A/N - Here is part one to the first 'special' in The End: Rekindled. This story was written well after I'd finished The End, and is part of what prompted me to re-write this story. To be honest, I think I wrote this last year. It was for a contest on Thousand Roads, but I never made it as I went way over the word count XD the original can still be found on there. Thanks to a lot of feedback I've been able to re-work it and iron out the bits that didn't make sense. I hope you enjoy it! =D

Thanks for all reads, reviews, faves and follows! =D

Of Light and Darkness

Part One

The grass was warm beneath Harmony's feet as she strolled over the hills. Her chores in the abbey kitchen complete, the gardevoir was now free to relax for the afternoon. Pokemon dozed in the shade of the orchard's spreading branches, and she smiled at a kommo-o fast asleep with an elektrike curled up beside him.

She weaved her way down towards the river, following its course upstream towards the dojo. At this time of day, pokemon would be training outside, building their skills for the upcoming tournament. Pokemon used their abilities in light-hearted contests of strength, or in artistic displays and dances. Not only that, but a pokemon's skills were also useful in everyday tasks. Sandshrew and sandslash would dig up the ground to turn the soil in preparation for planting crops. Water-types would then water the soil, or cool the ground on blisteringly hot days. Dragonite, pidgeot and corviknight could carry smaller pokemon from one place to the next, much faster than travelling on foot. So pokemon strove to build up their endurance at the dojo, and it also offered a way to relax.

The water frothed up beside her, cooling the grass as a dratini zipped by, racing against a squirtle and marill. They shouted playfully to one-another as their voices faded away into the gurgle of the rushing water.

As Harmony approached the dojo, the yells from the pokemon occupying it reached her ears. A large group was gathered outside, crowding around the training zone. Purple light shattered off sunset embers, creating a dazzling explosion against the invisible screens held up by meowstic, metagross and gigalith. Harmony knew that combination anywhere. She felt a smile spread across her face and she picked up pace, eager to catch the end of the match. The gathered pokemon parted to give her space, and she spotted an alakazam crouched on the sandy ground. A turtonator wiped a paw across his jaws, scattering embers.

"A nice counter, Furnace," said the alakazam.

He raised his twin spoons, sending another dazzling array at Furnace. The turtonator's eyes widened with surprise, and he turned his back. Flames spread over his spiky shell. The dazzling gleam washed over him, and he flopped onto his stomach.

A meinshao acting as referee raised a paw. "Furnace is out! The winner is Mindstorm!"

The alakazam pushed himself up and strolled over to the turtle-like dragon. Furnace sat up and rubbed a paw over his head.

"You got me," he said with a laugh.

Mindstorm offered a paw and helped Furnace to his feet. "You need to remember your shell trap is only good against physical attacks, my friend."

Furnace rubbed the back of his head and glanced away. "I, er… I was caught a little off-guard."

Harmony clapped her paws, drawing the dragon-type's eye.

Furnace flushed. "You saw that, huh?"

"I caught the end of the match," she said. "You might have won if you'd countered his attack with a flamethrower instead."

Furnace chuckled. "I really need to get past my default."

"It's a great defence! I learned fast not to use zen headbutt against you." Harmony laughed.

"No, it's just typical of the fairy-type." The voice came from the crowd, drawing the eyes of the surrounding pokemon. A large, black bird stood watching them, his crimson eyes narrowed. A fang flashed in his draconic beak as he tutted. "There's no skill involved at all."

"There is skill, Yveltal," said Harmony. "Only last week, Furnace here almost defeated me."

Furnace grinned at that.

Yveltal tutted again and he straightened. "I think the key word there is 'almost'." He gestured to the crowd with the wave of a long, ebony wing. "Tell me. Has anyone here ever won a match against the fairy-type?"

"I've won my fair share of matches," said an aggron.

"Sorry, allow me to correct myself." Yveltal gave the aggron a fierce sneer and turned away from him to address the crowd. "Has anyone of dark, fighting or dragon typing ever won a match against the fairy-type?"

