Chapter Text
Paxton sat next to Urbain again when they arrived at Café Nouveau’s main truck. The both of them got their favorite Flamethrower Roasts (since Paxton’s current assumption that Urbain liked everything Taunie did had been proven correct so far), while both Lida and Naveen got Ember Roasts from Grisham and Griselle. Paxton nursed on the flaming hot coffee while Urbain babbled on and on about his perspective on the events leading up to and following the Hyperrogue Ange.
“I know it was definitely wrong to seize the spotlight from Harmony when she’d clearly beaten me in battle,” Urbain said with a guilty frown, “but honestly, I had a gut feeling something was gonna go wrong. I didn’t want her trapped up in it when I knew her strength would be the key to victory if something did happen to go berserk.”
“Which something did.” Lida gathered.
“Right.” Urbain nodded. “Ange took control of Floette and went rogue. I hoped Zygarde was gonna be there to fix it, and boy was I glad it was. Even more so when I knew Harmony could stop the chaos with it.”
Paxton found his left hand trailing down to the Poké Balls he carried with him, resting it over the only Dusk Ball in the group; the ball he’d caught Zygarde in. He could feel the warmth from inside the ball—the warmth of the trust and the bond he’d forged with the legendary Pokémon. It brought a smile to his face to remember the day he and Zygarde saved Lumiose. To remember the surge of adrenaline and energy as he Mega Evolved a legendary for the first time. To remember the relief he felt afterwards to see Taunie and Floette safe, and the city as well.
It also brought a dull pain to his chest to remember arriving back home to Hotel Z, and seeing AZ for the final time. How all five of them were overcome with grief at the loss.
Paxton pushed those thoughts aside as Urbain continued.
“It was amazing, seeing all of that happening from the apex of Prism Tower. Shame what happened to it afterwards, but it can be rebuilt.” He cast a glance over at the skeleton of the landmark, a smile still stretched wide on his lips. “I couldn’t imagine what it was like on the ground.”
“Equally as spectacular.” Lida replied. “I’m sure Paxton would agree.”
“Sure do,” he said smoothly. “Though my blood was roaring and adrenaline pumping with each passing moment. It was intense fighting for the life of the city with Zygarde.”
“No doubt.” Urbain turned his ocean gaze to Paxton, grinning wide. “By the by, did you happen to catch Zygarde too?”
Paxton unhooked the Dusk Ball from his belt and lifted it up to show it to the group. “Sure did.”
“Wow, you and Harmony truly are two sides of the same coin.” Urbain laughed softly, taking a big swig of his coffee. “You both used a Dusk Ball and everything.”
Paxton laughed along with him. “I could say the same about you and Taunie.”
“Oh yeah?” Urbain smirked. Paxton saw a glint in his eye—one he knew all too well. A challenge. “Wanna bet?”
“Sure.” Paxton accepted, allowing his own competitive smirk to form on his lips. “I’d like to see just how similar me and your Harmony are.”
“Then it’s a battle.” Urbain proclaimed. “You and me.”
“The battle court by Hotel Z?” Paxton affirmed.
“That’s the one.”
“Hey, we get front row seats to this!” Lida laughed.
“Of course.” Urbain replied with a chuckle.
“Absolutely.” Paxton said at the same time.
Naveen finished his coffee with a few more sips, rising from his seat with the cup in hand. “Then we’d better go.”
“I didn’t think you’d be so eager to watch us battle, Naveen.” Paxton teased.
Naveen flushed, looking away with a pout. “I’m just interested to see if Urbain is like Taunie in battle.” He defended.
“So am I.” Urbain added, standing as he chugged his coffee. He and Naveen threw their empty cups away in the bin next to Griselle. Paxton clipped Zygarde’s ball back on his waist as he rose to his feet, lazily sipping on his drink. He still had about half left, and he wasn’t about to waste it or chug it too fast. Lida had the same sentiment as she also sipped on her drink.
Urbain led the way to the battle court, walking at a pace Lida and Paxton could keep up with while chatting away. Paxton finished his drink as they arrived at the court, and tossed the cup into the garbage bin just outside. The heat from the roast boiled in his veins, igniting the fire inside.
He was in it to win it.
Paxton took one side of the field while Urbain took the other. A gentle breeze blew through, barely disrupting the hair on his head. He selected a Poké Ball, awaiting the beginning of the battle.
“Okay you two,” Lida called from outside the court. “Fire it up!”
“Go! Meowstic!”
“I know you can do it, Feraligatr!”
And just like that, their battle was on. Urbain battled exactly like Taunie did, with the same intensity and commanding presence. Paxton felt that same thrill ride up his spine battling him as he did his feminine counterpart. With a few exchanged hits of Psychic and Surf, Meowstic went down to Feraligatr’s Crunch.
Manectric was next up. Even with some well timed Protects, Feraligatr fell to a nasty Wild Charge crit from Manectric. Paxton considered his next battler, deciding against pulling Zygarde out so soon. Instead, he went with Dragonite.
His Dragonite shone a rich clover green, as shiny as the dew on grass come morning. Paxton smirked at the grin Urbain shot him. Manectric danced around Dragonite with Urbain’s fluid movements around the court.
