Ch.94: Nature vs. Metal! Arise, a New Dawn for the Team!
After being given the signal to start, Gwyn immediately went on the offensive so that Margo couldn't. It was a surprising move since the green Mew often tried to keep herself at a medium range when fighting, so it was a welcomed change of pace Margo didn't fully expect.
Still, it wasn't a debilitating change. Margo extended her arm and flicked her fingers up. "Turris Metallum!"
Gwyn's eyes followed the presence of magic suddenly spiking from under her. The floor rippled like water before an extension of it shot out. Using her whip, she latched onto the floor and pulled herself from the rising spire of metal. The Mew was about to sigh in relief when more magic suddenly started spreading through the ground.
"EEP!" Getting her feet on the floor, she ran as more spires shot out of the ground, with some coming narrowly close to hitting her, only slashing off some fur off her cheek.
Margo followed her with her glare. "Running away isn't particularly heroic, young lady." She extended her palm and commanded a whole row of spikes to shoot out in Gwyn's direction.
Gwyn ran to the other side of the room, meeting with the wall. Without losing much momentum, she ran up the side and backflipped over the spikes, letting them crash into the wall instead. "It's not running away!" She landed on the spikes and ran across them towards Margo. "It's a tactical retreat!"
The Mawile raised her brow. "You don't say?" She swept her hand across the spikes and commanded them to grow spikes out.
Gwyn jumped before they reached her feet. She pulled out her vine and whipped it at Margo, who jumped back, an inch out of its reach. Gwyn pulled out some seeds and absorbed them into her glove.
"Now look who's running away! Scorching Winter!" She formed the magic circle and fired the solid blue beam of heated cold energy.
Margo spun around and held her hand out. "Wall of Adamantine!" The beam engulfed her as a silvery energy burst to life before her.
Gwyn clenched her teeth as ice formed over her arm, burning her a tad. A block of ice where Margo stood took up most of the wall, with an entire portion of the room covered in a thick layer of ice. Thankfully, it was nowhere near the others.
Flint covered himself and shivered. "Did that get stronger?"
Wes grinned. "Our special training is working like a charm! Seems some of her spells are getting stronger."
It was indeed true. Gwyn often didn't have to worry about her own spells recoiling against her, but the frost over her arm proved she was increasing her output more. She breathed out, then shook the frost off. If I'm lucky, that ended the fight altogether. Of course, given our luck, I'd say that's a big fat-
The block of ice formed cracks under a deep pressure inside. Gwyn gripped her whip and held it defensively as the ice burst open, sending flying chunks all across the room and into the walls. As the Mew guessed from that last spell she heard, a thick metal barrier had wrapped around Margo just as the spell was fired. It deformed and vanished into silver light.
Margo waved around her hand, loosening her wrist, with a thin trail of mist surrounding her. "Phew…I've never felt ice so cold that it felt like my skin was on fire. That could've ripped the skin right off my body." She smirked. "Too bad it didn't reach."
Gwyn smirked back. "I'm full of more tricks, lady."
"You don't need tricks. You just need to win." She held her hand up and conjured a sword. "Do try to put some effort into it. I'm just warming up."
"Heh…I haven't even begun to warm up. In fact, I'm as cold as an ice cube!" Gwyn paused, then shouted over at Wes, "Wes, was that good trash talking or should I say something else?!"
"It's a good start!" Wes shouted back.
"This was part of your training?!" Flint exclaimed.
Tony nodded his head with intrigue. "Ah yes, one of the most important aspects to battling," he said in a sagely tone.
"I concur," Ella agreed in the same manner. Flint slapped himself and groaned.
"Gwyn! Focus!" Griffin shouted.
Gwyn spun around, then dodged a flying sword. It spun around like a boomerang and came close to hitting her in the back. She sprung off her hand and let it fly under her. She used her whip and caught it. "Back to sender!" She spun on her heel and prepared for the toss.
Margo raised her pressed fingers. "Telum Dispergat."
With a snap of her fingers, the sword broke into millions of pieces, resembling twinkling silver stars floating around Gwyn. Following the hand gestures of Margo, they spun around Gwyn, entrapping her like a hurricane with her in the eye of it.
Gwyn swung her whip into the storm, but gasped as the end of it got lacerated into tiny shreds. "AAAHHH! MY BABY!" She pulled it back and stuffed it in her bag for safety. She then cried out as those silver lights passed by her arm, leaving behind small, but painful cuts. She covered the bleeding wounds, but more lights kept slashing her with her guard not up.
"Gwyn! You need to keep your guard up!" Wes shouted.
Gwyn whipped out a seed and slammed it down. "Accelerated Growth!" Wood sprung up from under her hand and cocooned her inside a barrier.
The thickness of the wood would give her some protection, but she wasn't sure for how long. The lights were already circling around the dome and cutting into it, leaving sawdust in a ring around it.
Margo smirked. "My Telum Dispergat allows me to breakdown metal into the tiniest particles and shape them into missile-like blades. These tiny things can't kill on their own, but they can bring down just about anyone as a unit. I wonder how well you'll stack up against a million razor sharp blades you can't even take down without getting cut up." She snapped her fingers.
The spinning increased, shredding apart the durable dome of wood. Once the particles parted, Margo narrowed her eyes at the bare floor with only a pile of wood shavings left behind. There was no Mew in sight.
"Where did she go?" Margo felt magical energy surging under her feet. She jumped just as a wooden root struck out and tried to grab her ankle. "Telum Dispergat!" She waved her hand and used the metal particles to shred the root to pieces.
"HA!" Hundreds of wooden tendrils broke from the ground and formed into a tightly woven cage that trapped around Margo. More roots sprout out and ripped the floor open, with Gwyn rising out in her Informis Oak Form. She smirked. "Caught ya!" She shrunk down the cage to pin Margo inside. "I wanted to end this as quickly as I could! How do you like my cage?!"
Gwyn narrowed her eyes worriedly as the queen chuckled ominously inside her prison. "Kid…do you really think a wooden cage can contain me?" Gwyn shrieked as blades struck through the reinforced wood and sliced it open like a pumpkin. The blades spun and scattered the wooden debris away, leaving Margo free atop her floating swords.
The Mew grunted and jumped back as she regrew her hands. "Nuts…"
"Nature and metal are found from the earth…but, don't forget little Mew: we've made tools to cut down nature." She held her hand out and channeled silver magic into a spiral at the center of her palm. "Only the toughest trees can break a metal ax. Only the tree of a god can break mortal creation!" She threw the magic at Gwyn.
The Mew jumped out of the way, then watched the magic bounce across the ground like a ball. She narrowed her eyes curiously, then screamed as the magic exploded outward into the shape of hundreds of arrows. "HOLY ME!"
"Sagitta Debris!"
Gwyn morphed her hands into a large shield and stopped the arrows from hitting her. She watched the other ones fly around her and would've left it at that, but she felt the magic vibrating erratically from them. She clenched her teeth as those arrows, as well as the ones embedded into her barrier, exploded into smaller, but faster arrows. Too caught off guard, they shredded into Gwyn and tore apart her bark skin.
