The King's Bedchamber
A roaring fire burned within the fireplace, casting warm light across the chamber. A thick carpet embroidered with the royal insignia covered the floor, and a soft, luxurious sofa rested opposite the flames.
Cobalion, Virizion, and Terrakion lay sprawled comfortably upon it, the three Legendary Pokémon gathered together in rare ease.
Although the Unova region had been unified and its future direction set, there were still lingering matters that required their vigilance.
Yet…
After spending so long resting beside Lucien, the three Sacred Swordsmen found themselves strangely reluctant to depart.
Cobalion, ever the leader, and the thoughtful Virizion quickly regained their composure.
Terrakion, however, grinned openly.
"This place is far too comfortable," he said frankly. "I don't want to leave."
Lucien couldn't help but laugh.
"Then stay a while longer," he replied. "Winter hasn't ended yet. The snow outside is heavy, and travel would be inconvenient. Why not wait until spring arrives?"
Cobalion and Virizion exchanged a glance.
Through the tall windows, Lucien City lay blanketed in snow, quiet, orderly, and alive. Beyond it stretched a bleak, frozen wilderness.
After a moment, Cobalion nodded.
"Very well."
"We'll trouble you a little longer," Virizion said gently, inclining their head in thanks.
Terrakion, who had never intended to leave, immediately leaned back into the sofa with satisfaction.
Lucien smiled.
"That's settled, then. Next, I plan to hold a Pokémon battle tournament. You'll see the future I envision, and the path humans and Pokémon will walk together."
"Battle?" Cobalion paused, surprised.
Lucien nodded.
"Yes, but not a battle of life and death. It will be a contest of strength and skill, to determine the strongest Pokémon and their trainer."
"The strongest…"
The three swordsmen fell silent.
"Humans will train Pokémon differently based on their nature," Lucien continued.
"They'll strengthen their bodies, temper their will, and help them master new moves. That is what a trainer is."
"This is the future I intend to build, where humans and Pokémon become partners, companions, even family. Growing stronger together."
The three Sacred Swordsmen were quick to understand.
"A wise path," Virizion said sincerely. "An excellent idea."
Lucien looked around at the Pokémon gathered nearby.
How wonderful it would be to welcome the New Year together.
End of January, Year 150 of the Kingdom Calendar
Heavy snowfall marked the final day of the New Year.
After days of travel, lords from every corner of the kingdom finally arrived in Lucien City, summoned to witness the grand event their king had prepared.
Inside the Grand Arena, dozens of lords occupied the VIP seats closest to the battlefield.
At precisely nine in the morning, spectators who had purchased tickets streamed through the gates, quickly locating their seats by the markings.
Citizens of Lucien City. Nobles from distant territories. Pokémon living openly among humans.
The arena was filled to capacity.
Anticipation shimmered in the air, everyone hoped to glimpse His Majesty King Lucien.
But the Grand Arena was open to the sky.
Cold wind swept down from above, making many spectators shiver.
"So cold…"
"It feels like it's going to snow again!"
"I don't care, I'm staying until His Majesty appears!"
Hearing the fervent voices behind them, the lords in the front exchanged uneasy glances.
Some felt irritation.
Why should nobles endure the same freezing wind as commoners and former slaves?
Among them, Lord Sharon of Twin Dragons City merely adjusted his cloak and smiled faintly, saying nothing.
Nearby, Lord Garp of Castelia Territory sat with eyes closed, silent.
More than the performance itself, he feared the reason they had all been summoned.
This can't be just a show…
Then, a sudden, earth-shaking roar echoed across the arena.
The crowd froze.
Everyone looked up.
The next instant, a divine dragon appeared above the Grand Arena.
It was Kyurem, the legendary dragon who, together with King Lucien, had ended the war and saved the kingdom.
Instantly, fervor erupted. Eyes filled with awe and worship locked onto the sky.
Cheers surged like a tide.
Kyurem moved.
Kyurem's entire body radiated overwhelming divine power.
A pure white, yet scorching light surged outward from it, vanishing into the clouds above.
The very next second, the snow clouds dispersed into nothingness.
The howling cold wind ceased.
Golden sunlight poured down from the heavens, bathing the Grand Arena in warmth.
The light was dazzling, gentle yet powerful, driving away the chill clinging to every spectator, as comforting as sitting beside a roaring campfire.
"It's not cold anymore!" someone shouted in disbelief.
"It's warm, so warm!"
"It's Kyurem! And His Majesty Lucien!"
"His Majesty must have seen us freezing and ordered the dragon to warm the arena!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty Lucien!"
The crowd gazed skyward with fervent eyes, cheers surging like waves.
Among the nobles, Garp and several others sat frozen in shock.
To alter weather and climate so effortlessly, such power bordered on the divine.
Some lords, who had not personally witnessed the battle of the three dragons, felt a chill crawl up their spines.
'Is this… the true power of dragons?'
As the last traces of cold vanished, the divine dragon in the sky slowly concealed its presence.
Then, a new commotion erupted below.
Boom—!
The gates at both ends of the Grand Arena swung open.
Two young figures stepped onto the battlefield.
The cheering faded into silence as all eyes turned toward the arena floor.
On the left stood a boy of about fifteen, short fiery-red hair framing a scarred face. His expression was bold, unrestrained, and brimming with confidence.
On the right stood a quiet, graceful girl with long blue hair, her demeanor calm and composed.
Some nobles frowned.
'Is this the exhibition match? Watching two children fight?'
Under the watchful gaze of tens of thousands, the two moved at the same time.
