FSE

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Luke never imagined that a simple trip to the market would change the course of his day. His basket was already half-full with the usual items—flour, berries, and spices—when something unusual caught his eye. It wasn’t the scent of fresh produce or the chatter of passing shoppers that distracted him. No, it was a poster, boldly displayed on the wall of a small, cluttered shop.

His steps slowed as his gaze locked onto the familiar figure captured in vibrant strokes. There, drawn in rich, sweeping lines, was a Swampert—one that he knew all too well. The sight of it struck him with a nostalgic jolt, a flash of memories he'd buried long ago. His pulse quickened, and the familiar sting of loss flared up, though it was tempered by a warmth, a strange but undeniable excitement that ran through him like an electric current.

The poster’s words were what truly captured his attention, though. They were simple, but enough to send a thrill of realization through him:

‘The Torolf Memorial Tournament, hosted by Team Phobia and Gladiator City.’

A full year had passed since the devastating day when the Dark Crusade was defeated and the fallen god re-imprisoned. The wounds from that battle still stung, but the loss that hurt the most, the one that would forever linger, was the death of Torolf, the indomitable captain of Team Warmachine. The figure on the poster was no mere tribute—it was a celebration of his life, of his strength, and of a rival’s honor.

Luke stood there for a moment, the bustling market fading into the background as he took in the words, the image, and the promise of something more. A way to honour the memory of Torolf, and those lost at the final battle… While also putting on quite a show for the masses.

He couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips. He could almost hear the voices of his friends in his mind. They are going to love this.

Muttering to himself, he adjusted his basket and turned back toward the aisles, his heart a little lighter and his steps a little quicker. He had errands to finish, but now, he had something else to look forward to. A tournament in honour of Torolf… and with it, the chance to rekindle old rivalries, friendships, and perhaps uncover a few new friendships along the way.

And Luke was more than ready for that.

When Luke returned home, he wasn’t surprised to find Volcan and Ignus in their usual spot—the backyard. It had become a bit of a tradition for them to spar, a fatherly practice that Volcan had always indulged in. Ever since Ignus had evolved, he’d become increasingly confident in his newfound strength, and Volcan, never one to shy away from a challenge, was more than happy to help him hone his skills.

Minato and his family had gathered on the sidelines, watching the scene unfold with amusement as Ignus charged at Volcan, his movements quick and precise, his confidence brimming. The Blaziken, however, seemed more interested in evading the attack than engaging in a direct fight.

“I’m gonna get you this time, Dad!” Ignus barked, his fiery eyes locked on his target.

With a burst of speed, Ignus shot forward, launching himself at Volcan with Accelerock. He veered left just as he neared, but Volcan was already a step ahead, sidestepping with fluid grace. As Ignus skidded to a halt, he threw a handful of jagged rocks at Volcan with a swift Rock Throw. The rocks pinged harmlessly off the Blaziken's body, but he merely raised an eyebrow, looking at his son with a smug grin.

“Good move, son,” Volcan said, raising his arms as if shielding himself from the incoming stones. “But remember—thanks to my Fighting-type, I’m not weak to Rock-type attacks!”

Ignoring the minor stings, Volcan flicked a few pebbles off his arms, his tone playful but firm. “Still... nice try.”

“But your Fire Typing cancels out that resistance,” Ignus barked, his voice full of energy, “so it’s fair game!”

With that, Ignus was off again, a blur of fur and determination. He skidded into position, raising a cloud of dust with a swift Sand Attack. Volcan squinted, his vision obscured, but Ignus didn’t wait for a clear shot—he darted around the Blaziken and lunged in from the side, tackling his father to the ground.

Volcan blinked away the last of the sand, shaking his head as he lay flat on his back, slightly stunned. He looked up at Ignus with mock disapproval, feigning a frown.

“I never taught you to fight dirty,” Volcan said, his tone deep and disappointed.

For a moment, Ignus’ ears drooped, and his confidence faltered. “I... I didn’t mean to—” he stammered, then lowered his head in apology. “Sorry…”

Volcan’s frown quickly morphed into a mischievous grin. “Sike!!” he shouted, shooting to his feet in one smooth motion. With a tackle, he sent Ignus rolling beneath him, pinning the Lycanroc to the grass as the two tumbled in a burst of laughter. Volcan grinned down at him, gleaming with playful triumph.

“I can do that too, sonny boy!” he exclaimed, then began relentlessly tickling the helpless Ignus.

“Wait—hey! Stop, that tickles!!” Ignus yelped in surprise, his voice full of laughter as he squirmed beneath his father. He kicked his hind legs out instinctively, still trying to wriggle free, but Volcan’s grip was firm.

As Ignus dissolved into uncontrollable giggles, Volcan finally relented, shifting from tickling to rubbing his son’s belly. “Fair fights aren’t always something you should expect outside of controlled environments,” he said, his voice light but carrying a subtle note of wisdom. “Work out your victory in relation to the foe you're facing.”

His grin widened. “Especially when that foe is an adorable pup who melts under a belly rub,” he teased, his hand moving faster.

Ignus' laughter erupted once again, the sound light and carefree, his eyes squinting from the joy of it all. He wiggled on his back, kicking one of his hind legs out as his father continued to rub his belly.

“Okay, okay,” Ignus gasped between giggles, his voice strained with laughter. “I—I'm not the pup here, I’m a Lycanroc!”

Volcan just laughed, giving his belly rub one last affectionate stroke before letting Ignus catch his breath. The two lay there for a moment, the afternoon sun shining down on them, and Ignus couldn’t help but smile, his eyes sparkling with both mischief and love for his father.

“Next time, I’m winning for sure!” Ignus declared, his voice playful despite the exhaustion.

Volcan chuckled softly, ruffling Ignus’ fur. “We’ll see, son. We’ll see.”

“Your father’s right, though,” Luke suddenly piped up, earning everyone’s attention as he approached. “If you’re truly serious in wanting to join the guilds with Caulin, you have to be prepared to fight against opponents who will use every dirty tactic in the book to beat you. Don’t feel bad for aiming for a weak spot or impairing your opponent, for they won’t reciprocate your views on a fair fight.”

“True that, love,” said Volcan, rising to his feet. “How was the market?”

“Plentiful items in stock. Needless to say, we’re going to be well-fed for a while.” He answered, walking over and giving his husband a smooch, then knelt and scratched Ignus’ head gently. “But that’s not the only thing I saw today.”

“Oh?” Volcan asked with a tilt of his head, resting one hand on Luke’s hip. “What else did you find?”

“Oh just… an open invitation to a tournament over at Gladiator City in memoriam of the greatest Rescue Team Captain.” Luke answered, casting a side glance at the others present.

Volcan blinked… And then caught on. “Shit… It’s been a year already?” he asked, tilting his head back and looking at the sky. “Has it really been that long?”

“I guess time flies during peaceful times,” Minato remarked, tilting his head up a bit himself. “Just saying that makes me feel old…”

Everyone took a moment to reflect on the times they were able to have thanks to not only their own efforts, but the efforts of all their friends and colleagues as well. A year had passed, but Torolf’s sacrifice still lingered in their minds as a reminder of how dangerous their line of work could be…

After a while, Luke finally broke the ice and spoke up. “…So, I think it’s a safe bet we’re all thinking of taking part, yea?” He asked.

“Oh, most definitely,” said Volcan, “let's go check out that poster and find out where we sign up.”

“We should also let the others know about it too,” Minato piped up. “I know Tristan and Sol wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to punch a few people out.”

