Chapter 6 - Parfait
Yurie had seen a few Battle Frontier battles before. They were usually located outside of a city, and most of the battles were private affairs. For all she knew, most of the battles in Sinnoh could be the same, but this one wasn't.
Located only a thirty-minute walk from a subway station was the Battle Castle. It was designed to look like a castle not from olden times in Sinnoh but rather a western country. Had Cyan and Yurie not known what they were looking for, they would have mistaken it for some kind of theme park.
Hundreds of people lined up to either buy tickets or to quickly get inside and to their seats. There weren't many challengers for the Battle Frontier, as it was considered much more difficult than gyms. When someone did step up, it was a big deal. And with the way that the Battle Castle was run, they could promote and bring in money.
Yurie was blown away by the size of the crowd. The battlefield was standard size, but the section for the audience was built to look like a colosseum. The two had bought decent seats, but they were still placed in a mix of hundreds of people. Had she never been in a Pokémon conference crowd or competed in a grand festival, the sheer amount of people would have made her nervous. She looked around, noticing that there were many people from foreign regions. She heard a mix of languages that she couldn't understand.
Cyan, on the other hand, was elated to be in such a big crowd. He had seen a few Galar battles on television, and the way that the crowd interacted with the battle had enthralled him. He knew that people in Sinnoh weren't nearly as rowdy as those in Galar, but he was hoping that he could get noisy and cheer for whoever he liked.
Before the main event battle, there was a multitude of exhibition warm-up matches. None of the trainers were necessarily elite level, and some of them were trying out so that they may one day take on a Frontier Brain. Some of the battles were impressive, and they did their job to build up tension for the final bout.
"You think you'd like to be down there someday?" Yurie asked. She noticed that Cyan was having a lot of fun interacting with other members of the crowd.
Cyan thought for a moment and looked down at the field. "Maybe? But, I kind of prefer watching. I'm not sure how well I'd do in this kind of high-pressure battle, especially if it was a regular thing."
"And now, it's time for the main event!" the announcer yelled in his deep voice. "The challenger! He comes all the way from Driftveil City in the Unova region."
Yurie suddenly sat up. "I've heard of that city."
"He has competed in both the Vertress and Lumiose conferences! He is fourteen years old and making his Sinnoh battle debut! Please welcome to the field, Phoenix Kademan!"
The crowd cheered as the challenger walked onto the field. He had dirty blonde hair that was combed nicely, and he wore a simple red t-shirt, white athletic shorts, and a thick black backpack. Nothing about the boy's choice of clothing was interesting, but he was tall for his age, standing at just a few inches shy of six feet tall.
Yurie smiled and then sighed at the sight of the boy. The tall boy from Unova reminded her of someone she thought was special.
"And, his opponent! He is the valet of the Battle Castle! Don't be fooled by his appearance! He serves as the butler for one of Unova's Elite Four as his job, but on the side, he serves losses to challengers left and right! Please give it up for Darach!"
The crowd got even louder for the next person. It was a man who was dressed in formal purple pants, a long black coat, and a white dress shirt. His hair was black with one long streak of blonde from the front to the back. He held a silver platter in his hand, balancing three Poké Balls. Once he reached his trainer's box, he placed the platter on a small table.
"So, both of the trainers are from Unova? I guess that's why there are so many international fans in the audience," Cyan said. "Maybe they'll get loud!"
The referee took his position and raised two flags, one black and one white. "The following battle will be between the challenger, Phoenix Kademan, and Battle Valet, Darach! It will be a three-on-three battle with substitutions allowed by both sides! The battle will be over when all Pokémon on one side have fainted or have forfeited. Begin!"
Darach slowly pulled one of the Poké Balls from the platter and then held it high. "We will begin this battle with the emperor of my team. Please give him a king's welcome. Go, Empoleon!"
A large avian Pokémon with massive dark blue wings emerged. Most of its body was dark colors, but its golden beak, which continued up its face, effectively turning into horns, stood out.
Phoenix eyed the Pokémon before slowly reaching for the underside of his backpack. He selected his Poké Ball and then threw it into the air. His Pokémon materialized and used its wings to keep it in the air. It had deep red wings and light brown feathers around its body. Upon appearing from its ball, sparkles gleamed off of it.
"You've chosen a Fire-type to battle my Empoleon?" Darach asked. "I would say that you're a fool, but I know better. Empoleon, use Hydro Cannon!"
