Destiny Tower

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa pawed at her chin. Sword and Shield would be the vanguard, most certainly. That would be a very different situation to what the team was used to, what with Eterna-tinged foes being immune to even God Squad's abilities... They'd no longer be the only viable warriors, nor even the most.

"Hmm. We'll need 'em fer sure. The impression I got from our brief encounter in the Tree of Life was that Eien is far more powerful than anythin' we've ever faced. Do we even know if our normal techniques can lay a scratch on her?"

 

[Namohysip]

"This whole Ascent thing feels great!" Zacian said with a big grin. "Oh, wait, I'm supposed to be more regal now." She stood a little more firmly, chin tilted upward while a conjured breeze made her fur and decorations blow in the wind. "I guess it's kind of weird that I haven't seen a lot of you guys in a while from my perspective."

"I think, part of Ascending, even slightly, also makes us forget our old names... but that's alright. I still know it's Shield."

"We actually look kinda lame right now," Zacian added. "We have another, stronger form we can take on once the right time comes. I can conjure a blade! It's awesome!"

"From what I understand," Diyem said, arms crossed, "these forms are not true Ascents. We did not have the time nor process nor luxury to do that. But it will do for this battle, and perhaps battles to come. If they lose too much energy, they will revert to their mortal forms. Sword, while a Mew, was not yet imbued with divine power--she was a fallen god. Though, perhaps she'd climbed back up, now..."

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa grinned. "Glad t'see y'all're still yer old selves, new bodies aside."

A sword, huh? Would 'Zacian' fight like Icetales fenced, or perhaps more likely, in some other wild combat style? And did 'Zamazenta', by contrast, have a form with a conjured shield to protect his partner? She couldn't wait to see them in action.

 

[Negrek]

Nate wasn't entirely sure why Bahamut felt the need to be so hush-hush about all this business with the dogs--who exactly was he worried would find out? There was that one random Soda substitute out there yet (Jesus Christ, they really needed to track that guy down), but other than that...?

Whatever. Nate didn't see that it made a difference either way.

"So can I get a run-down of exactly what the plan here is?" he said. "We ain't been able to do shit to Eien the other times we've run into her. These two supposed to change that, or are we just playing support while they run in there and do the real fighting? And then, what we smack her around a bit, and what? Like Cynthian said, we expecting to clean up some parasites? How are expecting to get through to her that we ain't tried before?" He tilted his head, narrowing his eyes at Diyem. "That sword you picked up from Maple come into this somehow?"

He was desperately curious about what had happened with Maple and her dark matter, but he supposed that would have to wait until after the battle.

 

[Adamhuarts]

Cynthian raised a bouquet to get Diyem's attention. "Nate has a point. What will be our roles in the battle to come? Will we be working to create openings for Zacian and Zamazenta here to strike, or is it the other way around?"

She also noticed that the other Dark Matter he took off with at the colosseum was absent. Perhaps she'd ask what was up with that later.

 

[Dragonfree]

Ascension was fucked up. One day these two were a Mew and Lucario, then one day they were just... big dogs.

Dave wasn't entirely convinced this had needed all the secrecy -- who exactly was Bahamut afraid would hear about it with dire consequences? -- but whatever. It was done, they'd come in handy for the fight, nobody'd gotten hurt. Now could they get going and get this apocalypse over with?

 

[Cresselia92]

In the back of the group, a slack-jawed Icetales was staring intently at the two legendary canines.

By the heavens and stars! He had read many books and manuscripts about the legends that saved the world from Chaos, aided by the Lights, but to see them with his own eyes was another thing entirely.

A part of him was somewhat displeased about not knowing about the two newly Ascended Sword and Shield — my, he would have been most delighted to teach a few fencing techniques he had borrowed from the Zacian of his home world! — but of course there were even more secrets and discretion among Team Spectrum.

Granted, if they were a secret weapon of sorts, it made sense to keep that hidden. Who knew if Soda could have tried to vaporize them from the forsaken moon.

“Well… That is certainly promising. To have allies that can fight against Eterna energy,” mused Icetales, having recovered from his mild — no, sheer — excitement. “Howbeit, how are we going to employ such power? Like, I suppose it can be used for more than just trading blows with Miss Eien, yes?”

 

[Namohysip]

"Nate has a point. What will be our roles in the battle to come? Will we be working to create openings for Zacian and Zamazenta here to strike, or is it the other way around?"

Diyem nodded, then looked to Maple. The team had a point; they should know the full scope of their role.

"It will be a matter of both," she stated. "Just as you cover each other, Sword and Shield will be covering you, and you will be covering them. I do not think they will be able to handle this on their own, even with the powers granted to them. It will need to be with your help."

"That sword you picked up from Maple come into this somehow?"

Diyem smirked. "I am still working on it, as is Maple. But I think, soon, we will have something to make of that..."

"What about the other Dark Matter? Did you guys, er... talk things out?"

"In a sense." Diyem let Maple continue.

"Mm." The Smeargle sighed. "He was not very reasonable. Very much like a Dark Matter you would expect. However, we were able to pacify him with a few truths, such as Telum being destroyed, just as he wanted... and the world that exists where he'd lost. Diyem had some words as well, and I think, since they are the same species, he was more... receptive."

"Where is he now?" Owen asked.

