Chapter Twenty-Four: Acceptance
When the invasion had started, it had only taken a matter of hours for Unova to devolve into chaos. Following the fires and assaults – one of which they themselves were victim to – Aaron and his team assumed things could not get any worse.
They were wrong.
Territories up north had begun falling, precinct by precinct, and Alexander was starting to overtake the rural parts of the region. Following the overthrowing of Sovenovsk, the world was on high alert, because in addition to whatever technology Omega possessed, Alexander now had access to nearly half of the nuclear warheads on this planet. Maybe he had yet to use one, but the terrifying reality that the world was facing was that they could very well be losing this fight unless they were willing to use their own weapons of mass destruction.
Until then – until the very end of the world itself came – they would fight.
The people of Nuvema had fled into their houses, and both Omega and its challengers were scattered about the streets. Though spring had begun weeks ago, an icy breeze encouraged the trainers to hug themselves for warmth.
Both he and Sofia were engaged in their own battles against admins who sought to take over the town, bringing Omega's campaign into the lower metropolitan area. Aster and Krista had both fallen, leaving only Marcus to stand against whatever came out of that third and last pokéball. Powerful as she may be, Nora was still not capable enough with her newfound psychic abilities to battle, and Aaron wanted no harm to come to her. But if he had one positive thing to say about these invaders, it was that they were professional – gentle and swift to withdraw from violence once their enemies fell, and even swifter to care for the injured pokémon that stood against them. Aaron had no doubt that they would be treated well if taken into captivity, but that didn't mean they would claw and fight every step of the way to prevent that from happening.
The admin removed his helmet, revealing a Middle-Eastern guy in his late twenties. A black beard merged with his sideburns and was trimmed with surgical precision. Aaron and Marcus froze up, realizing that this admin wasn't from the same world the other members of Omega came from, but rather their own.
"I'm feeling generous today," the man said. It was clear English was his second language from the accent. "Turn around and leave. I'll give you half the points you'd have gotten had you beaten me."
"Yeah right – you're scared that we'll win!" Marcus snapped. He gripped the bone staff, poised and ready in his mega form.
"And why are you on their side?" Aaron asked. "Why are you helping them? You should be fighting for our world – not against it!"
"Only a fool would think this world is worth fighting for," the admin stated. "But I suppose a Unovan boy would fit that description."
"Hey!" Marcus bared his fangs, irritated that his trainer had been insulted.
"After all you guys have done – all this suffering – I don't really care what you think," Aaron retorted. Their opponent looked astounded by his statement. Offended, even.
"Suffering? Are you joking?" the admin asked. "Never mind the fact that it was your people who set these fires and killed one another. It was you who wrought chaos across this land – not us! And what does a Unovan boy like yourself know about suffering? Have you ever gone hungry? Before this event, have you assumed that bullets were a natural part of life? Have terrorists dragged your family out and beheaded them for serving Arceus?" He clutched his fist, taking a step closer towards them. Almost like he himself was ready to fight. "In my country, it was fine for my sister to sell her body at thirteen years old so she could buy food for us. But when I stole a loaf of naan…" To Aaron's shock, the removed a glove from his left hand, the trainer and lucario both paused, seeing a mechanical one in its place. "And many got it far worse than I did. So you look me in the eyes and tell me that you know a damn thing about suffering."
"I…"
"But don't worry – you're about to learn." Without putting the glove back on, he gripped an ultra ball at his side, thrusting his arm out and hitting the release button. Marcus froze in place as a bizarre creature levitated in the air.
'Aaron… what is that?'
"…That's a deoxys…" An almost mechanical sound came from somewhere within the creature. Long, slender arms were intertwined with one another, then flattened out. The pokémon almost seemed to grow in size, broadening as its neck and abdomen became encapsulated within an armor-like substance. It had morphed into another form entirely.
'It's a psychic, and… a mythical one at that.'
'Whatever. How do I deal with it?' Marcus asked.
'I guess… aim for the orb. From what I've heard, the inside of that thing's sort of like its brain.'
'Works for me.'
