A/N - Thanks so much for all reads, reviews, faves and follows! =D
26 - Training for Battle
The voices filling the dining hall were a mere murmur of unwanted noise, blending into the background as Cleo stared into nothingness. She leant her head on one paw while poking an oran berry along the top of her berry pancakes with a claw. It traced a sticky blue trail along the browned surface before it finally fell onto the plate and rolled its way over the edge onto the table.
"Not hungry, huh?" Spark's voice was muffled by a mouthful of berry compote. She pointed a claw to Cleo's plate. "If you're not gonna eat that then can I?"
Cleo shoved the plate towards the dedenne and looked away. "Be my guest."
"Look." Spark drew her attention back, and Cleo watched the dedenne as she tugged a piece of pancake free. "I know you're upset and all, but if Mischief wants to stay here then it really is the safest place for him."
It wasn't just that. Cleo sighed into her paws and covered her face. She'd already gone over everything with Spark. If they left Mischief in the Fairy Garden, then it wouldn't change anything. They'd still be hunted down, and without a fairy-type pokemon to aide them against Hydreigon's worst soldiers. Faith's pep-talk had done little to settle Cleo's nerves, and Spark's divided attention diving between several plates of various delicacies was a clear sign the dedenne felt the same.
Cleo had wondered countless times if she was just being selfish. But she couldn't deny she was actually going to miss the whimsicott. In the short time they'd been together, she'd grown oddly fond of him. Was there more behind her unhappiness at the thought of leaving him behind than she had actually realised?
The meowstic sighed again and sat back in her seat, turning her attention to her now mutilated pancakes.
Spark stood beside her plate, her little cheeks bulging. "Change you're mind?"
Cleo shook her head. "No. You finish it."
"Believe it or not, I don't think I can. These things are huge." Spark swallowed her mouthful and wiped her sticky whiskers with equally sticky paws. "You should probably eat something. Neither of us know what Xerneas wants to see us for yet. You might need your energy."
Spark was right. But the thought of even swallowing down an oran berry made Cleo feel oddly sick. She turned back to Spark who had resorted to wiping her face on the corner of a cloth napkin.
"Are you finished?" Cleo asked.
"Yup! I'm stuffed." Spark stretched her body from ear to tail and gave her friend a concerned smile. "Are you sure you won't eat anything?"
A shadow fell over them both before Cleo could reply, and she looked up into Faith's beaming face. But the mawile's smile soon fell when she noticed Cleo's dour expression.
Faith opened her mouth a couple of times as she searched for the right words. "Did something happen yesterday?"
Cleo shrugged. "I'm sorry. It's a difficult one, and I'm still trying to work it out."
"Oh." Faith folded her paws before herself and forced a smile. "I'm to take you to Xerneas, but… well…"
"I'm fine," said Cleo. "I'm ready to leave when you are."
"Likewise." Spark gave her paws a quick lick to remove any lingering berry juice. "I'm pretty curious what he wants to see us for."
Faith gave a single nod. "I'm hoping it will lift your spirits."
"You still have no idea what this is about?" Spark asked.
"Nope!" Faith shook her head. "Just that it involves myself and Hope too."
"Huh." Spark looked up at Cleo. "Curious."
Cleo offered a paw to Spark, and the dedenne scurried up her arm to her shoulder.
Faith lead them from the dining hall, and as they stepped outside Cleo jumped slightly as Harlequin emerged from the shadow of a bush. A smirk played on the zorua's lips at Cleo's reaction, but it didn't remain. Instead, the assassin fell into step behind them as Faith lead the small group down the cobbled path away from the Heart Abbey.
"Where are we meeting him?" Cleo ventured.
"The library," said Faith.
Cleo's eyes widened slightly. If she'd had any idea, she would have returned the book on mega evolution. Although she'd barely touched it. Her eye wandered to Harlequin, noting the black and white stone swinging against the zorua's thick ruff. Was it really for an absol?
It didn't take long to reach the library. Xerneas stood outside the main doors waiting for them with both Hope and Mischief at his side. As they approached, Faith came to a stop and bowed deeply. Cleo and Spark bowed automatically, and Cleo was taken by surprise a second time that morning as Harlequin dropped into a low bow beside her. When they all stood, Xerneas smiled down at them.
