Would He Be Proud?

by Mezamun

In the midst of the first ever annual Pokémon World Championships, Kanon had picked a hell of a time to grieve. But, even as she and Ash face off against Alain, of all opponents, Ash promises to talk her through her complicated feelings about Latios. No force in the world can defeat them. No force in the world can keep him from being there for someone he cares about.

~Would he be proud of me?~

A very familiar voice echoed in Ash's head. It made him stare down at the Love Ball he was already rolling between his fingertips. The specialty hot pink Poké Ball, with a gentler pink taking the shape of a heart rumbled in his gloved palm. As soon as he'd picked it up, she'd spoken.

~...Sorry. This is an inane time for these sorts of questions, isn't it?~

Ash took in his surroundings. Wyndon Stadium's striking petals and arches surrounded a tremendous battlefield, and an unfathomably large audience. He was in the midst of the first annual Pokémon World Championships, sitting squarely in the grand Premier Class tournament.

"...Nah. It's never a bad time for you."

~You're such a charmer. But, this might be an exception. Look at our opponent, won't you?~

Across the expansive stage stood none other than Alain. Kalos Elite Four. 'The Uncrowned Champion,' as many called him in his home region. He'd declined the crown jewel title of the region, two Champions ago; before Bonnie, and before Serena, under Diantha, simply because he disliked Kalos's idol worship culture. Few doubted his strength. Most knew better.

Ash knew better than basically anyone. His longtime rival, and adoptive brother, thanks to his stubborn mother who always got her way. There were no ends to Alain's calculating ferocity.

He felt his blood racing. Sweat trickled down his forehead and into his clean-cut beard. Glancing at the scoreboard, he reassessed his position. His Serperior and Hawlucha were down for the count, while the same could be said of Alain's Metagross and Lokix. They each had one left.

"Yeah. I know. We can talk while we fight. Kay?"

He could imagine the smirk on Alain's face from across the way, even if he couldn't quite see it at his distance. Any proper Pokémon Master knew the sentiment of focusing squarely on your own Pokémon and their words, even with the heat of battle blazing about them.

His rival didn't prod or complain. He only sent out his last Pokémon with gusto.

"Elite Four Alain has just made his last stand with his mighty Kingambit! A long time veteran of his team, who was even present in his Lumiose Conference battle with the reigning World Champion!" The announcer's booming voice roused excitement from the crowd. "It's a bit surprising to not see his signature Charizard in play, but no great trainer allows themselves to be completely predictable, I suppose! Particularly with such a mighty second-in-command ready to cleave through the competition!"

Ash showed his sharp canines with a grin. "You really want that win, huh?"

"Would you expect anything less?" Alain shot back playfully. Despite the kind upturn of his smile, Ash could see the icy concentration in his brother's eyes.

Kanon could feel it through her Poké Ball.

Without any further word, Ash threw his weight into a backhanded throw. The Love Ball's light manifested in the form of a red streak, zipping through the skies and around the the perimeter of the arena, she passed the entirety of the crowd.

When she was but a child, she was terrified of being seen. A human guise kept her true form hidden from any potential threats. It made her relish in the applause of an excited audience. She'd made a routine of showing off like this in recent years. Almost as if to make a point.

"And, who wouldn't recognize that blur? The Scarlet Streak of Alto Mare is here!" The emcee boomed over the crowds, as the subject returned to Ash. "A peculiar choice against the Dark and Steel-type Kingambit, but Ash has never been one for convention, and his Latias has never been one to back down from a challenge!"

~I wish that were true.~ A somber note rang in Ash's heart. He could see the slight dip in the Eon's posture before him. ~If it had been, he'd still be here with us.~

~You heard all of that praise, and zeroed in on the one thing you feel bad about?~ It was a harsh response to grief. But Ash knew better than anyone that you had to tear through bullshit thoughts like those, and expose them for what they were. ~C'mon. Let's make Latios proud.~

Kanon inhaled, and exhaled. Her grief could wait.

Alain ordered Iron Head, as Ash ordered Dragon Claw. For all of their differences in approach, they were both passionate, head-on fighters. Ethereal lime projections of Kanon's claws scraped ahead against the two blades framing Kingambit's face,

She grit her teeth in struggle. Her arms trembled. As strong as she'd become, raw muscle wasn't her greatest virtue. The sharp blade of Iron Head struck her between the eyes, making Kanon recoil and retreat. She shook her head out.

