Elsewhere.
After Zoroark and Vanilluxe are defeated, N's side is clearly left with only the last one who's been seriously damaged — Carracosta.
N stays silent, lowers his hat brim, and gazes at the beautiful and moving Champion Cynthia with a heavy look.
Is this really Sinnoh Region's Champion? So strong.
Clearly he's already gone all out, yet he's still not her opponent.
"You're not my opponent, give up."
Cynthia speaks, trying to urge him.
"Sorry, I can't." N shakes his head.
He has the best original purpose, but life's ways are cruel; he cannot give up Zekrom, no matter what.
"Champion Cynthia, you should understand too, right? If your Garchomp were in a desperate situation, would you give up everything to save it?"
N looks toward Cynthia's Mega Garchomp, which in the recent battle displayed immense combat power.
This is Cynthia's ace, her main roster, and also the most important partner she has grown up with since childhood.
For Cynthia, Garchomp's meaning is especially significant.
Cynthia falls silent; she doesn't know how to answer.
What would she do if Garchomp fell into danger?
Cynthia doesn't know either; perhaps she would calmly consider strategies, or perhaps she would throw everything to save Garchomp.
Even she can't be sure.
"I understand." Cynthia sighs softly in her heart.
Since she can't persuade N, the only option is to capture him.
Although she understands N's hardship, as a League Champion, her stance is opposite his.
N remains silent, but at this moment his expression shifts; a sign of surprise crosses his face.
Roar—
A deep draconic bellow sounds; a Zekrom rapidly flies toward them.
"Zekrom!"
Cynthia's eyes narrow; this is indeed Zekrom.
And Zekrom's appearance here means that Damian has beaten Kyurem, Kyurem, right?!
"Zekrom!"
N, rarely this agitated, trembles as he watches the approaching Zekrom.
Zekrom lands heavily in front of N, its dragon eyes lowered, gazing at N.
"N, I'm back."
The Telepathy carries a gentle warmth.
Hearing Zekrom's words, N's tear ducts cannot hold back the sourness; tears spill over.
This is the joy of regaining what was lost, and he is incredibly happy.
N wipes his tears, slowly stepping up to Zekrom, and gently pats Zekrom's leg.
"Welcome back, Zekrom."
N lifts his head, smiles softly, and speaks.
He truly feels that in that moment, his heart was made whole by seeing Zekrom.
At this moment, N is deeply grateful to Damian; he truly kept his promise and saved his Zekrom.
...
And elsewhere.
"You've lost, Kyurem."
Damian walked a short distance toward Kyurem, looking at this weakened Kyurem as it slowly spoke.
And worth noting, Reshiram is currently hiding behind Damian.
Though due to body size, no matter how Reshiram hides, its white fur can't be concealed.
This is something Damian finds hard to bear; this isn't the first time, but he's not going to quarrel with this Reshiram.
"Hmph."
Kyurem's eyes snorted in a sour, cold look.
"Even if you absorbed Reshiram and grew stronger, you still lost, which proves one thing."
Damian doesn't mind Kyurem's bad attitude; he reaches out, and a green ripple—the power of Viridian—spills toward Kyurem.
The power of Viridian restores Kyurem's condition and stamina.
Feeling the change, Kyurem looks at this human in astonishment; he can actually heal me?
"What do you want to say?"
Once he can move again, Kyurem slowly stands up, its telepathy hoarse.
"Simply in terms of power, you are indeed very strong, but this world isn't represented by power alone."
"Our partner and cooperation can still beat you, Kyurem. There are many things to discover in this world, and if you understand them you'll be stronger."
Damian smiles and speaks.
Kyurem's golden, fearsome eyes shimmer uncertainly; clearly, the recent defeat has shaken its worldview hard.
It already has Three-Dragon Unity; in its view, there can be no stronger dragon in the world.
Yet the fact remains that it lost, and decisively.
"If it weren't for the sheer number of Pokémon my opponent had, I wouldn't have lost."
Yet in the end Kyurem remains unconvinced; it's a bit unwilling.
For the domineering, savage personality Kyurem, even though it lost, it cannot fully endorse it; after all, Shiny Rayquaza also relied on buffs to beat it, didn't it?
"But a loss is a loss; since that's the case, I'll let Reshiram and Zekrom go for now."
Kyurem glances at Reshiram hiding behind Damian and says softly.
It's not fully convinced, but it admits its defeat.
"Kyurem, would you be interested in going on a journey with me?"
Damian throws his olive branch.
"This journey will be spectacular, and you may experience many things."
Hearing Damian, Reshiram straightens up immediately.