"GAH!" she screamed as wooden pieces flew off her body. She looked at them again, gritting her teeth from the pain, then watched aghast as they prepared for a third explosion. "Oh no!" She held her breath and fired the arrows off her body before going underground.
The arrows, once again, exploded into a final scatter storm. They bounced off the walls and ceiling and came dangerously close to hitting the group. Segar lifted his hand and deflected the arrows with a blue-green barrier. These final arrows shattered against any surface they hit and broke into silvery dust that scattered through the air.
Tony glared. "Gwyn's not getting any good hits off. Margo's making sure she can't get in close."
"Come on, Gwyn! You just started!" Ella shouted. "You can pull this off, we know it!"
Margo floated over the hole in the floor, holding her hand up to her mouth as she laughed haughtily. "Is this the best of a goddess? Dear Gwyn, I would've thought you put more effort into your training. I've been watching you, after all. I have to keep an eye on the competition." She then glared seriously. "Don't tell me this is all you've accomplished in the week."
"Who said I was done yet?!" Margo barely dodged the purple vine whip that can close to grabbing her wrist.
The metal mage glared at the slimy texture of the vine, vaguely recognizing the appearance. Is this…toxic hunter plant?
The vine retracted back to Gwyn, who was now in her Toxic Hunter Form. She smirked at Margo as the vines extending from her back wiggled around. She had the forethought to make small holes in her jacket so that they didn't rip open her clothes.
"I see you know what this stuff is." She squeezed her hands over each other and dripped out the poison like sweat. She parted her hands, now holding large globs of the stuff. "Then I suppose you know how much this stuff hurts!" She lobbed it at Margo.
The queen brought out her metal barrier and blocked the glob, then slammed her palm against the other side. The shield scattered into metal, bullet-shaped fragments that riddled into the floor. Gwyn skipped backwards, staying out of their reach. She used her vines to swing around the room while the bullets chased her.
Once Margo was out of shield to fire, she snapped her fingers and summoned twenty blades, then connected their hilts together to form a wheel of blades. "Rotam Blade!" She flicked her hand and sent the weapon flying.
Gwyn slingshot herself to the ceiling, yelping as the blade came close to hitting her rear. She clutched the ceiling, then held her gloved hand out. "Detonation Wave!" She snapped her fingers and fired an incendiary blast at the wheel.
Margo smirked. "I don't think so!" She aimed her palm at the incendiary wave. "Arma Fabricor, plus Rotam Blade!"
Gwyn watched with boggled eyes as her Detonation Wave didn't make it to the flying wheel blade. Instead, in swirled at the epicenter of the blast and took the shape of the same Rotam Blade, only made up of pure explosive energy.
"How did you-?!" Gwyn had no time to talk as now two blades were flying at her. She struck her vines into the ceiling and swung before the hit her.
Margo guided their trajectory with her extended hands and finger movements. "You like my little trick, Gwyn? I'd take a closer look at your Detonation Wave! Something seems to have happened to it during the firing phase!"
Gwyn flew upside and observed the explosive wheel blade spinning at her. She narrowed her eyes and picked up on traces of magic inside. She realized something. The blade wasn't made entirely from the Detonation Wave. There were metal particles clustered inside to retain the shape. Margo somehow got those particles into the spell just as it fired.
How did I not notice that?! When did she have time to this?! Gwyn was so wrapped in her thoughts that she failed to notice the wall coming up. She stopped with her hands, but turned over her shoulder with a frightened expression as the explosive wheel slammed into her and detonated.
"Gwyn!" Flint shouted.
Griffin narrowed his eyes. "How did the queen turn her own spell against her? When did she use a spell?"
"You guys really need to work on your observation skills." The group turned to their own team member, Tony. He had his eyes focused on the field. "Those scatter arrows she was firing all around the place. She wasn't using them to just catch Gwyn off her guard." He pointed at the air. "The second the third bomb went off, they scattered into the air. They're practically invisible, like dust collecting in your room and the only way to visibly see it in the air is with a direct light source."
The group turned back to the battlefield and focused harder on the air. All but Ella could see it, for as hard as it was, but there were tiny particles of silver magic riding along with the air particles.
Wes glared. "Now I see. If Gwyn tries to use any of her attack magic, Margo can take control of it and turn it into her own improvised weapons."
"And it wouldn't be hard, either. The entire place is filled with the stuff." Tony clenched his teeth. "Which makes me wonder…"
"What?" Ella asked.
Margo wasn't paying attention to them and kept focus on Gwyn, who was sitting within the cracks of the wall. Her Toxic Hunter Form had faded from the impact. Despite the explosion and cuts she received, she held up fine.
She panted lightly, then pulled herself up from the hole. "Yep…yep, that hurt a lot…" The Mew breathed, then glared at Margo. "That's cold, lady! Using my own spells against me!"
Margo touched her chin, smiling slyly. "That's the power of innovation for you. Any great crafter can turn anything into a weapon, even the very elements themselves. That's the beauty of magic." She raised her hand and summoned a cluster of metal particles around her. "If this is all you can amount to, then perhaps we made a mistake believing you are one of the six prophesized warriors."
Gwyn clenched her teeth bitterly for a moment, then relaxed and displayed a calm, yet unnerving grin. "Fine…if that's how you want to play at it…" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pecan nut. "I'll just have to even things out." She placed the nut between her teeth, holding it there for a moment.
Margo narrowed her eyes. "Oh?"
Ella leaned forward, squinting hard. "Eh? What's Gwyn up to?"
Flint's eyes widened. "Wait, is that…?" He looked at Wes, who grinned knowingly at him. "You mean…she actually…?" He looked back at the Mew, suddenly in awe.
Gwyn stood up in the hole and bent her legs. "I wasn't going to use this until later, but I don't like having my pride picked on. Let me give you a taste of that god power of mine!" She tightened down and bit down on the magican, swallowing the shell.
Margo stared in confusion, but then gasped as a power surge of energy exploded out from the Mew. Her green aura had now become a more vibrant, neon green, and it was rushing out of her body like high winds. Margo held up her Wall of Adamantine to block the surge of magic. It was so bright, the Mew was completely blinded from her vision.
This is the power I saw last week! Margo darted her eyes around. Clever girl. She didn't find a way to pull it out naturally, so she had to go for the cheap alternative. Not what I wanted, but it's a start. She summoned two swords in the hands. This magic is intense. I need to keep my guard-
"Hey!" Margo's eyes widened, suddenly feeling the Mew's presence from behind. Gwyn's eyes were shrunk, a side effect of the magical nut, but they were still as bright and cheery as ever. She was cloaked in a neon green aura that waved like an intense inferno. "How's this for amounting?!" She brought her hands together.
Margo spun around. "What are you-?!"
"Accelerated Growth: Nature's Discord!" From her hand sprouted bamboo-like spears that flew out in the form of jagged tendrils.
Margo spun her swords and blocked the bamboo weaponry, but they pushed her off her floating sword and slammed her into the ground. The bamboo spears rooted themselves into the floor and shot out in large clusters, reaching as high as the ceiling.
Margo rolled out of the way before another cluster grew from under her. Bamboo is said to grow fast. Some can grow just under a hundred centimeters in a day. With her power to speed up plant growth with magic, she can riddle an entire area with these bamboo spears in seconds!
