as if ruminating. "My sister's Liepard was only a Purrloin when Team Plasma kidnapped it a few years ago. I went on a journey to bring it back, but when I did find it, it didn't recognize my sister. It took us months before it began to open up and accept my sister again."

The little girl nods, tenderly placing a hand over Liepard's head to pet its soft fur. "There were times where I thought Liepard won't remember me, but big brother kept telling me to never give up. He told me that if Liepard and I are friends, then the bonds that we had will help Liepard remember who I was!"

Her Pokémon mewls happily. Hugh's sister flashes a bright smile back. Touko watches them with a comforting warmth in her heart.

"You should have seen Hugh, Touko," Mei pitches in, coming back to a different but related topic. "Every time we would run into Team Plasma, he's always screaming about his sister's Purrloin. If I had a Pokédollar every time he spat that to a grunt's face-!"

"Hey, you have a problem with that?!" Hugh cuts her off with an anger that's beginning to simmer. "Do you want to feel my rage, Mei?"

With a bead of sweat running down the back of her head, Touko stares on as they re-engage their dance of poking teases and fiery retorts. Hugh's sister glances at them nervously, unsure as to how to attract their attention.

"Uhh, guys?" The older trainer calls out impatiently, "Hugh, your sister wants to tell Mei something."

They snap out of it quickly. "Oh right. Completely forgot."

His sister looks up at the younger female trainer with frightened eyes. "I-I had a dream last night. Something about a huge Liepard and a girl in a white dress fighting it. It was really scary."

To Touko's surprise, instead of waving the girl's weird dream away, Mei solemnly nods, taking her words seriously. "I see. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye out for anything like that!" Seeing that Touko is continuing her trend of being out-of-touch with the things around her, she explains, "Sometimes, Hugh's sister gets these dreams that predict the future. I don't know why she does, but it's amazing, isn't it?"

"Is that...even possible?" Touko ponders dubiously. She seems like an ordinary girl. But Mei believes her fully, and Hugh hasn't told her off for being paranoid.

"I-I guess it is. I mean, it doesn't hurt to believe her."

The little girl beams, encouraged by her words. Hugh checks the time on his electronic watch and lets out a curse under his breath. "Shoot, I have to get to Driftveil City now! Hey, you two! Can you escort my sister on her walk? She wants to take Liepard out since it finally listens to her."

"But we have pla-!"

He's already flying away on his Unfezant before he can hear Mei's reply.

"Plans already…" she finishes lamely. The other trainer shakes her head, already feeling a headache forming. Hugh's sister is poking at the tiles on the street with her foot, abashed at her brother's conduct.

"Y-You guys don't have to follow me if you have things to do. I can always ask my mommy and daddy."

The unhappy pout on her face says otherwise. And if there's one thing Touko learns today, it's that both she and Mei are weak to children.

"Cheer up now! Let's go on that walk!" Mei leans down and molds the girl's face into a smile. With another head shake, Touko acquiesces and takes the child's hand as they lead her into Route 19. The Liepard meows once and trails along gracefully.

In the back of Touko's mind, something is still nagging at her brain, refusing to be put down.

"Wait, a girl in a white dress…?"

"Gah-!" Touko cringes as the others stare on in confusion.

"Something wrong?" Mei probes.

"Nope, nothing at all," she hastily assures. There is no way that little girl is talking about her, right?

So far, nothing out-of-the-blue happens to them. But ever since entering the route, Touko is strangely tense, constantly glancing into the forest.

"Touko, you look like something's bothering you," Mei tries to press again. The older trainer can tell that Mei wanted to help her in any way she can. However, just the idea of exposing her alter ego is enough to keep her mouth shut. How would she react to her heroine becoming something like that?

"Though I understand that we cannot tell the others of you being a Precure, I fail to see why you are so worried about your image. The outfit I have created for you is meant to present you as a true heroine."

"It's just...being a Precure is embarrassing, Reshiram! It doesn't suit me at all! And there's nothing heroic about kicking giant monsters in a short skirt and heels!"

"On the contrary, some people would find that even more impressive, but very well. If it allows you to continue using that power, then I will not comment any further."

