Archive of Our Own

The strong preyed on the weak.

It was a lesson all Koraidon learned when they were young. They were the Apex of all life. Nothing was beyond their reach. The deep oceans and the open skies were fertile hunting grounds. Under the warmth of the sun, none could stand before them. Even the very earth itself trembled beneath their feet.

At least… that was how it was supposed to be.

For one Koraidon in particular, she'd never really understood why her kind felt that way. What reason was there to flaunt their strength over others? It just seemed so pointless.

There was so much more to life than strength.

Koraidon glided through the open air and took a deep breath, fresh air filling her lungs. The sound of ocean waves gently cresting up the warm sands of a beach and the whistling tune of the wind graced her ears.

Most other Pokemon in the air steered clear of her path. Even a flock of mighty Aerodactyl turned and fled at the sight of her. Normally, she'd have found that disappointing, but not when she was up here. When Koraidon flew, all she wanted was to feel like she ruled the world. She couldn't do that if things were trying to attack her.

It was why she stayed out of Roaring Moon territory nowadays. Those angry buggers got so indignant about 'their' skies and how no one could trespass on their territory. Really, the way they screeched and flailed around, you'd think they were a hatchling angry their sibling got more food than them.

Childish or not, though, their claws still hurt. Strong as she may have been, there was just no reason for her to put herself through that. Not when she had so many other options open to her.

The distant sound of Human laughter filled her ears, and she glanced down beneath her. Buried beneath the tree line, a tribe of the curious creatures had set up a small settlement on the edge of a river.

They were… different from the Pokemon that surrounded them.

They were weak, yet strong at the same time. No claws or tough hides to speak of, but yet many steered clear of their wandering tribes. Most Pokemon may have scoffed at their use of weapons, but there was no denying how effective they could be. Nor could anyone deny that most Humans went to bed besides warm fires with full bellies.

It was more than most Pokemon could claim.

Even more impressive, they were so brave. While they may have been afraid of Koraidon like most others, they didn't flee like a Pokemon would. Instead, they turned that fear into courage. They were the only ones she'd ever seen run straight towards something that terrified them. Whether through attrition or trickery and subversion, they'd managed to fell even members of her mighty species.

That earned them respect. Enough that most Koraidon adopted a more cautious approach with Humans. Their strength may have been unmatched, but the courage of Humans more than made up for it. They were worthy rivals.

And playmates, as the younger of her kin were keen to show off.

She hovered in the air above the village with the sun silhouetted behind her. No one could see her from this position, not even the most eagle-eyed of Pokemon. The power of the sun blinded anyone who tried.

Movement in the brush caught her attention. She peered down with narrowed eyes and spotted a pack of Mightyena closing in on the encampment. Over a dozen of them, each strong enough to be a hunter for their pack. If they attacked, they'd catch the Humans off guard.

Most Koraidon wouldn't have intervened. Royalty did not worry about the insects beneath them. If the Humans were oblivious enough to be caught off guard, then they deserved whatever came next. Any who survived would be strong and worthy prey.

A child kicked a ball towards the tree line and ran after it, giggling the whole time.

She made her decision.

Faster than the blink of an eye, she slammed in the earth and kicked up a cloud of dust around her. The Human encampment erupted in shouts of alarm while the pack of Mightyena yelped in alarm. Koraidon reared back and barred her fangs at the hounds, her plume flaring in warning. Despite all of this, they still looked ready to attack.

Her deafening roar drowned out everything else for miles around. Entire flocks of birds took to the skies and Pokemon nearby hunkered down in their burrows. The pack fled before she'd even finished, practically stumbling over one another to get away.

Relaxing her muscles, she turned towards the encampment, only to be greeted by their spears and arrows pointed at her. She wouldn't deny the disappointment she felt, but she tried not to let it bother her. They were just scared.

Before she could take off, the child she'd saved rushed past her protectors legs. Each of them cried out in alarm, but the child ignored them all. The tiny thing even ran past her to grab its ball and hoisted it into the air like a trophy. Then… it kicked the ball towards her, where it rolled to a stop at her feet.

Koraidon stared down at it in confusion.

The tribe watched with bated breath.

They smiled up at her, urging her to kick the ball back.

She slowly lowered her nose and nudged it back to them. The child giggled and kicked it again. This time, Koraidon knocked it back with a bit more enthusiasm. The cycle repeated until the two developed a steady rhythm.

It wasn't long before the Humans behind her relaxed and lowered their weapons. They may not have fully trusted her, but they must have realized she wasn't trying to hurt them. Not when she was busy playing with the child.

It was something she loved about Humans. While others would have been afraid to come anywhere near her, they let her stay near their camp and even play with their young. They didn't trust her enough not to leave a guard or two watching, but it still leagues better than she could have hoped for elsewhere.

She could even faintly smell a Lechonk roasting over a fire.

If she was lucky, maybe they'd give her some. No one made food quite like the Humans.

Just before she could kick the ball back again, something changed. The air stilled and smelled of rotten eggs. The sun shifted and folded in on itself, all the while the sky blurred. Even the very ground felt… different; gelatinous and concrete all at once.

Before Koraidon could fully understand what was happening, a blinding light flashed in the tree line. The wind howled and rushed against her, as if it was trying to suck her inside. Just looking at it felt… wrong. She didn't know what it was. All she knew was that she needed to get as far away as possible.

The child screamed and flailed wildly as they were sucked back towards the light.

Koraidon moved without thinking. Leaping through the air, she grabbed the child in her talons and hurled them back towards their people. The last thing she heard before being sucked into the mysterious light was the terrified screams of the child.

Then… everything hurt.

Her body stretched beyond its breaking point. Every color and image in existence flashed before her eyes all at once. Every sound she'd ever heard in her life and many she'd never even dreamed of lanced into her ears with volatile precision. Her bones cracked and her nerves were set aflame, yet no matter how hard she tried to scream and fight against it, her body wouldn't listen.

She was powerless.

Koraidon didn't know how long she was like this. It felt like an eternity and an instant all at once. Eventually, however, she was spat out onto something cold and hard. She tumbled along the ground with a resounding thud. She barely had any time at all to curl up into a ball before unconsciousness took hold.

