DEM'S FIGHTIN WORDS [Audio]

[tsuntrader]

[...You know, being all agitated and wound up because of the giant chain of kidnappings in house 11 is doing him no good. It's time for a change of pace. It's time for something important. Really important. So important, in fact, that he's pulling out his journal right this minute to bring it up until just waiting until he sees Gold. He would try to filter it to him, but whatever, like he cares.

So his journal is out, and for once, he's actually using his voice... Because he lost all his pencils. Whoops. Whatever, this is best said and not written anyway.]

Hey Gold, don't you think it's about time we had a battle? It's been way too long. [...No, too simple. Too friendly. Not... Challenging enough. Yeah, that's it.]

Of course, we both know that there's no way you'd beat me in a million years, so if you're not up for it, no hard feelings.

[That's much better.]

Comments

[shamelessness]

[...Shiemi can't help it. When she sees Silver all soaked she giggles, despite trying to hold it back. The blond covers her mouth in an attempt to fight the laughter, but it won't be long before she upgrades from giggling to outright laughing.]

[tsuntrader]

[...If Shiemi were a guy, she would also be soaked right now.

But she's not, so all he can do is just- just--

...Just shake his head like a dog a little and push his hair out of his face. ...He'll never admit it, but the laughter isn't that bad.]

[shamelessness]

[When he shakes his head some of the water from his hair gets her. She squeaks a bit at that and reflexively holds up her hands.]

Y-you got me! [Giggle.]

[tsuntrader]

[Huh? -Oh, he didn't mean to-] Sorry.

[shamelessness]

I-it's okay!

[tsuntrader]

[As long as it's- right, focus.] We should start.

[shamelessness]

Yes, we should!

[Excited she stands immediately and pumps a fist into the air.]

[tsuntrader]

[Tooo one of the rooms! But before he starts setting up a simulation-] So what do you normally do when you train?

[shamelessness]

I... [Well it's easier to show. She plays with the setting a bit. It looks like she picks a random Pokémon at or a little above Skarmy's skill level.]

We leave the type of Pokémon up to the computer. T-to try and prepare us for other trainers. We don't know what kinds of Pokémon they'll have.

[tsuntrader]

[...Yep, he's inserting stuff now.] While preparing for other trainers is good, you also need to train yourself. Your own senses and instincts. You have to be prepared for anything, not just trainers. You're partners and should be in sync, no matter what the situation is. You two have gotta be able to put your complete trust in one another.

[Aaaand done. Welcome to the top of a volcano. The top of the volcano is completely caged off, but that doesn't mean it's stable or safe to stay in one place for any amount of time at all.]

[shamelessness]

[Shiemi gasps as the floor becomes the grate that separates them from the simulated magma below. Skarmy, incredibly afraid and vulnerable to fire, cries out and flaps her wings. Almost as if she were out of control the bird quickly backs up and tries to get herself in the air - all the while letting out a terrified squawk of sorts.

Shiemi turns to look at her Pokémon, worried for it.] Sk-Skarmy-!

[tsuntrader]

[In the meantime, Silver lets out Sneasel. While Sneasel doesn't exactly look pleased about where he is, he remains calm and sticks close to Silver.]

This one's about trust. Skarmy's gonna be way outta her element here. It's your job to keep her calm and fight through whatever shows up as a team. You're the only one that can do that.

[shamelessness]

[For a moment Shiemi stares at Silver. She takes in his words, understands them, and nods. The blond walks across the the cage that holds them up to Skarmy without looking down. Her focus is solely on her Pokémon and trying to calm her down. It's hard to get close to Skamry because of the knife-sharp wings, yet the girl presses on without hesitation. Her hand becomes cut up a little, but she's able to grab hold of the skarmory's chest and bring her close. Shiemi talks to Skarmy. She says words of reassurances, and quiet "shhh"s to calm the bird. After a while the Pokémon quiets down. Shiemi takes a moment to let silence settle in (other than perhaps the roar of the volcano below them) as she rests her forehead on the top front part of Skarmy's beak. They sort of connect then, and she slowly sets Skarmy down on the cage. It's obvious the skarmory is still nervous, but at least she's not freaking out. Shiemi haphazardly bandages the cuts on her hands with the fabric from the bow of her uniform.]

