After dinner with the family, Luke and Volcan quietly retired to their room. The day's battles had left them both worse for wear, and now, in the privacy of their shared space, they took the time to tend to each other's injuries.

Volcan started first, kneeling beside Luke and gently applying salve to a collection of darkening bruises blossoming across the Lucario's torso and arms—remnants of his punishing match against Neilla. Luke winced now and then, but said nothing, simply watching Volcan work with quiet appreciation.

Once Luke was patched up, he insisted on returning the favor. Volcan sat on the bed, exhaling sharply as Luke dabbed ointment onto two particularly nasty bruises—one centered on his chest, where Minato had landed a barrage of blows, and another under his chin, the aftermath of a brutal uppercut that had nearly taken him out.

“Damn, you've got some real bad ones here," Luke muttered, his tone part concern, part awe. “Minato really put you through the wringer."

“No surprise there," Volcan replied with a dry chuckle. “We both pushed ourselves to the limit. I think we gave Tristan the spectacle he was hoping for."

“That you did," Luke agreed, offering a small smile as he gently pressed a cloth to Volcan's bruised side. “Everyone was on the edge of their seats. Even me."

Volcan tilted his head toward him, a faint smirk forming through the soreness. “You worried about me?"

Luke snorted. “Of course I was. Your track record with Minato leans more in his favor—and let's face it, he's always had the edge in strength and experience. But… I'm glad you pulled through."

“He didn't make it easy," Volcan admitted, his voice quieter now. “No more than I imagine Neilla did for you. Honestly? I'm a little jealous. I wouldn't have minded going a few rounds with her myself. She's come a long way."

Luke nodded slowly, his expression growing thoughtful. “Yeah… she really has. All that training's paying off. Give it a little more time, and she might just surpass us if we're not careful." He glanced away as he said it, his tone contemplative, even a touch uneasy.

“Best we don't slack off then," Volcan said, glancing over his shoulder—and catching the distant look on Luke's face. “Hey… what's on your mind?"

“Hm? Oh… sorry," Luke replied, blinking out of his thoughts. “Just... a lot going through my head right now."

“Yeah. Same here," Volcan agreed with a soft exhale. “Actually… there's something I wanted to bring up—something I talked about with Minato and his family. But I should warn you, part of it's not exactly good news."

Luke's ears perked instantly. “Oh no… don't tell me…"

Volcan's face fell slightly. “Tristan's decided to stay here. He wants to help Romulus with the Unity Rail project."

Luke frowned, the weight of the news settling quickly. “So… does that mean Team Phalanx is shutting down?"

“Not quite," Volcan said, shaking his head. “That's where Lashanne's idea comes in—and I think she might be onto something." He shifted to face Luke more fully. “How would you feel about a merger?"

“A merger?" Luke repeated, caught off guard. “Wait… you mean your team and mine? As in, becoming one?"

“Exactly," Volcan said with a nod. “Team Phalanx and Team Valiant, joined together."

Luke sat with it a moment, his eyes flicking side to side as he mulled it over. Then, slowly, he began to nod. “You know… that could actually work. We've fought side-by-side so many times, we already know each other's tactics. Honestly, the only real headache would be the paperwork."

Volcan chuckled. “Yeah, the less glamorous side of Guild life. But Minato and Lashanne are already on board, and I doubt Sol would have any objections either. What about Doug and Eagle Eye?"

“We'll have to check with Eagle Eye once we're back, but Doug? He'd be all in," Luke replied confidently. Then, with a dry chuckle, he added, “Can't believe I didn't think of that. Guess I was too busy worrying about having to find work elsewhere."

Volcan laughed. “That's what you were worried about? You've got a guaranteed job at my mom's diner if you ever wanted it—and I'm sure Eagle Eye and Doug could find work without breaking a sweat."

“Maybe so, but let's be real—combat's my forte when I'm not behind a stove. I've still got a lot to offer the Guilds."

“Fair enough," said Volcan with a shrug. “So, that just leaves a name. I've been thinking about it, but combining our current ones… just doesn't sound right. Got any ideas?"

Luke rubbed his chin thoughtfully, mulling it over. Then, a smile crept across his face. “Actually… yeah. I think I do."

“Hit me," Volcan said, intrigued.

“During the war with the Dark Crusade, we were always at the front of the fight—leading the charge, rallying others. We were the spearhead."

Volcan's eyes widened as the idea clicked. “A team always at the front… every major engagement… Like a Va—" He paused, and then grinned brightly. “Love… you're brilliant."

“Exactly," Luke said with a proud smile. “Team Vanguard."

Volcan tested the name on his tongue. “Team Vanguard… I love it. It's perfect. A name that reflects our past—and our future."

Luke nodded. “So, we're not just continuing; we're evolving. Stronger together."

“Damn right," Volcan agreed. “We've got two Blessed, one flier, and years of combined experience. The tactical possibilities alone are insane."

“I'd say we're more in our prime now than ever before," Luke added with growing excitement.

“Then it's settled," said Volcan. “Soon as we can – probably after the tournament, we share the news with everyone, we'll then move on to step two – submitting our application for a merger."

Luke leaned back, a lightness spreading through his chest. “Huh… funny. I feel like I could take on the world again."

Volcan laughed warmly. “Easy there. You are taking on the world again—the day after tomorrow, remember?"

“True," Luke said with a sly grin, trailing a paw up Volcan's chest. “But I think I'm more than ready to take on my world~."

