it is the first time that jayden has met Remiel Calcifet outside of any rocket duties, though perhaps this still falls within line of them. either way, the ex-beast finds himself curious as he wanders past the CALCIFET ESTATE towards the fields where the ambassador has dictated they meet.

[break][break] the estate reminds him of Summer Atreides , and of his own home in galar, though not so familiar that he is homesick. the smell of pine sticks to the air as he wanders closer, spotting the familiar face of Remiel Calcifet in the distance.

[break][break] his ZEKROM, as all legendary pokemon are, is a sight to behold.

[break][break] jayden swallows thickly, trying not to be intimidated by the large beast. it would do no good to show weakness now, in front of the beast or it's avatar.

[break][break] "it's no worry, sir," he says with a nod. "the walk was quite nice."

[break][break] of course, he could've used any of his ghosts to travel here faster, but there simply some things that were better done on foot. perhaps this was one of those things.

[attr="class","ooc"] Remiel Calcifet [break]

Surprisingly, Zekrom doesn't cast jayden cross the judging glare he casts most. Though only Remiel notices as much, of course. And it bode well for what they had planned.

"I'm glad you enjoyed the scenery. I find it quite beautiful myself," He adds. "Which is why I must ask you to come along with me upon Zekrom. We can spare the flowers a scorching today." The prince smiles.

Meanwhile, through an unspoken telepathic connection, the black dragon heeds its avatar's request and sets down one of its wide palms facing upward. Remiel takes the lead by climbing upon it, reaching down with a hand of his own to help Jayden join him. "Did you bring the Pokémon I asked of you?" Your strongest and most durable, he'd said, of any elemental type.

PHTHALO + jayden cross

☉

his heart lurches in his throat as the legendary moves, facing his palm upward to offer him a mode of transportation. it is quite a thing to be up close to such a magnificent beast — no matter how many times jayden witnesses it, he can't shake the feeling.

[break][break] "very well," he said, taking the other's offered hand. as he steps atop zekrom's hand and is lifted upwards, his gaze is grateful as it rests upon the beast. "thank you," he murmurs, in reverence.

[break][break] glancing towards the admin, jayden nods again. "yes." from his belt, he clips a pokeball — it is the same as any of his other rocket balls, but it sparks with electricity at the touch. "an ultrabeast from the star tournament last year. i would like to test it's means — it's a bit unruly, sir."

[attr="class","ooc"] Remiel Calcifet [break]

As Zekrom lifts them upward, Remiel nods at Jayden's proposal. "That will suit things perfectly," He says, careful to step onto Zekrom's shoulder next. Once there, he offers Jayden a hand to ferry him over as well. "You took part in the Star Tournament, did you? Where did you rank?"

Jayden was physically impressive, of course. Remiel was sure he'd lose against him in a test of might. From what he'd seen of him, he was pretty skilled at Pokémon battles, too. Though he'd never had a chance to properly put that to the test, either. Not until today.

Meanwhile, the black dragon spreads its four wings and revs up its turbine as it prepares to take flight. Before long, the trainers upon its back are forced to hold onto the black scales on its shoulder as it rises into the sky. The force of its liftoff summons a whirlwind of flowers in its wake before they shoot off to a nearby canyon.

PHTHALO + jayden cross

☉

"not as high as i would like." he thinks back to an old conversation he once had with siobhan burke. it might have been ironic, if jayden had been aware of Remiel Calcifet's relationship with her. "but relatively so —" his head tilts, a ghost of a smile on his face. "it may have been what awarded me my beast status, all those months ago."

[break][break] there was of course, the matter of his part in the sootopolis invasion as well. either way, it was impossible to tell what declan walsh was thinking.

[break][break] jayden's heart lurches as they take to the sky, and he stumbles briefly, catching upon the ambassador's arm.

[break][break] "apologies sir," he says, blinking, as they head towards a canyon in the distance. "where are we headed?"

[break][break] were they going to battle in the sky?

[break][break] "i'm afraid... i do not believe zeraora possess wings."

[attr="class","ooc"] Remiel Calcifet [break]

"Is that so?" Remiel remarks with the quirk of an eyebrow. Truth be told, he'd never really had a seat at the table when it came to choosing a new BEAST. After all this time, he still felt like a bit of an outsider in Team Rocket's upper echelon. Though, he supposed, choosing Beasts was something declan walsh did exclusively.

Nevertheless, the tug on his arm as they take flight is mostly ignored as Remiel continues to ponder what comes next. The question, however, is not. He chuckles at the remark of a winged ZERAORA before responding. "Somewhere secluded, where we can battle freely." He says. "We'll be there shortly."

