Sunward Atop Sunrest Mesa

[Phoenixsong]

"You don't look like Wardens," pressed Aster, with a look of brow-furrowing suspicion.

The blast of wind from the flygon's landing blew Leaf's mane back, but she didn't budge. "And you do? You're sure some funny-lookin' charcadet, then." She rolled her eyes. "Weird how I've never seen you guys out on their patrols, or down in the fort while I was training with them."

Leaf wouldn't've complained if the flygon had tried to push her luck and actually thrown a punch, but Jade was trying to smooth things over now, so fiiine, she wouldn't escalate if they didn't. She didn't stand down, but just about managed the courtesy of not actively brandishing her horn at them. She shook her head instead. "Look, I've met you before. At the Shining Congress roof garden, when the Wayfarers got invited a little while ago. You were late for some kinda meeting." That one hadn't been a CDE thing, at least. Not if Laura and the others had been allowed to go.

"So, you here looking for... what was it you called 'em? Villains? Assholes?" Plenty of evidence of those scattered around this place. If they were actually looking for it, as opposed to, oh, dunno, maybe covering it up.

 

[Jackie Cat]

“Uh, no, not Wardens! You’re uh… you’re knights of the Order, right? We’re with the Wayfarers, we’ve helped the knights a couple times. Just… checking out the wreckage up here to see what happened.”

"And you do? You're sure some funny-lookin' charcadet, then. Weird how I've never seen you guys out on their patrols, or down in the fort while I was training with them.

"Look, I've met you before. At the Shining Congress roof garden, when the Wayfarers got invited a little while ago. You were late for some kinda meeting.

"So, you here looking for... what was it you called 'em? Villains? Assholes?"

Aster grinned, craning her long neck forwards.

"Never said we were Wardens," she growled, in a tone of banter. "But we've got our own business up here – and I figure you do, too. That's what I was fuckin' asking about, obviously?"

"Bring it down a notch, Aster," sighed Zaffre. "She's just a kid."

"She's practically my age, c'mon!"

For some inexplicable reason, Zaffre didn't seem responsive to Aster's assertion that she and Leaf were basically adults. Instead, she stepped over to join the discussion, one paw resting on the hilt of her sword.

"Look, I expect we're all here for the same reason," she said, nodding in polite acknowledgement to each of Jade and Leaf in turn. "Something happened here about two weeks ago, and it apparently involved Covenant personnel."

She held out a grubby, dust-caked lantern-motif badge, distinct from the gleaming silver one on her lapel. The badge of a CDE agent who'd lost it in the confusion, or who'd ditched it to try making a run for it.

"Only, there are no records of a Covenant mission here around that time. So naturally, we have our eyes peeled for anything unusual."

"And interested in whatever you two know about it," pressed Aster, leaning forward even more.

 

[Chibi Pika]

Okay, yeah, definitely didn't seem like they were with the CDE if they were here investigating the CDE. That was good. Still didn't seem like a good idea to give away everything the Wayfarers knew regarding that, but this was at least an opening.

Jade nodded along with Zaffre, doing her best to look agreeable. "Right yeah, Covenant missions happening off the record... that's actually related to why we were at the Congress a few months back. Lord Articuno had asked us to look into stuff that'd been going on without their knowledge. Er, not that they specifically asked us to come here today, just that it's something we've investigated in the past, so... maybe we could help each other out?"

 

[Phoenixsong]

Leaf gave the meowstic a look, not quite able to keep her tail from lashing. "This 'kid' is a big enough girl not to break down just 'cause of one loudmouth knight. If whatever she says actually bothers me, I'll tell her to back off myself, thanks."

She straightened up and scanned the wreckage again, mostly just to give herself a second to cool off. They really had no idea what'd happened? Her first instinct said that was wild given everyone around here and their grandma had at least half an idea by now. Including Articuno themselves. Maybe they still didn't think they had enough proof to actually turf out the whole CDE yet, though. Hopefully it was a good sign that multiple Coven members smelled something fishy. Still, better to play it safe, take it slow. (At least until they were ready to stop being patronizing.)

"This the first time you've had to go digging around after your own guys?" As she turned a cracked monitor over with her hoof—one of the ones that'd been hooked to the Iron Radiance setup—another angle occurred to her. "You ever get to see much radiance? With the work you're supposed to be doing, I mean?"

 

[Jackie Cat]

Zaffre eyed Jade with a long, quizzical look. It didn't take a psychic to know the Meowth was hiding something.

