Episode 29: Vengeance is Mine
The bridge to Faernia Castle was quite high up, but it didn't overlook any river, moat, or even cliff. The distant below was filled with woodland and cityscape, more interconnected than the main city. Leos wondered whether Pokémon lived there or not. Given the untouched state of the land, it wouldn't be a surprise if the public had been evacuated there.
In the centre of the bridge, Ariala waited. Leos' group slowed down as they got closer, although they were surprised to find that Rune had passed them during their battle and had already confronted her. The two stared at each other a few paces away, their weapons out and eyes completely fixated on each other.
"Father!" Leos shouted and tried to push the Dewott aside. Rune almost retaliated, but realised it was Leos. "What's happening? You haven't hurt her, have you?"
"It's what it looks like," Ariala answered him. She was unharmed, but the dark storm clouds blanketing the sky and strong wind said otherwise. It was like curses were being whispered along the wind, curses that warned of a disastrous end to the battle. "We've said our words. And now, every action is beyond consequence. Whether it's karma from the gods that have transcended our mortal realm, or judgement from the gods still amongst us, we will see hardship for our actions. I only wish to stop those hardships from getting any worse."
"How can they get any worse than they are now? Have you seen the way the Pokémon are killing each other? I've never seen anythin' like it!" Griselle cried.
Ariala looked down and moaned. "The Pokémon aren't fighting this way because they can. They're doing it because they have to, for their survival. With the Tapu gone, we can't sustain ourselves, Leos!"
"But they can. The Pokémon on Eris are able to do it. And they don't even have all that technology," Prem replied.
"Don't bother bringing Eris into this. We don't live that way because we want to," Rune growled and looked back at him.
"No. It's not that. The Pokémon are afraid. I'm afraid. We could resort to eating meat and sustaining ourselves as the Erinians do, but what would become of our world if we did? Pokémon can't just suddenly adapt to that kind of life. It's too unjust!" Ariala said. She spoke slowly.
"They don't have to," Leos replied, looking down as well. "I wouldn't need to kill them if they weren't disturbing the peace treaty. This war wouldn't even be happening if Tapu Bulu didn't go to Eris to kill so meaninglessly."
"We can atone for the mistakes they have made—"
"No we can't! We have to take their position as the leaders of our own civilisation. They grow our food, they energise our electronics, they control our weather, and our healthcare. But these are all things that we can do as Pokémon. We can control them, maintain them without their help. I know we can!" Leos explained, and faced forward. "This isn't a battle for conquest. It's a battle for freedom from their ever-growing madness. When we stop being lazy and learn to survive on our own, a way that is just for all, there will be no need for the gods to govern our world. They'll never return!"
"Leos, where did this come from?" Ariala asked, sounding desperate.
"I've seen a place. A legendary place called the Second Country. Your retainers had been there since you dismissed them and went into hiding," he answered. Her eyes widened. "They survive. There's nature there. The weather is fine. They don't need electrical technology to entertain themselves. And there are no gods or goddesses there. We just have to come together and work together to figure out how this place sustains itself. If we work together, we can find it, I'm sure of it!"
Ariala stared for a moment, and her eyes began to water. "Vincent and Nier… even they're here?"
"And they've seen everything. They're out there fighting the Faernian army just so that I could get here," Leos leaned forward.
"Possibly already dead, given the chaos that was going on back there," Blossom came forward as well.
"My friends, no!" Ariala cried.
"It seems you finally understand what's at stake here," Rune spoke up and approached. She faced the floor even when he was stood in front of her, but he helped her up with a calm hand. "You also have the power to stop this battle. You tried to instigate it before when you learnt of Tapu Koko's sin, but they didn't react. They hid from you."
Ariala was still looking at her hands. As he spoke, dark flames wavered over them, and she clenched her fingers to dispel them.
"Listen to your heart and do what's best. That's why you travelled on your personal pilgrimage and hid Leos from the world, right? So that you could see the truth for yourself. Now's the time to finally put that into practice and do what needs to be done to lead your Pokémon to salvation," he stated. He sighed and walked around her. Ariala's platoon of soldiers moved in his way to threaten him with their weapons. "It's what we both have to do. I need you to be with me on this, though. If we don't cooperate like we originally intended, this will only lead to more ruin."
"I know you're right, but I still find this so difficult to—" she said, and shook her head. She stood up and slowly looked around, mostly at the flashes and blasts going off where the main battle was. "Rune, Leos. I want you both to fully understand what you're proposing with these actions. We may be crucified by whole world, and have our positions stripped down to the level of fugitives. We may even be wrong, and plunge our world into complete ruin. Even knowing that, are you still willing to go through with this?"