Volcan's voice dropped to a soft murmur. “You and me both…"

~~~~~

Sleep came easily to most that night, worn down by the intensity of the arena battles. But not for Ignus. The thought of training with his grandfather had his mind racing, too excited to rest for long. He managed only a few hours of sleep, yet awoke with a spark in his chest and energy in his limbs.

Before the sun had fully risen, he darted out of his room and padded quickly down the stairs, nostrils flaring as the scent of breakfast reached him—smoky, savory, and rich. But more than that, he caught another familiar scent: Romulus, already awake, already ahead of him.

Snapping his focus away from the food, Ignus followed that trail instead. It led him to the dining room, where he found the old Houndoom seated at the table, a newspaper spread open before him, his posture straight but relaxed.

Romulus glanced up as Ignus entered, a subtle smile forming beneath the edge of one long, greying horn. “You're up early, my boy," he greeted in his gravelly, measured tone. “Good morning."

“Morning, Grandpa!" Ignus replied, tail wagging faintly. “I could barely sleep—I've been looking forward to today so much!"

Romulus gave a soft, knowing chuckle. “I could tell. Good—it means you'll be alert. A light breakfast should be ready shortly. Just enough fuel to start the day strong."

“Perfect! The sooner we eat, the sooner we can start training," Ignus said as he jumped into his seat, eyes gleaming. “So, what're we working on first? You gonna show me how to intimidate crooks? Teach me Snarl or Crunch?"

Romulus cupped the edge of the newspaper in front of him and folded it, pushing it aside, eyes sharpening with a flicker of mentorship behind them. “In time. But first… we begin with the foundation. Strength, control, awareness. I take it you only evolved recently?"

“Yeah, about six months ago," Ignus replied, nodding quickly. “Dad's been helping me get used to my new body, and I think I've got the hang of it now."

“Good," Romulus said with a short nod. “Learning to own your form is step one. We'll revisit that today; refining your posture, balance, and strike flow. Now then… tell me what you've learned so far. Your moves?"

“Let's see… I picked up Accelerock as soon as I evolved," Ignus listed, tapping a claw on the table as he counted. “Got Sand Attack, Bite, Rock Throw, Howl... and oh! Crush Claw, too."

Romulus raised an eyebrow slightly. “Crush Claw, hm? Interesting. That gives you some edge. Not a bad starting kit."

Ignus leaned forward eagerly. “What do you think? Any moves you'd suggest?"

Romulus gave a thoughtful hum, his eyes narrowing as if reviewing a mental catalogue of every fight he'd ever seen. “Plenty," he said at last. “Techniques tailored to your speed, your bite force, your frame. Canid Pokémon share certain instincts—but how you refine them? That's where the warrior is made."

“I'm all ears, Grandpa," Ignus said, grinning, tail thumping the back of the chair in excitement.

“Crunch should come naturally," said Romulus. “It's just a refined form of Bite—stronger, with more impact. And we can certainly work on Snarl, since you brought it up. But more importantly, I want to focus on moves that'll help cover your weaknesses."

Ignus tilted his head. “Like…?"

“For instance—Fire Fang," Romulus said. “It'll give you an edge against Grass- and Steel-types, both of which pose a challenge to Rock-types like you."

Ignus perked up. “Wait, I can learn Fire Fang? But… I'm not a Fire-type. How would I even breathe flames?"

Romulus chuckled softly, a deep rumble in his chest. “You think flames are exclusive to our kind? Luke's no Fire-type either, and yet Volcan taught him Blaze Kick. I've seen him use it myself."

He leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. “And if memory serves, your uncle—Rigel, wasn't it?—used fire-based attacks during Torolf's tournament almost two years ago."

Ignus' ears twitched. “Oh yeah! I remember now—Papa closed the gap on that Infernis guy with something fiery. Was that Blaze Kick too?"

“Exactly. A clever application of it," Romulus confirmed with a nod. “The point is: typing defines affinity, not ability. With proper technique and training, you can learn plenty of moves outside your native type. It won't hit quite as hard as if I used it, or your father, but it will still give you a much-needed answer against types that normally resist your toolkit."

Ignus looked genuinely impressed. “That's awesome... I never thought of that before."

Romulus gave a faint smile. “Most don't—until they're faced with an opponent they can't overpower directly. Better to prepare for that now, while you're still shaping your style."

He paused, then added, “Regrettably, Thunder Fang is beyond me. I've never learned it. But if you want a move to help against Water-types, you'll want to find someone who can teach it."

“I'm sure something will come my way." Ignus said optimistically. “Who knows? Maybe I'll pick up a Grass type move or something."

“Perhaps," Romulus nodded, glancing up as the kitchen door swung open and a Machop and Smeargle stepped out, each carrying a tray. “Ah—here's breakfast."

The Smeargle placed a plate before Ignus: two halved hard-boiled eggs dusted with salt and pepper, mashed sweet potato mixed with fresh blueberries, and two side bowls—one with a steaming, beef-scented broth, the other filled with cool water tinged faintly with lemon.

“A standard training day breakfast since my youth," Romulus explained as he received a similar plate. “Canids like us thrive on protein, and the blueberries and sweet potato provide fiber, energy, and essential nutrients."

Ignus licked his chops at the sight. “Well, good thing Papa makes sure I get a balanced diet back home, too~"

“Eat up," Romulus said, leaning over his plate and snapping up one of the eggs with a clean, practiced bite.

Wasting no time, Ignus tucked in, devouring the eggs with vigor before diving into the berry-laced mash. “Mmmhh~! This is so good! Almost as good as Papa's cooking!"

“My chefs have never disappointed me," Romulus replied between bites, his tone lightly proud.

Ignus giggled. “Think maybe your chefs and Papa should have a cook-off? Y'know, see who's really the best?"

Romulus allowed himself a small, amused smile. “He once brought that up, actually. Said it was strange letting someone else cook for him while staying here."

“Papa does love showing off what he can do in the kitchen," Ignus said fondly, finishing the last of his mash with a satisfied gulp. “Mmmh… that hit the spot."

Romulus licked the last traces from his muzzle before straightening. “Now then—a walk to aid digestion, let the food settle. After that, we'll head to the colosseum and get some training in before the crews arrive. Sound good?"

“As good as any!" Ignus beamed, hopping from his chair and bolting toward the door. “Come on, Grandpa~!"

Romulus chuckled as he stood, following at a more measured pace. “Have patience, my boy. We've got the whole day ahead of us."

He watched Ignus bound ahead with a kind of wistful amusement, that youthful enthusiasm stirring a distant, buried part of him. Perhaps, in his own way, he had once been like that—bright-eyed, ready to prove himself. But the memories were murky. Even as a pup, he'd been forged by necessity, not excitement. The arena had not left much space for innocence.

He shook the thought away before it could settle, setting his mind on the day ahead. There was no use clinging to what had been. Not when a new generation stood eager to learn from the scars he'd earned.

~~~~~

Elsewhere in the city, Katsumoto had risen with the sun. After a focused workout of push-ups, squats, and crunches beneath the arid desert sky, he took care to stay hydrated in the dry heat. The exertion left him with a familiar hunger gnawing at his core. After a brief shower to rinse away the sweat of discipline, the Samurott made his way into the city's bustling morning market in search of something hearty to satisfy his appetite.

The crowds were thick, voices overlapping in a chorus of bartering and chatter. Aromas of roasted meat, baked bread, and exotic spices drifted on the breeze, each one tugging at his attention, making it hard to focus. He was scanning the rows when a voice called out his name—deep and familiar.

Looking over, Katsumoto spotted a raised steel-clad arm waving to him. Tristan sat at a shaded table alongside Lashanne and a Lucario clad in a black coat—Minato.