Reshiram's gaze becomes wary; would it have to worry about Kyurem gobbling it up again if Kyurem felt like it?
Reshiram feels the world tilt.
Primal Kyogre looks up sadly; if Kyurem joins the team, it would drop from Brother to second fiddle.
Well, it's starting to rain.
"..."
Kyurem's golden dragon eyes gaze at this human, shimmering uncertainly.
If before, for Damian's invitation, it would have sneered and mocked it; but this defeat has given Kyurem a subtle change in mindset.
The atmosphere cools.
Shiny Rayquaza lounges, wagging its tail with genuine curiosity as it watches Kyurem.
Will Kyurem accept this human's invitation?
A few minutes later, Kyurem's deep telepathy sounds.
"Want to become my partner? Then come beat me head-on."
Kyurem turns, a flash of lightning streaking across its body, reverting to its black form.
"Humans, I'll meet your challenge at the Giant Chasm."
Black Kyurem flies high, then drops its gaze toward Damian, and disappears toward the horizon.
Not that it has a poor sense for Damian, but it has its pride.
If you want to catch me, then beat me head-on!
"Interesting." Damian can't help but marvel.
Are these top-tier legends all the same mold? Shiny Rayquaza says so, and now Kyurem does as well.
Damian looks at Shiny Rayquaza; the Shiny Rayquaza seems to sense something.
"Humans, I suggest you take care of Kyurem first, then come fight me."
Shiny Rayquaza still lounges with its tail, feeling it's harder to deal with than Kyurem.
"Not necessarily, Rayquaza." Damian's lips curve slightly; if he really catches Kyurem, he'll effectively have Unova Kyurem, since Zekrom is with N, he can borrow Zekrom anytime.
"Anyway, thanks for your help today, Rayquaza."
Damian thanks Shiny Rayquaza; without Shiny Rayquaza's help, beating Unova Kyurem would be extremely difficult.
"You're welcome; I had a great time today."
Shiny Rayquaza's mood is clearly good; after all, the thrill of finally pushing one's power to the limit is something it's never felt before.
It even has the urge to challenge Arceus!
Well, luckily it held back; otherwise Arceus would likely smack it dead.
"Then I'll take my leave now, humans, you teach little Rayquaza more; this kid is not ambitious enough."
Shiny Rayquaza glances at little Rayquaza; the little one shrinks its neck at the look.
"Okay, goodbye." Damian nods.
Shiny Rayquaza gives a nod, a majestic draconic bellow echoing, then quickly disappears into the sky.
Damian watches the Shiny Rayquaza's silhouette fade, then turns to Ho-Oh.
"Ho-Oh, you've been a great help this time."
Damian speaks with sincerity to Ho-Oh.
Because Ho-Oh is staring with bird eyes at the re-emerging Jirachi and Victini.
They're holding Rainbow Wings, some good, some frost-covered.
But it's fine; after thawing and sunbathing, they can be used again.
Feeling Ho-Oh's sharp gaze, Jirachi and Victini quietly scoot behind Damian.
"Humans!!"
Ho-Oh grits its beak.
This born-evil human!
Letting it fight and get beaten was one thing; it hates that this human would take the feathers dropped during the battle.
In front of Ho-Oh, no less!
Damian clears his throat; his thick skin means Ho-Oh won't lose much.
Ho-Oh's anger boils, but it finally settles after a long breath.
"Humans, our agreement has now been completed twice."
Ho-Oh's voice is calm and cool.
"Of course, Ho-Oh, you've been a great help; if it weren't for personal reasons, I'd love to catch you."
Ho-Oh is indeed very useful, and its feathers are precious; it can even resurrect the dead, a versatile partner.
"Humans, I won't beat around the bush."
Ho-Oh's tone is cold.
"I may be blind to you, but I won't fall for a shameless human like you."
Truth tingles behind its icy gaze.
But aside from its temperance, Ho-Oh acknowledges Damian's talent.
"Too bad," Damian sighs.
Not a bit regrettable.
Ho-Oh remains expressionless.
"Since things are done, I'll take my leave."
Ho-Oh turns and flies away, needing to recover its strength after the exertion.
But after a short distance, Ho-Oh turns back.
"By the way, humans, I am warning you! If you face opponents like Shiny Rayquaza and Kyurem again, do not contact me again!"
Ho-Oh's voice is firm, as if it's set on a decision.
It has to warn Damian in advance.
First Shiny Rayquaza, then Three-Dragon Unity Kyurem—what could come next?
It does not want to be hit again!
"I'll really get mad!"
~~~
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