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The trio were led to the Shogun's palace; a towering, multi-tiered structure overlooking the city surrounding it. Inside, waited the de facto ruler of Maelstrom Isle, and the head of this isolated, militaristic culture. They had to climb a grueling number of steps to reach the Shogun's chamber all the way at the top of the palace, where they arrived at a long hallway leading to a large set of traditional doors.

Along the walls of the halls were different assortments of traditional Samurai armour, along with portraits depicting the Shoguns that wore each armour during their time as ruler, all the way up to the Twelfth Shogun of Maelstrom Isle. The three stood before the large doors, to which the guards escorting them moved over and began slowly pushing the doors open. Once fully opened, the three were greeted with the sight of a rather luxurious throne room, at least by the culture's standards, with the Shogun himself, along with two other elderly Samurott standing next to his throne at the far end of the chamber.

The two advisers stepped up and stood upright on their hind legs, one of them clearing his throat before speaking. "The Honourable and Mighty Lord Hizashi, Thirteenth Shogun of Maelstrom Isle, has granted you the honour of gracing you with his presence," he said in a tone that dripped of nobility. "He allows you to come forward and explain your reason for trespassing on our sacred land in person," he added, with the Shogun himself gesturing them forward.

"Now... Bow your heads low to the ground," Katsu whispered to Wade and Jora before doing so himself. "Then take slow, careful steps toward him. This will ensure that we are not a threat," he added.

"If I stand on my hind legs, will it be interpreted as a threat?" Jora asked quickly, wanting to be certain any actions she took would be allowed - especially knowing that Samurott stood on their hind legs to draw their swords.

"It would be wise to stay on all fours, yes," Katsu whispered as they approached the throne carefully, taking slow, calculated steps and keeling themselves low so as to continue to appear passive. When they arrived roughly ten paces away from the throne, they bowed again lowly, waiting for the Shogun to address them directly.

"In all of my years as Shogun... Never have I encountered those brave enough to dare and trespass on our borders," Lord Hizashi began, tapping his paw along the armrest of his throne slowly. "You all must have a death wish to dare appear before me... And yet my advisors tell me you bear news of our world's impending doom, correct?" he asked pointedly, his expression stern and irritated.

That was Jora's cue, and with another breath to keep herself calm before the imposing Shogun, she began to speak. "Esteemed Shogun of Maelstrom Isle, Hizashi-sama," she began, remembering to use the proper honorific when addressing someone of his high station. "We come on behalf of the Guilds of the East Continent, emissaries of Gold-ranked Captains Torolf of Team Warmachine, and Luke of Team Valiant."

"We have been called upon for aid by Captain Romulus, leader of Team Phobia, and ruler of Gladiator City in the West," she continued, "who has located the final bastion of the global war criminals, the Dark Crusade. These criminals have attacked defenseless towns across the eastern continent and are guilty of many heinous actions besides. Their leader, Calhoun, is a threat to all living beings, for he carries a vile power that transforms any touched by his hand into Shadow Pokémon; he has done this many times, including to Legendary beings whom he made into his personal weapons."

With that, she stood a little taller but stayed on all fours and continued again. "We are on a mission to see the criminals brought to justice, once and for all, and seek allies in this noble endeavor. At all costs, they must be stopped. Thus, we come before you, great Shogun, to humbly request your assistance in what is sure to be a grand battle, for the future of the world."

She left it there, letting her words sink in with Lord Hizashi and giving him time to consider them. The elder Samurott ran his paw through his long whiskers as he listened to Jora's plea, his expression still stern and irritated even after she spoke.

"You claim that there is a being out there that threatens the world as we know it. My advisors have said as much," he began, still running his paw through his whisker. "And yet I see no proof of such a madman existing, nor have I heard of these crimes you claim he has committed," he said as he leaned forward on his seat. "I ask you... Why should we believe the word of an outsider who, for all I care, could be just another harlot spouting nonsense and wasting my time?"

This time it was Katsumoto's turn to speak, daring to lift his head. "My Lord Shogun, she speaks the truth. I have seen such atrocities being committed by the individual she speaks of," he explained, "She was once forced to work for him, and only did so as a means to protect her clan. Now she aids us against the man who threatens our very way of life."

"_Your_way of life. Not ours," The Shogun shot back sharply, cutting Katsu off and making him recoil slightly, but he still continued.

"Apologies... Nevertheless, surely you must realize that once he has achieved his goals, he will conquer this world and enslave any who would be a threat to him. That includes your rule over this very island." He stated. "I implore you, my Lord... Stand with us and stop him before he threatens your people next..."

Again, Hizashi only continued to stare daggers at Katsu, leaving them all in suspense with his silence before he leaned back in his seat and gave a single answer.

"...No."

Katsu and Wade both tensed at the elder Samurott's refusal. But Jora was not yet finished. "Hizashi-sama... We ask you, please reconsider," said Jora, "These crimes that I spoke of, that you say I cannot prove. I can prove them if that would convey to you the severity of what we have said."

"I highly doubt that... But by all means, do try." Hizashi answered, gesturing for her to continue.

"If my words are not enough... Perhaps I can suggest a different method," she began, "Do you have a Psychic among your court? One that has the power to read the minds of others, to better know their intentions? I could volunteer to let them search my memories."

At that, Hizashi started to laugh slightly, not out of humour, but out of the sheer ridiculousness of her claim. "I rule over an island that consists _entirely_of warriors of the Samurott line... Surely you must have known that before you dared set foot upon my island." He spoke down on her as if she were a lesser folk. "Regardless, my answer remains. You will not have my army. As you said, this is a matter that involves the Guilds, and I see no incentive to offer my assistance to them."

He then waved his paw as if he were shooing them away. "I have heard enough. Begone from my sight and be grateful I have decided to let you leave with your heads attached."

"L-Lord Hizashi-sama, please!" Katsu pleaded, but his words fell on deaf ears as the guards approached to stand before them and place their paws on their weapons as a means to push them back.

That was when Wade finally snapped. He wasn't having any of this and dared to stand up on his hind legs, glaring daggers right back at the Shogun. "You're _really_going to just sit there on your throne and dismiss us without prying for more information in regard to what we know?" he demanded, his paws clenched at his sides tightly and shaking. "I don't know what's worse; your unwillingness to learn, or your massive, entitled ego!"

The advisors both gasped at Wade's insolence, the guards had their weapons drawn and Hizashi, for once, had a bewildered, stunned look upon his face as Wade dared to speak so disrespectfully of him. The young Samurott continued his tirade on the Shogun once all eyes were on him.

"I have seen firsthand the kind of damage Calhoun and his Dark Crusade has caused. I have seen the beings he has corrupted and bent to his will. I fought against a God that he tainted alongside my lifelong rival and both the Gods of Space and Emptiness, and only through our combined power did we manage to take him down." He stated angrily. "Calhoun will come for you, and he will either kill or enslave your people when he does. Not if. When! And you're just going to sit there and pretend nothing will happen??"

He then scoffed. "You're supposed to be the mightiest warrior this island has to offer... But all I see is a complacent old man who'd rather risk his kingdom and his people for his narrow-minded ideologies," ge stated before concluding with, "The way I see it, you are not fit to be Shogun."

Jora shared a fearful look with Katsumoto, fearing the situation was about to spiral out of control... Katsu was also staring back at Jora with a fearful gaze before it turned back to Wade, shifting from fearful to incredulous as he waited for the inevitable to happen.

