Cody figured that with the public appearance of pokemon in the area plus the destruction of the school wing a couple days ago, things would slow down for the approaching summer, but he couldn't have been more wrong; school continued on as normal, much to Terry's chagrin.
"This is gonna be so stupid…" Terry groaned, he and Cody were by his locker, getting ready for the end of the school day. There was no attack from Kyurem in a couple of days, allowing them to focus on improving Terry's grades before the end of the school year.
"You should be grateful she let you do something in the first place." Cody said, closing his locker, the two joining the deluge of students getting ready to leave for the day. They couldn't help but notice most of the buzz was still on the strange creatures that fought in the school field a couple of days ago "Besides, extra credit is exactly what you need. You heard it from the teacher, even doing good on the final for English won't be enough." Cody couldn't help but smile at the long groan Terry gave out.
"I know you're right...but I don't have to like it…" Terry sighed "But you're coming with me to that stupid play then."
"Jokes on you, I actually liked Wizard of Oz." Cody grinned "But now that I think about it, where are they holding it? The auditorium got ruined because of Landorus' attack."
"Teacher said it was going to be at the theater in town, they're letting them hold it there." Terry said "And I gotta write a paper about the play."
"When the English teacher is also the Drama teacher I guess that'll happen." Cody nodded, the two of them making it outside "I was probably gonna hang out in the usual spot with Keldeo today. We can study there if you want?" Cody offered as the two broke from the crowd of students.
"Nah. If I go down there I'm gonna be inclined to transform and kill time training with Keldeo. I'm gonna go home. I'll text you when I'm at the theater though. Don't make me sit through that garbage alone!" Terry called out, running in the other direction towards home. Cody waved him off, chuckling to himself as he made his way towards the bakery shop. It had become a tradition to get something for Keldeo there, getting him to try some more human foods. He had never really been here before, but over the last couple of days for Keldeo, he had been. The workers began to recognize him, and instinctively gave him two of whatever he ordered. They teased that the second was for his special someone, something that made Cody chuckle awkwardly. He was always quick to leave and make it back to their hideout.
"Hey, Keldeo? Got a new one for you to try." Cody called into the sea cave, smiling to see Keldeo step out and greet him, a hungry look in his eyes.
"I ate light today just to see what you got." Keldeo sat beside Cody, who unwrapped the two muffins. Keldeo eagerly bit down into the top half and melted again "Ooh, these taste just like oran berries back home." Keldeo lit up, taking another mouthful.
"We call them blueberries here." Cody laughed, taking the first bite out of his muffin. A pause of soft chews went between them before Cody spoke up again "You know, you've been talking about your home a lot more…" Cody watched for Keldeo's reaction; he only stopped eating "What's your home like?"
Keldeo swallowed, a faint smile on his muzzle as he looked out over the sea "Well…" Keldeo began "... it's a world of pokemon. There are no humans. No...what did Terrence call it? Technology? No buildings that big…" Keldeo looked at the lighthouse not too far away from where they sat. "It's a lot more natural."
Cody, nodded biting down again, getting to the question he really wanted to ask Keldeo "But you knew what humans were...and so did Kyurem." he asked with a mouthful of muffin.
Keldeo blinked "Yeah, I mean there are stories from my world about pokemon who were originally human. They end up doing pretty incredible things though, save-the-world kinda stuff. Stopping a giant meteor. Saving Temporal Tower from collapse, stopping the Bittercold."
Cody nodded, another small bite "Kinda funny then, how the opposite is happening, eh?"
Keldeo blinked, looking ahead, and managing a small chuckle "Heh, yeah I guess so. I hadn't really been thinking about it."
Cody looked to Keldeo incredulously "Then what have you been doing for the last couple of days?"
Keldeo chuckled "I don't know...just surviving? I'm in a whole new world with humans! This is probably how they all felt in our world." Keldeo huffed, taking another bite of his muffin.
"Well, now you can be the first to save two worlds! Yours and ours." Cody chuckled, placing his hand on Keldeo's back. Keldeo jumped in his seat and stiffened, looking to Cody "Sorry. I…-?"
