At the heart of the kingdom rests a great castle. They make for it with urgent haste. Monsters stand in their way, but their destruction is an inevitability. Navy and Melody had a lifetime to practice this dance. Though her memory has faded, the man who was once her husband remembers the steps. It’s a dazzling thing, strength matched with guile.[break][break]
Infiltrating the castle proves no more difficult than reaching its perimeter. Up and over, as it were. They scurry up to their destination: a room at the heart of the castle.[break][break]
“This feel nostalgic at all to you?” He asks, listening to the hum of the song spreading throughout the kingdom. “Kinda reminds me of somethin’.” There was another castle, once. Melody was not its queen, but she trumped that queen in both splendor and beauty. There was no one in that world the Pale Rider had eyes for, save her.[break][break]
“This suit’s amazing.” He beams at her. Thanks to the power of the sync stone, this place’s oppressive energy does not weigh him down like it once did. “Should’ve gotten one sooner.” A little joke, as if it’s not cutting edge technology.[break][break]
A closed door stands before them. Navy, Vortigern, and Shuwen all press against the door to no avail. It’s just as he thought. Luckily, he came prepared. In the first of three lives he has lived, he was a private detective. Inferences like this are elementary.[break][break]
“Wouldn’t ya know it, it’s a perfect fit.” Navy presses the gear into a perfectly cut hexagon. It fits like a glove. Shuwen takes over, spinning the gear again and again and again…[break][break]
The door starts to open.

[break][break]

+ Melody Miro

🗺️ THE METAL GEAR can be used to activate a gate, machine, or any other gear-based mechanism to overcome an obstacle.

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“No kidding.” He agrees with the idol’s assessment of the room waiting for them on the other side. It’s a grand hall, meant for concerts. Melody’s eyes are drawn up to the stained glass. His own go down to the path ahead. There are pews, like something you’d see in a church. Figures sit hunched in prayer. Shuwen looms behind Navy like a large shadow, Vortigern sniffing about and finding little that interests him.[break][break]
“Wish the audience was as cute as the glass.” He says, seeing that the figures sitting at the pews do not seem to move. Pulling back the cloth from one’s head, he sees an automaton. That’s the only word he can find to describe the thing. It’s man-shaped, with bronze skin and cogs visible under incomplete plates.[break][break]
One of the stained glass panes shifts to reflect Navy’s thoughts. It’s his own face. Half him, a quarter human bone, a quarter mechanical. Macabre thoughts. As much as this man smiles, he’s grim beneath it all.[break][break]
The image shifts without warning. A pale man rides a Spectrier. Beside him lumbers an Urshifu. Swallowing, Navy points at the end of the room.[break][break]
At the far end of the room is a grand stage. Once more, the picture within the stained glass changes. Melody is depicted now, costumed and beautiful. This is a stage worthy of her, and the kingdom seems to tease him by making it apparent to her that he thinks so.

[break][break]

+ Melody Miro[break]
39 discover a great chamber for music filled with grand stained glass windows, pews, and more. these glass windows synchronize with your consciouses, projecting representations of your thoughts on their panes.

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“Something else, huh?” He asks, smiling at her. “Sure, I can do that.” The music in the box begins to play. It’s an old familiar tune, like a burning memory looped on repeat.[break][break]
Melody’s image is replaced by one of Navy holding her. He’s swinging from a rope, holding her close in one arm. There’s an explosion behind him. Stars are in her eyes. This is certainly something different.[break][break]
But it’s not what he wants. It’s not what once was in the long ago days of a distant future.[break][break]
Outside, the song starts to grow louder. Something is coming. He can hear the song this mysterious creature sings. Vortigern, sensing his apprehension, goes to his side. It grows louder still.[break][break]
Out of their sight, the soul heart on an automaton begins to stir. Navy’s head hurts. He falls to one knee, Vortigern roaring in pain. Their hearts, minds, and souls are one, man and dragon. Both of them feel the pull, recoil from the flash of a snapshot being taken.[break][break]
“Feels like…someone split my head. Crap!”[break][break]
One of the figures on the pews raises its head. Beneath the hood, his expression hasn’t changed.[break][break]
As Navy turns to make sense of that, something descends onto stage.

