It had been awhile, hadn't it?

Barnaby regretted letting his friendship with Felix Gallagher lax, but it was obvious they'd both been focusing on work as of late. The admin's promotion was proof enough of that.

Barnaby himself was busy trying to integrate and establish himself as a leader within ROCKET. Hence his appearance here today.

"Good luck~" He chimed, flashing Felix a puckish smile before taking his spot on the opposite side of the field. His Pokémon flew to the middle, where his opponent waited.

On Barnaby's right hand a ring with a prismatic Key Stone at its center began to glow. Simultaneously, the Mega Stone around his CHARIZARD's neck flashed a bright crimson, causing the dragon to be enveloped in a dazzling sphere of energy. When it emerged it was wholly new, lithe and elongated and markedly more powerful.

Immediately, the tepid air in the room began to warm to an uncomfortable degree. Sweat started to bead on the brows of all those present.

"Most Mega Evolutions induce new abilities in the Pokémon evolving, such as Charizard's Drought." Barnaby explained to the gathered grunts. In this case, it meant that the power of Fire-type moves was increased by roughly 50%, effectively negating the type disadvantage against GARCHOMP.

"Get into the air and put some distance between the two of you!" Barnaby issued his first command with a notably more serious tone. "Then use Fire Spin!"

Felix Gallagher
M.A.G.M.A Training 🝪 Tier #1
mission: POKEMON PEDAGOGY
mega evolution [1/3] | drought [1/5]

☉

"Ha."

A small, self-deprecating chuckle passed through Barnaby's lips.

Sandstorm. It wasn't a shock to see Felix use such a strategy with a Pokémon like GARCHOMP. However, it did throw a wrench in Barnaby's plans. With this order, Drought had been replaced for a different weather affect altogether.

Oh well. It couldn't be helped. Overcome and adapt, as they say.

"Get your eyes on it!" Barnaby shouted above the tumult, raising his forearm to his face to try and block some of the sand streaming around the field.

CHARIZARD reacted as directed, his wings beating harder against the grit to blow it back from his immediate surroundings. The dragon's attention was hyper-focused on keeping the land shark within view.

"Once you've got it in your sights, move in close and use Air Slash." As CHARIZARD moved to follow his given orders, already small nicks and cuts were beginning to appear across his body. An unfortunate side effect of Sandstorm.

Felix Gallagher
M.A.G.M.A Training 🝪 Tier #1
mission: POKEMON PEDAGOGY
mega evolution [2/3]
damage: sandstorm

☉

With the sandstorm active and GARCHOMP's increased evasiveness, not to mention the natural cover provided by the swirling sand, close-quarters fighting was the best option now.

Barnaby had already instructed CHARIZARD to move in close in his previous turn, so when Felix ordered his Pokémon to unleash a TWISTER he issued his next command without hesitation.

"Endure the hit and keep moving in - then grab ahold of it." Mega Evolution had empowered CHARIZARD's various attributes, including speed and strength. He'd reach out for the GARCHOMP and try to bodylock it with a vise-like grip.

When it was likely the dragon couldn't escape, Barnaby continued his orders. "Dragon Breath!"

Felix Gallagher
M.A.G.M.A Training 🝪 Tier #1
mission: POKEMON PEDAGOGY
mega evolution [3/3]
damage: sandstorm & twister

☉

The sound of Felix Gallagher's order was like an angelic symphony crooning in his ear. It brought a wicked smile to Barnaby's face and stoked the flames of his competitive spirit.

"It's over, Felix!" In his elation he'd reverted to calling the admin by his first name. A bit improper in front of the recruits, but something that Felix would hopefully let slide in the moment.

Why was he so confident, though? Despite SANDSTORM inflicting small amounts of damage each turn, regular Ground-type attacks such as SAND TOMB had no effect on Flying-type Pokémon like CHARIZARD.

A perilous mistake.

CHARIZARD's tenure as a Mega Evolved Pokémon came to a close; he reverted back to his original form even as he continued to clutch at his opponent. With SAND TOMB unable to hold him off, Barnaby ordered another DRAGON BREATH, thinking that two rounds of a Super Effective move would be enough to knock the GARCHOMP out.

And so it did.

The swirling sand slowly idled, clearing the battlefield to show CHARIZARD standing above the felled GARCHOMP.

Returning his Pokemon to it's ball, Barnaby then strode over to Felix with an extended arm, ready to shake his friend's hand. "That was a good match. I appreciate you letting me help out today."

Felix Gallagher
M.A.G.M.A Training 🝪 Tier #1
mission: POKEMON PEDAGOGY
damage: sandstorm

☉