We Were Young, Once [Wallace]

[alyssa]

[atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=width,350][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true] [style=font-family: times new roman; font-size: 23px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-style: bold;]I know no bounds [/style] Sunset. One of the best times for training in her opinion. With the sun setting behind the buildings of Lilycove to the west and reflecting on the water behind her to the east it was almost one of the most picturesque scenes to train in. The newfound Nox Leader didn't blink once as her black Charizard and red Blaziken clashed against each other in fiery bursts like an unholy Yin and Yang locked in a deathmatch. Her blue eyes followed each of them as they moved, Blaziken on the ground hopping around to keep the more inexperienced Charizard in the air at bay, turning this way and that to keep the lizard-like pokemon looking in different directions. "Knightly, Dragon Pulse!" She gave no order to her Blaziken, watching as the pokemon leapt out of the way of the powerful Dragon-type attack with an Agility as it slammed into the shore, sending water and sand exploding upward. The pink Mudkip in Alyssa's lap cowered beneath her calves, and the white-haired trainer shifted against the rock she was on. "Knightly, Flamethrower!" The Charizard obliged once again, rearing back its neck to release a stream of fire. Blaziken, this time, didn't avoid it, and instead countered with a Blast Burn of its own, an incredible burst of fire coming from both its wrists above its head. It was like a firework - sound and all. The water tore away from the shore with the impact of the two fire attacks exploding away from each other, and even the trainer herself flinched. "Alright!" Both pokemon were charred from refusing to move from the literal line of fire. They turned to her before she gave them each a thumbs up. "Good enough for tonight. Rest up." Alyssa promptly laid back against the rock she sat upon, sighing. The only thing that would make this better would be some company.

[atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=width,125] [style=font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 3px; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -20px;]Team, Shiny!Mudkip, Shiny!Charizard, Blaziken tags, Garth as Wallace notes, flashback: 1 year, 1 month ago // writing Alyssa pre-loads-of-battles is a bit awk, sorry ✲ AMB Tanz [/style]

[wallace2]

[atrb=cellspacing,5,bTable][atrb=border,0,bTable][atrb=width,400,bTable] oh how i wish for soothing rain all i wish is to dream again

Lilycove City. It had been a while since Wallace had last been here. Almost too long for his tastes. The time in between his last visit to Lilycove, and now had been tumultuous, to say the least. His last visit to the city had come shortly after he had taken up the position of Sootopolis Gym Leader, although he couldn't quite remember what the visit was for. Regardless, since that last visit, he had assumed many different positions. He had taken up the position of Champion of Hoenn, only to cast it aside after turning down Lux's offer of a high ranking position in their new order. In fact, it was almost now 1 year to the day that he had officially rejected Lux's offer, and fled from Ever Grande City. Shortly after that fateful day, he had joined up with Nox, which had sent him on a number of trips around the world, in the hopes of using Wallace's former position of Hoenn Champion as a recruiting tool for them. He had only just returned from one such trip in the Unova region, which had thus far, been able to stay out of the war. During this time, he had been able to catch two new Pokemon, which up to that point, he had never actually seen with his own two eyes. The former champion was now walking towards one of the ferry docks. He was hoping to be able to catch the next ship heading for Mossdeep City. He was anxious to get back there, after spending quite a while away. As he was making his way towards the dock however. He head an explosion of some kind go off, a short distance down the shoreline. Wallace looked, and noticed a huge burst of fire billowing over the beach. Wallace was about to start panicking until he looked more closely, and saw a Charizard, and a Blaziken off in the distance, directly underneath the fireball. This was a relief to Wallace, considering that this likely meant that those two fire-type Pokemon were simply sparring, and that the fire burst was a result of that sparring, and as long as they stayed over there, they were of no danger to civilians. Wallace was about to turn away, and head back towards the ferry until he noticed that there was someone standing next to the two Pokemon. She looked familiar to the former champion, although he couldn't quite put his finger on why that was the case. He decided to see if getting closer to her would ring any bells. He turned from the ferry dock, and began to walk along the rocky shore towards the girl and her two Pokemon. As he approached her, Wallace felt that he was finally able to tell who this was, and as he continued to walk towards her, he began to wave his hand, and said, "Alyssa! What are the odds I'd find you here?" Wallace stopped a few feet short of Alyssa, and then spoke again by saying, "It's been a while hasn't it?"

