The sky continued to brighten from one side to the other. Cool wind pushed and pulled at Flareon Light's fur. He stared off the front deck. The ship continued forward a mile or two away from a toasty, white beach that ran alongside a city. As soon as they landed, they would need to set up.
"Good... morning?"
Light turned around.
Sky Shaymin Ariel came out first, from a set of large double doors that lead inside. Behind her, a steady stream of Wayfarers followed. He walked forward and joined the forming circle.
"Hey, Airy," said Light. "I-"
"Don't ever confuse me for that fat cow."
Light's head reeled back. He focused on her. The Sky Shaymin in front of him had a messy pile of green fur on her head, like how Ariel did in the morning. He usually used her typical, spiky style to differentiate them. He mentally slapped himself.
"Uh, hi Mei…" he muttered.
"Don't 'hi Mei' me," she sassed. "You called, so what's so important I had to skip my bath this morning?"
Light's ears twitched. A distant, deep boom resounded over the top of the ship. Mei's eyes darted around the sky. Seconds later, she locked on.
"Fuck," she uttered. "Tell me that's a meteor."
"I wish," Light said.
A burst of adrenaline jolted everyone awake. Light's nerves tensed up, forcing sleep to the back of his mind.
"It's slower," Mei said. "Much slower. It must have burned itself out getting here as fast as possible."
"Then you're saying this is another chance?" asked Slowking Chad.
"There's no guarantee it'll land on top of us."
"Unless we guarantee it ourselves," Light finished. "We can force it to land, clip its wings, and push it out towards the water. Does anyone have any ideas on how we might be able to force it to land?"
"Nothing short of an assault from the air," Mei said. "There's no time to set up anything else. Luckily, me and Ariel have a... trick that should work."
"I have something to add."
Leafeon Charlotte walked up a few paces, glancing around. The Wayfarers split down the middle to give her room.
"It's possible for us to break the glass," Charlotte said. "You just need a strong enough force on a small enough area. So try focusing your attacks at small points."
"Thanks, au-aunt...ie…" Light tried. The word tumbled out of his mouth. "So, after it falls, we all focus on its wings first, then wall it from getting past us."
"Not solid at all," Emolga Alisha voiced. "Even if Ariel and Mei are tough, how can they down it themselves?"
Light flashed a glance at Mei. Only Markus knew about Mei and Ariel being Scions. If they were high up enough in the air, it would prevent anyone from seeing them using their powers up close, preserving the secret. It was the perfect use for their powers in this fight.
"They can," Light said. "It's weaker, and Ariel drove it back with her assault once before when it was like this. And this time, she'll be even stronger. Everyone grab your weapons and anything you think will help. As soon as we land, we'll spread out on the beach, and Ariel and Mei will get in position. We only have about three minutes, so everyone get ready."
A mere minute after the ship landed, it departed to safety with Charlotte, Jewel, and Susan onboard. Once again, Flareon Light walked across white sand. Morning sunlight caught up to the red star in the sky. The same eerie silence of the gentle waves and breeze filled his ears. He knew he didn't imagine the pressure weighing on his shoulders; everyone grew quiet. Like before, they all wore small cameras on thin headbands to record everything that happened.
"Hey."
Light stopped and turned. Sky Shaymin Ariel bounded up behind him. A white cape over her back fluttered in the shifting winds. Her cocky smile surprised him; anyone would be nervous.
"By the time it gets to you," she said, "it'll be in a heap. So, like we practiced, try using Candor to figure out what made it this way."
"Right," he said. "Be safe up there. And, uh, don't take risks."
"Aw, Light. Don't be selfish."
Ariel swayed forward and pecked him on the cheek. Light frowned, meeting her eyes. He meant it.
"I'll take risks if I have to for their sakes, just like you did," Ariel said. "Don't be scared. I'm coming back. Mei wouldn't let me go up if she didn't think we could do it."
"That's true."
Sky Shaymin Mei flew down and joined Ariel's side with a matching smile."Focus on your guild, Light," said Mei. "I'll keep our idiot alive. Just make sure you swing Courtain for the head. It wouldn't please me more if this catastrophe ended here and now."
"Let's go end it," Ariel said. "You ready, Mei?"
"Ready."
Light stood back as Ariel and Mei took off. They rose in a swirl around each other with enough speed to kick up a miniature whirlwind. He wished he could fly after them as he gazed up.
"Light, over here."
It took him a moment to pull his eyes away. Further on the beach, Umbreon Amadeus stood over a hefty, black metal case as it laid on the sand. Light turned and walked towards it as Amadeus opened it up. Given the lack of action elsewhere, the other Wayfarers gravitated towards them.
"Let's all survive this," Amadeus said. "Are you ready?"
"Yah," Light said. He turned around in a short circle. "Let's set up a perimeter."
Light froze. A stiff weight appeared on his paw. He glanced down.
"Where?" Meowstic Markus asked. "How big do you think?"
A popping sound shot Light's head up. He flinched forward a few steps and turned around. He reacted.
Light caught Courtain's handle. The blade glowed and trembled in his grip. It had risen up in the air and flung itself at him.
