Chapter Text
4000 years ago
The night sky was clouded over. A view that would normally be filled with starlight was now obscured by a thick haze of smoke and fire. Cries filled the air almost as much as the dust, rock, and flames did. On the ground, countless bodies moved about as two clashing armies met in a fierce battle. Attacks fired from all directions, some hitting their targets and others disappearing into the distance to harm somewhere unseen. It was, in a word, Hell.
On the ground, a pair of nearly identical pokemon propelled across the landscape, forcing their way towards frontlines. While their small, singular eyes bore no emotion, their thoughts were a mess of conflict. What had brought them to this point? The shouts of their brethren and the opposing army was nearly enough to drown out even their mental voices to one another. After one headbutted a viciously attacking raticate, it turned to face the sibling hiding among fallen trees.
‘You can’t honestly believe we can survive this, do you?’ Its twin's voice rang through its own thoughts. Swiveling its one eye, it traded a glare with the sibling's concerned demeanor.
'What point to survival is there if we lose? We'd be executed without a second thought.'
'And if we weren't?'
A powerful series of beams fired through the nearby terrain, leveling a hill and vaporizing brush. Alarmed shouts were cut off by a series of large explosions, showering the two in shrapnel and other bits. One of the beldum looked in horror at the approaching army. It was as if the entire world were against them.
Truth be told, neither wanted to be there. What had been a peaceful existence had abruptly ended not long ago. Tensions rose to the point of no return, and when their leader gave the word that war was to come, there was no going back.
The day the news arrived, the younger of the siblings, Cuprous, had nearly fallen apart. They were young, and certainly not a fighter. Yet it was deemed every one of them was to be conscripted for the cause. It wasn’t simply a war over territory or resources. It was for their very existence.
The older sibling Stannum wasn't much more capable, but it was certainly more willing. Neither felt the innate desire for combat; they were inventors by trade. Even so the two were in contention - one wishing to stay behind and continue their work in seclusion, while the other wanted to fight to have the chance to continue. Both knew they had to do whatever it took. But no matter what their personal desires were, they still had to heed the words of their leader. Their progenitor.
Cuprous stared distantly on the battlefield. Pokemon of all shapes and sizes were fighting to the death with such a palpable level of hatred they almost felt the weight of it. It was sickening to witness. They wanted to turn away and ignore the carnage unfolding, but they could not. Either side of the conflict assumed if they lost, their lives may be forfeit. So if they lost theirs on the battlefield, what did it matter? Cuprous still felt a twinge of sadness at the entire situation. It didn’t need to be this way. Surely peace could be found.
"Out of the way, kids! Let a real hero show how it's done!"
Swerving aside at the booming voice, Cuprous and Stannum gaped at an enormous golurk rocketing past, its internal boosters sending it barrelling through dozens of enemy fighters. Twisting its body about, their arm rockets angled in such a way it flew into the heart of the battle. Each blast from the fiery engine scorched more pokemon, some lightweights even being launched back by the force. It was a sight both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
As the golurk landed, a rallying cry rose across the ranks. Another form had flown in with the behemoth, transforming as it perched onto the golem’s shoulder. It was their leader, Genesect. The slight pokemon looked deceptively frail and unimposing to those who had not met him. Deploying a large cannon from his back, the god was soon leveling out sections of the unprepared enemy, with each new blast delivering a charge of hope into his progeny.
Even being so far away, Cuprous felt a surge of motivation seeing their leader having such an effect against the enemy. It was just the boost to keep them going. Even if they weren't into the war itself, there were real stakes. Even in the middle of the battlefield, it was helpful to be reminded how dire of a situation they were in. If they lost, there was no telling what might happen to them or their sibling. Looking at the other beldum shrouded in the smoke, they knew losing wasn’t an option. They couldn’t lose their older sibling like that.
Stannum continued charging ahead, ramming various pokemon that crossed their path. The sheer determination to succeed pushed the steel-type deeper into the conflict, passing a magnezone that was in the midst of firing a pulsating ball of electricity downrange. Arcs broke out as it passed, some dancing over the beldum’s metal skin as it fought past a pair of brutish looking machoke. The electricity gave Stannum an unexpected boon as the residual energy leapt off and stunned the enemy pokemon long enough for the beldum to charge them with a focused headbutt.
‘Thanks for the boost, Ramiel!’ Stannum offered their gratitude as they continued onward with Cuprous tailing from a distance. The two may have had separate ideals, but they couldn’t stay too far apart for long. They relied on one another too much for that to happen.