As if cognizant of the topic at hand, Zekrom suddenly revs his turbine before shooting faster across the sky. The world below looks like a diorama— a DECEPTION— as they pass over verdant valleys, grassy plains, and shimmering lakes. But, eventually, all that green and splendor gives way to dust and red rock: a wasteland oasis in a sea of life.

As they enter that world of jagged ridges and deep ravines, the black dragon begins to descend, flying between them effortlessly until finding a nice clearing to land. Natural towers of rock surround them everywhere. Open dusty plains fill the space between them.

"We're here."

Remiel remarks, sliding off his Zekrom's back before planting both boots on solid earth again.

PHTHALO + jayden cross

☉

it was what he had been told. though, he suspected a few other factors would have gone into the matter. his family's unquestionable loyalty to rocket, the own strength that he'd had to have showcased over the years, the cruel swiftness in which he'd always delivered his missions... all of it came into play.

[break][break] it still felt surreal, no matter how he thought about it.

[break][break] his heart gives a lurch as they tear into the sky, the legendary's turbines whirring unexpectedly. though jayden had been on a number of vehicle in his life, nothing quite compared to this.

[break][break] he glances down as the calcifet estate expands broadly, flitting across his gaze like a diorama. images flicker impossibly fast as they sweep through the fields, and jayden can't help but cling slightly to the ambassador's arm as they take off. the sound of wings beating swirl in his heart as they descend downwards onto the desolate landscape, dust piling up in soft clouds as the pokemon brings them back to earth.

[break][break] jayden would never admit it — but he's relieved.

[break][break] he steps off the giant beast with a little less finesse than normal — how could he not — and then glances around.

[break][break] "that was quite the ride," he remarks, reaching for the pokeball. electricity crackles around the sphere and before jayden can even press the capsule, his zeraora exploding from her container with reckless abandon. light sparks in the air around them as the pokemon dashes in sharp bursts of electricity in the sky, a zig-zag pattern from one end of the cavern to the other, before she skids in front of jayden with a bright, feral grin.

[break][break] jayden sighs.

[break][break] "meet marena."

[break][break] a flick of another pokeball at his belt and his other pokemon rises to action, this one much calmer.

[break][break] "this is kozma."

[attr="class","ooc"] Remiel Calcifet [break]

"ah," he coughs a bit, to catch his breath. "it is alright. i should have expected it."

[break][break] he thinks of the way that admin fox had taken him atop that whirring bathysphere all those months ago, and couldn't help but feel a little similarly.

[break][break] there is not time for being caught in wandering thought, however, because a battle is about to take place. jayden's expression clicks into seriousness — the same as it does whenever he is caught on a mission — and the nods subtly, wincing only slightly as the turbines stir once more and the pokemon takes to the air.

[break][break] "marena, close in —" he starts, but the zeraora is already halfway across the map, lit up with hot white light even as his order descends. THUNDER crackles across the air in reckless abandon.

[break][break] "kozma, defense."

[break][break] the kubfu chases after his partner, though at a bit of a slower speed, as it pins it's eyes towards the zekrom in attempt to DETECT it's next move.

[attr="class","ooc"] Remiel Calcifet [break]

it's no surprise that the THUNDER is consumed by the beast of thunder. even so, it's more interesting to see it in action - watching the turbines whirr to life as it consumes the electricity like a monster hungered for war.

[break][break] marena is quick to leap out of the way of the breaking swipe, swapping places with VOLT SWITCH.

[break][break] unfortunately, that means that kozmo gets slammed in the face by it. the small cub is thrown onto the grass, pain blooming across his face.

[break][break] "marena! work together!"

[break][break] the reprimand doesn't go unnoticed by the zeraora, but she doesn't seem to pay attention to it even as she releases an AURA SPHERE.

[break][break] jayden turns to his friend.

[break][break] "marena is the same. it is quite difficult managing these beasts, isn't it?" his lips curve into a ghost of a smile.

[break][break] he contemplates Remiel Calcifet's words before asking:

[break][break] "what do you think it is?"

[attr="class","ooc"] Remiel Calcifet [break]

sparks of electricity fly from the grass, gathering in marena's snow-white coat. VOLT ABSORB devours the bolts excitedly as she rushes forward once more, thrusting another AURA SPHERE the legendary's way. kozmo sprints behind her, leaping to the air with a DYNAMIC PUNCH.

[break][break] an ideal world.

[break][break] how trite.

[break][break] "an ideal world.. what do you think it's searching for?" his brow furrows, before his head tilts towards his friend's. "do you have something you're searching for, sir?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Remiel Calcifet [break]