i'll chase the light of that distant star

They had continued to venture deeper into the Safari Zone when the Luvdisc floated into view, curiously glancing at Lyra with pursed lips.

Once more Talia found herself readied in a battle position, directing her Dragonair to soar through the air straight for the heart-shaped Pokemon.

With a blur of DRAGON RUSH, Lyra made swift work of the Luvdisc, which found itself in a safari ball seconds later.

1/3 safari balls ● catching luvdisc! ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

The clarification rendered Talia briefly quiet, her emerald eyes bright as she considered this shift in thinking.

"I am," Talia said at last, her chin jutting forwards as she faced him. Her earrings jangled with the movement. "Seeking to make a difference, that is."

It was true that the military was where 'the fight was.' That one day, Talia herself was liable to stand there against forces that would seek to tear peace asunder anew.

"I saw what happened in Johto. It took the life of the person closest to me. I don't want that loss to be in vain."

Even so, there was a nagging hesitation, an uncertainty -- that 'with me.' It felt binding. It felt final. Was that by design, or simply due to how imposing someone like MATIAS SILPH appeared when speaking such words aloud?

"What is it that you are offering, exactly?"

MATIAS SILPH ● social ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

Talia had never been in a Furretdales, and frankly, probably never would. Not because she had any strong morale fiber against it, but more that the existence of such institutions usually went unnoticed by her -- and, for that matter, the impulse to look for one had never been first of mind.

So when @symon began dancing, it would not be incorrect to say it was the first time that Talia had witnessed such raw eroticism expressed in a single dance form.

For all the red embarrassment on his face, Talia's cheeks flushed brighter still, but the dancer in her focused on something other than the suggestive choreography: the physicality, the tight technique, the way each perfect thrust hit to the beat of the song that he had chosen.

This was an art form, too, and Talia could recognize that immediately. The sweat he had worked up during his routine was proof of the work that went into it.

"You're incredible," Talia said sincerely, her Cleffa clapping enthusiastically as he concluded. Was it possible the pink little Pokemon was besotted with Symon? The thought came and went as Talia threw her Fairy-type a sneaky grin before turning back to him.

"Different, yes, but still! We can work this out, I am sure. How long have you danced like this?" she asked.

@symon ● coordinator choreography ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

Talia gritted her teeth and nodded to the Stufful, her Dragonair answering the call with a THUNDER WAVE. The tiny bear struggled to move, only for the dragon to smack her with AQUA TAIL, leaving it easy prey for Talia's safari ball.

Onto the next one!

2/3 Safari Balls Left ● Catching Stufful ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

Laughing in embarrassment, Talia grinned. "Never! You are just harder to recognize when not drenched in ocean spray!"

At this question, however, Talia's easygoing expression faded as she straightened her shoulders, hoping to instill a serious posture in her presentation. "I am here for the gym challenge, in fact," she said, meeting his gaze. "I'd like to try the non-traditional method, if I could, with Lyra here."

The Dragonair wound about her as Talia spoke aloud, her glittering eyes blinking at Beau Fontaine curiously as the little wings on either side of her face fluttered with a beat of curiosity.

"What do you think?" Talia asked, wringing a sleeve anxiously. "Would you have room?"

Beau Fontaine ● dewford gym badge ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

Talia adored theatre. It was impossible not to, in some ways, given her upbringing in Ecruteak. The dancer loved the feel of the spotlight on her as she performed her routines, and it made guiding her Starmie's ILLUMINATE a simple enough task for tonight indeed.

After all, a subtle shift in movement could highlight the right actor at just the right moment, and Talia kept her eyes peeled for every such opportunity to guide the actors to a satisfying curtain call.

When the performance at last concluded, none clapped louder than Talia herself -- though her proud smile was lit for her Starmie, not the performers, who took an awkward bow at its mistress's praise.

@pokejob ● littleroot lighting ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

Talia enjoyed the Safari Zone. She liked the enjoyment of flying on Lyra's back, slithering through the air between the lush and bountiful trees of the expanse.

"Do you think we'll make any friends today?" she asked conversationally, and the Dragonair sang sweetly in answer.

Talia smiled, patting her on the neck. That was a yes, then. "I hope so, too."

Safari Zone ● 0/3 Safari Balls Used ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

The Grit Badge.