Sometimes, Touko wonders if Reshiram is a master of guilt-tripping people. The amount of displeasure coming from its voice is so palpable, she's surprised Mei or Hugh's sister can't sense it from where they are. "Now I just sound petty. At least...give me some time to properly process everything."

Touko's musings are cut short when Mei's Xtransceiver goes off. The chorus for "Marine Tube Tunnel of Love" catches both of them off guard.

"Oh, it's Hugh. Hello? What? Ugh, this is what you get for rushing off all the time! Where exactly is it? In your room? Okay, I'll deliver it to you soon!"

Mei huffs after hanging up, flashing an apologetic smile to her idol. "I'm really sorry about this, but Hugh forgot a parcel in his room that he's supposed to bring, and now he wants me to get it for him."

"Does that mean I have to go back now?" Hugh sister's mumbles out, trading a secret glance with her Liepard. Touko's heart clenches, and she quickly responds, "No, I'll stay with you."

"Really?"

"Yep! I'm sure N can wait a bit."

"You're a lifesaver, Touko! Hugh would kill me if I left his sister alone."

With a short wave goodbye, Mei backtracks to Aspertia City. Touko and Hugh's sister resume their walk through Route 19 as Liepard mews at the gentle breeze brushing over its purple fur.

The rest of the stroll is relatively peaceful. Aside from a few daring Patrats observing them from the tall grass, nothing approaches them. But Hugh's sister seems to be happy, judging from how she shifts her gaze from her beloved Liepard to Touko every so often with steadily increasing admiration. Touko's guard slowly crumbles with each step back to the Aspertia gate.

"T-Thank you, Touko! It really means a lot to me that I've finally met you. Mei and big brother are always talking about you," Hugh's sister says, glowing with childlike wonder. Touko reflects a smile of her own.

"I'm glad I was able to inspire people like you and your brother. Be sure to take extra care of Liepard, okay?"

"Mmm, okay-!" Her last word is cut abruptly short. The little girl gasps and points at the tiny pack of trees next to the lake. "T-Touko, the Pokémon, they're-!" The heroine turns to find that the Patrat and the Purrloin are all retreating into cover. A peculiarly strong breeze ruffles Touko's ponytail and shakes the trees. A sense of dread enters her body. She draws out a Poké Ball from her bag.

Turning back to Hugh's sister, Touko instructs the little girl to stay close to her side.

"Heroine, this presence…!"

"Come out, Shadow Triad! I know you're there!" she provokes. At first, nothing happens. Then the sound of grass being crunched under someone's feet pierces the silence, and the ninja clad in black appears before her.

"Couldn't get enough from last time? No matter what you do, I will stop you." Her declaration barely fazes the silent man.

"I am here to confirm the rumors that my comrade had told me. I must see if this power you have unlocked is the same as the other one."

"The...other one? What does he mean?"

This Shadow isn't the person they fought yesterday, but the device he reveals is exactly the same. He keeps his steady gaze on the trainer. "I'm sure you know by now that it's pointless for us to have a Pokémon battle. We don't stand a chance against the person who single-handedly defeated both Lord N and Lord Ghetsis, but with this-!"

His eyes shift to the little girl as the cold, gray irises sharpen with malicious intent. Hugh's sister lets out a quiet whimper.

"Perfect! Now, come on out, Kugeki!"

The same, gaping portal tears itself open above Hugh's sister and her Liepard. The wind begins to blow again. The child screams when her feet leaves the ground, and her Pokémon lets out a startled growl as it gets sucked up as well. Touko extends her hand up to grab her wrist, but her grip loosens immediately as if her strength is being drained.

"No!"

"Touko!"

The girl and her Pokémon vanish into the portal, and the sound of her cry for help still rings in the heroine's ears. A split second later, a giant, leopard-like Kugeki lands gracefully beside Shadow. While the monster bears some resemblance to the Liepard Shadow used as material for the fusion, one startling difference is the number of blinking eyes littering its body. It howls a high-pitched meow, and all of its eyes strain open at the sound. A giant red bow rests on its head, housing a sleeping little girl within its center knot. A familiar purple aura coats the writhing child as she struggles to fight against it.

