before slateport fell, she was a senior ranger. before she was given a lab in the depths of a league building in lilycove, she was meant to keep the region safe. the wilds are her domain, though it doesn't feel that way recently.

the alert flashes across the screen of persephone's phone, and she answers the call because she's duty-bound and because she craves the adrenaline. this won't be like slateport.

a number of league trainers are gathering at the outskirts of petalburg, splitting into allocated pairs or small groups before disappearing in the woods for what is most likely going to be guerilla warfare.

she sees him alone, double checks the brief profile - name, trainer id, a small and likely dated photograph - on the screen of her phone to be sure he is her assigned partner before approaching. there's little time to waste on pleasantries, but she feels it necessary regardless.

"laurence? i'm persephone, we're to be working together this evening." her tone is pleasantly cordial, but she can tell it's rigid. she thinks nothing of meeting new people and making small talk, but the stakes are higher here. for tonight, they have to be prepared to trust each other with their lives, and that is a level of trust she isn't prepared to vest easily.

she makes a conscious effort to soften her expression to a ghost of a smile. "i read that you're a ranger? i was employed by that branch for a few years, so i'm glad we were assigned together."

Laurence Anderson

at his words, persephone's lips quirk into a smile - somewhere between practiced and genuine. she isn't used to being recognised in any capacity and she's not sure how to react. the fact that he urges them to move on is a relief.

more importantly, he seems confident, capable. that alone is a relief.

"you're right. i understand that for now we're just sweeping the area down through route 102?"

as they move out, persephone watches laurence's lucario with obvious curiosity. she had brought along her own lucario for the same purpose, and indeed, pridian has served her well for a number of years; he's nothing if not the centerpiece of her team. it will be interesting to see whether the pokemon operates the same way that hers does.

"both your pokemon look very well-trained," she says in a hushed tone.

it is harder to allow someone else to do a role she felt accustomed to, but she pushes the thought aside. if they can't trust one another, they have nothing.

persephone remains silent for several long moments following that, allowing them to lead the way, taking the opportunity two pokemon of her own.

at a hushed command, barely audible, the chandelure melts into the shadows of the trees. only her eerie gold eyes remain, two yellow moons flitting among the undergrowth.

the sigilyph remains close to them, hovering a few paces behind and ready to cast defensive skills to negate any damage if anything were to occur.

Laurence Anderson

two approaching trainers, two lycanroc. that bodes badly for her current pokemon, with both at a type disadvantage. persephone puts the thought aside and focuses on the matter at hand; the sigilyph isn't designed for combat anyway, it's primary purpose is to mitigate damage.

a flick of her wrist commands the sigilyph to put up first a LIGHT SCREEN and secondly a REFLECT around their small group. the defensive barriers glimmer momentarily, translucent in the weak light to signify their presence, then fade into the air quickly. she feels safer for knowing that they're there. the sigilyph doesn't hesitate to use MIRACLE EYE next, seeking out their next target beyond the lycanroc.

it finds it, giving a strange eerie cry to indicate that another pair of pokemon are on their way.

a seviper attempts to sneakily burst out from the ground beside them, but the chandelure interrupts with a TAUNT that focuses the foe's attention on it instead. the distraction is enough; working together, the sigilyph casts a PSYCHIC on the seviper that tosses it aside.

another disturbance but from above; a honchkrow swoops down from overhead, landing an unexpected NIGHT SLASH on sigilyph. the pokemon would usually be more injured, but the effect of the defensive skills is that it does little. the fact that the enemy pokemon got close works to their advantage. the chandelure catches the honchkrow in a TELEKINESIS of her own, and with the pokemon vulnerable, lights it up with a HEAT WAVE.

Laurence Anderson