Action: We are in the homestretch just a bit more.

Kai: Let's get to it, please.

Pollon: Let's get a move on. I'm even excited.

Action: Alright, Nexus, please do the recap.

Nexus: Last time, We had a lot going on from the start of the Winter Selection. From my emotional fight with Zeek. To Kai's dad coming back and trying to push his values onto his son. The betrayal, Kai had to do with his fight against Jai. Let's not forget that Pollon is also a fallen Noble and her real name is Pollon Astros. The unique contest match between sisters as well, a lot is now being revealed. Let's not forget the unique ending Action made and if you pay attention there are a few hints in there.

Action: Thank you Nexus and now every main cast member of ESA has done a recap and Preview go and take a look if you don't believe me.

Nix: Action doesn't own Pokemon, music links, or art if used.


~Kai's~

(Sayonara moon town (Instrumental) - Scenarioart)

The third and final day of the first phase of the Winter Selection had arrived. My team including Jai even though I eliminated him. Not to mention Ace lost to Fang yesterday. Has been hanging at my mansion so we don't have to fight as much. Nix and I have collectively had eleven fights so far and it's past dinner time. We still have another twelve hours before this phase ends. It ends at ten A.M tomorrow morning. A good hundred and eighty-two students remain. Though some students are starting to learn this is our hideout and we may need to change our tactics. I heard a knock on my door as I was pacing around my room.

"It's open, come in," I didn't stop pacing the room. I heard the door open and I turned to see my sister Nix.

"Damn Kai, you need to calm down. It is hotter than Girtana's hellscape in here," my sister left the door wide open. I ignored her comment as I knew that's not why she intended to come see me. "I'll get to the point as to why I came up here so I can leave quickly because I'm already sweating," she yanked on the collar of her shirt. "I wanted to ask about you and Nexus. What's going on with you two?" I stopped dead in my tracks when she asked her question.

"Nix, why are you so interested in this?" Kai asked, trying to avoid eye contact. If it was obvious to her then it was obvious to everyone.

"Because I care about you, Kai," Nix replied softly. "I've noticed how much Nexus's presence affects you. It's like there's a history between you two that you're not telling me," I turned cold. She was right because I met Nexus before she was adopted to be my sister.

"What makes you say that?" I tried to play it off still.

"For someone who apparently just met them at the beginning of the year. To then have so much trust and attachment to them there has to be prior history," She huffed. "Everything changed that homecoming night and at that time we all barely knew him for two months. You don't have to tell me everything, all I want is for you to fix what was there. I hate to see you falling apart like you're not in control," Nix tried to cheer me up, which I didn't notice I needed. She is right I've been falling apart at the seams since this semester started. I'm slowly collecting myself like with my interaction with Dad and admitting that Jai wasn't the one for me.

"To be honest I'm not sure how to fix it. I've rejected him so many times and when I finally gained the suppressed memories of our friendship he's moved on," I sat down on my bed.

"Maybe tell him you remember that you know what he is to you," Nix gave me an idea.

"Thanks," I said only because it felt like the right way to respond. I then thought back to the night before the second stage of the Class change tournament when Nexus was monologuing. He said ' I know of you as a kid and you now and you are still the same at heart now if you stop masking yourself in the shell of misery your father draped on you. You can rekindle the flames with those around you. Until then I will wait because no matter what you will be the one I love,' I remembered that night. Funny enough I just fought against my father and I was able to be friends with Ace and Angel again. Maybe Nix is right and I can get out of my funk by talking to Nexus again.

"I'll leave you alone but I think you and I should sneak out tonight. More students are catching wind that we are here," Nix then left, closing my door. I wasn't given much time to think on the subject when my ORB screen opened up and showed a special rule the school just issued.

