Alex

  —

  After Leaf got done with her little 'intimidation' ritual with… Morgrem, I took my team to the battle court Leto had built. Not to battle, although that was probably quite likely… No, I needed to name them! I was not going to let this continue!

  They all stood before me in a line, Dragonair giving me knowing glances, Noibat looking excited even if she didn't know what was happening. Jangmo-o was glancing around at the court in anticipation, of course, while off to the side Dipplin idly caught the few insects that zoomed at him. Not that many survived in the Ranch for very long with all the Zubat, not to mention the Bellsprout line.

  "So, we might be doing some battling in a little bit, but for now… Well, would you all like names?" Dragonair practically purred as she shimmied in place. Noibat of course screeched in happiness, but I had been ready. I released her from her ball a second later, enjoying the awkward look on her face when I did.

  Jangmo-o perked up and stomped his front paws down, causing his scales to clang together. Dipplin stopped scanning for insects and focused on me, and even his tail-wyrm seemed to perk up.

  I cleared my throat nervously, shuffling my feet.

  "So, I've had the names for everyone but Dipplin thought up for a while now, I just… I'm nervous about how you'll like them, I guess? Still, if I put this off much longer I won't be able to do it, like Lance!" They all roared or hissed out laughs, because yeah… Name your Pokemon, Lance!

  "Dragonair…" She slid up to me, head level with mine, eyes alight with anticipation. I smiled at the sight, then hugged her head for a long moment. I released her, and my voice didn't waver when I spoke next… much.

  "We've only been on a Journey for a month or so, and you've already Evolved. You're always so dignified, at least when you're not being affectionate… You're… My best friend, I guess? I'm not sure how to put it…" She bumped me with her head and I smiled.

  "Well, these names won't have a deep meaning or anything… They might be sort of basic. Too simple… I just think they sort of fit, I guess?" She shimmied in place, and I knew she didn't care. The others were giving me similar looks…

  Fuck it.

  "How does Dignity sound to you?" She perked up so fast she practically sprang, before swiftly curling around me. She couldn't get on my shoulders any more, obviously, but she still liked to encircle me sometimes. Especially when she was happy… I felt my smile grow wide as I grabbed her huge head in another hug.

  Eventually, however, she freed me, and I turned to my loud little bat. She was smiling at me, and I kept a firm grip on her ball. I really didn't want to interrupt this just to get healed.

  "You, my little screecher, are quite possibly the friendliest dragon I've ever encountered." Dignity gave me an unamused look and I smiled at her. "Yes, more than you, just in a different way! That doesn't mean I like either of you more… You're just so happy to be loved, right? Even if I have to return you a lot to save my eardrums." She giggled at me, a very high-pitched noise, but my vision wasn't swimming, so I'd take it.

  "How does the name Joy sound to you? You might not be a Nurse, but it's not only their name!" She perked up, opened her mouth… and looked embarrassed when she was released a second later… again! Then she flapped into the air and hugged my face, which sure, it was very cute, and I stroked her back… but I still had the ball in my other hand.

  "I'm glad you like it!" She flapped over to rest on Dignity's head and I knelt down to let Jangmo-o come closer. He stomped on the ground in front of me in anticipation before he gently put his front paws on my knees.

  "You, my honorable warrior, haven't had the best experience with us humans so far." He drooped a little bit at that. "I mean, that scumbag aside, I bet even Erin coming in to save you was probably scary!" He nodded his head rapidly, scales clanging. Yeah, she had been… well, a furious dragon, really…

  "Still, you are an honorable warrior, and I was wondering if you might like that as a name?" He grew puzzled and I smiled. "Honor?"

  He thought for a moment, then nodded his head decisively. He was acting all stoic… but I could see his tail wagging fiercely.

  "Glad you like it, even if it's kind of… basic, like all of my names I guess…" He lightly headbutted me with a smile before backing off, and I turned to my last Pokemon.

  Dipplin was giving me a very intent look, almost looking serious… it made the insects bouncing off of him very amus- wait! Bouncing? My eyes narrowed at him and he got very nervous.

  "So you can control your stickiness, huh?" He zipped back into his apple, eyes looking away from me. Still, I laughed and crouched down to pick him up.

  "We have plenty of pranksters on our teams, so I'm not exactly mad, little guy." He popped out, turned, and hissed lightly at me.

  "What? You're little for now, sure, but not forever! Eventually you'll be taller than me when you're upright! Your apple will be half my size! Look at Dignity! Dratini aren't small, but they aren't huge, and look at her now!" He calmed down a little and I smiled at him.

