[h1][center][color=ffa77f]Zeke[/color][/center][/h1]

Zeke watched Isla go, the smirk never leaving his face. Of course he'd left himself wide open for the most obvious comeback. He turned back to the cameras, [color=cb7310]"Cute isn't she? Did she say... she brought home the gold? Well if any old award counts towards the League now, I better start carrying around my medals from the Lilycove Spring Break Beer Olympics."[/color] He laughed, and there was a boom from somewhere in the crowd. [color=cb7310]"These newcomers always get a big head, but it's cool. We can settle it on the pitch."[/color]

At that moment Fiona's Pokemon chose to do their display. The combined boom drew all their eyes upward. Zeke rolled his eyes. [i]Flyers.[/i] But with the new arrivals and all the showing off, the cameras' attention drifted slowly away from him in different directions. After all, the major leagues were here. The smirk melted off his face as the last of them ran off. 

The crowd was in a frenzy and an excited Loudred somewhere in that mass of people was only egging them on. Zeke chuckled to himself then grabbed a Pokeball and called forth his Gallade. The serious Blade Pokemon stood straight and tall and took a quick look at its surroundings. The expression it wore made it clear the celebrations and music and crowd did not impress Gallade. Zeke gave it a moment. And then a light breeze carried the scent of sugar and cinnamon to them. Gallade's head immediately turned in the direction of an array of dessert carts. [color=ffa77f]"All right. Go find Loudred, please. I'm gonna need some extra noise at the Ceremony. Afterwards I'll get you all a donut or waffle or something. Maybe there's Casteliacones somew-"[/color] Zeke turned to find that Gallade had already disappeared. Likely at the word donut. He smiled to himself and went to join the other Gym Leaders, even greeting a few them in a friendly manner.

They were soon called to the locker rooms by the Chairman's assistant. Zeke was quick in the locker room. He'd come wearing his uniform shorts, so it was only a matter slipping off the hoodie and changing his shoes for some flip-flops he could slide off quickly. [color=ffa77f]"Well, break a leg out there. Show these challengers what they're in for." [/color] He quickly checked his hair in the mirror, then gestured to the others before going off to find his seat.

There were a few seats set on the pitch opposite the entrance everyone would be watching, so Zeke slipped in and took his seat with only a few fans having noticed him. Zeke looked around at the stadium. Thomas's people had done good work. It was almost like they were in a city other than Motostoke. He'd have to pay Thomas a compliment afterward. 

Zeke's phone buzzed. Then buzzed again. And again. [i]Them again.[/i]

[indent][indent]Isha: damn zeke you got rooooooasted
Abby: Yeah, that went beyond taking the piss out of someone. 
Isha: whatd you do cheat on her?[/indent][/indent]

Zeke sighed and began typing out a quick response. It might be a while before the ceremony started.

[indent][indent]Brennan: He was acting like a jerk that's what he did.
[color=ffa77f]Zeke: shouldnt you be getting ready for the ceremony[/color]
[color=ffa77f]Zeke: and i told you to stop adding me to your grouptexts[/color]
Isha: did you really win the beer olympics
Brennan: Pretty sure that was a joke. do they even have those in Lilycove
Abby: We're all ready. We got here early and changed. We were just watching you be an ass.
Abby: And Isha's nervous.
[color=ffa77f]Zeke: Isha is nervous? Isha?[/color]
Isha: its a lot of people
[color=ffa77f]Zeke: All you have to do is walk out there. It'll be fine. You all walk in together. Just breathe. And I'll be on the other end of the pitch when you walk out. If you start to panic, just look at me and pretend you're running circles around my Lucario again.[/color]
[color=ffa77f]Zeke: You're going to do great. Knowing you you'll get addicted to the cheering[/color]
Isha: i guess
Abby: No, he's right. You're going to become a monster
[color=ffa77f]Zeke: anyway it looks like everyones ready. i think its time to start soon[/color]
Brennan: What if we can't find you
[color=ffa77f]Zeke: oh you will[/color][/indent][/indent]

Zeke silenced his phone and slipped it back into his pocket as the other minor league leaders began to join him. And then Amaranth's voice poured from the speakers, and Zeke stood up to watch the ceremony. It was a familiar script. It didn't change much from year to year, but it never failed to give him chills. He noticed the figures forming up at the opposite end, ready to make their entrance. Zeke thought back to his own experience in that group. He could remember the first time walking out on to that field as a Gym Leader like it was yesterday. He glanced over at Malik. Could he be thinking about the same thing? But no, the other man had willingly given up his spot. It wasn't the same.

As they were announced, Zeke clapped and cheered as expected. His part had been played and he didn't have to be "on" for the ceremony, thankfully. And yet...

The stadium shook from the crowd's passion. And then Chairman Amaranth announced the challengers. In a flash, Loudred was at Zeke's side. [color=ffa77f]"Ready to give these kids the full experience?"[/color] His words could not have possibly reached its ears, but Loudred nodded in understanding. Zeke cheered even louder as the challengers poured out of the tunnel to join the gym leaders on the field. He caught sight of a few familiar faces. As expected Isha took quickly to the cheers and was already basking in the attention. Brennan however, looked around a little timidly. Zeke gestured to Loudred who joyfully added his own booming cries to the noise. It was enough to catch the attention of some, including Brennan and Abby. He smiled and clenched a fist in solidarity. The returned the gesture, standing noticeably taller and more confident.

[color=ffa77f]"Good work buddy,"[/color] he muttered. 


Zeke was in high spirits. This had been as good a send-off as any for these trainers. He'd made sure that they all kept him updated on their progress. Many of the challengers who'd come through his gym still didn't believe he was as invested as he claimed to be. But they promised to let him know.

As Zeke slipped his hoodie back on, he caught the end of a conversation about Victoria. He had noticed she was absent. Elijah too... Something seemed wrong but there didn't seem to be much reason to worry just yet. Even the Chairman thought it could wait.

[color=ffa77f]"All right, so about that meal? What's the plan?"[/color] He glanced at Nordrin. [color=ffa77f]"Also I kind of promised Gallade I'd take the team for something sweet."[/color]