PTU: Now or Never

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
7:56 AM

You really expected more from the competition, both the event and your opponents. The first round of the Rising Stars tournament in Kintery Stadium really wasn't much to watch; perhaps that's why few people did. If friends or family came to watch your matches, they may very well have been in the stands alone. One round of head-to-head battles in the dark of morning whittled the competition down from sixteen competitors to eight. The event was completely without ceremony, which took a bit of the wind out of your sails, but still: a win's a win, and the victory felt great regardless of how many empty seats there were. You're one step closer to the prize.

Kintery Stadium is absolutely beautiful. Your pokemon are currently being treated by expert professionals in the in-house Pokemon Center. The locker room area features dark hardwood lockers, flat-screen TVs and comfy leather couches, a jacuzzi and complete weight room down the hall, and an intricate carpet flooring with the blue and gold cursive A. This logo, of course, symbolizes the Amarnath City Gym and its established core of Gym Trainers. The lockers you use today aren't yours; instead, engraved above each in gold plating are some very famous names: Jeremy Rivets, Victoria Hu, the Feather sisters Kim and Ashley... there's a lot of history in these halls. You can feel it in every step you take.

Bright futures are ahead for you, certainly, but the same cannot be said for the eight defeated competitors packing their bags and licking their wounds. Across the room from Aran is the very disgruntled owner of a Patrat. You hear him mutter curses to himself as he violently stuffs clothes and pokeballs into a sports bag. Flanking him are two more competitors, the owners of a Stunky and Shellder who fell to Abigail and Angela respectively. They seem like they expected to lose from the start and are just happy to be in Kintery Stadium for the hour. A fourth boy is coincidentally seated right next to the girl who bested him, Karen. He seems too nervous or embarrassed to speak to anyone. The irate girl Zwei defeated handily is already gone, having stormed off in a rage as soon as her pokemon fell to the turf. Three other boys and girls are on their way out as well. For them the day is over, but for the remaining eight, the next round of battles begins in one hour.

[Arcran]

Aran sits in the Pokemon Center, still breathing a little heavily. While Kibau had completely dominated the battle in their first fight, Aran had been faced with a bit more difficulty. It was hard dashing around the battlefield trying to stay a step ahead of the other guy! Especially when your BMI was past what most calculators did.

Despite his reasons for entering the tournament, Aran can't help but feel a little bad for the Trainer with a Patrat. He (fortunately) still had an hour until the next battle with more than a little time to kill. Aran slowly stands up and waddles towards the Patrat trainer, looking up at him from his rather low vantage point.

"You, uh, battled really well," Aran says, averting his eyes from the Patrat Trainer. "I'm sure that you'll be better than me in no time," the chubby boy says, intending it as a compliment and not realizing how cocky it was until after he said it. Still, he keeps his ham-like arm extended outward, ready to shake hands with his past competitor.

[Zelphas]

Angela had gotten the shots of the locker room that she wanted the moment that she had stepped in before her first match, so now she is simply sitting, giving off an air of relaxed confidence. Inwardly, however, the girl is a mess of nerves and furious strategizing. She had caught every other prelim round that she could, giving the excuse of a freelance photographer to sneak in, and had taken several good photos she might be able to sell later; still, Angela knows that most of her hopes rested on winning this tournament. That is, her hopes rested on the money she would make by winning this tournament. She had drained her account to afford the gear she needed; that money would mean lots more security in traveling from place to place. Otherwise, she would have to hoof it, and Angela was a city girl through and through; her father hadn't exactly been the camping type.

Angela shakes her mind to clear it from the gloomy, painful mess that was her father, glancing over at her last opponent. A thought strikes her, and she pulls out her camera. "Hey, good match," she says, speaking sincerely. That Shellder had been pretty hard to crack, and Butler had taken several shots of water to the face; not that she had doubted him for a second, of course. "I do a little bit of photography for the Amaranth Gazette, and I was wondering if I could get a pic of you and your Shellder, for tomorrow's paper." Anything for a little more traveling money, right?

