Three days had passed since the fight, the days were dull, quiet and uneventful, no attacks from Kyurem, not even training. And that's exactly what Keldeo needed. When every day for the past week and a half had been fighting, near death experiences, and accepting the death of your old friends, a couple of days of quiet respite were what he needed to collect himself.
Cody was recovering quickly thankfully, but he was still mostly bed bound, and so those two mostly spoke either in the morning or before bed. Quinn had worked his jobs these days, so he barely saw him unless it was nighttime. Terry and Vera had spent a lot of time together, some time training, some time exploring the town, Salem, he thought he heard Quinn call it. All of them were sure to inform there parents where they were, they just framed it as staying over a friend's how for a couple days for the summer. That left Genesect as someone to talk to, but he wasn't exactly a good conversationalist. So more often than not, Keldeo was by himself, left to his thoughts.
Keldeo sat down in the kitchen of Quinn's house, through the bay window he could get a clear view of the beach where he washed ashore a couple of days ago, after he had fought Meloetta. It reminded him of how only minutes before he had snapped at his friends and stormed off. He was glad the others had forgiven him, but it didn't stop the guilt pinging at him. Keldeo closed his eyes and inhaled slowly, pushing that thought aside for now as he looked back out over the view. Through the reflection however, he could make out his new appearance; the large blue horn, the three feathers in his mane, the colors of his old masters no less. He didn't like how it took Kyurem possessing him to get this form. Occasionally he wished he could go back to his normal appearance, even if it meant being weaker. At least he wouldn't be constantly reminded of the mistake he almost made.
Keldeo blinked and turned to the sound of the door to the house opening and the excited laughs of Terry and Vera. He turned to face them as they entered the kitchen, Terry was holding multiple bags of food. Vera was on her phone, looking intently at the screen
"Heya. How's it hanging?" Terry greeted, grunting as he placed the bags on the island counter of the kitchen. Keldeo nodded as he looked at the two of them
"So that should be everything. Just texted Quinn to let him know what's up, he told us where his pit is and some spare firewood is so we should be good to go." Vera put her phone in her pocket.
"What's all this for?" Keldeo hopped down from the bay window.
"Well, this is probably going to be our last day in Salem before we head back. And we wanted to make it something special. So we're gonna do a bonfire." Vera said, fishing through one of the bags, pulling out a lighter, and some lighter fluid
"A what?" Keldeo asked. Watching Terry take care of the food.
"Oh dude, they're so much fun. Get a big fire going, all sortsa foods and stories. Needed for a real summer vacation." Terry laughed, pulling out marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers and hot dogs.
Keldeo nodded, another human thing he barely understood "Well, I hope you have fun then." he hopped back up into the bay window and sat there.
"Aw you're not gonna join in?" Terry whined in a teasing way.
"No thanks...I hope you guys enjoy it though." Keldeo managed a smile at the two of them. Terry was about to say more, but a shush from Vera was enough to keep him quiet. Instead he simply shrugged, putting some of the items in the refrigerator and joining Vera outside. Keldeo looked back outside, only to whip back around when he heard Genesect hovering down the stairs and heading outside.
"You're joining them too, Genesect?" Keldeo asked.
"Correct." Genesect responded "I wish to learn of this activity identified as a bonfire." Genesect had to nudge the door open in order to get outside. Keldeo sat there in silence once more, shaking his head as he looked back outside, his thoughts turning to the swordsmen and Kyurem again. He had played it over and over in his head for the last couple of days, and while the sadness was still there, he could feel he was already able to acknowledge their passing and remember the times fondly for what they were.
Then Keldeo's thoughts turned to Kyurem, before he turned evil for the second time. When he was in Paradise and trying to get close to the citizens. It didn't feel like he was lying when that happened, but what other reason was there for him to turn as he did? He thought back to what he had said to him
"I had spent all this time thinking I was walking with you all. But what I needed to do was walk amongst you all."