“They certainly wouldn’t,” agreed Volcan. “You guys head back to town; find that poster and get the details. I’ll go get Sol and Tristan. Luke, you tell your team.”

“Roger that, love,” Luke answered, then turned and walked over to their home to drop off his groceries and find his radio to call his team to a meeting.

The announcement of the tournament had everyone buzzing with excitement. The teams—Valiant and Phalanx—had gathered outside of Volcan and Luke's house, their enthusiasm palpable as they shared their excitement about the event. They were still waiting for Minato and Caulin to return, but the energy was already high, with everyone exchanging jokes, predictions, and eager chatter.

For Luke, though, the sight of his team gathered together was bittersweet. There was a hole in their formation—an absence that he felt more acutely every time they came together. The absence of Hank was still a sharp reminder of how much had changed in the past year. Hank, the Zoroark who had once been the master of illusions and wilderness expertise, had left the team nearly a year ago, deciding that his time as a Rescue Team member was over. He’d even gone so far as to leave Azure.

The missions they’d taken since then had been harder, lacking Hank’s invaluable skills. The team had struggled to fill the gap left by his departure, especially when it came to navigating the wilderness or pulling off clever tricks.

But Hank wasn’t the only one missing. Katsumoto was there, of course—he had shown up to support Serena, who had brought their children along. But it wasn’t the same. Luke couldn’t forget that Katsu had also chosen to leave Team Valiant shortly after Hank, to dedicate himself fully to raising their family. The Lucario’s heart twinged as he glanced toward Serena, who was busy chatting with the others while her children played with Ignus.

Among the quietest of the group, Serena had always been the one to keep the balance, and Katsu’s decision had left a lingering sadness. Their three children—soon to be their fourth, as evidenced by the egg Katsu held tenderly against his chest—was now a part of their growing family.

Volcan, noticing the change in Luke's demeanour as Minato and Caulin finally arrived to join the others, engaging in the ongoing conversations. Seeing his husband looking glum, though, Volcan stepped closer and gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "You okay, love?" he asked softly, his voice steady with concern.

Luke blinked, momentarily lost in his thoughts. He looked up at Volcan and gave a small nod. "Hmm? Oh, yeah… Yeah, I’ll be fine. Just... caught up in my memories."

Volcan offered a sympathetic smile, pulling Luke into a brief, comforting hug. "I know the feeling," he murmured, his warmth enveloping his husband.

Before Luke could say anything else, Tristan’s voice broke through the moment. "So, we're heading back to Gladiator City, huh?" he asked, his tone filled with eager anticipation. "Hell yes! It’s been years since I’ve had the chance to throw down in the arena. Time to show those young bucks what real gladiatorial combat looks like!" His hearty laugh filled the air, a sharp contrast to the somber mood that had settled over Luke., bringing a small smile back to his face.

"Oh, you’ll be seeing me in action too!" Caulin chimed in, a smirk on his face as he crossed his arms confidently. "I plan to compete, and trust me, I’ve got what it takes."

"Whoa, whoa, easy there, son," Minato interjected, raising his arms as if to prevent a fight. "You’re strong, but I don’t think you’re quite ready to take on someone as tough as Tristan."

Caulin scoffed, his smirk never fading. "I beat one of the Crusade’s Lieutenants, and none of you could handle him. You really think I can’t take on a few gladiators?"

"Only because you had an advantage," Kage said coldly, his eyes narrowing as he levelled a critical stare at the younger Lucario. "Your evolution and moves like Mind Reader played to your favour. You should listen to your father. You may have potential, but you're far from our level."

There was a heavy pause as Caulin bristled at the comment, though he didn’t respond immediately.

Eagle Eye, ever the observer, leaned over and whispered to Doug, his voice barely audible. "Jeez, Kage and his way with words…"

"No kidding," Doug muttered back, shaking his heads. "He could’ve said that with a bit more tact. He wasn’t even there for the fight, either."

"Yeah, but we all know how Kage is," Eagle Eye shrugged.

Luke’s thoughts were once again pulled back to the conversation, the laughter and chatter feeling a little more distant as he tried to push aside the weight of the absences he still carried. For a brief moment, he wished his team could be whole again. But even without Hank and Katsu, he knew that what mattered most was that they were all still together—no matter how many new faces or old faces were missing.

“For the record, Caulin, I did beat Sash at their fortress in the islands,” Volcan reminded the younger Lucario. “Granted, Luke was helping me but we still did it. And I seem to recall I did beat him out West too.”

“Yeah, wasn’t it Tory that none of us were able to beat?” Lashanne suggested. “Ultimately it was Neilla and Azrael who beat him.”

“I believe we are getting off-topic here.” Katsumoto finally piped up. “We are supposed to be discussing this tournament and who will be participating, not gloating about past victories and stroking our own egos.”

“Well, given that a lot of us are here already, I’m going to assume a lot of us are going to compete,” Minato answered. “What we don’t know is… what about those that aren’t among us?” He went on. “We’re not the only ones who contributed to the war against the Dark Crusade.”

“Certainly not,” said Volcan, noticing the envelope in Minato’s paw, clearly marked with the Team Phobia emblem. “Is that a note from Romulus?”

“Yeah, came in the mail not long ago,” Minato answered, strolling over and handing the letter to Volcan for inspection.

Volcan opened the envelope and unfolded the letter inside, reading aloud. “...Odd. Romulus' emblem, but this is from Leon,” he mused, glancing at Luke. “It says they’re sending express invitations to teams involved in taking down the Dark Crusade. They want us to come to Westport and join a cruise to Gladiator City for the tournament.”

“Well, that’s a nice incentive!” Lashanne chirped, her voice upbeat. “A vacation and we get to knock each other around? I’d call that a good deal. But wait…” She paused. Ever able to read people like a book, her eyes caught a shift in Volcan’s expression that the others hadn’t noticed.

“What do you know, Volcan?” Her stance was assertive, paws on her hips, her tone dripping with playful suspicion, bringing everyone’s attention to the Blaziken who now stood ramrod straight, not meeting her gaze. “There’s more to this, isn’t there?”

Luke glanced at Volcan, his expression softening for a moment before he looked back at Lashanne. Clearing his throat, he spoke. “Well, the truth is... There is more to it, but it’s not our place to say just yet,” he gave her a wry smile. “All I can tell you is that Romulus wants to make the West safer for travelers. You’ll just have to wait until we’re there to find out exactly what that means.”

Lashanne let out a mock sigh. “Teasing us, huh? C’mon, you’ve got us all curious now!” she said. “What’s the big secret?”

Tristan leaned forward, grinning. “Who cares? Whatever the mystery is, I’m in! I’ve got a strong hunch that whatever Romulus has cooking will only make the fight more interesting. I’m itching to get back in the arena.”

“Count me in,” Minato added, his confidence radiating as he adjusted his stance. “I was in no matter what, but the idea of Romulus making moves in the West just adds more spice. And that’s two from our family already. What about you, Lashanne? You ready to knock some more dust off your knuckles?” He glanced at her, a smirk tugging at his lips.

Lashanne shrugged nonchalantly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Why not? I’ve been training non-stop lately, but I’ve got more dust on me than on my last dig in the West. I’m in, no question.”

“And you know Luke and I are going,” Volcan said with a grin before turning his attention to Katsumoto. “What about you, big guy? You in?”