A soft smile formed on Katsu's face as he wove through the crowd toward them, dipping his head in greeting as he approached. “Salutations," he said warmly. “I see you three have found a place to enjoy the morning."

“Looked like you were searching for the same," Lashanne said, her tone light, though her eyes were tired. “Care to join us?"

“I would be delighted." Katsu pulled out a chair and settled in beside them.

“How you holdin' up?" Tristan asked, eyeing the Samurott with concern. “You've still got some nasty marks where Fernidas put the squeeze on you."

Katsu inclined his head slightly. “They are only surface wounds," he said calmly. “Bruises fade. The ache will pass. I have endured worse." He placed a paw lightly over his side, where faint, coiled patterns of purple still peeked beneath his short, blue fur. “What stings more is knowing I couldn't break free in time. But… pride can be mended, too."

Tristan's expression fell. He looked down at the table. “Still. Sorry you didn't make it to the semis, pal. You deserved better."

“It cannot be helped," Katsu replied, placing a reassuring paw on Tristan's shoulder. “Fernidas was a clever adversary. He used precision, patience… and his physiology. A wise strategy. I gave him my all, and in the end, that must be enough."

A quiet moment settled over the table. Around them, the market buzzed with life, but the four shared a stillness—connected not just by past battles, but by the weight of recent ones still fresh in their bodies and minds.

Tristan nodded. “Yeah. Guess it's up to Koa to get you some payback, huh? He's next in line to fight Fernidas."

“I believe he'll fare better than I," Katsu replied calmly. “The boy is swift, nimble—traits well-suited to countering a coiling foe." He picked up the menu in front of him, though his eyes remained distant. “Still… that's not what troubles me most this morning."

“What is?" Lashanne asked, sipping her coffee, her gaze sharpening.

“A few things," Katsu said, lowering the menu slightly. “But primarily… that final match yesterday. The one between Wade and Hageshi."

“Ah," Lashanne sighed. “Yeah, I heard Romulus had to pull both of them from the tournament. Apparently the crews are still checking the arena for structural damage."

“It wasn't just the collateral," Katsu replied gravely. “It was the way they fought. There was no restraint. No sportsmanship. It looked like they were trying to kill each other."

“You're not the only one who thought that," Minato added, arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair. “Luke said the same thing while it was going on. It was brutal. No wonder Romulus stepped in. He made it clear from the start—this wasn't meant to be a deathmatch circuit."

“And yet," Lashanne added with a raised brow, “Hizashi didn't take it well. Or at least, not when Wade got the boot. Word is, he backed him as his pick for the tournament. Guess he wasn't expecting his favorite to get disqualified."

Katsu's eyes narrowed, his paw resting tensely on the table even as he kept his voice composed. “That Lord Hizashi would show such discontent over Wade's removal… it concerns me. Deeply."

“You sure it's not just racial bias?" Tristan shrugged, glancing between them. “He's a Samurott, Wade's a Samurott, Hizashi's a supremacist. Feels like a straight line to me."

Katsu gave a low hum, but shook his head. “There's more to it than simple kin favoritism. Hizashi is not a man to leave his court without reason. His presence here… it implies motive. Intent."

“Like what?" Tristan asked.

“I think I'm following," Lashanne said, brow furrowing. “Wade was the one who convinced Hizashi to help us during the Dark Crusade, right? Maybe he earned the guy's respect. Could explain the fixation."

Katsu nodded slowly. “Indeed. There's no question in my mind; Hizashi is here for Wade. What I cannot decipher… is why." He leaned forward slightly, his gaze thoughtful but troubled. “Wade insulted him in his own court. Defied him. He's an outsider, with no loyalty to Maelstrom Isle. And yet Hizashi—prideful, intolerant as he is—pursues him. Sees something in him. But what?"

Lashanne shrugged. “Having not even seen Hizashi up close, I couldn't even begin to guess," she admitted.

“A leader."

The four of them turned with a start at the sound of the new voice, breathing a sigh of relief collectively when they saw Kage standing next to them with his arms crossed.

“Ah… it seems despite your age, you remain as silent as ever…" Katsu remarked.

“I'm sorry, my ears must be clogged," Lashanne commented. “Did you say 'leader'? As in, successor?"

“Correct," Kage answered. “Hizashi is here to see Wade's capabilities for himself, and to assert whether or not he would be a worthy candidate to take up the mantle of Shogun once his time to step down comes."

“Is Wade really cut out for that?" Tristan asked. “I don't doubt the kid's got the stones for it, but runnin' a country and fightin' can't be the same thing, or anybody could do it. Even me."

“Tristan holding a role in governance," Lashanne muttered, shuddering. “Palkia save us all."

“To quote what he told me when he approached me the night before the third round ended," Kage began. “He was insolent. He did not mince words, but underneath that insolence, he showed the capacity to take charge and lead, and upon further introspection, that is what Maelstrom Isle needs… a leader, not a ruler."

Lashanne hummed. “I guess I kind of see it. Still, what does Wade think about all of this? It's his decision in the end."

“And that is what has me concerned," Kage answered. “...What will he do should Wade say no?"

Katsu looked even more concerned now, already imagining what would happen in his mind. “...Romulus should know about this." He said suddenly.

“He may already know… But, we ought to make sure," agreed Lashanne, nodding.

“I'll go find him." Minato offered, looking at Kage “You should come with me. You were the last one to have direct contact with Hizashi." He added, to which Kage nodded before storming off with Minato to find Romulus.

“What about us?" Tristan called.

“Leave 'em be," Lashanne insisted. “Kage and Minato have this covered. It's best we don't all go bearing down on Hizashi all at once or we might just make him mad."

“A wise idea," Katsu answered. “I came here to enjoy a morning meal with my friends, and that is precisely what I shall do."

“That's the way," said Tristan.

“Now… What is everyone else here having? I shall make my decision after I hear your recommendations." Katsu stated, looking between Tristan and Lashanne.

“I recommend the shakshuka," said Lashanne. “They are absolutely delicious and a good one to start the day with."

“Then that is what I shall order," Katsu said, closing his menu.

“You a coffee drinker?" Lashanne asked, holding up her cup. “They make really good stuff here."

“I shall pass. Coffee was never something I could enjoy… Too bitter," The Samurott answered, then he looked over at Tristan. “In the meantime… I believe there is something you and I should talk about."

“Eh?" Tristan asked, looking over. “What's that?"

Katsu leaned forward and rested his arms on the table, staring right into Tristan's eyes. “...I know you threw our battle, Tristan." He said in a low tone. “...And I have a good idea as to why you did so."

