Character: Guinevere Acuity
Species: Sylveon
Age: 28-31
Nickname: One
Year of character creation: 2020
Story: Rosemary Evergreen and Lancelot Acuity's natural-born daughter, and the genetic base for the Angels. Her motives are unknown.
The sound of the ocean's waves brought Light back to the land of the living. He'd been carried for an hour or two, laid down on some kind of bedding, and fed some kind of sour paste. Everything hurt to some degree, but his back leg burned, until it numbed.
Flareon Light woke up wrapped in colorful blankets, warm. His arms, bundled together on top of his chest. More blankets, tied tight, nestled his head in place. Without moving an inch from his cocoon, he felt dizzy, that he'd fall if he stood up.
Ariel.
Light pushed against the blankets around him. His arms didn't help much.
A clear blue sky stared down at him. Was he outside?
Somewhat. Walls surrounded him on all sides, from different buildings, like the plaza of some kind of compound. He tried to see the ground level, but his gray mane blocked his view. It still had dirt caked into it.
An Armaldo popped his head over him.
"Why are you here?" Armaldo asked.
"W-why?" Light asked.
"Don't take me a fool, Wilderbeast."
Armaldo reached down. His claw hooked underneath his gray mane. He lifted Light up.
Metal chains jangled around his wrists. Along with a small cast, another pair of chains bound his legs to a short, stone platform.
"You were on the back of that foul Wilderbeast Sage," Armaldo said. Hatred sharpened his eyes. "You must be a Wilderbeast, isn't that right?"
"Tell him no."
"N-no," Light said.
"I can see it in your eyes, animal…"
Light never read anything about this continent before he started his journey, much less Wilderbeasts. He had no resources to know the situation. They must not like Wilderbeasts here, obviously.
"W-what do you want from me?" Light asked.
Armaldo's eyes dulled. Light guessed he didn't have an answer to that question. Light looked past him.
More of them, on top of wooden balconies supported by carved, wooden brackets, watched on from above. They all looked at him strangely, like he was… dirty. He didn't like it.
"You are the one who travels with those Wayfarers?" Armaldo asked. "You're the White Star?"
"Disbelief," Reshiram observed. "Answer that you are."
"Y-yes," Light said.
The crowds on the balconies above seemed spark to some kind of… realization. He had to find out what kinds of things they believed about Wilderbeasts as soon as he could.
"Why a-am… I chained?" he asked.
"Because you're a trespasser," Armaldo said.
"I don't want to… To be here…"
Armaldo stopped and stared for a moment, up towards the balconies. He seemed to stop and visit every face. He let Light go and moved slowly, out of view.
When he came back, metal covered his claws.
"Hey? Light asked. "What are you doing?"
Armaldo stopped, but not because he said anything. Something behind Light spooked him, but he couldn't turn around to see. He sensed it, though.
The buzz of the Acuitan blessing.
A white ribbon cruised in front of his face. It presented a small cup of water, within reach. Light's ears rose. He took it and drank.
Sugar water?
"Awfully fast of you," Reshiram groaned.
"I was thirsty," he snapped.
A Sylveon walked past Light as he gasped for breath. She stepped in front of him and kicked one of her legs back. The stone platform shattered. Light hit the floor and fumbled around in the rubble. The courtyard fell silent, save for the noise of his struggles to stand.
"If you follow us, I will hunt you, and I will kill you, like the Wilderbeasts of your children's nightmares. You may be certain of it, as certain as you are that the sun tomorrow will rise in the east, and set in the west."
Her voice, but a whisper, reached them all. Light managed to slip out of his chains and stand up. The entire area froze stiff. A bird's song highlighted her every word.
She spoke like a poet.
A ribbon wrapped around Light's chest. She stood him upright, wrapped it again around his arm, and walked with him, right past Armaldo. Despite the enormous, clad metal sickles, Light didn't even glance his way. He could only think about her.
He watched the way she walked. He walked differently, he thought. Did he speak like her without realizing? She had smashed that stone with a light, almost gentle kick. He could become that powerful?
One guided him through a building, then back outside to a narrow street. The walls, some covered with artwork and laundry, were made out of solid coral limestone. It seemed to be a residential area, dead in the middle of the day.
Her footsteps slammed in his ears..
"Why are you helping me?" Light blurted.
"I have a proposition. I sought to offer it when you rested from your travels, after the safari."
"You're not trying to kill me? Or sacrifice me? Or, rip me limb from limb?"
"I parted ways with my kin long before you were born."
"I… heard. But, then why did you attack us in Lao Shen?"
"Save such questions. First, we must leave this foul place."
"Where are we?" he asked.
"One of many coastal villages in this area, one that seems to hate Wilderbeasts."
She had no idea, definitely. He could tell.
"We make for the Wilderbeast Sage. He lives alone, several miles south, shunned by the other villages. It is a place to hide, surrounded by places to hide."
Armaldo had mentioned the Wilderbeast Sage had been carrying him. He last remembered passing out in the rainforest. He definitely wouldn't have done well alone out there.
First things first…
"What should I call you?" Light asked.
"You may call me One."
"One," he repeated. "Thank you… For saving me."
"Think nothing of it. Your bad luck was impressive, what with where you found yourself."
He relaxed. "Yah…"
Sylveon One kept her ribbon around his forearm. She led them on narrow streets. On occasion, she sniffed the air, possibly for the scent of the ocean. Light followed behind her.