Hizashi's bewilderment slowly faded back to a stern glare, matching Wade's glare for a long moment, before he started to break into laughter, leaving everyone confused at his reaction.

"In all of my years as Shogun... Never have I encountered one who dares disrespect me in the manner you have just now," he stated as he forced himself to calm down. "You have courage, boy. I commend you for that at least, but you must realize the ramifications for your words," he added darkly as he waved his arm.

With that gesture, both guards drew their blades and went to attack Wade. In response, the young Samurott lifted his arms up and blocked both strikes with his armguards, then in a swift motion he swept both warriors off of their feet and had them on their faces, with their blades now in Wade's grasp and held against their necks, his gaze still lingering on Hizashi even as he had his guards at his mercy.

"...I am not your enemy, Lord Hizashi," he stated firmly before he let the swords go, letting them clatter on the ground next to their owners. "But I will not stand here and allow you to endanger your people with your ignorance..." he said as his body started to shine slightly. "You want your proof, Lord Hizashi?"

With that, he suddenly transformed into his Blessed State, revealing his connection to Palkia to those in the chamber, then he looked to his left and held his arm out, concentrating hard and slowly creating what looked like a black hole at first, but then the singularity expanded and stabilized the hole, now becoming a portal that showed one of the many locations that Wade had been to during his travels.

The Shogun was stunned at Wade's transformation, having never seen a Blessed Pokémon before, nevermind one that had control over Palkia's power. After getting over his shock, Hizashi looked between the portal and its caster, who gestured for the elder Samurott to look into it insistently. He narrowed his eyes, skeptical at first, but eventually rose from his throne against his advisors' pleas and approached the portal, gazing into what lay on the other side.

Through the portal, he was treated to the sight of a ruined structure, with architecture bearing many similarities to his nations. It had the look of a holy place, enclosed with a low wall secured by a double-door gate that had been smashed from its hinges. The main body of the structure was caved in multiple locations, as though an enormous beast had collapsed the structure, and even the parts that still stood had been burned and damaged in the aftermath of a chaotic battle.

In the courtyard of the temple stood a statue's pedestal. The statue was nowhere to be found - only its disembodied legs remained where it had once stood, followed by shattered pieces of marble surrounding the pedestal that had been broken so thoroughly, the being they once resembled could not be identified. But the sight that caught his attention most of all were the graves...

Multiple, hand-dug graves, sitting by an outer structure and marked with stones identifying each of the buried, with no signs of weathering, indicating that they had been dug recently. Hizashi audibly gasped at the sight, even taking a few steps back from the portal in shock. That was all Wade needed to see to prove his point, clenching his fist and closing the portal as quickly as it was formed.

"That was once the Temple where the Order of the Fist's Northern Chapter once resided," Wade began, dropping out of his Blessed form and returning to normal. "Calhoun used to reside there as well... He was a warrior monk, possibly the best pupil they had. Unfortunately, he stumbled upon one of the four Nexuses that keep Giratina trapped in his prison, and he was afflicted by the Shadow Curse as a result."

Sensing an opportunity, Jora chose that moment to speak again, knowing Hizashi would be most receptive now that he had seen a Blessed's power firsthand. "Hizashi-sama... You just saw the powers of Palkia, granted to this youth," she gestured to Wade. "Calhoun also possesses such power - the power of Palkia's brother, the Fallen God, and now, know also that Calhoun seeks to free him, and unleash his terror upon the world again."

Hizashi looked toward Jora, still wearing that fearful expression on his face from what he just experienced. "...You're certain of this?"

"It is what we have been trying to explain to you, my Lord," Katsumoto answered with a nod. "Calhoun is a very real threat, and while I do not condone how young Wade has presented his point, he is right. Eventually, he will come for you and destroy everything you have... Your villages, your people... Everything. It is only a matter of when, not if; he will not abide anyone to be free of his evil."

Lord Hizashi looked down slightly as he considered everything he had just learned, his advisors rushing to Lord Hizashi's side and whispering to him to not believe these outsiders out of desperation, but the Samurott silenced them with a gesture. He eventually let out a long sigh and rubbed his neck with his paw before looking back at the three before him.

"It would seem... I have gravely misjudged the situation," he reluctantly admitted, then he gave each of them a firm nod. "...I rescind my statement from before. If what you showed me was just a taste of what this Calhoun can do, then he must be stopped at all costs."

He then looked at Wade intently. "Give us a week. I will have my warriors ready to depart by then."

Wade nodded and then returned to standing on all fours, bowing to Hizashi. "I apologize for my insolence, Lord Thirteenth... But it was the only way to get our point across."

The elder Samurott shook his head in return. "You played a dangerous gamble in doing so, but it paid off in the end," he said with a nod.

With that, the three gave a final bow and departed from the palace, escorted out once again by guards, before being left to continue alone once they were outside of the doors. There, Jora let out a sad sigh.

"I thought I could manage these negotiations myself," she said, "I had approached Lord Hizashi in the same manner I would have one of the Kommo-o Warlords, yet that was not enough." She looked at Wade, "I would say you had a greater impact than I, young Wade."

Wade sighed slightly in response. "My master was Kage... He taught me everything I know today, including how to call out ignorance when I see it," he answered, "I am not proud of what happened, but I'm glad I managed to turn the situation around."

"A small price to pay for the outcome we desired," Katsumoto returned, gently placing his paw atop of Wade's shoulder. "You did well, Wade. Kage would be proud of how you handled that scenario."

"I suppose now we should return to the ship, and inform the others of what has taken place?" Jora suggested.

"You two should return," Wade suggested. "I will stay and assist Lord Hizashi in preparing his warriors for the battle ahead. That, and I feel that Mewtwo might have difficulty transporting that many Pokémon at once even at full strength."

Jora shared another wary look with Katsu before addressing Wade again. "Are you sure? You are still an outsider to them. Even if Hizashi might be willing to accept you, what about his followers?"

"Lord Hizashi knows I am a Blessed now. He has seen what I can do, and I have clearly earned his respect with my gamble," Wade explained, "I may be an outsider, but he knows what I can do, and that might influence his decisions from this point onward."

"I hope you are correct," said Jora, nodding. "Then all we can do is wish you good fortune then, Wade."

"Thank you, Miss Jora," Wade answered with a small bow of his own, then one to Katsumoto. The elder Samurott bowed in return with a smile before he and Jora stepped back, mentally communicating to Mewtwo that he and Jora were ready to return to the Kyogre's Rest.

The two vanished in an instant, leaving Wade behind before they reappeared aboard the deck of the Kyogre's Rest. On the isle, it had been the late morning, but the heat of the sun on their backs told them it was the early afternoon now, and the realization momentarily disoriented them.

"I... Am not sure I will ever grow accustomed to that," said Jora, looking up at the sky, "morning to afternoon and the crossing of continents in an instant."

"I agree... But at least the instant transportation is convenient, if nothing else," Katsu answered with a shrug. "Let us inform Captain Torolf of the good news."

