Magna City Shining Congress – Duelling Pitch

[Jackie Cat]

"Dunno if it counts as missing it, but I sure wish I had a past to remember," quipped Aster.

Zaffre nodded with a huff between cuts and thrusts. "Sometimes, I dearly hope that nobody is waiting for my uncertain return," she replied to Silver. "Other times, though... that feels like such a sad possibility. I like to believe I wasn't entirely a workaholic."

"You sure are now, girrrrrrl!" chuckled Aster.

"Hmph. What about you, Silver? Have you friends, family, or other loved ones awaiting your return home?"

 

[Cresselia92]

“Well! There’s my team back home!” Silver huffed and let warm nostalgia spread to his body. “Like my best friend. Ordile, a Feraligatr. We’ve faced all kinda challenges, a Trainer and his first partner, growing together and learning from each other. We’re, huh, kinda like family, I guess?”

Silver grunted when the rapier cut some of his fur, but the nostalgic expression didn’t vanish. He slashed back with renewed fervor.

“And Nyula? Gods! Kinda wonder what he’d say if he found out what I’m doing here! Probably he’d be teasing me all day for being very un-Sneasel-like, haha! Something like: Silver, that’s not how we sharpen our claws, you idiot!” he joked, an amused grin stretching on his face despite the self-jab.

“Of course, it’s not only them! There are also Crobat, Gengar, Rarecoil Magneton, Foodin Alakazam…”

He paused, then continued with a far softer voice, “Kotone, who is… erm, someone who’s, um, very close to me…” and ended with a mournful tone, his gaze losing focus, “and… Kasei, my… my sister. Which I, huh, I should really visit… someday…”

Not wishing to think too hard about his family issues, Silver shot an expectant (and almost pleading) stare toward Kimiko, waiting for her input.

 

[Shadow Serenity]

I sometimes think we might've had a sibling relationship – what d'you think, huh? I mean, I can definitely see it! Just look at how easily I get on her nerves, right?"

Kimiko yelped, getting half-caught in the surprise fire from Aster as their opponents switched targets before she managed to dive out of the way. But despite the blow now really making clear how tired she was becoming, she laughed. "As a sibling myself, I can definitely see it." Her focus shifted towards evasion now, avoiding the fire as best she could, only counter-attacking with barrages of leaves when she had clear openings. "I've got a younger sister back home. And my partner and my pokemon team are all as good as family to me, too."

As she listened to Silver go on about his own team, Kimiko wondered how hers were doing back home. And she also found another thought floating around her mind... Angel, Zaffre, Aster... maybe they'd been wrong about the Covenant, or at least, some of them. The ones she'd met, at least, all seemed like decent, reasonable people who just wanted to do good in the world. It made her feel just a little bit guilty for her judgments; there was definitely more going on behind the scenes here, but that didn't mean that every individual was in the know.

She caught Silver shooting her a look, and suspected she knew what it meant; they'd already talked together about their teams once before. "I've got a very supportive, if... unique, family back home. My first partner 'mon is a swampert named Radar. And I've got a boyfriend back there too who means the word to me... enough that when I was drawn here, a part of him came with me." She pat the back star necklace around her neck with a leaf.

As she spoke, her counter-attacks halted, focusing entirely on avoiding Aster's fire. "I dunno about the rest of you, but I think I've had quite a workout. Draw?" She wasn't fond of the idea of calling it quits just because she was now at a type disadvantage, but she told herself that wasn't the reason; everyone seemed to be wearing down, and this was only meant as a spar, after all.

 

[Jackie Cat]

Zaffre hesitated amid her exchange of blows, taken aback at the Wayfarers' clear memories of their loved ones. Another couple of cuts made it past her defence and trimmed her fur in two places. She tracked backwards, catching her breath.

"I think we've done well today," she said, by way of agreement with Kimiko's suggestion. "Let's call it there. We would need a referee to fairly conduct a proper duel in any case. Aster?"

"Mm?"

"Aster, what say you?"

"Oh, uh. I dunno? I guess we're stopping? I'm fine with that."

The Flygon's eyes were hard to make out past her protective lenses, but her body language was shifty, defensive. Something was bothering her. The early draw? – but Zaffre would know if that'd upset her, no doubt. The conversational topic, then...?

 

[Cresselia92]

"...Hmph, fine. I'd say we can call it quits," mumbled Silver in agreement, retracting his claws and inhaling some much-needed breaths. As he relaxed, adrenaline waned and the various bruises and cuts began stinging with more intensity. He began brushing the sand stuck in his pelt, giving to himself a mental note to take a warm bath later.

"Well, gotta confirm what I had mentioned earlier," he started, before flashing a haughty grin at the two knights, "you two work well as a team! Whatever big deal you used to be, some of that synergy seems to have stuck with you!" He glanced at Kimiko, his smirk widening. "And, um, thanks for being my partner, Kimiko. We rocked, didn't we?"

Soft delighted whistles rumbled in his throat, but they quieted down when Silver noticed the Flygon's aloofness. He tilted his head, confused by her behavior. "Hey, you good?" he asked, crossing his arms. "D'you want a clear winner or something? I mean, we can always have a proper fight in the future, if you want! I never say no to a fight!"

 

[Shadow Serenity]

As the battlers began to wind down, Kimiko backed off and relaxed her stance, taking the time to catch her breath. She couldn’t deny, it felt good to be back in battling shape.

And, um, thanks for being my partner, Kimiko. We rocked, didn't we?"

“Always a pleasure,” she replied. “I’ve still got some room for improvement, but I do think we worked well together there!”

As she turned to compliment their opponents, she noticed Aster’s… discomfort?

She kept silent as Silver checked on her. Sure, it could have been the way the battle ended, but surely as Zaffre said, she’d have been aware that without an official referee, there wasn’t going to be a clear winner in this practice duel… So then, perhaps it was the lack of memory regarding their pasts and who they were. It wasn’t really her place to pry, however, and since Silver already spoke up, Kimiko decided to pose her own, possibly relevant, question.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what are your thoughts about your fellow knights?”

Aster, at least, didn’t seem to have any special attachment to the organization beyond the guidance they provided when the pair was lost and alone. But they seemed content enough with their lot, so Kimiko couldn’t imagine they had any qualms with their associates… maybe Aster was just lonely, hearing Kimiko and Silver talk about what, and who, they had missing them at home?