"No just...you startled me is all. It's alright," Keldeo nodded, wriggling, even leaning into Cody a little. Both just casually chewing into their muffins in silence, except for the sound of the waves outside "If I'm being honest…" Keldeo broke the silence after a couple of minutes "There's still something I wanted to ask you." Keldeo looked up to Cody "Back on that day, when Kyurem wanted to take me back...why did you help me?"
Cody blinked, looking to Keldeo "Uhm…" Cody put his muffin down "I don't know. I have an overactive imagination and…" Cody shrugged "I just kinda imagined what he would have done to you if he got you. None of it was pretty. I didn't want to think about it."
Keldeo nodded, looking at his muffin "And what about Terrence, why is he helping me?"
"Y'know, we talked about that a while back…" Cody said "Terrence feels like he owes me. I'm helping him with his grades at school. If he doesn't have to go to summer school, he'll have more time to help us help you. Speaking of…" Cody muttered, pulling out his phone and grimacing at the time "I gotta get ready for tonight." Cody hopped up, grabbing his satchel and finishing his muffin "Was nice chatting!"
"One more question," Keldeo said, standing up "We're friends, right?" he asked.
Cody smiled and nodded "I'd say so, yeah. I know Terry feels the same way." Cody stepped out of the cave with a run, waving at Keldeo "We'll see ya later tonight." Cody ran off, leaving Keldeo alone, lost in his thoughts.
Cody and Terry weren't all that surprised that the theater wasn't completely filled when they filed in for the play; the strange weather plus the attacks kept people away for the most part, meaning only family members of those in the play were here to watch it. They paid for their tickets and went inside to find good seats, only to be interrupted by the very teacher, Ms. May, that brought them here.
"I didn't think you'd make it, Terrence." Ms. May said in surprise. Cody tried his best to bite back a laugh, Terry simply sneered at Cody "But I need your help. Some of the stage crew won't come out tonight because of everything going on and we need the extra support. Can you help us?" she asked.
"That wasn't part of our deal." Terry said.
"There's more extra credit in it for you if you do." the teacher quickly offered. And with that Terry agreed immediately, joining the teacher backstage. Cody quickly offered his services as well, rushing to keep up with the frantic pace of the other two. It was one thing to watch the Wizard of Oz, Cody got excited at the idea of being a part of it.
Terry was put on stage crew, swapping his letterman jacket for a black t-shirt; following the lead of the stage crew that did show up and what set pieces and props to move and where. Ms. May didn't have a job for Cody, but allowed him to be back here for the time being until the show started.. It was still an hour before the play would start properly, leaving Cody and Terry to wander around the backstage to kill time.
"I didn't realize how much hussle goes into Drama Club." Terry said "It's actually kinda cool."
"So then you'll join next year, right?" Cody asked, smirking when Terry nudged him.
"Don't push it…-?" Terry said, the two boys stopping when one of the actors approached them. Cody recognized her, the long auburn ponytail, the t-shirt that looked like it came from a springtime garden. This was Vera, the rich, preppy class president; it wasn't too surprising to find her doing something like this. Cody remembered watching her constantly be surrounded by the more vile, preppy girls. But this was the same girl that stopped what she was doing to help him up when he fell last week. So...
"You're new here, right?" Vera asked.
"Er...sorta…" Terry said.
"We're just doing some extra credit for him." Cody nudged Terry on the side "So we're helping with the play." Vera nodded.
"Well I was wondering if you could help me then?" Vera pulled out the script for the play "I just wanna run through my lines one more time. You can never be too prepared, y'know?" Cody and Terry looked between each other and shrugged, they had a lot of time to kill, and this was definitely a productive way to do it.
"Yeah, alright." Terry shrugged, gasping when he was given the script and Vera walked back a couple of steps.
"What part do you play?" Cody asked.
"I'm Dorothy." Vera nodded. Cody smiled with a nod, but to his surprise Vera simply sighed "Just the understudy though."
"The under what?" Terry asked.