Tristan stiffened, his eyes meeting Katsu's for a moment before he let out a sigh. “Yeah, I told Minato you'd figure it out…" he said, looking embarrassed.

“Tristan," Katsu began again, looking mildly disappointed at the Aggron. “While I can understand why you would do such a thing… There really was no need to do so. It was clear in that battle you were going to outlast me, and I would have accepted my loss with dignity and honour. Regardless of the outcome, I would have still held my head high and would have a grand tale to tell my young ones upon my return."

Tristan blinked at him. “Wait, you even figured out that's why I did it?" he asked. “How?"

“I will admit that part took me some time to figure out." Katsu responded. “But after connecting the dots, it was the only reason I could think of as to why you would do that for me."

Tristan let out a sigh. “Well… Yes, that was why," he said. “I wanted your kids to be inspired by you, but losing in the second round of a five-round tournament… That just felt wrong." He settled back in his chair, the thick wood creaking under the Aggron's mass. “I thought if you could make it to the semi-finals, you'd give them something to aspire to, to try to be as good if not even better than their pops. Like Caulin does for Minato, and like Volcan wants for Ignus."

He huffed. “Losing in the second round just didn't feel like it would achieve that," he went on. “When you used that Hydro Cannon I knew I could win; you'd be exposed as you recovered from it, and I could've finished you. I chose somethin' else. Figured you'd all just chalk it up to me being dumb as usual, or that I made a mistake in the heat of the moment."

Again, Katsumoto sighed and shook his head slowly. “My friend… You talk about wanting my children to look up to and admire me… but have you stopped to consider that they already might?" He asked pointedly. “I have plenty of stories to impart to my children. We were once warriors fighting against the Dark Crusade. I have plenty of war stories to tell them that would make any achievement I would have earned here seem like a fool's errand in comparison."

He then firmly held his paw against his chest. “As I told you, I would have accepted my loss with dignity. I appreciate what you were trying to do for me, but I would have rather lost after a hard-fought battle, than accept a victory because you wanted to do me a favour…"

“But it was to be your last one," Tristan returned, leaning forward. “You said yourself you wanted to be there for your kids… Become a dad who wasn't away all the time. Your last tour as a warrior should be one worth remembering, don't you think? I mean, this wasn't going to be my last tournament - certainly not my last fight. I could always bounce back from a loss. You were taking that chance from yourself."

“My last battle competitively, yes," Katsu answered. “I would still have answered a call to action if my blades were ever needed… My duty is to my family now, and should there ever come a time I must take up my swords to protect them, I would gladly lay down my life for them."

Tristan let out another huff. “I guess I didn't think of that," he said. “Damn, even when I'm trying to be smart, I still manage to be a bumbler after all…"

Katsu stood up from his seat and walked over to Tristan. “Your heart was in the right place," He assured Tristan, offering his paw to him.

Tristan stared at the paw briefly, before he too rose from his seat and grasped it, nodding to Katsu. “It wasn't my intention to make you feel bad, pal," he said. “I thought I was doing somethin' good…" He grimaced. “Well… For all the good it did, since neither of us are goin' forward now."

“Welcome to the club," Lashanne remarked under her breath with an arched eyebrow as she sipped her coffee.

“We will still have a story to tell when we return," Katsu said with a warm smile, shaking Tristan's claw a few times. “And there will be other times where we can properly settle who is stronger between us."

At that, Tristan frowned, his gaze falling to the side. “Not… As much as we might have been able to before," he said.

“Hmm? What do you mean?" Katsu asked, tilting his head slightly.

Tristan let out a sigh. “I already told Volcan and Minato about this… I imagine Lashanne knows by now too," he looked at the Delphox who nodded. “I'm not going back to Azure. Once the tournament's over, I plan to stay here, and help Romulus with the Unity Rail project."

“Oh…" Katsu returned, flinching as if he had just been struck. “...Oh… I… I see." He began, lowering his gaze slightly. “That… would make it harder for us to have regular contests of strength."

Tristan nodded with a grimace. “I… Wasn't sure how to break it to you too," he admitted, lifting an arm to rub the back of his metal-clad neck, his claws scraping noisily over the steel. “But, I'd been thinking about it for a little while, ever since Romulus unveiled the project…"

Katsu nodded in understanding. “I see… I imagine it was a difficult choice to make." He said softly. “...Are you sure it is what you want, though…?"

Tristan nodded slowly. “I am," he said. “I was born here… I ran from here, when it was a slum town; a den of scum, villainy, inequity - all the worst traits of society, all in one place." He shook his head. “But it's changed… And Romulus isn't finished making those changes. He's going to need some muscle to get this job done - whether to build it, or to protect it. I may not be very smart, but I can build stuff and break stuff as needed; wherever he needs me, I can contribute…"

He raised his head, standing tall as he spoke. “I've never been more certain of somethin' before," he stated. “I want to see this project succeed, no matter how long it takes. The West will change for the better for it, and if I can be part of that, it's bigger than being part of a Rescue Team - even one as big as Team Phalanx."

Katsu slowly started to smile with pride toward his friend, waiting for Tristan to finish before he nodded slowly, recognizing Tristan's reason. “That is a very ambitious goal you have chosen to undertake.. Far more noble than anything I could ever hope to achieve." he said firmly. “Very well, then. I support your decision. We can always go a few rounds should I come out to visit every so often."

Tristan smiled, and reached out to clap a claw on Katsu's shoulder. “You keep being a good role model for those kids of yours," he said. “Especially the new one; I have a feeling that one's going to be the one that takes the most after you."

“Time will tell." Katsu returned, then he pulled the Aggron into a hearty, brotherly embrace, firmly patting his back a few times. “I will miss you, my friend…"

Tristan huffed. “Eh, ya big sap," he teased, though he returned the embrace regardless.

The two then sat back down in their seats and finally placed their orders, enjoying a hearty meal while going over their experiences in the tournament up until when they were eliminated, genuinely enjoying the moment as brothers-in-training would.

~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Wade, having mostly recovered from his injuries thanks to King Calyrex's healing, walked through the halls of the infirmary within the Colosseum until he peeked his head inside one of the rooms and stepped inside. There he found Hageshi, still recovering from his own wounds and looking blankly up at the ceiling of his room until Wade stepped inside, where he rolled his head to look at the Samurott, then scoffed and looked away again.

“...Come to gloat about your victory then?" he asked spitefully.

Wade sat down next to Hageshi's bed and let out a sigh. “Actually… I decided to accept the disqualification. I will not be continuing in this tournament," He answered.

