Destiny Colosseum

[Chibi Pika]

Starr's jaw hung open. Holy shit what the hell was that. Astrid's Radiance? Starr was used to that just freezing enemies solid, not... exploding in a blindingly brilliant flurry of snow. And it'd taken out Butter in one hit, screw the type resistance.

Well, at least that answered the question of whether or not the two of them could fight together. if they just never interacted outside the battlefield, everything would be fine, apparently.

Starr could still barely move, but that almost didn't even matter. She just needed to call up enough fire for one more hit. She'd go down, but hey. They'd win.

Starr used Flare Blitz on Jirachi!

 

[Namohysip]

The combination attack went off without a hitch, and Butter didn't even have the chance to react against it. Jirachi was the same, going down in a flurry of embers and a screech of surprise and pain. By the time the dust settled, a loud ringing filled the arena.

"And that's time!" Incineroar said. "While it was a great and exciting battle, there can only be one team who wins! And the winner is... Team Fire & Ice!"

His words had been barely heard over the roaring of the crowd, so he stepped back and smiled at them to soak it all in. Jirachi was helping Butter off of the ground; he looked dizzy, though they both grinned at the pair regardless.

 

[Chibi Pika]

Holy shit there it was again. The blinding flurry that followed the eerire tingle of something being drawn from her. Energy? No, that wasn't right, she didn't feel drained from it at all. But then what...?

Starr gave a brief nod of acknowledgement to the opposing side. "Good fight. Then she whirled around to face Astrid and blurted out, "Hey, quick question--what on earth was that?"

 

[TheGOAT]

By now, Astrid was sober again. Sober enough to witness the fruits of their teamwork, and enough to begin processing how that had happened.

When she was done processing, which did not take long, she told Starr the truth: “I… have no idea. I’ve never really… done that before.”

An ounce of concern worked its way onto her face. Was Starr hurt by that? She didn’t look hurt, but she probably wouldn’t show it if she was. Had she really just hurt the very same teammate she’d accused of going out of their way to hurt others?

“How did that, um, feel?”

 

[Chibi Pika]

Starr paused. To be honest, she hadn't really been expecting a response. She glanced away, rubbing the back of her head. "Kinda weird. Felt like energy being pulled away from me, sort of? Except, I didn't feel like I was losing any?" Yeah, because that made any sense at all.

 

[TheGOAT]

“Oh. Okay.” Astrid didn’t know if that was good or bad. “Good fight. You looked really… fiery out there.”

Ughhh, why do I keep putting myself in these positions. She was probably going to catch on fire herself if she kept talking, so, with a parting nod that could’ve been mistaken for a twitch, she jogged towards the exit.

 

[Chibi Pika]

Starr raised an eyebrow, unsure how she was supposed to take that, especially considering it was coming from Astrid.

But the Ninetales had already left, striding quickly back through the entrance to the battlefield. Starr stared after her, bewildered. Well, that was... progress? Maybe?

For not the first time, she suspected she'd never understand what the deal was with that ice fox.

<><><><><>​

 

[Namohysip]

"And you're ready for this?" Lugia asked, staring down at the much smaller Lugia before her.

"Mm. I am." Meringue flexed his wings, beating them a few times to keep limber. "It's just one sparring session to practice up. I'll show you what I can do after my training."

Lugia smiled a little. "You'll be going against just one of them. They are powerful in numbers, but even alone, you should be careful. They're growing at an alarming rate."

"I know. And I'm probably the weakest Legend right now, all things considered..."

Lugia chuckled. "Don't sell yourself short." She turned away, walking down from the fighter lobby. "I will be watching. Good luck."

 

[Virgil134]

"Hey!"

Cabot walked into the Colosseum's lobby with Pleo following closely behind, the Cranidos giving an enthusiastic wave at Meringue as the two approached him.

"I can't believe it's finally time for our match!" he cheered. "I've been looking forward to this since we talked about it during dinner."

 

[Namohysip]

"A lot of stuff came up between us, I guess," Meringue said, rubbing the back of his head. "Back then, I didn't really know if we'd be at the same level or not. But now, I'm less sure..."

He glanced back at Lugia, but she was already walking away.

"But hey, if you beat me, that means you'll get to start training to fight Lugia next. But, um... between you and me, I think you'll need more than one person to take her down no matter how strong you get."