"Madness… Madness…"
"The hell!?" Heliolisk Jonathan cried. "Light!"
Warmth flooded through Light's arms. It stopped him from letting go. The blade stabilized. White hot energy shifted on its surface and morphed. It encroached up the blade's surface to the flat tip, and continued past.
The white light shaped itself into a sharp, pointed tip at the sword's end. The dull blade seemed to sharpen. The noise settled.
"Light?" Slowking Chad asked, standing twenty whole paces away. He held his standard issue sword in front of him, defensively. "What just happened?"
"It's… angry," Light said. He couldn't tear his eyes off the blade. His paws were glued on the handle.
"Everyone!" Amadeus called out, "calm down."
"What the heck is this!?" Meowstic Markus asked. "Is it gonna blow up?"
"No," he said. "Courtain has grown a tip before. They say it reacts to evil by growing sharper and more powerful."
"Evil? Like, death and destruction evil? Like what, Ganondorf?"
Amadeus turned his nose up. "Reshiram's in proximity now. Everybody get ready."
Light grimaced. He groaned and let go. The blade, still burning, fell on the sand. Its rage burned too hot.
"Focus!" Amadeus yelled. "Perimeter, now! I've got Light."
Flareon Light stared at his quaking paws. The Wayfarers yelled out comments to each other as they split up and formed groups by themselves. Umbreon Amadeus gave Courtain a wide berth as he walked around to Light's side. He bent town and rested a heavy paw on his back.
"It's too strong," Light muttered. "I-I can't…"
"You're it's wielder," Amadeus said quietly. "I hate to be tough on you, but you're capable enough to take it. So pick up that damn sword and give your Guild directions before they get themselves killed."
Light turned around.
The Wayfarers sprawled out in a mess on the beach. They all stared up. The red comet arced down to fall in the ocean. With no sign of Ariel or Mei's attack, it must've changed course by itself.
Slowking Chad and Arcanine Zhen stood closest to the water. Mienfoo Robin, Galarian Ponyta Nadia, and Heliolisk Jonathan stood together in an odd bundle towards the top edge of the beach. Everyone else took random positions by themselves. To Light's eyes, none of them were playing to their strengths.
They were about to get themselves killed.
Light rushed and picked up the sword. It gnashed and pulsed with a violent heartbeat, taking bites at his energy to lash out. He forced it back down. Courtain continued to hiss and make popping sounds. He focused part of his mind to keep it from devouring his strength.
The comet continued to fall. They had less than a minute at best.
"Jonathan!" Light called. "Go to the side, rip its wings up. Stop it from flying off into the city. Chad, why aren't there any alarms?"
"I couldn't reach anyone," he called back. "And I tried," he frowned.
"Nadia, Robin," Light said, 'run and tell as many people as you can." He turned around to Roserade Storm and Ribombee Xiang, who stood on the other side of the beach. "Storm, keep a hold of Xiang and watch for injuries together. Alisha, Roxanne, poke at its eyes. Kenta, stay on the sides and try to cancel out some of its fire attacks. Nathan, you do the same. Fernand, cover them."
Light walked forward. Meowstic Markus, Umbreon Amadeus, Arcanine Zhen, and Slowking Chad stared at him. He hadn't called their names yet.
"Everyone else are on the front lines with me." Light said. " We'll keep an arrow formation with me in the back at the tip. I'll get the cleanest hits with Courtain that way. Its glass could break our formation, so keep a good number of its attacks pointed at me. Focus on defense until Ariel gets back."
Light hesitated for a moment, but he committed. They were all putting their lives on the line at this point.
"Everyone!" he called. "Make sure you don't make direct eye contact with it. It has a special ability called Candor, and it could use it to inflict mental damage. Me and Ariel have been researching it extensively, and it's real. It can use it when making eye or physical contact."
"Why are we only getting told this now?" Markus asked, getting into position. He stood closer in from Arcanine Zhen while Umbreon Amadeus stood closer in from Slowking Chad.
"Because we didn't want to scare you, although that's pretty stupud in hindsight. We're also not sure it'll even use Candor because it works both ways. It could end up making its own mind vulnerable."
"Is there anything else we should've known about, forever ago?"
"I can use Candor, I want to look at its memories."
"Oh, is that all?" Markus asked, smiling. "You're trying to out galaxy brain an immortal being?"
"It sounds a little weird when you put it like that, but yah."
"You can look inside our heads?" Chad asked, turning his head back.
"I haven't," Light defended. "But, uh, yah. But it's a two way road."
"This changes little overall," Amadeus said. "We strike it either way. It's usage of Candor would be nothing more than an opportunity to discover the truth."
"So in other words," said Markus, "look directly at its eyes at all times?"
"Uh…" Light said. "You know, maybe not the…"
"I'm down, bruh!" Drizzle Kenta shouted out.
Light's eyes darted around and landed on nodding heads.
"Guys?" he asked. "Are you insane?"
"You didn't realize?" Markus asked.