Indeed, that was true. In a matter of seconds, faster than anyone anticipated, an entire jungle of bamboo had grown throughout the room. Some jabbed through the floor, ceiling, and walls, giving it a jungle gym aesthetic. They were just spaced enough to maneuver through, though not enough to where an untrained acrobat can easily get through.
Margo looked around and found herself surrounded in bamboo. She glared up while a trickle of blood ran down her arm. It's not just power. She did this on purpose. The bamboo is perfectly spaced out to still fight in. Her control over plants is so refined, she could create a suitable fighting space, even with the surplus quantity.
The others, protected behind Segar's barrier, gawked at the scale and precision dealt by Gwyn's spell. She didn't just simply go for an attack. She went all out with it. "All of this came from some bamboo?" Griffin asked aloud. "Geez…when that magic of hers starts going, she can push plants beyond their limits."
"No kidding," Ella mumbled. "Imagine getting pierced by one of those…"
Wes grinned excitedly. "Gwyn's really using her head. If she can't fight up close, she'll have to be smart about it."
Gwyn landed atop a high place, panting heavily with her godly aura blazing a little weaker. The magican can't act on my reserve forever. I say I only have a minute before I have to take another. She grimaced. Just taking one was fine, maybe two, but I think my limit's at three. After that, I might get sick.
With her limited time remaining, she had to work fast. She pulled out her whip and wrapped it in her magic. "Alright Margo, I've got a new game we can try out!" Her whip reacted to her magic and took the shape of a dragon. The dragon wrapped itself around Gwyn, awaiting her command. "I like to experiment with plants! Let's see how well they react to my magic!" Using her dominant hand, her left, she passed her magic into the dragon whip, creating a webbing pattern of neon green to spread over its long, thin body.
Margo jumped through the spaces of bamboo. All she could see was Gwyn's aura, not her physical body. What is she up to? Margo still had her metal particles filling the air. She could use Telum Dispergat and shred apart the bamboo, though…the magic conducting through it made it harder than it normally was.
A roar broke her out of her thoughts. She turned around, looking for the source, when she saw a shadow forming under her. She looked up, then gasped. A dragon, three times the size of a Seviper, made purely of plant matter flew through the spaces of the bamboo. The magical energy coursed and crackled wildly through its body.
"Shit!" Margo evaded its bite and jumped through the bamboo as it corrected its course.
Margo raised her hands, summoned multiple daggers, and threw them like buzz saws, shredding into the monster's sides. She clenched her teeth as the dragon regenerated faster than it could be torn apart. It's growing back faster thanks to that god magic! She smirked. She really has been practicing.
Gwyn kept at a safe distance, monitoring her Forest Dragon Whip's hunt while searching through her bag. Second the magic gives out, it won't do much more. I just need it as a distraction. She pulled out a banana-shaped fruit, which was white with black stripes. She peeled it open. "In we go!" She went for a bite.
However, before she could sink her teeth into it, a metal spear spot it out of her hand. She shrieked and nearly fell off her perch. She held on by her arms, sighing in relief, then turned. The spear was thrown by Margo, who was still being chased by the dragon whip.
"Your god aura's not looking as strong as a second ago! Does it have a time limit?"
Gwyn glared and pulled herself up. "Accelerated Growth: Mad Party Mutation!" With a cluster of seeds in her hands, she grew a motley collection of dangerous plants that took on monstrous shapes. They broke through the bamboo and attempted to sandwich Margo between them and the approaching dragon.
Margo clapped her hands together. "Guardian Summoning! Model: Iron Knight!"
The two plant forces smashed between her, with the dragon whip biting down on the plant cluster, and presumably Margo. Gwyn panted lightly, then jumped up higher to get an aerial view. She glared as a magical light pierced through the dragon's mouth.
The dragon whip raised its brow in confusion, then froze to the sound of a metal shing. Suddenly, its head exploded into ribbons, with a violent hurricane of blades in its place.
Gwyn gasped. "What the?!"
Margo landed atop a bamboo bar amidst the raining plant matter. Floating above her was a metallic suit of armor. Silver metal polished to perfection, refracting the faintest light off its clean surface. It wielded a straight edge sword, about six feet long, with green stains coated along the edge.
Margo chuckled at Gwyn's shocked face. "You should know one doesn't need to summon a Celestial Guardian to have a Guardian. Like I said, a fine crafter can turn the elements into their tools. And metal is the fine work of craftsmanship that shapes the future." She pointed dramatically at Gwyn. "Now, experience the power of my magic!"
The knight rocketed straight at Gwyn, sword brandished in her direction. Gwyn nearly slipped backwards off her perch, but jumped off before she did. The sword cut cleanly through the bamboo, despite being reinforced. It only then occurred to Gwyn that her god aura was flickering out. The magican seed had finally worn off.
"Oh no!" She jumped between bamboo branches as the knight hunted her down. "I feel like this is payback for sending a dragon after you!"
Margo collected a cluster of metal particles into her palm. "Don't be so cold, Gwyn. I'm not one to hold grudges. Think of it as…inspiration!" She threw the cluster of particles through the bamboo. "Telum Dispergat!"
The tiny metal blades shredded into the bamboo, weakening them down bit by bit with each passing. With the metal powder in the air, more joined in and made the cluster of silver light even bigger.
Gwyn dashed between branches, now having to keep eye of the particles and the knight chasing her down. "Is it too late to call for a timeout?!" she shrieked.
She swung off the bamboo bars and threw herself to where her mass of plant matter that was also her whip laid. She swiped her hand through the matter and pulled out a newly reformed, thorny whip. She spun around and caught the knight's wrist, then swung around some bamboo and pinned its arm against two closely woven sticks.
She reached into her pouch and felt around for some seeds. "Nutrient Transvoro!" She grabbed one of her flash freeze seeds, absorbed it, then extended her hand out to the knight, collected cold magic through the glove. "Scorching Winter!"
The magic circle opened and prepared to fire, but more metal particles instantly wrapped themselves into the collecting mass of magic. Before Gwyn could say anything, Margo slammed her leg into her side and threw her across the bamboo forest.
"And now…Arma Fabricor! Plus, Guardian Summoning! Model: Iron Knight!"
"Not again!" Gwyn shrieked.
What was once her freeze spell now became a metal and ice knight, with a cold mist seeping off the cooled metal. It slashed into the bamboo and released the other knight, leaving frost coated over the divided sides. Margo balanced on a vertical bamboo stick, with two drastically different knights floating by her side.
"A queen needs only the strongest knights at her side, don't you agree?" she mocked haughtily. She snapped her fingers. "Now, my knights, tear apart this forest!"
Wielding their swords high, they shredded through the thick passages of bamboo as they chased down the fleeing Mew. Gwyn used her whip to swing through the tight gaps, barley avoiding the close shaves to her fur. The knight made up of her freeze spell took it a step up with the cold winds that froze the bamboo with each slash, spreading like a virus. The cold extended far out to a bamboo stick that Gwyn hooked to. It passed into her whip, snapping the end clean off.