 

[Virgil134]

"A lot sure can happen in such a short time, huh?" Cabot said with a smile. "But at least your brother and Ho-Oh are back safely now! And I know we'll rescue Sword as well."

The Cranidos stretched and leaned back a little, putting his claws behind his head as he shot Meringue a teasing smirk. "And hey, do I really need to train for that if I've technically already beaten her and Pleo at the same time in Silver Trench?"

"Eh?! But that's not fair!" Pleo protested, giving a beat of his wings. "I couldn't think back then like I can now, Lugia was weakened, and you were fighting with the rest of the team!"

 

[Namohysip]

"She was weakened, and you were more numerous," Meringue relied. "This is one on one. I hope you developed a strategy for that... I did." With a confident little smirk back, Meringue headed out into the roaring crowds, with Incineroar already calling out the beginning ceremonies of the match as they moved.

 

[Virgil134]

Cabot watched with a small grin as Meringue headed out into the arena.

"I wouldn't worry about that."

"Good luck with the match, Cabot!" Pleo exclaimed. "I'll be cheering you on!"

Cabot turned towards the young Lugia with a confident nod.

"I know you will. Thanks, Pleo!"

Pleo let out a happy chirp, before the two parted ways. As Cabot made his way onto the battlefield he could hear Incineroar call out of his name while the crowd roared in the background. He took his place on the field and as he looked through the crowd, he couldn't help but start to feel a little nervous. Here he was, in front of so many Pokémon, about to fight an uncorrupted Legendary on his own. While Meringue was still young and in training, he still had the powers of a god and trained every day to learn how to harness those powers. Would he really be able to just beat Meringue like that?

As the Cranidos looked around he noticed Pleo in the stands, having taken place right next to Lugia. He cheerily waved at Cabot, prompting him to wave back and feel a bit more at ease. That's right, he was here with friends. Even his opponent was one. So in that case, did it really matter if he could defeat Meringue or not? As long they enjoyed their battle and everyone had fun watching it, then everything was fine regardless of the outcome, right?

Cabot got snapped back to attention as Incineroar began his countdown, prompting him to hastily adopt a battle stance. The moment Incineroar finished his countdown, Cabot instantly summoned several small rocks that moved around him like a protective barrier.

Cabot used Radiant Barricade!

Not giving Meringue a chance to react, Cabot quickly thrust his right claw forward.

"Let's show everyone what we can do!"

Several large boulders appeared above Meringue in flashes of light that swiftly rained down upon him. Upon contact the glowing rocks burst apart into tiny bits of sand that began to wildly swirl around the arena.

Cabot used Shining Rockfall!

The sand pelted against Cabot's scales, but he didn't mind. Quite the opposite in fact. He glowed bright amidst the sandstorm, and the Radiance flowing through his body melted away any doubts he had earlier about his victory, replacing it with self-assurance instead. Cabot looked at Meringue with a confident smile.

"Give me everything you got, Meringue!"

 

[Namohysip]

Cabot's Shining Rockfall dealt 182 damage to Meringue!

Raindrops spattered against the bright blue shield around Meringue's body. He winced a little at the attack, knowing that wasn't even one of his strongest. That sandstorm was going to make it less than trivial to take him down, too... Argh! He was hoping that he wouldn't have played defense like this.

Lugia leaned forward, humming. "Don't get flustered," she said, though her voice was far too soft to be heard by Meringue. "Just because your first plan failed does not mean the next one will. Remember your training..."

"If that's how you want to play..." Meringue stepped back. "I know your strategy. Your defenses are flimsy, so you set up barriers to divert attacks. But... I can still get through that. I have it all figured out..."

Meringue used Rain Dance! The rain nullified the Sandstorm around Meringue!
Meringue used Protect, gaining 4 shields!

Cabot: 360/360
Meringue: 818/1000

Lugia smiled a little. "Oh? Is that your plan?" She leaned forward a little, resting a scaly wing against her chin. "Will Cabot see through it, I wonder...?"

She could see a dim glow from Meringue's eyes, which cut through his own shield and through the darkness of the rain that slowly covered his side of the arena. Sand and wind and rain mixed together into a maelstrom, the two opposing forces benefiting from their own effects while canceling out the other. Electricity crackled around Meringue's wings...

"Go on, Meringue, Cabot," Lugia said in a small, deep chuckle. "Show the crowd how far you've come."

 

[Virgil134]

"Go, Cabot! You can do it!" Pleo cheered.