That earned him Hageshi's shock, the Greninja looking over at his rival incredulously. “Are you being serious?" He asked. “Why? You had won our duel, proven that your ideology was superior to mine, so why-?"

“Because it's as I said," Wade interjected. “More than anything, I want to settle our rivalry… but not like that. Not against someone who had become a complete stranger to me during that fight," he explained, shooting Hageshi a stern glare. “I know you better than you think I do, Hageshi… That whole spiel about being the only one to preserve the balance of the world? That was all a bluff, wasn't it? You never intended to go through with that plan, did you?"

Hageshi stared back at Wade in silence for a few moments, then he sighed and looked up at the ceiling again. “...Perhaps I truly have underestimated you," He answered softly. “...Yes. Everything I said was all a lie. I was never going to go through with everything I said I would do."

“Then why?" Wade asked. “Why go so far for a lie?"

“Because if I didn't, you wouldn't have fought me at your fullest," Hageshi stated. “Because I wanted to fight you with everything I had, so I took a page out of Father's book. I lied. I threatened everything you stood for, all so that you would finally fight me with all your strength." He explained, then he averted his gaze as he continued.

“If I didn't go to such lengths, I would have beaten you… And that would have been a hollow victory because I know what you're capable of… I give you flak for being a brain-dead idiot, but I know that's far from the truth. You are strong, I respect that… but you are also a prodigy that far eclipses what I am capable of…"

Wade listened to Hageshi's words, letting them sink in before he started to smile softly, lowering his gaze. “You know it's funny," he began. “This whole time, I always thought you were the prodigious one. I looked up to you a lot during our training, even if you dismissed my presence as a mere annoyance." Wade admitted, causing Hageshi to look over at him before Wade continued. “...I suppose in the end, we both regarded each other highly even if we didn't outwardly show it."

“...I suppose so," Hageshi admitted, and for the first time in a long time, the two smiled at one another, and then they lifted their arms and bumped fists with each other, not just as rivals anymore, but as equals; two warriors that understood one another at a much deeper level.

In that moment, another presence entered the room, causing the two to turn and see the large form of Lord Hizashi looming over the two of them. The massive, elderly Samurott looked between the two, his gaze lingering on Hageshi only for a moment before it fixed on Wade.

“I had a feeling you would be here…" he began, casting a glance at Hageshi, but paying him no mind. “You and I have something we must discuss…"