A few murmurs spread through the crowd as the pokemon rose into a discussion amongst themselves, and Yveltal flashed a grin at Harmony.

"I think I've made my point," he said.

Harmony exchanged glances with Furnace. "It's all about strategy, Yveltal. Anyone can win if they use the correct moves. I've seen flying-type pokemon win fights against electric-types on more than one occasion." Harmony placed a paw on the alakazam's shoulder. "Mindstorm here isn't even a fairy-type. He just uses the moves as his strategy in battle, otherwise he'd struggle against a dark-type like you."

Yveltal's canines flashed and he crouched down on his wings. "All right then. If it's all down to strategy, then why don't you fight me?"

Harmony considered this, looking over at the crowd. Like most other pokemon, she enjoyed a battle. It helped her to relax. But something in Yveltal's tone unsettled her.

Furnace placed a warm paw on her shoulder. "Harmony, you don't have to do this."

"It's okay." She placed her paw over his and gave him a fond smile. "If he wants a battle then I'll give him one. We'll just have to put our match on hold, Furnace."

He returned her smile, somewhat uncertainly, and stood to the side.

Harmony turned to Yveltal and met the ebony bird's eyes. "Okay, Yveltal. I'll fight you. I'll prove to you strategy is involved."

Yveltal gave a curt nod and tucked in his wings before strutting out into the battle zone. A veil of light flew across the audience as the psychic-types raised their barriers.

The pair made their way to the middle of the battle zone, and Yveltal reared himself up into a battle stance. He was no pushover. Harmony knew that much. The jet-black bird had showcased his fair share of battles, often coming out on top. Harmony had even beaten him herself once before, back when she was a kirlia. Yveltal had laughed it off, stating he'd put a claw wrong and accidentally thrown the match. If it was an accident, he'd been good about it. But seeing him now, she couldn't help but think he held it against her. Something was amiss, and she wasn't the only one who'd noticed it.

Furnace stood near the front of the crowd of onlookers, the barrier shimmering before his worried face. She knew he'd jump into the ring if it came to it.

The meinshao referee raised his paw and stood back until he was just outside the ring. "A battle between Yveltal and Harmony! Start!"

The referee's instruction was barely out as Yveltal opened his mouth wide. A pulse of black energy fired towards Harmony, and she leapt to the side. She grimaced as it seared her shoulder, burning away the fur. She glanced at her exposed skin, angry and red, then fixed her attention back on Yveltal. Attacks didn't usually do that level of damage.

He beat his wings, rising into the air. It whipped up around him, forming into a blade. She rolled to the side, and the sand around her exploded as his attack struck where she'd been sitting.

She lifted her paws to ready a dazzling gleam, but Yveltal noticed it. Before the attack left her paws, something black struck her across the head. Stars danced across her vision, and her attack fizzled out. Yveltal landed before her and a smirk spread across his beak.

Melody took a breath and pushed herself up. In one swift motion, she flicked up her paws to create another dazzling gleam. Yveltal let out a snarl, sending dark energy washing over her. The attack came out weaker, but it still struck home. Yveltal hissed and flinched back from her. Then he vanished into thin air.

Sharp claws raked her back and she yelled, stumbling forwards into the sand. He appeared again before her and buffeted her with a wing, sending her soaring back towards the crowd. The onlooking pokemon scurried back, but she fell just shy of the barrier. She masked her grimace with a quick flick of her arms as Yveltal rose into the air once more. Dazzling light struck him square in the chest. He let out a shriek as he lost his momentum and spiralled back down to the ground. He landed on all-fours and, eyes flashing with rage, he threw his head around towards her spewing purple flames. They washed over Harmony as harmless as water.

Now it was Harmony's turn to vanish. She teleported just as Yveltal charged towards her. She reappeared behind him and raised her paws high, forming a pink sphere above her head. It expanded in size rapidly, and once it was just heavy enough to manage, she launched it towards Yveltal.

The bird scrambled to get away from it, but the moonblast crashed down on his back. Yveltal crumpled beneath it with an enraged howl. Once it dissipated, he pushed himself up, spitting sand.

