Captain Skyler Dross is glad to see that Melody is, in fact, not dead.

Whatever had happened in the Sootopolis excursion didn't seem to last long, or had long-term repercussions; which was just as well, given that it'd been partly Skyler's responsibility to make sure everyone on board was alive and well.

Watching the girl on the pier makes Skyler's mouth curve into a smile, albeit a slightly drunk one. It was nearing the end of the day, and already Sky had been pulled into the festivities.

There's glitter in her hair and spread throughout her shoulders and face. Flowers are halfway drowned in her mess of golden curls and most important of all, she is on her way to becoming uproariously and gloriously drunk.

Even so, she doesn't have any trouble getting her gear on - she could've done this in her sleep, to be honest. In less than a minute she's all ready to go, stepping into the waters easily. 

Ahead of her, a Golduck swims around, crimson eyes set on their opponents.

Melody Miro

Captain Skyler Dross's barely been in the water for a minute when Melody's voice blasts through the communicator at 100 miles per hour. It takes the captain's inebriated brain some time to actually process the other woman's words, and by that time the z-move has already burst through the water like an explosion.

On her side of the comms, Melody would be able to hear a littany of curses as Skyler holds onto the pier for dear life in an attempt to escape the underwater soundwaves that push her back. And also nearly burst her eardrums.

"What the hell, Melody." Well, she couldn't say that the battle hadn't started with a bang.

Sapphire isn't doing much better, floating about in a haze while she tries her best to recover from the explosion of sound. Shaking her head, she'd use DISABLE on the Primarina. The Golduck definitely wasn't going to risk being on the receiving end of that attack again.

"When I want to make someone go deaf, I'll definitely ask you to teach me that move." Despite her words, a smile pulls at the captain's lips.

Melody Miro

Just as Skyler's about to shout for her Golduck to try and dodge the second soundwave that spreads through the water, a shadow falls over them. Thankfully, Sapphire manages to find cover behind the hull of a sparkling new yacht. Hopefully the owners wouldn't find the slight dent from Primarina's attack.

"Oi, you're stealing our spot- oh shit, wait. Is that-?" A pause, then: "You! You told me I wasn't good enough to be a gym trainer in your gym!"

Of course, being underwater, Melody and Skyler might not have heard a single word the girl just said.

Without giving any previous warning, two figures join them in the water. One of them, clearly not having any underwater equipment and thus not able to speak, simply points at Melody with an absolutely furious look on her face. The other, clearly younger yet wiser, simply looks on with a tired look on her face.

Regardless, both release pokemon - a Dewgong and a Feebas, ready to fight. The seal immediately goes for Melody's Primarina with an ICE BEAM while the Feebas... just stares.

Skyler is very, very confused.

"Uhh... d'you know them, Melody?"

Melody Miro

"...Sure?" Usually Skyler would've sounded more enthusiastic about kicking some ass, but the tequila that flows through her veins slows down her comprehension of whatever is happening, the captain still confused about the sudden interruption to their battle.

She's always in for a good fight though.

While Melody's Primarina busies herself with the annoying Dewgong (who retaliates with a Headbutt), Skyler and her Golduck are left to deal with the dead-looking Feebas. It barely swims, staying in the same spot and releasing a couple of bubbles once in a while. When Sapphire looks back at her, Skyler simply shrugs.

Maybe it would be an easy win.

Turning to face the Feebas again, Golduck launches herself in its direction, releasing a deafening SCREECH while she did so. Hah, Primarina wasn't the only one who could scream! Although, to be fair, the fairy-type sounded a lot more melodic.

Melody Miro

The water turns frigid cold around them, ice crystals forming momentarily just to disappear the moment after. In her short wetsuit, Skyler can't help but shiver a little bit, though she would never let something like that stop her. "Nice one, Melody!" The words are followed by a thumbs up, though it is a bit wonky. Maybe Skyler had a little too much to drink...

Over on the other side of the makeshift 'battlefield', both the pokemon and the trainers seem to slowed down due to the ice.

Golduck seizes the chance to launch herself at the small fish, ZEN HEADBUTTing it harshly and sending it back to slap against its trainer comically. Skyler snorts in amusement, especially when the smaller girl turns to glare at her. In response, an unexpectedly strong water current strikes at Golduck, Feebas' Waterfall causing the duck to flinch.

Dewgong, seizing the ice-cold waters around it, sends an Ice Shard at Melody's Primarina.

Melody Miro

Melody, Skyler quickly decided, had no business being this loud underwater. Having had little chance of watching the woman fight despite their two excursions, she can't help but think that maybe when she visited her gym in the future, she'd bring some ear plugs. Just in case.

Skyler's muscled arm goes around Melody's more willowy frame in response, yet her silver glare is focused on the other two girls who'd seen fit to interrupt their battle. After Primarina's desvastating attack, which had pretty much dazed everyone in the opposing team, human and pokemon alike, Skyler decides that enough was enough.

"Sapphire, Hydro Pump." Water starts to shift in the Golduck's vicinity, shaping into an overwhelmingly powerful torrent of water that hits the Feebas with unerring accuracy, slamming it against the closest pier and knocking it out.

In revenge, the older girl's Dewgong (which already looks on the cusp of fainting) swims around the Hydro Pump to try and land a devastating Horn Drill against the gym leader's Primarina.

Grinning in enthusiasm, Skyler nudges Melody. "Get her, Mel!"

Melody Miro

The two rude girls call their fainted pokemon back and get out of the ocean, grumbling all the way as they stomp out of the pier. "Yeah, piss off!" Although the girls wouldn't be able to hear her (hilariously, only Melody would be able to hear her through the comms), Skyler still shouts it out. Loudly. Maybe she's gone half deaf with all the sound-based moves, who knows.

A few seconds pass, their pokemon returning to them. "Uh... I guess we've had our battle?" Golduck seems tired, and by the way she floats in the water Skyler doesn't think she's up for another battle. At least not yet. 

Captain Dross turns to Melody, thinking of the flask strapped to her hip. A pensive look crosses over her face. "What about we celebrate with some ice-cream? I know a shop around here." They also sold excellent cocktails, which was an added bonus. 

Melody Miro