{"sf1_id":829336,"sf2_id":null,"title":"Contest Part 2","author":"Volcan MacAingeal","words":9018,"posted_at":"2015-03-11T13:22:00.000Z","tags":["Greninja","Haxorus","Threat","blaziken","charmeleon","combat","competition","lucario","pokemon","samurott","vaporeon","zoroark"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/829336-contest-part-2","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/view/829336","image_url":"https://www.sofurryfiles.com/std/thumb?page=829336\u0026ext=.jpg","description":"","content":"\nAfter Sol was removed from the ship, the matches were\npostponed for the rest of the day, to perform maintenance on the fighting\narenas and see to it that nothing distracted the medics from treating those in\nthe Infirmary. The following morning the battles resumed; the next team battle\nwasn't happening for a while, giving the members of Team Valiant a chance to\nspectate on a Single match that Wade was battling in. Eagle Eye had been\nreleased from the Infirmary that morning, and was heading with them for the\nspectacle. Though as expected, he wasn't pleased about his loss the previous\nday...\nHe had a frown on his face as he leaned on the railing to get\na better view of the upcoming fight, grumbling under his breath and whatnot...\nSerena looked up at him as she heard him grumble, eyeing him\nsympathetically. \"Are you okay?\" She asked.\n\"Yea, fuckin peachy...\" He grumbled.\n\"Hey, you can't win 'em all, Eagle Eye,\" Volcan\nstated. \"If it's any consolation, there's a guy on my team back home; we\nspar all the time, and he always beats me. I view it as more of a challenge to\novercome than a real defeat.\"\n\"Psh whatever. I'll get over it.\" He replied\ndismissively.\n\"Hey, look; I think it's Wade down there,\" Serena\nremarked, pointing with her paw down at the arena.\n\"Indeed it is...\" Kage returned, keeping his arms\ncrossed. \"This battle will not take long though...\"\n\"And... what the heck is that?\" Volcan asked,\npointing at Wade's opponent as they hopped onto the stage. A Farfetch'd, to be\nexact, twirling its leek about in its wing merrily as it stepped up.\n\"That's a Farfetch'd.\" Katsu answered. \"Hmm...This\nmight turn out interesting; I don't think young Wade has faced a flying type\nbefore.\"\nTorolf was not overseeing the contest today; this time, it\nwas Oceana who was heading it, and she slithered onto the stage to introduce\nthe fighters. \"Today, for our first matchup, we have Wade, the talented\nyoung warrior trained by members of Team Valiant, versus the merry malard of\nWestport, Pirawan! Without further ado, let's get this battle underway!\"\nAnd with that, she slithered off the arena, letting the two fighters size each\nother up as they waited for her to announce the start of the fight.\nPirawan danced on the spot for a moment before pointing his\nleek at Wade. \"This ought to be a blast!\" He said, happily.\nWade put his paws together and bowed in respect toward his\nopponent. \"May the best man win...\" He returned as he straightened\nup.\n\"And... begin!\" Oceana called.\nAt that moment, Pirawan's stance changed; he held his leek\nout like it were a sword, and once more performed what appeared to be a dance\nof some kind, before resuming his previous stance, holding the leek over his\nshoulder as he watched Wade, waiting. Wade slowly reached behind him and\ngrasped the hilt of his sword, still keeping his eyes on the Farfetch'd as he\nslowly pulled his weapon out of its sheath. He then twirled it in his paw\nexpertly and held it in a reverse grip behind his back, with one paw held in\nfront of him and lowering into a wide stance. He too waited, knowing he had\nmuch more patience than his opponent...\n\"Ho ho! En garde!\" Pirawan barked, turning his leek\nabout like a duelling blade and lunging forward, jabbing at Wade in a feint and\npulling back before he could parry.\n\"...I still can't get over the fact that guy is fighting\nwith a vegetable,\" remarked Volcan.\n\"A master painter can make art with any brush...\"\nKatsu cited as he watched teh fight commence.\nWade didn't blink or flinch from the feint, instead he waited\nfor the bird to back up before he darted forward and swing his sword in a wide\narc, following through with his attack with a second swing angled more\ndownward.\nPirawan parried both strikes, immediately using the dropped\nguard that followed the downward strike to stab his leek into Wade's rib with a\npainful, yet not overly powerful jab. \"Poke!\" He quacked.\nWade was prepared for a counterattack though, and since his\nopponent wasn't using a sword of any kind, he parried the attack with his\noffhand. Wade then spun hsi sword into a forehand grip and swiped at Pirawan's\nhead, then quickly backed up and weaved a quick seal with his paw and\ndischarged a volley of small Water Pulses at the Farfetch'd.\nPirawan stepped back to avoid the blade strikes, but as the\nWater Pulse came, he simply said monotonously \"Oopsie,\" before he was\nknocked back, somewhat dazed by the hit, but managing to stay on his feet.\n\"Whoo...\"\nWade then charged forward with Aqua Jet, moving at surpring\nspeeds as he closed the gap between himself and his opponent. He then stopped\nshort and held the point of his sword at Pirawan's beak.\n\"Ooh, quick one, eh?\" He asked, before knocking\naway Wade's sword with his leek, which he then held in a forehand motion as the\ntip glowed, sprouting shapes that closesly resembled...! \"Leaf Blade!\"\nHe called before striking out at Wade with a well-times horizontal swing.\nWade backed up in instinct, though the leek did leave a\nshallow cut along his chest, making him grimace as he jumped back. He landed in\na crouch, then used Aqua Jet to leap high into the air, weaving another sign\nand discharging a searing hot Scald attack from his mouth.\n\"Oops!\" Pirawan said, before he spin-jumped out of\nthe way of the Scald attack, landing gracefully out of its trajectory.\n\"Nice try!\" He taunted.\nRight as he landed, Wade then hurled a multitude of shuriken\nfrom his pouch, then darted back down to the ground and charged at the\nFarfetch'd right as the shuriken were about to hit the ground.\n\"Blow away!\" He called before he swiped at the air\nand sent an Air Slash towards Wade, knocking aside the Shuriken as the sharp\ngust soared at him.\nWade grunted as the blast of wing hit him, then he seemed to\nexplode in a puff of smoke, leaving behind a small poketoy in his place.\n\"Oh, a Subsitute, huh?\" Pirawan asked, impressed.\n\"Love that little trick.