Wade only stared firmly up at Hizashi for a moment before he sighed. “I have a feeling I know what this is about…" He said, then he respectfully stood up and walked to pull up a seat for the elder Samurott before sitting back down in his own seat. “Very well… let's talk."

~~~~~~

Two days after the climactic battle between Wade and Hageshi, Romulus received word from the architects and engineers that the arena was still structurally sound, and able to resume the tournament. With that, he sent word to all of the competitors who had made it to the top sixteen, followed by another message to the spectators that the tournament would resume that evening.

So, the teams were gathered out on the field once again for another ceremonial show, letting the audience see who was still left; it was an odd number, with Wade having been disqualified alongside Hageshi. Calyrex went over introducing the remaining fighters one after the other…

Each time a fighter's name was mentioned, the audience erupted into applause, cheering the names of their favourites among the remaining fighters. When the time came for Sol's introduction, it did not go unnoticed that the Typhlosion's name carried more volume than most of the others - even more than his Captain.

To his right, Volcan leaned over and gave Sol a playful nudge with his elbow. “Hear that, bud?" he asked. “They love you."

Sol grunted in response, not used to the idea of having a crowd cheer him on. He looked down a bit and grunted again. “…Huh… this is a new feeling." He muttered softly. “Not sure I like it."

“What, being in the spotlight?" Volcan asked. “You took down the Black Titan; they remember you for it. Take it while it comes."

“Ehh… fine," Sol grumbled, awkwardly raising his paw and waving back at the crowds still cheering his name.

Volcan rolled his eyes and shook his head before turning his attention to Luke. “Sounds like Sol and Koa are favourites for the crowd," he remarked to his husband. “Now I know how it really feels to be the underdog, eh?"

“Not the first time," Luke said back. “Remember the first tournament we participated in? Team Phobia was the crowd favourite, and we were the underdogs."

Volcan chuckled. “Suppose we were… Man, feels so long ago now, doesn't it?"

“No kidding. Back then we were essentially nobodies and now look at us," Luke remarked.

“Now we're one of the biggest names in the Guilds," Volcan remarked, “and soon two names into one."

Luke smiled fondly at that. “Kinda like it was always meant to be, if you think about it~" he uttered.

“Maybe so," the Blaziken agreed.

With that, Calyrex's announcement came to an end. “And now, for the first match of the day!" the King declared. “From their matches yesterday, Luke of Team Valiant, shall face Sickle of Team Kama! All other fighters, please vacate the arena!"

Volcan looked at Luke and Sickle once each before he nodded. “The moment you've both been waiting for," he said, smiling.

Sickle, from beside Volcan turned to look down at Luke. “Hope you're as ready for this as I am," he said.

“I'm interested to see what you can bring to the table," Luke answered with a nod and a smirk. “Neilla made me work for my win… Think you can make me work harder than she did?"

“We'll soon find out," the Sceptile replied as he went to take his place, and the others started to depart from the field.

Luke hopped back himself and got into position, limbering himself up a bit and stretching his arms across his body to get all warmed up for the battle, rolling his head along his shoulders a few times. Sickle watched him doing his warmup and couldn't help but chuckle.

“Well, I guess that answers my earlier question," the Sceptile remarked.

“Hmm?" Luke asked, flicking an ear and glancing at Sickle.

“You're very clearly as eager for this as I am," Sickle clarified.

At that, Luke smiled. “Well, can you blame me?" He asked. “The last time we squared off, we were both a pair of underdogs in unfamiliar territory. Now we stand against each other as seasoned veterans at the peak of our power. How could I not be a little excited?"

“Difference this time is, I'm a lot taller," Sickle added, shifting to his combat posture. Grinning at Luke. “But no less agile."

“And I have multiple fighting styles under my belt… and a secret weapon," Luke countered, getting into his own stance as well.

“So do I," Sickle replied.

Seeing that they were ready, Revane materialized in his usual place, looking between the two of them before raising his large hand. “Combatants," he said, before bringing his hands down swiftly, “Begin!" and hastily disappeared.

Sickle made the opening move, turning on his foot and firing a Seed Bomb at Luke for the split second his back was turned. Luke reacted accordingly by using Extreme Speed to dodge the Seed Bomb and close the gap between then in the blink of an eye, striking at Sickle while his back was turned, then quickly darted to the Sceptile's flank before he could counterattack and fired a couple of Aura Spheres in retaliation.

Sickle took the hits and ignited his Leaf Blades, slashing the Aura Spheres out of the air before they could hit him, and suddenly raised toward Luke, leaving a trail of grass in his wake as he moved, and slammed his knee into Luke's stomach to knock him back, before he opened his mouth and blasted him point-blank with a Dragon Pulse.

Luke grunted from each attack, guarding himself from the Dragon Pulse as best he could until he was able to skid to a halt and deflected the Dragon Pulse, summoning his Bone Rush Staff and rushing in to engage Sickle in a fast paced duel between his weapon and Sickle's Leaf Blades. The two traded blows repeatedly, striking and blocking consecutively with neither one leaving an opening throughout the exchange; in the back of his mind, he had some recollection to their first battle, and could almost imagine he was fighting that same Grovyle again…

But Sickle's greater reach and strength reminded him quickly that this was no Grovyle that he was fighting - not to mention that Sickle was far more experienced now. His technique had been perfected, never leaving a single opening for Luke to exploit. In the midst of their duel, as Luke blocked his Leaf Blade, his Bone Rush was suddenly severed in two, catching him by surprise, before Sickle turned the momentum of his swing into a sharp turn and delivered a sidelong kick to Luke's abdomen that launched him off his feet.

The Lucario flexed his stomach at the last second to absorb the kick, skidding a fair bit before he straightened up, looking at his weapons and dematerializing them with a sigh. “Seems like my usual tricks aren't going to fly this time." He remarked. “You've really gotten better, Sickle."

Sickle reverted to his fighting stance. “I should hope so," he said. “I didn't even bring my Looplet this time, because I felt like I could do this without the power of an Emera carrying me. But," he turned slightly, lifting his tail and showing something around the middle. “I did bring your gift, however."

There, Luke saw it; the shiny, greenish stone with a pattern like a turning DNA strand; the Sceptilite he'd won as a prize in Torolf's tournament and given to Sickle. He gasped and feigned shock. “You're using the gift I gave you against me? Sickle, how could you?" Luke asked, clearly joking.

Sickle chuckled, rolling his eyes at Luke's mock offense. “Oh, like you wouldn't do the same if the roles were reversed," he said, lowering his tail again and reasserting his posture. “Just like a little something else I did for you~."

That made Luke blush, catching onto what Sickle was referring to. “Oh, you're gonna get it now." Luke retorted, shifting stances into the Single Strike Style. “Just for that, I'm gonna hit you as hard as I can."

Sickle only smiled wider. “You mean you'll try," he replied.

“Oh no… I am." Luke repeated, his Aura Surge exploding around him briefly before he vanished, appearing in front of Sickle for the briefest of moments before he was gone again, appearing at his side, then his other side, then behind, then in front again, all while getting faster and faster the more he moved.

Sickle, momentarily surprised, waited until Luke made his attack. With Quick Guard, he hastily intercepted the Lucario as he moved in for the attack and parried his incoming strike before rushing at him with Trailblaze again, enhancing his speed as well and racing after the Lucario.

From the stands, it looked like a trail of grass chasing after a cloud of dust that occasionally met in the middle and clashed, before being forced apart and repeating the process again. Eventually, Luke was knocked out of his pattern and was forced to stop, shaking his head and barraging Sickle with a storm of Aura Spheres from both paws. Sickle slashed through the first two, fired a Dragon Pulse at the third, and then stepped out of the path of the fourth, launching another Seed Bomb at Luke before guarding against the remaining spheres; the bomb struck the ground at Luke's feet, sending up a cloud of dust in his face.

