A setting sun forms a rather vibrant backdrop to the end of a productive yet exhausting day. The red head watches it for a moment, letting the rising tide wash over her bare feet. It a strange feeling. Not the cool water contrasting the hot sand, but what she’s learned today.

For someone who is so used to running from conflict, she finds herself eager to jump into the heat of battle. It’s exhilarating and powerful. A grin pulls across crimson lips. She wants more.

Another lone figure loiters on the festival grounds. After a moment of study, it’s hard to dismiss who it is. His dominating presence can be felt even from this far. He lingers for a reason. Perhaps it’s the same as hers, so she approaches with a steady, casual gait.

“Gym Leader Silph,” she smiles, gently rolling a pokeball in her fingertips, “Care for one more battle today?”

FERNANDO SILPH

SILPH VS BRIARWOOD

VICTORY STOLEN BEFORE SUNDOWN

“OF COURSE.”

The day comes to an end but the tournament lasts the week. As long as there are trainers to battle so to will Fernando remain stalwart. His body can rest when visitors far and wide have returned to their homes. A chance at sampling talents from all over the world only comes once every four years.

“Oh, it’s you,” upon closer examination, Fernando recognizes her. A name doesn’t pop up, unsure if he ever got one in the first place, but he knows where he saw her.

Alexandra Briarwood

Lex’s lips pull into a frown. Oh, it’s you . . really? Does he really recognize her? She’s surprised, he meets a lot of people. She pushes the sunglasses atop her head, rolling the dual-colored sphere around in her hand expectantly. Regardless, she smiles and responds to his acceptance, “Great.”

Wasting no more time, Lex steps back to put more space between them. It’s an adequate amount for a decent battle, the last of the day, “Let’s get started then,” the pokeball in her hand cracks open. The light that bolts towards the sand materializes into an Electrvire. The beast shifts anxiously on the unstable ground. He’s been restless, itching for a fight.

Both trainer and pokemon wait, one more patiently than the other, “Ready when you are.” The Electrivire agrees, moving forward with a thunderous step. His coat snaps and pops with electricity, CHARGING himself for the imminent battle.

FERNANDO SILPH

SILPH VS BRIARWOOD

VICTORY STOLEN BEFORE SUNDOWN

FERNANDO SCOFFS INWARDLY AT THE SIGHT OF HER ELECTIVIRE. Being paired against someone who boasts an outright advantage over his Noctowl means this battle will be anything but easy. To pull out a win will require more effort than he can stomach, a stark contrast to the tranquility that comes from his ocean-side viewing.

But who is he to decline forcing his way through any and all adversity?

“Noctowl, to me.”

The large bird rises with a flap of its wings, rising several feet as its stares at the ape below.

“Battle routine set.”

“Hoo!”

“Execute!”

The stare becomes unnerving as its pupils dilate into round, purple circles. Several waves of HYPNOSIS radiate outward, looking to coax the enemy into a sudden slumber.

Alexandra Briarwood

The thief tilts her head slightly at the sight of the Noctowl. Sure, it is out with its trainer, but she wasn’t expecting him to actually use the Noctowl in a battle against her Electrivire. As expected, Fernando’s reputation has preceded him. Despite the obvious advantage Bal has against the Flying-type, she doesn’t expect this to be an easy battle by any means. That’s fine by her, Lex has come to appreciate a challenging fight.

A recognizable and predictable series of commands is spoken by the Gym Leader. The Noctowl obeys, jumping into the fight with a HYPNOSIS.

Balthazar shifts, a low growl rumbling through his throat. Hypnosis is an often-used tool among Lex’s team. The Electrivire would rather not start the battle out sleeping. A thunderous clap sounds across the beach as his large palms slap together. As they separate, a glimmering shield PROTECTS him from the psychic energy that pulses his way.

FERNANDO SILPH

SILPH VS BRIARWOOD

VICTORY STOLEN BEFORE SUNDOWN

THE BARRIER NULLIFIES THE ATTACK. As long as the barrier remains stable so too will the Electrivire. But that won’t stop the Noctowl from blasting HYPNOTIC waves as it ascends. It’s a suppressive measure to prevent the electric type from retaliating while the flying Pokemon creates distance.

When the Pokemon feels comfortable with its altitude, it also lets up on the useless HYPNOSIS. Instead, it shoots forward, leaving a HEAT WAVE to descend on the Electrivire below like discard jet flares.