~I could always be stronger,~ she scolded herself. It stung more than the dent in her feathers.

~The sky's the limit,~ Ash simply said, punching the air. "Dragon Dance!'

Kanon whipped herself into a twister, filling her body with Dragon-type vigor.

To make a point, Ash ordered a second Dragon Claw. Alain responded in kind with Iron Head.

She closed the gap between them far more quickly; almost too fast for Kingambit to even react. Dragon Claw pried her opponent's head away to a comfortable distance, and kept pushing. Her flight forced him to skid back across the dirt, rapidly losing ground.

With a coo of effort, she broke her arms outward, throwing Kingambit off-balance. Then, Dragon Claw hammered down upon his helmet, planting him face first in the crumbling dirt.

Kingambit recoiled and groveled. A red glint in his eye told a different story. But by the time Kanon noticed, it was far too late.

"Kowtow Cleave!" Alain's passionate shout was pronounced with a nightmarish and underhanded slash. Black, rippling energy tore up her underbelly and across her jawline, sending Kanon tumbling into the sky.

The super-effective move left her wincing. Although Ash didn't physically suffer her pain, like with Greninja or Peeks, her anguish echoed within the everflowing stream of their bond.

~I was always the naive one. He always scolded me to be more cautious~

~Everyone takes a wrong turn, once in a while.~ She'd heard him say that the day they met.

~Taking it more than once, however…~ He must be tired of this conversation.

"Aura Sphere!"

She fired a huge burst of light from the sky. Alain's hurried cry of Focus Blast hit her eardrums.

The two manifestations of fighting spirit collided, melding and pushing against one another before exploding violently. Smoke flooded the battlefield, and spectators complained.

~He was never quite so trusting.~

~Because he was scared. You know that.~

She hid in the blanket of smoke, as she had behind her invisible guise, years ago.

~I'd always found it annoying. I wanted to venture out, but he was protective.~ She reminisced, even as she fired a barrage of Aura Spheres into the debris. With tosses of her head, she ambushed Kingambit with energy shots in a many-pronged pincer attack.

Alain's cry of Iron Head could be heard. Kingambit was bashing his blades into the Aura Spheres as they came. Their iron-clad will wouldn't fold even to super-effective attacks.

~ 'Cause you've got a free spirit. And, you've got guts.~ Ash complimented his praise with, once again, a move meant to prove a point. He ordered consecutive Dragon Claws to disrupt Alain.

Kanon dove into her own oppressive fire, passing a busy Kingambit to rake a Dragon Claw across his side. Before he could process her assault, she looped around again to do the same.

With every second, Kingambit was coming closer to facing the wrath of a fourfold super-effective Aura Sphere, or even several. ~We have them on the backfoot,~ Ash echoed in her mind, even as she barrel rolled around her own Aura Sphere. ~All because of you and your nerves of steel!~

An urgent cry of Swords Dance was their opponent's answer. Alain knew he couldn't tag Kanon; not like this. Instead, Iron Head broke the earth below him, kicking up a storm of rubble, breaking away from the earth like a jigsaw puzzle thrown unceremoniously on the floor.

Ash's point was proven. Even Kanon could acknowledge that; they'd just gained an overwhelming advantage that she was safe to boast about, as she returned to Ash's side.

~Looks like we won the race!~ She expanded her telepathy to Alain as well, for a moment.

"So, you did… You've made me use four moves!" Alain laughed from across the field, pinching the bridge of his nose in a blend of amusement and frustration. "I'm a little embarrassed. I saw your plan coming, but as always, yours and Ash's ferocity is difficult to shrug off."

"Looks like we won't be seeing Thunder Wave, today!" Ash taunted, grinning and closing a fist.

