[attr="class","diana"]Diana felt an overload of information clouding her mind. There was one thing, then the next, and the next. She was overstimulated, her body beginning to itch and buzz.

She desperately wanted to claw at her legs.

"Aim for the legs!" she commanded WALKING WAKE, yelping as the admin TELEPORTED behind her. "Don't do that!"

Her Pokemon growled, BREAKING SWIPES slashing forward to the COALOSSAL'S right leg.

Howard vanished again, leaving Diana to blink and scurry after him in a hurry. If the desert wasn't already scalding, it felt like the terrain would melt flesh now, MAX FLARE incinerating anything around it. Except the WALKING WAKE.

"Quit doing that!" she demanded to Howard, panting as she caught up to him along the sand dunes.

The ground erupted, spikes of earth digging into its flesh. It screeched, growing angrier by the second. A bright flash indicated that it began to TERASTALLIZE, glimmering sunlight off of blue-colored crystals along its body.

[attr="class","dianatag"]howard slayte | dynamax demo

[attr="class","diana"]Guarding Petalburg came as a part of the territory as Diana resumed her role in Rocket. Since the events of the penitentiary, her legs had recovered thanks to the aid of healer Pokemon, numerous medical staff, and the support of Remiel Calcifet.

Oh, how betrayed he'd be to find her there, taking a position against his League and destroying the trust she'd worked so hard to build.

It was why she found herself purchasing a concealing outfit and a mask that distorted her voice. Just in case someone ran into her, whether it was the former prince, Elise Calcifet, or otherwise.

And, it gave her some motive that she could get away with her crime.

Diana's rotation on guard was relatively boring, as she hadn't seen many individuals coming to Petalburg due to the recent carnage. However, a boy appeared, dripping with sweat and stuttering away.

"Leave. I wouldn't come any further." The chopped vocals in her mask conveyed some level of warning.

[attr="class","dianatag"]Biscotti Kingsley | mask

[attr="class","diana"]Her attention turned briefly to the GLISCOR, ready to flee and alert other members of the League of the oncoming attack. With an extension of her arm, Diana silently commanded her WALKING WAKE to strike it.

The beast of old directed HYDRO PUMP into the air, a missile of pressurized water aiming to take the creature down before it could get away.

Then, a second Pokemon appeared. NIDOKING, large and foreboding, stood proudly beside his owner.

Finally, Diana allowed her attention to come back to Silverio, her laughter scathing by the distortion in her mask. "You will try." She snapped her fingers, and a bright light illuminated the area.

Suddenly, the WALKING WAKE began to TERASTALLIZE, crystals conforming to its body with a blueish sheen. It released a NOBLE ROAR, gaining a surge of power to attack the enemy. It leapt, attacking its opponent with scalding HYDRO STEAM.

"Show me what you've got, Ranger boy!" she jeered maniacally.

[attr="class","dianatag"]silverio delfino | mask

[attr="class","diana"]Why was Diana here?

It was atypical for the woman to step out of her shared home in Rustboro and seek trouble herself. Often enough, trouble would find her. However, with the rising tides of war threatening to drown anyone and everyone in Hoenn, she had a choice to make.

Sit aside idly, and allow herself to be taken care of. Or join the fight and prove to her superiors that she was worth their bargain.

She was sure that jayden cross had many doubts on her, since their last meeting before the destruction of Sootopolis. She recalled the frost creeping along the bench she sat on and the frigid air despite the summer's heat. Diana had angered him. She had to right her wrongs.

Though there was an inkling of guilt burrowed in her heart. Some sane part in her mind screamed at her, "why are you doing this? Think about Remiel Calcifet. He would kill you if he found you here!"

No. Diana would have to kill him first.

Luckily, it wasn't the former prince of Galar she'd run into along the route outside of Oldale. Instead, a ranger appeared down the well-tread path. He warned her about the safety in the area.

Diana didn't move. Rather, she spoke, her voice distorted around the mask that concealed her features. "No."

A luxury ball appeared in her hand, gleaming golden, red, and obsidian in the light. In it, her most prized possession. After all, royalty should be given luxury.

With a graceful flick of her wrist, WALKING WAKE emerged from its shell, roaring at Silverio.

[attr="class","dianatag"]silverio delfino | mask

[attr="class","diana"]"Noted."