"L-Liepard…" Hugh's sister whimpers out. Her eyes are still slammed shut, the dark aura intensifying as she writhes within her ribbon prison. "I-It's me...don't you remember me…?"

"Ah...I see. You're the girl whose Purrloin that boy was looking for." Shadow shifts his cold gaze from the heroine to the Kugeki. "I remember stealing it six years ago. It followed my every command, despite being someone's else Pokémon. Honestly, I felt a bit sorry for it."

Touko clenches her fist. She can feel her anger bubbling, simmering, ready to burst into a violent eruption at any moment.

"But now, I will do it again. I will use them to defeat you against their will. It doesn't matter what we do, so long as we bring Ghetsis back!"

"You've got to be kidding me!" Touko bellows out. "You use Pokémon for your own selfish gains, steal them away from their friends, and yet you feel sorry for them?! Someone like you can never understand the bonds between people and Pokémon! Not when you don't care what happens to them in the end!"

Touko tosses the luxury ball up, "That girl spent months trying to get Liepard to recognize her again. Even when she felt like giving up, she didn't! She continued to reach out to Liepard's heart, believing that their bond will pull through. I won't let you tear that apart again!"

"Indeed, heroine! Let us show them the power that comes from that connection!"

"Curing Fusion!"

A harsh bright light erupts under her feet again. The unknown force from before takes over her senses once more, leading her fingers to mimic the same motions that guided her to her Precure form. As she floats around with the flames, she notices that several things are different from last time. For one, a pair of tiny, gold circle earrings latches onto her ears. The hair antennas on her head elongate at the same time her hair changes color, and the tips of those antennas now fade from bright orange to wispy white.

"The Heroine of Truth! Cure Flare!"

The curtain of light vanishes. Flare flexes her hands to get herself accustomed to her new powers while Reshiram lands on her shoulder.

"I have added some minor changes to your transformation. It felt like it was missing a few things."

"Reshiram! That just killed the mood! Now I can feel myself getting flustered again!" Flare's whine reaches the tiny Pokémon, but it merely brushes her off with a small, apologetic tap on her chin.

"My bad. It was not my intention. I merely wanted to inform you in case you were wondering. Since I cannot do much in this form, I wish to put as much effort as possible into your appearance."

"Why exactly are you so small?"

"All of my powers are inside of you now. This is merely a defense mechanism to make attacks harder to land on me."

"Makes sense," she mumbles under her breath.

"So it is true. You are a Precure," Shadow confirms.

"How do you know that? As far as I know, Reshiram only came up with that yesterday!" Even more questions plague Flare as she processes the eerie calmness of her enemy.

"You really don't know? There is another person who possesses the same powers as you."

"Then how come the Shadow from yesterday looked shocked to see me like this?" she challenges, remembering the way he struggled to comprehend what was happening. For a moment, Shadow seems contemplative, and Flare is starting to believe that this might be one giant ruse to catch her off guard.

"Perhaps he did not see the connection between your powers and hers until it was too late. Either way, now that I've seen it with my very own eyes, there's no doubt about it. You are just like her, and we must crush you for Ghetsis's sake."

"I can't believe it. There is actually another Precure out there. And she's even using that name before we did."

"Impossible. I came up with that name. And I took extra precautions to make sure no one knows. I...I have been robbed!"

Flare almost feels sorry for Reshiram. Almost.

"Tell me who she is," the Precure demands, though she doesn't know if it's to sate her curiosity or if it's to mark her down as "people to protect from Reshiram's wrath."

Shadow has the audacity to narrow his eyes in glee, like a puppet master staring down at his puppets. "Of course we're not going to tell you that. My comrades are already having trouble dealing with the other one. Putting the both of you together would only make our job harder."

Flare smirks back. "In that case, I'll just beat you and make you confess!"

"Not a chance. Kugeki, attack!"

His fusion screeches and pounces toward Flare with lethal speed. It first raises its claw to swipe at the Precure, and Flare hops back to dodge. She retaliates by rushing in for a kick, but the Kugeki disappears, leaving her kicking the empty air.

