With the quarterfinals just an hour away, Seth found himself in the company of his sister who was on her way to see Allie as per her request. The youngest Da Silva couldn't help but prattle on excitedly about all the pictures she'd taken and the fact that she'd found the perfect ending for her book and was in the process of finishing it. As she showed him several of her photos, she paused upon seeing Jamie just several yards away from them causing her cheeks to tint bright pink. Jamie, who had been lost in thought as he looked out over the battlefield soon heard their approach and acknowledged them with a smile and a wave.

"It's hard to believe we're actually about to square off soon isn't it?" Jamie said with a chuckle. "We've been dreaming of this day for quite a while haven't we?"

"It's been one crazy ride hasn't it? To think that just the other day we were sitting in Mrs. Rosseau's class learning about all of this and watching league matches from past conferences. It's all rather surreal if you ask me. I had hoped that we'd face each other in the semifinals, but you know how random selection works," Seth replied with a shrug.

"Tell me about it. I had a feeling it would either be you or Felicity that I'd be facing. Anyway, enough about that. What are you two up to?" Jamie inquired, looking down at Melody who was preoccupied with looking at the pictures she'd taken.

"We're heading up to see Allie. She wanted to see Melody about something," Seth replied casually.

"A summons from the princess herself huh, any idea what it's about?" Jamie asked curiously.

Melody paused what she was doing and shook her head. "She didn't say anything other than the fact that it was of the utmost importance."

"Sounds neat, you can fill me in after Seth and I settle things in the arena. Best not to keep your woman waiting am I right?" Jamie said with a cheeky grin as he elbowed Seth playfully.

"You're right," Melody giggled, "it wouldn't do to tell someone you love them and then keep them waiting now would it?"

"When did you-"

"Allie told me, duh," Melody said quickly.

"She told the whole world she was ready for marriage, it shouldn't come as a surprise that she'd tell her friends someone confessed to her," Jamie replied smirking.

"Right, of course she would," Seth muttered, a faint smile etching its way onto his face as he imagined how the conversation must have gone. "Hey Jamie... I know this is still up in the air but, assuming I win this thing, I'd like it if you were my best man if that's alright with you."

"If it's alright with me? You know we're best buds right? Of course I'll do it!" Jamie said with a wide grin.

"Awesome, I guess that settles it then. See you after the conference. We'll talk more about it then," Seth replied, bumping fists with Jamie before turning to head toward the stairs that lead up to where Allie was waiting.

"Hey Seth!" Jamie called, getting Seth to stop and turn his head to look at him. "Let's give them a good show alright? I plan to win so you'd better bring your a-game you hear?"

"Don't you worry about that. I know we're friends and all, but here, we're rivals. We never really got the chance to pull out all the stops in a battle back at school so now's as good a time as any," Seth replied with a wry grin. "I won't be taking it easy so you'd better be ready."

"Count on it!" Jamie replied, waving the two off before heading out to strategize.

Allie looked down at her holocaster to see that Melody had replied to her message saying that she was on her way and that Seth would be tagging along. She blinked at the mention of Seth coming along and hastily opened up the camera part of her holocaster to see if she still looked alright. The entire day had been both exciting and stressful due to the way certain battles went. While she had wished to speak with Melody, the fact that Seth was coming with her would prove to be providential as she'd wished to thank him for what he'd said during the last match.

Pleased with the results, she made it a point to express gratitude for what had been said. Furfrou, who had been resting at her feet, sniffed the air, her ears perking up as soon as she caught wind of a familiar scent. Her tail began to wag and an excited yip left her mouth as she got up and scampered off toward the stairs.

Seth reached down and scratched Furfrou behind her ears as she got on her hind legs and placed her paws on his chest, her tail wagging furiously upon seeing him. Allie chuckled into her hand as she watched the display. Getting up from her seat, Allie waltzed over to greet them, a smile resting on her face.

"It's been quite a while hasn't it Melody? It's good to see that you are doing well," Allie said cheerfully while pulling Melody into a tight hug.