They kept up like this for a while. With time, the roads ran out, in exchange for sand. The buildings opened up and let them see the ocean as it stretched to the horizon. Seagulls called, in a staggered, laughing howl. Everything seemed so quiet. Light could hear his own breath.
"I've heard of this Wilderbeast Sage before," Light said. "I thought they lived in the mountains."
"There are more with the title 'Wilderbeast Sage'," One said. "They are considered guides, especially for those who are Wilderbeasts and struggle in society."
"Why would one of them be so close to a town like that?"
Light glanced back at the town, shrunken, from them being so far out now.
"He helps Wilderbeasts who are struggling to live here, in secret."
"So, you've met him before?" Light asked.
"No, I have not. But," her low voice rang, "he will help you."
"To do what?"
"Learn to survive."
When she mentioned he lived alone, banished from the other villages, Flareon Light expected a shack.
Instead, twenty minutes later, they came to a nice house near a short cliff, overlooking the ocean, surrounded by a gentle veil of grass. The walls seemed to be made out of pale coral limestone, just like in the village. It seemed to have two stories, Light estimated. The front door, made of dark wood, loomed twice over their heads. Carvings of vines and flowers, as well as inscriptions, looked down at them.
Sylveon One tapped the door three times, very lightly. Light creeped and glanced at her face. She seemed lost in thought.
A few seconds later, the door pulled open.
A Sawsbuck, much taller than either of them, greeted them at the door. Light recognized his view of his four hooves, before he passed out in the jungle.
"I have returned," One said.
"So you have," Sawsbuck said. "Especially impressive, he's still in… One piece…"
One didn't react. Sawsbuck smiled.
"Your payment is a week's stay, as promised."
"Thank you," she said.
"Thank you. Please, come in."
The doorway cleared to another courtyard, again, without a roof overhead. Light's feet hit cold stone, beautifully colored to form a circle shape of flowers, like stained glass. A large archway led inside. Staircases, made out of stone and attached to the walls and either side, led up to two balconies. Each had a door. It seemed like the courtyard acted as the center for most houses here.
Huge wooden pots held up thick, green plants in all four corners of the courtyard. One had ovular disc leaves with spikes, and others looked like colorful bushes, with pink dots from flowers.
"I will be back in my quarters," Sawsbuck said. "You may have your time."
"Thank you," said One. "Light, come sit."
One walked directly to the center and sat down. Light sat across from her. Sawsbuck retreated through the large archway inside. Despite everything, she didn't feel like a stranger.
He guessed, in a way, he's known her for his entire life.
"So… What's this 'proposition' you mentioned earlier?" Light asked.
"It is a deal, of sorts," One said. "For one week, you will train under me and the Wilderbeast Sage. In exchange, you and I, together, will slay the Glass Reshiram. Your new powers should give you enough strength for us to save your lover, trapped on Six's airship."
Ariel was trapped?
"You were watching…? All along?" his voice gargled. "While they took my friends and… our family?"
"I intended to join your company, when the Angels attacked. When they came, I hid myself, as a trump card, of sorts. If I showed myself for the battle, you would be alone. Now, you are not."
"But why did you attack us in Lao Shen?"
"In Olympus, most Scions on the surface are accounted for," One said, in little more than a whisper. "You were smitten with a Scion, with a host of questionable sanity, and capable of foul spells and sorcery. I intervened to assess the predicament. If you were under a spell, I would have taken you away. To my great surprise, you were not."
"You thought Airy was… controlling me?"
"That is what Rayquaza instructed her to do, possibly out of fear that the Olympians would find you. It wanted to hide you there, on Mount Ài, no matter what the Glass Reshiram did in response. If you hadn't descended, I would have arrived."
"But why bother protecting me?" he muttered. "What's in it for you to be against all of the other Angels?"
"That is a very private question to ask of me."
Light's stomach dropped. A short moment passed.
"I will share it with you," she continued, "if you show me your commitment. When you fought Reshiram for the first time, on the beach in Kaigan, you had already given up. Now, you must fight to survive. It will be a lot more difficult."
"But… say I did die… Then there wouldn't be a problem anymore, right?"
One's eyes fell. "That is not the case."
Light's ears drooped.
"Should you perish," she said, "our father will use genetic information he has obtained over the years, and birth another Angel, with the same traits as you. With you dead, Reshiram again will be forced to have them as its Scion.
"Someone, like you, will be raised, like an animal, to be butchered, and sixteen years later, the end result will be the same. However, with you alive, no new Angel born will be able to become Reshiram's Scion. If you are captured, you will be sacrificed. If you are dead, someone else will simply take your place. Survival is your only option, and I am the only one who can train you quickly enough."
"So… that's it?" Light breathed. "If I die, he'll just make another one of me?"
"Yes," One answered. "He will. And like on the beach at Kaigan, for the good of everyone, your replacement will do as you did, in a vain effort to feel… holy."
One placed a ribbon on top of his paw. Her white eyes stared right through him.
"But you," she said quietly, "like me, are capable of fighting, and killing, as many Dragoon soldiers as it takes."
Killing?
"This training will be like bathing in hellfire, on your body and your mind. We will begin posthaste."
"B-but-"
"I will answer your questions as we train. Allow me to set the ground rules."
One stood up. Light stayed seated, to save whatever scraps of strength he could.