"You say that like I haven't spent half my life struggling to survive," Rune replied.
"Like Father says, that's why you went into hiding when I was born, didn't you? Either way, I've come too far to back down. I'll see my actions through to the end," Leos replied.
Ariala nodded at them both and took a deep breath. She regained a confident appearance and waved to her soldiers to command them to put their weapons down. They all exchanged glances and obeyed, but were clearly unhappy with the instruction. "Go to the city and issue the command to surrender. Spare all remaining Pokémon, and get medical help for those who need it."
"Your highness," one of the soldiers said.
"That's an order," she lowered her tone.
They saluted her and marched away. Once they were out of sight, Tapu Koko floated forward, staring silently at the group. Ariala shuddered and tried not to lock eyes with him, but his heavy presence demanded it, forcing her to face her decision in the flesh. She felt sick enough to throw up right there, but a nervous swallow kept it all down.
"My lord Tapu Koko, I am sorry. But I can no longer let your murder go without justice," was all she could say with a hand on her chest. The electric god didn't respond.
"So what do you have to say? I'm right here. And an army is in support of our opposition," Rune held his arms out to his sides. "Now's the time to explain everything. Why did you kill my sister? Why did you keep Ariala from me after you did?"
Tapu Koko didn't respond. He just floated and stared at him. Leos shuffled back a bit, half expecting it to lash out and strike them all down at once, but not a single other movement came.
"That's it?" Rune continued. He drew the Sword of Earthly Elements and pointed it forward. The blade released a bright flash as it came free, and glowed bright in the darkness. "Don't you get it? I'm going to execute you for what you've put me through. If you can't appeal through words, then I'm not going to hold back."
"L-Leos, he's going to—" Prem whimpered. Rune heard him somehow and held an arm out. "B-but only the Z-Move can kill him."
"So can this sword. But this fight is personal, so let me do it," he replied. "Tapu Koko, speak to me! Tell me why you killed her!"
Tapu Koko finally made a move, but it was a sluggish action, as if tired. He floated back a bit and then screeched like a bird to release several pulses of electricity. Electric Terrain took over the bridge, giving everything a bright yellow hue in the darkness.
"That is your choice as mortals. If you've made it this far, then show me how much further you are prepared to go," he spoke, shifting one arm forward. "If you are prepared to learn the reason and deal with the consequence, then strike me down. Only then do I know that you have the strength to lead this world in our stead."
"Are you testing me?" Rune replied.
"Examining. Judging. The path you're following will lead to no better than that of your sister. You're both fools guided by no better than your duty. If you carry on the way you are now, you will lead this world to destruction," Tapu Koko stated. He squinted, and his body became stiff.
"Damn you Tapu Koko. Damn you!" Rune shouted. "Don't you get it? You took everything from me! My sister, my fatherhood, even my wife! I'll kill you!"
"Then come. Attack me if you dare," Tapu Koko replied in his aged, deep voice.
The Dewott roared at the top of his voice and charged, dragging the blade of his sword across the stone ground as he approached in an arc. He jumped high into the air to slam his weapon straight down onto the mythical electric type. Tapu Koko used his right mask as a shield, and shoved it forwards to push Rune away.
"Rune!" Ariala cried. The duo ignored her, going at each other with deadly intent in each of their attacks. Rune stabbed and slashed with roars of effort, whilst Tapu Koko evaded or shielded every hit as he darted around the battlefield. While they fought, many soldiers from both armies began to gather behind both parties and locked them into a duel zone.
After one more clash, Rune hopped back to catch his breath and make distance between them. Tapu Koko didn't chase him, but stared with the same judgemental look he had earlier. Annoyed of that, Rune fired a Water Pulse at him and came charging again, relentlessly trying to cleave the legendary in two. Time and time again, Tapu Koko only blocked the attacks, and even when one of Rune's attacks missed, he did nothing more than shift away to gain space.
"What the hell is this?" Rune eventually shouted and stabbed his sword into the ground. "Is this some kind of joke?"
Tapu Koko didn't respond. He only stared. Rune growled and pointed his sword forward again. "I did not struggle for all these years just to have you mock me in my time of revenge. Fight back!"
"It's… it's true. Why isn't Tapu Koko retaliating?" Ariala whispered as she realised. Her eyes watered a bit, and she shook them clear to focus.
Tapu Koko was tired. She could hear him breathing heavily, but near silently. He sounded like he couldn't fight back or even speak, but hid it behind that heavy presence that intimidated them all. He looked like an old man staring at a tsunami of flames, helpless but accepting of their destructive path. "He's old…"
"You damn devil. If that's how you want to be, then curse you. I'll send you to hell where you belong!" Rune shouted. He leapt up with his sword raised high again, and swung down with incredible force. Tapu Koko blocked it, but the sheer force behind the attack could be felt by everyone around. Tapu Koko's shields were about to break.
