The End - Part 1
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The journey back home had been somewhat fulfilling in its own right. With his memories now completely intact, for better or for worse, Terrakion felt at peace.
At peace… and ultimately set in what he had decided to do.
The Earth Guardian had had the hardest talk with his daughter that he’d ever had to have. The fact that he’d have to leave her behind for good this time was not a decision he took lightly, but alas, it was the decision he knew would need to come to pass someday, somehow.
And now… for the final stage of his plans.
With Celeste waiting at the arena, Terrakion made his way slowly down from his cave to the lower sections of his home. It was strange, but with it rebuilt in Celeste’s image… it felt somewhat foreign now.
But that was how it was meant to be.
Terrakion’s time had come, he knew that. He had felt it for a few years now, after Celeste was born and grew big enough to survive on her own. She was strong, now, and would only grow stronger as she grew bigger. This was her home now and not his.
Strangely, the Muskedeer did not feel sad about this, or heavy hearted. He and his siblings were wanderers, and had been since their birth. They were destined to remain that way, protecting the world, and themselves, and wandering from home to home forever.
With his jaw clenched as he walked along the familiar-but-not path down to the entrance of Victory Road, Terrakion’s mind was made up. Steven was supposed to meet him today, he could smell him nearby.
He had never met the human at the entrance to his home before - he wondered what kind of expression would show on his face.
His heart was beating faster than usual; he was nervous, but at the same time… this might just be destiny.
How many times had he come to this place? Steven felt at miss like he had lost count. Unova’s Victory Road looked no less majestic, and yet changed from events he had not witnessed himself. It was quite the different setting, but it was not exactly a bad change. At least, now.
Who knows just how much was lost in the event that caused this change, but those who lived here.
Having been summoned here before, by the very same friend and Pokémon as all the times before, Steven assumed it would be the same as usual. He would climb, Terrakion would meet him somewhere near the top, and they would converse. It was a ritual he was fine with, and would not mind repeating. In fact, mountain climbing was technically a hobby at this point for him.
With Titanium beside him, the ex-champion began to head towards the inner parts of the area, ready to explore it, only to find the one he came to see waiting right there.
This was a surprise. A pleasant one. A slightly shocked expression found itself on his face, before slowly easing to a welcoming smile. “Terrakion! You actually came down to see me.” He grinned a little, then nodded his head. Titanium next to him did the same, slowly bowing its metallic body somewhat by tilting itself on its ball joints.
“Well met.” Steven said with a smile, then tilted his head slightly. “Is there something you need?”
The slight shock on Steven’s face upon seeing him standing right there amused the muskedeer quite a bit. That had certainly been worth the wait, and a bemused smile also showed itself on his own face as he nodded at the pair.
The shiny glimmer of his megastone glimmering on his horn. Like him, it was coloured grey with the spiral part inside orange and brown, and encased in silver with two silver chains holding it in place. It was the only new addition to his normal look, as it were, aside from his ever present hat.
At the question, the legendary’s expression turned serious once more, and he nodded, “in a way.”
He turned and walked a few steps to the right before looking back at the human and his companion, “follow me, please.”
For now, he wanted to go to the arena, a place he had long since designated an area for wild Pokemon to train, away from prying eyes. With Victory Road rebuilt, he had instructed Celeste to remodel it into a proper Pokemon arena, like that that humans had. It hadn’t taken much to do so with the Pokemon of the road’s help.
Some of them under the cover of darkness were watching the group. They knew something was in the air with their Guardian - something they couldn’t quite explain. But more and more curious Pokemon began to watch from the shadows.
Steven’s eyes gravitated towards the mega stone on the legendary’s horn, the decorative metal encasing it also being quite flashy. He would have asked about it, really, and seemed about ready to at least compliment Terrakion on his find, but then the other turned serious, prompting Hoenn’s ex-champion to follow.
“Alright.” He answered, not at all cautious, but utterly curious. Walking after the Pokémon, he idly wondered what it was exactly that his friend would need.
As they walked, he and Titanium, who followed dutifully after him, noticed the group of other critters observing them. He was sure he had not spotted them all, but it would be alright. He doubted they would be aggressive, and were probably as curious as he.
There was something in the air, like whenever he felt when a new challenger for the title of Champion would reach him and prepare for battle. A stillness and calm before a storm of battle.
It made him feel quite giddy.