"Why does this keep happening to my whip?!" she screamed as she fell through the bamboo, smashing through several sticks before hitting the ground. She groaned, then gasped as bamboo rained down on her, all cut to pieces.
The storm of slices left a now open space for Margo to fly around on a metal platform. She rubbed her chin, smirking down at Gwyn. "You're certainly inventive. I honestly didn't expect much in such a short time, but…" She held her hand up. "Seems I have to take this fight seriously." Metal dust clustered into a large cloud overhead.
Gwyn picked herself up and reached through her bag for another one of the Naturae bananas. "Where is it, where is it?!"
"And now, Sagitta Debris: Iron Shower!" Metal pellets rained down from the clouds, directly over Gwyn.
Remembering vividly what one of those nearly did to her, Gwyn quickly rifled through her bag before fishing out the Naturae Fruit of choice. She peeled the new one open and squeezed the banana into her mouth before swallowing. She covered herself as the pellets hit her and the ground.
They glowed and, just as before, exploded in dozens of arrows, with those arrows splitting off into dozens of more. Margo used her floating platform to shield against the blast. She could hear the metal clanging from the other side, knowing well it guaranteed a hit off against the Mew.
However, at the last second, she felt a strong presence of magic erupting from down below. It wasn't like earlier with her god aura, but her magical power was definitely increasing. Which fruit is this? Margo glared, realizing something was off. She could see the faint outline of Gwyn's body down below and she seemed to be standing up against the exploding arrows. How in the-?
She warped open a hole through her shield and peeked through. Once the arrows went through their third reaction, the dust cleared. Standing at the center of it all was Gwyn, now in a new form. Her fur was white with a monochrome, barky texture. She had a glossy coating to her fur, possibly some oils that came along with the transformation.
Margo glared, noticing that she wasn't fazed by the arrows. "Hmm…" She conjured a throwing knife for her metal knight to fling at the Mew.
Gwyn crossed her arms and took the hit. The knife bounced off her skin like it struck a brick wall. Margo's knights were able to throw knives through solid sheets of metal with that kind of speed and power, yet Gwyn wasn't fazed at all.
Gwyn spun around and posed. "How do you like it? The newest addition to the Naturae Fruit family! It's made from the bark of the iron armor tree! Flinty told me soldiers would skin these trees to make makeshift armor! This stuff can take any punishment better than any regular armor our there!"
Ella glanced at Flint. "When did she skin an iron armor tree?"
"I think she bought seeds," Flint guessed.
Griffin narrowed his eyes. He faintly remembered telling Gwyn back in the water temple that she should work on improving her defenses. Perhaps she took his suggestion to heart after all that.
Margo lowered herself down, arms crossed over her chest. "Hmph. Doesn't seem to provide much else."
"I admit, it's pretty simple compared to my other designs." She reached into her coat and pulled out a second magican. "But now I don't have to worry about those pesky blades of yours."
Margo smirked. "Oh dear…"
"What?"
"Heh…" She snapped her fingers, ordering her knights to the floor. "You're always coming up with new ways to improve yourself. I've realized something from most of your fighting style. You don't have one. Or…at least a set one. You're no different from the swordsman over there, Griffin. You use plants as your weapons."
Gwyn glared. "Yeah. So? Got a problem with that?"
"On the contrary, I find it fascinating. But do tell me…" Margo tilted her head. "In your pursuit to continue your mother's research in creating these experimental fruits, how far are you willing to go? I have to wonder…what the ultimate fruit in your collection will be."
Gwyn narrowed her eyes. "Ultimate fruit?"
"Your mother was a fascinating woman, always pushing the boundaries of her research, if I remember correctly. She didn't possess magic like you, but she wanted something to make up for it. I bet those fruits were her loophole. Still, with the research put into it…how far are you willing to go? And more importantly…" Margo glared. "Will it benefit your friends in the end?"
Gwyn's eyes widened. "I…I, well…"
Margo raised her hand. "In your case, you want to perfect everything in your work, not just out of pride for your mother's legacy, but to also ensure the protection of your friends. You…are a budding rose blooming with potential, with a violent side not often shown." The queen smirked. "A…Rose of Death, if you will." She snapped her fingers.
The knights flew at Gwyn while she was momentarily stunned. The Mew shook awake and quickly crunched down on the magican before taking a strong swing by the icy metal knight. Her tough exterior sponged the damage as she bounced off the walls, just as the magical pecan took effect again.
The knights turned to fly after her, but felt something growing from under them. Right before Gwyn was thrown back, she planted two magically charged seeds under them, springing into thick roots that ensnared and constricted around the constructs.
The neon green magic exploded from her body, vitalizing her with power once more. Gwyn crossed her arms. "My potential will rise above the limits! Just you wait and see!"
"I've got nothing but patience, girl!" Margo thrusted her palm and ordered a bullet hell down on her.
Gwyn channeled magic through her arms. "Accelerated Growth: Self-Made Blade!" A sickle of the same material of her body sprung from each of her wrists. She glared at the approaching bullets as she coated these blades in her magic. Just like Wes taught me. Keep your eye focused on the target and let a rip. It wasn't quite the same as with martial arts training, but she'll take what she can get.
Gwyn swung her arms with skillful dexterity, using these wood blades to slash through the metal bullets. Despite being grown from her wrists, she moved them just fine to cut through any bullets approaching her. She crouched down and jumped straight through towards the queen.
Margo quickly summoned a sword and blocked the Mew's wrist blade. Sparks flew off as the two blades grinded together. Margo was able to hold up with one hand on the hilt, while Gwyn had to push on her arm to keep from flying back against the tense stalemate.
"Your friends are still growing with potential, but you have a long way to go!" Margo planted her feet down firmly and tightened her grip on the blade. "You have the most potential and power out of any of them, yet you have the longest to go! You are their hope, Gwyn! Your entire purpose to this team isn't to protect, but to make sure they stay alive! You have the power to master nature itself! You are a god amongst us! You're not fighting for just them!"
She twisted her sword and threw Gwyn straight down. The Mew slammed off the floor, then took a rain of bullets. She clenched her teeth and raised her arms as the bullets pelted against her tough skin. Her dermal armor was strong, but it wasn't damage-proof. If it took too much abuse, it would cancel out on its own.
She raised her wrist sickles and slashed through the bullets. It was a little harder to do on her back, but she would have to manage. Margo kept directly above the Mew, refusing to let her crawl out of the way.
"You have potential, Gwyn Belladonna! Where's the rest of that untapped potential?!" The queen glared. "How long do we have to wait for you and the rest of your friends to live up to the standards of the prophecy?!"
Gwyn continuously swung her arms, feeling them burn from work. She bared her teeth. "M-M-Maybe if you weren't…pelting me with bullets…I'd give you a quicker answer!"
"Then let's change things up." She flicked her wrist and sent a scattering of metal dust to her trapped Metal Guardians.
The dusts sawed into the roots ensnaring them and broke them free. They raised their swords and flew for Gwyn. She shrieked and covered herself as the two blades passed through the bullet rain and slammed into her. Hard metal and cold metal pressed hard against her tough skin, cracking her outer shell and coating her in a thick sheet of ice.
