okay, well, that had been a failure. they'd try it one more time before going back to something easier.

they rode up the wave for another attempt at the over-the-gyarados.

m9tu48F|

total points previous round: 2850
^{( 100 + 100 + 1750 )}

drats. another pokeball...

she kept looking.

gjVippgC

+ z-crystal

a big pearl. great. she didn't need any more money. the pearl was awfully pretty, but she had plenty of those too. what else was there?

tWajf5Xg

+ pokeball

she was feeling a lot more confident now. she didn't need so much encouragement from friends, deciding to go out and try the next most difficult trick on her own.

with the mantine's help, she was soon in the air. hopefully she would make it back in the right spot.

ZIBo4qSx

attempting over-the-gyarados

total points previous round: 2850
^{( 100 + 1000 + 1750 )}

okay. that one had gone well enough. she was gaining a bit of her confidence back. maybe they'd try the next hardest one.

"starmie 720!"

Y43MU9sH

total points previous round: 1100

a move tutor was just as exciting as the last find, which was not very. she picked it up anyways and moved on, reaching for the next thing that stuck out to her in the sand.

xRCQ|55H

+ big pearl

this was… a little insulting. concerning. this single moment could have begun quite a bit of bad blood if iseult hadn’t immediately decided to keep it to herself. she could only hope that this was a lapse, or the booze, and that councilman black did in fact keep up with world politics—or at the very least, the world’s political figures who visited within the walls of his own headquarters.

”yes, sir. i'm here in hoenn with my father. my mother remains in kalos.”

GABRIEL BLACK

iseult nodded with a smile at his gratitude.

”of course.”

she was careful not to give anything away in her expression when he offered her condolences about assisting councilman GABRIEL BLACK . the man had anger, certainly. she’d seen it, exploded, spilled out all over his floor, and chased with booze. but, all things considered—and among those things being loss of limb and a looming apocalypse—she did her best to withhold judgment. for now, at least.

this was his grace period.

”it is an honor to serve hoenn through my assistance to councilman black. he has my utmost respect, and i have no complaints to speak of.”

she didn’t acknowledge the prickly comment about FERNANDO SILPH , however amusing.

”as for my number,” her cheeks swelled brightly with good humor, ”i’m afraid it’s top secret—but if i ever do hear something, i’ll be sure to reach out. i’m rather good at finding people.”

it made sense that the captain would visit the league more often on gym leader duties. in regards to him being unqualified to sit and speak here or there in the army, she only furthered her support.

”ah. well, i’m sure it’s only a matter of time.”

he was right about her studies, of course. she, and every other true babineaux who had existed for the last several centuries. she had, quite literally, been born for this.

”indeed, i am. one more year, and then it’s on to bigger things, i hope.”

the sprinkle of doubt was not for herself. it was for the world, as it sat in the weighing hand of fate.

”perhaps i will stay in hoenn a while.”

for now, it was her only option.

John Sullivan

the shiny level tutor disc was put away into her bag, wondering which of her team she might use it on.

while she considered, she went on in search of something more interesting.

1i5YNYj_

+ move tutor

well, that one hadn't gone so well. she would have been fine with heading back to shore, but that was not the plan her companions had in mind. another try, then, but she definitely wasn't going for the same trick. not yet.

"primarina twist!"

hq7RH5SK

total points previous round: 100

hmm. a level tutor. not very fun, but she'd take it.

she swam further, eyes peeled. soon, she spotted something hiding under the shade of a rock, and went to investigate.

cfhOkCbs

+ incense

well, the last one had had been a beautiful success. too bad she hadn’t tried something harder. oh well.

encouraged by her friend for her natural talent, she compromised to try something more intermediate.

”starmie 720.”

the were off.

so much spinning. she felt sick.

az0YS75c

iseult wasn’t nearly as confident as cian, but she was ready to try her arm anyways. why not? it was hot, and this was fundraiser. 

she approached with a smile.

"good luck!" they'd need it.

she tossed the ball.

fhncwgFa

attempting to dunk Josh Devlin