Within the depths of the snow laden Winding Woods, just beyond the outskirts of Snowbelle City, stood a lone knight with a Lucario beside her. A smile tugged at her lips as she focused her attention on a section of shrubbery.

"So, what are the odds that he's still in there?" Mathilde asked her jackal-like companion.

"Well, knowing the boy's father... pretty high. You know how he is. Once he has his mind set on something, he sees it through..."

"Like father like son," Mathilde laughed to herself. "What do you say we venture on in and say hello?"

Seth and company lounged in the Arners living room while Mrs. Arner brought out a batch of pastries that were freshly made. Setting them down, she took a seat and sighed in relief. 

"I hope you all have room for this, I haven't made that much food in a while, and my husband eats like a Tepig," she chuckled. 

"I can't help it if I'm married to the best cook in Kalos," Mr. Arner complimented, causing his wife to blush. 

"So Seth, have you thought about what we discussed earlier?" Mr. Arner inquired, gaining the brunette's attention. 

"That depends on how okay you two are with it. I know he's been part of this family for quite a while," Seth replied. 

Nodding, Mr. Arner cleared his throat. 

"Yes, indeed he has. But as I told you before, he needs somewhere to grow. We're not the battling type, and we've come to the conclusion that he needs that kind of environment to really let loose. He's been a faithful friend, but now that he's grown, he can't really be used for beginners no more," Mr. Arner said with a sigh. 

"I see. So if what you're saying is true..." Seth paused, crossing his arms in thought as he pondered what to do. After a moment or two he said, "alright, if that's the case then I'd be more than willing to take him along. However... I want to catch him fair and square. I know you all just want to give him a good home, but as a trainer, I can't overlook a challenge as tough as him."

"Oh boy, here we go," Serena sighed, bracing herself once more for what was to come. 

"I was hoping you'd say that. How'd you like to settle it now then?" Mr. Arner replied with a grin while standing up. 

"Is that even a question?" Seth replied, excitement coursing through his veins as he stood up.

"And so it begins," Serena laughed nervously.

Moments later, everyone was outside the ranch and standing around the pen while Seth was inside with Gogoat. The Skiddo were all cleared out so that Seth could battle the beast.
The two stared one another down in anticipation of the challenge that was moments away.

"Alright Gogoat, round two," Seth began, reaching down and snatching Litleo from his belt.

"Litleo, engarde!" Seth exclaimed, thrusting Litleo into the fray.

The little cub roared from her sphere with a fiery intensity in her eyes. Fueled by her determination and the chance at a rematch, Litleo growled low as she assumed a battle stance, her claws at the ready while fire crackled in her maw.

"Ready to go aren't you?" Seth chuckled excitedly. "Me too, so let's show Gogoat here what you can do! Flamethrower!"

Litleo snarled and reared her head back, gathering intense flames into her mouth before loosing a stream of fire toward Gogoat who jumped aside in surprise. The flames singed the ground beside him. As he turned, Litleo was already charging in, fangs aglow with fire.

Gogoat raised his hooves and slammed them down, releasing a shockwave through ground in attempts to send Litleo out of the pen again. This time, however, she jumped.

"Fire Fang!" Seth hollered.

With a sickening crunch, Litleo sunk her ignited teeth into the grassy hide of Gogoat. Crying out in pain, Gogoat began to buck and stomp in an attempt to throw her off. In desperation, he leaped high above the pen and whipped her off of him towards the ground like a falling meteor. Litleo's feline instincts kicked in as she neared the ground. Landing on all fours, she looked up, only to be slammed into the ground as Gogoat came down from his Bounce.

Pinned, Litleo squirmed under the weight as she struggled to get free. As she struggled, Gogoat began forming Seed Bombs above his horns. As he released them, a powerful roar blasted the air and a fiery aura erupted from Litleo as the spheres made contact, causing an explosion within the fencing, kicking up dust and launching Gogoat several feet away from the smoke that now veiled the action, making everyone cover their mouths so as not to enhale the harmful smoke.

A low, gutteral growl was heard from within the smoke, and from it emerged a single, much larger paw, followed by the rest of the snarling beast within. This was no longer a cub that Gogoat was dealing with. This was a full grown lioness. And she did not appreciate being blasted in the face with explosives.

"She evolved! amazing!" Shauna exclaimed.

Trevor wasted no time taking pictures of the majestic lioness as she stalked towards her prey.

"I guess you could say that this match is really heating up. Huh, huh?" Tierno laughed.