The referee raised his paw again and beamed. "Yveltal is down! The winner is Harmony!"

Yveltal's canines showed in his beak, and he lowered his head to look back at the gardevoir.

Harmony nursed the burn on her shoulder, and her paw pulsed with pink light. It quickly vanished, removing any chance of concerned statements from Furnace or any of her other friends. With a smile on her face she approached Yveltal, who looked up and met her smile with a blank expression.

Harmony offered a paw. "That was a good fight. You certainly threw a few surprises my way! You had me on my toes for sure."

A strange strangled noise came from deep within his chest as one of his canines became exposed. "Are you mocking me?"

Harmony blinked and retracted her paw. "No, I… I was congratulating you."

"Is that all you do?" he hissed. "Beat us down then act all nice?!"

He leapt at her with such speed she didn't even see it. His sharp beak fastened around her throat and she let out a terrified scream. She landed hard on her back, struggling to shove the large bird off her. Then he grunted and fell back, tumbling away across her legs.

A warm light fell over them and Harmony opened her eyes to find Xerneas stood over them. Yveltal lay at her feet in a crumpled heap of oily feathers, a dejected look on his face. Specks of red dotted his beak, and Harmony lifted a paw to her neck. It came away with a crimson streak across her claws.

"There will be none of that," Xerneas told Yveltal. "It was a fair fight. You need to learn to have a little more dignity, my friend."

Yveltal scoffed and pushed himself up. "There was nothing fair about it."

Xerneas blinked at him silently.

"The fairy-type tears through us," Yveltal went on. "Dragon-, dark- and fighting-types don't stand a chance! It tears through us like we are nothing!" He turned his glare back onto Harmony. "But I'll find a weakness. One you share with all of us! And I'll expose it."

With that, he spread his wings and took off into the sunset.

Xerneas lowered his antlers to help Harmony back to her feet.

She dusted down her skirt and turned towards him. "Thank you."

The stag pokemon smiled warmly. "You are not hurt?"

Harmony ran a paw tenderly over the marks on her neck. "It's just a scratch. I'm not even sure he was sincere. It was just a threat."

Xerneas nodded, but the silence left her feeling uncertain. He raised his head to look after Yveltal, then turned his attention back to her.

"Go about your day," he said. "Do not let him worry you."

Immediately the sting vanished from her neck, and she traced her claws where the scratches had been. She gave Xerneas a confused look, not quite finding the right words she needed.

"We do not want to alarm anyone," he said quietly. "Try to put this behind us, and please make sure everyone else is calm?"

"Of course."

With another warm smile, Xerneas turned and followed the direction in which Yveltal had fled.

Harmony turned towards the crowd, but the gathered pokemon's expressions were the description of worry. Furnace looked between her and Yveltal, surrounded by Mindstorm and a small number of fairy-types. But what stood out to Harmony was the group that stood away from the rest, their eyes on the sky where Yveltal had vanished. All of them fighting-, dragon- and dark-type.

She felt her heart sink and she lifted her paw to her throat again.

Yveltal's words had got to them.

...

Yveltal landed ungainly beside the river and tucked in his wings. The right one throbbed where he'd crashed down on it during that fight, crushed beneath that disgusting moonblast. Rage boiled inside him, and he clenched his beak so tightly it hurt. He turned his attention to his sore wing, scanning over his bedraggled feathers. He licked his beak to prepare to preen, but faltered as something salty tingled on his tongue.

Blood.

That was right, he'd bitten Harmony out of blind fury. He'd wanted her to feel pain. Blood was a very rare sight, and pokemon did their utmost not to shed any during fights. It was unnecessary. Brutal. So how much needed to be shed for a pokemon to really feel pain?

He ran his tongue over his fangs and a smile spread across his beak. He'd never tasted it before. He wanted more.

"Excuse me, Yveltal?"

The small voice snapped Yveltal out of his thoughts, and he jerked his head around towards a small ralts shuffling towards him over the bridge. The little fairy clutched an oran berry in both paws and he turned his head back towards the orchard on the other side of the river before addressing Yveltal again.

