WAIT! Before you read this chapter, remember that the ending to chapter 17 is different! If you weren't aware that chapter 17 was changing, then this probably doesn't apply to you, but for those of you who knew about the change, remember to read it again for the alternate ending before reading on!
The following day, Blaze approached Vincent and Ricky with a poster in her paws.
"What's that, Babe?"
Ricky asked, examining the poster.
"Read it! I think you'll be into it."
Ricky took the poster from Blaze and read what it said.
Think you're tough? Prove it! Join the Springriver college battle tournament starting next week! Single and double battle entries are welcome for a chance to win the Springriver Champion's cup (Single and double trophies)! See the back of the poster for details on where to sign up, and good luck!
"A battle tournament? Of course I'll join that! It seems like a great idea!"
Ricky seemed into it as he gave to poster to Vincent for him to read.
"The poster also said they needed students for news coverage of the tournament as it happens!"
Blaze added.
"Wow, a new tournament and a news team. The college must really be promoting it."
Vincent said as he finished reading the poster.
"So, who's going to form a team?"
Vincent asked. Ricky raised a brow.
"Who said I was forming a team? I'm going alone."
"Oh... alright then."
Vincent's ears lowered. He looked pretty disappointed. That's when Ricky laughed.
"Cmon, Vincent! I'm kidding! You and me will definitely work well together!"
He grabbed Vincent's paw.
"Together, we'll crush anyone else."
Vincent suddenly looked rejuvenated.
"Oh, yeah, of course!"
He happily smiled, a little relieved.
"And what about you Blaze? What are you going to do?"
Ricky asked, causing Blaze to think.
"I'm not sure. I haven't decided yet."
Secretly, she knew exactly what she was going to do. She had to strain not to smile and give away her secret.
"Oh, well you're okay with Vincent and I becoming a team, right?"
Ricky asked.
"Yeah, of course. Both of you try your best."
She replied. She knew they'd have to against the competition.
Over the next few days, Blaze saw little of Ricky and Vincent outside of college as they met every day to train, which was absolutely fine with her. She didn't go with them as she told them she had 'other things' to work on. They accepted it and got to training.
"Take this!"
Vincent shouted, unleashing a devastating dark pulse. Ricky used bone rush to counter it.
"You're gonna have to try harder than that!"
Vincent powered up a shadow claw, rushing at the Lucario, who in turn charged at Vincent with his bone still in paw. The two collided, Ricky swiftly blocking any attempts to hit made by Vincent with his bone before swiftly tripping the Zoroark up, having him land on his back. Vincent rolled out of the bone's path as it struck the ground, dissipating. Ricky suddenly dashed toward Vincent, throwing punch after punch with no effort to defend himself, using close combat. Vincent managed to dodge almost every punch, suddenly getting hit by one and four rapid ones after it. Ricky finished the move with a power up punch, sending Vincent back a fair distance. Vincent managed to stay on his feet, however.
"I'm going to end this!"
Ricky announced, firing an aura sphere.
"I don't think so!"
Vincent managed to crush the sphere easily and hit Ricky hard with a night daze, following up with fury swipes. That sent Ricky flying backward.
"We're not done here!"
Vincent was still ready to fight as Ricky got up.
"You're a very confident fighter, Vincent. That'll be useful on the battlefield."
Vincent smiled smugly.
"What can I say? I've never been the type to give up."
"Of course not, but you're a dark type. You will fall to my fighting type superiority!"
Ricky used an aura sphere too fast for Vincent to react to, knocking him down.
As he struggled to recover, Ricky hit him with a bone rush, proving enough to finish the battle.
"Well fought. It looks like you're more powerful than I am."
Vincent replied with shameful optimism.
"I'd pin it to typing. I'm sure you'd do better against a fire type."
Ricky replied, helping him up.
"Same time tomorrow?"
Vincent nodded.
"Sure thing."
The two walked to their respective homes, waiting for the next day to arrive. The tournament would start in four days; the more time they had to train, the better the chance of victory in the tournament.
As Ricky entered the lobby, he saw Blaze enter just after him. That confused him a little, since she told him she wasn't going anywhere.
"Oh, hey Blaze. Where have you been? I thought you weren't going out today."
She looked shocked to see him.
"Oh, well, yes, I did. But I... I went..."
Ricky was slightly concerned.
"Blaze, are you alright?"
"Me? Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry about me."
She pushed past him, flustered. Ricky was more than a little confused. She hadn't acted like this before.
Blaze practically ran to her room, closing the door and locking it behind her. She was lucky; she never would have imagined how hard it would be to keep her secret.
"Just a little longer, Blaze. Keep it together."
She found she was hyperventilating, not sure whether it was from running or from the little scene downstairs. She hoped that she wouldn't have to see Ricky or Vincent again until the tournament began, although her chances were looking low. She'd just have to try and hold her tongue for longer, in which case.
And there you have it! Your new chapter 18! Much, much better in my opinion. Although it still wasn't perfect, I like it a lot more. For those of you who remember the old part 18, which do you prefer? Let me know in the comments. I'd like to hear your thoughts. Aside from that, thank you for reading, and see you in the next chapter!
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Lucario and Braixen- A Fiery Love Story
Fanfiction-Cover made by BlueStrike- A young Braixen moves into a new apartment on her own, looking forward to beginning her own life at College. When she moves in, she meets a Lucario named Ricky, who's going to the same College as her. She experiences many...
