Lucia's eyes watched as Noel would pull out a tera orb and power up his pokemon with the terastallization phenomenon that her home region was known for. She huffed, that timid face breaking for a moment as a shift whine came from her.

"Y-You're lucky I can't afford one!...Cheater!"

She stomped her foot down and continued to throw a silent tantrum while her Dunsparce looked over at the Shaymin but didn't approach. It allowed it to make the first move as it rattled the drill tail slugging behind it. He didn't have to wait too long, as his opponent let loose several orbs sent in its direction. Hero was quick to realiate, lunging towards the pokemon with a DRILL RUN.

kKiRygVu

- Hero (Dunsparce) | ♥♥♥

Noel Parker

☉

The Tinkatink had been slashed by the Bee Drill's attack, spinning around as it was sent flying off back onto the starting position. Lucia was still reflexively ready to call her back until remembering the rules. She was going to have to brave it out.

Shalin then went to use the mega accessory on her head to power up the Beedrill. It's size multiplied as sthe child gave a pout. Hero didn't even have Mega Form! How was this allowed?!

"Y-You're lucky I can't afford one!" she whined.

Not one to be discouraged, Tinkatink ran forward against to the Beedrill as it neared her against. Raising her mace to the sky, she readied herself for another BRUTAL SWING.

h5YhTbW1

- Pinky (Tinkatink) | ♥

Shalin Nariya

☉

Lucia stood by herself, watching the other people mingle about themselves. Upset at the recent loss streak she had been experiencing, the child would have her spirits dampened by the tournament. She had honestly thought about quitting and spending time training more. It would be a better use of her time than padding somebody's wins.

She was moving to get up and leave before a shadow fell over her. A man stood before her as she looked up.

"Oh, sorry, I was-" she was about to finish before shaking her head and giving him her full attention. "N-Nothing. It was- Sorry. I'm okay."

Understatement of the century.

She found it weird that he wasn't talking. Like talking talking that somebody would do with their mouth. Voices just seemed to come out of him regardless. Maybe it was just her mind though. She had been drinking a lot of soda and smoothies from the concession stands.

"I keep battling people, but they always beat me. I won a battle about..."

She did the math in her head.

"7 fights ago. I thought this would be good practice for the gym challenge, but it's like I'm just everybody's stepping stone..."

- Hero (Dunsparce) | ♥♥♥

Noel Parker

☉

The sound of another person wandering up to her had been enough for the young trainer to jump in place out of surprise. She had been doing the usual wall flower routine and was shocked that somebody would come approach her for something. In her arms was her Dunsparce, who looked up at the Incineroar in front of him and promptly slithered straight behind his trainer.

"Um..." Lucia's eyes went to the growing trail of blood behind Biscotti. COnfliction tore her head asunder. Was this some sort of effect or trail when people moved? Or was this person actually bleeding? She stayed quiet for a minute and looked ready to explode from her internal thoughts before she spoke up again.

"You're...bleeding."

A shaky hand pointed the fact out for Biscotti, ignorant of his condition. For all she knew, he wasn't aware of the wound he had.

"I, um, sure." Lucia nodded at his request. She hadn't seen this Pokemon before, but would try and figure it out. Red and black meant it could reasonably be a handful of types. Maybe fire? Or a ghost type?

"I'm sorry I'm not a good opponent. This is my fourth battle..."

- Hero (Dunsparce) | ♥♥♥

Biscotti Kingsley

☉

Lucia had been taking her first few steps into the Safari Park while keeping an eye out for that elusive Charmander. All around here was wide open fields combined with tall brushes of grass and other such areas resembling habitats. There was something to be said about taking pokemon from the wild to stick them here of all places, but who was she to talk about that stuff?

Her first few steps brought her to a cute little pond area. She had been expecting more pokemon coming around but so far, nothing.

"I don't think a Charmander would be around here, but I guess it's worth looking..."

Footsteps brought herself closer to the edge of the water and standing on top of a rock barely touching the water. She took a moment to really take in the sights. Even if it was a little faux, Lucia watched the few signs of life around the water. A brush began to shake nearby which caught her attention. She swung around and nearly lost her balance on the rock just in time to catch a familiar shape peeking out of the brush.

"A Tatsugiri!"

A smile graced the child's face while she watched the small thing slithering all the way around to the water. A hand hover over her belt while searching for the best member of her party to fight with the wild pokemon.

"Um, let's see...Dragon and Water. So what would be best about it?...I should know this."

While the Tatsugiri took a moment to enjoy the water, the young trainer paused to rack her brain about what typing would be best in this fight. It had been stumped her for a while until she groaned and just threw out her Dunsparce.

