total > $255

amber settles onto the motion of the present pokemon, watching it scribble distinct lines into the loose earth. fifteen, he thinks, listening to stone speak before a question is poised. the hum resounds through his lips, mulling over the general idea before it has already been spoken. alex nods his head. 

"i was thinking that," pausing to examine the tall structure,  there isn't exactly a given to the nature of who is inside. "it might be better to get a closer look." risky, but, well worth the audacity if those within were truly in need of help. 

the large beast is withdrawn from the safety of her capsule, gathering her surroundings quickly enough not to misjudge. two flickering ears and bright blue eyes cast momentarily to the other pair. "i'll let you lead the way." alex trusted stone just a little bit more in this situation. following in the eventual movement.

ALEXANDER STONE

within the field of battle, paints a completely different world. the jagged rises of earth, dusted by the unstable ice is meant as one of many large obstacles. alex gestures to their left. 

furthest from the opposing end is a platform, well guarded and scarce of the element. "just head over there," he says, moving towards the other rise, "i'll let you have the first move!" surprisingly the voice resonates well in the space. 

two capsules release two very large pokemon. the beauty of once forgotten creatures, portrayed in opposite shades stand side by side. this is very clearly their home and very clearly this is their work. 

this is the place they thrive in.

ALEXANDER STONE

alex looks up at fernando, both elated and inspired for what the future would bring. maybe it is just the pleased older brother that makes him feel content. in the once distant gesture, although difficult to confirm in the notion, it still settles at his gut. 

"of course, i'll be more than ready." grinning at the remark, the dwindling thought hits him suddenly, "can you stick around for awhile longer? your metang probably needs some treatment. i can escort you to the pokemon center if you'd like?" keeping the other from undeniable duties was not his intention. both very different lives never stopped alex from reaching out, if only for a moment.

FERNANDO SILPH

"persephone..." the calling passes through his lips slowly, registering the unfamiliarity with a twinkle of fascination, "what a pretty name! it's a pleasure to meet you too!" alex smiles at the equALLY GIVEN FORMALITY, GLANCING TOWARDS THE glacial dominion in regards to her comment. 

"how nice of you." subtle as a whole is mistaken as a poise for a concealed truth. there is nothing obviously vile of the challenger. her demeanor holds a particular modest impression. one that he can immediately emphasize with. 

it was the sentiment of a silent potential. 

"well then persephone, here is how the battle will go," before separating to opposite ends of the field, he continued the explanation, "one of your pokemon, against three of my own." alex doesn't bother stating fairness in the type, but, that is the point of this placing's difficulty. 

"battle types are usually determined by the dice as you saw earlier." he keeps it brief, gesturing to the visible platform to his right, "you can head over there, lets get this started, yeah?" excitement is apparent in the bright smile. 

moving to the opposing rise, thankfully empty of the slippery material, he'd bring out one pokemon. the brilliance of the bright light takes formation of a lycanroc. shifted by the beauty of daylight. blue shades glare into the opponent with a scary face.

"alright iz," it had now begun, "accelerock!"

persephone amavi

The lie would've been in the fact that everything was alright. truthfully in all time spent isolated by the rest of the world, alex was uneasy by the true nature of what surrounded them.

slateport is festered by rocket like pesky insects. there is no recuperation in their violent presence.

this is what they have sought since the beginning. control over the weak and a change for the "better". the voice of stone shifts him from that regard. he smiles ever-so softly.

"unfortunately not but...i'm pretty sure i've recognized these parts enough to at least get them out safely." being a quick learner certainly had its perks in their daunting situation. three companions kept contained in their red capsules were not currently present.

it was best not to gather any attention after all. later they would come in handy. for now alex keeps pace with the other gym leader and a distant friend. watchful for potential danger.

ALEXANDER STONE

abashed by the remark he blinks onward; owlishly eyeing stone as though he couldn't quite believe it. the smile may still be there but it is laced by the slightest of complexity.

for a moment he cannot comprehend how on earth stormy could get along with someone like this. then again; the opposite does seem rather established in the words of the wise. the answer is already there.

