with his speed boost risen and enhanced by flame charge. there was a chance for escape, but that was as far as blaziken could go. forcing the pokemon to continue his battle would merely be a punishment. it was only training, after all.

a hand risen, he'd say, "we surrender," zane uttered with one call. "if i push blaziken anymore he'll just burnout." no pun intended. "i still have a lot to learn if i wanna take on the elite four." a soft expression became donned, "i can see why you were chosen to train me. does that make me one of those 'gym trainers'?"

guess it's about that time.

flame flickered at the blaziken's feet. with FOCUSed ENERGY, the blaziken took a muay thai stance. with his resolve sharpened, golden energy had proceeded to embrace the fire-type's body. a spell traveled in a linear manner toward blaziken, but a quick shift to the side allowed the chance for it to dodge. "the clock hasn't struck twelve just yet, we wanna dance a little more."

he was enjoying the battle, why end it so early? "while you were busy casting your spell, i was busy building my own." flame charge's secondary effect came into play. with each usage, blaziken's speed had risen. as the witch built her wardrobe, the lion honed his claws. with the addition of blaziken's SPEED BOOST, the pokemon became a blur; fire left in its stead.

the distance between mismagius and blaziken had been enclosed. the blaziken practically, or rather literally, speedily emerged beneath the ghost-type's nose. "BLAZE KICK," he ordered. it was time to begin the exorcism. as the flame ignited even greater upon the pokemon's feet, it would perform a backward handspring. attempting to send the ghost-type flying into the air.

there was no sign of physical injury on the blaziken, yet he fell to one knee as though there were. it was due to the well revered ghost's curse, "pain split, so that was your angle." well, she wouldn't be a gym leader without some sort of complexity.

it was a nice strategy, he'll have to be weary of ghost pokemon even more. this was a well-earned lesson. "you've definitely taught me something today, ms. katherine!" a chuckle was ushered. who would have thought battling was this entertaining. he still had hope that there was a chance to win with what he had up his own sleeve. but, in the end, this was considered a loss regardless. mainly due to his own lack of foresight.

"win or lose, being unable to foresee that ability is my fault. back home just one mistake would be considered a failing grade." perfection was important. a single wrong answer, a single spec of untidiness, or a single mistake? and it would cost you, metaphorically speaking, your life. "though, i wouldn't count us out just yet." while their preparation was being made, so was zane's.

"on your feet, red rider. it's time to BULK UP!" like steroids his body would amass muscle. a mighty roar had been released. this is where the real fight began.

the shinx's body came at a standstill. the electric-type digested the words that were spoken by mini dragon. staring briefly, shinx would come to lower his head to the surface. pondering on what the dratini had said.

"no."

a sharp response given. "i wanna have my first battle with you, 'tini-zap!" that's right, this was better for the dratini. this was shinx's way of helping them. there was a glow that emerged from their response, one that held truth and promise, "i won't battle any other dragon but 'tini-zap! i want to fight 'tini when they're all big and strong, so get strong and become big! or else i'll leave you behind, 'tini-zap!" that was shinx's solemn promise, "and when you're all big and strong, let's meet again!"

the shinx would run forward. his body pressing up against the dratini's own, their heads crossing one another. this was shinx's hug to the dratini, "and have a lot of confidence in yourself, you have a lot to give 'tini. i just know it, that's the first step to achieving your dream: belief!" and with that it was time to go. for the shinx's trainer had finally returned.

he would leave the dratini with what he had spoken. hoping that they would absorb everything said. shinx meant every word that was uttered.

a hand had been extended to the woman across the table. a soft smile worn, "your hand." a simple reques. "if i can predict your life up to now, you owe me a date," zane stated. cerulean orbs became affixed onto the woman's own.

"i have a knack for palm reading, along with a few other tricks up my sleeve." the raven haired man awaited for her palm to grace his. had she done so, daphen would come to feel a soft yet masculine touch. gently holding the lady's own, a calm squeeze, to ensure he wouldn't hurt her. "scared?" pearly whites gently flashed toward the woman.

gasp! they were once considered a legend?! shinx's tail began to wag uncontrollably from excitement. "wowie, zap! you're from a line of legends?! this is so electrifying!" the shinx became more ecstatic than usual. excited about meeting someone of great heritage like himself.