"Go for it, Hero!"

The grass snake cautiously made his way to the dragon type before pouncing with a DRILL RUSH. The attack had caught the pokemon unaware and knocked it on its side.

This attack was followed up by Lucia throwing out her safari ball at the fallen Tatsugiri.

☉

"O-Okay, I can do this. It's just a Safari visit...with really dangerous pokemon."

Lucia stood trembled outside of the entrance into the Safari Zone. She had come with the current roster of pokemon inside with her eyes set on the prize that could surely give her team a power boost. That Charmander was somewhere inside, calling her name! She just had to find it and hopefully not get hurt too bad in the process. Those teens outside had said that this area was pretty rough.

One last check around herself showed herself that she was as ready as she could be. Her pokemon were all ready to go and her safari balls were picked and ready to throw at some of the pokemon inside in the safari zone.

"Right. H-Here we go..."

@

☉

It was another battle in the VCT, and Lucia was still pumped and ready to go from her last win! Sure she was technically 1-4, but that just meant she had more things to look forward to when she did win again!

The child walked across into the battlefield with a Dunsparce on her head, slithering down her form quietly and landed onto the court while a light thud and rattling at the man standing across from her. Hero had just barely scrapped by last run, and he was aiming to do better than last round.

Lucia looked over at Noel. That silent expression of somebody too nervous to focus on introductions in full. Eyes full of a fear of performing in front of others. She offered a frazzled but somewhat put together wave of her hand while keeping the name to herself.

"H-Hi." Lucia said after a while. The locks of her over her nose shuffled around after being pushed with her right hand to uncover her face"Yeah, um. Let's...have a good match. Mhm."

Smooth as always. She shuffled in place, her backpack containing her belongings on her back before looking down at the opponent's pokemon. What even was that? She hadn't seen that kind of pokemon before. Was it some kind of weird dog?

- Hero (Dunsparce) | ♥♥♥

Noel Parker

☉

Pinky looked infuriated that her attack had missed. The fairy type growled in response only to receive a Drill Run for her efforts. The Tinkatink was pushed back from getting drilled for a second but still in good health! She smashed her mace against the ground and let out a soft cry.

The Tinkatink was ready for the next round! It would shake its weapon at the Beedrill again and take off in another desperate swing to clobber it senseless. This time, it aimed to punch at the Beedrill with one of its fist, using ROCK SMASH.

G1bFWR1s

- Pinky (Tinkatink) | ♥♥

Shalin Nariya

☉

Hero rattled at Kama as the match was called in Lucia's favor. She looked surprised at the results screen as it finally dawned on her.

"Oh, I...won?"

Hero slithered back to her while Lucia hurried over to him. She hoisted the Dunsparce up in celebration while Hero would nuzzled against her cheek. After a few celebratory spins and throws, Lucia would be as happy as a Magikarp in water! It was quite the polar opposite of the timid girl that she had been a few minutes ago.

"We won! You did amazing, Hero!"

His tiny wings sputtered around in victory while Lucia was able to turn back around to Doug and Kama before going over. The Dunsparce was feeling better and slithered around her, resting on top of the child's head. Lucia smiled at the elder Scyther and knelt down. Despite the age, it was quite the formidable opponent. She wondered how good she would have been in her prime, though didn't poke too much to seem like a sore winner.

"You too, Kama." she smiled. "I'd love to battle you guys again some time. But for real!"

Her eyes went back to Doug before extending her hand. What he had shown to her would be repaid back in full. Lucia had to balance Hero on her body with staying upright but was managing pretty well. That excitement and energy was infectious as she hoped to leave a good impression on him.

"We, uh...We can be friends...if you want. I'm training for the gym challenge and could use the help."

John Sullivan

☉

And the battle was called. Hero flopped back down to the floor in a defeated heap. Lucia sat stunned. She was so certain that they would be able to win that. Cian celebrated his win as she recalled the Dunsparce back to his pokeball and just stood there in a mess.

"..."

Frustration wept from every pore in her body. The trainer said nothing and grit her teeth in an effort not so show weakness, though it was failing. Bitter tears streamed down her eyes as Lucia balled her fists.

"Wh-Why can't I win? I really tried this time too..."

Before Cian could respond, Lucia took off running from the battle court. She was already on the verge of another crying fit, no need for somebody important to see her like this. Her feet carried her through the entrance tunnel, past the checkpoint and into the lobby area. It wasn't exactly private, but she could at least sulk in peace here...

CIAN MAHER

☉