Year 905 – Three Years Ago…
"Space-time manipulation?"
Hovering over the prince's shoulders, Una and Leitis gazed upon Tadhg's notebook as he sketched out a design and notes for his latest research project. It depicted two drawings: one of Tadhg holding a cube in his hand and the other depicting the cube expanding and enveloping him.
"So cool~," Una awed.
Leitis glared. "Sounds absurd, even for you, Tadhg. This sounds like something from the holy texts rather than a feasible technique."
Tadhg smirked. "It's not actually space-time manipulation, but the closest approximation of the effect. I've compiled years of studies and research into the topic and came up with a theory on how to attribute the desired effect. The best part is that I can replicate this effect myself."
Una tilted her head. "So, what's the deal? How can you bend space and time?"
"It all revolves around my research on gravity." He pulled a book out from under his desk and handed it to her. "Refer to pages 53 to 67."
"I'm still learning how to read," she reminded.
"Don't worry, I memorized it anyway." He leaned back in his chair. "Through the use of the move, Gravity, scientists of the past have discovered the relationship between gravity and the flow of time. Depending on gravitational forces acting upon an object, time can be warped, though these observations are incredibly minute."
Leitis raised her brow. "And…?"
"There are invisible forces in our world that bend the fabric of reality, and these forces contribute to our day-to-day lives without us realizing." He tapped his quill against his desk. "Curious, actually. I've always wondered if the phenomenon we write off as a work of fiction or religion may have some precedence in the scientific world, and I've come to unravel the truths of the universe myself. If I can study and manipulate the effects of my own Gravity, I may be able to replicate the effects on a grander level. To control gravity is to manipulate fate."
"Ooooooh," Una awed.
Leitis leaned over his desk. "I…suppose that makes sense. So, what's your working theory?"
Tadhg tapped on his notebook. "First step is to study Gravity and see the ways it can be subtly influenced. After that is adding on ways to amplify its effects. I propose the use of Trick Room and Psychic Terrain as they alter the speed of objects in different ways. Combined with my natural ability, Prankster, and a dash of Miracle Eye to prevent any Dark-Types from potentially countering me. Psychic would be applied to further amplify the energy of this technique. Expanding Force, along with Trick and Ally Switch, may grant me control over space as well."
Leitis frowned. "That's…eight whole moves you would have to learn and maintain. Pokémon on average can only maintain six moves at a time, sometimes seven if they train enough. But eight? Is that possible?"
He smirked. "For a genius like me, anything is possible. This is all in the name of science, and this will be my greatest project ever. If I can create an artificial territory to bend the laws of space and time, perhaps one day my research will help Pokémon achieve grander feats in the far future."
Una pumped her fist. "Well, I'm sold! Let's get to work!"
"You know the first step requires a lot of book reading and hours of repetitive testing, right?"
"What I meant to say was that we'll be supporting you in this boring endeavor of science!"
Leitis sighed and shook her head. "You are too ambitious for your own good."
Tadhg chuckled. "What's the point in my research if I don't think big? We as mortal creatures need to push the limits of our mortality. No god is my overseer. I am the master of my own fate, and I shall manipulate the forces of gravity to prove my point."
"…" She sighed with a soft smile. "Well, can't be helped. We'll help you in anyway we can."
"Much appreciated, my dear Leitis. Now then, let the testing commence."
Melissa clutched her baton sword tightly, panting as she stared down the unwavering king. With his sword propped over his shoulder, he grinned confidently at the winded Buneary, playfully beckoning her to continue in her futile assault.
"Come on, Skill Hunter. I bet you've never seen a technique like this before. Let's see if you have the intellect to copy it," he mocked.
Her brow furrowed. She shifted back on her heels, readjusting her stance as her mind raced for possible counterattacks. She cast an unsure look over at Jason, whose own quizzical expression left her with more doubts moving forward. Of all the ways she could imagine their natural moves being combined, this was beyond anything she could comprehend.
That split second before time jumped forward, it felt like that skipped time flash before my eyes like a smeared blur. It was so sudden and precise that I didn't think about it. He must be altering my perception along with my physical speed, triggering an effect akin to time manipulation. She grimaced. Still, being able to freeze my sword in place like that? Nothing I did could get it to budge. It was completely locked into space like time froze for it.
She almost wanted to surrender knowing it would be impossible to replicate the domain and find an exploitable flaw, but failing now would jeopardize everything. They traveled all this way to the Umbra Clock Kingdom in the hopes of ending a war and rebuilding the region under a banner of peace.
No matter what the odds were, she would surpass his space-time manipulation to achieve her dream.