"Agreed," replied Jora, taking a moment to collect herself before she returned to walking on all fours, following Katsumoto to Torolf's office...

~~~~~

Days later...

Luke's body felt heavy at first when he finally began to wake, coming out of what had seemed like an unending dream... His eyes fluttered a little as he slowly opened them, then he squinted as the light almost blinded him, lifting his arm up to cover his eyes and groan in discomfort as he slowly came to. "...Wha-?" He whispered, his voice dry and raspy, which led to a small coughing fit afterward.

The coughing caught the attention of Volcan, fast asleep in a chair beside the bed before being jolted awake. "Luke!" he exclaimed, immediately hugging the Lucario. "Thank Arceus... You're finally awake."

"Hurk!" Luke wheezed as he was held tightly, eyes opening wide as he was forced fully awake by the tightness of the hug. He eventually managed to slide his arms around Volcan and pat his back a few times, trying to get him to ease up so he could breathe.

"Oh, sorry," Volcan said, sheepishly pulling back from Luke. "How are you feeling, love?"

"Aside from the stiffness, And the lack of oxygen," he remarked, winking at Volcan at the second part. "I feel... Oddly refreshed. Like I'm a brand new Lucario."

"Yeah?" Volcan asked, sounding hopeful. "Then... Did it work? Whatever your mother did, you've got your powers back?"

"I guess there's only one way to find out," Luke said, gently leaning back from Volcan and resting back against the headboard of the bed he was in. He then lifted his paw and focused his thoughts into conjuring an Aura Sphere.

The attack manifested almost instantly, larger in size too, which made both of them lean back in astonishment at how quickly and how large it was in Luke's paw. His eyes widened in shock, but that soon turned into an elated grin as he turned to look back at his husband.

"Well, I'm convinced," Volcan said with a grin.

"Likewise," Luke said as he fizzled the attack out, then he crawled back over to Volcan and hugged onto him tight, taking him into a deep kiss out of pure joy.

Volcan threw his arms around Luke, swinging him through the air as they kissed. That was when Luke felt a tug on his arm and a clatter as something fell to the floor. Volcan had to stop swinging him, drawing their attention to the IV tube still embedded in Luke's arm, and the half-empty saline bag and stand now lying on the floor beside his infirmary bed.

"Whoops... Forgot about that," said Volcan, once again sounding sheepish, "Guess we got carried away."

"You did," Luke corrected. "You were the one swinging me around. Not that I'm complaining."

"What is going on in there?" a female voice called as a Gardevoir stepped into the room. She looked around before her gaze settled on Luke. "Ah, our patient is awake, I see," said Gallia as she approached, using telekinesis to pick up the fallen bag and stand, motioning with her other hand for Volcan to set him down. "How are you feeling Luke?"

Volcan, reluctantly, set Luke back on the bed to allow Gallia to do her follow-up examination.

"Honestly I'm feeling great," Luke answered, still smiling even as Gallia conducted her examination. "My powers are back, and I feel as fit as a fiddle... Minus the stiffness."

"Well, you have been asleep for six days," Gallia pointed out as she gently extracted the IV from Luke's arm before cleaning the spot with an alcohol-soaked gauze. "Any other effects?" she asked as she held up a small flashlight, shining it into his eyes briefly.

"No, not really," Luke answered, trying to fight the urge to blink as the Gardevoir shone the light in his eyes.

She nodded. "Alright... You're responsive, and you seem perfectly coherent. So, I'd say you're good to go then. Best you start by going to eat some solid food first but go easy; your stomach won't like too much intake too soon."

"Good idea," Luke agreed, slowly sliding off of the bed and shaking his legs to loosen his muscles a bit, then smiled at Volcan as he moved to hold his hand. "Fancy a celebratory meal?"

"You know it," Volcan replied, gently squeezing Luke's paw as they headed out of the infirmary. "Gallia, thanks for taking care of him."

"My pleasure, Volcan. Take care, you too," the Gardevoir medic replied as she went back to work.

Once outside, Luke had to cover his eyes as the morning sunlight found his face for the first time since he had gone to sleep. They walked slowly, giving his eyes time to adjust, and enjoy the salty smell of the ocean around them.

"So," Luke began as he and Volcan slowly walked along the deck together, leaning onto him for support. "What did I miss these past six days?"

"Well, we were introduced to all the additional flight teams Eagle Eye and his dad rounded up," Volcan began, "Also the other day Katsu and Jora came back from Maelstrom Isle. Apparently, they managed to secure the Shogun's aid - though it took Wade giving him a hard dose of reality to do so. He also stayed behind to help them prepare, but they should be ready by the time we need them."

Luke nodded with each bit of news. "That's good news indeed. Sounds like we'll have quite the armed forces by the time we arrive at Gladiator City," he remarked confidently.

"The makings of an army," said Volcan, and allowed himself a smile. "How the tables have turned, eh?"

"To think, at one point it was Calhoun that had a standing army at his disposal. Now he's the one on the backfoot and we're the one with a numbers advantage," he said with a confident grin. "He won't know what hit him."

"Never forget the rule about a cornered Rattata though," Volcan reminded Luke as they approached the ship's cafeteria. "We can't let our guard down, even if we have the edge now."

"Right. We may have an advantage, but Calhoun's a slippery one. We still need to be aware of any of his tricks," Luke agreed.

The food was delicious to the Lucario. Though he hadn't been aware of it, going so long without solid food in his stomach had given him a ravenous appetite, and he had to remind himself not to eat too fast, or too heavy, as he dug into a bowl of carbonara, with a salad on the side.

As he and Volcan enjoyed their light breakfast, the doors opened and another figure stepped in. "Ah, there you two are," they said. It was Leon.

"Leon?" Volcan asked, swallowing a mouthful of oatmeal. "You were looking for us?"

"Indeed. I was informed that Luke had awoken, and I wanted to discuss something with all captains present," he explained, "But, I can see I caught you at a bad time?"

"Mhm. A little," Luke admitted, wiping his face with a napkin. "Give us maybe... Five minutes and we'll be there."

"Of course. We're meeting in the lounge on the top level," said Leon, "See you then."

Finishing their meal, Volcan and Luke headed to the lounge Leon had mentioned. Upon opening the door, they found the other Captains, including Torolf as well as Leon, were already there. Sickle and Neilla beamed when they saw Luke, with the Lopunny getting up from her seat to greet him.

"Look who's back from the long nap," she said, paws on her hips. "How are you feeling, Luke?"

"Better than ever," Luke answered with a nod, smiling as he greeted her, "Sorry if I worried any of you, though."

"As long as you're okay now," Sickle chimed in from his seat.

"That's right," agreed Neilla, before she leaned in and poked his chest with her paw. "But you owe me a rematch," she said before turning and leading him over to the chair she had been occupying, offering it to him. "Beating you while you're not at your best doesn't feel like a legit win."

"If Kage were present, he'd tell you that a win is a win regardless," Luke remarked as he gratefully took the seat. "But I do understand where you're coming from. Let's meet again tomorrow for that rematch."

"That may have to wait, depending on our decision here," Torolf chimed in, "Forgive me for eavesdropping," he added.

"So, what's this about, Torolf?" Volcan asked.

"There's one more we need, if he's willing to attend," said Torolf, before leaning back in his seat.

A few seconds later, there was a flash of light, and Mewtwo appeared in the room. He was floating, as usual, with his arms crossed and long, thick tail swaying absently over the floor. The sudden appearance of the legendary Psychic-type startled a few of the attendees, still not accustomed to seeing him.

"Now, Leon will begin," said Torolf, gesturing to his second in command.

With that, Leon cleared his throat and stepped forward. "We are currently still seven days away from Gladiator City - give or take," he began, "But the letter from Captain Romulus concerns me that time may be against us, at least regarding our goals to aid him if indeed there will be an attempt on his life."

"Is there any way to know if he's already been attacked?" Ernoul inquired.

"Not from here. We could send Razorwing or Eagle Eye ahead to investigate, and with their speed they could certainly be back in a few days," Leon continued. "However... I have a different idea in mind. One that could accomplish two possible objectives; to keep us informed of the status of Team Phobia and provide reinforcements if indeed the attack has not happened yet."

"We are proposing sending forth an advance team, to be teleported the remaining distance by Mewtwo," Leon continued, gesturing to the Legendary Psychic-type with his flipper, "and we wish to determine who would be best to carry out this mission."

