The golden light of morning spilled across Ravios.
The sound of chiming bells echoed from the spires of the cathedral towers, and the streets bustled with renewed energy. Vendors reopened their carts. Tournament banners swayed from every arch. The capital city, already vibrant, pulsed with the rhythm of battle season.
Shion blinked sleep from his eyes as he sat by the window of a small bakery near the adventurer quarter. A plate of Oran jam toast rested half-finished in front of him, and Bidoof, as always, was dozing nearby with his nose buried in a half-eaten bun.
The events of yesterday still swirled in Shion's mind the blood-pumping rush of the battle royal, the roaring crowd, the moment Kiba's Drill Run had landed perfectly, and the final cheer as the last ten Pokémon stood alone.
He was in.
One of two hundred. From thousands.
But today was different. Today, the second round would begin.
Shion leaned back slightly, hands behind his head.
He knew it wouldn't get easier. If anything, it was only going to get harder.
As he left the bakery, the light breeze in the air felt refreshing. The street was calmer than usual, perhaps because most of the competitors were already gathered at the Grand Coliseum.
He was about to turn toward the main avenue when he bumped into someone.
"Sorry ah!"
The girl stepped back, eyes slightly narrowed.
Belle.
Shion blinked, surprised. "Oh hey! It's you. Belle."
She looked mildly amused. "You've got a habit of bumping into people, huh?"
He rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish. "Yeah, uh… sorry."
She didn't seem bothered.
Shion offered a tentative smile. "How'd your match go? Yesterday?"
Belle glanced off to the side. "I won."
Shion blinked. "Nice! Was it close?"
She shrugged. "Not really. My Ninetales took care of most of it."
Shion gave a low whistle. "You're scary sometimes, you know that?"
Belle side-eyed him. "You say that like it's an insult."
Shion laughed nervously. "No, no more like… impressive."
They fell into step naturally as they made their way toward the coliseum.
The roads were clearer now, but guards were posted more densely. It seemed the city had grown more cautious after last night's closing rounds. Rumors of cheating, sabotage, and even one disqualification due to poisoning had circulated the evening crowds.
Shion tried not to think about it too hard.
Instead, he glanced sideways. "So… heading to the waiting room?"
"Yeah," Belle said, adjusting the strap of her bag. "Gotta see what nonsense they throw at us next."
---
The Grand Coliseum loomed ahead.
Even though he had already fought in its arena, Shion still felt the weight of its presence. It wasn't just the size it was the energy. The anticipation. The storm in waiting.
Inside the stone corridors, there were far fewer competitors now.
From thousands… only two hundred remained.
Gone were the loud chatter and chaotic crowds. In their place, quieter tension. Focused conversations. Sharp glances.
Shion followed Belle through the passageways and into the large waiting hall rows of benches, chalkboards, name scrolls, and a few healer stations stood at attention. A pair of Chansey waddled past, carrying potion baskets.
He exhaled slowly.
So many strong trainers.
But even now… he was here.
A short while passed before the main coliseum doors opened.
Garren entered.
The man's presence silenced the room immediately.
His long navy coat flowed behind him, decorated with silver threading. His arms were crossed behind his back, and his scarred face wore the same tired smirk as before.
"Congratulations," he said, voice calm but commanding. "You've all survived the first bloodletting."
A few people shifted nervously.
Garren continued. "But you're still not in the main bracket."
A collective murmur rippled across the room.
He raised a hand.
"The second round will be Tag Battles. You'll pair off. Each duo will face another pair. Two-on-two. One Pokémon per trainer. Standard rules. You're responsible for coordinating with your partner if you don't sync well, you lose. It's that simple."
Belle raised an eyebrow. "Tag battles?"
Shion glanced at her. "That's… new."
Garren kept going. "The arena will be split into four quadrants. Four matches will run simultaneously. Winners advance. Losers go home."
More murmurs.
"And," Garren added with a smirk, "you get to choose your partner."
That set the room into motion.
Trainers glanced at each other.
Some immediately moved, calling out names or walking across the chamber to find the strongest-looking ally they could.
Shion blinked. "We… choose?"
Belle looked at him flatly. "Well?"
He rubbed the back of his neck. "You wanna team up?"
Belle crossed her arms. "After our last battle? Sure. You didn't get in the way. And Your Pokemon have gotten stronger."
Shion gave a lopsided grin. "That's high praise."
She rolled her eyes.
Soon, Garren returned with papers.
"Write your name and youe Partner's name."
The room buzzed with pens scratching and whispered planning. Some were arguing. Others, oddly quiet.
Shion and Belle sat near one of the walls. Shion filled out the paper carefully: Shion and Belle.
He passed it over. Belle glanced at it once and nodded.
They handed it in.
Then sat.
And waited.
An hour passed. The list grew.
And then
A voice.
Familiar.
Unmistakable.
"…Shion?"
He froze.
His heart skipped.
That voice…
He turned slowly.
There just beyond the nameboard stood a boy clad in dark tunic and steel-trimmed boots. A sleeveless coat bearing the Ravelle sigil. Lean but strong. Calm. Sharp-eyed.
Black hair.
Blue eyes.
Shion's voice caught in his throat.
"…Ren."
Ren blinked.
And then his eyes widened, breath catching as well.
Mila, beside him, noticed. She tilted her head.
"Ren? What's "
She followed his gaze.
And saw him.
"...Shion?"
Silence.
The noise of the chamber faded for the three of them.
