Draco: Aiya, I'm sorry for the previous chapter, I did not mean to hit that hard AFTER the final battle.

Pokémon and protagonist © Nintendo. Character designs © Koei. Ransei © somewhere in the middle.


Ransei: The War is Over

"Victorious indeed, to be returning with such smiles."

Nagamasa's greeting as they arrived at Aurora Castle had Oichi nodding. "You bet," she confirmed. "And don't worry about Coursebreaker; she and Driftwalker are on their way home safe." Then, more curiously; "Is there a reason you were reluctant to head home without us?"

"Call it assurance," Nagamasa admitted. "I want to see you return home with my own eyes, just as I did before."

Evia narrowed her gaze. "Last time you saw us return home, it was because Manaphy wanted to come with us."

"Yes," said one of the women behind Nagamasa, "but he's been contemplating that encounter ever since."

Another woman slapped her in the arm. "Be quiet," she scolded.

"She's not wrong," Nagamasa insisted. Turning back to the Aurorans; "Ever since Manaphy left with you, I have been left wondering. What if she was not ill? What if she had been well enough to go directly home from where she was? And I realized that... I would have been tortured, fearing for your well being. So please. Let me see you home."

Evia nodded. "Alright. But there's something I have to do first."

"You mean you want to fix what has happened to the castles?" one man asked. "How do you intend to unmake this?"

"Just..." Evia turned around. "...try not to panic."

She raised her hand, and her eyes ignited as the mark of the Alpha shone upon her palm.

"Come forth! Arceus, shining bright!"

A brilliant light manifested before her, a giant and radiant ring that seemed piercing in the emptiness of Ultra Space. As the displaced Warriors and their Pokémon stumbled away, something began to emerge from it; an equine figure that shone as though a star had been given solid form. Its underside was shining black, its hooves brilliant gold; around its midsection was a golden ring, with two narrow spikes reaching forward across its body and four great spikes extending in an X whose strikes were not quite perpendicular. A half-ring linked the spikes on each side, just below the tip of the blade, and each intersection was marked with a radiant garnet. Its head trailed back behind it, waving eternally like a flag caught in a wind that wasn't there; two horns rose up on its sides, a golden point rested upon its brow, and its face was a void of black, broken by a pair of novalike golden eyes.

The portal from whence Arceus had come vanished, and it walked upon nothing as it turned to face the Warriors. Nagamasa set a hand over his breastplate, shocked. "So... this is source of the power I saw you wield... A Link with such a mighty Pokémon..."

Wandering Warriors.
You who make your home in that distant world of Ultra Space.

The Alpha's words reached all who stood there; Nagamasa reacted, and Evia realized in an instant that the Alpha was speaking to all in a language they would understand.

You have done a great thing in assisting the Warriors of Ransei.
None would have thought less of you, had you refused to fight for a land that was not your own.
Yet you rose to the task, and in so doing made their task much easier than it would have been.
I would reward you for what you have done.

"R-reward us ?" Nagamasa echoed. "How?"

I shall allow you to name your boon.
But first, I would make unto you an offer.
If it please you, I shall give you a gift of understanding.
With it, you may accompany these Warriors to Ransei - not as strangers in a strange land, but as companions.
Able to understand and be understood, without the need for mortal contrivances.

The displaced warriors looked to one another; there needed be no words traded, for Nagama promptly turned back to Arceus and shook his head. "No thank you," he insisted. "We would return to the otherworld where we have resided - the kingdom we have come to call our home."

Then I shall allow you to name whatever boon you please.

Nagamasa nodded. "In that case, we would have a road from our kingdom to Ransei." He glanced at Type: Full. "In our kingdom, there is a gate - not to be forced open by those with the power, but a constant presence that can be passed through by any who reach it - which leads to a seat of war for the beasts and their Warriors."

I know of what you speak.

"Then, if it is within your power, I ask that you give us another," Nagamasa pleaded. "A gate leading to Ransei, in the shadow of both our castle and where this one should rightly stand." He turned to Oichi. "We would never be comfortable as residents of Ransei, after so long in the otherworld. But we could, I think, come to enjoy an existence as neighbors."

It shall be done.
I would bid you return home to see it appear.
Then, I shall set Ransei right.

Nagamasa set a hand over his chest and kneeled, prompting his Warriors to do the same. "Thank you. We shall not accept this boon lightly."

Arceus turned to Solgaleo and Lunala, who both nodded in confirmation. The Sunne turned to the displaced Warriors, and a third eye illuminated in the void upon his brow; as he roared, an Ultra Wormhole appeared before them.