"She's the backup in case the other one can't perform." Cody explained.
Vera opened and closed her mouth, but simply nodded "Can we start?"
"Uh, yeah…" Terry scanned the script quickly, finally finding the beginning and starting to read the lines. Whenever it was her turn to speak and say her line, she spoke her lines with volume and intent that sounded like she was ready to take the stage. The first act was read through quickly, and without a mistake.
"Dude, are you sure you need to do this?" Terry asked, throwing the script back to Vera "You got these memorized."
"I know...I'm sorry." Vera said, yelping as she scrambled to catch the flying script "I got so nervous and excited when I got the lead part I may have...had my lines memories after the first week…" Vera looked to Cody and Terry, both with bewildered looks on their faces.
"I thought you said you were the underdog?" Terry asked.
"Study." Cody quickly corrected, earning a shush from Terry.
"Well not always. When we first started it was me, and all of my friends were happy for me. But then...I don't know...Susie spoke to Ms. May and then she was the lead and I was just the understudy. We have too many other girls so they don't need me for anything else here so I'm just…" Vera perked up, looking at the two boys "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said anything."
"Come to think of it…" Cody muttered "I'm realizing how good everything looks here for a high school production…" Cody looked to Vera "I bet Susie's family made a good contribution to the play, didn't they?" sighing when he saw Vera nodding.
"I don't get it." Terry looked to Cody.
"Susie bought the leading part." Cody spoke plainly.
"She's my friend, I don't get why she'd do this to me…" Vera looked away "And I still want to be happy for her, really I do. But she doesn't even know the lines, she keeps boasting about how she got the part and she's…" Vera lingered.
"She hurt you and you still wanna defend her?" Terry huffed "Say what you really think."
"...She sucks!" Vera blurted, immediately covering her mouth and blushing beat red "I'm sorry I shouldn't have said that I didn't mean it…-?" Vera rambled, earning a snicker from Cody and Terry.
"We're all kinda realizing our friend groups kinda suck." Terry chuckled "Mine were willing to let me fail school."
"Mine are mad that I'm not playing the newest game expansion." Cody shrugged.
"I noticed you two were handing out more…" Vera looking at the two of them "I always thought you two didn't like each other…"
Cody and Terry looked at each other "I mean, he's still a nerd." Terry said.
"And he's still a meathead." Cody shot back "But...well then we kinda learned more about each other."
"Yeah, he's actually pretty cool. He's even helping me make a character for DnD, even."
"Oh, I always wanted to try that game, my friends just chalk it up to nerd stuff so we never talk about it." Vera stated, watching Cody's eyes light up.
"We almost have enough for a game then." Cody's eyes gleamed at the possibility.
"Oh no, you encouraged him." Terry chuckled "Reel it in, nerd." earning a sharp shush from Cody. Vera couldn't help but laugh at their display.
"I don't think I'd ever see a jock and a nerd become friends at our school...no offense," Vera said.
Cody shrugged "Funny how things work out." Terry nodded, obviously hiding the fact that one reason they became friends in the first place was because of a threat on the world.
"Vera!" The three turned to the sound of a new voice, a girl dressed up as Dorothy for the play, Cody recognized her as Susie "The play's starting soon. Aren't you gonna wish me luck?" Susie asked. Cody could see Terry cross his arms and glare, and frankly, Cody felt the same way. There was taking the part away from Vera, but rubbing it in her face like that was just extra.
"Yeah, sure." Vera's meek and soft voice returned "Break a leg out there."
"I hope you don't really mean that," Susie said, a familiar cackling type laugh greeting Cody's ears, making him wince. Vera joined in the laugh, but it was weaker, half hearted. Susie walked off watching the others take their place around the stage, ready to start the show.
"Guess that's my cue too." Terry muttered, stretching his body "I'll see you after the show, Cody. Take care Vera." Terry began to walk, only to spin back around "If you're saying they don't need you…" Terry extended his ticket to her "Why don't you enjoy the show?"
