It was late in the evening by the time Koda finished his shift and got to the gym. He saw Alessandra in a corner, doing some gentle yoga to stretch out as she waited for him. He smiled as he saw her. He didn't know much about this modern era, but he knew what he felt. Any time he saw her, his heart felt like it jumped into his throat. His brain was somewhere about a million miles from his body any time he saw her. He smiled as he saw her, putting down his bag.

"You early." Alessandra said as she saw him. Koda just nodded.

"I promise." He answered. "In three weeks, wrestle Vinnie, we train."

Alessandra nodded and got onto the matt. In a corner of the gym, Jack was watching on in interest. He took a slug from his hip flask as he watched on, while Koda and Alessandra trained.

Back in the Mystic Realm, Riley came into a tent, only to find it was more like a palace! Although from the outside it was just a simple tent, it had been enchanted, so that in the inside, it was more like a full ballroom. Everyone was dressed to impress! Riley had to admit feeling more than a little out of place wearing only jeans and a green sweatshirt, but he didn't have anything else considering the fact he had never expected to be there in the first place. Leanne came over, smiling brightly.

"Hey, you came!" She said enthusiastically. "I like your outfit."

"It's nothing special." Riley told her. Leanne held her hand over her mouth as she giggled in response.

"I'm not that clueless." She responded. "My dad works at Amber Beach Docks. I go to AB High School. I know how people dress."

"Oh." Riley replied, looking almost embarrassed. "Um...I'm not sure many people..."

"Believe me; most of these old farts don't know anything of our realm." Leanne assured him. "Listen, I've been meaning to ask, but...um..."

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" Someone announced, at which the music stopped. Everyone turned to where three figures were standing, one in red, one in white, and one in black. It was the Tribuneral of Magic. "We are here to announce your champions!"

Everyone erupted into a round of applause.

"For the Fifth year in a row, your master of Archery, Princess Diedre of the Mystic Isles!"

Diedre made her way regally to the steps, bowing her head to allow one of the tribunal to place a wreath upon her head.

"Your champion of Combat on Foot, Riley Griffin!" The one in black declared, raising another applause. Riley didn't know what else to do, he headed over to the stage, bowing as the being put a wreath upon his head. He could have died in that second and been a happy man; his heart was almost jumping out of his chest as he accepted the accolade.

"Finally, champion of the joust and tournament Grand Champion, Sir Rohan of the Mystic Isles!"

Everyone went wild as Rohan came to the stand to accept the cup. Riley politely applauded as his opponent held the cup overhead, taking in the admiration of the crowd. Leanne took him by the arm.

"Come on, let's go get some wine." She told him. "They don't card anyone here."

"Sir Rohan, as Grand Champion you not only win the title, but also a boon from the Mystic Council." The one in black told him as Leanne poured Riley some wine. "Whatever you wish shall be made so."

"I have lifted this trophy three years in a row." Rohan began. "However, this time I lift the cup for only one reason, for the humility and honour of a squire."

Riley was starting to drink some wine from a horn, but he was stunned by this recognition. Rohan just looked to him and smiled.

"You have skill with a sword beyond many twice your age." Rohan began. "If I knew nothing else, that would be enough for me to consider you my equal. However, you tilt when you should withdraw, and you have the honour to withdraw when many would tilt."

He looked back to the three beings before him.

"I name my boon!" Rohan declared.

"Sir Rohan, give me your sword." The one in black stated. Rohan gave him his sword. "Riley, come forth!"

Riley walked towards them nervously. He watched as the one in black scored a square in the ground, not even half a foot in any direction.

"This is your land." The one in black stated. Riley just looked confused.

"I don't understand..."

"Sir Rohan, would you like to do the honours?"

Rohan took back his sword and looked to Riley.

"Kneel." He told him. Riley didn't know why, but he felt compelled to do so. Rohan levelled a sword on his shoulder.