"Orion," he said, devoid of goodwill, "they wouldn't listen to reason. Let them be taught by force." The deoxys nodded, the orb glowing within the middle of his chest. Marcus' breathing became rapid, equally gripped by anticipation and fear. This time, it was no illusion. But the very spirit within him then was present now and refused to go down without a fight.
'Swords dance!' Aaron thought. He wasn't about to say his commands aloud and give an opponent of this caliber an edge. Marcus hurled an aura sphere, causing the deoxys to dodge, and used the move as he was distracted. Orion responded with what Aaron assumed was an iron defense. 'Close combat! Stop him!'
The lucario used extreme speed, striking the orb in the deoxy's center. It felt like punching steel. His enemy guarded its midsection. Marcus took the opportunity to land an uppercut in the creature's face. Orion swung around, catching him with long, tendril-like arms, and fastened a vice grip on his arm. Marcus' mind went blank as he met the ground, his nose filled with dirt and blood. A sharp kick flung him back. Not willing to take another, he rolled over and flipped back onto his feet, brushing off his muzzle while gritting his teeth.
It was cold. That much registered to the trainer as Marcus stood off against his opponent. The deoxys levitated into the air, splitting its arms into four and spreading them wide. Marcus leaped into the air as jolts of electricity collided with the ground where he had just been. A weak flash cannon contacted Orion's face, and in that split-second of confusion, Marcus spun around and backhanded the orb, bringing his spike into the hard surface.
Orion cried out and launched a shockwave in all directions. Aaron and Nora were flung to the ground as well. As the lucario regained his bearings, he only briefly caught a glimpse of the deoxys finalizing its change into another, much slimmer, form. The psychic-type split the air, slamming Marcus into the brick wall.
His vision blurred. The lucario lunged forward, seeing several copies of the aggressor in his dazed state. It was when the one on the left rammed into him that he realized he wasn't seeing double. Marcus countered, punching the deoxys in the abdomen and causing it to fade away. 'Ice punch!' Aaron ordered. He ducked under a thin arm that seemed to cut the very air in half and responded with the commanded attack. Another copy faded away.
The real deoxys spread its four tendrils and wrapped them around the lucario's limbs. He cried out as he was hoisted into the air. The enemy glared at him as the orb began glowing, and brave as he may have been, Marcus nearly trembled at the next words.
"Orion," Khalik said without a hint of mercy. "Hyper beam." Marcus' head turned, showing in that split second a fearful, apologetic expression. Aaron looked down. Accepted it. They were now under Omega's foot.
The air vibrated as a roar carried across the sky. Orion looked up, his eyes going wide before a massive crystal of ice pierced the right side of his body, shattering into a million diamonds on the pavement. Marcus hit the ground. Looking up, he saw what appeared to be rib-like structures, snapped and jutting in each direction. The entire upper part of his right body had been torn open.
Aaron ran over to Marcus, stumbling as a large dragon crashed onto the road. His body was bizarre – twisted and distorted – and a piercing set of yellow eyes fixated on his opponent. "Orion! Retreat!" The deoxys released a bright light from its center and blinded everyone around him. When the flash died down, he had put considerable distance between himself and the newcomer and stood in front of his trainer.
Marcus and Aaron looked at the legendary as though they had seen a ghost. The legendary gave them little more than a glance before returning his attention to Omega. "We need backup! Now!" Khalik shouted. "Kyurem has arrived!"
A voice rang through their heads, and befitting of the creature's appearance, was stoic and demanding. 'Get up. We may have need of your assistance.' Aaron helped Marcus to his feet as another legendary joined them, having sprinted from the north. A pink virizion slowed to a halt and readied herself.
Orion's body glowed and swiftly began mending the large hole in his frame. In the distance, the admin who had been battling Sofia had left that fight and was sprinting towards them. He hauled back, hurled a ball, and released another legendary – a cobalion. Aaron was scared. Whatever was about to go down here was well beyond their capabilities.
But there was no escape. Though Aaron doubted the original terms of the battle still remained, this break was the one they needed. The cobalion took to Orion's side and locked eyes with the virizion. A scowl set on his face.