Maple conjured her blade. There was a tinge of Shadows running through it. "Sealed," she said. "Diyem and I... are going through some opposite-element mutual training."

"I," Diyem said, "am apparently a faster learner."

Maple glared. Diyem held up his arms pacifyingly.

"What did you learn?" Owen asked.

"Hmmm..." Diyem nodded, then made a sweeping motion with his right arm. Sparks of light followed and his tail flashed, a bit painfully, with gold. It looked like it was vaguely in the shape of Astrid...

Diyem used Blinding Replica! It became Radiant Iceberg!

A spire of ice exploded before them, freezing the ground. It slowly melted back to water.

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa watched, fascinated. So, Diyem and Maple were becoming... what, exactly?

"Will y'be callin' yerselves Voice of Blacklight or somethin'?" she asked, mostly sincere. "Sure seems like you'll each've got most of the big five energies after the conclusion of this endeavour. Is that safe?"

 

[Adamhuarts]

"Whoa, that's so cool! So you can even use our radiant abilities now?" Cynthian asked, stepping away from the ice just from the chill alone.

"What else can you do? Can you use the god squad's abilities as well?" If Diyem could use Leg's cursed dolls or Truffle's barriers, wouldn't that be something! Although, it would be a bit scary if he could do all of that on top of what he already has.

"What about you, Maple? Do you have shadow abilities now?"

 

[Namohysip]

"Will y'be callin' yerselves Voice of Blacklight or somethin'?"

"Hmph. I would hardly consider myself a being of the light," Diyem stated flatly.

"And I'll never turn to the dark again," Maple added in a growl.

"...N... I'm not the only one who sees this, right?" Cal asked, gesturing to the two of them. "They're like siblings, what the fuck."

"We are not," Diyem and Maple spat.

Maple shook her arms as if to rid herself of filth. "In any case," she said, "no, I do not yet have any powers. I am still learning how to... operate with that kind of dark power without losing stability. We are doing it under very careful conditions for now. We don't want another... incident to happen, after all."

 

[Ambyssin]

“And this is not the time to test pilot it,” Bahamut harrumphed.

 

[Fusion]

"...Like siblings, huh?" Scrafty muttered. They lifted up a rock, and it was suddenly whisked away, replaced in their hand by a tattered notebook. They scratched something out, sighing to themselves, and the book was sent off to be replaced by the rock once more. "I'm tempted to ask which would be stronger but that kinda question would just be a distraction right now."

Puddle didn't know what the book thing was about, but didn't really care either. "Maybe Pops and Maple could be honorary siblings. I mean, Maple is already, like, a step mom to us familiars. It already checks out!"

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa couldn't help but grin. It felt good, yo have pointed out how alike they were before they'd even met as such, and be proven so right. Even if they wouldn't admit it. But that was fine.

"What next, then? she asked. "I take it everyone's done all the trainin' they can, an' we're all equipped with these fearsome new items. I fer one am ready t'get a move on."

 

[Ambyssin]

“I suppose.” He lifted his ultra stone and noticed the shade was out and sitting with the others. “Same deal as the tree. Get in and stay silent.”

“Khh hhh.” The shade breathed in sharply. “Ever the need for the limelight. Such a foolish monster.”

Bahamut whacked the shade with the stone. It collapsed and retreated into the stone.

 

[Namohysip]

"I believe that will be everything," Diyem said. "We are prepared. We will be fighting Eien. And, if there is no way to help her, but she is still a great danger to all of Cibus..."

Owen's expression darkened, but he nodded.

"Then we will do what is necessary."

Zacian and Zamazenta both nodded firmly.

"With that in order," Maple said, "Joule and I, with our combined power, can send us near the storm's edge, but no further. We will have to fly the rest of the way there. Everyone with wings or other forms of flight, give your allies a lift. I believe the best candidates for this will be myself, Owen, and Bahamut."

 

[Fusion]

Scrafty rolled their eyes, smirking. "Best, but not the only ones. I got two arms people could hold onto, and lame as it may be, one or two of our smaller members can ride on my back." They looked back at the team, humming. "...When did everyone get so big, actually?"

"I ask myself that every day," Puddle sizzled, sighing.

 

[Ambyssin]

“Just close your eyes,” Bahamut said. “And I’ve been told my crystals chafe.”

 

[Chibi Pika]

Flying. Great, Starr had always hated flying. But if she had to choose, she’d pick Owen. At least with a Charizard she knew what to expect, as opposed to all the various hugeass light dragons.

“Let’s get this over with,” the Incineroar said, stretching her arms over her head.

 

[Flyg0n]

Koa listened with awe as Sword and Shield discussed their new forms and Diyem and Maple bickered. He couldn't help but be reminded slightly of his own cousin, who often felt like a brother.

He also couldn't help but feel annoyed. He'd kept a secret because it had been incredibly risky to tell anyone and they barely had a full day before muk hit the fan and he had been treated like a criminal. But now Bahamut kept a secret about literally nothing as far as he could tell and for seemingly no real reason.

Who was he trying to hide Sword and Shield from? A storm?

Whatever.

He didn't really care. Sword and Shield were so sick!

"I don't suppose you can give us some insight on how Eternatus fights?" Koa asked, glancing at Diyem. "Anything we can prepare for?"