After all the pleasantries and kind words and tears, Blastoise gathered the group together just in front of the house. Aggron, Infernape and Garchomp had no idea why he wanted them here. Gardevoir and Lopunny already had some idea of what was going to be said. The former via solid guesswork. The latter via Blastoises' own word. Blastoise sat down on a log. This was a conversation he needed to have with them. There was no guarantee they could stay out of this anymore.

"Listen here. After…everything that's happened in the last few days, I don't think we can rest much longer," said Blastoise somberly.

"What are you talking about?" asked Infernape. Blastoise shut his eyes and elaborated,

"Think about what's happened. Groudon was summoned. The Black Masks were defeated only for their leader to come back and attack the biggest music festival of the year. These are huge events, and they have all happened within a few short months. They are all not connected in any way, and I hope for the life of me that I am just being paranoid, but when events like this happen one after another, that usually means we're hurtling towards a climax. I fear that Nihonera is not ready for whatever that climax is. I am in my sixties and I don't know if I, nor Charizard will have lost our strength by the time that happens."

"Why are you telling us this?" asked Aggron. Blastoise looked around to everyone and took a breath. It was then gave them his offer,

"I am asking you to become full-fledged Senshi. All of you."

For some, the answer came easy. Gardevoir, Lopunny and Aggron answered without hesitation,

"Of course," said Gardevoir determinedly. Her enthusiasm was subdued by the severity of the situation. Luckily, Lopunny was there to provide that enthusiasm in spades,

"Oh hell yeah!" said Lopunny, who was met with a glare from Blastoise, "Umm…I mean, yes, grandpa."

"I was meaning to apply once this all blew over," said Aggron. It took a moment for Garchomp to make up her mind. Full time Senshi work was certainly different, but she wanted to protect others from sharing the same fate she almost did back in Stalagmiten. That left only Infernape as the only reluctant one.

Blastoise recognized that this was a lot for the fire-type to consider. Out of everyone here, he was the one with the least amount of motivation to go into this full-time. He fought the cult out of spite and now that they were done, what was the point of him joining? Blastoise knew all of this. Perhaps his instincts were wrong? But somewhere down the line, that spite transformed into something else. Maybe it was freedom. Maybe it was genuine heroism. Whatever it was, Blastoise knew that Infernape had the potential to become a great hero. One that could even surpass himself. However, he also respected Infernape's autonomy. This was the fire-type's decision, and regardless of what he decided to do, Blastoise would accept that answer.

As for Infernape, he was lost in thought. He had never been interested in joining the Senshi. He only joined this so that he could get back at Bisharp, but now, he had settled his score. He and the group beat the cult and the Senshi could absolutely beat them in a straight on fight. All he would be is an extra body to throw at whatever comes next, and whatever comes after that.

Infernape had a fairly unique perspective on the Senshi, at least within Nihonera. He was grateful for everything they did. They put their lives at risk every day and to protect others.

That deserves praise. However, he knew what people were like, and he just didn't see the point. He knew what people were like. They are kind, but they are ungrateful. Make them smile once, they'll remember it forever. Make them smile forever, and they'll want your head the one time you can't. You can give people what they want for years, give up everything to please them, but the moment you mess up, even if through no fault of your own, they will want your head on a silver platter. So why bother risking your life for people who will never give your dues. Why put yourself in the line of fire when you'll only be appreciated in twenty to thirty years after you're gone.

But that was where Torterra and Empoleon came in.

After…everything, Infernape refused to talk to them. They were dead to him at the time. However, they wanted to pursue their careers so they went. In hindsight, perhaps they knew there was nothing they could say to Infernape. Perhaps they knew that seeing them would only hurt him more. It's not worth sacrificing your career, your future, to a lost cause. Infernape briefly scowled at himself, horrified that there was a point in his life where he called himself that. Even after all of these years, eight years since he stopped talking to them, six since he last saw them, there was one conversation that stuck with him from when they first told him about their plans to become Senshi.

Nine years ago…

Monferno, Grotle and Prinplup were relaxing at Monferno's house. His mother was out partying like normal so they had the house to themselves. Anyway, they were just finishing up a round of video games with Grotle soundly defeating the fire type monkey, when Prinplup walked in with a few snacks from the shops.

"Dammit!" yelled Monferno as his character was defeated. Prinplup leaned over and remarked,

"Easy, tête chaude. You always get too into these. Here's some sushi." Monferno grumbled to himself as he chowed down.

"Yeah, don't be so upset, dude," said Grotle as he took a poffin, "It's just a game. Besides, you did great!"

"Yeah, yeah," said Monferno before looking towards Prinplup and saying with food in his mouth, "ya gush neva-"

"Swallow," said Prinplup, which Monferno did,

"You guys never told me what you were studying."

"You never asked us," said Grotle.

"Come on, you know me. You know I'm becoming a rock star," said Monferno. Prinplup shrugged,

"Fair enough," he then picked up a controller and challenged Grotle to a match.

"I'm going to become a Senshi," said Prinplup. Monferno's eyes went wide before nearly choking on his food. Thankfully, a vine from Grotle stopped this story from ending too early.

"I thought you were gonna become a doctor like your dad," said Monferno. Grotle then told Monferno,

"Same here. I wanna save lives." Monferno was less surprised with Grotle, that man was Arceus's gift to Pokemon, but still.

"Well, if that's what you want to do, then I respect it, and I'll support you with everything I've got. I just wanna ask…why? You especially, Shin. It's difficult work and…well…I don't wanna see you guys in a hospital bed," admitted Monferno. The other two stopped playing their game upon hearing him being so sentimental. Prinplup grinned at his friend.

"Thank you. It means a lot to me that you care so much. To answer your question," Prinplup looked out the window, "I've been doing a lot of thinking these past few years. I still very much want to help people, but looking back…sometimes, Dad wouldn't be able to save someone. I remember a night when he came home and locked himself in his room for hours, crying. He never told me what happened, and I never asked…I want to be someone who protects the people above all else. Someone who can save a doctor a heartbroken afternoon. That is what I want," said Prinplup. Monferno was shocked to hear all of that, but a warm grin grew on his face. He gave his friend a fist bump,

"You're a really good man. You know that?" said Monferno sincerely. Prinplup smiled back,

"Thank you." Then, Grotle leaped in between the two,

"Alright! The three of us are take on the world!"

How Lee wished they could.

The present.

That sentiment of preventing people from going through horrible pain was something he could theoretically get behind. Still, this wasn't something he especially wanted to do. However, the more he thought about it, he knew there was something for him. If the world was going to be unrelentingly cruel to him, then he should at least develop the strength to fight back. So, albeit reluctantly, Infernape looked at Blastoise and told him,

"I'm in."