"Oh I've been doing well alright. I sent Viola my portfolio that I've been working on and she loved it! She even said that I could take a few courses from her since school's out now so... thank you so much for helping me!" Melody exclaimed, giving Allie a tight squeeze.

"You're very welcome Melody. I'm glad it worked out for you," Allie replied, her eyes shifting over to Seth who had just finished rubbing Furfrou's tummy. "It still never ceases to amaze me how excited she gets when you're around. Normally she's not this enthusiastic."

Seth stood up and shrugged. "I guess you can say we've become good friends," Seth replied, reaching down to ruffle the fur atop Furfrou's head.

"It certainly does look that way," Allie replied, almost envious-for but a moment-of the attention Furfrou had been getting.

"So what did you want to see me about?" Melody asked curiously.

"I'm glad you asked! I was going to wait until after the conference ended to ask you this but it seems that now's as good a time as any. I'll get straight to the point. I'd like it if you would be a bridesmaid in my wedding."

Melody nearly dropped her camera as she heard the request. Her eyes widened and she became slightly slack-jawed.

"Y-You want me... to be a bridesmaid in your wedding?"

"Of course! After all, you've become a very close friend of mine and I couldn't envision not having you in the wedding. I know I approached you at one point over the past month with an offer to be the wedding photographer but the more I thought about it the more it seemed fitting to have you up there with me as well."

"I-I don't know what to say... except... of course I'll do it!" Melody declared excitedly.

"Magnifique! That makes me so very happy to hear you say that. I'll have my tailor take your measurements and have your dress made for the occasion," Allie said, beaming as Melody gave her and Seth a fast hug before darting off, squeeling at the top of her lungs in excitement as she sought out her parents to inform them of the news.

"That's got to be the most excited I've seen her since Viola told her she could take courses from her over the summer. You outdid yourself there."

Allie nodded in agreement.

"What can I say? Melody's been a great friend to me and it wouldn't be right if I didn't ask her. Now that I've got all my Duckletts in a row, all that's left is for me to wait for whoever will be the one to place a ring on this finger," Allie added as she held up her hand with a playful smirk.

"Something tells me you're enjoying this a little too much," Seth quipped with a chuckle.

"Maybe I am. After all, what woman wouldn't be excited to know that her big day was just around the bend?" Allie replied with a mirthful giggle while placing her arms around Seth's neck.

"By the way, I wanted to thank you..."

"For what?"

"For what you said to Hugo of course! It was really sweet how you spoke of me, and I appreciated it very much. I will say this though... you nearly gave me a heartattack with the stunts you pulled in that match. I swear I felt my heart leap into my throat several times!" Allie said with a pouty face.

"You're welcome and... I'm sorry? I didn't realize I made you feel that way," Seth replied nervously.

Allie sighed and shook her head with a slight giggle slipping from her lips. "It's alright, don't worry yourself over it. In all seriousness, thank you. It meant a lot to me to hear that you really understood me. Now, before I'm tempted to keep you here longer, you'd better head off and prepare for the match against your friend. Win this and you'll be in the semifinals," Allie added, placing a quick kiss on either cheek before stepping back and ushering him toward the stairs.

"Battle hard!" She called after him.

"Don't I always?" Seth replied, smiling over his shoulder.

"I'm serious, both about you giving it your all and hightailing it out before I take up all your time to strategize," Allie replied sternly, shooing him away with a wave her her hands.

Seth gave her wave before heading down the stairs to find a quiet place to spend the remaining thirty minutes before his match with Jamie began. As he left, Allie's face began to burn bright red. She let out a sigh of relief and fanned herself a little as she sat in her chair. She'd almost lost her self restraint like she had before while in the center. Her eyes shifted over toward Furfrou who was giving her a rather devious look.

"Don't. You. Start."

Furfrou tilted her head as if to feign ignorance. Allie rolled her eyes and crossed her arms with a huff. Time flew by in the blink of an eye and the sound of the announcer's voice could be heard throughout the stadium announcing the start of the quarterfinals.