Ch.109: All in Due Time! Courage, Heart, Choice!

"HA!" Wes cried, slamming himself against the Furfrou opponent. The poodle cried as she went flying back. "Griffin, Tony, air bomb special!"

The two jumped into the air and aimed their spells down. "Lightning Shot: Double Barrel Shockwave!"

"Exosus Release!"

Their beams wrapped around each other and slammed down hard into Furfrou, burying her through the ground near her other fallen comrades, who were restrained by Gwyn thanks to her plants.

"What an astounding victory by Team Ravenfield!" exclaimed the DJ. "They'll be moving onto the next round!" The crowd cheered for the victors.

Tony wiped his brow, then held his arms open to the crowd, smirking. "Any and all ladies who want my autograph, feel free to meet me in front of the arena!" His team deadpanned as they heard Tony's fangirls screeching from the front rows of the stands.

"He's enjoying this too much," Griffin grumbled.

Flint sighed and pressed his paw against his face. "Oy vey, no kidding."

Gwyn giggled. "Well, he is quite the hunk, no?" she asked with a teasing grin.

Flint glared at her, clearly offended. "Heeey! What does that make me?!"

"A cute, handsome fluffball that I absolutely adore!" Gwyn threw her arms around him and gave him a peck on the cheek.

Flint's ears drooped, smirking in mock annoyance. "A little early to start making me jealous, you know."

"How about a lunch date this week to make up for it?"

"That might just make me forgive you."

"Oh hush~!"

Wes snickered, then grinned at the audience. "Well, I'm pumped for the next round! If Gene's crew get through their match, we get to fight them!" He rubbed his paws together. "I can't wait to punch him!"

Griffin rolled his eyes. "Shouldn't you be a little more concerned about the other matter?"

"Other matter?" Wes' eyes widened, then narrowed worriedly. "Ooh, right…Krystal and her team have to face…"

Gwyn stopped cuddling with Flint and looked at the Umbreon, sharing in his worry. "They're a strong team, don't forget. I mean, I can't say I'm not a little concerned, too, but…"

Wes sighed, then waved it off. "You know what? It's not our place to fret over it. Krystal's probably raring to fight like the rest of her friends. She'll be fine." He gulped and pulled on his collar. "Wish I could say the same for myself…"

"Something wrong?" the Mew asked.

"Erm…n-nothing," he assured with a nervous grin. "Just…plans for later, that's all." He shook his head and gestured them to follow. "Come on, let's meet up with the others before the final match starts." They nodded and followed Wes…though, while leaving Tony behind as he flirted with a Deerling in the front row.

"So, what are you doing tonight~?" Tony asked as the deer held her cheeks with an infatuated smile. "Maybe you and I could take a walk around the city and get to know each oth-GAH!" Griffin grabbed him by the ear and dragged him away. "LET ME GO, ASSHOLE!"

"We don't need you doing anything stupid with random women."

"Oh, for Arceus' sake, the worst I would've gone for was a kiss!"

Krystal paced around in the waiting room, wings crossed as she mumbled under her breath. Not a lot could be said about the Delibird other than she was a fighter at heart. Battle never brought upon fear to her spirit, only the thrill to win. Nothing ever changes with that drive. That said, it was hard to ignore the issue regarding their opponents in the next round.

This wasn't the same as a standard battle now. Obviously if the Shadow Bringers tried to make a move on killing them in the match, they'd be immediately apprehended and thrown out of the tournament—for what little that would do in the long run. Even so, it was clear their opponents were going to give more than their all in this fight.

Should Krystal be nervous? Isn't it just like any other battle she has been in? Maybe if it weren't for the context given to her. She fought the shadows back in Ironworks, so she knows what she might potentially have to face, especially after seeing their match earlier.

Her nervousness, of course, didn't go unnoticed by her team. Cybil crossed her arms and spoke up. "Krystal, get a hold of yourself."

Krystal stopped with a gasp. "Huh?"

"You're going to make a trench if you keep pacing around like that." Cybil jumped off the bench and walked up to her. "You're still worried about fighting those guys, aren't you?"

Krystal looked away, almost shamefully, though she didn't want to show it. "O-Of course not! I'm pumped for this fight! Y-Yeah!"

Cybil narrowed her eyes, then touched her girlfriend's shoulder. "Krystal…"

Krystal winced, then rubbed the back of her head. "Err…well, I suppose I have my…reservations with this fight."

"What's there to be worried about?" Oswald asked. "We've faced worse than these jokers. Surely you're not going to let a couple of scumbags get you down."

"I can't really blame her," Saffiro spoke up, leaning against the wall. "I looked into the Waves' conditions. Those guys hit them harder than we thought."

"Huh?"

"Yeah. The doctor said they had some broken bones here and there. The Lampent got a concussion, pretty nasty one. I think the Turtonator's stomach almost burst open from that last punch. The Shadow Bringers broke through their magic auras and wrecked them."

"Broke through their magic auras?"