'I have been to Gladiator City on two occasions. I know its location,' Mewtwo offered, sending an open telepathic message throughout the room. 'We are close enough that I could send at least twelve of you without straining myself.'

"Shit, Mewtwo hasn't fully recovered yet either," Volcan muttered to himself, clearly hoping that after almost two weeks at sea, Mewtwo would have recuperated. A year under the Shadow Curse had done more damage to him than it seemed, and he doubted Luminara could help him the same way she had helped Luke...

Luke shared an equally concerning glance with Volcan, then turned his attention back to Mewtwo. "Are you sure you're up for it?" he asked for clarification, "What if teleporting that many Pokémon causes your recovery to relapse?"

Mewtwo looked at him. 'Your concern is appreciated, Captain Luke,'_he began, _'But my assistance so far has made me more certain of my limits. This will not endanger me.'

Luke and Volcan shared a brief look with each other, before returning their attention to the meeting as Ernoul spoke. "Do we know who we are sending?" he asked.

"I had given that some thought as well," Leon said, "and I believe Team Phalanx would be the best choice."

Volcan stood a little straighter. "My team? Why?"

"A few reasons," began Leon, "The first, and most obvious, is that there are two members of your team that have been to Gladiator City, yes?"

Volcan nodded. "Lashanne has been there before, yes, and Tristan was born there," he clarified.

"The second reason," began Leon, this time looking at Luke and Neilla. "Team Plainsrunner is currently down a member - one who, if I'm being honest, would have been the best choice out of any of us for the desert climate we are traveling to. As for Team Valiant's members, they have already been quite busy; Katsumoto, Eagle Eye and Kage have all secured us additional help."

"Be that as it may, they're still ready and able to help if it comes down to it." Luke spoke up in defense of his comrades. "That said, Kage is the only one keeping the rest of the Kaeru in check, and Eagle Eye is probably still wanting to rest his wings after flying for so long... So-"

"I will volunteer."

Everyone froze at the sudden voice, following it to the ceiling of the lounge and seeing a familiar hooded figure staring down from one of the light fixtures intently at the meeting. Luke let out an exasperated sigh and shot him a dirty look.

"The apple really doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?" he muttered irritably.

"Who is this?" Leon demanded as Hageshi jumped down from the light; though he had technically seen Hageshi before, he'd never been introduced to him.

"His name's Hageshi," Volcan introduced the young Greninja, "He's Kage's son."

Torolf glared at the Greninja. "This is a_Captain's_ meeting, boy; you were not invited here."

"I know... But as with my father, I make it my business to know things," Hageshi returned in a stoically calm manner, unafraid of Torolf despite the size difference. "Besides, if I hadn't been listening in, you all would be wasting precious time deciding on who should be going ahead of the rest of us."

"And what makes you think you qualify?" Sickle demanded, leaning forward in his seat, "You're a water-type, going to a desert. You'll be at a severe disadvantage there."

"And before you even mention it - 'cuz I know you're just waiting to flex it," Volcan added in a derisive tone, "Kyurem's power wouldn't give you any sort of edge; he'd struggle in a place like the desert just as much as you will."

"Not when you control a temperature that can reach absolute zero," Hageshi countered.

Ernoul, despite remaining unmoved from his position, decided then to chime in. "As the Blessed of Kyurem, Hageshi may be useful," he began, bringing all eyes to him then. "The desert is home to many Ground-types, which Calhoun will have undoubtedly recruited to his side. Kyurem is far more powerful than any other Ice-type in the world; even more so than myself, or Auro-" he paused, accidentally using his patron's real name. "Articuno."

"Furthermore," he looked at Leon. "One of your reasons for not considering my team, or even your own, is because we also lack anyone suited to the desert climate, and, second only to Team Kama, my Team Storm is the smallest in number."

Leon grimaced, but nodded. "That is accurate. That was my third reason for considering Team Phalanx," he admitted. "My respect, Ernoul, that you deduced that so easily."

"Having lived as long as I have, some things just fall into place," the ice-type Ninetales said, before his eyes settled on Hageshi again.

There was no animosity in his gaze, despite the history of the two. Ernoul did not let it show if he harboured any ill feelings toward Hageshi after the two had fought before, for the fate of Jora. Likewise, Hageshi seemed to hold no ill will against the Alolan Ninetales as he stared back at him, merely nodding slightly back to him as a gesture of respect and gratitude for backing up his claim.

Luke gave a heavy sigh. "Well... I guess Hageshi's coming with us then," he reluctantly admitted. "That still only solves one issue though. There's still five more we need to bring along for this advanced team."

"It doesn't exactly need to be twelve," said Leon, "But I was going to let Captain Volcan work that out for himself who to take along."

Volcan put a hand to his beak, considering it. "It does seem logical... With Lashanne and Sol and myself, we have three fire-types; we're all stronger in hot climates," he began, "Minato's Blessed - as are Sol and Hageshi, and he already has experience cleansing Shadow Pokémon. Tristan understands the climate, terrain and the types of opponents we'll face if Calhoun's replenished his forces."

"The only base we're not covering then is the unexpected," Volcan continued, "I'll have to work that out with my team and the rest of our group to decide who we're taking along."

"Understood," said Leon, nodding. "So, you will accept the mission then, Volcan?"

"I will," the Blaziken replied, "I already know Captain Luke will want to come as well; I'm sure none of you need to ask why. I'll return to my team now and we'll work out the details."

Neilla looked at Luke. "Guess we'll have to take a raincheck on that rematch," she said and then added with a grin. "Lucky you."

"Oh? You think you could take me then?" Luke shot back with a grin of his own. "Maybe we ought to settle it after this meeting's over."

"I doubt we'll have time," she said, "Besides, you'll need to conserve your energy for the mission ahead. Wouldn't do anyone any good if I hurt you all over again," she added with a wink.

Sickle snickered from his seat. "I'm really starting to like Captain Neilla; she's got a lot of spirit," he said.

"That she does," Luke concurred with a smile.

"Alright. Let's go round up the others for this little expeditionary team," said Volcan as Luke stood up. "Hageshi, you're with me."

"Be careful guys," Sickle called, "We'll catch up with you soon."

"Will do," Luke answered with a smile. "See you when you get there."

"You got it," replied Neilla.

"Good luck, you two," Torolf added as Volcan and Luke departed, followed by Hageshi.

It was almost noon when, after rounding up their teammates, Valiant and Phalanx both met at the airship where it was touched down and were joined by Mewtwo. Included among them were Luminara, having heard about the meeting from Katsumoto when he'd passed her by, along with Jora, Koa and Caulin. Luna was also present, as he had been with Sol at the time he was summoned.

Volcan filled them in on the plan, giving them the short version of it. At the conclusion of his explanation, Lashanne spoke up. "So, we're the first pick for an advance team, eh?"

"We're the best suited to the mission, yes," Volcan agreed, nodding. "We also have room to take a few others. Hageshi is already coming, and Mewtwo said he can safely send twelve."

"That would make seven then," said Lashanne.

"And Luke," Volcan reminded.

"Eight," Lashanne corrected herself, nodding an apology to Luke.

"Wait, why Luke?" Tristan asked. "We've already got Minato to fill the roles a Lucario can fit; he can cleanse Shadow Pokémon the same way, right?"

"Because A: I refuse to travel anywhere without my husband after the last time we were separated," Luke answered pointedly. "B: While Minato is capable of cleansing the Shadow Curse without risk of being corrupted himself, he can only do one at a time, and we don't know how many Pokémon Calhoun might have corrupted. The more we have on our side, the safer we'll be."

"Can't argue with that," said Lashanne, shrugging, "Also, Luke has a _little_more experience doing that than Minato does. I'd say it's better to have him along."

"Perhaps a third might make things better," came the sound of Luminara's voice, causing everyone to turn toward her direction.

"Luminara?" Lashanne asked, "You want to come too?"

"I do," She answered firmly. "As I mentioned before, it's time I played a more active part in stopping this madness from continuing any further."

Minato only rolled his eyes in response to such a claim but chose to keep quiet regardless of that topic.

