Seth looked down at the rumble badge in his badge case. It was a mountain he wasn't sure he'd be able to summit, but through determination and an unforseen event, he was able to obtain it. While he was satisfied with his victory, he was still having trouble processing how he won. He knew for a fact that only female Combee evolved. It was a known fact, and as irrefutable as it was, on his belt was living proof that not everything was set in stone.

Taking out his dex, Seth began to go through all the recently gathered data. As he pulled up Vespisol's information, he felt the couch he was sitting on shake a little. Knowing who it was, he smiled slightly.

"So... I must admit that I am," Allie paused, trying to find the right words as she looked his way. "I'm impressed... with you."

Seth ceased his research and turned his head towards her.

"That sounded like it was painful to say," Seth replied, earning a flustered look from Allie.

"I-I'm just saying that you did well, even though it fell apart halfway through, and the execution could have been better. I'd say my strategy worked well," Allie concluded.

"Taking all the credit are we?" Seth muttered, rolling his eyes as he continued to look through Vespisol's information.

Allie took a deep breath and steeled her nerves.

"Okay, maybe that last bit wasn't all my planning. You adapted to the change and earned that badge. As much as it pains me to say this, we worked out a good strategy, didn't we?"

"I have to hand it to you, princess... out of all the things I thought you were, I never pegged you for a battling enthusiast," Seth smirked, slipping his dex into his pocket.

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me, Seth. But I suppose you wouldn't know. After all, I am just a spoiled, self-centered, entitled princess, right?" Allie stated with a frown.

Seth winced at her comment. It was bad enough that her mother called him out on his harsh statement. Now his words were really coming back to bite him. Still, he didn't regret what he said, and as the queen pointed out, what he said was necessary.

"Up until now, you had yet to prove otherwise," was Seth's short reply as he stood up to turn toward the exit.

Frustrated, Allie shot up out of her seat and glared at him.

"So you still think that way do you!? Well I hope you know I--come again?"

Seth stopped and looked over his shoulder at Allie and smiled softly. Without another word, he exited the center, leaving a very confused Allie inside. It only took a few moments before Allie registered what Seth had said. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she straightened up and walked out the door after him, only to find him waiting by the side of the center, his eyes fixed on a certain swordbearing woman in front of him. Allie's eyes widened in surprise as Mathilde meandered up to them.

"Bonjour my little protege," Mathilde greeted with a cheshire grin.

"Teacher..." Seth replied with a nod of respect.

Mathilde stepped forward and drew Seth into an embrace before stepping back to get a good look at her student. Though subtle as it was, her eyes were illuminated with a faint sapphire aura, allowing her to see her pupil in a way nobody else could. She could see just how much of his power he had tapped into and to her delight, he was beginning to tap into it a lot more. Meanwhile, Allie was still standing there with a dumbstruck expression while Mathilde held Seth's face with both hands.

"I see you've been improving, and... eh?" Mathilde blinked, looking at Cerise who was attached to his back.

Her smile seemed to grow as she saw the ethereal blade hitched to Seth's back. Fond memories of her Aegislash flashed through her mind as she remembered the days when she first caught him. An image of a young girl with a Honedge on her back came to mind.

"What can I say? you set the bar pretty high. If I'm to beat you, I need to work hard, right?" Seth shrugged, following her eyes to Cerise's hilt. "Oi, Cerise... you awake back there?"

The sentient sword began to unravel herself from Seth's body and hovered at his side.

"I'm a ghost Lord Seth, I need not sleep at... all..." Cerise replied, pausing midsentence as she took note of Mathilde. "Is this..."

"My teacher? yes... this is who I was talking about," Seth nodded.

"Now I see where your strength comes from. I knew that you had been trained by a capable swordsman, but what I'm sensing from her is an amount of ridiculousness I can't even describe..."

"Yeah, well... you haven't trained with her. I'm fortunate to be alive," Seth replied with a nervous laugh.

Mathilde chuckled to herself as she saw Seth converse with his companion.

I had a feeling he'd be able to do that eventually. It won't be long before he finds out what else he's capable of...

"Ahem!" Allie spoke up, clearing her throat as she waltzed up beside Seth after regaining her composure. "Chevalier Bellerose, it's a pleasure to finally make youre acquaintence!" Allie greeted, a bright smile gracing her features as she stood before Mathilde.

Mathilde gave the princess a bow of respect and straightened up to look her in the eyes.

"Princess Allie, the honor is mine. I had a feeling I'd be meeting you sooner or later, seeing as my student has decided to take part in the competition you've thrown," Mathilde smirked, nudging Seth playfully.

"I see... then again I shouldn't be surprised that you know. I did send word out to all of Kalos," Allie added, placing a hand on her hip.

"She even had flyers placed in the academy," Seth added, earning a giggle from Mathilde.