Saffiro nodded. "You wouldn't understand since you don't have magic. You trained your body to take those kinds of hits." The Hakamo-o glared. "For us, if your magic aura goes past its limit and shatters, the following injuries are going to hurt a lot. If someone was out to kill you and shattered your defenses, there's no hope for you."

Oswald froze up, feeling a chill run up his spine. "Yikes…"

Krystal flinched. "It's…a little concerning to think they might do the same to us. I mean, what if they manage to break my leg or something? These guys aren't battlers, they're killers. They won't leave superficial injuries on me, they'll make sure I'll never fight again." She frowned. "It's…why I'm not too thrilled about fighting them. Plus…hard to forget who they're connected with. Everyone else we fought was never this bad, not even those bandits we fought together…"

Ebony sneered. "Please, we beat their stupid monster, so what's the problem? Don't tell me you're scared of these jackasses."

Krystal raised her wings. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to turn tail and run!" She rubbed her wing. "But I don't have a clue how to beat them, especially that Edwin guy. There's no way we'll be able to break through his defenses while his team is on us."

Ebony's ears flopped down. She grumbled under her breath, "I suppose that's true…"

Cybil shook her head. "Krystal, you're a great fighter, through and through. Even if they end up being stronger than us, I don't think they see just how strong your spirit is."

Krystal smiled bashfully. "You think so?"

She nodded. "You just need the resolve to fight. Prove to them that it's not just Team Ravenfield they have to worry about. We're getting our revenge for what they did to my home. Isn't that right, guys?"

"Yeah!" the other three cheered.

Krystal scratched behind her head bashfully. "Heh…maybe I'm just being silly worrying about all of this."

"I wouldn't call it worry." They turned around and saw Hugo, along with Team Ravenfield, stepping inside. The Trevenant closed his eye and said, "After all, it's the mark of a good leader to look out for the wellbeing of her team. Besides, if I were to sense malintent of such caliber, I would swoop in and end the match myself. I won't forgive anyone who dare try and bring suffering onto the children of Arceus."

Krystal smiled. "You're a good friend, Hugo." She felt a paw touch her shoulder, recognizing the touch as Wes'. "Hmm?"

Wes smiled. "I guess because you see how much of a threat these guys are, you're taking it more seriously than you normally would." He chuckled. "Not everyday you fight teams tied to world conquers."

The Delibird chuckled behind her wing, feeling the bit of tension lift from her chest. "I…suppose not."

"Listen, no matter what, you guys will do great out there. Just do whatever you can and make sure they don't progress further in the tournament." Wes pulled his paw away and curled it tightly. "Win or lose, we're in this together. You guys are strong. This is still a tournament. If it helps, keep treating it as such. That's where your heart for battle is."

Cybil narrowed her eyes and smiled. "He's right. We can't go into a fight with our leader being unsure of herself."

Krystal closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She released that breath and felt the rest of the tension fly out with it. "Right. We have a whole day tomorrow to rest and plan out our strategy. I won't let these guys get under my skin." She turned to Griffin. "Griffin, if you would-"

Griffin nodded before she could finish. "I did promise to give you a heads-up on Revulsion Anima. I'll do my best to provide all I know. Be warned, I'm not an expert at Revulsion Anima since it's not my specialty."

Krystal beamed. "Every little bit helps, comrade! Thank you!"

"OH YEAH!" Gene cried out as he drove his spear into the Poliwrath of Team H20. With the Poliwrath stunned, Gene pulled the spear back and unleashed a rapid flurry strike into his stomach, tearing holes through his clothes. He pulled back one final time and delivered a powerful blow that sent the fighter flying across the arena.

Hazel grabbed two other fighters and chucked them in the air. "Wilbur, Yon! Serves up!"

The Accelgor pulled out his blade and wrapped it in a curtain of water. "I will deliver this strike with the grace of a gentle meadow as it sways through the wind-"

"Can you shut up and cut them down?" Wilbur asked as he charged his cannon.

Yon glared. "You don't appreciate my poetry." He complied and leaped into the air, slashing into their airborne targets with his blade. "Now suffer the cruel smashing power of water!" He sheathed his sword just as water sprung from the air and drove into the two.

Wilbur raised his cannon and fired off a barrage of energy balls into the airborne fighters. The attacks detonated and sent the two careening into the ground with a hard thump.

Orville matched wits with the illusion-using Skarmory, who projected a multitude of fire spells that were disguised as ice spells. How did Orville know this? Because his wing got hit by an obvious ice spell and suddenly caught fire instead.

"Grr," Orville growled as he tried to shake the flames off.

Skarmory climbed high in the air and divebombed right for the owl. "Now I have you in my sights!" He reached out with his talons. "I might as well take one of you out before the rest of my party follows suit!"

Orville suddenly glared at the diving bird. "Then I'm afraid this is the end of the line for you. Full Metal Shield!" He clasped his wings together and reshaped them into a metallic barrier.

Skarmory slammed his talons into the shield, intending to kick Oriville out of the sky. Instead, the shield shaped around Skarmory's talons and trapped him in the metallic material. "Huh?!"