  "You seem to be more or less along for the ride, correct? A ride that won't end prematurely because someone wanted you to be a Flapple and did no research on what kind of apple you lived in? Strength too, sure, but you don't have any huge goals?" He nodded easily at me.

  "Well, how does Unity sound? Because I get the feeling that is what lets you Evolve…" He went still briefly, but I saw his tail-wyrm retreat inside a moment before he did as well, eyes closed.

  Then he popped back out with a smile and nodded. It wasn't a huge smile, but obviously the two of them had to agree to the name, even if he was the commander.

  I set him back down and took a couple steps backward with a huge smile.

  "I'm so glad you all like the names, and more than that? I'm glad I didn't turn into Lance!" There was another round of laughter, and my eyes slid over to the house.

  Well, the fence surrounding it, as Leaf and her Pokemon finally exited. I think they had been doing some more personalized… 'introductions' with Morgrem. Threats, really, but not many. He was safe to be around now, at least… Still looked, and probably was, evil, but he knew being on Leaf's team was his best chance to not get captured again, this time by someone competent who would forcefully make him… procreate.

  Okay, so I had compassion for him, sure… Still a Morgrem, still dangerous… even if he couldn't harm us.

  Leaf was still ecstatic, however, practically dragging Morgrem along behind her by the hand as he threw nervous glances behind him. Behind him, at Indeedee carrying Tinkatink with a huge scowl, Hope scowling at him, Hazard scowling at him… Noibat wasn't even following them, although that didn't surprise me. He was weaker than Joy, but he seemed to grow faster when he actually trained. He was just so lazy!

  "Alex, up for a battle? Morgrem has never fought!" Morgrem glared at her for that, but I was smiling.

  "Sure, I also have a Pokemon who's never battled!" Unity glared at me a little, but not much. He wanted to fight, we just hadn't had the opportunity yet beyond occasional light spars…

  We moved to stand on either side of the court, and Hope came over to our side to stop any stray attacks. Indeedee could have, but she wasn't letting Tinkatink go, again… It was kind of funny, kind of worrying, honestly…

  "You're up, Morgrem! I know roughly what you can do, so don't feel bad when you either can't, or you know, lose?" She knew what she was doing as he paused in his saunter to his side of the court and glared at her innocently smiling face.

  I smiled and returned Unity for a brief moment, enjoying the look of surprise on Leaf and her team's faces at my next words.

  "Time to kick some fairy ass, Unity!" He came out with a little hiss at Morgrem before glaring at me briefly. Hey, it's not my fault you have basically no mobility…

  "You finally named him?!" Leaf looked nervous, especially as Indeedee gave her a very pointed stare.

  "Just now, actually! Meet Dignity the Dragonair, Joy the Noibat, Honor the Jangmo-o, and of course, Unity the Dipplin!" She looked slightly stunned, and I hope it was from my decisiveness… not the shittiness of my names…

  Leaf opened her mouth, but we were interrupted, of course… Ms. Greenwood was walking over now, followed by… a lot of Pokemon, honestly. Leto, Artemis, Seraphina, Hecate, Kallen, Alfred, Wukong, Maddy, the Meowstic couple were actually riding on her shoulders, Honey, Midir, his mate and children, Dhelmise carefully using their kelp like dozens of weak legs, Gyarados and Kingdra… and of course the rescues noticed, and started to gather round…

  The Muk and Grimer were given a wide berth by most of the other Pokemon…

  I felt slightly nervous as we gained over a hundred spectators almost instantly. I felt slightly more nervous when Stabby floated over to me. Not for any real reason, he was just grinning at me… Then he flicked my ear!

  "Stabby! What the fuc- Ow!" He was laughing at me now, and I felt Ms. Greenwood's glare before I even turned. She looked amused, but… unamused at the same time… Shit…

  "Young lady, I think you may need to take a page out of my daughters books, hmm? That kind of language is frowned upon, right?" I rapidly nodded my head at her words, not to mention her expression. Leaf started laughing, but her moms glare turned to her as well.

  "You may not curse much, Leaf, but I think if I asked Hope she could tell me of a few times…" That shut Leaf up, and Ms. Greenwood turned back to me with a wide, easy smile.