The last thing she saw was a strange Human woman rushing towards her.

"It's amazing. Simply amazing."

Koraidon lifted her head off the ground, tilting it to the side.

Professor Sada practically vibrated in place as she stared up at her monitors. "Are you seeing this, Koraidon!?"

The ancient dragon blinked. While she still didn't quite understand how this 'technology' thing worked, Koraidon could recognize herself when she saw it. She just didn't know why the professor was so excited about this. It was just a picture with some squiggly lines next to it.

A picture was nothing to scoff at. Really, the first time she'd seen one, Koraidon had nearly fainted seeing herself from another perspective. She just wished the Professor could get as excited about her as when they first met. She knew better than to look a gift horse in the mouth, though.

An excited Sada was a happy Sada. The happier she was? The more of those delicious sandwich things she got as a reward. Truly, bread may have been the greatest invention Humanity had ever created! Just thinking about it was making her drool….

"It was just a theory before, but this is genetic proof of a link between you and Cyclizar!" Professor Sada exclaimed.

Cyclizar? Did she mean those tiny green things? Was she trying to say their kind were related? That couldn't be right. Koraidon were royalty among monsters – their strength could make even gods tremble in fright.

Cyclizar… well, she didn't want to be rude, but they were not that. She was sure they were strong in their own right, but it was like comparing a mountain to a molehill. There just wasn't a real comparison to be made.

Not to mention they couldn't even fly! She refused to believe her kind could ever lose that freedom.

"I wonder what could have caused such a rapid change in your species biology." Professor Sada muttered. "There weren't any cataclysmic events during your time in the past, were there? No volcano eruptions? Meteor strikes? Rampaging Legends on a power trip?"

Koraidon snorted, shaking her head. Not when she was there. Even if there had been, she didn't know how those could change her species into those little green lizards.

"It can't have been an ice age. If that were the case, you'd have evolved adaptions to handle the extreme temperature drops. Either by adapting flames hot enough to counteract them, or a body that could use it to your advantage." Sada tapped her chin in thought. "Any ideas?"

Koraidon just gave her a flat stare. Why was the professor asking her? This science stuff might as well have been magic. Just as awe-inspiring, and even more confusing to think about. She still had trouble wrapping her head around the fact Humans could preserve food for years at a time, let alone how things like time or evolution worked.

She'd leave figuring out how this stuff worked to the Humans and reap the rewards afterwards, thank you very much.

"Right. Guess that is a dumb question." Professor Sada snapped her fingers as an idea came to her, eyes alight with inspiration. "Perhaps it was a disease of some sort?"

Disease? Koraidon doubted that. Her kind were… not forgiving of those who fell ill. They were weak. If they couldn't survive their disease and the dangers of their world, then they were unworthy of being called Koraidon. They were royalty.

And royalty bowed to nothing. Not even a mighty plague.

Professor Sada carried on. "It's possible. Cyclizar have adapted to resist diseases. They shed their skin when infected, and some can even regenerate entire limbs. Credible signs that point to evolution prioritizing survival over battle prowess."

If her father could hear Sada, he'd be offended. All that mattered was strength. If you couldn't win a battle, then what good was anything else?

"Of course, it could just be selective breeding on Humanity's part. Domestication can change even the most fearsome of creatures into cuddly pets." She frowned. "But we have murals dating back over ten millennia showing the modern Cyclizar at our side. It just doesn't make any sense…."

Koraidon laid her head back down on the ground. If Sada couldn't figure this stuff out, then what use would she be? No, Koraidon was much better served letting the woman run her tests when she wanted and relaxing. Compared to the past, life in the future was a cakewalk.

Mmm… cake.

The professor sighed. "Well, it's no use thinking about this now. I can worry about the specifics later." Her stomach rumbled, causing the woman to cough in embarrassment. "Ah… it is around lunchtime, isn't it?"

Koraidon perked up. Lunch meant food, and good food was always cause for celebration! She grunted in affirmation, hopping to her feet and nudging Sada towards the kitchen.

Laughter filled the air. "Alright, alright, I'm going. It must have been sheer torture listening to me waffle on while you were starving."

Waffles? Those fluffy things with the butter and syrup? Yes, please!

A dull ringing cut through the air. Sada glanced down at her phone and grimaced. Koraidon glanced over her shoulder. While she couldn't read the Humans language, she recognized the picture displayed on screen. It was the Professor's little one.

Arven, she recalled.

The ringing continued for a few minutes. When it eventually stopped, Sada let out a tired sigh and leaned against the wall. In that moment, she looked decades older. A tired and distant glint in her eyes, a slouched posture, and a bitter smile on her face.

Koraidon gently nudged the professor with her tail.

Sada turned her bitter smile to Koraidon and scratched her under the chin, taking a seat on the edge of a table. "I really am pathetic." She muttered. "Exploring the boundaries of time itself? No big deal, I'll deal with the consequences as they come. But talking to my son? I might as well be the biggest coward in the world."

Koraidon hissed in frustration.

"It's true." The woman ran a hand down her face, digging her nails into her skin. "Today was his birthday. I promised that I'd be there to celebrate with him, but… I got distracted by all this."

This was one of those strange quirks Humans had Koraidon would never understand. Out of all the species she'd met in her life, Humans were the only ones to celebrate the birth of their young yearly. It was… endearing. Their compassion for one another was something she admired. If what she heard was right, they even extended the same care to their Pokemon.

Most Pokemon didn't even do that. Once the hatching was complete, their exact birth day was forgotten. All Koraidon could even remember about her own was that it'd been during a particularly long winter.

So, it was strange to find out even Humans could forget.

"I didn't even get him a present or a cake." Sada gripped the edge of the table so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. "It's the second year in a row. Before, I could rely on Turo to keep him distracted until I got back, but now…."

Professor Turo… that was a complicated subject. He was Sada's mate, if Koraidon remembered correctly. She didn't know how Human relationships worked exactly, but even she'd been able to see how much the two adored each other. Or how devastated Sada had been when he simply left one day.

Koraidon couldn't help but feel guilty. It'd only happened after she arrived in this time, and Sada started spending so much time around the lab. If she hadn't been plucked from the past, perhaps her friends' love would have stayed?