"And now, Full Metal Anchor!" Orville turned his entire form into metal, with his weight increasing as well. Suddenly unable to keep himself in the air, Skarmory was at the mercy of gravity as he fell with the owl.

"AAAHHHH!" Skarmory screamed. "HELP ME!"

Gene spun his spear and aimed the spearhead at the descending metal bird. "Critical Point!" Red energy channeled into the tip of the spear and fired out into a narrow beam, shooting through Skarmory's chest. No entry wound aside from a burn mark were made, but the damage inflicted on Skarmory was there. He spat out blood as his eyes whited out from the pain. "Orville!"

Orville reverted to normal and grabbed Skarmory by the wings, gliding him the rest of the way down before dropping him by the rest of his fallen teammates. The bell went off, signaling the end of the match.

"And there you have it, folks! The final match of Round 1 goes to the Wild Fangs!" The Wild Fangs raised their arms/wings as the crowds cheered on for them. "And with that, we've reached the end of the first round. Come back tomorrow for the community battles from all who couldn't participate. Be sure to be there, teams, for you may win some fabulous prizes for your participation!"

Gene flexed for the crowd. "Oh yeah! Gene thinks we should take part!"

"Uh, Gene, shouldn't we be resting for our match against Team Ravenfield?" Hazel asked.

"Quiet! Gene's getting pumped!" He continued flexing and posing.

Wilbur rolled his eyes as he got his cannon on his back. "Anyone up for food?"

"Yes, that sounds acceptable," Yon agreed.

"Gene, we're going out for food! Want anything?" Orville asked. He deadpanned as Gene just kept…doing his thing. "…Okay, I'll take that as a yes."

Hazel sighed. "Ah swear, he can be a pain sometimes…"

With the tournament matches over for the day, the teams went back to their hotel rooms until the next day. With a free day to plan and rest, Team Ravenfield was getting ready to start off their days.

Wes and Flint naturally shared a room together, so did Gwyn and Ella. Tony and Griffin ended up getting stuck together, which led to a pointless argument about who's stronger before they tired themselves to sleep. Certainly the most annoying, but effective way for them to go to bed.

Wes brushed out his fur while Flint slipped on his blazer. "So, what are your plans for the day, bro?" Wes asked as he tried to straighten out a knot in his fur.

"Gwyn and I are heading to the stadium. She wants to check out some the community fights and talk to the other potion makers there."

Wes smirked. "Ah, you two lovebirds going alone?"

Flint blushed, but kept his nervousness in. "Yes…it's perfectly acceptable for me to spend some alone time with my g-girlfriend."

Wes chuckled. "Still having trouble accepting it?"

Flint sighed. "I can't help it. I've had crushes on a ton of girls in high school, but not one took interest in me. I think you can understand I'm having trouble comprehending someone as amazing as Gwyn taking interest in a geek like me."

"Don't sell yourself short. You know she loves your geeky charm."

Flint smiled bashfully. "She does like it when I talk, hehe."

Wes frowned. "Hey, you guys are going too fast with the relationship, right?"

Flint blinked. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"I'm just asking. You two look like you're enjoying your time together, but…don't take it too fast too soon. I think you guys are still giddy about being in a relationship." Wes chuckled and pressed his digit against his temple. "That euphoria can only keep a relationship interesting for so long. Granted, I haven't seen you two making out behind the dumpster yet, so…"

Flint's face went bright red. "I-I wouldn't just make out with Gwyn behind the dumpster!"

"Where would you?"

"Well, maybe a private room or something so people like you don't barge-" His face went brighter when he realized what he was saying. He grabbed his head and shook it. "GAH! Why am I answering that?!"

Wes spun onto his back and laughed. "Glad to see you're not going overboard with the relationship, bro!"

Flint pouted. "Jerk."

"Payback for telling the guys about when Ella and I did that." Wes sat up and resumed brushing his fur. "You two are keeping things interesting, right?"

Flint took a moment to let his face cool, then rubbed behind his head. "I'm still trying to get used to this relationship thing. Are the dates helping?"

"Well, they aren't conventional if you're taking her to watch people beat the snot out of each other, so I'd say they are." Wes smiled. "Hey, I'm looking out for you guys. Those other girls don't know what they're missing, especially the one you-"

"Please stop bringing that up!" Flint cried, pulling on his ears.

Wes snickered. "Sorry, but I mean it. I want you and Gwyn to be happy together." He shrugged. "Who knows? You two can make some wonderful things happen."

Flint sighed. "I just wish I could do more to keep her safe. Back in Ghost Cove, she ended up saving me instead."

"Ah, but you're the reason she's still with us. That counts for something. You're a lot stronger than some people think, bro." Wes grinned. "No matter what comes our way, you'll willing step into the fray and be our shield. You're nothing short of bravery incarnate."

Flint narrowed his eyes, then smiled softly. "You need to stop with the sappy talk, bro."

Wes laughed out loud. "Eh, I'm trying to stay positive, what can I say?" He spun his brush, then resumed with his grooming.

Flint adjusted his dress shirt, then raised his brow at the Umbreon. "Huh. Wes?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't normally see you brushing out your fur. What's the occasion?"