"Save travels," Oichi bid them.

"May we meet again," Nagamasa insisted, "this time under happier circumstances."

He climbed onto Full's back as his Warriors and their Pokémon leapt into the gate; with a loud cry, Full leapt in as well, and Solgaleo closed the gate behind them.

Evia of Aurora.

Arceus' words had the Warlord turning back to face him.

I once told you that I would come to you again when you were worthy of me.
But I have come to understand that your worth is not in question.
That you do not seek me out, that you do not desire my Link, is proof enough.
Yet by the same token, it would be a cruelty to have it be a constant.
And I have no wish to bring harm to you or any Warrior of Ransei.

The Alpha bowed its head.

Please forgive any expectations I may have placed upon you.
I would not hold you to my words atop the Tower of Infinity.
As I have to this point, so I shall henceforth.
I will only come to you if and when Ransei is in need of me.

Evia closed her eyes. "Thank you, Arceus."

Now, allow me to fulfill my promise.

Arceus turned away, looking out onto the fused castles scattered in Ultra Space, and reared with a cry - a terrifying, reverberating cry that echoed across the expanse of Ultra Space.

And a light began to shine at the peak of each and every castle.

+x+x+x+

Night had fallen in Ransei, the darkness broken by the glow of the towering Tera Crystals that stood in each and every kingdom. Keiji, Mitsunari, Kiyomasa, Masanori, Kaguya, and Mitsuki were all waiting in the encampment outside the hollow; Bastiodon, Bisharp, Haxorus, Krookodile, Gardevoir, Salamence, Hydreigon, and Lucario all stood in defense. Just outside the encampment, Ranmaru had taken a seat as Nobunaga paced before him.

"I did not make her promise me she would return."

"Lord Nobunaga, the battle is already won."

"Even so, how are we to-"

"You saw her bearing the Link again."

"That only means she is-"

"She already promised Kaguya she would come home."

"If she is made to-"

"Well now!" Keiji's voice cut through their argument, drawing the Dragnorans' attention as the wanderer got to his feet. "What are we looking at now?"

Upon the Tera Crystal that occupied the space Aurora Castle had been, a light began to manifest. It was not the ambient glow of the crystal itself - it was a stronger light, a purer light, and Nobunaga had only seen it on one occassion before - the night after Evia had united Ransei.

Another, identical light appeared on the Tera Crystal that stood in the rightful place of Ignis Castle.

Another on the Tera Crystal in Greenleaf.

And another in Fontaine.

In every kingdom in Ransei, a light began to consume the Tera Crystals scattered across the region. The light draped every formation, from peak to base, sparing not even the crumbled obstructions that barred sixteen of the crystals' hollows; as it reached the earth of each, the crystals began to dissolve, particles rising off and swirling into the night sky above.

To leave the castles behind in their rightful places.

Mitsuki and Kaguya shot to their feet. "Oh, wow!" the little ninja exclaimed. "It's really back!"

They started to charge forward, Gardevoir and Salamence following suit, even as Keiji got to his feet. "Woah, woah, woah! Where are you guys going?"

"Mama Evia and Mama Oichi told us to watch the castle when it got back!" Kaguya insisted. "If anyone shows up to attack, we've gotta keep them out!"

"Wait a-!" Keiji's warning fell flat when Nobunaga and Ranmaru dashed past him as well. "Jeez," he muttered. "That's the last pair I expected to be following a bunch of reckless kids."

Kiyomasa shrugged. "Might as well not leave them to their own devices, right?"

Keiji rolled his eyes. "Like your lot's are any better."

"Hey!"

They oughtn't have worried; no sooner had Kaguya and Mitsuki pushed the doors open, just enough to slip inside, than they found Oichi and Evia stepping out into the entrance hall. "Hey, you two," Evia greeted.

"Mama!"

Kaguya dashed forward, and Evia knelt down to catch her in a hug. "Calm down," she assured. "Nothing bad happened."

Oichi stepped up. "Any attackers while we were gone?"

"Oh, shut up, Lady Oichi!" Mitsuki groaned. "The castle hasn't been here for two minutes!"

The doors were thrown wide, and the Aurorans turned to find Nobunaga and Ranmaru, followed by the defense team - most of them, at least. "Well, now," Keiji mused. "Can't say I was expecting that."

"Looks like everything's good on your end," Oichi mused. "And Nobuyuki is...?"

"Headed back to Valora with Ina when she came out," Keiji admitted. "If you've put an end to this chaos, I think I might hit the road for myself."