'We have a shot, Marcus,' Aaron thought. 'If you distract them, they can probably take care of the rest.' The virizion, reading their thoughts, nodded in affirmation.
'You should not have come here.' A scowl was on the opposing sword of justice's face.
'Good to see you too, Julius,' she retorted. She looked to her side and nodded. 'Target his back right side. He has a weak knee.' The cobalion glared at her, then cut his gaze towards Aaron.
'If you only knew how many families have been torn apart by the countless debaucheries of that creature, you would be hesitant to take her side.'
'You dare bring up such things?' the pink virizion snarled. 'That has nothing to do with what's going on here! Now I'm going to make you regret ever joining these tyrants!' He took his fighting stance as a frigid wind whipped, freezing over the newly sprouted grass throughout the town.
Kyurem was the first to act. He made little distinction between the enemy pokémon or their trainers, launching a wide, freezing blast towards everyone on the opposing side. Marcus sprinted towards the cobalion – a foe whose speed he might contest with – and readied a swipe towards the more vulnerable limb. But despite any age he might have had, Julius leapt into the air and landed in front of the virizion, lowering his head and ramming her front with the force of a truck. The lucario launched an aura sphere. He glanced out the corner of his eye but wasn't fast enough to avoid it. As he stumbled slightly, Marcus prepared a follow-up until he felt something wrap around his midsection. He barely had time to comprehend what had happened before he was hurled into the air, slamming against Kyurem's side.
Orion was back in his agile form, unable to stand against the dragon for long yet willing all the same. He dodged one attack after another, zipping through the air and narrowly avoiding both Marcus' and Kyurem's attacks. 'Don't let up!' Aaron ordered. It was then he noticed a single airship descending towards the field.
Marcus finally landed an aura sphere on the deoxys. He crashed to the ground, and the lucario beat Kyurem to the fallen foe, intent on making sure he didn't get back up. He slid under a beam of light, swinging his bone club around and slamming it into Orion's forehead with a loud smack. A beam recalled the deoxys.
He panted, hot breath exhaled amidst the freezing winds. Marcus glanced upwards, seeing the virizion and cobalion still at it, and Kyurem giving him a single nod. But he didn't turn to help with the other fight. Instead, he remained still, eyes fixed on the ship that had landed.
Aaron watched as the back hatch opened. When the admin had called for reinforcements, he expected a squad of soldiers or trainers to step out. What he saw was a single man. Though he wore a suit, Aaron noticed that he was tall, his arms being broad as the admin's legs. And while his voice might have been masked, it was clear that this newcomer was older despite his stature. "General." The admin placed his right hand to his chest and quickly bowed his head. The man fixed his eyes on Kyurem.
"I can see why you needed help." There were seven balls attached to his mechanical belt: six on his left and a single ultra ball on his right. That was the one his hand fell to. "Fortunately, I came prepared for something like this."
'Ready yourself,' Kyurem told Marcus. The lucario's hairs stood on end.
The second he was released lightning struck the ground. It leapt from the powerlines and descended from the sky. Marcus jumped back, the mortal part within him cowering at something far more foreboding than a mythical or common legendary. How was he supposed to stand against this?
Zekrom stood tall. Neither he nor Kyurem said a word. Marcus wasn't able to tell who moved first. One second they were standing their ground; the next they slammed into each other. The world rumbled beneath them, and everyone lost their footing. Kyurem was hurled through the corner of a house, shattering brick and vinyl everywhere. Aaron grabbed Nora, who had a fearful look in her eyes, and tried to make heads or tails of what was going on. Kyurem flew into the air, forming crystals of ice around him and launched them indiscriminately in Zekrom's direction. The black dragon shattered one heading towards him only to be tackled by his opponent. Asphalt and dirt rained down onto a frozen ground.
"This is really bad!" Nora yelled. "Aaron! You need to recall Marcus! Those two are going to kill each other!" He nodded, grasping at the ball before the trembling earth caused them to lose their balance once again.
"STAND DOWN!" Zekrom roared. "WE NEED NOT DO THIS!"