"During your training, you will be wearing weights with no exceptions. You will have six weights, four on your arms and legs, one around your waist, and one on your shoulders. Throughout your training, we will have Acuitan duels as I see fit. When you are not training with me, you will be training with Huruma."
"I… I'm not sure…"
"In two weeks, Lancelot Acuity will descend to Six's airship. He has become interested in the power sets of Wizard Scions. He will take Ariel and Mei Chingyang to Olympus and conduct experiments. By all accounts, you will likely never see them again."
Light's chest burned.
"We will start immediately," One said, "after you bathe…"
Light shied away from her sour expression. He knew he smelled like jungle, but she didn't have to be so crass about it…
The rooms were nice.
Windows displayed the ocean. The sound of the waves' push and pull leaked through the walls. A bed took up the back wall. Behind the bed, archway indentations in the wall seated knick knacks and things. A sliding, wood door protected a water pit.
Light stared out the window from the water pit. His paws hung off the edge. He cleaned himself off in two minutes, but took an extra ten.
Ariel…
"You have no reason to doubt yourself." Reshiram said. "She knows you are capable."
"How could I… Let her down like that?"
"You didn't let her down. They came and attacked you. Strike back."
Maybe he should keep it simple… Yah…
He just had to go get her, and everything would work out.
He lifted himself up, patted himself off, and went back to the courtyard.
Sylveon One waited for him there. With her ribbons, she strapped on solid, metal bands around his limbs, shoulders, and core. By the end of it, standing seemed like a workout by itself. The sun hung right over their heads.
"We shall begin with basic movements," One said. "In combat, it is imperative that you face your opponent, or whatever direction you want to."
One started to walk in place in the pattern of the number eight. Light watched.
"You will practice this for two hours until it is second nature, then we will move on."
"Two hours…?"
"You must retain a straight stance, and you mustn't cross your legs, which would weaken your balance."
"O-kay…"
Light did as she asked, albeit a lot slower than her. He got bored six seconds in.
"So, uh, is there, like… Workout equipment here?"
"The weights will function for that. You will be focusing on technique."
"I get that this is important, but isn't there anything to make this less boring?"
"Other practices will be more…. 'exciting'. But perhaps, I can answer more of your questions."
In between his swivels, he saw One turn away from him.
"I will return in a moment, for conversation."
One left Light to feel like an idiot for two minutes. She returned with a silvery, metal box on her back, held by her ribbons. It jangled when she set it down. She laid out tools and parts.
"What are you doing?" Light asked curiously.
"Crafting you a weapon," One said. "I've been told Six stole Sacred Treasure Courtain, has she not?"
"How do you know that, with everything that was happening?"
"I have a source, in the Olympian ranks. You could call them a spy."
"Who?"
"Three."
"Three spies?"
One sighed. "No, the Archangel, Three."
"She's… on our side? A spy?"
"Correct. She gives me updates on Olympus' current location, as well as before attacks she can know about. She also provides information on new weaponry and major changes. That is why I know father will come to Six's airship in two weeks, and that he wants Chingyang."
"So, where is Olympus?"
"Per her report two days ago, off the coast of Southern Valor."
Southern Valor…
That must've been nearly on the other side of the planet by now. It scared him to think about it too hard. Home really ended up that far away…
"Can all of the Angels use Courtain?" Light asked.
"No," One said. "It is, in fact, quite rare. Sacred Treasures have strict preferences on energy patterns. It simply means you must share much in common with Six."
"But, if that was Six I saw, why didn't she attack me right then? She just flew away."
"Not all Angels specialize in combat. In the beginning, there was only Two."
"Two whats?"
She looked up from her work."The Archangel Two," she snapped. Her gaze fell back down. "The other six Archangels were born some months later, at the same time. Among them, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, and Two, were trained in combat by Lancelot Acuity, while Three and Four were trained by mother, in the sciences. Once they had perfected their craft, they in turn, currently train the Saints, the rest of the first one-hundred Angels. The Saints, in turn, train the rest of the Angels."
"What kinds of things do the sciencey Angels make?"
Sciencey sounded stupid, but, welp…
"Most recently, EMP's," she said, "short for electromagnetic pulses, which disable or damage any electronic devices over a wide area. They also advance the technology of pegasi wings, laser cannons, explosives… There is nothing related to war that they don't make."
"If I didn't have Candor… What would my life be like?"
"If you specialized in combat, training like this, from dawn to dusk, six days a week. Your barracks would be the standard size, no more than double our body length, I would estimate. Angels make very little contact with Olympians themselves, given their… biases. You would be in a group, likely overseen by a Saint. When you are young, you are forced to cut your fur short."
"Why?"
"Father knows we prefer to keep our fur long. Saints are allowed to wear it as long as they want, to draw spite and jealousy to inspire other Angels to work harder."
Control.
"So, are Saints sort of… disliked?"
"They are hated. Saints fight with their rage, and the weapons they create have become darker, as of late. Their lives are lorded over by the coldness of the Acuitan blessing."
Light stayed quiet. His footsteps tapped back and forth between them, like a bad icebreaker.
"Scientists study for the same amount of time as the others train. They have four-hour exams every seven days. Failing these exams can mean a number of things; that your fur is cut, that you do not eat for two days. Jonathan probably told you of their capabilities, but not even Dragoon Captains understand."
"Wh-"
"Forgive me, but I am weary of answering questions. I have many myself."
"Oh, uh… sure."