  "Sorry about that, dear, I forgot to let you know that you were frequently cursing! Luckily Stabby informed me, hmm? Such a wonderful young lady like yourself wouldn't want to be crass, right?" I shook my head, even as my team laughed at me! I mean, I got it… It's not like I was going to stand up to her… Arceus, the Champion couldn't, either! Well, maybe the real one, Dragonite… no, I doubted that, too…

  "Also, do you mind having an audience? This seems like fun!" I shook my head as I tried to plan this battle out in my head. Dipplin had almost no mobility without blasting himself around with Dragon Breath, but he did have a unique Move…

  Hecate eagerly launched herself to the middle, off to the side where a referee would be, and smiled at us both.

  ""Battle ready?"" We nodded at her, and with a loud clap of her ponytails she practically shouted. ""Begin match!""

  "Morgrem, Dark Pulse!"

  "Unity, Syrup Bomb barrage!"

  I really enjoyed how Morgrem's Dark Pulse easily dissipated on Unity's rapid Protect. His Protect was so small it was able to be pulled up almost instantaneously. It was also very powerful, so the best way to get through it was with a barrage of attacks, or to get close and physical.

  Not that Morgrem would get that chance.

  I smiled even wider when Morgrem almost dodged the syrup that flung itself at him. Almost, but not quite. He smelled so good that it was unconsciously hard for biological opponents to dodge my dragon's attacks…

  He certainly didn't miss the second one at all, and Morgrem's bright blue chest and white hair was soon splattered with very sticky red syrup… Of course, he tried to get closer to do some damage, and Leaf knew that he needed to as well.

  "Morgrem, Sucker Punch!" Not bad… too far, though!

  Well, Morgrem actually managed to use the burst of speed Sucker Punch had to launch himself very close to my apple dragon… Then he took another Syrup Bomb straight to the stomach. It knocked him on his back, and the final Syrup Bomb glued him to the stone of the court.

  Most of the Pokemon watching were cheering, or stomping, or… yeah, there was a cacophony of sound out here right now, and as Hecate excitedly declared the winner I stepped into the arena to pick up Unity.

  "Great job, buddy! Now, be proud, sure, but also remember this: Morgrem has never fought, never seriously trained. He still took that many Syrup Bombs, and he still isn't unconscious… Stuck, though? Yeah, very stuck!" Morgrem was glaring at me now, as he tried and failed to unstick himself. I looked at Unity with a smile.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Think you can release him?" He hissed at me but nodded, so I placed him down next to Morgrem and let him get to work.

  I smiled at Leaf as she came over. She wasn't mad, of course. Morgrem had never fought before.

  "Good job Dipp- Unity! So, Alex…" She was grinning now, and she looked far too much like her sister for my liking at that moment.

  "How about Dra- Dignity versus Indeedee?" I frowned at that. Indeedee was strong, Leaf's strongest Pokemon other than Hope, in fact, slightly stronger than Hazard… Of course, my dragon trilled out her enthusiasm, probably spurred on by the family of her line watching. I shrugged as Morgrem finally freed himself.

  "I don't see why not, I guess? Will we be okay to go full force?" I looked at the court around us, and its lack of barriers. Ms. Greenwood just smiled at me. Her, and the Meowstic couple sitting on her shoulders… and the Hypno and Drowzee… and the Indeedee… I felt my face get a little hot.

  "Okay, dumb question…" I ignored the chuckles from all sides as we took our positions, Indeedee looking slightly irritated she couldn't continue holding Tinkatink… Even as Hazard picked her up for a better view! Placed her on top of his blade! Not sure if I'll ever get used to that…

  ""Match begin!""

  "Indeedee, play keep away!" Expected…

  "Dignity, Water Pulse and close in!"

  Indeedee started skating around the court, weight almost negated as she began to focus on Calm Minds, even as the air shifted from her Psychic Terrain. Of course, Dignity was already springing towards her. Not directly at her, this wasn't the first time we had sparred, but this was the first time we had actually battled. She sprung close to where Indeedee would be, because we knew that Indeedee wouldn't let us just charge her. Which she didn't.

  The barrage of Psybeams was mildly disconcerting, even as all but one missed, my dragon slipping through the staggered line easily enough. It was more disconcerting watching them fly at me, only to slam into a strong barrier… Which made sense, there were a lot of psychics helping. The Meowstic could have done it by themselves, in fact.

  Dignity wasn't slowed down by the singular Psybeam that struck her tail, but it did hurt. Still, we had known Indeedee could knock her out easily enough… So when Dignity leapt for her one more time, and Indeedee slid out of the way, my dragon was ready with an overpowered Water Pulse that managed to nail Indeedee. I didn't see her eyes unfocus, or her react all that much, so we hadn't gotten a lucky Confusion in…

  Still, it stopped her momentarily, and without her psychic abilities helping her Indeedee wasn't that fast. She could get back up to speed with just a few steps, but of course, we weren't going to give her that chance.