"Having another Lucario and another Blessed along could be helpful," Volcan agreed.

Then, someone else stepped into the meeting, drawing the attention of both teams. It was Koa, who when he had their attention thumped his chest with his paw, speaking in his native tongue, and Jora appeared to translate for everyone.

"It appears Koa wishes to come as well," she said, "Which means you'll need me to be his interpreter, if you'll have me."

"There will be a lot of Ground-types out there," Lashanne warned, "The whole desert's a hotspot for them, and you two are especially threatened by them."

"We will be careful," Jora promised.

"Having the kid along as an electric-type could work," Tristan agreed, "May be a lot of Ground-types but there's plenty of Water and Flying-types out there too."

"Then why not take me?" Lighris called from above, perched on the walkway above where they stood. "The kid's good, but I'm more experienced. And I'm loathe to let Volcan out of my sight either."

"You should stay here, Lighris," Volcan reasoned, "Take some time to train with the Red Talons or one of the other flying teams Captain Talonclaw brought in. You won't have a better opportunity than now."

Lighris scoffed. "I don't need training," he said, "I already have the most power out of anyone here-"

"And you barely know how to use it," Volcan interjected, "All of us know how powerful you are, Lighris, but you're still a wildcard. Koa has had training and can follow directions. We need that as much as we need firepower, but having power and knowing how to use it are not the same thing."

Volcan caught a glance from Sol out of the corner of his eye, and a smirk from the Typhlosion, recognizing the same argument that Volcan had given him when they first met. Lighris looked like he wanted to argue, but everyone was giving him the same wry look that his brother was, and the peer pressure was enough to make him stop and consider.

Lighris sighed. "Since you're in charge of the mission and will be sent off by Mewtwo, I suppose I can't bull my way into this one like I did the Hadleigh mission," he said.

"Nope," Volcan replied, flatly.

With another sigh and a roll of his eyes, Lighris backed down. "Fine... I'll train with the other fliers for a while, but only for you, bro."

"If Koa's goin', then so am I," came one more, with all eyes turning to see Caulin with his arms on his hips, looking at the group expectantly.

"Oh for-" Luke grumbled softly. "Somehow I completely forgot he tagged along..."

"Now hang on a second Caulin, we-" Volcan began, but Caulin cut him off.

"I made myself loud and clear when I told Mama Bird off," The young Lucario stated firmly, moving to stand with Koa. "I'm_done_ standing by on the sidelines and watching everyone I love get kicked to the curb or worse. I'm doing my part, and there's nothing any of you can do to stop me."

"...I like where his head's at," Sol remarked with a smirk.

"Not. Helping," Luke said through grit teeth toward the Typhlosion.

Minato moved to stand before his son, staring down at him in silence for a long while before sighing and shaking his head. "I know I can't stop you from making this decision..." he began softly. "You're right... You're growing up now. I can't keep coddling you like I did while you were a child," the elder Lucario reluctantly admitted, then he opened his eyes into a firm gaze.

"That being said, I hope you're aware of the risks in getting involved, son. The Crusade's playing for keeps now... If you give them an opening, they will take it without a moment's hesitation," Minato said as he placed both paws on his son's shoulders. "You may have defeated Sash, but there are still others among Calhoun's ranks just as bad if not worse than him..."

Caulin nodded. "I know. I'm stronger now, and thanks to Sol I got a better handle on my new power... But I know who not to pick a fight with," he said firmly. "I'll be careful, Dad. Promise."

"I'll hold you to that," Minato said, giving him a small noogie and smirking a bit as he stepped away.

Jora stepped forward. "Caulin can stay with Koa and I," she offered, "We can protect each other. And, Koa seems to have grown fond of Caulin as well," she added as she saw Koa come to stand beside the younger Lucario.

Volcan took a moment to consider it before turning to regard Luke's team. "Do any of you have anything to add?" he asked, "With Caulin along, that's our twelve."

"I'd say you guys are as good to go as ever," Eagle piped up. "I wouldn't be much help out there, since my wings are still a bit sore from flying at Mach one for so long."

"And as mighty as I am, even I would fall prey to the desert heat as well," Katsumoto added. "I believe I speak for all of us when I say... Good luck to you all."

Kage nodded silently in agreement, then cast a glance to his son, who nodded once back without a word.

"Give 'em a good one-two fer me, guys," Hank added with a wink.

Serena stepped out from her team to approach Katsu, who lowered his head enough for her to kiss him. "I will see you soon, beloved Katsu," she said softly to him.

"Tread carefully, my fair maiden..." he whispered back, rubbing her cheek gently before he let her rejoin her friends.

When Serena was back with them, Volcan looked individually each of his teammates. "Everyone ready?"

"All set," Lashanne replied.

"Ready," Luke answered.

"Rarin' to go!" Caulin answered.

"Let's fuckin' go already," Sol stated impatiently.

Hageshi nodded in response.

"No time like the present," Minato added.

"I wonder how much the city will have changed since I was there?" Tristan asked; for a change, he sounded thoughtful, rather than simply being eager for the next battle. This change in character did not go unnoticed by the others.

"Tristan?" Volcan asked.

"Huh?" the Aggron asked, looking at Volcan. "Oh right. Yeah, I'm ready to go."

Serena and Lashanne both looked to Minato with puzzled expressions; he had known Tristan longer than either of them, and wondered if he knew what was going on in the Aggron's mind, as he was not being his usual, brutish self. The Lucario just shrugged back in response and shook his head, apparently just as clueless as they were.

"Alright. Mewtwo, we need you down here," Volcan called.

At his name being called, Mewtwo appeared behind the Blaziken, teleporting onto the scene. 'You called?'

"Ah!" Volcan jumped, whirling on his heel to face the Psychic-type. "Don't do that!"

A collection of snickers rose from the group. Volcan cast his teammates a dirty look before turning to address Mewtwo again. "We've decided who's going on ahead," he said. "We're ready to go if you're ready to send us."

Mewtwo nodded. 'Stand closer together,' he said, shutting his eyes and holding up his hand, concentrating.

The twelve did as instructed, moving closer together until they were all standing in a neatly packed square. They felt Mewtwo's psionic energy covering them, spreading out to make sure the entire group was in the bubble of his teleportation. They saw Mewtwo's eyes clench with visible strain, before he enacted the teleportation, with the advance team disappearing in a flash...

"Good luck, bro," Lighris said in a melancholic tone, frowning from his spot on the rail as he stared at where the team had been...

The journey was short, but the arrival was disorienting; the moment everyone materialized into being, the first thing they noticed was that it was dark. The sudden appearance into the blackness of night confused them, until Lashanne - catching a glimpse of the night sky, spoke.

"It's okay! We just teleported into a different timezone," she said, "Bear in mind we just crossed, like, three thousand kilometers and it was morning when we left."

"Sheesh... Day to night in an instant," said Volcan, shaking his head.

"It was quite disorienting for Katsumoto and I, when we returned from Maelstrom Isle," Jora agreed.

"...Buncha wimps," Sol muttered, sounding as tough as always, but deep down he was equally as disturbed as the others, clenching his paws tight to hide the fact that they were shaking.

As Volcan's eyes adjusted to the darkness, he took in their surroundings. "Whoa..."

They stood at the end of a long street, leading to the dock areas. The buildings around them were composed of pale stone, and the streets ahead of them were arranged in an orderly grid-pattern, each one beginning in the plaza before the docks where they now stood and stretching far to the west. At the center of the plaza was a large fountain, filling the dark plaza with the sound of trickling water, the street corners illuminated by oil lamps.

Tucked away in the corner of the plaza, far off to the left, was a large symmetrical building with a sign above the door reading 'Gladiator City Guild Hall', with the doors illuminated by two more oil lamps. It was decorated with hanging banners, bearing the marks of the guild council, and was the newest-looking out of all the buildings they could see - although none looked especially old.

"...Tristan," Volcan began, "You said Gladiator City was a slum town."

"It _was_when I left," Tristan replied, staring at the newly constructed, clean and orderly community before them with a look of awe. "If it wasn't for the colosseum back there," he pointed over the rooftops, beyond the streets and houses, "I'd say Mewtwo had sent us to the wrong place."