Allie rolled her eyes at the remark and shifted her attention to Pyroar. She was a fine specimen of a Pokémon, and boasted considerable amounts of power just by looking at her. Was it any wonder why she was called the Royal Pokémon?

"Well, would you look at that. Finally decided to bare your fangs for real huh girl?" Seth said with a smirk.

Pyroar turned her head and nodded, her tail swishing to and fro out of eagerness. Seth reached for his dex and quickly pulled up Pyroar's information. A grin spread over his face as he saw that she'd learned something new.

"How about we test out those new lungs of yours? Pyroar, use Hyper Voice!"

As Seth gave the command, Gogoat lowered his head and charged, his horns aglow with verdant energy as his hooves pounded the ground while he rampaged toward her.

Planting her feet, Pyroar inhaled and then blasted the air with a powerful roar that shook the ground and rattled the pen. Several rings of azure light propelled by the wind, expelled from Pyroar's mouth at an accelerated rate, crashing into Gogoat with great force. Gogoat was sent smashing through the fence and skidding along the ground, tearing it up as he went.

Acting quickly, Seth whipped out a black and white sphere that had a yellow "u" design on it. He swiftly propelled it toward the fallen beast and nailed his target. The ball opened up and absorbed him inside. Hitting the ground, it began to twitch violently for what seemed like an eternity before going still. Seth gave a relieved sigh. Gogoat had been caught. Seth ventured over to the sphere and picked it up with a satisfied smile.

"Welcome to the team, Gogoat..." Seth said with a grin.

Feeling something rubbing against his side, he turned and stroked Pyroar's mane.

"Good work girl, you made me proud out there," Seth praised her.

Allie, surprisingly, also made her way to him. Placing a hand on her hip, she offered him a smile.

"Once again, you've managed to impress me. Keep that up and I might have to change my opinion of you," Allie chuckled.

"Is that a fact? and here I thought I would forever be a pauper in your eyes,"Seth replied with a raised brow.

"Well... you are. But you've managed to alter my perception of you during this time we've spent together. And if you show me a good time on the night of our date," she trailed off.

Right... there's that. I'll have to think about what I'm going to do tonight. I wasn't actually wanting to, but I certainly wasn't expecting her to remind me of it either, Seth thought as he hitched Gogoat to his belt.

"That was fantastic!" Mr. Arner exclaimed, clapping Seth on the back as he walked up beside him. "You really are something."

"You can say that again," Jacqueline cut in. "You're as good as I expected," she added with a smirk.

Seth simply gave her a knowing look before turning his attention to the rest of the crew.

"I say we all go back inside and help ourselves to the sweets! I still haven't had my second helping yet!" Shauna suggested.

"I'm with you on that one, Shauna!" Serena echoed happily.

Moments later, everyone was inside enjoying the baked goods that Mrs. Arner had prepared.

Mathilde and Lucario stepped through the archway within the Winding Woods, and found themselves standing in an open field filled with lush grass that snow had not covered. Trees remained green and lively and ponds of water were seen strewn throughout. A smile tugged at the corners of Mathilde's lips as she spotted two lone figures standing side by side.

"Well this is a rare sight. Both Da Silvas here at the same time? Collette, you surprise me. Now all we need is little Rosseau and we'll have the gang back together," Mathilde giggled, taking strides toward the couple as they turned around. 

Collette smiled at her friend as she entered into the village. Standing beside her was a tall man garbed in an garments similar to that of what was worn at the Battle Chateau with an armor of his own making beneath. His dark brown hair was nicely tamed. Bright blue eyes, the trait of the Da Silva family could be seen as well as some stubble from a recent shave. 

"Mathilde," the man smiled, turning to greet the family friend as he pulled his wife in. "It's been a while since we met last. I trust my son is doing well..."

"He's doing just fine Harbin. Last I checked he was with the princess and on his way out of Shalour City," Mathilde replied casually.

"Good, then he's moving at a decent enough pace. He should have the fourth badge soon which means that the competition will be half over as far as that part goes. I assume he's growing into his power as well..." Harbin probed.

"After the training I put him though, it would be weird if he didn't. It's getting to the point where I can sense him several miles away. He's so easy to track with all that aura he has yet to tap into. I'm beginning to think that it won't be too much longer until he figures out what bloodline he belongs to," Mathilde stated, crossing her arms as she reached the duo. 

"I can't thank you enough for doing this for us. I'd have done it myself but well... I had more interest in being a mother than his trainer. And this lug over here had other duties to attend to. Speaking of which... what did you learn after what I told you happened at the palace?"

Harbin took a deep breath and exhaled. "I can't say for certain... but I do believe that Allie is a target..."