"You hadn't heard of the Fairy Garden before you came across the ruined abbey." He spoke matter-of-factly.
Cleo shook her head. "No, we hadn't."
"The fairy-type is new to you, yet it has been around for a very long time," he explained. "As you now know, it is powerful enough to defeat both dark- and dragon-type pokemon. You wish to use its power to defeat Hydreigon in this war, and bring an end to the Darkness and its tyranny."
Cleo bit her lip and glanced to the side, rubbing her paws together. Spark shifted beside her, and Cleo could feel Harlequin's blue eyes scanning her, waiting for a response. Cleo didn't know what to say. But when she turned back to Xerneas, he was still smiling at her.
He nodded towards the library doors. "I will show you how to utilise the fairy-type, so you can use its power in battle."
"But…" Spark scratched behind one of her large ears. "But we're not fairy-type."
"No, not all of you have the fairy-type." Xerneas looked up at Cleo. "But you can still use its power. Through today's training, I will introduce you to a move you can use to defeat the Darkness." His gaze landed on Harlequin. "No matter how much practice you feel you think it might take, you will manage it and succeed in this war."
Spark's jaw almost hit the floor. "You have that much faith in us?"
Hope and Faith jumped at her words, but Xerneas smiled down at her.
"Do you have faith in me?" he asked.
"I… I think so." Spark diverted her gaze from him briefly. "You defeated that… thing called Yvel, right?"
"Yveltal. Yes, I did." He turned to the library doors and pushed them open. "If you are to fight in my army, then go inside. There is a dojo in the back. There you will practice the moves I shall teach you."
Cleo wanted to ask why there was a dojo in the back of a library, but decided not to question it. Instead, she followed Xerneas inside. Spark reclaimed her place on the meowstic's shoulder and peered around at the pokemon gathered around the tables studying.
Reshiram poked his huge white head over the rail two floors above and flashed his sharp teeth in a grin. "Good morning, Xerneas!"
"Good morning, Reshiram." Xerneas stopped and looked up at him. "I have brought the pokemon I would like you to teach."
Reshiram leapt over the rail and glided down towards them. He landed almost silently on the wooden floor, giving a bow of his head before looking over Cleo and her friends.
"We meet again!" he said. "How was that book you borrowed?"
"I think it answered some questions," said Cleo. "Although I'm a little confused."
"If you weren't confused I'd be concerned." Reshiram laughed heartily. "Mega evolution is a tricky procedure, and not very many master it."
"Can you mega evolve?" Spark asked.
Reshiram shook his head. "Can't say I've ever tried, if I'm honest!" He turned back to Xerneas. "The dojo is empty as you requested."
Xerneas nodded and lead them past Reshiram towards the back of the library.
"Wait… we're training with you?" Cleo asked the dragon.
"Of course!" he said.
Faith skipped up beside her. "Reshiram is a huge help in training Xerneas' army! Sadly, there aren't many dragon-types left here for pokemon to hone their skills against."
"Fighting-types are helpful and do their best to help those who need to practice their fairy-type moves," Hope explained. "But they lack the natural vigour and expansive move-pool that the dragon-types are known for. Reshiram fills in that slot nicely."
"It probably helps he's so big!" said Spark.
Faith burst out laughing at that and had to stop to steady herself against a bookcase. "I don't think size has much to do with it, as you must know yourself, Spark! You are very feisty yourself for an adorably small pokemon. But yes. Reshiram is very strong."
Spark's nose twitched and she inclined her head on one side. "Yeah. I am pretty adorable."
Cleo rolled her eyes but she couldn't help a smile. They came to a stop at a set of huge double doors hidden away at the back of the library. As Reshiram raised his wings to open them, a small yell came from the shadows and NyukNyuk popped up before him.
"Oh!" Reshiram stepped back and wagged a claw at the mimikyu. "I thought I left you in charge today. So what are you doing here?"
NyukNyuk chittered away in response and Xerneas looked up at Reshiram.