To get a pic of the Shellder girl without insulting her: [roll0]

[Boolprop]

"Her anger clouded her heart. Her mindset was nasty! Tasteless, boom!" Zwei said to Vincent, as both are being treated by the expert professionals. The battle with the irate girl was bleak, her anger made it easy for Zwei to read her moves and to counter. Unfortunately for her Pokémon, Vincent was able to defeat efficiently due to it's trainer's lack of composure. "A Pokémon battle is like cooking, you must understand the ingredient's mind to bring out it's full flavor." Zwei said sagely as he folds his arms. Vincent nods as he pulls up and readjust his rubbery-like elastic pants. Zwei would have liked to speak with the girl after the battle, but unfortunately she stormed off as quickly as the matched ended.

"Rest up my friend, for there is more to come." With Vincent's treatment underway, Zwei thanked the professional and heads to the locker room. Looking around the locker room, Zwei observes the remaining trainers.

[INoKnowNames]

Between impressing her mother enough to be allowed to go on vacation with her friend in the first place, waking up on time despite having forgot to set her alarm, and barely managing to arrive 2 minutes before the event starts, recently Abigail's life seems like a series of fortunate events. Still, her luck could change at any time, much as did the poor Stunky that was to defeat Rachael, only to lose himself at the cusp of victory due to a single lucky shot.

Abigail wanted little more than to wait right outside the operating room for her faithful companion to be healed, but knew to leave it up to the properly trained care takers at the facility. While waiting in the locker room, she observes a familiar face, but before Abigail can talk to her, she also notices some of the other trainers who advanced talking to those who they defeated, and felt compelled to do so herself, before speaking to her friend.

"Um, thank you for a good match..." she stammers to the boy who entered with a Stunky, after nervously taping him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry that you couldn't go on further; you're a good trainer, and your Pokemon was well taken care for." she complements him, bowing slightly and trying not to quiver for approaching a stranger at all.

[Yodas_Free_Boat]

Karen Green can't help but smile as she basks in the joy of the moment. Professor Cedar had trusted her enough to give her an Eevee, her very first pokemon, and let her go off on an adventure. She'd managed to stumble unto a tournament, and had gotten past the first round. And to top it off, Abigail Joy, One of her best friends from Lovaton is here at the tournament, and had even made it into the second round too.

Looking over at the boy sitting next to her, the boy that she trounched in the torunament, Karen feels a small twinge of sympathey. She can tell that this tournament meant alot to him.

A stray throat crosses her mind 'I know I would hate to be in his place; sitting here, waiting for my Euclid to get healed up, just sitting in silence and stewing on my loss.'

A sympathetic smile flashes across her face as she looks over at the boy.
"Hey now buddy, You and your lillipup put up a great fight." She says as she pats the boy on his knee. "Just go out there, train a litttle bit more, and you'll knock this tournament out of the park next time around."

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
7:57 AM


"You, uh, battled really well," Aran says, averting his eyes from the Patrat Trainer. "I'm sure that you'll be better than me in no time," the chubby boy says, intending it as a compliment and not realizing how cocky it was until after he said it. Still, he keeps his ham-like arm extended outward, ready to shake hands with his past competitor.

"Damn right I'm better than you!" The boy furiously looks up from his bag to stare daggers at Aran. "F*ckin' idiot don't patronize me." He stomps across the room to grab something, or maybe he just wants to stomp, and brushes Aran's hand away. "F*ckin' sand attack, seriously? Fight like a man you coward." Steam pours from his ears.


Angela shakes her mind to clear it from the gloomy, painful mess that was her father, glancing over at her last opponent. A thought strikes her, and she pulls out her camera. "Hey, good match," she says, speaking sincerely. That Shellder had been pretty hard to crack, and Butler had taken several shots of water to the face; not that she had doubted him for a second, of course. "I do a little bit of photography for the Amaranth Gazette, and I was wondering if I could get a pic of you and your Shellder, for tomorrow's paper." Anything for a little more traveling money, right

"Yeah, sure!" The boy whips around in his seat with with a smile, "Well, he's getting patched up right now from what your machop did, but after, yeah! Was that your first trainer battle, too?"


