The arena was silent, save for the crackling embers that floated in the air like falling stars. Fireball stood in the center, his flames dimmer than usual. Across from him, Pound's golden coin figure loomed, his usual confidence replaced by a rigid tension..

"Why did you do it?" Fireball's voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight of his words crashed into Pound like a meteor.

Pound then responded in a somewhat cols tone of voice"I had no choice."

"No choice?!" Fireball's flames surged, licking the ground around him. "You betrayed me, Pound! You promised you'd have my back. Instead, you—" His voice cracked, and he turned away, unwilling to let Pound see the pain in his eyes.

"I had to," Pound growled. "Do you think I wanted this?! Do you think I don't regret it every second?!" He stepped closer, but Fireball flinched, his flames flaring in warning.

"You don't get it," Fireball snapped, spinning around to face him. "You weren't just my partner... You were my anchor, my... my everything.... And now? Now you're just another enemy..."

Pound's breath hitched. "I'm not your enemy, I did it for you!"

"Don't you dare!" Fireball's fire erupted, bathing the arena in blazing light. "Don't you dare say you did it for me! You made me look weak! You made me nothing! All for what?! Your glory?!"

"It wasn't for glory..." Pound said, his voice breaking. "It was to protect you... They (Glitchy & Beer keg btw) were coming for you, Fireball... If I didn't side with them, they would've—"

"Stop!" Fireball's flames wavered, dimming again. "Don't twist this into some noble sacrifice, Pound! You could've fought with me! We could've faced them together!"

Pound hesitated, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. "I couldn't risk losing you..."

"You already lost me..." Fireball whispered.

The words hit harder... Than any punch Pound had ever delivered... For a moment, the arena was silent again, the only sound the faint crackle of Fireball's fading flames...

Fireball turned to leave, his shoulders slumped. "Goodbye, Pound..."

As he walked away, Pound reached out but stopped himself, his arm falling uselessly to his side....He stood there, watching as Fireball disappeared into the shadows, knowing that the bridge between them had been burned beyond repair...

And this time, not even Fireball's flames could reignite it....