She leaned forward, pressing her hand to the floor, and tensed up her leg muscles. If I can at least blitz him before he activates any of his techniques, I might stand a chance. One hit is all I'll need.
She bent onto the tips of her toes, building up her energy, and launched forward in a swift rush—
BAMF!
She blinked in bewilderment, crossing the distance in a flash and nearly throwing herself past Tadhg and over the boundary line. However, Tadhg saved her from being disqualified by striking her stomach with his psychic-laced sword, throwing her back across the battlefield.
"Point five seconds," Tadhg stated.
She flipped off her hands and landed near the edge of her side. His reaction time is fast, but I can't let that stop me—
BAMF!
Right as she felt something off, Tadhg delivered another sword strike directly from behind. It happened the moment she sensed time had been skipped over, throwing her across the battlefield yet again. She rolled herself onto her feet and stopped from sliding over the boundary.
To her surprise, Tadhg looked like he was catching his breath as if he ran to her position. Regardless, he continued to shine with unwavering confidence. "Three…seconds. Must improve stamina for running short distances."
Melissa glared. If he can really skip over time, why does he keep striking me the moment he drops the technique? Is it that he can't? Come to think of it, I couldn't move my sword when he froze it. He can't attack me when time's skipped over, can he? It's like everything under the effects of the domain turn into an unbreakable metal like adamantine or something. A side effect?
Tadhg smirked. "There's that mind working overtime to decipher the secrets of my technique. I like that. Keep analyzing. Exploit any flaws you find. I want to improve its design in any way I can."
Massaging her aching side, she smirked back. "You're not even taking this seriously."
"I've never been more serious about anything. The goal of science is to improve and adapt from our flaws. It's my duty as a scientist to see to the underlying mysteries of this world and use them to better the future." He pointed his claymore at her. "Much how your idealist dreams are what shapes your desire for a better tomorrow! We seek to improve through different means for the same end results! A future of ideals and logic! And if you wish to see that reality come true, you will find a way to best me in combat."
Melissa inhaled deeply and readied her stance. "I'll show you everything I'm capable of!" She tensed her muscles and broke into a mad lunge, sailing across the battlefield like a gust of wind.
Tadhg narrowed his eyes. "Tempus Destruitur."
A bright purple flash shined over the domain, cloaking all but Tadhg in its glow. Upon activation, Melissa's speed drastically slowed down, enough for the king to step out of the way as her punch glided past his cheek. Her body reflected with a crystal-like texture.
Tadhg raised his hand and pressed it against her forehead as she continued in motion. As expected, no matter how much force or pressure he placed against her, she would stay in motion and left unimpeded by any forces outside the flow of the artificial space-time.
"The effects of Gravity and Psychic under the effects of this domain are working as intended, though it is a shame this is as far as I can push it. It seems even an artificial flow of time must not be disrupted." He raised his claymore, dulling the edges in his Psychic. "But it can't be helped."
He swung and deactivated the technique right as he struck Melissa's side. The Buneary, now caught up with the skipped time, gasped out as the dulled blade crashed into her bruised stomach. He grabbed her by the hood, dropped his sword, and slammed his palm into her gut.
"Ex Oblivione."
A mass of purple light built up in his palm before firing a wave of distortion that blasted the hapless Buneary across the room. She barely managed to slip out from under the attack and let it pass over her, watching as it crashed and harmlessly dissipated against the far wall.
She collapsed onto her back, coughing and sputtering from the impact. Oh Arceus, that one…oh, I nearly lost my breakfast there.
Tadhg smirked. "As I'm sure you've guessed, I can do more than bend time in here. I can forcibly expand space and fire it at you."
"G-Good to know…" She pressed her hands down and trembled back onto her feet. She panted softly, taking the moment to collect herself, and picked her sword back up. There has to be some inherent flaw for me to exploit, but I need to find a way to push him first.
The issue was his Temporal Eyes. With the domain in play, he had an edge over her that she couldn't match. He could predict her movements and react to them with predetermined activations of his domain, putting her into an unwinnable situation.
"Ten seconds. Probably a bit too much, but I'm just so giddy showing you this."
She glared softly. He didn't say that like he was unnecessarily toying with me. He said that like he was letting loose or doing more than he should. He keeps muttering the time out, too. Is that a habit, or is he doing it on purpose? Time, time, time…
Tadhg took his claymore in both hands and reared it back, channeling a mass of psychic energy through it. "How about I show off another technique?"
Melissa recognized his stance and immediately dodged to the right. He's going to launch projectile slashes. I need to—
"Ineluctabilis Gladius."