Light's head spun in circles (more than it already was). What on earth did she want to know about him? He hadn't done much. If anything, it seemed like she saw right through him. What was there to ask?
"What is it about this Chingyang that intrigues you so?" One said.
Oh, that made sense.
"Well," Light said, "I guess to start with, she's the greatest."
"And, well, she likes calling them 'cute little bean paws'. Oh, and did I mention how she's, like, super strong? I know I mentioned those before, but, I mean, really. People online say she could lift a whole landslide, but I say that she could stop a whole earthquake with just one touch of her paw…"
"You can stop now," One said. "It's been two hours…"
"It's been two hours?" Flareon Light asked.
"You spoke about her eyes alone for twenty minutes, and the poems you tried to write about them for another fifteen."
"Actually, I forgot to mention one of those. But why'd you ask about Airy anyways?"
One kept her eyes down on a growing metal part on the ground. "None of the Angels enter relationships. It was simply curiosity. Let's take a break for five minutes, and then we'll begin the next motion."
Why'd he need a break?
The moment Light stopped swiveling in place, his limbs gave out, like melting butter. He sunk to the floor.
"So, do the Angels really want me for world domination? I mean, it just doesn't sound… fun?"
"I don't know the real reason. Only Two would."
"Two whats?"
One stayed silent.
"Oh, uh, sorry…"
"Two was a sort of… experiment," One said. "She was the first Angel, and so, the first to have artificial ownership of Reshiram's DNA and the Wilderbeast gene. She was plagued with all manners of illness and suffering. She wasn't expected to survive past the age of seven." Her eyes glazed over. "I remember those days. She was bedridden for weeks. I stayed by her side as much as I could, but it was never enough."
"What happened?"
"You may not believe what I say."
"Uh, w-well, of course I would," Light shrugged.
One looked up and stared at him, right in the eyes. "A god from another world held pity for her, and cured all of her ailments. They divulged to her a great number of secrets, the kind once thought unknowable, such as the origins of the Acuitan blessing. With this knowledge, she has declared that your death is absolutely necessary. Across the years, however, she has refused to tell me, or anyone, what truly transpired."
"A 'god from another world'? What does that even mean?"
"I do not know. But, I solemnly trust that Two alone knows something of this world's fate that she does not wish to share."
Speaking of…
Light didn't tell her about what happened to him in the rainforest; the green butterfly, and them. He didn't know if he wanted to. Maybe, in some roundabout way, she'd end up safer not knowing.
"Your next exercise is to perform simple strikes. I will show you the form, and you will spend one hour with your arms, and another hour with your legs. After that, introduce yourself to Huruma, and ask him for guidance to train your senses."
"What will you do?"
"I require additional parts. This is a port city. I will be sure to find them."
"Isn't town kind of dangerous?"
"Worry not. I will return before dark. Stay the course as Huruma teaches you. I am not a Wilderbeast, and cannot emulate any of his teachings. I'm certain you will perform your best, for Ariel."
"I had one last question. If you trust Two, why are you helping me?"
One stared off. "I have always seen Angels as my brothers and sisters. Your life, whether you want to give it away or not, is your right."
It stuck with him for a while.
One showed him the correct form and left. Light had plenty of time to think. He punched at the air again and again. He thought about the way Galahad looked at him. When he thought about them as brothers and sisters, his arms stiffened up.
Two hours flew by.
As One described, he focused on technique, since the weights would do the strength training for him. They definitely did. He laid on his side on the floor for a minute.
Two horns, covered in bushes, shaded over his eyes.
"Are you alright?" Sawsbuck asked.
"Yah," he said, breathing in. "I'm good."
"Your sister there really seems to care about you. Ah, but forgive me if I disturbed you, Lord Acuity."
Light rolled onto his paws. "Oh, uhm, you can just call me Light."
"Alright, then. Light. So, what do you know about Wilderbeasts?"
"Well, that we can… talk to animals?"
"Not… exactly. Guess we'll start with the basics."
Light looked up and up to try and see his face. It threw him off balance. He rolled onto his back and had to stand up all over again. Sawsbuck stepped back.
"My name is Huruma," Sawsbuck said. "I grew up in the village you were taken to."
"I, uh, nearly got executed after five minutes… So, uh, how?"
He smiled. "Oh, that's just a scare tactic they like to use to run them out of town. It was different when I was growing up. I was about your age when I left my home."
Light stared.
He parked his new house awfully close…
"Yes, not very far," he smiled. "I'm very attached. Wilderbeasts, in short, are thought to be evolutionarily closer to animals. We read signals and view the world in different ways than others."
"Do we fight differently, too?"
"I understand why you would ask that question," Huruma said. "Your life must be surrounded by combat and warfare, in many ways. If that is all you want, that is all you will receive. Many Wilderbeasts who come here ask me to 'cure' them, if you can believe it. How about you?"
"I don't know," he said. "I didn't know I even was one till a little while ago. I want to reach my full potential as a person. And I think this is a part of that."
"There are many 'full potentials' for you to reach. Do you want to fulfill some sort of purpose in life?"
His purpose… Unfortunately, the purpose for the Wilderbeast gene had never been good to start with.
"No…" he said.
"What are your plans? After you slay the Glass Reshiram, what do you want to do with your life?"
"Uhhhh, I…"
"What's your happy ending? What do you want from this?"
What did he want, if he won? How long should he think about it? Should he just spit it out? He didn't usually think this hard about himself. Should he stop thinking?
