A LEGEND RETOLD

FROM THE ASHES AND INTO THE FIRE

MORE THAN LUCK goes into fernando’s sporadic appearance at the slateport gym. this time it’s intentional. he’s beholden to a repeat challenger, interested in a name he recognizes from the GROUDON SUBJUGATION.

Greyson Connors.

the challenge flashes across his holographic screen, a neat touch of rai-tech purchased for his gym. the emblem of Josh Dragomir’s company remain emblazed onto the product, a clear mix of outfitting the building with more than just silph co. gear. with a smirk, he dismisses cila and the display along with it.

the gym doors part once greyson makes it to the room. the arena is the same but his challenger is not.

today, he earns his rights.

“connors,” fernando announces, smile peeking out from arms spread wide.

“welcome back to the slateport gym. you signed up with a zeraora this time?”

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Greyson Connors

A LEGEND RETOLD

FROM THE ASHES AND INTO THE FIRE

“INDEED.” to think he would recant his challenge goes against the principles of his gym. victory through any means. but he can understand where the question comes from.

he chalks it up to nerves.

“zeraora are rare pokemon. we still don’t know where or how they came to be. handling them was entrusted to those who have proven themselves.”

which begs the question. how did greyson come across his? the first batch were hand selected from the pokeathalon. several were given out during the hoenn star tournament but considering attendance, keeping tracking of them were near impossible.

“i take it you’ve been able to tame it adequately?”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Greyson Connors

A LEGEND RETOLD

FROM THE ASHES AND INTO THE FIRE

“GOOD.”

fernando’s hands part. MISTY TERRAIN billows from nothingness. every exhale of haze gives life to an otherwise empty battlefield. it carpets the floor, thick at first, dispersing the farther it extends.

“i look forward to your performance.”

the concentration in front of him eventually grows opaque enough to cloud vision. from it, tapu fini materializes, black hands extending out of the void as it encroaches the land of the living.

“last for ten minutes or render tapu fini unable to battle.”

a blank expression greets their challengers as the pokemon stares right through greyson’s soul. pink electricity starts to crackle as the MISTY SURGE threatens to plume once more.

“good luck challenger.”

and, without batting and eye, the tapu fini fires a singular bolt of NATURE’S MADNESS directly at the zeraora.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Greyson Connors

A LEGEND RETOLD

FROM THE ASHES AND INTO THE FIRE

TERRAIN SETS IN but the MISTY TERRAIN never falters. it seems to exude from tapu fini’s presence. it does not need to be congregated or expelled through conscious effort. as long as the pokemon exists then so too will the pink overlay that peeks out from electrified panels.

fernando and tapu fini can call upon a special MISTY TERRAIN at any time. this terrain persists unless an ability or move explicitly states that it removes terrains.

as the zeraora approaches the move from a singular bolt shifts into something more encompassing. water is expunged from the open crevices of the pokemon’s shell. a mighty SURF rises, water being displaced in all directions, with the tapu fini as the epicenter.

it is the basis of tapu fini’s anti-melee measures. for close contact is sure to be washed away by the raging tides.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Greyson Connors

A LEGEND RETOLD

FROM THE ASHES AND INTO THE FIRE

COMBAT IS FLUID. for every action there is an appropriate reaction. each pokemon adapts to the situation at hand. when one falters, the other pounces. and should the roles be reversed, the flow would remain steady. just a change of hats between hunter and hunted.

as the SURF carries its currents away from the source, the tapu fini remains planted. it knows only brutal fury, unrelenting, unopposed. the spotted colors of the opponent’s QUICK GUARD single it out against the sea of artificial blue. and when that dies down, out of sight, the water changes.

a harsh BLIZZARD screams from the inside of tapu fini’s shell. it cools the water as it passes, figments turning into ice as the wind carries winter’s frost.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Greyson Connors

A LEGEND RETOLD

FROM THE ASHES AND INTO THE FIRE

ZERAORA’S SPEED in unmatched. being able to track it from within the confines of its shell proves almost impossible for tapu fini. it loses sight of the feline somewhere after it launches from the wall, continuing to expel BLIZZARD up until the PLASMA FISTS give away the pokemon’s position.

but by then, it’s already too late.

the flight is undeterred. the BLIZZARD comes to an end.

should the pokemon land atop, it’ll remain outside of tapu fini’s range of vision. either way, the pokemon attempts to close its shell, eyes aglow as it keeps a CALM MIND.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Greyson Connors

A LEGEND RETOLD

FROM THE ASHES AND INTO THE FIRE

THE ASSESSMENT IS CORRECT. the shell does not break. nor does it crack. however, each blow, every punch that the zeraora parts with, leaves a black scorch mark from the PLASMA’s burn. scratches and dents start to cave in, evident that the pokemon’s attempts aren’t futile. damage is done and it starts to accumilate.

and just as the electric residue crackles around them with every blow, bounding off the shell’s wet surface, the electricity grows. but pink streaks mix with the yellow. actual electricity may not harm the zeraora but NATURE’S MADNESS sure will as the spark suddenly elicit actual bolts of fae wrath.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Greyson Connors