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"Ayanaaaaa!"

Isa proudly stood at the door to the chapel of Effervescent Village as the sun was rising, calling out his friend's name. Clutched close to his chest was a small, icy Sandshrew, also calling out.

"Ayana, come on! We don't have all day!"

"Isa, hush!" A girl tapped his shoulder, turning him around. He looked to see Ayana, giving him an almost scornful smile with bright green eyes showing signs of relief. At her side stood her partner, Ralts. "Saints aren't supposed to get off on these days. Let's go before anyone notices I'm gone."

"Oooh, living a life of rebellion are you? And here I thought you were supposed to be Miss Perfect Saint of Xerneas." Isa waved a free hand at her tauntingly as they snuck away from the village.

"Shut up! It's not like I wanted to be a Saint. I'd much rather be a Duelist like the other boys. Even being a Woodcutter like you would be fun!"

"Nah, my job stinks! They keep telling me that I'll be done with it soon, and that I can go on to be a Duelist when I finish my job, but I'm the sixth person to do it in my family. Six!"

"Isn't that a lot of people, though? It's bound to be done soon."

"I should show you the tree some day. There's barely even half a foot cut into the trunk, and the trunk as a whole is at least four feet around! I bet you that Xerneas is picking favorites with that tree, and keeps restoring it at night, so we can never cut it down!"

"What? Xerneas wouldn't do that? They want our land and people to flourish! How could you ever make such an accusation!?" Ayana gave a glare to the boy, shaming the idea. 

"I've been cutting that stupid tree for almost a year now, that's why." Isa started laughing, and soon Ayana followed along. "Now, I'll race you! The Knights of Darkrai are supposed to be around here!"

"Really? Where did you see them?"

"Well, I didn't see them, but people are saying they're coming from up north. Maybe they're gonna invade Axiom!"

"Really? But wouldn't that be scary?"

"No way! We've got the Patrons to protect us, nothing bad's gonna happen. Come on, Ayana, don't you want to go check it out? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity!"

"Are you sure? Aren't the Knights supposed to be really mean? I've heard stories from some of the older Saints that the Knights once tried to start a war with Axiom because they thought Miss Valencia was corrupt. They also apparently have really strong Pokemon and have even killed people!"

"Those are all just stories the Saints make up to scare kids like us from ever leaving the village! But we're smarter than that. Besides, what's life without a little recklessness and fun? I thought you were the girl who wanted to become a Duelist."

"O-okay. Just if anyone starts being hostile towards us, we have to run, okay?"

"Alright, Ayana. But if anyone starts hurting you, I'll be sure to protect you! That's a Duelist's job after all!" Isa pumped a fist in the air, smiling at Ayana. She gave him a small smile back, almost trying to comfort him.

She still felt like worrying though.

----

"You're the best, Ayana, you know that? I completely forgot about lunch!" Isa was shoving a sandwich in his mouth, his Sandshrew promptly following on a snack of berries. Ayana simply laughed.

"See, this is why it was smart to bring a girl along. I knew you wouldn't think of something like this, so I did it."

"Great, now you're trying to one-up me. I'll have you know that you can never beat me!" Isa promptly stood up, trying to get taller than Ayana.

"You sure about that?" Ayana stood up to match him, easily standing taller than Isa. They both stared at each other with a straight face, eventually falling into giggles.

"Aww, come on Ayana! You know I'm natur-"

"ISAAA!" Ayana pulled Isa towards her, the two falling over. Just behind where Isa had been standing, a stream of fire was flying in at the two. Ayana was clutching Isa's shirt, her eyes closed tight.

"Wha?-" Isa didn't have time to react as another fire wave shot straight at the two. Both children shrieked, rolling out of the way.

"W-who's there?" Isa shouted out, his voice shaking. To his side, Sandshrew was standing, ready to jump into a fight at a moment's notice. A cloaked person suddenly appeared before them, an illusion from some sort of Pokemon likely having hidden them before.

"State your business here." The figure demanded, reaching to their side.

"We're just kids from over in Effervescent Village. We-- I heard rumors about Knights of Darkrai and wanted to meet them. I didn't want to go alone though so I asked my friend to tag along." Isa slowly spoke to the figure, looking down at the ground. "I'm really sorry. If you want us to go home, we can."

"You say you wish to meet the Knights of Darkrai?"

"I did, but now, I just wanna go home." Isa continued his staring at the ground, refusing to meet eyes with the figure.

"Child, look up. Both of you."

Isa and Ayana slowly did as they were told. The figure looked at the two, slowly drawing a sword from their side. It let off a dark aura, slicing through the light as it was turned to point at the children. Both of them jumped back at once, Ayana screaming, falling over and pulling Isa down with her.