She flew off their swords and slammed into the wall with her back, spitting out blood as a result. Gwyn tried to land on her feet, but the metal knight caught her by the throat and pushed her up against the wall. Well, it wasn't so much her throat as it was…her entire body. These knights were huge compared to her.
Gwyn struggled in her capture. "Grr! Let me…go!"
Margo floated down. "Any other fancy tricks up your sleeve? Or have we bled you dry?" She glared. "Is this the extent of your talents?" She raised her hand, mentally ordering the knight holding her to raise its sword. "After all…if one can't fight for themselves, then what good are you as a teammate? Can you truly protect yourself?"
Gwyn clenched her teeth tightly, her jaw visibly quivering under the tension. "I'll keep improving and helping my friends get stronger…I know I have a lot of power inside me. I'm not a born fighter like Wes or Tony or Griffin…I might not know everything in the world…but I know what I know! And I'll keep mastering it until I've reached the pinnacle of my talents!"
With the remainder of the god magic left at the surface, she channeled it to her left hand before reaching into her bag.
"And that pinnacle…is a mountain that I won't reach until I've done my part!"
Green light flashed through the knight's closed hand. Roots sprang out from under, then exploded outward, pushing the knight back under a mass of tree roots. Margo called upon her other Guardian to slash up the tree roots as they reached her. The queen's eyes darted up, now finding Gwyn directly overhead.
Gwyn cupped her hands around her mouth. "Venenata!" She breathed the poisonous, fire-like smog down on Margo.
Margo summoned two blades and spun them like fans to direct their path away. She glared as the fumes were rapidly corroding the metal. She quickly flew back before the poison engulfed her. It must've been enhanced by her magic.
"Get back here!" Margo felt something snap around her wrist. The thorny feeling told her it was the Mew's whip. She was flung off her platform and brought in close to Gwyn, who had her fist pulled back. "Take…this!" She threw a punch for the queen's face.
Margo caught it in her palm, quite surprised by the route she took. Not the greatest punch…but this girl is full of surprises. She extended her hand out towards the floor. "Ferrum Liquida!"
They crashed into the floor, but they felt through like it was water. Team Ravenfield gasped and quickly inspected the floor. The floor was still, but noticeably changes in the state of matter were observable.
"Crap…" Tony grumbled. "That might be a problem."
"What do you mean, Sparks?" Griffin asked.
"Really think about it for a moment. Gwyn's in a pool of metal…"
Flint paled. "Gwyn…"
A moment after, Gwyn resurfaced, gasping for air. Her Iron Armor Form had finally vanished. She was dripping in the liquid metal, with clumps of it stuck in her hair. "Ugh! So gross!" She tried to pat it of her hair, but stopped when the surface started bubbling. "Uh…oh."
A shark-like construct made up of the liquid metal launched out from below, with Gwyn right inside its jaws. She shrieked and tried to swim out, but the jaws closed shut on her.
A tornado spun out and dispersed, revealing Margo, clean of any liquid metal. She snapped her fingers and summoned a glistening spear over her head. "Take this, Belladonna!" She swung her arm and commanded the spear to fly into the shark.
The gang tensed up at the sounds of screaming and clanging within the liquid shark. Margo was flicking her hand back and forth, guiding the spear inside. She glared at the sight of Gwyn's magic aura, then noticed something wrong inside.
"Don't tell me…" She flicked her fingers up.
The spear flew out through the snout of the shark, dispersing the construct, with Gwyn hanging on for dear life by the spear. "This would be so cool if it weren't trying to STAB me!"
Margo landed on the ground, tapping it once with her foot to revert it to solid ground. She glared and twisted her hands. "I'm ending this!" She clapped her hands together, summoning a silvery magic circle under her feet.
Wes gasped. "Oh no…"
"Not that again!" Flint shrieked. They've seen it four other times to know what Margo had in mind next.
Segar glared. "Your Majesty, you wouldn't…"
"Sorry to do this to you, Ms. Belladonna, but I can't go easy on you just because you're the prophesized heroes!" She raised her hands. "Rite of Metal: Hephaestus' Steel Rain!"
The magic circle expanded out over the ceiling, blinding everyone in its light. Tony clenched his teeth. "What the heck is she…?" His eyes widened as metal started spreading over the barrier protecting them. "Oh no…" He banged on the shield and shouted, "Gwyn, get to cover, now!"
"Huh?!" Gwyn shouted from above. Her eyes widened, suddenly feeling her fingers going stiff. She shrieked upon seeing her right hand being turned into metal. "AAAAHHH!" She slipped off the spear she was holding and fell to the ground. She quickly scrambled up and chopped frantically against her metal hand, which was now up to her elbow. "What are you doing to me?!"
Margo raised her finger. "Don't worry your pretty little head. The petrification won't kill you. You're being coated in a metallic layer that'll keep you from moving around. Once the petrification is complete, you won't be able to move. I just need to keep you immobilized long enough to declare victory."
"Petrification?!" Gwyn panted frenetically as the metal virus was now spreading out through her body, evening turning her clothes into metal. The metal had already claimed her elbow, unable to bend it. "Stop it! STOP IT!" She bounced around in a panic, breathing out of control. "GUYS! I NEED HELP!"
"Gwyn! Calm down! You're fine!" Wes shouted as more of their barrier was being coated. "You can get out of this!"
"I can't! I don't know what to do!" she screamed, tears brimming at her eyes. "Queen Margo, please stop!"
Margo glared. "Are you going to surrender?"
Gwyn opened her mouth, almost responding on instinct, but stopped before the words could be said. She looked back down her body and saw more of it had claimed her legs.
Margo tutted with her finger, saying, "You're supposed to be smart, right? Why don't you tell me how you'll get out of this?" She narrowed her eyes. "You're the girl who can cheat any magical ailment or situation, right?"
"I…I…" Gwyn's teeth were pressed together tightly. Any harder and they might begin to crack. She shouldn't be panicking like this. She had almost died on a bunch of other occasions, but there was something about being petrified that didn't sit well with her. Plus, at the very least, she had her friends to help her. Could she do this herself?
Margo crossed her arms. "You've got a minute before you're completely petrified."
Gwyn was on a time limit. Just great. What was she to do? What would Wes do? Probably taunt the opponent. What would Griffin do? Probably attack the opponent…violently. What would Tony do? Probably outsmart his opponent. What would Ella do? Do something tricky, if anything. What would Flint do? He would try and stay out of the fight until he had a plan.
What…would I do?
Even though she had a time limit, Gwyn stared off into space, thinking it over in her head. She had plenty of options, but were they good enough? Did she have the strengths necessary to carry her own weight? How…often does she need to rely on the others for help?
They often say she reminded them of a child, and she didn't mind that. However, that childlike mindset…couldn't protect her forever. She could protect herself just fine, but…was it enough? Did she still yearn to be dependent on someone else for her own shortcomings?
Growing up was hard on her…maybe that's why her mind never caught up. She wanted to keep what good times she had as a child alive. Was that…limiting her potential? Or was she refusing to grow out of it? Did she need to stop acting like a child…or stop acting childlike?
