“Wouldn’t dream of it.” He says with clear eyes and a clearer heart. Urshifu charges with the ringing of the bell. Shuwen understands that his brother is stronger than him. His strength is in speed, not the sheer power of every strike. Shuwen knows that it is prudent for him to seize the initiative here, take the advantage. He crosses the gap between them first.[break][break]

Static electricity runs through the crowd. Air catches in their lungs. In this arena, the battles are usually mediocre at best. A nidoran versus a gengar, that sort of battle. Rarely is this sacred hall of battle graced with a battle between legends. Eyes follow Shuwen’s swift fists as they trace up, and up, and up…[break][break]

A flurry that tries to crash against the taller bear. An uppercut aiming to send him skyward. Martial artists call this technique aerial ace. It is meant to destabilize and send a foe careening upward, knock them clean off their feet.[break][break]

“What’s got you so down, man?! You won!” Navy shouts across the battlefield, talking as if they themselves represent the whole of the sides they have chosen in this gang war. How odd that the one who proved victorious should look so downcast about his victory. A world of troubles plague Hoenn, but what does that matter? In the here and now, all they can do is fight one another.











[break][break]

+ Kouji Matsubara

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Shuwen senses the change. He steps past his brother, choosing to turn the attack into a feint rather than following through. He is filled with a sense of wrongness, like this battle simply should not be fought on these terms. To give anything less than one’s all is to bring dishonor upon both oneself and one’s opponent. That is simply the way of the warrior.[break][break]

He stays on the edge of his feet, falling into his rapid stance. His legs can kick out at a moment’s notice, his hands ready to strike. The ball remains in his opponent’s court. It’s on him to press this. If he wants this fight, then he has to show he has some fighting spirit. Otherwise, what’s even the point?[break][break]

“Come on, then!” Navy shouts. “Sound like you wanna be here, Kouji!”























[break][break]

+ Kouji Matsubara

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Shuwen senses the change. He steps past his brother, choosing to turn the attack into a feint rather than following through. He is filled Navy figures this is coming. The crowd goes wild. Battles between the trainers aren’t unheard of in this sacred place of battle, but neither are they expected. It’s a pleasant surprise. People cheer. They howl and yell for one combatant or the other to ‘kick his ass’.[break][break]
When he catches Kouji’s leg, Navy surprises even himself. They fought each other so much that they’re in sync with one another. Every day since Dewford, he’s been training. Shuwen, Navy, and even Vortigern have been trying their very best to all improve alongside one another. Navy swings. He twirls about in the air, holding his foe by the leg, and he chucks him across the ring.[break][break]
“That the best you can do?! Come on, man! You whooped the hell out of me down in that cave!” He says with no malice. There’s annoyance. If this kid never gets any better, neither will he. Kouji has to do better than this.

[break][break]

+ Kouji Matsubara

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Well, come on, then!” Navy shouts down at the boy who’s lost his way, squaring his shoulders and preparing for the inevitable. Another punch is coming. It wouldn’t be an exchange between the two of them without a punch.[break][break]

“Hit me as much as you’d like!”[break][break]

And he does. Hard, in the throat. Navy can’t breathe. It rocks his adam’s apple like it’s a punching bag. The detective takes a step back, tries to catch his breath, and realizes at once that he doesn’t need to breathe. He just needs to keep fighting. So, with a wordless shout, he slams his fists right back into Kouji.[break][break]

Every man and woman in the audience is astounded. The matches between the men and the Pokemon are perfect doubles of one another. Navy’s twin, the great bear Shuwen, unleashes his unrelenting barrage of rapid strikes upon his brother, just as Navy strikes Kouji. Even their war cries are the same. Navy and Shuwen yell in the same, deep, baritone voice.[break][break]

“ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA”[break]

“ORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORAORA”





[break][break]

+ Kouji Matsubara

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

They take their respective blows on the chin. Navy and Shuwen stumble back. Their posture is the same. Their reactions are the same. Both trainer and bear feel blood drain from their lips. Reaching up, they wipe away the blood. They look at their opponent. They don’t turn away…[break][break]

But neither, once the exchange is finished, do they advance. Neither is worn out yet. They’re like a car that’s left the station five minutes ago. There’s so much fuel burning inside of both. Inside, the fire burns so bright that it is as its own sun. Kouji feels different.[break][break]

Any victory against him would be hollow. Nothing worth bragging about. What’s he supposed to do with him when he’s in this kind of shape? Navy sighs. Shuwen exhales. The crowd looks confused. Why aren’t they continuing the fight? They want more. This is supposed to be a battle of legends – two of the bright rising stars of Hoenn and their legendary bears. Why then isn’t Navy moving to rejoin the fight.[break][break]

“You’re exactly right.” Navy sounds dismissive, disappointed. He has to be tough for this man. They can only get stronger together. If one of them slacks, it falls on the other to tell them that. Otherwise, neither one will get the future they want.[break][break]

“It is pointless. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but you’re not even worth beating up right now.”


[break][break]

+ Kouji Matsubara

[attr="class","pokeclass"]