The moment he made the slashing motion, a blade of psychic energy erupted across Melissa's body, striking against her as if it was carrying momentum. She staggered in shock, nearly tripping over herself even as the energy faded.
Tadhg clicked his tongue in disappointment. "Point nine seconds. Must improve swing speed." He clenched his sword tightly and swung two more times.
An X-shaped slash erupted against Melissa and nearly blasted her over the boundary line. She only stopped by digging her toes into the floor, frantically waving her arms as she hovered over the line. Through struggling and panic, she managed to throw herself forward and avoid toppling back. "Phew…" She winced and covered her chest. Two cuts were made into her uniform, tearing into the surface of the underlying armor. "Agh…"
"Don't collapse on me yet, Skill Hunter. There's still plenty more tests to conduct."
Melissa took a moment to catch her breath before straightening back up. Find a flaw. Find any flaw and capitalize on it. She sprung forward once more.
Time skipped once more, and Tadhg landed a surprise strike on the disoriented bunny. Even as she flew across the room, she instantly reoriented herself and launched into an attack again. Tadhg skipped time again, striking Melissa into the floor. She instantly bounced back onto her feet to attack, only to get sucker-punched by another skip through time. This time, she was grabbed by the hood and thrown over the king's shoulder, where he slammed her down on her back.
"GAH!" she gasped.
Tank and Petra turned their eyes away. "This is almost too painful to watch," Tank mumbled.
"Y-You can do it, Harlow!" Petra cheered, though with far less confidence.
Una held her head up high and laughed. "You'll find that no one can break through Tadhg' impenetrable defenses once this domain is set up. He can see your movements and change the tides of battle the moment you strike. He is completely invincible under this domain!"
"…" Jason narrowed his eyes. "Don't sell Harlow short just yet. The fight's not over."
Casimir glared. "How is she going to beat something that just messes with the flow of time? Even I can't keep track of this shit."
"In my line of work, one thing is certain: no one is invincible."
After finishing their morning tea, Moira guided Lillia through the halls in search of Tadhg and her friends. The Brionne princess sighed. "If I recall, I think Tadhg had the training hall tidied up for this morning, so they may be over there."
Lillia bowed her head. "I appreciate your company, Moira."
"Eh, save it. Might as well try and be a good host." She glared. "I just hope he's not roughing up whoever he decided to brawl with too badly."
"Yikes…" Lillia narrowed her eyes at the floor. "With all my friends training so hard to prepare for battle, I want to do my best to catch up with everyone."
"Heh. With your demeanor, I wouldn't pass you off as a fighter."
"I'm not one for close range brawls, so I've been training under our resident sniper on how to improve my techniques. I'm just not sure if I'll be enough to make a difference."
Moira scoffed. "Does that matter?"
"What do you mean?"
"You Foresters are a well-functioning unit. Not everyone needs to be the strongest. Isn't it all about finding what talents you can use to make the best of a plan? The strongest, the most cunning, the most tactical, etc. You have your indominable leader as a force of nature, but you have your own talents not defined by strength."
"Hmm…" Lillia smiled ahead. "You have a point. Still, I wonder how I can contribute to it. I want to help Harlow achieve her dream of a peaceful Virdis, too."
"A peaceful Virdis? Ha! This Harlow sounds like quite the dreamer!"
Lillia and Moira stopped as a deep voice bellowed with laughter behind them. Looking over their shoulders, they spotted an imposing Obstagoon leaning against the wall of a connecting hallway. He was dressed in a dark suit with the buttons to his shirt undone around the chest. He grinned down at the two women, and Lillia could tell from his stance he brimmed with an unflappable confidence in himself.
Moira's eyes widened. "Lord Blackwood?"
He straightened up and bowed to her. "Greetings, Your Highness. I hope I'm not intruding."
"N-No. We've been expecting your arrival for some time. Have you just arrived?"
"About ten minutes ago, yes. I was expecting to be greeted by the king, but he appears not be around. Is he busy?"
Moira glared. "Kind of? He's entertaining some guests at the moment, though I can show you to him."
Blackwood smirked. "Heh." He glanced at Lillia. "Well, based on her uniform and this Harlow you mentioned, I look forward to meeting these guests of his."
Lillia narrowed her eyes uncertainly. First impressions weren't everything, though she couldn't help but get a weird vibe from the man. She couldn't place why exactly, but she didn't want to appear rude. Smiling as usual, she bowed to him. "You are the incomparable Lord Blackwood I've heard so much about. It is an honor to meet you."
He bowed back with a raspy chuckle. "The honor is all mine. Now then, shall we meet with the king?"