No matter the species or the circumstances, losing a mate left a wound that could never heal.

She licked Sada's hands. It didn't do anything to take away the pain, but her smile turned just a bit more genuine.

"I started all this for him, you know." The Professor told her. "There are so many problems facing our world… and we can't solve them. Not as we are now. It's why I created that time machine. I thought the past might have some answers."

A low rumble emanated from Koraidon's throat. She found it hard to believe the past would have any answers. Humanity had created so many marvels and technological wonders that should have been impossible. If they couldn't fix their problems, what hope did the Pokemon of her time have?

"I dream of a world where my son doesn't have to worry about the future. A paradise where every day is an adventure. The kind of world that dreams are made of." The Professor tightened her hand into a fist. "If I can do that… I just have to hope he'll understand one day. Everything I do is for him."

The two stood in silence for a long time. While the Professor was absorbed in her own thoughts, Koraidon's mind spun with ideas. She couldn't speak with her friend, but Koraidon didn't need to. If not seeing her son was causing her this much distress, then there was only one thing to do.

They'd just have to go see him.

Without waiting for approval, Koraidon grabbed Sada and lifted her off the ground. The woman yelped in surprise, flailing her arms wildly and dropping her phone. She only stopped once Koraidon flipped her onto her back and Sada wrapped her arms around her neck.

"Koraidon, what are you doing?" Sada asked.

Gently grasping the phone between her claws, Koraidon picked it off the ground and tapped its screen. A different picture of Arven appeared. He was just a baby in this one, his smeared with bright blue cake while Sada laughed in the background.

Sada blinked and took the phone from her. "You… want to see my son?"

No. She wanted Sada to give herself permission to see him.

Koraidon nodded anyway.

A gentle smile split the older woman's face. "I guess it is about time you two met. Alright! Let's get going!" She urged them forward. "We need to stop by a store first. If I'm lucky, there'll be a cake and some toys I can grab! Think you can fly fast enough?"

Please. There was nothing in the world faster than a Koraidon with a purpose. They'd make this the best birthday Sada's little ever had if it was the last thing she did!

"So… what do you think of him?"

A low growl rumbled in Koraidon's throat. In the distance, another of her kind was sprinting through a labyrinthian obstacle course the professor set up. It was designed to test their strength, intelligence, and overall health. Even if all Sada had to compare them to was her, it was still good to see how they fared.

Even now, the male Koraidon was making quick work of the robots designed to test his combat prowess. His claws shredded through their steel hides as easily as they did flesh. The familiar sound of snapping bones filled the air as he smashed them to bit. He shined with a brilliant orange flame that scorched the earth beneath him, akin to a sun god descending to smite his enemies.

Sada may not have realized it, but she'd plucked an alpha of her species from the past. A king among kings. Many of her kind would have been eager to be at his side and create a new tribe with him.

Koraidon was… not so eager.

She'd met many like him in the past. All pompous and preening. Someone always had to be the dominant one, and they'd go to any lengths to make sure it was them. More often than not, it came to blows between tribe mates.

It was an exhausting way to live. Truthfully, Koraidon had enjoyed her time away from others of her kind. The ability to just relax and have a conversation without worrying about it ending in violence was refreshing. She could make friends with the weaker Pokemon around her, share her food, and play with them without fear of judgement.

A guttural laugh echoed from the male Koraidon as he tore a robot in half, bathing in the oil that rained down on his face.

She snorted and looked away in disgust.

Sada frowned. "Come on. I know he seems a little… eccentric, but men of all species are. It's part of their charm."

Clearly, Human women didn't have nearly as good taste for men as they did with food. Arrogance and blood-thirst weren't endearing. Her one hope was that Arven didn't grow up to be like that. He'd been a joy to see grow over the years.

Koraidon didn't want him to lose his kind heart.

Sada's soft finger brushed against the leathery skin of Koraidon's chin. An involuntary purr escaped her lips as she leaned into the touch, eager for her Human to shower her with more affection.

"You don't have to like him. I can always bring more of your kind from the past if you don't." Sada smiled encouragingly at her. "I just want you to have a family of your own. Some loved ones to make the paradise we're building just a little less lonely."

It was hard to listen to Sada. As utopian as her ideals were, more of Koraidon's people wouldn't create a paradise. In truth, no Pokemon from her time would. They might solve her modern problems, but all it would do was recreate the cutthroat world of the past.

A world where strength was all that mattered.

"Just give him a chance," Sada continued. "A genuine one. He might surprise you. If you still don't like him after that, then don't worry. I won't hold it against you."

Sighing reluctantly, Koraidon forced herself to her feet and trotted over to her male counterpart. Once she got closer, she realized just how much bigger he really was. This one was easily twice or even three times as large with muscles that looked made of pure stone.

His eyes were what truly stole her attention. Unlike her own golden orbs, his were a stark silver. Among her people, there was a legend that any Koraidon born with silver eyes was destined to ascend to the heavens and rule at the side of Arceus itself.

It was utter nonsense… but nonsense her kind took seriously.

Silver-Eyes finally noticed her approach and spun on his heels. He stood at his full height, plume flaring in warning and fangs barred. The oil of his fallen foes still dripped from his claws, a grim reminder of what he was capable of.

She bowed her head in respect. "Peace. I only came to say hello."

A huff escaped him. "Is that right? You weren't just waiting for these appetizers to exhaust me first?"

"I wouldn't recommend eating these things. They're all metal and oil. Absolutely foul." She said.

He blinked. "I did wonder why its blood tasted like acid."

"… why do you know what acid tastes like?" She asked.

His eyes glinted with sadistic delight. "Because Poison types taste amazing with a little sear on them."

She honestly didn't know what she expected.

Silver-Eyes pointed behind her. "That Human… she's the one who dragged us here, yes? The one who conquered time?"

"Yes. Her name is Sada. She's a brilliant woman." Koraidon said.

He snorted. "She doesn't look like much. Like a single swipe of my claw could turn her into a fine red mist." Silver-Eyes licked his lips. "Hmm… it has been some time since I've tasted her kind."