"Well, that's just a sign that there is a great deal of internecine strife we weren't previously aware of. Although I appreciate your being upfront about having had a hidden agenda the entire time, you could stand to be more straightforwardly forthcoming." The Meowstic sighed, and massaged her temple.

"Yeah. Why so cagey?" asked Aster, with a boisterous smirk. "For all we know, you're the ones we're looking for. Or if we are both hunting for the same bunch of pricks, that doesn't mean we aren't also looking to root out other mini secret clubs inside our big secret club."

Zaffre frowned. "We don't have access to Radiance, although the Order is always questing for reputed sources of it. We've found some evidence our targets have some control of it, however. And it is known that you – the recent 'Wayfarer' initiates – have the use of it also."

Aster cracked her neck. "Come onnnn, let's speed this up a bit. We all know the deal here. None of us can trust each other, it's all a bit she-said/she-said, it's a fuckin' impasse and all that. You know how I like to find out if someone can be trusted?"

 

[Phoenixsong]

If they weren't that familiar with radiance, that did probably clinch them not being CDE. If they were telling the truth about not being that familiar with radiance. Would've been nice if she actually understood how to do that feelings-reading thing fairy rapidash were supposed to be able to do in stories. Oh, well. There were other, more entertaining ways to puzzle out a pokémon's intentions anyway.

"If you just wanted an ass-kicking, all you had to do was ask." Leaf pawed the ground, then grinned at Jade. "You up for a battle? We could give 'em a demonstration, even."

 

[Jackie Cat]

Aster grinned and flexed her – slender and diminutive – arms.

"Awwright, that's the spirit! That's what I like to hear! C'mon!"

Zaffre sighed, rolled her eyes mildly, and – with a shrug – threw off her finer garments and drew her sword.

"My partner here isn't wrong. Don't they always say, 'a battle is worth a thousand words'? We can certainly get an impression of each other's true intentions that way."

 

[Chibi Pika]

Jade blinked at the Flygon. She hadn't been expecting to get challenged out of nowhere like that, but even she had to admit that it sounded a lot better than just going back and forth, unable to make any headway. This was how Pokemon understood each other. Even if they'd been human before, they were Pokemon now.

Jade's tail swished as she took up a stance and threw a grin towards Leaf. "Sure thing."

 

[Jackie Cat]

Aster crouched lower, her expression of fierce joy showing off her fangs. "Great! I've been wanting to see just how much fighting spirit you Wayfarers really have!"

The Flygon's wings began to beat, faster, buzzing, the downdraft whipping up a sandstorm. To her side, Zaffre struck a precise stance, her rapier held in a defensive posture. Psychic barriers of violet light thrummed into existence.

The Knights' Turn 0!​

Aster's Ascent:
A sandstorm brewed!
Aster gained +2 Eva/Atk!
Aster looks like she's going to go all out...!

Zaffre's Zeal:
Psychic barriers were deployed!
Zaffre gained +2 Acc/Mag!
Zaffre looks determined not to slip up...!

"Well," murmured Zaffre, "at the very least, we'll see if you have real talent in battle. Do not hold back!"

Turn 1
Player Phase​

 

[Phoenixsong]

Leaf shot across the mesa and jabbed at the flygon, only to find a faint, purplish force pushing back against her attack. Buncha walls. Annoying, but not impassable. She gave the force another quick, probing jab with her horn—

Keep an eye on the cat. Don't just let her set herself up in the corner and then pull something you didn't know to expect.

Oh, yeah. The walls had come from her, hadn't they. Leaf looked closer, glaring through the violet shimmer, and saw the bulk of it was concentrated around her. Definitely annoying. But the energy thinned the further it got from its source, basically nonexistent a few feet past the edge of the junk heaps. Split them up and this got a whole lot simpler.

Fighting spirit, huh. Don't hold back. If that's what you wa-ant. Leaf gave the energy another tentative poke before throwing herself forward, slamming into the flygon almost like the barriers weren't even there. Then she whirled around and darted back, out of the sand and away from all the junk, with one last cheeky little kick as a parting gift. She spun around to face them again and tossed her head, grinning. C'mon. Entertain me.