Now Wes' cheeks turned red. He dropped the brush on the bed, then rubbed his foreleg. "It's, uh…nothing important."

Flint narrowed his eyes. "…You seemed awfully interested in how things are going between Gwyn and me."

"W-What? Is that so wrong? Knowing how my older brother and surrogate sister are doing?"

Flint's interrogative gaze sunk further, making Wes lean back as sweat dripped from his face. "…You're going on a date with Ella, aren't you?"

The fur on Wes' body stood on end. "W-W-What?!" He waved his paws frantically. "I-I-I-It's not a date! We're just getting dinner together! That's a normal thing two friends do! Sure, a boy and girl alone for dinner sounds like a date, but it's not! I promise! Hahahaha!" Wes cracked a wide, very awkward grin.

Flint remained stoic to his outburst as he sighed. He then gave the Umbreon a sympathetic gaze that melted his nervous posture. "You told me you were still in love with Ella. You're trying to rekindle that old flame you two shared, aren't you?"

Wes' fake grin dropped to a sincere frown. He looked away, awkwardly scratching at his foreleg. "…I can't tell what Ella's thinking. I don't know how she feels about me still. I'm not sure where we are now. I just can't hold in how I feel about her, but I'm worried I'll push her back again. I failed her once as a boyfriend. What's stopping a second time?"

Flint smiled. "Well, for starters, you know what went wrong." He stood up and walked up to his brother. "You and Ella just need to sit down and talk, that's all. I can't say for sure if you two will start dating again just like that, but it would be a good place to bury the hatchet."

Wes narrowed his eyes. "I don't want to just dump my feelings on her. This is supposed to be a friendly dinner."

"Then don't. Just talk, that's all. That's the most important part of dating, right?"

Wes gave Flint a long hard stare of silence, rethinking his advice. Here he was using his own shortcomings to keep his big brother from falling into the same traps he did, now he was getting the same lecture told back at him. It was something he needed more than anything else.

Wes exhaled, then smiled. "Right. I'm going to smooth out the tension with Ella and…hope we can start over eventually."

Flint beamed. "That's the spirit." He checked the wall clock, then marched for the door. "I better get Gwyn. I promise we would leave a half hour before the matches. Good luck on your dinner date."

"It's not a date!" Wes exclaimed.

Flint rolled his eyes with a smirk. "Reminds me of what I told Gwyn about our first outing together. By the way, where are you taking her?"

"Some Kalosian-styled restaurant."

"Ah, that place." Flint exhaled, then let himself out the door. "Yeah, totally not a date. Oh, by the way, you need a suit if you want to get in. They're very picky about who they wait on." Flint closed the door behind him.

Wes rolled his eyes. "I told you, it's not a…wait…" He grabbed his cheeks and gasped in horror. "I have to wear a suit?! NNNNOOOOO!"

"…Of course, if I wanted to compete in a Mythic Heart tournament, I would need to omit some of my best cards because they're banned from regular use. Admittedly, when you have a card that lets you increase the odds of getting your best card, I can see where the issue lies."

"I see," Griffin mumbled as he sipped on his yache juice. He and Faye were waiting outside a café for Krystal, who was supposed to show up to talk strategy. He brought Faye along because she wanted to hang out with him. He suggested Mack and Holly, but she was adamant about spending time with him. He couldn't imagine why, but he wasn't complaining.

Faye, however, did notice the bored look in his face. She smiled apologetically. "Um, sorry if I'm being too much of a geek for your…uh, coolness."

"Huh?" Griffin immediately shook his head. "No, no, it's…there's nothing wrong. I'm still listening."

"You sure? We can talk about something else." She laughed sheepishly. "I get I can get a little too excited about my game, so I know it can be annoying."

"You're not annoying," Griffin assured. "Trust me, you're a breath of fresh air compared to my team…or Mack, I suppose."

Faye giggled. "That's harsh."

"You must really like Mythic Heart if it's all you talk about."

Faye played with her antenna. "I wouldn't say it's all I talk about. I actually like all kinds of games, mostly fantasy stuff. I come from a big family that live together, so game nights can get pretty competitive. It's become a common habit in the Hearthwing family!" she stated proudly.

Griffin smirked. "That so?"

"Don't even get me started on how a game of Ownership goes."

"Isn't that the one game where you buy property?"

Faye glared off to the side. "Oh yes…yes, it is. We don't speak of those nights. Grudges get in the way of less…aggravating games." She clenched her fist. "My cousin and I haven't seen eye-to-eye ever since he took the Salt Street from me."

"…Right…" Griffin returned to drinking his yache juice.

Faye blinked, then chuckled bashfully. "That was too weird, wasn't it?"

"A little…"

"My family really loves games."

"I can tell."

She grinned. "Maybe you could meet them one day so that you can see how a real game of Mythic Heart is played! I warn you now, it gets competitive!"

Griffin shrugged. "Not interested."

Faye's antennae deflated. "Oh…how come?"

"I've told you, once I'm done helping my team, Holly, Mack, and I are returning to our village to start the rebuilding process. It'll take up most of my time."

