Eon Heart - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Leave It or Take It

Rukar rushed outside, his hands flowing with orange aura. Tiala followed him, her image flickering, and Liara soon came out, level five Aura Spheres in her hands.

Latios was hovering over the ground, taking the form of the cobalt-clad teenager. He hit the earth and raised his head, but he was facing away; he hadn't noticed them yet. Soon, however, he'd turn, and it didn't take an Alakazam to know what Tiala was doing there.

Rukar could feel Liara opening up the aural bond, providing a power share, but he warned her off. "Not yet," he stated. "Not until he decides to fight."

His weak voice caught Latios' ears, and he spun, his hands spiralling with rainbow energy. He glanced over Liara, smirked at the aura in Rukar's hands, and transitioned into a rise-and-fall jet-engine snarl.

"Are you still that naive?" he growled. "Or did you just hit your head, like your little Lucario."

Liara growled and broke into Latios' aura. I know who you are, I know what you are, and Rukar is no different. Tiala nodded.

Rukar smirked. "I know what I've got. I know all of what I've got." The aura in his hands flowed into a level five Aura Sphere. "And that's not changing my position." He would have tossed the Aura Sphere at that moment, but just then the residents of Light Island started to gather around them. "What have you got... Tialo?"

Latios must have seen the crowd as well. He knew better than to switch to his true form in such a position. He didn't make any comment on Rukar's quickly-adapted fake name. He just grinned. "I'll show you what I've got." He whistled with half a jet cry. "Why don't you show me what you've got? Don't get your Lurio hands dirty - not yet."

Rukar switched the Aura Sphere to one hand and gripped it like it was solid. He was no stranger to commanding Liara in battle. She had taught him at an early age, saying that he couldn't do all the fighting himself or he'd most likely die. Still, he only had one shot - and if he sent out Aquali, he wasn't sure if she'd respond.

"One-on-one," he stated.

Latios - Tialo - grinned. "Game on, Lurio!"

Liara knew what he was thinking a second before he did. She leapt between them, and the spectators formed a circle. Tialo whistled, and a familiar nine-tailed figure leapt before him - Nova.

Tiala tapped his shoulder and whispered directly into his ear. "Let me establish a psychic link, and I can let you know what he'll do. He'll communicate with Nova mentally, like you communicate with Liara aurally."

Rukar nodded. "Sounds good." He placed a light kiss on Tiala's cheek, then took a battle stance, still gripping the Aura Sphere.

Never make the first move, he said to himself. To Tiala, he stated, Wait for her to strike, then evade and move in with a level seven Dragon Pulse.

Tialo made no noise, but clear as day Rukar heard him shout in his mind, Fire Spin!

Liara heard it. She leapt out of the way as flames ripped around where she had been standing a moment before, then spiralled a storm of draconic aura towards Nova. Rukar heard the Ninetales scream in pain and fall to the ground, but she got up quick.

Let her tire out, he told Tiala. When she starts to weaken, move in with a level seven Dark Pulse.

Nova was resilent. She let Flamethrower stream out, spun flames around Liara's legs, launched Fire Blast after Fire Blast. Liara evaded them all, even backflipping over Nova and making like she hit herself in the face with an Aura Sphere.

Finally, Nova moved in hard. She leapt dead into the middle of the arena and reared back. Liara charged aura in her arms, but it wasn't going to be enough; Nova unleashed a massive wave of fire that left most of the spectators running. Rukar wrapped his arms around Tiala defensively as the firestorm struck him, and shouted in pain.

When it faded, he slowly unwrapped from Tiala and managed not to crumble. He turned back to the battlefield and gaped.

Nova was on her feet, but she was barely standing. Liara, however, was surrounded in an orb of Dark Pulse rings. She threw her arms out, and the orb dissipated. Does that count as tired out?

Just push her over.

Liara laughed and stepped over to Nova. The Ninetales didn't make any move to defend herself. Liara swung one foot out like she was going to slam a kick into Nova's side, but stopped a millimetre away and tapped her. The flaming fox fell to the ground, panting, and she didn't get up.

Rukar stepped forward, his body crispy. Tiala stepped up beside him. "I know what I've got," he said, panting. "I know all of what I've got. And I'm not letting it go."

There wasn't a single spectator in sight. Latios had erected a powerful barrier of the same energy that formed his Luster Purge, but it fell apart when he saw Nova.

"Leave it or take it," Rukar panted. "Because you're not gonna break it."

Latios clenched his hands and dropped the illusion. One of these days, Lurio, you'll regret this, he stated. Until then...

He smiled honestly. Wish you luck.

He turned off and shot into the sky. None of the spectators were coming back. Rukar stepped back into the cave and turned to Tiala.

"You saved me," she said, shocked.

Rukar nodded. "What did you expect?" he asked. "I'm going to defend the girl I love."

She smiled and wrapped her arms around him, slowly dropping the illusion. Rukar held her at elbow's length, then pulled her close and kissed her. She made no move to resist.