Spoiler: Leaf, Turn 1

Leaf (232 STM, 5 TMP, +1 SPD, +2 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Dash to Wreckage Heap (-2 TMP)
- Quick Attack @ Aster (-6 STM, +3 TMP)
- Umbral Vigilance @ Zaffre (-40 STM, +2 TMP, +36 SHD) [Intel: AI]
- **Act:** Focus (+5 TMP, -20 SHD, -20 RAD)
- STRONG CRITICAL Tenacious Soul @ Aster (ACTIVATE: effect) (-45 STM, -13 TMP, +7 TMP)
- Quick Attack @ Aster (-9 STM, +3 TMP)
- Walk to Mesa Edge
Net change: -94 STM, +5 TMP, +16 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 138 STM (207 after regen), 10 TMP, 16 SHD, 0 RAD

Spoiler: Turn 1 Order

- Leaf
- Jade

 

[Chibi Pika]

And with little fanfare, the battle was on, Aster whipping up a sandstorm while Zaffre raised screens around the pair of them. Already Jade's mind was buzzing, keep the distance, get them to come to you, they'll have the advantage if they stick behind the screens. Easier to focus on on that than the part of her that was worried about making a good impression to the knights. What did it really mean to show your heart in battle, anyway? All this time as a Pokémon, and she still wasn't sure.

So Jade found herself reaching for that Light inside, just enough for the sting of it to prickle the edges of her mind and quiet distracting thoughts. No overthinking how to do this right, just going for it.

Spoiler: Jade Turn 1

Jade (302 STM, 5 TMP, +0 SPD, +2 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Dash to Sunset Cliffs (-2 TMP)
- AGILE Charge Beam @ Zaffre (ACTIVATE: effect) (-18 STM, -3 TMP, +3 TMP)
- **Act:** RADIANT Focus (+5 TMP)
- RADIANT Charge Beam @ Zaffre (ACTIVATE: effect) (-12 STM, -3 TMP, +3 TMP, +10 RAD)
- Soul's Adversity (-30 STM, +2 TMP) [+2 Acc]
- Shadow Ball @ Zaffre (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-18 STM, -3 TMP, +6 TMP) [+50 BP]
Net change: -78 STM, +8 TMP, +0 SHD, +10 RAD
Net totals: 224 STM (252 after regen), 13 TMP, 0 SHD, 10 RAD

 

[Jackie Cat]

Turn 1
Player Phase​

And so, the brash brawlers clashed in melée, while the feline casters faced off with beams of energy...

Leaf's Quick Attack dealt 8 damage to Aster, triggering Offensive Rhythm!
Leaf used Umbral Vigilance on Zaffre!
Leaf's STRONG Tenacious Soul dealt a CRITICAL 65 damage to Aster! It's super effective! Covert Cloak prevented stat loss!
Leaf's Quick Attack dealt 12 damage to Aster!
Leaf's Accuracy let her hit Aster through the Sand Veil!

Jade's AGILE Charge Beam dealt 12 damage to Zaffre, triggering Defensive Rhythm!
Jade's RADIANT Charge Beam dealt 22 damage to Zaffre! It's super effective!
Jade used Soul's Adversity! +2 Acc!
Jade's Shadow Ball dealt 76 damage to Zaffre! It's super effective! -1 Res!

"Ha! Nice," growled Aster. "This is real battling, none of that stupid duelling stuff."

Zaffre said nothing, her heterochromatic eyes glowing softly with psychic power as she thrust her rapier forward, the blade acting a focus for her own magic...

 

[Jackie Cat]

Turn 1
Enemy Phase​

Aster shrugged off Leaf's attacks better than most Forlasan pokémon could – the result of long training and her human origin, presumably.

The dragon grinned appreciatively. "Nice, now let's see how you hold up under a ferocious attack!"

Aster dashed to Mesa Edge!
Aster's Quick Attack dealt 49 damage to Leaf's Protect!
Aster's Quick Attack dealt 56 damage and shattered Leaf's Protect!
Aster's Dragon Rush missed Leaf entirely!
Aster's Bulldoze dealt 48 damage to Leaf! -1 Spd!
Aster's U-Turn dealt 41 damage to Leaf! Reflexive-Defensive Rhythm!
Aster retreated!

"Come and get me!"

---

The Meowstic, by contrast, was not one for so much mid-battle banter. She was alert and wholly attentive to her attacks... Her beams and bolts of energy, when they came, were precise and efficient.

Zaffre Focused... and aimed well at range!
Zaffre used Calm Mind! +1 Mag/Res!
Zaffre's Psybeam dealt 90 damage to Jade's Protect!
Zaffre's Thunderbolt dealt 58 damage to Jade! Paralysed! Reflexive Rhythm!

Leaf's Combat Intel

Zaffre is a skilled and experienced fighter, with the tactical aptitude of a professional pokémon trainer. Her sharpness of mind and eye alike suggest she'll pick up on any strategy employed by her opponents. She is zen-like in battle, putting all else out of her mind, and so will likely ignore any distractions or ploys.

