Odette found herself perplexed by the scene before her. Getting ahold of a mega stone, let alone learning how to use it correctly was no small feat in itself, and to just...? Brush it off like it was nothing more than taking down a preschool-grade trainer? What even was this? A parental figure? Or mentor of sorts?
"̸S̶h̶e̴e̶s̴h̷,̸ ̴t̸o̶u̸g̸h̷ ̵c̸r̷o̵w̸d̴.̷ ̷B̵i̸t̴c̷h̶ ̸a̸s̶s̸,̶"̷ Odile said under her breath.
If this was any indication of how Noro lived in real life, Odette supposed, to some degree, she could understand why he held himself the way he did. Having such major accomplishments undermined like that would probably leave anybody feeling like they needed to put up a front. In fact, she knew somebody who used to be in an eerily similar situation.
Well. She figured it was a good thing they'd battled and parted amicably in spite of everything. Maybe she could get through to him with that foundation.
Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried her hardest to convey to Hoopa what she wanted to see. What she wanted Noro to see.
Training arena. Leading to a battle field.
When she opened her eyes, she was impressed to find the scenery had indeed changed. No less nondescript than the previous scene, but it got the point across. Practice dummies, a floor to support all terrain and move types, just open enough for bigger 'mon to move freely. Clearly what she was looking for.
Noro seemed to accept the change of scenery to a training grounds without much question. If anything, he was much more interested in it, a noticeable spark of excitement in his eyes to take in his new surroundings.
"We have to keep working harder," Alakazam said. "We're nowhere near where we could be."
Noro nodded in affirmation.
When she spotted Noro and Alakazam again, she gave them ample time to fall in to the new scenery before announcing her presence, but not before holding her hand out to Odile and motioning for her to stay back.
"Small world," she called from afar, keeping her distance as to ensure she didn't startle them. She waited until it was clear she meant no harm before approaching, arms crossed across her chest nonchalantly. "Wasn't expecting to find you at a Championship match here. I'd ask if you were nervous, but you look as stiff as a board. Both of you."
Her words came out with a sarcastic edge, but she cut her tone with an assuring smirk. "Loosen up. I've seen you battle, so take it from me. This'll be a Sunday stroll for you two. And that's not a compliment I like to hand out in troves."
Pursing her lips, she eyed the two of them a little closer. She was silent just long enough to seem inquisitive. "Though, a word of advice..."
Without warning, she lightly poked Noro in the center of his chest.
"Make sure you're doing this for you. And your partner. It's your collective work, and your collective strength that got your asses here. There is not a soul in this multiverse who can take that from you. Ever."
A bell chimed overhead, and an automated voice spoke. "Challenger, please make your way to the field."
Odette sighed and shoved her hands into her pockets. "That's your cue," she said. She raised one hand to her forehead and saluted the duo as she turned on her heels and trudged back in the direction she came.
"Break a leg."
Noro quirked an eyebrow and shared a curious look with Alakazam. Definitely not who they expected to see... here? Wherever this was... Not an unpleasant surprise though. They were respectable battlers, extremely so. He narrowed his eyes as she approached. "There's no such thing as a Sunday stroll," he muttered. There were only winners, and losers. Losers weren't worth it.
"Tch. Do this for me?" he shook his head. "It doesn't matter what I do for me," he said non-chalantly. "Winning here is just the first step." Noro gave a half wave goodbye as she left. Once she was far enough to be likely out of earshot, he added, "thanks."
The actual battle field was a tad more distinct, if only made so by the silhouettes of what was supposed to be a crowd in the stands surrounding the space. Cheering could be heard, but the dreamscape made it sound distant. Faded. The sentiment was there though.
Once more, the automated voice crackled to life. "Challengers, are you set to proceed?"
When the voice got the answer it needed, it continued. "Presenting your opponent for your Champion match!"
At the opposite end of the arena, a large door slid up, and Odette stepped out onto the field with Odile in tow. The two confidently strolled out onto the field, where they met Noro and Alakazam.
"Small world," Odette greeted with an air of jest over the dreamscape cheers, holding her hand out to shake. "I suppose I should have mentioned this was going to be a rematch."
"̸̠͖̠̞̓̒R̷̡̭̘̽̾͂͝Ȩ̷̈́̎̃-̵̱̦̹̭͗͊͊͊M̸̧͓̰̗̓̇͠Ą̶͇̺͛̓T̷̼̱̞̒C̸̢̜͌Ḥ̴̨͎̬͛͊͝,̶͔̀̉ ̵̰͙̞́͊R̴̡̛͍̈͛̇ͅE̶̜͠-̴̫̾̿̕͝M̵̖̩͈͊̈͂A̴̾̀͝ͅT̸͒̈͒́͜C̵̨͖͆̉̎͠H̵̝̻̗̉͋̄,̵͇̒͗ ̴̜̦̱̇̀̌͘ͅR̶̨͔̗̲̿̂̀̚Ẽ̶͖̰̟͈̊͂̅-̵̨̍̾͂M̴̙̝̪͐̈́͐̂͜A̷̧̳̳̋̇͊T̵͇̫͔̅̍͋͂C̵͙͔͇̾̽H̴̨̢͐!̶̦͗"̶̯̜͇͕̂̀̽͘ Odile chanted, only silenced by the glare she got from Odette.