Katsumoto hesitated, glancing down at the egg he cradled in his arms before his gaze shifted to Serena. A worried expression crossed his face. “I... I’m unsure,” he admitted. “I want to, but as a father, my responsibilities are to my children and to my dear maiden. I don’t want to leave her to shoulder everything alone.”

Serena, who had been watching quietly until then, smiled warmly at him. “You should go,” she said, her tone unexpectedly light.

His eyes widened in surprise, and he jerked his head back. “S-Serena... are you sure?” he asked, a trace of concern in his voice. “We’ll be apart for so long, and it wouldn’t be fair to you...”

“I’ll be fine,” Serena replied, her smile never faltering as she turned her gaze to their children, still playing with Ignus in the yard. “I have Degra to help me with the little ones. Besides,” she added with a playful glint in her eye, “don’t you want a tale to tell them if you win?”

Katsumoto let out a long, resigned sigh, then chuckled. “Ah, you know me too well.” He lowered himself to nuzzle her affectionately. “If you’re sure, then I shall go. It seems I cannot resist the call of the arena... and the chance to return with a victory story.”

“I too shall compete,” Kage interjected, his cold gaze piercing through the conversation. “I will extend this invitation to both my son and my pupil. They’ll jump at the chance to settle which one of them is superior.” There was a subtle hint of intrigue in his voice; only Lashanne, ever keen, heard it, but a knowing grin from her was enough to tell the others that she had caught it.

Doug spun his heads around with surprising enthusiasm. “Screw it. I’m joining in too,” he declared, he said. “Now that I can command the earth to do my bidding, I don’t have to be stuck in a dirt tub anymore. Plus, I’m curious to see how gladiators handle my little construct trick.”

Sol, who had been quietly observing the proceedings, let out a loud scoff and punched his fists together with eager anticipation. “If you think I’m missing an opportunity to punch faces in and have a good time, you’re out of your mind. I’d join even if I didn’t get an invite.”

“Don’t worry, Sol,” Volcan grinned. “Romulus and Leon are inviting every team that fought the Crusade. Teams Kama, Plainsrunner, Storm… and probably a few others. Plus, who knows, maybe even other Blessed like you will show up.”

Sol’s ears perked, a devilish grin spreading across his face. “Don’t threaten me with a good time, Cap…” he purred, his voice taking on a mischievous edge.

“Hey, Dad? Papa? Can I compete too?” Ignus asked eagerly, his tail wagging excitedly. “If Caulin’s entering, I want to join in too!”

Luke smiled down at him and knelt, gently ruffling his son’s fur. “I don’t think you’re quite ready for that level of battle, son,” he said, his tone kind but firm. “You’re still getting used to your new abilities. Plus, you’d be going up against seasoned veterans.”

“But Papa!” Ignus whined, his ears flattening as he shot Luke a pair of pleading puppy eyes.

Volcan stepped in, his voice gentle but authoritative. “Papa’s right, son. These will be some tough, experienced opponents. Caulin’s old enough now, but as your guardians, it’s our job to keep you from getting into things you aren’t ready for.”

He leaned closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. “And think about it... Do you really want to face Sol in the ring? You could quite easily end up fighting him, you know.”

Ignus blinked, his eyes widening in sudden realization. A cold shiver ran up his spine as he slowly turned to glance at Sol, who gave him a wide, menacing grin. The intensity of it sent a jolt of fear through the young Lycanroc, making his fur stand on end.

“Uhhhh... NO THANKS!!!” he yelped, his tail dropping between his legs as he immediately backed behind his fathers.

Everyone burst into laughter - all except Kage of course, at Ignus’ expense. Luke then stroked the Lycanroc’s back gently to calm him down. “Don’t worry, son. You may not be able to compete, but you can still join us and spectate. You can learn almost as much from watching a fight as you can from partaking in it.”

“Exactly,” said Volcan. “Okay then! According to the poster and this note Minato brought back, the tournament is in two months. Sign-ups can be submitted through the postal service so let’s all go fill out our letters of application and start training!”

“Oh yeah!” Tristan bellowed in agreement. “You’re all going to get to see some real Gladiator combat!”

“I’ll hold you to that, big guy,” Minato added, grinning. “I’ve seen how you fight, but you’ve been singing these other Gladiators’ praises as if they’re better than you are… I’ve got high expectations after hearing that.”

Tristan arched an eye ridge. “Don’t forget, one of those gladiators became Prisoner Zero at the Siphon Prison, and another is now the boss of that city,” he reminded.

“A Gladiator I managed to beat all on my own I might add. Yer welcome, by the way,” Sol piped up, grinning smugly to himself as he remembered his win over the Black Titan, Eberon. A terrifying force after his escape from the Siphon Prison, and from what they had heard from Tristan, no less of one in the area.

Volcan chuckled. “Now if you can score one on Romulus, you’ll be able to call yourself the king of the ring, eh?” he asked.

