Finally, the Battle draws near

[wardnpendragn]

((continued from: link))

Lecce took a deep breath of the familiar city's air. It had been too long since his last visit home, and he was so close he could almost feel the easy excitement that filled Viridian, kept at a fine pitch with trainer after trainer, new and veteran, passing through on their way to greater adventure.

Archie's tail thumped against his side a moment, before the Mightyena bounded ahead to chase after the wild Rattata, hidden among the forest's treeline.

Lecce turned to Serena, eyeing her baggage and judging whether she would need a rest stop soon. "You doing all right?"

[DarkChaos44]

It had been awhile since Serena had came into Pewter city for a long time. Not since when her and Chaos came here to challenge the gym leader for the badge, although, she had dispatched to patrol here a few times afterwards but was always thinking of those good times.

She had two bags with her and so far, she was able to carry them with no problem. One was a backpack and the other was a shoulder bag.

Her Plusle was on top of her head as it offered a smile to the passing people and often looked out for trouble if something arosed. Serena turned to Lecce and said. "Yup, I'm doing fine. And what about you? Are you ready to fight him?"

[wardnpendragn]

Lecce considered the question, mouth forming a thin line. "I can't think of anything more I could do to prepare; training has gone well, and my pokemon are in top form." He gave a small shrug, turning his gaze from the forest to see her response. "I guess I won't know until I fight him."

He automatically began walking toward the woods. He was used to taking the long hike alone, not even winded nor considering his companion. His Mightyena had already trotted to the entrance, at any rate.

"...It's true, though," he admitted, "that I only know of perhaps two of his pokemon. The Sableye I saw and this...I believe it was a Combuskin."

[DarkChaos44]

"A Combuskin?" Serena questioned. "Chaos hasn't had a Combuskin in years and I doubt that he was going to replace his Blaziken, Hellfire. Its Chaos first and strongest Pokemon plus they have a very strong friendship."
She was too busy clearing that up to notice that Lecce was walking towards the forest but then noticed and scambled to catch up to him. Plusle only laughed as Serena tried to catch up to Lecce before nearly getting thrown off Serena's head.

When she caught up to him, she said. "Um... When we do see him, can you not say my name around him? And also I will be acting differently when hes around so just don't worry about me." Serena looked to the forest and explained. "I just want to see if my training will pay off and fool him into thinking that I'm someone else. Is that okay with you?"

[wardnpendragn]

Lecce raised an eyebrow at her. It sounded odd to him, but he had heard enough about Serena and Chaos' relationship to assume there were reasons for what she was doing.

"...Alright. If that's what you want," he replied.

He paused just at the entrance to the forest, turning to wait for her. After all, it would be bad form not to at least do that much; that and he knew well that for a person unused to it, the Viridian trees could become maze-like. He added, "Is there... any sort of cover you prefer to go by?"

[DarkChaos44]

"Uh... no, I haven't really thought about that too much. But I'm going to try to make myself seem like one of those quiet, but shy people. Chaos knows too well that I wouldn't be like that at all." Serena shifted around the shoulder bag until it made her more comfortable. "I guess for a name, I'll call myself Ashley..." She thought about a last name for a minute until she shrugged. "Well, it doesn't matter. He was never formal when it came to names."

She looked to Lecce and cheerfully said. "Anything else we can come up with later if needed. Shall we go? He ain't going to wait forever if he is in there."

[wardnpendragn]

Lecce nodded and headed on, not commenting further on the charade.

"Right."

((continued here))