"Misunderstanding?"
Terrakion growled deeply. It clearly didn't believe such a thing was possible. In its eyes, all humans were the same.
"Terrakion, stop."
Calm, composed, and carrying an aura of dignity, Cobalion, the leader of the Swords of Justice, stepped forward.
Its sharp gaze swept over Lucien and the Pokémon standing protectively in front of him. The brief clash earlier had already told Cobalion one thing:
This human and these Pokémon did not share the relationship Terrakion imagined.
But Terrakion had seen too much cruelty. It had watched humans drive Pokémon from their homes, hunt them, enslave them. It had watched families torn apart. How could it possibly accept that any human was different?
"Stay out of this, Cobalion!" Terrakion roared, aura surging violently as it charged forward again.
Cobalion and Virizion exchanged a look, but did not interfere. Instead, they silently watched, observing Lucien's reaction.
Lucien frowned. "So we're doing this the hard way. Fine."
He raised his hand sharply.
"Serperio, Leaf Storm!"
Serperior leapt forward, elegant yet fierce. Grass-type energy surged through its body, bursting outward in a spiralling Leaf Storm that tore across the battlefield.
Terrakion lowered its head and roared, smashing into the storm with brute force.
Blades of leaves slashed across its stone-like hide, leaving countless cuts. Terrakion flinched, this was actually hurting it.
Serperior might not compare to Kyurem, but Terrakion was no Kyurem.
Especially not in this era long before its future strength.
Terrakion gathered power above its head and slashed downward, breaking the storm apart.
But Lucien's voice rang out immediately:
"Again! Leaf Storm!"
A second storm of leaves detonated across the battlefield. Terrakion swung its Sacred Sword to block again, but its eyes widened.
The attack was stronger.
Much stronger.
Serperior's Contrary ability meant every Leaf Storm made it even stronger.
Terrakion's wounds deepened. Its footing faltered.
It roared in frustration, then slammed its hooves into the earth. Pebbles rose into the air, sharpened into jagged stones, and launched toward Lucien and Serperior in a deadly barrage.
Lucien didn't flinch.
"Leaf Storm!"
The third Leaf Storm erupted like a hurricane. Empowered by its ability, the attack was monstrous.
Green light collided with the shower of stones. The explosion echoed through the mountains, and then, Terrakion was engulfed.
"Aah—!"
Terrakion collapsed onto one knee, its entire body marked with cuts and bruises. Its breath trembled. It stared at Serperior in shock.
Lucien stepped forward, voice steady.
"Can you listen now?"
Terrakion froze.
Lucien met its gaze, unwavering. "I haven't harmed any Pokémon. Everything you believe I've done is wrong."
He took a slow breath.
"I am Lucien, third prince of the Kingdom of Eindoak. And I'm building a place where humans and Pokémon live together as equals."
Lucien reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle.
A full-healing potion. Made by Lila and the Joy sisters.
He tossed it gently in front of Terrakion.
"Drink it. Your wounds will heal."
Upon hearing Lucien's words, the three Swords of Justice were stunned.
Terrakion glanced at the healing potion at its feet, gritted its teeth, and snarled,
"Don't try to deceive us with such lies!"
Before Lucien could respond, Dragonair snapped back angrily:
"Wooo!" (Lucien is telling the truth! He built a place where humans and Pokémon live together happily!)
Beside it, Larvesta flared up, flames flickering:
"Larvesta !" (You're the ones attacking without reason! We've never hurt anyone!)
Pokémon… speaking up for a human?
All three Swordsmen froze.
They had saved countless Pokémon from human cruelty. They had seen how frightened and broken Pokémon became after abuse.
But these Pokémon. They didn't just trust Lucien.
They defended him.
It was the exact opposite of everything the Swordsmen believed about humans.
Lucien, tired from the battle, kicked dirt over the dying campfire.
He didn't have time to argue. He turned to leave, intent on finding Ice-type Pokémon for special training.
The Swordsmen silently watched his retreating figure.
Just then, Cobalion called out,
"Wait."
Lucien stopped and turned his head.
"What you said earlier… was all of it true?" Cobalion asked.
Lucien exhaled, exhausted.
"If you want to know, go see for yourselves. Head southwest, you'll reach my territory."
The sincerity in the Pokémon's voices… the way they protected Lucien…The Swordsmen already believed most of what had been said.
Lucien continued, gaze steady:
"I don't have time to waste arguing with you. A war that will engulf this entire region is coming."
The Swordsmen flinched.
Lucien went on, voice low:
"Behind the two princes leading this war stand Reshiram and Zekrom. Their power is no less than Kyurem's."
A heavy silence fell.
"If you want to protect the Pokémon of this land," Lucien said, "don't spend your strength attacking the wrong people."
Realization flickered in Cobalion's eyes.
"So you came to challenge Kyurem… to borrow its strength?"
Lucien gave a small nod.
Then he turned and walked away without another word.
The three Swordsmen stared at his silhouette as it faded into the snowy darkness.
Only when he was completely out of sight did Terrakion slowly force itself upright.
"That guy…"
Then, as if trying to vent its frustration, it stomped down on the small vial of medicine.
"Crack!"
Green fluid splashed upward and slipped into Terrakion's mouth.
It swallowed reflexively and froze.
Its wounds began to close.
The cuts sealed. Its bruises faded.
Terrakion blinked in disbelief.
Cobalion and Virizion, calm until now, widened their eyes.
At that moment, they completely believed what the human had just said.
Perhaps... he really wasn't lying.