"Light?" Huruma asked.
"I want to live by the ocean- No. On the ocean. I want to live on the ocean and be the best Guildmaster the world's ever seen. I want to find a family, or, connect with the family I have. And most of all, I want my partner there with me. But she was taken away, and I need to fight to get her back."
His chest quivered. His voice broke up.
"But, sometimes, I don't think I'll ever be able to do that, because I don't feel the same things that other people do. I'm scared that I'm just fooling myself into thinking that I could even love anything."
"I can see very clearly that you are capable of love. The Acuitan blessing cannot control anyone. Do not be fooled. You feel the things everyone does. You have a soul. I can't help but wonder why you seem to doubt that."
Huruma glanced between Light and the rest of the courtyard.
"I'll set us down two mats, and boil some tea."
"But… shouldn't we train?"
"This is how I always help people train. I teach very little in the way of combat, though, I suppose some lessons may be useful for that."
It seemed like a big fat waste of time. Then again, Light's limbs had turned to jelly. If he trained like he had been through the whole week, he might not last. Maybe this was her way of pacing him.
Light waited.
After two minutes, Huruma brought out two soft mats. Five minutes later, he walked out with two cups, almost like buckets, hanging from his horns. Light saw those types of cups most commonly over a pokemon's neck, when they didn't have digits or a simpler way to carry them. Huruma leaned his head and let Light take one. After, he walked to his mat, a pace or two away, set his down, and sat. Both cups were large, clearly meant for larger species. Species as small as Light must not have come very often.
Light didn't especially like tea, but it'd be rude not to accept. He found it a bit weird; the cup froze the tips of his digits. It could be some kind of cold tea.
Holy crap, a milkshake!
"I've read you like sweet things a lot," Huruma said.
"T-thanks."
Light hugged the large cup and drank.
Butterscotch…
"Wilderbeasts draw most of our techniques from animals," Huruma said. "Our movements and strategies all originate from watching animals similar to ourselves. Have you ever noticed that cats will always wiggle their butts before they leap?"
"Uhm… No?" Light said.
"It is because it increases blood flow to their legs. Animals are the prime example of survival, our ancestors in a way. If you look at their behaviors, you'll see that all of them have origins that have evolved across millenia. So, in other words, somewhere in that sugar-rushed head of yours, you already know what you need to do. Why don't we ruminate on it together?"
"Uh, okay."
They spoke for a while.
It didn't pain him like One's training, but it had its difficulties. Talking about himself for so long hurt his soul. Still, he found out some interesting information. Huruma had him correct his walking posture a bit, and he learned that he'd be better off if he trained his sense of smell and sharpened his claws on rocks and things.
Huruma also made brown, crescent-shaped cookies with a cinnamon and almond filling. That made him one of his best teachers for anything, ever.
Light took a catnap. He woke up to a tap on his forehead.
Sylveon One stared down at him. He shot his head up to try and look like he hadn't been asleep.
"Your training with Huruma is meant to be a rest, of sorts," One said. "Next, you will practice sidesteps."
The sun started to sink into the ocean.
One took a nap while Light sidestepped for two hours. If he kept it up much longer, something would snap. The catnap helped some, but he didn't even think he'd be able to last the whole time. He did, by the skin of his teeth.
For dinner, they ate Walia na maharage, or what Valorians would just call rice and beans. Whatever spices or ingredients Huruma added prompted him to drool and ask for seconds. When the sun dipped into the ocean, light fixtures put them back into the atmosphere of sunset. The lights were shaped like globes, with floral patterns created with black metal around the center bulb. They hung everywhere, even above their rooms. He hadn't noticed them before, with how small they were.
Light sat up and waited for One's instruction. She ate the last of her meal, then stared at him.
"I noticed before that you were impacted quite heavily by those potions in Lao Shen," One said.
Love potions…
"Oh, t-that?" Light asked. "It just got me by surprise." His face burned. "Yah…"
"I'm sure part of it was because of her 'traits' you mentioned, but next, we will train you against similar effects. You are wanted for capture. If you are vulnerable to paralysis or sleep, it would make it too easy to capture you."
"But isn't that only for higher level fighters than me?"
"The skill is more valuable as you grow stronger, but the base of the skill is something you can learn quickly. These ailments cause distortions in the flow of your body's energy. Focus on controlling that flow. The more energy you have, the harder it is for distortions to occur. That is why stronger pokemon resist them so."
"So how is it done?"
"Simply meditate. Focus on your flow of energy. Master your control over it."
Light did as she asked.
He could sense it; a sort of river running from his limbs, through his core, around his skull.
"Uh, can I ask you something?" Light asked.
"Yes," One answered with closed eyes.
Light closed his eyes too. It helped him picture the energy better.
"I don't know if you know the answer," he said, "but uh… I'm a clone of you. So, why am I a boy?"
"Our mother and father made no input on the gender of the Angels. Their maniacy does not extend to sexism, because they do not care."
"But I still have all of your traits and everything? So, what does that really make me?"
"Six was among the first to ask this question. It happened when we were still younger, and learning about… things. It took her some time, before she found her answer."
"She was born a boy?" Light asked quietly.
"We found there is no correct answer for what she was born as, only for what she chose to be."
"What else can you tell me about her?"
"I have not spoken to many of the Archangels for years, other than Three. I can tell you that Six and Two are likely the only ones capable of wielding Sacred Treasure Courtain."