[break][break]

+ Melody Miro

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

In the end, all he can do is watch. Navy rushes to her, only to be met by the barrier. What sits beyond it is a difficult pill to swallow. She’s alone with her Pokemon, having a stand-off with a legend. Navy’s hand clenches into a fist.[break][break]
It sucks. All the grief she’s had to go through. All the pain. All the terrible things that woman did to her, years ago. He wants to reach out through the glass. Navy, a fighter through and through, wants to fight for this woman he loves.
A cold, robotic hand touches his shoulder. Flinching, he turns to see his own face looking at him. This Navy is cast in bronze. His hair is made of spiked, jagged onyx. The automaton’s eyes glow a faint blue. They look past Melody, up onto the stage. She’s taken center stage.[break][break]
“This is life when you love somebody famous, y’know.” The automaton teases Navy in his own voice. “Don’t try to mess with ‘em too much.”[break][break]
Navy steps back, caught between looking at the stage and his own robotic reflection. Vortigern lumbers behind Navy. At the very least, the dragon’s attention is undivided.[break][break]
“What the hell are you?” The genuine article asks, aghast.[break][break]
“Mmmm…” Navy can see the actual cogs within the copy’s head turn as he thinks. In turn, his mind also deduces. They’re running with the same equipment.[break][break]
“The music copied me.” They both say at once.[break][break]
“That/This sucks.” They both say.[break][break]
“Whatever happens next…let’s watch her perform.” The copy says. Navy gives a slow nod. It’s only when Melody starts to sing that his heart soars. Like so many around the world, she shatters the spell of sadness over his heart. Pumping his fist into the air, he shouts the only thing he can think to say.[break][break]
“Show her what’s up, Melody! You’ve got this!” His sygna suit comes to life with the sound of music, putting down a type field to help Primarina.


[break][break]

+ Melody Miro[break]
You pick the field type[break]
38 a sudden song of the kingdom will suddenly cause one, some or all of your characters to have their soul "transfer" to an unaccounted for volcanion/magearna body, or a mechanical copy of your character (mentioned in prompt 35) with a SOUL-HEART inside. however, instead of your consciences being moved into their machinery, they are instead, copied. these soul copies must be destroyed by you, by something else, or left to their fates in a hostile kingdom.[break]
have the meloetta's song affect your character or characters' feelings. they may experience extreme joy or extreme sadness.

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His clone is forgotten. The machine does not pursue him up onto the stage. Navy pulls Melody close, holds her there. Vortigern is just behind him, a shadow lurking behind the songstress alongside Primarina. It has seen these two like this before. The black dragon, too, remembers its time in another world.[break][break]
“Careful, Starlight.” He whispers the words in a gentle voice. They’re words from another life. Navy doesn’t consider himself a creative man. That’s not his business. There’s no place for creativity in the warrior’s world, or his father once told him. That word is a rare spout of the stuff. His pet name for her.[break][break]
When he saw her dancing on a stage for the first time, the word came to him. When they grew close in Galar, he had the courage to call her that. His starlight, all the splendor of the night sky in one woman.[break][break]
“…sorry.” His cheeks flush. Navy has grieved her. He grieves what they once had. He grieves a life that once was. Perhaps the legendary across from them can feel that pain and that grief as he helps the woman he once loved up to her feet.[break][break]
“Can’t let you have Melody.”

[break][break]

+ Melody Miro

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

But boy do I remember, the strain of her refrain.[break]
The nights we spent together,[break]
And the way she called my name.[break][break]
He’s swept back into another life. Caught with her in his arms, caught in nostalgia. Through the sync stone, Navy feels something so rare as to be unique. Vortigern is worried about Navy. That worry makes him worried.[break][break]
But Melody’s strong. Stronger than she knows. That strength gives her voice its glamor. He is but a man with eyes clear enough to see the stars.[break][break]
“Yeah.” He stammers the word out, looking across at Meloetta. Even when Melody told him what they were here for, he didn’t expect this. He’s fought legendaries, fought alongside them. Argued with them. Now, he makes a case for them.[break][break]
“We saw some bad stuff. Could be the end of your kingdom. Trust me. There’s no one better at making miracles happen than my girl here. If anyone can help you…it’s her.” He gives her shoulder a gentle squeeze.[break][break]
“And I promise I’ll fight like hell for you n’ yours, too. We’re all in this together. Hoenn and the Mechanical Kingdom.”

[break][break]

+ Melody Miro

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Dunno.” As much as he wishes he could impress her with some sweeping deduction, none is forthcoming. Sometimes, a crystal is just a crystal. Other times…[break][break]
…well, that’s a story for later. The epilogue of this story is a pleasant enough affair. Turning, expecting a fight, Navy sees that his doppelganger has vanished. Vortigern’s concern turns to curiosity. Both trainer and dragon doubt they’ve seen the last of that creature.[break][break]
But for now, Navy scoops her up. With his two strongest Pokemon at his back, he carries her out of this place. She needs time to recover. A test of wills against a god isn’t good for the health.[break][break]
“I know you don’t remember much about Galar.” Navy admits at the door. Turning back to look at the stained glass one last time, he sees himself. Older, happier, dancing with Melody while ollie morales and PENELOPE LIVY look on.[break][break]
“But we danced in a hall just like this. When you’ve got your strength back, we should come back. Wouldn’t mind dancing here again.” He’s past the point of caring if he flusters her. It just feels good to say the words.[break][break]
“But first, let’s get you back home. Beauties need their beauty sleep.”

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[break][break]

+ Melody Miro

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