Keldeo looked down, that line in particular stuck out to him. He didn't give it much thought when he first heard. Now though, as he sat here surrounded by people who knew his life story, what did he know of them? He knew Cody and Quinn were ' shut-in nerds', Terry was a 'meathead jock', and Vera was a 'prep girl' but what did those words even mean? He always just smiled and nodded when they spoke like that. Maybe that was the problem, there was a distinction between 'walking with' and 'walking amongst'. He thought back to the rapport the Swordsmen had with the other pokemon of Paradise, like how they were able to de-escalate the situation when Kyurem made scene in Paradise. He had spent all the time holding these humans at a distance, maybe it was time to let them in, like they had done to him. With that, Keldeo hopped off the window and ran out the door.
Keldeo saw Terry and Vera not too far away from the barn, setting up the bonfire. Terry had gathered up a bundle of wood as Vera cleaned out the small dome of a fire pit. Genesect was watching from nearby, unable to communicate with the others without Quinn.
"Hey uh…" Keldeo began, taken aback when the other turned to him in surprise "Do you...need any help?" he asked. Terry and Vera looked to each other.
"Of course." Vera smiled, Keldeo sighed in relief, dreading for a moment they wouldn't let him join after his initial decline "Cleaning this is easy enough. Maybe you could help Terry chop some firewood?" Keldeo nodded, watching Terry already setting up a place to chop. Keldeo walked beside him, watching him grab a rusty axe.
"That looks...old." Keldeo hummed, sitting down.
"Best thing we got." Terry shrugged, setting up a piece of wood on the chopping block. He inhaled sharply and brought the axe down upon the wood, except he missed utterly, sticking the axe in the ground. Keldeo bit his lip, watching Terry groan as he brought the axe back up for a second swing, hitting the block this time. Keldeo snorted, averting his gaze when he saw Terry whip around and look at him. For the third swing, he did manage to hit the wood, only going in a few inches. Terry and Keldeo exchanged a glance at each other.
"Don't look at me with that tone of voice." Terry huffed, bringing the axe back up.
"I know not what you mean…" Keldeo chuckled, happy to see Terry was laughing too. Another swing down and the piece of wood was cut in two. Terry set up another piece of wood and brought the axe back up, only to realize in horror that the rusty axe head flew off the handle and right towards Keldeo.
"Shoot! Heads up!" Keldeo gasped, summoning his Secret Sword in panic and cutting the axe head in two. One piece landing beside Vera, making her jump, the other one clinking against Genesect's hull, completely undamaged.
"Well so much for firewood..." Keldeo sighed, looking back up at the large orange cutting sword he had conjured. He looked back to Terry, and the deviant glee on his face was enough to show that the two were thinking the same thing. Terry placed a piece of wood on the block then backed up. Keldeo walked up and brought his sword down. Underestimating his power, he cut through the piece of wood, the chopping block and then planted his sword in the ground. The laughing from Terry and Vera stung at first, but even he had to admit, this was pretty funny.
"Hey, Keldeo, ready for a special kind of training?" Keldeo watched Terry approach the firewood "Think fast!" and he threw a piece towards him. Keldeo smiled and waved his sword around, cutting the wood effortlessly. Keldeo looked at the fallen pieces, turning to Terry and grinning, sword at the ready for more
After a few minutes, the pile that Terry had set aside was completely cut. Terry and Keldeo bundled it close together for use later.
"I hope Quinn wasn't too attached to the stuff we broke…" Keldeo mused.
"Ah, I'm sure it's fine." Terry laughed "How's the pit looking, Vera?"
"Terrible…" Vera muttered "This gunk is caked on…" Vera scrubbed at it for emphasis, and the black gunk didn't go away. Keldeo looked at it for a moment.
"Maybe I can help?" Keldeo offered "Everyone stand back…" Terry stood beside Vera and Genesect as Keldeo unleashed a hydro pump at the pit. Once again underestimating his newfound power, he inhaled in horror as he watched the pit vanish and go sliding across the ground, into the street, and onto the lawn across the street. Vera was still aghast at the power of the attack as Terry ran across the street to grab it.
"Good news!" Terry lifted it up, and any trace of the gunk on it was gone. Keldeo chuckled to himself as Vera breathed a sigh of relief. Terry made it back to them as Quinn pulled into the driveway.