Vera's eyes gleamed, taking it from him with a soft nod. Cody smiled with a nod, turning to Vera "C'mon. Let's go find a seat." and the two made their way back to the main auditorium.
The instant Cody and Vera sat down, the orchestra swelled with the opening song. Cody looked to Vera, they had hit it off pretty well, and his hand lingered on the satchel at his side, the last medallion in there. He wondered if she would even be interested in such a thing.
"Hey…" Cody finally spoke, getting Vera's attention "So I'm gonna be honest. I always kinda lumped you with those other preps, the snooty ones that always laugh down their nose at you, yknow?"
Vera rolled her eyes "Ugh, don't remind me. They're a bunch of catty back-talkers...sorry." Vera blushed again.
"Ah, remember what Terry said. Don't be afraid to say what you really think." Cody said.
"Well..." Vera didn't waste a breath going into a long tirade about every single one of the friends she hung out with. In the beginning, she tried to find some positive with each one, but it ultimately turned into her just talking about how self-centered and mean each one of her friends were. Cody blinked in surprise, almost regretting setting her off like this, but he assumed this had bottled up for who knows how long, she probably needed it. It wasn't until the opening song ended that she finally sighed, leaning back into her chair.
"Better?" Cody dared to ask.
"...No." Vera looked back to Cody " Saying all that made me realize. Why am I hanging out with these jerks?"
"Maybe some people would rather feel like crap than feel alone?" Cody offered.
"Maybe…" Vera chuckled darkly "I think I need new friends." The two of them stopped once the play began taking them through the first act of The Wizard of Oz. Even Cody had to grimace at Susie rendition of Dorothy; whatever line she didn't stumble over she didn't deliver properly, sounding stilted and improper. Cody's mind went back to Vera's delivery he and Terry had heard before and remembered how natural it felt for her.
Then the famous scene came, the tornado that brought Dorothy into the Land of Oz, the sound system buzzed with the sounds of whipping winds and booming thunder, Susie showing no urgency as she tried to get into the cellar to escape the wind storm, this would mark the end of the first act, and they could take a break. If Cody was lucky enough to find Terry, maybe he could talk about letting Vera in on their secret. A second boom of thunder sounded, and so the scene played where Dorothy was struck by something, causing her to faint and be whisked away to Oz. Another boom, and the stage went dark. And then the booming thunder became more frequent, sounding a little more real than the play version.
"Is it storming outside?" Vera turned in her seat. Cody noticed that the lights should have turned back on by now for intermission, but even the lights at the floor to guide people were out.
Then the emergency exit blew open with a strong and violent gust of wind, the crackling boom of thunder pierced the room as the audience began to scream, fleeing out of the auditorium into the center of the buildings.
"I can sense you here, swordsmen!" a voice entered Cody's mind and he cursed under his breath. Another attack, he was going to have to find Terry and take this thing on. He tried to move towards the stage, no doubt Terry heard it too.
"Where are you going?" Vera grabbed his arm, nearly making him trip into some chairs.
"I need to find Terry and-!?" Cody was surprised just how strong Vera was to tug him back in his seat. He knew being a scrawny nerd wasn't the strongest deal. But it was still a surprise.
"We're getting out of here. I'm sure Terry is fine." Vera stood.
"No! If you could just…" Cody groaned, trying to break away from her grip, finally managing to break her grip, disappearing into the crowd going towards the exit to the auditorium. Cody had to ignore Vera's pleas to come back. She'd be safe, it was him and Terry that he was worried about.
"Did you hear that crazy voice too?" Cody jumped in surprise, the black outfit Terry wore worked too well in the pitch dark backstage of the auditorium.
"Yeah, same deal as the other incarnations." Cody said, following Terry's voice "Is the backstage empty?"
"Yup. Everyone left already, this'd be a good spot to change." Terry said, making his way to the emergency exit in the backstage. The two of them noticed just how quiet it was now, they could safely assume it was only a matter of time before it picked up again to get their attention.