"You've earned it," Evia insisted. "And that goes for you three, too."

Mitsunari crossed his arms. "Eager to get rid of us, are you?"

Oichi shrugged. "I mean, if you want to stay behind as our Warriors, you three plus us three means we've got a whole team of six."

Masanori shook his head. "Nah, I've had enough!"

"Then don't complain about being given leave!" Oichi scolded.

+x+x+x+

"Nice shot."

Magoichi's praise had Masamune groaning as he reloaded. "I'd feel a little better about that praise if it hadn't taken me so long just to make one shot."

"I think there's a mental aspect to it," Magoichi admitted. "You started shooting the Tera Crystals to have Lugia break them down, there's not a lot of ways you can miss something that big. And then in Ultra Space, you were practically at point blank."

Masamune turned to him. "What's that gotta do with it?"

"That's at least five successful shots, out of five shots taken," Magoichi admitted. "It's harder not to build up confidence after experiences like that, regardless of whether you understand how easy the shot is to make. And now that you're actually practicing, trying to get real marksmanship in, a failure makes you feel like you've slid backwards - when, actually, you're just trying for harder targets than before."

"Why do I get the feeling that isn't something that applies just to marksmanship," Masamune muttered, taking aim at the target again.

A crack echoed down the firing range, and his bullet slammed into the target... and ricocheted off the edge, colliding with the wall behind it.

"...You know what," Masamune muttered, "projectiles are a stupid idea for a One-Eyed Dragon, anyways."

+x+x+x+

"Beloved of Antimatter..."

Ujiyasu groaned as he stepped into the kitchen, covering his nose with one hand. "I know you like your food spicy," he said to Kai, "but this seems a bit much."

Kai shot him a grin. "What can I say? Got a new appreciation for it after my time in Hoenn."

"My nose was running from outside the kitchen," Ujiyasu groaned. "That's a bit more than an 'appreciation'."

"Well, we ended up with a draw, last time," Kai insisted. "If I cross paths with Glacia again, I'm sure as stone not gonna lose for lack of preparation!" She dug a spoon into the curry and raised it to her mouth, taking a sip. "Oh, yes, that's good."

"Cooking something that makes Darmanitan burn just in case you run into a Trainer again seems like a long shot," Ujiyasu scolded. "We haven't even had AZ come by more than once, what makes you think someone you met in Trainer lands is gonna show up?"

Kai turned the stove off and moved the curry away from the hot element. "Okay, all truth, it's not just for Glacia," she confessed. "Next time Magoichi wants me to kiss him, I want him to regret asking."

"Okay, that one I'll give you."

+x+x+x+

"Hanzō! You in here?"

Nene's inquiry as she stepped into the Viperia battlefield was promptly followed by one of the trapdoors being flung open, and the ninja leapt out. "Lady Nene."

"There you are," Nene greeted. "Okuni sent tickets to a show in Spectra. You want to come along?"

"...What's the subject?" Hanzō asked.

His question surprised Nene. "Hanzō of Viperia, actually asking about the show instead of dismissing it out of hand? You feeling okay?"

"I'm fine," Hanzō insisted. "Just..." His gaze fell.

Nene crossed her arms. "We only got three tickets," she assured him. "I was gonna insist we all spar to decide who gets them, but the others figured I should give you the offer first. Either way, you're not gonna be the only one here if you say no."

Hanzō nodded. "I see. Even so, what's the subject?"

"Apparently, it's a love story between-"

"Pass."

"Really? Just from that?"

+x+x+x+

"Lord Nobunaga, are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure," Nobunaga insisted at Ranmaru's inquiry. "Mega Evolution is no longer something that you alone can wield in Ransei. I insist that you and Lucario keep the stones yourselves."

He rolled the Key Stone at Ranmaru, who caught it under his palm and picked it up. "But surely-"

"Who else would you have Nobunaga entrust it to?" the Warlord argued. "Mitsuki claimed her own from Ghetsis, and Evia took Giovanni's to give to Kaguya. And neither are all the Key Stones in the possession of those closest to us. Shingen gave the Magma's to Yukimura, and Kenshin the Flare's to Kanetsugu."

Ranmaru sighed. "If you insist..."

Nobunaga nodded. "I do. You earned that stone on your own merits, during your journey in Ultra Space. You are deserving of wielding that power."

+x+x+x+

Glaceon reared back, and an Icy Wind howled across the battlefield.