"Aw…come on, you know everyone deserves a break."

"It'll only be the three of us."

"Then hire some construction workers or something."

Griffin sighed. "I don't have that kind of money to just pay for workers."

"I guess you wouldn't…" Faye rubbed her arm. "Buuut, that doesn't mean you can't take breaks. I mean, you would run yourself ragged buying up materials and getting money for said material."

"I'll manage."

Faye glared. "You're a stubborn grouch, you know that?"

"I've heard it before."

Faye sighed, then lifted her hand onto his shoulder. "Hey, I'm just trying to be nice. I can't say I understand your feelings, but I know I would be heartbroken if my family was killed. I thought some games and such would cheer you up. You…look like you're depressed all the time."

"Is that so?" Griffin asked quietly, sipping his drink.

She shrugged. "Well, yeah. Unlike your friends, you don't seem to take any thrill out of fighting. I notice it. They seem happy with a victory. You just treat it like a normal thing. It's like you've…made yourself stronger, but now you no longer have a purpose to fight…other than a single goal."

Griffin stopped drinking, feeling the blue juice hanging at the entrance to his throat. After a moment, he swallowed and set the glass down. He stared at the table with a narrow-eyed look, contemplating her statement. Faye tilted her head and glanced at his eyes. She didn't see any anger, but they projected a downcast expression, which made her immediately concerned.

"Did I…say something wrong?"

Her question brought Griffin back to reality. He shook his head, touching the side of his face. "…No, it's fine. Just…Just thought of something."

"Oh…okay." Faye awkwardly turned away, swirling her drink around as she stared into it. She felt like she was bugging him too much. Perhaps it was best to leave him be until Krystal came.

"…If I have the time…I suppose I wouldn't mind seeing this competitive family of yours." Faye's eyes widened, darting them at the Grovyle who kept his head low and circled his finger around the rim of the glass. He shrugged. "I don't get much time to have fun. Might as well do it in an environment I'm familiar with."

Faye blinked, then grinned cheerfully. "Thanks Griffin! You won't be disappointed!"

"I'll hold you to that account." Griffin leaned back and gulped down the last of his juice before waving a waiter over for a refill.

Faye smirked. "So, how about after this, we try finding you another date?"

Griffin groaned. "We're still doing that?"

"After that last blunder, absolutely!"

"I thought that would be the stopping point."

Faye waved it off. "You're not completely hopeless, just…I can't say socially awkward, but…socially inept."

"How thoughtful of you…"

"Why not someone you know? How about…Ella, that's her name?"

"Because of my loyalty to Wes and simply not feeling that way for her, I refuse to ask."

"Uh…gotcha. Um…I think that Buneary chick is free."

"Absolutely not."

"Well, that's…all the single ones." Faye narrowed her eyes, then gasped. "Ooh! Maybe you could hit it off with Nebula!"

"Didn't you already suggest her?"

"You'll love her! You two…probably have something in common!" she exclaimed positively. "Um…she likes throwing knives?"

Griffin pinched between his eyes. "Faye, I-"

"Ah, there you are!" They looked up as the Delibird ran into view. She stumbled into the extra chair and plopped her face against the table. "Sorry I'm late!

"You're fine, but what took you?" Griffin asked.

Krystal lifted her head and yawned. "Kind of slept in. I was going to get up sooner, but Cybil and I were sharing the bed and…well, she just looked so cute and peaceful that I couldn't risk waking her up. Plus, I was too comfortable." She chuckled sheepishly. "So…I went back to sleep."

Griffin facepalmed. "Uh huh…"

"But I'm here now and ready to…" She paused to yawn again. "Ugh! Oi, waiter!" The waiter raced over. "I need coffee! Strongest stuff you got! Extra cream! Stat!" The waiter jumped from her loud tone. "…Uh, please," she added embarrassedly. The waiter sighed in relief and walked off.

Faye chuckled. "You're as loud and eccentric as I've heard." She reached over the table. "Faye Hearthwing."

Krystal beamed and shook her hand. "Krystal Frostwood. A pleasure."

Griffin sighed. "Right, introductions are over." He reached into his jacket and pulled out some paper. "Have you been doing any research on your opponents?"

Krystal narrowed her eyes seriously. "I'm having Ebony look into them. She knows how to get what she wants and get away with it."

"Right. The Simisage's grunts aren't your concern, then." He set the paper down. "I'm trusting you with this information purely as a friend. I don't give this out to just anyone."

Krystal nodded. "Is there anything I should know outright?"

"Well, after observing his aura, I know one thing for certain. Each Emotion Anima has access to an ultimate spell, the pinnacle of their types. However, you have to be within the second stage of your limiter." He glared. "I don't know how many he has killed, but there's no way he has reached the power to go into the second stage. If he could use that spell, you'd be done for. Actually, if he could use the second stage, you'd be in trouble."

"So, no reason to know this ultimate spell?"

"Not at all." Griffin pushed the paper up to her. "You either need to take out his buddies first or take him out as quickly as possible. I would recommend his friends."

