Love? She raises a brow and laughs. he doesn’t try to hide it. A part of her appreciates the confidence. The other part wants to crush it, “Hm, take it easy?” she grins, twirling her own two pokeballs between her fingers, “Where’s the fun in that?” Lex didn’t “take it easy”.

Two spheres crack open, bathing the sand in light as two very contrasting pokemon take the field. An Aerodactyl shifts anxiously, while a small, seemingly excited Happiny waddles towards the ancient creature. Menhit purrs, helping the pokemon onto her back. The Happiny grips a scale tight, ready for action.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","cian"]two pokeballs burst open, revealing his choices for the battle.

sand and dust slowly rise off the ground, swirling into a vicious SANDSTORM that threatens to overwhelm them. for cian, he embraces it, for this is his preferred element.

through the SANDSTORM he flashes a grin that rivals hers.

"you're right! let's have a little fun."

[attr="class","noodles"]Alexandra Briarwood

A sudden wind kicks up a SANDSTORM. Menhit shifts uncomfortably, flapping her wings in frustration against the buffet of the environment. Trained eyes lose sight of the Gliscor with it’s SAND VEIL ability. A sharp whistle cuts through the howl of the winds. The Aerodactyl purrs and the Happiny holds tighter. With a few powerful flaps of her wings, the Aerodactyl rises above the Sandstorm. If they wanted a battle, they were going to meet the duo in their territory first.

Fuck the Tyranitar and fuck that sandstorm

And if they wanted to stay hidden, they had a strategy for that.

A shimmering LIGHT SCREEN rises, coating the Aerodactyl and Happiny in a protective light.

"Looking forward to it," she smiles back.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","cian"]"let's go with the usual."

a sharp SCREECH sounds across the battlefield, cutting through the rushing SANDSTORM.

gliscor fades, shifting with a SWORDS DANCE as he approaches the opposition under the cover of SAND VEIL.

[attr="class","noodles"]Alexandra Briarwood

The Screech is cringe-worthy, making not only Lex, but the Aerodactyl and Happiny tense, rattling their nerves and composure. Lex doesn’t let it show, simply narrows her gaze and peer sup towards the dup making their way out of the Sandstorm. A well placed AGILITY boosts them forward, increasing the Aerodactyl’s speed. Baby support them with a SAFEGUARD, another shimmering light that coats them protectively.

Menhit peers down towards the obscured battlefield as she floats son wide wings. A low growl rumbles through her throat when she spots the faint shadow of the Gliscor moving hidden among the sand.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","cian"]a moment passes where nothing happens. the SANDSTORM continues to buffet. and all is still.

suddenly, gliscor lashes out, soaring across for a SKY UPPERCUT that looks to send happiny off the aerodactyl.

the ground rumbles underneath and from it comes a STONE EDGE, targeting the aerodactyl's belly.

slowly, tyranitar begins her approach.

[attr="class","noodles"]Alexandra Briarwood

The Gliscor’s SAND VEIL masks it’s approach. The Happiny squeaks in surprise when it bursts forth form the Sandstorm at them with a SKY UPPERCUT. Menhit tilts, protect the small pokemon with her own body. The Sky Uppercut hits her instead. The duo is sent back by the powerful blow, and thankfully away from the sharp stones that aim to strike her chest. The Aerodactyl shudders beneath the Happiny, but a strange glow absorbs some of the energy of the powerful attack. Baby is used to riding Lex’s larger pokemon. Keeping ahold of the spines keeps her from falling off.

Wide wings slow their push back. Menhit glares at Gliscor with the intent of harsh retaliation. The Happiny coos happily, summoning an ICY WIND to be combined with the Aerodactyl’s ANCIENT POWER. The icy gale blows first, cutting through the thin layer of Sandstorm this high up. The ANCIENT POWER follows quickly, both aimed towards the Gliscor.