"Then let's get changed. Hopefully Keldeo knows what's going on already." Cody grabbed his medallion as Terry grabbed his, both transforming into Cobalion and Terrakion respectively. Cody felt the thud of his satchel clattering to the ground, which turned him enough to realize that Vera was right behind them, phone flashlight out in utter surprise.
"Cody? Terrence?" Vera cried, Terry whipping around in panic as Cody grunted, their cover was blown.
"Vera...I know this is a lot to take in but...we're gonna fix this...you just gotta let us go." Terry stepped forward. Cody understood Terry just fine, but the confusion on Vera's face told him that she didn't understand a single word he just said.
"She can't understand pokemon, Terry." Cody stepped in between the two "Let's just take care of...whatever it is out there and then we can explain later…" Cody dared a glance to Vera and shook his head, the two swordsmen charging through the emergency exit.
Vera saw them transform into those strange creatures. They held strange medallions and then in a flash of light they were something completely different. Vera let her phone's flashlight droop, the glint of something bright and shiny caught her attention. Peeking out of Cody's satchel was another medallion, bright greens and pinks decorated it. Vera picked it up, looking back to where Cody and Terry had left. Medallions, just like those two had.
Vera whipped back around, noticing that there was crying coming from the auditorium. In between the flashes of lighting she could see them, there were still people trapped within the auditorium, just like her. In particular, a family inside the auditorium: a mother, a father, and a small child. The parents were trying to coax the child to leave, but it merely cried and clung to its chair. The wind was growing stronger, and lightning was even beginning to come inside.
Then the spark of a thought entered Vera's mind, absentmindedly putting on the medallion "Whatever is happening...I'll make sure this isn't anybody's end!" Vera rushed towards the people.
Vera's arms and legs were slowly turning into hooves that resembled boots; the front was black and the back was slowly turning into a light green. The tips were turning into a pink hue. Her arms and legs began to elongate and change color. Her legs turned white as her arms turned green like her feet. Her arms also sprouted what looked like small frills. The white half of her spread under her body and on to her underbelly while the top half kept turning green and growing extra fur at the end of her body. She cried out as her neck began to grow and her head began to flatten. Her neck sprouted a small pink and green petal shaped appendage. Her head was the final thing to change. As it began to flatten, it got longer at the ends and then curled slightly at the end, making horns. Her face changed to a shade of white similar to her underbelly. Her blinking slowly ceased, the two watched her eye color change from hazel to yellow.
When the transformation was complete, Vera managed to reach the family in one leap, one that caused the whole family to cease their panic and look at this new creature in wonder. She lowered her head in a bow, which compelled the child to reach forward and grab her head. The family carefully grabbed their child, running for the exit. Vera was about to let it be, when she saw an errant bolt of lightning reach into the auditorium, about to reach the family. In another swift leap from impulse, she stood between the family and the lightning, taking the full force of the attack with a scream. But when she looked back behind her, the family had successfully made it out of the auditorium. She shook her body, grateful that whatever she had become could survive something as powerful as lightning. Vera sighed, looking back outside, she could see Cody and Terry begin to confront whatever it was outside, and she thought it best to introduce herself to them.
Cody and Terry tried to keep their eyes on the new creature attacking them, but the flashes of lightning from above made it difficult to maintain eye contact. From what they could see, it was a blue and purple creature with abnormally large arms, wisps of gray storm clouds surrounded it.
"So if the first one was Tornadus, and the second one was Landorus…" Terry turned to Cody "What do you think this one is called? Thundurus or something?"
"Focus, Terry!" Cody said, both having to separate to avoid an onslaught of lightning bolts sent at them. Cody sighed in relief seeing Keldeo rush towards him and come to a skidding halt.
"So what's this one's deal?" Cody asked, watching Terry and the creature fight for the time being.
"Thundurus, Incarnation of Lightning." Keldeo said, unsure why Cody was cursing under his breath. Terry came skidding to a halt in front of the two.
"He's tougher than he looks." Terry grunted, regaining his footing as Keldeo and Cody formed up on him "And he was pretty tough looking to begin with."