Her plume flared and barred her fangs in warning. "Watch yourself. She's a friend – not food. Touch her, and I'll tear you apart."

Deep laughter echoed through the room. Even at her tallest, he still loomed over her like a mountain of muscle and scales. She didn't back down, though. She held his gaze without an ounce of fear. It didn't matter how strong this brute may have been, she'd die before letting him touch Sada.

Then he smiled and relaxed his plume. "Calm down. Your pet is safe." He said. "Anyone who can pull a fast one on Dialga deserves my respect."

She relaxed slightly. "Ah… good."

"And you? Few have ever had the guts to stand up to me. I can respect it." His claws glowed with violet energy as he held them up to her eyes. "Next time you think about trying, though? I'll remind you of your place."

Koraidon tensed her legs. "You don't scare me."

"Good. That'll make it all the sweeter when you submit." He purred.

"Oi! Calm down, you two!"

Before it could come to blows, Sada rushed over and stepped between them. While she wasn't incredibly strong, the courage was enough to shock both Koraidon and Silver-Eyes into stepping away. The dirty blond Professor glared up at them both.

"No fighting. You two may be dragons, but I'm the one in charge here. I don't care what you did in the past, but here you play by my rules and keep things civil. Understand?"

Koraidon lowered her head in shame. "Yes, Sada. I'm sorry."

Even if the woman couldn't understand them, it still felt right to say it out loud.

Silver-Eyes balked. "Are you truly just going to let this slide?"

"I am. And you will too, if you know what's good for you."

He growled in annoyance but backed away. "The gall."

Koraidon huffed with laughter. He could be as annoyed and outraged as he wanted. As long as he kept his claws away from Sada, that was all that mattered.

Once she was satisfied they weren't about to fight anymore, Sada nodded to herself. "Good. Glad we can all come to an agreement." She said. "Come on, you two. We still have so many experiments to run through! I need to see just how hot you two can make your flames under the light of the sun! More importantly, if you can resist each other's fire!"

"She's insane." Koraidon stated.

More than likely, yes. It was part of what made her so charming.

"If I'm lucky, maybe I'll even get to work on that AI assistant." Sada mumbled. "It's so close to being finished, I just need to make a few more adjustments…."

Koraidon didn't know how long she ran.

Everything happened so fast. Too fast for her to do anything about it. One moment, she had been lounging around her home in Area Zero. The next… chaos erupted.

It had been close to six months since Sada brought Silver-Eyes to the present. Koraidon tried to get along with him, but nothing seemed to work. He stole her food, took her territory, and took great pleasure in hurting her whenever they sparred. Even Sada's harsh words and threats of punishment weren't enough to make him stop.

Koraidon knew why, of course. She refused to submit to him. Among their kind, that was as good as a declaration of war. She couldn't just give in, though. They had a chance to be better in this new world. They could leave behind the cruelty of their former lives and take their people down a brighter path.

It was a mistake.

Two people couldn't have peace if one was determined to trample all over it.

When Silver-Eyes came to steal her most recent home from her, Koraidon had been prepared for a fight. Even if she always lost, she always made sure the overgrown monster had fresh scars of his own to commemorate the occasion. It should have ended there.

Instead, the cruel male had chased her all the way back to the lab and thrashed her to the point of unconsciousness. He'd nearly torn her head clean from her shoulders at the end, a manic hunger in his eyes.

If it weren't for Sada stepping in, he'd have succeeded.

Koraidon had always known she was brave. Brave enough to defy the laws of the Legends and create the paradise she always dreamed of, no matter the cost. When Sada had seen the fight, she charged forward to put a stop to it, as she always did.

Only this time… she'd paid for it with her life.

One moment, her closest friend had been standing there trying to help her. The next? Nothing but a crumpled body and Silver-Eyes standing over her, roaring his victory to the heavens. Koraidon didn't bother waiting to see what that mechanical fake of her friend did when it emerged from the lab.

She got up, leaped into the air, and flew away.

As far and as fast as she could.

That was hours ago now. Or perhaps days? It was hard to tell how much time had passed. Everything had become a blur since she fled from the battlefield and abandoned her home. Had Sada's copy been able to subdue Silver-Eyes in her absence? Had the alpha of her species smashed it to bits?

Or worse… had he devoured what was left of Sada? Was there anything even left of her? Would her family ever learn the truth?

Koraidon winced as her wounds flared up. It was too much. Her body transitioned from its gliding form and she careened into the ocean with a pathetic cry. A tremendous wave of water splashed onto the nearby rocky cliffs and the ground shook as she crashed onto the sandy beach.

For a moment, she simply laid there in the sand. The salt water of the ocean stung her wounds. The intense heat of the sun – once a source of her immense power – now baked her like a fish washed ashore. Every breath felt like her lungs were being crushed under a mountain of rubble. It took everything she had left just to stay conscious.

She was easy pickings for any predators lurking about. And just as she predicted, two tiny black canines stalked towards her from the shadows of a nearby cave. Houndour, she believed Sada had called them.

They were chittering about what she might have been and what she might taste like. How proud their pack leader would be for finding such a worthy meal. That surely they would be rewarded for this bounty!

It was pathetic. They were pathetic. Filthy mongrels. They weren't fit to eat the scraps left behind after a great hunt, let alone her! They thought her easy prey….

She'd show them why Koraidon ruled the land.

Forcing herself to her feet, she glared at the tiny dogs and barred her fangs. A mighty roar shook the air and pushed them back a few feet, not from fear but from the sheer force behind it. Even the nearby Cliffside splintered from her screech.

With the promise of an easy meal gone, the two Houndour turned and fled with their tails between their legs.

Good.

That roar took a lot out of her.

Koraidon collapsed back onto the ground. She felt even more exhausted than she had before. Even if she'd scared off those mutts, there was no telling if she'd be able to do that to whatever came by next.

The sound of sand crunching underfoot signaled that she might not have even bought herself much time.

"Woah… I've never seen this Pokemon before."

A Human had approached her. He must have been young – perhaps a little younger than Arven and nowhere close to Sada in age. The clothes he wore were a strange mix of scarlet red and stark white. Sada had warned her that some Humans might try to catch her if they saw her, and she should have been worried with her injuries….

