The Baltoy was an unwelcome surprise. Thankfully, Sigilyph had sensed its psychic presence before it could get too close. Sigilyph held it with gravity, pressing it hard into the ground like the Gligar. "Easy work," Ameena complimented. Her Sigilyph was a good stand-in when she didn't have Magearna with her. Ameena readied a pokeball. "This could be a Claydol before long." It would be just like Montgomery's. A thread of similarity between them, though she wasn't sure he would appreciate it.

TAGS – [break]

NOTES – warden sz | catch[break][break]

Cillian's wave of shadow protects her, narrowly, against the Unown's assault. Her training keeps her from freezing, but a sick pit grows in her stomach. She'd nearly lost an eye to it. [break][break]

"Arceus. Is it always going to behave aggressively or will it calm with time?" She had the wrong idea about shadows from watching Cillian with his. The pokemon under his care seemed far more satiated, but she should have considered that his own shadow-y presence would be more comforting than anything she could offer her own. [break][break]

She took a step back, gathering her thoughts. Despite the outburst, the Unown seemed calmer again. She wouldn't be lulled into a false sense of security twice, though. "Well," she said flatly, "it is not dead." She would not have mourned its loss if it had, given the attack, but it was beneath her to cry over spilled milk. "Is it too early to call this a success?" [break][break]

Would it need further monitoring? Would she need to keep it on a short lead? There were lots of new factors introduced to her now, in owning a shadow pokemon. Despite the trouble, she did feel a blooming sense of pride. Another success for Cillian's books, and a fruitful collaboration for hers.

TAGS – Cillian Quinn [break]

NOTES – canon connections[break][break]

The tension reached a boiling point. [break][break]

Ameena felt the moment shift just before it did, the miniscule change in air, her hairs standing up, her sixth sense screaming danger. She dipped towards the ground and narrowly avoided the night slash. Sigilyph cried out in anger and surprise. Then, it launched gravity on the creature, grounding it. It didn't mind the ground, that much was clear, but Sigilyph exerted an inhumane pressure on it. Gligar was forced to the ground until it cracked beneath it. Then, Ameena launched a pokeball, the condensed pokemon in a poor position to fight it.

TAGS – [break]

NOTES – warden sz | catch[break][break]

[attr="class","itemcolicon"]

[attr="class","itemcolname"]pokemon event

[attr="class","lgdcol"]

[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]IRON TREADS 1-B

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]You ask your troops to hold. You're patient. Observant. Something stirs within the sands, coursing through the golden ocean in search for rhythm and weight.[break][break]

As the opposing combatants descend toward the center of the desert's valley, the sands there twist into a whirlpool. A gigantic ORTHWORM begins to suck the opposing army into its endless gut.[break][break]

However, something is wrong. A strong shadow casts above you and your army. Should you look up, you see what seems to be pages of a book and a book cover closing in on you.

This scene in particular is one she hasn't seen. "Paradox pokemon are quite a hit with our colleagues," she comments with amusement as they stand side by side. The iron treads are not a very desirable pokemon to her, but all of the paradoxes seem to offer good combat value. "I prefer the ultra beasts." Her Xurkitree was a great companion. [break][break]

She didn't study behaviorism, but the paradox pokemon in particular would be an interesting group to study. "What do you make of this path in the simulation?"

TAGS – Hawkins [break]

NOTES – Let the enemy come to you.[break][break]

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"I suppose. Diverting their attention by making a small assault could provoke an overreaction on their end, which could be beneficial, but we do lack the sheer number to waste time on such tactics." Splitting their attention on different locations in the region could hinder them. At the same time, splitting League response was vital -- they had too strong a force, but communication and logistic failures could inhibit them enough to give Rocket an advantage.[break][break]

She shrugged. "Maybe another time," she said with the same melancholy as wishing you had enough room for dessert. She perked up at the sight ahead of her: Sigilyph putting Cyclizar under with hypnosis. More importantly, behind Sigilyph was her dark blue Unown with a small emission of shadow energy surrounding it. "Right there," she said in a hushed whisper, pointing at it. Where its attention lied was unclear, but it seemed to be hovering up in the air with no clear direction.

TAGS – THEO BECKETT [break]

NOTES – dw / completely randomized types / catching cyclizar[break][break]

He didn't speak like his purpose was to intimidate. Rather, it was so matter-of-fact in nature that he was easy to believe. She had little doubt that he was loyal to Rocket and that his certainty in their strength, in the inevitability of their victory, was real. That, or he was the best actor she had ever encountered in all her years. [break][break]

She wondered if she would see him on the battlefield, a hand buried in the chest of a League combatant. The image disappeared as quickly as it'd come. [break][break]

There was no clear evidence on the site. She was pleased that the meeting hadn't been a waste of time regardless. Jayden Cross was a hell of a Rocket to meet, and she was thankful it was before the war was truly in motion. "No time to waste," she echoed his sentiment. It was best to work efficiently, since war was a finger's breadth away.

TAGS – jayden cross [break]

NOTES –[break][break]

[attr="class","pkmn"]