Sol’s grin only widened at that idea…

~~~~~

Five weeks had passed, and the anticipation for the journey to Gladiator City was almost unbearable. The first few weeks flew by with training, but as the final two weeks dragged on, impatience grew, and the waiting seemed endless.

On the second-to-last day, Luke was in the kitchen preparing breakfast when a knock sounded at the door. He was closest, so he quickly went to answer it, just ahead of Volcan. Opening the door, he was greeted by a friendly smile he recognized instantly.

“Goooood morning!” said the Sceptile with a grin. “Been a hot minute, hasn’t it, Luke?”

“Hey!” Luke’s face lit up, and he quickly pulled Sickle into a tight embrace. “I was wondering when you’d drop by. How’ve you been?”

“Doing alright! Things in Bluegrove have been quiet,” Sickle replied, hugging him back. “Mostly just helping out Kima until we got the invite.”

“You heard about the tournament, then?” Volcan asked, stepping up beside Luke.

“You kidding?” Sickle chuckled. “Romulus sent us an invite! That’s why we’re here.” He took a step back and motioned to his side. “Speaking of which…”

Before anyone could react, a dark figure sprang into view, appearing almost comically before barking in Luke’s face. “Surprise, baby!!” he bellowed, arms open.

“Hank!!” Luke exclaimed, throwing himself into the Zoroark’s embrace. Hank laughed heartily as he returned the hug. “You sly fox! I’ve missed you!”

“Hehehe, missed you too, Luke,” Hank said, patting his back before releasing him. He then turned toward Volcan, spreading his arms wide again. “C’mere, Legs! Don’t leave me hanging!”

“As if I could!” Volcan replied with a laugh, pulling Hank into a tight hug and squeezing him. “Didn’t I tell you not to be a stranger?”

“Haha, well, things have been a bit busy over in Bluegrove,” Hank admitted, giving Volcan a brief squeeze before stepping back. He raised his left claw, showing off a jade band around his middle finger. “Especially considering…”

Volcan’s eyes brightened as he saw the ring. “Well, you two decided to tie the knot, huh?” he asked, beaming at both Hank and Sickle. “Congrats on—”

Before he could finish, a door flew open with a loud crash, and a blur of orange raced out of the first bedroom, claws skidding on the floor as they made a beeline across the house.“Incom—!” Volcan started to say, but he didn’t get a chance to finish before the blur collided with Hank with a loud squeal.

“UNCLE HAAAANK!!” The loud shout echoed through the house just before Hank was thrown off his feet. Sickle barely had time to step aside as the Zoroark was launched out the door, landing with a thud on the ground outside.

Before Hank could even react, a massive wolf stood over him, wagging his tail and showering him with enthusiastic licks. “Bleh! Damn it!” Hank coughed, trying to shield his face as he struggled to breathe. “What the big—?” He froze, mid-sentence, as the realization hit him.

He stopped pushing the excited wolf away, slowly lifting his head to look up at him. The Lycanroc stood there panting, his tail wagging so fast it could have taken flight. For a moment, Hank could only stare, slack-jawed, at the wolf as he realized who he was looking at.

“Holy—” he rasped, trying to catch his breath. He sat up, and Ignus stepped back to give him space, but Hank couldn’t tear his eyes from the Lycanroc as his mind processed who he was looking at. “Ignus? Is that you, kid?” Hank asked, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief.

“The one and only~” Ignus barked, his chest puffing out proudly.

“Well damn! Look at you! You went and grew up before I could make time to check in on ya again!” the Zoroark remarked with a wide grin. “Got some fancy colours on ya too. Some kinda shiny variant of the Midday form?”

“Nope~!” Ignus answered. “I’m a new breed of Lycanroc. Papa calls it ‘Dusk Form,’ cause my evolution triggered while the sun was going down.” He explained.

“Whoa, wait a bloody minute!” Sickle laughed, stepping away from the door to help his betrothed up. “You’re telling me that’s Ignus?”

“Yep, that’s him,” Volcan said proudly, his arm draped around Luke’s shoulders as they watched from the doorway.

“Get out of town—what did you do to that adorable little pup I saw last time?” Sickle asked, kneeling to pet Ignus’ neck. “Good grief, did you eat your old self or something? You got huge.”

Ignus giggled, leaning into the affection. “You’d think that, but nah. I just evolved like any other Pokémon.” He grinned. “Get this though—my evolution gave me the best of both worlds. Speed and agility of the Midday Form, plus strength and battle instincts of the Midnight Form.”

“Damn, a jack of all trades already?” Hank chuckled, then glanced at Luke and Volcan. “Ya did good with him, guys. You better be damn proud of yerselves.”

“We sure are,” Volcan replied, squeezing Luke with his arm. “And proud of him too. All this time, we called him our special boy, and we never could’ve imagined how special he’d become.”

“No kidding. The tyke’s one in a million, that’s fer sure.” Hank agreed, arching his back with a grunt as it popped. “Heavier too... thought my back was gonna bend when he pounced.”

“Oh, you should’ve seen it when he pounced on Volcan after he evolved. He went down faster than you did,” Luke joked, stifling a laugh.

“Hey, try going from a nine-kilogram puppy to a twenty-five-kilogram wolf and see if you stay on your feet,” Volcan shot back, rubbing his chest.

“Oh, I know I’d get floored. Just saying, it was funny watching it happen to you,” Luke teased, still chuckling.

Volcan scowled, his gaze moving to Hank and Sickle as they snickered. “Oh, balls to you all,” he muttered.

Hank stopped laughing and wiped a tear from his eye as he spoke. “Oh, I’ve missed these interactions. Hell, I’ve missed this place as a whole,” Hank said melancholically, taking a moment to take in his surroundings. “Hope you guys have been managing without me.”

“It’s… been hard.” Luke admitted. “You’re not the only one that went into retirement.”

“Oh yea? Lemme guess, Froggie’s age is finally catching up to him?” Hank asked, crossing his arms.

“Actually… No,” replied Volcan. “Kage’s still actively part of Luke’s team… But, Katsu’s not. Not anymore.”

Sickle’s smile disappeared as his eyes widened. “Wait, Katsu quit?” he asked, incredulous.

“Not for the reasons you might think,” Luke assured them. “He wasn’t injured or anything. He’s still a warrior at heart… He’s just… taken on a new responsibility in life.”

Ignus piped up. “He’s a Dad now. Miss Serena had triplets with him,” he said.

“With a fourth one on the way; they already have the egg,” added Volcan.

Sickle’s jaw fell open. “She had triplets?” he asked. “I knew she was pregnant before we left Gladiator but, triplets?”

“I had the same reaction,” remarked Volcan with a laugh.

“...I bet that still doesn’t beat the reaction Lunkhead had when we first found out she was pregnant in the first place,” Hank said with a snicker. “Dude got clonked on the head so fast by Sol and Minato just for bein’ so dumb.”

Volcan chuckled. “Still remember the ringing that came from his noggin after that collective blow,” he remarked.

They all laughed for a time, then Hank stretched again and rolled his head a few times. “Well, you guys mind if we join ya for breakfast? I’m a little peckish after all that walking and swinging through trees.”

“I think we can afford a couple plates,” Luke said with a nod. “I don’t have much for you though, Sickle. Would a salad be alright?”

“I’ll take whatever you can give me,” said Sickle, “the only thing I can’t consume is alcohol, but it’s a little early in the day for that anyway.”

“Hey, it’s sunset somewhere in the world,” Hank remarked, nudging Sickle playfully before stepping over and taking a seat at the table.

“No excuse to be drinking in the daylight,” said Sickle, walking past Hank and patting his side before looking at Luke. “Any way I can help?”

“Thanks, but I got it. You just get comfortable and make yourselves at home.” Luke bade as he returned to the kitchen, turning on another element to cook another dish for their guests.

~~~~~

Sharing a hearty meal and swapping stories about their time apart, the group was soon joined by Minato and his family. Over time, the rest of the teams arrived until everyone was ready to go.

Travelling to Westport as a single, large group, they made their way south, heading by land after the captains made sure everyone had their invitations. The day-long trip would put them in Westport just in time for the ship’s departure, and the timing worked out perfectly.

When they arrived in Westport, the familiar sight of the Kyogre’s Rest awaited them, docked in the city’s extensive harbour and ready for its passengers. As they approached, they could see teams boarding, checking in with a ticket seller at the bottom of the gangplank.

“Hey, look over there,” Volcan said, pointing to a Charizard and Dragonite walking past. “Weren’t those guys on Team Drake at Warmachine’s tournament?”

“Yeah, I think so,” Sickle replied, then raised his arm to point. “And look—Team Orochi, the snake-themed team from Daffodil Valley.” His finger pointed to a Serperior, Arbok, and Seviper heading toward the ship.

“Huh…” Luke remarked, watching the other teams board the Kyogre’s Rest. “Am I the only one getting a case of déjà vu?” He glanced at Volcan. “Feels almost like the first tournament we entered, when you first arrived here, love.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Volcan agreed, rubbing the back of his neck. “The ship, the teams, where we are… it’s almost exactly the same.”

“Only this time we’re on better terms with everyone,” Luke added. “...At least, I hope so.”

“Me too,” Volcan said. “I haven’t forgotten Team Martial, or that Hitmonlee who knocked me out…”

“Well, we can stand around reminiscing, or we can start boarding and enjoy our vacation before we arrive in Gladiator City,” Hank piped up.

“I agree,” Wade added with a nod. “Let’s worry about the competition when we get there.”

“Right, right…” Volcan said. “Let’s go then.”

As they approached the boarding ramp, a familiar face awaited them. At the bottom, checking the invitations of everyone seeking to board, stood a familiar Chesnaught. Aegis moved through the lineup efficiently, thoroughly checking paperwork but never making anyone wait too long.

When he saw the faces of Team Valiant, Phalanx, and Kama’s captains, his face lit up. “Ha! I was hopin’ you lot would be comin’!” he said cheerfully.

“As if we’d miss out on an event hosted by The Hound of Terror himself,” Luke remarked, stepping up to shake his hand. “How’ve you been, Aegis?”

“Can’t complain! Spent the last year adjusting to Leon’s new reforms for the team,” he explained.

