[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]she hides her discomfort with a forced smile, fingers almost rising to pry the corners of her lips upward.

”okay.”

it wouldn’t do either of them any good for her to dig her heels in over this.

even if she wants to… even if it’s easier to avoid him.

her body turns back toward the newly awakened jirachi and the way sleep still clings to its expression. overhead, mew floats curiously before eventually settling onto her head with a soft plop.

”it should only be a few minutes before we’re good to go.”

her voice mixing with the sound of league officials working covers the sound of approaching footsteps. they’re unaware of what’s coming.

ALEXANDER STONE

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]mew coos with his greeting, overly excited about the prospect of a new friend.

and as the pink mythical leans over to accept his hand with a small paw of its own, it drags her head with it.

she gasps and tilts forward, a hand flying up to keep mew from falling.

"jeez."

behind them, jirachi is observing quietly...

she has to move closer for mew to shake his hand. the close proximity is ignored on purpose, as if she refuses to dive further into discomfort.

and in the process, an explosion sounds off overhead.

she startles, knocking into alexander's shoulder.

"what the hell?"

ALEXANDER STONE

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]she scowls. irritation bleeds into every expression, every movement.

"nothing's ever simple, is it?"

not in hoenn. not in this lifetime.

she releases two pokemon with a quickness. a golurk, her usual discolored companion, and a honedge. her golurk towers over them as the honedge floats its way into her hand. its torn sash wraps around her wrist to complete the connection, more weapon than pokemon in this instance.

"ready?"

there's no more time to prepare.

the first of the four, maybe five, assailants are already approaching...

ALEXANDER STONE

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]stone edge falls in unison, enclosing them into this small space.

and she doesn’t hide her disdain for entrapment. it’s written all over her face.

”hammer arm. break them apart.”

her golurk rumbles low and begins to swing its large clay arm until it’s able to break apart the stones surrounding them. with each stone crumbling to dust, she finds it a little easier to breathe.

her head whips toward alex, eyes narrowed in focus.

”can you shield?”

she has a plan… in the form of a pink pokemon and its knack for invisibility. the mew is already slinking through the shadows, phantom force about to strike the magmortar. while it’d take care of the remaining attacks, there’s still fire coming at them…

ALEXANDER STONE

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]as wide guard rises, she lets out a sharp whistle.

and mew rises from the shadows behind the magmortars to strike them down with phantom force.

the last of the stone edge begins to fully crumble and she’s moving forward without considering much else. alex is left behind with a soft order:

”guard jirachi.”

she’ll handle this. she’s equipped to do so now. trepidation no longer holds her hostage.

the honedge in her hand hums against her skin as if it’s calling for carnage. and she might just give in, perhaps.

her movement is quick, rushed, as she approaches the assailants with her golurk in tow. and as she allows her healing mist to spread and provide a cover, she lunges low to swing her honedge at their legs. cutting them down… it’s easier than she had thought.

ALEXANDER STONE

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]at some point, she chooses to blatantly ignore the peaceful method.

his doublade looks to knock out with her golurk and she… looks to injure.

her honedge hums louder with each slash she makes, torn sash tightening around her wrist. tighter and tighter until she’s not sure if her hand’s movements are her own anymore.

and there’s an almost blank, distant look in her eyes.

each grunt falls with a yell of pain. each slash splatters a little onto her, red and warm and disgusting. her face twists with contempt, brain reasoning this isn’t right.

it should be water, not blood.

water water water.

her golurk is quick to knock out the rest as her honedge drops unceremoniously from her hand.

ALEXANDER STONE