'For the next twelve hours the Dean approved a special rule,' The automated voice said. 'This rule is if you challenge an elite student you are allowed to have a two-on-one fight,' The automated voice continued. 'This special rule will last till the end of the first phase,' my screen then turned off. That's not good. I then got a message from Nexus, upon opening it he sent it to Angel, Pollon, Corrode, Nix, Percival, Fang, and Sydney. The group of us that remained from when we formed groups initially.

'I want us to still be in a truce but I have a plan to bring down the number of students drastically. Meet me in the main Evergreen stadium in two hours,' The Message then ends. We have no reason to reject it.


~Fang's~

(Iwatodai Dorms - ThatGuyBT4)

I was waiting in the Evergreen stadium alongside Percival, Sydney, and Nexus waiting for the other two groups to arrive.

"What if they don't show?" I was bored.

"They are a key part of my plan and they will show only because the normal student will overpower them with their sheer numbers," Nexus explained. We sat there in silence as my irritation grew. The only reason I'm going through with this is that Nexus asked me to otherwise I would have challenged these slow Magcargo's to a fight. As we were waiting I noticed some flakes falling from the sky. It reminds me of home a bit back in Circhester City with the snow everywhere and the central hot spring. I would go with my Uncle when I wasn't competing and before he was sick. He loved the snow and taught me to love it as well which is funny because we are rock types.

'Fang, do you know why I love the snow?' I saw a memory of mine play out in front of me. My uncle, an Aggron, was staring at the hot spring and I, a young Rockruff was beside him.

'Why?' Young me asked.

'It reminds me of strength. Snow, water, and ice are all the same thing and it's very mobile making it volatile and strong. As long as you are strong you can do anything, remember that,' the memory faded within the snowfall. As long as I complete this mission and show my strength my uncle will get better.

"We're here!" It was Corrode's voice and I turned to see five Pokemon enter the stadium. Nix, Corrode, Pollon, Angel, and Kai.

"Thank you for coming and now I can share why I brought you all here," Nexus greeted them. " As you know the Dean approved that special rule and I knew they would do something like that to put a target on the Elite students' backs. My plan is to use us as bait to drag out everyone to challenge us however that means continuous fighting for the next ten hours or so. We will all be placed in different areas on campus so they have to search for us and will encounter others so they can fight amongst themselves," Nexus explained his plan and I liked it. That means I can take advantage of it. Nexus then pulled up a map on his ORB and it had nine spaces for us to occupy. The five spaces for each stadium we have. One at the front entrance, one at the back entrance and another at the right entrance, and another at the left entrance. Percival took the Front entrance while Sydney took the battlefield behind him. Pollon took the Center Battlefield since her psychic abilities can assist us outside of battle. Nexus took the back entrance and I took the battlefield behind him. Nix took the right entrance while Kai took the battlefield behind her. Leaving Angel to take the left entrance and Corrode to take the battlefield behind him. "With everything set, I'll send out the message," we all split up.


~Corrode's~

(The Shackled Wolves (Rain) - FE3H)

We all went our separate ways and I thought last minute it would be a good idea to swap areas with Kai.

"Why do you want to swap with me?" He was confused. I had to think of something on the fly. I felt like something bad might happen if he stayed on the right battlefield.

"I think Angel will need better support and since you know him better than me I thought it would be best for us to swap," I gave him a deadpan look. He agreed to us swapping and took his leave. As I was walking I got an alert on my ORB.

'Your delivery from Galor has arrived, where should it be delivered?' the automated voice asked me. I put it in the location of the right battlefield. That made me then rush to where I needed to be. I've been waiting all semester for this and finally, it arrived. It will make me stronger though at a cost. When I arrived at my battlefield I was in shock to see someone waiting for me.

"Why are you here?" It was Fang and he seemed annoyed.

"I should be asking you that. Why are you not at your post?" I guess my hunch was right.

"I don't have time for this, I'll be going," Fang tried to leave.

"I don't think so," I pulled up my ORB screen and issued Fang a challenge. It forces him to fight me no matter what.