“What kind of reforms?” Volcan asked.

“Mostly on how we deploy,” Aegis replied. “I’ll fill you in when there’s time but better keep the line movin’. Welcome aboard!” He gestured to the boarding ramp. “Gallia’s waiting up top to give you your assigned cabins. No promises on arrangements, so if you want to share with anyone, make sure to let her know.”

“Thanks for the heads-up,” Katsu remarked with a nod.

“If you’re competing, I look forward to crossing blades with you again,” Wade added with a smirk.

Aegis grinned. “You and me both, kiddo,” he said, offering a fist for a bump. “Lookin’ forward to trying my hand against a Blessed too,” he added, discreetly.

“I won’t disappoint you,” Wade answered with a wink, returning the fistbump firmly.

As the teams boarded, Volcan looked down at Luke walking beside him and smiled. “So, looking forward to seeing your mom when we get there?” he asked.

“That goes without saying,” Luke answered, smiling back. “Still a shame my brothers couldn’t come with us…”

“Eh, they’ve got their business,” Volcan said. “Mikhail’s got work, and Rigel—like Katsu—wouldn’t leave his family. I don’t think Trish would let him either.”

“After that fiasco with the last tournament, I’d make sure he put his family first too,” Luke remarked with a heavy sigh. “He’s got a good heart, but his impulsiveness got him into a lot of trouble with my parents when we were kids.”

“Yeah, I heard that. Pretty much the same with Lighris,” Volcan said. “Didn’t handle being bored well when he was a kid. Always got into trouble when he needed stimulus.”

“No wonder he and Rigel get along so well,” Luke joked, rolling his eyes. “They’re like two peas in a pod sometimes.”

Volcan chuckled. “True that,” he said, refocusing on the boat as they neared the top of the ramp. “Well… All that’s left for us is a nice, long trip across the ocean. At least we get to travel in style.”

Luke nodded. “And this time with no looming threat over the horizon. We can actually enjoy some well-deserved vacation time with all our friends and family.”

“Don’t you mean another vacation? We just had our honeymoon six months ago, and that sure got interesting. Maybe not as exciting as competing in a tournament, but fun nonetheless.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Hadleigh still manages to surprise us every time we visit. Did you forget about that Lycanroc pack that took an interest in our boy?” Luke teased.

“Touche,” Volcan admitted. “And given how competitive Neilla can be, it definitely wasn’t boring with her around.” He glanced around the deck. “Speaking of which, I’m half-expecting her to pop out any second. There’s no way she’d miss this.”

“I’d give it about… an hour before she finds us. Maybe less,” Luke said with a chuckle.

Volcan shared the laugh. “Yeah… knowing her, she’s probably already sparring with someone if she’s here,” he said. “Come on, let’s check out our cabin. It’s going to be a long trip, so we might as well make the best of it. Right, son?” he added, glancing at Ignus, who was diligently trotting up behind them.

“I’m gonna run laps around the ship!” Ignus barked excitedly. “Maybe even set a land-speed record!”

“Just don’t go so fast you launch yourself over the side,” Volcan cautioned.

“Don’t worry~ That’s what railings are for, right?” Ignus asked.

“Uhm…” Luke glanced at Volcan. “...He’s not wrong, but…”

Volcan groaned. “Just… be careful, okay?” he said. “If I have to send Katsu diving after you because you catapulted yourself over the railing, you’ll be in big trouble. Got it?”

“I won’t. Promise.” Ignus lifted his paw to swear before turning and bolting off.

“Even after evolving, he still has way too much energy to burn…” Luke muttered, shaking his head with a chuckle. “And you said Caulin was bad.”

