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Even as they prepare to make landfall in Dewford, Eddie's eyes remained trained on the billowing smoke to the north. [break][break]

The Nihilego toxins had worn off some time ago, and his knuckles ached and burned and bled. There was a tremble to his tired limbs as the last of the adrenaline worked its way out of his system. His arm still burned from where the wretched Yamaguchi Himiko had raked his flesh with poisoned claws. [break][break]

Yet it still wasn't enough. He had failed to stop Rocket, failed to help save Petalburg, and had failed to do little more than run from the fight with his tail tucked between his legs. The pain and exhaustion were an inadequate penance for his shortcomings; deliriously, Eddie mentally resolved to atone somehow, through backbreaking labor or some facsimile of flagellation or by some other mechanism that might alleviate the guilt tearing through his chest. [break][break]

His sordid thoughts were interrupted by Tsubaki's voice. Eddie turned to her and blinked back the few watery tears that had begun to pool at the corners of his eyes, [break][break]

“That's a helluva a question,” he chuckled breathlessly. [break][break]

Terrakion stood alongside them even now, watching the two battered humans converse. It's expression was unreadable; the Sword of Justice was a stranger to Eddie, its motives unclear, [break][break]

“I figure half'a that is up ta the big guy himself,” Eddie managed, thumbing back at the legend in the flesh, “I... dunno about the rest. Don't know if I've earned anyone's legacy after today.” [break][break]

Terrakion huffed with agitation, apparently displeased by his answer.

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Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki [break]

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Eddie nodded numbly and watched the snake's tail coil around the gym leader's legs. Though the Nihilego was a fearsome combatant, the soldier found he much preferred the Arbok's company; something about its presence felt more protective than possessive as it held its trainer upright, but maybe that was simply because it felt more like a flesh-and-blood creature than the otherworldly Ultra Beast had. He dismissed the thought quickly, though, as Tsubaki gripped the ship's railing, [break][break]

“Still figurin' that part out, but I'm startin' ta come up with some theories,” he admitted as he leaned against the railing himself, a gesture more casual than he felt once he realized those piercing eyes were trained on him. [break][break]

And then, Eddie smiled a little in spite of himself as something rather absurd occurred to him. A hoarse chuckle managed to work its way out before he continued, [break][break]

“Yer right, fer starters – about the story. I'm no expert when it comes ta folklore or legends, but hell, I love me a good story. Ones with heroes and villains, and with happy endings. Always have, always will.” [break][break]

Such tales were the lifeblood of humanity. Dreams and hopes, mythical figures set up against the stars, paragons for all of the little guys like him to chase after until the end of their days. Eddie knew he would never be a Heracles or an Achilles or a d'Artagnan, but that wasn't the point, exactly. You could be a damn good man in the pursuit of such virtue, even if your memory faded into obscurity after you were gone, [break][break]

“And I think I'm enough of a sap ta still put stock in 'em,” Eddie admitted with some new bashfulness, “I know it ain't that simple, but I wanna believe that the good guys are gonna win at the end of the day. I wanna believe that we're gonna make things right the right way, yanno?” [break][break]

He nodded back to Terrakion, [break][break]

“Maybe Terrakion knows that. Maybe we're on the same page when it comes to that sorta thing.” [break][break]

Eddie briefly glanced to the Sword for affirmation, and could have sworn he saw a brief tilt of the legend's head in a gesture akin to a nod. That was probably wishful thinking, though.

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Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki [break]

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The thought seemed a little absurd, enough so that Eddie couldn't help but laugh a little incredulously, [break][break]

“Maybe they did,” he mused. [break][break]

Eddie shook his head, trying to dismiss the instinctual urge to deflect and only partially succeeding, [break][break]

“But we were all fightin' ta protect Dewford, weren't we? You, an' me, an' Navy an' Isaac Merlo an' Calliope Marks . An' you were right there with me tryin' ta protect Petalburg, too. Tryin' ta stop that fuckin' psychopath an' his fuckin' iceberg.” [break][break]

howard slayte was god damn confounding, as far as Eddie was concerned. How could someone that spoke with such righteousness, who had apparently sacrificed so much already, be so willing to commit such acts of evil? Now wasn't the time to try and decipher that puzzle-box of motivations, though, [break][break]

“Kinda makes me wonder, still, but – ” [break][break]

He vaguely realized that Tsubaki's grip had grown tighter on the railing. He frowned; maybe he was missing the point. Eddie looked from her white knuckles to meet the Arbok's stare, that, in some ways, reminded him of Tsubaki's own, [break][break]

“But yer right. We keep fightin', we never back down,” he affirmed with a resolute nod, “And we bring all'a those sorry bastards ta justice. We owe it ta Dewford, and Petalburg, and all'a Hoenn and Kanto and to all'a the good people out there.” [break][break]

His voice rose in spite of himself, carrying some fiery bit of passion, like a blazing star against the shadowy night Rocket threatened to plunge their world into. Eddie's hands balled into fists where he leaned against the railing, too, [break][break]

“We are gonna win, Tsubaki. I ain't ever givin' up.”

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Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki [break]

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It was a cruel goddamn world, Eddie thought dourly. It had been easy enough to assume that Tsubaki was this sort of unstoppable, almost otherworldly force when she had commanded and melded with the Nihilego, but the reality of things was sobering. She was just a kid, thrown into some bullshit war by bullshit people, and forced back into the fray over and over and over again. In a way, though, it made his own involvement in this sordid mess all the more worthwhile. If he just kept going, if he just kept railing against those that would continue to plunge the region into war and bloodshed, maybe he could help take some of that load off the young gym leader's back. [break][break]

Eddie nodded too, more firm and resolute than ever, [break][break]

“Fer what it's worth, I'm kinda dumb and stubborn, too,” he chuckled teasingly, “But I don't know any other way ta be.” [break][break]

No, no more self-deprecation. The soldier straightened himself a little, [break][break]

“I'm gonna make that justice, Baki. Send Fox packin', and Monroe, and whoever the hell else wants ta step up. An' if Terrakions on board, then all the better.” [break][break]

Eddie grinned, boyish and bright, and all the aches and pains of the day melted away beneath his new radiant conviction, [break][break]

“Just leave it ta me!” [break][break]

At his side, the bull-like Sword gave a curt snort in agreement. That attitude, brave and foolhardy, unerring in one's convictions, might have been the sort of thing Terrakion had been drawn to after all.

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Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki [break]

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Blackened fingers curled, knuckles cracking, and Eddie laughed a bit bashfully at Tsubaki's observation. Maybe he ought to bring a pair of boxing gloves to the next showdown, because the kid had him dead to rights. Eddie was probably going to do something far stupider for the sake of doing the right thing before this war was done. [break][break]

But his eyes suddenly grew wide when the gym leader presented the mother of all offers to him, and if he hadn't already been grinning like an idiot, Eddie's beaming face would have outshone the sun, [break][break]

“Hell yeah!” he cheered with an enthusiasm that perhaps wasn't befitting of the grim threat they were up against, “I'll be there! You an' me, we're gonna kick some ass!” [break][break]

Though, in his heart of hearts, Eddie knew that it wasn't purely a matter of martial prowess. No, they had to do this the right way, had to keep their hearts intact, because what good would all that strength do if they became no better than the very foes they were going to be squaring up against? He was confident that they would keep on that straight and narrow path together, that nothing would shake them from their indefatigable righteousness.

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Hyakkaryōran Tsubaki [break]