Instinctively, he brought his arms up to block the dust coming up in front of him, staggering back and forcing him to tune to his aura sense to pinpoint Sickle's location. To his surprise, Sickle hadn't approached, but Luke saw his posture and knew he was launching more Seed Bombs. Opening his eyes and looking up, he saw them, arching toward him from above.

Their aim wasn't precise; Sickle couldn't see where Luke was, but he could guess by approximation. Luke began to strafe to the right to avoid the first bomb, then to the left to avoid the next, firing an Aura Sphere up at the last one to make it explode in the air. Luke then used the distraction of the explosion to get in close to Sickle, stopping right in front of him and landing a Bullet Punch to stun him, intending to follow up with a strong Wicked Blow to the same spot.

But the moment he closed in on Sickle, not only had the Sceptile stopped his Bullet Punch with another Quick Guard, but he had been waiting for Luke to close the distance with a priority attack… For now, as Luke recoiled from his attack being deflected, a thick root appeared from behind Sickle, growing from yet another of seeds on his back, and snared Luke around his leg before he could get away.

With the root holding tight and keeping his leg off the ground, Sickle came in with a Low Kick, taking Luke's other leg out from under him; the Lucario felt himself falling, but he hadn't even hit the ground yet before Sickle came in with a wide, overhead swing of his fist, his claw glowing with Fighting-type energy, and striking Luke hard in the abdomen with a Drain Punch, causing him to bounce off the arena floor, before the Sceptile turned sharply, causing the root on Luke's leg to go taut and swing him around before releasing, sending him whirling through the air.

Weakened and winded by the Drain Punch, Luke struggled to collect himself, panting once he managed to catch his breath and slowly stagger to his feet. He held his stomach as he stared at Sickle, narrowing his eyes as he sucked in a deep breath, then slowly let it out.

'Damn he's so much better than before… At this rate, he's going to walk all over me…' He thought to himself. 'If I Mega Evolve, he'll follow suit, and we'll be back to square one… but if I keep going the way I am now, he's going to cream me either way…'

"I know I didn't drain you that much, Luke," Sickle taunted him, already facing him again and once more in his combat stance, tail swinging widely behind him in reflection of his anticipation. “Don't you quit on me now; I've waited too long for this."

“Just strategizing. I'm far from being done." Luke called back, straightening his posture and rolling his head along his shoulders. “You've really been working hard for this, Sickle. None of my old tricks are working against you."

“I like to think I've picked up a few of my own, too," Sickle replied.

“You certainly have," Luke answered, nodding. “Guess I'll have to really step up my game then…" He added, finally coming to a conclusion and tugging his scarf down slightly.

At that, Sickle grinned. “So, I've earned the Mega Stone, have I?"

“At this rate… You might have earned more." Luke said as he exposed his Lucarionite and tapped it, triggering its effects and was quickly surrounded by a large crystalline sphere that exploded seconds later, with Luke roaring as he ascended to his Mega Evolved state with his enhanced aura surge active, a bright red flame burning around him erratically before it stabilized.

Sickle raised his tail, dismissing the leaf blade of his right arm to reach back to tap the stone housed on the band he wore. “Then let's kick this up a notch," he said before the same crystalline sphere engulfed him as it had Luke, and shattered apart as the Sceptile was empowered, reappearing in a burst of energy as he stood tall and roared.

It was the first time Luke had ever laid eyes on a Mega Sceptile. Aside from having a sleeker, more draconic physique, he was slightly taller, the sharp curved ridges of his head having now become horns, and the tree-like growth at the end of his tail had grown longer and spikier, topped by a metallic, crimson tip like a spear. Multiple stripes had appeared along the length of his tail, and the seeds growing from his back had increased in number, becoming twelve instead of eight; the ones he had expended from Seed Bombs and Frenzy Plant had even regrown anew.

“Whoa," Volcan breathed, eyes wide as he took in Sickle's transformed state from up in the stands, feeling a light tremor of anticipation rising up his spine. “So that's a Mega Sceptile?"

“He looks more… Dragonic, now," Lashanne commented. “Some Mega Evolutions change types, right? I mean, a Mega Gyarados gains the Dark-type; did he gain the Dragon-type?"

“I think it would be safe to assume so," Minato added, glancing between the Mega Sceptile and the Mega Lucario. “...This is going to be one hell of a fight…"

“Whoa… Sickle looks so cool~!" Caulin remarked, his eyes glued to the battle with awe.

“If he wasn't a powerhouse before," Neilla added, “he's definitely one now."

Sickle let out a deep growl as he stood before Luke, half-crouched and blades ignited once again; this time, they were longer, as if reflecting the significant power increase he had received with Mega Evolution. Luke kept a level head and adopted the Rapid Strike stance in return, studying all of Sickle's changes and taking note of his apparent power increase before he let out a short breath.

He then vanished and appeared beside Sickle, looking like he was ready to strike. When the Mega Sceptile turned to attack, Luke was already leaping over and dodging Sickle's counter, setting his leg ablaze as he spun in the air and landed a solid Blaze Kick across Sickle's cheek as he arced over him, following up with another Aura Sphere as soon as he landed opposite his opponent.

Sickle recoiled from the Blaze Kick, but it didn't hurt him nearly as much as Luke anticipated, suggesting that a new typing had been added to Sickle in this transformation. The Aura Sphere, however, found its mark, and Sickle stumbled forward from the impact as Luke landed behind him.

Then, Sickle looked over his shoulder, tensed his body, and suddenly flames - like rocket exhaust exploded around the halfway point of his tail. The tail separated from him, whirling like a drill as it raced in Luke's direction, and sending a swarm of leaves scattering from it as it rocketed past the Lucario, assailing him with a Leaf Storm.

Luke's eyes widened as he barely managed to weave out of the way of the Leaf Storm, quickly looking at the supposed tree missile as it impacted the wall behind him, then back at Sickle. “...Seriously??" He asked, stunned by what he just saw.

“A unique way to use Leaf Storm," Sickle replied as he turned to face Luke again, and as the Mega Sceptile swayed his tail, he saw it; a new tail was already growing in place of the one he had just launched - not only had Sickle become more powerful, but he also even healed quicker!

“...Okay, I'm now officially nervous," Luke admitted,  widening his stance a little. “Any other surprises you have in store for me?"

“Just this," Sickle replied as he dropped to all fours, raising his tail to angle his back. “Bombs away!"

At that, the twelve seeds on Sickle's back erupted from his back, sending twelve Seed Bombs arcing toward the Mega Lucario. Luke had no choice but to start running, darting to the left and strafing around Sickle as the Seed Bombs dropped and exploded one after the other, a few times stumbling Luke from how close he was to the explosion, blanketing him in a cloud of dust once more

“Geez, you guys seeing this?" Neilla asked, rising from her seat and putting her paws on the rail, watching the pillars of dust rising from the arena in the cacophony of explosions brought on by the Mega Sceptile's Seed Bomb barrage. “Is that Sickle or a freaking rocket battery? He's like a whole cascade of ship cannons on one scaly body!"

“Between shooting his tail like a missile and those Seed Bombs, it's like two of his attacks have turned him into a walking arsenal," added Volcan. “Even for Mega Evolution, he may as well be a completely different Pokémon."

“I'm questioning whether or not that even is a Mega Evolution," Minato remarked. “Because he went from being a capable fighter to a living, breathing war machine."

Ignus watched with bated breath as Luke and Sickle continued their fight, glancing at Volcan with a nervous look in his eyes. “...Do you think Papa will win?" He asked gently.

Volcan reached over to rub the back of Ignus' neck. “Sickle's not going to make it easy for him," he admitted. “But he's faced worse… He'll pull through."

“I hope so… Papa's really struggling right now," he said while leaning into Volcan's hand while turning to look back at the fight below. “C'mon Papa…"