The red comet pulled up before it landed in the ocean. Like it did the first time, Reshiram flew over the water in a straight beeline for the beach. It sliced oncoming waves in half and left them in tatters. The fires surrounding it weakened as it drew near. Based on Light's frequent sessions of watching Ariel fly or being on her back, he estimated they had about half a minute before Ariel and Mei would come back down.
The remaining fire on Reshiram's body disappeared all at once when it extended its wings. It slowed and landed further offshore. Waves covered its feet. Morning sunlight cut straight through its wings. Strands of burnt flesh and glass hung down from them. Gray replaced all of the white on its body.
"Hey Light?" Markus asked. "What was that about eye contact?"
Light's eyes widened. All it had on its face were two black pits, as if its eyes had fallen out. Glass shards poked out from its chest. It looked like a zombie.
"Idc'k yddg sk hz ylgz l'xz ozkusazi adf. Idc'k yddg sk hz ylgz Yfgz ili!"
Umbreon Amadeus scratched his ear. "What did it just say?" he asked. "One hell of a time for my hearing to go out."
Reshiram shouted like a dying crow. It stomped forward through the water. Somehow, it still knew exactly where they were.
Emolga Alisha and Talonflame Roxanne had nothing to poke at. From the air, they spared him a look to ask for directions.
"Hit the wings!" Light commanded. "Chad, Zhen, get the legs! Markus, use Role Play on me! Amadeus, copycat and use Role Play on me too!"
Markus fired a white ball of light his way. Flareon Light stood still as it encapsulated him, buzzed on his skin, and returned. Pink light surrounded Amadeus as he did the same. Once completed, both of them had more insurance with the ability Flash Fire, and it would last a good while.
Talonflame Roxanne dove in with Brave Bird. Reshiram shifted its wing and avoided her. As Light suspected, it could still see. Up to their chests in water, Arcanine Zhen and Slowking Chad charged forward at its feet. It flapped its wings.
Light only saw it happen because of his distance. Reshiram flapped its wings to catch air and kicked both of its feet out. Chad and Zen were hit, and flew back in heaps on the sand. He needed to slow down its approach so they could get its wings.
"Alisha!" Light called. "Electroweb on the sand! Kenta, Nathan, ready…!"
Emolga Alisha scattered a yellow, sparking web on the edge of the waves. Reshiram barreled forward. The web stuck to the bottom of his foot and slowed it down as it picked its feet up.
"Electro web again!"
Alisha fired another Electroweb. It widened and arched over its head and wings. Reshiram huddled over.
"Water attacks, now! Amadeus, copycat!"
Drizzle Kenta and Dewgong Nathan fired turrets of water towards its chest from opposite sides. From the corner, Chad managed to recover from the hit and joined in the attack. Umbreon Amadeus fired from the center.
"Alisha, Jonathan, Thunderbolt!"
Still in the air, Alisha fired a stream of electricity, and Jonathan from the ground far on its right. Trapped under the water pressure and webs, Reshiram fried from the electricity, amped up by the water. Light hoped to hear some sort of reaction from it, but nothing. Reshiram huddled down and brought its wings in front of it. He grew suspicious.
Glass would be the sensible solution to Reshiram's problem; it would cut the webs and block the water. The only reason it would stop would be to build up strength, but it wouldn't need to do that if it only wanted to defend itself. Light knew first-hand how fast it manifested glass out of nothing.
"Everybody get back!" Light screamed at the top of his lungs.
Everyone responded and jumped away from it. Seconds after, Reshiram pushed its wings out.
Glass spikes shot out of the ground. Light swung Courtain. For a split second, he let it chomp down on all the energy it wanted. Its power overflowed and fired out of the blade in a focused burst of light, energy, and force that pushed Reshiram back and shattered the glass. Light's grip on the blade loosened, but he held on. He forced its hunger down again.
Light's stomach sank.
"Everyone? Hey!?"
Light hadn't stopped all of the glass spikes in time. Everyone in front of him and to the sides were downed. His eyes shot around glass piercing through arms and legs. Some were unconscious without any pierce wounds, others like Slowking Chad and Umbreon Amadeus, writhed on the sand. Scattered between all of them: broken glass and red gashes, tearing up their positions and bodies. Light shook his head.
Reshiram charged forward again. As it did, Talonflame Roxanne and Emolga Alisha fell to the ground. Shards of glass cut through Roxanne's wings and Alisha's flaps. Despite his warning, Light only protected himself in the end. He shook his head.
"No no no no…"
Reshiram ignored the fallen Wayfarers and charged past straight for him. Flareon Light raised Courtain in preparation to swing again, out of desperation. Reshiram's neck lowered as it took its last steps towards him. It opened its mouth to clamp down.
Green light struck the top of its head. Reshiram's snout hit the sand in front of Light. He changed his grip on Courtain and jumped on it. He plunged it down.
Reshiram lifted its head and screamed. Light held on Courtain's handle, lest be flung off. Its feet stomped around in circles and left dents in the sand. The lower half of Light's body swung airborne, stopping him from plunging the blade deeper.
He lost his grip. Reshiram flapped its wing and changed its momentum upward. Light dug in his claws and grabbed on the end of its long, white strand of fur on its head. He hung on as its ascent in the air pulled down on him. Wind started to slash at his fur.