Allie huffed and crossed her arms. "Well, it's not like I had any other choice. It was something I felt everyone ought to know about."

Seth rolled his eyes.

"Well, it certainly got some attention. The League, from what I hear, is already incorporating it into this year's Lumiose Conference. And speaking of them, Seth, you remember Wikstrom don't you?" Mathilde inquired, earning a raised brow from the brunette.

"It's been what... eight years? being part of the Elite Four, he's probably busy," Seth replied casually. "Why do you ask?"

Mathilde grinned and placed both hands on his shoulders.

"Because he wants to see how much you've grown. When he first met you, you were this awkward little boy who had the tendency to trip over his own feet," Mathilde replied with a smirk.

Seth's eyes widened slightly. While his expression remained calm, inside he was slightly unnerved. There were very few individuals who knew wht he was like prior to the hell he'd been put through by the woman standing in front of him. And now, he could hear Allie doing her best to hold in her laughter as his mentor singlehandedly did the one thing only a select few could do.

"Oh this is a treat," Allie beamed devilishly, earning a side-eye from Seth. "Tall, dark and stoic was once an awkward Tirtouga. Who knew?"

"Oh it wasn't just that. He was shy, quiet... basically like he is now, except he's opened up a bit more from what I can see," Mathilde chuckled.

"You never miss an opportunity, do you?" Seth retorted, his brows anchoring into a slight frown as his cheeks tinted red.

Allie blinked, doing her best not to laugh as she saw Seth get flustered in a different way. He was blushing. And if that wasn't enough, she actually found it cute.

"Would you expect less of me?" Mathilde snickered, placing a kiss on both cheeks before pulling away and turning towards Allie. "It's been a pleasure to meet you princess. I do need to be going, however. I was just visiting Gurkinn when I found out that you were still here. And before I leave," Mathilde paused, "I'd like to give you this..."

In her hand was an envelope with his name written on it. Taking the envelope, Seth opened it up to see that there was a blue and gold wedding invitation inside. Seth looked back up at Mathilde as he deposited the invitation into his bag.

"You're getting married!" Allie exclaimed, looking at the invitation in Seth's hand.

Mathilde giggled and nodded. "Yes, in about a month or so. Now we're just deciding on where to have it. As a matter of fact, princess, I had invitations sent to your family just a week ago. They should be there by now..."

"Oh, I'd be honored! thank you!" Allie replied happily.

"Thank you, I'll definitely be there. You've yet to introduce me to your fiance anyway," Seth stated.

"He's eager to meet you, that's for certain," Mathilde sighed. "He keeps going on about how he wants to spar you. Just try to take it easy on him if you two ever do get the chance," Mathilde winked.

"I can't make any promises," Seth responded.

"I wouldn't expect anything less of my apprentice," Mathilde chuckled, moving past the duo and unclipping a ball from her belt.

With a practiced hand, she released her Noivern from its sphere. The massive bat Dragon screeched as it materialized and spread her wings. Mathilde stroked her ears gently and pressed her forehead to Noivern's. Stepping to the side, she hoisted herself onto Noivern's back and looked over at Seth and Allie.

"Princess?"

"Yes?" Allie replied quickly, her attention fixed on the knight and her mount.

"Keep him out of trouble," Mathilde grinned, giving Seth a knowing look. "And as for you, my dear pupil..."

Seth met her gaze, his lips twitching into a wry grin.

"Don't slack off. I want a good fight at the end of this," Mathilde said as she kicked Noivern's sides so he could take flight.

"As if I'd miss the chance to battle you at your best..."

Mathilde gave Seth a curt nod before soaring off on Noivern's back.

"So that's two impressive feats you've managed today. Bravo pauper," Allie smirked.

"I'm sensing a force of habit with that nickname," Seth sighed.

"Perhaps, however I suppose I shall endeavor to refrain from calling you that due to what just occurred. I had my doubts, but after witnessing your interaction with The Chevalier, I am forced to believe what I heard was true. And as much as it pains me to say this... you've earned some of my respect... Seth. "

"Again... that sounded like it was painful to say," Seth replied, reaching down to pull out his holocaster as it went off.

Allie rolled her eyes and watched as the hologram of Tierno appeared.

"Yo Seth, you coming? we're heading for Fourrage Road soon," Tierno informed him.

"You guys can go ahead, we'll catch up," Seth replied.

"Alright! See ya later then," Tierno responded before ending the call.

Seth pocketed his holocaster and looked over at Allie.

"So, shall we go, princess? or was there something else you wanted to do before we left?"

Allie tapped her chin in thought. After a moment of thought, she said, "I don't think there's anything else that I need here. That being said, let's be off. I've been meaning to visit the ranch on Fourrage Road anyway."

After a brief discourse, Seth and Allie began making their way out of Shalour City to Fourrage Road.