"If he wishes to help, then let him," said Xerneas. "He will be very helpful to them."
NyukNyuk cheered and waved a shadowy arm.
"Very well." Reshiram smiled down at the mimikyu. "I think there's someone who can cover you."
"Nyuk!" NyukNyuk saluted and vanished into the floor in a pool of shadow.
Reshiram shoved open the double doors, revealing a room that felt very bare compared to the others Cleo had seen. The walls were white with the occasional scuff, and spread out along the far wall were several huge punching bags. They hung from strong, metal rods nailed to the walls, and each bag looked like it was made from scales. Most likely the shed scales from a reptilian pokemon who had then donated them to create a heavy-duty covering for the punching bags.
Stretched out over the ceiling was a decorative painting that brightened the bare room up with a splash of colour. It depicted Xerneas' antlers radiating light across the dojo. Altaria danced around the edges of the light's rays, and tracing the rim of the ceiling were tiny delicate flowers painted all the colours of the rainbow.
Xerneas turned to address Cleo and her friends. "Mastering new moves that were previously unknown to you may seem like a daunting task, but you will master them. Cleo, you will learn a move named 'disarming voice'. Spark, you will lean 'play rough'. Mischief, you already know 'dazzling gleam', but you should also practice."
"What about Harlequin?" Faith asked.
"Harlequin has been given the move 'disarming voice'," Xerneas explained.
Harlequin lowered their head. "But I haven't been able to do it yet."
"Give it time," Xerneas told the zorua. "You will learn it when the time is right." He turned to address the fairy-types. "Hope and Faith are both skilled in using disarming voice and play rough respectively. They will teach you how to use these moves."
"Nyuk!" NyukNyuk popped up between Hope and Faith and bowed, his rag-doll head flopping lifelessly around his hidden body.
Xerneas smiled fondly at the mimikyu. "NyukNyuk is also a master of using play rough. All three will be valuable tutors to you." The majestic stag pokemon turned back to Cleo and her friends. "I shall leave you in their paws and see you again after lunch."
As Xerneas left the dojo, Cleo and her friends bowed again. Mischief watched him leave, then moved from Cleo to lean against one of the walls.
Reshiram waved a wing towards the punching bags. "Shall we get started? Who wants to go first? Spark?"
Spark stiffened and looked between Reshiram and the huge punching bags. "Okay. I guess I'm first?"
Faith gave the dedenne a reassuring smile. "Allow me to demonstrate, then you just copy what I do. Okay?"
The mawile turned her back towards the punching bags, then leapt backwards, the jaw-like horn on her head stretching wide open. It clamped around the bag, jerking around and tearing at it. She released it, and it swung around behind her in all directions, creaking on its chains.
Faith beamed at Spark, who was staring at the mawile gobsmaked. "Now you try it!"
"Are you kidding me?" Spark squeaked. "I don't have a horn like yours, let alone jaws big enough to attack that thing with!"
Faith laughed heartily and waved a paw. "It's called 'play rough'! Think about it this way - how would a baby pokemon play with its friends?"
"Huh. I suppose. I mean, I did have a lot of siblings."
Faith stepped aside as Spark waddled towards the still-swinging punching bag. The dedenne raised one of her paws and flexed her claws, looking between it and her target. With a powerful leap, she pounced at the bag and dug in her claws, latching on tight as it swung at a dramatic angle. A loud wail left her throat as it carried her with it, her long tail streaming out behind her. As the bag swung back around towards the room she lost her grip and went soaring through the air with a yell of protest.
Cleo leapt before the soaring dedenne and unfurled her ears. A purple bubble formed around Spark, and Cleo did a double-take, turning towards Hope. The gardevoir lowered Spark carefully to the floor and set her down gently.
"Oh dear!" Faith stifled a chuckle and lowered herself to Spark's level. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Spark dusted herself down and gave Hope a quick thanks. "That bag might be a bit too big. You got a smaller one?"
Faith looked up at Reshiram, who shook his large head and answered, "The bags here are designed for use by all!"
NyukNyuk chimed in his agreement, his disguise wobbling around with each incomprehensible word.
