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The website seems to be playing up on my part, and I haven't been sure if notifications have been sent to followers.
In the distance, under watchful eyes, the Team practised different tactics and battle configurations. A water shuriken was launched straight toward a sandbag target. Once it made impact, the sandbag was cut in half.
However, the Greninja sighed after the attack.
'I can't believe it's been a month since the incident,' he surmised, spying on his former team.
Azul couldn't help but reflect on his actions that day. He never realised how much of a horrible friend he had been to his former team until that moment on the cliff. Azul looked away, guilt-ridden.
From afar, Zack inspected the ninja-frog, while Suzuki approached the student from the side.
"He seems a bit off today," said Zack. "I don't know why."
"Has he...said anything that might explain it?" questioned Suzuki.
"I don't think so," answered Zack. "I haven't really asked Louis to translate what Greninja says. Besides, Greninja doesn't really talk that much."
That statement made Suzuki reflect on everything that had transpired after the battle royale.
"Y'know, ever since the Battle Royale a month ago, Louis has been awfully quiet too," he said. "Any idea why?
Zack responded, "No. Did something happen?"
"...your guess is as good as mine," said Suzuki.
As he commanded Marowak to throw his Bone Club at the target ahead, Louis caught a glimpse of Roy training his Inteleon, Lycanroc and Dragonite.
While turning to the next target, the musician said, "Ok Lycanroc, time to use Tackle."
Before it made its move, Lycanroc closed his eyes, briefly. And when they opened up, the Pokémon's eyes had turned red. Louis was quite surprised. Now, Lycanroc pounced and bolted toward the target. Using all its might, the wolf-like Pokémon smashed into the target, sending shrapnel across the ground. Lycanroc howled, proud of its achievement, while Roy cheered at its accomplishment.
Louis grinned. Then, a hand waved in front of his face. It was Miguel's hand.
"Yo, son. You alright?" he asked.
The young adult snapped out of his trance and turned to his father.
"Oh, sorry," he apologised. "I was just watching Roy."
"LOOK OUT!" someone called.
Before Louis could react, Marowak's Bone Club struck him in the back of the head.
"OW!" he yelped.
"Whoa! Are you ok?" asked Miguel.
"Nngh. Yeah," winced Louis. "That's the third time that's happened to me."
"Sorry, Louis!" called Marowak.
Later, during the party's break from their training, Suzuki gave helpful advice to Zack's team. Louis grinned at the sight.
Then, Roy stood up and looked to his Pokémon.
"Hey, I just need to grab a few things," he said. "I'll be right back."
Quickly, Roy dashed away, entrusting the rest of the party to keep their eyes on his team of Pokémon. Then, recalling what happened during their training, Louis shifted his gaze to Roy's Lycanroc, curiously.
"Hey, Lycanroc?" he said.
"Hm?" replied Lycanroc.
"I was just wondering, how come your eyes turned red before you tackled that target?"
– "I don't know. But, oh boy, did it feel good."
Louis cheered, "You destroyed that thing, man."
Before the young adult could continue, Dragonite raised its clawed hand, signalling that it wanted to say something.
"I believe I can answer that," it said eloquently, in a light, soft voice that should've belonged to a much smaller Pokémon.
Louis jolted, as did everyone else nearby.
'I've never heard Dragonite speak before,' thought Louis.
"Lycanroc's eyes previously turned red when he was angered," Dragonite explained. "However, after many months of training, they symbolise him using a boost of power in his attacks."
The young adult took a brief moment to process this information.
Soon, he said, "Huh, neat."
Louis scratched his head, in thought.
"Y'know, I think it would help if you spoke more often," he said.
"I choose my words carefully," replied Dragonite.
Not long after, Roy rejoined the party after grabbing his needed supplies. He grew curious of his friends' surprised expressions.
"Alright, what happened?" he inquired.
"Aw, Roy. Your Dragonite just spoke," said Taki.
"He did?! Aw man, I missed it."
Azul inspected his former group of friends from a distance. He missed that feeling of belonging and felt that it was too late to try and make things right. He folded his arms, hoping to reflect on his current behaviour.
"Hi, big brother," someone called.
"Huh?" said Azul.
The Greninja turned his head. Azul became surprised at the sudden appearance - It was his little sister, Frogadier.
"Sis?" he said. "What are you doing here?"
"I thought I'd come over and see what you were doing," answered Frogadier.
"I'm having a break from training now. We've been going all out," Azul explained.
"Let me guess, for the tournament qualifiers?"
"Exactly."
Azul glanced over to Louis and his group of friends. Frogadier immediately recognised this feeling.
"Still thinking about them, huh?" she inquired.
"Y-...yeah," answered Azul.
Frogadier could tell how much Azul had been hurting since the incident a month ago.
"Have you...tried talking to him since then?" she asked.
"No," answered Azul.
"Well, how will you know how he feels if you don't try?"
Azul pondered at the question.
"I don't think now is the right time to do it," he said.
From afar, as Azul and his sister continued their conversation, Zack watched on, amazed at the interaction between the two Pokémon. Even though he could not understand what they were saying, Zack had a rough idea that they were close to one another.
"Hey, Suzuki," the student called. "Check this out."
The staff member walked over to Zack, curious of what was happening.
"What is it?" he said.
Zack pointed to the two water-type Pokémon conversing with one another. Suzuki grinned at the sight before him.
"Heh. A Greninja and a Frogadier," he chuckled.
"Y'know it kinda reminds me of...of…"
Abruptly, Suzuki halted his sentence. Suddenly, memories from over half-a-decade ago came onto the staff member's train of thought, like a stampede.
"Wait a second…" he muttered, squinting his eyes.
Upon closer inspection, without moving from his current spot, Suzuki saw a glimmer of light shining from the Greninja's chest. He gazed downward and saw the pendant hanging underneath its tongue-scarf.
Almost immediately, the memory of watching Louis place a similar-looking piece of neckwear on Azul's neck, back when he was a Froakie, emerged from the archives of Suzuki's memory vault.
His eyes widened at the revelation.
"Hm? Is something wrong, Suzuki?" asked Zack.
This time, however, Suzuki did not answer. He finally knew who the Greninja was.
Suzuki, in a quiet voice, said,
"...Azul."
Oooooh. Suzuki knows. This could get...interesting
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