Each drew a round object, no larger than a berry, from their pocket.
"Those are Poké Balls!"
"They're sold at the Friendship Shop!"
"I heard any Pokémon can be stored inside them!"
The sharp-eyed spectators immediately recognized the items.
The boy and girl exchanged a glance.
No words were needed.
They hurled the Poké Balls into the air.
Flash!
Flash!
Two bursts of white light erupted.
Two Pokémon appeared simultaneously, landing heavily on the battlefield.
On the left;
A massive Pokémon with flames wreathing its neck, thick black arms, and a powerful, imposing frame. Black markings lined its body like symbols of battle, heat rolling off it in waves.
Emboar.
On the right;
A tall, slender Pokémon with graceful curves and long ears, its movements light and fluid like a dancer's.
Lopunny.
Gasps rippled through the arena.
At their trainers' command, both Pokémon moved instantly.
Flames exploded across Emboar's body as it opened its mouth, unleashing a roaring torrent of fire toward Lopunny.
The blazing stream twisted like a fiery serpent, surging forward.
Lopunny let out a soft cry, then sprang upward, its slender legs kicking off the ground as it vaulted high into the air.
Mid-leap, it twisted its body and delivered a lightning-fast flying kick.
The strike landed cleanly.
Boom!
Despite its massive build, Emboar was hurled backward several steps, flames scattering violently.
But it reacted quickly.
Lopunny attempted to retreat, but Emboar's entire body erupted in flames as it charged forward with terrifying momentum.
The heat was overwhelming. The pressure was suffocating.
Lopunny was a fraction of a second too slow.
Its slender body was blasted backward, skidding across the arena floor.
"This is… a Pokémon battle?!" someone exclaimed in disbelief.
"No, look closely!" another shouted. "Those two kids are commanding them!"
At once, the same realization spread through the crowd.
So this is what a trainer battle is like.
On the battlefield, two completely different Pokémon clashed under their trainers' precise commands, unleashing signature moves in rapid succession.
Fire and impact. Speed and technique. Power against agility.
As the minutes passed, exhaustion set in.
Both Pokémon were breathing heavily, their bodies marked with burns and bruises, yet neither retreated.
The fight had entered its white-hot stage.
After another violent exchange, Emboar and Lopunny separated, panting as they locked eyes.
'Who would win?'
That question seized every heart in the arena.
Though it was the audience's first time witnessing a trainer battle, the raw intensity, the strategy, the trust, the emotion, had drawn everyone in completely.
Would victory belong to the towering, flame-wreathed Emboar?
Or to the swift, long-eared Lopunny, light as the wind?
Before anyone could decide, the battle reached its climax.
Both Pokémon were at their limits.
In the end, Emboar's superior strength and endurance gave it the edge.
A final Flamethrower struck true.
Lopunny staggered, then dropped to one knee, teeth clenched as it struggled to rise.
But it couldn't.
Its strength was gone.
Emboar, flames flaring one last time, took heavy steps forward.
It was over.
A collective breath escaped the crowd.
"Looks like the Fire-type won."
"That was incredible… my palms are soaked!"
As the tension finally released, spectators began murmuring excitedly, replaying the fight in their minds.
But then, just as everyone believed the outcome was decided, the blue-haired girl on the field cried out.
"Lopunny, don't give up!"
The Pokémon, which had already stopped struggling, froze.
For a brief instant, everything went quiet.
Then, memories surged through Lopunny's mind.
The day it had still been a timid Buneary. The moment Melanie chose it.
Being brought home. Training together. Laughing together.
They went to school together.
They ran and trained together on the playground. They shared warm lunches.
At night, they slept side by side beneath the same roof.
No, It couldn't fall here.
A surge of determination erupted from Lopunny's body, forcing it to stand once more.
Facing Emboar's overwhelming heat and pressure, Lopunny's leg muscles tightened, and a sharp blue light flashed in its eyes.
High-speed movement!
Its figure vanished like a phantom.
Emboar's crushing heat and pressure struck nothing but empty air.
The very next instant, Lopunny was already behind it.
Flying Kick!
The blow landed cleanly.
Emboar, already at the edge of its endurance, let out a final, unwilling roar before collapsing heavily onto the arena floor.
Across the vast battlefield, only Lopunny remained standing, panting, trembling, barely holding itself upright.
It had endured.
So it wouldn't disappoint its trainer.
A bright, satisfied smile crossed Lopunny's face as it cast one last glance toward Melanie.
Then its legs finally gave way, and it collapsed with a soft thud.
Silence engulfed the Grand Arena.
Tens of thousands of spectators stared, stunned.
"H–How is that possible?!"
"That Pokémon was clearly at its limit, how did it still unleash that kind of power?!"
"Magnificent… absolutely magnificent!"
"As expected of His Majesty Lucien, to prepare such a spectacle!"
"Wait… does that mean anyone can battle like this?"
"It makes me want to fight alongside my Sentret!"
The arena erupted into cheers once more.
High above, Lucien watched the fallen Emboar and Lopunny, a quiet smile forming on his face.
This was the true charm of Pokémon battles.
Until the very last moment, no one could say who would win.
"Kyurem," Lucien asked softly, "did you see that?"
Kyurem inclined its head.
It had clearly sensed the source of Lopunny's final strength.
Even for a dragon born of origin, it was astonishing.
"This," Lucien said calmly, eyes reflecting the roaring crowd below, "is the new power I've been telling you about."
"The power that arises between humans and Pokémon."
"Bond."
...
STONES PLZZz 💎💎💎
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