\"\nHe then felt Wade land atop of his head gingerly, balancing\non one foot and looking down at him. \"...You do talk a lot...\"\n\"Huh?!\" He looked up. \"Hey! Get off; I'm not a\nkiddie park ride!\" He thrashed about, trying to throw the Dewott off of\nhis head.\nWade then quickly hopped off and landed quickly in front of\nhim, slamming the pommel of his blade into the Farfetch'd's forehead. \"And\nI'm no child...\"\n\"I didn't say you were, man; was just a joke,\" he\nsaid, before suddenly exploding in a puff of smoke.\nWade narrowed his eyes, seeing his opponent use Substitute as\nwell. He kept his senses keen, glancing to his left and right, even looking up\na few times.\n\"BRRRRRAVE BIRD!\" A voice suddenly barked, coming\nfrom right behind the smoke as it cleared; a stick was knocked aside as Pirawan\ncame flying out of the cloud and SLAMMED into Wade full-tilt, although the\nFarfetch'd winced as he felt the recoil of the hit. Wade cried out and skidded\nalong teh ground, even dropping his sword as he skidded to a halt. Wade was\ndown for a few moments before he quickly popped up, rubbing his chest where he\nwas struck.\n\"Oh that smarts,\" grunted Pirawan before he shook\nhis head to clear it, taking in a deep breath -which briefly caused him to comically\npuff out his feathers, before exhaling. \"Okay; I'm ready!\"\nWade sighed a little, now lowering his paws and drawing his\nScallchops on his waist fur. He concentrated for a moment before a faint sheen\nwas present all over his body before fading again, slowly opening his eyes and\nbeckoning his opponent to attack.\n\"Alright; I think it's time we bring this to a\nclose,\" said Pirawan. \"Ya ready, me bucko?\"\n\"I am...your move...\" Wade returned.\n\"Here we go!\" And he dashed forward, zig-zagging as\nhe approached Wade, his body a blur with every movement as he neared, and then\nstruck out with a backhanded swing. \"Fury Cutter!\"\nThis time, Wade only blocked with his forearm, letting the\nleek his his bare arm. However, when the leek made contact, there came the\nsound of a 'ching,' like metal hitting metal almost.\n\"What the?\" Pirawan asked in confusion.\nWade then sliced at Pirawan's leek with his other Scalchop,\nthe small weapon easily slicing the hard vegetable clean in two.\n\"Hey!\" The Farfetch'd looked at his destroyed\nweapon in shock. \"Come on! I spent months growing that!\" And then\nrealized his predicament. \"Uh oh...\"\nWade lowered his weapons and looked at his opponent dead in\nthe eye. \"Are you afraid...?\" He asked calmly.\n\"I think I'm screwed,\" he remarked.\n\"Then I acknowledge you as my equal...\" He\nreturned, then he slammed his elbow right into the Farfetch'd's chest, then\nleaped over and kicked him on his back, sending him flat on the ground. Wade\nstood on his back for a moment before he hopped off and sheathed his scalchops.\n\"Anyone who does not fear their own strength or the strength of their\nadversary...is no man at all.\" Wade cited. \"To wield a sword without\nany fear of it is to be unworthy of the blade. That is what my sensei taught\nme...\"\n\"And the winner is Wade!\" Oceana called. \"Well\ndone, warrior of Valiant!\"\nPirawan rubbed his head nervously. \"Well, you certainly\ndid a number on me. Ya could've spared my leek though; now I have to grow a new\none.\"\nWade offered him his paw. \"My apologies...\" He\nreturned, putting on a calmer, more friendly smile on his face.\nPirawan accepted the paw, letting Wade help him to his feet,\nand nodded to him before he reached over and lifted Wade's arm in triumph,\nletting the audience cheer him on.\nVolcan chuckled. \"Gotta hand it to him, he's good,\"\nhe said.\nKatsu nodded in agreement. \"He was found by Luna as a\nyoung orphaned Oshawott, and trained in basic martial arts and swordplay at an\nearly age. Then Kage trained him more advance swordplay and ninjitsu, and\nultimately made him into what you see now. He is as battle hardened as any\nwarrior, but like Luna, he has a kind and gentle soul.\"\nVolcan nodded. \"I can see him becoming quite a warrior\nsomeday... more than he is now, I mean, and everyone for a thousand kilometers\nwill know his name.\"\n\"He doesn't really want the fame...\" Luke returned.\n\"He's always had a singular goal in the forefront of his mind, and that is\nto be the greatest swordsman in the world...\"\n\"Well, many heroes across history didn't want\nfame,\" said Volcan. \"Including my time's own greatest swordsman, yet\nhis name is known world-wide as being the greatest warrior who ever\nlived.\"\n\"What was his name?\" Luke asked\n\"Miyamoto Musashi, a Samurai from Japan,\" replied\nVolcan. \"Legendary with a blade; supposedly undefeated in battle.\"\n\"I see.\" Luke returned, looking down at Wade as he\nleft the arena. \"I suppose he's well on his way to becoming legendary\nhimself.\"\nVolcan nodded. \"He's already off to a good start,\"\nhe remarked, and then glanced up at the sun. \"Hmm... if I'm reading that\nright, the Team matches will be starting again in a half hour. Let's give Wade\nour regards and then get goin'.\" He grimaced. \"I think we're fighting\nRigel and Trish this time.\"\n\"You sound nervous.\" Luke pointed out as they began\nto make their way to the team matches.\n\"Well, I saw those two in action,\" said Volcan.\n\"Your brother is tough, and his girlfriend is no less. This isn't going to\nbe easy.\"\n\"There's no challenge if it's easy...\" Kage coldly\nreplied.\n\"It's an expression, man,\" Volcan said in\nexasperation, slapping himself in the forehead.\n\"Don't let him get to you, he's always like\nthat...\" Luke said to him.\n\"I'm SO glad Korban is not here; he'd make a GAME out of\ntrying to get a rise out of Kage,\" said Volcan.\n\"I can tell you right now he'd fail...\" Katsu\nreturned.\n\"Doesn't mean he won't try,\" said Volcan. \"And\nhe'd keep pushing until Kage kicked him in the face.\"\nLuke stared at Volcan in surprise. \"Does he think\nEVERYTHING is a game...?\"\n\"Everything,\" replied Volcan. \"You can have a\ndozen soldiers shooting at him like madmen, and he'll be firing back while\nperforming crazy dance moves and all manner of showing off.\"\n\"...He makes Hank sound like a third rate comic...\"\nLuke muttered.\n\"EY!\" Hank shouted at him.\nThe group arrived at the arena at the other end of the ship,\nseeing the spectators had already gathered. Along the way, they bumped into\nSickle and his team, who were discussing a strategy for their opponents when\nthey noticed the members of Team Valiant approaching, and he waved to them.\n\"Hey guys!\" The Grovyle called.\n\"Good day.