  I didn't need to call out single Moves to her anymore, not unless they were a radical change from what we had been doing, but I still wanted to. I still smiled as I did. So did Dignity.

  "Dignity, rage!" She roared as loud as I had ever heard her, a Roar in fact, and stunned Indeedee for a brief moment before her eyes glowed red and her entire body spun in place briefly, picking up speed, before her tail lashed out. Indeedee managed to erect a Protect, but it cracked on the first strike. The second strike broke through it to smash into her raised arms, driving her back a few feet as multiple Psybeams rose up behind her.

  The third strike directly to her head sent her tumbling backwards, the Psybeams fizzling out. Dignity roared one more time, a non-Move roar of anger, and lunged, stretching out her entire length to bite Indeedee on the chest. Indeedee screamed, but only for a brief moment before she was returned, and I smiled at the sight. I wasn't worried about Indeedee, not with five of her fellows here. Not in the least.

  Most injuries that Pokemon picked up in battle healed quickly by themselves anyway, even without healing, and with it? Everything short of death was theoretically healable, as long as they didn't bleed out. With Pokeballs and their slow auto-healing? That worked even in stasis? As long as your Pokemon was returned immediately after a harsh strike, there wasn't any real risk.

  Even amputations were healable, and they didn't scar, but unless it was something like that Tangrowth Cerberus fought, it was instant disqualification. There was battling full force, and then there was that. It took days after it was healed to be back to full strength, too. Hazard might want to dismember everything he fought, but even he could restrain himself… I had only seen it happen twice in years of watching Gym Battles and Conferences, thankfully.

  Dignity growled, low and dangerous, and I laughed at the sound. Her head swung around to glare at me, but a moment later she drooped, the rage leaving her, and leaving her tired! She was moving so fast during that Outrage she had barely been breathing! The Confusion took a few more seconds to break out of, but without active combat it wasn't that hard.

  Leaf released Indeedee next to two other maids, and after a quick check to make sure she was alright, looked at me with a wide smile.

  "Wow, I was not expecting that! When did she learn that Move?" I giggled a little as Hazard stepped in front of Leaf, his hand raised. Then I burst into laughter at the look on her face. On hers and most faces, really.

  "Hazard has been very helpful in teaching Dignity Outrage, actually! She's been helping him learn Aqua Tail, too!" Her face was stunned, and I couldn't even blame her.

  Hazard was still a dishonorable dragon in nature, sure, but he enjoyed power. Aqua Tail may be very situational for a Pokemon like Hazard, but it certainly helped to have a Move of an unexpected Type to pull out, and he knew that. He was… kind of dumb for the most part, I thought, but combat? He put a lot of mental energy into that…

  Leaf finally shook her head a little before giving me a direct look.

  "Do you think we should let the siblings fight?" I was already shaking my head. Me and most of the Ranch, it looked like.

  "No, that's fine! Not unless the psychics can eliminate any sounds! I don't think the Indeedee want to heal everyone's ears!" The looks I received told me that no, they did not!

  Leaf sagged a little, because yeah… Hope was right out, Tinkatink was a baby, and Hazard was… Hazard. Even if he didn't try to hurt him too much, Honor would get cut badly if he missed a block… Even if he didn't, actually. Hazard was hazardous in close combat, and that's all Honor could do, really. His Dragon Breath's were weak, but then again, he would gain a Fighting type when he Evolved… Something that he was close to… Actually… Yeah…

  "How about Hazard versus Honor?" I enjoyed the look of shock on her face, but Honor? Honor looked eager to fight it out in close range.

  Leaf exchanged a long look with her murderous dragon before shrugging. Hazard handed her Tinkatink with a smile.

  "Sure, but have his- Oh, yeah…" I already had Honor's Luxury Ball in my hand, because I wasn't going to let him take one more strike than necessary.

  "Okay then, Hazard. Be careful with him, of course, but have fun." That was all Leaf said, because Hazard rarely needed instructions these days.

  "Ready for this, Honor?" He smiled at me before stomping his front paws forward, scales clanging, then moving towards our starting point. Hazard sauntered over to his spot, leering at Honor as he did.

  ""Match begin!""

  "Honor, Noble Roar!" He loved his newest Move, and so did I.