"WE BOTH KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE!" The grey dragon launched a devastating blizzard. The clouds in the sky, crackling with lightning, obeyed his will, showering Nuvema with sheets of ice. Zekrom formed an electric field around him and diverted the razor-sharp projectiles before calling a bolt of lightning from the heavens. Aaron's sight was taken in the flash.
Marcus took whatever cover he could. The Omega admin and general had retreated to their aircraft as Julius and the virizion continued to battle. Zekrom launched into the air, slamming into Kyurem and grabbing hold of him, spinning around and slinging him towards a gas station. The dragon's body penetrated the ground.
A heavy slam impacted his chest. A force felt through every ounce of his being – one that felt like it may have stopped his very heart – made Marcus question if he would find his body in pieces. Through ringing ears, he managed to open his eyes to the burning atmosphere. Fragments of the propane tanks and concrete rained down. From within the fire, Kyurem grabbed the remnants of a pump and hurled it towards the opposing legendary. It collided with Zekrom and knocked him out of the sky.
"MARCUS!" Aaron cried out, managing to firmly grasp his ball. He scanned the ground and found the lucario bordering unconsciousness. He nearly recalled the fighting-type when it happened.
Marcus looked to his side, seeing his trainer's outstretched hand. Any second that beam would bring him to safety. Julius stumbled back, having taken a focus blast to his front. The virizion ran forth. Rage was plastered on her face. But as she sprinted to land a finishing blow, a single foot was out of place, sliding on the frozen-over pavement. Eyes wide, she attempted in vain to steady her feet. Had she not looked down, then maybe she would have seen the jagged shards of ice in front of her.
Aaron's mouth fell open. Nora shrieked, clasping her hands to her mouth as the fighting came to a halt. Her body twitched, the blood-stained ice dripping onto the ground, piercing her eye and exiting the back of her head.
Kyurem looked at the body, then back to his opponent. Neither said anything. The grey dragon took to the skies, leaving the apocalyptic scene behind. The trainer returned his lucario, making a note to tend to any injuries he might have in the car, and pulled Nora to his side. She buried her face in his chest, trying to drown out the sight of a dead virizion.
The Hydreigon fleet lowered to the ground, its whirring quieting to a gentle hum before falling silent altogether. Khalik stepped out along with several others, and lastly, the general followed. Alexander was saluted and responded in turn. "I was told Nuvema wasn't exactly taken…" The admin folded his arms.
"It wasn't our fault, sir."
"Didn't say that it was," Alexander replied. "I am glad that you all are alright."
"Only because you sent Zekrom," the general stated. "Had it not been for him, we'd be dead."
"He told me that he had good reason to accompany you. I trust that the legends know what they're talking about. Khalik, is your team alright? And what of the others?"
"Everyone's fine," the Middle-Eastern admin murmured. "I would have won that fight. We almost did until Kyurem intervened…"
"You have nothing to be ashamed of. Even though the battle was skewed against you, award the challenger his points. What happened there was not of his doing. He can count himself fortunate today."
"That he was," Khalik stated. "Might be one to watch, too. Within Unova, at least."
"Really?" Alex asked.
"It was the same trainer that defeated Zak at the power plant."
"I see." Alexander looked at the general who only shrugged. "Well, I think it's a bit too soon to keep our focus on any particular trainers. Time will tell who is a threat and who can be overlooked. But I appreciate your concern." After he was dismissed, Alexander walked towards the Hydreigon, seeing a massive tear on the titanium surface. Whatever had gone down in Nuvema had likely taken its toll on the town as well.
"How did the town look when you left?"
"Like a warzone," the general simply stated. He would know what that looked like, too.
"I'll be sure to get life support over there." Zekrom's ball was handed back to him, to which he fastened it to his side. There was a strange silence about him. After questioning, the leader found out why.
"There was a casualty." Alex's face fell.
"What happened?"
"A virizion slipped on Kyurem's ice and impaled herself. It was nobody's fault but her own. Julius… didn't seem optimistic on her current residence…" Another one. Another death attributed to this conflict – one of hundreds that had already perished around the world, all through either their own foolishness or the actions of radicals.