\" Luke returned as they approached his\nteam. \"Getting ready for the next rounds eh?\"\n\"Yeah. We're up against these guys called Team Venom; a\nGligar, Seviper, Nidorino and a Beedrill make up this group, so we're trying to\ndecide how best to combat them, since we don't have a Psychic type with\nus.\"\n\"You know,\" Blaster stated. \"If we win this\nround, it means we'll be facing you guys in the Finals, and whoever wins gets\nto take on Team Warmachine for the prize.\"\n\"Well then best of luck to you all then. I do hope to\nmeet you in the arena.\" Luke returned.\n\"Indeed...I think we all look forward to testing each\nother's mettle against you...\" Katsu added.\nSickle chuckled. \"That makes two of us,\" he said.\nBlaster and the -ironically- quiet 'Howler' nodded in\nagreement.\nWith that, the two groups parted. Team Valiant headed down to\nthe ring as they were up first, and found Kaen already waiting in the ring,\nwith Rigel and Trish approaching from the other side.\nVolcan turned to Luke. \"So, who's going this time?\"\nHe asked.\n\"I will fight this time...\" Kage stated, stepping\nforward.\n\"Alright... who else?\" Volcan asked.\n\"Why don't you fight, Volcan?\" Serena asked.\n\"Well I fought last time; thought we might give the\ncrowd more variety,\" replied the phoenix. \"Besides, you really think\nI could take on Rigel OR Trish? Those two are way out of my league the way I am\nnow.\"\nSerena looked over her shoulder at Luke, Katsu, Eagle Eye and\nHank. \"Well I don't think Eagle Eye is ready to fight yet, and Luke also\nfought last time,\" she said, and then looked at Hank. \"What about\nyou?\"\n\"I saw give the rookie another chance.\" He returned\nwith a sly wink.\n\"Or are you just concerned because you're a Dark type\nand they're both Fighting-Types?\" Volcan asked.\n\"Buddy do I LOOK concerned to you?\" He asked with\nan even more cockier grin.\n\"Well,\" said Serena, looking at Volcan. \"This\nwould be a good way to see how well you've mastered your new body. If you can\nbeat Rigel or Trish, then you can safely say you've learned it.\"\nVolcan rolled his eyes in thought. \"I guess that's a\ngood point,\" he said, and looked at Luke. \"What do you think?\"\nLuke nodded. \"Serena does pose a good point...And\nagainst Rigel I'd say you have a bit of an edge...with that being said, keep\nyour guard up. Rigel's cocky, but he has the skills to back it up...\"\nVolcan sighed shakily, and peered into the ring briefly.\n\"Well, what the heck; never going to improve without trying,\" he\nremarked. \"Alright, I'll do it.\" And glanced at Kage \"You know\nthis might actually work out; I'm a fire type so I -do- have an edge against\nRigel, while Kage here has one against Trish.\"\n\"Yes and no.\" Katsu returned. \"Kage is also a\nDark type, so the type advantages cancel each other out...\"\n\"...Way to make my confidence go 'POOF',\" Volcan\nmuttered.\n\"My ability compensates for that weakness...\" Kage\nreturned.\n\"Whatever; let's just do this,\" said Volcan,\nlooking up to the ring to check to see who had entered first .Sure enough,\nRigel was waiting. His arms crossed and tapping his foot impatiently, his tail\nalso swaying from left to right.\n\"Okay... here goes,\" said Volcan, before he stepped\ninto the ring as well, approaching the center.\n\"Bout damn time.\" Rigel called to Volcan as he\nentered the arena. \"You getting cold feet or something?\"\n\"It's called 'strategizing'; ever heard of it?\"\nVolcan asked, crossing his arms.\n\"Meh, wasn't really my style.\" He returned,\nsmirking ab it.\n\"My buddy Vinge would whoop you all over the\nplace,\" remarked Volcan, grinning smugly, hoping that remark would get a\nrise out of the elder brother of Luke.\nHis ear twitch, then he uncrossed his arms and cracked his\nneck. \"Maybe... but he ain't here now is he...?\"\n\"Lucky for you,\" returned the Blaziken. \"Guess\nI'll just have to do it in his place.\"\nKaen grinned at Volcan's confidence. \"This is going to\nbe awesome; wish I had time to go grab my camera,\" he said.\nRigel then hopped on the spot and threw a couple mock jabs\nbefore getting into his stance. \"Well enough jabbering buddy.\" He\nsaid, beckoning his opponent. \"I'm ready for ya, so bring it on!\"\nVolcan adopted the fighting stance he had taken when he had\nfought Boxer, but this time changed the position of his hands, keeping his left\nhand open and further forward than his right, which was held up to eye level in\nclenched fist.\n\"Let's start with something easy...\" He muttered,\nthen in a quick motion he cupped his paws at his side and hurled them forward,\ndischarging a blast at Volcan. \"Hadouken!!\"\nVolcan side-stepped out of the path of the attack, and then\nlunged forward, thrusting a burning fist at Rigel. \"Fire Punch!\"\nRigel grinned and met Volcan's Fire Punch with his own, both\nthe attacks cancelling each other out. Rigel then hopped forward and launched a\nfast combo of punches and kicks on Volcan, leaving him no room to counterattack\nVolcan tightened his guard, letting his arms take the blows\nfrom Rigel's attacks, before he finally made an opening by spitting a stream of\nfire at him as he moved to attack once again, surprising the impulsive Lucario\nwith the sneaky attack.\nRigel quickly ducked back, falling on his paws and\nbackspringing away. He then rose to hsi feet and began to block and parry\nVolcan's attacks before they caught each other's fists in a stalemate. \"Not\nbad...little rough around the edges though...\"\nVolcan suddenly had a thought as his eyes met Rigel's, and he\ngrinned. \"Time for a little change in tactics,\" he whispered.\n\"Did your bro ever mention that I was from another world?\"\n\"Bunch of bullshit if you ask me.\" He returned\nquickly.\n\"Yeah? Well let me erase some doubts with a few tricks I\nlearned there!\" He said, before he suddenly stopped resisting Rigel's\nattempts to push towards him, and lunged forward, bludgeoning the Lucario\nbetween the eyes with his forehead. \"Boom!\"\n\"WHOOF!\" Rigel grunted as Volcan's headstruck his,\nreeling back and gripping his head a bit from the impact.\nVolcan immediately seized that opportunity to rush forward\nand attack again, leaping at Rigel with a soaring knee-strike that launched him\nback several meters, sending him tumbling across the arena before Volcan\ntouched back down and returned to his stance. \"How did you like those\napples?\"\nRigel quickly sprung back to his feet and rubbed his jaw a\nbit, then cracked his neck again and hopped on the spot. \"Buddy yer just\nstarting to get my blood pumping man...