"Could you please help me?" the ralts asked. "I need to harvest more berries for the abbey, but they're too high up for my psychic to reach."

"More… berries…?"

Yveltal's mind was fogged with the taste of Harmony's blood still dancing around his tongue. The small ralts stared up at him patiently, still waiting for a reply. A tiny version of Harmony. A teeny little fairy. One who, like her, could still toss a moonblast onto his back and obliterate him. His feathers prickled along his spine, and the corners of his beak creased as he repressed a snarl.

He'd had enough. The world was riddled with these fairies. They were like a disease, infecting everything they touched. They needed purging.

The ralts inclined his head on one side, and Yveltal realised the small fairy had just said something and the dark-type had completely missed it.

"Yveltal?" The ralts tipped his head back enough that Yveltal could make out his large eyes beneath his silly helmet. "Are you okay?"

A low growl had been emanating from the ebony bird's throat and it cut off abruptly as if someone had just plucked it from him. He let out a confused grunt and tucked in his wings.

"I'm fine." His voice came out husky and he became suddenly aware of his own heartbeat, galloping like a herd of mudbray. "Sure. I can help, if you'll help me first."

His eyes fell on the oran berry, or more-so the tiny body behind it. The ralts looked down at the berry then beamed.

"Sure! You can have it." The little fairy held the berry up towards Yveltal. "Here. Take it."

"Oh." Yveltal let out a low purr. "I shall."

Yveltal's head shot down like a dart, and snatched the ralts up in his beak. The fairy-type let out a muffled gasp that was cut short as Yveltal fastened his jaws around his tiny frame. The oran berry dropped to the floor and rolled towards the base of a tree, its blue skin specked with crimson blood.

Yveltal shook his head, ragging the ralts' limp body. A hot fire spread down his throat and coursed through his bones, tracing channels down the length of his wings. The ralts' hide stiffened until it was like biting into stone. Yveltal dropped him to the floor, and the dark-type's eyes widened with surprise. The ralts' formerly green fur was grey, his expression of surprise and pain permanently etched on his face. Yveltal nudged him with a claw, receiving no response. The tiny creature was rock solid, just like a statue.

"Interesting." The ebony bird let out a low chuckle and straightened. "So there is a way to be rid of you after all?"

Yveltal's body was still on fire, pulsing down his wings. He spread one to inspect it, and his eyes widened. Crimson feathers spread in a mottled pattern along it. A few had also appeared on his chest like spots and he tried to wipe them away to no avail. It was as if his discovery had somehow embedded itself into his very being.

His discovery…

A deep laugh rumbled in his chest and he spread his wings to display the crimson markings.

"You see this?!" he asked the motionless ralts. "I've learned your little secret! I now know your weakness! The fairy-type isn't as strong as you think, is it? You can be snuffed out like a candle!" He tucked his wings back in and gave the ralts a wicked smirk. "You can rest knowing you were the first to meet this fate."

Hot fire boiled in his chest, pulsing through him in an invigorating fury. He wanted more. Was there anything else he could try this new discovery on? He turned his head left and right, but there were no pokemon in sight. No one who had even witnessed his discovery. Just grass, stone paths, the river and trees.

Trees.

They were also alive. Perhaps he could try it out on one of them?

He turned towards the nearest tree, the one the oran berry had rested beneath. Yveltal opened his beak wide to lash at it, but instead a hot beam shot from his jaws and slammed into the tree. It engulfed it with a black and crimson light, draining the colour from its leaves. That familiar, fiery energy flooded him again, but it wasn't as vibrant as what the ralts had given him. The beam petered out, leaving the tree in the same grey, statue-esque state as the ralts.

Yveltal licked his beak and stood back from it, a smirk spreading across his face. Was that… a new attack? An attack that could drain the very life from a living thing. If this could help him eradicate all fairy-types… he needed to test it out some more. To see what extent he could truly push it to.

"Yveltal!"