But he still didn't fight back. The surrounding soldiers began to mutter amongst themselves in grief, but Ariala could hear exactly why he couldn't fight back. The electric type god whined, grunted, and huffed in ever-growing desperation, and now failed to dodge Rune's onslaught of offence thanks to how fatigued he was. She shuddered, and then skipped forwards.
"Rune, wait, stop!" she cried.
But she was too late. Rune was already charging in for another attack, and that turned out to be the last. He had his sword held with both hands, pulled back in his sprint, and thrust it with all his strength. It shattered Tapu Koko's right mask and pierced right through to the legendary's body. As soon as he hit, the Electric Terrain shattered like glass, along with an ear-piercing choke of a cry from Tapu Koko. The choke turned into a painful groan as Rune pushed the sword deeper and deeper, all until the blade pointed through the other side.
"No," Ariala whimpered and turned away.
"He did it. He actually did it," Leos whispered. Prem moaned and hugged him, unable to watch.
"Is that it? Is that really it? After everything you put me through, you let me kill you?" Rune said, ignoring Tapu Koko's struggled breaths and coughs. "Don't you have anything to say for yourself?"
It took a while, but the legendary responded with struggled breaths. "You have done well, prince of Eris. You wield that sword… with great conviction and emotion."
"I don't need your praise," Rune replied. Tapu Koko looked up at him.
"You and Ariala… stay on your chosen path. But do not let duty stand in the way of your love or your feelings. Let your emotions define the world you want to create and protect it until your dying breath," he said amongst his weak shivers. Rune's eyes narrowed.
"So you fully relinquish the world to us," Rune said. Tapu Koko didn't answer, but slowly shut his eyes. A few seconds later, his body began to glow from top to bottom, where it began to fade away into sparkly particles. They flew away with the breeze, leaving Rune to pull his sword back. He held out a hand as if to feel the particles, surprised at the beauty he was now surrounded by. The particles spiralled and spread out around everyone like seeds until the whole area was filled with them.
"Tapu Koko… his dust is spreading, just like Tapu Bulu's," Leos gazed around. "We did it, though. Three down, one to go."
"Leos!" Ariala cried.
"Sorry for saying it that way, but this feels overwhelming, now," he said with a paw on his chest. "I-I was frightened, but we actually managed to stop this battle. It's like, what we want to do with a world not ruled by gods… this could actually happen, now."
"A Faernia not led by the Tapu," Prem muttered.
"We can do it! You just gotta tell everyone what to do, Leos," Griselle cheered.
"And work out a way to sustain ourselves. There's no doubt that with three of the Tapu gone, we'll start seeing some detrimental effects on the planet," Blossom said. She folded her arms. "But that's why we're here. Like you said back in the Second Country, we'll figure this out. I'm sure there's a way."
"Thanks, you guys," Leos sighed. Before anyone could say more, Charle came sprinting past them so hard he brought a gush of wind with him.
"You idiots… you idiots, you idiots, you idiots! Do you have any idea what you've just done?" he screamed. No one replied, but he stuttered at their unbothered appearances until Vincent and Nier joined them. "You've all just doomed yourselves, that's what. You had your chance with me, but now you've got to settle for true hell. True chaos, true pain! The likes of which only the true god of this world can create!"
"We've been puttin' up with this guy going nuts ever since we faced him earlier. Anyone have any clue what he's on about?" Nier asked.
"You've lost, Charle. It's over. We're making our way to the castle," Rune replied with a shake of his head.
"No you ain't. That's not what I want. And what I want, I get," Charle repeated. He started snickering as he floated with his dark energy. Leos' party prepared to fight again.
"What he means is me," a childish, girlish voice announced, getting everyone's attention. High above the bridge, Tapu Lele descended to their height. She was surrounded by a blue aura as if she was using Psychic, and her face was furious.
"This one's on you, Leos. Use your Z-Move," Rune glanced back. Leos nodded and gulped.
"I didn't expect we'd have to face both of them right now, though," he shuddered.
"Don't be dumb. Of course I'm here. Why wouldn't I be here? You sinful mortals stood up against my brother, and he pitied you, yet still you killed him. I won't forgive you for that," she shuddered with anger. "But I'm smart, unlike you or my family. You think I'm going to fight you, knowing that you have some fancy weapons and moves that ignore my godly position? You want to fight me; you play by my game."
"This isn't a game. We can spare you if you would prefer to settle this diplomatically," Rune replied. She laughed at him.