Talia took in a deep breath and exhaled, entering the Dewford Town gym with her beloved Dragonair by her side. Her sandaled feet made a clack sound on the floorboard, betraying the slightest sense of trepidation in her footsteps. A mantra repeated over and over in her mind: We become strong by pitting ourselves against the strong.

And Talia wanted to be strong, more than anything. Strong enough to protect those that needed it most.

"Hello?" she said, calling out tentatively to the man who seemed to be the gym leader. "My name is Talia Celes. I am here for... Oh! Beau Fontaine! We've met before, haven't we?"

She smiled at this unexpected good fortune, her nerves considerably abating.

Beau Fontaine ● grit badge ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

Talia enjoyed listening to Locke Jamison pleasantly chatter about their delivery work. There were perhaps few greater joys in all the world for her than in basking in another's happiness. "Rain, sleet, or wormhole!" she exclaimed with delight. "Well done, Fee-Fee."

The shift in topic, however, struck like a single out-of-tune note in an otherwise sweet symphony, discordant and awkward as the flow of conversation abruptly dried up.

A jolt of anxious guilt coursed through Talia at the notion that she had invited this misstep, and all of her energy went instantly towards righting it. If a dancer was deft enough, they knew how to flawlessly respond to a change in melody, no matter how unexpected. Talia secretly hoped she was following the correct rhythm of this one.

"I miss the food in Johto, too," she said, her hands winding themselves around Lyra's slender neck like an embrace. "It's not the same here, even when I go to the restaurants that supposedly sell Ecruteak City cuisine. The yatsuhashi isn't as good here, though you can sometimes find some in the Slateport nightmarket. My mom and I used to make rice balls together, though, and the pickled plum ones were always my favorite."

The Corsola beneath them continued in their steady crawl towards the end of the blue horizon, pink and glittering in the sea spray. Talia's gaze turned from them to Locke Jamison and she asked earnestly, "What food was your favorite?"

Locke Jamison ● corsola conservation ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

For better or worse, Talia had always concerned herself with the well-being of others first and foremost. When she sensed klaus anchoret felt awkward, the instinct to soothe took over, and the dancer flashed him a bright, winsome smile.

"It is all right," she said, patting him on the hand reassuringly. "It is nice to talk about home, sometimes. And you didn't offend me, not at all."

Her Cleffa likewise put her tiny hand on top of Talia's, chirping in assent.

"Do you like Lilycove?" Talia asked instead, gently changing course to calmer waters. "I have only been a few times, but I found it beautiful. And I've never been to Kalos! It must be quite grand."

A finger lightly tapped the tablet in Klaus's hands as Talia continued, "Did you study art there? You're really something."

klaus anchoret ● I RELICANTH THANK YOU ENOUGH ●

i'll chase the light of that distant star

"Ranger work," Talia replied, falling into her own regular stretching routine. Amaris hopped off her shoulder to stretch in kind, the Cleffa's tiny arms doing their best to mimic the much more muscular @symon.

"It is mostly a lot search and rescue missions lately, if I am being honest." Having a flying Pokemon was a helpful companion in more ways than one. "There's so much to be done in Hoenn, though, in so many ways. We stay busy, that is for certain."

Talia turned back to Symon, her limbs loosened up, and said, "If you want, I can show you a brief demonstration of the Ecruteak dance style? It might help you visualize ways we can collaborate."

Before music could even be played, Talia closed her eyes, her body beginning to sway as if in tune with an unheard melody. Hers was a precise, flowing study of dance: subtle movements rife with intention, mimicking the way nature and the elements flowed all around her. A hand fluttering like a falling leaf, her hips following the beckon of the wind, feet moving with the fluid grace of water, a smoldering in her sultry gaze that sparked like fire.

With each step, the exotic robes Talia wore swirled around her, their gilded stitching catching the ambient sparkle of the ballroom lighting. Even the slightest motion caused a breathtaking rippling effect, telling a story with every aspect of her body.

When Talia's dancing ceased, she smiled at Symon, and the magic of the rhythm faded from her. "It's not very stylish in Hoenn, I have found," she said. "But that is how I was first taught -- that dance is a way of telling stories. What about you?"

@symon ● coordinator choreography ●