"You didn't leave the body, did you?" A glance towards the airship dismissed that idea. "Very well. Have our men bury her in Pinwheel Forest, as I'm told their kind regards that area as sacred." Regardless of what she had done or where she was now, she had been a legendary.
"It will be done." There was something off about his tone.
"Is something wrong?" Alex asked.
"No. Just… a lot of this is still new to me. I've never fought a war like this. You're a strange one," he said with a laugh. "But maybe that's why you were chosen." Maybe there was some truth to that, though that wasn't something he should let get to his head.
"I am grateful the legendaries saw something in me," Alexander stated. "Though there are times that I question what that was. There are many others who could have filled my role, and in the event that I die during this, there are several who I would trust to run this show. You, Cynthia and Soliera all know about that."
"I pray it never comes to that…" Then something seemed to strike the older man as off. "Why not Zadoc?" Alex was sure that they were alone, and having already confided greatly in him, he felt safe in doing so a little more.
"I often worry that Zadoc's goals are not my own. He is loyal to his people first and foremost and prioritizes finding them a new place to live. But we have had disagreements despite the fact that all of our plans were laid out."
"We're adding more regions day by day. That not enough?" Surge asked.
"I suppose it isn't. But he has not done anything foolish or stepped out of line. So long as he is cooperative and performs his duties, I see no issue in our partnership. But I will not make my allegiance a matter of question. He prioritizes his people, but I will obey the legendaries above all else. You and I are much alike in that regard, aren't we? Our own kind, after all, will deem us traitors." That word must have stung the general like venom. But it was true. After such a lengthy career in the military, there was no way people from Earth would think otherwise.
"You know just as well as I do that the Unova you see now wasn't the one I fought for," Surge answered. "And even then it wasn't good."
"I'm aware." There was a pause between them. Many were in Surge's position, having taken sides against loved ones or countries. "But you chose what was right over what was convenient. And when the dust settles, it is my hope that nobody will have to make a choice like that again."
A few weeks later, Alexander had received a call. Genesis playfully flicked the holographic display away, making him roll his eyes before bringing it back. Soliera's ID showed up.
"I'll be with you soon," he told the mew. "Wait for me outside, alright?"
"Mhm!" The pink feline darted through the tent opening. He lowered the volume, making sure that nobody around would be able to hear, and answered.
"Hey, what's going on?" he asked.
"Meet me by the east entrance," she said. He cocked his eyebrow, but seeing nothing wrong with it, nodded.
"Alright." Typically she gave him status reports over comm lines, especially since they were often in different parts of the world, though that wasn't true today. Alexander made his way through multiple tents, already sensing a not-so-stealthy figure overhead. "You know, you aren't as sneaky as you think you are…"
"How do you do that?" she pouted.
"Because I know you."
"Anyways, that was a quick call." The mew seemed happy with that much.
"We're meeting up outside of camp."
"Aww…"
"You can tag along, though. If it's something I don't think you should hear, then you can just drift away a bit." When she had begun getting closer to him, he often wondered what he looked like to those under his command – the man trying to subdue the world, often being trailed by a juvenile mew that somehow saw in him a parental figure. By now he had learned not to concern himself with it.
Soliera was about thirty meters from one of the knights, overlooking the outstretched forest, which dipped and filled every crevasse between the mountains and plateaus. "Everything alright?" he asked.
"For the most part." She continued looking over the scenery. Though the Megalopolans had adapted nicely to Earth, their eyes had still developed on a planet with no natural light. As such, they still required their protective eyewear. That would change over time.
"You should see this place during fall," Alex said. "The trees light up like a thousand candles. It's quite a sight."
"Just seeing trees period is something I have yet to get used to," Soliera replied. She finally focused on him. "I thought it might be nicer to speak in person. I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all." Genesis carelessly floated overhead, likely impatient for the exchange to end.
"And I heard that Kyurem has made his siding known."