But there was just something about the boy that told her she didn't have to worry.

"Go away…." She forced out between ragged breaths.

He frowned. "You don't look too good." The boy muttered. "What did this to you?"

If he was lucky? He'd never have to find out.

"Well, I can't just leave you here. My mom would kill me if I did something that heartless." The boy offered her a thumbs up and a brilliant smile. "Don't worry! I'll fix you right up, or my name isn't Florian Cousland Shepard Donaldson Halsey Thorm the third!"

With a name like that, he was the one who needed fixing.

"Let's see here…." Florian rummaged through his pack. "Notebook… phone… picture of dad… pet rock… ah! There it is!"

The young boy whipped a sandwich out of his bag and quickly tore off its wrapper. With a delectable wheat bun, two thick slices of ham, a hearty array of cherry tomatoes atop a bed of lettuce, and the faint scent of a garlic pesto sauce, Koraidon's mouth was already watering.

"This is one of my mom's sandwiches. They're some of my favorite in the whole world." He held the sandwich out to her. "It won't heal those wounds of yours, but a good meal always makes people feel better! At least I think so, anyway."

She'd be the judge of that. Taking a moment to sniff the sandwich, it had a pleasant aroma. It certainly smelled like it would taste good. Florian seemed like a nice enough boy as well. It wasn't like she had anything to lose, either.

After a moment of hesitation, she popped the sandwich into her mouth… and quickly devoured it whole.

She leaped to her feet out of sheer joy, the pain in her limbs pushed firmly to the back of her mind. "Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! Yummy! Yummy!" She cheered. "Oh Arceus, take me now!"

There was no other way to describe it. The fluffy texture of the bread mixed with the crisp and vibrant taste of the veggies and meat was better than anything she'd ever had before. All her life, she'd known that Humans were the culinary masters.

But this?

This sandwich was the food of the gods.

Florian chuckled. "Guess you liked it, huh? Well, feel free to come by my house whenever you want. I eat food like this every day." He paused, tapping his chin in thought. "Though I guess we'd have to find a way back up the cliffs first. I don't suppose you can fly?"

Not with her injuries. There was one other option, though. If they couldn't go up? They'd just have to go through.

Koraidon shook the seawater off of her and stalked towards the entrance of the nearby cave.

Florian blinked. "Um… what are you doing? You know there's a pack of Houndour in there, right? Probably a Houndoom or two, too."

She knew that. It was why she couldn't just leave the boy to fend for himself. Those mongrels would tear him apart if they found him.

Taking a deep breath, she called upon the inner strength of her people. To her dismay, most of it was out of reach. Her body was too weak to sustain her full power for very long. All that remained were a few embers that refused to go out.

She'd just have to make it count.

Scarlet energy coursed through her body. The pain that she'd felt since her battle with Silver-Eyes vanished. Letting out a strained battle cry, Koraidon leaped into the air and expelled the energy out as a shockwave through her metamorphosis.

Her muscles bulged and her form shifted to become more power – more deadly. Their true form and the very thing that made her kind the apex species. When it was over, she landed on the beach and created a small crater where she stood. Now on two legs, she marched towards the cave.

"Woah." Florian whispered from behind her. "So cool!"

A tiny smile split her face. She was pretty cool.

"Wait, what are you doing?" He asked. "Are you really planning to fight all those Houndour?"

If that was what it took to get him to safety? She'd break their entire pack if she needed to. She may not have been able to protect Sada, but this boy?

She'd die before she let anything happen to him.

"Whelp. It's official. I'm stumped."

Koraidon blinked up at her Human.

Florian sighed. "I just don't know what Arven expects from me is all! I'm one guy!"

She rolled her eyes. His whining wouldn't get them, anyway.

Florian glared down at her prone form and petulantly poked her cheek. "I am not whining, thank you very much!"

He could have fooled her. All those voice cracks and flailing arms sure made it seem like he was. Honestly, it was like the boy had never fought a giant flying monster before. Back in her day, you'd be the luckiest person alive if you only had to fight one a day.

Humans these days had it so easy.

"Don't act like this isn't a big deal." Florian groaned, collapsing back onto the picnic blanket beneath them. The two were sitting in a wide open field outside of the city on a nice clear day. "It's bad enough he wants us to climb a mountain, but once I reach the top? He wants me to fight that Titan of the Open Sky! That thing's talons are bigger than me! Not to mention it tosses around boulders like they're tennis balls!"

She'd heard Arven's description, too. A fight with a creature like that would have excited any self-respecting Koraidon when they heard about it. They may have seen themselves as the apex of strength, but that didn't mean they stopped wanting to face challenging opponents. Even she felt a tiny spark of excitement at the thought.

If this Titan was anything like the last one? Then they were in for a good fight.

Florian sighed. "It feels like ever since I met you, my life's been nothing but chaos. Like I'm that one drop of honey attracting all the Bug types of chaos."

And he said he wasn't dramatic. You'd think he was one of those actor people she saw on TV when Sada and her would relax at night after a hard days work. He was just adorable.

"I've heard these Bombirdier keep their prey alive and suck the marrow from their bones." He cried, jabbing his hands into his own chest. "I like my marrow – inside my bones!"

Koraidon huffed in amusement and flicked her tongue between her lips. He really didn't have to worry about that. This Titan was so massive that he'd be crushed into a fine red paste sooner than anything else. They wouldn't be sucking any marrow from his bones anytime soon.

… unless they had babies that were small enough. Then it might be a genuine concern.

Oh well. Questions for later.

Florian sighed. "I'm just not sure what I'm supposed to do. It's not like I'm some genius trainer." He grumbled. "Why did Arven ask me to do all this? Penny or Nemona wouldn't bat an eye at fighting these things. Not like me."

How dense could one boy be? All this time befriending Arven, and he still didn't see the answer staring him in the face. It was obvious to anyone who bothered to listen to the older boy.

Arven was terrible with girls. And that was the normal ones! She could still remember all the stories Sada would tell her about her hatchling. How when he was six he'd get so excited to hold girls' hands, then cry when he realized they were just being polite. The way he'd flub his words and stumble over himself as he got older. Arceus, the last story she'd heard, he'd accidentally spilled chili all over one girl's new clothes.

