FERNANDO VS GIONA

RAW CHALLENGES BUILT ON UNDERLYING EXPECTATIONS

“INDEED.”

Fernando doesn’t think twice when the challenge is set between them. As sure as the tournament continues so will his thirst for a challenge. The fact that Giona addresses his physical need is met with a polite smile and subsequent chuckle.

“Appreciated,” a quick pop a squat lowers him deep enough to pick up the drink while also observing the opposing Combusken from another angle.

“An impressive Pokemon. Not sure if I have anything capable of matching that.” Those who know him may think the words sarcastic but Fernando holds his tone with earnest wrinkles of his resting bitch face. On a limb, based off the other’s reaction, he gauges Giona has no idea who he is.

So he sticks with a low profile.

“How many badges do you have, trainer?”

giona ferrara

FERNANDO VS GIONA

RAW CHALLENGES BUILT ON UNDERLYING EXPECTATIONS

“GOOD,” Fernando unfastens a particular Pokeball from his belt. “Maybe I have a chance.”

Rather than throw the ball into the sand, he taps the capture mechanism with an underhanded grip from his thumb. It projects a thin red beam, materializing the Pokemon a few feet in front of him.

A Morpeko, one of the new Galarian Pokemon brought over after the embargo was lifted, gnashes its cartoonishly large buck teeth, acclimating itself to the sudden scenery.

“Show them what you got, Morpeko.”

It’s a relatively new Pokemon for Fernando but it obeys nonetheless. Electric sparks fester along its skin, CHARGING up power that seems to dissipate whenever it passes the Pokemon’s feet and touches the sand. It’s what prevents the growing static from reaching out too far and tazing its trainer on accident.

giona ferrara

FERNANDO VS GIONA

RAW CHALLENGES BUILT ON UNDERLYING EXPECTATIONS

“HM?”

Fernando quirks an eyebrow at the question. It seems simple on the surface but the implication goes over his head in the same manner the rearing legs of Combusken’s DOUBLE KICK come down.

His attention sits firmly on the battle. The first kick lands, without contest, and from it comes a burst of SPARKS that erupt from the rodent’s cheeks. Physical contact is the perfect conduit for electrical attacks. An electric surge, disparaged by the sand around them, comes to life once flesh meets flesh.

The second one lands as well but the Morpeko remains grounded. The strike hurts but the physical impact is cushioned by the sand, displacing the inertia of the physical blow in a similar manner to how it cuts off the Pokemon’s electric reach.

“AURA WHEEL.”

The command comes out but it takes time for the Pokemon to transition into following the order.

giona ferrara

FERNANDO VS GIONA

RAW CHALLENGES BUILT ON UNDERLYING EXPECTATIONS

FERNANDO DOESN’T QUESTION THE TRAINER SUDDENLY BOLTING. A As long as the Pokemon remains on the field so to does their battle. That type of mindset is rewarded when Giona makes a prompt return with a souvenir hat to boot.

When the AURA WHEEL strikes, the Morpeko lands, changing colors as its HUNGRY SWITCH takes hold. It’s attitude turns into a grim frown just in time for the FIRE SPIN to encircle it. While the flames don’t hit, they burn into the sand, slowly cooking the Pokemon by proximity, sapping its stamina.

“BULLET SEED.”

Unable to accurate see the Combusken behind the wall of flames, the Morpeko fires several luminescent seeds at where it was last spotted.

giona ferrara

FERNANDO VS GIONA

RAW CHALLENGES BUILT ON UNDERLYING EXPECTATIONS

“GET OUT OF THERE.”

Fernando’s command comes immediately after Giona’s. Matches between trainers, where both commands can be heard loud and clear, come down to reactions and their Pokemon’s ability to execute. Recognizing the FLAME BURST, a staple from his Charizard, Fernando is able to put one and one together.

Not bad. FIRE SPIN into FLAME BURST will certainly coat the field in their advantage. Even if they can’t burn their opponent’s to a crisp, the change in temperature will certainly drain the stamina of their opponents. It turns the battle into a war of attrition. One that he cannot match.

“AURA WHEEL!”

Another command is used to solve the hidden piece of the puzzle the Morpeko lacks. Escaping the fire is easy to command but hard to follow up. Not when the Pokemon hesitates to throw itself against the flames. But by using AURA WHEEL, therefore coating itself in electricity, the Pokemon has the confidence to brave itself in a head rush forward.

The FLAME BURST misses at first, landing on the sand, but when it makes contact it lives up to its name. Several embers implode, rupturing into a fireworks and catching the approaching Morpeko in the splash zone.

The splatter of flames catches the Pokemon by surprise but that doesn’t prevent it from approaching the Combusken with its AURA WHEEL. It almost forgets about the newfound BURN that singes its backside, deadset on ramming its opponent in full force.

giona ferrara

FERNANDO VS GIONA

RAW CHALLENGES BUILT ON UNDERLYING EXPECTATIONS

FERNANDO’S REACTION SHOW JUST HOW ANTICLIMATIC THEIR BATTLE RESOLVES. On paper, the match looks like a clean advantage to the opponent. Morpeko is less attuned to both the environment and heat that comes, a sudden race to resolutions now that several BURN marks have been applied.

But who is he to question a trainer’s discretion with their Pokemon?

He knows better than to interject and complies with standard protocol. His Pokemon is returned and he shuffles it onto the side of his belt weighted with ball. It represents the Pokemon he’s used throughout the tourney and already exhausted in battle.

“That was pretty good for someone without any badges.”

Small talk is a hideous evil but one made out of necessity. If his claims are true–ones Fernando has no reason doubting–then the performance was more than satisfactory considering the other’s history. Someone’s clearly punching well past their weight class.

giona ferrara

FERNANDO VS GIONA

RAW CHALLENGES BUILT ON UNDERLYING EXPECTATIONS

“FROM BISTRO TO GYM LEADER.”

Fernando nods, smiling.

“Impressive.”

He cares little for background. All that matters is that their Gym Leaders have the skill and prowess to challenge the next generation. And while a single match isn’t enough to judge Giona, Fernando doesn’t have any qualms with their showing.

But that’s discounting the unorthodox nature of the man’s stature.

“Well, follow up on your paper work and work diligently. I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

Or quit in a few weeks like the Gym Leaders of old. He leaves that part out. Their current roster of Gym Leaders have proved more stable. Now that the region leaves the war torn era of strife and conflict so returns normalcy and the consistency behind it.

Fernando pulls out a badge from his pocket, presenting it to Giona.

“Consider this a housewarming present until then. That was a good showing for someone without badges. You’ve earned it.”

In his palm sits the SILPH BADGE.

giona ferrara