"As Reshiram and Zekrom told me, it was to be expected. He could be an issue, but I am not particularly concerned about one legendary. With Eternatus out of the picture and Necrozma still missing, the rest of the world combined would have a difficult time opposing us. Let Kyurem roam about; he cannot be everywhere at once. Eventually he will lose to our army of legendaries. When that happens, we can imprison him for the rest of the campaign."
"I see." She straightened her shoulders. "As you know, the invasion is going smoothly. Resistance is decreasing as we defeat more and more trainers. Still adding territory day by day."
"I'm sensing a 'but' coming up…"
"Something of the sort," she replied.
"Bad news?"
"Not as far as I know," Soliera replied. A frown had set on her wrinkled face. "We intercepted an encrypted message from a computer belonging to one of Delta's higher-ups. Something was said about a 'prototype' becoming cooperative."
"A prototype?"
"We're already investigating the matter. But the choice of wordings strikes me as odd. What are your thoughts?" Alexander paused for a moment, trying to come up with a guess until an uncomfortable thought manifested within his head.
"You don't think they've bioengineered something, do you?" he asked.
"That's what I fear. Rest assured, we're looking into the matter. I'll inform you as soon as I know something."
"Alright." He expected to hear more from her. Maybe something about their flags flying throughout Alola or the redistribution and destruction of Sovenovsk's nukes. But nothing came aside from a wistful stare towards the horizon. He wordlessly asked Genesis to leave them for a moment and his voice softened. "Thinking about Phyco again?"
"Was it that obvious?"
"Maybe it was a lucky guess." Alexander walked to her side.
"People often assumed we were together," she said. "Of course, that wasn't the case, but we had always been close." She went silent, her mouth open, as if trying to force the words out. Finally she did. "He sought to do what you are now – to rescue our people from the destruction that drew closer each day. And we thought we had it all figured out, too."
"And then Lunala left…" Soliera nodded.
"And that was that," she said softly. "That was it – our last hope. Gone in the blink of an eye. We had no other options, no backup plans. Can you imagine what he had felt in those last days? Trying to figure out a way to tell everyone in our world that we had failed?" Alex shook his head. That was a burden he couldn't imagine carrying. One that he hoped to avoid in this very conquest. "I guess he decided not to find out, either…" She looked away.
"I'm sorry." He had never learned what had become of the former Recon Squad leader. Now he knew why it was a topic she and everyone else avoided.
"I just wish he could have known that another opportunity came. That everything turned out okay in the end…"
Nora quickly formed the barrier in front of her as Adira launched a stone. It smacked the invisible surface, sending small fragments everywhere, and bounced off. "Good," the latias said. "That was faster than last time."
"How strong are these, anyway?" Nora asked. So far only a three-pound rock had been thrown; she imagined there was a limit.
"That depends on you. I would imagine you could stop many indirect attacks or similarly small projectiles."
"Okay…" She dropped the barrier, staring at the legendary. "But what if they're strong enough to break the barrier? Or if I don't have time to make one in the first place?"
"That, dear, is where we get into the next part." She held her hands out, and suddenly, the sands underneath them shifted, forming boulders and walls. The coastline somewhat resembled obstacle course now. "I've heard that you are quite agile. We are about to test that."
"Umm… what?" Her ears folded against her head.
"You dodged multiple attacks when attacked by numerous foes from Delta."
"Yeah, but I had no other choice…"
"Then you should have no issue doing so again." The typhlosion wasn't feeling comfortable with this anymore. "Especially since your new psychic abilities will make you faster than ever before."
"What?" Nora asked.
"As I have shown you, telekinetic abilities are merely manipulations of forces, both fundamental and basic. When you cause a rock to levitate, you create a force underneath it to balance its weight. When you create a barrier, you recombine elements within the air to form a solid. These same principles can be used in your movement as well. This is how my species is even able to fly to begin with."
"Huh… alright."
Adira explained the various theories and applications behind this. Nora did her best to keep up, though her mind occasionally drifted back to that most recent fight, or to her trainer helping patch up a beaten, traumatized lucario. She closed her eyes. Eventually this lesson would be done, and she could go back inside and be with him again…
"Nora?" But that was then.
