Chapter 2 – The Golden Opportunity

It was a fine day for Cynder and her friends as they packed up the tables they used for the feast yesterday. Tails, Cream, and the Daring Dragon Dynamos have already left while Blaze decided to stay at the village for the time being. As everyone was chatting away, Cynder pondered deeply on their previous encounter with Ash. She could tell that it was only a matter of time until she has to confront her again.

"I really like how you arranged my stuff, Draco," said Lily. "It's like as if you have turned my house into a work of art!"

"Um, well, it was nothing, really," said Draco modestly. "I just love to be creative with everything I do, and I do the same with my home back in Australia."

"Oh yes, that is true," said Bowser. "You should see how neatly he has kept the books in our library, and I don't even pay attention to the numerical order of the books we have there."

Draco, Lily, Percival, and Darky laughed, including Bowser. In a minute, Torden and Jakkin have returned from their morning spar to help the others.

"Howdy, boys," said Jakkin. "Still not done packin' up what we set up for yesterday's dinner feast, I see."

"Nope, not at all," replied Percival. "We had to clear out a lot of stuff like the plates, glasses, spoons, forks, and disposing the garbage before we could pack away the table and take the seats back in place."

"I see that you have," said Torden. "Afterwards, I think we should figure out what our next move will be, like as in, what we should do for the day."

"Do not worry so much about that, Torden," said Blaze. "I'm sure something will pop up when we least expect it."

Torden turned around and noticed that Cynder was still standing silently over at the shores of Ago Bay.

"What's up with her?" he asked. "That's all I ever see her do most of time, standing at one place for hours like a rock."

Blaze frowned. "Give her a break," she said sternly. "Those encounters with Ash must have something to do with it, seeing how they seem to be very fierce rivals since the day they first met."

"Shall I go and try to snap her out of it?"

"That won't be necessary," said Blaze. "I'll talk to her myself."

"Please let me come too, Blaze," said Draco. "Surely maybe I can help give her a little pep talk."

"No, Draco," said Blaze. "Just go and continue on helping the others pack."

"Okay then," replied Draco.

So Blaze went to the beach and approached Cynder, who didn't notice her teacher standing right beside. She continued to look out to the horizon without saying a word.

"Ahem," began Blaze so that she could get Cynder's attention. "You seem to be enjoying the sight of the ocean, aren't you? Guess you must be thinking of what fish you will be catching for lunch."

"Oh, hello Blaze," said Cynder. "No, I'm not thinking about fish this time."

"I was aware of that, actually," said Blaze. "You must be thinking about Ash and what King Kurotsuki told you about her the other day."

Cynder slowly nodded. "It's still rather mystifying," she said. "I mean, when I first met her, I was annoyed at her arrogance and believed that she really intended to wreak havoc as she always promises to do, but then during my match with her at the Hawaiian tournament, after witnessing the sheer strength of her power and discovering that we were both equal, I started to consider her a worthy opponent that I told Torden to spare her when he was about to kill her when she was down. Still, I could only wonder what King Kurotsuki meant when he told me that she was not truly evil and had a chance at redemption."

Blaze thought deeply for a moment as there was something in her mind, but she was not so sure if she should tell Cynder straight away. After taking some consideration, she decided that it was the time to make up her mind.

"Uh, Cynder," she finally spoke. "There's something I know about Ash, and I think you're ready now to know the truth."

"What do you mean?" asked Cynder. "What are you talking about?"

"Cynder, Ash is…" Blaze hesitated. "Ash happens to be…"

"Excuse me, Cynder and Blaze!" called Draco. "We happen to have some visitors coming! There are two of them!"

Cynder was annoyed. "Great, just great," she groaned. "This is the third time in a row. Who is it now?"

"Let's just go and find out," said Blaze.

Blaze and Cynder joined Draco as the others gathered to greet the two arrivals. When they came into view, they saw an Incineroar in martial arts clothing and a cute small anthropomorphic rodent-like creature with yellow fur, pointy upright ears with black tips, red round cheeks, and an irregular tail with a zigzag pattern that made it shaped like a lightning bolt. It was wearing some Chinese attire that looked antique.

Draco could tell what the little creature was. "It's an Incineroar and a Pikachu," he said. "Are they lost?"

"I don't really know," said Cynder. "Better that we ask them what they want."

Blaze stepped forward to meet the duo. "Can we help you?" she asked.

"Ah, yes," replied the Incineroar. "Is this the village of Cynder and her group?"

"Why, yes, it most certainly is," answered Blaze.

"Perfect!" smiled the Incineroar. "Now, I want to start by asking, do you remember me?"

Nobody could answer, but Bowser figured it out when he looked at the Incineroar's face. "I know you!" he exclaimed. "You're that Incineroar I fought at the Hawaiian tournament! I believe your name was Ignatius, wasn't it?"

"Very good, Bowser," said Ignatius. "Yes, I am Ignatius the Incineroar, and this is my partner Shu, a Pikachu."

"Pleased to meet you all," said Shu as he bowed in respect.

"We have come to offer you a golden opportunity," said Ignatius. "And we hope that you will accept it as you could learn something new and enrich yourselves with knowledge, experience, and of course, skills."

"That sure sounds interesting, Incineroar and Shu," said Blaze as she eyed the dragons. "What kind of opportunity is that?"

"The opportunity to come and take part of the Beast Convention in Osaka," said Ignatius. "Emperor Tomohiro has learned about your exploits in the Hawaiian Islands, and he's very impressed with what he has heard that he wants to see you all in action."

"The Osaka Beast Convention?" exclaimed Blaze with delight. "That sounds absolutely fabulous! You know what? As the teacher of Cynder and her group, I would like to say we accept your offer!"