"How do you know?"
"Olympus has a manner of testing for such things. Now then, I have waited for you to calm down enough to answer these questions. What happened when you were ambushed?"
"When Six's airship came, Marciel flew down to our carriage."
"Marciel?" she asked.
"He's the President of the World Peace Organization, and Zygarde's Scion."
"Ah. So, he betrayed you."
"How'd you know?" Light asked.
"The World Peace Organization is useless. They bend, and break, to any power large enough. They always have, and shall."
"Yah, well… He signaled them where they were. Ariel fought with him, but… Just a bunch of craziness happened. Six stole Courtain right from me. Everyone got surrounded. When I ran, I got grabbed by this Dragoon in black armor. We, uh, traded blows in the air."
"Quite the uneven trade," Reshiram said.
"Then," Light hissed a bit, "I landed in the rainforest. And I… I saw this butterfly."
Light wiped his eyes.
One stared back at him. Light gazed down. A ribbon wrapped around Light's paw.
"It told me, 'Today, you must overcome your destiny, by your own strength'. I was attacked, by Scions."
"What species were they?"
"They were Zen Verity and Gawain Acuity."
The ribbon squeezed. One glowered.
"They had these sort of orange veins," Light said. "Like Ariel. And, I-I saw them capture me, twice. And, after the second time, they said that Dialga's Scion was messing with them, or something like that."
"How did you escape?" One asked quietly.
"I ate some bananas for sugar, and used it to make a Pounce Orb, with glass. I ran in a random direction away from them, and then I passed out and woke up here."
"I see. So, they must be Kyogre's and Groudon's Scions."
"I just…. I don't know those names."
"They are subservients, in a sense, to Rayquaza, masters of the land and sea. They must have been waiting for you to separate from Chingyang."
"So, they were at a disadvantage because of Airy's host?"
"Yes, it would seem so."
"Should I tell someone?"
"Anyone who knows is in danger," One said. "Few Olympians, if any, know the identities of the six Scions present there. If Marciel, Zen, and Gawain are three of them, it may be best to keep it to ourselves. They are capable of political feats, to say the least, especially together."
"But, you know Chad Longfellow? That Slowking? He went to Valor. His old partner was the Lodestar's mom. He might get close to them if I don't warn him."
"I think she may have known before us."
"What do you mean?"
"Just a thought. But, the inside of that building, the Nightlight Association. It reminds me of home. I'm certain he will fare well on his own. For us, it has become more imperative that you reunite with Ariel. Strategically speaking, of course. She must be quite the deterrent."
More like a dreamy protector, but, he guessed "deterrent," worked too.
One unwrapped her ribbon from his paw.
"You're doing well," One said. "Continue to focus on those people that are counting on you. Stand. It's time for combat."
He expected it to happen eventually.
Flareon Light stood. Sylveon One rose up with him. They backed away from each other.
"Don't use energy, or attacks," One said. "Combine the fundamentals I have taught you thus far."
One had stronger fundamentals, and Light could see how they built each other up.
After a night's rest, they started up again at sunrise. Light practiced side-steps, horizontal leaps, and vertical jumps. With those all done, he earned brunch, and another talk with Huruma.
This time, they met outside, along the cliff near his house, overlooking the ocean. Light sat down and meditated next to him, or said he would. In actuality, it seemed like a waste of time. Every minute dragged on longer than the last.
"So, what do you do for fun?" Huruma asked. His question broke what felt like a half hour of silence.
Light thought for a moment. "I like watching movies with Ariel, and playing games with Ariel, and flying with Ariel… On my own, I guess, uh… Fur stuff?"
"That's good. You know, the more you enjoy something, the better you become at it. Do you enjoy fighting, Light?"
'I haven't really had the chance to do it by choice to find out."
"Have you ever fought with Ariel?"
"I did. The first time, I felt like… garbage. But then, she, uh… was nice. I guess I forgot."
"A lot of masters in their craft are born out of desperation. They are left with nothing but their craft, become obsessed, and… They take leaps that people usually might not take. That's why I think you could become very strong."
After a few more minutes, Light returned inside.
Sylveon One waited for him in the courtyard. For his next step, he had to dodge weak Moonblasts, fired at random speeds, with some additional rules. He had to avoid them close enough for sparkles to dust his fur before disappearing, and he had to keep his feet on the ground, all to avoid using excess energy. One's randomness kept him from falling into an easy rhythm to follow. He had to pay attention.
"So, what's Three like?" he asked.
Light rounded around another Moonblast.
"She is very shy, and quiet. She and Four wear glasses, since they work as engineers. They're something like reading glasses."
"What's Four like?"
"He may be psychotic, but it is difficult to tell. Regardless, you shouldn't concern yourself too much over the Archangels. You must focus. In Lao Shen, Reshiram managed to elude me. Your help must be the difference."
"What do you mean Reshiram 'eluded you' in Lao Shen?"
One paused her assault. Light stood still as he waited for an answer.
"Reshiram fled Lao Shen, after facing me in combat. It recovered out at sea, then found your Guild on the Abujan coastline."
"You fought it? Alone?"
"Most Angels, like me, you could say, are late bloomers. To fight Resshiram alone is not impossible, but I cannot kill it alone."
So that's why.
Fighting Reshiram by themselves seemed like a far-off dream to Light before, but One had every intention of doing most of the fighting herself.