"Bonfire going well?" Quinn asked, dripping with sarcasm as he quickly did away with his work shirt and hat. Genesect moved close to Quinn.
"Just...doing it the fun way?" Keldeo offered, kicking away one of the broken pieces of axe head.
"Right." Quinn chuckled. Keldeo smiled, so far so good. He couldn't deny he was having fun with what he was doing with the others so far. But maybe he could try going a little deeper now.
"...How was...work?" Keldeo asked, trying to remember what he always left to do. It was then he realized Quinn couldn't understand him without Genesect, and he couldn't understand Genesect without his laptop. Thankfully Vera was there to ask the question.
"Same old, same old." Quinn sighed, making his way inside "Had a customer ask for some Polack instead of pollock, so that was funny." Keldeo noticed Vera and Terry chuckle, but realized he didn't know what any of that was. He was about to chuckle to at least fit in, but he decided against it "But I did have an idea that I wanna try and work on. Genesect, come with me?" Genesect beeped a response, transforming into his hover mode and joining behind Quinn.
"...Can I help?" Keldeo asked more confidently this time, realizing again he wouldn't understand. Thankfully it was Terry who translated this time. Quinn and Genesect looked back at him.
"Actually yes! Here, come on," Quinn waved for Keldeo to join. Keldeo nodded to Terry and Vera as they finished setting up the bonfire.
"So having my laptop up to translate for Genesect is clunky, and God forbid I drop it. I still have three payments left on it." Quinn, Genesect and Keldeo had set up in his room, laptop open with his phone plugged in "So this is a longshot. But I've been looking up how to make phone apps, and I'm thinking maybe I can make an app to translate for Genesect. I finished making it last night, I just need to install it into my phone and make sure it works…" Quinn looked at his phone closely, nodding and pressing a button on his phone "Okay. I just need you two to have a conversation, make sure it's translating correctly." Quinn sat back in his seat.
"What about?" Keldeo asked.
"Doesn't really matter." Quinn didn't look away from his phone. Genesect turned to Keldeo.
"Greetings, Blue." Genesect began "How are you doing today?"
"Oh I'm...doing better…-?" Keldeo responded, already looking to Quinn, who simply rolled his hands to gesture to keep going "I'm just uh...helping Quinn with this uh...app?" Keldeo asked himself more than Genesect "Ugh, I sound ridiculous."
"The goal of this task is to ensure the translator is functional, not to sound good." Genesect beeped "I am curious why you have chosen to help the others with their bonfire?"
"Mm?" Keldeo turned to Genesect "I uh...I don't know they helped me with everything and…" walk among, not with. There was no point in hiding the truth. Keldeo sighed "Ever since I came here I've just been...surviving. If I'm gonna be working with all of these people, it makes sense I get to know them." Keldeo shrugged "Maybe if we make it back to my world...I can do the same. Show them a proper Paradise celebration.
Genesect's eyes flashed "The humans have commented they know nothing of your home world. It is logical we know nothing of their home world as well.
Keldeo was getting closer to the humans, it made sense to get closer to Genesect as well "What's your world like?"
"My world is the union of these two worlds. Pokemon and humans live together, sometimes in harmony, and sometimes in strife. My region of origin is the Unova region. I have been unable to explore my homeworld or this one due to my imprisonment."
"You came back to protect Quinn from...me...right?" Keldeo swallowed "Why not leave after that? Explore the world like you wanted."
"To explore alone would be an imprisonment of its own kind." Genesect spoke calmly and matter of factly "I have come to care for Quinn, and for the others. And so I wish to explore the world with them." the two turned to Quinn, who had put his phone down with a smile.
"Well I think I can safely say it works. Bit of a delay but it shouldn't be too bad. And it's offline too, even got it to work when the phone is in sleep mode." Quinn put his phone back in his pocket.
"I don't know what any of those words mean. But I guess it's good?" Keldeo asked, earning a laugh and a nod from Quinn.