She closed her eyes, then took a few deep breaths. Her friends trusted that she can handle this fight on her own. She didn't want to disappoint them by crying over it. She didn't have to depend on her friends all the time. This time, she was going to do this on her own. No one was going to save her but herself.
Using what little time she had in her other arm, she plunged her hand into her bag and pulled out three items: a magican, a seed, and a peach with dark pink wavy lines wrapping around the base. She opened her mouth wide and stuffed them into her mouth, chewing quickly as the petrification reached to her neck.
Margo raised her hand. "Five seconds left."
Everything below the neck was turned into metal. Gwyn chewed everything in her mouth into mush, then swallowed down her stiff throat. Please work, please work…
The metal coating finished around her head. The light vanished from her eyes. She was encased in darkness.
"Zero."
"Mommy, Mommy!"
"Hehe…what is it, Gwyn?"
"Can I help in the lab today?"
"Oh…I don't know if you can handle it."
"I'm a big girl, I promise! I'll be really good this time!"
"Hmm…you know, Gwyn, I won't always be here to hold your hand in the lab. Sure you can handle things on your own?"
"Of course I can! And when I get older, I'll be just as great as you!"
"Hmm…a mother's dream. Gwyn…have I ever showed you my…secret project?"
"Secret project?"
"They're a little something I've come up with in theory. Haven't quite made them yet. Buuut…maybe you can show me some ideas yourself to inspire me."
"Ooh, ooh! I'm really good at that!"
"Well, get over here. I haven't worked on it yet, but I think you might find better use out of them one day. Maybe you'll be able to continue my research in my place one day. We potion makers have one goal in mind: to make magical serums and items to help travelers and customers alike. This idea means a lot to me…and I know you can take it to new heights."
"I promise, Mommy!"
"That's my girl."
Margo walked towards the metal statue of Gwyn, who was frozen in a state of shock, facing at the ceiling. The queen tapped on the side of her metal head. "Hmm…seems things didn't go the way I hoped."
The team stared in horror at the metal statue of their friend, frozen in defeat. Flint gritted his teeth. "Gwyn…lost?"
"No…" Ella's paw pressed against the barrier. "She…can't be out yet…"
Griffin growled under his breath. "And after all that work she put in…"
Segar sighed. "It's how it should. Queen Margo had a job and she completed it. Rest assured, your friend will be fine. The petrification will keep her completely immobile, but she's locked in stasis. Once Margo's rite is turned off, she'll be back to normal."
Margo turned her back to the frozen Mew and faced Team Ravenfield. "Let that be a lesson to all of you. Take note of your friend's defeat. This is what you must look out for against the Shadow King. Brute force and strength, or tactics and wits. Either or decides the victor."
The group looked down…all except Wes and Tony. Wes glared defiantly at the queen. "And who decided Gwyn lost?" The three heads turned to the Umbreon for answers.
Margo cupped her hand over her ear. "Huh? Care to repeat that, I must've misheard you. It almost sounded like you said Gwyn hasn't lost."
Tony smirked at the queen. "You know, Your Majesty, you're a lot of things. Strong, talented, magically gifted…" He tapped the side of his head. "But you're also cocky."
"Eh?"
Flint glared. "Tony, what are you getting at? And Wes, what are you on about?"
Wes smirked. "Come on, Flint. You didn't think I'd let Gwyn get into a fight like this without giving her some of my patented advice."
"What…advice?"
"I never gave Gwyn any battle strategies before the fight. There was no point since we didn't know what Margo would have to counter. So…I told her to use her noggin and think of the craziest strategies she can think of."
"What?"
Margo glared. "Where are you going with this, Ravenfield?!"
Tony answered for him. "The reason this barrier is getting partially coated in metal is because your knight here has some knowledge on Metal Magic. Your magic affects other magic and turns it into metal, albeit slowly." He pointed at the sky. "However, only when the light of that rite is touching said magic! Am I wrong?"
Margo growled. "What does that have to do with any-?!" She turned her head around just as she shouted, when she noticed something about Gwyn's petrified form.
Her tail…was buried into the floor. When Margo reverted it back to normal, there were imperfections from all the debris and bamboo.
"What…did she…?" Margo's eyes widen as the floor cracked under her feet. The surface bulged up, nearly knocking her over. She formed her metal hover platform and floated into the air. "What did she do when I wasn't…?"
Cracks split open all over the floor, with stems growing out from underneath. The force gave way, then spires of wood burst out in the form of a massive tree. Her Guardians were caught off guard and skewered by the branches, breaking them apart. Margo formed the Wall of Adamantine as the tree slammed into her, smashing her into the ceiling with her rite. The hard branches pierced into the rite and smashed it into pieces, lifting the rite's effects over everything it touched.
Segar's barrier reverted to normal. Gwyn's statue, however, collapsed into a pile of metal dust.
Margo slashed apart the branches pressing against her. "What happened to her?!"
"Hey, Queen Margo!" The Mawile's eyes widen. Rising out from the branch above her was Gwyn, in a wooden state with her lower half blended into the wood. "Seems I got out of there in time, eh?"
Margo spun around. "What…when did you…?!"
Gwyn pulled her legs out of the tree like she was submerged in mud. "Plant Assimilation. When my lower half got petrified, I realized my tail was still moving around. I didn't know how your rite worked, so I took a guess. Looks like I got lucky. Once my tail was out of the light, that part of it was free to move around."
Gwyn pulled out the seed she ingested a moment ago. "I used Accelerated Growth and Plant Assimilation to merge with this tree seed, knowing the effects would pass into my tail. All I needed to do was grow myself out until it formed this massive tree." Her cheeks puffed out before spitting out some twigs. "I don't recommend growing a tree in your stomach, by the way!"
Margo gritted her teeth into a tight smirk. "You little sneak…"
Gwyn glared down at her. "I'm going to be someone who can help others! And someone who can fight on her own! I'm a teammate and my own fighter!" The wood coating over her body started fading away, replaced in a new color. Her godly magic resurfaced once again. "And I'll show you just how far my mind can take me! Presenting my second newest Naturae Fruit! The Sakura Petal Berry!"
With the Plant Assimilation's effects gone, it revealed Gwyn's new form. Her fur was bright pink, almost looking like a regular colored Mew only brighter. Her body had a strange appearance to it, almost scaly looking, but not actually scales. Her long hair had turned into a cluster of sakura petals.
Margo didn't know what this new fruit could do, but she wasn't stopping to find out. She launched upward at Gwyn with a sword in each hand. "How far does your ambition soar, Belladonna?!"
Margo spun and slashed horizontally across Gwyn's body. However, to her shock, the swords passed through Gwyn. No, they did more than that. They completely obliterated Gwyn's torso into sakura petals.
Gwyn smirked as her head scattered into petals. "Take this! Hyper Twister!"
Each individual petal wrapped in a thin sheet of her godly magic, then spun around Margo into a tight twister. The Mawile covered herself as the petals slashed into her. This was reminiscent of her Telum Dispergat. It felt like tiny blades were cutting up her skin. Superficial cuts, but the myriad of tiny blades made it an unbearable process to sit through.
So, that's what that feels like! Margo summoned a sword and slashed through the petals, scattering an opening for her. She jumped out, then thrusted her palm. "Turris Metallum!"