"Where did it…?"

A shadow spawns behind her. It slashes at her back, and the attack upsets her balance, causing her to stumble backward. She quickly shifts to a defensive stance as she is ambushed by a multitude of claw swipes.

"I can't tell where it's going to attack from."

"Anticipate which part of you it wants to strike next. Your weak points are its targets."

Slowly rotating in a circle, Flare endures the barrage of sneak attacks while she focuses her mind to quickly search for a pattern she can exploit. The Kugeki lands behind her again and dives in for yet another chance to break her defenses.

"There!"

The magical girl then jumps up to dodge its pounce...only to find that she's at least ten stories above the battlefield.

"E-Eh…? Ehhhhhh?!"

"Flare, the wings! Use the wings!"

"H-How do I do that?!"The pull of gravity proves to be too much for even a magical girl, and soon enough, she's hurtling towards the ground, unable to slow down the speed of her descent. A coat of intense fire cradles the falling comet, and the Kugeki is stunned by its blinding, orange light. The human meteor smacks into its back, crushing one of the many eyes trembling at the sight of impending doom.

The sound that the magical girl releases from her mouth as she falls is piercing. At first, it is a desperate scream packed with enough confusion and anxiety that Reshiram almost feels compelled to end her transformation and bring her back down to safety. When a thick layer of incandescence is created from the heat of her descent, Flare pulls herself together enough to change that scream to a shaky battle cry.

When her boots collide with the Kugeki's back, a crater swallows a huge portion of the route, a crater so large that the tiny lake and the fence bordering the sides of the walked path all touch the circumference of the basin. She backflips off of the monster's back and lands a good distance away, never keeping her eyes off of the beast. Water trickles into the hollow, colliding with the heated surface of Flare's boots to create steam.

The Kugeki crouches as if preparing to pounce, and Flare assumes a defensive position, ready to counter the inevitable leap.

Only except it doesn't move.

In fact, it just continues to growl menacingly at the magical girl.

"Do not let your guard down. The Kugeki have traits of a Liepard, so it must be trying to trick you."

"Yeah, I know." Flare continues to wait for the Liepard fusion to attack, but after several minutes of inactivity, she grows weary. She doesn't care if it's a trap; she is going to finish this now.

"Kugeki, why aren't you doing anything?! Attack!" Shadow commands irritatedly. His monster hisses louder as if to object to his order. It bends its back even more but ultimately does nothing more.

A bolt of realization pierces Reshiram as it observes the state of the monster. "Wait, I think…"

"What is it?" Flare asks.

"I think you broke its back with that last attack."

"I-I did?" She says this like she doesn't notice the giant crater around her.

"Use your signature move!"

"Right!" Her fingers tingle as azure flames wrap around the Kugeki. Flare prepares a circle of packed fire while the blue flames dance in the air.

"Precure Blue Flare!"

The cage of waltzing embers implodes on itself. Fire clings to the skin of the Liepard Kugeki, burning away at its malicious existence. The bow on its head is saved for last, and the Precure unleashes a beam of purifying fire to convert the monster back into Hugh's sister and her Liepard. Human and Pokémon cling to each other as the flames burn away the last of Shadow's malicious power.

Flare dashes across the crater to catch the little girl in her arms while Liepard lays next to the magical girl's feet. She turns to glare at Shadow, silently asking if this was enough for him to confirm her existence.

He merely turns around and vanishes with the wind. She heaves a heavy sigh.

"That was a bit tougher than I would have liked."

"Well done, Cure Flare. But...we have another problem."

"Hmm? What do you…?" Her fiery blue eyes widen as she finally registers the pit that they're stuck in. The color drains from her face.

"T-This crater… Was this from…?!"

Reshiram shares an uneasy frown. "Yes, it was from when you came crashing down…"

"No way! The path's completely ruined! Is there any way we can fix this?!"

"I do not think so. My powers do not extend to rewinding time or reverting the land. We might have to run for it, Flare. Transform back, and let me get us out of here."