Where Tristan pointed, the group could see a humongous stone structure - utterly dwarfing any other building in the town. A multi-level, round building of well-weathered stone, decorated by lights on every level to make its outline visible even from a distance.

That was when they also noticed an upper level to the city, wrapping around the southern end of the streets in a semicircular fashion, lined with large, expensive-looking structures. In front of the largest among them was a large, wooden elevator, leading up from the main body of the city to the upper levels, and they could see a medical insignia painted on the front of the structure - apparently, a hospital.

"Romulus worked hard to raise this place from the slum town it used to be," Lashanne stated. "All these brand-new houses you can see from, and that guild hall right there? Ten years ago, none of those were here."

"Twenty_years ago, there was _nothing here," Tristan countered, his head turning slowly as he took in the city sights once more. "Just shacks, rickety structures made from salvaged wood, and gangs - so many gangs... Now it's like... Like..." the Aggron could not even find the words he wanted to describe what he was seeing.

"Dare I say it," Luke began, struggling to take in the sight of the city himself. "Romulus... He did everything in his power to turn this place into what it is today," he stated, then looked down slightly. "...Maybe I really was wrong about him before."

Volcan let out a breath, "Maybe we all were."

"You there!" an authoritative voice shouted at them, and they turned sharply to see a pair of large Pokémon - Pangoro, by the look of it, carrying long staves in their hands, approached them. They both wore uniforms on top of their already tuxedo-like fur, made of light padded cotton and both of them in a matching black colour with red stripes, and badges on their torsos, over the left side above the heart.

Hageshi was already reaching for his weapon when Lashanne held up her paw. "Hold on there, kiddo; it's the town watch," Lashanne stated, "These guys are the law enforcement here."

"There's even law enforcement now?" Tristan asked.

Volcan stepped forward to speak for the group, hands raised. "Good evening, officers," he began, keeping his tone neutral, "I apologize if we're causing any sort of disturbance."

"You're out during the early morning hours when there's a curfew in effect," one of the Pangoro stated, "Explain yourselves."

"We're not citizens of Gladiator City," Volcan explained, "We're Rescue Team Phalanx, come at the summons of Romulus, Captain of Team Phobia, and head of this city."

The Pangoro addressing Volcan gave him a skeptical look. "That's a big claim; can you prove it?" he asked.

Volcan didn't miss a beat. "Luke, do you have that letter with you?" he asked, "The one Romulus sent out?"

"Y-Yea, one second." Luke answered, quickly digging into his scarf and reaching for the folded letter he kept on him, handing it to the guard once he found it. As a means of further validating their claim, he also pulled out his team medal and presented it to the guard as well.

The guard looked at his team medal, as well as Volcan's when he turned his harness to present it. With that he unfolded the letter and leaned into the light of a lamp to read it. His skeptical expression softened the more he read it, and then he looked at his comrade, whispering something to him. The two nodded, and the Pangoro looked at Luke and Volcan again.

"Seems you're the real deal," he said, handing the letter back to Luke. "If you're looking to meet Romulus, you may need to wait until the morning; it's unlikely he's still out this time of night."

"We can show you to accommodations if you need it," the other added.

But a new voice chimed into the conversation. "That will not be necessary, guardsmen."

The two stiffened to attention as a bulky silhouette materialized into being, appearing as if from the dark of night itself and approaching them. A Dusknoir, who Luke and Volcan remembered well.

"You men can return to your patrol," stated Revane, "I will take it from here."

"Yes, sir," the two replied in unison, and turned to leave without question, while Revane regarded the newcomers.

Lashanne visibly shuddered. "Whoa... So that's Revane," she said lowly, "Romulus' second in command... He's not scary at all."

Beside Caulin, he could feel Koa tensing, clearly intimidated by the Dusknoir. Looking over, Caulin could see Koa's fur was standing on end, and his claws were outstretched. Jora, standing opposite, grasped Koa's paw, whispering something to him in their native dialect. Koa calmed only slightly, but never took his eyes from the Dusknoir.

"Been a while, Revane," Volcan said, greeting the Dusknoir with a nod.

"Not since the islands, I believe," Revane replied. Respectfully, he didn't make mention of what he'd done for them at that time, saving them from the Palossand. "Romulus is in his office at the colosseum; he never went home tonight."

"He's _still_awake?" Luminara asked, her eyes wide in surprise and concern.

"Why would he be up this late?" Volcan asked.

"The colosseum is a more secure location," Revane replied, "He spends much of his time there now, where he is better prepared for the potential assassin he was warned about. And, where he can watch over the asset, in case the Crusade comes after them."

"...Asset?" Minato asked, tilting his head curiously. "Care to elaborate on that?"

"That is for him to disclose," Revane replied, "But I can tell you the asset is a member of the Dark Crusade, who has left them and came to us for protection, in exchange for providing intelligence on the Crusade, along with their location."

Volcan shared a look with Luke, both having the same thought; they wanted to see this asset, and to inform Romulus that they had come. They turned back to Revane, and Volcan spoke again.

"May we see Romulus?" he asked.

"Follow me," Revane replied, turning and levitating up the street.

The group did as they were instructed, matching their pace with that of the Dusknoir and walking up the dimly lit street, heading toward the colosseum. As all city streets seemed to end at the plaza where the dockyards began, so too did they all seem to start at the colosseum, leading right to the base of the structure. Along the way, they passed one other large road, heading northward.

Along that road, they could make out the span of another plaza - this one ringed with buildings that looked like shops, from what they could see, and the road eventually ended at a large gate - a set of double doors in a low wall built around the town. The gate was currently shut, and lantern-bearing sentries walked along the wall leading over it.

"The city is laid out very plainly," Serena remarked in observation. "Was that done deliberately?"

"Yes," was the only answer Revane gave.

Volcan looked back at Serena. "He's not a chatty Ghost-type," he informed her, discreetly. If Revane heard him, he took no offense to the remark.

"Something he and I share in common..." Hageshi remarked stoically.

"Sheesh, you're a ray of sunshine, aren't you?" Caulin remarked, casting a look at Hageshi. "Are you always so... dreary?"

"I'm focusing on what needs to be done. Pleasantries can wait until then." He answered plainly.

Caulin scrunched his snout a little, then glanced at Volcan. "...I don't think I like him very much."

Volcan grimaced, giving a slight nod in agreement, and resisting the urge to say 'You and me both'. But, he wisely kept his opinion to himself, not wanting to provoke hostilities from Hageshi when their mission had yet to even begin...

After crossing the city, which took much longer than expected, they finally came to stand at the foot of the colosseum. Up close, the great structure was even bigger than it had looked from afar, rising tall over any other structure in the city, and nearly as high as the mountain wall it seemed to have been carved out of, which stretched to the north and south.

"Man, this place is huge," said Volcan.

"It's one of the oldest structures on the West Continent," Lashanne said, "Dating back more than two hundred years - long before the city was ever built. Back in those days, it was a place of bloodsport, then fell out of use for about forty years - until the ancestors of the big five came along, reopened it, and also founded the original 'city', if you could call it that. Really, they were just taking in desperate folk from the desert; some of the earliest settlers here were bandits and pirates. This place was almost like a penal colony, in a way."

"So, what, they just brought cons and criminals out here from the desert to fight against other cons to the death?" Sol asked with a raised eyebrow. "Probably a good idea that I wasn't brought here... This would be like a walk through an amusement park fer me back in the day."

"Yeah, well, it only got worse from there," said Lashanne, "Scattered settlements across the continent, including Princeport, began sending their criminals here, essentially selling them to the original big five; that's part of how they grew so wealthy. The gambling possibilities also attracted more bandits and pirates, and the big five grew even wealthier by also offering this place as a safe haven for those criminals, protecting them from the law of the other settlements if they ever came after them."