"Well if you want answers I won't talk even if you win," Fang accepted my challenge. As he did, a Rotom Drone flew by and dropped off a little gift box. I opened it immediately and a green candy was sitting inside. I popped it in my mouth and instantly it melted against my tongue. A little shiver ran up my spine but it felt good as I was now ready for any fight that came my way.

"You're about to experience a world of pain!" I taunted the rock dog. Fang responded with a low growl. I know if I let him roam he'll probably cause trouble and pin it on someone else.

'3 . . 2 . . 1, Battle Begin!' the automated voice said. Fang wasted no time in launching his first attack as spikes were now everywhere along the battlefield. They then completely disappeared. Fang then dug his into the ground as he summoned a barrage of sharp rocks. He completely morphed the battlefield into a trap. Your best way of moving is jumping from rock to rock. Nice combo moves of Stealth Rock and Stone Edge. I have to remember to not be too careless as I clutched the purple gem I have around my neck. Without a second thought, I unleashed a light blue beam straight up into the sky. It completely dispersed itself and multiple beams of ice went everywhere. The whole battlefield got covered in ice as well as the rocks and the ground was covered with snow. Not to mention it even attacked Fang.

"Using Ice Beam as an area-sweeping attack isn't a good idea," Fang chuckled as I realized he was behind me. He lunged forward with incredible speed. And struck me in the back sending me sliding on the ice into one of the rocks sticking out of the ground. "Hope you liked that Sucker Punch because there is more where that came from," Fang Taunted me.

"I was only getting a feel for myself," I lurched myself out of the rock. "You'll be the first one to see what I can do at my full power," I reacted swiftly and was sprinting from rock to rock.

All I need is one hit on him. I then noticed as Fang was moving he wasn't slipping on the icy rocks. Does he have training in snow and ice? Normally a foe doesn't know how to handle themselves. Doesn't matter. I jumped off the rocks and skated along the battlefield. With my newfound speed, this is kind of fun.

(The Shackled Wolves (Mashup) - Jolo Somnium Files)A/N: Corrode Theme Second version

"Stop acting like a kid by avoiding me and fight me!" Fang growled. He jumped up high and came down at me like a spinning drill. I took the chance and charged a massive ball of energy up at Fang. I winced at the recoil of my Life Orb and Fang Collide with my Focus Blast. With that amount of oncoming force, I was starting to slip on the ice. His Drill Run or my Focus Blast, who will win?

"Nothing against you Fang but I haven't been using all my power," I allow myself to use my ability Sheer Force and since Focus Blast has a possible status effect I get a thirty percent increase in power and the possible status won't activate. Pair that with my Life Orb, it becomes a sixty-nine percent power increase and I will no longer take the recoil from my Life Orb. My focus blast grew astronomically in power and completely consumed Fang.

"What the hell!" Fang was shot back into one of the frozen rocks. Mix all of those powers with my newfound speed, I should be unbeatable. Fang then ripped himself out of the rock and I could see he was fuming. "What are you, that red dog's guardian dino!" He seemed beyond pissed. I'm just alarmed that he's still standing after taking on an attack like that. This is why I don't use mega evolution, I don't need it.

"No, but something felt wrong by letting Kai go to this arena and I was right to swap with him," I explained. It was just a feeling I had. I saw his eyes turn from his normal green to a blood red as if he saw me as a true enemy.

"Time for me to go all out as well. I won't lose like last time in the Class Change Tournament," he howled as he got trapped in a case of white. When the Shell broke his gruff fur along his neck grew past his ears and the spikey edge grew with it. Spikes grew out of his front shoulder blades and he grew side grips as if similar to his midnight counterpart. Not much of a massive change but it won't matter.

"It won't matter, all I need is one hit on you!" I felt myself well up with power as I punched the floor of the battlefield. All the ice ruptured and the ground started to split as magma started to spurt out of the ground towards Fang.

"Then you won't hit me," He howled as his claws clashed straight into the ground and rocks started to appear to counter my Earth Power.

