[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ZJrexJo.png[/img][color=FF4400][h3]Vareena Contest Hall[/h3][/color][/center]
[@Heckno12] [@fer1323]

[color=FF4400]"What...?"[/color] At the explosion outside, Solanna turned from the contest organisers and hurried to the window. Right away, she recognised the two reeling trainers. [color=FF4400]"Ok, no way was that just some friendly sparring match,"[/color] she called to her sisters. [color=FF4400]"Something's going down, let's go!"[/color]

She rushed through the hall, but as usual when she tried to get involved with such things these days, Lorraine called out. [color=1940FF]"Wait!"[/color] Biting back a sigh, Solanna looked over her shoulder as Lorraine stepped forward, one hand raised, that solemn expression on her face. [color=1940FF]"Look. I know you want to help. But someone's gotta prepare the contest, Hailey and I can deal with whatever shit's going on outside."[/color]

The laugh Solanna forced turned out more strained than intended. [color=FF4400]"No need to worry, I can handle it no problem. It's probably just some random delinquents anyway. But please, I've gotta do something, there are people in trouble, people I know!"[/color]

Lorraine gave a drawn out sigh. [color=1940FF]"Then by that same token, Hailey and I will be fine. You're the sunny one, you focus on the cheery stuff. I'll deal with the proverbial rain on these people's parade."[/color] Tension hung in the air like a brewing storm as words went unsaid. Both of them knew random delinquents were rare in Vareena. And both of them knew the real reason why intervening may be a bad idea. So many shady goings-on since that incident eighteen months ago. Goings-on Solanna couldn't look into without suffering for it, some kind of mental block getting in the way. She winced. Even thinking about it made a headache start welling up.

[color=4DE1FF]"Lani, Lori, please."[/color] A much softer voice piped up. Hailey inched over, hands clasped. [color=4DE1FF]"Let's, uh... Let's just be careful out there, ok? I'll help however I can. Just, please, don't bicker."[/color]

What Solanna hoped was a bright smile lit up her face. [color=FF4400]"Thanks, and yeah. C'mon Lori, what are we waiting for?"[/color] She threw open the doors and ran outside, Lorraine sticking by her side like a bodyguard, Hailey trailing behind them. [color=FF4400]"What happened just now?"[/color]

[hr]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/D82dgpk.png[/img][color=orchid][h3]Near Vareena Contest Hall[/h3][/color][/center]

The blast sent Sophia tottering back. Shielding her eyes against the burst of light, she lost her balance and tumbled to the side. Her already nagging migraine spiked with each cough the smoke sent racking through her body.

[color=orchid]"Lacey! Oscar! Y-You ok?"[/color] she spluttered, blinking away afterimages and staring around. The two grunts had fled the scene. [color=orchid]"Where'd those no-goods go? Lacey, can you sense them nearby?"[/color] Lacey looked this way and that, ribbons twitching, before shaking her head.

Something, however, did catch the Gothita's attention. "Ita?" She ran to the shrubbery, peering at something inside.

[color=orchid]"Hm?"[/color] Sophia crawled over. Before she could spot what was in there, a vaguely familiar voice drew her attention. Three women approached her and Oscar, one of them a certain energetic redhead she recognised. [color=orchid]"Solanna!"[/color] The girl beside Solanna, the storm to her sun with her electric blue ponytail and black denim jacket, frowned and folded her arms as she took in the scene. From behind them, a pale, white-clad wisp of a girl shuffled forward.

[color=4DE1FF]"You're not hurt, are you?"[/color] She crouched, light blue hair hanging in her face, and helped Sophia up with the gentlest of touches.

Sophia leaned against a tree, grateful for the shade that made the day's brightness more bearable. [color=orchid]"I'm fine."[/color] She looked over at Solanna. [color=orchid]"There were these two sketchy guys though, they were putting something in the shrubbery, and the moment we went over, they battled us. We kicked their butts of course, but they got away."[/color]

[hider=Notes]
[b]Pokemon Party:[/b] Gothita "Lacey" lv15, Purrloin "Grimalkin" lv13, Staryu "Arcturus" lv14, Darumaka "Lumas" lv11, Shuppet "Fantoccino" lv12, Bronzor "Clarus" lv12
[b]Pokemon in PC:[/b]
[b]Inventory:[/b] Pokeball x1, TM33 (Reflect), Oran Berry x2[/hider]