Spires of metal shot through the trees and attacked the sakura petals. Margo landed and conjured multiple daggers to throw, but stopped at a tapping on her shoulder. "Huh-?" She turned and received a sucker punch to the face.
Gwyn reconstituted herself into a solid form, smirking at Margo. "HA! I finally punched you! Score one for me!"
Even with the fist pressed against her cheek, Margo managed a smirk. "You're full of surprises, kid…"
"Go Gwyn!" her friends shouted up to her.
"Kick her ass!" Ella shouted.
"You can do this!" Flint encouraged.
Gwyn smiled down at them, then faced back at Margo. She twisted her fist and threw it off of Margo's cheek, then kicked her in the gut. Margo caught her leg and threw her over her shoulder, but Gwyn's leg broke into petals. The Mew's leg regenerated before she split off into thousands of petals, divebombing into Margo as one massive cluster.
They broke through several tree branches before hitting the floor. Margo flipped to her feet and swung her arm. "Rotam Blade!" The blade wheel, upon conjuration, soared across the floor and collided with Gwyn.
The Mew gritted her teeth. "Not…yet!" Her godly aura burst to life and exploded outward into a pillar.
The tree reacted to her call and struck into the wheel blade. Some roots were shredded until they overwhelmed and pinned down the blade. Gwyn jumped over the roots and shot off her arms into sakura blades.
"Wall of Adamantine!" Margo slammed her hands down and blocked the petal blades with the barrier. She gasped as the sakura petals flooded around the barrier in one big wave. "Turris Metallum!" She pushed the petals back with the spires.
"HIYA!" The queen turned and blocked a surprise punch from Gwyn. She slammed her elbow into the Mew's face, then kneed her in the stomach. "GAH! Ouch!"
"Turris Metallum!" Gwyn was thrown back as a spire impaled her through the stomach and slammed her into the wall.
Gwyn was lucky to be in her Sakura Petal Form still, though it still hurt. She shook it off and broke down into petals to escape and attack Margo. The queen dodged her assault and fired off more of her razor-sharp dust. It slashed up Gwyn, whose body regenerated from the cuts.
She clenched her teeth, then shouted, "I can do this! You hear me?! I'm going to win!"
Her godly magic reacted much more potently, commanding the tree in the room to spontaneously grow wild. Margo barley dodged the two roots slamming down at her, but was put off by the roots growing more roots from its sides. They battered into the queen and threw her across the room, wrapping around her ankle and slamming her to the floor.
Gwyn pulled out her whip and ran one step forward when a dagger flew into her shoulder. "ACK!" She gasped as Margo burst from the strong roots, surrounded in orbiting daggers.
Margo reared her arms up and swung them down, sending a shower of daggers down on Gwyn. Gwyn almost stepped back out of fear, but reared in that terror and stared down the daggers confidently. Rightfully so, for the tree in the center of their battlefield sprung to her side and slapped away the daggers in one strong sweep. The root curled around Gwyn and threw her at the queen.
Margo slammed her hand down. "Turris Metallum!"
Spires struck up under Gwyn, but she split herself off into petals to move through them. She pulled out her whip and cracked it at Margo, who barely dodged its stinging strike.
Gwyn produced hundreds upon thousands of petals from her body. "One Million Petal Step!" She swung her arms and fired a straight shower of petals, each and every one aimed at Margo.
Margo extended her hand. "Rotam Blade!" Upon summoning the wheel blade, she spun it and shredded through each of the razor sharp petals, though the force hit her arms pretty hard.
Gwyn took this chance to swing in and slam her feet into Margo's face. Margo was thrown back, but still tried to throw more daggers at the Mew. Gwyn quickly let the daggers fly through her body. She clenched her teeth and flew after the queen as a flurry of petals.
Margo caught onto the ground and stopped herself. She thenm channeled a mass of magic into her hands. "Turris Metallum: Death Valley Gorge!" She slammed her hands down and fired off a whole group of spires into Gwyn, completely unavoidable for the Mew. Gwyn reconstituted herself just as the spires buried her. Margo raised her hand. "I'm not taking any more chances. Telum Dispergat!" She summoned up metal dust and threw it under the spires to slash up anything under it.
The queen's eyes widened at the sudden spike of Gwyn's aura. Suddenly, an explosion of sakura petals lacerated her metal spires into pieces. A mix of neon green and pink combined into a massive twister that aimed its sights on the queen.
Margo quickly fired off more Turris Metallum against the twister, but it did her no good. The twister was breaking through and slashing each of the spires to ribbons. With only one option left, she produced a sword from nothing and swung it at the approaching twister.
Within the storm of petals, Gwyn shouted, "Take this! Queen Margo!"
"Give me everything you've got! Gwyn Belladonna!" She clashed with the twister, meeting it at a tense stalemate. The razor petals grinded with Margo's sword. Sparks of pink, green, and silver shot around the room, illuminating off the metal figures in the room.
"She's pushing forward!" Griffin exclaimed.
"That's the way, Gwyn!" Tony shouted.
Flint was silently chanting under his breath. You can do it, you can do it…
The queen shifted her footing as the twister pressed forward. Her hands trembled, her grip weakening. If this keeps up…the sword will be whipped out of my hand. She held her breath and stomped her foot down, reinforcing her stance. I've got one shot or I'm doomed.
Margo twisted her sword until it met the twister vertically, then slashed into it, down the middle, and divided its spiraling path away from her. She pressed against her sword with her hand to fight back the force against her. With one final push, she cut through the last of the twister and sent the leaves scattering away.
Margo panted heavily and leaned against her sword. Her arms trembled and shook. The collision with Gwyn's twister was strong. If she took it directly, even she doubted she could've endured it.
This chick…is tough…
"Ahem."
Margo held her breath, then chuckled quietly. "Of course…"
Sakura petals gathered around her. A hand had hold of her wrist while the thorny whip was wrapped around her neck. Gwyn narrowed her eyes tiredly, breathing lightly. Her own legs were trembling from exhaustion. That third magican did not sit well with her. She was close to throwing up from it, but she held it in.
Gwyn gulped, then grinned uneasily. "Getting…tired yet?"
"…Heh." Margo looked over her shoulder. "Look who's talking. I have to say, you've far exceeded my expectations."
"I feel…the same way…" She took a deep breath and exhaled. "I can't believe I got this far on my own."
"And you'll keep getting stronger. I'm sure of it." Margo smiled. "You are the Rose of Death. Blooming potential, a beacon of optimism, and inner strength to help your friends. There's no one better for the job than you."
Gwyn smiled. "…Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Keep working on maintaining control of that aura. I've only seen it in quick bursts, but you have something that can be used to its full potential. Don't hold back on learning more about yourself and this world." Margo pried off the whip from her neck, then sat down. "I surrender."
"Huh?!" Gwyn gasped.
"My queen?!" Segar exclaimed.
Margo rotated her shoulder. "I admit defeat. Either we keep slugging at each other until we both pass out or I go down. The kid's strong. A little inexperienced…but she's got power beyond anything I've faced." She smiled to herself. "Guess I still have much to learn about being a Mage of Origin."