Runerigus tumbled to the ground, its slabs converging on each other as Type: Full leapt away. The natural green on his spikes faded to white as his RKS slot opened, and he flung the disc towards Nagamasa, who caught it with his left hand as his right moved his lance to parry Evia's sword. He thrust at her shield to force her back before seizing another disc, and he hurled this one into Full's slot; it landed smoothly before Full retracted it, and a fiery red filled his spikes before he brought down a blazing Multi-Attack on the Fresh Snow Pokémon.

Vaporeon promptly moved to retaliate, unleashing a vicious Hydro Pump to wash over Full and finish him off.

Nagamasa groaned, lowering his spear. "By the Blinding One," he exclaimed, "they don't call you Heroine for nothing."

"I'm just glad you only brought two along," Evia insisted as the Warriors helped the unconscious Pokémon to their feet. "The whole legion-of-one trick doesn't hold up against six, regardless of how many Pokémon I've got on the field."

"It's an interesting experience," Nagamasa admitted, "trying to fight one Warrior with many. You held up well."

Evia shook her head. "Next time, your many will be facing many."

Nagamasa nodded. "I hope to one day see you and your family as part of that group. Thank you for sending us off with a battle."

The Warriors started across the battlefield, but Evia's "Hold on" had them coming to a halt. "Have you not had to recharge that translator of yours?"

"You noticed?" Nagamasa admitted, drawing out the device. "I'd thought we might end up visiting just to have you help us replenish its energy. But it's not had any trouble on that front."

Evia's gaze fell to the device. "Did Rainbow Rocket make it that way, or...?"

"I wonder..."

Full nudged him in the shoulder, and Nagamasa pocketed the device and resumed leading the march. Directly opposite the attackers' entrance to the battlefield, another gate had been added to the surrounding walls - this one leading to a large side-building attached to Aurora Castle, containing the gate that connected to Nagamasa's kingdom in Ultra Space.

"Mama Evia!" The voice from inside drew Evia's attention to find Kaguya emerging around the open door. "Keiji and the others are here!"

"Excellent, thank you," Evia praised. "Could I get you and Gardevoir to help Glaceon and the others recover?"

"Leave it to me!"

+x+x+x+

"Thank you all for joining us."

Mitsunari rolled his eyes. "Spare us the pleasantries, Evia," he protested. "This must have been important, if you would call us here." He, Kiyomasa, Masanori, and Keiji had all been invited to Aurora Castle, and had managed to arrive fairly close to one another.

"Important, maybe," Evia admitted, "but not urgent."

"What's it matter!" Masanori protested. "Just tell us what it is already!"

Evia sat down opposite them. "I want to know if any of you are interested in being Warlord."

The entire group started. "Huh!?"

"Oichi and Kaguya and I are planning on taking a trip," Evia explained. "Not just around Ransei, but to other regions." She folded her hands in front of her. "We expect to be gone for quite some time, and this isn't some region-shaking catastrophe drawing us away. So we can't well expect someone to just keep house for us while we're gone."

"Yeah, but..." Kiyomasa crossed his arms. "Why are you asking us?"

"Because none of you are bound to a kingdom already," Evia insisted. "I want to be clear, this isn't me asking you to watch Aurora in my stead. I am willing to name you Warlord of Aurora, with no expectations for you to just give it up when we come back."

The trio of friends traded glances... and then all shook their heads.

"No?"

"Sorry, no," Mitsunari insisted. "We can't just pick one of us - not even through battle."

"Every time one of us ends up with something better than what the others have got," Masanori admitted, "we end up fighting over it."

Kiyomasa nodded. "You can't have a Warlord like that."

Evia nodded. "Alright. And, Keiji?"

"Come on, Evia," Keiji insisted. "You know me better than that. I'm a wanderer - I go where the wind blows. I'm not cut out to be Warlord."

"You don't want to be Warlord," Evia corrected. "Every time Kotarō runs off or otherwise goes missing in Yaksha, you step in and keep the kingdom stable. Don't act like you don't have what it takes - just say whether you want to or not."

Keiji blew at his bangs with a sigh. "You really think I got what it takes?"

"I know you do," Evia assured him. "Terrakion didn't forge a Link with you just because you're strong. But it's your choice."

"...Then I'll at least give it a try," Keiji assured her. "And if I can't pull it off, I'll make sure there's another Warrior here to take my place before I go."

"Thank you."


Draco: I wish I could say some insignificant utterance and then do a #LampshadeHanging about the #InterfaceSpoiler (again), but honestly, I don't even want to risk someone thinking this is the last chapter. I've still got one more to close this off.