garbodor reminded her of weezing—may he rest in peace. he’d also smelled like shit.

lulu willed herself not to complain about it, merely squinting through the sharpness in the air from the pokémon’s assaults.

why were they out here, in the middle of the woods? perhaps the same reason they’d been out in the stream that day, when she’d gotten into it with barry.

in the dark, alakazam glowed faintly with the remnants of its frustration, energy waning. lulu watched quietly, waiting for the buckle. poipole, on the other hand, was still smiling.

“okay.”

THEO BECKETT

☉

garbodor's STENCH is one he's grown used to. still smells like shit, though, but at least he doesn't feel nauseous around it.

a stray apricorn falls onto his foot. he peers up, finding it odd because there's nothing above him but dark skies. so where did it come from?

regardless, he clicked his tongue, sending forth another wave of attacks at the alakazam.

Lulu Flint // [x]

☉

her eyes drifted over to theo, catching something falling in her peripheral view. it was dark, so she couldn’t quite make out what it was when it fell onto his shoe. her attention to it was as brief as his was, however.

alakazam was evasive. a RECOVER, and then, when the enemy came close: “now!” ALLY SWITCH placed the mischievous poipole in the path of the assault, and VENOM DRENCH spewed from the needle on its head all around.

lulu smirked to herself, happy to finally be getting through.

THEO BECKETT

☉

the poipole burns under the intense heat of naganadel's HEAT WAVE. perhaps one day it'd be able to return the same, but for now, all it can do is withstand the pain of the attacks.

ultra beasts are fascinating creatures. tough, almost unbreakable.

when the heat finally dies down, he sighs.

"he's started to listen to you."

Lulu Flint // [x]

☉

the smaller ultra beast frowned and turned for an exit from the heat wave, but found none—cornered. it endured, seething, boiling.

lulu watched, finding herself pitying it more than she typically might other pokémon. the little alien had grown on her, maybe.

her attention was soon brought back to the alakazam, whom she still didn’t get along with quite so well.

“started.”

as if on cue, she felt the familiar PSYCHIC force knock her onto the ground with a grunt.

THEO BECKETT

☉

with a click of his tongue, the HEAT WAVE subsides, fading into mere embers not even fitting of a will-o-wisp.

on cue, the alakazam knocks her onto the ground, and he can't help but chuckle.

"at least it's not flinging you across the room anymore."

progress, really.

fishing pokeballs out of his pocket, he recalls his pokemon, tucking them away as he concludes their training.

Lulu Flint // [x]

☉

she winced and sighed and pushed herself back up, dusting herself off.

“yeah.”

the poipole uncurled from the way it had resolved to hug itself in the air, unable to escape the pain of the heat. lulu recalled it the moment theo concluded their session.

the alakazam’s ball was retrieved slower. her stare hovered on red eyes, fully expecting the bright white flash of a teleport, but it never came. however, the alakazam still seemed to glare back disdainfully, even as it allowed the glow of its container to envelop it.

“i think it respects you more.”

THEO BECKETT

☉

her words are met with a sigh, tired, gentle.

"it's not me it needs to respect."

as the remnants of their training dies down, he spares a glance around them, not yet noticing the oddity in the shade of green of the leaves. it looks darker, though not because of the lack of sunlight.

"but we're making progress."

Lulu Flint // [x]

☉

“yeah.”

she crossed her arms, sighing as well. what now? back to the sub, or the lighthouse? she hadn’t reached out, since leaving his sootopolis home days prior. she’d said nothing of it today. yet again, it was as though nothing had happened. slight bitterness lingered in her voice.

“well… i should probably get going.”

she reached for her gardevoir’s pokéball, only to come up short. blinking, she patted around her thighs as though they’d be somewhere. nothing.

“my gardevoir’s gone.”

THEO BECKETT

☉

he thinks nothing of it as it's how their training usually end: with them going on their separate ways.

still, his mind does wander, though it doesn't get very far.

his own hand brushes over his belt, finding nothing.

"so are mine."

he blinks, peering up to finally notice the oddity that surrounds them. this doesn't feel the same as the mist during the soiree but it doesn't make it any less threatening.

he takes a step towards her.

"this isn't a dream, is it?"

Lulu Flint // [x]

☉

as though she were the fabricator of such things. she could only wish, and wonder in a void of misconceptions.

“no.” then, after she considered that anything was possible: “i don’t think so.”

she looked to his belt, where his weapons had been plucked away by some unseen threat. it gave her a sinking feeling, despite her own power. theo was meant to be strong above all else, and the idea that she might have to defend both of them both turned the world on its head.

a step took her closer to him as well.

“is it?” a breath, as she saw something in the shadows even she didn’t comprehend.

THEO BECKETT

☉

despite his lack of weapons, he's as calm as ever. he's never been one to rely solely on his pokemon. doing so would be foolish for situations exactly like this. it's why he trains as had as he does.

that, and he finds that beating the shit out of a punching bag is a good stress reliever.

"it isn't."

his eyes trail along the edge of the forest, following unfamiliar shadows that seem to be creeping up on them.

"something's coming."

in the bushes, through the shadows, a pair of glowing red eyes stare at them. a low growl reverberates in their direction.

he shifts into a stance, preparing himself.

Lulu Flint // [x]

☉

he seemed sure, and it was all she needed.

when she looked back down to retrieve the remaining pokeballs she’d just had in her hand, she came up empty. shocked, she did a turn and looked in the grass. nothing.

“darkrai?” it was almost child-like, as though desperately hoping her patron wasn’t gone somewhere as well. luckily, its dark form arose from the darkness to pin eyes back on whatever thief watched them.

lulu idly to darken herself as though instinct was dragging her away. she remained, though, not leaving theo’s side.

THEO BECKETT

☉