He snapped his head around towards the familiar voice. Xerneas stood behind him, standing over the ralts. Small flowers spread out from his hooves, spreading across the grass and surrounding the fallen fairy. The stone melted away as colour gradually returned to the small pokemon's body, and the wounds knitted back together as if they'd never even been there.

Yet Xerneas' eyes lacked the warmth Yveltal was familiar with. Xerneas raised his head high and met Yveltal's blue eyes.

"Stop this," he said.

The ralts sat back up and rubbed his eyes as if he'd only been sleeping. Yveltal stuttered as he looked between the ralts and Xerneas. It couldn't be… the pokemon had been… Yveltal had taken his life and now he had it back?!

"Xerneas?" The small pokemon looked up sleepily. "What am I doing here?"

Xerneas nuzzled the ralts' head then looked back at Yveltal.

Yveltal couldn't take his eyes off the ralts. The small fairy pushed himself to his feet, no sign of his previous condition left on his body. He didn't even acknowledge Yveltal, no comment on their encounter. If Xerneas could reverse it like that, then there was no way Yveltal's new skill would stand a chance in a fair fight. It would be like any other fight, easily overcome by the fairy-type. Unless he could find some way to build on it, to raise it into a force to be reckoned with?

He snapped his beak shut and feigned innocence, shrugging his feathery shoulders. "It wasn't me. I found him like this."

"You can't lie to me, Yveltal," said Xerneas. "I saw everything. I watched as you claimed that tree."

Yveltal turned to follow Xerneas' gaze to the tree and tutted. The grey hue was melting away just like it had on the ralts. Small flowers pooled around the base of it as they flowed from beneath Xerneas' golden hooves.

"Death has no place here, Yveltal," said Xerneas. "The abhorrent things you've just done are already corrupting you."

"… Death?"

Xerneas nodded once. "I want you to think very carefully about where your place is, and if you wish to stay here you are to abide by the law."

Yveltal let out a single laugh and spread his mottled wings. "Very well. I shall think very carefully about what you've just told me, Xerneas." With a beat of his wings he rose into the air. "Very carefully."

With that, he turned and took off towards the forest.

...

The next morning, the abbey dining hall was bustling with pokemon waiting for their breakfast. Pokemon flooded through the doors and windows, and drifted in along a channel that ended in a pool of crystal clear water at the side of the room. The various pokemon chatted among themselves, before those that were more adapted to land left the pool to gather around the long table.

Harmony bustled back and forth between the kitchen and the dining area, assisting the chefs in laying out the table for that morning's breakfast. Plates of fresh berries, pancakes, pastries, soups and other delicious items were spread out on silver plates that pokemon eagerly and politely helped themselves too. The abbey was one of several across the land, and all would be pretty busy at this hour. But it was the largest given it was right at the heart of Estellis. Pokemon had yet to fully spread across the entire continent.

Black feathers fluttered by the window, and Harmony looked up with a start as a huge black bird perched in it. A corviknight. He hopped through towards the table and took a seat beside one of Harmony's close friends - a pidgeot named Windstriker. The gardevoir scolded herself slightly. Her heart had been in her throat since the previous day, and she was eager to see Yveltal again. To make sure he was okay. But part of her was also anxious. He had outright attacked her. Something definitely wasn't right.

She set the pot of soup she'd been holding on the table. "Has anyone seen Yveltal since yesterday?"

Several of the pokemon shook their heads and murmurs spread around the room.

"I'm a little worried about him," said Harmony. "He didn't take that fight well at all."

"He had a point though." A garchomp leant his head on one claw while buttering his toast with the other. "Us dragon-types don't stand a chance against you fairies unless we have poison or steel moves at our disposal."

A sylveon lifted her head and licked jam off her nose. "Like you with your poison jab?"

The garchomp scoffed and narrowed his eyes at her. "That doesn't help me against mawile or klefki though, does it? Poison moves are useless against them."

A dragalge slumped and rested her chin on the edge of the pool. "Story of my life."

"Not to mention our dragon-type moves can't even touch you," said a salamence. "At least dark-types can get a punch in!"