"Um, thank you for a good match..." she stammers to the boy who entered with a Stunky, after nervously taping him on the shoulder. "I'm sorry that you couldn't go on further; you're a good trainer, and your Pokemon was well taken care for." she complements him, bowing slightly and trying not to quiver for approaching a stranger at all.

"Oh it's okay. It was a good fight!" The boy nods earnestly. "I've never even seen your pokemon before. I had no idea what to do!" He laughs at his own futility. "What was that, a kirlia?"


A sympathetic smile flashes across her face as she looks over at the boy.
"Hey now buddy, You and your lillipup put up a great fight." She says as she pats the boy on his knee. "Just go out there, train a litttle bit more, and you'll knock this tournament out of the park next time around."

"I dunno," the kid sighs. You're all the same age, but his size and demeanor manages to make him seem years younger. "I didn't even get through the first fight." He looks over his shoulder toward the healing station down the hall. "Curly probably hates me now..."

Across the room, girl emerges from the washrooms and casually flops onto the couch on her back with her legs hanging over the armrest. She turns the television on the with the flick of a remote and a dazzling screen of red and blue appears. Apparently finding something she likes, she smirks.

http://i.imgur.com/t4nlrmb.png

[Zelphas]

"Oh, of course, I forgot," Angela says, returning the boy's smile. "Well, I'll hopefully get a shot of you both before my next match.

"Yeah, we've never been in a... official battle before this," She replies, her smile growing a bit forced as unpleasant memories rise up again. Is everything going to remind me of him today? she thinks, more annoyed than upset.

The TV flipping on catches her attention, and she glances over the listings. "You did pretty awesome; another few rounds, and Butler would've been in trouble," she continues to Kevin, her smile genuine once more. "I hate to just run off, but time to scope out the competition," she says with a wink, getting up. "I'll get that pic with you and your Shellder--what's his name, by the way?--once he gets out of healing."

Angela then walks over to Abigail, having caught the tail end of her match earlier. "Hey, I'm Angela Dawson. It looks like we're going to be opponents next," she says with a bright smile, thrusting her hand out to Abigail. "I thought Kirlia were, y'know, bigger than her Pokemon, but I might be wrong; an earlier evolution, maybe?" she half-answers the other boy's question, raising an eyebrow quizzically at Abigail.

[Arcran]

"Sorry," Aran quickly says, pulling his hand back. "I wasn't trying to be mean, I promise," he states, tears coming to his eyes. Why couldn't somebody be alright with losing just once? Whenever somebody lost to one of their friends it was no big deal but when somebody loses to Piggy suddenly it's the end of the world. Why couldn't somebody treat him like a real Trainer just this once?

Aran looks away, doing his best to not let the other boy see the tears; those would just get him made fun of. As he does so Aran catches sight of the TV, seeing the next round. As he sees his opponent's name appear Aran gulps, not having any idea exactly who Karen is but figuring that, in a battle, she'd probably be able to beat him. After all, he'd had to cheat with Sand Attack to win the first one, right?

"Good luck," Aran mutters under his breath, not wanting to get yelled at again as he walks away, trying to find a secluded corner where he can mentally try to prepare for the next fight.

[INoKnowNames]

Though still fighting back the red subconsciously pooling in her face, Abigail shares in the boy's laugh as he misjudges Rachael's species. Before she can answer, however, she notices one of the trainers who fought after her, arguing with the boy who defeated him, and taking his loss like a Mankey. Abigail actually finds herself staring at the scene, her brow furrowed in concern, until another trainer approaches her directly.

Abigail blushes a bit upon being greeted, but manages a bow regardless. "Oh, hello, Angela. My name is Abigail Joy. And yes, It looks like Rachael, the Ralts, will indeed be facing you and your powerful Machop once the next round begins. May we have a good match with the best of luck." she replies as she modestly returns Angela's handshake with a small yet polite smile, glancing at the other trainer for a moment when emphasizing Rachael's species.

Out of the corner of her eye, Abigail notices what caught her attention earlier; the trainer who was being accosted by a sore loser being moved nearly to tears by the poor conduct of his fallen foe. Her heart nearly snaps as he starts walking away. "Please excuse me." Abigail requests of Angela and the Stunky trainer with another bow.