Empoleon held his massive wings out in front of him. He took in a deep breath and focused. In a matter of seconds, he released a powerful blast of water from his mouth. Guided by his wings, he managed to launch the water in the air, aiming directly for Phoenix's Pokémon.
"Talonflame, dive and use Flame Charge!" Phoenix ordered.
The Flying-type quickly spun around and pointed her body downward. She started her descent, dodging the initial onslaught of water. However, Empoleon did not yet give up. As flames exploded from Talonflame's body, Empoleon redirected his blast. Using what energy he had left, he doused Talonflame, extinguishing the Flying-type's fire.
"Keep it going!" Phoenix directed.
Talonflame flapped his wings once, rocketing himself forward. His flames emerged once again, and he crashed into Empoleon. Before the Water-type could retaliate, Talonflame retreated.
"And now, Swords Dance!" Phoenix shouted.
Darach adjusted his white glove and raised his eyebrows. "The consequence of using Hydro Cannon means that we're unable to move for a while. But, go ahead. Dance away."
Silver energy surrounded Talonflame, taking the form of a multitude of swords. They bounced around his body, giving him power.
"Now, Brave Bird!" Phoenix ordered.
"Drill Peck!"
The two Pokémon charged for the middle of the field. White flame-like energy exploded around Talonflame while Empoleon began to spin rapidly. As he spun, his beak extended. The two Pokémon clashed in the air, and they held out momentarily. But eventually, one of them had to give in. Empoleon was forced back to the ground, but he managed to land safely on his feet, quickly finding balance.
Phoenix held out his hand. "Alright, now use U-Turn!"
Talonflame was absorbed with dark green energy. He quickly descended and then slammed his body into Empoleon, finally knocking him backward. The Water-type rolled, but as soon as he came to his feet and prepared to strike, Talonflame retreated back into his Poké Ball.
"Why's he running away?" Yurie wondered. "He had him!"
Cyan put his hand to his chin. "Well, maybe? Empoleon does have an advantage, and it looks like, even with the few strikes that Talonflame managed, Empoleon hasn't taken too much damage. Phoenix wanted to get in as much damage as he could with Talonflame without taking too much damage himself."
"Now, go!" Phoenix called while exchanging his Pokémon. He threw his Poké Ball straight, and a Pokémon that Yurie was vaguely familiar with emerged onto the field. It was a stout brown Pokémon with massive metal claws on its arms. The one that Yurie had seen before was older while Phoenix's appeared in its prime.
"A Ground-type Pokémon now?" Darach asked. "Surely, you have something in your arsenal that can have the advantage over my Empoleon?"
Phoenix smiled. "Actually, nope! Excadrill, use Hone Claws!"
"Empoleon, Hydro Cannon!" Darach commanded.
Excadrill raised his large claws and started to wave them around. Dark energy surrounded his body, but there were no visible effects or indication of what was happening to him. Empoleon pointed his wings forward once again. This time, his opponent was straight ahead. He unleashed his blast, and Excadrill had nowhere to run. The water blasted into Excadrill, throwing him back a few feet.
"Here's our chance!" Phoenix exclaimed. "Earthquake!"
Excadrill redirected his body in the middle of the air. Dark energy seemingly carried him, and when he came back to the ground, he jabbed one of his claws into the field. Fissures formed around his body and quickly made their way toward Empoleon. The fissures surrounded the Water-type before the ground began to rumble and slightly erupt at his feet. The Water-type let out a cry as he took massive damage.
Darach frowned and then adjusted his collar. "No matter. We'll use our own Earthquake!"
Empoleon continued to cry out while he jabbed one of his wings into one of the many fissures. He fought back against the shaking, and the field began to rip up around him.
"Iron Defense!" Phoenix instructed.
As the ground began to erupt around Excadrill, he started to glow with a silver aura. He took on the rumbles and eruptions, showing pain only through the expression on his face.
Darach grinned. "You have trained your Pokémon very well. But, I don't believe it will be enough! Flash Cannon!"
"Fight back with Iron Head!" Phoenix ordered.