“Earthquake!” Paxton shouted, waving his arm to order his Pokémon. Dragonite obeyed, drawing forth its power and using the move commanded of it.
Urbain had been expecting it, though. “Manectric! Protect!” Manectric obeyed its master, protecting itself from the super effective attack. Paxton’s smirk only grew.
Dragonite rushed Manectric again after its Protect with Dragon Rush at Paxton’s command. Urbain countered with another Wild Charge, dealing big damage to Dragonite. Paxton commanded Earthquake again to Dragonite, and the attack was enough to knock out the half damaged Manectric.
Urbain’s third Pokémon was Avalugg, who delivered a devastating Avalanche upon entering the battlefield. Dragonite dodged only half of the move with Paxton’s swift movements, nearly fainted after the super effective attack. It landed a following Dragon Rush before fainting to Ice Beam.
Paxton felt his blood boiling and adrenaline roaring as he selected his next team member to join the fray. He couldn’t shake off his grin as he sent out Delphox, and ordered an immediate Fire Blast. The attack collided with Avalugg at the same time it used Surf, leaving both Pokémon very injured from their moves. Urbain struck first with another Avalanche, taking out Delphox before it could fully charge up Flamethrower. Urbain now had the slight edge. Paxton sent out his fourth mon, Metagross. With a swift Iron Head, Avalugg was down and both were on their fourth team member.
Urbain sent out Goodra next, locking them in for a mostly resisted battle. Goodra used Protect at Metagross’s first Earthquake, countering with a Thunder that left Metagross paralyzed. Paxton gritted his teeth, but continued pushing through with his teammate. Metagross landed a crit Power-Up Punch that raised its attack, following with a hasty Psycho Cut that dealt a powerful blow to Goodra. It returned with Dragon Pulse and a crit Blizzard, but didn’t quite take Metagross down. Metagross’s paralysis made its next Earthquake slow, allowing it to fall to another Thunder from Goodra after barely firing off the move.
With Goodra barely standing, Paxton sent in his second to last teammate, Aurorus. He used Protect on the incoming Blizzard, firing off an Ice Beam that took Goodra down. The battle was getting close, and Paxton lived for that rush.
Urbain sent in Feraligatr next, mirroring Paxton’s own starter. He cocked an eyebrow, ordering a Protect again at an incoming Waterfall. Aurorus countered with Thunderbolt, dealing a massive blow to Feraligatr, but left itself open to an Earthquake. Aurorus survived the hit, shooting another Ice Beam at Feraligatr and freezing it solid. Paxton heard Urbain curse softly under his breath as he ordered an Earthquake of his own, followed by a second Thunderbolt. Feraligatr went down.
“You’ve certainly backed me into a corner,” Urbain laughed, slightly breathless from the intensity of the battle. “Let’s see if you can keep it up.” He threw out his final Poké Ball, revealing Emboar to the group. With a swift flick of his wrist, he had Emboar Mega Evolved. And now began the real fun.
Urbain and Emboar had Aurorus defeated in seconds with a single Close Combat, leaving Paxton with his only remaining team member. Zygarde. The legendary came in, only in its 10% form, and took to the field. Paxton dodged a Flare Blitz with it simply by keeping on his toes, ordering Zygarde to use Land’s Wrath afterwards. The attack dealt huge damage, but didn’t take down the Mega Emboar. Urbain countered with an ordered Bulk Up into Stone Edge, that did almost half of Zygarde’s health. Paxton could feel his Mega Ring thrumming with power, the evolution close enough he could taste it.
Emboar landed another Close Combat, activating Zygarde’s Power Construct. It shifted from its 10% form to its complete form, and with it came the bursting energy of Paxton’s Mega Ring.
He couldn’t help himself, throwing his arm to the air and pushing two fingers against the cool Mega Stone on his left wrist. His heart beat in sync with Zygarde’s, their breath evening, as Mega Evolution took place. Zygarde Mega Evolved to rival Emboar and, with a swift Nihil Light, won Paxton the battle. He could feel the sweat beading down his face from the intense fight, but his smile remained unshaken.
Battling Urbain was exactly like battling Taunie.
“That was awesome you two!” Lida clapped, beaming. “I had no idea who was gonna win that whole match!”
“It was certainly an intense battle.” Naveen agreed. “One only two A Rank trainers could accomplish.”
“So, was I just as fun to fight as your Harmony?” Paxton asked Urbain with a grin, retrieving Zygarde after its Mega Evolution wore off.
“Somehow even better.” Urbain laughed. “I didn’t expect you to have Feraligatr. Harmony picked Chikorita when I offered her the starters.”
Paxton smiled. “And I wasn’t expecting you to have Feraligatr, since I picked it when Taun offered me those three.”
“I guess there are subtle differences between our worlds.” Urbain laughed, the rest of Team MZ following suit.
“I suppose so.” Paxton agreed with a grin.
“Let’s get back to the hotel.” Lida suggested. “I’m starving just from watching you guys.”
“I’ll cook!” Urbain offered immediately, laughing.
“Only if I can help!” Paxton added, following the group back. After a battle like that, it was a no brainer to stop at the Pokémon Center across from the battle court.
Urbain smiled oh so sweetly as they healed their teams. “Deal.”