Then
"Ren! Mila!"
Shion took a step forward, stunned. "I can't believe"
Before he could finish, Mila lunged forward and hugged him.
"You idiot!" she shouted. "Where have you been?!"
Shion stumbled back, blinking rapidly.
Ren crossed the space more calmly, but there was no mistaking the warmth in his eyes.
Shion grinned awkwardly.
"I'm… alive?"
Mila swatted his arm.
Ren chuckled, arms crossing. "It's good to see you."
Shion exhaled relief, joy, confusion all crashing together.
"I didn't think I mean… I hoped, but…"
Belle, watching from nearby, tilted her head. "Friends of yours?"
Mila stepped back, brushing a tear away.
"Our best friend," she said with a smile.
There was something about standing among people you haven't met in a long time.
It made the air lighter. The world wider. And for once… everything felt a little more right.
Shion grinned like a fool, still barely believing what was happening as he stood between Ren and Mila again after all this time.
Mila was smiling brightly, arms crossed, her long pink hair tied neatly behind her. Her Gardevoir stood nearby, silent but clearly attuned to her trainer's warmth. Ren, as composed as ever, gave a nod now and then as Shion explained what he'd been doing, though his slight smirk betrayed how glad he was.
"So you're both here for the tournament?" Shion asked, eyes bouncing between them.
"Just him," Mila replied, poking Ren lightly in the arm. "I'm here to cheer him on."
Shion raised an eyebrow. "Really? I figured you'd enter too."
Mila shrugged. "Thought about it. But I've been training non-stop at the Academy. This seemed like the perfect excuse to rest and heckle Ren from the stands."
"Which she's very good at," Ren added dryly.
Shion laughed.
Then, silence fell for a moment as Ren and Shion looked at each other really looked.
Years of distance. Months of hardship. A whole continent between them.
But they were here.
Shion offered a small smile. "I saw your battle yesterday."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. You crushed it. That Haxorus was terrifying."
Ren gave a nod. "Thanks."
"Vince said your battle was impressive," Ren added. "Said you had an orange Lycanroc. That's Kiba, right?"
Shion blinked. "Vince?"
"Yo, that's me."
The voice came from behind.
Shion turned just in time to see a tall blond boy approaching, dressed in light armor with a Flygon pokéball hanging from his belt. His grin was wide, eyes sharp but friendly.
Vince gave him a once-over. "So you're the one with the weird Lycanroc."
Shion tilted his head. "Weird?"
"Unusual color. But strong," Vince said. "Almost took out four Pokémon in one sweep."
Shion chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "He's… not normal, yeah. But I don't really know how or why. He evolved weird during a fight with a corrupted Ursaring a while ago. Since then, he's just been... like that."
Vince nodded thoughtfully. "Wild. But hey, strength is strength. Wouldn't mind going a round with him sometime."
"Uh… sure?" Shion said, a little surprised at how casual it all was.
Mila turned her eyes toward the girl standing just a step behind Shion.
Belle stood quietly, arms crossed, watching the others with an unreadable look.
Mila leaned in. "So, Shion. Who's your partner?"
Shion blinked. "Oh this is Belle. She and I fought together during a quest, and we're teaming up for the tag match."
Belle nodded, ever brief. "Nice to meet you."
Mila smiled. "I'm Mila. Childhood friend, current pokémon whisperer, part-time Gardevoir translator."
Belle raised a brow. "Huh."
Vince leaned toward Ren. "Bit of an odd group, huh?"
Ren smirked. "You're one to talk."
Suddenly, from the satchel at Shion's side, a muffled yawn rose.
Then
A wobble.
Bidoof's head popped out, fur slightly fluffed, half a piece of berry stuck to its cheek.
It looked left.
Right.
Then up straight into Mila's hands.
"Oh my gosh, he's so fluffy," she cooed, scooping the Bidoof up before it could protest.
"Whuh hey Shion! Shion, assistance!" the Bidoof cried in its usual dramatic tone, limbs flailing as Mila cuddled it like a plush.
Shion laughed. "You're on your own, buddy."
"I am a divine being! This is undignified!"
Ren stepped closer, eyeing the chubby Pokémon. "Is that yours?"
"Yeah," Shion said. "Sort of."
Vince whistled. "What do you feed that thing? It's rounder than a Snorlax's left cheek."
Bidoof gasped. "How dare you."
Mila giggled, giving it one last squish before returning it to Shion's satchel. "He's adorable. But a little… dramatic."
"You don't know the half of it," Shion muttered, shaking his head as Bidoof grumbled something unintelligible and curled back into his nest of travel cloth.
Just then, the voice of Garren echoed through the hall.
"Second round battle lists are up. First batch, to staging."
Ren looked up.
Vince rolled his shoulders. "Guess that's us."
"You're up first?" Mila asked.
"Yep," Ren said, giving Shion one last nod. "We'll catch up more after."
"I'll be watching!" Shion said.
"Don't cheer too loud," Ren added.
Mila laughed. "You wish."
As Ren and Vince moved toward the eastern corridor, Belle checked her own team tag, then nudged Shion. "Looks like we're in the second group."
Shion exhaled, grateful. "That gives us time to prep."
Mila turned to Belle. "Mind if I join you to watch? I kind of want to see what Shion's gotten himself into."
Belle shrugged. "Fine by me."
And with that, the group split again friends heading toward different battlefields, hearts high with laughter and nerves.
But one thing was clear.
The real matches were just beginning.