Luke: Wait.. seriously?

Ken: Yes.

Rose: But Ken.. you...

Ken: Don't have to? Yes. But...

He turned back to Max.

Ken: This could be interesting.

Max: Hmph!

Ken's eyes then turned to Tiffany, who simply in a sense of silent understanding, nodded.

She knew Ken too well to start questioning him. After all, Max sparring with Ken was of a greater priority than her sparring with him.

Max: Ok, let's go!

Ken: Hmph!

Suddenly, his mother spoke

Julianne: I guess I finally get to see my little man in action.

Max: (blushing) Moooooooooom!

As usual, Ken and Luke both laughed and Rose simply giggled.

Julianne: Be careful out there.

Max: (blushing) MMmmmmmmm. I will.

And with that, the pair started of towards the battlefield.

Meanwhile, back with the others....

Tiffany: (thinking: His mother won't even interject. Is she... used to this kind of reckless behaviour?)

And on top of Tiffany's contemplations about Julianne, her countenance had changed from extremely chill to somewhat concerned.

As for Max and Ken, they got into their positions.

Max: You ready for this?

Ken: Sure... Lets do it.

There was a broad smile on Max's face, as well as a small one on Ken's.

Luke: This fight...

Tiffany: Yeah....

In all senses, this fight was heavily to Ken's advantage.

Not only was the battlefield still full of stones, but also, Max had already fought. So, even though he'd rested up, he was still a bit tired.

Back at the battlefield, the pair bowed, ....

Julianne: (thinking: They even have my Maxie doing it.)

Ken: Would you like to have your mother clear up these stones?

Max: Nope. I'm good.

In a sense, Max only said this because he wanted to fight like Rose and Tiffany. A fight in an unchanged battlefield.

Ken: Hmph: Ok then.

Back with those watching the fight...

Rose: Max.... (thinking: I hope you'll be ok.)

All four of them had gotten closer to the edge of the battle ground.

Tiffany: (thinking: Ordinarily, I wouldn't have allowed this. However, since he does have to spar with all of us..., I suppose this is for the best.)

She raised her hand as she always did, in a karate chop fashion.

Tiffany: Ready...... begin!

And so it started. Both battlers immediately stared each other down, neither side moving an inch, both in a battle ready pose.

This went on for several seconds.

Back with those watching the battle..

Rose: Ummm... why are they.... why aren't they moving?

Tiffany: Its a staredown.

Rose: Hmm?

Tiffany's eyes narrowed. As one who'd been in many fights, she knew this better than the rest of the team would.

Tiffany: For some reason or the other, they're both trying to out anticipate the other.

Rose: Really?

Tiffany: Yeah... really....

The other two simply watched quietly.

Tiffany: (thinking: Both of them are wary of the other. But... why though? Could it be... that they both expect this fight to be difficult? Even Max?)

Back at the battlefield.

Max: Just so we're clear, if I zap you, you wont just get fried like some robot, right?

Ken: Hmph. Right. In fact, my bionics give me more durability than most humans.

Max: Huh? How much more?

Ken: You'll see soon enough:..

Max: Tch... alright.

A staredown. A stand off.

Whatever you want to call it. In this pre-battle ritual, both or even all combatants simply look at each other, almost as though their spirits are gauging each others' strength. Almost as though their spirits are fighting with one another.

There is an old adage.

A battle is decided before the first move is made.

This statement, while paraphrased, is making reference of the human spirit. The very thing that drives a man.

As a more commonly mentioned of adage goes. Once a spirit is defeated, the battle has been decided.

That is true.

And in this case, both combatants couldn't make a move, because neither one could take the other down.

Tiffany: (thinking: Could it be... that these two have fought before?)

Her judgement of the sitaution was born out of her genuine questioning of what was happening.

Neither side was doing what the other would ordinarily do.

And to top that off, they weren't doing anything at all.

And so Tiffany wondered that because in her mind, they must have gained some kind of respect for each other's skill from somewhere, right?