Adventure Thread - Group A

Lia merely just sighs.

"It's not as bad as some of the things people have done to my waters in here, so it's ok. They'll be fine. Also kinda why I wanted to make a full team to challenge you cause I 'know' you are ahead of me and 2 of my waters were dark so that. Doesn't. Help."

Lia looks back up.

"Don't know what you are worried about fighting them, despite the type resistance. Yours will resist most of theirs as well but a deals a deal. Floyd just got through their shenanigans because he just poker-faced em and bored them. They thrive on reaction, which is why I didn't get near a trainer fight at all. So if you give them nothing, apparently they'll get bored and just challenge you to get you out of there."

"Yeah it's just I knew I'd need a full well-balanced team to actually give you a challenge, or else whats the point of us battling? Probably hurts more as your Beedrill gets a big head but... I won't bother you anymore. Good luck."

Lia watches the fight, impressed by Dan.

"Yeah he'll be fine once he cuts through the bull."

Lia does indeed want to talk to Alei about stuff (Getting Floyd a Mega item, taking time off, changing her schedule), when the weird woman barges in. Lia 'wants' to say something before the boss goes white in the face. And considering how powerful leaders are when really pushed, that really worries Lia. And as soon as she asks everyone to leave, alarm bells start ringing in Lia's head. But she can't really find a reason to question it, and so she skidaddles out of there, heading to the changing room once more. She's assuming the others might try to get peeks in, but Lia knows better at this point. She changes back into normal clothes, resists the urge to take a peek at the pictures again, and heads out, hoping whatever happens doesn't fry Aleisandra too much, so she can ask her what she wanted.

Until she remembers the observatory room. Lia is conflicted, but in the end curiousity takes over and she heads up.

Lia finds the observatory room packed full with all the other Gym Trainers. The mysterious challenger unfolds a composite bow while Alei increases the size of the pool arena to accomodate Valuk, her "original" Blastoise that Lia recalls getting demolished by. If she's bringing him out, this is a deadly serious fight.

"Leader Andario, you may wish to wear something a bit more protective that that tasteless bikini." the stranger murmurs as she casually strings the bow and nocks an arrow into it.

Aleisandra takes this advice and changes into what seems like body armor of some kind. As soon as the battle begins, Aleisandra shouts for Valuk to Mega Evolve. The lumbering Blastoise transforms with surprising speed, but is pelted with arrows constantly. You blink and the challenger is halfway across the room, firing a steady stream of arrows that seem to come from nowhere, as you don't see any visible quiver or other such container. Aleisandra begins to summon water to hurl at her foe, but the challenger is already way ahead of her. She takes an arrow to the shoulder, causing her to quickly duck behind Valuk's massive shell for cover. Apparently the terms of the match were decided while everyone was busy clearing out and changing into regular clothes.

Valuk is simply too slow to bring its cannon to bear against the nimble archer, who not only never stops moving, but also fires crazy accurate shots while tumbling away from the latest spurt of water or ice from Alei's Mega Pokemon. You aren't even sure if the Challenger *has* a Pokemon on the field, but it doesn't seem like she needs one from the way she has Alei pinned down while avoiding Valuk's blasts like they were moving in slow motion. Just as your illustrious Leader thinks she has an opening, it's gone and she nearly takes another arrow into her chest, with only that body armor saving her from a very serious injury. After what seems like an eternity, but only proved to be around 5 minutes, Valuk collapses, arrows sticking out of it from its joints and preventing its movement.

"Ungh..I.. I yield." Alei gasps out between breaths.

"Of course you do. It was expected. I'd say that your efforts, given the situation you found yourself in, were worthy of a... "C" rank. Mediocre at best. You need to step up your game or I'll have you replaced with someone more competent." The Challenger replies.

Aleisandra scowls in response as she recalls Valuk and climbs to her feet. "I thought I did fairly well, considering who I'm up against. You already knew I stood no chance against you, so what was the point of this?"

The Challenger retrieves her spent arrows, de-stringing and collapsing her bow again for travel. "To test your limits, obviously. Limits which still hold you back. You spent far too much time cowering behind your Blastoise, expecting its defenses to hold up forever; which they clearly could not."

"In the entire known world, there are perhaps a handful of people who could compete with you. Most of which are long-since retired." Alei retorts.

"It matters not." The Challenger replies dismissively. "I have cast my judgement. You can either accept this and seek to improve yourself, or you can grow angry and fail to achieve anything. It is your choice."

With that, the strange Challenger walks out of the room, her heels clicking on the tile floor; or what's left of it, anyway. Valuk and Aleisandra's water and ice blasts did a number on the room, so you can definitely see why she wanted everyone out.

"Holy shit." Amanda mutters, voicing everyone's thoughts. "The Boss just got.. annihilated. I've never seen that happen before."

"Um.. Big Bro? Who was that mean lady?" Missy asks.

"I.. I think that might have been The Champion. Couldn't say for sure though, as its been at least a couple of years since any televised Title Matches." Nathan replies.

Kaeda grins "Ooooo! I do love shellfish!" Kaeda takes her seat,  looks out at the water for a bit, and then back to Lia. "I did pick up some pokemon! I caught the cutest Skiddo! You'll see him at the ranch! I also did some trading. I got a Houndoom who is super cool, and tough. And, even though I was looking for a Feebas, I got this Kricketune. It can play music! I even went out, and won a few battles, so that is something. Oh! I also bought a pokeball toll kit, so I can be making us some pokeballs for way cheeper! That's how I spent my day. Now...Talk to me about what went down at the gym."

Kaeda rubs Lia's back. "I know it seems pretty impossible now. But, you do have to remember, you and I haven't even won 4 badges yet. We aren't going to be challenging the champion tomorrow. By the time we reach the plateau, we'll be much stronger than we are right now. The way I would think of it...Just worry about right now. Let's think of ways to improve, and defeat our next gym. No need to plan, and worry about those at the top. We'll get there one day, but for now, lets just take it one step at a time." She eats a little bit more, and takes a sip of her drink. "I hope any of that made you feel better. Like I said before, I'm not too confidant in myself as a trainer right now. Some of those words were for my own sake too..."