"But, as is usually the case," Lashanne continued, "a life of gambling comes back to bite you. More of those original 'colonists' started accruing gambling debts when they kept borrowing money to bet with. The people here today are descendants of those indentured combatants, having inherited the debts of their parents, and not being allowed to leave unless they paid for them. That," she concluded darkly, "Is where you end up with people like Romulus himself... Or Eberon."

"Was Romulus one of those indentured combatants?" Volcan asked.

"Not him, no," Lashanne replied, shaking her head.

"His father," Revane chimed in.

Luke sensed the conversation was going to become grim, he stepped in. "This... seems like a topic for another time." Luke commented, "Let's just focus on what we're here for."

"Smartest thing I've heard all day," Hageshi muttered under his breath.

Nobody pressed the issue, agreeing with Luke's sentiment about where the conversation was heading. Revane led them into the colosseum, into a waiting area with multiple seats lining the walls or forming rows between them.

"This looks like the terminal of a ferry or a train station," Volcan remarked, "What do they need all these seats for?"

"People wait here until the daily matches start," Lashanne replied, "there are also concession stands down each hallway."

Volcan cast a wry look at the shuttered counters they passed as Revane led them down the corridor to the left. They soon came to a forked section, where the hallway ahead was blocked off by an iron gate, marked with the sign 'Combatants only'; instead, the Dusknoir led them up a flight of stairs to the left of the gate, and a second flight following, bringing them to the third floor.

This time, there was no gate barring either direction; multiple signs directing spectators to the seating areas were located on the columns and doorways leading outside. Through the doorways they could see the wide-open arena, and the rows upon rows of seats in the stands for spectators.

Revane led them on, until he came to a single, lone door. He approached it, and then stopped, looking up above it. "Zofia."

At the call of her name, a female Ariados descended via web from the ceiling above. Her beady eyes looked at the group, studying them, before settling on Volcan. "...I remember you," she said in a scratchy voice, accompanied by the clicking of her mandible. "We fought, once... A Zoroark disguised you, making you appear to be him."

"Yep, that was me," Volcan confirmed.

"Is Romulus still here?" Revane asked.

"Yes," Zofia replied, "He hasn't come out since he went to get dinner, and then came right back again. He's been inside ever since."

Revane nodded, and with that, Zofia retreated back up to the ceiling, disappearing into a shady alcove above the door. Revane turned to address the group again. "This is where you will find him," he said, gesturing to the door. "The office is crowded, so only a few of you may enter at a time."

"Then Volcan and I should go in," Luke offered, "The rest of you can take it easy until we return."

"I'd like to go in as well," Luminara added, causing Luke to look at her oddly. "Perhaps I can offer some insight in how we can take down Calhoun more efficiently, given who I am linked to."

"Well... Okay then," said Volcan with a shrug.

The three of them approached the door, and Volcan raised his hand to knock. There was no answer at first, and so he knocked a second time. This time, the delay was brief, before they heard a voice calling from inside; "Enter," It sounded deep, like someone who had just awoken...

Volcan pulled open the office door, leaning his head in before opening the door the rest of the way. As Revane had said, the inside of the office was indeed small, measuring only nine feet by ten, with more than half of the office occupied by furniture. At the middle of the office, a large desk, with various documents spread out across it, behind that desk, two large bookshelves, filled with various tomes - some old, some newer.

The wall to the right was completely covered by an enormous map of the West Continent, from north to south. Every city or settlement, large and small, marked and labeled - including, of course, Gladiator City, as the southernmost location, with the majority of municipalities seeming to be focused in the far, more hospitable north end of the continent at the top of the map.

They saw Romulus at the desk, seated in a large chair with both paws resting on the surface of the wooden desk. They also noticed his mouth was open in a jaw-stretching yawn, which he tried to cover by lifting his paw over it - though it was too late to hide it. The puffiness of his eyes also suggested he had not been sleeping well of late...

He blinked his eyes at the three, looking between them until his eyes widened with recognition. "Luke? Volcan?" he asked, and then his eyes found the third. "Lu-... Luminara?"

"Good morning, Romulus," she answered with a nod, keeping a straight face as the three of them entered.

"Pardon our intrusion," Luke began as the door shut behind them, then looked more closely at the Houndoom with some mild concern. "...You look like you've barely gotten any sleep."

Romulus huffed slightly, before he answered. "Indeed, I have not," he replied, before he hopped down from his chair, walking around the desk to approach them. "I must admit... I'm surprised to see you all here. It can't have already been that long since I sent the summons."

"It's only been two weeks, give or take," Volcan confirmed, "We had a bit of help getting here. Torolf and multiple other teams are on their way, but we were sent as an advance force, to make sure you had some backup."

Romulus nodded, understanding. "Good... I certainly welcome some additional strength right now," he said. "I had to double my city's security after I learned the Crusade planned to assassinate me, and I imposed a curfew to limit the movements of any potential assassins. Yet, knowing what we're up against, I've been restless."

"Well, you can rest a little easier," Luke answered firmly, "Torolf and the rest of our reinforcements are on their way as we speak. We've basically brought a standing army with us to stand against the Crusade."

Romulus nodded again, and turned his head away as he yawned once more. "Ah... Forgive me," he said.

"...Maybe we ought to have this meeting later," Volcan offered, "You're exhausted; we all can see it."

"I know... But I can manage it," he assured them, stubbornly refusing to let himself give in to his fatigue.

"Romulus..." Luminara said, putting on that motherly tone of hers and crossing her arms in front of her chest. "I think you ought to rest. You've been running yourself ragged and your body is breaking down because of it."

"But I-"

"We can pitch in now," Volcan dared to interrupt, and didn't back down even when Romulus leered at him, "Now that we're here, and we know you and your team are alive, let us help. We can watch over the city for you, while you get yourself some rest. You're no good to anyone in this state; especially not yourself if the assassin or assassins come soon."

Romulus looked like he wanted to argue further, but yet another yawn silenced whatever argument he was about to make. "Blast it... Perhaps you're right," he said.

"Someone's going to have to help him get home," said Volcan, speaking in a low voice while turning toward the door, intent on fetching Revane. "In this state he's likely to pass out before he even gets there."

"I'll help him," Luminara offered suddenly and without thinking.

This time it was Volcan's turn to give Luminara an odd look, which he then turned to Luke. He shared an equally odd look with him before turning his attention back to his Mother.

"With all due respect, Mother... Perhaps it's best to let his team take care of him. They know the city better than we do, and-"

"I said, I'll help him," she stated in a firmer tone.

Volcan put up his hands. "I... Think we should just let her," he said.

"I... Yea, I suppose so," Luke concurred, taking a small step back and nodding to her, "We'll uh... see you later, Mother."

With that, Luminara walked beside Romulus as Volcan held the door open for her, letting her pass with the exhausted Houndoom by her side. The others were waiting outside the door when he emerged, and immediately Romulus straightened his posture, doing his best to mask his fatigue as he passed. Behind him, Volcan and Luke came back out of the office.

"Alright, change of plans, guys," he began. "Revane, would you have a place you can accommodate us for the night?"

"We do," the Dusknoir answered, "The Diplomat's Manse on the second level; it has room enough for all of you. I can show you the way."

"Good," said Volcan, "Since we're all relatively fresh, we're going to join up with the town watch for the night. We'll meet with Romulus first thing in the morning. First, let's go check out where we'll be staying, and then we'll get to work."

"Sounds good," Minato said with a nod, "After we get settled in, we should divide into groups of two so we can better scout the city's borders."

"Good idea," agreed Volcan, "Okay, Revane; show us the way."

Once again, the group followed the Dusknoir, heading down the stairs where Luminara and Romulus had gone, with the group following behind.

