"Howzit goin Eva!" Zac called down to Eva from the top of the sand dune. Beach grass curled underneath his bare feet, forming a cool, comfortable standing spot. "It's a hell of a thing. You can almost smell the competition! Or maybe that's just the smoke and sunscreen." From their vantage spot they could see the rest of the trainers going at it. Flashed of fire and glistening sheets of temporary ice burst along the length of Slateport Beach. Up here they had some space to themselves, and room for a proper Sky Battle.

"Nobody's redder than me!" Zac laughed, and he hurled his Pokeball into the sky. Nana emerged, stiff-feathered and hunched. She was an ancient Corviknight, and reminded Zac strongly of his grandma back in Alola. She flapped heavily, stretching her wings and stirring up whirls of sand. "Time to take this fight to the skies!"

-Nana used Sand Attack!

No one redder?! Eva was a sucker for corny jokes. The doctor laughed harder than she probably should have at his response. That reminded Eva she should probably re-up on her sunscreen soon now that they were out of the shade and on top of the dunes.

“Alright, let’s get this goin then!” she cheered, giving the Pidgeotto a nod. Unlike the Corviknight, Dolly was a spry and young thing but certainly lacked the experience the other avian had. Sand swirled through the air towards Dolly but her KEEN EYES kept an accurate gauge on the opponent. Flapping her wings furiously, the Pidgeotto rose higher into the sky, expecting the Corviknight to follow.

A TAILWIND boosts her climb before she gently folded her wings to her side and dipped back towards earth, letting gravity pull her down as she blurred into a QUICK ATTACK at her opponent.

Zac Ramsay

Dolly cut through the billowing sand and banged into the rising Nana. Claws and beak met metal with a loud CLANG!, and the older, heavier bird wobbled in the air. She squarked indignantly, her metal plates reflecting the sun as she turned to slap out a Steel Wing at the impertinent fledgling. Hit me? Her face seemed to say. Show some gosh-dang respect you young upstart! The first attack missed, too slow by half, and Nana gave chase. She dropped from the sky to swoop after Dolly, her Steel Wings slicing the wake of the rude youngster.

"I called her Nana because she reminded me of my grandma back in Alola," Zac said, chuckling softly as he watched Nana swat furiously at Dolly. "She's got the metal jaw, the heart of gold, and the impressive reach! My Nana's a terror with a wooden spoon."

-Nana was hit by Quick Attack! Ow!
-Nana used Steel Wing a few times

Striking such a hard opponent gives the Pidgeotto a jolt. She’s inexperienced and surprised by how tough the partial steel-type’s feathers are. It’s the look Nana shoots her that make her feel uneasy. Suddenly, Dolly was the one dipping and attempting to dodge a few slaps of STEEL WING. She evades the first, tries to run, but is smack off balance by the elder avian. It takes a moment to regain her balance in the air, adjusting her wings to flip her towards the Corviknight. The Pidgeotto’s wings flap furiously, sending a series of sharp AIR CUTTERS towards Nana in an attempt to drive her back and put space between them.

Eva took her eyes away from the battle to glance at Zac, laughing with amusement at his story, “Sounds like my grandma too! She is a spicy one,” Eva grinned, recalling fond memories of her grandparents back in Kanto. She wonders how they are faring with everything going on. Good, she hopes.

Zac Ramsay

The blades of air battered Nana, ripping out heavy feathers that tumbled through the air like helicopter blades. "Whoa! Nice hit!" Zac said, as Nana beat the air with her wings. She pulled back and dove, avoiding the last of the air cutter assault. She gained as much altitude as possible, trying to stay above the more spritely Dolly.

"Classic hunting technique," Zac said, nodding as he watched Nana rise. "It's all a game of altitude. Once Nana has a clear shot at Dolly, she'll dive and try to tackle her to the ground, just like she tried on Nana before. However, the difference in weight makes it a dangerous back and forth." Nana's feathers were the same bruised purple as her shadow, and she cast a vast, soaring silhouette across the sands below as she rose and rose. "It's hard for Dolly to take down a bigger opponent through traditional means, and it's a bloody tall order for a bird Nana's size to surprise or outmaneuver Dolly."  

-Nana got hit by Air Cutter
-Nana gained height, waiting to strike!

