i'll chase the light of that distant star

Talia nodded vigorously as she listened to @symon, her brow furrowing as he described his time as a gymnast and its untimely end. "That must have been difficult to endure," she said, her hands clasped together as she bit her lip. "And yet you discovered a different gift, no? Of dance, instead." Spoken by anyone else, the idea that the discovery of this 'talent' might be a blessing would sound absurd. From Talia, however, it sounded perfectly earnest.

So saying, Talia lowered herself to the floor, meeting the gaze of her tiny Cleffa as the pink Pokemon continued her little imitation of Symon's dance. "Hm!" she said, an idea sparkling in her eyes. "I think Amaris here might have some good ideas we can work with."

Talia removed the outer robes of her clothing, the process surprisingly intricate as she revealed a shorter shift gown underneath. It was still modest by all means, but hardly moved with the same ponderous weight. She stretched once more, getting used to the sudden freedom of motion afforded to her.

Satisfied, Talia indicated for @symon to turn on the music again, finally asking him to stop at a different track than the last. This one moved a bit more slowly than the one that Symon had played before, but maintained the pop beats that encouraged faster movement than her last performance -- while also slowing enough to allow for more precise movements, imbuing story into each motion.

While Talia didn't imitate the gyrations (it wouldn't have the same effect, anyhow), she enjoyed the challenge of following her partner's quick steps, the more modern style allowing for her to allow her body to become more alive in its fluid movements. She laughed as she raised her hands with the Cleffa, resulting in a dance that was an endearingly simplistic blend of her own artistry and Symon's as combined by the much tinier, Fairy-type Pokemon.

"You have to try this, Symon!" Talia said, still laughing.

@symon ● coordinator choreography ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

The Stufful was ignored as the pair continued soaring through the Safari Zone, eyes peeled for the next Pokemon ahead.

3/3 safari balls ● skipping ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

The principled sort? Indignation coursed through Talia as the other woman seemed to smirk in reply, her "How admirable," spoken as drily as the whisper of the hot, evening wind all around them.

To suggest that the only thing standing between them and Rocket was the people they chose to protect was insulting. Would the League invade other territories, as Rocket had in Kanto, Johto, and now Sootopolis? Would Dahlia Goode be wielding torture as a method of keeping members of the military and Rangers in line?

The audacity of such a statement floored Talia, utterly and completely. Her expression openly reflected that.

"Then I fail to agree, for such conduct is hardly arbitrary in nature," Talia retorted, her tone firm in its steely displeasure. "I do not believe I need to resort to my enemy's tactics to defeat them. That is a loss of a different sort, is it not?"

Every word that Mòrag Glas spoke in reply came out with the clear confidence of one who was convinced of her words, as if correcting a small child's endearing, but fundamentally flawed, misunderstanding. It incensed Talia, to already feel so new and so inept, only to then have a stranger likewise question the foundation of her ideals and integrity.

Talia opened her mouth once more, prepared to argue further, only for Lyra and Draca's attentions to turn to the rooftop visitor. It was as if the air had left a balloon, the tension between them abating as Mòrag calmly took the reins and directed orders.

The cadet bit back her righteous fury and nodded. There would be plenty of time for pontificating later.

"As you say, then," Talia said, turning to her placid Dragonair and indiciating for her to take to the skies. Lyra looked like a ribbon of blue shimmering through the expanse of sunset, her large bright eyes scouring the premises for other mysterious visitors. Just in case, the elegant Pokemon had begun to perform a DRAGON DANCE in preparation for any unseen attacks.

Moments later, the Dragapult returned, dropping a hapless figure on the ground. Dressed all in black, he looked to be a little younger than them both -- his features smooth, his beady eyes darting from her to Mòrag anxiously from beneath Draca's iron grip.

Talia felt her eyes wander to the other woman as well, her own brow furrowed with concern. What is she planning to do with him, exactly?

Then Lyra crooned in warning, and an explosion rattled the ground -- not from the bank, but from the building two blocks across from it: a shopping center, filled with various boutiques and small tourist shops. Chaos erupted as shoppers, tourists and retail workers fled the premises, the guards in front of POG Bank distracted by the bright flames as several ran to assist or rubberneck.

For a moment, Talia moved as if to follow them -- a hand poised over her Starmie's Pokeball -- only for Mòrag's words to return to her: This is merely a diversion.