The scrafty beside him fired him a glare. "We have a hard time too, yanno!"

The room exploded into a heated debate, and Harmony's heart sank. She raised her paws in a bid for silence. "Guys, please! Don't let him get to you! We have fair fights all the time, and you're more than equipped to deal with us!"

"Yeah, it's a matter of skill!" shouted a mawile.

"Oh, so we lack skill now?!" the salamence roared. "Say that with my flamethrower to your face!"

"What's going on in here?!"

The booming voice dragged the room into silence and all eyes went to the kitchen door. Furnace stood in the doorway, glaring the room down into submission.

"We're all friends here, right?!" he roared. "Act like it!" He moved behind Harmony and placed a warm paw on her shoulder. "Are you all right? You look exhausted."

"I'm fine," she said. "But I think what Yveltal said yesterday has got under their skin. I was dealing with comments like this all night."

"You don't need that," said Furnace.

"Help yourself to breakfast," she said. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine, really."

She trotted back to the kitchen, leaving Furnace standing in the hall.

He exchanged worried glances with the alcremie chef beside him. "How can I not?"

A flurry of charcoal feathers erupted through the window and two murkrow landed on the table amid the plates. One of them eyed the berries, inclining his head from side to side, then let out a muffled caw as he raised his head to peer across the table.

A pidgey beside them looked up with a smile. "Help yourself! They're for everyone."

The murkrow scoffed. "I won't break bread with any fairy-types."

Tension rippled throughout the room as all eyes went to the newcomers.

The second murkrow spread his wings and strutted across the table. "We're here with a message from Yveltal. We all heard what he said yesterday. The word has spread. We've had enough, and I'm sure all dragon- and dark-types will agree. We get beat down too often by the abundant fairy-type! It seems all pokemon possess one fairy-type skill in their arsenal to defeat us. So Yveltal is calling a new world order!"

Most of the table gasped, masking the sound of food thudding to the floor. A clatter came from the kitchen, and a plate shattered on the tiles. The staff rushed to the door to catch the rest of the murkrow's speech.

"This is a call to war!" the murkrow cawed. "All who have had enough of their struggles against the fairy-type are to rally around Yveltal in the courtyard before noon!"

"War?!" the mawile gasped.

"A war!" the murkrow repeated. "Against all who support the fairy-type! The fairy-type will be eradicated, bringing fairness and order to Estellis!"

"I'm tired of being beaten down, too!" A hitmonlee leant across the table towards the two birds. "Count me in!"

"Then we expect to see you in the courtyard!" the first told him.

The pair turned and fluttered from the window, leaving the dining hall in a freezing silence.

Harmony stood in the doorway to the kitchen, her paws trembling as she strained to hold a tray heaped with berry pancakes. Furnace opened his mouth to speak, but nothing would come out. Harmony didn't notice. Her eyes were trained on the window as her heart hammered in her chest.

A war?

Her entire mouth had turned dry.

"What is Yveltal doing?" she whispered.

...

Harmony had to know what was going on. She had to be certain it was nothing more than a misunderstanding. She raced to the courtyard, followed by the abbey staff. But when she reached it, her heart did a flip into her throat. The courtyard was teeming with pokemon, divided into two groups. An uncountable mass gathered at the far end of the cobbled square, glaring at her and the hundreds of pokemon that had gathered around to watch. Those who, like her, desperately hoped this wasn't real.

Standing amid the leering group towered a pokemon Harmony didn't recognise at first. But she caught a flash of blue eyes and a fanged beak. The black bird, Yveltal, only he was no longer just black. Crimson feathers mottled over his chest and wings, and a small patch of white feathers formed a diamond by his throat.

He raised his head to address the newcomers. "Is there anyone else? Anyone who wishes to fight against this filthy fairy-type?"

"Me!"

Harmony was shoved aside as the hitmonlee from the dining hall rushed to join the square. More pokemon met the same fate until the crowd was forced to part and let him through.

