when the receptionist told him someone calling him their 'big bro' wants to challenge him, he expects it to be Rae Rançon, or maybe even Roman Maher only to realize roman would never call him that. he'd likely call him 'big bitch', or something similar. the kid must pick up his language from his dad.

either way, he's surprised when he steps out into the waiting area to see an unfamiliar face.

"yo! it's cian, your big bro."

he throws a wave before approaching with a smile.

"dunno if we've ever met, though. or at least i don't remember..."

eric moon

☉

"haha, nah! we've never met!"

eric enthusiastically responded. "but, in a way, you're family! i learned a bit about you on the way here. you worked alongside my late uncle and even stuck around in rustboro after his passing." it was all he had to go on from what he could find. "when i learned the guy runnin' this place worked with my uncle. it made me a bit happy. i may not have gotten the chance to meet him as i am now, but getting to meet you is still a win in itself!" cian was a walking remnant of the late alexander stone. so, in a way, he'd be challenging his uncle.

"i'm here to do more than just rekindle with family though, i'm here to challenge you in order to gain access to the major league!" starry-eyed, eric would clench his bag in excitement. "in order for a trainer as fresh as me to play in the big league, i have to take on the minor league first as instructed by my teacher." if he wanted andres buenaventura support, beating CIAN MAHER was the first objective to ensuring that. "i chose to start here because it was recommended for beginners. you're highly regarded by a lot of people, so i'm hoping to see your way of battle!"

cian was the perfect first stop. a training facility serving as a gym simultaneously. a beginner like eric could learn a lot by being here. but what he was most excited for was to see the imagery CIAN MAHER would conjure through his way of battle. cerulean orbs quivered with excitement, he would wear an enthusiastic smile upon his expression.

CIAN MAHER

☉

caught off guard, he could only chuckle as he brings a hand up to scratch the back of his neck, feeling only slightly awkward at just how much eric knows about him. but he supposes it's something he should get used to, seeing how people research gym leaders and often idolized them.

"oh! yeah, i guess that makes us family. your uncle was a good man."

he still thinks he's nothing like alex, but he shrugs the thought aside.

"well, i hope to live up to your expectations! let's head down this way."

it's a short walk through the training facility, where they pass a couple of trainers battling each other, until they arrive at the section dedicated to cian's minor gym.

the terrain is rocky, filled with boulders and the like.

"what kinda battle are you looking for? single? double?"

eric moon

☉

he pondered on his big bro's question. thinking to himself. "i didn't know there were different kinds..." looks like he still had his work cutout. "i'll try out either or! i got no preference!" he responded jovially.

with three fingers, eric would add, "i only own three pokemon though! but we've been practicing a lot together!" eric excitedly told cian. but, quickly, his look would shift over to become a slight worry, "...except there is the fact that one of them doesn't exactly listen all too well." even though pidgeot was a gift from his late father. the pokemon could never exactly take an order, hell it barely wanted to come out.

"i don't have a strong partnership with it just yet, so i'm mostly looking forward to hopefully learn about increasing ones bond with their pokemon." among other things. "either way, i'm willing to do a double or single! i'm sure it'll be a great learning experience regardless!"

CIAN MAHER

☉

"ha! i have a few pokemon who don't listen to me either. but they will, with time."

offering young eric reassurance, cian gives him a gentle pat on his shoulder before stepping away.

"let's do a single battle. i'm sure you already know, but the gym can simulate different environments like rain or a sandstorm."

he pulls out a single pokeball, calling out his excadrill.

"i'll pick which environment once i see your pokemon!"

eric moon

☉

some pressure's on cian as well to maket his battle memorable. everyone only gets their first battle once, after all, and even now, years later, cian still remembers his.

oh, how he got battered.

hopefully, eric wouldn't suffer the same fate.

"yeah! i have devon to thank for it."

he has devon to thank for most things, really.

seeing the eevee, he decides on an environment that favors his excadrill: a SANDSTORM whips to life, brought forth by the whirring of machines overhead.

"alright! good luck, eric!"

eric moon

☉

excadrill's SAND RUSH doesn't nearly get enough time to proc before it's slammed with a QUICK ATTACK. it lets out a squeal of sorts as it coughs, swinging its CRUSH CLAW down in a reactionary move to try and buy it some time to recover.

after that, it springs back, attempting to disappear into the thick of the SANDSTORM.

"that was a good hit!"

eric moon

☉

"it really is! make sure you check your shoes after this!"

because cian knows the feeling of walking around with shoes full of sand all too well. it's comparable to walking around in wet socks, though not quite as bad as that.

eric's tactic is what he'd do as well. with no visible enemy in sight, it doesn't hurt to just chuck out a few attacks around them. eventually, one's bound to stick.

and the soft yelp of his excadrill confirms it. despite its steel-typing, the SWIFT still pierces into its skin.

"keep going, excadrill!"

DIGGING into the earth, it takes a few moments before it eventually pops out again, this time right in front of eevee to swipe its claws at it.

eric moon

☉

like ekans' hiding in the grass. good comparison!

the returned CRUSH CLAW combats against each other, but ultimately, it's his excadrill that overpowers the eevee. using the moment, it lunges back, creating distance before disappearing into the thick of the SANDSTORM once again.

at the comment of being a pushover, cian chuckles, yelling across the field in response:

"you should've battled me in the slateport tournament!"

because that would've been a much easier fight for eric.

"i admire your spirit, lil' bro!"

eric's putting up a good fight, and this is what minor gyms are meant to be for: a learning experience. a stepping stone to the major league.

it's up to cian to make sure eric walks away with an experience.

"let's go, excadrill!"

once again, the ground rumbles, perhaps a tell of the DIG to come.

eric moon

☉