CIAN MAHER
Menhit is hit with SKY UPPERCUT, they dodge STONE EDGE
Baby’s FRIEND GUARD activates!
Baby uses ICY WIND on Gliscor
Menhit uses ANCIENT POWER on Gliscor

[attr="class","cian"]with all the focus on gliscor, it gives tyranitar an opening to do some damage. she continues her approach, studying her opponents.

in the meantime, gliscor's evasive enough to avoid the full damage of the ICY WIND, but the ANCIENT POWER connects. he screeches in pain, falling for a brief moment before coming to a glide once again.

circling, gliscor comes back around to throw another SKY UPPERCUT at the happiny.

tyranitar, through the SANDSTORM, sends a DARK PULSE their way.

[attr="class","noodles"]Alexandra Briarwood

They’re being attacked on multiple fronts - that’s what you get when you put them together, I guess. It’s a new strategy she’s trying. Still too early to teel if it will pay off. Lex frowns, she can barely see anything through this damned SANDSTORM.

Keeping them together meant two sets of eyes. While the Gliscor attacked from behind, the Tyranitar attacks from below. A shimmering PROTECT flashes just before the Gliscor strikes with SKY UPPERCUT. Happiny giggles happily.

Menhit doesn’t have Protect to guard herself from the Dark Pulse. It’s an ominous shadows and pierces through the SANDSOTRM. Much like before, she angles herself to protect the baby pokemon and takes the Dark Pulse to the chest. It pushes them back yet again but the Safeguard and Friend Guard buffer some of the blow. Baby COPIES the Tyranitar’s DARK PULSE and sending it right back at the Gliscor.

Another AGILITY pushes them forward, making it even harder to catch up with the Aerodactyl.

CIAN MAHER
Baby’s FRIEND GUARD activates!
Baby uses COPYCAT and sends a DARK PULSE at Gliscor
Menhit uses AGILITY

[attr="class","cian"]happiny giggling is kinda cute. too bad they'll have to smack it.

"keep going."

the gliscor decides to tackle the DARK PULSE head-on, gliding through the attack with relative ease despite the pain it causes him. it stays close, throwing another SKY UPPERCUT at the happiny with his stinger.

and once again, tyranitar stomps, sending a STONE EDGE towards the aerodactyl.

[attr="class","noodles"]Alexandra Briarwood

This time, the SKY UPPDERCUT hits at a similar moment the Aerodactyl is forced to swerve around the dangerous stones that shoot up towards them. The weight of the Happiny leaving is enough to make the Aerodactyl falter, and a Stone Edge to make contact. The baby pokemon is thrust high into the air, a small pitiful cry proceeds a blast of ICY WIND it keep the Gliscor away while Mehit swoops up to retrieve her by grasping Baby gently in her claws.

CIAN MAHER
Baby’s FRIEND GUARD activates!
Baby uses ICY WIND!
Menhit uses AGILITY

[attr="class","cian"]hot damn is it cold — or should it be cold damn? — either way the ICY WIND really do be chilly.

the lil baby's tossed up into the air and while gliscor would have loved to close in and slam it back into the ground like a volleyball, the aerodactyl comes back into play and rescues it.

briefly, cian thinks of his volleyball match against Zac Ramsay and how that bitch cheated.

another SCREECH, another SWORDS DANCE.

[attr="class","noodles"]Alexandra Briarwood

Happiny squeals happily as the talons of the Aerodactyl grip her gently and stop her descent. Baby wiggles in excitement, eyes peering down at the Tyranitar below. It is probably time to take care of that nuisance.

Menhit purrs in agreement. Her drastically increased speed allows her to maneuver quickly to position herself just right. A metallic sheen glosses over her head just before her wings fold to the side. Her legs pull in, holding Baby close to her chest, A rush of wind tears past them as the nosedive send the duo rocketing downward towards the Tyranitar with IRON HEAD. Baby prepares to erect a PROTECT, expecting retaliation.

CIAN MAHER
Baby’s FRIEND GUARD activates!
Menhit uses IRON HEAD on Tyranitar