Looking at the board and having seen the last match after cheering for her friend Karen, Abigail notices that those two will face each other. Steeling herself, she walks over, careful to entirely avoid or ignore the attention of the rude trainer, and pats the short boy on the shoulder. "I think you make a better Rising Star than he would have. I would avoid letting mean people drag you down; their attention isn't worth it. You'll be fighting my best friend next round; win or lose I hope for a good match." she attempts to console him in a whisper.

[Arcran]

Aran looks up at the girl patting him on the shoulder, quickly dragging his sleeve across his eyes. A small part of him is a bit offended that somebody would see him as a little kid that needed a tap on the shoulder but a much greater part of him is happy just to have somebody who cares.

After rapidly attempting to dry his eyes a bit more Aran looks up, his expression serious.

"Thanks," he starts, voice a bit slow. "I'm sorry that I have to battle your friend if she's nice like you. What Pokemon does she use?" the chubby boy asks, doing his best to keep his voice flat and emotionless. He couldn't sound like he was crying (he was an adult, damn it!) and he couldn't sound like he was trying to get information.

[Zelphas]

Angela is about to reply when Abigail excuses herself. She glances over to where she's going to see a chubby boy... wait, was he crying? "But he won his match..." she mutters under her breath, before shaking her head.

She smiles over at Abigail's last opponent. "You wouldn't be able to give me any hints for going up against Abigail, would you?" she says, only half-joking. "Just anything strange you noticed."

[Yodas_Free_Boat]

Pity swells in Karen's eyes as she hears the young man get down on himself. He had bput up a good fight, even if he'd lost, and it tore up Karen to seem him take it out on himself. "Hey now, you did really well. And I'm sure your Lillipup doesn't hate you. It probbably wants to kick as much Butt as you do."

"Here's what I want you to do; Go get Curly, get out of here, go train like you've never trained before, and then come find me. When you're ready, I want a rematch!"
As she gives her little pep-talk, Karen pulls the young man up off the chair, gives him a big bear hug, and then gives him a pat on the butt as though they had just gotten off of a football field.

She writes out the poke-tech number out of a scrap of paper and hands it to the boy with a smile. "Here's my number. Go train for a month or two."

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
7:57 AM


The TV flipping on catches her attention, and she glances over the listings. "You did pretty awesome; another few rounds, and Butler would've been in trouble," she continues to Kevin, her smile genuine once more. "I hate to just run off, but time to scope out the competition," she says with a wink, getting up. "I'll get that pic with you and your Shellder--what's his name, by the way?--once he gets out of healing."

"Clamp!" The boy answers enthusiastically. "Good luck! I'll cheer you on from the stands, Angela!" When she leaves, he goes back to untying his shoes, changing from his competition gear and transistioning into casual attire.


Angela then walks over to Abigail, having caught the tail end of her match earlier. "Hey, I'm Angela Dawson. It looks like we're going to be opponents next," she says with a bright smile, thrusting her hand out to Abigail. "I thought Kirlia were, y'know, bigger than her Pokemon, but I might be wrong; an earlier evolution, maybe?" she half-answers the other boy's question, raising an eyebrow quizzically at Abigail.

The boy, Kevin, excitedly looks up at the two future opponents on either side of him, anticipating some smack talk.


Abigail blushes a bit upon being greeted, but manages a bow regardless. "Oh, hello, Angela. My name is Abigail Joy. And yes, It looks like Rachael, the Ralts, will indeed be facing you and your powerful Machop once the next round begins. May we have a good match with the best of luck." she replies as she modestly returns Angela's handshake with a small yet polite smile, glancing at the other trainer for a moment when emphasizing Rachael's species.

...and is disappointed by the pleasantries exchanged by the girls.

[roll0]

To Aran's surprise, most don't seem to notice him in his emotional state. Even the boy who was yelling at him, who caused these tears, isn't watching him anymore. In fact the only eyes Aran notices are from the tall dark-haired boy in the corner decked head to toe in flashy athletic clothing. He isn't just tall, he has a wide and strong frame, and looks like he could take on a machoke in an arm wrestling contest. He sends a sympathetic look at the stubby kid, but it doesn't stop Aran from breaking eye contact and leaving his spot in the lockers.