Endangering innocent civilians to risk an easier entry to a bank? It left a sick feeling in Talia's stomach, as did not immediately leaping to assist people in need.

"Was this your doing?" she asked the man on the ground, already sure of the answer.

Mòrag Glas ● Bank on It ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

Talia nodded vigorously in answer to Beau Fontaine's thoughts about surfing, the passion in his words kindling her own. "I understand, I think," she said, her voice gaining a quickening excitement as she continued, "Sometimes when I am flying, it is like there is nothing else in all the world except myself, Lyra, and the wind. I imagine surfing is like that for you in a way, no?"

And perhaps it was that skyward interest that drew her attention to the Noibat overheard, fluttering about the intrigued Dragonair as she sniffed him. The testy bat-like Pokemon bared SUPER FANGS at her, and Lyra let out a low growl in answer, a resounding DRAGON PULSE punishing the Noibat for his insolence.

"Have some manners," Talia said with a little tut-tut of disapproval, throwing a Pokeball to the Pokemon with a shake of her head.

Beau Fontaine ● catching noibat! ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

"You are self-taught?" Talia exclaimed, her eyes luminous with wonder. "Then it is all the more impressive that you have reached such a high level of skill."

Talia could not imagine learning dance alone in such a manner. It had taken years of practise alongside many other talented performers to attain her current proficiency, and she was not so arrogant to believe she'd be anywhere near it had she been dancing alone in her bedroom.

"Electrical and mechanical engineering?" she echoed, mulling the matter over thoughtfully. "That sounds practical, yes." Certainly moreso than music and dance had been.

At the cynical comment that left klaus anchoret's lips, however, her face fell. "Oh. I am sorry to hear that," she said, the words rich with sincerity. "It is always so difficult to find decent work, isn't it? I have only recently changed professions myself with the Rangers, and it does not pay what one would hope."

Something Talia tried not to concern herself with too much, truth be told. It was important work, and the dancer could always supplement it with musical work on the side, if need be.

The final question caused her to brighten, however. "I do have an email, yes," she replied eagerly. "I would very much love that. Do you have something I can write it upon, perhaps?"

klaus anchoret ● I RELICANTH THANK YOU ENOUGH ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

"Oh," was all that Talia could manage to say at first, nodding slowly as the other woman calmly listed off various, intricate possibilities.

I hope no one comes, Talia thought despite herself. Or if they do, that they are the greenhorns mentioned. I'm a greenhorn, too, aren't I? It was a cowardly hope, and she despised herself for holding it at all.

From how Mòrag Glas spoke, however, this was nothing but routine to her: "This isn't a regulated battleground, and anything can happen." That unknown possibility was precisely what left Talia on edge, unaware of what cruel methods Rocket or other criminals might engage in to accomplish their goals.

Which was why Mòrag Glas startled her so much with her final statement: "There's no method too underhanded if it means achieving victory." Talia gave her partner an incredulous look, as if checking that she had indeed heard her correctly.

"Surely we have some boundaries?" the turquoise-haired woman insisted, as if to reassure herself that she had misheard. "Why, we aren't criminals ourselves. Is that not what makes us distinct from them? That we hold value where they do not?"

A shadow fled over the rooftops as the two women spoken, the glimpse of it almost unseen save for the way the two Dragon-type Pokemon turned in response to its movement.

Mòrag Glas ● Bank on It ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

Although Talia had already passed through the Safari Zone once before, she returned almost as quickly, urging her Dragonair back through the air with a renewed vigour.

"We'll move fast this time, Lyra," she whispered fiercely. "We have half of them already! Three more to go."

And onward they went.

3/3 safari balls ● safari zone ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

Despite all Talia's careful practice, donning aquatic gear for this mission felt, well, clumsy. The turquoise-haired young woman had been part of the training seminar with the other Rangers when the task was explained to her: that a school of Luvdisc had been trapped undersea, unable to escape.

Although the water routes in question were some of Talia's favorite places to fly on her Dragonair, diving and swimming through them was... Well that was a new matter, entirely.

Talia's hands fumbled awkwardly with the diving equipment, her breath hitching as she contemplated the risks of doing so incorrectly. Suffocation? High pressure? Drowning? Oh, blessed Lugia, what had she signed up for? Her Starmie, Nova, blinked soft colours in silent consolation.

