As it turned out, recieving an alien put more on Makoto's plate than just having to figure out how to take care of, well, an alien. Makoto was not huge on having to wake up early in the morning just for a spar - but they supposed that a friendly scrap might be a way to better get to know Erebus.

The last thing they had expected to see, however, was for their sparring partner-to-be to be wrestling against a Xurkitree! Makoto and Deoxys, side by side, can only blink a second as they both observe this at hand.

Humans don't usually fight Pokemon. Erebus commented - not in words, but more accurately a sense of puzzlement paired with imagery of trainers usually standing back.

Not all humans have self preservation instincts. Makoto sighed mentally, whilst the Deoxys' mind was still in contact with their own. They supposed the best thing to do - for the time being - would be to wait and watch, if he did not immediately notice their presence. It felt like it'd be rude to just interrupt him otherwise.

Gerald Kaiser

The waving and imaginary hat tip is met with a bit of a blink from Makoto - it was certainly a quirky greeting, though then again, Ultra Beasts seemed to just be quirky creatures in general. They'd wave back - stepping over as Erebus followed just a couple paces behind.

The Deoxys seemed mindful of its own personal space - and it would stare at Gerald and his Xurkitree both. It wasn't a negative stare, or a positive one, it was simply a stare. It observed them, examined them from afar. These two were unknowns, even if fellow Rocket members...

"It's... It's been awhile," Makoto mused out loud in greeting, as they gave a little wave and looked Gerald up and down. The last time the two had met as far as Makoto recalled, it was during the Trinity Trials a year prior, when they had fought against a simulated Rayquaza.

(They hoped his idea of a spar didn't include blowing everything up like he did in the Trial. The Xurkitree did look more zappy than explosive; but that didn't mean much when his Decidueye was a living grenade launcher.)

"I'm guessing that you're using your Ultra Beast there?" They glanced to the Xurkitree - they knew a little bit about the Ultra Beasts, but never really got to handle or study one themself.

Gerald Kaiser