She smiles over at Abigail's last opponent. "You wouldn't be able to give me any hints for going up against Abigail, would you?" she says, only half-joking. "Just anything strange you noticed."

"Strange?" Nick laughs. "Just about everything! Good luck fighting something that can do magic."


Pity swells in Karen's eyes as she hears the young man get down on himself. He had bput up a good fight, even if he'd lost, and it tore up Karen to seem him take it out on himself. "Hey now, you did really well. And I'm sure your Lillipup doesn't hate you. It probbably wants to kick as much Butt as you do."

"Here's what I want you to do; Go get Curly, get out of here, go train like you've never trained before, and then come find me. When you're ready, I want a rematch!"
As she gives her little pep-talk, Karen pulls the young man up off the chair, gives him a big bear hug, and then gives him a pat on the butt as though they had just gotten off of a football field.

She writes out the poke-tech number out of a scrap of paper and hands it to the boy with a smile. "Here's my number. Go train for a month or two."

Karen can instantly see her words taking shape in Frank's heart. He stands up with her, and even though he hasn't missed her eye contact since she picked up steam with her speech, he isn't ready for the great big hug she throws on him. She can feel him tense up in her arms, and only just before she pulls away does he seem to grow comfortable. Mouth agape, the boy's eyes dart up between the red-head girl and her note. He flips it over before pocketing it, almost checking to see if it is truly a physical object. "Uhh... th-thanks!" He stammers. He looks as if to lean in for a hug again, thinks differently, and picks up his duffle bag and heads towards the door. "Thanks Karen, I'll- I'll call you!" He beams. "Oh and good luck!"

A group of boys leave the locker area in a ruckus. Most of them were defeated earlier. "Derrick you are..." one loud boy yells towards the shower area. He reads the monitor in excitement, only to deflate upon seeing the schedule, "uhh..." he stammers in anxiety. A few of the other boys huddle around him with similar reactions.

"I'm against who?" A voice from around the corner calls. A tall boy with wet, blonde hair wearing only a towel emerges from the showers. When none of his friends answer, he takes a look for himself. "...Sh*t."

The girl on the couch laughs.

[Boolprop]

As everyone seems to be doing their own thing, Zwei overhears an outburst from two trainers neaby.


"Damn right I'm better than you!" The boy furiously looks up from his bag to stare daggers at Aran. "F*ckin' idiot don't patronize me." He stomps across the room to grab something, or maybe he just wants to stomp, and brushes Aran's hand away. "F*ckin' sand attack, seriously? Fight like a man you coward." Steam pours from his ears.
"Don't be a sourdough. Blaming others only proves that your heart was unable to connect with your Pokémon. Boom!"" Zwei speaks up from where he, clearly it seems the disgruntled trainer's outburst lost his match during the first round. The stubby kid nearby seems to have been the other trainer's opponent. "To denigrate someone's character and call yourself a man? I don't see how you're conducting yourself is being a man." Zwei puts more oomph in his spoken word. Though not trying to defend the stubby kid, Zwei just plainly doesn't like the other trainer's attitude.


"I'm against who?" A voice from around the corner calls. A tall boy with wet, blonde hair wearing only a towel emerges from the showers. When none of his friends answer, he takes a look for himself. "...Sh*t."

The girl on the couch laughs.
Zwei turns his head towards the laughter and sees the television on. Seeing the next series of match up, Zwei grins "Looks like I'm one step closer. Boom!"

[Zelphas]

"Magic, huh?" Angela responds, raising a questioning eyebrow once more. "What do you mean by--"

The small commotion near the TV distracts her, and she watches the toweled boy's reaction to the lineups with interest. "Hey, ah, Nick," she murmurs quietly. "What do you know about the girl on the couch there? What's her name--Vivian?"

[INoKnowNames]

"You're fine. This is the Rising Star Competition; even nice people may have to test themselves against one another." Abigail replies with a smile. "Karen's companion is an Eevee. And though you may not think it during your match, Elucid is one of the cutest little things ever! Though I'm sure you and your partner will do just fine."

