"start the battle off strong, team!"[break][break]

and by strong, cian really just minds bunkering down the same way callan had in his gym challenge.[break][break]

trevenant snaps a branch off its arm and lets it drop to the ground. the moment it finds impact, a CURSE sprouts, putting both it and the ursaluna on a timer. to counteract that, it also INGRAINS itself into the earth.[break][break]

kecleon's tongue slips out as it summons an ANCIENT POWER underneath the teddiursa that looks to hold it in place by its legs.

[attr="class","ooc"]Callan Young[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-trevenant"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-kecleon"]

kecleon is definitely the peskier of the two, so he has to commend callan for choosing the right target to focus down.[break][break]

"you know what to do, my little jing jok!"[break][break]

dancing left and right, it isn't until the ursaluna comes close that the keclon simply drops down into its own SHADOW, SNEAKING away cleverly to avoid the HEADLONG RUSH.[break][break]

the ursaluna would find trevenant's WOOD HAMMER swinging its way intead.[break][break]

kecleon appears not long after that with its back turned to the spinda, focusing on the ursaluna.

[attr="class","ooc"]Callan Young[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-trevenant"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-kecleon"]

"thank you, thank you."[break][break]

one down, one to go. with the ursaluna gone, all that's left is the spinda which cian would guess is the support out of the two.[break][break]

a shrug of his shoulder later, and he points at the spinda.[break][break]

"let's finish this!"[break][break]

kecleon's tongue shoots out in an attempt to BIND it in place to set up trevenant's HORN LEECH.

[attr="class","ooc"]Callan Young[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-trevenant"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-kecleon"]

despite the heals from INGRAIN, the SUCKER PUNCH is enough to knock the trevenant out. spinda's fist connects cleanly, dark energy sapping away at trevenant's spirit before it eventually falls to the ground.[break][break]

"shit..."[break][break]

he looks at his kecleon.[break][break]

"it's all on you, jing jok!"[break][break]

with the spinda's arm still held with its tongue, the kecleon tugs it close only to send a PSYBEAM over its way.

[attr="class","ooc"]Callan Young[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-kecleon"]

"it's confused!"[break][break]

he says at the same time as callan, though he definitely sounds far more enthusiastic as the battle is currently swayed in his favor.[break][break]

in fact, it seems like the only way to lose now would be to make a mistake and throw it all away. but cian, much like in his games, is not a thrower.[break][break]

"it's time to clutch this!"[break][break]

kecleon takes advantage of the spinda's state of CONFUSION and SHADOW SNEAKS up close. its tongue slaps with a BIND as it attempts to slam spinda into the ground.

[attr="class","ooc"]Callan Young[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-kecleon"]

cian knows he's a decent battler. he would not have survived the recruitment process of alexander's gym in the first place if he wasn't. but after his losing spree in the hoenn star tournament, his confidence had been shaken.[break][break]

to overcome Callan Young's gym is the step in the right direction. it gives him renewed confidence, reaffirming that he is, in fact, capable.[break][break]

he runs over to his kecleon and scoops it up into his arms in a hug.[break][break]

"holy shit you were sooo good, jing jok! so strong..."[break][break]

accepting the badge from callan, cian smiles, nodding in kind.[break][break]

"thanks man! your ursaluna looked deadly so i did what i could to get it off the field asap. i enjoyed our battle a lot!"[break][break]

he taps a pokeball on kecleon's head, then looks around.[break][break]

"wanna go get something to eat?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Callan Young[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-kecleon"]