  Especially as the Move struck the charging form of Hazard, causing him to stumble slightly as he shimmered briefly, his strength fading away slightly. It wasn't a Roar, though, so expected. The next two that struck him really made him mad, however. Honor shone with an Iron Defense right as Hazard finally got into range.

  Hazard's Breaking Swipe and Dragon Claw combo managed to knock Honor back, and he was bleeding from his side, but with a small roar of anger he charged in with a Headbutt. Hazard dismissively reached out to stop him in his tracks, and grew surprised when he was pushed back. Not much at all, of course, Hazard was powerful even with his strength lowered multiple times from the Noble Roars. He was also slightly off-balance, and the Dragon Tail that slammed into his face was enough to knock him over.

  Honor's flurry of Dragon Claws to Hazard's chest was more than enough to actually damage Hazard, and I could see the moment he started to take Honor seriously.

  It was quite easy, actually, considering his eyes glowed red.

  "Honor, defense!" A Protect sprang up from his forehead scale even as another Iron Defense shimmered on his skin, but Hazard didn't care. Hazard led with his right blade, as usual, and the Protect cracked. The followup claw broke it, but Honor wasn't completely idle. Hazard caught the next Dragon Claw on his face, and he almost paused… but that wasn't how Hazard worked.

  The left blade caught Honor under his right front leg, cutting into his upper chest as he was flung backwards. I yelped a little and raised his Pokeball, but then I stopped. Stopped, and smiled so widely!

  Because Honor wasn't just growling at Hazard with a determined look on his face. He wasn't just stomping his front paws to rise again. He was also glowing!

  "Honor, show Hazard what an honorable dragon looks like!" That was apparently the right thing to say, as with a roar the glow became blinding for a moment. When it dimmed Honor stood there on his feet, arms raised in a fighting stance.

  Of course, Hazard hadn't been idle during this. He had finished his Outrage, though, and had paused. Interrupting a mid-battle Evolution was the poorest of forms even for him, unless it was an attack that couldn't be stopped. Like Outrage, actually, so we got lucky…

  Still, Hazard was happy to see the Evolved dragon. He shook his head as the Confusion took hold before rushing back in and launching himself into a Breaking Swipe, one that Honor blocked with his arms! The action sent scales and blood flying from them, but with a grimace of pain he grabbed Hazard by the head, lifted him, and then slammed Hazard down in front of him, Dragon Breath already charging as he held Hazard down by the arms…

  Of course, Hazard was a hazard to an easy victory, too, so I wasn't surprised when he practically Thrashed his way out of Honor's grip, Dragon Claw rushing to meet Honor's chest even as the Dragon Breath smashed into his face.

  Both of them went down, and after a few moments I heard something I had never heard before in one of our spars.

  ""Match is draw!""

  Arceus above, Honor just fought Hazard to a draw! Barely, and mainly because Hazard had vastly underestimated Honor and just took a lot of Moves instead of dodging, but still! I was stunned as multiple Indeedee rushed over to them, Healing Pulse's already soothing their wounds.

  My expression of surprise was matched by the one on Leaf's face. On most of the faces watching, actually…

  Leaf met me in the middle of the court this time and shook my hand.

  "I really wasn't expecting that! I can't believe Hazard didn't win! I mean, not that Jang- Honor is weak, but…" I giggled as she trailed off.

  "Trust me, he's going to feel the same way! Still, that only happened because Hazard acted very cocky and really underestimated him… I almost did, too! I nearly returned him right before he Evolved!" I had been so worried, but I was so grateful I hadn't…

  I looked around and noticed the excited faces of the large crowd of Pokemon… Also the sad faces of many… Shit, I didn't think about that… They could never have fun battling, not freely like this. They would be restricted to specific orders…

  "Shit, I kind of-" Stabby was a professional, apparently! I somehow doubted that Ms. Greenwood had made another bargain with him! Not that he had required one, or payment, oh no, he greatly enjoyed the look on Erin's face! Mine too, I guess, as he gave me a huge shit-eating grin. I glared at him for a moment.

  ""Not feel bad! Not your fault!"" I dropped the glare and gave Hecate a smile, even as chaos approached.

  Well, as chaos fell out of the sky, really. Not close to us, either… No, Charizard apparently found it funny to launch Erin into the pond at speed, soaring past it to land on the court with a huge, satisfied smile on her face.

  We all turned and watched Erin climb out of the pond, but she wasn't too irritated since she was still wearing a swimsuit, not regular clothes… She still glared at Charizard as she walked closer.

