Aurora laughed as she was flowing in Stormscale's wind and held her Eevee close to her. She slid down the wind currents and squealed with glee. Melody was getting motion sickness and she looked nervous as she was very high up.
I watched them and smiled. Rowlet soared beside them and hooted happily. Snivy bathed in the sunlight while laying down and Cinfawn stuck close to me and watched everything.
Midori wiped her forehead as she worked on her garden and smiled. She looked to the sky and noticed Aurora and Melody gliding in the wind with Stormscale.
I walked over to Midori and tapped her shoulder. "Midori?"
Midori looked at me and smiled. She gently rubbed my head. "Yeah? What can I do for you?"
"How long have you known Mom for? I've always been curious about her friends. She is well known across the globe to most." I said.
"I've known her since she was in Kalos. We were Rivals at the time and we hated each other, but overtime we grew close. She defeated me in a league match to face off against Diantha and defeated her. That was the last I've seen Freya battle and it was a joy to watch." Midori smiled and looked to the sky.
"I've always seen Mom's Champion Trophies and Hall of Fame certificates. I've always wanted to meet her friends and see if they are as powerful as she says they are. I mean obviously since you are now a Champion and you own a legendary." I said.
Midori giggled softly and held her arms then looked at me. "They are all as powerful as your mom probably told you we were. She doesn't consider anyone weaker a rival, but she still considered them a fellow competitor. She's had five rivals and they were spread across the globe, the four places she's Champion in."
I looked at the Cherish Ball in my hand that contained Magearna. "Did she catch Magearna in Kalos?"
Midori looked at the Cherish Ball and tilted her head. "Well she didn't necessarily catch Magearna. She found her. A group of evil beings had kidnapped her and she saved them alongside me and a few of our friends. Magearna had bonded with Freya and along the way she gained the trust of Volcanion."
"Volcanion? Where is he?" I asked.
"I have no clue myself. All I know is since Magearna is in your hands you are responsible for her and for keeping her safe." Midori smiled.
I looked at Midori and nodded. "There were a few times where I thought I had to use her, but...in the end, my Pokemon always pull through even if it ends in a loss."
Midori nodded and smiled. "Having trust and faith in your partners is key for a True Bond, like what you have with Rowlet. Speaking of Rowlet come with me."
"Alright." I said then called Rowlet and she flew over to me.
~~~~~
Midori and I stood on a battlefield and she sent out her Normal Ragnu Ace, Bowgarde. I looked at Bowgarde and noticed her looking at me and Rowlet. Rowlet looked at Bowgarde and landed on the ground.
Bowgarde was a bipedal humanoid Pokemon. Her body was white and had dark blue spirals going down her legs. She had on armor and her head resembled a Knight's helmet. Her eyes shined a steely gray color. In her hand she wields a crescent metal pole that resembled that of a bow. Her body held a bit of grudges so she had slight ghostly aura around her body.
[New Pokemon!]
Name: Bowgarde
Regional Number: #202
Type: Steel/Ghost
Ragnu Type: Steel/Ghost
Gender: 50% Male/50% Female
Abilities: Bullseye/Quick Draw
Ability: Bullseye
Description: Bowgarde Exclusive, this ability raises the accuracy of moves by 2x and critical hit ratio increases by 40%. When Bowgarde's stamina is low, its accuracy increases to 3x and critical hit ratio increases by 60%.
"This is my first Ace. I evolved her from a little Archar all the way to Bowgarde. If you can defeat Bowgarde, I will happily tell you who your father is." Midori said and her Bowgarde walked forward.
Rowlet looked at Bowgarde and braced herself for a battle. Bowgarde cried out and got ready for a battle as well.
"No supports. Just a traditional one on one battle." Midori said and snapped her fingers then a digital arena surrounded Bowgarde and Rowlet.
Snivy and Cinfawn watched and Cinfawn was worried that she couldn't help Rowlet. Snivy watched and crossed her arms.
"Let's get this battle started!" Midori said.
Bowgarde stared at Rowlet then lowered her stance then dashed toward Rowlet. Rowlet took fight and dodged Bowgarde's kick. Bowgarde began to fire needles trailing white energy at Rowlet and she dodged each one then looked surprised when she noticed waves of needles headed toward her.
"There's no point in holding back Artemis! Let's go all out!" I bellowed.
Rowlet let out a trill and spun around and formed a vortex of wind around her body, blocking the needles then cloaked herself in shadow energy then her energy rushed over to Bowgarde.
Bowgarde dodged the Long Reach Leafage then began to fire a barrage of arrows at Rowlet. Rowlet quickly few around then curved then moved at invisible speeds, striking Bowgarde with a barrage of Aerial Aces. She noticed it was barely doing damage to her.