"I was hoping to use it against you. Kanon's speed is all but unmatched," Alain admitted. "It would've been nice to clip her wings. But, if you'd had the breadth to use Psycho Shift on us…"

"What a treat! It seems we've had a look into the minds of our competitors and their Pokémon, today! From the very beginning of this ferocious battle, Ash and Alain have been playing a game of chess to lock the other into their chosen four moves; a common, but ruthless tactic among high-level battlers to control a battle, beyond the battle itself!" The emcee explained to the audience. "Had Alain employed Kingambit's infamous Thunder Wave, Kanon's Psycho Shift could have shifted her paralysis onto him! But, she and Ash have won that race, due to their ingenuity and unrelenting assault! Pressuring Alain's Kingambit of all Pokémon is a feat worth boasting for days to come!"

Kanon needn't even look back to see the look of satisfaction on her trainer's face. He would be well within his rights to shout 'I told you so' at her at the top of his lungs. But, he was above that.

"I believe that playtime is over now," Alain laughed. "Kingambit?"

The Big Blade Pokémon grunted his agreement, bashing his claws together.

"You two as well?" Alain asked, gesturing to Ash and Kanon.

~I believe I'm in fighting form, now.~ Kanon's amber eyes narrowed. ~Do your worst.~

"What she said," Ash agreed. She was starting to break out of that shell again, and he wasn't sure whether that or the unfolding battle were making him smile more.

"Oh, what's this…!? Alain has retrieved his power-up of choice! A Tera Orb!"

"Dreams lost to the sands of time… Crystallize before our very eyes! Beyond the limits of imagination!" Alain held up the glimmering Tera Orb with theatrical flair. Its luster reflected in his icy blue hues, as he threw the orb towards Kingambit. "Kingambit! Terastallize!"

A gemstone structure embraced the Big Blade, eclipsing even the mid-afternoon sun with its glow. A sunset fuchsia aura permeated its shape, before it shattered altogether. Kingambit emerged, with the blades protruding from his face bearing crystalline devilish horns. His hands featured razor-sharp claws, and the remainder of his body was crystallized in an eerie glow.

"Kingambit has Terastallized! Seemingly into a pure Dark-type; one would have to imagine they've done so to reduce the power of Kanon's Aura Sphere!"

"Alain, you never disappoint." Ash flashed a battle-hungry grin. "Okay, Kanon. Our turn."

The Latias turned back to Ash with a battle-ready smirk. He could see the eagerness in her eyes to crystallize their bond, once more. ~Let's.~ She held up her left paw. Her leftmost claw bore a precious metal ring, bearing the marble of a Latiasite. As the closest thing to a ring finger she had in her natural state, it would have to do. She outstretched her claws toward Ash.

Ash met her paw with his own hand, finger-to-claw. The Keystone embedded in his Mega Glove sparked to life, capturing their side of the field in its halo. "My Pokémon's power comes from love… From believing in each other, no matter what!" Ash began reciting his trademark speech, as he and Kanon hoisted their joined hands high. The light they procured as one was blinding.

"We're gonna show you that power…! Kanon! Mega Evolve!"

The Infinity Energy of Mega Evolution embraced and transformed the Eon. She backed away from Ash as she began to grow several-fold in size. The pods on her side that hoisted her wings jutted out and melded to the backs of her forearms. Her feet became proper legs, and her headfeathers changed shape. With an echoing howl, Kanon emerged from her transfiguration.

Powerful psychic shockwaves billowed over the entire stadium, triggering the protective grid guarding the audience. Her ordinarily gentle appearance had taken on the impression of a fighter plane, with a gentle purple replacing her scarlet. Her whole body was flooded with power.

Hers and Ash's bond was at its zenith.

"There it is! Mega Evolution vs Terastallization! It's almost time to draw the curtain on this ferocious battle! Let's see what Ash and Alain have up their sleeves!"

Hot-blooded intrigue glimmered in Ash's eyes. "You ready?"

Alain grinned. "Bring it on, Ash!"

"Kingammmm!"

Ash smirked, and ordered a devastating Aura Sphere barrage.

With her newfound power, Kanon charged an astoundingly large Aura Sphere over head. ~You've made your point… I like to think I've evolved well beyond his expectations.~

The deep-blue sphere, teeming with life, split into a storm of Aura Spheres to crowd Kingambit.

~See? I told you. He'd be so, so proud to see us working together, like this.~

Kingambit's vicious Iron Head collided with one Aura Sphere after another, sending the potent blasts flying. Some collided with already ruptured ground and exploded. Others hit the barrier protecting the spectators. But, a deafening explosion that distinctly came from the center rang.

