Thank you so mcuh!!! <3 You're so sweeeeet

Thank you so much! Happy holidays! <3

Her features harden at the mention of Rocket avatars and there’s no hesitation in her response, “Especially the Rocket avatars,”

Lex leaves the subject and fixes her gaze on a materializing Spiritomb. With a nod of her head, the Shadow Gardevoir chases after it to deal with it in a similar manner to the Dusclops, nearly shattering its relic stone. A pokeball follows to snatch it up for the Beast.

Lex considers the avatar’s she’s met for a long moment. She has never met Kathrine, but she could imagine her being one of the more powerful avatars. With Giratina at your side and free reign between reality and the Distortion Realm . . . That would certainly be tricky to deal with. The ex-beast was also known for her rather powerful arsenal of pokemon. Lex was, honestly, a bit envious.

“I have fought Tapu Fini and it wasn’t that impressive, I agree,” a surprising statement from someone who doesn’t have nearly half the battle prowess as some like Fernando Silph.

THEO BECKETT
Catch attempt for Spiritomb!
-6 premier balls

Lex picks up the pokeball and tucks it away with the other while Kepler goes on about whatever this Pintrest is. She listens – kind of. Quite honestly, she’d not very interested in social media or the public’s fascination with it. As someone who is used to hiding, social media is the bane of her existence.

Themes of stuff? Sounded useless. Little did Lex know, it would likely be a good place to help gather inspiration for her wedding but the odds were likely that she’d never check out such a thing. Although, she could see the appeal for this into it . . . maybe.

“Doesn’t sound like something I would be interested in,” she decides, moving on from the Dragapult Keppler snatched in search of more ghosts.

kepler brueshaber
Skipping!
- 11 pokeballs
Duo Wild (water/ghost)

Light on its feet, the young fire-type charges forward in a brilliant blaze of glory. The crowd roars, always enjoying the impressive display of a violent and strong attack. They seem even more riled up as the Riolu chooses to ENDURE it.

It surprised the Braixen, he wasn’t expecting that from the little fighting-type. He doesn’t have much time to think about such silly things, because another FORCE PALM fueled by Swords Dance fires at his gut.

The wind quickly leaves its chest in one quick exhale. The pokemon is forced back by the blow, putting the desired space between them. This one left the fox’s limbs stiff with paralysis. The Braxien shudders as it fights against the ache spreading across its muscles. The pokemon’s movements are slow from partial paralysis, leaving it vulnerable for the time being.

---

jayden cross

Braixen is hit with another FORCE PALM, Brazen is partially paralyzed!

Lex’s job wasn’t to chit chat or make friends. She was promoted because she got results and continued to produce them. The thief did that by remaining focused and keeping distractions to a minimum. She relied on herself, and only herself. There was no reason to trust those within Rocket, though she would probably get much further if she did. Pity she had such a thick skull and was too stubborn for her own good. Maybe one day she would learn.

A critical and judgmental glare analyzed the Garchomp. Strong, quick, a pokemon she had on her own team. It was versatile but sadly had many weaknesses. She would likely not exploit them today, but Lex was full of surprises. Overall, the Beast seems rather apathetic towards the choice of pokemon. It would out up a good fight which was favorable and good for her own training.

The fire-type didn’t seem phased, even as the Garchomp roared and lunged with SLASH. Somehow, Lex’s pokemon didn’t seem to take any damage, not in the least bit. Did the Garchomp miss? It’s as if the Slash phased right through it.

With the Garchomp so close, the Blaziken didn’t need to move far to take aim. It’s gut contracted and released in a series of violent movement before the pokemon’s beak opened wide. A voluminous amount of putrid sludge exploded from the pokemon’s open mouth, aimed straight for the Garchomp’s eyes.

A Blaziken using SLUDGE BOMB? How strange . . .

onyx straub
+ Blaziken uses SLUDGE BOMB

All Lex can do is grin at the mention of ghosts. Misunderstood creatures, they were. Lex had learned to love them. She didn’t start out preferring them as partners, that came with time. It was Killian Decker that gifted her the first ghost on her team, Smoke, when he was still a little Gastly. The two have been inseparable since. They worked well together, valuing the same tactics: stealth, speed, and the element of surprise.

“Good,” she grinned. Surprisingly, it had a hint of playfulness in it when she glanced back at Parker. The Beast found it mildly amusing when her ghosts made other uncomfortable, that meant they were doing their job.

The Aegislash stays close to their side, ready to defend if the need arises, which is doesn’t. The grunts on the roof are already flustered in confusion – quite literally. The Haunter can be seen floating, cackling in amusement at the effects of its CONFUSE RAY.

Parker immediately lunges towards a grunt and Lex pauses to assess the situation. Three grunts, four including Parker’s latest victim. Three seem confused, and past them Lex spots the retreating figure dressed in a more business-like suit. The boss?

He ducks behind an air vent.

A confused grunt tries to grab the Haunter, but she strikes first with a SUCKER PUNCH. Idiot.

“The boss is getting away,” likely with the information they need. Lex stalks forward past the two remaining grunts that seemed to be petting each other’s cheeks in wonder and confused amazement, “Take care of ‘em,” she orders the Haunter, always preferring to clean up her loose ends so they don’t haunt her later.

parker jones

With deafening roars, two Ursaring smashed through the trees, heading straight for the trainers. Smoke’s instincts were right, something malicious lurked in the shadows, and it wasn’t just the ghosts. A high-pitched cackle escaped the ghost’s maw from behind his wide smile. Lex was quick enough to duck just in time to miss being mauled by the FURY SWIPES.