"Like I said before," Faith said to Spark, "you might be small but you are more than capable of taking on larger foes! Just like NyukNyuk, actually!"
The mimikyu rubbed the back of his head with a spectral arm.
Faith chuckled and turned back to Spark. "I reckon you've demonstrated that countless times already?"
"Well… I don't like to brag," said Spark, blushing slightly. "But I did take down a druddigon once."
Harlequin scoffed at that, drawing Spark's eye. "I find that hard to believe. A druddigon would eat you up in one bite!"
"Oh really?" Spark's whiskers crackled as she rounded on Harlequin. "Want me to demonstrate on you?"
Harlequin's hackles bristled and a pair of canines poked between their black lips.
"Okay, stop." Hope raised her paws and cut between Spark and Harlequin. "Please don't argue in here. I know you have your differences, but we're training for battle in the same army. Please remember you are now allies?"
"I thought she was a member of the Darkness," said Spark.
Harlequin tutted and diverted their gaze to the punching bags.
"I'm also a little confused on this," said Cleo. "Why is Harlequin training with us?"
"Because Xerneas instructed it," said Hope.
Cleo looked down at Harlequin, but the zorua's attention remained fixed on the swinging target while one ear was trained on Faith and Spark.
"Now, Spark." Faith drew the dedenne's focus back onto her. "Your attempt at play rough was a valiant effort, but you have to remember you are attacking an enemy, not playing with a sibling."
"But you said-"
Reshiram cut her off this time, raising a wing claw. "The move is naive in nature, but also fierce. Also remember that you are not striking an inanimate object. The punching bag is your enemy."
"All right. Let me try this again." Spark squared up to the punching bag and her whiskers crackled with electricity.
She vaulted towards it, latching on once more. It swung towards the wall with some force, then swung back again, dislodging Spark and sending her rolling ears over tail across the floor.
Harlequin crumpled with fits of laughter so hard they were barely able to breathe.
Spark stood and shook out her ears, rounding on the zorua. "You think this is funny? I'd like to see you do any better!"
"Fine!" Harlequin leapt back to their feet and approached the swinging bag, casting a leer towards Spark as they passed.
The zorua leapt at the punching bag, latching on with tooth and claw. Keeping their feet planted firmly on the ground, the zorua teared at the bag, growling with a primal fury. The chain creaked and clanged as Harlequin tried to pull it free, but the momentum dragged the small pokemon along the floor as the bag tried to return to its natural position.
Finally, Harlequin released it and turned to address the onlookers. "How was that?"
"A good effort." Faith closed her eyes and gave Harlequin a half smile. "But that was closer to 'foul play' than 'play rough'."
"What's the difference?" Harlequin's sapphire eyes narrowed.
"Foul play turns a pokemon's strength against them," Reshiram explained. "It's an attack executed out of malice and is trickery in nature. Play rough, however, is naive but performed with purpose. It's reminiscent of a hatchling at play, but when used as an attack it can be used to take down foes much bigger than the pokemon using it, as the opponent let's their guard down allowing you to strike their weak spots."
NyukNyuk chirruped and warped from Reshiram's foot to reappear by one of the punching bags. Shadowy claws reached out from beneath his disguise and he lunged at the stationary bag. It vanished beneath his disguise, which flopped around with the hidden movements of the pokemon it shrouded. But his limbs were as clear as day, beating at the punching bag repeatedly like a young growlithe pup toying with its sleeping father's ears.
The mimikyu stopped as quickly as he'd started, shuffling about to right his disguise. Both spectral limbs vanished back beneath it and he closed his eyes in a smile.
"Nyuk?"
Spark blinked at the mimikyu for a moment. "Hang on…" Her eye wandered to Mischief, who quirked an eyebrow at her. "I think I get what you mean. Is it like…"
Spark skipped across the room on all-fours right towards Harlequin. The zorua's blue eyes widened and a yell of surprise left their jaws, but it was cut off sharply as Spark struck Harlequin in the ruff. The zorua rolled onto their back, limbs flailing as they tried to dislodge the tiny dedenne. Spark sat astride Harlequin's chest, striking them repeatedly with her paws while ducking beneath the zorua's frantic paws.