Empoleon breathed heavily before he slowly brought his wings upward. He took aim at Excadrill as the Ground-type charged forward. His beak began to glow with metallic energy, and with one loud squawk, he unleashed a ball of metallic power down the field. Excadrill lowered his head, taking on the metallic ball directly. He held out momentarily but then pushed forward. The metallic ball slowly dissipated, and Excadrill growled as he continued. He then charged into Empoleon, throwing the Water-type backward. Empoleon hit the ground with a loud crash, and he didn't bother to get back up.
"Empoleon is unable to continue!" the referee declared while holding up a black flag.
The crowd started to cheer, and Cyan felt excitement come over him. He quickly shot up and raised his arms. "Yeah! That's how you do it, Phoenix!"
Yurie blushed and slightly recoiled. She didn't want to be associated with anyone in the crazy crowd.
"You've proven yourself a worthy contender. I'm excited for the rest of your battles against the other members of the frontier. But, you won't be defeating me today," Darach said while withdrawing Empoleon. He placed his ball on the silver platter, spun it ninety degrees, and then selected his next Poké Ball. "Let's see how you fare against the knight of my team! Go, Gallade!"
A tall Pokémon with a thin green body and white legs appeared on the field. Its arms appeared sharp, and its head was large and helmet-like.
"Gallade, use Close Combat!" Darach ordered.
Gallade crouched and then darted across the field. His arms and legs began to glow with an orange chi, and when he reached Excadrill, he struck.
"Iron Defense!"
Excadrill took the first hit without blocking, but when Gallad tried to strike a second time, the Steel-type was prepared. A metallic glow took over his body, and the second and third blows to his body were greatly weakened.
"Now, Iron Head!" Phoenix instructed.
Gallade swung high, but Excadrill ducked. He then focused all of his metallic energy on his head and dangerous iron horn. He lunged forward, bashing his head into Gallade. The thin Pokémon was knocked into the air, and he flailed about as he tried to regain some composure.
"Psycho Cut!" Darach commanded.
Gallade continued to flail, but he quickly generated kinetic energy around his arms. With two quick swipes, he blasted the kinetic energy downward, hitting Excadrill directly. He then came back to the ground. He slowly made his fighting pose as he eyed the smoke that cloaked his opponent.
"Earthquake!" Phoenix shouted.
Fissures made their way out from the smoke. They quickly found Gallade and surrounded him. Before he could move, the field started to rumble violently, and the ground below Gallade slightly erupted.
"Fight back with Leaf Blade!" Darach instructed.
Gallade struggled to find his footing, but once he found a place with no fissures, he leaped into the air. His arms became engulfed in green energy, and then he flung it forward. The energy whipped off of his arms, and as soon as Excadrill's smoke wafted away, he was battered with yet another attack. The grassy energy cracked against his body, knocking him backward. Excadrill spun around and then fell flat onto his face. He remained still.
"Excadrill is unable to continue!" the referee announced.
"Making a comeback! Yeah!" Cyan exclaimed excitedly. He put his foot on the railing and then punched the air.
"Who are you cheering for?" Yurie wondered.
"Torchic?" her Pokémon said while tilting his head.
Phoenix withdrew his Excadrill and then placed the Poké Ball at the bottom of his backpack. He closed his eyes and thought over his next selection. Would he go with Talonflame or his last Pokémon? He made his choice and threw his Poké Ball into the air. Talonflame emerged, a trail of sparkles following him, and he let out a loud squawk. He looked down at Gallade and glared.
"Start this off with Swords Dance!" Phoenix ordered.
"Blast it down with Psycho Cut!" Darach shouted.
Talonflame flailed about in the air and the sword-like energy swirled around him. He began to charge up his energy and build power, but Gallade refused to wait. Gallade crossed his arms and built up kinetic energy. With one quick swipe, he shot the energy into the air. Talonflame was vulnerable and couldn't dodge. He took the entirety of Gallade's kinetic strike, which exploded into smoke.
Darach relaxed and then cocked his head. "All of that set-up for nothing?"
"Flame Charge!"
Talonflame flapped his wings, blowing away the smoke. Flames then exploded from his body, and he made his way downward. He was chased by a trail of fire as he continued across the field. In a matter of moments, he slammed into Gallade, knocking him backward.
"Night Slash!" Darach commanded.
Gallade stopped his slide across the field by digging one of his elbow's blades into the ground. He collected black energy around his right arm and then made a headlong dash forward. With one swift swipe, he knocked Talonflame upward.
"And Close Combat!" Darach shouted.
