The Twins At Paldea Univeristy (Pokemon Scarlet and Violet)

Clash at the Coast

Winter itself neared its end, a week was all that stood between them and the blossoming of spring. With it comes the weakening of the snowfall, with their piles shrinking with each passing day as proof of the invisibly fading cold. Poco path was clear of snow, little snow touching the grass beside the eponymous path, while said road was grayish but without any sort of thin ice on top, which often causes travelers upon it to slip.

The north wind blew weaker and weaker with each passing day, yet it was still strong enough to blow Arven's long flowing hair as he walked outside. His mabosstiff's fur flowed as well. The dog's body having been completely restored to all of its robust glory.

"You ready, bud? I have a lot on the line here... Sorry for putting this on you after you'd just recovered," says Arven. The dog however woofs delightedly. It's been so long since it had managed to do anything. The idea of frolicking was an impossible future for it for the longest time, but now, it was the mightiest it had ever been. Brimming with energy, Arven and Mabosstiff spent the past week undoing all the rust in Mabosstiff's fighting skills.

With its cellular degeneration now fully remedied, Mabosstiff's immense fighting spirit was back in full swing rather than being used as a crutch for the dog to hold onto for the many aching years it had found itself suffering. Both trainer and pokemon looked at Juliana, who left the laboratory and locked it, before walking over to them and tossing Arven the key.

"I didn't know you were so eager for a battle, Arven" says Juliana, "but I suppose it makes sense. Considering we got ourselves carried through the Lurking Steel Titan and the Quaking Earth Titans, and then saved once more in an Arceus Ex Machina with the False Dragon Titan, we're going to need all the training we can get, huh?"

"Yes," Arven looks at the ground, resisting the urge to twiddle his shoe. "Area Zero is off-limits to practically everyone, and for good reason. Come on then, mabosstiff's been eager to take you on."

"W-w-wait, Mabosstiff?! B-but, you just got him back!" Juliana cried out, "you're seriously going to be fighting with Mabosstiff?!?!"

The dog's one docile expression turned into a fearsome one, baring its teeth as it entered a hunting stance. Arven clenches his fist and nods, "they say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but that doesn't matter when the old ones do just fine."

Juliana exhales through her nose, hands on her hips as the cold wind blows. She swore she could hear a choir of deeply voiced men in the distance, as if uttering the song of blizzards, and the twilight of the deep winter which has reigned with cold and darkness for three months. What better way to end the season? She supposes.

"Alrighty then, anything else?"

This was it. Arven takes a deep breath of cold air. No more running. No more hiding. This was his turn.

"If I win, you have to go with me to the school dance!"

Juliana's eyes widened as she took a step back at Arven's stipulation.

"Arven.. I... I... seriously?!"

Arven winces, he knows he is going to receive the scarring of a lifetime. The point of no return. A moment that will forever marr the friendship they'd fostered together, and the many hours he'd spent in his life thinking about her. This was it. No escape.

"You could just have asked!"

Arven deflates. The color leaves his face all together. Realizing he'd just gambled something that was supposed to be an absolute outcome, effectively creating his own losing condition. "I... uh... huh..." he scratches the back of his head.

"Oh well," Juliana's face turns into a more mischievous one, giving him a sly grin, "looks like you're going to have to beat me then! Hehehehe."

"B-b-but what if I lose?"