Looking over, she notices Angela still talking to Nick, and Karen making friends with the boy she defeated. She then turns to the monitor, to make sure she gets the names right, before continuing her conversation. "If you'd like, Aran, you should introduce yourself to her. She's very friendly. If not, then you should be proud of yourself for making it past the preliminaries, and try to relax for the next hour. It's no good having your Pokemon in peek condition if you aren't." After she finishes talking, she pauses for a second, before leaning in and giving the boy a warm hug. "Good luck." she adds, before walking away waving.

Before she gets to the other side of the room, she snatches an unhappy glance at Tyler, then a curious look at Zwei for calling him out, before continuing to her locker. Grabbing her backpack from it, she contemplates her next action, glancing from Aran to Karen to Angela. Her eyes flutter to the people leaving the shower, only to fly to the ground when one comes out with only the minimal modesty. Abigail's face turns crimson, and she glues her eyes to the interior of her backpack, trying to decide what to do next, but mostly to hide her blushing.

[Arcran]

Aran blinks, surprised to have somebody be so nice to him. Did she not know who he was? Did she just not care?

Even so, Aran can't bring himself to listen to Abigail's advice. While he'd love to try to scope out the competition, what if she was nice? What if she didn't call him Piggy either? If the Trainer he was battling was nice he might actually not want to win and that would be a huge problem.

Instead, Aran waddles downstairs towards the healing machines, planning to wait until his companion was healed and ready for the next battle.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
7:58 AM


"Don't be a sourdough. Blaming others only proves that your heart was unable to connect with your Pokémon. Boom!"" Zwei speaks up from where he, clearly it seems the disgruntled trainer's outburst lost his match during the first round. The stubby kid nearby seems to have been the other trainer's opponent. "To denigrate someone's character and call yourself a man? I don't see how you're conducting yourself is being a man." Zwei puts more oomph in his spoken word. Though not trying to defend the stubby kid, Zwei just plainly doesn't like the other trainer's attitude.

Zwei's words to the job. Aran's former opponent Tyler growls in frustration, but doesn't have a comeback. Instead he turns back to the lockers and mumbles to himself once more.


Zwei turns his head towards the laughter and sees the television on. Seeing the next series of match up, Zwei grins "Looks like I'm one step closer. Boom!"

Some of the boys look up at Zwei, unsure who he is or what he meant. "He must be Zwei," you hear one whisper.

"Yeah, Aran's the fat kid and Wes is the buizel guy," comes the response from another.


The small commotion near the TV distracts her, and she watches the toweled boy's reaction to the lineups with interest. "Hey, ah, Nick," she murmurs quietly. "What do you know about the girl on the couch there? What's her name--Vivian?"

"Oh man, she's got the charizard. I think that Henry kid's gonna be pickin' charred feathers off his zangoose for days!"


Instead, Aran waddles downstairs towards the healing machines, planning to wait until his companion was healed and ready for the next battle.

The healing area down the hall from the other trainers is a very well lit, clinical room. Machines hum and beep in rhythm. Through a cracked door behind the counter you can hear people talking. Perhaps those are the nurses?

[Yodas_Free_Boat]

Karen just smiles and nods to Frank, waving as he makes his way towards the door.
'Now that , let's go toalk to Mrs. Pink' and with that, Karen runs over to Abigail Joy, her best friend from back in Lovaton. And she comes to the girl just in time to see Abigail's face become pinker than her own hair.

"C'mon now Abigal, no blushing here" She teases the smaller woman.

"We're women of the world now" she can't help but nudge her pink-haired friend with her elbow "Or was that story Zane told everyone just a vicious rumor?"

As she's teasing her friend, a though crosses through Karen's mind
'Hehe, Abigal's cute when she's all flustered like that.'
'wait, cute? That's not the word I wanted. Where'd that come from?'

[Zelphas]

Now, in what little time she has spent talking to him, Angela has decided that Nick doesn't know terribly much about Pokemon, especially Pokemon evolution. So when Nick says that her possible next opponent had a 'Charizard', what she hears is 'Whatever comes before that big scary lizard the champs use'. "Sounds dangerous," she responds, sounding much less concerned than she feels. "I bet it's nothing my Butler can't handle, though."