"It was the wrong move to counter me. Remember with my ability and Life Orb, I'm stronger than mega evolution," I was feeling myself. It reminded me of when I would battle against Volcan when I was younger and the rest of Team: Overcrest. With Fang focused on his Stone Edge, I started to run to the side. He tried to slow me down by making rocks appear to trap me, but I have a plan. As I was running past a wave of water followed me till It crashed behind me allowing me to hop on. To which it rose high up so I could crash down on Fang.

"This game of yours is over, I hope you like my One Hit fighting style," the huge wave came crashing down on Fang and I slid to the edge of the battlefield.

'Battle over, Fang eliminated,' The automated voice said and I bet that caught everyone in the area off guard because the voice echoed throughout the battlefields. I turned to the rock dog as he morphed back to normal. He didn't move, instead, he laid on the battlefield watching the snowfall. I then got a message and realized it was a message sent to the remaining students sent by Nexus. When it played it was a recording of him in the central battlefield he must've recorded this before everyone arrived.

(Counter Attack - Xenoblade Chronicles 2)

"Hey everyone I have a little announcement for you after the special rule that announced about two-on-one fights against elite students. I brought a handful of elite students to the Evergreen stadium. There is at least one on every battlefield and one at the entrances. With the clock running down and the given advantage you could take our elite status. We have until ten A.M so time is ticking," Nexus's message cut out. I guess now we wait. I pulled up the number of remaining students which is now one hundred and fifty-three. His plan may work too well where we overflow with challengers, but I don't think that's what he's after. Is he trying to get as many to come as possible so they can fight each other? If so, that is very smart. I looked over to where I left Fang and he was exiting the battlefield as if he was heading for the dorms. I guess he no longer has a purpose in being here now that he's eliminated. We have a bit under ten hours left. I got another message ping on my ORB. It was marked as unknown since it wasn't recognized by the Evergreen district and asked if I wanted to accept the message. I accepted it and what I got was a video but the thumbnail was enough to make me cry. It was a Typhlosion, Meganium, and a Feraligatr huddled together.

I hit play and they came to life "Hi Corrode!" They all cheered.

"A bit late on the notice, but we're on our way to Evergreen for a special event. We should be there come the morning," the gator said.

"We're not allowed to share much about it but since you are in Evergreen we should all spend time together," Meganium's feminine voice always made me happy, it sounded like melodies.

"Maybe even have a match like when we were in Johto," The Typhlosion's fiery aura never ceased.

"We'll see you soon, bye!" They all cheered. Though before the video ended a Charizard came into frame. That made me excited. Maybe I could show off for them in the second phase. I then heard the noise of fighting from outside of the arena. I guess some Pokemon are already here to challenge us. Time to show off.


~Angel's~

(Dawn's theme Ballad version - Pokemon DP)

I'm so tired after all these fights in succession. Since I'm not an elite student the special rule doesn't apply to me but I have so far won nine fights in succession and twelve have passed me to challenge the others. Looking at the student count it has dropped to seventy-three and we still have four hours left. Honestly standing here everyone just issues me a challenge since I'm standing in the open, however, after they issue the fight they realize I don't have elite status. Yet they can't take the challenge back. My ORB notified me that I had another challenge and I decided to get up since I was resting between my fights. When I looked at it, it showed I got challenged by Percival. What the heck he was supposed to be at the front, why am I getting a challenge from him? I then heard a rustle in the bushes and out came the legendary dog Pokemon known as Percival.

"What are you doing here?" I was surprised. His emotions were mixed and I could see it on his face.

"Let me put you out of your misery, you're not strong like us and if you keep going you may injure yourself," his words made me happy but yet they felt empty. He wasn't wrong though I am really tired and I'm sure he has had many fights and he's barely breaking a sweat.

"Don't give me a bull shit excuse, why are you really here?" If anyone knows when another is being deceitful or lying it would be me.

