Gardevoirite Arc: The Heroine Rises
"Stay close to me, or you'll get lost", Yuna instructed Mari as she showed her the way across the meadow. At some point, a beautiful flower garden appeared in front of them. Yuna entered it in the light of the stars. The beautiful flowers swayed back and forth in the warm wind. "Woah..." Mari entered the garden behind her and looked around.
"This is the Fairy Garden... The very heart of our territory.",
"It didn't seem very hidden to me... Is this place under a spell or something?",
"Well..." Yuna silently followed a narrow path through the garden and Mari hurriedly followed her. "This garden has been around longer than our clans have been here... The meadow surrounding it has been enchanted by several Mismagius and Hatterene so that everyone entering it while not knowing the right way will get lost. The garden cannot be seen from above, either. It's all covered in a thick layer of haze that veils everyone's sight until they are on the right way. The heads of both our clans have sworn to protect both of our sacred places in the past. We guard the Fairy Garden while Saizo's ninja protect the Hero's Spring.",
"Kaze said that both clans have a treasure... So... what's in the Hero's Spring, then?",
"The counterpart to the Gardevoirite... A Galladite", Yuna replied.
"Why are you fighting over them?",
"Saizo broke our pact for peace when his ninja stormed our village on a new moon night", she told her quietly. "They can't do anything with the stone itself, but each clan believes that one day, a hero will emerge and take possession of the particular stone to save the clan that's been guarding it from a terrible fate. If Saizo were to steal the Gardevoirite, it would mean that our clan's hero could never save us from that dark fate. That's why Kaze insisted that you go with Hiroko. That's why Satsuki unconditionally included you in this mission. Because it all means... that you are that hero, Mari.",
"Me...?" She looked puzzled.
"Yes." Yuna nodded. "You.",
"But... I'm not a hero. I mean... that's crazy.",
"No." Yuna shook her head. "You defeated that Hypno. All of Unova knows that by now. And in our hearts, you will forever be a heroine, whether you like it or not." She stopped at a shrine. Then, the reached out and took a box made of teak wood from it.
"I, Yuna Isoroku, Guardian of the Fairy Garden, ask the blessing of our ancestors to transfer the power of this Mega Stone to the heart and soul of this girl and her Pokémon, that they may dispel the dark danger engulfing our clan with the light of insight..." Then, she turned around. Mari looked more closely at the carved wooden box. She could make out the fine outline of a Gardevoir on its surface. Yuna opened the box before her eyes. On a purple cloth lay a bracelet with a colorful shimmering stone set into it. "It's yours now", she said, as suddenly, a Dark Pulse caused the garden to shake, cutting deep swaths through the soft earth. Yuna and Mari flinched in equal measure.
"Ridiculous!" a voice from above sneered, and a muscularly built ninja landed in front of the two with his Honchcrow.
"Saizo!" Yuna gasped, startled. "No, how... how can that be?!",
"Heh..." He walked menacingly slowly towards her. "You call yourself a ninja, yet you didn't notice me. I've been following you all the way." He fixed Mari with maliciously gleaming eyes. "This stone is not yours, brat", he growled. "You have five seconds to hand it over to me, or it will get ugly for both of you." The Honchcrow behind him squawked intimidatingly. Mari glared at Saizo before taking a deep breath and grabbing the bracelet. "No", she said. Then, she released Gardevoir. "It doesn't belong to YOU." She put the bangle on her Pokémon and the stone put into it started glowing slightly, as if it was reacting to the presence of a compatible Pokémon.
"Pah! Toxicroak, we'll end this now!" Saizo hissed, and a second Pokémon appeared in front of them.