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[atrb=width,100%][atrb=vAlign,top] nemo sailing home name for evermore words: 513 (i need to cut back) tag: Alyssa notes: i got nothing credits: katya

[alyssa]

[atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=width,350][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true] [style=font-family: times new roman; font-size: 23px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-style: bold;]I know no bounds [/style] The new Leader slid off the rock she’d been laying upon, and the trembling Mudkip remained standing upon the stone until its trainer was standing straight, and then the tiny starter leapt and landed upon its trainer’s shoulder. Alyssa laughed quietly, raising an index finger to gently poke the pokemon’s nose. ”You don’t need to be scared.” she informed it comfortingly, walking towards the two pokemon that both stood panting. Blaziken’s hands were on its knees, and Knightly’s large black wings draped weakly while the dragon-like pokemon’s lungs forced air in and out of its body. ”You two did well. Timing was nearly perfect and power was obvious. Both of you have improved.” Saying that to two pokemon she’d had for a couple of years was becoming a bit of a rare statement. The pokemon nodded with their trainer’s approval, both turning to walk to the edge of the water before the sound of someone else’s voice caught the four on the beach off guard. Alyssa spun, sending the Mudkip on her shoulder squeaking with fright and clinging desperately to her clothes. ”Sorry, sorry…” she murmured to it before turning her eyes on the approaching figure. She felt her expression soften slightly with simply surprise before the recognition finally settling in. ”W…Wallace…” she felt her stomach tighten slightly with happiness that grew within her. ”Wallace!” Her voice had raised slightly in surprise, despite the fact he was closer than he had been when he first called out to her. She contained the excitement at seeing her old friend until he was closer and had stopped just feet in front of her. ”It has been a while, Wallace…” she stated, expression uncharacteristically softened with the happiness at seeing him. ”It’s been too long. What…six years? Seven? Even more?” A light laugh managed to escape her, ”All I know is that we were both practically teenagers and we aren’t now.” There was silence between them for a few seconds before she swiftly carried on. ”How have you been…both now and before the war started?”

[atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=width,125] [style=font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 3px; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -20px;]Team, Shiny!Mudkip, Shiny!Charizard, Blaziken tags, Garth as Wallace notes, flashback: 1 year, 1 month ago // writing Alyssa pre-loads-of-battles is a bit awk, sorry ✲ AMB Tanz [/style]

[wallace2]

[atrb=cellspacing,5,bTable][atrb=border,0,bTable][atrb=width,400,bTable] oh how i wish for soothing rain all i wish is to dream again

No surprise there, Wallace noticed Alyssa immediately run up to greet him, and her first question was how Wallace had been during the many years since their last meeting. Wallace had been through quite a bit during the past few years. From Lux offering him a position in their new world order, to him discovering their darker secrets, and then fleeing to join up with Nox. The past few years had certainly been exciting for Wallace, though that certainly wouldn't be his word of choice for that period. The words that he would use would be shocking, painful, treacherous. All in all, he would much prefer that the past few years of his life had never happened. He wasn't sure what he would've wished to have happened instead, only that he would've preferred that what actually did happen, didn't happen. He tried to maintain his composure as he tried to explain what had happened in the least painful way possible, "Well, if I told you the whole story, we'd be standing here until tomorrow." Wallace paused for a few seconds before continuing. "I won't lie, I've had to make some of the toughest decisions in my life over the past few years. Not least of all, having to decide whether order and peace was worth the price of freedom." Wallace took a few seconds deciding how to piece together what he was going to say next. He didn't want anything to come out in a stuttering tone. "A few years back, Lux approached me with a generous offer of a high ranking position in their new order, and presented themselves as a benevolent organization bent on riding the world of crime, and violence. I'll admit, the offer was tempting. Having nearly seen the destruction of the world at the hands of Team Magma, and Team Aqua, it seemed like a noble cause. At least until I discovered how they treat dissidents. It was then that I firmly rejected their offer and fled. Shortly thereafter I discovered a newly formed Nox cell, and decided to join up with them, and as they say the rest is history."