“You didn’t babysit him,” Volcan countered, hoisting their luggage again as they made their way toward their cabin.

~~~~~

Over the three-week voyage across the sea, Luke and Volcan fell into a routine of training during the morning before trying to find something to do to pass the day. As expected, they found Neilla - it was only a matter of time and she often joined their training sessions in the morning. Over time, Sickle joined in as well, and their respective teams filled the sidelines waiting their turn. The Kyogre’s rest had turned the upper dining area into another training ring to make sure that everybody would get the chance to get their practice in.

But, after the second week, this routine was becoming dull… The ship only had so much to do. Certainly, there was no shortage of candidates to train with, even amongst their teammates, but the entertainment aboard the ship was still limited. The food, at least, remained consistently enjoyable, so dinner was always a time to look forward to.

Finally, on the nineteenth day after their departure from Westport, the captain made an announcement via the intercom that they were twenty-four hours out from Gladiator City and thanked everyone for sailing with them and that he hoped they enjoyed their time - to which Volcan made a comment about this captain probably being the one that usually hosted the cruise events this ship was usually used for.

By the following morning, the ship reached port, and everyone waited at the rails to depart as the ship was pulled up to shore, needing to be close enough for the gangplanks to be lowered. From where they stood, Luke and Volcan could see the whole of the city from afar, all the way to the towering colosseum that was the city’s namesake.

“We didn’t get this view the first time we came here,” commented Volcan.

Neilla glanced over. “Oh right. You two and Team Phalanx were sent ahead last time, teleported by Mewtwo,” she said, thinking back. “Still remember feeling kinda jealous that you guys got to be the vanguard for our fight against the Crusade, especially after what you found waiting for you. I’d have loved to have a shot against the Swords of Justice.”

Sickle gaped at her. “Neilla, they were Shadow Pokémon. You actually wanted to fight more of those?”

“I mean, kind of? Volcan got to kick Giratina in the face - he at least had a story to bring home to Ignus,” she commented.

“And you didn’t?” Volcan asked. “You beat Tory. None of us were able to take him down - not even Kage. He couldn’t even Mega Evolve, and yet he came out on top every time we encountered him.”

“To be fair, I had help,” she reminded them. “Azrael saved my powder-puff tail that day. If he hadn’t jumped in, I’d have been the headless hare.”

“That’s still a win you have over us, Neilla. Take that with a grain of salt.” Luke stated. “If our espionage expert couldn’t even match Tory, or even his son either, who is blessed I might add, then that’s something you can hold over their heads for a long time to come.”

Neilla looked at him with a raised eyebrow. “Is that some kind of invitation to say I am actually better at something than you?” she asked with a cocky smirk.

Luke shrugged. “Take it however you want. It’s your win, you’ve earned the right to gloat.” He responded.

“Great, love. Keep that up, she’s gonna turn into another Hank,” Volcan muttered.

“I’m just giving credit where it’s due, Volcan.” Luke whispered back. “It’s not my fault you have a hard time accepting praise when it’s due, while others revel in it.” He teased.

“Oh, come on, that’s not fair. I’m a humble bird,” Volcan replied with a smile.

“And I’m a humble jackal. Your point?” Luke answered back with a smile of his own.

Volcan rolled his eyes. “Eh, okay, you got me,” he said, and then looked over the railing. “Oh hey. The gangplanks are coming up.”

As if on cue, the intercom beeped, and the captain’s voice was heard over the crowd. “Attention all passengers. The gangplanks are now being attached and you may now begin disembarking. Thank you again for enjoying this cruise and wish you the best of luck at the tournament.”

“Well, that’s our cue then,” said Sickle, looking at Hank standing beside him. “Ready, hun?”

“Been ready and waiting since we got that letter,” Hank answered, slipping an arm around his husband. “Let’s go get crazy.”

“Where are we heading first?” Volcan asked, “going straight to where we’re staying, or should we go look up grandma?”

Ignus’ face alit with joy at the mention of his grandmother. “I wanna go see Gramma!!” He barked excitedly, jumping up and down on the spot. “Can we, Dad? Please??”

Volcan chuckled. “Well, I guess that’s settled,” he said. “Okay, we’ll go see grandma first then. Let’s head up to Romulus’ house; I imagine that’s where we’ll find her.”

“That, or his office,” Luke offhandedly remarked, remembering the time they walked in on them.

“Yeah, uh… Let’s not go there first… Yanno, just in case history feels like repeating itself,” Volcan commented, remembering that day quite well. Then, he elbowed Luke gently. “Don’t want you dropping into a dead faint again,” he teased.

Luke blushed, his ears flicking upright. The group around them, close enough to hear Volcan’s teasing, erupted into snickering – especially Ignus who burst out into laughing, having to spread his forelegs so as not to fall onto his face.

“Papa… You fainted?!” he asked.

“Yes he did,” Volcan added.

“Oh, shut up! That was a one-time thing, and it was out of shock!” he shot back, growing flustered by the snickering that erupted around him as they disembarked from the ship.

The teams and all of their friends and families all began to depart from the Kyogre’s Rest in an orderly fashion shortly after the exchange. Half way down the gangway planks though, Katsu happened to glance over at his left and paused, gasping audibly at what he saw.

“...There is no way…!” He remarked audibly.

Ahead, Lashanne heard Katsu speaking, hearing the surprise in his voice, and looked back up the ramp at him. “What’s the matter, Katsu?” she called, moving to the side to let others pass her, “You see something?”

He pointed to a large, traditional ship. Not as large as the Kyogre’s Rest, but still large enough to catch the eyes of onlookers. “That’s the Typhoon! The personal warship of the Shogun himself!” He answered.

“Wait, Shogun Hizashi is here?” Wade asked, looking over at the ship in question.

Hearing the conversation, Volcan and Luke followed where the two Samurott were looking, their eyes settling on the large sailing vessel that they remembered well from a year ago.

“Damn… Here to see the tournament, or, to compete?” Volcan wondered aloud.

“Hopefully just to spectate. I dare not be on the receiving end of his blades,” Luke commented with a gulp.

“You need not worry,” Katsumoto answered. “The Shogun does not take part in competitions like this. Most likely he is here to either spectate, or to endorse it… Though it is strange he would venture out here to witness such a tournament.”

“He did say he was willing to try and expand his horizons before we parted ways after the war,” Wade commented. “Perhaps this is his first step outside of his usual comfort zone.”

“Good to know. Fighting an eastern warlord was not on my bucket list,” said Volcan with a nervous laugh.

Sol scoffed. “...I could probably take him,” He remarked offhandedly.

“Not the point, Sol,” said Volcan, rolling his eyes. “Anyway… You guys all head to accommodations; they’re putting us up in the Ambassador’s Manse like before, so head on up. Luke and I are going to go check in on the boss man and boss lady before we settle in.”

“Alright. See you in a bit,” Minato said with a nod, then smirked at Luke. “Try not to faint again, alright?”

“I said that-!” Luke began, then groaned and rubbed his eyes. “Nevermind… We’ll see you in a bit.” He retorted, rolling his eyes in annoyance.

Volcan couldn’t help but snicker at his husband’s expense. “You know they’ll never let you hear the end of that, love,” he said, “though I have to admit, when you did that, it kinda seared itself into my brain too. Especially with Lashanne’s reaction that followed.”

“Let’s… just go,” Luke said through grit teeth, keeping his gaze forward to try and hide his embarrassment.

Romulus’ house was much like they remembered it. While it was not the largest of the original Big Five’s homes, it was still an expensive-looking two-story villa overall. However, it had a fresh coat of paint, with a red-orange colour that went well with the backdrop of the sandstone mountain behind it. The front sidewalk had been repaved - where it had once consisted of angular stones, mortared together with mud and clay, there were now square, gray bricks mortared with limestone, arranged in a neat path that was smooth to walk on.

Outside the front of the house, wooden boxes containing plants lined the sidewalk, leading up to the front door, and consisted of a variety of cacti - some with flowers, other with long spiny arms that Luke recognized as a variant of aloe vera - he’d seen Mikhail and Mordecai growing it before, as aloe vera made an excellent salve for burns.

“...This was definitely Luminara’s doing, right?” Volcan asked. “Painting, repaved sidewalk, flower gardens? No way Romulus did all this. Or Bruce, even.”

“Knowing her, yes. I’d say she either did this all herself or had some help. Either way, she always had a knack for decoration.” Luke answered.

“Well… Definitely looks much less spartan than it did last time we were here,” said Volcan, leading the way up to the door and knocking.

Expectedly, the door was answered by a familiar Hitmonlee. “Ah. Masters Luke and Volcan. We have been expecting you,” Bruce greeted in his usual, cordial tone. “Please, come in,” he bade as he held the door open for them.

“Thank you.” Luke answered as he, Volcan and Ignus all stepped inside. “How’ve things been since we were last here?”

“Quite well,” Bruce replied as he closed the door. “Though I must admit, the madame has become the head of the house in the time you’ve been gone. I’m sure you saw some of her work as you approached the house.”

“We sure did,” said Volcan. “Is she here?”

“She is,” replied the Hitmonlee, pointing up the stairs. “She ought to be in the master bedroom. Up the stairs, first door on the left.”

“And Romulus?”

“Currently organizing affairs at the Colosseum, for the upcoming tournament,” replied Bruce. “He is waiting for a shipment of televisions and bleachers for the additional seating.”