[Ability Activate: Quick Draw!]
Bowgarde quickly fired an energy arrow at Rowlet that moved at invisible speeds. Rowlet cried out as she was hit then five more arrows struck Rowlet. She began to fall and Bowgarde took this chance to strike Rowlet with a staggering kick. She twirled her bow around and rapidly struck Rowlet then grabbed her out the air then blasted her away with ghostly energy.
Rowlet groaned as she crashed into the wall and fell down. I grunted as I felt Rowlet's pain. Rowlet stood up then let out a powerful cry and awakened her Mastered Overgrow Energy.
Midori smirked and snapped her fingers. "Bowgarde! Awaken your Bullseye!"
[Ability Activate: Bullseye!]
"Artemis! Let's go!" I bellowed.
Rowlet flew toward Bowgarde at high speeds. Bowgarde dashed toward Rowlet and they both went for a strike at the same time.
~~~~~
Aurora and Melody sat together in the garden area, talking with one another. Melody grunted and held her chest. Aurora noticed then heard an explosion.
"What the hell..? What is going on over there..?" Melody asked and got up.
"I don't know, but I feel Axel. His soul is becoming more active.." Aurora said and closed her eyes.
"Come on! We're going over to see what's happening!" Melody said and ran off then Botafox followed quickly behind.
Aurora got up and she called Eevee over to her. They began to quickly follow Melody.
~~~~~
Rowlet began to dodge the barrage of Shadow Balls and created illusionary copies of herself and began to rush Bowgarde with Aerial Aces.
Snivy looked surprised on how Rowlet used her technique. She was impressed with how well Rowlet did it as well.
As I looked at Midori, I noticed her smirking the entire time. She knew something I didn't and I had to find out.
Bowgarde parried Rowlet's next attack then struck her stomach. Rowlet groaned and was launched away then crashed into the wall.
"Do it." Midori said. "Fusillade."
Bowgarde took aim at Rowlet and a white orb of energy formed in front of her. She cried out and rapidly fired bolts of energy at Rowlet then caused an explosion.
[New Move!]
Name: Fusillade
Type: Steel
Category: Special
Description: Bowgarde Exclusive, a move that fires a barrage of arrows with each arrow being stronger than the last. Each successful hit lowers the target's defensive stats and may cause paralysis.
I watched Rowlet fall to the ground and looked surprised. My ace at her strongest had fallen with relative ease. I looked at Bowgarde and noticed how she had barely taken any damage the entire time.
"Sometimes, you aren't supposed to know things before it's time. That's just how life works. It's the Truth of the matter. I'm sorry, Axel...but I promised your mother I won't tell you." Midori said.
"So you lied to me..?" I asked.
"...yes." Midori said and held her arms. "The Truth is, you aren't supposed to find out because like I said if I tell you the consequences will be fatal.."
"I don't care!" I said and looked at Midori. "I've spent 18 years of my life wondering who my father is! It was the whole reason why I went on a Journey in Alola. I may have stopped pursuing that goal after I had become champion, but I feel it...my father is in Ragnu and I want to know who he is!"
Aurora and Melody made it to the battlefield and noticed the battle going on.
"I can't! Freya doesn't want you to know and that is the Truth!" Midori said.
I grit my teeth and grunted. "If you won't tell me...then actually defeating you is the only way to know...The Truth."
Rowlet slowly began to stand up. She grunted and looked at Bowgarde. She wasn't ready to quit.
"Artemis!" I bellowed.
Melody grunted and held onto Aurora. "His...prowess..!"
"We WILL win! We haven't failed each other since the first day we became partners! You were my best for my new adventure! Every step on the faithful day..." I said and took off my jacket tossed it aside. I let my hair down and got into my true battle stance.
Midori watched me and felt a spike in my Battle Aura. "What the-"
Melody groaned and kept holding Aurora. "He- He's been holding back..?!"
Aurora stared at me and had a flashback from two years ago when I had my final battle with Vain in Alola. "Yeah...he has.."
"Artemis! No matter what! We will win!" I bellowed then unleashed my battle aura.
Rowlet screeched and her body began to glow. Everyone watched in awe and noticed Rowlet was changing forms. Everyone watched as Rowlet evolved into Dartrix. Dartrix cried out and her power grew to new heights.
Everyone looked surprised and admired Dartrix. I smiled and closed my eyes. I felt the bond between Dartrix and I grow stronger. Dartrix flipped the leaf on her head then got ready to battle.
"Evolution just like that. She evolved in the middle of the battle out of pure determination and trust with her trainer. Axel is certainly something else...but even after all that, I won't let you win!" Midori bellowed.
"Artemis! Let's go!" I bellowed and my battle aura surged.