"Wouldn't it be easier to go for him?"

"Eliminating him would put an end to your main obstacle, but he seems to have enough experience with his new magic to know how and when to use it. You won't be able to get any lucky shots off." He glared. "But focusing on protecting his teammates depends on how strong he is."

"The stamina cost?" Krystal guessed.

Griffin nodded. "What makes Revulsion Anima so strong, but so difficult to use is the distribution of magic. My magic is purely to destroy and break through offense. Revulsion Anima is creating new ways to keep damage from occurring. It's hard to punch through a wall. It's even harder to keep it maintained."

Krystal nodded. "Okay, but what about that one spell that pushes everything away? How can we compete with that?"

Griffin smirked. "Believe it or not, the ultimate defense magic isn't quite as invincible as one might think."

"Ooh~!" Faye chirped in. "I smell something juicy~."

"Who's your fastest team member?"

Krystal touched her chin. "Long range, that does to Cybil. Close range, either Oswald or Ebony if she's under certain conditions."

"What kind of conditions?"

"Ebony has a variation spell to her Viribus Swipe, but it's kind of dangerous in a populated area like a stadium."

"Kind of dangerous?"

"Nothing seriously bad, but…you know…"

Griffin brought his hands together. "Well, you're going to need everything to beat them." He glared. "The most important thing you can do in your match tomorrow is prove your resolve is better than theirs. That's what you need most in this match."

"Prove my resolve, huh?" Krystal glared and raised her balled-up wing. "Trust me, comrade, no one has greater resolve than me. If that's what I need to beat this joker, then I'll show him true resolve like he has never seen!"

Griffin smirked, feeling a little excited for once, something that brought a smile to Faye's face. "That's the same passion that compels me to follow Wes. We couldn't have chosen greater allies." Krystal smirked back, crackling her magic through her wing.

Wes huffed as he stood in front of Ella and Gwyn's room. He tugged on the collar of his buttoned-down shirt while trying to adjust to the tan slacks. He wore a bowtie since, well, quadrupeds and ties often led to tripping hazards if not properly fastened to the shirt.

It was later in the day, around three. It was sort of an early dinner, but they decided on it purely to dedicate the rest of the night for team strategizing. The sooner he can get through this dinner, the better.

After getting the bowtie fixed up so that it wasn't strangulating him, Wes gulped and raised his paw to the door. Come on, doofus. It's not a date. You're just taking her out to dinner and talking. It'll be fine. You'll be fine. He gritted his teeth. Still…I kind of want it to be a date.

He hesitated at the door, then pulled away with a whine. "I feel so bad! I never had to worry about this stupid stuff! Ella was the one who dragged me into these things I just went along with it!" His ears fell glumly. "…Kind of like how I dragged her into everything." He sighed, then faced the door again. "Get a hold of yourself, Wes. You have to make amends."

Before he could chicken himself out again, Wes knocked three times on the door and pulled away immediately. He didn't get a response for five seconds until he heard a loud 'One minute!' Wes sighed in relief and wiped his brow. The hard part was out of the way.

…No, wait, that was the easy part. The hard part was not ditching her out of guilt and panic.

Wes planted his paws down and waited patiently for the Espeon to show herself. His digits drummed against the floor nervously. Thankfully, he didn't have to stand and wait for too long as the lock clicked and the door swung open. Wes' eyes widened when he saw her.

When it came to dressing up, Ella didn't go for suitable. She went for pure style. Her fur was styled on her head to wear her bangs hung over her left eye, giving her an illustrious, even mysterious appearance. Her dress of choice was a vibrant amethyst, with a blue sash wrapped around the waist. A simple pearl necklace hung around her neck.

After closing the door, the Espeon looked Wes over, then smirked at his gawking. "Huh, haven't seen you make that face at me in a while~," she purred. "I must say, you clean up nice. I didn't even have to pester you this time."

Wes came to his senses, then turned away to hide his red face. "Hehe, yeah…" He coughed in his paw, then gestured her to the stairway. "Shall we get going?"

Ella took a deep breath, then nodded. "Let's."

Once they arrived, the host took them to their tables with their menus. A waiter came by and got their orders in before leaving the two alone for the time being. They scored a booth to themselves, which was always the best seat in the house. It also gave them some much needed privacy.

Of course, since this was the first time they've actually had dinner together alone since their break-up, it was noticeably awkward upon sitting. Wes, especially, didn't know what to do given his lack of dating experience, or lack of retainable knowledge on the subject.

Thankfully, Ella could see how nervous he was getting and quickly broke the ice. "Hey Wes, check this out." Wes looked up as Ella waggled her digit over her glass of water. Applying her telekinesis, water drops lifted off the surface of the glass and spun between the two. She arranged the numerous droplets into a three-dimensional diamond, spinning the shape in place. "Pretty neat, huh?"

The tension in Wes' chest lifted, allowing a short chuckle to rise up from him. "Hehe, that's awesome, Ella."

