she never did have a chance to battle for the badge when the gym was still under alex's tutelage. but that was back when she was busy with her council duties, when she'd kidded herself into thinking she had left her combat-driven days behind her. 

she had been pleased to see cian rise to the challenge and take it over in his stead. it would have been a shame for an outsider to come in and take this too. like silph took devon. 

"it's been too long," she agrees and then smiles. "honestly? good. glad to see this place still looks the same too."

CIAN MAHER

☉

it has taken some time, but she has rebuilt the air she once carried with her. intense and judgmental, but where she was once a delicate arrow, waiting for the opportune moment to slip between ribs, she is now callous and cruel. a serrated dagger with lean muscle and the recklessness of a life numbed to loss. 

"i have," she answers. "i worry about him. i still can't imagine what it must be like. has he checked in at all?"

she chuckles. "and here i am, forgetting why we're here." she releases both pokeballs. the humongous salamence and his dragonair counterpart emerge, surprised to see they've been called onto an official field. three pairs of eyes look at cian expectantly. 

CIAN MAHER

☉

one brow raises. she knows better than to underestimate even the smallest pokemon. many have written aeris off before, but she's the strongest in her line, even among freya's dragonite. and, while she's not entirely familiar with the frogs, they're water-types and there's a chance they have ice at their disposal.

but aeris' tail flicks and freya knows they're thinking the same thing. her thunderbolt will be able to devastate them. still, the command that falls from freya's lips is not an offensive maneuver. 

lyune shifts his weight. aeris' body twists upward, circling around him as she summons a speed boost with agility. while she prepares for the fight ahead - freya has a feeling the froggies are going to be frustrating to hit - lyune's claws glow menacingly, ready to protect her at a moment's notice.

CIAN MAHER

salamence intimidate is active
dragonair uses agility
salamence holds action; will go on the offensive with dragon claw if they attack

☉

unfortunately for him, lyune is not the star player of this battle. his intimidation invites exposure; the target on his back draws attention away from aeris. and the offensive aura that surrounds him courtesy of one of the froggie's swagger is a nice gift.

still, aeris will have to be careful. lyune sways on his feet, tail lashing in annoyance and frustration. "whisk away that smoke," she orders the dragon. his wings unfurl, raise, but falters, drawing power from the wrong source.

"aeris." the dragonair takes the offensive. the smokescreen doesn't matter to her. she twists in front of lyune, lashing her tail out in a wide arc. a spray of sparks fly in a wave out towards the rest of the battlefield, hoping to slow down one of their targets.

CIAN MAHER

confusion
1-33 snaps out of it
34+ misses moves & damages self
salamence is confused & hurts itself!
dragonair uses thunder wave

SPOILER: Click to show

9G5D9_BV

☉

oh, this is fun. the frogs are well trained. they don't even balk at getting close to the hissing dragons. still, they're fighting defensively and if this is an endurance test, lyune and aeris are the brood to surpass it with flying colors. the centuries-old dragon knows a thing or two about biding his time. 

froakie swaps places with an ethereal dummy and freya's attention darts instead to the politoed. she grins wolfishly as lyune's tail flicks, frills fanning. control snaps back into him and he pivots, rearing to the side with fiery claws outstretched to catch the falling frog in midair. 

"aeris, now," she calls. the serpent emerges from the smokescreen and blasts a thunderbolt from her tail, aiming at the ground where lyune aims to strike the pest. 

CIAN MAHER

confusion
1-66 snaps out of it
67+ misses moves & damages self
salamence snaps out of it!
salamence uses dragon claw on politoed!
dragonair uses thunderbolt on politoed (and salamence)!

SPOILER: Click to show

Vn50H2IZ

☉

the tide of battle shifts. thunderbolt strikes - not the intended target, and its skin doesn't crackle like it should against a water-type (protean, she thinks, slightly irked). but aeris and lyune are finally on the offensive and with the surge of energy from the politoed's earlier gift still swimming in lyune's muscles, his melee attacks are going to pack a punch. 

the hydro pump catches aeris at her tail, sending her spinning back into the smokescreen. lyune's wings are still pinned to his back. the smack down strikes him on the snout and he jerks his head back, more annoyed than hurt. 

another dragon claw swipes through the air, this time at the froakie. lyune's chest rumbles. a snarl slips past his maw. and aeris, hidden by the smokescreen, listens intently and knows exactly where to strike at the politoed. 

a thunderbolt arcs out from the cover, aimed directly at the green frog. 

CIAN MAHER

salamence is hit by smack down (pff, puny creature)
dragonair is hit by hydro pump
salamence uses dragon claw on froakie
dragonair is hidden in the smokescreen - uses thunderbolt on politoed

☉