As much as he'd prefer to close his eyes, Light kept them wide open. Reshiram flew low over the beach and rose up higher. It turned towards the city. Light took his only option: climbing and reaching the top of Reshiram's head to try and finish it before it arrived. He had more upper body strength than last time. He reached up with extended claws on repeat to yank himself up. His legs didn't end up helping very much, but he tried anyway. His limbs screamed at the halfway point as they flew over green bunches of trees. He continued at a slowing pace.
Light finished climbing the tendril as Reshiram flew over the city's edge. It flew low enough to hit some buildings in the distance, and what's worse, unsuspecting pokemon were out walking. Most were able to notice the shadow pass over them and glanced up. He crawled up to Reshiram's forehead and grabbed the blade again.
The moment he touched Courtain's warm surface, Reshiram jolted. It changed directions straight for a tall, brown building. Light yanked and ripped Courtain to the right. It turned.
With no anchor holding Courtain, Light fell off. He plummeted to the ground and slammed on his side in the middle of the street. Courtain bounced on the ground nearby. The harsh shriek of a carriage braking filled his ears.
Reshiram fell towards a small green mass of trees and plants. Light's aching muscles slowed the process of standing up.
"Get outta' the road! What's the big idea?"
Flareon Light swayed on his feet. A Manectric leaned over a control console at the front of his carriage and looked down at him.
"What the-" he shouted. "You…"
Reshiram's leap shook the earth. It slammed down over the street. Each of its feet stopped on the side of the road. Its wing stretched over the roof of a short building next to it. Burning glass and twigs dripped off of it.
"What the… fuck is that!?" Manectric screamed. "Everybody get out of the carriage! Now! Out, out, out!"
Courtain flew to Light again. After its handle magnetized to his paw, he swung it. A white light slammed against Reshiram's chest. It flew back in the air a few paces, but kept its balance with its wings.
A pain in his chest shoved Light to the ground. All of his strength went to maintaining his flimsy grip on the sword.
"Get outta' the way!"
A mouth grabbed the gray fur on Flareon Light's mane. It yanked him up and carried him to the tan sidewalk. Courtain screeched as it cut and scratched the road.
Manectric's carriage flung itself forward at Reshiram. Its enormous gray wing lowered. Instead of shielding itself, it curled its wing and raised it to flip the oncoming vehicle. The carriage flew in the air and shattered apart against the street.
With the borrowed time, Manectric scaled a short, black fence and ran between two small stores. Light's tail toppled over a black garbage can as they ran to the other street. Manectric scaled another fence with Light in his grip. As he did, Reshiram reached its wing between the buildings. Pieces of it dangled in front of his face as Manectric jumped down.
Commerce and civilians flooded over in the next street. Pokemon stood around entrances to stores that hadn't seemed to open yet and on benches under streetlights. Most of them had paused and made eye contact with each other.
Manectric winded his head back and chucked Light up in the air. He landed against a Delphox's side on some elevated platform. Upon recovery, he realized he wound up at the front of a carriage.
"Drive, woman!" Manectric shouted. "Run!"
Reshiram's howl sounded off behind Light. The carriage jolted forward as screams broke out. Delphox's arm held his mane and stopped him from falling over. The pain in Light's chest from swinging Courtain faded as he adjusted himself upright.
Pokemon cleared out of the street as fast as the carriage accelerated. They dove through short windows and doors into buildings. The shadow of Reshiram's flapping wings followed the carriage's dusty tail.
"You know, I always w-wanted to meet you!" Delphox said, wide-eyed and staring ahead. Her high voice managed to stick out from the screams. "My name's Emily. I'm here on a trip from Valor!"
"T-that's nice," Light breathed.
Delphox hung a right at an intersection. The carriage balanced on its left set of wheels during the sharp turn. Other carriages driving straight ahead honked their horns. Light tumbled around and fell off.
Delphox snagged Light's tail before his face hit the ground. She pulled him back into his seat. Behind the carriage, glass shattered as people's screams followed behind them. Reshiram flapped its wings more, as if to get back its balance after crashing into one of the buildings, which grew taller at a rapid pace down the road.
"Ma'am?" Light squealed. "Could we go to a less... populated area?"
"There is only one place in this whole city that'd be a little safe, sorta!" she said, swirling her hand around in a circle. "The arena!" She leaned her head towards a rear-view mirror. "I, uh, think it's about to fire something at us!"
"What?"
Light turned around and reached up. He pulled his face over the carriage roof. Purple light gathered around Reshiram's gaping maw. He couldn't react.
Out of thin air, Sky Shaymin Ariel flew from behind Reshiram. Yellow veins spread across her body. She tackled it from the side. Reshiram barreled and crashed down into a brick building. It collapsed into a pile of dust in seconds. An apple smashed against the roof of the carriage, and another gave chase rolling on the street. From the dust cloud, a purple lightning strike shot straight up into the air. Delphox covered her mouth to muffle out her own scream. She took five deep breaths and pointed her hand forward.
"See that glass dome?" she asked.