"Gardevoir, we have a task to do." Mari raised her arm. "Are you ready?" Her partner nodded resolutely. "Well then!" She touched the keystone on her mega bracelet, causing it to radiate out bright bands of light "Gardevoir! Mega evolution, activate!" The light radiating from the keystone and the Gardevoirite connected and Gardevoir was enveloped in a dazzling light before it rippled and drifted apart like a shockwave, causing the very ground to shake beneath the might of its new form. Yuna looked at it. "So beautiful..." she breathed. Gardevoir's immaculate white dress had become longer and wider, almost like a ball or bridal gown. Its arms looked like they had been wrapped in delicate but elegant white sleeves. The horns emerging from the sides of its head had become larger and prettier, its pink eyes glowed like the stars in the sky. Two spikes had grown out of its chest instead of just one, physical manifestations of its heart that harbored the entirety of its incredible psychical powers now that it was open. The air was brimming under the might the Mega Pokémon radiated out, as if even the wind itself was bowing to it.
Saizo narrowed his eyes to slits. "This stone is not yours! I'll never accept you as a wannabe heroine! This clan will perish today! Toxicroak, Bullet Punch!" The poison-type Pokémon ran forward, aiming its glowing fists at Mega Gardevoir. However, the latter disappeared and reppeared behind it. "Let's teach them a lesson!" Mari shouted. "Psychic!" Gardevoir's eyes glowed brighter as a tremendous wave of invisible power crashed against the enemy and wiped it clean off its feet. Toxicroak was slammed into the ground with brutal force and Saizo watched in shock as his Pokémon went down after just one blow. "WHAT?! How...?!" Gardevoir teleported back to Mari, who just grinned. "Now THAT'S what I call power!",
"That... That..." The ninja gasped softly, unable to believe it. "How can this be?! I can't accept this! Honchcrow, attack them!" The giant raven rose into the air and shot a Dark Pulse at Gardevoir, but it simply raised its arms. A ball of bright and pure moonlight gathered above it and was fired off against the foe's attack. The Moon Blast burst straight through the vicious shadows and forced them to disintegrate, crashing into Honchcrow mercilessly. It went down immediately without even the slightest chance.
"You won't cause any more trouble", Mari announced, fixing the leader of the Mahtaria Clan firmly. "You've lost. Accept your defeat." Saizo stared at his defeated Pokémon, aghast. It was as if his whole pride had been burnt to ashes right then and there. "...",
"You're coming with us, Saizo", Yuna ordered. "If your ninja see you, they will be forced to negotiate for a truce. The Mahtaria Clan has long lost this battle. Your mission has failed."
Saizo remained silent. Yuna walked past him and Mari made a head movement in her direction, silently but firmly telling him to get a move on. Gardevoir glared at Saizo, who, growling and humiliated, turned and followed the Fairy Garden's guardian. Gardevoir's mega evolution faded again and it and its trainer closed the rear. As they re-entered the forest, Yuna looked at Mari. "I can still hear them fighting! Hurry up, Mari!"
Mari nodded. "You can count on me. I'll finish this now. Come on, Gardevoir." Gardevoir nodded and held out its arm to Mari. She nodded as she took it and they both teleported away- to put an end to this battle that had already been decided.
Jacky, along with her group and the Varya Clan's leader, Saoko, were still defending the exits, not letting anyone out of their sight. "Razor Wind, Absol!" Snarling, her Pokémon leapt forward and rained blades shimmering in the starlight down on the ninja and their Pokémon, who recoiled in fright but were undeterred and immediately switched back to the offensive. Wild battles raged around them and cries of pain echoed off the rock walls. "Saoko! Watch out!" Sayuri, who had come to their aid, yelled, making her Liepard deflect a volley of Poison Stings. "Ninjask, Fury Cutter, quick!" Haruka shouted, and her Ninjask attacked an enemy Gengar approaching them.
Suddenly, a Shadow Ball of impending doom shot past them and hit the Gengar square in the face so hard that it was flung away. "I hope I'm in time," Mari said, and everyone turned to her. "Mari!" Jacky shouted. "You're back!",
"Yes." She turned to face Jacky. "And it's time to wrap up these fights. Are you ready?" She raised her arm. Jacky nodded. "I am!" At the same time, they touched their keystones and Absol and Gardevoir changed into their mega forms side by side. Saoko's ninja looked at Gardevoir with wide eyes. "Let's get started", Mari decided and Jacky nodded. "Alright."