The Terastal caves around them seemed to turn... monochrome. Monochrome other than the crystals, which only glittered sinister blacks and reds. Anxiety began to creep into Shalin's joyful heart as Xerneas galloped deeper into the cave with their two passengers aboard. This was becoming less of a thrill ride and more of a nightmare by the moment.

Where there were once an abundance of Gabite, Glimmora, and paradox Pokémon, there were no such life forms beyond the point where the cave turned black. "It did, and I don't like it..." Shalin shuddered, her hair standing on end. Unfamiliar with the Kalosian legend, she was not ready for the horror she was about to witness.

[attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][newclass=".emapkmn"]height:40px;width:40px;background:#2b2b2b;border-radius:100%;margin:0 5px;[/newclass]

Lutgarde, having grown up with the whispers of those legends, shivers as their ride might even seem to slow in this eerie landscape. "To brilliant, vibrant life ... there's also the opposite." It's the only warning they can give Shalin before they already come face-to-face with the eternal rival, opponent of Xerneas.

It's hard to tell if it's actually animosity that drives these forces, or at least this is what Lutgarde believes and the crystals might make manifest. It's hard for them to truly imagine that life and death are not only on opposing ends, but actually trying to one-up one another. Still, in this scenario, Yveltal's influence has spread too much. Below the stone-like surfaces, one could almost see the motion that should accompany the landscape here, but is utterly lacking.

The red-black bird matches Lutgarde's aesthetics far more, as the group comes to a halt facing it. It regards them with a seemingly calculating look, clouded over by something that also glitters - perhaps a sign of the tera crystals at work here.

Shalin Nariya

The enormous, black and red bird was truly a terror to behold, the cave's surface beneath them turning greyscale as the claws on its tail scratched the ground. "So, an incarnation of death itself..." Shalin shuddered as the once happy legendary jaunt turned tense.

And yet, the behemoth of a Dark-type didn't seem completely hostile. Was the glittering, terastal Yveltal sizing Lutgarde Dijkstra and Sylph up? Their FAIRY AURA and DARK AURA neutralized one another, Shalin suddenly feeling much more comfortable than she did before. Was the fairy-type Terastal energy really so oppressive?

[attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][newclass=".emapkmn"]height:40px;width:40px;background:#2b2b2b;border-radius:100%;margin:0 5px;[/newclass]

Lutgarde nods with an uncharacteristically severe, but also revering expression. There's no life without death - and no death without life. They're mutually exclusive states that can't exist without another. "Huh," the ranger remarks as they regard the Yveltal and are regarded in turn ... and how their auras seem to cancel one another out, allowing more room to breathe.

The cycle that exists so everything else can persist.

Still, tension lingers in the air as this area seems to be something both Yveltal and Xerneas of the Tera Crystal seem to be fighting about. There's flickering in the air as if the crystals themselves with all their brilliance couldn't decide whether they'd be dark or fairy - but it could all well just be Lutgarde's imagination.

"I wonder if," they cautiously start, before Sylph already starts flying over to the Yveltal that seems to acknowledge their presence. Their Sylveon Sylv also hops from Xerneas back to Sylph and Lutgarde, loafing atop the Togekiss' head. "Reminds me of that RKS simulation, you know?" Just now, it's not Miraidon against another Miraidon. "What do you think?" The terastal energy brings these legends to life, and they ... aren't entirely sure what might happen in a fight, but a fight seems to happen one way or another unless they book it real fast, hoping the illusions to fade. But, given Xerneas' speed just now, that truly seems impossible.

"I just don't really have dark type moves ..."

Shalin Nariya

The rapidly-flickering space between light and dark, Terastal crystals halfway between Xerneas and Yveltal, almost looked like a millennia-old ritual. Two diametrically opposed forces, each at a standstill, seemingly waited for Shalin or Lutgarde to break the stalemate. She saw Lutgarde dismount from Xerneas, leaving her alone astride the legendary fairy-type of rainbow colors.

It did remind Shalin of the RKS Rimulation, but of Koraidon, not Miraidon. She wanted to come back here; what other legendary Pokémon could she meet down here, even if they were only facsimiles of the real thing? That didn't matter to the wild child; whether real or Terastal, they rode the same. Fast and nimble.

Lutgarde's last request confused Shalin. "Dark-type...?" she said softly, just loudly enough for her friend to hear, and hopefully not loudly enough for Xerneas to hear over the noise the clashing Auras made. "Don't you mean Fairy-type?" Sensing a possible betrayal, Xerneas craned toward Shalin and side-eyed her with stern, starry eyes.

Did Lutgarde want to befriend the Yveltal instead?

[attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][attr="class","emapkmn"][newclass=".emapkmn"]height:40px;width:40px;background:#2b2b2b;border-radius:100%;margin:0 5px;[/newclass]

Lutgarde shakes their head slightly at Shalin's whispered words, only now noticing that there might be heavier feelings lingering even with conjured images. Still, they have a strong sense of keeping things balanced for the sake of good sportsmanship, and so they nod once decisively. "Think it's like a sparring battle? Just ... way more intense," they say, then slightly bow in front of Xerneas as they and Sylph make to fly towards its eternal opponent.

"Please do not mind me being devil's advocate here ... it should be a fair fight to decide."

It's something they'd never imagined either, even if multiple friends told them that their attire is more befitting of a dark type trainer than a fairy one - still, Sylph, Sylv and them fly next to Yveltal's side. The Destruction pokémon regards them with an unfathomable look, possibly curious. It lowers itself slightly ... inviting Lutgarde to hop on, it seems. They hesitate, but given that Shalin's on Xerneas, it only seems good to mirror. They change their mount with Sylv hopping onto, and immediately after, Yveltal roars.

Massive wings flap, opening the fight immediately with Dark Pulse.

Shalin Nariya