Delphox pointed to a glass dome that overtook the end of the street. Sunlight cast a glare on its expansive, round glass roof.
"I r-really think that a less populated area would be-"
"This is the best solution! I think! I hope!"
Reshiram rose out of the dust and took flight again. Light estimated it would catch up to them, even at this crazy Delphox's speed.
"Hey!"
A shout bore down from the rooftops on the right side of the street. Heliolisk Jonathan frantically waved his left arm. He shot out a Grappler and flung himself to the next rooftop with his other.
"Throw him up!" he yelled.
Delphox shared a glance with Light. She checked his face for recognition and turned back up.
"Okay!" she called back.
Delphox grabbed Light's mane. Light held Courtain close to him to avoid touching her with it. She spun her arm around in dizzying loops and threw him. With no sense of direction, he curled up into a ball. A flat metal surface hit his back and stuck to him. Though still dizzy, he uncurled himself.
Jonathan yanked him up to the rooftop. He bent down on one knee.
"Get on my back," he said. "Fast."
Light obliged. He curled everything but his right paw holding Courtain around him. Jonathan started running.
"Luring it to the arena?" Jonathan asked.
"Yah," Light said. "How'd you get here so fast?"
"Followed the trail of people reconsidering their whole life philosophies. Plenty of space to use Grapplers, too."
Jonathan jumped to a building one floor taller without even using his Grappler. In the air, Light noticed a glass shard lancing straight through his arm. Blood curled along the rough edge and dripped down. He had seen Jonathan take worse wounds before. Combined with his newer scars, though, he looked worse.
"The others will be okay," Jonathan raised his voice over the wind. He grunted on landing. "Focus," he lowered his voice.
"Right," Light said.
As a thief, Jonathan often made escapes using rooftops. Even with weight on his back, Reshiram straggled behind. The main hurdle coming up would be the considerable distance between the maze of buildings and the glassy, round arena rooftop. Jonathan's Grappler wouldn't reach it, or be able to scale it that well. Light took their short trip to try and think of a plan, but nothing came to mind. If he didn't bait Reshiram in from the roof, it would dive through the arena walls and people would get hurt.
"I don't have any idea how to reach it," Light said.
"Use our old double jump strategy," Jonathan wheezed out.
That strategy would only let Light reach the building. Depending on how much stronger Jonathan got, it could be possible for him to reach the top. He wouldn't have suggested it if he thought it wouldn't work.
"Okay," he said.
Towards the end of the building Jonathan jumped down to a short building close to the edge. He fired both Grapplers to a slightly taller brick tower. He pulled back hard to build up tension. When Light thought they'd break, he released it.
Light struggled to hold on, both to Jonathan and Courtain. They shot over the building, past the street, and deep into the arena's front plaza, much further than he expected.
Once their momentum began to slow, Heliolisk Jonathan and Flareon Light adjusted themselves. Light matched his feet up with Jonathan's and bent his legs. Jonathan slipped a metal bracelet off his wrist and put it on his. Light couldn't ask about why he gave him one of his Grapplers before the time to jump came.
Jonathan's power increased. When they kicked off each other, Light flew off at the side of the dome. He realized Jonathan's idea and fired the Grappler as high as it would reach and latched on.
His limbs stung when he hit the glass, but relief dulled it. His Grappler had latched past the sharpest of the roof's incline, so he wouldn't have issues getting up. He used it to pull himself up to where he latched onto, then disengaged. With Courtain still in his paws, he scrambled up towards the center of the roof. Heat from sunlight tickled the edge of his fur, then wind countered it.
Light turned his gaze towards the surrounding buildings and streets. Where Reshiram flew, it looked like a small earthquake gnawed at buildings. Everywhere else, pokemon all walked free. Above them, weaving between buildings, Reshiram blazed and picked up speed.
Ever since their first encounter, Light had been dreaming up ways to stop this attack. It flew too fast for long range attacks to land, and it would hit at some hundred miles per hour. The cataclysmic force and danger from this technique alone weighed on him, before he touched Courtain.
Its blade sizzled and steamed with energy. The white tip it had grown brightened. If it amplified his energy as much as they said a Sacred Treasure did, he would have a chance if he swung hard. Thankfully, Reshiram had targeted him during this whole encounter. With luck, the pokemon down on the streets wouldn't even have to notice. When the roof would collapse, anyone in the arena would notice, but they should have time to run.
Reshiram gained altitude, circled in the air, and soared down. He let Courtain take a massive bite out of his strength and swung it upwards over his shoulder.
Flareon Light's head screamed. Sunlight poked at his eyes. He pushed himself up from short grass and stared dead ahead.
"Fvz Tscidu. Wyzsvz! Pzyw! Scqzyd!"
Dead ahead, Reshiram stood up. Light's hearing hadn't recovered yet. The massive crowds in the stadium started to clear out of the stands.
A vibration stung inside his head. He recognized Candor triggering. Against his better judgement, he didn't force it to stop.
The sky turned black. A veil of darkness encroached in from all sides.
"No! Stop! Cut it! Now!"
Light followed the voice's recommendation. He flexed the muscle in his brain and pushed it back.