Genesect’s cannon shots and cheers of encouragement continued to rise above the roar of the battlefield. It was the one thing that gave any of his brethren any hope, any will to keep the fight going after countless weeks of grueling conditions. It had to end soon, and with his leadership it most certainly could.
‘I just want to see him!’ Stannum’s thoughts flashed to Cuprous before the latter could even formulate a proper question.
‘And risk being caught in someone’s crossfire? They’ll all be aiming for him! Are you suicidal?’
‘I’m no idiot! Besides, I’ve got you watching my back. I know you won’t let me die out there.’
Cuprous had to admit they were right. Like hell Stannum would be left alone, much less vulnerable while they were nearby. They wouldn’t be able to handle going on if their sibling perished during this war. But while the goal was foolish, it wasn’t altogether awful. To be closer to Genesect and see him in his glory, all in the midst of battle? It would be an honor. Even now they could see the glint of his dark purple armor in the firelight, his imposing form looking clearer as they approached.
‘Come on, we’re almost there!’ Stannum interrupted the other’s thoughts and nudged them along, having come back to collect their sibling. Cuprous sighed and told their sibling to not be so hasty, but the mental line never connected.
In fact, all sound was silenced in that moment. Cuprous looked around incredulously at the sudden peace that had fallen over. Every attack and movement seemed to come to a halt as everyone grew uneasy at the hushed effect that had taken place. No one knew what was happening. And then, something did.
High above the earth, a flash of golden light pierced the night and brought the day with it. But this was no sun, and as the leagues of pokemon below stared up in a mixture of fear and relief, a terror gripped all eyes that watched.
Arceus had arrived.
Cuprous exhibited nothing less than intense horror at the sight of the Almighty One. They had only heard of the god in legend, but the mere presence of Arceus commanded an involuntary response from the beldum. It was one who had created the world they inhabited. The one who had given their creator Genesect his divine place. And the one who would surely end this war.
‘Stannum!’ The beldum’s mental cry tried and failed to pierce the silence that had fallen. As they searched the cragged surroundings, they discovered their sibling had long gone. Hardly moved by Arceus’ presence, the other beldum had managed to continue onwards to Genesect. It was not terribly far now. Stannum could have already made it in the peace that settled over the land.
The siblings failed to realize time was already up, for the Judgement that had been brought upon them. A cascading hellfire rained from the heavens themselves, blasting through every rock, structure, and pokemon it touched and at once ending the silence it had instilled.. Cuprous could do nothing but watch as their sibling was swallowed up by one of the blasts. Intense heat and pain followed through the mental link they shared. Cuprous screamed. Stannum should have been a goner. Rubble and dust rained over Cuprous as they tried to protect themselves with a psychic bubble. Thankfully, they seemed to escape the attack relatively unscathed. But the same could not be said for their brother. Even in the midst of screams and explosions around them, Cuprous could just detect the hint of their sibling’s brainwaves through the unrecognizable landscape. And then another Judgement began.
Weaving around every strike, Cuprous’ stress peaked as they willed every movement onward to avoid being taken out by the Almighty One’s wrath. Not far ahead was Genesect still atop the golurk, screeching to the heavens above as one of the blasts aimed for him. Standing firm in his defiance, Genesect fired through the hellfire. The act alone brought Arceus’ onslaught to a pause while the god turned full attention to Genesect himself.
The entire situation felt so surreal. Two gods fighting used to be the stuff of legends. Cuprous felt torn as they looked at the divine beings. No matter how devoted to Genesect they may be, they could not completely turn their back on the rest of the world. Genesect had created Stannum, Cuprous, and the rest, but had Arceus not allowed that to happen? Were they not allowed to exist here just as much as anyone else? What if things go back to the way they were before, where life was peaceful? Was there a way to make peace with the organic life Arceus had birthed? The questions burned in Cuprous’ head. The truth was that no matter what, they couldn’t put their full support into this war. They had to turn back.
‘Cuprous…’ A tug. The beldum could feel it. Stannum was reaching out, albeit weakly. They had lost track in the chaos, but the psychic pulse was like a set of directions to the source. Stannum wasn’t far, they could reach them!
‘Hang in there! Don’t try to move!’
‘Just leave me,’ Stannum’s weak mental voice echoed. ‘I’m scrap metal at this point. You’ll just have to survive for both of us.’
‘Not an option. You know I’m bringing you back home no matter what. You’ve always looked after your younger sibling right? I know how much you wanted to protect me. Well this is my turn to protect you. Save you, even.’