"Very good. Just need some bluetooth headphones and we'll be good to go." Another thing Keldeo had no idea about, but Quinn's excitement was contagious. Terry stepped into Quinn's room shortly afterwards.
"Everybody get down. We got the fire going!" Terry slapped the door frame as he ran back downstairs and into the kitchen, grabbing the food that was there before and heading outside to join Vera.
"Why don't you two go on ahead? I gotta take care of something real quick…" Quinn nodded, looking somber, but still smiling. Genesect hovered back out to join Terry as Keldeo slowly walked out of the room. Lagging behind on the off chance he could maybe hear what was up with Quinn. When he heard Quinn grab his phone again and press some buttons, he could hear the conversation.
"Hey Auntie. How's Texas?" Quinn asked, a pause "Great...great...Blue's doing well. I call him Blue now by the way…" Keldeo rolled his eyes with a smirk, but kept listening "Hey uh...just wanted to let you know...I thought about what uncle said, about going other places and meeting new people…" another pause "Well...not a college per say. I have been looking, but I think I wanna...travel a bit with some friends. Maybe that'll help me figure out what I wanna do?" Quinn had stood up "Yes they're local friends. Spend the summer going around...wherever we do." Quinn was pacing now "I already asked for the time off from work." Quinn laughed "Thanks...for understanding. I was kinda worried you'd freak out." Quinn moaned "I'll keep you posted. Enjoy yourselves...love you." Quinn hung up the phone, putting it back in his pocket, he turned to head out and jumped to see Keldeo was still standing nearby.
"Oh you…" Quinn inhaled before laughing "You scared me…" Quinn stepped out of his room. If I'm gonna help you guys, it makes sense I clear up my schedule." Quinn placed his hand in Keldeo's mane. Keldeo tensed up, but let him keep his hand there "Phew...this is nerve wracking...and I haven't even started yet…" Quinn laughed, making his way back downstairs to join the others. Keldeo smiled, knowing he was going to have Quinn's help, plus Genesect's help for what was to come next, it was a good feeling to know he had more allies at his side against Kyurem. Keldeo barely understood whatever Quinn talked about, but it was going to be handy to have a technology expert on the team.
Keldeo smiled in delight at the roaring flame that Terry and Vera had set up. Quinn and Genesect already pulled up lawn chairs and sat not too far away from it. Vera sat next to them as Terry stood there, putting another piece of firewood in the pit. The chill of the summer evening air was already beginning to hit Keldeo and the others, so being right next to a roaring fire sounded perfect right now. Keldeo sat beside Genesect.
"So I've been thinking, Blue…" Quinn scooted closer to the fire "What's the plan now? You got the swordsmen, you got your new power. What do we do now?" Keldeo looked to Quinn, and realized that Terry and Vera had turned to hear his answer as well.
"Well…" Keldeo began "If I remember, this form has the power to travel between dimensions, it's how I made it here in the first place. Not a lot of pokemon can do it." Keldeo nodded "I'm thinking maybe we head back to Paradise and get some more friends to help us against Kyurem."
"Paradise…your home?" Vera asked, to which Keldeo nodded.
"Already heading back to storm the castle?" Terry laughed, stabbing a hot dog into a stick and holding it over the fire.
"I'm not saying go right for Kyurem." Keldeo shook his head "I'm just saying we should regroup there. Plus it makes sure he isn't terrorizing this world anymore. You guys have done so much for me. The least I can do is make sure your world is safer for the time being." The three humans nodded in silence. The silence made Keldeo tense, so he turned to Terry "Hey uh...what is that?"
"Oh!" Terry smiled "It's called a hot dog. So good, and perfect for bonfires!"
"More like so disgusting…" Vera scoffed "Do you know what they put in those things?"
"Yeah, you made it really clear. Which is why we had to get the organic, all natural, humanely raised ones...the expensive ones." Terry groaned, holding his hot dog out of the fire for a moment, shaking his head and sticking it back in.
