The underwater headquarters of Team Rocket had, well, everything. Each time August came aboard, he marveled at the massive structure. It was almost overwhelmingly large and felt impossible to navigate; thankfully August managed to get where he needed to be most of the time. The walk to the training arena was no exception, a little guidance from another member and he had arrived relatively on time.

August knew very little of the man he was to meet, save his name, Zev Harcourt. He'd heard rumors of course, rumors that he was an assassin. An exceptionally efficient assassin, at that. The notion of learning to battle under the auspices of such a man unnerved August slightly. There was no knowing how a man like that could react, no predictability. August inhaled and entered the arena, attempting to bury the anxiety bubbling inside of him.

"You must be Mister Harcourt... Yes, I'm August Black." The forger replied, pushing his glasses up on his nose. "I know some, mostly the basics. Familiar with the idea of types and how they matchup. I know some of the theory behind it, but I've never put that brush to canvas... if that makes sense?"

August produced a pokeball from coat pocket and looked down at it. "If I'm honest, I'm not sure which of my pokeman would be best suited for combat."

[attr="class","zevhtext"]



"All Pokémon are suited for combat, but depending on your strategy, some are more appropriate than others," Zev replied. He took a moment to consider Black's area of expertise, forgery, and launched into an explanation that he assumed the other man would immediately understand.[break][break]

"Think about it like a set of paintbrushes. You don't select from them at random whenever you want to create a forgery. You want the right tool for the job, whether it's lettering or whatever. Pokémon are the same."[break][break]

Many people also saw Pokémon as treasured companions and were loath to view them as mere tools. Whether Black was the same sort of man was something to be revealed.[break][break]

Zev crossed his arms over his chest, still not moving to summon a Pokémon of his own. "What did you bring with you?"

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BY GUNSMILE

"The right tool for the right job, mmh. Alright, I see your point Mr. Harcourt. Then this amounts to selecting which of my companions I'll turn into a weapon." The forger said, looking at the pokeball in his hand. "It's eat or be eaten though, so no time for sympathies... So let's get to it."

"I the only pokemon I own. A Smeargle, Polteageist, Litwick, and most recent acquisition is a Serperior." August said, releasing his Smeargle, Camille from his pokeball."Admittedly Camille, my Smeargle, is probably the one pokemon whose least suited for battle as he only knows Sketch..." The forger admitted and earned a glower from the Smeargle, who grabbed his tail and attempted to swing it menacingly. "Though, Camille and I have the best relationship; if that counts for anything, I mean."

"If you'd prefer, I can use my Polteageist or Litwick, even the Serperior if you feel they'd be better for learning with." August produced another pokeball and stood rather stiffly, waiting for further instructions from the younger man.

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Cold blue eyes scrutinized the Smeargle for a moment before Zev shook his head. "Like I said, every Pokémon can fight. If you think one isn't battle-ready, then it's better to change that now than find yourself regretting it later."[break][break]

He turned and walked to the opposite end of the arena.[break][break]

"If your Smeargle only knows Sketch, you need to change that. Fight plenty of strong opponents with him so that he can learn the most devastating moves."[break][break]

After a second of consideration, Zev unclipped a Poké Ball from his belt and tossed it forward. His Seviper emerged in a flash of light, all nine feet of her uncoiling across the battlefield. Red reptilian eyes locked onto the Smeargle as she emitted a predatory hiss.[break][break]

The assassin checked his wristwatch. "Your Smeargle has five minutes to survive Seviper's attacks," he explained to Black. "Decide before then when he should Sketch one of her moves, at which point, the battle will end. Choose wisely."[break][break]

Then Zev whistled a single note, sharp and high. At once, the enormous snake opened her fanged maw and unleashed a blistering FLAMETHROWER.

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BY GUNSMILE

August heard Zev, his words were clear and devoid any malice, but they left the older man's blood cool. Five minutes, he and Camille had to survive five minutes of a hellish onslaught. It seemed to be happening so fast; Zev calling forth his Seviper and then a whistle punctuated the air, causing the serpent to open her fanged maw and spew a gout of flame right at Camille.

The Smeargle, and his handler, were taken aback... Unprepared for the sudden attack. The Smeargle cried out as flames washed over him, burning away fur and searing the flesh. "Move! Move Camille!" The forger shouted, clenching his fists as so many feelings boiled up inside. Camille heeded the old man's command and jumped out of the way of the flames, his fur smoking and skin burned. "Prepare yourself Camille, when it comes for you... dodge and we'll try to get a sketch off!"

The Smeargle let out a mewl and nodded his head. The sight of his companion already so damaged made August's stomach churn. "This is the reality of battle, isn't it? This is what it would be like if I woke up tomorrow and had to fight the League... No mercy? Just violence?" The older man gave Zev a pointed look. Of course he knew the answer already, this was the reality of what he'd signed up for. No escape now; he just had to make the best of the situation and learn to cope.