"Will anyone speak upon his behalf?" Rohan asked. Ivan bowed.

"Riley is one of the bravest young men I have ever fought with." He stated. "I was PROUD to name him as my second and have him fight in my stead."

"I vouch for him also." Daggeron declared. "He was easily my match."

"I take your word and vow together with my own assessment. It takes a good man to win." Rohan stated. "It takes a GREAT man to win the right way. Kneel, Riley Griffin."

He lifted the sword, touching it to Riley's other shoulder.

"Arise SIR Riley Griffin."

Riley kept his composure long enough to get to his feet, before the place erupted. As the second son, he was always second place to his brother, the legend of Millport, but for one night, in this one place, it was all about him. Leanne grabbed him as the music started to play.

"Come, dance!" She told him, looking away as she giggled. "It's not every day you become a noble!"

Riley couldn't argue, he just took her in his arms and started to sway, allowing her to let him know where he was meant to be. He had never felt like he belonged in Millport, but for one night, he was the main event...and it felt great!

Back in the real world, Koda and Alessandra were continuing with their training. Koda was careful not to strain her shoulder, knowing it was still going to be a while before she was up to the kind of moves she was used to doing. Unfortuately, that was more than a little restrictive. Alessandra was used to a very athletic, highly gymnastic style, and that was what her fans expected now.

"Stop, stop!" She beckoned Koda as she backed off, cradling her shoulder. Koda backed off without another word. He adored Alessandra, and would never do anything to harm her. He heard a sigh from the corner.

"You're not doing her any favours." Jack stated. Koda just glared at him. Jack Malone, "The Deer Hunter" Jack Malone was a legend in the business, and was one of Koda's favourite wrestlers of all time, but right now all he could think about was the fact that Alessandra was hurt, and he would do anything, even get hurt himself rather than see her do something that would cost Alessandra her career.

"We work hard." Koda stated. "She hurt..."

"Kid, there's a difference between working hurt and working injured!" Jack told him. "I won two championships with a broken foot. I once worked a match for half an hour with a concussion."

Jack threw back another mouthful from his hip flask, before stepping up to the mat.

"You like doing all that acrobatic shit right?" He asked. "Just because you do acrobatic shit doesn't mean to say you have to take risks."

Jack clicked his fingers, pointing to Koda.

"Here, lock up with me."

He locked up in a collar-and-elbow tie up with Koda, taking on a strong stance. He strained against him for a moment.

"Corner!" Jack told him, before tossing Koda into the corner. The Blue Ranger hit the turnbuckles hard, but was ready as Jack ran at him.

"Headlock takedown and roll through!" Jack said, launching himself at Koda. Koda caught him in a bridal carry, while Jack put his arm around his neck. Koda rolled back to his feet, hitting the opposite corner. Jack ran at him again. "Same again!"

Koda repeated the procedure, hitting the opposite turnbuckle again. Jack ran at him one more time.

"Catch and hold me!" Jack told him, launching himself into Koda's arms. Koda had no problems holding his weight; Jack started to kick his arms and legs.

"Stagger out to the middle of the ring." Jack told him. Koda did as he was told. "Now...back bump!"

Koda kicked up his legs, hitting the mat back first. Jack got off him, smiling.

"Not bad kid." He stated. "I learned that little sequence from Jackie Pallo."

He looked to Alessandra.

"There's a sequence that is acrobatic, but won't put you at too much risk." He told her. "Put that into your match with Vinnie."

As he rolled out of the ring, leaving Alessandra and Koda to train, Carl was quickly by his side.

"You're training now?" Carl asked him.

"Does it look like I'm a trainer?" Jack asked, taking another long swig from his hip flask. He looked to the ring. "Carl...a moment?"

He took him aside, gesturing to the ring.

"Who's the kid?" Jack asked.

"Koda, he's been training a few weeks." Carl told him.

"Weeks?" Jack asked.

