[Rory Leonhardt]

Rory officially had six pokemon and felt confident in their skills enough to try and get their first real badge. They heard that these battles can be tough so they hoped they were good enough for the challenge. If not they could always try again, which was good but they wanted to get the first badge on their first try.

After a long trek from the Nature Dorm to the Wave Dorm, Rory went to the desk and asked for the Warden to challenge them. The people at the dorm told them to stay put while they get into contact with the warden. Rory took a seat and thought about it. They were really gonna go through with it. 

They weren't nervous....well maybe a little but they wanted to have fun and if they won that would be cool too if they lost they'd need to train more. For now they sat in the chair and thought about what strategy they would use. Of course this was the Wave dorm so Rory expected a lot of Water pokemon. Good thing they caught Tesla when they did. She could be one of the three pokemon they would choose to battle with. And of course they would use Ivory, she's been looking for a real fight for the longest. Now all they needed to do was figure out the last pokemon. They were now in deep thought as they mulled over possible candidates.

[Seth Silvester]

“A first gym battle,” Seth repeated, acknowledging the receptionist who found him sitting outside on the patio, paperwork spread out before him. “Yes, that’s fine. I can proctor this battle.” He smiled pleasantly at the older woman as she left him to compose himself and meet the student. The secretary had left Seth with the name of the inquiring student, Rory Leonhardt, and it was this name he mulled over as he collected his papers. The student wasn’t one of Seth’s wards, he knew the Wave students well, nor was the name an infamous one amongst Warden gossip (which was not inherently a bad thing). Either way, Seth was curious to see where this student came from and what skills they possessed.

Storing his papers away in a leather briefcase, Seth slung the strap over his shoulder and entered the Wave building. He had all the pokemon he would need to do this battle and, of course, he had his Milotic just in case the student decided to use something more intimidating. Given that this was a first gym badge battle, Seth doubted Rory would have anything beyond a middle evolution so the man wasn’t worried. Still, he would rather have Sonnet than not have her. Seth always came prepared.

Working his way to the lobby, Seth noticed a Nature student sitting by themselves. Rory was fair in appearance, feminine even, and looked locked in his own thoughts. “Rory Leonhardt?” Seth questioned, walking over, his pace quick and authoritative. “The secretary told me you’re here for your first gym battle? My name is Seth Silvester and I’ll be the Warden you’re challenging today.” He stuck his hand out for Rory to shake once the student stood.

“If you’d like to follow me then we can go to one of the battle rooms downstairs,” the man informed, motioning over to a door which led downstairs. While Seth often liked his battles outside, he decided a change in view would be nice enough. Plus, a starter battle didn’t need to include environmental factors or the like to impact the field. Today’s battle would be basic. “This will be a 3v3, no items, lowest tier pokemon battle. Do you have any questions before we head down?”

[Rory Leonhardt]

Rory was still in their thoughts but the snapped from them and looked up to see someone standing before them. He introduced himself as Seth Silvester and he was going to be proctoring Rory's battle today. Rory nodded, standing up and shaking the other's hand.

"It's nice to meet you Seth."

The blonde followed the warden once they were beckoned to follow him. They were a little relieved that they didn't have to battle outside. Then they'd would've have to taken weather and environment into account when making a next move. As they were making their way down stairs Seth explained the rules of the battle 3 on 3, low tiered, no items. Seems easy and fair enough. Rory nodded once he was done explaining.

"I understand the rules and I have no further questions, thank you."

Rory wasn't nervous anymore, they were just too pumped now to be scared. But they couldn't help but noticed how calm everything is just before the storm of a battle would begin.

----------------
~Battle Music~

[Seth Silvester]

“A pleasure,” Seth responded, his official tone lightened by the smile on his face. He led them downstairs, taking a corner and opening another door to reveal a decent sized gymnasium. The walls were a light blue, the wave motif found upstairs also painted down here. The lighting was substantial and gave a hazy tinge as not to make it feel too desolate given it being a basement. Oddly enough, with the walls, the lighting, the chilly air conditioning, and being so isolated from the rest of the dorms, it almost felt as if you were standing under water. As if you were battling at the bottom of the ocean, light filtering down onto you and the sand.

Nodding over at Rory, Seth motioned over to the far end of the arena. “I’ll stand over there and you can take your place here. Whenever you’re ready you can bring out your first partner and begin. You’ll have the first move as well seeing as it’s your first gym battle.” Before Seth took his place, he smiled at Rory. “You must be very excited. Good luck,” he said encouragingly.

Once Seth found his own place at the edge of the arena, he released the pokemon he intended on battling with first. Appearing before them was a Snorunt, off colored, and the only “shiny” pokemon Seth would ever own. Personally, he had seen too many younger students traipsing around with shiny pokemon that, to Seth, they weren’t worth anything. A saturated market, his father would have said. But Himalayas was Seth favorite of his lower tier pokemon and it was partially due to his abnormal blue coloring.

“Alright, Himalayas, ready to test our opponent?”

His Snorunt shivered enthusiastically.

[Rory Leonhardt]

Rory looked around the arena and noticed that feeling of being underwater. It was serene and so calm, much better to focus on the battle in then being outside. Rory was very much fond of how the lights changed the colors on them so fluidly, they did get that feeling of water somehow. Rory perked up as the Gym Leader spoke about taking his position over there while Rory would take the opposite end. When they were ready they could start off the battle since it was their first time. That was lovely, Rory nodded and took the position on the other end. Rory took out a pokeball, one that felt so familar in their hands and tossed it out to the field.

"Okay Ivory let's start of the battle."

The pokeball opened and a Mawile appeared in the middle of the arena, she turned her head away from the snorunt and looked at Rory, nodding most enthusiastically and the gaping maw that was facing the snorunt snapped very dangerously. Mawile's Intimidation ability just kicked in as she did this.

"Okay since you said that I have the first move I'll take it right now. Okay Ivory use Iron Defense!"

The Mawile began to glow as it seemed like the skin on her body hardened to that of steel plates on an armor.

---

Rory sent out Mawile!

Mawile's Intimidate lowers the opponent's attack by .5!

Mawile used Iron Defense (100% Accuracy) and increased defense by two stages!

Current Stats

Defense: +2

[Kitten4u]

Since it's been almost 3 weeks since this thread last updated, Seth forfeits the battle and Rory is able to claim a Water Dorm badge.