“I keep forgetting that we have those now…” Luke muttered. “Man, it’s hard to believe how far technology has advanced in such a short time.”

“No kidding,” said Volcan. “But… Wait, why does he need them?”

“As it turns out,” said Bruce, “the Colosseum is already over capacity for the upcoming tournament, so he has ordered these additional seats and the televisions for a low-income alternative to watch the tournament from outside the colosseum walls.”

“...I can’t decide if that’s a copout or a great idea,” Volcan admitted.

“Give him the benefit of the doubt, love. He’s changed a lot since we first met him.” Luke urged. “Besides, it’s cheaper and more efficient than reconstructing the whole colosseum.”

“Fair point,” Volcan agreed. “Alright. Enough stalling. Let’s go see Luminara,” he smiled down at Ignus. “Can’t wait to surprise her with Ignus’ evolution.”

Ignus giggled softly. “I wonder if she’ll faint like-”

Luke stopped Ignus with a scathing look. “Not. Another. Word,” he growled.

“I’m just kidding, Papa. Sheesh, take a joke,” Ignus said innocently as he stepped ahead. “C’mon, let’s go~!”

The trio crept upstairs, still hoping that they had the element of surprise on Luke’s mother as they headed to the bedroom as directed by Bruce. At the door, Luke took the opportunity to knock, gently tapping three times and stepping back. They heard footsteps approaching the door before it opened inward.

“Bruce, I told you I’m-” She paused when she looked up and saw the two standing outside of her door, her face lighting up with a bright smile. “Boys!”

“Hey mother!” Luke said as he went in and embraced his mother happily, squeezing each other tightly before she backed up and went to give Volcan a big hug as well.

“It’s good to see you, Luminara,” said Volcan, embracing the female Lucario tightly. “Hope we surprised you.”

“You did. I was expecting you to arrive for the tournament, but I didn’t expect you to show up at my doorstep immediately after arriving,” she admitted, still smiling at her sons.

“Well, we have one more surprise for you,” Luke said as he stepped aside, revealing the young Lycanroc behind him. Luminara lowered her gaze to the new face, puzzled at first. Then, her ears shot up as her eyes widened with realization.

“My goodness! Ignus?” She asked, shocked.

“Hey Grandma~!” Ignus answered, stepping forward and standing up on his hind legs, letting himself fall gently onto Luminara for an embrace of his own and licking her cheek a couple of times. “How’ve you been~?”

“Nevermind how I’ve been. Look at you!” she commented, rubbing up and down his back a few times before she released him. “You went and became a strapping young man since the last time I saw you. Although… I can’t tell if you’re a Midday or Midnight version of Lycanroc.”

“Hehe, I’m neither actually,” Ignus corrected. “I evolved when the sun was going down, so that makes me a Dusk Lycanroc. I have the speed and hunting skills of a Midday Lycanroc, along with the strength and battle instincts of a Midnight Lycanroc.”

“Even Jora had never seen this form before,” said Volcan, “and we met a pack of Lycanroc near Hadleigh, whose Alpha even thought this form was only a myth. He surprised everyone.”

“It turns out all this time we’ve been calling him our special little boy, we never realized just how special he actually was.” Luke commented, smiling proudly at his son.

“Well, you both have certainly done well by him. I couldn’t be any more proud of you two,” said Luminara, before looking at Luke “Is Ignus here to compete as well?”

“No, actually. Just to spectate,” Luke answered. “He’s still discovering how to use his abilities, and I’m not exactly comfortable sending him out to fight ill prepared, especially given who else is competing.”

Volcan leaned over and whispered to Luminara. “He wanted to, but changed his mind when I reminded him he might end up fighting Sol.”

“Good call…” she replied softly. “With that in mind… who else has joined you for this competition?”

“Well, most of my team is here, same with Volcan’s.” Luke answered. “Those that were involved voluntarily in the war also wanted to join, those being Luna, Wade, and Hageshi. Pretty much everyone you’d expect to compete is here.” He went on, then gave Luminara a cautionary glance. “Are you… going to compete as well?”

She sighed. “As much as I would love to get some exercise in, I’m afraid I can’t. I’ve been swamped with managing the paperwork and other desk tasks both for the tournament and for Team Phobia’s workload.”

Volcan tilted his head. “You’ve been helping out Romulus, then,” he said. “Sounds like you’re keeping busy.”

“I’ve been helping Romulus ever since I decided to make Gladiator City my new home,” she clarified. “So much that one would say I’ve become an honourary member of Team Phobia. At least, that’s what Phanto once said.”

“Well, given what you’ve done with his home, and the apparent hours you’ve been giving to his work and this event, I’d say he’s not wrong,” Luke remarked. “I mean, Volcan was essentially an honourary member of my team before we reunited him with his team.”

"That I was," Volcan said. "Any way we can—"

But he trailed off, interrupted by a sharp, high-pitched whine. Then another. And another. The cries grew lower and more desperate with each one, the distress unmistakable. The ears of the two Lucario and the Lycanroc beside him twitched and stood upright reflexively, confirming he hadn’t imagined it. Luminara, for her part, stood bolt upright, her posture tense with alarm.

"Uh… What is that?" Volcan asked slowly, not moving a muscle. "Last time I heard a sound like that, Ignus was still a Rockruff…"

Luminara sighed softly, her eyes glancing down for a moment as she collected her thoughts. "That would be the other reason why I've been so busy," she explained, her tone a touch heavier than before. She slowly turned and made her way back into her room, the door creaking open as she gestured for Luke and Volcan to follow.

Once inside, she moved to the corner by her desk and knelt down, her movements slow, deliberate. The room was quiet, the tension thick, until Luminara rose again—this time, something dark and moving cradled gently in her arms.

Luke and Volcan stood frozen for a moment, watching in silence as Luminara turned to face them. With a soft smile, she revealed what she had been holding, her arms carefully supporting the tiny form cradled in her arms. Black fur, with skeletal with two arching, bone-like ridges over its back, and a skull shaped formation sitting atop its head, between the ears.

"Luke… Volcan," she said, her voice gentle but filled with warmth, "Meet Marilla. Your baby sister."

Luke blinked, his breath catching in his throat. “M-My what??” His gaze darted between the small Houndour pup in Luminara’s arms and his mother, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing. "My… sister?"

Volcan stood beside him, eyes wide with disbelief. “Oh my god…” he breathed, his voice raspy as he stared at the tiny creature. “We have... A baby sister…”

The Houndour pup, hearing the voices of her siblings, slowly lifted her head. Her wide red-orange eyes shifted between the two, her gaze curious and uncertain. She let out a soft whine and briefly glanced up at Luminara, as if seeking reassurance.

Luminara smiled warmly, her voice soft and soothing as she cradled Marilla closer to her chest. "It's alright, Marilla. They're family." She carefully extended the pup toward Luke and Volcan, offering the introduction with gentle encouragement.

The Houndour’s gaze lingered on Luke. She sniffed the air, her small nose twitching as she leaned in a little closer, studying him. Her eyes seemed to soften as she found something familiar in his scent, something that tied him to her mother. Luke, still processing the moment, slowly extended his paw. He gently placed it atop her head, petting her down her back in a quiet, tender motion.

For a long moment, there was nothing but silence, the weight of the moment settling over them.

"Holy hell… I have a sister…" Luke whispered in awe, his voice barely audible. "How… How long ago?"

Luminara looked at him, her smile warm but tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "Not long after we parted ways," she replied. "Five months into Romulus and my life together, I convinced him to give fatherhood a try. He was… hesitant at first, but eventually, I convinced him. It wasn't easy."

"So... she's only a month old, give or take?" Volcan asked, doing the math in his head.

"About that much, yes," Luminara confirmed, her eyes soft as she glanced down at the little Houndour in her arms.

“...Wait,” Ignus piped up, his eyes widening as he processed the situation. “If that pup is your daughter… which makes her Papa’s sister…”

Luminara nodded casually. “That would make her your aunt, yes.”

Ignus blinked, confusion twisting his face. “But... I’m older than her! How does that even—?”

“Yeah, that’s gonna get real confusing real fast,” Volcan agreed, rubbing the back of his head with a half-smile. He glanced at Luminara, his eyes acknowledging the situation that neither of them had explained. He and Luke knew why it made sense—well, some sense—but this was Luminara’s story to share, not theirs.

Luminara, as if reading the thoughts of both men, smiled softly and shook her head. “Perhaps it’s best not to worry about that for now,” she suggested, clearly eager to move past the topic. “You’ve only just arrived, and I imagine you’re both somewhat peckish. Am I right?”

“We were well-fed on the boat, but I wouldn’t turn down a family meal,” Volcan replied with a grin. “And if Romulus is free, we’d love to have him join us.”

“He should be home soon,” Luminara answered. “I’ll have our chef start preparing something for us.”

“Sounds good,” Volcan agreed. “That gives us time to sign into our room and get our things unpacked.”

Luminara gave a gentle wave toward the door. “Then off you go. The sooner, the better.”

Luke nodded with a smile. “Looking forward to it.” He turned to Volcan, giving him a light nudge. “C’mon, honey. You heard the lady.”

“Right behind you,” Volcan said, then shot a glance at Ignus. “You coming too, son, or you staying here to catch up with grandma?”

“If that’s okay with you,” Ignus answered, looking a little excited. “I wanna share everything I’ve learned so far.”

“I don’t see why not,” Luke agreed with a nod. “It’ll give you a chance to bond with your... erm... aunt, too.”

“I’m… not calling her that,” Ignus returned, flatly.