Kanon cautiously hovered closer, searching for any signs of—

"King!"

A merciless Kowtow Cleave slashed up the length of her underbelly. She screeched; piled on top of his Supreme Overlord on the backs of his fallen comrades, the Tera-boosted attack was at least twice as powerful as before.

Luckily, she, herself, was twice as sturdy. ~Still. I do wish he could see it with his own eyes.~

"Iron Head!" Alain roared aggressively, echoing in the background of their thoughts. Kingambit continued his pursuit, looming over Kanon. Iron Head crashed into her skull, sending her plummeting into the dirt and dust. Her aerodynamic body slid through the dust clouds.

She felt herself shudder. She could hardly think, let alone move. She'd flinched.

~You know, he could. If we took you to Tapu Fini's mist…~

Kingambit was already on his way with another deadly Kowtow Cleave. He struck at thin air.

"By some miracle, Kowtow Cleave misses…! Kanon had flinched, but she's nowhere to be seen…! Is this the Eon duo's mysterious ability to vanish from sight!?"

~...It's just a childish whim. I wouldn't want to trouble you to head out there.~

She was hiding. Much like her illusory veil, she hid away from a very real possibility.

~You can fly halfway across the world in a couple of hours, Kan'.~

~Still… What will he say, even if we do find him?~

They were talking in circles. She still feared seeing her brother. She feared she wouldn't be strong enough to handle that reunion. She'd heard the rumors. If you couldn't let go of your lost loved one, you'd wander Fini's mist forever.

~What would I even say?~

~Tell you what. I want to make a bet on this battle.~

~A bet…?~

She ascended to the skies, still behind her veil. A terrific Dragon Dance stirred up a twister about her, revealing her location by the stirring dust clouds whipping about her.

Kingambit lunged at her with his Iron Head at the ready.

~If you can win this battle for us… Then I want you to admit that someone strong enough to beat Alain, is strong enough to face her fears. You with me, Kan'?~

She swerved well out of Iron Head's way. Even with her great size, she was far too fast.

She emerged from her veil, brandishing a tremendous Dragon Claw. ~It's a deal.~

"Oooh! Kanon counter attacks with a vicious Dragon Claw barrage! Streaks of emerald are crossing the fray like wounds torn into the land and skies, themselves! Even as Kingambit fights back, he just can't keep up with her Mega Evolved power!"

"Tch… It's just like you guys to back me into a corner!" Alain grinned like mad. He adored how ferocious their battles got. How they made his heart race with the unpredictability of it all.

He uttered the two words Ash and Kanon wanted to hear most. "Swords Dance!"

Kingambit bashed his devilish blades together, coating himself in a sinister red glow.

"There's our chance!" Ash shouted with glee. "Alluring Voice!"

Kanon drew back her head, and threw it forth. She sang an angelic chorus, firing a heavenly pink stream of light towards the dancing Kingambit. A beautiful, colorful music note echoed upon collision, making Kingambit cry out in a pained stupor.

"What!?" Alain's shock reflected in his flabbergasted expression.

"What's this!? Ash has broken out a move he's never been seen using before! Alluring Voice does super-effective Fairy-type damage, with Kingambit's Steel-type rescinded! What's more, is that if the target has recently raised their stats, it inflicts confusion!"

Kingambit stumbled around with confused groans and cries of frustration, swinging their head about. "And with his dangerously high attack power, now, it could be make-or-break!"

Alain took a gamble, and ordered Kowtow Cleave. Rather than cut down Kanon, though, Kinagambit bashed his blade into the earth below. The resulting ripple tore it asunder.

A blinding storm of rock and debris encroached upon Kanon. Her eyes took on a blinding glow.

Ash could suddenly see through her eyes. He guided her every turn and cleave with Dragon Claw, slicing down sharp and heavy debris. They moved as one through the storm, moving closer and closer to Kingambit.

He'd done this many times before with the Bond Phenomenon. Kanon could trust his intuition with her life. She could much more easily trust it to win.

Emerald streaks tore through it all, as Kanon quickly approached their mighty, lumbering foe.

