[attr="class","jaytop"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

"my apologies, sir."

[break][break] mint frost 's failings were his own, as someone who controlled one of the towers of rocket's training regime. as an admin, it was his job to make sure that all their recruits were adequately trained.

[break][break] however as anyone would know, such a thing was easier said than done. how had THEO BECKETT done it?

[break][break] in front of him, it's his GENGAR that materializes into the field. a shimmering glow at his left ear triggers jayden's keystone, transforming the purple hue of the ghost-type into blinding white as it resumes it's mega evolution form.

[break][break] a PERISH SONG echoes hollowly through the air.

[break][break] "how has he failed?"

[break][break] how else would jayden know how to repair what had been broken?

[attr="class","ooc"]

MAGMA BATTLE I.

☉

[attr="class","jaytop"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

jayden frowns.

[break][break] he had been focusing on physical training for mint frost, since that was what he believed the other had lacked. it had not occurred to him that perhaps battling was the area in which he needed expertise. many people had lost companions in the light of darkest day; necrozoma had razed them all down like a cornfield.

[break][break] but perhaps, mint frost would have been able to save his blastoise if he'd been better prepared.

[break][break] "he doesn't know the taste of failure," he says. "or the meaning of it."

[break][break] he would never be punished for his mistakes, at least not in the way that THEO BECKETT or him had been.

[break][break] "i will speak to him."

[break][break] as the melancholy wail of his gengar continues, their opponent's shadow ball is met with a DARK PULSE. as the two energies collide, a cloud of smoke explodes between them.

[attr="class","ooc"]

MAGMA BATTLE I.

☉

[attr="class","jaytop"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

"we hoped that having him challenge the gym circuit would improve his skill."

[break][break] by we, of course, jayden is referring to he and Felix Gallagher . as a part of SPECTRA, as a part of CERBERUS, but also as a part of general rocket training, they had instructed mint frost to tackle the gym challenge. from his knowledge, the mint-haired youth had succeeded in attaining several badges. perhaps more than others of his rank.

[break][break] but perhaps they had all been flukes.

[break][break] thunder cracks down onto his gengar, who winces in pain and stumbles back. snarling back to life, the pokemon pauses his perish song, if only to retaliate with a PAYBACK. energy glows around a single fist as it aims to chase after his opponent.

[attr="class","ooc"]

MAGMA BATTLE I.

☉

[attr="class","jaytop"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

"ah. a battle where they are stakes."

it made sense.

[break][break] after all, in an orchestrated battle against the league, where it was meant to be more of a learning session, there was hardly room for failure. after all, league employees were instructed to teach civilians — what could mint learn from people like noah faber, who would never turn to anything drastic enough to push him to his limits?

[break][break] the SHADOW BALL strikes, as they are in too close quarters to dodge appropriately. jayden's gaze flickers towards his gengar, a brief interlude.

[break][break] even if the attack hit, it would be too late.

[break][break] PERISH SONG had reached it's third, and final, round.

[break][break] "we will."

[attr="class","ooc"]

MAGMA BATTLE I.

☉

[attr="class","jaytop"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

the THUNDER cracks along the gengar's spine, causing it to fall, if just before the other. a smart move, jayden notes. even a millisecond can make a difference.

[break][break] "always glad to help, sir." his head tilts, returning the pokemon to it's pokeball. "agreed — it also seems though certain pokemon can harness the power of the energy more willingly than others. some require additional time and training." the same could be said for their grunts. some, like his brother, would find skills as naturally as breathing. others, like himself or even mint frost, required a stronger hand.

[break][break] he nods at THEO BECKETT.

[break][break] "i'm looking forward to it."

[attr="class","ooc"]

MAGMA BATTLE I.

☉