~~~~~

When Romulus and Luminara left the colosseum, the Houndoom directed Luminara to his home, located on the second level of the city, and to a natural ramp in the mountainside leading up to the cliff. "It'll be the first one on the right," he added as they made their way toward the ramp.

She nodded to him gently, taking said first right as directed. "Exactly how many hours of sleep have you lost since... You found your asset?" she asked directly.

He did not immediately answer, trying to recount the hours himself. But eventually he shook his head. "I'm not sure," he said, "Besides keeping the city secure and watching for the assassin, I've been trying to devise a plan to assault the enemy's stronghold... Unfortunately, I just do not have the means to do it; my team alone would not be enough to take the Crusade's final stronghold ourselves. Least of all, if Calhoun has replenished his forces enough by now."

Luminara nodded softly in response. "You aren't alone anymore, Romulus," she assured him gently, "My son and his team will do everything they can to keep your city safe... And with the army we're bringing, we will stop Calhoun from fulfilling his desire," she added, her paw gently touching him as they walked together.

He found he liked the feeling of her paw on his side, whereas from others he might have shied away. But not with her... He made no move to distance himself from her touch as they approached the house, and Romulus unlocked the door with a special key he handled in his mouth, pulling down the handle with his paw before stepping inside.

The house was fairly large, yet out of all the structures on the second level that Luminara could see, it was the smallest. Yet inside, it was beautiful, with walls stained a beautiful auburn hue and scarlet carpets along the floor. The stairs, which Romulus approached, were built parallel to the main hall, and the banister was capped with brass, giving it a golden hue in the light of the lamp above the door.

Following Romulus up the stairs, Luminara found the second floor similarly decorated. The Houndoom led the way to the first door on the left of the hall, pushing it open and stepping inside.

"There... Is another room, next to this one," he said, sleepily dragging himself toward the bed in the room he had entered. "You may take it if you want to stay here... It should be-" he was interrupted by another jaw stretching yawn, "prepared..."

She looked behind her toward the door leading to the hall, hesitating for a second as she glanced between Romulus and the door, then she went to approach it. However, rather than exiting Romulus' chambers, she gently shut the door and stood there for a moment, then she sighed and placed her forehead against it as she pieced together what she wanted to say.

"Romulus... I must confess something," she said softly. "My reasons for getting involved in this war... Coming here with my son. There was an ulterior motive behind them."

Romulus, initially surprised to see that she had not left the room, turned to look at her, his tired eyes seeming to fill with life again as he took her in... He didn't know why, but as he watched her, he started to feel his heart beating stronger in his chest. He could do little else but stand, and wait to hear what she had to say, the king-sized bed behind him now forgotten...

Luminara slowly turned around to face him, a softer, slightly more longing expression was present in her eyes as she looked back at him. "I came here... Because I wanted... No... I needed to see you again."

"To see... Me?" Romulus repeated, feeling his heart quickening further as he stared at Luminara, his tired eyes meeting hers.

She nodded, then started to approach him calmly, stopping when she was before him and kneeling to his level. "I had been feeling... Certain things that I cannot explain ever since our last encounter at Shamshir's funeral," she admitted. "After that day, I... I can't explain it, but I've been having this urge to see you again; the same urge I felt when I saw how much pain you were in that day."

Then she stifled a chuckle as she continued. "The funny thing is... I had a dream one night about how my fate was intertwined with another... And that my time would not come to an end anytime soon," she admitted, leaving out the part where she was Arceus' Blessed. "I think now I'm starting to understand what that dream meant."

Romulus pawed at the floor absently, seemingly not aware he was doing it; when he looked down at his paw, he forced it to stay still before raising his gaze to Luminara again. "And you think... It meant me?" he asked. There was a hopeful note in his voice.

At that, she smiled back at Romulus, reaching down with her own paw to place it over the Houndoom's lightly. "I can't think of anyone else," she answered, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks as they stared at one another.

Romulus looked back at Luminara for a long, quiet moment, before his droopy eyes reminded him why he was there. "Then would you... Like to stay?" he asked.

"I thought you'd never ask," Luminara answered with a nod, releasing his paw and standing back upright before gesturing to his bed.

With that, the two climbed onto the bed together. Romulus, slowly, moved to lay beside Luminara, resting on his belly before he slowly laid his head over her midriff, making sure she approved the motion before he let it settle.

In turn, Luminara smiled at the gesture and responded in kind by placing her paw atop his head, lightly stroking down to his neck a few times before returning to his head and keeping her paw there.

"Now, you get plenty of rest," she stated gently, yet still with that motherly authoritative tone. "You're going to need it."

He gave her a tired glance, but voiced no reply as he finally surrendered to his fatigue and closed the lids of his eyes, his breathing becoming steady as he let sleep take him. While she wasn't tired herself, she waited until she was sure that Romulus had fallen asleep before she too shut her eyes, deciding to take her own advice and get in a small bit of sleep for herself.