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[atrb=width,100%][atrb=vAlign,top] nemo sailing home name for evermore words: 359 tag: Alyssa notes: i got nothing credits: katya

[alyssa]

[atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=width,350][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true] [style=font-family: times new roman; font-size: 23px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-style: bold;]I know no bounds [/style] The Leader fell silent quickly, glad that Wallace seemed to answer her question immediately, rather than dancing around the point or avoiding it until she cornered him about it. The only thing she did in response to Wallace’s first words was blink, not wanting to interrupt. Standing here until tomorrow...that was either good or bad. However, given the war, it was likely the latter. She waited patiently for her friend, hooking her thumbs in her beltloops while she listened. After hearing what he was willing to tell her (to start, at least), the Leader sighed quietly, glancing to the side as she felt some similarity between what he’d told her and how things had gone for her personally as well. Alyssa nodded in approval of the Champion’s words. "At least you appear to be well, despite everything else." ”Although, that’s a crossroads of decision-making I’m familiar with.” she murmured, ”I, too, found myself sorely tempted by Lux in the very first days it was in existance. I didn’t know if I wanted to stand with Lux or against them.” The trainer cracked her neck before looking back up to him, ”I witnessed first-hand what Lux does to people that openly disagree with their policies, and that solidified my stance against them.” She glanced sheepishly to the side, ”It was at that point that I took my time for solo training for years. I didn’t even know the war was going on until about two years after it had started, I was so secluded.” Alyssa managed to chuckle a little, ”One month later we stand here now and I’m...well, one of Nox’s Leaders.” She shrugged, ”You know me well enough to know I’ve never been one for conformity, after all. Wouldn’t really have seen myself here though.” She paused before adding, ”A position like that is best left to someone that’s more familiar with responsibility like that.” Her eyes stared at him pointedly. ”I’ve never been a Champion, what do I know about leading anybody?”

[atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=width,125] [style=font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 3px; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -20px;]Team, Shiny!Mudkip, Shiny!Charizard, Blaziken tags, Garth as Wallace notes, flashback: 1 year, 1 month ago // writing Alyssa pre-loads-of-battles is a bit awk, sorry ✲ AMB Tanz [/style]

[wallace2]

[atrb=cellspacing,5,bTable][atrb=border,0,bTable][atrb=width,400,bTable] oh how i wish for soothing rain all i wish is to dream again

Alyssa? A leader of Nox? This was one of the last things that Wallace had expected to hear from her. This of course wasn't because, Wallace felt her to be unworthy of such a position, but because, as Alyssa had just stated, she wasn't one for conformity. This didn't even take into consideration the fact that there were a large number of people within Nox who likely wanted such a position. While Alyssa had likely had the same odds as any other possible candidates, the likelihood was far greater that she wouldn't receive the position, than that she would. Regardless of how likely it had been, Wallace knew full well what the most appropriate thing to do upon receiving this information was, and so he said to Alyssa, "Well then, I guess I should extend my congratulations to you, Alyssa." Wallace's next focus was on what Alyssa had said next, or rather, what she had implied. Her words, and stare said it all. She was indirectly saying that her new position was more suited for someone like him, based on his experience as Hoenn Champion. This was somewhat bewildering to Wallace. Comparing the positions of Hoenn Champion, and Nox Leader to each other was like comparing apples to oranges. They were completely different, and so he decided to explain his point of view to Alyssa, "Alyssa, you're being too hard on yourself. I have no more experience as a military leader than you do. To imply that my former position as Hoenn Champion, which denoted me as little more than a strong Pokemon trainer would make me more qualified, makes no sense whatsoever."

[atrb=cellspacing,4,bTable][atrb=width,400,bTable][atrb=border,0,bTable]

[atrb=width,100%][atrb=vAlign,top] nemo sailing home name for evermore words: 359 tag: Alyssa notes: i got nothing credits: katya

[alyssa]

[atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=width,350][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true] [style=font-family: times new roman; font-size: 23px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-style: bold;]I know no bounds [/style] Alyssa stifled an embarrassed grunt at his congratulations, feeling her cheeks flush some at his acknowledgement of her position. "Wallace please..." she murmured, keeping his gaze. "You've been my friend for years, don't go seeing me any differently now that I'm in this position." The words were practically hushed under her breath. The new Leader couldn't help but roll her eyes a little at Wallace's statement. She understood his point clearly, though she had a feeling she'd misunderstood the thoughts associated with her pointed stare. "And you think having someone who had gone missing for the past few years without hardly a word to anybody associated with her makes more sense?" She let a small smirk tug at her lips. "It doesn't. I put my name in the ballot for potential election to the position of Leader so Hoenn didn't fall into the hands of someone who doesn't give a damn about it and was just after power." She tucked her hands into her pockets before turning to face the city skyline behind which the sun was setting, "Regardless of what let you take up the cape as Champion, it's still one grade better than me. As a Champion you were hailed as the strongest person in the region, yes, but being a Champion is more than just your strength as a trainer. It's about your strength of character, too." She sighed and closed her eyes, lifting a hand to gently scratch the cheek of the silent Mudkip on her shoulders. "Managing to become a Champion like you did proved that you had the needed mindset, power, and determination to take a position as weighty in responsibility as that...you didn't just get it because you have a pretty resumé on paper or social power and money like these false Champions Lux have." Alyssa turned back to her friend, opening her eyes to look at him again. "That's why I think you'd do better than I would...you have more experience being in a position of higher responsibilities. But, I wouldn't want you to become more of a target than you already potentially are - I imagine Lux wasn't happy with losing someone as valuable as yourself."

[atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=width,125] [style=font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 3px; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -20px;]Team, Shiny!Mudkip, Shiny!Charizard, Blaziken tags, Garth as Wallace notes, flashback: 1 year, 1 month ago // writing Alyssa pre-loads-of-battles is a bit awk, sorry ✲ AMB Tanz [/style]

[wallace2]

[atrb=cellspacing,5,bTable][atrb=border,0,bTable][atrb=width,400,bTable] oh how i wish for soothing rain all i wish is to dream again

It was at this point that Wallace had come to a reasonable conclusion. Which was that he and Alyssa would accomplish nothing by continuing in this debate. Clearly each of them thought better of the others accomplishments and titles. Granted, Wallace supposed that there was a possibility that Alyssa was merely praising him out of politeness, and didn't actually believe much of what she had just said, but he considered that possibility to be extremely remote. Wallace said to Alyssa, "Perhaps it would be best to continue this debate at a later time. I can easily see both of us standing here all night arguing and accomplishing nothing as a result." Wallace paused for a moment thinking about how to change the subject of discussion before continuing. "I won't lie, I did see a small amount of nobility in Lux's goals prior to rejecting their offer. Having witnessed the near destruction of the world at the hands of Team Magma and Team Aqua, I can personally attest to the need for more security in the world to make sure crime syndicates don't run wild, and while I don't agree with their methods, I do believe that common ground between us and them can be found in that regard."

[atrb=cellspacing,4,bTable][atrb=width,400,bTable][atrb=border,0,bTable]

[atrb=width,100%][atrb=vAlign,top] nemo sailing home name for evermore words: 201 tag: Alyssa notes: sorry about the short post credits: katya

[alyssa]

[atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=width,350][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true] [style=font-family: times new roman; font-size: 23px; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 2px; font-style: bold;]I know no bounds [/style] Alyssa raised her eyebrows, We were having a debate? she asked silently, her eyebrows raised slightly as to convey her mild curiosity (or perhaps it was better called confusion) to Wallace. Furthermore, arguing? She rolled her eyes in vague amusement, reminding herself that her friend had always seemed to be a tad more sensitive to the sort of conversation passing between them than she ever was, even as a child. …that, or her social skills had suffered far more than she realized when she isolated herself from the world to do no more than train. ”In my opinion, all crime syndicates are scum.” her lips curled in the utmost distaste for the teams – namely Aqua and Magma. ”Those who upset the balance in the world for the sake of attaining a harmony they believe is better for themselves than the rest of the world deserve the punishment landed upon them by the few heroes that stepped up in the regions.” The Leader dropped her hands to her sides before staring at the ground, pushing some sand around with the toe of her sneaker. ”But…I agree with what you said.” She felt like the world punched her in the stomach for admitting she agreed with some of Lux’s ideals. ”…for all we know, Magma and Aqua may be trying to re-build their presence in the world and wait for the right time to reveal themselves.” Her fists clenched by her sides, ”If I get so much as a whiff of ill intentions, I’ll personally crush them.” Alyssa gave herself a shake, looking back up at Wallace with a bit of a wry smirk, ”Hey, maybe they’ll decide they don’t like Lux either and fight to get rid of them on the side of Lux. Teamwork!” The faux-enthusiasm she added to those words was sarcasm at its finest.

[atrb=vAlign,top][atrb=width,125] [style=font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 3px; text-transform: lowercase; margin-top: -20px;]Team, Shiny!Mudkip, Shiny!Charizard, Blaziken tags, Garth as Wallace notes, lol it's okay // flashback: 1 year, 1 month ago // writing Alyssa pre-loads-of-battles is a bit awk, sorry ✲ AMB Tanz [/style]