[attr="class","rubyw"]

Know her place? Okay, that was it, the diplomacy gloves were coming off. And it wasn't like those gloves fit her well to begin with.

[break][break]"Big talk for some kid taking over a little playground with his buddies," she said, and it was like a weight off her chest. Acting nice, even for a Rocket cause, was exhausting; there was a reason she wasn't supposed to be the negotiator.

[break][break]But as it turned out, Adrian actually had something to back up his big talk, namely a big-ass Steelix. Well, that explained how he got all his clout. But Ruby wasn't going to let that deter her; hell, the thought of taking this punk down a few hundred pegs had her grinning. She grabbed Delphi's Poké Ball, ready to let the Garchomp go wild...

[break][break]... but then Johanna actually spoke up. That was surprising enough, but her request to let her handle this battle slapped a shocked look onto Ruby's face. It didn't last long, though; Adrian was already sending her goons at her, and even though she was dealing with a bunch of kids, they had the numbers advantage, so Ruby would need to focus on this battle.

[break][break]"Fine. But don't expect me to bail your sorry ass out." That was a lie, and Ruby knew it, but maybe Johanna would fight harder if she thought she wasn't getting any backup. The Pokémon that Johanna sent out was unsurprisingly fluffy (was it shiny, too?), but it looked tough, and it stared emotionlessly at its opponent. Maybe Ruby wouldn't have to jump in, after all.

[break][break]For now, though, she had her own battle to fight.

[break][break]Poké Balls burst open in flashes of white light, revealing a variety of Pokémon for her to face. Just at a glance, she could see a Skarmory, a Beldum, an Excadrill, a Magneton, a Lairon, and a Bisharp. "You have a theme," Ruby said derisively. "Cute." With a grin, she clicked the button on Delphi's Poké Ball. The Dragon/Ground hybrid emerged with a roar, and several of the teens suddenly looked a lot more nervous.

[break][break]"Bulldoze 'em!"

[break][break]Delphi stomped her foot into the gravel, sending out a shockwave that made the ground in front of her shake. Most of the opposing Pokémon lost their footing from the shifting rocks beneath them and toppled to the ground with several satisfying clatters and clangs.

[break][break]But not all of them. "Skarmory, use Steel Wing!"

[break][break]The Skarmory let out a screech and dove at Delphi with one of its metallic wings extended. But Delphi wasn't going to let herself be hit so easily. She raised one of her arm blades to intercept the attack, and another clang resounded through the air. Delphi's arm shook as she struggled to fend off the attack, but she shifted her footing so she was anchored firmly to the ground below her. She growled as she locked eyes with her opponent, determination flashing in her yellow irises. She would not be defeated.