[color=chocolate][center][h1]Amber Pine[/h1]
[h3]Outside Mesalon Pokecentre[/h3][/center][/color]
[@Heckno12] [@AbysmalDemon] [@Dusksong] [@Noxx]

The heavy feeling that had settled over Amber earlier grew at Aedre's words. Still, the researcher nodded.

[color=chocolate]"She'll have to know,"[/color] Amber replied. [color=chocolate]"My sister wants nothing more than to be a trainer."[/color] She paused. What she'd said barely went into the issue, but she wouldn't go into it. 

She wouldn't go into the bullying she'd tried her best to protect Coral from. She wouldn't go into the way her sister had started acting up, skipping school, falling in with the wrong crowds, hiding behind folded arms and a sharp tongue. She wouldn't go into how the only thing that had drawn the younger girl out of that phase had been receiving an Omanyte, a Pokemon too shy to go with the trainer she'd been meant for, but who had connected with Coral. Both girl and Pokemon had emerged from their respective figurative and literal shells, their bond strengthening over the years, and Coral's plan to travel as a trainer with her Omanyte gave her a sense of purpose she'd never had before.

[color=chocolate]"This most likely won't put her off,"[/color] Amber continued. [color=chocolate]"but, well... it goes without saying she'll worry. So will my parents, about both of us. They're plenty supportive, but they were pretty understandably anxious while I was preparing to leave... the original plan was to come here with a friend, you see."[/color] She fell silent again for a moment. [color=chocolate]"But I'm not alone. I'll tell my sister that. I'll tell her there's a group of us, willing to help each other out whenever we need it."[/color] 

Hopefully, now that Coral's self-confidence had improved, she'd do the same, find a group of friends to travel with. A group of friends who would support and defend each other.

Amber returned Aedre's smile. [color=chocolate]"Thanks for the advice."[/color]

[hider=Notes]
[b]Pokemon Party:[/b] Kabuto "Chalcedony" lv10, Yanma "Aeshna" lv9, Rockruff "Kyra" lv12, Rowlet "Tacita" lv10, Anorith "Larimar" lv11
[b]Pokemon in PC:[/b]
[b]Inventory:[/b] Pokeball x1, Potion x3, Dusk Ball x2[/hider]
[hr]
[center][h1][color=orchid]Sophia Danvers[/color] VS [color=green]Oscar Berg[/color][/h1]
[h3]Mesalon Gym[/h3][/center]
[center][sub]Collab between LuckyBlackCat and fer1323[/sub][/center]
[@fer1323]

Striding into an empty hall, Sophia took her place at one end, arms folded. She smirked over at Oscar. [color=orchid]"You ready?"[/color]

She pretended to ignore Lacey rolling her eyes at the display of fake confidence, and hoped Daisho wasn't telling Oscar what the act concealed. Despite the recent meditation, she couldn't shake the feeling of tension that grew by the moment. She may have won last time they'd battled, but he'd surely learned a few things since then - things he wouldn't let her forget if she lost.

Oscar follows Sophia into the hall with Daisho and Roadrunner in tow. In the hall, Oscar releases Skoll and Nomia as well. [colour=green]"I am ready when you are. I hope it is okay if we let all our pokemon watch."[/colour] Oscar thinks that is underprepared for this fight but he hopes that it will not be that bad.

Focusing her power on the three occupied Pokeballs still at her belt, Sophia made them detach themselves and drift around her before letting out the Pokemon. She remembered what Rheese had said about not tiring herself out, but she had to remind Oscar who she was - who she could be. Who she should be.

The Darumaka instantly starting jumping around, scampering all over the room. [color=orchid]"Lumas... Do you want to do this? Fight alongside another Pokemon?"[/color] Sophia asked, breaking the haughty pose by bending down a little. [color=orchid]"I know you're not used to battles, so are you ok with one?"[/color]

With a grin and an affirmative cry, Lumas began leaping around even more. This would probably do him good, channelling his boundless energy into a battle, Sophia thought as she watched her new Pokemon.

Oscar gesture to Skoll and Daisho. Roadrunner seem sad that he is not battling. [colour=green]"Do not worry, pal. I promise that you will get you turn soon."[/colour] Oscar turns to Sophia with a serious face. [colour=green]"That might on other but that does not work on me."[/colour] Oscar is not intimated by Sophia's abilities. Oscar still thinks that Sophia can use her abilities to be more uplifting for others, other than putting people down.

Thinking back to Oscar's party trick comment the first time they'd battled, Sophia scowled. [color=orchid]"You still just don't recognise talent, do you?"[/color] she huffed. [color=orchid]"Fine then, if that doesn't impress you, this will. I know just who to send in."[/color]

Her attention shifted to the Staryu at her feet. [color=orchid]"Arcturus, let's show him!"[/color] The star-shaped Pokemon, who'd been flaring its core like an angry eye at Sophia all the time she'd been bragging, nonetheless spun forward and took its place next to Lumas. Both pairs of Pokemon advanced towards each other.