[attr="class","zevhtext"]



When the Smeargle burned, no emotion passed through Zev or displayed on his face. There was no flinch of empathetic pain, no frown of concern, no twinge of guilt — only a cold callousness that revealed nothing.[break][break]

"No mercy, just violence," he confirmed.[break][break]

Which was not true, necessarily. He imagined there were many tender-hearted people in the League who would welcome defectors with open arms. People who sought to reform and rehabilitate criminals instead of punishing them.[break][break]

But that was not the picture of the League that Team Rocket wished to impose upon its members.[break][break]

"Whatever your reasons, you joined an organization of criminals and terrorists. That is how the League sees us; that is what they spread in their propaganda. If they face you in battle, they will give you no quarter."[break][break]

Zev's Seviper slithered across the arena toward the Smeargle, attempting to cage the Painter Pokémon with the sheer length of her body. As soon as he was close to her tail, she whipped it toward him using POISON JAB, its barbed end glistening with venom.

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BY GUNSMILE

No quarter for an organization made up of criminals and terrorists. The mere thought of it made August look askance, he wasn't the same as some thug. He wasn't a some kind of terrorist, he was an artist. He was someone who replicated beautiful things. Was it really a crime to turn a profit off his talents?

His head was flooded with thoughts and feelings that he had no time to unpack. He had to focus on survival for now, and not just for his sake. Zev's Seviper was bearing down on Camille, who stood ready to do as August had commanded earlier. The Painter Pokemon grabbed his tail and readied itself as the reptilian pokemon closed in, turning her lengthy body into a barricade in an attempt to ensnare the Smeargle.

Camille, however, was ready for what was coming. As she swung her tail for a Poison Jab, the Smeargle danced out of the way. Having narrowly avoided a strike from the Seviper's barbed tail, the Painter Pokemon turned to face the Fang Snake Pokemon. The Smeargle panted as his brushlike tail glowing as he attempted to Sketch the Seviper's Poison Jab.

August bit his lip; it was risky for Camille to follow through and use Sketch while so close, but if he managed... then this hellish fight would be over.

[attr="class","zevhtext"]



The SKETCH completed, and Zev whistled again, a different note this time. His Seviper fell back obediently, but the tension in her muscles suggested she'd just been warmed up for a longer fight. Her red eyes watched the Smeargle intensely, as if still expecting to strike.[break][break]

"Interesting choice. It's a good move, but not the strongest. Tell me why you chose it," her master said to the other man, as if the Smeargle had not been the one to make the choice.[break][break]

Though it would behoove Black to give a thoughtful response, Zev expected him to scramble for an answer. The battle had ended so quickly after Seviper had injured his Smeargle that the decision to Sketch seemed borne out of desperation and cowardice, not careful planning.[break][break]

At the very least, the Painter Pokémon had five more opportunities to sketch other moves in other battles. It was up to Black, then, to refine his tools.

[attr="class","zevhooc"][break]

BY GUNSMILE

His plan had worked, Camille had executed it to the best of his ability and it worked. The Painter Pokémon had managed to learn Poison Jab and promptly collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. While the Seviper had clearly just been warming up, Camille had August produced a pokeball and returned the Smeargle to it. “We’ll get stronger together, this will never happen again...” The forger sounded solemn as he placed the pokeball into his coat pocket. August looked harrowed as he gazed up at Zev. If it wasn’t clear before, it would be now, August had never battled like this.



“It’s a good enough move, but I just wanted it to be over… I needed it to be over.” The forger responded, his voice almost hollow. “Camille is the last thing I have left of him…” He trailed off, tilting his head down to look at the floor. “It’s clear that we weren’t ready for even this level of combat, let alone ready for real conflict.” The older man shook his head, clearly still reeling from seeing his pokemon so badly burnt.



“How do you find resolve in moments of fear? How can I make myself stronger so I don’t have to fear loss?” It was an earnest question he’d posed; a concern aired out before the cold-blooded assassin. August hoped that with this question, he might find strength and resolve where he had none- that he might grow into a better man, one able to protect what he cared for.

[attr="class","zevhtext"]



With the Smeargle returned to a Pokéball, Zev finally recalled his Seviper into her own capsule. Once more, the training arena was empty save for the two men, making it seem all the larger.[break][break]

Black's explanation was exactly what Zev expected to hear. "Learning to battle Pokémon isn't like learning to ride a bike. They will get hurt no matter what," he said with cruel dispassion. "You can read the basics all you want from books and the Internet, but you — and they — won't get any experience that way. And without that experience, you — and they — might as well be dead."[break][break]

The older man's next question was one for which Zev did not have an answer. His understanding of the world left no room for fear, especially when the loss of a Pokémon was trivial.[break][break]

After a short pause, he replied, "Tools are meant to be used. Pokémon fight. It's in their nature. Why own brushes if you aren't going to paint?"

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BY GUNSMILE