Roll to win: |f|RVlNL

The young, frustrated Pidgeotto doesn’t take long to chase after the larger bird. She is smart enough to see what the Corvinight is trying to do, Dolly used the same technique earlier. Nana’s powerful wings bring her higher and higher, the Pidgeotto’s smaller wings beat quickly, trying to close the gap. She stays hot on Nana’s trail, but the gap still grows.

Eva nods along with Zac’s assessment, “I don’t think Dolly’s gonna let her get too far,” the doctor grins, eyeing the Gym Leader, “She’s on to her, get her, girl!” Eva cheers in excitement as Dolly continues to rise. The young bird suddenly shoots forward in a QUICK ATTACK in an effort to close the gap, “Gonna be hard for her to get past that steel though! Dolly might just have to wear her out,” The young pokemon has the stamina. Could Nana keep up?

Zac Ramsay

Dolly closes the gap with a QUICK ATTACK!
Roll to win: hFKFxVG9

Dolly's Quick Attack clanged against Nana, and the older bird's flight faltered. Heavy black feathers scattered in the salt wind, and she cawed out in pain and protest. "Whoa! Looks like you were spot on doc. She's tiring already." 

Zac pulled two cans of Charja-Cola from his Rotom fridge and offered one to Eva. He rubbing the icy metal of his own can on his neck and flushed cheeks before cracking it open. It was sizzling out here. And the ocean breeze was nowhere near enough to cool him down. "Nana's an old bird made of dark metal. She must be baking up there!"   

The Corviknight wheeled, trying to catch Dolly by surprise, and dove towards the youngster. But Nana had underestimated her weight, and overestimated her wing strength, and her slicing dive carved through the air too early, sending her straight past Dolly and careening downwards, heading straight for the beach.

"Careful Nana!" Zac called, as the big bird plummeted downwards. "If you've had enough we can just stop it here!" But the fight wasn't out of the dark bird just yet. Nana beat her wings frantically, and in a fit of startled athleticism she was able to stop just above the dunes. But now her back was wide open, and Dolly had a free shot from above. 

-Nana was hit by Quick Attack
-Nana turned on Dolly and missed
-Nana almost crash landed

Eva winces at the hit. She can’t imagine striking such hard steel could be comfortable for Dolly as well, “Yeah I guess so,” Eva is decent when it comes to battling but that’s certainly not her primary focus. She knows enough to make her competitive but there no way in hell she’s entering the Hoenn circuit. There are far more important things that require her attention, “Oh! Thank you,” she smile, accepting Zac’s offer of a Charja Cola. Eva pauses before cracking it open, grinning as he cools himself down with the cold can, “Lookin’ a lil hot here, Ramsey. We should cool down after this, go for a swim or something,”. She could hear the water crashing in the distance beyond the dunes. It would probably feel amazing. Eva’s cola cracked upon with a pop and she took a good swig from it.

The QUICK ATTACK closes the gap. Dolly strikes the Corviknight’s tough steel hard enough to make the larger avian waver in the air. Even Dolly is a bit shaken from the blow. It’s like running into a wall. Shaking it off, she too move unpredictably, which may be why the Corviknight is suddenly sailing past her with gravity towards the beach.

Dolly watches in confusion for a moment before folding her wings and letting herself fall after the Corviknight. It almost seemed unfair to attack from behind, especially when the bird was struggling to right itself. However, Dolly steeled her nerves and did so anyway. This is battle, after all!

Her wings fluttered forward, slowing her down as she hovered above the dual-type. Sharp, pressurized puff of air followed their movements, flying towards the opponent as quick AIR SLASHES.

Zac Ramsay
Dolly fires a series of AIR SLASHES at Nana

"A swim sounds good! I haven't had much of a chance for downtime recently. It's just been battles, work, and getting the new factory up and running." Despite the clear strain the world was taking on Zac, he was as upbeat and enthusiastic as always. "On the plus side, the Charja-Cola sales are picking up, production is pretty stable, and I've turned the old factory into a pretty serviceable bachelor pad!"

The Air Slashes sliced through Nana, and the form of the Corviknight exploded into a cloud of dark feathers and cheap stuffing. "Ha! Oldest trick in the book!" Zac said, laughing heartily at Nana's deception. "And she should know. She's the oldest bird in the book!"

With the Substitute destroyed, Nana burst out of the sand, kicking up and launching herself into the air with tremendous upwards force. The surged upwards, her beak open in a crackling, reverberating cry as she swung her Steel Wings at the younger bird. 