\"\nVolcan turned his hand and beckoned Rigel over to him with\nhis fingers. \"Got more where that came from, pal.\"\nRigel smirked and quickly ran forward, spinning as he got\nclose and raising his leg for a spin kick at Volcan's head. \"Try THIS on\nfer size!!\" He roared as he kept kicking, never once touching the ground\nas he spun like a top in middair, his leg striking out at Volcan.\nVolcan just quirked an eyebrow as Rigel came spinning towards\nhim, and ducked under the kick, letting the Lucario soar over his head befoe\nturning back to him. \"Theatrics won't get you anywhere against me, Rigel;\nyou may think I'm a rookie, but if you don't get practical this fight'll just\ndrag on.\"\nRigel landed and charged back at Volcan, smacking his beak as\nhe was speaking with a backfist, then a one two combo before rearing his paw\nback and immolating it. He then nailed Volcan once with a heavy uppercut, then\nthe second was a Sky Uppercut, his paw still covered in fire.\nVolcan leaned back to avoid the second uppercut, letting\nRigel soar up past him. \"Okay, nevermind! Some theatrics works!\"\nRigel landed, still spinning and launching a straight punch\nat Volcan's chest.\nThis time, Volcan grinned, and caught Rigel's arm with his\nleft hand. \"Aikido...\" and then pulled him towards him, smashing him\nin the forehead with the elbow of his right arm, clotheslining the Lucario\npainfully. \"Reversal!\" Rigel cried out as he was spun back from the elbow,\nslamming down on his back with a grunt.\n\"And now,\" Volcan said before he grabbed Rigel by\nthe shoulders, pulling him up before letting go and grabbing him around the\nwaist in a tight bearhug. \"German SUPLEX!\" He barked as he bent his\nbody backwards, angling himself so far it was like he had no spine, and SLAMMED\nRigel's head into the arena floor. Rigel's mouth opened, but no sound came out\nas his head was slammed into the ground, his whole body tensing up and spasming\nfrom the impact.\nVolcan released him, letting himself drop onto his back\nbefore he rolled over and pushed himself up on his hands, watching as Rigel\nslowly toppled over and returning to his feet. \"Got him,\" he said.\nKaen stepped onto the field, looking at Rigel and watching\nhim for movement, slowly counting down from ten as he did.\nRigel then twitched and he slowly say up, grabbing his head\nwith his paw and shaking it from side to side. \"Fucking HELL that\nsmarts!!!\"\n\"You're lucky to still be conscious after that,\"\nsaid Volcan, returning to his stance. \"Now I know who the hard-headed one\nis,\" he remarked in jest.\nRigel quickly got back up on his feet and spat on the ground\nnext to him. \"Ok, not gonna lie...pretty good.\" He returned, then\nsmirked arrogantly. \"But you ain't the only one who can think outside the\nbox...\"\n\"Try me,\" the Blaziken said, confidently.\n\"I've got plenty of tricks left.\"\n\"So do I buddy...\" He said with a grin, then he\nquickly fired off another hadoken, only this one was aimed right at Volcan's\nfeet, exploding and creating a large plume of dust and dirt right in the\nBlaziken's face.\n\"Gah!\" Volcan barked, throwing an arm over his\neyes, but too late to protect them from the grit. \"Mother F...! Cheap\nshot!\"\nRigel then burst through the cloud and socked Volcan right in\nthe jaw. \"Three things I've learned when Ma trained me!\" He said as\nhe kept on beating him down. \"First of all. Fight to win!\" He said as\nhe kicked Volcan in the solar plexus. \"Second!\" He said as he used\nhis same leg to nail his side, then kick him along his side, cheek and shoulder\nbefore spinning the opposite direction and nailing his gut again. \"Use\neverything to your advantage!\" He said as he began spinning and rising in\nthe air, taking Volcan with him via a series of kicks to teh same spot on\nVolcan's gut. \"SHIPPU....JINRAIKYAKU!!\"\nAt the end of the series of attacks, Volcan was sent soaring,\ntoo stunned by the onslaught to correct himself as he went flying out of the\nring; spectators scattered to avoid him as he dropped towards them, hitting the\ndeck with a grunt and tumbling into the side-rail, where he finally stopped and\nrolled onto his back.\n\"Okay... that... fucking... hurt...\" He groaned.\nRigel landed next to him and crossed his arms, flashing a\nsmug grin down at Volcan. \"And third....\" He said as he then\nuncrossed hsi arms and offered his paw to him. \"REAL strength is earned....not\ngiven...\"\nVolcan coughed and looked up at Rigel. \"Depends on who\nyou're asking,\" he said. \"But, point taken...\" And he accepted\nthe paw, grunting again as Rigel hoisted him back to his feet.\n\"That was a heck of a fight!\" Kaen called.\n\"Now, since this is a Last-Man-Standing type battle, Kage will now take\nVolcan's place and fight Rigel, and should Rigel lose, the next fighter will be\nTrish; last Pokemon standing will win! Can Kage defeat two mighty fighters all\non his own?\" Kaen stepped back. \"Let's find out! Rigel, return to\nyour position when you are ready, and let the battle continue.\"\nVolcan walked back over to the group, glancing at Kage as the\nGreninja started into the ring. \"Sorry Kage; good luck in there,\" he\nsaid as Serena ran over to him, leaning up against him to try and support him.\n\"I don't need luck...\" He returned as he strode\npast Volcan, standing before Rigel and crossing his arms.\nVolcan scowled. \"I'm starting to hate that guy,\" he\nmuttered under his breath.\nKage stepped into the arena, keeping his arms crossed and\nmaintaining that stoic, cold stare in his eyes as he eyed Rigel from head to\ntoe, not uttering a single word.\nRigel rolled his shoulder as he waited for Kage to enter, and\ngrinned as he saw who he was fighting. \"Oh yeah; this is going to be\nfun,\" he said.\n\"...You cannot defeat me...\" He finally returned,\nstill keeping his arms crossed.\n\"You know how many times I hear that, Kage?\" He\nasked, and then beckoned to the Greninja. \"Come on man; take this\nseriously!\"\n\"Give me a reason to...\" He returned.\nRigel frowned. \"Okay; if that's how you're going to\nplay, then I'm just going to have to hurt you,\" he said, and cupped his\npaws together, hurling an Aura Sphere at Kage. The Greninja quickly drew his\nninjato and deflected it with a Night Slash, sending it into the air above. He\nthen darted close and feinted Rigel with a fake swing of his blade, then lashed\nout with his tongue with a Lick, jabbing him sharply right in the face before\nbacking away, sheathing his blade on his back again.\nRigel crossed his eyes at the spot where the lick had landed,\nbut fortunately he had not been paralyzed by the strike, and simply grimaced.