[color=orchid]"Ok, Arcturus, start with Water Gun at the Growlithe! And Lumas, uh..."[/color] She quickly consulted her Pokedex to see what moves her Darumaka knew. [color=orchid]"Use Rollout on the Ralts!"[/color] She looked back up at Oscar. [color=orchid]"I-I knew what to do there! Just... double-checking the strategy, that's all!"[/color] Maybe she should have looked up information about Darumakas earlier.

Arcturus' blast of water hit, but Lumas, in his excitement, hurtled forward only to roll right past Daisho.

Skòll could not handle the blast of water on and he falls. Oscar feels guilty as he withdrews Skòll. [colour=green]"You did fine."[/colour] He turns to his remaining pokemon and says  [colour=green]"Daisho, Use Confusion in the fire type."[/colour] Oscar knew the Sophia would that he is a weak battles when he loses but he will not make the win that easy.

She should feel better about this, Sophia thought as she watched Oscar return his Growlithe. She was winning. Deep down, though, she couldn't help wondering what it would prove if she won, other than that she relied on type advantage.

Lumas, flipped back by Daisho's attack, sprang up again, a little dizzy but still brimming with energy. [color=orchid]"Use Rage this time, Lumas!"[/color] Sophia called. [color=orchid]"Arcturus, hit with another Water Gun!"[/color]

Daisho got hit by both attacks but is still standing.  [colour=green]"You doing great, Diasho. Go for the Confusion again."[/colour] Daisho does so at the fire type. Oscar knews that Daisho will not survive this two on one combat for long. Oscar has already accepted this loss. It was a good attempt anyways.

Even though the attack had clearly taken its toll on Lumas, his Rage move just now had worked him up enough that he leapt to his feet, letting out a furious cry.

[color=orchid]"Both of you, finish this!"[/color] Sophia commanded. [color=orchid]"Lumas, use Rollout again! Arcturus, one more Water Gun!"[/color] Arcturus launched another jet of water at the Ralts, and the hyped-up Darumaka pulled in his limbs, rolling straight towards his target.

The combined force of Sophia's pokemon is too much for Daisho. He succumbs to the attacks before Oscar recalls him. [colour=green]"You did your best. I am proud of you."[/colour] Oscar turns to Sophia with a smile on his face.  [colour=green]"That was a good battle. It is two for two for you."[/colour] Oscar hoped for a different outcome but is okay with how the battle turned out. He hopes that Sophia has learned to be humble.

Sophia grinned, though the grin was strained. [color=orchid]"I told you!"[/color] Even to her, the words sounded hollow.

She hadn't expected to feel like this. Empty, as if this was the battle that meant nothing. Had she won with her skill as a trainer, or just because she'd used a Water type against a Fire type? She was sure that, if she told her mother about this, she wouldn't get any more praise than she had the first time round.

[color=orchid]"Good work,"[/color] she said to Lumas and Arcturus, trying to sound as positive as she could. [color=orchid]"And..."[/color] She looked up at Oscar, pausing for a moment. The gloats and taunts she had in mind just wouldn't leave her mouth at first. [color=orchid]"You... I have to say... You held out better than I thought you would,"[/color] she commented instead. [color=orchid]"But of course I was bound to win in the end!"[/color]

He was being so calm and collected about this. Despite herself, Sophia couldn't help but find something respectable about his attitude. The thought surprised her. This was the guy who acted like he knew everything, who constantly made poor attempts at sounding deep and meaningful, who didn't know when to quit prying... and here she was, respecting him anyway?

Dammit, what was wrong with her?

Oscar should have expected as much that Sophia will still act superior. He goes over to the healing station and puts his two pokemon in it. Once done, Oscar release them again. Skòll looked a bit disappointed at his loss and Nomia goes cheers him up. Daisho, on the other hand, relays the feeling of hollowness. Oscar can only guess that it is Sophia. Oscar decides not to pry Sophia but try to try different tactics. [colour=green]"Didn't You tell me that you will tell me about the reason of your journey here?"[/colour]

After getting her Pokemon healed, Sophia let them back out. As Lumas reappeared, jumping up and down, Grimalkin turned and sulked, clearly not too pleased that her trainer had picked the newest team member instead of her. [color=orchid]"You'll get your chance to battle soon enough,"[/color] Sophia reassured her, leaning down and tickling the cat behind the ears.

At Oscar's words, she straightened up and glared. Trust him to remind her what she'd gone and said the other day. [color=orchid]"You just had to go and bring that up, didn't you?"[/color] She was silent for a moment, a feeling of resignation weighing on her - she couldn't go back on this.

[color=orchid]"Fine. I made a promise,"[/color] she replied. [color=orchid]"I made a promise to my family. There. You've got your answer."[/color] She knew all too well Oscar wouldn't take the hint not to pry any deeper.

[hider=Notes]
[b]Pokemon Party:[/b] Gothita "Lacey" lv13, Purrloin "Grimalkin" lv12, Staryu "Arcturus" lv12 (+1), Darumaka "Lumas" lv11 (+1)
[b]Pokemon in PC:[/b]
[b]Inventory:[/b] Pokeball x2, TM33 (Reflect)[/hider]