"I've defeated Zapdos, Articuno, and Moltres, they all had the Original One's power as gods of thunder, ice, and fire, but they didn't seem to be Kings."
John figured he should just ask Xerneas directly. The legendary Pokemon had been around since ancient times, after all.
"They were created by the Original One to embody the world's natural laws. Naturally, they are not Kings," Xerneas explained patiently.
"Only ordinary creatures born from mortal flesh and chosen by the Original One can be called Kings, or Queens, in the case of female Pokemon."
That cleared up John's confusion. No wonder legendary Pokemon were inherently stronger than regular Pokemon, they'd been designed from day one to maintain the world's natural order for Arceus.
Only regular Pokemon could become Kings/Queens.
This explained why Gengar and Zoroark were Kings, but the three legendary birds weren't.
"Will a King definitely have the Original One's power?" John asked. His Gengar and Zoroark didn't possess any divine artifacts.
"Of course. That is proof they were chosen as Kings," Xerneas confirmed. "However, the Original One hasn't visited this world for a very long time. Gradually, many Kings have forgotten their identities, and the sacred powers given to them have been... misplaced."
Not lost. Misplaced. John's own Gengar and Zoroark simply didn't have the treasures they should rightfully possess.
While John talked with Xerneas, the divine Gardevoir had approached them.
"So is this protégé of yours a Queen?" John asked.
"Yes," Xerneas nodded.
"I heard that if I defeat her, my Gardevoir can become the new Queen?"
"Naturally. The King/Queen must be the strongest of their species. If your Gardevoir can defeat her in single combat, she will be recognized by the Original One as the new Queen."
Perfect.
"That's exactly why I'm here. Would your protégé be willing to battle my Gardevoir?"
"The throne is the Queen's pride. She cannot refuse a challenge from a worthy member of her own species, and your partner is certainly qualified to challenge her."
Xerneas stepped back to a safe distance. "I shall witness this battle for the crown!"
The Gardevoir Queen didn't fully understand what was happening, but after hearing Xerneas's words, she grasped that this powerful stranger wanted to challenge her for the throne.
As the strongest of her kind, she wouldn't refuse challengers.
"Garde!" The Gardevoir Queen raised her hand and used Teleport, putting distance between them.
A hundred meters away, she readied herself for battle.
John looked at his Mega Gardevoir. "Ready to become the new Queen of the Gardevoir species?"
"Gardevoir~" Mega Gardevoir gazed at the Gardevoir Queen. She wasn't particularly interested in fancy titles, but since this was her trainer's wish, she'd give everything to achieve it.
Sorry, former Queen. The throne only has room for one.
Mega Gardevoir's psychic energy surged as her fighting spirit blazed.
"By the way, can I give commands?" John asked Xerneas.
Xerneas shook it's head slightly.
John shrugged. He'd just be a spectator. He walked toward Xerneas, but Gardevoir remained in her MEGA evolved form.
The Gardevoir Queen faced off against Mega Gardevoir.
BOOM!
The space between them suddenly screamed and vibrated. The air looked like rain hitting water, washing away in countless ripples.
Wave after wave, one surge following another.
The collision had begun, using psychic energy invisible to normal eyes as their weapon.
However, John's enhanced vision could clearly see energy crackling between them.
The Gardevoir Queen raised her hand, using psychic power to construct chains of pure energy that stabbed toward Mega Gardevoir from countless directions.
Mega Gardevoir responded with massive waves of overwhelming mental power, pushing forward to overpower her opponent.
But their psychic clash was evenly matched.
"The Queen has better control over Calm Mind, Future Sight, and Teleport," John observed. "While my Gardevoir's raw psychic power and physical strength are greatly enhanced, her psychic control still falls short."
However, the Gardevoir Queen didn't seem satisfied with just matching Mega Gardevoir's power.
Suddenly, she raised her hand and waved. Her figure vanished from the spot.
She instantly appeared in mid-air, with the bright white full moon behind her. Raising both hands, her body began to sway, exactly like in the video John had watched.
The Gardevoir Queen was preparing to dance and call forth the power of the entire world.
John could actually see and feel the changes in surrounding energy.
He suddenly understood why the Gardevoir Queen's dance could make the entire forest dance along.
When pink energy identical to Xerneas's covered the desolate land, life burst forth. Seeds hidden beneath the earth shot from the ground and grew wildly.
Even the full moon soaring in the sky shone as bright as the sun!
The Gardevoir Queen actually possessed Xerneas's Fairy Aura, not an ordinary Fairy Aura, but one with true abundant power.
With this mighty force, the Gardevoir Queen descended from the sky, slamming toward Mega Gardevoir with endless Moonblast energy and life force.
John looked at his Mega Gardevoir, how would she respond?
He saw Mega Gardevoir's beautiful face regarding the Gardevoir Queen coldly, her eyes glowing with light purple energy.
That was the effect of Future Sight, peering into the future with her eyes!
All your attacks have been detected by me, without exception, in the future I can see.
Time to end this.
Mega Gardevoir stretched out her hand and tapped the air, sending ripples through space.
The world seemed to pause.
"Moonblast."
Placing her hands on her chest, Mega Gardevoir conjured a mirror between her palms that reflected the full moon in the sky.
BOOM!
A moonlight beam so brilliant it could destroy everything condensed into a sharp arrow that burst from the mirror, shooting toward the Gardevoir Queen.