This is not her full strength. She certainly has something more in reserve.

(Why does it feel like you've seen her on TV somewhere...?)

 

[Phoenixsong]

Leaf dashed back in, jabbed at the meowstic a couple times for good measure, and then clashed with the flygon. Even without the shields she was made of pretty sturdy stuff, huh. Good. The tougher something was, the more satisfying it'd be to smash through.

Spoiler: Leaf, Turn 2

Leaf (207 STM, 10 TMP, +0 SPD, +4 ACC, 16 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Bulk Up (-18 STM, +2 TMP)
- **Act:** Focus (+5 TMP, -20 SHD, -20 RAD)
- Dash to Wreck Heap (-2 TMP)
- Quick Attack @ Zaffre (-6 STM, +6 TMP)
- Quick Attack @ Zaffre (-9 STM, +6 TMP)
- AGILE Play Rough @ Aster (ACTIVATE: effect) (-24 STM, -11 TMP, +5 TMP)
- Play Rough @ Aster (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-16 STM, -8 TMP, +5 TMP)
- Walk to Mesa Edge
Net change: -73 STM, +8 TMP, -16 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 134 STM (203 after regen), 18 TMP, 0 SHD, 0 RAD

Spoiler: Turn 2 Order

- Leaf
- Jade

 

[Chibi Pika]

Jade clenched her teeth as the first strike crashed through her Protect, then braced herself for the follow-up lightning. A wave of pain knocked her backward, but she landed on her feet and used the residual charge to prepare a counterattack before she'd even processed what had happened. The lightning was... fine, actually. She could handle that, this body was strong.

A jolt of adrenaline hit Jade, and she found herself calling out, "We're just getting started!" as she called on the element of Water and took careful aim at the sand-cloaked dragon.

Spoiler: Jade Turn 2

Jade (252 STM, 13 TMP, -2 SPD, +5 ACC, 0 SHD, 10 RAD)
- **Act:** RADIANT Focus (+5 TMP)
- RADIANT Charge Beam @ Zaffre (ACTIVATE: effect) (-12 STM, -3 TMP, +6 TMP, +10 RAD)
- AGILE Chilling Water @ Aster (-27 STM, -2 TMP, +4 TMP)
- Chilling Water @ Aster (-18 STM, -2 TMP, +4 TMP)
- CRITICAL Shadow Ball @ Zaffre (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-18 STM, -23 TMP, +7 TMP)
Net change: -86 STM, -4 TMP, +0 SHD, +10 RAD
Net totals: 166 STM (229 after regen), 9 TMP, 0 SHD, 20 RAD
(TAKE COVER)

 

[Jackie Cat]

Turn 2
Player Phase​

Leaf's Quick Attacks dealt 11+11 damage to Zaffre!
Leaf's AGILE Play Rough dealt 34 damage to Aster! It's super effective! Covert Cloak!
Leaf's Play Rough dealt 41 damage to Aster! It's super effective! -1 Atk
Jade's RADIANT Charge Beam dealt 21 damage to Zaffre! It's super effective! +1 Mag
Jade's AGILE Chilling Water dealt 20 damage to Aster! -1 Atk
Jade's Chilling Water dealt 27 damage to Aster! -1 Atk
Jade's Shadow Ball dealt a CRITICAL 79 damage to Zaffre! It's super effective!
Aster and Zaffre's Rhythm activated!

Zaffre's expression cracked slightly, a genuine smile showing at last on her usually composed face.

"Oh, I can see that you are true talents in battle. This is what I've been missing! This is the kind of battle I've been searching for!"

Under her professional, stoic demeanour, was the Meowstic actually a battleheart? Clearly not every Knight had the same zeal as her... but the Wayfarers, at least, would give her a real challenge.

Aster, her face momentarily aghast, shook herself dry of freezing water.

"Stars above, you two really wanna rain on my parade, huh? Well don't think I'll let up just 'cause of a little water! I've seen way worse downpour than that!"

"Oh?" interjected Zaffre, mid-cast. "I don't recall. Are you being figurative or literal?"

"Uh, literal? Nngh, not... not here. Home. Before. C'mon, keep pushing!"

"Very well, then let's mix it up a little! This is a double battle, after all!"

[ ] Optional Objective: make them remember.