Back on the field, Cabot paused for a brief moment, before his eyes lit in realization. He supposed it only made sense considering Meringue was a former Jolteon...

"Oh I get it!" the Cranidos exclaimed. "You're gonna try to make use of the rain with Thunder, huh?"

The realization did little to sway Cabot's confidence, and instead gave Meringue a challenging look in return.

"Well, I guess we'll see how 'flimsy' my defenses really are!"

Cabot held out his claws as a green, translucent barrier formed in front of them, prompting him to shoot Meringue another teasing smirk.

"If you can get through this barrier as well, of course!"

Cabot used Protect, gaining 2 shields!

Not wanting to waste any more time, Cabot lowered his head and charged forward towards Meringue's shield.

Cabot used Basic Attack!

 

[Namohysip]

"Nice try!" Meringue shouted back, parrying Cabot's attack, but he flinched a little at how hard the strike had been. "That... was harder than it should have been," he mumbled, just as his barrier started to flicker and fade.

Lugia's smile became wry. "So the Cranidos figured it out. Behind all that rock, he seems to at least be a little savvy with battle..." She leaned forward. "He must have detected the feint that Meringue was planning. Just enough shields to tempt Cabot to blast through in one turn... But that would have left Cabot in the open for a counterattack. There would have been no defense."

The attack took away two shields!
As time passes, another shield decays...

"Uhhh wait! Hang on!" Meringue stepped back. "You're--if I just blast you twice, you won't be able to cast something like that again!" Protect took up a lot of concentration and energy. The shield fading or shattering always meant that you weren't able to conjure another one for a little while--enough for a full volley of attacks to be exchanged. And in a battle like this, that could mean everything.

It was simple. All he had to do was blast Cabot away!

"Mm, that isn't right, Meringue," she hummed.

Lugia used Thunder, blasting away one of the shields!

Lugia frowned, but said nothing. She supposed it would do. But Cabot was going to strike back soon. What then? Meringue did not have the power to overcome Cabot's Sandstorm, no matter how weak his base resistances were. Surely Meringue knew that.

Meringue and Lugia locked eyes, like he was looking for approval. Lugia only frowned, and that caused him to panic. Was that wrong? How was he supposed to break through someone like this?! He wasn't even expecting Cabot to come in with Protect. It must have been one of the others that gave him the idea... He had to think. He had to stay calm, had to...

Calm!

Steadying his footing, Meringue breathed deeply.

Meringue used Calm Mind, gaining some Magic and Resistance!
With time, Cabot's barrier fades... He ran out of Protects!

Cabot: 360/360
Meringue: 818/1000 +1 Protect

Lugia smiled a little, pulling back. "Hmm. I don't know if Cabot can make his way out of this one," she said, looking to Pleo. It was a strange remark, seeing as Cabot was completely unharmed so far. "...Pleo, was it? Are you familiar with the behavior of a storm... the reason it can be so dangerous to sailors?"

 

[Virgil134]

"Uh-huh! I know from Cabot's memories," Pleo replied. "It's because the winds make it almost impossible to control the ship and the waves will swing it around wildly. If you're not careful during a harsh storm you can easily fall overboard, and it's even possible for the ship to sink. At least the sea and air escorts can help prevent that since they also have some control over the winds and the waves."

Meanwhile in the arena, Cabot charged forward and struck Meringue's barrier once again, this time breaking through it.

Cabot used Basic Attack!

Seeing that Meringue was now open, Cabot jumped back and fired several sharp rocks at him.

Cabot used Stone Edge!

 

[Namohysip]

"Correct," said Lugia. "And once again, it appears that Cabot has prepared." She chuckled. "I do not think Meringue will be able to win... He simply is not able to awaken his powers. I was hoping that this push would be enough for him..." She sighed. "But it isn't. I suppose, I'll just have to... train him more." Though her voice seemed a little listless, tired, maybe even a little impatient. "Cabot is careful. If he used Head Smash there, I suspect the damage he'd take from the attack would have been enough for Meringue to finish him off. But he was careful and used a weaker attack instead... and it looks like he broke Meringue's stance, too."

Cabot's Stone Edge dealt 182 damage to Meringue!

"Augh!" Meringue went flying back, panting a little. His stance was all off and his Protects had shattered around him in a fine mist. The blue flecks of color on his back glowed to life, flashing rhythmically with his heart.