When his vision returned, Reshiram's face glitched out. Its entire body contorted and trembled like it was having a seizure.
"No! My powers! Light!"
Reshiram began to twitch. Its face shot left and right, but it regained some level of composure. It raised its wings and struck the ground. Glass spikes shot up. Light lost track of Courtain.
"What are you doing? Light? Oh, for…"
Light's paws shot up by themselves. A glass wall sapped out his energy and bubbled in front of him. He flew back with it stuck to his paws. His head scraped against the ground as he fell back. The impact brought his focus back. Alarms blared in his ears. The screams of crowds melded together, but a robotic voice rose above them with the help of a microphone.
"Everyone, please form a single file line and exit the arena. Please remain calm as you exit."
Light blinked.
Across the entire stadium, pokemon flung themselves from the stands onto the wide, open green area. Even from a distance, their collective eyes glimmered with bloodlust that sent Light's brain scrambling.
"Why are they charging?" Light asked himself.
"Abujan arenas do seem... Off kilter. To be fair, the bounty is larger than the surface of the moon."
"Who are you again?"
"What do you mean 'who are you'? You're the one who just so kindly ripped my soul out of my body."
"What on earth does that mean?"
The glass in front of Light shattered, including the glass covering over his paws. The approaching horde of pokemon surrounding it drew Reshiram's face and attention off of him. It glanced around in circles and raised its wings.
"Reshiram?" Light asked.
"Yes, me. But thanks to you... I just lost all my memories. They're still left in that body over there, to the machinations of whoever that invader is."
"Does… this make me a Scion?" he questioned. He thought up five new possibilities to keep fighting. "Can you help?"
"Technically you're a Scion, but all of my powers are trapped in there. No thanks to you, White Star."
An Accelgor raced close to Reshiram first. In response, it lowered its mouth and sprayed out flames. It snaked his head and created a wave of fire. Even halfway across the stadium, Light could hear screaming. He winced and grit his teeth.
"What are you doing standing around? Find that blade of yours, or so help me, we'll both end up worse!"
Light searched around on the ground. It couldn't have fallen too far. When he focused on the tingle on his skin, he discovered its origin. Sacred Treasure Courtain stuck out of the grass a few paces ahead of him, closer to Reshiram. He ran forward and pulled on the handle. The sword stuck deep in the hard soil. It barely budged.
"They will tell of me in legeeeeeeeeeeeeeeends!"
Somehow, a Pyukumuku managed to fling himself at Reshiram's head. Reshiram snagged him with its claw and slammed him down into the dirt. The impact bounced Light up off his feet. The cold silence nearly drew out tears.
"Eyo!?" A Krookodile called out. "Kaleb!?"
Pyukumuku's white hand extended from underneath Reshiram's claw and formed a circle with two fingers. Reshiram lowered its maw and created an orb of orange light in front of his mouth. It fired Draco Meteor down at the ground.
"Get down!"
Courtain dislodged along with Light's grip on the ground. An enormous flare and burst of smoke covered his vision as he flew back with Courtain in his paw.
"Legeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…" Pyukumuku's voice faded in the distance.
Light coughed and shook dirt off his back as it settled back down. Reshiram's shadow loomed in the distance.
"Is everyone in this arena insane?" Light asked, coughing again. "This is serious. They could die."
"Well, they seriously think they can win. They're strong, but you better take command before these barbarians get themselves killed."
"They won't listen to me," he scoffed. "What am I supposed to do?"
"Whatever you can. At least you seem to have help coming down."
Light looked up. Sure enough, Sky Shaymin Ariel flew down through the massive crater in the ceiling. Her white cape flourished on her back. Sky Shaymin Mei flew down after her. Reshiram's face turned skyward. It belched out fire as Ariel and Mei's onslaught began. The light between the exploding Air Slashes and flames hurt Light's eyes like staring at the sun.
"White Star! Hey!"
Light turned around. A Blastoise bounded up next to him. She gazed up at the sky with moving, analytical eyes.
"They won't last," she said quietly. "Okay," she looked down. "Hey, I'll cover you. Try and get closer, okay?"
"Alright," Light said.
Blastoise clenched her fist. Rainbow light spread across her arm and encapsulated her body. Flareon Light stood back as she Mega Evolved. When her transformation finished, her cannon gleamed under the light of the flames. She nodded down to him.
Light bit down on Courtain's handle and ran on all fours. Reshiram would take notice when he got closer. The electric tinge in the air from Courtain wouldn't be ignored.
Ariel and Mei's onslaught all but drowned in fire. When Reshiram stopped blowing it out of its mouth, it immediately turned down to Light. It charged up purple energy for Dragon Pulse again. A moment before it fired, he heard Dragon Pulse fire from behind him. He chose to trust her and keep running.
The laser beams collided over Light's head. He ran under the sparking mass for Reshiram's exposed chest. With all its energy focused on Blastoise, he had a short opportunity. In the last few steps, he grabbed Courtain's handle in his paws again and leaped.
The blow pushed Reshiram back, but not enough. It caught air with its wings to keep its balance. Light had no plans for what to do next to follow up.