"GAH!"
Melissa went flying back after another failed attempt to break through Tadhg's formation. Each time, she barely stopped herself from flying out of bounds, trembling as the intensity of her wounds increased. No matter how many times he knocked her down, she would get back up and try again. She refused to fall knowing what was at stake.
"Take…THIS!" She launched into another assault, gripping her baton sword with her waning strength.
Tadhg, who was beginning to get annoyed, aimed his hand forward. "Ex Oblivione."
Melissa was stopped in her tracks and blasted backwards a fair distance. She crashed against the floor with her sword flying out of her hand and over the boundary line. She panted softly, glaring weakly at the skylight as her vision worked to correct itself.
Tadhg sighed and propped his sword over his shoulders. "Enough. Any more attacks like that, and you'll end up hurting yourself more than you already have."
She gritted her teeth. "Not…until I beat you. We're…forming that alliance."
He glared. "And is this how you intend to make your dream come true? Recklessly throwing yourself into danger and doggedly holding onto those beliefs of valor? A leader's place is operating from the sidelines and guiding their people to salvation, not throwing their lives away on the frontline. You won't serve much use protecting what you hold dear if you can't even stand. Stop resisting and surrender."
Melissa struggled to sit herself up, cradling her bruised sides as she panted. "You're…one to talk. If fighting is so difficult, you should've surrender ages ago." She pressed her hands down, lifting herself back onto her feet. "Isn't that the reason…your father went out into battle? Knowing his efforts were better suited serving his people directly than from the throne?"
"…" Tadhg looked aside.
"I didn't travel all the way to the Umbra Clock Kingdom just to let this hold me back." She let out a deep sigh and straightened up. "Time, space, whatever. None of that is going to stop me from seeing a future where Virdis' people live in harmony. It may be a difficult and foolish pursuit, but it's one I'll keep fighting for until the day I die."
"…" Tadhg glared. "Tell me, Skill Hunter. Why do you hold onto these strong beliefs? What motivates you to pursue this insane reality of yours?"
"…" She sighed. "It was my mother's ideals, and I've inherited them as my own. We both saw a potential for Virdis to change for the better. The people of this region have suffered too long under hate, deception, and bigotry for too long. The Virdis I imagine is one where all ten kingdoms and their cultures may join together in harmony under a noble pursuit for the future. This region doesn't have to be governed by another two hundred years of civil war and genocide. I know it's foolish to think anything can change, but what's the alternative? Shrugging our shoulders and parroting the same thing our forefathers said? This is the way reality is. No! I refuse to follow that ideology. If I have to dig up the roots of Virdis just to make some meaningful change, then hand me your cheapest shovel so that I may dig up the weeds we let grow wild! I'll be the one to set Virdis on a new path of redemption, and that will be my decree until my life is forfeit!"
A silence permeated across the training hall, her words stunning even those closest to the Buneary. The passion and inner vitriol she spoke with were volumes above the kind and seemingly demure rabbit she appeared as, brimming with confidence unbound.
Tadhg closed his eyes and chuckled softly. "A foolish world this is, but I do love fools with big dreams. One must never underestimate the fool." He raised his hand and beckoned her. "Very well, but I refuse to go easy on you still. You cannot break through my defenses."
This time, a cunning smirk twisted over the Buneary's lips. "Perhaps, but I believe I've finally figured out a limitation of your domain."
His eyes widened. "Huh?"
She slowly raised her hands and cupped them in front of her mouth. "You wanted to see all the techniques I've accumulated? I've fought many a foe on the battlefield and stolen a variety of different techniques, but a thief doesn't need to steal to receive a precious treasure. After all, I have a treasure trove of techniques that I call my dearest and closest allies. My friends!"
Jason smirked. There she is.
"Try this! Faithless Imitation!" Her eyes flashed blue. "Now, Shingo Style: Shadow in the Void!" She exhaled a stream of black smoke through her cupped hands, near instantly filling the training hall in an impenetrable smog.
Their audience doubled back and coughed as they tried to fan the smoke from their faces. "What the hell?!" Shale yelled.
"I—ack! I can't see!" Una shrieked.
"Tadhg, be care—ack!" Leitis cried.
Tadhg hardened his stance, scanning his surroundings with his Temporal Eyes. However, no matter where he looked, he saw no immediate change to the future. There was nothing for him to see.
"Having trouble, Your Majesty?" Melissa's voice echoed around him. "The future looks bleak when all you can see is smoke."
Tadhg's confident bravado ended as he took his sword into both hands. An entire arsenal of techniques borrowed from her teammates. This goes beyond than just stealing something in a life-or-death fight. She had been fighting her own war in the west, and she likely had to fight alongside her friends. These are techniques she has seen more than once.