The fact that they had entered an area that looked exactly like an arena only made him much more curious and excited.
He would have been polite, and ask just exactly what Terrakion wanted, but this time, he felt he had to be direct.
“Why, is this a challenge to a friendly bout?” He asked, admiring the arena. “This looks very good, by the way.” He praised with a smile, nodding in appreciation.
More Pokemon showed up to watch as the Legendary Pokemon made his way towards the new arena, as if they too knew what was to come. The mere fact that Terrakion was showing what had been a secret place before now to a human was proof of what was to come soon enough.
Celeste was waiting in the arena, and she looked up once she saw Steven. Surprise and shock crossed her eyes as she did, and then… it all became clear. So that’s why her Papa had told her he was going away… the child looked down sadly at her hooves…
Terrakion didn’t really want to look at Celeste lest he back down from his choice, but he spared her a glance for a moment before turning back to Steven with a wry smile, “not really, but thank you.”
He walked into the arena more before he turned to Steven, growing serious once more, “Steven Stone, I would like to challenge you to a proper match. And your prize… is me.”
His orange eyes showed that he was serious, and that there was no hesitation present at all. Only a slight bit of anxiety towards the future, maybe… but it was more anticipation than anything. Terrakion was ready to challenge the world, and ready to do so at a human’s side.
The Guardian was ready for Steven to show him that.
“Do you accept?” he asked, as Celeste watched on from her side of the field, where the referee would normally stand in a trainer battle.
Steven spotted Celeste as he made his way further into the arena, and her expression told him this was a lot more than a mere duel.
This was… so much more.
He looked back to Terrakion, feeling his throat dry even if he had hardly spoken. Titanium stood at his side, and he reached over to give one of its closest legs an affectionate pat. He stared up at the Legendary, noting there was no hesitation nor regret. Terrakion had made his choice.
It was time for him to make his.
It was something he didn’t feel he was ready for, and yet a part of him yearned to take the Pokémon with him, to show him how much the world had changed. It had been many a year from when the legends of the Muskedeers came to being.
The world was a much different place.
Stepping back a little so he was properly in his ‘spot’ on the arena, he grinned at Terrakion, then nodded.
“I accept your challenge, Terrakion. Win or lose… may the best win.”
And may there be no hard feelings from the result.
Returning his Metagross to its Pokéball, he readied himself, then tossed another in the air. “Go!” Opening in midair, the creature that emerged was none other than his Skarmory, who gave a shrill thrill as he emerged.
Terrakion offered a brief smile at the human when he agreed to his challenge. He knew that this probably came as a shock - him, a Muskedeer, wishing to travel with a human, the very species his kind was known to hate. But the time had come to embrace change, and that was exactly what he would do, today.
As Steven called out his first Pokemon, Terrakion leapt backwards to his side of the arena. The Guardian looked up at the Skarmory, and his eyes narrowed in battle.
This was really it…
‘Isamu… you always wanted to battle together,’ The Legendary closed his eyes, and focused inward, “I want to fight with you… just this once. I know you’re here with me…” he opened his eyes with a smile as the feather on his hat lit up with a brilliant white light.
“You’ve always… been right here,” he whispered, his eyes glassy for a moment. He blinked the tears back as the mega stone on his horn reacted to the feather’s glow and shone orange. The earth deer looked at Steven and spoke in a loud voice, a declaration:
“I, Terrakion, the Muskedeer of Trials, will now trial your worth, with all my power!”
Tendrils of energy shot out of the feather along with the megastone, and they connected together. The energy turned from a bluish white to gold, and Terrakion himself glowed blue as his form changed. He grew bigger, and stronger, and when the glow dispersed, Terrakion’s hat and the megastone were gone.
Eyes a brilliant sky blue, just like his former trainer, with dark, wider markings like lightning under his eyes, and the ridges on his back now surrounded his horns. His tail was longer, the orange panels on his forelegs bigger, with a smaller pair on the top of his shoulders, and his horns were sharper, and jagged in one spot. His ‘boots’ had changed as well, becoming open with a sword mark on the front.
A mega evolution.
‘So this is the power… of humans and Pokemon together…’ Terrakion felt the overwhelming strength coming up inside, like his power over earth had also increased…
He grinned.
“Lets go, Steven!” He yelled, and he started the match with his signature move, Sacred Sword, which he hurled at the bird.
