Open for Business [Celadon City Gym] [Open]

Life at the Pokemon League was too boring. The same thing happened every day. Hopeful trainers would blaze through, she'd beat them down (or get beat down and chase them into the next room), somebody would tell her to put the swords away, rinse and repeat. It was why Beatrice put in an official request for a two-week vacation, where she could get her fill of adventure before settling back into the daily grind. Her first stop was where she grew up.

She hesitated to call it her hometown. Home implied there was somewhere or some people to go back to. The condo she grew up in was occupied by someone else now, and with her siblings elsewhere, it wasn't really home. Her hometown were the routes and roads she slept on, cuddled up between Kage and Sakura, clutching the building case of badges for her life.

Bee stands in front of the gym, accompanied by her watchful Greninja. Here she was, coming full circle, visiting one of the first gyms she beat as a trainer, now as an elite. She could tell Kage remembered it. The way he flinched at the door sliding open was proof.

"Oy, you!"

The elite points an accusing finger at the woman who just emerged from the gym. Kage's eyes flick to ensure his trainer isn't doing something dumb. Bee sets a hand on her sheathed katana's handle, and Kage palms his face.

"Where's the gym leader around here? I gotta give 'em a good welcome to the league!" She's all smiles as she shouts. This vacation's gonna be great.

Heather Brion

Why, yes, she was the first person to challenge this new gym leader! And she was going to provide a good, clean fig--did she just call her a ninja?

"Did you just call me a ninja." It's a flat statement, punctuated by Bee's unimpressed stare and crossed arms. Even Kage was surprised at the name, leaning back and blinking to ensure his perceptions weren't messed up. Things just got weirder when the supposed leader walked around and sized her up like a piece of rainbow meat. Beatrice self-consciously dusted a bit of dirt off her shoulder and adjusted her belt.

The study went on for an awkwardly long time, even for her. Just as she was about to make some snarky comment about taking a picture, the girl snapped out of it. "The name's Bee," she replied, grabbing Heather's hand and shaking it firmly, "I'm not here to challenge you, just a friendly battle to see how things're run around here, you know?" Though her appearance was rather distinct, this girl didn't immediately recognize her as a member of the Elite 4, so she purposely omitted that information. Maybe she'd be more confident about a random challenger.

She straightened up and gave Kage a good pat on the back. The Greninja didn't flinch. "So what, you wanna do it out here or in there?" asked the elite, "'cause this guy's ready for battle whenever you are."

"Grenn," he deadpans.

Heather Brion

Polite and able to admit when she messed up. Beatrice thought the girl needed a little more blinding pride in her own abilities, but the league admins probably appreciated a humble leader. Bee held up a strand of her rainbow hair and raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like a ninja to you?" Kage, meanwhile, shrugged the apology off. No harm done.

The pair hurried after the exuberant gym leader, Beatrice with much more enthusiasm than the fast walking Greninja. On her side of the field, Bee stuck her hands in her pockets, and observed the area. The trees towering above them would be good cover for Kage, but a fire hazard for Inu, and as much as she loved a good explosion, she didn't want her first interaction with a new leader to involve extensive property damage. It would be interesting to see how she dealt with a type advantage, as well. She glanced to the frog at her side. He nodded.

"Sounds good to us," she announced, grinning. Beatrice cracked her knuckles and gave her partner a good nudge. With a noise that could almost be described as a sigh, he stepped into the battlefield. Just before placing foot in the brook, he crouched into a fighter's stance, one hand braced against the ground. "I'm keeping my second a secret for now, so, your move." Beatrice stretched her arms out lazily. "I wanna see how you fight."

Heather Brion

A Grovyle, huh? Being one of the first few gyms in the region, Beatrice figured the leader would be facing weaker trainers, but to not use a fully evolved Pokemon was still strange, in her opinion. Kage thought it was odd, as well; he raised a brow at the choice and sized up his opponent.

"Good luck to you, too," grinned Beatrice. Ahh, the enthusiasm of beginners was always wonderful. She adjusted her belt of Pokeballs. Kage glanced back, looking for some kind of leadership. With Bee's nod, he leaped into the air.

"Kage, start off with the usual."

"Gre!"

The Greninja spread his arms out at the highest point of his jump. Caltrops spread all over the battlefield and forest from under his arms, the spiky points littering the ground. Anybody that set foot in the arena would have to keep a close eye on the flooring to avoid piercing their foot. It was nothing to the frog; Kage landed perfectly on one foot in the middle of all them, palms pressed together. His gaze flicked towards the Grovyle, daring her to move.

Heather Brion