Cuprous could hear Stannum’s hesitation. There was no way the other beldum was going to push them away, it didn’t matter if they even came back in pieces. They were getting out of this together, one way or another.
‘There you are!’ Cuprous voice rang out as they spied Stannum’s body on the edge of a small crater, bits of metal clearly molten from the heat of the attack. Cuprous had to suppress the revulsion of seeing their sibling like that. Stannum’s eye blinked back into focus as the other beldum drew near.
‘Should have just left me. I’m in no shape to move.’
‘Then I’ll find another way. I’ll go get Ramiel or another magnetic type to grab you -’
‘And then what? Put my body through a forge? Awful lot of good that will do.’
Cuprous wanted to raise their voice and argue, but it was moot. Sure they could get Stannum out of there but then what? They’d need Genesect or someone truly talented to fix the beldum, but even that was dependent on Stannum lasting that long. The weakening mental pulse from the other beldum proved time was clearly not on their side.
Looking at the chaos around them, Cuprous had their attention drawn by Genesect’s screams. The metal god fired a final shot at Arceus, who suddenly blinked out of existence before the hit registered. Rapidly looking between Genesect and where Arceus had been, Cuprous felt at a loss. What had just happened? Did they win?
“This is your commander, Genesect!” The voice of their god began to echo clearly across the battlefield, amplified to reach even the farthest corners of the area. Cuprous watched the few Pokemon nearby look in confusion to Genesect himself. Everyone, no matter what side of the conflict they were on, were bewildered. Surely Genesect hadn’t defeated Arceus that easily?
“My children, the time has come! This world no longer welcomes us! It will be only a matter of time before Arceus returns to wipe us out with the rest of the pantheon! We must retreat to a new home, one which I have found just for our kin! Reach for the light and follow Ishmael to our salvation!”
In a flash, a massive portal appeared. Genesect and his golurk companion stood in front, beckoning the others to rush in. Stannum’s cracked eye stared longingly at the scene. It pained Cuprous to know how badly their sibling wanted to see the other side, to see a peace for their kind once again. They both knew Stannum would likely never see it now
‘Go on then, go where it’s safe,’ they said to Cuprous. ‘Leave me to die so you can live another day and get back to carrying on the old shop.’
‘No, you don’t get it! I don’t want to go on another day like this. I don’t want to leave this world, or you, Stannum. Don’t you get it? I never wanted this war to happen in the first place! This was pointless bloodshed that could have surely been worked out! And now I’m about to lose you over it all, and the rest of our kind!’
Stannum lay silently as their sibling cried in anguish. They could feel their life ebbing, the heavy damage sapping away whatever was left of their strength. As much as they had a wish to fight on and leave, they admired their sibling. Cuprous’ idealism was envious. How else could it be put when, despite everything against them, the beldum stayed certain that life could go on in this world and that things could go back to how they were before this entire conflict started. Stannum wished they could have shared in that.
Cursing the war, Stannum winced at the pain they felt. Sure, they were all aboard with the idea of fighting for their lives, but it really didn’t feel worth it anymore. All that had really mattered was protecting their younger sibling. Cuprous was vulnerable, impressionable. They didn’t have a choice though, and that burned Stannum deep within. What they would do if they could protect their sibling forever.
‘Wait...that’s it.’
‘What?’ Cuprous perked up, silencing their cries. ‘What is it?’
‘Fusion. We can join together and be strong enough to survive! Genesect gave us this as a means to survive!’
‘Stannum, are you sure? We don’t know how we’ll end up. It could be even more dangerous to you if we put our metal together.’
‘Would you rather you lose me entirely?’ Stannum had a point, though Cuprous loathed to admit it. Biting back their concerns, the beldum bobbed in agreement.
‘Fusion it is. Do you think you’re ready to start now?’
The dying pokemon let loose a harsh mental laugh that made Cuprous wince. It wasn’t often that Stannum found humor in anything, but this moment made it all the more painful to hear.
‘Ready as I’ll ever be. Just get it done before I rethink it. Or die. Whichever comes first.’
'Right. So be it.’ Cuprous reached out to Stannum, listening for the hum of their life force. Matching the frequency, Cuprous brought their bodies together while the rest of the world continued in its chaotic dance. Pokemon still fought, formless bodies made a dash for salvation, and two lone beldum reached synchronization. A flash of heat and light joined the explosions around them before the pair ceased to exist.