His head was still buried in the ground. This time, she and Ash felt that pang of danger at once.

Kanon backed off, just in time for Kingambit to rear his head. More than that, however…

"Unbelievable! Kingambit shook off his confusion, it seems, with that last Kowtow Cleave that has made mincemeat of this battlefield! But, moreover, he's wielded a whole slab of the field itself as a weapon atop his blade! He wears the terrain itself like a crown!"

Kanon now sat in the shadow of a gigantic slab of the field, wielded atop the overlord's head. Wide, still-shining eyes took in the unbelievable inevitability before her.

Ash laughed to himself, despite the sweat falling off his brow. "Alain, you're somethin' else."

It was a checkmate… or, so the coy and calculating Alain would like to believe.

But, Kanon's sight was Ash's sight. And, he saw something through her that could be key. ~That's it… Look at Kingambit's feet, Kanon! under them!~ He urged.

She focused just as he did, and gasped. The ground that remained beneath him looked terribly unstable. As if it were ready to crumble at any moment, under the unfathomable weight he bore.

Ash and Kanon grinned in tandem. "Kanon!" Ash cried. "Aura Sphere, right below him!"

Alain's exclamation of shock was deafened by the burst of energy that sank under Kingambit. Bright light broke through the cracks, before erupting into a towering storm of life energy.

Dust, rocks, and emanating Aura flooded the field for what felt like an entire minute. Once the ripples died down, the duo awaited the results with bated breath.

The entire stadium waited with them.

"What's this…!?"

Kingambit laid in a crater flooded with rubble. This time, though, he was on his back. There was no trickery, or Kowtow Cleaves, to be had, anymore. "Kingambit is unable to battle! This makes Kanon the winner, and Ash the ultimate victor of this Premier Class battle!"

They'd won. They were dusty, sweaty, and in Kanon's case, rather sore. But, they'd won.

She released her Mega Evolution in a huff, hovering just above the decimated field.

"Alain's undefeated streak has finally been broken! Although he's far from knocked out of the Premier Cup, Ash has advanced in the rankings once again! And, as they always do, these two brothers have laid waste to whatever battlefield they step onto!"

"Okay, there was no need to call us out like that," Ash laughed, hopping over the last of the rubble to meet Alain halfway. He held out a hand to his rival.

"I suppose we'll never escape it," Alain chuckled sheepishly, shaking Ash's. "...Hm?"

Advancing past the rubble as well, Kanon grew tired of flying, and willed herself into a different shape; a slightly heavyset human with a full face framed by short, neck-length autumn hair. Her signature bangs framed her head like a Latias's ears, and she wore a light sweater and jeans that were fashion and climate-appropriate for early spring.

Even walking, though, she stumbled in her exhaustion, nearly falling flat on her face in front of a sea of spectators before a hand managed to catch hers. How humiliating would that have been?

"Careful there, Kan'!" Ash teased, hoisting her upright with a smile. "Don't push yourself too hard."

"I believe I'm just fine," she huffed, albeit hidden behind a playful cheeky smile. She squeezed his hand, and advanced to offer her own to Alain. "That was a fine battle. Shame you fell into one trap after the next."

Alain laughed, meeting her with a firm, but thoughtfully gentle shake. "I believe I remember you doing the same, quite a few times… But, only the victor has the right to brag, I suppose."

"And don't you forget it!" She stationed her hands on her hips proudly. A wink of one of her golden eyes, however, communicated that this was little more than sporting banter.

"Well, what do you know? Looks like I won our bet," Ash grinned, gently ribbing her.

"Bet…?" Alain scrunched his nose. "Am I missing something?"

"Just a little wager, between myself and your conniving sibling." She answered, shooting the rascal of a man a smirk. "You know him. He's always up to something."

"Ahhh. I've known that as long as I've known him!" Alain laughed, patting Ash on the back. "There are some things between trainer and Pokémon that are just beyond my understanding."

The three competitors waved to the crowd in tandem. For all of them, it was routine. But, to Kanon, it meant something a little more. The smiling faces, and whoops of excitement…

The whole world was watching. The whole world had seen her fight.

Her golden hues turned up to the clear skies, above. Maybe he was watching, too.

Maybe she was okay with that.