"so then when we're both big and strong, we should fight! we should fight!" a battle of legendary pokemon never before seen! it made shinx unable to contain this ball of energy that eroded him. he could almost die from sheer happiness! or so he thought when the dratini became self-depreciative.

"hey!" shinx shouted, "don't you say that, you're from a line of legendaries--like me!" the shinx would proudly point a single paw toward itself, adding, "you can't become strong like your twin brother if you're doubting yourself, zap! that's just not electrifying, not electrifying at all!"

"your technology." plain and simple, it was straight to the point. there was no other reason for his being here...or so he wanted to say. "but that's something that can be discussed between you and my mother," zane was going off book. originally this meeting was suppose to be between the two of them, but he wanted to play his own way.

"wanna go have some fun and skip work, madam president?" a soft smile donned his face. there was no ill intention behind what he spoke. for what spewed from his mouth had been truth. "if you're hesitant, how about we play a game? right here, right now." zane was a game loving man. this was bound to cure his boredom from senseless discussion. "let's break the ice with a palm reading game, i'm pretty good at it you know? it's one of my many hidden talents."

leaning back within his chair, zane would calmly release a sigh. "there's no need to have a serious air, relax a little. use this as a time to have a break or something, i know i am." they were about exactly the same age. when was the last time they got the chance to act like it? "we're not in our thirties, it's okay to let loose sometimes in the office," he'd pause, adding, "oh, and call me 'zane' please."

"yes, mother, i understand." this was his next assignment. he had been briefed ahead of time on not the devon corporation, but the stone family. a constantly absent brother, a missing sister, and their absent parents? the information recovered on the other daughter wasn't exactly stellar.

had she been zane's sister his mother would have never allowed this. she was a stern woman with a venomous ambition. zane was no different. she was the one who insisted his father send him to that academy. and, as much as zane may hate to admit it, it wasn't the worst idea.

dressed fashionably within casual business attire. zane would come to end the call with the chairwoman of altru inc. "seriously, what a drag this is gonna be." as he stood outside of devon corp. zane's expression exhibited a look of disinterest. the information that was given to him about the final devon child didn't seem all that promising. she wasn't going to bring him any joy.

so he'd have to make his own. though, maybe the information they had was outdated. maybe she was different? either way, as a representative of altru inc. he was here to meet with the woman to discuss a partnership. zane just wanted to get this over with.

after groaning and pouting, he'd enter the building. once inside, he'd come to be escorted to where DAPHNE STONE and he would begin their discussion. as he was seated in the room sealed off from prying ears and eyes. it would only be him, her, and the refreshments that were provided.

what a funny dratini this pokemon was. this was shinx first time meeting a pokemon from the dratini species. they seemed like frail creatures now that he's gotten a closer look. "like your twin, zap?" shinx pondered on what it would be like if he had a twin. maybe it would be like this dratini in terms of personality, a total opposite to his!

"aha, you said it, zap!" shinx chuckled. though, it was best left to the electric-type for it did sound weird. even so, shinx enjoyed it nonetheless! it was funny. "i don't know! but i bet i'll become a god or something! a legendary where those i deem beneath me shall fear me and my lightning, zap!" he'd begin to chase his own tail, asking simultaneously, "hey, hey, hey! what's your twin like?!"

the shinx turned to hear the beckoned call of a dratini. the pokemon briefly stared. its mouth agape whilst forming a "u". the shinx stared frozenly at the pokemon. wondering as to why it had just uttered its own name. "i'm a shinx, zap!" the shinx retorted. declaring that it wasn't a dratini, but a shinx.

the pokemon lowered its upper torso and wiggled its booty in the air. its stance formed as if it were preparing to pounce upon someone or something. "i'm gonna be a big and strong pokemon someday, zap!" the electric-type stood with pride. "i'm gonna be the very best there ever was, and in order to do that it's gonna require some training!" the shinx began to bounce around the dratini. circling the creature as it jovially spewed about the future it saw for itself.

"hey, zap! can you talk, zap!?" the shinx, pausing its physical movements, would ask.