Huffing, Odette regarded Noro again. "Nonetheless, I meant what I said. That hasn't changed."
She lowered her voice, the seriousness taking her words in a tight grip.
"And remember my advice."
She and Odile turned and made way back toward their side of the field.
"You're my opponent?"
Alakazam's eyes crinkled in amusement. '
Of course she would be. I personally rather look forward to this, even if our last match was... challenging.'
With a grim smile mixed with reluctant respect, he shook her hand.
"Challengers! Champion! Are you ready?"
Odette and Odile exchanged looks, before nodding once toward each other. Odette raised her palm, and Odile's hand morphed into one of those branchlike blades.
"Begin!"
With a quick slash to Odette's skin, blood began to run down her hand and over her wrist as it glowed in reaction to Odile's presence. Odile expanded into her eldritch form, roaring with a newfound fervor as the excitement of battle overtook her.
"̶͍̘͉̫͗̓F̸̞̼̺̪͒̈́̆͝Į̵̣͉̬̏͊̆͝G̶̹̟̳͐̐̂͝H̸̰̱͎̙͊T̶̜̤̫͕̽̉͌ ̴̤͎̈T̸̙̕Ḣ̴̼̟͂͒͠E̴͓͆ ̶̙̂̈́͑Ǵ̵͍͒Ǒ̷̰D̸̼͔́ ̸̪̊W̴̨̺̮̾̑̊I̸͔͎̮͋̔̔T̵̘̓̒H̶̳̜̐̑͝ ̷̢̟̕Å̸̮̌̊͘L̷̨̖̲̺͝L̵̡̝͍̈́́̚͝ ̸̢͙͍̗͛̄͘Y̸̦͓̰̹̿̓Ǒ̵̡͓̆̈Ụ̷̂ ̷̧̮̞̎́͆̕G̷̣̈O̷͉͆̀̕T̶͈͆̂!̴̟̜͛"̶̻̩͙́̎
Noro steeled his mind.
We win this time. That's all that matters.
Alakazam crossed his spoons.
We win.
~
Rainbow light faded as Alakazam took on his Mega evolved form. There could be no holding back now, no testing or learning patterns. That freakish tumbleweed was too strong. But if he could outwit it... maybe they'd have a chance. Letting out a breath, he emptied his mind and allowed his link with Alakazam to flourish. A risk, but a worthwhile one. Together they would be enough.
"Alakazam, Trick Room!" A shimmering cube formed around the arena, and a faint glow formed around Alakazam before fading. He dodged a retaliatory attack from Odile, countering with what appeared to be hasty and wildly aimed series of Psyshocks. And exactly as he hoped, Odile's focus shifted to the attack - not by much, but just enough. "Now!" Alakazam warped, reappearing right next to Odile, Toxic poison bubbling in his psychic hold, which he drenched her with before rapidly teleporting away again.
A string of swears came from the legendary, which he ignored. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to smile. The feeling soon vanished however. Odile's next string of attack were ruthless, calculated. Exactly what he expected from a champion and a legend. Yet even prepared for it, he found himself always on his back foot, always trying to gain lost ground. For every strike he landed, Odile would get in two. And even with Trick Room giving them the edge in speed, it never felt like enough. The hits were too hard, Odile too strong
still and Alakazam's attacks never felt like they did enough.
He forced the doubt down, focusing everything on the battle. Calculated. Waste nothing. Anticipate, distract, attack. Odile was badly poisoned, they could still do this - another storm of black fire rained down on Alakazam, barely dodged. The psychic type shook off a few dark embers, glaring at Odile, even as he panted.
Noro could feel Alakazam's exhaustion through his link.
It's not over until it's over, Alakazam said sternly.
"Ice Punch!"
Alakazam flitted across the field using a series of short-range teleports they'd been working on, ducking and weaving around her hulking form, peppering her with attacks. Noro kept his focus on Odile's body, watching every tiny movement, giving Alakazam every heads up he could, until he could hardly keep up with their movements.
And then it happened. By the time Noro saw the telltale twitch of motion from the prickly legendary, it was too late. Her tail snaked out, unbalancing Noro. And in a hail of ghostly fire, it was over. Alakazam's form reverted to his usual one, and he collapsed, spent.
Hanging his head, Noro recalled him, murmuring a thanks to the pokeball. Steeling his gaze, he walked stiffly across the field, managing an awakward congratulations to Odette, all the while his words before the battle played in his head over and over.
"
We win this time." Except he hadn't. He would never make anything of himself this way if this was the best performance he could muster.
"Good battle. Maybe next time we'll get you," he said to Odette, masking his disappointment. Then he turned away, ready to leave.