"Time to earn my five meals a day!"
A gruff voice broke Light's concentration ahead. A massive Krookodile stomped past him. He jumped up high and slammed on the ground with both feet. A rock coated in his energy manifested in front of him and bounced up in the air. He waited a moment, then leaped up and drop-kicked it. The boulder slammed into Reshiram hard enough to make it hunch over.
Light recognized the way it curled its wings towards its chest and lowered its head.
"Wait!" Light called. "Look out!"
"No good."
Light gripped Courtain in both of his paws and swung. A white pulse of light shot out from the blade. It slammed against Reshiram's wings as it unfurled them. Shards of glass danced in the air, much of it fell on the now empty stands. He sighed in relief, but couldn't get the air back. He fell on his chest.
A short trail of blood spilled out of Light's nose. He shivered trying to stand up.
"You've swung it all you can."
Reshiram stomped on the ground. A glass spike flew right for Flareon Light. His limbs refused to work with him. A shadow passed over his eyes.
A dark figure raced in front of Light. The glass spike shattered on impact. Scraps of it dusted Light's tail as he lay there. The figure turned around, bent down, and reached out a soft, gray paw under his face. He managed to push his face up.
A Diancie's trembling eyes greeted him.
"Jasmine?" Light asked.
"It's okay," she said. "I'm here. Let's get you back, alright?"
"You're here? What are you doing here? Jasmine…?"
Diancie Jasmine curled her arms underneath Light's body. Picked up by her, he saw a silvery shield strapped to the underside of her arm. The metal looked the same as Courtain.
Which he realized he didn't have. Looking over her arm, Courtain was lying on the grass. Before he told her to go back for it, he realized it had no use without him. There wouldn't be any point if he couldn't swing it. Jasmine must've figured it out herself, given her intense stare ahead. Back in Valor, the stare was her resting face.
"How are you here?" he asked.
"I came here for you," she cracked a small smile. "Don't talk for right now."
A fireball slammed high into the arena wall. It slammed into a small, black booth, presumably for commentators, set up high. Light's racing heart leaped.
"This is insane…" Light wheezed.
"Yup," Jasmine nodded. "This is about the reaction I expected from an Abujan arena… At least they still have a lower chance of death than civilians."
"Leeeegeeeeeeeeeeee-"
The same Pyukumuku flew high over Light's head. Before it reached whatever destination it had in mind, purple lightning struck it down. Jasmine stared with her lips parted at the smoke.
"Nevermind," she said.
"I will tell of that idiot in legends myself."
"Hey, Light!"
Light shifted his eyes. Mienfoo Robin and Galarian Ponyta Nadia ran side by side towards them. By now, he had completely forgotten he sent them to warn the city. Seeing them here brought him a little bit more confidence. Both of their eyes held plenty of energy.
"Oh, good!" Jasmine sighed. "Please, hold onto him for me. He used Courtain too much. Don't let him battle."
Light wanted to protest, but he couldn't find his breath when Jasmine pushed him on top of Nadia's back.
"Got it," Robin said. She tilted and gazed at her shield. "Hey, that's…"
Jasmine ran off before Robin finished her though. Light joined them in sharing glances.
"Damn," Robin said, "you look like you got run over by a carriage, Light. Are you okay?"
Light's head burned. The pain originated in his arms and spread out through his whole body.
"No," he said.
"Nadia," said Robin.
Neon rainbow light spread across Light's body. The relief brought his focus back. He raised his head and looked back towards the battle. A short wall of flames fanned out on the grass. All he could make out from their distance were attacks from random pokemon and Ariel's. Reshiram's lack of movement told him they were probably at a stalemate.
"We have to help," Light decided.
"We can't hold our own with them," Robin said quietly. "And you look sick, Light. We need to keep you safe."
"But-"
"You want to use Condor, or Candor, or whatever it is to find out what happened, right? Think long-term."
"Ariel's over there…" he pleaded.
"Trust me, she wants to keep you safe. The only reason we're not running in is because we know what she wants as her friends. You know you do, too."
"Guys?" Nadia asked. "What's that up there?"
A green light flew down into the arena. A strange sensation wormed around Light's stomach. He didn't understand it.
Reshiram hissed and screeched all of a sudden. It stared up and flourished its wings with its legs far apart. If he didn't know any better, he'd say it looked afraid of it.
"A Scion. And not just any Scion, a Fierce Scion who's fully realized their potential. That energy flow is strong. Very strong. That's what you're feeling right now."
The green light shot at Reshiram. It cleaved through a long Flamethrower and struck. Dirt sprung up.
Light took in what he saw and did it again: Reshiram flew out of the dirt and slammed against the wall. It hadn't been flapping its wings, it had been thrown. That Scion picked it up somehow and threw it against the side of the arena.
"What the hell?" Robin asked. "That's not an illusion, right? You guys saw that?"
The green light expelled off the pokemon's body as it flew at Reshiram again, revealing a young Butterfree, not much older than Light. He twirled a short spear in his claws and burst forward through the air. Reshiram slammed its claws on the ground and raised a glass wall; the first purely defensive action Light had ever seen it take. Butterfree stopped short of tackling it. He raised the spear and plunged it through.