"Get off!" Harlequin barked, the whites of their eyes showing.
Hope plucked Spark from Harlequin's chest and set the dedenne back on the floor. "Yes. Just like that. But… why attack Harlequin?"
Harlequin growled as they rolled back onto their front. "Is this because of that druddigon comment? Because that hardly warrants-"
"Nah. I'm over that." Spark waved a dismissive paw. "I can just get a better hold on you than on that swinging bag."
Harlequin tutted and moved over to sit by the wall a good distance from Mischief. The zorua made a point of not looking his way, instead staring at the far corner of the room, bristling slightly.
Cleo was speechless. She stared dumbfounded at the dedenne. That attack was all too familiar.
"Methods aside, you learn fast!" Faith beamed at Spark. "I'm impressed!"
What neither Faith nor Hope noticed was that Spark was staring past Cleo at Mischief. The whimsicott seemed oblivious, instead gazing at the door as if he wanted to be anywhere else. Learning from example… Spark hadn't learned that move from Faith or NyukNyuk. She'd learned it from Mischief. Cleo covered her mouth and looked away.
"Cleo?"
The meowstic looked up to find Hope facing one of the punching bags while smiling at her. The gardevoir gestured with a paw for Cleo to join her.
"I'm going to demonstrate how to use disarming voice now," Hope explained. "Watch carefully."
Hope spread her arms out to the side and let out a loud yell. Cleo recoiled, her ears curling tightly against her head. A pink shockwave fired out from Hope, expanding to the sides as it shot across the room. It struck three of the punching bags, causing them to rock back and forth wildly.
Hope turned to Cleo and waved towards the targets. "Now you try."
Cleo pursed her lips as she looked over at the targets. She wasn't sure how much she could learn just from seeing a pokemon use a move once, especially one who performed psychic abilities in a different way than her. But if she didn't try then she'd never learn.
She took a deep breath and copied Hope exactly, throwing her arms out to the sides and letting out a yell that echoed harmlessly from the bare walls.
Nothing.
Her arms flopped to her sides, and Hope placed a paw on her shoulder.
"Just as I expected," said the gardevoir. "Disarming voice, as the name suggests, allows you to disarm your opponent. The sudden cry takes them by surprise. But the key to using special fairy-type attacks lies in their source. Xerneas gave us these attacks to defeat his enemies. With them, we can drive the Darkness from Estellis. Remember that, and try again."
"I thought the fairy-type moves were around before Yveltal," said Spark.
"They were," said Hope. "But so long as the Darkness is afflicting this world, we need to fight back. Many of us now, just like you, are being taught these moves to fight in the war."
Spark gave a curt nod and settled back to watch Cleo.
Cleo's brow knit together as she stared at the punching bags. If she was to imagine they were an enemy, would that make things any different? She closed her eyes and let her mind wander over everything she'd recently learned. The Outcasts weren't alone in the war. There was a whole garden filled with fairy-type pokemon who, like Mischief, could take down dark- and dragon-type pokemon. There was hope. Hope that the war would end, and pokemon could live in peace once more.
The image of that tapestry filled her mind, warping into memories of the events she'd seen in the Fairy Garden. Pokemon playing together, enjoying each other's company regardless of what type they were.
A world without Darkness. It was possible with Xerneas' power.
She spread her arms and tried again, letting out another yell. Almost on impulse, her ears unfurled and her eyes flashed blue. But instead of psychic energy, a pink shockwave fired from her ears. Exactly like the one Hope had created, it expanded across the room and struck three of the punching bags.
Cleo stared wide-eyed as they swayed about on their restraints. A smile spread across her muzzle and she let out a small laugh. "I did it!"
"You did!" Faith leapt into the air and cheered, while Hope clapped her paws beside her. "Well done!"
"Yes, well done!" Reshiram clapped his wing-claws together and grinned down at Cleo. "Now, as per your training, you are to try using your attacks on me."
"Wait, what?" Spark strutted forwards so she was standing beside Cleo. "You're a dragon-type, right? Won't they hurt you?"