"Bowgarde! Do not let them gain the upper hand!" Midori bellowed and her battle aura surged.
The two pokemon dashed toward each other and clashed. Bowgarde pushed Dartrix back then went for a kick, but Dartrix easily dodged it and created a blade of grassy energy. She flew toward Bowgarde and slashed at her with Leaf Blade.
Bowgarde blocked the attack with her bow then the two rapidly clashed. Dartrix evaded the attack and kicked Bowgarde away then landed on the ground. She began to preen in the middle of the battle, which began to aggravate Bowgarde.
Bowgarde charged at Dartrix and went for an attack, but Dartrix opened her left eye and Sucker Punched Bowgarde as she went for the attack, dealing critical damage and blowing her away. Bowgarde slid backwards and fired a barrage of energy arrows at Dartrix.
Dartrix dodged the arrows and the arrows ricocheted back to Dartrix from behind. She could detect the arrows and dodged those as well.
"Bowgarde! We're ending this now!" Midori bellowed and performed Ragnu Poses.
Bowgarde performed the poses as well and her Ragnu Energy surged powerfully around her body. Her armor began to turn into ghostly armor, her bow change forms and grew sharp blades on the bow. She cried out we she entered her Ragnu Forme.
"Artemis! Let's finish this!" I said and tossed her the Flyinium Z-Crystal.
Dartrix caught it and began to perform synchronized poses with me then light blue energy surrounded her body and she took flight to the sky.
"Bowgarde! Ragnu Move: Bullseye!" Midori bellowed.
"Artemis! Supersonic Skystrike!" I bellowed.
Bowgarde took aim at Dartrix and watched her dive bomb with sheer force. She formed a massive orb of ghost energy and fired a massive bolt of energy at Dartrix.
Dartrix clashed with the bolt of energy and began the struggle for power. Powerful forces of energy began to surge across the arena. High winds began to blow and Midori grunted as she slid back a bit. I watched and felt my heart racing faster.
"Artemis, let's go!" I yelled.
Dartrix cried out and broke through the attack then slammed into Bowgarde and an explosion happened. The explosion shattered the arena and both Bowgarde and Dartrix were launched backwards. Bowgarde slammed into a tree and groaned. Dartrix crashed into a pond.
I panted and noticed Midori's shock. I grunted and fell onto one knee. I grew exhausted and my battle aura vanished.
Aurora watched and took a step forward, but someone grabbed her shoulder. She looked back and noticed Azalea. "Azalea.."
"You can't interfere...this is something you have to let happen.." Azalea said and watched.
Dartrix got out the pond and slowly made her way to the battlefield slowly. Bowgarde also made her way to the battlefield. They ran toward each other then struck each other. Bowgarde looked surprised when she had hit an illusionary copy and looked behind her.
Dartrix only had enough energy for one last attack. She pulled out a blade quill and fell onto one knee. Bowgarde saw this as a chance to strike.
I noticed Bowgarde aiming an attack at Dartrix. I could tell Dartrix was exhausted. I got up and sprinted toward Dartrix as the final arrow was shot. I pushed Dartrix out the way and took the arrow. I groaned and fell to the ground.
Dartrix looked surprised and hurried toward me. Bowgarde was just as surprised and hurried to me.
"Axel!" Aurora said and hurried over to me.
Melody also ran toward me along with Snivy and Cinfawn. They stood around me and Dartrix hooted and hit me with her wings, and I could tell she was calling me stupid and was extremely worried.
Midori hurried over and got on her knees and looked at my injury. She stopped the blood by using her healing ability. "Axel...why..?"
"Dartrix couldn't get up anymore...I had to win so I can find out who he is. If I know who he is, I can find him and ask him why he was never there.." I said softly.
"You really want to know who he is..?" Midori asked and gazed at me.
I looked at her and nodded.
"His name...is Shinji.." Midori said softly. "He works for Team Anti-Sync and he owns a Rhyperior.."
My eyes widened as I remember seeing Shinji in Jinka Creek City. "What..?"
Azalea was just as surprised. "The same Shinji that was one of the rivals to Freya in Unova?"
Midori nodded. "The same one."
I sat up and stared at the ground for a moment, processing the information I had to take in. "So that explains why he seemed so familiar to me. Even though I've never met him, I felt some connection to him. Why would he leave mom and join an evil organization like this..?"
"Freya told me they had an argument a few months before you were born, but that's about all she told me." Midori said.
"I see." I nodded.
Aurora looked at me and noticed how down I looked. She crouched down next to me and hugged me.
I felt her embrace and just stayed there. It wasn't knowing the truth that hurt, it was the fact that it took this long for me to know and now I really have fallen back to Square One...