  "So, I missed it?" She was smiling as Dhelmise reached out some seaweed and grabbed her hand. She only glanced at them with a quick smile, and barely winced before they retracted it. Her eyes finally came to rest on the still unconscious Hazard and Honor, and they widened in surprise. Surprise, and happiness.

  "Nice job, Jang- Oh! Finally named them, huh?" It still managed to startle me sometimes, the fact that she could talk to Pokemon… Totally not super envious, nope… Of course, that might have been Hecate…

  "I did! Dignity, Joy, Honor, and Unity! Speaking of, is the key to him Evolving cooperation between him and his tail-wyrm?" She smiled widely as I listed off their names, then laughed at my question.

  "I mean, yeah? You could have just looked it up, you know that, right?" I scowled at her.

  "Yeah, I know, I was trying to figure it out myself!" She smirked at me.

  "What kind of person told you to do something so tedious?" I glared at her and she laughed.

  "Yeah, yeah..." She looked around and sort of… deflated.

  "I don't suppose Hope wants to fight… Kallen? Or maybe Dhelmise?" She glanced over at Hope, still standing next to my spot, and she shook her head. Erin got quiet for a few seconds, then frowned.

  "I mean… okay, fine, no desperate victories over Hope…" I was about to ask the context, because that sounded like a reference, but before I could I was reminded that Erin had more than seven Pokemon.

  Leto stomped onto the court, and everyone took a step back. Ms Greenwood was frowning at her, though.

  "Leto, dear, I'm sorry, but there is no way the psychics could contain more than maybe two of your atta-" Leto shook her head and stared at Erin. For her part, Erin went pale, but not in fear… She looked worried for an entirely different reason.

  "How did you- Okay, I mean, I told y- It was supposed to be a surpri- Let me finish a sent- Mom!" Leto was chuckling at her now as us humans just stared. Erin shook her head a little, but glanced at Stabby. He moved towards the house so fast he almost blurred.

  Erin blushed hard under our intent gazes.

  "Well… I had a surprise for mom, but she's kind of gotten tired of waiting, because of course she knew there was a surprise…" I opened my mouth to ask, but Stabby came rocketing back, a Storage Ball held in his tiny arms. He smiled as he flew towards Erin, and she was ready for him to spike it at her.

  It still knocked her in the head, though. Stabby was fast!

  "Stabby, you little-! I'll get you for that one!" He laughed at her and settled back to the ground with Hope, and they went still, but still here, so I knew they were talking… communing together, whatever.

  I turned back to Erin, only to see her pull out a beautiful fur from her Storage Ball… A very finely cut fur that looked a lot like her jacket- Oh!

  "So mom, you wanted to see your surprise? I present to you the world's largest royal mantle! Made from the skin of that bit- Alpha Weavile! Also some other skins dyed to match, you're kind of huge…" Leto practically purred as she bent to the ground. It took Erin a few moments, and the help of Hecate, to get it around Leto's neck.

  As they did that I turned to my now-conscious warrior who had walked over to me. A little unsteadily, sure, but that was to be expected. He looked so proud of himself that I couldn't help but laugh a little as I bent over a little to pull him into a hug. He didn't resist, Honor liked affection, but he was far more interested in returning the hug with his new arms! Well, his old front legs, but still!

  "Amazing job out there, Honor! Hazard vastly underestimated you and didn't dodge any blows like he could have, sure, but you still fought Hazard to a draw!" Hazard growled a little as he stood back up, but actually nodded at Honor! Honor nodded back, of course, but then turned an incredulous gaze on me. I shrugged at him. Hazard might have meant that… He probably did, honestly. Honorable or not, he liked a good fight…

  "Oh? Well, I guess we could do that…"

  I looked over at Erin's words only to find Leto pulling a huge stone scepter out of the ground! She even pulled a huge throne out to the side of the court, but… yeah, Leto had a tail… It kind of worked when she removed the back, I guess? Still, it let her lord over us, and she tapped the huge scepter on the ground in front of her. It looked a lot more regal with the mantle covering her shoulders, Weavile claws and feathers under her throat like a massive necklace.

  Erin turned around with a huge smile, eyes practically sparkling.

  "Who wants to entertain Her Royal Highness Leto, the Terror of the Land and Tyrant Queen of Galar?" She was serious! How the-

  "Sis, what do you mean, entertain her?!" Leaf looked very nervous, just like me… We should have been, honestly.

  Because Erin grinned! That same damn grin from Fuchsia! When we sparred!

  Leto enjoyed seeing people fight!

  Shit!