She continues to see if the scene near the monitor unfolds anymore, giving the toweled boy an appreciative glance. You don't see terribly many good-looking men out on the streets.

[Arcran]

While Aran is far more concerned with making sure that Kibau is being alright, eavesdropping is something that comes extremely naturally to him. After all, when most of the other kids bully you incessantly being able to pick up on conversations could save you a swirly.

Without a second though Aran waddles over to the counter, doing his best to listen in on the conversation.

[roll0]

[INoKnowNames]

As her eyes dart back and forth, Abigail manages to see Aran leaving. Her attention is distracted barely enough to lower her guard, and a voice behind her makes Abigail nearly leap out of her skin, the color draining entirely out of her face in the process. "Eep!" She squeals, turning to face the person, only to find herself face to face with her friend. "Ooh! Hello, Karen. I didn't see you there. I was just surprised someone actually used the showers or sauna... not that I blame him..." Abigail remarks. At the mention of Zane, she frowns a little, and holds one arm with the other. "He loves making wild rumors. From the time he said he saw a legendary Pokemon to claiming my hair's dyed..." Abigail mumbles.

Catching herself, she puts on a positive smile and puts her hands on Karen's shoulders. "I almost forgot. I'm sorry I didn't come to you earlier, actually! I wanted to congratulate you on your great match! We were both a bit busy socializing that it almost slipped my mind." she enthusiastically remarks, before pulling herself into a hug with her best friend. "Do you think you'll be able to go all the way? I'm not sure if I can... or even what to do with the rest of my time..."

[Boolprop]

Briefly reading the next set of match ups, Zwei notices the clock nearby. 'While Vincent is being treated, I best relax while I have time.' With that thought in mind, Zwei walks over to his locker and begins to undress. Once he stripped down to his undergarment and place his clothing safely away into his locker, Zwei grabs a towel and heads towards the spa area.

Zwei places his towel by a nearby bench and moves towards an open hot tub. He fiddles with some of the nobs to adjust the hot tub, before submerging himself into the waters. "Hyahyahya! Now that's a hot tub. Boom!" Zwei relaxes himself as the jets in the hot tub massages his body.

Unsure if the locker room are separate or unisex; either way Zwei would have done what he did.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
8:00 AM

"I'll go easy on ya 'D," Vivian teases from the couch, still not respecting her opponent enough to sit up.

Derrick growls, frustrated, and stares at the monitor a bit longer as if the match-up was a mistake.

"You can take her, man!" One boy pipes up.

"Yeah, type advantages are really over-rated!" Another one joins in, not very confident in his own words. A few of the cronies try to justify his comment, but the air seems quite dismal.

Wordlessly Derrick brushes past his friends to the locker area. As he passes by the friends Karen and Abigail, an accurate observer might notice him eye one of the girls up and down approvingly. Once behind them, he cracks open his locker, drops his towel, and starts changing. The boy you've gathered must be Wes gives the nude boy a large berth on his way out towards the main crowd around the TV.

"Yo who's Zwei?" Wes calls out bluntly.

Down the hall, Aran isn't sure if he's mishearing or just doesn't understand what is being said.

"....that's a five P-P...right, bring the....see the fibula....65 over 20 em-em of the R-A-L...."

[Arcran]

Hoping that the nurses weren't talking about Kibau, Aran attempts to sneak closer to the door, trying to get a better grasp of the conversation.

[roll0]

Only have -1 Body, make that 7.

[Zelphas]

Angela's eyes bulge slightly as the boy drops his towel, and she looks away quickly, a light blush on her cheeks. No shame in that one.

"Well, thanks for the... enlightening conversation, Nick," she says, trying her best to sound sincere. "Hey, do you mind if I catch a pic of you and your 'mon once they come out of healing? I might be able to get you two in the paper."

After he answers, Angela simply relaxes until Butler returns, sitting on one of the benches and watching the other contestants.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
8:01 AM

"Really!?" The boy responds with a grin. Seems like everyone loves to be famous, win or lose.

At the healing center, Aran creeps towards the door. He doesn't notice anyone detecting him. The pokemon on the table definitely isn't Kibau the pidgey - it looks like a machop?