She smiled. "Surprisingly difficult to keep them perfectly round, especially with so many at once. But I think I'm getting a handle of it. My training with Ava is paying off." She clenched her paw, balling the droplets together, then guided it into her open mouth. She swallowed, then chuckled. "Plus, an easier way of drinking."

"I guess." Wes rubbed behind his head, then took a deep breath. "Phew, uh…well, thanks for agreeing to this."

She nodded. "I…figured we should do this sooner or later." She looked away guilty. "Sorry if I looked like I wasn't interested in coming. Even I know how awkward this must feel."

"Believe me, I've been stressing about it all day." Wes glanced down, finding it hard to keep eye contact for more than a minute. "I just thought you and I could clear the air a bit after everything we've been through over the year."

Ella nodded once more. "That would be nice."

"So…about the break-up…"

Her eyes narrowed sadly. "…I admitted that things just weren't working out at the time. We got along so well, but you…well…"

Wes sighed. "I know, I know. I've been berated enough times by Flint to get the picture. I really am sorry for not thinking about your feelings."

Ella shook her head. "You can't take all the blame. Even if you did ignore me, I shouldn't have called it off right after I was injured. You must've been crushed."

Wes winced. "Poor choice of words there…"

"Sorry." Ella leaned back in her chair. "It was the heat of the moment, I admit. Between my parents, school, and my leg, you…weren't top priority in my mind." Wes whimpered with his ears drooping. "Oh, don't be like that. You know what I mean." She rubbed the side of her face. "Fact is, in the end, I just didn't know if you felt the same way about me. You hardly ever show it outside of a few affectionate moments."

But I do care about you. Wes' throat clenched up at the words. He took a deep breath, then looked her in the eyes. "Ella, I care about you just as much as I do for the others. You're all my friends." He looked off to the side. "Even still, if I had to, I would risk my life to save you. You're one of my oldest friends. I cherish you too much to break something we had off."

"Oh Wes…"

He rubbed behind his head. "I was worried we wouldn't get to hangout any more after the break-up, but I'm glad we still remained friends. But, a part of me still wonders…if we could still happen."

Ella's ears drooped. "You're wondering…if there's a chance we could get back together?"

Wes looked away, teeth clenched tightly. "H-Hypothetically, of course! Agh, I mean…not to say I…wouldn't mind." He tapped his digits together. "I do feel awful for how I treated you. If I ever had the chance, I would take that all back."

Ella stared at the Umbreon contemplatively, swirling her water glass below her chin. She had similar thoughts of wondering what might have happened if they stayed together. On the one hand, would Wes have been any different to how he acted before? And would Ella have spoken up like she hadn't? It might have made the relationship worse, maybe even sour their friendship forever.

On the other hand, did she still harbor those old feelings for Wes? It's been something she has been going back and forth on ever since her talk with Gwyn. The Umbreon that helped her open up more and develop away from her family's overly luxurious lifestyle was the only one she thought she could love.

Nowadays, those feelings were put into question. She certainly tempted the thought of dating Tony upon meeting him. They got along great and their personalities mixed beautifully. It would be a match made in heaven. On the other hand, she tempted those same thoughts with Griffin, maybe Flint at one point. Possibly Gwyn, though Ella didn't have any romantic interest in women and that was more of a tease rather than considerable attraction. Plus, Gwyn clearly had her feelings decided a long time ago.

Wes was the one that always conflicted with her. He didn't match her usual standards when looking for guys, in fact almost always resembling the exact opposite of her dream guy. She wanted someone more attentive, charming, muscular, good table etiquette, etc. Growing up in an upper-class home may have swayed her opinion a tad.

Not to say Wes wasn't bad looking. She has seen him without a shirt on and she knew he had some nice muscle, which she shamefully admits to gawking over at one point in their relationship. It was his attitude that often clashed with her ideal boyfriend, but that was also the part that kept her drawn to him.

She always found the Ravenfield family to be an odd bunch. When she met their father, she could tell they were a family with a certain spark for adventure. There was something infectious about it. They had this drive she and no one else she knew could explain. That was the spark she felt in Wes when they first met.

Nowadays, Ella doesn't see that spark anymore in Wes. It has been slowly fading day after day, the constant torment of shadows and loss taking their grip over the Umbreon. His confidence has been shattered so many times in the last five years that it may be finally taking its toll on him.

Ella missed that side of him the most.

She sighed and set her glass down. "Wes, I'm not going to deny that I missed being with you, but…I just don't know if I want to date you." She looked to the side. "I can tell you mean what you say, but that doesn't change what happened."

Wes frowned. "…I see."

Ella narrowed her eyes, then leaned forward, resting her paw on his. "I do care about you, too. I'm just not sure if I still feel that way about you. Something's…missing, I guess."

Wes took a deep breath, then nodded. "I get it. I get it, don't worry." He rubbed behind his head. "Guess it would be stupid for us to get back together." He chuckled awkwardly. "We should be lucky we're still on good terms."

Ella frowned. "I wouldn't say it's stupid. I just don't know how I feel about getting back together with you, that's all." She closed her eyes. "I will say this much, the chance isn't unlikely. Maybe sometime down the road, I'll figure out my feelings for you." She smiled. "Until then, I just want my friend to keep doing what he loves. You're not you when you're down all the time. That's the Wes I liked, and still do."