"Sidney Style—" Tadhg reacted too late as something appeared from the future smoke. A pair of claws glowing as hot as magma peered out from the cover of darkness and slashed into his chest. "Fangs of Groudon!"
"AGH!" Tadhg's front caught fire from the superheated attack that launched him across the battlefield. He dug his sword down and dragged himself to a stop before psychically blowing the flames off himself. He breathed a relaxed sigh, then looked up to the pathway of cleared smoke.
Melissa stood at the other end of the path, flexing the magma-like constructs around her hand. She tilted her head and playfully stuck her tongue out. "You won't be reading my future any time soon."
Tadhg couldn't stop the excited grin spreading over his lips. Looks like I wasn't the only one fooling around. She's finally getting serious.
A Month Prior…
"You…want me to copy your techniques?"
Melissa stared at her fellow allies in surprise as they pulled her aside from the recent war briefing. The last couple of weeks had been an adjustment to the Foresters, combatting against the ever-growing forces of New Chariot and their unending assaults. It took a great deal of manpower and determination to fend off the attacks.
Though settled into the role of an advisor from the sidelines, Melissa was no stranger to putting herself into the conflict to support her friends. She even managed to disarm a catapult and take out a few soldiers on her own, something she'd never imagined doing the year prior. In fact, with it wrapping around to the Vernal Moon, it had been exactly one year since she first entered Fort Lucus and became a Forester. The weak, helpless princess she once was now lingered as a distant memory.
And her reputation of being an outcast among the outcasts…was, too, a fleeting memory.
Shingo nodded to her confused response. "You are a valued ally among our guild, Penworth, thus we wish to help you grow stronger. Though it might not be much, we have witnessed your skill with the techniques you've stolen from previous foes. We wish to expand your armory of skills so that you may be better equipped to defend yourself."
Ursula smirked. "They may not be nowhere near as strong as the original, but any advantage we can give each other helps a ton."
Hedwig pounded her chest and howled. "Carry on the spirit of a savage and rip our enemies to shreds!"
Melissa stared at them in awe. "Are…Are you all sure? You all worked so hard to develop your techniques. I wouldn't want to just copy them like they were expendable."
Margot chuckled. "With how low our numbers are, what's the harm? Besides, think of it as a little piece of us following you into battle."
Kenny smiled and signed, "You're the one who has been pushing us to be more than just thieves, so we want to push you to become the best version of yourself."
Sadie hooked her arm around Melissa and snickered. "Like it or not, you're one of us, Cottontail. That means looking out for each other when the going gets tough. As if we're going to let you lead us into battle without some incentive to keep you alive."
Enora smirked. "We're going to win this war no matter what, so you're taking a little bit of us with you if you intend to be the honorary leader of the Foresters."
Sidney grinned, holding Rusty above her head. "Everyone, especially the Nature Spirits, are putting our hopes and dreams into you, Melissa! We'll be right behind you, supporting you all the way!"
She looked around at the smiling faces before her, tears welling up in her eyes. One whole year ago, the Foresters looked upon her with either disdain or reluctance, seeing her as nothing but another royal brat who didn't understand the pain Virdis was in. She knew nothing of their struggles and vices, the wars and conflicts between the ten kingdoms spanning across two centuries.
Despite all of that, here she was as a proud and respected member of the Foresters. Through all her suffering and hard work, she became something she never imagined herself ever achieving. No longer just a passive observer of the growing burdens, nor an inexperienced Buneary blindly following her optimistic heart. She will hold onto her ideals with newfound understand of this region, and she will have the support of her friends to make her ideals come true.
This was their home, and she promised she will make it into the home of their dreams. That was her ambition as a Forester, and their strength will guide her to victory.
With tears trickling down her face, she smiled warmly at the Foresters. "Thank you. Thank you…for everything."
With revitalized valor brimming off her, Melissa sprung into action, disappearing into the smoke and dashing circles around the blinded Meowstic. Tadhg kept a firm stance, listening to the hurried tapping of the bunny's feet against the hardwood floor. He could tell she was attempting to get the drop on him with an auditory camouflage.
Too much smoke in the air. Can't properly calculate it. I'll just have to take my chances. Time shall not progress a second further!
"Nondum Tempore!"
With his commanding voice, all but the smoke became still within the domain. He scanned his surroundings hurriedly, hoping to find the Buneary under the veil of black smoke. Everything, even their observant audience, was frozen within the crystal-like texture. Time had been warped around them, stalling out the distance between two milliseconds and leaving them temporarily fixed where they stood. Fortunately, thanks to his research into Gravity and how to best apply the domain, there wouldn't be any long-term consequences affecting their minds and bodies.