\n\"Defense will only get you so far against me. You gotta be more\naggressive!\" And then launched himself at Kage with a jump kick. \"Try\nthis on for size!\"\nKage stood completely still as Rigel attacked. To the\nlucario's surprise, he actually went THROUGH Kage, almost like he was a ghost.\n\"What the...?!\" Rigel demanded, before he finally\nlanded back on the ground, skidding to a halt. \"Hey wait a minute; how'd\nyou do that?\"\nBack with the rest of the team, Volcan blinked in surprise.\n\"Yeah, how DID Kage do that?\" He asked Katsu.\n\"Kage possesses a very rare hidden ability known only to\nhis species.\" Katsu explained. \"It's called Protean...Whenever he\nuses an attack, he takes on that attack's typing...Since Lick is a Ghost move,\nKage is now a Ghost type instead of a Water/Dark typing, making Rigel's\nfighting attacks ineffective against him...\"\n\"Whoa...\" Volcan uttered, clearly surprised.\n\"Okay... I'll give him this much; the guy is slippery.\"\nRigel didn't wait for a response, however; this time he tried\na Blaze Kick, aimed straight for Kage's chest. This time, Kage sidestepped out\nof the way, quickly weaving a sign and firing a Scald at Rigel's back as he\ntravelled passed him, turning back into a Water Type in the process.\nRigel tucked in and rolled out of the way of the Scald\nattack, grinning cockily at Kage as he faced him again. \"Too slow,\nspooky!\"\nKage stood tall and crossed his arms again, flicking his\ntongue scarf idly behind him as he stared Rigel down.\n\"Come on! You're boring me!\" Rigel barked. \"A\nslow fight is no way to please the crowd! You gotta get 'em worked up!\"\n\"I'm not interested in working anyone up...\" He\nreturned. \"I have at least 10 ways to defeat you right now and\ncounting...\"\n\"Well those are going to get a lot lower really\nfast,\" stated Rigel. \"And, speaking of fast, let's see you dodge this\none!\" And with that, he threw another Aura Sphere he'd been hiding behind\nhis back; immediately after throwing it, he charged forward, and whatever the\nresult of the Aura Sphere, he followed it up with a Force Palm.\nKage quickly weaved another sign and took both hits,\nrecoiling from each attack. However, much like Wade, he disappered in a puff of\nsmoke, leaving behind a pokedoll in his place.\n\"Oh you gotta be kidding me!\" Rigel barked.\n\"He ran away?!\" But then, he noticed he was in close proximity to the\nedge of the ring. \"Oh crap...\"\n\"Exactly...\" Kages' voice echoed from behind, He\nthen ducked low and swept at Rigel with a Low Kick, makign him stumble and\nturning into a fighting type as well. Kage then started beating down on Rigel\nwith a barrage of Power-up Punches, each attack getting stronger with each hit,\nnever once hitting him on the same spot twice.\nBy the time the punches were finished, Rigel fell over the\nedge, dropping onto his face as he tumbled forward following the onslaught,\ndazed and groaning from the pummeling he had taken.\n\"Lost track of your surroundings,\" Volcan remarked\nfrom the crowd. \"If I had thought he would've been that easy to mislead\nI'd have done that too; instead I tried to overpower him.\" The Blaziken\nchuckled. \"Well, this is why Vinge is the strategist and not me.\"\n\"You're not one to fight like that anyway,\" said\nSerena, smiling at Volcan. \"You always did prefer just to battle on level\nground, rather than try to win by a technicality.\"\n\"Yeah, that's true.\"\nKage looked down over at Rigel as he lay there, the medics\nquickly running over and carrying Rigel away. He then turned back toward the\narena. \"One down...\"\nTrish made her way to the arena and stood before Kage, a look\nof anger present in her eyes. \"Alright froggie...\" She growled.\n\"I'm not gonna take it easy on you like my boyfriend did...\" She then\nreached up toward her left eye and smirked, tapping it once. Her eye then\nemitted a bright glow before her body began to glow as well, then she was\nenveloped in a crystal like sphere for a moment before it burst outward. Her\nphysical appearance changed dramatically after her body stopped glowing,\nrevealing her Mega Evolution to her opponent; a cocky grin present on her face.\nVolcan's jaw dropped. \"WHAT?!\" He demanded.\n\"So... Blaziken like me can mega evolve too?!\"\nLuke glanced to Volcan. \"I'm...pretty sure I informed\nyou of that after you saw my mega evolution...\"\n\"Oh... right... now that you mention it... I think you\ndid,\" said Volcan. \"Okay but then... why is her stone in her left eye\nsocket?\"\n\"That's a mystery even to me...\" Luke admitted.\n\"I don't even know why she went through with it...\"\n\"Well... Kage's in for a storm now,\" said Volcan.\n\"Don't count him out...\" Luke returned.\n\"Kage's still more than a match for her...\"\n\"Even though she just powered up?\" Volcan asked.\nLuke nodded. \"Kage doesn't rely on power alone...\"\nHe added. \"He's a tactical fighter through and through...he never enters a\nbattle without a plan...\"\n\"I hope he's got one then,\" said Volcan.\nKage uncrossed his arms and studied Trish's Mega Evolution,\nthen he took a step back and grasped the hilt of his ninjato in preparation.\nSure enough, Trish opened up with a Blaze Kick projectile from her foot, the\nattack travelling much faster than in her normal state. Kage however possesed\nuncanny reflexes and quickly draw-cut the attack in two before it reached him.\nHe then noticed Trish charging at him with a Blaze Kick, to which he weaved a\nsign quickly and....seemingly sunk into the ground below. This confused Trish\nas she skidded to a halt, looking around for any sign of her opponent.\n\"...Okay, is he still a Ghost Type or something?\"\nVolcan asked.\n\"He used Shadow Sneak, which is a Ghost Type move, yes.\"\nKatsu returned\n\"Oh.\"\nKage then appeared at Trish's blindspot, weaving another sign\nand expelling a thick Smokescreen, shrouding Trish in a thick black smoke. She\ngrowled and looked around her surroundings, but she was constantly nailed by\nKage using strike and retreat tactics while staying hidden in the smoke.\n\"....A power boost only grants you power....nothing more...\" Kage\nwhispered into her ear, makign her flinch and lash out with a Blaze Kick, only\nfor her to hit air. She suffered another hit from Kage that sent her stumbling\nback, then she seemingly lost her balance adn shrieked as she fell on her rear.\nWhen the smoke cleared, she was sitting outside of the ring with Kage staring\ndown at her. \"Power is meaningless if you do not use it correctly...