Post by Gemini on Aug 14, 2012 11:20:02 GMT -5
| [atrb=style,background-color: #5e5e5e,true][atrb=style,text-align:justify,true][atrb=width,500,true][atrb=border,0px solid,true][atrb=cellpadding,10px,true][atrb=style, border-radius: 1em; -moz-border-radius: 1em; border: 1px solid #454545,true] [tr] Jason “Ace” Astrum |
| How long had it been? Almost nine years? Man, time sure does fly, doesn’t it? Ace never truly understood the meaning behind those words until right about that moment, maybe a little before. The last time he’d been in Caligo, he’d hardly even been a man. But he’d grown up since then. He was no longer the same smart-mouthed kid he used to be. His mother had been ecstatic when he walked through the door to their home earlier that afternoon. It took most of his efforts to stop her tears, which proved difficult as Sam eventually burst into her own fit of tears. Ace hated seeing his little sister cry, though there was a broad smile plastered on her face as the waterworks spilled. It was a happy reunion for the family. As usual, however, John was not around when Ace returned home. He had actually planned his arrival to be around what his father’s schedule used to be. If the old man was at the gym, it would be the perfect second stop. And what better way to greet the old trainer than with a battle? It will be Ace’s first official gym battle, but he hoped it would also be his last. Ace was going to take over his father’s gym. It wasn’t that John wasn’t already aware of Ace’s intentions. As the smart-mouthed child he used to be, Ace had often proclaimed that he would take his father’s legacy someday. But would his father still believe those words true after all that had happened? Hopefully one look at Ace’s determined expression would be all the answer John would need. With one last deep breath, Ace opened the doors to the gym, bathing its interior with sunlight. A sudden rush of memories slammed into Ace, leaving him motionless for a few moments. There was an older scent to the air than what he remembered, but it was still the same ‘gym’ smell he remembered. Even though everything was dark—as his father preferred—Ace had little doubt that everything was exactly the same. He smiled faintly, closing his eyes as he stood. In his mind, he navigated the gym, making it all the way to where his father stood. Keeping his eyes shut, Ace started moving through the gym. He’d explored the gym so often as a child that he knew every ounce of that gym. The only one in town who knew it better was his father himself. The door shut behind him with a heavy sound, echoing through the dark gym. He paused, listening. After straining for a few minutes, he could hear the faint breathing of someone up ahead. His target was at the back of the building. If he absolutely had to, he would fight every trainer along the way, but he had a feeling the trainers wouldn’t bother him in the least. He wasn’t one of the usual victims that stepped into the darkness of the gym. He was there to replace a worn out link in the chain of command. Maybe John knew that Ace was coming. As he expected, none of the trainers of the gym challenged him. He could hear them breathing as he passed them, but not a single one leapt out with the usual declaration of battle. He could have sworn that one had even wished him luck. He ignored the words, hoping they really had been his imagination. Only when he reached the very back of the gym did Ace open his eyes. The darkness was torn apart by the large window at the rear of the building, as well as the skylight overhead, granting the area with a natural glow of the afternoon sun. Ace didn’t even blink as he strode forward. If his father had not been expecting him, now was his only chance at surprise. “John Astrum, I challenge you for leadership of this gym.” Ace grabbed one of the Pokéballs from his belt, pressing the tiny button to make the ball swell to normal size. “Will you accept my challenge, Father?” words:: |
tag::[/color] John Astrum
ooc::[/color] I would assume, as this battle is not for a badge, that Ace can just go right to John. If he has to beat up on the trainers along the way, I can change the post XD[/font][/blockquote][/td][/tr][/table][/center]