He couldn't spend too much time with everything frozen, however.
Manipulating the artificial time within this domain is incredibly taxing. I can only manipulate a total of five minutes a day. Every second I waste is less ammunition I have to work with. If this were a real battle to the death, I wouldn't be wasting my time like this.
Tadhg took a couple steps back, nearing the edge of the battleground. He raised his sword in a defensive stance and drew a breath.
Once time marches on, the second I spot her in the smoke, I'll strike her before she knows what to do. Now, resume!
The ten seconds of stalled time ended, and all resumed back into motion. As Tadhg predicted, Melissa had popped out of the smoke and struck where he was once standing. She, too, was blinded by the smoke since she was not normally accustomed to the opacity.
"Ineluctabilis Gladius!" He swung his sword, instantly striking the Buneary with a projectile slash across her body. However, to his shock, she collapsed into a pile of gray goo across the floor. "Wha—"
The floor liquified under him, and Melissa came rocketing out from below. Before Tadhg could counter, she delivered a heavy uppercut to the chin and nearly sent him flying over the boundary line.
"Vale."
Before he fell out of bound, he tossed his sword over Melissa's head and instantly swapped places with it. He then flicked his wrist, catching the sword in his psychic hold.
"Tempus Destruitur."
Rather than skip all of time within the domain, he skipped the time of the sword flying back to his hand. However, this had the intended consequence of the sword instantly accelerated into Melissa. She spat up blood as the weapon rammed into her gut faster than she could even motion to blink. Tadhg caught the hilt and Melissa by her hood before she went flying past him.
He huffed. "You're a crafty one, Skill Hunter. I won't let a trick like that get the best of me again—" His eyes widened as he saw her future self motioning to punch him. He let her go and jumped back as she instantly burst back to life swinging.
She extended her hand and, copying his Psychic, drew her baton sword back to her hand. Upon catching it, green vines sprouted out from her wrist and coiled around the base. "Zephora Style: Autopsy of Torment." She sprung forward, briefly vanishing within the smoke.
"Gravity Cleave!" He fired straight ahead of himself, hoping to snipe her, but missed. "Nondum Temp—"
Before he could finish, Melissa popped out from the smoke and struck him across the back. The energy vines coiling around her sword absorbed some of the cat's energy, healing off the damage she received. She dashed back within the smoke right as Tadhg swung, striking him once again when his guard was down.
He stumbled a bit, striking his sword down to hold himself up. With a deep inhale, he lit up the tip of his hand and swiped it across the smoke. "Ex Oblivione!" The pressurized force blasted away half the smoke covering the training hall. He jumped within the cleared space, eyes hurriedly scanning the floor for any sudden emergences.
"Eadwulf Style—" Sensing the Buneary's next attack, Tadhg braced himself behind his sword as she launched out from the smoke. "Demon Wolf's Funeral!" She hammered her baton sword into his blade, triggering a powerful explosion that pushed the two apart.
"Agh!" Tadhg growled with smoke coming off his fur.
Melissa gripped her sword tightly as she spun with the blast's momentum, then threw her weapon empowered with orange and blue energy. "Sadie Style: Assisted Destruction!" It moved with incredible speed that could've caught anyone off guard.
"Nondum Tempore!" Tadhg's technique activated mere milliseconds before the weapon struck its target.
"I've noticed something—" His eyes flickered down as Melissa suddenly rushed up from under his line of sight. "Though you can choose how much or how little you target with those time-based techniques—" She whipped her fist straight for his exposed chin. "You can only use one at a time, can't you?!"
Tadhg blocked her with his bracer, recoiling from her surprising strength. "Ex Oblivione!" He swung his other hand and attempted to blast her, but she immediately reacted with her Adaptive Foresight and launched herself over it before firing. Tadhg tilted his head back and ended his time stop, letting the sword continue on course and imbed itself into the wall behind him.
Right as Melissa landed behind Tadhg, she cupped her hands together and released another smokescreen directly on top of their position. He swung, slicing into the smoke with Gravity Cleave, but saw no sign of the bunny.
"Ursula Style: Xtinction Catapult!" Tadhg spun around as Melissa came rocketing out of the smoke curled into a tight ball. As she unwound herself, she sliced the air with her crossed arms, nearly chopping into the king.
"Nondum Tempore!" He froze Melissa in place, then channeled psychic energy through his sword. He swung and delivered a brutal strike the second he ended the time stop, cancelling all of the bunny's forward momentum.