"I'm listening!"
"Right..." Adira's eyes narrowed. "Then I don't suppose you'd like to begin?"
"…Okay, I might have zoned out for a minute." The latias sighed.
"Did you at least get the basics?" Nora nodded; she needed to create forces to propel herself. "Good, then you may learn the rest as we go." Adira floated upwards as Nora took her stance. The legendary went easy on her at first, shooting weaker attacks of various elements towards the typhlosion. Nora sped around, finding that so long as she concentrated, she could avoid the attacks.
But then they became faster. Adira swept her hand, launching a wave of flames towards her. The fur on her side singed, Nora flipped out of the way, landing on all fours, before launching herself up again and narrowly avoiding another attack. Adira's eyes dilated a bit, ceasing her actions. Nora panted heavily, confused yet grateful for the break all the same.
"Why did you do that?"
"Wh-what?" Nora replied.
"You landed on all fours but then went back to your hind legs." She cocked her head. "Come to think of it, why were you ever standing bipedal to begin with? Is your kind not faster on all fours?"
"I mean… I guess?" Nora said sheepishly. "I just prefer it this way, that's all." She sat down, content to rest while the latias came closer. "Why does it matter? I was dodging your attacks."
"Because I was taking it easy," Adira stated. "I could have gone much faster – and if you and your team continue this fight, it's likely that your opponents will." It was kind of hard to argue that point, and hearing what the latias had accomplished against Clay's team, she doubted that Adira was being dishonest. "Do you know how to run on all fours?"
"Of course!" Nora said.
"Then why wouldn't you? Perhaps it consumes more stamina, but that is of little consequence in a matter of life and death." No answer came. Then, as if to pierce her very being, Adira pinpointed the reason with that one painful question. One that threatened to bring tears to her eyes. "Is it because you desire to be human?"
"I…" Nora clenched her jaw, avoiding even peripheral eye contact. "I'm not human."
"That's not what I asked." Adira levitated only a few inches above the ground. "Would you become one if you could?" Again, no answer. "I see…" Nora felt a hand on her shoulder, closing her eyes. "Why do you not like what you are?" She wanted to remain silent. But truth be told, she needed to confront this, and Adira was the best person she could think of to confess it to.
"I don't… dislike what I am," Nora said. "Well… maybe a little. I guess going your entire life being the fire-type who can't make fire might do that to you."
"Perhaps."
"…And then I fell for Aaron. That didn't help. He's been more than kind in giving this a shot, but I can't shake the feeling that he's only doing it out of obligation. Like he owes me for protecting him or something." She sighed. "Marcus said he only had a thing for humans, so maybe… none of this is really real…"
"Is that what you think?" Adira asked. A nod was her only response. "I see. I cannot claim to know everything about your situation, but I can give you what perspective I have observed. Do you remember that day when we all ate together and you two were laughing like children over Aaron's antics at the theater?" That brought a smile to her face, making her forget about the lone tear trail down her left cheek.
"Yeah…"
"I know what I felt then. His love and care for you was so obvious that I wouldn't need to detect emotions to know it. Whatever you may think, I know what I saw that day. Aaron cares for you far too much to risk hurting you in such a way, so I would advise you abandoning all thoughts to the contrary." Adira held out her own hand, which was considerably less human than even Nora's. Perhaps the latias was speaking from experience with all this. Or maybe she had been wise enough never to doubt her and Nathan's affections to begin with. Either way, the assurance was welcome. "The truth is, Nora, you will never be human a day in your life. But that is alright – you were created to be what you are, and what you are is a beautiful thing, regardless of how many legs you run on. So do not trouble yourself over such matters." Nora swallowed, a large smile on her face, and nodded briskly.
"Okay!" Adira smiled and brought her into a hug.
"Good. Now let's continue. I want to see what you're really capable of."
And it was that day that Nora herself learned. Gone were the doubts and insecurities. If Adira saw something within her, she trusted that it was there. After that day, she never despised what she was again.
And after that week, the nation of Galar surrendered to Omega.
A/N: Special thanks to FuryWrites for beta reading this chapter.