A massive thunderclap slammed down hard on Cabot the moment they parted ways, splitting the air and deafening both fighters for a moment's passage.

Meringue's Thunder dealt 151 damage to Cabot!

Lugia sighed, standing up. "I suppose," she said, "I should head to the lobby. Come, Pleo. We should leave to congratulate Cabot."

Meringue glanced to Lugia, whose great form was easy to notice when she was rising. What? he thought. No! She's... she already thinks I'm...

They locked eyes for that brief moment as the Thunder's light faded. The lights on his back were getting brighter. And there was sympathy in Lugia's eyes, but Meringue knew the truth. He hated that look. That he was falling behind his brother. That he wasn't ready. That he was lagging on his training. Over and over, he tried hard and fought meticulously, carefully, he weathered everything thrown at him! And yet...

"No..." Meringue said. "I'm not... weak. I'm not... going to..." He remembered running. Fleeing from some invisible foe when Lugia disappeared. How helpless he was. How he needed Team Spectrum, a bunch of tiny mortal Pokemon, to help him. Him! A hero who had saved the world so long ago! Reduced to...

Something white-hot surged through Meringue's spine. "I'm not..." His eyes were bright. "I'm not... done. I won't fail again. I'm... a hero. I'm... Lugia." His voice echoed. It wasn't Radiance--it was something else. The air was tingly with a new energy. "And I'm not going to fail to take that name!"

Meringue's body swelled with light as a new sheen wrapped around him. A burst of feathers and down scattered in the storm's rains, covering the field in silver and flecking Cabot's sandstorm. Through that mass, two white, glowing eyes, pupils completely missing, stared at Cabot. The air crackled, electricity dancing in the clouds above.

Lugia stopped, turning around with a hint of genuine surprise on her face. "...There is one more thing about the ocean's whims," she said, smiling. "...It is that sometimes, they can come in full force at a moment's notice."

The Stormkeeper was awake.

Meringue used Divine Stormkeeper!
His ability changed to Multiscale, and activated for next turn!
His Magic, Resistance, and Defense went up by 2!

Cabot: 209/360
Stormkeeper: 636/636

 

[Virgil134]

Pleo stared at Meringue in awe, and even Cabot was visibly caught off guard as he looked at his opponent with his mouth agape. Back home he'd seen Pleo almost tap into his full powers in Queen Aleria's throne room, and he'd seen what the results of those powers were the last time he'd visited Magmapool Town. Yet, he never expected Meringue to do the same right now.

Would he still be able to win? Meringue was a lot stronger now, and by the looks of those hardened feathers, a lot more durable too. Still, there had to be something he could do to turn things around? ... Right?

... Wait. Those feathers. If the way they protected Meringue worked the same way Lugia's scales protected her, then maybe there was still something he could do. The plan would be a longshot for sure, but it was probably also the best chance he had.

"I'm glad you're finally using your full powers Meringue! I knew you could do it," the Cranidos said, once again shooting back a small smile. "But this battle is not over yet!"

Cabot lowered his head and charged forward, before slamming his head as hard against Meringue as he could.

Cabot used Head Smash!

He winced from his own blow and quickly moved back. He certainly hadn't expected that Head Smash would hurt him with how tough his head was. Maybe things worked differently for Cranidos in Cibus than they did back home? Well, it didn't matter. It was nothing he couldn't endure. Cabot held out his claws again put all his energy into summoning the most powerful Protect he could muster.

Cabot used Protect, gaining 5 shields!

Cabot crouched down and panted out of exhaustion. That... took a lot out of him, and he needed a moment to catch his breath, but at least the barrier should be able to hold until then...

 

[Namohysip]

Cabot's Head Smash dealt a CRITICAL 211 damage to Stormkeeper, and Cabot took 32 damage in recoil!
Stormkeeper's Multiscale halved the damage!
After setting up his shields, Cabot is exhausted!

Meringue stared at the exhausted Cranidos and reeled at the strike--one of the hardest ones so far--but it was not yet enough to take him down. In fact, it still felt as if he could keep going. Moving with a strange, yet fierce serenity, Meringue hopped back and used twin Thunders on Cabot's shield, zapping away at two barriers at once!

Cabot's Protects fade by 1... Cabot has 2 Protects remaining!

Cabot is exhausted! His next turn is skipped!

Cabot: 177/360 +2 Protects
Stormkeeper: 425/636