BEATEN AND BRUISED

LEFT BLEEDING IN PRIDE AND WRATH

THEY SHARE SENTIMENTS IN THAT REGARD; Pokemon are no more than tools. While Fernando does not levy them as mere objects, he does refer to them as lesser beings. They’re like people.

Employees to be precise.

Expendable cogs in the machine that makes his life easier. Convenient but by no means irreplaceable. Should one become incapable, or even die, they are to be replaces at first notice. Grievances and emotions can come second, during his off time. The business comes first. Always and forever.

“A heavy boast to wear,” comes an answer to her provocation. His voice remains low but it carries the volume needed to ferry across the crowd. Frantic jeering pushes the antagonistic comments into the backdrop as the audience becomes impatient.

“I expect nothing but the best, trainer.”

Fernando enters the cage, sleeves cuffed up to his wrist. An Ultraball sits between steady fingers, undaunted by the change of scenery. Here, he can test his Pokemon to its utmost limits.

He expects a repeat of the Meteor Falls Warfront.

His Silvally materializes in front of his feet, sitting upright and proper. It doesn’t let out as much as a peep.

“RKS System Activate.”

The color of its fins and hind legs start to shuffle between different hues, disturbing the canine to the point that it erupts into an agonizing roar.

“Battle routine set!”

genesis aria fox

BEATEN AND BRUISED

LEFT BLEEDING IN PRIDE AND WRATH

“EXECUTE!”

Permission granted.

The moment orders are given the Silvally springs into action. Hind legs coil like springs, launching forward in a bid to cut the distance between both combatants.

‘Woosh!’

The whirling sound of the Pokemon’s GYRO BALL emphasizes its sudden speed when the attack connects. It lands against the Silvally's head, spontaneous combusting as it headbutts the poison type with its FLAME CHARGE.

genesis aria fox

BEATEN AND BRUISED

LEFT BLEEDING IN PRIDE AND WRATH

PROVOCATIONS GO UNANSWERED despite the crowd jeering in her favor. for fernando, such battles are meant to test his pokemon and nothing more. personal pride and ego is reserved for bouts between people. here, only silvally’s abilities and prior training mean anything.

that’s why he makes no comment as another exchange of attacks come out. in contrast with her command, fernando says nothing. the silvally should know what to do, and should it fail, there is a lesson to be had.

a tirade of SLUDGE BOMBS carpet the field. the silvally deftly dodges the one that launches immediately straight at it, looking to bounce around the field to cut their distance once more. but, the weezing’s wild array makes it unpredictable.

it’s IRON HEAD glistens with a silver sheen as the pokemon charges head first. a chance SLUDGE BOMB batters against the reinforced body part, and does little to dissuade the pokemon’s approach, but as poison goo slides off the metal surface, its bile influence seeps into the pokemon’s artificial skin.

genesis aria fox

BEATEN AND BRUISED

LEFT BLEEDING IN PRIDE AND WRATH

THE ATTACK COMES FAST and accurate. there’s no way for the silvally to dodge of avoid it. eyes catch sight of the wheezing as it moves, able to register what will happen well before its legs can react and coil.

“pffftchirrp!”

a translucent PROTECT engulfs the pokemon’s body. it holds against the battering impact, shattering like glass after it absorbs the hit. however, the collision still carries momentum and the silvally is thrown back despite the PROTECT’s buffer.

it lands a few feet back, poised on all four as it readies a counter. what distance that was created is quickly dashed as it charges in for a FLAME CHARGE.

genesis aria fox

BEATEN AND BRUISED

LEFT BLEEDING IN PRIDE AND WRATH

EYE LOCKS but the silvally remains unaware. a move as elusive as DESTINY BOND is rarely encountered in battle. the silvally, among others, have yet to face it. this ignorance allows the weezing to bind their fates without issue.

it is here that the trainer should warn their pokemon but fernando remains silent. even as the pokemon readies its next attack, looking to capitalize on the weezing’s lack of retaliation, it has no clue what’s about to happen.

a white energy coats its body before it looks to assault the weezing with its MULTI-ATTACK.

genesis aria fox

BEATEN AND BRUISED

LEFT BLEEDING IN PRIDE AND WRATH

WHEN THE DUST settles the only sight for the crowd is fernando covering his face with his forearm. what remains of the silvally has been recalled into its pokeball, fainted and disqualified for battle. the red and white safety net rests tucked between his fingers, held up against his forehead as he steadies the weight of his feet to maintain balance.

“tch.”

the battle ends with both sides defeated. naturally, the crowd goes wild. but fernando is far from discouraged.

“one for one.”

he holsters his pokeball.

“acceptable.”

genesis aria fox