"You don't think I'll botch this, do you?" she whispered to the Water-type Pokemon, breathless with anxiety. "It's so important to help with things like this, but... for the love of Arceus, I don't know, I don't feel like I'm doing this right."

A tiny beep alerted her to her phone, where her partner for the day had sent the worst possible text imaginable for Talia's predicament: "Can't make the mission. Sorry. Emergency."

Something akin to a muffled whimper left her lips, Talia's forehead meeting the palm of her hand. "What do I do, Nova?" she sighed, hanging her head. Giving up was not part of who Talia was as a person, even as she felt utterly inept at the task of hand -- especially alone. Was it foolhardy to try anyway, without a partner keeping her safe and responsible? And yet if she canceled the mission, too, what would happen to those poor Luvdisc?

Wrapped up in her own dilemma as she was, she did not notice the other figure that had watched her predicament unfold in silence. That is, until he spoke aloud.

Martín del Mar ● Luvdisc Dive (AC) ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

Talia's hands itched for something, anything, to do while she stood outside the Dewford Town Branch of Piazza Oro Grande (POG) Bank.

Though Talia thought her work as a Ranger had been fine, she knew she was not exactly an ideal bodyguard for protecting the town's financial assets. The existing POG Bank security seemed to have most things in order: its members all imposing, tall, and armed, as Martín del Mar had paid them to be at all times.

So it felt a little strange, in some ways, that Talia and her companion had been sent in by the League to deal with 'rumors' that floated above this small bank branch, threatening it with the possibility of an extensive burglary. Clearly the League hadn't taken the matter all that seriously, advising only that they bring a Dragon-type Pokemon with them to help deter any would-be criminals.

As promised, Talia's Dragonair, Lyra, slithered about her mid-air, her large eyes blinking curiously at the comings and goings of the island town. Her partner, Mòrag Glas, had done the same, with her Dragapult standing at the ready.

Anyone walking by might just think they were two patrons of the bank, loitering outside as dusk descended and closing hours approached. The thought was a funny one, almost, as it passed through Talia's mind.

"Have you done this sort of thing before?" she asked the other League member curiously, fidgeting with a sleeve despite herself.

The second part of her question went unspoken: Because I have not.

Mòrag Glas ● Bank on It ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

One by one, dozens of the narrow poles arose from the water at Beau Fontaine's command, setting forth countless paths to the finish line. "Ah," Talia said softly, listening intently as the instructions were spoken aloud. "Understood," she said in a serious tenor, her earrings jangling once more as she nodded again.

Lyra slithered between them all curiously in mid-air, her large eyes gazing thoughtfully at her mistress as Talia pushed back her sleeves and tied her long robes at the waist with a sash. Dexterity would prove no issue; balance was something she had trained for her entire life in the Ecruteak Dance Theater.

"Okay," she said, exhaling. "Let's see what we can do to improve our odds, hm, Lyra?"

The Dragonair then began to coil about the various platforms, crooning an exquisite melody as she began to perform a DRAGON DANCE. As the serpentine Pokemon became more agile and forceful, so too did Talia appear to gain a sense of grace alongside her Pokemon as she began a dance of her own -- pirouetting from delicate structure to structure, never hesitating long enough for it to capsize. That would not be her issue, no.

The question would be if she had chosen the right path, among the myriad that Beau Fontaine had laid out for her.

When Talia had come to Dewford Gym, she had thought it would be her time among the Rangers that would prove most useful. Who knew that a life of music and performance would prove to be its own strength, in its own way?

Beau Fontaine ● dewford gym badge ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

Beau's words calmed and soothed Talia alike, her shoulders relaxing as she nodded in understanding. "It's not about strength and power in the traditional sense, then," she agreed, warming to the notion. "It's grit, then. Fortitude and determination."

All things that the young woman possessed in spades.

"I believe I understand, now. Thank you." A gentle smile graced her lips as she beckoned to the Dragonair. "Come, Lyra. Let's begin."

With slow, thoughtful steps, the turquoise-haired woman ascended to the small platform that Beau Fontaine indicated, lifting the hem of her robes to allow for ease of movement. Sparkling blue water surrounded the artificial island on all sides, and the dancer stared down at her reflection with idle curiosity, wondering what hurdle might emerge from the watery depths.

"What now?" she asked, her nerves now replaced with breathless excitement.

Beau Fontaine ● dewford gym badge ●