-Dolly hit Nana with Air Slash
-Air Slash broke Nana's Substitute
-Nana attacked with Steel Wing

“Great! A swim it is!” she smiles brightly. It’s already been quite the long day and it’s regrettable that Eva hasn’t even taken a dip into the cool ocean water yet. Very unlike her, but she has been a bit distracted with the festival and battles, “Wait,” she pauses with the Charja Cola about half way to her lips, “You’re living at the factory?!” she sounds shocked. A factory isn’t a proper place to live, “Zac . . . do you need a place to stay for a bit?” she asks with a seriousness that is foreign to those that know her outside of work. It demands an honest answer.

Dolly lets out a loud squawk of surprsie when the SUBSTITUTION break beneath the fury of her Air Slashes. It snaps Eva’s attention back to the battle just in time to see Dolly get whacked with a STEEL WING, “Whoa! Nice move, Nana!” you can’t deny that the Corviknight’s experience far outweighs the Pigeotto’s.

Dolly’ retaliation is swift and fierce. Her wings flare and beat rhythmically as a gale of wind swirls in front of her. The sand stirs, kicking up into the vortex and mixing with the flying-type power that creates the HURRICANE.

Zac Ramsay
Dolly is hit with STEEL WING
Dolly uses HURRICANE

"Uh, yeah maybe for a little bit," Zac admits. He had been so caught up in all the recent events that he hadn't realized how far his living situation had fallen. He had brushed off a few weeks spent sleeping in a hammock between two mixing tanks as just another spot of 'urban camping'. "That would be really nice, actually. Thanks Eva." He smiled at her, and felt a previously unnoticed weight lift from his shoulders. 

Meanwhile, Nana was pulled into the surprise Hurricane. With little momentum of her own, she couldn't fight the strong winds, and was hurled around in the column of air. The whirling threw off her internal gyroscope, and Zac winced as she fell from the sky and landed on the sands with a heavy thud. "You okay Nana?" he asked, running over to check on the bird. Aside from being a bit cross-eyed and battered, she looked fine. Nothing broken. Probably. Besides, if there was any real damage done then who better to have on hand than Eva!

"Great match!" Zac said, shaking the doctor's hand. "Time for a swim?" Behind him, Nana got unsteadily to her feet, shook off the sand, and made her way eagerly towards the water. 

-Dolly hit Nana with Hurricane
-Nana is confused!
-Nana hurt herself in confusion!
-Nana fainted!
-Eva wins the battle!
-Time for a swim 

Eva meets his smile with a bright one of her own, “It’s settled then! The spare room is yours for as long as you need it!” She finishes the statement with a strong nod. He should fit in the bed in there . . . it’s a queen. If he sleeps a little sideways it should work. Regardless, it would probably be better than a cot or whatever he was sleeping on in a factory. He could still keep it as a bachelor pad, but Eva would never let a friend live there.

With a gasp, Eva follows Zac over to Nana after she crashes in the sand from losing control within the hurricane. The doctor doesn’t get too close and observes from a distance as Zac inspects the Corviknight. She seemed alright from here. Dolly descended, hovering above the small group with a few beats of her wings. The Pidgeotto chirped anxiously at the Corviknight, asking if it is alright.

“Oh! Yeah! Lots of fun, thanks for the battle, Zac! We should do it again sometime!” Eva returns his firm handshake with a firm one of her own, “Hell yeah! Let’s go! C’mon Dolly!” she waves the Pidgeotto over to follow them to the water’s edge. Eva’s already in her bikini, she just has to toss her shorts to the side before walking into the cool water and diving in.

Zac Ramsay

"We will do this again. And soon!" Zac said, heading towards the water. He had on his favorite Pyukumuku patterned Alolan shirt, and a pair of Kyle Krush board shorts that had a surfing Mightyena on them. "Come on Nana!" Zac called, beckoning the old bird to join them down by the shore. She picked herself up, casting a grumpy glare at Dolly, and walked slowly past them and into the surf, ruffling her feathers as the salty waters cooled her. 

"She looks better already! And I feel better." Zac let out a big sigh, grinning at his favorite doctor. "Thanks Eva. It means a lot knowing I have a friend like you. I appreciate your hospitality, and I can promise that I don't snore. At least, not that I've ever heard." He grinned, and ran into the waves.