\"\n\"Holy\nshit; he did it again,\" Volcan said, chuckling.\nBut the audience wasn't happy... they were booing Kage, one\nof them even throwing a half-eaten sandwich at him. Kage stepped out of the way\nof the sandwich that was thrown at him, hopping off the arena and heading back\nto his team, his eyes closed and drowning out the boos he was receiving.\n\"You call that a fight?! That was boring!\"\n\"All theatrics and no action; you suck!\"\nVolcan grimaced. \"Apparently nobody likes ninjas in this\nworld,\" he said, scratching his head.\n\"I think most of these people came here expecing fights\nthat they found exciting, but Kage barely did anything except outmaneuver Rigel\nand Trish,\" said Serena.\nKaen stepped out to the ring. \"Well, regardless of the\nthoughts of the audience... rules are rules, and Team Valiant advances to the\nnext round,\" the Charmeleon said, with mixed emotions in his voice;\nsomething about the way he spoke caught Luke's ear -he wasn't speaking out of\ndisappointment in the fight... but more towards the audience itself. It seemed\nhe had actually liked how Kage had performed.\nVolcan looked at Luke. \"Well... that sure didn't go how\nI pictured it,\" he remarked. \"I thought Kage would be one of those\nspeed-demon types but, all he did was trick them; props to him for outsmarting\nthem but clearly these guys aren't happy about it.\"\n\"Kage is plenty fast.\" Luke returned. \"He just\ndoesn't rely solely on one trait. He's fast, strong, and easily the smartest in\nour team.\" Luke went on. \"He's not much on the outside...but he is\nstill a valued member of our team. He's never let us down or betrayed\nus...\"\n\"I don't doubt that,\" said Volcan. \"Vinge is\nthe same way; he's not in it for anything more than what he needs to be, and\nhe's been able to outwit almost anyone he's ever fought.\" Volcan looked at\nthe ring. \"But is it just me or did Kaen actually seem unhappy with how\neveryone is reacting?\"\nLuke glanced over to the Charmeleon for a moment. \"Now\nthat you mention it, yes I did catch on his tone...\" Luke returned.\n\"It sounded like he LIKED how Kage performed.\"\nVolcan rubbed his chin in thought. \"Maybe it's time we\nmeet with our diminutive friend, eh?\"\n\"Perhaps...\" Luke returned.\n~~~~~\nThe next round started; Sickle's team was put up against Team\nVenom with Howler taking the opening round against the Nidorino. During the\nfight, Kaen excused himself, asking Leon to take over for him, and walked\nsullenly away from the ring. He walked around the crowds, trying not to listen\nto them as they cheered with battle-lust at the ensuing fight... and snorted in\nannoyance.\n\"Narrow-minded,\" he muttered as he stormed away,\nturning a corner and vanishing from sight of the arena, where he walked along\nthe railing, his eyes staring ahead but not really focused on where he was\ngoing until he decided to stop, and lean against it.\n\"I don't get it...\" He muttered, shaking his head.\n\"Don't get what?\" A voice asked; he looked over his\nshoulder, and saw Timber standing behind him.\n\"Geez, man; for someone so big, you move pretty\nquietly,\" remarked Kaen.\n\"Why'd you wander off?\" Timber asked. \"The\nfights were just getting interesting.\"\nKaen scoffed. \"Yeah, 'interesting',\" he said.\n\"Yanno, that last battle showed me there's a lot more to battling than\nflashy moves and big finishers; Volcan's fight with Rigel was cool, but the way\nKage fought... that was different, and it was impressive!\"\n\"Impressive?\" Timber asked, scoffing. \"You\ncall what that frog did -no, wait, DIDN'T do, impressive? He didn't even fight;\nall he did was play a game of chase and then push that Lucario and Blaziken out\nof the ring; there was no fight, it was just a bad show.\"\n\"But that's just it,\" said Kaen. \"Because WE\nhosted this event, everyone comes here expecting a violent spectacle; I thought\nfor a second when I saw how Kage fought they'd be impressed by seeing someone\nwith a different method, but instead they boo him out of the ring like a\nmusician off of a stage after a bad performance; what's up with that? He still\nwon, didn't he?\"\n\"Look, Kaen; the more action-packed these fights are,\nthe more effect it'll have when we beat those chumps,\" stated Timber.\n\"Valiant has some tough members; even their rookie has some good moves,\nand when we beat 'em in the finals -assuming they can beat whichever team wins\nnext, then we'll have contracts coming in by the dozens; tons more money, more\nfame, more of what we want; you should be glad about all this, not to mention\ngetting ready to clobber them.\"\n\"But this isn't what I joined for!\" Kaen protested.\n\"I like the attention and all but I'm getting really tired of all this\nflash and nonsense we're encouraging; we're so caught up in it we've forgotten\nwe're a RESCUE Team, not a celebrity bandwagon!\" He shook his head.\n\"I've had enough of this; I'm out. Soon as we next make port, I'm outta\nhere.\"\nSoon as he tried to walk past Timber, though, the Haxorus\npushed him back into the railing, catching him off guard as the dragon-type\nglared into his eyes. \"Maybe there's wax in my ears,\" growled Timber.\n\"Did you just say you're planning on walking out on us?\"\n\"Damn right I did!\" Kaen barked defiantly.\n\"Maybe you've forgotten, NOBODY walks out on Team\nWarmachine; getting into this group is an honor, but staying in it isn't a\nchoice; we're not letting you ruin our reps by walking out on us,\" stated\nTimber.\n\"Your reps?!\" Kaen repeated. \"How would my\nleaving ruin your reps?\"\n\"Nobody has ever left Warmachine; just knowing that\nmakes people want to join, because they feel something is here that makes it\nworth staying,\" explained Timber. \"But if you walk out, that thought\ngoes up in smoke.\"\n\"So I'm just another way to inflate your egos; is that\nit?!\" Kaen shot back. \"You can take that load of nonsense and shove\nit under your tail, Timber; I've made my choice! I'm out of here!\"\n\"Only way you're leaving, Kaen, is by an unfortunate\naccident,\" growled Timber. \"And correct me if I'm wrong, but don't\nCharmeleons 'die' if their tails get wet?\" He grinned menacingly, looking\nat the ocean stretching out behind Kaen.\nKaen's eyes were wide with terror as he realized what Timber\nwas implying. But just as the Haxorus started to move towards him, a voice\nhollered \"HEY!\" with such force, even the dragon froze, and the two\nturned to see Luke and Volcan standing nearby, both of them looking VERY\ndispleased at what they were witnessing.\n\"So that's your little secret then...