“Smoke,” she growled in annoyance as the Gengar seemed to be taking his sweet time floating over to her aid. Lex had half a mind to reach for another pokeball when he finally cut in. As a Dazzling Gleam sprouted from the other Gengar’s fingers, a colorful array of lights floated from Smoke’s. The CONFUSE RAY danced around the bear’s head, sending it into a fit of swatting at what appeared to be nothing.

“Where the hell did these comes from?” she assumed they were left over from the distortions they just left. The thief spun around quickly to survey the land behind them and make sure they weren’t being ambushed from behind.

Zev Harcourt
+ Lex’s Smoke uses CONFUSE RAY to slow down the other Ursaring
+ Lex scans to make sure there are no others that might ambush them

Lex had already spent a moderate amount of time inspecting Yumi from her hidden position behind the veil of the shadow plane. She hadn’t seemed to change much, which Lex preferred. It was the old Yumi she enjoyed hanging out with anyway. People change, and Lex would have been sorely disappointed if Yumi did.

Despite the audacity of Yumi’s quite forward question, the Beast’s lips twitched into a small smile, both amused and rather proud. Anyone else, she would have lashed out at such disrespect. If Yumi didn’t have something clever to say, she would have been worried about her.

“Oh? That?” she lifted a hand to invite the Shadow Gardevoir back into view. It was no secret the abomination nearly never left Lex’s side. The air beside her grew cold. Black tendrils of ethereal energy twisted through reality and the phantom plane, pulling with them the silhouette of the Gardevoir. She was a pale, lifeless creature. Despite any lack of emotion found within them, they seemed to burn eerily into the soul, coating it with a frigid reminder of death, “That’s courtesy of Hecate, my Shadow Gardevoir,” Lex’s amber gaze shifted to the pokemon, “Beautiful, isn’t she?”

Yumi Hasegawa
+ Yumi, meet Shadow Gardevoir
OUTFIT

Lex couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, leaning in closure to his touch. He always seemed to see the best in her for some silly reason. He was the one with the brilliant ideas, hers were decent at best.

A finger absentmindedly tapped the chilled glass rested on her knee. While Kilian reached to set his aside, lex brought hers to her lips to take a healthy sip. The Johto whiskey was delicious, as always. Lex said a silent prayer to what deity may be listening that she also hoped the barrier would fade. While she tolerated Hoenn, she also hopped to return to Johto someday.

“Here?” she almost laughed, but instead settled for a grin, “Of course not. I would love to get married back home, in Johto,” Lex reached towards the table to set down her own glass of whiskey. She slowly slid a leg over Killian’s lap to draw herself onto it. She straddled him with a soft, pleasant smile. If that didn’t get his attention, she gently coax his gaze back to hers by tilting her chin down, “But really I don’t care where it is, I just want to marry you.”

Killian Decker

The Beast quickly loses interest in what Onyx has to say after the first half of his sentence. Quite frankly, she didn’t care for his well-being, only her own time. She stated her peace and she would chastise him afterward if she felt it necessary. Before he’s even finished speaking, she waves a hand casually in the air to dismiss the rest of his story as she spins on her heels to turn away. She brushes through the remnants of the PHANTOM FORCE, black mist dispersing in her wake. The Shadow Gardevoir didn’t follow.

“Sure,” she pauses at the other end of the training room. Her mind runs through her options. A good fight would be a quick one by her standards but she’s sure that’s not what he meant. She could easily wipe the floor with him if she used Hecate or War. Maybe even her Zeraora . . . she hadn’t fought with that pokemon in a long while. No . . .

She spins around and with the movement she tosses a pokeball into the air. The light flashes down to release a Blaziken. It’s beak snaps together anxiously, sharp claws tensing in anticipation for a battle.

onyx straub
+ She actively tries to make people hate her, smh

Lex hisses in distaste and Quanto disappears with His Unown-R. Fuck. She’d have nothing to show for this now except a set of broken ribs and a bruised ego . . . And some new acquaintances. Not friends (yet), she’s picky when it comes to proximity. Her trust in Rocket faithful waxes and wanes like the tide. But there's no mistakes she's gained respect for Elisabeth Fiorelli, Felix Gallagher, and jayden cross. War really did foster bonds.

The chains break, and Dialga disappears in the wake of a more controlled ROAR OF TIME. The echo resonated across Hoenn, and with its disappearance Lex considers their mission over. They are bruised, broken, tired, and the League is the same. Mysterious energy pulses from the town’s core. It must be the source of energy predicted by the Megalopolans. Damn, they didn’t lie to them. Lex wished they had so she could be right about their ill-intentions.

For now, Littleroot is no longer safe. The Dhelmise disappears and is quickly replaced by a Shadow Gardevoir. The creature’s bony fingers flex in anticipation, her lifeless eyes flashing between Lex’s companions. The bruised and broken beast leans her weight against her pokemon, offering her hand to the other present, “We gotta go,” she grunts, clenching her side as a sharp pain ripples through it. When those that need a lift grab on, the Gardevoir would TELEPORT them back to Sootopolis.

---

+ Lex returns Dhelmise and releases Shadow Gardevoir, offering her new pals a TELEPORT out if they need it