He stopped in the middle of the courtyard and jammed a thumb into his chest. "Me! I want to help you fight, too! I'm tired of being beaten in a 'fair fight' by these fairies."

"So am I!" A machoke stood forward from the crowd to join the other fighting-type. "Count me in, too!"

A smirk tugged Yveltal's beak and he waved a wing at his side. "Then join me. Let's rally together and purge Estellis of this fairy-type!"

"Yveltal, please!" Harmony reached the courtyard and slipped through to stand before the crowd of onlookers. "Why are you doing this? It was just a friendly fight!"

"Friendly?" he scoffed. "There was nothing friendly about it! And it's not just one fight, Harmony. It's hundreds upon hundreds of fights, defeated by your wretched attacks! I've had enough! And so have many of your so-called friends, pushed away by defeat after defeat."

"Everyone loses sometimes, Yveltal. You just have to take it, learn from it and-!"

"Oh but I have learned from it," he crooned. "I've learned a lot. I've learned where my place is in this world, and I won't stand for it. Do you know how it feels to have a typing that is so glaringly weak to yours, Harmony? To be beaten repeatedly by the most abundant attack type? I've often wondered why I myself was created, and I've discovered it's to be nothing more than a punching bag for you fairies! Each and every dragon- and dark- type pokemon is nothing more than someone to be crushed, trampled and blinded by your attacks!"

"You're wrong!" Harmony cried.

"I'm not wrong," Yveltal purred. "I've witnessed enough to learn this. We're just test material so you can build on your attacks, and one day even wipe us out for good."

The pokemon around him rose into their own heated arguments, shouting profanities at those who'd gathered to watch.

Harmony bristled as she glared up at Yveltal's smirking beak. He knew exactly what he was doing. He was sowing deceit among the gathered pokemon, and they were lapping it up like water.

Harmony clenched her fists. "You're lying."

The pokemon behind her murmured in agreement, and a few stronger voices echoed her statement. Cries of 'liar!' spread throughout the crowd. They were countered by the mass that had gathered around the large bird, and glares flashed throughout the mob.

Yveltal spread his wings, bringing his rabble to silence. "Let me tell you what I'm doing. I'm going to purge this world of the fairy-type, and create one where we stand a chance once more. I've found a way to counter you. A weakness. A means to finally defeat you! I'll win this war, and anyone else who wishes to join me can do so now. If you don't, then consider yourself my enemy."

A ninetales stepped forwards from the crowd, her frosty fur shimmering in the sunlight. "We won't let you do this, Yveltal! You're forgetting dragon- and dark- types have more than one weakness than just the fairy-type. We'll exploit every opening we can find!"

"Yes! We'll fight back!" said a togekiss.

"You won't stand a chance!" cried a swellow.

The onlookers raised their cries in agreement.

Yveltal's smirk turned sinister. "Oh but of course. That's what a war is! A fight to the death!" He spread his wings again and Harmony realised for the first time just how much larger he appeared. "Allow me to demonstrate what fate will befall all who defy me."

He opened his beak wide and a crimson beam shot from his throat, striking the ninetales. Her cry froze on her tongue and her entire body lost its shimmery sheen. The attack cut out, and Harmony let out a gasp. The ninetales was as still as a statue, her body turned to stone.

The pokemon rose into a panic, and even a few of Yveltal's rabble broke loose, rushing back to join those they were only moments ago arguing against. Yveltal unleashed his attack once more, washing over those who were fleeing and freezing them to the spot. His blue eyes flashed with fire as they locked on Harmony, and the crimson beam launched towards her. Claws fastened around her waist, tossing her back into the crowd. A grunt came from above her, and when she opened her eyes she spotted Furnace, his red scales rapidly turning grey. Tears pricked her eyes and she wriggled backwards across the cobbled stones. The beam narrowly skimmed her, and she fixed her eyes on it. It gave off no light. Instead, it radiated darkness.

Pokemon around her were screaming, running blindly, and any hit by that beam were turned to stone. Too many. She had to get away from there and find help.

