*Boom*
The noise echoed across the training grounds in a Team Nightmare base. The noise's origin was the sound of a rock striking an even larger rock.
The creator of said noise was Placido Wisel, who had slammed his fist into the ground, sending up chunks of stone. He then punched those stones at his Rhyperior, Grannel, who responded with a Stone Edge. The sets of rocks collided, resulting in another resounding crash.
Placido circled to one side, trying to catch a glimpse of Grannel through the crushed rocks. Movement caught his eye to the left. He jumped for the Rhyperior, only to find himself facing a second pokemon: his Scizor, Skiel.
Interesting, he thought, now how best to handle these two opponents?
Meanwhile, James Thalus was watching the battle on one end of the training room, while his Slowking, Bismuth, looked on.
He's been doing this for a while now, he thought as Placido tried to hit Skiel with Shadow Break, missing, and of course, I have to be the one wasting time watching his battles when I could be finding out new ways of perfecting Shadow Trainers. Sure, Placido's a prodigal fighter, but why is it that I'm always the one that has to watch him? Even if his fights are somewhat entertaining.
At this point, Placido had taken several steps back before he realized that he was right near Grannel. The Shadow Trainer barely had time to jump before the Rhyperior smashed his fist right where Placido was standing. He grinned as he hit the ground - only to note that he was now right next to Skiel.
"He doesn't miss a beat," James observed as Placido ducked under a Bullet Punch, and successfully hit the Scizor with Shadow Break, "but was it really wise for him to battle two of his best?"
The answer came when Placido ducked under a second Bullet Punch, and this time, the Punch struck the charging Grannel. Caught by surprise, the Rhyperior was thrown back, and hit the ground with a resounding thud.
"A stupid question, in hindsight," James noted.
Placido stopped after that last strike. "Splendid," he said, "It's simply splendid when the sounds of battle come together."
He walked over to Grannel, who was beginning to get up. "Not now, my friend," he said, recalling the Rhyperior, "you'll need to save your strength for some hopefully worthy opponents."
He turned to Skiel, "We should probably begin to search, then," he said. Without wasting another word, he strode to the exit.
James ran after him, "Mr. Wisel, if I might interrupt, where exactly do you plan to go?"
Placido looked at him with the interest one reserves for an insect. 'Wherever my assignments take me," he said, "and since I have no assignments, I figured I would seek out worthy enemies in Goldenrod. I hope the mighty scientist has no problem with that."
James opened his mouth to retort, thoguht better of it, and instead said: "Just keep your PokeGear at the ready; I don't want this to turn into a repeat of those refugees in Violet."
Placido sighed. "That was nearly a year ago," he said, "I think most of the Team has cut their losses."
Without waiting for a reply, he walked out of the training grounds, Skiel not far behind.
----
Ciel Alioth stood at the water's edge right outside of Ecruteak City, watching the sun slowly rise. Her Arcanine Ara sat vigilantly by her side, ready to react to a threat.
A year... it's been nearly a year since that night... she thought, nearly a year since that man... that monster ruined everything.
She turned away from the sunrise. There would be time to see sunrises and sunsets when this was all over.
After all, today's only just begun, she thought, perhaps today... I will see that monster again.