Butterfree yanked it back. The glass wall shattered and fell. From there, Light lost track of all the jabs, stabs, and lunges that pulverized its wings. His imagination ran wild. This could be it.
"Something's off."
Flames erupted from Reshiram's tail. It fanned its wings and forced Butterfree to fly back. A cackling laugh spread out in the arena as it burned. Squinting past the flames, Light saw Reshiram's wings flapping to swirl an inferno around its body.
"Why would it burn itself on purpose?" Light asked no one in particular. "What would it allow it to do?"
"I don't know," Robin said.
As the flames continued to burn themselves out, the arena competitors created a wide semi-circle around it. Butterfree waited the closest, hovering about over the dying flames. He popped to the left to dodge a spark flying away from it.
Light's attention stayed on the spark. Red fires fell from its surface and revealed a familiar white stone. It flew past the barrier they had made and stopped cold midair, in the center of the arena. It began to spin and glow red with heat. Underneath him, Nadia took paces back, no doubt after feeling the heat from all the way across the stadium.
Cracks appeared on the stone's surface, and spread. It shattered.
A hot wind shoved Light off Nadia. He tumbled around until screeching to a stop on the hard soil. The movement made him nauseous. Still, he had to accomplish something. He rolled around to face towards the epicenter. With his white bandanna still on, the camera would catch everything that happened from here: priceless information.
Reshiram stood again. Its burns across its body had healed and returned it to a pure white color. Pitch black ash replaced the grass underneath its feet. Viewing it from the side, Light had a better grasp on its whole body. Glimmers across its body told him glass covered even more of it than before. Its eyes still appeared as black pits.
Glass rings formed around its tail. Its missing rings were the reason it burned itself when it used its firepower.
It just lost its only weakness.
"Not good."
Green light ignited and grew against the arena wall. Reshiram shifted on its feet as Butterfree flew up. It glanced around, as if weighing its options. Light wouldn't have even guessed it had some sort of thought process. It stared down the Butterfree for a moment, then seemed to make a choice.
The ground trembled as Reshiram's tail lit ablaze. It held its wings close at its side and shot up into the air. Butterfree flew up after it, but didn't even come close. Dying embers rained down as it vanished, again. Light's muscles released. He slumped down on the dirt.
"I don't understand. It doesn't have my soul. It should just degrade. There shouldn't be any intelligence or thought or… Anything. It should have disappeared. Instead, it's making a tactical retreat?"
"I thought you of all pokemon would know," Light said.
"I did have thousands upon thousands of years of knowledge, but it's all lost now. All I have to work with are your sixteen years. I doubt I would even talk like this if I had my own memories back."
"This… isn't very helpful."
"I have an idea, but you should get patched up and tend to your Guild. Until then."
The second presence in Light's mind faded away. It felt familiar to telepathy being cut off, but not entirely.
"Light!"
Sky Shaymin Ariel landed a few paces away from Flareon Light and ran up to him. Galarian Ponyta Nadia and Mienfoo Robin got up and reached him too, but gave them space. Light forced himself to keep her from worrying. She reached her paw and hesitated like he'd crumble at a small touch. He walked forward and leaned against her side to let him know he was fine. She placed her paw on his back and hugged gently.
"I saw the others," Ariel said. "They'll be okay."
"Okay," Light huffed. "Okay…"
Light glanced up and stepped back. Ariel turned to see what caught his attention.
The same Butterfree flew down in front of them; spear in hand. He kept it pointed in their direction a few paces away, and too close for comfort. Ariel stepped in front of Light. Her torn up white cape fell in front of his eyes.
An electric tingle danced on Light's fur. It was a Sacred Treasure.
"I know you're its Scion," Butterfree warned. "What are you two playing at?"
"Don't point that thing at Light," Ariel hissed.
"You can't threaten me, Chingyang."
"How do you know my name?"
"I am Marciel," he answered. "I'm the President of the World Peace Organization. Luke told me everything." Butterfree Marciel's eyes turned to Light. "I know you're Reshiram's Scion. What are you trying to do?"
"He's able to sense me. This is unfortunate timing. He must think you staged our battle for some sort of gain."
"Light wasn't its Scion until today," Ariel argued. "He hasn't done anything."
"I know what happened on Mount Ài. Why should I trust you?"
A cold, numb feeling washed over Light. His vision fogged.
"Airy?" Light asked. "I'm… cold."
"Light?"
He collapsed. Ariel turned and rested her paws on his shoulders. Marciel flew over him and stuck his spear in the ground.
"He used a Sacred Treasure too much," he said. "You're a Wizard Scion, right?" he asked Ariel.
"Y-yeah," she said.
"You can control his power. Steady it."
"His power?"
"His… chi. Energy. Whatever you call it."
"I'm not good at it."
"Ariel," Marciel said. "This is bad. Doctors won't come fast enough. Reroute his power. Do it. Now."
Ariel placed a quaking paw on Light's forehead. At first, he couldn't tell the difference, then a pull tugged inside his body. Pain erupted. She held his paw tight.