[tsuntrader]

[...Perfect. It's almost too perfect. Silver even wants to take a moment to praise her and help her bandage up those cuts just a little better before they move on.

Unfortunately, the "before they move on" comes a lot faster than he thought it would.] We'll provide support and back up, but you'll have to handle most of the fighting on your own. [It wouldn't be much of a lesson otherwise.] Just trust your instincts and remember that we've got your back. [Sneasel even pumps a fist in the air to solidify this.]

Something's coming.

[shamelessness]

[Skarmy shakes and cowers. Shiemi gives her an encouraging glance before looking around to she where the "something" is coming from. Her shoes graze across the grate they stand on as she slides to have a much wider stance. When it comes Shiemi will be ready, even if Skarmy is still scared.]

[tsuntrader]

[Aaaand it's time for...



A few of these guys. No fire types yet. They're coming from two directions, both of which are closer to Shiemi and Skarmy than Silver and Sneasel. They're sturdy little Rock/Ground types, but these ones aren't very tough at all. They should be pretty easy to take out, even if normal and flying type moves don't hit them as hard because of their rock typing. A steel type move would completely wreck them, though.

Of course, Silver isn't going to say any of this right off the bat. It's up to Shiemi to figure it out.]

[shamelessness]

[Alas, Skarmy has no steel type moves yet. Shiemi quickly pulls her hair back and shouts a command. It's time to begin.]

Skarmy, swift! [The bird obeys, but only after a moment of hesitation. She hits the closest one with swift that manifests as mouth lasers.]

[tsuntrader]

[It deters the one that's hit, but doesn't quite knock it out. It might be an effective strategy to hold them off, but to use it to knock them out will take a while.]

[shamelessness]

[The blond directs her Pokémon to the other opponent, and tells her to use Drill Peck. The bird takes off, fulfilling that. Shiemi honestly wished she knew more about Pokémon. For a brief moment she wonders if there's a book she can read on them.]

[tsuntrader]

[Even if it's still not the best move to use against a rock type, Drill peck is significantly more effective and serves to send a few of them scrambling down the hill. A couple of more stubborn ones start to make a group effort Rock Slide, which leaves big chunks of rock heading Skarmy and Shiemi's way at a considerable speed. If too big of a piece threatens to hit Shiemi, Sneasel will slice through it like a hot knife through butter, but otherwise they'll avoid interfering.]

[shamelessness]

[She needs to avoid that quick. -Well, not she herself, but Skarmy.]

Agility! [Use that to avoid the rocks. Shiemi makes sure her skarmory is out of the way of that attack before looking up. Oh, is that a rock about to fall on her head]

[tsuntrader]

[Good call. Not so good call on paying attention to herself. Silver's quick to haul her up and move out of the way. Sneasel makes quick work of the rock afterward.]

[shamelessness]

[The blond yelps a little, surprised by being suddenly picked up and moved.]

Si-Silver!?
[She looks back to where she was standing- Oh. She could have really been hurt. Oops. Skarmy happens to be all out there in the battlefield without orders, and when she sees Shiemi in Silver's arms she's torn from feeling smug about them and distressed that her trainer was in danger.]

[tsuntrader]

Pay better attention. [It's not the nicest thing to say, but it's something that definitely needs to be said. It takes him a moment to put her down before moving back next to Sneasel; the expectation that she should do the same with Shiemi is left unsaid but is also very much there.]

[shamelessness]

[Shiemi nods. Skarmy and her trainer regroup halfway, and stare down the opponents. Shiemi tries to think up of the next course of action.]