However, once again, she fell apart into a pile of gray goo. Some sort of Substitute technique, he deduced. However, that means—
The ground ripped open from under him, and Melissa attempted to get him with the same uppercut maneuver. He avoided her attack and caught her by the ear. "I told you that wouldn't work a second time—"
His Temporal Eyes reacted to something attack him from behind. He spun around as something emerged from the liquified floor. It was Melissa, wielding the Fangs of Groudon and preparing to swipe at him.
Two, huh? He dropped the Buneary he was holding and swung into the attacking bunny. That means you're the real—
His sword connected, and he slashed the Buneary into a pile of harmless gray goop.
His eyes widened. That was the clone?!
"Hedwig Style—" Tadhg turned around and narrowly blocked a heavy punch from Melissa, who glowed in an ominous red aura with a crazed grin on her face. "Wild Hunting Style!"
"Nondum—" Tadhg was immediately put on the defensive as Melissa unleashed a barrage of punches into his armor pieces. He endured to the best of his ability, but was unable to concentrate with the rapid assault barreling into him. She's ferocious!
"Come on, Harlow! Show him what you're made of!" Tank cheered.
"Woo! Harlow! Harlow!" Petra cheered.
Casimir smirked. "This is getting exciting. Who would've thought a fluffball like her had grit?"
Shale shrugged. "Eh, I could do better."
Una gasped. "Tadhg! Oh no!"
"Stay strong! Don't let up!" Leitis cheered.
Jason crossed his arms and smirked with glowing pride as he watched Melissa's onslaught. If there's one thing people can't count on, it's Melissa's ability to adapt to any danger she faces. Her readiness to do what it takes to survive…isn't something to be underestimated.
Tadhg grunted as he felt each impact denting his armor against his body. Even in her feral state, she wasn't aiming to hurt him. He grinned through the pain. "Vale."
He and Melissa switched places, their backs facing each other. Before Melissa realized what happened, Tadhg grabbed her by the hood and swung her over his shoulder, slamming her into the floor.
"Ex Oblivione!"
She gasped and backflipped off the floor before he fired the pressure wave. The floor split apart, sending fragments of wood flying after her. She shielded behind her arms, landed, and rushed the king down. "This ends now!"
Tadhg reared his sword back. "Bring it!"
"Mega Kick!"
"Gravity Blade!"
Melissa launched off her hands and struck with a kick blazing in a blue aura. Tadhg struck back with his psychically charged sword. The kinetic impact of their attacks erupted across the training hall, splashing across the bystanders as they remained locked in a tense stalemate. Tadhg kept his footing and stance firm while Melissa tried with all her might to press back against the king's defensive stance.
Ultimately, with the brunt of their attacks reaching their peak, Melissa's was the first to give out. Tadhg powered through and batted Melissa with all the force he could muster, sending her flying over the battlefield.
Melissa braced herself as she flew over the boundary line and crashed into the far wall. "Agh!" She slid to the ground and collapsed onto her face.
"Harlow!" her friends cried.
Tadhg dropped his sword and collapsed onto his hands, his arms trembling. His domain crumbled away, and a wave of fatigue struck him all over. "Sh-Shit…"
"TADHG!" Una hurtled herself across the battlefield and tackled the Meowstic with a hug. "You won! AHA! I knew you would win!"
"Uh, Una?" Leitis chirped in. "You might want to look again."
"Huh?" The Kirlia pulled back and looked the king over. "What do you mean? Tadhg looks fine to—" Her eyes widened upon seeing his right leg.
Not having moved an inch from where he stood during the final clash, his foot remained planted where it last was: outside the boundary line.
"You…lost?!"
Tadhg chuckled. "She's one hell of a fighter. Even against my domain, she refused to give up. The rumors were true: she's a crafty one."
As Una and Leitis helped him to his feet, Jason and Tank were helping Melissa sit up. Jason gently slapped her face. "You still conscious?"
"Uuuugh…" she groaned.
"Yeah, you're fine."
Petra jumped onto and danced across Melissa's head. "Woo! Way to go, Harlow! You showed that king who's boss! WOO!"
Melissa winced, her head ringing from the impact, but smiled through the pain. "Heh. I did the best I could…"
Casimir smirked. "I see now why the region speaks so infamously of you."
"Heh. Believe me, most of those rumors are…horribly exaggerated."
Shale laughed. "Clearly, though you're as crazy as everyone says you are—uh, your nose is bleeding."