"Do you have a plan?" Light asked.
"In the making. Do not doubt that we can achieve victory. Your anxiety will ruin your focus."
Somehow, One kept up the exercise with him for the full two hours. For another two hours, Light had to fire different attacks at her: Swift, Flamethrower, Shadow Ball, Trump Card, and Flame Burst.
He barely made it. At the end, Light collapsed on the floor.
Everything spun. Light's breaths grew shallow. One's footsteps pounded in his ears.
"Are you alright?" One asked.
He didn't feel alright, but it was just part of his training.
"Y-yah…"
One placed a ribbon on his forehead.
"That is enough for today," she said.
"But-"
"Three is keeping watch over the continent. We must be ready for when Reshiram appears, at a moment's notice. Regardless, it will give me time to finish the weapon."
"Can I talk to you while you do that?"
"No. I need to focus. I am not a master engineer."
"Please?"
"What even is there to ask?"
"What's Five like?"
One turned away and sighed. "He makes it a point to speak his mind, including the things we would never say out loud.'
"Like what?"
"Something like 'Leave me alone and stop asking questions, I'm trying to work'."
Light scowled.
One brought her mess of metal out of her room again and worked more in the courtyard. After a few minutes, Light walked over. He looked over her work.
"So, what's Seven like?" he asked.
He knew she'd be annoyed. He didn't care.
"Seven thinks herself something holy," One grumbled. "She is… irritating. Some of us are…" She turned straight up at Light and gazed into his soul. "Some of us are like that."
"And what's Eight like?"
"Eight does not think very hard, but is a strong warrior. Are you finished? I must-"
One stopped. They shared a glance. Both of them set their sights on the front door. Light's head vibrated.
"It feels like grandfather," Light said.
"Go see," One said.
Light walked towards the front door. At the halfway point, an aggressive knock pounded against it. His voice caught in his throat.
"Who's there!?" Light asked.
"A guy who keeps his promises."
He knew that voice.
Light continued forward and pulled open the door. He couldn't believe his eyes.
A Prinplup leaned against the doorway with his fins folded. Mud scattered across his body. Light looked him up and down.
"Sheng?" he asked. He looked past him.
Manaphy Jewel, Pachirisu Susan, and Umbreon Amadeus stood out on the grass, surrounded by a horde of kids.
"We didn't really know what was going on or what to do," Sheng said. "Might've screwed up on a few accounts, but, at the very least, I got the young, the civilian, and the elderly."
Amadeus glared.
"So, you gonna let us in?" Sheng asked.
"Uh, uh, yah… Come in."
All of them stepped forward.
Light cleared the doorway.
They flooded the courtyard. Sylveon One had retreated from view, likely to her room, with all her stuff in tow. She must not have liked crowds very much. The avalanche of footsteps weighed heavier than silence. None of them said a word. Kirlia Bao and Snivy Shu walked hand in hand.
They all looked ragged and worn.
"Okay," Sheng said, "so, your grandad filled us all in that there's an army of you's trying to kill you. So, you going back for that airship?"
"No," Light said. "The next thing I want to do is finish off Reshiram, once and for all."
Sheng's eyes darkened. "Why?"
"Doing that will make taking the airship easier."
"Shouldn't your priority be your Guild?"
"It is, but-"
"I got a few members of my crew up there." Sheng put his flippers on his hips. "You telling me you want that big ass bounty more than our people?"
Light glanced at the horde of eyes and back.
"That's not it at all. Reshiram has a resource that we need to have enough firepower."
"You sure about that, huh?"
"Cease and desist."
Sylveon One stood out on the balcony in front of her room. She gazed down on the courtyard.
"Reshiram must fall before," One said. "That is the end of it."
Sheng shaded his eyes with his right arm. "Uh, who're you?"
"Whatever your business, conduct it and leave. We are training."
Sheng waved her off. "Whatever, don't give a shit." His attention turned back to Light. "Fine, Reshiram first, and you better be telling the truth. Cause if you're lying to me, I'm switching back to pirate mode. My ship will be hoisting anchor just off the edge of the cliff here. Your folks are all yours. Now if you'll excuuuuuse me."
Sheng walked off with his whole crew behind him. Pachirisu Susan, Manaphy Jewel, and Umbreon Amadeus stood around. Light waited.
They all tried to talk at once. Light stifled down his breath. Amadeus and Jewel stopped and let Susan speak first.
"Where's Markus?" Susan asked with her paws crumpled together.
Light's ears fell. "I don't know," he said. "You should all wash up. We can, uh, talk."
Amadeus stared up at One's door. She already went back inside her room.
One by one, they each took a bath and got some food. Amadeus went first, Susan second, and Jewel third. When they finished, they all joined Light in a small circle for some food Huruma made.
The heavy silence, only broken up by the quiet bang of wooden utensils, rocked Light to his core.
They were the only ones that made it.
"Is beating Reshiram really the best way to help?" Manaphy Jewel asked quietly.
"Yah," Light said. "But it's okay. We'll get back there soon. We just have to be patient…"
"Patient?" Susan spat. "Maybe you'd understand if your fiancé was up there."
"Susan," Amadeus said. "Please."
"What are we doing?" She looked Light right in the eye. "Are you that single-minded?"
"Ironic, from you."
Sylveon One's shadow crept over Pachirisu Susan. She scrambled and turned around. One looked straight down at her face.