~~~~~

Romulus couldn't recall the last time he’d felt so drained. Each step up the stone path felt heavier than the last, his paws barely lifting from the ground as he made his slow ascent. He grumbled under his breath, cursing himself for never getting around to fixing the elevator after he’d ousted the big five. It had been destroyed during the revolt - his revolt, rather, and with few needing the convenient access to the upper level, he hadn’t thought much of it—until today. Now, the stairs stretched on forever.

"I think I’m getting too old for this," he muttered, reaching the top, his body aching in ways it never used to. With a weary sigh, he turned toward the house, his tired muscles protesting with every step.

At the front door, he laid his paw on the handle to open it, shouldering his way inside and pushing it closed with his hind leg. He breathed in a deep sigh… And stopped. He breathed in again, his senses detecting two familiar scents that did not belong either to his butler, his betrothed or his newborn daughter… Along with a third scent he did not recognize at all, carrying faint traces of the previous two…

With a few quick breaths, he deduced the smells were coming from the dining room, and began to make his way there. As he passed the butler’s pantry further down the hall, he saw Bruce in the process of placing five tea cups - three for bipeds, two for quadrupeds, on his serving tray to carry out. He noticed Romulus at the door, and nodded his head in greeting.

“Welcome home, sir,” he said.

“Good evening, Bruce,” replied Romulus. “Tell me, do we have guests?” He pointed at the tray with his nose.

“Indeed, sir. Masters Luke and Volcan. They arrived a short while ago, and the madam has invited them to stay for dinner.”

“Very good. I shall join them, then,” said Romulus, surprising himself with the eagerness in his voice as he turned and continued to the dining room, hearing the conversations taking place within.

“-and just barely tied for second place with Ignus,” he heard, “but the kicker is that Luke and Neilla tied for first! A double tie. Having the longest legs sure didn’t do me any favours.”

“Neither does having four legs apparently,” Ignus added, rolling his eyes. “I wasn’t expecting Miss Neilla to be so fast. I thought Papa moved like greased lightning…”

“She has been a sort of rival of mine ever since we first met,” Luke remarked. “I would have expected nothing less of her to be able to keep up with me without the use of special abilities.”

“Not to mention that she can battle either one of us to a standstill,” Volcan reminded, “I’m expecting big things in this competition, but more than anyone else, I think she’s going to put on quite the show for the tournament. Right up there with Sol, Sickle and probably Team Warmachine’s entrants, she’s going to be one to watch.”

Picking that moment to join the conversation, Romulus stepped into the room. “No less than either of you, I shouldn’t wonder,” he said, alerting them to his arrival.

From her place at the table, Luminara rose with a bright smile, walking around the table and moving to greet the Houndoom. “Welcome home, dear.” She bade him as she knelt down and embraced him warmly. “I trust work wasn’t too stressful.”

“Nothing that your presence doesn’t alleviate for me, my love,” Romulus replied, leaning into her embrace and planting a kiss on her cheek.

“Oh stop~” she cooed, leaning into his kiss before standing up and moving aside. “Dinner is just about ready. We were just going over the boys’ adventures before they got your invitation.”

“Then my timing is perfect,” said Romulus, addressing the two. “Good to see you two, again. It’s been some time.”

“Sure has,” said Volcan, nodding.

“Good to see you again, Romulus.” Luke added, nodding as well with a smile.

Romulus’ gaze fell on the Lycanroc, seated between the Lucario and Blaziken, eyeing him studiously. “And, who might this be that you’ve brought with you?” he asked.

“It’s me, Grandpa. Ignus!” He barked, spinning once in a circle before sitting back on his haunches. “I evolved into a Lycanroc not long after Dad and Papa came home.”

Romulus’ eyes widened, and a small smile crept onto his face. “Ah, so you are Ignus,” he said, “your fathers spoke highly of you. A shame I never got to see you prior to your evolution, but I’m happy we finally get to meet, my boy.”

“You’d have yourself quite a handful. Ignus had so much energy to burn it was difficult to wear him out,” Luke commented. “Still is, honestly.”

“Just don’t let me catch you in a pounce,” Ignus joked, giggling softly. “I’ve winded both Dad and Papa each time I do~”

“And Uncle Hank, don’t forget,” Volcan reminded, “you nearly knocked him out a few weeks ago.”

“Worth it~” Ignus replied, giggling some more.

Romulus allowed himself to chuckle lightly. “Well, I hope you’ve come for a show, Ignus. This tournament is proving to be an even bigger event than I dared imagine,” he huffed as he spoke. “If not for your grandmother’s help with some of it, I fear I’d be overwhelmed. Of course, she is taking care of our little one on top of that.”

At that, he glanced over at Luminara and noticed Marilla in a crib beside her mother’s chair, though the Houndour was fast asleep and quiet for the moment. “I see you boys also met her,” he said, a melancholic tone finding its way into his voice. “We named her after my mother…”

Luke’s ears pricked up after hearing that, then they flattened a bit as he felt a wave of empathy wash over him. “I see,” He answered, rubbing the back of his head. “I’m… sure she’d be happy to see you carrying on her legacy like that,” he offered.

Romulus cast Luke a sad smile. “That is kind of you to say, Luke,” he said, “but truth be told, I barely knew her. I can hardly even remember her face. She died when I was very young, and all I have to go on are stories my father shared with me. How much of it was true, I don’t know…” His gaze drifted to the ceiling, reminiscent. “But he spoke highly of her, and I carry that with me, always.”

Luke nodded, smiling at the Houndoom. Then he glanced down as Ignus stepped up and gently leaned against Romulus, pressing his flank against the Houndoom’s front.

“I guess we have that much in common… the night I lost my mom is the last memory I’ve got of her,” he said, sadly. “I can’t recount much before it, even though it wasn’t that long ago…”

Romulus lifted a paw and draped it around Ignus, gently embracing him. “So I heard…” he said. “For what it’s worth, I am sorry that you had to go through that at such a young age. I know all too well what it’s like.”

“It’s ok,” Ignus answered, smiling. “Thanks to them, I have an even better life than I could ever ask for.” He said while jerking his head back to his parents.

At that, Romulus smiled again. “Very good then,” he said, patting Ignus’ shoulder. “Now, I do believe I smell dinner coming short. Let’s not stand here with our stomachs rumbling, shall we?”

The mention of food instantly made Ignus perk up and pant happily. “Yes sir!” He barked excitedly, his tail wagging furiously behind him as he turned and returned to his spot at the table.

The family shared a hearty meal that night, enjoying one another’s company as they shared stories of everything that had taken place during their time apart, along with predictions for the coming tournament. When dinner was finished, Luke, Volcan and Ignus were invited to stay in the guest rooms of the house, rather than the diplomat’s manse. They readily accepted the offer, and went to settle into their rooms, in the doors after the master.

“Good night, boys,” Luminara bade as they headed for the stairs.

“Good night, mother!” Luke called back to her.

“Night, grandma!” Ignus added happily, scampering up the stairs ahead of his parents and making a beeline to his appointed room, peeking in through the open door. “Wow, that bed is huge!” he exclaimed, then looked at Volcan. “Why isn’t mine that big back home?”

Volcan, peering into the room assigned to him and Luke, turned his gaze back to the Lycanroc. “Are you joking? If I built you one that big, you wouldn’t be able to open your door!”