"W-Why do you have a sword? I thought only Knights, Patrons, and Duelists were supposed to have swords!" Isa asked, slowing at the end of his question.

"Isa, there's only one of those three that they can be." Ayana whispered.

"Why would a child of Axiom want to meet a Knight of Darkrai?" They were asked. Both of them looked at each other before Ayana pointed to Isa.

"I'd like to become a Duelist one day, maybe even a Patron of Zygarde." Isa responded, his voice becoming less afraid as he spoke of his dreams. "The Knights are supposed to be some of the best fighters in the world, so maybe if I met one, I could learn something from them. Then I might be able to let go of being a Woodcutter and go travel the world!" Isa turned around, smiling at Ayana. "And then I can teach my friends how to become Duelists and we can all go together. Effervescent Village is really boring sometimes. Okay, most of the time. There are still a few fun things, but I don't wanna be stuck there my whole life."

The cloaked figure looked at Isa and Ayana for a moment, then sheathed his sword. Both children let out a sigh, before they reached to their other side, pulling out a light blue sword. It gave a bright shine, bringing light instead of taking it in comparison to the other one. The figure then handed the sword to Isa.

"I am a Knight of Darkrai, as the girl had figured. You two have both crossed out of the territory of Axiom and into the Dark Lands. As a Knight, I am not supposed to leave survivors of any form after encounters. However, I offer you a challenge. Both of you can accept the judgement here, or I will make an offer to the boy. You can fight me, alongside with your Pokemon. If you win, I will let the both of you go. But if you lose, I will only take one of you, per my choice. The other of you is free to return to your home."

Next to the figure a tall Pokemon appeared, uncloaked from the magic that the Knight had been hiding under earlier. It was one Isa and Ayana had never seen before, standing tall and proud, flames forming from its hands.

Isa looked at the sword in his hands. He could see it shaking, his hands unsteady from fear. Sandshrew at his side stood up next to him, putting a claw on the sword. He took a breath, looking back at Ayana.

"Okay." Isa responded, standing up. "I'll fight you."

"Isa, what are you doing? You could get killed!"

"If I'm gonna be a Duelist, then I have to fight, right? I promised I'd protect you when we left, too. What kind of a failure would that make me if I just let it happen?"

"Isa..." Ayana looked up at Isa, then stood up and tackled him into a hug. "Don't die, okay? Please?"

"I'll do my best." Isa pulled away from her, turning around and facing the knight. He looked up to meet the dark gaze of the Knight, clenching the sword tight in his hands to prevent them from shaking.

"The rules of this duel are simple. Both fight until one can no longer move. Any cause to the stop in movement is fair game. Both may use their Pokemon to assist them in combat." The figure took a look at Isa before removing the cloak they were wearing. Before the two then stood a man in dark armor. "Before we begin, what is your name, child?"

"Isa."

"Very well then. Isa, may the better Duelist win." The man drew his sword again, pointing it at Isa. "Blaziken, Sky Uppercut."

The tall Pokemon, Blaziken apparently, leaped forward, the flames on its hands wrapping around and glowing. It reached out, attempting to knock Isa to the ground. He pulled the sword up, swinging as hard as he could against the Blaziken's attack. The flat side of the sword shoved against the Pokemon's fists, heat transferring through the metal. Isa gave one last push, staggering Blaziken back before dropping the sword on the ground.

"Interesting thought process." The man looked at Isa, almost smiling. "You had the right idea, but didn't go about executing right." 

"Thanks..." Isa muttered, rubbing his hands against the ground to cool down. To his side, Sandshrew scurried up, forming a small ball of ice in its claws. It offered the ball up to Isa, and he took it. "Alright, Ice Ball! Try and stop them from attacking us again."

Sandshrew curled up into a ball, launching itself against the man and the Blaziken. It didn't take long before the small Pokemon was stopped in its tracks. A single attack from Blaziken was all it took for the Pokemon to collapse.

"Sandshrew! Oh, great. Sorry about that!" Isa clenched a fist, reaching out to grab his sword again. He used it to pull himself up, pointing the sword at the man. He looked up, meeting eyes with the Knight. "Why can't you just let us go? We're just kids."

...

...

No response.

Isa took a breath, then ran to attack the man.

The next motions happened all too fast.

Isa swung as fast as he could, a trace of light following the swift movement.

The Blaziken erupted into flames. Defending its partner, it made a swift kick at Isa. knocking the sword out of his hands and sending him to the ground.

Why does this hurt so much?

He couldn't move.

I was supposed to win.

He tried lifting himself up from the ground.

I didn't even make a scratch.

He just couldn't.

