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"Noire, Wing Attack. Acier, Iron Defense."

The Zubat ducked down out of the skies, striking the Aron as its small body hardened in defense. The collision rang out like the sound of metal striking metal, and Noire's dark form returned to heavens, his body silhouetted by the starlight. Aila looked on critically, her finger tapping against the surface of a third pokeball as she toyed with the idea of releasing its occupant. The Aron, despite the measures taken against its opponent's attack, was shuddering from the blow. It would never get stronger if she coddled it, though, and so she continued.

"Noire, Bite."

The pokemon descended once more, its wide mouth gaping.

"Acier, Iron Head."

Summoning his courage, Acier propelled himself forward when the Zubat was within range. The result was a confused Aron with an even more confused Zubat attached to its head. Aila sighed and moved forward to separate the two, leaving small footprints in the desert sand in her wake.

"You two look ridiculous." She pulled at Noire's mouth until he was freed, at which point the bat pokemon darted back upwards indignantly. She glared at the Aron briefly before returning to her previous post.

"Let's try that again."

Aila turned towards the Pidgeotto's coo, Noire and Acier following her gaze. There was in fact a bird there, and a trainer was with it. She watched them for a moment before deciding that their presence was of little concern and returning her attention to her own pokemon.

"Acier, bat from the side instead of striking head-on. I want to see that maneuver again."

"Zu!" Were Noire not in flight, a salute would have accompanied his declaration. He turned back towards the Aron and swooped forward again. The small steel-type braced himself, gearing up to parry, and lost his nerve a split second before impact. He darted out of the Zubat's path, gazing up at the girl with fearful blue eyes.

"Ar, aron!" His old human never made him do such dangerous stunts...

"That was wrong altogether," Aila criticized. "What if we were in the middle of a mission? You can't just run away. Not from practice, not from battle, not from anything. Get back in there."

Missions? Battle? It all sounded so scary! Acier was delighted to be outside for a change, but why did he have to do so many dangerous things? Couldn't they just enjoy the moonlit desert? He scampered off towards Tambrey, hoping to find more sympathy in this recent arrival than he found in his trainer.

"Zubat! Zu!" Noire circled close to Aron and, by property of association, to the woman and the bird. Retreat was cowardice! Cowardice was disgrace! Glory could only be found from victory, and victory could only be found from battle, so what was the point in fleeing?

Aila strode forward to collect her Aron. "Sorry for the intrusion," she said passingly, quickly turning her attention to the little pokemon. "I brought you outside so you would be more compliant. If you don't want to cooperate, I'll just leave you in the room next time."

Acier deflated, looking between Tambrey and his own human. He wanted to stay outside, but why did that have to mean fighting? Noire descended and perched on Aila's shoulder to judge of the steel-type's actions from a closer distance. His lack of eyes made the disapproving frown slightly difficult, but he made up for it by lowering his large ears against his head.

The Aron whimpered. He didn't care who was disappointed. Sparring was scary. Fighting was scary. His old trainer had never asked so many scary things of him. Aila sighed in mild irritation as tears shimmered in the steel-type's eyes. She detached a pokeball from her side and held it out, recalling Acier into its confines. There would be no working with the pokemon when it was in such a state, and the training hadn't been going well anyway.

"I see." She watched as the Pidgeotto wheeled in the sky, and she returned Acier's ball to her hip, removing the pokeball she had been fiddling with earlier with the thought that its occupant would take the Aron's place. "Yes, that would be correct. He was obtained on a recent training mission. He'll acclimate to his new surroundings soon, I'm sure." She pressed the release, and her own Pidgeotto took to flight, spreading gold and white wings. He regarded the other bird with curiosity but was distracted by his trainer's words.

"Gui, we're training." She glanced at Tambrey before she moved to return to her impromptu battlegrounds. "You're welcome to join us, if you'd like." Battling was always more effective against another than against oneself, after all.

"That's true," she said thoughtfully, remembering the Lairon the hiker had also had in his possession. She had read about Aggron as well, though the notion that the timid little Aron could become such a powerful beast seemed almost foreign. "I wonder if he even has the will to evolve. I suppose I'll have to work with him outside of missions until he's gained some confidence..." It was more effective to teach them in trial-by-fire, but she couldn't risk the little steel-type slipping out from sheer cowardice.

Aila tilted her head just slightly as the other Rocket passively accepted the invitation, turning next to her own Pidgeotto, "Gui, nous allons à la bataille. Vous opposez-vous?"

The flying-type trilled momentarily, shaking his head 'no.' He was all right with battling from time to time, though he preferred to reserve his strength for when it was needed.

"Very well, then," Aila said with a nod. "One-on-one?"