32. Ash's Reborn Story

Chapter 116 Quarter Finals

After arriving at the next room, they find Charlotte and Saphira.

Charlotte: Nothing over here either. (Notices Ash and Cal) Oh, you're out too. Took you long enough.

Cal: Sorry?

Saphira: We expected you to be the next anyway.

Charlotte: Yeah, those girls are cute and all, but let's be real, they were never going to win.

Saphira: More importantly, did something happen to them after the match?

Hardy: OI! (Rushes in) You guys see what happened?! It was the same for you all too, right?!

Charlotte: All flicker, no ticker?

Hardy: Yea! Can we do something?!

Charlotte: There's nothing to do. I jumped straight through S% l!&. No response, no anything. Kinda shocked me though. Whether that's metaphorically or literally is up to you.

Ash: How about my Dad? Or #$e+

Ash then realizes that for some reason, he can't remember his brother's name, and he realizes how bad this has been.

Hardy: He hung back to talk to #$e+. Made him promise not to be too long though, so no sweat about that.

Cal: I'm not sure that's the main reason we'd be sweating right now.

Saphira: Another concern: There's no exits from this area either.

Charlotte: We just checked while you all were taking your time.

Saphira: And if that's happening to every loser...

Hardy: This sitch's a whole lot more messed than we first thought, huh? Man, I feel bad about pressing the matter against that kid and S#*r). Maybe we shoulda come to a draw?

Cal: Terra said that if we didn't fight seriously she'd do something to us anyway. I suspect it wouldn't be too different from the outcome the losers got.

Hardy: Then what are we supposed to do?!

Saphira: Start by not asking stupid questions. There is no "supposed to" in this situation. Don't act like this is a prewritten scenario with a scripted, guaranteed outcome. Decide what you want to do, and do it. That's all there is to it.

Hardy: I already know what I wanna do. I wanna save Aya!

Saphira: And just how do you plan to do that?

Hardy: I'll take down everyone in Team Meteor!

Charlotte: That's nice, but nobody still with Team Meteor is even here right now since we can't find or get to Cuckoo McAnnouncerFace. So, are you going to mow us all down just to get out of here and save your precious damsel? Is she really worth that much more to you than all of us are? I'm almost hurt.

Hardy: Oi, lass, it ain't like that. I made a promise that I'd save her, and I'mma stick to it no matter what! If you got a better solution, let's hear it!

Charlotte: Hah? A better solution? Sure, I've got a better solution. How about my sis and I just beat you all and move on with it? As long as we're together, none of you stand a chance. And frankly, it's not our business what happens to you. Saphira's more than capable of taking Team Meteor apart herself. And I just gotta be there to see it.