Wes smiled back. "Heh…I miss doing regular treasure hunts. I haven't had a proper, fun one in ages." He rested his cheek in his paw. "That's what I thought this was going to be when we first left. I wish I knew sooner just how hectic everything was going to get."

Ella shrugged. "Could always go on a low stakes hunt if we survive, you know, the end of the world," she joked.

"Heh, assuming I'm not tapped out on adventure." Wes paused for a moment, then smiled at the Espeon. "Thanks for coming with me, Ella. I just wanted to make sure we were still on good terms."

She beamed. "You know I could never hate you."

"Me neither." He sighed, then leaned back. He felt a lot of tension leave his chest. He actually felt better than he did this morning. He needed this. Actually, they both probably needed a decent talk. Might not be much, but it helped just enough. "So…ready to cheer us on tomorrow?"

Ella smirked. "As long as you don't lose." She sighed and pressed her paw against her cheek. "Kind of sucks I won't get to compete."

"Ah, come on, you're our substitute! Of course you'll participate!"

Ella chuckled. "Please, substitutes hardly get to compete. I've been with you idiots for a long time. I'll be fine cheering from the sidelines."

"If you say so." He rubbed his paws together. "So…what other tricks can you do with your water?"

She rolled her eyes with a light smirk, then raised her digit. "Want me to throw a circus for you?"

"Yes please!"

She giggled to herself. No matter how old Wes got, he still had that childish personality from when they were kids. Something else she cherished about him. No matter his mistakes, his intentions never came from a place of malice. Something she admired above most of his less refine traits.

Within the confines of his hotel room, Zaros knelt before the crystal ball sitting in front of him, bowing out of respect to his two authority figures: the majestic Count Aeternus and the malevolent Shadow King. Aeternus stood by the Shadow King's throne, grinning at his apprentice.

"Zaros, my faithful pupil. I take it the tournament is going well?"

"Of course, my master," Zaros answered. "You'll be happy to know that our team proceeded through without issue. They are expected to take the key from the champion, by force, of course."

"Excellent, excellent," Aeternus laughed, drumming his fingers together. "It may seem a little arbitrary to take part in a tournament, but I want to see just how far my experimenting can be taken. Edwin's capabilities should exceed that of the original magic holder with enough training." He smirked. "And if they come across Team Ravenfield, my other four experiments will prove to be quite the challenge for them. Kehehehehehe!"

The Shadow King narrowed his eyes. "None of the other competitors will be an issue, yes? I'd hate to have my time wasted over this worthless event."

Zaros bowed his head. "Nothing to fear, glorious Shadow King. None of the other competitors hold a candle to the genius of my Count Aeternus." He paused for a moment. "Although, there is the matter of their next opponents."

The Shadow King raised his brow. "Oh?"

"They are the same group that executed Reuben's monster back in Ironworks. They were there with Team Ravenfield when it happened. I believe them to be allies." Zaros pulled a picture of the team from his coat and showed it to the crystal ball. "Team Shatter Star is their name. I have no concerns over their involvement in this tournament, but they likely know of the shadows' return."

The Shadow King glared. "Will Edwin be enough to stop them?"

"I've assisted Count Aeternus is raising these ingrates to become the perfect soldiers. All of them will be enough, added with the potential of the Revulsion Anima. They are worthless insects compared to the might of the Tribe of Shadows and the Anguis Organization."

The possessed Scrafty narrowed his eyes darkly. "I hold you to your word. However, we cannot take chances with Team Ravenfield."

"Then your command, my king?"

The king's right hand clenched down tightly on the armrest. "The Ravenfield brothers. I want them gone. Both of them."

"Not the whole team?"

"Of course I want them all eliminated, but those two in particular I want erased." He slammed his fist down on the throne. "I want their entire bloodline to go extinct!"

Zaros glared. "Is that so, sir? Do you fear them that much?"

"I do not fear them. It's their bloodline that makes me uneasy." He clenched his teeth. "The Ravenfield bloodline…their history is just as murky as our own, but they are a menace that could undo all we are working for. Their father very nearly killed me in our battle. I was lucky to still be alive after that." He clenched his teeth. "Any who are related in blood to the Ravenfields are a direct menace to those like me. I cannot allow them to live for a second longer."

"…My king…is that perhaps a second reason you've taken the Immensus Library hostage? To uncover the secrets of their family history?"

"…" The king rose from his seat and marched off with a flick of his cloak. "I must go to my chamber for the day. Puck, finish delivered his orders." Zaros heard the throne doors slam shut.

Aeternus narrowed his eyes, then looked to Zaros. "…You have your orders. Break their team's spirit. Eliminate those who dare stand in the way of our king's destiny."

Zaros sighed, then stood up. "I shall do all I can, my count." The Watchog picked the orb up and set it on the nightstand. He waved his hand over it and walked away as Aeternus' image faded.

"There is no other that I trust more than my precious apprentice…Ancient's Assassin Zaros."