"really?" excited for his sister, the subject is just as quickly diverted, "so that's what you came here for." alex says with an obvious jest. "i hope you have enough pokemon with you." he begins to approach the single door in the back.

it is the one and only entrance into the true placing of the gym. "we'll be doing a double battle!" forcing the structure forth with a sturdiness of ice lathered on the other end, the cool rush shifts momentarily into the lounge.

few strands are misplaced and he turns back to push elsewhere. the eagerness in his eyes showing clearly.

"this way." he gestures for the other to follow.

ALEXANDER STONE

as the metallic figure stumbles and wavers. eventually just before the fall it is swallowed into the capsule; disappearing in a brilliance of white light. raichu hovers just a bit closer to the ground.

the adrenaline of this intense clash has it in disbelief that it is finally over. at the same time it seems rather happy. latching onto the grinning alex with a prominent sound of glee.

approaching his brother with a bit of precaution to the slippery flooring, he manages to make the distance with the psychic support, "thank you for battling me." although just a sliver of the power they'd been faced against.

it gave alex a much larger idea of how well versed fernando was. "i thought this before but you have some pretty strong pokemon at your side! the next time you pass by...we should battle again." he pauses before adding, "for real." the glimmer of zeal does not overlook the also present kindness.

FERNANDO SILPH

the battle is not that short. both are unshakable in their exertion against each-other and that much is clear. metang bursting from the coverage is not that much of a surprise.

the stirring opposite feels the shift like the heartbeat drumming against its chest. iron tail follows up into the counter. two powerful advances poised against the brutality of their force.

it may need distance in order not to get crushed. beneath the weighty fist is nothing but an eventual loss. raichu uses the momentum of their clash to bound upwards as always. the floating tail keeping it marginally steady within the air. "thunderbolt!" alex shouts out, the electricity immediately coming forth.

it cascades downwards like a heavy waterfall in order to envelop the other once again.

FERNANDO SILPH

alex finds it astonishing and then he finds it vexing. not the same weighty burden that takes hold of his heart. the fact that his brother never once fought against his own aspiration has him wondering why he'd done so to stormy.

maybe the pair had never gotten along or maybe it is simply tough love. he pieces together all the logical reasons but lets it go. he doesn't have that right.

"don't let one person stop you." he says, the same brave eyes looking towards his sister, "you've always been stubborn and a bit reckless but maybe we need that." the relationship between the others seems clear as day.

three people unable to come to accord while he watches beneath their shadows. maybe with the influence of his own. someday he can make a change. someday they can be a family.

"you're strong storm and i'm sure lavaridge would be glad to have you." distant gym leaders before them may have led an impression. dewford may have found alex a comforting presence yet, the rest, may have found it ridiculous. just as his sister, he would prove those wrong.

the silph name didn't mean nothing. then again the name was not his excuse nor his stepping stone. they were just themselves.

Stormy Silph

how long that change would last? none would ever know. it was a question without an answer. time was the true influence and even then time could bring nothing. the weight of what was more in his scattered memories is concealed by his brother.

even then he cannot find it in himself to say anything. maybe, he just doesn't want to believe it.

that everything is a lie.

"of course," alex says, amused by the jest. there was always a complication to having the same name but the humor behind it was never short of making pace. dewford was always a quiet little town underlined by important history. it was the perfect place to hide and think before the elderly decided to pester you.

he liked the people. more than that it was them that encouraged him to move forward. there was something more than serving others in the forgotten rustic bar. his previous and adventurous lifestyle before the accident kept him trapped by the shame of running away. this was exactly what he needed.

this was what he was made for.

"storm?" his expression softens at her name. for a moment he sees evelynn but recalls his most recent encounter. the youngest of the silph family is the one that has him thinking. "a few days ago. she came to dewford and we talked for awhile." not pressing upon the subject, he continues,

"i didn't know you two were close." then again, many things had changed in the last four years.

ALEXANDER STONE