"O-Okay!" In a flash of light, the Precure sheds her magical form and reverts back to a trainer. The little girl in her arms is still asleep, unaware of what has transpired. Touko hops onto Reshiram's back, and after adjusting both Hugh's sister and Liepard so that they won't fall off, lets the Vast White Pokémon carry them out of the pit. Once at the Aspertia gate, she recalls the legendary Pokémon and releases her Samurott. Touko lays Liepard onto Ritsu's back, and together, they rush into the city.

Hugh's sister groans and squints her tired eyes. She feels something nudging her on the cheek, and her head unceremoniously leans towards the touch.

"Meow!"

"L-Liepard?"

The door slams open. With harsh footsteps, Hugh rushes over to his sister's side. Next to him, Mei walks up cautiously with his parents.

"Are you okay?! Are you hurt?!" His tone is desperate, and it is obvious to everyone else in the room that he was extremely restless waiting for her to open her eyes.

"I-I'm fine, big brother. W-What happened?"

Hugh ruffles his hair. "That's what I want to know. Mei got a call from Touko saying something about you passing out, but she didn't say anything else. She sounded like she was in a rush. Anyway, after that, we came here as soon as we can."

"I-I passed out? But...I don't remember…"

"What do you mean 'you don't remember?'"

Mei places a hand on her friend's shoulder to calm him down. "Hugh, don't overwhelm her. Let her rest for a bit. She might remember something if she does." Hugh's parents take their turn to comfort their daughter, and Mei drags Hugh outside for some fresh air.

"Are you sure Touko didn't say anything else to you?" Judging by the skeptical undertone, he must have asked Mei this at least a few times. To further cement this, his friend releases a short groan.

"I told you already. All she told me was that your sister passed out on their walk and that she can't stay to watch over her."

He seems unhappy with her answer. "Do you think anyone else in town might have seen what happened?" A divine force must have responded to his call, for at that moment, Cheren and Bianca are running past them at a frantic pace. The blonde assistant catches them in the corner of her eyes and calls out to them.

"G-Guys! Route 19...it's-!"

She never finishes her sentence. Her feet are already carrying her past the Pokémon Center. Hugh and Mei sneak a quick peek at each other and nod. Looks like they're going to get their answers now.

"Let's go!" they both say.

All four of them can't believe their eyes. The gaping crater in the middle of Route 19 stands before them as a portal to the tiny pond steadily growing at the bottom. Some of the trees are sliced down, broken at the trunk from a huge shockwave. The wild Pokémon are gone.

The aghast look on their faces is accompanied by a pair of blank, white eyes. They all are thinking the same thing.

"H-How did we not see this happen?!"

"R-Route 19 is...gone! Completely destroyed! Who could have done this?! And why?!"

Hugh, along with Mei, Cheren, and Bianca, is having dinner at his place to discuss the origins of the giant crater as well as any implications that comes with its formation. But so far, everyone is stumped.

That is until his little sister rushes down the stairs to join their table.

"B-Big brother!"

"Huh? What's wrong? Are you sure you should be up?"

"I-I was listening to your conversation...and I think I remembered what happened!"

In an instant, the four of them surround the little girl, hungry for her answer. Her Liepard flicks its tail to make some space between them.

"A comet fell from the sky!"

Heavy silence. A languid purr tumbles through, a sign that Liepard has snuck away to steal some of the food on the dining table.

And then...

"A-A COMET?!"

Profile: Reshiram

Touko's legendary partner and the Vast White Pokémon. Reshiram is part of the Tao Trio and is a counterpart to Zekrom and Kyurem. Having been awakened by Touko's desire to create a world of truths, it now follows her on her journey to fulfill her dreams. A no-nonsense dragon, Reshiram says every word as if they are the truth, even if they're wrong. It is naturally curious about the world and holds a deep sense of duty to the place its original partner created. Reshiram's patient and wise demeanor often clash with Touko's tomboyish tendencies, but together, they are an unstoppable duo.

Type: Dragon/Fire

Nature: Mild

Ability: Turboblaze

Moveset: Blue Flare, Fusion Flare, Solarbeam, Dragon Pulse