That wasn't even beginning to talk about Penny or Nemona.

Those girls were wonderful friends to dear Florian. Penny especially tasted nice, and the funniest reactions to getting licked. But they were… not the easiest to approach. Even Koraidon could see that. Penny was as shy as they came. Adding Arven's awkwardness to the mix was a recipe for disaster.

As for Nemona? That girl was obsessed with battles. She'd have made a good Koraidon in another life. As it was, she certainly hadn't endeared herself to Arven with how dismissive she was about fighting the Titans.

Poor Arven wouldn't have known where to begin with either of them.

Fortunately for them, he and Florian got along swimmingly. Even if Sada's hatchling seemed to hate Koraidon, she was at least happy to see her Trainer was there to look out for him. By extension, that meant she could as well.

Florian frowned, rolling over onto his side. "Koraidon… am I a good Trainer? Be honest."

What kind of question was that? Of course he was. As overdramatic as he could be, there were few who matched his kindness. No one else would have taken pity on an injured Pokemon in her hour of need and given her the only food he had. Most others would either have tried to capture her or steer clear out of fear.

He couldn't understand any of that. So, instead, she nodded and licked his cheek affectionately. A desperate attempt to convey everything she meant through a single touch.

A tiny laugh escaped Florian. "Thanks. It's just… hard, you know? I never really thought I'd be doing any of this," He admitted. "When I got my first Pokemon, I figured the most I'd be doing is auditioning for school plays. Not fighting Gym Leaders, Titans, and a gang of outcasts."

Life had a way of tossing curveballs at people when they least expected it. They either crumbled under the pressure or rose above it, stronger than ever.

He might not see it, but Koraidon knew that he was the latter.

"Hmm. Florian? Is that you?"

The boy went stiff at the voice. Koraidon snickered in amusement.

"It is! Who could have guessed I'd find you out here!"

The source of the voice was none other than Levincia City's Gym Leader, Iono. One of those streamer people she'd heard Florian and Penny talk about in the past. Unlike before, when she'd been wearing that oversized jacket, this time she was in a set of comfort shorts and a loose-fitting shirt. Those two hair things that looked like Magnemite floated off her head for a brief moment, little sparks dancing between them.

And to Koraidon's endless amusement, Florian's own little crush.

Here's hoping he was better with girls than Arven.

"I-Iono!" He sat straight up and audibly gulped, rubbing the back of his head. "You remember me?"

The pink-eyed girl chuckled, flashing a bright smile at them. "Duh. I never forget a challenger who can put up such a good fight!"

Florian blinked, tilting his head to the side. "But I lost?"

She scoffed and waved him off. "Eh, that doesn't matter. It was way more fun fighting you than most of the people who beat me." She appeared at his side and poked him in the cheek. "Train yourself up a little more and I'm sure you'll beat me in no time."

A light blush lit up his face. "T-thanks! Are you streaming now?"

Iono shook her head. "Nah. Today's one of my personal days. Normally, I just spend them inside becoming one with the couch and ordering food in or sleeping all day." She snickered. "Don't tell anyone, but being so energetic on camera takes a lot out of me."

Koraidon snorted. She could have guessed that.

The celebrity clapped her hands together and spun on her heals. The two hair accessories spun around her head in excitement. "And just who is this cutie pie?"

She liked this one already.

"That's Koraidon." Florian told her. "She's a close friend. Probably the strongest member of my team too."

There was no 'probably' about it. Even with most of her power still out of reach, she was leagues ahead of the others on Florian's team. That wasn't to say they were weak. Far from it. She just had so many more years of experience on her side compared to them.

"Well, she just looks like the sweetest angel ever, oh yes, she does." The girl reached out, gently scratching Koraidon under her chin. "Who's a good girl? You are! Yes, you are!"

She should have been offended by being spoken to like a hatchling… but she wasn't. Iono's were electrifying and soft all at once. An involuntary purr escaped Koraidon as she leaned into the girls touch, panting with pure delight.

Florian chuckled. "I think she likes you."

She certainly liked her hands.

"So, what are you doing out here? If you don't mind me asking, ma'am?" Florian asked.

Iono puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. "Don't go calling me ma'am! We're practically the same age!" She huffed, not once halting in her scritches and scratches. "I'm just out taking a walk. I thought it'd be nice to get out of the city and enjoy the countryside for a bit."

Florian nodded. "Ah."

The three stood in silence. It went on so long that it became awkward. Even Iono's magic fingers couldn't distract from that. Her friend looked as if his own tongue was choking him and preventing him from speaking.

Silly boy… he and Arven were too alike.

Koraidon hit the basket in the center of the blanket with her tail, 'accidentally' tipping it over.

"Ah! Koraidon!" Florian cried, doing his best to save the sandwiches. As any good Human with common sense would. "What are you doing? You'll ruin the picnic!"

Iono blinked. "You're having a picnic?"

He froze. "Uh… yeah. I just thought it'd be nice if my team and I relaxed a little before moving on to train."

She tilted her head to the side. "Mind if my team and I join you? I love picnics, but I never get the chance to have any without fans coming to interrupt." She chuckled. "I love the fame, but sometimes it makes doing normal things so difficult."

Florian stood in silent shock for a moment before vigorously nodding his head. "Yeah! Of course you can join! Don't worry, I always make sure to bring plenty of extra food just in case my team's super hungry." He smirked. "Florian Cousland Shepard Donaldson Halsey Thorm the third always comes prepared!"

Good grief. He was hopeless.

Iono giggled. "Well then, Mr. Florian, I'd be honored to dine with you this fine afternoon! I hope you're prepared to treat this princess to the feast she deserves!"

… scratch that, she found it endearing.

There truly was no accounting for taste.

Lucky Florian.

Florian was in danger.

Even inside her Pokeball, Koraidon felt it in her soul. The cold sweat that broke out on his skin. His heart hammering in his lungs. That rising sense of dread in his stomach as he stared down a threat he had no hope of facing on his own. The forgotten voices of his ancestors crying out for him to run as far and as fast as he could from a threat Humanity had long forgotten.