"Now if you want real campfire food…" Vera smiled, pulling out the marshmallows, chocolate bars and graham crackers "The s'more, a classic"
"Oh sure. Hot dogs are bad, but marshmallows are okay." Terry smirked, earning an eye roll from Vera. She held the marshmallow into the fire until it turned a nice dark golden color, she placed it on a graham cracker with a square of chocolate. It was around this time Terry's hot dog was done too, and he slid it into a bun.
Keldeo watched the two of them for a moment, thinking back to the blueberry muffins Cody would get him "Do you think I could try them?" Keldeo asked, smirking at the surprised expression of Terry and Vera.
"Daring today, aren't we?" Terry laughed, walking over to Keldeo and offering him the hot dog. Keldeo sniffed it inquisitively, it had a strong scent that still sizzled. Nevertheless, he took a bite and methodically chewed. He blinked and stopped chewing "How is it?" Terry asked in a knowing way.
"Oh its uh…" Keldeo spoke with his mouth full "Definitely an interesting flavor and uh...erm…"
"You don't have to finish it." Terry said, watching Keldeo spit it back out and shuddering.
"Sorry…" Keldeo frowned "We don't have anything like that in my world so it's…" Keldeo shuddered again. Terry nodded, smiling a delightful smirk that made Keldeo feel relieved, good to know he didn't offend him.
"How about this?" Vera offered another s'more to Keldeo. Keldeo sniffed this one and found it much more agreeable, sugary, but also with traces of honey and other flavors. Keldeo took a bite and smiled.
"Oh...this tastes familiar...what did Cody call it? Chocolate?" Keldeo asked, and Vera nodded "It's...a little too sugary for me but…" Keldeo swallowed, turning down the rest. Quinn was happy to finish it off. Terry rolled his eyes grabbing another hot dog as Vera made another s'more. Keldeo looked between the two, smiling.
"What are you smiling at?" Terry asked.
"No nothing, just..." Keldeo paused, maybe he could open up a little more "It just reminded me of something with Terrakion and Virizion...the way you two talk to each other."
"I'm sorry, how do we talk each other?" Vera asked.
"Well, you know bickering but...there's definitely something else there?" Keldeo offered. Vera blushing a bright red as Terry grinned.
"Oh?" Terry leaned in "Well now I have to hear this." Terry paused, hesitation in his voice "If you wanna talk about them, I mean."
"Yeah, you don't have to..." Vera said, still blushing.
"No...I think you'd like it." Keldeo inhaled, it was probably going to hurt to talk about them, but he had to start somewhere "So Terrakion liked Virizion, and I mean really liked her. Constantly showing off his strength all sorts of sweet words." Keldeo chuckled "So one day, Terrakion tried to impress Virizion, he found a grove of berries and tried to get them back to her...in the rain." Keldeo was laughing a little harder now "And...well Terry you know how clunky that body is. By the time he got back, they were either bruised or smooshed." Keldeo was tearing up now "She...she was not happy. She chased him around the rest of the day...I mean even Cobalion was laughing" Keldeo was crying slightly now, smiling bright all the same, happy to see the others were laughing too. Keldeo looked between all of them, he didn't realize how good it felt to be open with all of them like that. People he trusted, friends even.
"Hey guys." Cody said, taking a seat beside Keldeo with a groan "Having fun without me?"
"Cody! You're up!" Keldeo gasped in surprise, nuzzling his head into Cody.
"Hey! Mind the horn!" Cody chuckled softly, pulling Keldeo away but petting his mane. Keldeo chuckled and sat back beside Cody, closer than before.
"You really shouldn't be moving but…" Quinn rubbed the back of his head "How are you feeling?"
"Still sore, but a lot more manageable." Cody placed his hand on his chest "I just had to move my legs, it was hurting not moving for that long."
"How much longer do you think he has?" Keldeo asked Quinn, only for Genesect to translate.
"A couple more days, probably? And even then I'd still give it another week of not doing anything too crazy." Quinn hummed "So no training or anything."
Cody nodded "So then another week and then we're good to head out to Paradise?" he asked.
"You heard?" Keldeo asked, Cody moaned in response.
"Might as well take the fight to him at some point." Cody stretched "You said you could open dimensions with your sword?"