Gwyn's form reverted to normal as she fell over on her rear. "I-I-I…I actually won?!"
Margo smiled at her. "You earned it, kid. Fair and square."
Gwyn's jaw quivered. "I…I actually…EEP!" She was picked up off the ground and thrown up and down in the air by her friends, who cheered in celebration.
"You did it, Gwyn!" Wes exclaimed. "That was way too awesome!"
"What did we expect? That's our girl!" Ella cheered.
Gwyn, being held in her arms, blushed in embarrassment. "Hehehe…it was nothing~!" She held her cheeks and squealed. "I won, guys! I really one!"
They set her down, allowing Tony to punch her in the shoulder lightly. "Never doubted you for a second!"
Griffin patted her shoulder. "I admit, you've surpassed my expectations. You did good."
Gwyn smiled up at him. "That means a lot coming from you, Griff."
She was turned around and now facing Wes. He smiled softly. "I told you that you could do it. There was some shaky moments, but…well, we're all proud of you. I'm proud of you."
Her eyes watered happily. "Really?"
He nodded. "Really. You were amazing, Gwyn."
She squealed and threw herself into a hug with him. "You really are a great leader, Wes, and an amazing big brother!"
Wes' eyes widened, suddenly feeling stares at the back of his neck. Ella stood close to his head, where he could feel her smirking at him. "Big brother? When was this a thing?"
Wes pulled away from Gwyn and held his paws up, laughing awkwardly. "Heh…kind of a long story…"
Gwyn giggled to herself, then glanced over at Flint. His gaze met hers. It held for a second before they looked away. Gwyn scratched behind her head, feeling a blush coming to her face. "Heh…um…"
She felt his forelegs wrap around her and pull her into a tight embrace. He pressed his head against hers. "…I'm really happy for you, Gwyn. I feel bad that I thought you were going to lose. It was wrong of me to doubt you in the moment. I'm sorry…"
She smiled and hugged him back. "Flinty…you don't need to apologize. I'm just happy to hear you and the others cheering me on."
Flint smiled back. "I…I will always support you whenever I can. You're…simply amazing."
Gwyn squealed under her breath, hiding it by pressing her head into his mane. She also wanted to feel his fluffy mane. She purred into it, something Flint felt. It made him blush, but he didn't pull away.
The group smiled at the two. It was a sweet scene, though Wes was waiting for when Gwyn decided to tell Flint her feelings. She promised she would do it after the fight.
Segar helped Margo to her feet. She dusted herself off, then conjured a staff to lean against. "I suppose you all want your key now."
Ella nodded. "It would be appreciated."
"Very well. Follow me." She started hobbling off with Segar close to her side. "I keep it locked away in a special place in the castle. I'm not really feeling good enough to summon it."
Tony shrugged. "Lead the way, Queenie." They followed behind the queen.
Flint and Gwyn followed in the back of the group. They were sticking close to each other, feeling rather comfortable together. Flint's eyes were on the floor, with a blush decorating his face. Gwyn was looking ahead, awkwardly rubbing her arm. Her eyes were wandering around, a million thoughts dancing in her head.
She knew what she wanted to do right now. Was it the right time? Who knows, but she wanted to say it.
I'm going to tell Flint. I'm going to tell him I like him.
"…And thus Landorus brought upon a bountiful harvest to his subjects after a wonderous offering in his honor. Thus came to the end of the deathly season of cold and came the first signs of spring." After his reading session, Hugo closed the book and looked to the crowd of Pokémon before him. "Landorus is one of the many gods that was said to be responsible for the first winters of the world, after his vengeful spite against the greedy sins of the Pokémon. That is why we must respect the gods, lest we be at the divine end of their wrath."
Cybil was quietly listening as she read through her book, squished between two other Pokémon. She liked hanging out with Krystal and the others, but even she needed a break from them. Nothing was better than a session with Father Hugo.
Hugo set his book down. "Now, shall we commence with our prayers to the divine one? Lord Arceus would appreciate to know his children are well." Hugo was about to clasp his hands together when he went rigid all of a sudden.
Cybil's ears twitched before looking up. She squinted at the priest, noticing something was off about his posture. "Father Hugo…is something wrong?"
The Trevenant's single eye shook with horror. Sweat (or dew) dripped down his face as he breathed heavy breaths. The crowd was growing anxious, never before seeing the priest in this state.
Cybil jumped out of her seat and ran to him. "Father Hugo! What's wrong? What troubles you?"
Hugo breathed in heavy, rhythmic breaths, clutching his face. Cybil didn't understand why he was trembling, but then took notice of his necklace. From what she knew about Hugo's occupation, he was incredibly sensitive to sudden changes in the area. She had seen this skill numerous times. He could sense ill-intent.
His cross wheel was glowing in a golden light, rattling to the sensitivity he was feeling. And the fear in his face was unlike anything she ever witnessed from the man. This wasn't just some criminal or a certain thief in their circle of friendship. This was something far worse. Something that wracked him with fear.
"…Black sky…reigns over Heaven's light…" he mumbled quietly. "Descends upon the kingdom…the kingdom of war and innovation…great evil…once vanquished, now resurfaced…"
Cybil clenched her teeth worriedly. "Father Hugo, what madness are you speaking?"
Hugo clutched his necklace and inhaled shaky breaths. He looked down on her with his shrunken, fearful eye. "My child…I sense such onerous futures for our kingdom…black sky reigns over Heaven's light!"
"What does that mean?!" Cybil shouted. "What-?!"
"Hey, look outside!"
"What's happening to the sky?!"
Cybil quickly raced outside and looked towards the sky. Her eyes shrunk. A rainbow of magic rippled over the sky, like the visible sound waves of a gong echoing off the bronze disc. Something was forcing its way through the dimensional barrier that divided them from the Snow Zone.
She backed into the church, drawing quicker breaths with each intake. "What madness is coming this way?"
Hugo trembled in place, hunched over and staring soullessly at the floor. "Forbidden magic turns to forbidden sins…from evil turns to hate and grudge…the physical essence of evil itself…" The Pokémon were fearfully looking at each other, not liking the sound of his ramblings.
"Father Hugo?" Cybil called out worriedly.
Hugo shut his eye tightly. "My children…everyone…"
He could see it in his mind. A dark cloud wrapping around the entirety of the space that led into their realm. Led by an air vessel. Ominous presences aboard that vessel. Within the darkness, thousands of voices chanting malicious words. In the center of it all stood a figure draped in darkness itself. A dominating figure who made all quiver in fear at his presence.
A king of the darkness itself.
His eye shrunk, sensing the first signs of entry.
"My children…"
"May Arceus be with us…"
Darkness spread over the invisible space before them. The three heralds and Zaros stood at the front of the ship, awaiting their orders. Lyra, with the help of some other magic users supplying her with magic, was blasting into the space, cracking open an entrance into the warrior kingdom.
Footsteps echoed across the ship. The heralds and Zaros did not turn, but bowed as the figure walked past them to the bowsprit of the ship. He stood at the very end of the sprit, with his arms folded behind his back. He glared at the space as cracks formed in its surface. With a flick of his cape, he gave the order:
"Destroy Ironworks Kingdom."