Author's Note

Since there is a song for this page, I'll leave a word key so you'll know which is which.

Normal Print = Plot

Italics = Song

Bold = Scene Change or Timeskip

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Bopper's narration

Now that I got everything set up, it was time to get my warmup done right this time.

Since it was still two weeks until the next match, there's only one way to sum it up.

Montage Time!

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Normal POV

Dixie's Dumbells Gym

Ben and Joe were back at the gym with a tall punching bag set up in the room.

Ben asks him. "Why are we back here for the training?"

Joe tells him. "To measure your progress, this punching bag is gonna help. Your goal is to get it from one side of the room to the other in 3 hits or less."

Ben looks at him. "You think I can get this?"

Joe shrugs and sits in a chair. "Worth a shot. If Toro could do this, so can you."

Ben looks to the bag and goes towards it, ready to knock it back.

(Song begins here)

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

Ben immediately hits the bag and causes it to reach the other side in 6 moves.

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Normal POV

The Mall

Ben approached the escalators and starts to go up them.

Try to be best
'Cause you're only a man
And a man's gotta learn to take it

Ben dodged two girls going down, almost knocking one their bags down and getting a glare from them.

Try to believe
Though the going gets rough
That you gotta hang tough to make it

Ben this time weaves left and right through five ladies, getting it right on the edge like a tightrope walk.

History repeats itself
Try and you'll succeed

His final goal was to pass the old lady he encountered last time.

Never doubt that you're the one
And you can have your dreams!

Ben completely sidesteps the loads of bags she was carrying, managing to get to the top of the escalator to celebrate.

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Normal POV

The Library

Ben gets ready as Joe turns the hourglass upside down after shuffling cards.

You're the best!
Around!
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

Ben gets five pairs in the first few seconds before they were shuffled again.

You're the best!
Around!
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

Ben gets six pairs in the next shuffle, actually making it hard for Joe to keep up with him, let alone confuse him.

You're the best!
Around!
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

The whole deck was cleared just a bare second from the hourglass emptying.

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Normal POV

Bernardo's Mansion

Ben hangs on the side of the pool again as Dixie tossed out beach balls at him.

Fight 'til the end
Cause your life will depend
On the strength that you have inside you

Ben kicks the first two just barely before they could hit the water, getting a surprised Dixie hit by them.

Ah you gotta be proud
Starin' out in the cloud
When the odds in the game defy you

The bear then kicks four away from the water in a synced up rhythm, somehow still hanging onto the pool's edge.

Dixie comes in with the biggest beach ball possible, throwing it out at Ben.

Try your best to win them all
And one day time will tell
When you're the one that's standing there
You'll reach the final bell!

Ben kicks the last one with both of his feet so hard, it takes out the pool fence!

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Normal POV

Dixie's Dumbells Gym (again)

Ben kicks the punching bag, followed by two punches, but it barely made it halfway across the room.

You're the best!
Around!
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

Ben hits it with a haymaker punch, a roundhouse kick and a hard jab, but it only passed the halfway mark.

You're the best!
Around!
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

Even hitting it with three haymaker punches in a row couldn't get him 100% through the room.

You're the best!
Around!
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down-ow-ow-ho-how-ho-own

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Normal POV

Empire City Streets

Ben starts doing a light jog once the pigeon's shadow hit the starting line, the bird only staying ahead by a small lead.

(Guitar Solo)

Halfway down the course, Ben matches the pigeon in pace and speed, despite it being a race against a runner and a flyer.

In a few minutes, the finish line at the top of the library stairs was approaching.

Right when both of them reached the bottom of the stairs, Ben broke out into a sprint towards the top, still having enough stamina to make the run.

When he reached the top, Joe times him at two seconds ahead of the mail pigeon's shadow!

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Normal POV

The Roof of a Hotel

Ben was doing sit-ups as Joe counted and did timer.

You're the best!
Around!
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

The bear grunts as he forces himself up again and again, sweat building up on him as the heat burns down on him.

You're the best!
Around!
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

Joe eventually tells him. "Stop! You're good."

Ben looks to see that he got one hundred sit-ups in 20 minutes.

You're the best!
Around!
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down-ow-ow-ow-own

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Normal POV

Dixie's Dumbells Gym (one last time on the page)

Ben loads more hits onto the punching bag, getting it already past the halfway point in two hits.

Fight 'til you drop

He hits it three times more on his next round, getting it 70% across the room.

Never stop
Can't give up
'Til you reach the top (FIGHT!)

He hits it more again, getting 85% across the room.

You're the best in town (FIGHT!)

Ben hits it 90% across the room, so close to reaching it.

Listen to that sound

With two hard punches and a hard kick, the punching bag hit the wall on the other side of the room, creating a huge dent in the metal structure!

A little bit of all you got
Can never bring you down

Ben does a fist pump and says out loud. "Yes!"

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Normal POV

The Beach near Station Square

Ben and Mighty circled each other as Ray and Joe watched them spar, ready to have the biggest test for the fighter.

You're the best!
Around!
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

Mighty spin dashes at him, only for Ben to roll out of the way and kick him when he comes back around.

You're the best!
Around!
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

Ben goes for an uppercut punch, but Mighty rolls backwards and tries to gut punch him.

You're the best!
Around!
Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

The bear feels the hit in the stomach, but doesn't even flinch, countering it with a headbutt.

Before the armadillo could recover, Ben sweeps him and holds him onto the ground.

You're the best!
Around!

Joe counts down from one to ten, declaring Ben the winner.

The bear helps the armadillo up and the two fist bump each other.

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Bopper's narration

And just like that, I had gotten the hang of everything Joe could throw at me.

It was a rocky road at first, but I made it, and with plenty of hidden strength to spare.

Now I just needed to show the new and improved version to my next match.

What a fight that was!

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Two back to back chapters!

That might be a first for this book.

Disclaimer: "You're the Best Around" belongs Joe Esposito and the writers who made the song.

If you have any questions please let me know.

See you in the next chapter!