"Fine," he sighed. "I'm getting bored because my fights are so easy and I thought since you made it this far you could be a challenge," he explained. He's not telling the whole truth like he had a secret plan. His face showing his mixed emotions proves that to me. It seems he's uneasy doing this as well as if someone is commanding him to do this. It wouldn't be someone at this school as he is number one at this school.

"If that's what you say," I accepted his challenge but I know this fight won't last long. I have already accepted defeat.

'3 . . 2 . . 1, Battle Begin!' the automated voice said. Percival made the first move as he completely cloaked in flames as theory spurted everywhere. He then charged at me, this is my first time seeing a move like this. I trapped myself in a cage of white. I might as well try to use all of my power. From my back, I grew wings similar to a butterfly and bowties grew out of my ribbon feelers. As well as bowties going down my chest. My shell broke and instantly Percival was coming at me. To defend myself I flew up to dodge his attack, but his fury didn't end.

"ORB analyze attack?" I commanded my ORB as Percival was staring up at me. Flames still erupted from him.

'That move is an ancient Hisui move known as Raging Fury. A move similar to outrage for fire types,' the automated voice explained. Then geysers of water started to appear around Percival. How does he know Water Pledge? It then encased him but it didn't extinguish the flames. This is insane. He then jumped up and came at me as a way to counter my eyes lit up in a blue hue and a blue hue was around Percival. His body was then forced to stop moving due to my Psychic.

"You'll need more than that to stop me," he completely broke through my Psychic and came at me. Thinking quickly on my feet I charged up all my power into a massive blast. It's a last resort of mine since my ability is Pixilate. Unleashing Hyper Beam head-on to his move combo. I was then scared as he completely cut through my special move and collided straight into me. Bringing me straight to the ground. Just the impact alone was enough to force me out of my mega-evolution. Though Percival was nice enough to catch me before I reached the ground.

'Battle over, Angel eliminated,' The automated voice said.

"Thanks for the fight and sorry," Percival then ran off before I said anything. That whole interaction was weird but I just want to rest.


~Kai's~

(ESA Final Arc Ending - NebbytheSolgaleo)

"Everyone stop your fights at this time!" The Dean's Voice rang through our ORBs as they were forced to show a video feed. Dean Lumino was in his office. "The remaining twenty students will proceed to the second phase which will continue tomorrow. Which will take place in the Evergreen stadium at twelve P.M. Those who pass the second phase will go on an excursion for all of the second semester," On the ORB feed it showed the students remaining. Angel and Fang weren't among the remaining students.

"What happened to them?" I asked myself. Of the remaining students, thirteen were elite students and seven were normal students.

"As for what you will be doing in the second phase, it will be fights with these select students from Ferrum Battle College," on the screen were nine different Pokemon. All of which I know since I saw them during the Summer Festival. Our TAs: Tyler, Axel, Blaze, and Jason. With them were Michael Fang, Arthur Drake, Volcan Overcrest, Snap Gator, and James Cross. All of them are amazing fighters. How are they expecting us to pass the second phase? Also, what does he mean we will go on an excursion during the second semester? Something doesn't sit well with me.


Action: We are actually coming up on this book's one-year anniversary.

Kai: Yeah, July twenty-fifth is when this book started.

Nexus: And you were hoping to have this book done by the end of the spring semester.

Action: Shit happens okay.

Pollon: Guys don't get on him too hard. We only have three chapters left and some special chapters but he may do some other stuff before those special chapters come out.

Action: Stop with the spoilers.

Percival: Who does the preview now since all of us went?

Milo: I will go. Up next: All the Aces from our previous book of Ferrum League Adventures are here and special fighters for the next phase of the final exams. It seems unfair but don't worry, it's only to weed out the strongest students. We have many special fights coming up and all of them have a theme so pay close attention. Let's see what happens next, Chapter 20: Final Exam Pt 1. Only on ESA.

Sydney: Don't forget to fav, follow, and review.

All: Bye!