"AH!" Melissa covered her nose as blood trickled to her lip. "N-Not again! Ooooh, my head's hurting real bad…"
"Horribly exaggerated or not, you put on…a spectacular performance, Skill Hunter." As Melissa was helped onto her feet, Tadgh hobbled over to the group with his wives' assistance. He chuckled. "I made…the right decision accepting your proposal yesterday."
"…Eh?!" the group gasped.
"You mean your answer was already yes?!" Petra shrieked.
He laughed. "I made my decision the second you first proposed the idea."
Jason's eye twitched. "Then what…was the point of interrogating us and putting together this test?!"
He smirked. "For one, I wanted to test my domain, and I clearly have room for improvement. Two…" He closed his eyes, sighing through his nose. "It's…something my father taught me a long time ago. The strength of a person's convictions is revealed in the heat of battle when the stakes are at their highest. If I were to test the resolve of the Foresters and their desire to see these warring times come to an end, I needed to be sure if you were sure of yourselves."
Melissa wiped her nose clean and asked, "So, you just wanted to make sure we were serious about our being here?"
"I accepted your proposal because it was the most logical conclusion. As if I'm going to refuse help during these warring times." He glared at them. "My people have been through a lot these last several years, and it will only get worse if someone doesn't take New Chariot down a peg. My forces are running thin, leaving so much of my kingdom unprotected. Any help is welcomed at this point."
"…" Melissa sighed with a soft smile. "You're really something, Your Majesty."
"We are to be allies. Call me Tadhg."
"…Thanks, Tadhg." She straightened herself up, pulling away from Jason and Tank's holds. She held her hand out to the king. "I, Skill Hunter Harlow, wish to form an alliance with the Umbra Clock Kingdom on behalf of the Foresters. We will lend you our strengths and tactics to benefit both parties so that we may end this war and bring peace to Virdis."
Tadhg smiled and clasped her hand within his. "And I, King Tadhg Foirbeis, accept your request and will gladly form an alliance with the Foresters. All of you will be free to live in the castle as you assist my kingdom and its people through these tough times. We shall combine our experiences and make a page in history as the tides of war turn in our favor."
Her smile brightened. "I look forward to working with you, Tadhg."
"As do I, Harlow. As do I."
"Heh. Looks like we came at a good time." Both parties turned to the training hall entrance as Moira, Lillia, and Lord Blackwood made themselves known. The Obstagoon approached the pair, looking down at them with a smile brimming with pride. "What a union of power. The Umbra Clock Kingdom joining forces with the most infamous thieves guild in the land."
Tadhg smirked. "You were late yesterday."
"I got held up at a meeting the day I was supposed to leave." He bowed to the Meowstic. "A thousand pardons."
Lillia and Moira approached the group, the former smiling brightly at Melissa. "Seems you had fun while I was gone. Wish I could've seen it."
Melissa chuckled awkwardly. "The second half of the fight was mostly me being thrown around. You didn't miss much."
Moira huffed. "So, this is actually happening. My brother has enlisted the help of thieves to fight our battles. These truly are desperate times."
Jason glared. "Princess Moira, I presume."
"And you must be the Fairy Knight. What interesting company to grace our castle." She glared back. "Just to be clear, I'm not open to trust all of you, but I promised to trust my brother's decisions. Don't give me a reason to regret that decision."
He bowed to her. "As the leader of the Foresters, I give my solemn vow we will cooperate with the Umbra Clock Kingdom. We will not be a burden in your home."
"…" She sighed. "Whatever."
Jason glanced at Petra. "I'll pen a letter for Fort Lucus. Send it as soon as it's finished."
She saluted him. "You can count on me, boss!"
Melissa felt her smile growing as she looked around at everyone. "I'm…still having trouble processing all of this. I never expected this alliance to go through."
Tadhg chuckled. "It'll be a strange adjustment to all of us, but I look forward to seeing where this goes."
Leitis glared. "So, what now?"
Una giggled. "Yeah, what's your first decree for this alliance, Tadhg?"
"…" He scratched his chin in thought for a moment before smirking. "For now, we take the rest of the day to recuperate. After that, we haven't a second to waste. We're going to plot a plan of attack to reverse our current state in this war. With my resources and the Foresters' tactics, we may be able to find a way to cripple their war efforts."
Melissa smiled. "I'm in."
Blackwood bowed. "I will gladly assist in the war meeting, Your Majesty."
Moira scoffed. "I might as well lend a flipper or two to keep my brother's imagination in check."
Jason bowed his head. "I shall lend my expertise as well."
Tadhg threw his arms out and burst into laughter. "Then, I proudly declare that this day will forever be remembered as the formation of…the Umbra Forest Alliance!"
