With a deep breath, Lusamine popped the candy into her mouth. Instantly, a faint glow surrounded her, and she closed her eyes in concentration. The transformation was subtle at first, but as moments passed, a faint, ethereal core began to form within her, pulsating with newfound energy.
Opening her eyes, Lusamine looked down at herself in awe. "I can feel it... something inside me has changed."
"You're doing great," I encouraged, summoning a special skin for her poke ball. It materialized in a shimmer of light, fitting snugly around the device. "This skin is a Rare Wind Fairy Skin, and when you activate it with your core, your body will transform a bit. What that change will be, you will just have to find out, but if you don't like it, we can always change it in the future."
I didn't want to say that this was the skin I got a few hours ago from completing my quest with Jolene, not that she needed to know. Until Lusamine opened up with me, what I did with the other girls wasn't really her concern.
Lusamine nodded, her eyes bright with curiosity and determination. "I'm ready to see what I can do."
I smiled, proud of her eagerness to grow stronger. "Let's find out together."
With a deep breath, Lusamine activated the Rare Wind Fairy Garden Skin. A gentle breeze seemed to emanate from her poke ball, enveloping her in a soft glow. Slowly, her hair changed from blonde to green with pink highlights, her dress turned green with realistic vine details, and four pink glowing translucent fairy grew from her back.
I dropped the water wall and Nemona immediately squealed and ran over to tackle Lusamine to the ground. "Did you really do it that fast?! You look so pretty and cool now! Oh my Arceus! We have to battle now!"
"Get off me! We didn't do it yet you horn dog!" Lusamine complained, and I couldn't help but laugh at them.
Nemona finally got off her, but then immediately activated her Star Fire Storm Skin. Her shorts and shirt were burned off, leaving nothing but a bikini that burned with the radiance of a star. Gaseous flames curled around her arms and legs as the tie holding Nemona's hair back burnt away and her hair turned into a nebulous gas of many colors that flowed out behind her.
"Wait! This isn't even fair!" Lusamine said as she rose into the air, but she was already summoning vines up from the ground. "I just got my powers!"
"And there is no better time to train them!" Nemona cheered, and three burning stars appeared around her head.
"Landon!" Lusamine called to me, but I had already jumped up into the stands to sit alone and watch the fight.
"Don't worry. Cryo will set you both with limiters. The nanobots will be working your body while you fight, and they can heal pretty much any injuries you get while they are active, so you can both fight without holding back. This is a good chance to try everything that you have just learned, and there are no winners or losers," I called out as I started to do dips on the stadium benches.
Lusamine looked like she was going to argue, but beams of light from Nemona's three stars forced her to start moving. While she dodged the beams, Lusamine's vines surged at Nemona. The vines, weaving through the air with graceful precision, tried to strike at every angle, but Nemona deftly evaded and burned them. Each vine danced like an extension of her will, aiming to entangle Nemona and slow her down. Nemona, however, countered with swift movements, her Star Fire Storm Skin emanating intense heat and light as she kicked, creating explosions to maneuver through the air.
The stadium filled with the crackling sound of energy and the vibrant glow of elemental powers clashing. Nemona darted between Lusamine's vines, dodging and weaving as she sent bursts of starfire in retaliation. The flames licked at the vines, causing them to char and retreat momentarily before Lusamine redirected them with renewed determination.
Watching from the stands, I marveled at their progress. Lusamine's newfound abilities with her Wind Fairy Garden Skin gave her agility and control over natural elements, blending seamlessly with her strategic mind. On the other hand, Nemona's Star Fire Storm Skin amplified her offensive capabilities, turning her into a blazing comet of power.
The battle continued, each combatant testing their limits and pushing themselves further. Lusamine's vines coiled and struck with precision, aiming to ensnare Nemona and restrict her movements. Nemona countered with bursts of fiery energy, creating dazzling displays of light and heat that forced Lusamine to constantly adapt her strategy.
As they fought, Cryo's nanobots worked tirelessly, monitoring their vital signs and healing any minor injuries almost instantaneously. This allowed Lusamine and Nemona to focus solely on honing their skills without fear of permanent harm, pushing themselves to explore the full extent of their new abilities.
After what felt like an intense eternity of battle, both Lusamine and Nemona gradually began to slow down, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. They stood facing each other, each respecting the other's strength and determination.
"You're really something, Lusamine," Nemona panted, wiping sweat from her brow with a grin. "That was a good challenge."
Lusamine smiled back, though clearly exhausted. "You too, Nemona. Your control over fire is incredible. I can't believe how far we've come already."
I jumped down from the stands, landing lightly on the stadium floor as I approached them. "You both did amazing. It's clear you're both growing stronger with each day."
Nemona nodded, her eyes still alight with the thrill of battle. "Thanks, Landon. This training really pushes us to discover what we're capable of."
Lusamine glanced at her new form, the faint glow of her Wind Fairy Garden Skin still shimmering softly. "I never imagined I'd have powers like this. It's... empowering."
"You've earned it," I reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "And you're only going to get stronger from here."
As we gathered ourselves and prepared to leave the arena, a thought struck me. "How about we celebrate with some breakfast? I am pretty sure that Joy is up, and the Recon team is with her, so I am sure she is already working on it."
Nemona grinned eagerly. "That sounds great. I'm starving after all that."
Lusamine nodded in agreement, a hint of relief in her expression. "I could use a break, and some food would be perfect."