\" Luke said in\na disgusted tone. \"All you care about is your reputation....you're willing\nto discard one of your own teammates just to uphold your reputation...?\"\nHe then took a step forward, clenching his paws tightly. \"You're a\ndisgrace...You, along with the rest of Team Warmachine, bring nothing but shame\nand dishonour to the title...\"\n\"This doesn't concern you punks,\" Timber growled in\nwarning. \"Now get lost before I throw you two over the side too.\"\n\"Bullying and threatening your own team mate?\"\nVolcan asked, cracking his knuckles. \"That's not just disgusting, that\nreally ticks me off; how about I trade places with him, and we'll see who goes\ninto the ocean?\"\nTimber laughed at the threat. \"You? You guys came crying\nto us to get rid of that out of control Typhlosion before; he's gone, yet now\nsuddenly you think you can take us on when you were too afraid to fight\nhim?\"\n\"Sol was one thing.\" Luke returned. \"All he\ncared about was proving he was the strongest, regardless of his methods. He\nstill possessed SOME level of honour and pride in him.\" Luke retorted.\n\"You on the other hand...You don't care much for the safety of other Pokémon.\nAll you care about is frolicking about in your own fame and wealth...That is\nNOT what being a Rescue Team is all about...\"\n\"Easy for a 'nobody' like you to say,\" growled\nTimber. \"If all this became available to you, I wager half my off-shore\naccount balance you'll be swimmin' in the glory too; 'Rescue' Teams are just\npipe dreams; we're stars, heroes! The world wants heroes, and we're simply\ngivin' it to them; shouldn't we be rewarded for our time?\"\nVolcan glared at Timber, his fist clenching. \"You want\nheroes, look no further than here,\" he said, gesturing to Luke and Kaen.\n\"Humility, setting boundaries and fighting for the right reasons make a\nhero, not money and merchandise. Back where I come from, I'm a musician; I'm\nfamous, I'm wealthy, but I don't let it go to my head; I protect people,\nbecause I've got the power to do it and I ask for nothing in return!\"\n\"Well then you're just ignoring a golden opportunity,\"\nTimber retorted.\nVolcan's fist tightened so much that his hand actually bled\nfrom his nails piercing his skin. \"...Jaw,\" he growled.\n\"What?\" Timber asked, before Volcan suddenly lunged\nforward and swung, scoring an uppercut that slammed Timber's mouth shut\nforcefully, snapping his head back and leaving his torso wide-open. Luke then\nmoved in with his lightning speed, slamming a heavy Force Palm into Timber's\nsolar plexus with enough force to send him back.\nThe Haxorus went down, hitting the deck with enough force to\ncrack the wooden boards of the deck, grunting in pain as he rolled onto his\nside and coughed up some blood and a broken fang.\nLuke straightened up and glared angrilly at the fallen\nHaxorus, then he turned toward Kaen and his expression softened. \"You\nalright...?\"\nKaen looked hesitant to answer at first, his gaze falling to\nthe deck, before he answered plainly. \"...No...\" He sighed angrily.\n\"All this time I've been feeding this team's ego with my wins, too stupid\nto see what they were all about. Right now, I'm pissed off...\"\nLuke nodded. \"I understand...\" He returned.\n\"I'm just glad we intervened before that Haxorus did something\nunthinkable...The world needs more Pokémon with a level head such as\nyourself...\"\nTimber suddenly leapt to his feet, and glared angrily at\nLuke. \"Heads like that can be chopped off like any other!\" He roared\nbefore charging at Luke; Volcan leapt in to intercept only to get bashed aside\nby Timber, nearly going over the railing, but managing to grab it just in time.\nKaen sprang into action first, even as Luke prepared to\nintercept; his body burst into flame as he launched himself towards Timber with\na Flame Charge, slamming into his middle enough to stumble the Haxorus, and was\nabout to attack him again when the dragon-type suddenly disappeared, making his\noncoming Slash attack hit nothing but air.\n\"The heck?\" He asked.\n\"That will be quite enough, Kaen,\" a female voice\nstated firmly, catching the attention of Charmeleon and Lucario.\nTurning towards it, they saw a Mismagius floating nearby,\nwith a rather unimpressed expression on her face as Timber floated helplessly\nin the air beside her. \"I won't tolerate such depravity on this ship,\nespecially not from the two of you,\" she stated.\n\"Maggie...\" said Kaen.\nVolcan pulled himself back up over the railing. \"So, the\nbrain behind the bullshit finally shows up, eh?\"\nLuke glanced over to the Mismagius with that same angry\nexpression he had toward Timber. The air around his body seemed to shimmer a\nlittle as a very faint aura flame burned gently around him. \"I suppose\nit's safe to assume you also feel that being a so-called 'hero' means you\ntrample over those that give you a bad image...\" He stated.\n\"I have no interest in being a hero,\" she answered\nhonestly. \"I gave that up when I found out I was a lousy battler; ensuring\nthat Warmachine's members are regarded as them has suited me just fine.\"\n\"You've got a twisted definition of a hero, lady!\"\nVolcan barked as he got his feet back on the deck. \"And do you condone\nTimber threatening one of his own team mates?! He actually threatened to kill\nKaen, and just now tried to!\"\n\"Timber always has been impulsive,\" remarked\nMaggie, looking back at the Haxorus, who only grumbled in response. \"But\nKaen... spouting such nonsense as leaving the team; you had to have known he\nwould...\"\n\"It isn't nonsense, Maggie,\" stated Kaen, silencing\nher. \"I'm not kidding about it; I've had enough of this fiasco, you\nunderstand? When you guys invited me into the team I thought I was joining a\ngroup who wanted to make our world safer, but I was wrong. So, since this is\nnot the team I wanted to join,\" he crossed his arms. \"I feel no\nreason to stay anymore.\"\nMaggie regarded him with an expressionless face, glancing at\nVolcan and Luke briefly. \"Did either of you put him up to this?\"\n\"The guy's got a brain, lady; he's usin' it,\"\nretorted Volcan. \"He needed no guidance from us.\"\nShe shrugged. \"Well then, Kaen, if that's what you want,\nthen truthfully I can't stop you,\" she stated. \"But you're making a\nmistake; you give up your place on Team Warmachine, you give up on ever being\nin a rescue team again.\"\n\"Says who?\" Kaen demanded.\n\"I know you're aware of my network of contacts,\"\nshe stated. \"Spreading word of you getting kicked out of the team would be\na simple manner; Warmachine has never lost any members, but one person\ndisgraceful enough to be thrown off the team, well... who would want to enlist\nthat?