The Pantheon

The Indigo Conference - Part V

Ashley had never claimed the cafeteria's food was good. She wasn't about to start lying now. The vegetables were soggy, the pasta tasted like it came from a can, and the rice somehow managed to be both dry and sticky. But the chocolate cake?

The chocolate cake was divine.

She leaned against the table with her chin in one hand, eyes half-lidded, chewing with slow reverence. Across from her, Mars was doing the same—kind of. He couldn't exactly lean, but he hunched over his lava cake like someone might steal it, as he growled every few bites.

They matched in grumbling.

Ashley swallowed the last bite and gave a satisfied moan. "Honestly, I think that cake just healed my soul."

Mars gave a muffled grunt around a mouthful of fudge, and Ashley took that as an agreement. His tail flame flickered higher than usual. She watched it for a second, then looked back at his face. He wasn't looking at her. He was still focused on the cake.

She sighed a little.

"Hey. I know I haven't been using you much."

Mars didn't answer. His claws scraped against the tray as he finished the last crumb.

"I mean, you clearly were not interested in the Grand Festival," she went on, softer, "but I am already at the semifinals of the Conference, and I have not chosen you yet. The issue is that I was expecting more from the trainers here, and you deserved a real fight."

His ear twitched, and he looked up at her now. Waiting.

Ashley smiled faintly. "You'll get one today. A couple of hours from now, we're facing Eva. She's smart and quick, she's not going to hold back."

Mars's wings flared slightly, just enough to catch her attention.

"Yeah, I figured that'd get your attention," she said with a laugh. "You're my main star for this one. We are no longer holding back. We're leading with you." That got her a satisfied rumble. He leaned back, crossing his arms, smug as ever. His tail flame settled into a steady burn. Ashley leaned her elbows on the table. "You good with that?"

Mars snorted like, finally.

She reached over to scratch just under the base of his neck, careful of the scales. "I missed watching you go full chaos mode."

He tilted his head slightly, letting her scratch just a second longer before pulling back with a short huff. Message received.

They lapsed into a quieter moment after that. The cafeteria around them was still buzzing with energy—other trainers sitting with their teams, reviewing footage, sharing food, some even just trying to sleep against their tables. The post-battle haze had a way of dulling the noise, even when it was loud. But Ashley liked that part.

It was the kind of atmosphere that let her breathe.

She watched Mars for a second longer, then let her gaze drift toward the digital clock on the cafeteria wall. Less than two hours now. Semifinals against Eva. That one wasn't going to be a light spar. Eva trained with precision—like her whole strategy was built around never letting you take a second breath.

Ashley sat back and stretched, her joints popping in protest. "We should probably head out soon."

Mars stood first, stretching his wings slowly. He flexed his claws, then flicked the empty tray toward the trash with a gust of wind. It skidded perfectly into place. Ashley stared at it.

"Show-off," she muttered.

He flicked his tail like he hadn't heard her, and she snorted, scooping up her tray and following him out. Her feet led her on autopilot to the locker rooms. Once inside she returned Mars to his Poké Ball and started to change.