"Of course, if I take a barrage of them!" Reshiram rumbled laughter and shook his head. "But a couple of attacks will barely phase me. Besides, what can a punching bag tell you? Nothing, other than that you've hit it. A real opponent can tell you how much strength your attack packs behind it, and help you fine-tune your moves more effectively. I've helped hundreds of pokemon train their attacks over the years. I wouldn't have volunteered if I couldn't take a fairy-type attack or two."
Cleo and Spark exchanged glances, then smiled up at the dragon.
"Well, if you're sure," said Cleo.
"Fantastic!" Reshiram took a step back. "Now. First Spark, then Cleo."
The dedenne shuffled towards Reshiram and craned her neck back to look up at his face. She barely stood much higher than his rear claw. With a shrug, she took one step back then leapt towards him, landing on his huge foot. She flailed her paws, striking at his ankle the same way she'd assaulted Harlequin.
After a moment, Reshiram lowered his head to catch Spark's eye. "Okay, that's very good. You can stop now."
Spark hopped from his foot and twitched her nose at him. "How was it?"
"It needs work, but certainly has potential."
"Potential?" Spark inclined her head on one side and tapped her chin with a claw.
"With work, you can improve and take down larger foes," Reshiram explained.
"Huh!" Spark grinned from ear to ear. "Okay, I'll take it!" She strutted past Cleo and tapped her ankle with a paw. "You're up next."
Cleo moved towards the white dragon and braced herself before him. He spread his wings, waiting for her attack. She took a breath, reminding herself that he wouldn't be volunteering if she was at risk of hurting him. Besides, didn't pokemon fight for fun anyway?
Once again, she threw out her paws and gave a loud cry. That pink shockwave was launched towards Reshiram, striking him in the chest. He flinched and recoiled slightly, then flashed her a toothy grin.
"Very good!" he said. "You two definitely learn fast!"
Cleo let out a sigh of relief and smiled up at him. "Thank you."
"Any time! If you wish to try them out some more, then I'm more than happy to oblige. But first…" He looked up at Mischief and pointed a claw. "I want to see what you can do."
Mischief placed a paw on his chest, rapidly paling. "Me?"
"Yes. I'm aware you already know some fairy-type moves. If you're going to battle in this war-"
"Uhm…" Mischief waved his paws before him and edged along the wall towards the door. "I'm not here to fight."
"Nonsense!" Faith trotted over to him and took his wrist. "You're part fairy! Come on, show us what you can do!"
Mischief's shoulders sank as he sighed. "Fine. But just this once, okay?"
Faith grinned and released him, stepping back towards Hope.
Mischief moved into the centre of the room and stood before Reshiram. The whimsicott flexed his paws and glanced back towards the door, but he shook it off and squared himself up to the dragon. He closed his eyes and took in a steadying breath. Then, with a flick of his paws, that dazzling purple light exploded from him and struck Reshiram square in the chest.
Reshiram's feet left the floor as he careened back across the room like a ragdoll. He struck the wall with an almighty crash, and all the punching bags swayed wildly, creaking on their chains. The white dragon slid down the wall to land in a crumpled heap on the floor.
Silence spread across the room as the events took a moment to sink in. NyukNyuk was the first to break it with a gasp as he leapt to Reshiram's side. His shadowy arms popped out from beneath his shroud and he gave the motionless dragon a little shake. NyukNyuk let out a cry and shook Reshiram again, more forcefully. Faith slapped her paws over her muzzle as she let out a stunned cry and flopped onto her bottom.
Mischief raised a feeble paw. "I…"
Hope joined the distressed mimikyu at Reshiram's side and placed a paw on the dragon's chest. Her expression turned to one of relief, but she looked up at Faith with a start.
"He's out cold," she said. "Get the nurse!"
Faith leapt back to her feet and darted from the dojo.
Mischief's breathing turned irregular as he looked from the fallen dragon to the door and back. He took one step back, then another, then he bolted from the room.
"Mischief!" Cleo took off after him, leaving Spark and Harlequin standing rooted to the spot.
Spark's ears drooped and she looked up at Harlequin. "What on earth just happened?"
...
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