"He's got something..."

"He has a look and he has talent, he just needs the rub." Jack told him. A "rub" was something of an industry term. While many aging superstars were fearful of young performers coming in and taking their spot, others knew that the only way for young stars to become superstars was for them to earn a name for themselves. A series of matches with an established star, or teaming with an established star was an easy way to use that performer's popularity to bolster the reputation of the up-and-comer...also known as...giving him a rub! "You have the Kollossal Koallition coming back don't you?"

"Don't remind me." Carl sighed. The last time he'd booked them was a disaster. One of them had been arrested at the Canadian border for trying to board a flight while smoking a spliff; the other...Alessandra was still feeling the effects of that match, which was close to becoming an act of assault! The only reason Carl was even booking them was because it would avoid a lengthy lawsuit. While he'd easily have proven them in breach of contract, by the time all was said and done, it would have cost him enough money to put on three or four local shows! It was easier just to book them and put them in an undercard match.

"Tag me with the kid." Jack told him. Carl just stared at him. "Trust me."

"Koda!" Carl called out, interrupting Koda and Alessandra as they practiced the routine Jack had shown them. "A minute?"

Koda rolled out of the ring, leaving Alessandra to stretch off and practice some bumps. Koda looked to Carl.

"You want me?" He asked. Carl just sighed.

"Not me, him." Carl replied, pointing to Jack. Koda was sure his heart stopped beating as he looked to Jack. Jack was one of his favourite ever wrestlers, just working out in the same gym as him was a dream come true! The old man popped a couple of pills out of a strip into his hand, which he popped into his mouth, and washed down with the contents of his hip flask.

"So there's this show in a couple of weeks." Jack told him. "The Kollosal Koallistion are on the card. I'm liking the look of you as a tag partner, what do you say?"

Koda started whooping and running in circles around the gym, jumping in the air and pumping his hands in the air. Jack just sighed as he took a seat, swigging more from his hip flask.

"I'll take that as a yes then."

Kendall was slumped over the desk, her hair out of place, struggling to keep her eyes open as she stared at the screen. There was a burst of light, and she almost jumped straight out of her skin as Riley and Ivan appeared before her. Ivan was propping Riley up as best as he could.

"What the...?"

"Do you have somewhere Riley...?"

"SIR Riley." Riley slurred as he raised, then quickly dropped a hand. Ivan just smirked.

"SIR Riley can rest?" He asked. "It appears he has not gained much of a resistance to wine."

"He's sixteen!" Kendall reminded him. Ivan just looked to her.

"This is unusual?" He asked. Kendall just sighed and shook her head. In his day, life was much shorter. It wasn't unusual for people to be married and parents by 13. He had been on the battlefield since that age. It wasn't unusual for people to drink by their early teens, and people in their forties were considered old.

"Just...find somewhere to lay him down where he won't hurt himself." Kendall told him. Ivan just laid Riley down on the floor.

"Hey, Kendalll..."

"It's MISS Morgan!" She reminded him. Riley just giggled.

"Did Ivan tell you? I'm a knight!" Riley told her. She just looked to Ivan, who just nodded.

"It is true, he earned that title." He replied.

"Just like he earned the mother of all hangovers by the looks of things." Kendall replied. Riley looked to her with a goofy grin.

"So, if you and Matt get married...would you let me call you...?"

"OK! I think you've had enough excitement for one day!" Kendall replied as she laid him down on a fur pelt, giving Ivan one of her signature death-glares.

"I suppose I shall hear of this in the morning." Ivan surmised.

"You'll be cleaning up after him if he pukes." Kendall told him matter-of factly, before leaving. Ivan just went to Riley's side.

Think not of the headache that awaits you." Ivan told him, pressing a turquoise handkerchief into Riley's hand. "Think only of your moment of glory."

As he left, Riley just gave a goofy smile, drifting off to sleep with the handkerchief in his hand.

Fin.