Keldeo looked back to the fire and nodded "Yeah, at least I think so. It's how I got here after all. But that was me panicking, I'd have to try to do it again..." Keldeo stood up "There aren't a lot of things that can do that. The Voice of Life being one, but I've heard even some pokemon can do it: Mew, Lugia. Most of those are legendary, even mythic pokemon. If you can find them, it's unlikely that they'd even do it for you."
"Well, this gives us some time for you to figure it out, and for Cody to keep healing." Quinn nodded, another smore consumed.
"So then that's the plan. Take a little more time to break, then take the fight back to your world?" Cody looked to Keldeo, who nodded. Looking at the others, they nodded as well "Sounds like a plan then. We're gonna have to make a lot of phone calls. Some excuse that we're going on a summer roadtrip or...something..." Keldeo turned to Quinn, who kept quiet during that part, looking down at the fire, looking like he was attempting to scrounge up the courage to say something.
"Quinn?" Keldeo asked, Genesect had to get his attention "You're joining us, right?" Quinn looked to Keldeo, blushing as the others turned to look at him "That's what that call was for, right?" the others looked to Quinn, and his lack of a response was enough to confirm what he was getting at.
"You sly dog! When were you going to tell us?" Terry ribbed Quinn in the side, making him jump.
"I didn't think you'd be joining us." Vera smiled.
"I uh...heh…" Quinn coughed "I wasn't sure if you wanted someone like me in a fight. Plus…" Quinn looked at them "Genesect said that the anomaly that attacked Keldeo had something to do with my dad disappearing. And well, my curiosity is getting the better of me. But I uh… still wasn't sure if I should have said anything."
"You kidding me?" Terry laughed "You and Genesect would be awesome to have on the crew."
"Well I mean...I can't speak for Genesect…" Quinn turned to the red insect pokemon "What do you say? You wanna keep going"
Genesect beeped "I have already made my decision, Quinn. I will follow you. And I thank you for asking for my thoughts." Quinn smiled warmly at them. But the others looked at the two of them curiously.
"What did he say?" Vera asked.
"He said he's in." Quinn nodded, earning a cheer from the rest of them.
"There's just one more thing we gotta address then…" Cody grinned at Quinn "You gotta make a pledge. Like we did." Terry and Vera nodded.
"Heheh, alright. I can do that." Quinn stood up. What were yours? So I know how to frame it?"
"Until Keldeo can return home safely. I pledge to fight." Cody said.
"Until my friends have no more battles to face. I pledge to fight." Terry said.
"Until all are safe from the wrath of Kyurem, and whoever he sends our way. I pledge to fight." Vera said.
"Hmm…" Quinn thought, finally nodding, and putting his hand up, his thoughts turning to Keldeo, but more importantly Genesect. Both trapped in their own ways, and finally able to break and be what they wanted and needed to be "Until everyone is safe to make the choices they want, and to be whoever they want to be. Genesect and I pledge to fight." Quinn turned to Genesect mimicking his hand gesture.
"That's a good one." Vera smiled.
"Yeah, I can dig it." Terry nodded.
Keldeo looked at all of them, his own group that were dropping everything to help them. They knew what was going on, everything at stake, and still decided to risk everything to help him, and a world of strangers they knew little about. There really was no more questioning or denying it; they were his friends "Wait...I want to make a pledge too." they all looked to him in surprise.
"But, we made the pledges for your sake." Cody said.
"So then I'm making a pledge for all of you." Keldeo nodded, standing up and summoning his secret sword. The rest of them smiled, sitting silently as Keldeo held his sword aloft "Until you all can return safely to the lives you had to leave for my sake. I pledge to fight" Keldeo dissipated his sword as Terry tossed a can of soda at him. Cody had to undo the top as the rest of them grabbed different types of soda, lifting it into the air above the fire.
"Cheers!" everyone said, taking a drink. Keldeo couldn't keep the smile off of his muzzle as he sat there. Surrounded by others who cared for him. He was right, they would never be the original swordsmen, but they were different, and that was something beautiful in its own right.
Act I: End