But despite it all, he remained rooted to the spot. Unable or unwilling to move as the piercing gaze of Silver-Eyes sized him up.

Her body moved without thinking, and she forced herself out of her Pokeball. Koraidon landed protectively in front of Florian and his friends, her legs tensed and ready to pounce.

As she'd expected, Silver-Eyes towered over the group and flashed his claws at them. They were standing in the same room as the time machine Sada had created all those years ago. The professors mechanical copy stood above them next to the controls, half terrastalized already. Any trace of the budding sapience in that thing's eyes was long gone.

Silver-Eyes flicked his tongue over his lips. "The coward returns." He said. "Finally ready to submit?"

She barred her fangs with a snarl.

It only made him laugh. "The gall. You couldn't even give me a proper fight when you had your full strength. But now you think you can defend these appetizers in your weakened form?" He mocked. "I'm going to enjoy making you watch them suffer."

She wasn't the same monster he'd faced before. Over the year she'd traveled with Florian, she'd healed under his tender care. The strength that Silver-Eyes had stolen from her had been given back to her thanks to Arven. Nemona's constant challenges alongside the Gym Leaders pushed both Florian and her to new heights. Even their battles against Team Star had taught her the benefits of trusting others to fight with her.

Koraidon wasn't just back to full strength. She was stronger than ever, and she owed it all to Florian.

She'd die before she let anything happen to him.

Glancing back at her partner, she and Florian shared a brief nod. Golden energy coursed through her veins, shining so brightly that she nearly blinded all who looked upon her. Leaping into the air, she felt her body shift and grow as the power finally took shape. Until with one deafening roar, the energy exploded outward with enough force to crack the crystalline dome itself.

"She changed into her battle form!" She heard Nemona shout. "We've got a fighting chance now!"

Silver-Eyes chortled. "How adorable. They think you're going to save them."

"Koraidon." Florian called out. While she never took her eyes off her opponent, she could hear the steel in her partner's voice. The conviction. "Don't hold back. Give this thing everything you've got!"

He could count on that.

In that moment, the rest of the world became dull. The voices of her partner and his friends dulled to the point of silence. The sirens blaring overhead and that mechanical mockery of her friend were silenced. Ever the surrounding area blurred around her.

In this moment, all that existed – all that mattered – was her and Silver-Eyes.

The two apex predators circled each other, dragging their feet along the steel ground and snarling silent threats to one another. A barred fang here, a whipped tail there, a sudden flexing of their claws; all feints. Neither was willing to make the first move and risk overextending themselves.

Someone needed to move first, though. Arrogance and impatience decided for them both.

Silver-Eyes sprang forward with his jaws extended and tried to bite at her throat. She ducked out of the way and slashed at his chest with glowing claws, launching him backwards. The larger male grunted in pain, grazing his paw over his fresh wound. When it came away covered in a faint amount of blood, he looked… happy.

Excited, even.

"Good." He purred. "You're finally worthy of dying at my hands."

Koraidon barely had time to raise her arms as he fell upon her. Each blow delivered to her scaley hide hit with the force of a hurricane, rattling her bones and pushing her back. When the next one came, threw her arms aside and allowed it to hit her. She leaned into the blow, a stream of scorching fire hitting his eyes.

His own body flared with blue flames. Even with her own natural resistance to it, she could still feel the intensity of them. She could only imagine how bad the heat must have been for her Humans.

He slammed into her gut headfirst and wrapped his arms around her, carrying her forward to slam into the crystalline dome that surrounded them. The flames burned her skin even through her armored scales.

Koraidon tightened her grip on Silver-Eyes arms and dug her claws into his skin. Her muscles bulged with power as she slammed him into the ground. Before her enemy could shake off his daze, she slammed her foot atop his skull and stomped it into the pavement.

Just before she could bring it down a second time, his head jerked out of the way to avoid the blow. In that fraction of a second her foot was within reach, his jaws snapped shut around her ankle. Her nerves were set ablaze - a stark contrast to the ice the spread over her limb and the chills that surged through her body.

Silver-Eyes yanked his head aside and carrier her body with her. With nothing more than the strength of his jaws, he dragged her across the ground and tossed her away from him. When she finally stopped tumbling across the ground, she landed on her back.

She'd only just craned her neck up when she saw Silver-Eyes sprinting at her on all fours, frost billowing from his maw. Her body moved on its own and back pedaled as fast it could, narrowly avoiding the arctic jaws of her foe.

He tried to lunge for her injured leg again, only for her tail to whip him in the throat and send him flying into a nearby pillar. It shattered under his weight, burying him under the rubble.

He wouldn't be under there long.

She struggled to her feet, hissing with frustration at the pain in her leg. For all her hatred of Silver-Eyes and all her training, there was no denying that he was the strongest of her kind. Stronger than her by a wide margin. Anyone else in her position would have fled or tried to submit to him if it meant saving their hide.

Koraidon couldn't – wouldn't – do that. Not when her Humans lives were in danger. She'd give this battle everything she had… even if it cost her life to protect them.

Silver-Eyes burst from the rubble with a roar, beating his chest with his fists. "Haha! Wonderful! Simply wonderful!" He cried. "Oho, you will be my finest victory yet! More! Give me more!"

Familiar blue flames coiled around his body again and melted the metal surrounding him into slag. Their eyes met, and Koraidon could see the bloodlust in his eyes. He was driven by his desire for battle. Nothing would stop him from claiming his victory.

Just as he took a step forward, a blur flew through the air. At first, Koraidon thought it was a sphere, and perhaps it might have been. The flames of her enemy liquified it the instant they met, however, and molten metal splashed across his eyes.

He roared in agony and flinched away, clawing at his face to scrape the slag from his eyes. The flames surrounding him vanished just in time for another Pokeball to bounce harmlessly off his scaly hide.

Behind her, Florian reared back his hand and tossed another Pokeball. "Now, Koraidon! Hit him while he's distracted!"

He didn't need to tell her twice.

She crossed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Her foe tried to dodge out of the way, but blinded as he was? There was nothing he could do to avoid her claws raking across his chest, nor the sting of her fangs around his throat.

