[attr="class","alex"]a single hand extended towards the whimsicott in a harmless attempt to pat her on the head. the raichu still on his shoulder shifting and floating into the air with a curious tilt of the head. he seemed to be admiring the fluffy fairy—type.

"she's a force to be reckoned with." 

it was really incredible how strong a pokemon could grow. it was in—fact even more so incredible when one was simply powerful from the beginning. alex could recall skimming over old legends of pokemon portrayed as heroes in a time when war was an often occurrence.  

alex found it curious that a drakloak was here of all places. pokemon certainly weren't confined to their home regions but it couldn't have been so outwardly often.

samuel carter passing!

[attr="class","alex"]his lips stretch in anxiety.

the singular bead of sweat poising this notion.

hopefully slateport doesn't end up in flames.

alex glances at his deino for a moment considering an alternative but quickly deciding against it. 

"impressive." it wasn't the first time he'd seen a mega evolution. however it was the first of a charizard he'd witnessed in person. "don't kill her okay?"

the joke is meant for his own feeble companion.

deino lunges forward with a hyper voice. 

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","alex"]the clarity of their minds is shrouded by a sudden uncontrollable rage.

ampharos still affected by slumber doesn't manage to fully act upon this unlikely the quick—thinking raichu.

soaring forth by an unseen psychic energy the tail glows a brilliant silver. raichu spirals downwards to deliver an attempted iron tail. the poison still in its place. 

"spur of the moment?"

he smiles.

"a good one then. you look made for it." 

John Sullivan

[attr="class","alex"]good thing the deino couldn't see.

if it had witnessed the intimidating size of its opponent. perhaps — it would've run the other direction.

"arceus." alex muttered into his drink — still smiling, "i guess i can count on you to give me a good battle." 

the crowd disperses itself upon the sight of a clash.

"you first." 

alex smiles excitedly. 
his companion completely oblivious.  

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","alex"]the ampharos sneezes. again and again. it's rounded claws fumble around attempting to give riddance to the dust. however it proves a fruitless endeavor.

it falls into a poisonous slumber.

the hovering variant of raichu on the other hand is merely grating his feeble teeth against the effect. PROTECT emerges in the last moments of consciousness.

"you're pretty young for a gym leader."

alex blinks owlishly at his team.

"has this always been your dream?" 

John Sullivan

[attr="class","alex"]he scoffs into the straw.

"yeah... i guess so!"

alex glances around their crowded surroundings. 

"it seems like good fun to be honest."

eventually his gaze settles upon his brother once again, "why? you want to be my first challenge?" the reticent flare of a good battle faintly resonates in his eyes. 

another sip is taken. 

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","alex"]"oh gosh. this is bound to be interesting." he tosses the pair a look of concern, "don't be too reckless okay?"

alex tosses doug a curious look. mostly one that seems to be resonating with amusement. "nice to meet you doug." personally he didn't care too much for badges though the battle was certainly bound to be fun. 

"you can have the first move."

John Sullivan

[attr="class","alex"]he nearly loses his balance against the collision.

"m—matias?" he pauses, "oh— thanks."

the fumbling dragon gnaws upon his lower leg. this time it isn't as painful in their first encounter.

"are you here to battle?"

alex smiles, "you must be wrecking those trainers." it was a genuine remark. the belief rather than the assumption.

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","alex"]the quaint remark provokes a small laugh. "i think they choose you." he adds — his eyes alit by charm. "it's tough trying to stick to a type you're familiar with when all the ones—completely opposite—come running first." alex pauses, "but that just means pokemon like you. that's a good thing." not everyone had that ability after—all.

alex enjoys their surroundings as they shift and change around them. eventually his mind wanders and his mouth opens. "hey..." he starts, "did you ever check out that riddle again? after we left?" he'd had a whole notebook with strange riddles and small tales. only some of which corresponded with each other. 

this was surely one of them.

"was it really even a grave?"

samuel carter passing!

[attr="class","alex"]"a gengar?" the momentary drawn out anxious notion is barely percieved by the still—bound smile. "perhaps it could befriend the one we met on pyre." he joked.

"really?" unspoken theories conjure themselves within the chambers of his mind. absol was a creature with a deeper purpose after—all. was there a reason she'd been ambling around that particular area? however — alex doesn't feel provoked into truly asking this.

nearby company stirs within the tall grass and thick foliage.

instead of acknowledging it, he continues, "though i think i should've directed that question towards your whimsicott." another light—hearted joke in regards to all that had befallen to her powerful blasts.

samuel carter passing!

[attr="class","alex"]it wasn't as if hearing about the possible destruction of history didn't a evoke some form of urgency within alex. however — despite these innocent intentions...

the truth lay within the open.

( he wanted to know more ).

his gloved hand brushed aside foliage settling against a statue that seemed to resemble a person holding something important. "a stone?" alex said aloud, trying to gently knead away the dirt that had practically stained the material of the structure. nearby the aurorus let out a gentle coo as she reached towards the dangling berries.

it would've been nice if he were able enough in discovery to come across another riddle. but for now — the peak of pyre was the only clue. "hungry, vale?" he joked — his nonchalant demeanour fading as the descent of feet resounded aside the nearby steps.

Martín del Mar | mission link.