When the bombardment of Seed Bombs finally stopped, Sickle was upon Luke again, racing toward him with another Trailblaze, leading with his shoulder to body-check the Lucario. Luke once again had to jump over Sickle to avoid the attack, this time making sure he landed closer to Sickle and rushed forward with a Focus Blast in his paw this time, holding the attack ahead of him in an attempt to slam it into the Mega Sceptile.

Sickle, with his back still to Luke, struck back with Frenzy Plant; two of the freshly grown seeds on his back burst open, and the roots shot out like a pair of arms, heading straight at him. Luke couldn't evade the counterattack in time, the roots slamming into him and sending him flying back, but not before he let loose the Focus Blast as he was sent away from Sickle's Frenzy Plant.

Sickle ducked under the Focus Blast, watching as it struck the ground ahead of him, and blinking as it exploded. “Yikes," he said, standing and turning to Luke again as he shed the vines. “That could've been nasty."

Luke's ears flicked as he heard that. “Oh yea? Why's that?" He asked, standing tall once more. “You seemed to be able to shrug off my Blaze Kicks just fine, but a Focus Blast scares you?"

“Bud, I've seen what your Focus Blast can do," Sickle reminded pointedly. “I don't intend to be on the receiving end of it, when it's only slightly scaled down from the blast you used when you took down Giratina."

“Count yourself lucky that you're not fighting Sol right now. His Focus Blasts are much stronger than what I can conjure." Luke added with a smirk.

“I'll take my chances with you before I dare mess with him," Sickle replied. “At least I know you won't turn me into roadkill just to make a point."

“Maybe not," Luke said as he got into stance again, “...But I'm still gonna make it hurt," he added, then he darted forward again, looking as if he were going to try another priority move like Bullet Punch or Extreme Speed. However, right at the last second, he skidded just out of range of Sickle's reach and discharged a near point-blank Dragon Pulse attack from his paws.

This time, Sickle had no time to evade, and the attack hit home, throwing him onto his back. Hastily, he recovered, rolling onto his front and lifting himself on all fours, visibly hurt. Then, Luke understood that the Mega Evolution hadn't just made Sickle appear draconic… It had actually given him the Dragon-type - which explained why his Blaze Kick earlier hadn't been as effective.

“As I thought…" Luke muttered, smirking with confidence now that he had Sickle's Mega Evolution figured out. “Guess I won't need my secret weapon after all."

Sickle's eyes narrowed. “It wouldn't be smart to underestimate me, Luke," he said as his body glowed brightly, and he rose to his feet once again. The bruises on his body rapidly faded, and the missing tail and seeds all returned as Luke watched the Synthesis take effect, and Sickle gave a revitalized breath. “I still have the advantage in terms of attrition," he stated pointedly.

“And you're forgetting my biggest advantage, old friend," Luke said as he got into stance again.

“Oh, I haven't forgotten about your Aura Surge," Sickle stated, “But I know how taxing it can be for you to maintain… All I need to do is outlast you, and as long as the sun is up, I can do that."

Luke shook his head “That isn't my biggest advantage." He said cryptically.

He then powered up a Focus Blast and let it loose at Sickle, fully expecting him to dodge it. The second the blast missed, Luke was right in front of Sickle while he was still low to the ground, nailing him with a Force Palm just as he was rising, then while he was reeling, he used Close Combat to continue applying the pressure, rapidly punching and kicking the Mega Sceptile as hard and as fast as he could.

Eventually, Sickle managed to get some distance again, creating another Frenzy Plant and sending the root whipping around himself to strike at Luke, forcing him away. Then, with the brief second bought, he ignited his Leaf Blades again and lunged, erupting into a flurry of attacks at the Lucario.

This time, Luke activated his Metal Claws in response to Sickle's Leaf Blades, stepping back and parrying each attack Sickle launched at him. Everytime he managed to see an opening he capitalized on it with either a Bullet Punch, a Force Palm or a Wicked Blow, slowly but surely wearing down Sickle's endurance. Though with his use of Close Combat earlier, his defenses had also suffered, and every time Sickle managed to get a hit on Luke, he felt it more than he usually would, forcing him to fight through the pain and keep going.

Finally, the two pushed apart and took a moment to catch their breath, their eyes meeting for a short, quiet moment, until Sickle spoke again.

“I suspect… My Mega Form… Is about to expire," he said, speaking honestly. “What about you?"

“It's… getting there," Luke answered honestly. “But… I think you're worse for wear than I am."

“Like I said before… I can heal," Sickle replied, “Either way, it's time we finish this…"

“Agreed," Luke said with a nod. “Hit me with everything you got…"

Sickle's eyes narrowed. “You might be sorry you said that," he said, flexing his arms and hunching forward as four of the seeds on his back opened, using Frenzy Plant to create four more roots, rising from behind him like additional arms. At the same time, he went off to the side in a sprint, accelerating with Trailblaze one more time while also launching a consecutive onslaught of Seed Bombs at Luke, each coming from a different direction.

Using every last ounce of strength he had, Luke pumped as much of his own power into his Aura Surge as he could, then darted out of the way of each bomb that came his way, zipping in another direction as he dodged one seed bomb after the other. As he dodged, he had his paws hidden at his sides, pumping all his power into one final attack as he dodged around Sickle's onslaught.

Sickle rushed at him, brandishing the four vines and both arms carrying Leaf Blades, aiming to unleash a final combination to take Luke down. The roots came at him like four sweeping clubs from both sides, wide enough to reach behind the Lucario if he tried to retreat, while the Sceptile had his blades ready for a frontal attack. By all appearances, Luke was trapped…

Luke waited until the absolute last second, when he was seemingly trapped by Sickle's Leaf Blades and Frenzy Plant roots, to make his move. When Sickle was about to nail him, Luke suddenly dropped down and slid under him, skidding between the Mega Sceptile's legs and popping up once he was behind him. Once he was back on his feet, he turned and fired the most powerful Dragon Pulse attack he could muster, roaring as he discharged the energy blast at point-blank range upon his opponent.

The blast threw Sickle through the air, roaring in pain and surprise as it sent him hurtling an impressive distance, nearly hitting the far wall before he struck the ground, slid, and then did hit the wall, the roots torn off by his slide and the leaf blades fading as he lost his concentration. There he lay, until his Mega form disappeared, reverting him back to the form of a regular Sceptile.

“Winner!" came the call. “Luke has won the first match of the semi-finals!"

“YEA!!!" Ignus howled, jumping excitedly in his seat. “You go, Papa!!!"

“Way to go, Luke!" Volcan called, pumping his fists in the air.

“Whoo-hoo!" Neilla cheered.

“Well, he really did it," Lashanne added, clapping her paws. “And that was one for the ages."

“No kidding. That was a spectacular fight," Minato agreed, giving a standing ovation himself.

Luke let out a sigh he didn't realize he was holding in, lowering down from both his surge state and his mega evolution. He heard the crowds roaring and chanting his name, bringing a smile to his face and making him lift his arms up triumphantly in the air to celebrate his victory.

From where he lay, Sickle began to stir, slowly pushing himself up and letting out a groan. Luke's ears perked at the sound, quickly limping over to the downed Sceptile and kneeling next to him.

“Are you alright?" he asked, concerned.

“That…" he said, lifting his head to look at the Lucario, “was one very big hit. Nice one."

Luke smiled in return. “Let's get you to the infirmary," He offered, gently helping Sickle up to his feet again. “That was a hell of a fight… You were amazing." He praised.

Sickle let out a loose chuckle, laying an arm over Luke's shoulder for balance. “You too, ha-" then he caught himself. “Whoops. Can't call you that anymore; you're married. Almost slipped a lizard tongue there."

“So are you," Luke reminded, then gently leaned his head against Sickle's cheek. “Though if I know Hank as well as I think I do…" He added with a small wink.

At that, Sickle chuckled. “Oh, you have no idea," he said softly. “Or, then again, maybe you do; he was your teammate, after all."

“Indeed, I do. and I wouldn't be opposed to a double date when we're next free," Luke added, winking at Sickle again as they left the battlefield.

“Sounds like fun to me," agreed Sickle.