"So all the swordsmen have gathered." Thundurus finally spoke, the booming thunder turning into a low rolling sound "Well, save for Virizion. A shame too, she was the only who could have stood a chance against my thunder. The rest of you, you will suffer greatly for standing against Master Kyurem." Thundurus growled to the hum of the thunder.
"I don't suppose you were able to find someone to take the last medallion?" Keldeo turned to Cody. Cody sighed, about to turn to Keldeo and tell him the truth about his inability to do so.
"Cody!? Terry!?" The three swordsmen whipped around to the sight of a green and pink deer-like creature running towards them gracefully. Cody opened and closed his mouth, again partially upset at how quickly this new person was able to pick up moving in this form, but also seeing the opportunity here.
"Yeah. This is Vera." Cody said, stammering and willing to take the happenstance of someone coming into Virizion's form. Keldeo looked to Virizion as he had looked to the others, eyes wide in excited bewilderment.
"It's good to see you again, Virizion…" Keldeo looked between the three of them: Cobalion, Terrakion and now Virizion "We're all together again."
"Cody, what is the unicorn talking about?" Vera asked "Who's Virizion?"
"We'll explain later. For now we gotta take him out." Cody turned to Thundurus, who had been floating there, arms crossed.
"As easy as it could have been to strike you all down as you spoke. I wish to ensure you all suffer one by one."
"That's where you're wrong, Thundurus!" Keldeo turned to face Thundurus now, surprising Cody and Terry with his newfound confidence. They had never heard Keldeo speak quite like this "The Swordsmen of Justice are back together, and now we have everything we need to take you and Kyurem down!"
"Do you now?" Thundurus laughed "You plucked three humans from their lives to fight for a cause they know nothing about. You cannot even summon your own sword." Thundurus crossed his arms, looking down on Keldeo "You claim to fight for honor, truth and justice, just as the old swordsmen did. But you do not fool Master Kyurem, you fight for your revenge."
"Keldeo?" Cody stepped forward, watching Keldeo bring his head low. He knew he meant to ask more questions of Keldeo about...well everything. But now he couldn't help but wonder, just how much of what Keldeo said was the truth now, how much was lies? Just what was Keldeo leaving out?
"He's lying, right?" Terry asked. Terry got roped into this because he felt like he owed him, and that landed him in something he probably didn't even understand.
"What did I get myself into…?" Vera muttered to herself. Cody realized she must have found the last medallion by accident and got thrust into this without her wanting to.
And then there was him, who just blindly decided to help Keldeo the day they first met, not even realizing just what he signed up for. He blindly led Terry, and now Vera into something he didn't even grasp.
Keldeo looked back to the others, the doubt and confusion on their face cut Keldeo, but he turned back around to Thundurus "None of that matters. What matters now is that we take you down, and then we set our sights on Kyurem. And I'll do it by myself if I have to!" Keldeo stepped forward,launching a torrent of high speed bubbles at Thundurus, who grunted and was sent a couple of feet back in the air from the attack. Keldeo gave one last quick look to the other swordsmen, looking to him in hurt confusion. Keldeo huffed and turned back to Thundurus for a fight, charging ahead.
"Keldeo, wait!" Cody took a couple of steps forward, but Keldeo ignored him, continuing forward to face the enemy.
"Keldeo, that's what the unicorn is called right?" Vera asked, stepping forward "He's going to get hurt, bad." she said in a cold, horrified tone.
"Vera?" Cody was almost afraid to ask.
"Why do you know that?" Terry asked Vera, stepping forward.
"Do you know how long I've been in Drama Club?" Vera turned to the two "Most of my school career, and even during the summer time."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Terry asked, anger evident in his voice.
"So...I know an actor when I see one." Vera looked to Thundurus in the sky, continuing to take most of the assault that Keldeo launched at him with little resistance. Cody, and then Terry pieced together what she was getting at.
"So...we help him, right?" Terry turned to Cody, who's gaze turned to Keldeo.
There was so much Keldeo didn't tell him, but they weren't gonna figure anything out if Keldeo got captured and returned to Kyurem, not to mention they were still marked, whether they wanted to or not.