The two thrashed across the ground in a battle for dominance. Theirs was not a battle of elegance and strategy, but primal aggression. Two prehistoric beasts fighting for what they held dear.

Domination.

Unity.

Two opposing ideals that could never mesh. They were destined to fight in a clash of wills.

Yet despite it all… she was winning. Her foe may have been bigger and stronger, but he had never faced an opponent on his level before. Now that the thrill of the fight was gone, the pain of every blow was finally registering for him.

It made him sloppy.

Sloppy enough that she was pushing him onto the back foot. She'd learned to ignore her pain and push past the part of herself urging her to give in. He'd never learned the same.

It would be his undoing.

"Koraidon! Knock him away from you!"

Trusting the command of her partner, she slammed her good leg into Silver-Eyes gut and sent him sprawling to the ground. In that moment, she felt the familiar power of a Tera Orb collide with her head and merge into her body. A cocoon of diamond appeared to protect her from harm as her body underwent its metamorphosis.

When she burst forth, she was stronger than ever. A new crystal armor for her enemy's blows to shatter upon and a mystical energy coursing through her veins. The kind even gods dreaded to face.

Energy collected in her mouth as she stared down Silver-Eyes. He didn't even have time to get to his feet before a blast of terastal energy slammed into his chest and blew him back. It melted the scales clean off his body and left his chest a smoking ruin of scorched flesh.

He gasped in pain and spewed his own blue flames back at her. They passed harmlessly around her as she stomped through it. His eyes widened. He scrambled to his feet and turned to flee, but she grabbed him by the tail and yanked him back towards her.

Koraidon stomped on his back, eliciting a gasp from the creature. Grabbing his skull, she jerked his head back and forced him to look her in the eyes. He struggled beneath her, but he was powerless to stop her from prying his jaws open.

Terastal energy gathered in her jaws. For the first time since she'd met him and perhaps the first time in his life, she saw something in his eyes: Fear. The kind of fear one felt in their bones as they stared down an enemy they had no hope of beating.

Good.

Maybe now he knew how Sada must have felt in her final moments.

It would be so easy to end it all. To let loose her kiss of death and burn him from the inside out. And yet… Koraidon looked back at Florian and his friends. Shock; awe; fear. All of that and more was writ clear across their faces.

She couldn't do this to them. They didn't deserve to see her become the very monster she swore to leave in the past with the rest of her kind.

The energy dissipated into the ether and she let go of Silver-Eyes jaws. Koraidon stepped off her foes back and allowed him to curl up into a ball at her feet. His body heaved with shuddered breaths and violent tears.

Her foot came to rest on his throat. "Submit."

The male didn't speak. He couldn't. All he could do was meekly nod and curl up tighter into a ball, whimpering for the mercy he didn't deserve. Slowly, she lifted her foot off him and allowed the terastal energy to leave her entire being.

He was no threat. Not anymore. Sada was avenged and Florian was safe.

That was all that mattered.

"I can't believe you won the lottery, Florian."

Florian sighed and leaned back, his sunhat drooping down over his head. "Neither can I. I don't even want to go if I'm being honest."

Penny glanced up from petting her Eevee in her lap. "Why? Isn't Kitakami a beautiful place? I've heard their mountains are the best in the world."

Florian gave her a flat look. "Knowing my luck, I'll get dragged into some world-ending prophecy or have to fight a gang of real criminals."

Nemona groaned into her hands. "Please don't joke about that. Just thinking about all the amazing battles you'll have over there is making me jealous!"

Arven rolled his eyes, slathering some spicy mustard on a bun. "You'd get jealous of a first year getting their first Pokemon and battling Gyms."

"She did. Why do you think she's so obsessed with Florian?" Penny drawled.

"Shut up!"

Koraidon chortled from her position next to Florian, her tail wagging back and forth with mirth.

Three weeks had come and gone since the incident at Area Zero. With Sada's copy gone and the time machine with her, the threat of the past was over. What few Paradox Pokemon remained were contained in the crater where she and her partner could capture them at their leisure.

Paldea was safe, and Florian with it. She'd make sure of it.

Ever since then, they'd taken the time to relax and recuperate. Goofing off around the school, hitting the beach, and otherwise just having fun however they could. With how dangerous their adventure had been, they all deserved it.

A pair of arms wrapped around Florian. The boy froze up with wide eyes and flushed cheeks as Iono propped herself against him, booping him on the cheek. "Lighten up, Florian. I'm sure you're gonna have a great time in Kitakami if you give it a chance."

Penny snickered into her hand. "Yeah, Florian. Just give it a chance."

The normally exuberant boy audibly gulped and nodded. 'Y-yeah. Okay…."

Iono shared a glance with the others and laughed.

Ever since that day she intruded on their picnic, Iono and Florian had been practically attached at the hip. Even after he'd beaten her in the gym, she'd still pop in to help them with their adventures or call him up at random times to talk. Poor Florian did his best, but he was still a stammering wreck around her most of the time.

It was adorable.

She was convinced that Iono noticed and loved to tease him about his little crush. Koraidon wasn't fooled, though. Not like her dense partner or the others who all thought it was one big joke. She'd seen the secret glances the streamer snuck. That pleased grin she wore half the time and the almost song-like quality she had when they spoke.

Florian's feelings were very much returned… even if Iono didn't seem to realize it herself.

Koraidon was gonna have so much fun messing with the two of them.

But first….

Arven cheered and held up a completed tray of sandwiches. "Alright, everyone! Foods all set! Let's dig in- Koraidon, no!"

It was too late. Before anyone could stop her, she'd snatched all six sandwiches up in a single bite. Her mouth exploded with the fresh crispness and juices of vegetables alongside the umami and salty taste of the meat. Everything blended together so perfectly. As if the divines themselves had gifted them to her.

"Come on! I spent so long making that!"

"I'm so sorry! I-I'll make it up to you, I swear!"

"Oh, it's no big deal. They're just sandwiches."

While the others chattered around her, Koraidon collapsed into a ball on the ground. Their voices were easily tuned out and soon, she fell into a deep sleep with a full belly. She dreamed of a land of bread and cake – a land of all the culinary wonders Humanity had created.

And when she awoke?

Their next adventure would begin.