She took a stance across from it, attempting to stay a decent amount of space from the giant creature. Diana didn't wish to get crushed by the Pokemon.

WALKING WAKE stood in front of its trainer, its tail waving behind it. It was on the hunt, and the DYNAMAXED COALOSSAL was its prey.

"HYDRO PUMP."

[attr="class","dianatag"]howard slayte

[attr="class","diana"]The glass was exposed, an audience around them applauding and jeering. Diana's fist clenched at her side, and she swung hard.

The glass shatters.

The people dissolve into black.

[attr="class","dianatag"]THEO BECKETT | break the glass and retaliate
+50 RKS points

[attr="class","diana"]There was a sudden chill in the air, despite the summer heat. She shivered, running her hands up and down her arms until she realized that frost was beginning to encroach upon the bench she sat upon. It began to cling to her skin, threatening to leave a freezing burn.

What the hell was going on?

Even Jayden's voice sounded off. It was like the man was possessed, though Diana didn't know from what. Sheer terror stabbed her chest like an icicle.

"I never said that," she protested. "You've misunderstood what I was saying."

She wondered if she would die right then and there. Diana's mind wandered to Remiel Calcifet. What would he do if Jayden froze her to death right then and there? Would he wonder why she was meeting him in the first place.

"He trusts me. I promise you, he trusts me."

[attr="class","dianatag"]jayden cross | recruitment: act ii

[attr="class","diana"]"A bit of sugar and a dash of cream for me as well. Thank you," Diana spoke to the ILLUMINA SINISTEA. It got to work, leaving just the two of them once more.

"This?" She held up the stiff canvas, held in place by the embroidery hoop. It was a small piece, not requiring her scroll frame. "It's the flowers I used to see outside home. You know, that field to the east?"

But they didn't seem right. Had she forgotten them already?

She pulled the fabric from the hoop, discarding it for another piece. Her fingers began to work again, placing thread through the canvas meticulously.

"What have you been doing recently? You've been out of the house often lately."

[attr="class","dianatag"]Remiel Calcifet | post prismatic penitentiary

[attr="class","diana"]So, it appeared that type matchup and size contributed to a DYNAMAXED Pokemon's downfall. She had to wonder...

Just how did Howard become such an expert in this type of transformation?

"So, I am supposed to bring it down to its knees before I attack. Or, should I even bother to attack while it's in its DYNAMAXED state?" Diana wondered, WALKING WAKE at the ready.

It regarded Howard with a cool stare, recognizing him from meetings past. If it could smirk, it would.

[attr="class","dianatag"]howard slayte| dynamax demo

[attr="class","diana"]It wasn't like THEO BECKETT had given her much of an option.

At least, this time, Diana wasn't stuck in her own nightmares with him observing her. She still remembered his jeers. She had been weak.

Still, this place was equally as terrifying.

"Shouldn't leave any evidence behind, then." With WALKING WAKE, a FLAMETHROWER lit the room on fire.

[attr="class","dianatag"]THEO BECKETT | +50 RKS points

[attr="class","diana"]"We've been honest with each other before. Can you not be honest with me now, Duncan?" Diana asked, raising her brow at him. There was a sudden tension that she grew between them, though perhaps it was only on her side rather than his.

What exactly was this Calcifet hiding?

There was a sudden chill down her spine, the thought of him working with Remiel Calcifet's mother invading her mind. She swallowed, yet she still held his gaze with her own.

"You smile, but you've always hidden things behind it."

[attr="class","dianatag"]Duncan Calcifet | intrepid sword

[attr="class","diana"]He didn't deny that he didn't dislike her. Diana huffed softly. "I'm not asking for your help, oh great one," she said sarcastically.

Though she was appreciative that he was willing to engage her in battle to learn more about a mechanic she'd only seen in a ring.

In front of them, his COALOSSAL grew until it eclipsed the sun. Diana put a hand on her brow to shield her eyes from the rays of the sun, gawking at its size. She knew they were enormous, but to be in the presence of a DYNAMAXED beast only a few feet from her...

It was other worldly.

"My first thought is choosing its opposite type. Even in its maxed form, it'll still be weak to water, isn't that right?" Diana reached to her side, a luxury ball appearing. A Pokemon all too familiar to Howard appeared from the ball: WALKING WAKE.

[attr="class","dianatag"]howard slayte | dynamax demo