[attr="class","spiral"] The mental prostration causes his ego to guffaw in outright triumph. Freya will submit, never willingly, never admittedly, that she has no choice but to fall in line with his ideology. It isn't so much that she fall in line with his wants moreso than parallel his mindset. To be correct above all else will push the region into a new age, one which Fernando can find relief in knowing that its denizens will mirror his example. Mental fortitude bears the most powerful foundation and what he needs is a populace that is right to bite back against those that would do it harm.

"Return." A simple answer laden with an unknown intent. "Continue from where you left off but do so with your head up high. Discard whatever baggage you have, whatever fears that made you run away, and present yourself proudly." Fernando smirks, reminiscent of their first walk down League Headquarters.

"It's unbecoming to think the same woman who whispered of coups would be one who ran away from her position of power."

[attr="class","spiral"] The mention of Olivia Abbiati strikes a chord. It's only natural for Freya to inquire about the other sister of Sootopolis. "Indeed. You haven't missed much. Abbiati has been quite tame since moving into office. She does much better in a position of words and meaningless letters than on the battlefield." There's a hidden message there but not one Fernando needs to state explicitly. His impressions are his own and if Freya does not see Olivia in the same light then there's no need to further taint her reputation.

Fernando pulls up his sleeve to look at his wristwatch. There's a Comfey entangled around his wrist, a snug fit for a dormant, sleeping Pokemon. "Words carry a variety of meanings, Freya. Intent is based on the interpretation of the speaker. You'd do well to remember that."

[attr="class","spiral"] "You say that like you know me." There's a pungent amount of sass behind the jest and Fernando returns the gesture with a smirk of his own. Arrogance can be weaponized when the chips belong to the house and he wants her to fold. A lack of notifications on his watch signal that he has plenty of time and he approaches, crossing the gap that protects him from her dragons.

"And that sounds like a threat." His beaming does not diminish despite the fact that he infers no threat from Freya. A bit of it is teasing while Fernando tiptoes around her words and possible meanings. "You said there was more we had to discuss aside from your dragon?"

[attr="class","spiral"] What a surprising response. Fernando can't help but snicker at her answer, growing into a genuine laugh as he tries to console himself from the bubbling tickle that heaves from his lungs. "Desk jockey," he repeats, contemplative, but only entertaining her little joke. "I doubt that would suit someone like you. You don't take me for the secretary type, Freya. Whatever you end up doing, stick to something you're good at." There's another underlying message behind that comment but Fernando keeps it subtle, more of a suggestion than anything else.

"As for the soul dew." He's yet to look into the artifact himself, only keeping up with it due to it being a recent acquisition. "We've successfully transported it to Lilycove but something set it off. We lent it to one of the Elite Four to investigate."

[attr="class","spiral"] Fernando notices the way Freya trembles and how her dragons reciprocate but he refrains from commenting. Some things are better left unsaid and the last thing he wants to do is put her on edge. The more her emotions bleed into her expression the easier he can read her. Right now, he can't derive anything from it, seemingly spontaneous but notes it regardless.

"I'm not sure the specifics. I've been busy. I'll have a thorough report on it soon though." Not being in the know has always been a pet peeve of his but this time it doesn't bother him. The tides are turning and there's a current. Behind Project Avalon and his standard duties, there's simply too much for Fernando to keep up with it all. His priorities revert back to his original mindset: himself.

The sudden shift in topic is odd and Fernando explicitly shows his confusing, raising an eyebrow at her. "Enough. Why?"

[attr="class","spiral"] Some things never change. Fernando responds in kind, bringing out his Pokemon of choice. "Last time I was being polite. That's not a courtesy you should expect in a real battle." Rather than abide by her rule he opts for his own standard of battling: victory at any cost. While his choice is smaller and arguably less intimidating than Lyune, it'll be the last Pokemon to entertain her challenge.

"Battle routine set."

Fernando's choice in Pokemon is also his anti-aerial unit. His Porygon2 spares no time in scanning the duo, assuming the Salamence to be its opponent. A prompt DOWNLOAD of the Pokemon's information allows the Porygon to adjust its attack pattern appropriately.

"Execute."

If Freya is to join in on the battle alongside her Pokemon then he will too, albeit without taking a spot on the front lines. Fernando's MISTY TERRAIN starts surround him and shielding his Pokemon from any status effects while boosting their raw strength. He doesn't make any further commands, trusting that his Porygon knows what to do. Which, for now, is nothing more than distorting the GRAVITY around them, forcing all Pokemon to stay grounded with the additional weight that makes them less agile and therefore less evasive. Unable to take to the skies, LOCKING-ON to the duo becomes simple.

[attr="class","spiral"]Freya asks for a battle and her dragons rally behind her. They flock together and help their own when one cannot stand up against their undoubted opponent. She finds power in numbers and it is Fernando who stands alone, relying on only one Pokemon against the combined efforts of her many. Not even a year ago the parallels of the scene would be inverse, a reflection of who they were as trainers and who they are now as combatants. The events of Mossdeep and the Aqua Summer Festival have molded them into something more, a growth that reflects their standings and viewpoints on the world.

The sky is set ablaze in a demonstration of power. Some habits die hard and Fernando reaches for a Pokeball with each hand. All it takes is a little tap to unleash the Pokemon inside. Meteors plummet from the sky and the shrapnel of the original blast cascade his side of the field. It carpet bombs him in a feverish volley that looks to drive back anything he can bring out. Each piece juts through the MISTY TERRAIN and once they disappear behind the fairy dust their impact is mitigated, power cut in half. Even so, their impact clambers with a heavy thud, smoke wafting up from upturned debris rendered asunder from the devastating strike. Only his silhouette shows from the murky shroud.

When it settles what's left in his path is the shimmering barrier of his Glalie and Tapu Fini's PROTECT. Together, they stand, obstinate against the filtered attack. Tapu Fini's MISTY SURGE funnels around the Pokmone like a mortal coil, weaponized into a spiraling mass of raw energy. The power of Alola pulses with a radiant sheen, stockpiled into a single entity ready to lay judgement upon those that stand in the way of the Alolan avatar.




Fernando's gaze is unfaltering, steady with a vindictiveness ready to punish Freya for standing against him. "Now is your chance, Freya. Now is your chance to prove to me, show me that your strength is something I need, something that can stand against me."

The sound of his teeth grinding against each other are silent, overshadowed by the sound of energy pooling in his fist, reeled back moments before he plunges it forward and towards Freya's direction. Fernando's actions are mirrored by the giant that eclipses him, a medium for the GUARDIAN OF ALOLA that brings forth the gales of Alola to batter their enemies. Fairy energy radiates between the whirling winds, coming down to crash at not only Freya and Lyune but also the rest of her dragons who are out and exposed to the elements of the artificial weather. Like a hurricane, the attack will sweep over anything in its path, saturating them with a flood of fairy essence.