"Get out of the way!" Phoenix ordered.
Gallade collected chi in his arms and legs. He then leaped into the air and tried to strike. However, Talonflame was much too fast. He recoiled, easily avoiding Gallade and leaving him in the air.
"Use Brave Bird! Finish this!" Phoenix instructed.
Before Gallade could come back to the ground, Talonflame charged forward. White flame-like energy surrounded his body. Moments before he could connect, Gallade jabbed. The two Pokémon collided with one another, getting in their strongest attacks. However, only Gallade fell back to the field.
"Gallade is unable to continue!" the referee exclaimed after examining the field. Gallade would have usually battled for much longer, but Talonflame's few attacks were strong enough to keep him down.
"That was quick," Cyan muttered.
Yurie usually wasn't the one who had to examine battles. She always had a friend explain everything to her, but without them, she thought about the battles in a different way. "Well, maybe it was Talonflame's Swords Dance! With a set-up move like that, everything that Talonflame does is sure to be strong!"
Cyan nodded. "And, Gallade is a Pokémon that can dish out a lot of strong attacks! It doesn't look like the defensive type of Pokémon!"
The two trainers eyed one another. They had figured it out.
"You've left me with one Pokémon remaining," Darach said while he returned Gallade to his Poké Ball. Once again, he carefully placed the Poké Ball on the silver platter and then turned it. He selected his final Poké Ball and held it outward.
"Your next Pokémon, is it your king? Or how about your queen?" Phoenix wondered.
Darach chuckled to himself. "I guess that we can see. My next Pokémon dominates the skies of Sinnoh! Your Talonflame will look simply incapable once you compare the two."
"Rude," Phoenix muttered.
"Go, Staraptor!" Darach shouted while throwing his Poké Ball upward. His large Pokémon with black and white feathers emerged in the air.
"That thing won't be easy, but we have the power advantage!" Phoenix exclaimed. "Use Flame Charge!"
"Aerial Ace!"
Talonflame covered himself in flames and then propelled forward. He had hopes of meeting Staraptor in the middle, but even with his increased speed, Darach's Pokémon was much too fast. They clashed on Phoenix's side of the field, momentarily holding out and pushing against one another.
"Quick Attack!" Darach ordered.
Staraptor broke free from the power struggle, and he dove. Before Phoenix could make a command, Staraptor came back up, slamming his body into Talonflame. The Fire-type Pokémon lost some of its elevation, and it stopped flapping its wings.
"Fight back with Flame Charge!"
"Quick Attack!"
Talonflame let out a cry, but before he could even start his attack, Staraptor collided with him once more.
"I told you. Your Talonflame is weak! Finish this with Aerial Ace!" Darach commanded.
"Strike back with Brave Bird!" Phoenix instructed.
Talonflame continued his descent while Staraptor continued to chase. Talonflame pointed his body downward, reducing friction. He picked up speed, and the white flames appeared once again. Staraptor was close, and the same white flames exploded from his beak. Moments before they could hit the ground, Talonflame turned his body and flew a few feet upward. The two Pokémon clashed, causing a blinding white light to illuminate off of their bodies. Talonflame was thrown downward while Staraptor flew back into the sky. Phoenix's Pokémon was dragged against the ground, and when he stopped moving, he couldn't get back up.
"Talonflame is unable to continue!" the referee said while holding up his flag.
"C'mon, Phoenix! Don't hold back! You have one more Pokémon! Hit 'em with everything you got!" Cyan cheered, now firmly on the side of the challenger.
"I'll admit that you've done more damage to my Pokémon faster than any other challenger ever has. You've put us in a tight spot quickly. But, I didn't become the Battle Valet without my fair share of struggles," Darach exclaimed as Phoenix withdrew his Pokémon.
Phoenix switched out his Poké Ball. "Well, this is one struggle you won't overcome! C'mon out, Gabite!"
Phoenix's next Pokémon came to the field and let out a battle cry. It was a stout Pokémon with blue scales and stumpy arms with small wings.
"You've walked into this battle without any advantage, and now you fight me with a Pokémon that hasn't evolved all the way. You are an odd trainer," Darach exclaimed.
Phoenix shrugged and then a cocky smirk came across his face. "What can I say? Gabite is hard to train! Aerial Ace!"
"Fight back with your own Aerial Ace!"