"Yes." Cody's gaze hardened, stepping forward towards the fight "We take out Thundurus. And then we get Keldeo to spill about everything." Cody turned back to Vera, still getting used to this new green and pink deer-like form of hers "I know you just got that body, and you're in over your head...we all are...but we need your help."
Vera looked between Cody and Terry in their strange bodies. She looked down at what she could see of hers "I...I don't know what I can do like this. But if it means answers, I guess I don't have much of a choice." She stepped forward, meeting with Cody and Terry, she turned to them with an awkward laugh "I'd like to see Susie take this away from me."
"Heh." Terry's nervous laugh sounded right afterwards "That's the spirit."
"Alright." Cody nodded "Then let's go."
Keldeo hadn't bothered to keep track of where the three were, if they weren't going to help him right now, that didn't matter. Taking out Thundurus was what mattered. Keldeo continued to unleash attack after attack at Thundurus; torrents of bubbles struck Thundurus, who didn't even bother to block the attacks. Keldeo puffed and panted, stopping his onslaught to see the state Thundurus was in. He growled when he saw that Thundurus looked to him with crossed arms.
"Is it starting to sink in yet, swordsman?" Thundurus said, with but a twitch of his head a bolt of lightning was launched at Keldeo, who deftly dodged it "You do not stand a chance against me alone."
"Shut up!" Keldeo cried, launching another beam of bubbles, which Thundurus took.
"You cannot summon your sword. You always needed the others to help you, and you have led these humans to their doom." Thundurus spoke calmly, something that infuriated Keldeo more than it should have. Keldeo enveloped himself in water and launched himself at Thundurus. He collided with him, but when Thundurus barely even moved, and then grabbed him by his sides. Keldeo panicked, wriggling his Thundurus' grasp.
"So again I posit, Keldeo. Is it starting to sink in yet?" Thundurus glared at Keldeo. Keldeo figured what was happening and tried to break free, but it failed. He tried to distract Thundurus with an attack of bubbles, but it failed too. The hair in his mane stood on end "Death follows you wherever you go." and with that, lightning struck Keldeo, point blank. Keldeo screamed a blood-curdling scream that was eventually silenced, but still the lightning struck him, causing him to spasm. Thundurus saw the three swordsmen approach him and threw Keldeo at them.
"Keldeo!?" Cody called out in horror, watching the entire scene play out. Terry was quick to make an effort to catch the limp, spasming body of Keldeo in his horns and lay him on the ground.
"Rest assured, Master Kyurem still wishes Keldeo returned to him alive; I merely ensured he will not be moving for a long time." Thundurus' dark chuckle was accompanied by the rolling sound of thunder "Master Kyurem has offered you three a deal. Forsake Keldeo and return the medallions to me. And he will abandon this world and forgive your transgressions against him." his arms crossed once again, he stared down at the three swordsmen.
Cody looked at Terry and Vera, looking over the unconscious body of Keldeo. Terry and Grace looked at him with fear plain in their eyes. This was their out, he imagined he spoke for the rest of them when he thought he didn't like the idea of being lied to by Keldeo. Nevertheless, he approached the three of them "So what are we thinking?" Cody asked.
"This is way more than the three of us...but after everything you two did for me..." Terry sighed, his gaze back down to the unconscious form of Keldeo.
"I don't even know what's going on...but no one should be able to get away with...that." Vera shuddered.
"And I don't even want to think about what he and Kyurem would do to Keldeo…" Cody averted his gaze "But there's so much he didn't tell us." Cody looked to them, Keldeo stirring slightly between them, gasping and crying in his unconscious state. Cody looked between Terry and Vera, gazes hardened. Cody hadn't known them for long, but he knew what they were getting at.
Cody turned back to Thundurus "Okay. We'll give him to you." Cody bit back his smile as he saw Thundurus uncross his arms and moved closer to the ground "Terry...give him the smack down." Cody muttered. Terry nodded, pretending to scoop up Keldeo in his horns, Vera leaning in to add to the farce.