\"\nKaen froze; he hadn't done anything like that, but it dawned\non him -and Luke and Volcan- that with the number of ears Maggie and the rest\nof Warmachine had aimed their way could easily result in a pandemic of\nfalsehoods that could ruin Kaen's life...\nLuke then stepped forward. \"In that case, let's make a\nwager...\" He stated boldly.\n\"What could you possibly offer me?\" Maggie asked.\n\"If my team makes it to the finals and defeats Team\nWarmachine....then you are to disband your team and leave Kaen's record\nunchanged, because unlike you lot, Kaen has an honest heart wanting to make a difference\nin the world...Fame is merely an added bonus to him...\"\n\"I see no reason I should make such a risky wager,\"\nshe stated. \"Even if I doubt you being able to defeat us, I didn't get\nwhere I am by being stupid.\"\n\"And I didn't get to where I am now by wanting to be\nfamous at the expense of potentially putting lives at risk.\" Luke\nretorted. \"I formed my Team from scratch, worked our way up from the\nbottom of the barrel, all for the sake of one thing; protecting those that\ncan't fight back.\" Luke went on. \"Power, money, fame... they mean\nnothing to us. All that matters is we keep the public safe from any threat, no\nmatter how big or small. We set our own personal desires aside for the sake of\nPokémon kind.\" He then clenched his paws tight, his glare becoming more\nintense, and the aura flame burning around hsi body intensified to further\nemphasize his rage. \"THAT is what being a Rescue Team is all about!! You\nscum have no RIGHT to bear that title!!\"\nShe visibly backed away, threatened by how fierce Luke was\nbecoming. \"We shall let the victor decide that,\" she stated.\n\"I'll tell you what; I have a counter-offer for you. I will not disband\nWarmachine, but if you win, then I'll let Kaen leave Warmachine without putting\na single bad word out there about him, and of course you still get the prizes\nof this contest; he'll be able to start fresh and do as he pleases. But if we\nwin...\" She pointed at Luke. \"You disband YOUR team, and you give me\nthat Lucarionite of yours; it's the one Mega Stone we don't have yet, and I see\nan opportunity to rectify that.\" She gestured to Kaen. \"He will still\nbe allowed to leave... but I can't promise there won't be nasty rumors about\nhim.\"\nLuke scoffed. \"Case in point...\" He growled, then\nclosed his eyes for a moment to allow himself to calm down, then flashed his\neyes open again. \"Very well...We have an accord.\" He said in a low\ntone. \"You better hope your team is ready for the fight of their\nlives...\"\n\"You better hope yours can still walk on their own by\nthe time we are finished with you,\" she stated, and glared menacingly at\nLuke. \"I'm going to LOVE watching Torolf turn you into a floor mat.\"\n\"Assuming he can even catch me...\" Luke retorted,\nnarrowing his eyes at her.\nShe laughed. \"See... that is where you and I\ndiffer,\" she stated. \"You think because of one defining trait, it\nmeans you will win. It will take far more than being quick-footed to defeat\nhim, because unlike you, he's not afraid of fighting to win.\" And with\nthat, she disappeared in a blink of light along with Timber, leaving the three\nalone.\n\"Are you guys crazy?!\" Kaen demanded. \"Do you\nhave any idea what she'll do if the others beat you? She's not just going to\nmake you disband your team; she'll use her connections to tarnish all of their\nreputations to the point they can't even bag groceries for a living! You guys\nwill be ruined!\"\n\"Then we just have to make sure we don't lose,\"\nsaid Volcan. \"I for one kind of wish that Maggie bitch was fighting; I'd\nlove to rip that smirk right off her face.\"\nKaen slapped his forehead. \"I should've just taken my\nchances with the bad rep; I don't want to drag you guys down too!\"\nLuke slowly turned and looked back at Kaen. \"You aren't;\nwe're doing this of our own accord.\" Luke said as he stepped toward him\nand gently patted his shoulder. \"You stood up for what you believe is\nright Kaen; that's EXACTLY what it means to be part of a Rescue Team. \"\nHis face then grew determined. \"I promise you that we will prevail, now\nthat we have much to lose, that only means we'll fight 10 times as hard.\"\n\"You\nguys saw what Torolf did to that Sol guy, who even you guys were too scared to\nfight,\" said Kaen. \"How the heck are you so confident you can take\ndown THE strongest Swampert in the entire world?!\"\n\"Because I trained with THE strongest Nidoking in the\nworld...ever since I was seperated from my family as a child.\" Luke\nreturned. \"Team Valiant is a group that has endured many hardships to get\nto where we are now...It's that drive that propels us to perform to the best of\nour abilities and then some...\"\n\"I can speak for that,\" said Volcan. \"I've\nonly been part of Valiant a short time, but I truly believe if anyone can take\ndown Warmachine, it's them... and me.\" \nKaen looked at Volcan, then at Luke, and Volcan again, before\nhe asked. \"...How many of you can Mega Evolve?\" He asked.\n\"Just Luke, as far as I know,\" replied Volcan,\nlooking at Luke in question.\n\"I am the only one who can Mega Evolve on my team.\"\nLuke returned. \"The rest of my partners all have other ways of\ncompensating for those that can Mega Evolve.\"\n\"Except me,\" said Volcan. \"All I've got are my\nstrength and skills.\"\n\"Then, you guys are going to need an edge, because there\nare two on Warmachine who can,\" stated Kaen. \"One you know; Torolf,\nand the other you haven't seen yet; a Scizor named Shamshir. If you want to\nbeat both of them, then you...\" He looked at Volcan. \"Need a mega\nevolution too, because with that you'd be ideal for taking on Shamshir.\"\n\"But I don't have a mega stone,\" stated Volcan.\n\"You will soon,\" remarked Kaen, grinning.\n\"I'll meet up with you later. For now, I better go find somewhere to\nbunker down. Timber might not let me off the hook just yet.\"\n\"If you want, I can have someone escort you for the time\nbeing.\" Luke offered\nKaen nodded. \"I hate to impose... but tough as I am, I\ncan't take on any of the others straight up so... yeah... I'd appreciate\nit.\"\n\"Let's go then, before one of 'em shows up,\" said\nVolcan.\nWith that, the three left the area, heading back to their\ncabins to wait until their next battle.\n","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/829334-contest-part-1.json"}