I lost.

Isa looked over to Ayana, her eyes filling with tears.

"Isa, stop it! Get up!" She screamed, jumping up to his side and shaking him.

"Maybe don't tackle me?"

"Just get up, you idiot!" Ayana screamed again, frantically looking around. She caught sight of her Ralts, who was hiding behind a bush. "Ralts, Heal Pulse! Please!"

Isa continued to watch Ayana, all sorts of cries passing through his head.

I failed. I didn't protect her.

Now one of us is going to die.

Please don't be Ayana.

She didn't do anything wrong.

Ralts rose its small hands in the air, a pink light emitting from them. A beam of light was aimed to Isa, causing him to relax a little.

"Isa, come on! I know you can do it."

Isa took a breath, slowly lifting an arm up. He started to lean on it, attempting to get up from the ground, but quickly collapsed under the weight, letting out a scream. "Sorry, Ayana." He mumbled, looking away.

"For a first fight, you had the right idea." The Knight interrupted the two. "However, the terms of the duel have been met. I'll look forward to dueling you in the future when you become stronger."

Wait.

"You there, girl. Your Pokemon gives off the intentions of training to become a Saint, correct?"

Ayana nodded.

"Don't take her!" Isa screamed, trying and failing to pull himself up again. "She didn't do anything!"

"Think about it for a moment, boy. She is to be a Saint of Xerneas. I am a Knight of Darkrai, allied to Yveltal."

"That's silly though! Just because the Pokemon you serve are sworn enemies doesn't mean you have to hurt someone who hasn't done anything you!"

The Knight let out a sigh. "I'm afraid that's where you're wrong, and the naive nature of children shows itself." He sheathed his sword, turning to face Ayana. "Come now, future Saint. I'd rather not to have to kill you in front of your friend."

"No!" Ayana yelled, stepping away. "This isn't fair!"

"Life isn't fair, children. I would presume that the adults in your home would have taught you that from young on." Using the illusion magic that he had before, the Knight suddenly disappeared, before reappearing behind Ayana. He picked her up, nodding to Blaziken before starting to run off.

"Isa! ISA!"

"AYANA!" Isa screeched, ignoring the burning in his chest. He pulled himself up, one arm hanging nearly lifeless from his side. With the other, he grabbed the blue sword on the ground, staggering after the Knight. Every time he thought he got close, he swung the sword in front of him, hoping to hit the Knight. "Don't take her away from me!"

The Knight turned around, stopping to look at Isa.

"Don't do this, please." Isa looked up at the Knight, swaying to keep balance. The Knight made no response, simply turning around and walking away. "STOP!" He screamed again, clutching the sword with both his hands. Isa stepped forward, taking a swing as hard as he could. The light of the sword flashed, more so than he had ever seen it before, eventually hitting the ground and falling from his hands.

There was an ear-splitting scream.

It was definitely Ayana's voice.

Isa slowly looked up, the light still fading from the attack. The Knight was walking further away, but he could still see Ayana looking at him.

She held her hands over her eye, the other one looking at Isa in shock. "I-Isa?"

He stopped, staring straight ahead. Ayana had something dripping from behind her hands. Towards the top of her head where her hands weren't covering, there was a darker line running through her hands. The realization hit Isa like a truck.

"Ayana? I didn't mean to! I'm sorry!" Isa kept yelling at her, trying to apologize. Anything he said could never feel like enough.

The Knight in front of him, alongside with Ayana, vanished for a moment. He reappeared right in front of Isa, sword drawn and pointing at Isa.

"Your end of the duel has been reached, child. Now go before I have to do this again."

With the words, the Knight swung. Darkness penetrated the air, the blow causing Isa to fall over.

"ISA!" Ayana was screaming again, repeating herself frantically. Her voice kept dimming as the Knight drew further away. Isa watched from the ground, trying to get up.

He couldn't move. Again.

He saw something slowly running up to him. As it came into closer view, he could distinguish it as Sandshrew.

"Shrew?" The Pokemon gave Isa an affectionate nudge, pointing behind them towards where the Knight and Ayana were leaving.

"I-I can't..." Isa shook his head weakly, looking around for the sword that he had dropped earlier. "I really messed up this time, huh, Sandshrew?"

"Rew..."

Isa finally felt the sword and grabbed it. He took one look backwards, Ayana and the Knight out of view. Even her cries were muffled by the trees around him. Using the sword as a help, Isa slowly moved across the ground, going until he was sure he was back in Axiom. He finally collapsed for good, looking up at the sky.

That seals it, then.

I'm gonna cut down that tree and become a Patron of Zygarde.

Maybe then I can go into the Dark Lands and find Ayana once again.