"Catch!" Terry roared, his sacred sword bringing up a large chunk of earth that he then threw at Thundurus. Thundurus flew out of the way and straight into Cody's glowing hooves that sent him the rest of the way down into the street below. Vera was the one who picked up Keldeo, dashing away to find a safe place for Keldeo to be left while they fought. Vera quickly tucked Keldeo into an alleyway.
"Virizion…-?" Keldeo muttered in his unconscious state, shuddering and whimpering in his state. Vera leaned in, trying her best to soothe him with a nuzzle on the forehead.
"We'll protect you." Vera whispered to Keldeo, musing that maybe Keldeo could hear it. She stood back up, getting ready to regroup with Cody and Terry when a lightning bolt nearly struck her. Her attention was turned to the fight, she watched as the two couldn't even land a hit, the lightning causing them to constantly play defensively. Lightning was arcing everywhere, she could even hear the cries of the people still trapped in the auditorium.
Protecting others, those who could never hope to defend themselves against such power, Keldeo, these people. The realization sparked something within Vera. She charged back into the fray, noticing that her horns were beginning to glow, and from the center grew a very large, green blade of light. She couldn't afford to slow down now, so she kept charging.
"You won't be hurting anyone else!" Vera cried out. Cody and Terry stop their defense to watch Vera charge through with her Sacred Sword, striking the already downed Thundurus into a crater in the ground.
"I'm beginning to resent just how quickly you guys are getting this…" Cody said. Terry huffed out a quick laugh while Vera blushed before turning back to Thundurus.
"You had your chance, swordsmen. Now your life is forfeit!" Thundurus roared, launching an arc of lightning at the three. Cody and Terry stepped out of the way, but Vera took the blast head on, grunting as she was sent skidding. Summoning her sword again, she slashed the lightning and broke the connection.
"Keep him distracted, we can finish this!" Cody yelled, trying to close the distance to strike Thundurus with his own Sacred Sword. Vera didn't respond, dodging and weaving through strikes of lightning before tackling Thundurus. She felt her horns glow again, and opted to let instincts take over here. She watched as what appeared to be rainbow particles began to swirl around her, looking like magical leaves that swirled all around her body. With a turn of her head, they launched themselves at Thundurus. Thundurus attempted to roll out of the way, but to Vera's surprise, the rainbow leaves actually changed trajectory to find him and strike him. She watched Thundurus attempt to fly back up in the sky, but another boulder, courtesy of Terry, came and struck Thundurus back to the ground. She looked at Cody, charging forward with his own blue glowing sword then back to Thundurus. Using her speed, she dashed behind Thundurus and struck him in the back, pushing him onto Cody's Sacred Sword, impaling him.
Cody spun his sword around and threw Thundurus to the ground. Terry and Vera formed on Cody's side and looked down at the pokemon, already fading into gray storm clouds.
"Incredible." a new voice laughed. Cody knew this as Kyurem's voice "In such a small time, you three have taken on the mantle of the new Swords of Justice. But even my best wasn't enough to quell you…" a pause, then it continued "But rest assured, I will be back for my vengeance. The barriers between our words are waning. If you thought those three were the strongest I had to offer...you are sorely mistaken." and with that Thundurus had vanished entirely, the storm clouds above beginning to fade, showing the night sky from before. Even in the dark, the three could see the terrified humans from before looking at the display, phones out once again, some even cheering.
The three of them wanted to feel good about what they did, but between Keldeo's condition, and Kyurem's warning, there wasn't much to be happy about.
"Vera, get Keldeo. We're leaving." Cody said, quickly beginning to break into a run towards the hideout. Terry joined him at his side, breaking into a gallop.
"So much for the extra credit." Terry said, admittedly rather emotionlessly, just trying to break the tension at this rate. Vera joined up on the other side, carefully trotting to keep Keldeo on her back.
"...We'll just watch the movie and say good enough…" Cody said, the three running away faster then before, already hearing the sounds of sirens and emergency vehicles entering the scene.