As Gabite thrust out one of his arms, generating white energy, Staraptor dove recklessly. The Flying-type was much faster, and the two met on Phoenix's half of the field. Staraptor's beak met with Gabite's claw, and the Flying-type won the power struggle. Gabite was thrown backward, but he quickly found his balance.
"Flamethrower!"
Gabite rocked forward and opened his maw. Flames bellowed from the back of his throat, quickly overtaking Darach's Pokémon.
"Retreat!" Darach instructed.
Staraptor flapped his wings violently, turned, and shot into the air. He immediately prepared for Darach's next command, but his eyes widened as he did not find Gabite but rather a large hole in the ground.
"Keep yourself ready!" Darach warned. Panic suddenly came over his face as a red aura took over his Pokémon's body. Small embers suddenly exploded, setting some of Staraptor's feathers on fire.
"Now! Dragon Claw!" Phoenix ordered.
"Dodge, and use Quick Attack!"
Gabite came through the ground below Staraptor. He was carried by arcane energy, which had extended his claw. He swiped, but Staraptor smoothly got out of the way. The Flying-type then redirected his body, slamming himself into Gabite. His attack was not as strong as before, and he winced upon impact.
"What the?" Darach muttered.
"Be careful! That's dangerous! You may not want to get too close to my Gabite," Phoenix exclaimed. "Dragon Claw!"
"Endure!"
Gabite raised his arm, and his small claw became enveloped with arcane energy. It extended and he hammered down. Staraptor was tossed downward, crashing into the battlefield. The attack would have finished him off, but a veil of orange energy kept him safe. He squawked and used his wings to slowly push him back to a standing position.
Darach extended his arm dramatically and then cocked his head. "Endeavor!"
Using what looked like the last of his energy, Staraptor cried out loudly. Multi-colored energy flowed from his body, making its way over to Gabite. It surrounded the Dragon-type Pokémon, who looked around confused. The two Pokémon were connected by the energy and suddenly, Gabite started to lurch over while Staraptor found the strength to stand up straight.
"What just happened?" Yurie asked.
"I have no idea," Cyan answered.
Phoenix remained calm while he assessed the situation. He relaxed his shoulders and furrowed his brow. "Flamethrower!"
"Dodge it!" Darach ordered.
Staraptor immediately took into the air to get an edge on Gabite, but the embers that emitted from his back flared up, causing him to squawk from the pain. Gabite took aim, and then flames bellowed from his mouth. The simply grazed Staraptor, but it was enough to force the Flying-type to try to retreat.
Darach grimaced. For most of the battle, he had remained relaxed, but it was starting to set in that even with his Staraptor's signature Endeavor strategy, winning against this particular challenger was going to be a tall order.
"We must take the risk and simply hit you harder than you can hit us! Use Aerial Ace!" Darach instructed.
"Fight back with your own Aerial Ace!" Phoenix ordered.
Staraptor cried out as he flew forward. Gabite used his thick legs to run down the field. The two Pokémon clashed, but unlike last time, the Dragon-type won the struggle of power. Gabite's rough scales dug into Staraptor, and the embers flaring up out of his feathers added to the damage. With one heave, Gabite pushed Staraptor backward. The Flying-type landed in a heap, and the referee looked him over.
The referee raised his flag, but then Staraptor started to stir. The referee nodded and let the Flying-type get back up. Staraptor cawed angrily as he came back to a standing position. However, it was the last thing that he'd contribute to the battle, as he collapsed forward.
This time, the referee was steadfast in his decision. "Staraptor is unable to continue! Darach has lost three of his Pokémon! The victory goes to the challenger, Phoenix Kademan!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause while both trainers withdrew their Pokémon. Phoenix waved to the crowd, and Darach collected himself and prepared to greet his opponent. The announcer handed over a microphone to Darach, who wasn't too eager to take it.
"Good job today," Darach said. "It is with great pleasure that I bestow upon you the Honor Print." Darach reached out and delicately held a small golden platter with a lid. He removed the lid, revealing a candy bar-sized silver rectangle.
"Thank you," Phoenix said. He examined it. It was a simple silver bar with a castle design imprinted in the middle. He held it up high. "I did it!"
"That was amazing!" Cyan exclaimed. "Yurie, it might seem weird, but do you think there's any way that we can meet them?"