"We are slaying it first because I said so, because it is the logical course of action. Make your peace with it." She glanced up at Light. "Come. We have work to do."
Light stood up and avoided eye contact. He stalked away behind her.
Until sunset, they watched him train with One. Like yesterday, Light copied dull routines for two hours straight. Sawsbuck Huruma made conversation with the others while he trained.
When the sky oranged, Susan and Manaphy Jewel went to sleep. They decided Light would bunk with Huruma and Amadeus in Huruma's room instead. He missed having his own room already.
One gave him two more techniques to practice, four more hours worth of work, and went to sleep. Light strained to stay up. His eyes burned in the cool night air. Some of his strikes curved in weird angles because he grew dizzy.
"You should take a break for a few minutes."
It sounded so reasonable, he almost thought he said it himself.
Umbreon Amadeus walked next to him, alone. Light wiped the sides of his sweaty face and sat down. His weights clattered on the floor.
"I see your father's form already," Amadeus said. "And mine."
"What was…" Light huffed. "Your father like?"
"A menace, like his father. But there was a time before King Arthur, you know. Our family didn't always treat combat as a way to rip enemies limb from limb. We optimized it in other directions. In fact, before Arthur and his ambitions, we used to have the strongest defensive capabilities in the world."
"Defense?"
Amadeus chuckled to himself. "Mhm. All sorts of techniques to defend ourselves and our people, developed over generations by talented kings and queens. Breathing techniques for certain positions. Timings and mathematics."
"Do you know how to fight like that?" Light asked.
"I do." Amadeus frowned. "When your grandmother died, I lost my grip. First, I failed as a leader, then as a brother. Finally, I failed as a father, which made me fail as a grandfather, and… I never really recovered. I should've given Gareth the crown, but I doubted him, because I doubted myself. So, instead, I decided to wait for my grandchildren.
"I wondered what I could've done differently. That's why I didn't let Gawain know he was royalty until the time came for the Parade, just to try something. I wanted to be a better teacher this time around, but I'm sorry. I don't think you should learn from me."
Amadeus turned to walk away.
"Don't you think I have the right to learn from my ancestors?" Light asked. "You know, the ones putting so much pressure on me?"
Amadeus stopped. "You do."
"Then show me."
Light's voice came out as an order. He didn't mean to… Or maybe he did.
"We'll start with the basics," Amadeus said. "Breathe slow, in and out, and out in short bursts when you strike."
A key difference came to the forefront. Acuitan warlords focused on how to use their muscles to the greatest amount possible, but the old ways focused on how to need them as least as possible, with precise movements and energy.
In a way, it felt more pure.
Huruma's room boasted the best view of the ocean through a long window, and the most space. A chandelier made out of rainbow-colored beads lit up the whole room when they turned it on. Flareon Light slept that night on a cushion in the corner. When he woke up, he tiptoed past Amadeus and Huruma, who slept on opposite sides of the room, to the front door out to the courtyard.
Sylveon One had already gotten up. She worked by herself in the humid, morning air. Her pile of scrap metal had transformed into a large needle shape. Light approached quietly.
"You're awake early," One said. "I take it that means grandfather's training was easier."
"I-"
"It's fine. No one on Olympus knows the ways of Old Acuity. If they are to live on at all, it must be through you. You must, however, survive yourself. Three has informed me Glass Reshiram is in the desert. We leave on the hour."
Light's stomach dropped. This news came way too soon.
"This weapon may be the last piece of Old Acuity left on Olympus," One said. "Acuity first invented firearms. They saw little use as more than a tool. Our ancestors saw combat use in them anyway."
"Is that a lance?"
"Yes. Pick it up. It's ready."
The sleek handle seemed short, but once Light picked it up, it fit his paws perfectly. The rounded base held some heft to it. The silver metal spiraled up to a dangerous point.
"The weapon can represent the middle ground between Old and New Acuity," One explained. "It is a defensive masterpiece, and can kill very easily. This weapon itself is where the shift happened. This is what King Arthur used."
And all of a sudden, Light didn't feel as comfortable holding it anymore.
"Almost all fatal wounds come from the tip," she said. "I will show you how to control it. Draw your attention to the panel on the handle there."
Light turned it around to see the panel. It seemed like he could click it in, but it didn't budge. Instead, some kind of magnetic current tugged on his paw
"Concentrated energy is forced out the tip, which allows you to add momentum instantly. Hold it over your shoulder."
Light copied One's body movement. He held it over his shoulder with the tip pointing to the floor at an angle. Once he took position, One walked away to the side.
"Trigger it," she said.
Light let a little energy leave his paw.
The lance burst skyward, in an arc, and slammed against the floor. A crack formed. Light's feet shook.
It practically swung itself.
"If you use too much energy, you will lose your grip," One said. "The angle the tip is facing affects the angle of your swing. Predict and react, and use it carefully."
Light thought back to that strange Audino's feet. Those boosters seemed to work on the same principle.
"Thank you…" Light said, in awe. He stared down at a small piece of brick that had chipped off the floor. "But, if you're not an engineer, how'd you make this?"
"I memorized every piece of it." She turned away. "It's our father's weapon of choice as well. Go wake your companions. The time has come."
Light froze.
As One walked off, the weight of her words piled on his back. They might really kill it here and now, and maybe discover why it went berserk. Not everyone was here that he hoped would be, but this was it.
This time, he couldn't afford anything but an absolute victory.