Turn 2
Enemy Phase​

Aster dashed to Mesa Edge!
Aster's Quick Attack missed damage to Leaf!
Aster's Bulldoze dealt 24 damage to Leaf! -1 Spd!
Aster's Dragon Rush dealt 21 damage to Leaf! It's hardly effective... Flinching!
Aster dashed to Sunset Cliffs!
Aster's Quick Attack missed Jade!
Aster's U-Turn dealt 33 damage to Jade!
Aster retreated!

Zaffre Focused...
Zaffre used Calm Mind!
Zaffre's STRONG Psybeam dealt a CRITICAL 95 damage to Jade! Confused!
Zaffre's Thunderbolt dealt 48 damage to Leaf!

 

[Phoenixsong]

"Well I'd sure hope a knight could handle a little damp," Leaf snorted. "Wouldn't last a second against somethin' like a full-bore double-cannon blastoise hydro pump otherwise." She allowed herself a split second to picture Tank, claws gouging into the turf as he braced himself, torrents of water from his shell washing some hapless opponent down the drain, and smiled. "Or are you saying you've seen worse than that?"

She kept up her grin even though her ears were still kinda ringing after that impact. All that flashy energy had been nothing, pfft, but the force of it'd spun her head fit to give her whiplash in the morning. Nng.

Then the meowstic sent a thunderbolt her way, just for some icing on the spots-in-her-vision cake. Leaf winced as the electricity coursed through her, but did her best to shrug it off. Stay focused. The sparks lingered around her horn, then built up again on their own, crackling and glowing, not quite lightning but light. No need to get fancy. Keep it straightforward, give 'em something to really think about while the radiance cleared her own head and sharpened her focus.

"Aw, sorry, didn't realize you were feeling left out!" she teased, turning toward the other knight with light shining mischievously behind her eyes. "Well, c'mon, then, don't be shy! If you really wanna have fun, quit hidin' behind all that garbage—"

Leaf shot forward, kicked off one of the heaps of smashed crates, didn't break stride when she landed, crossed the distance to the meowstic in the blink of an eye. Without stopping, she hooked her horn under the sword and tossed her head back, heaving her opponent into the air with enough force to send her tails-over-teakettle across the mesa.

"—and come out and play!"

Okay, yeah, she was definitely gonna feel that tomorrow. Worth it, though.

Spoiler: Leaf, Turn 3

Leaf (203 STM, 18 TMP, +0 SPD, +5 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Walk (+1 MC) to Wreck Heap (-3 TMP)
- Quick Attack @ Zaffre (-6 STM, +7 TMP)
- Quick Attack @ Zaffre (-9 STM, +7 TMP)
- STRONG CRITICAL Shining Stormlance @ Zaffre (-60 STM, -18 TMP, +9 TMP, +36 RAD) [Throw to Mesa Edge]
Net change: -75 STM, +2 TMP, +0 SHD, +36 RAD
Net totals: 128 STM (197 after regen), 20 TMP, 0 SHD, 36 RAD

Spoiler: Turn 3 Order

- Jade
- Leaf

 

[Chibi Pika]

Jade stole a glance at the Meowstic, and the sudden battle-fervor that took light in her eyes, and something about it made her own excitement flare up.

"I've done plenty of tough battles with my team, but it's pretty different fighting as a Pokémon," Jade replied in between firing small strings of light from her paw, just enough to keep her energy burning. Each time the light coursed through her arm, she felt a little less worried about what they'd think, a little more drive to show them what she could do.

Jade found herself grinning without knowing why. "I think we've been here long enough to be getting the hang of things!"

She caught Leaf's intent and got into position as the Rapidash took a running leap over the wreckage. In the time it took her to blink, the Meowstic was sent flying through the air, and Jade already had a pair of Shadow Balls at the ready—

Spoiler: Tade Turn 3

Jade (217 STM, 9 TMP, +0 SPD, +6 ACC, 0 SHD, 30 RAD)
- **Act:** RADIANT Focus (+5 TMP)
- RADIANT Charge Beam @ Aster (ACTIVATE: effect) (-12 STM, -1 TMP, +5 TMP, +10 RAD) [+1 Mag]
- AGILE Shadow Ball @ Zaffre (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-27 STM, -3 TMP, +8 TMP)
- Soul's Adversity (-30 STM, +2 TMP) [no stats :(]
- CRITICAL Shadow Ball @ Zaffre (-18 STM, -18 TMP, +8 TMP) [+50 BP]
Net change: -87 STM, +6 TMP, +0 SHD, +10 RAD
Net totals: 130 STM (193 after regen), 15 TMP, 0 SHD, 40 RAD
(TAKE COVER)