Alexandra Briarwood

As long as the Noctowl presses HYPNOSIS onto the Electrivire, the PROTECT remains. It’s tactic to create distance works. Balthazar watches the opponent ascend into the sky with little ability to do much else. When the onslaught of Hypnosis stops, the barrier fades. He stands tall, cautious.

Balthazar is bombarded with heat as the Noctowl dives towards him. A wave of flames scorch his yellow fur, leaving black, charred streak that blend with his stripes. The hat brings a wave of hot anger. He stomps into the sand, bringing his arms up. Palms push forward, a bright wave of sharp stars rush SWIFTly through the wake of the Heat Wave towards the avain.

FERNANDO SILPH

Balthazar uses SWIFT

SILPH VS BRIARWOOD

VICTORY STOLEN BEFORE SUNDOWN

THE NOCTOWL RECOGNIZES ITS DISADVANTAGE. Its eccentric yellow fur coupled with the display of sparks from its CHARGE makes it obvious that it’s an electric type Pokemon. The whole basis of the Noctowl’s tactic is to do a drive by to maintain both distance and a window to evade retaliation.

Whether it be intentional or coincidence, the opponent makes the right choice. No matter how far or how fast the Noctowl barrels through, it can’t escape the SWIFT stars that pelt its thick, brown feathers. The fowl croons out in pain, circling along as its horn plumage glows pink.

The night starts with one last beacon of light; a MOONBLAST aim straight below.

Alexandra Briarwood

Light busts from the feathered opponent. The pink light of the beam baths the beach as it strikes down from the sky. It’s quicker than he is, and Balthazar is consumed by the Moonblast.

The Electrivire is left in a crater in the sand, yellow fur singed with the residual energy of the fairy-type attack. Yellow sparks crack across his limbs, rising to the antennae that twitch on his back. They too rise along with the intensity of the current. A loud crash and flash of light tears through the sky, a THUNDER aimed for the Noctowl.

FERNANDO SILPH

Balthazar uses THUNDER

SILPH VS BRIARWOOD

VICTORY STOLEN BEFORE SUNDOWN

INTENSE LIGHT FROM THE MOONBLAST HIDES THE THUNDER UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE. By the time the Noctowl can predict the move it’s impossible to dodge. It can fly and swerve, even nosedive, but that won’t allow it to escape the beam.

When the THUNDER strikes, the bird is bathed in a black light. The anatomical structure of its bones flash behind feathers and flesh, a momentary x-ray that exemplifies the effectiveness of the attack. A weak caw escapes its mouth as it starts to fall, PARALYZED from the lightning surge.

It lands in the sand, unable to fly. With no other recourse, it starts to ROOST, biding up energy to take flight once more.

Alexandra Briarwood

A toothy grin spreads across the Electrivire’s wide mouth. Satisfied with the effectiveness of his attack, he stalks forward towards the fallen owl. Dark eyes glare down at the motionless pokemon. It ROOSTS, attempting to regain the energy it needs to fly. Any other pokemon may have felt pity and let the Noctowl rest in peace but that’s not how Balthazar was trained. It still wanted to fight, therefore it needed to be eliminated. A large hand reaches down to grab the bird. The other hand clenches into a fist. Ice creeps over his knuckles before it juts forward and up as he lets go, a brutal attempt to uppercut the Noctowl.

FERNANDO SILPH

Balthazar uses ICE PUNCH

SILPH VS BRIARWOOD

VICTORY STOLEN BEFORE SUNDOWN

THE BATTLE PLACES NOCTOWL IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION. With the Electrivire looming closer, step by step, the flying type seems to be in quite the predicament. But it has little choice due to the PARALYSIS.

The much larger ape like beast manhandles like a mere doll. A clean ICE PUNCH clocks the bird, dousing it in frost. The ice crawls, rendering the Pokemon’s wings FROZEN. However, this close, the HYPNOSIS waves that blares from the Pokemon’s eyes resonates at a much more potent frequency.

Alexandra Briarwood

It seems the two potent attacks back to back didn’t knock out the owl. Balthazar grunts, frustrated. The bird is tougher than he thought. With a sigh he moves forward again to grab the Noctowl. This time, the HYPNOSIS is unexpected and the Electrivire finds himself caught in the lull of the psychic waves. He staggers for a moment, slowly falling back onto his rump. Heavy eyes try to remain focused on the Noctowl, but it proves too much. With a thud, the beast falls backwards in the sand, fast asleep.

FERNANDO SILPH

Balthazar FALLS ASLEEP