She tried to push herself up, but the beam skimmed her again and she ducked away from it, landing flat on her back. A lithe shadow bounded over her, and the beam cut out abruptly. Yveltal gagged and recoiled backwards, spluttering and shaking his head. His blue eyes narrowed, fixing Xerneas in a leer.

Tiny flowers flowed like a rainbow from Xerneas' hooves, reaching out between the cobbled stones and the surrounding grass. They passed beneath the statues, and the stony hide melted away from the affected pokemon, returning them to their former selves.

The stag stared Yveltal down, unwavering. "I see you have chosen your place."

Yveltal laughed. "I'd already chosen it, Xerneas." He waved a wing at the remaining pokemon behind him, still alarmingly high in number. "And it seems I am not alone."

Xerneas looked up at the mob gathered around the red and black bird. Some were uncertain, avoiding his eye.

"It is not too late for you to come back to me," he told them. "I can assure you that Yveltal has been feeding you lies. Not one of you was created to be a punching bag. But if you wish to stick with Yveltal, then there is no place for you here. Those who remain with him shall be banished, and will meet the same fate Yveltal has doomed himself to."

Several of Yveltal's followers exchanged worried glances and parted from the group, shuffling across the courtyard to rejoin Xerneas. Yveltal watched them with scorn then snapped his attention back onto the stag.

"And what fate is that, exactly?" Yveltal scoffed.

"You wish to be a bringer of death," Xerneas explained. "So you shall ultimately bring that on yourself also, along with all who follow your lies."

More of Yveltal's group melted away, scurrying back to Xerneas and their friends. Their families.

Xerneas met Yveltal's eyes, waiting patiently for any of the bird's remaining followers to decide where exactly they wanted to stand.

Those that remained stared back with defiance.

Xerneas nodded once. "Very well. It is decided." He raised his head and met Yveltal's leering eyes with ones that flashed with fire. "Leave."

Yveltal's beak went slack for a moment, then his feathers bristled along his spine. He turned sharply and lead his group away from the courtyard. Those that remained with him were mostly made up of dragon-, dark-, and fighting-types. Those his lies had stirred the most.

Xerneas turned back towards his pokemon, and his antlers radiated light that pulsed out away from him across the courtyard and spread over the surrounding planes and forests.

"Do not worry," he said. "He cannot come back here."

"But what about the others?" Harmony asked.

"Those that wish to return will find their way here in time," Xerneas explained. "Yveltal wishes to start a war. We shall win that war. Come. I shall prepare you for it." He looked at each of the terrified and trembling pokemon. "All those who wish to fight alongside me shall be prepared, do not worry. You have nothing to fear."

A few mumbles of private discussion rose from the crowd. Furnace looked up at them then took a step forward, jabbing a thumb-claw into his chest.

"Me," he said. "I'll fight."

A smile spread across Xerneas' muzzle, and three altairia drifted down above him from the clouds. Their humming melody drifted out over the courtyard.

"I will, too," said Harmony.

"And me!" said the frosty ninetales. "I'll fight!"

One after the other, pokemon broke from the crowd, affirming their part in the battle. Soon, the entire crowd was giving their support. The altaria broke into a jovial melody, joined by the other birds as they rose into the air to join them.

Harmony felt a swelling in her chest. Together, alongside Xerneas, they could win this.

Xerneas stood back. "Then allow me to instruct you."

His antlers flashed and Harmony felt a tug at her wrist. She lifted it and her eyes widened. A golden bangle had appeared, made of three woven strands. Set in a decorative cup was a large, clear stone with a colourful band curling through its core.

She wasn't alone. Hundreds of pokemon had received a similar gift.

"I have chosen some of you to lead your own troops," Xerneas explained. "You will be able to evolve further, but it is only temporary. It will give you extra strength and new abilities, and your troops will be relying on your command. I will need each and every one of you to use your unique gifts in the battle to come."

The crowd exploded into cheers.

"Please train," Xerneas told them. "This will be a long and gruelling battle. But I assure you. We will win."

...

Thanks for reading! Please R&R! =D