"Meet them?" Yurie wondered. She knew what the words meant, but she felt that there was a lot of audacity in Cyan's tone. She was worried about what he'd say next.
"Yeah! Use your status as a top coordinator to get us a chance to meet them!" Cyan said excitedly.
Yurie cocked her head. "What about your status as a champion of Alola?"
When most of the crowd cleared out, Cyan and Yurie made their way to the lobby of the Battle Castle. It had been built to look like a massive entryway of any western castle. Other trainers that had competed during the exhibition matches were still in the hallway, signing autographs and taking pictures.
And to Cyan's luck, Darach and Phoenix both had their own booth. The lines were longer than any of the booths for the exhibition trainers, so Cyan and Yurie would have to wait even awhile.
But neither of them didn't mind. Cyan was too excited about the battle, recounting every little detail to Yurie as though she hadn't just watched it herself. And Yurie wanted to talk with Phoenix, as he had many similarities to someone close to her.
Upon their turn to talk with Phoenix, the boy with the dirty blonde hair eyes widened.
"Hey, I know you," Phoenix exclaimed excitedly.
"Y-you do?" Yurie wondered. She wasn't sure if she had met him before, but his Driftveil accent was too familiar.
The boy nodded. "Yeah, I've seen the both of you on TV. You're a coordinator, right? And, you had a crazy battle with Alola's champion. What are you doing here? Did you catch my battle? How was it?"
"Yeah!" Cyan exclaimed. "We wanted to congratulate you! It was an awesome battle!"
"Thank you!" Phoenix said. "Coming from you, that's a great compliment. Are you thinking about competing in the Battle Frontier?"
Yurie and Cyan exchanged glances.
"No," Yurie said bluntly.
"I prefer being in the crowd!" Cyan answered.
"I see!" Phoenix said. He looked down at the rest of the line of people waiting for an autograph. "Hey, I'd totally be down to talk more, but it looks like we're keeping people waiting. Are you guys staying in Jubilife?"
"Yeah, we are!" Cyan exclaimed.
"Why don't we meet at the Jubilife City Pokémon Center tonight?" Phoenix suggested. "I always like to talk to trainers about their experiences, and there's no better two trainers that I can think of!"
Yurie and Cyan exchanged glances yet again.
"That sounds great! I'll buy you a parfait as a congratulation!" Cyan said.
Yurie's eyebrows raised.
"And, I'll buy you a parfait too because you watched the battle with me!" Cyan exclaimed, trying to maintain the same level of excitement in his voice.
"So, you spent two years in Galar?" Cyan asked before he put a spoonful of ice cream and cornflake cereal in his mouth.
Phoenix shrugged. "Yeah. I tried to compete in the league, but I just couldn't get sponsored. It's incredibly difficult for a foreigner to get sponsored to compete there. I pretty much just ended up training and doing some research."
"What kind of research?" Yurie asked.
Phoenix eyed his parfait. It was a chocolate parfait with a multitude of layers. The bottom layer was chocolate sauce and cornflakes. The second layer was chocolate ice cream topped with a layer of brownies. It was finished with a layer of whipped cream and a marshmallow designed to look like a Pikachu.
"I-uh-I don't often talk about it," Phoenix said. "It's not that important! What's important is that I'm here now!"
"Where are you off to next, Phoenix?" Cyan asked.
"Please call me Nix! All of my friends call me Nix!" Phoenix said. "It's much easier to remember. As for where I'm going next, I think it'll be a bit to the east. There's only one other battle frontier battle on this side of the region, and I think I can do that at a later date. What about you two?"
"I wanted to go to Oreburgh City!" Cyan exclaimed. "If you're going east, we should go together! Yurie, what are your plans?"
Yurie smiled. "Well, my next contest isn't until a few weeks away. Why don't we travel together to Oreburgh?"
Phoenix held up his parfait and grinned. "Sounds like a plan! To new friends!"
"And exciting battles!"
"And delicious food!"
"Cheers!"
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
I tried to take a slightly different approach to this battle (trying to make it shorter than usual (because of the chapter's length) but still believable and dramatic). For those who have been following my other stories with rather lengthy full battles, how does this style sort of compare?
Phoenix (Nix) is going to be the tertiary character of this story! Back when I wrote fanfiction on this sight over ten years ago, I made a writer friend. We've remained friends for all of these years, and Phoenix (Nix) is going to be his character.