"Politics! Tell me why I should when the politics of your filthy planet made you into savages?" she sung. She suddenly returned to fury. "No, sinful prince. I'm going to pummel you all. I'm going to pummel you all until your spirits beg for mercy. Then I'll shred your bodies until there's nothing left."
She flicked an arm down to control whatever she was carrying with her Psychic. A wave of gasps, conversations, and widened eyes took over everyone as that came into view. Diantha's body, the corpse of Rune's sister, was held in her grasp. Oddly, Diantha's body was intact and healthy, retaining its colour and shape as if it hadn't been in a grave for sixteen years.
"Diantha. What the hell are you planning to do with my sister's body?" Rune pointed his sword at her.
"So Tapu Lele did steal it. What does this mean?" Leos gasped.
"Tapu Lele," Ariala muttered, staring in disbelief. The sight had turned her body pale.
Tapu Lele laughed at them all, and teased by floating the body in front of them, just outside of Rune's reach, and then yanked back when he motioned to grab it. "Follow me. If you want this body back, come and find me. Rune, Leos, and Ariala only. If anyone else interrupts," she said, pointing upwards. Thunder boomed. "I will destroy the world with the weather. And don't even try some fancy trick to defend yourselves, because you know that I can."
"Tapu Lele, no!" Ariala cried and skipped to the front. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Preparing to set you mortals straight. If you really want to lead your world to your so called 'salvation', then you know you have to obey. You have to try and kill me. And don't keep me waiting either, or I'll destroy everything anyway. So come. I'm waiting in Tapu Fini's chamber," she replied. She spun around and soared away back into the city. A trail of glittering scales rained from her path to point directly to where Tapu Fini's temple was.
"So what're you going to do, fools?" Charle asked. "If I were you, I wouldn't keep an angry Tapu Lele waiting. She could strike the world with a tsunami at any moment! And you'd have nothing of it. Better go and stop it while she's giving you the chance!"
"Tsk. Leos, Ariala, we're going," Rune turned sharply.
"Wait, but it's obviously a trap! Plus we're not allowed to fight with you? Leos won't be able to use his Z-Move!" Griselle cried.
"Hmpf. And what? Got any better ideas?" he replied.
"I don't understand it. Tapu Lele, why," Ariala sighed exasperatedly. She clutched her chest hard, and shook her head. "We don't have time to dawdle. I will speak with her. If that fails, then Rune, and Leos, I will do my best to help you stop her."
"You as well, Ariala?" Nier cried.
"I don't want to do it either. But we have no choice. Like she says, we have to go and stop her, anyway. If we can prevent her from rampaging, then it is better," she reasoned. "It is my duty as princess of Faernia to stand strong at times like this. On top of that, I am a priestess to the Tapu. I have to face them."
"That's true but…" Vincent growled. He looked like he didn't know what to say.
"Vincent, Nier. It has been too long. But I'm afraid our reunion will have to wait. I have orders for you," Ariala became stern.
"Of course! Oh geez Ari, we know what we're in the middle of here. But this is a whole different thing. You guys are about to destroy like, our whole planet's tradition! If we've not got your back, then it just feels wrong. So just this once, let us keep watch outside the temple or something," Nier said.
"Outside the temple? What can we do from there?" Vincent cried.
"It's the best we can do. If things go sour, we'll jump in and make her play by our rules, not hers. Plus, we've got Leos' group. These kids can pack a real Mega Punch, you know," Nier suggested.
"My friends… I owe you all deeply." Ariala sounded like she was going to cry.
"Alright, enough fluff. Let's move," Rune said.
"Leos!" Prem and Griselle cried just as they were about to sprint away. Leos stopped and glanced back and forth at both parties.
"I know I can't use my Z-Move if you're not there, but I'll be fine. You guys don't need to fret," he assured.
"I-I'll be outside like Nier said and all that, but you know," Griselle replied.
"It's more like… please, for the love of the gods, be careful," Prem said. "I know you have to do this, and I've told you what I wanted to tell you. But you still haven't shown me your answer, yet. Y-you can't let anything happen to you before you do, okay?"
Leos didn't answer right away, but gave Prem a saddened look. Prem's face tightened, and he raised his voice. "I said, okay?"
"I-I go by facts, Prem. If I don't die, then maybe some other day I can give you an answer. That's all I can say," he replied.
Prem moaned and threw himself into a tight hug with the Oshawott, surprising both parents. They held each other tightly, arms wrapped around one another's backs and all. When they detached, their faces were in perfect sync, staring into each other's eyes. They nodded to each other, and then Leos turned to run with Rune and Ariala.
"You two truly are the perfect candidates for the Z-Move," Blossom said with a warm smile. Prem didn't reply, staring at the rest of the city. "Let's do our best in our part."