[Arcran]

While far less interested now that he knows it isn't his Pokemon, Aran tries to listen in on what the doctors are saying just a little bit more.

[roll0]

[Yodas_Free_Boat]

"Oh c'mon now Joy" Karen says earnestly, giving her friend a pat on the shoulder.

"That's no way to think. Just think passive thoughts. You and Rachel could absolutely make it all the way. " she pauses for a second before breaking out in a comically large grin and assuming a victory position, one of her hands pointing up towards the sky and the other on her hip.

"At least until Euclid and I knock you out of the running!"

[INoKnowNames]

Abigail continues blushing profusely as the rest of the competitors make themselves comfortable. It isn't until Karen's kind words and confident challenge that the red drains a bit from Abigail's face. She giggles a moment at her friend's pose, before looking back at the monitor. "Actually, I don't think we'll be facing each other at all, at least unless the very end if we both make it to the finals. And to do that, we would need to win two more matches each." she remarks, taking a moment to look at some of the others that remain while trying to avoid staring at anyone wearing less clothing than normal. "You and Elucid might be able to do so, but most of these boys seem worried about Vivian. And before facing her or Derrick, Rachael and I would need to fight Angela, too, and she seems skilled as well." Abigail sighs.

"You're right, though, Karen. I'm stressed over nothing, though." she continues with a smile before Karen has a chance to correct her attitude. "I'm just happy to be here with a friend, even if just cheering from the sides. I was thinking about just working on some of my vacation homework until it was time for the next round to begin, but maybe this time is best spent relaxing. I believe I'll enjoy the facilities myself. Maybe you should rest, too, while Elucid and Rachael are being taken care of. If you decide not to join me, then good luck in your next battle, and see you later."

With that, Abigail takes one more cursory look around, then moves to find a bathroom stall. When concealed from view, she fishes through her bag for a change of clothing, and switches from her normal dress to her swimsuit. Covering herself with her spare towel, she moves quickly to return her backpack to the locker she was using, and move to the room where the Jacuzzis are. "Please pardon me." she breathes to anyone present, as she moves to join one of the available pools, only removing her towel once she's ready to get in. Gently folding it and placing it to the side, she slowly lowers herself into the warm waters, and sighs happily as she sits down up to her neck, allowing her pink hair to float on the surface and be tussled about by the bubbles.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
8:03 AM

Closer than before, Aran is sure he hears the doctors debating behind the door on care to give to the machop. He recognizes some of the medical terms from texts he has read. It appears one of the doctors is concerned with the Rising Stars tournament.

"Pokemon this weak shouldn't be put through... what, four rounds of combat in one day?"

"This machop is fighting fit. It's the trainer's deci- "

"You know trainers. They grind their pokemon to dust. And especially these new trainers, with all the cameras in the region pointed on them?"

The other doctor shrugs. "It's the trainer's decision."

Back in the main room, the scene dies down as Derrick mentally prepares for the battle by himself; his friends disperse from the locker rooms after collecting their things, but not before a few of them giving googly eyes to Abigail as she passes down to the hot tubs. The other defeated trainers leave as well, and soon enough, only eight remain. Those still in the competition mostly prepare by themselves silently, whether relaxed like Vivian on the couch, stressed like Derrick in the corner, or rather aloof like Wes checking out photos of Amaranth gym trainers on the walls.

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
8:59 AM

You lose track of time in your thoughts, shaken by the monitor when it flashes to yellow with a two names and a woman's voice announcing the first battle of Round Two. A television in the weight room and rehabilitation room with the hot tubs turns on for the announcement as well.

"Attention Rising Stars,"an unknown woman speaks sweetly, like a mother calling her children down for supper, "The second round of our tournament is about to begin. Please congregate at the pokemon healthcare facility to receive your healthy pokemon. They're ready to continue; I hope you are too! We'll be having our battles one at a time in this round. Karen, Aran, you two are up first. Good luck!"

Back down in the pokemon center, on the counter Aran was eaves-dropping over about an hour ago, a nurse delivers a tray with eight pokeballs, each behind a name tag declaring the owner.


Derrick - Karrablast
Vivian - Charmander
Angela - Machop
Abigail - Ralts
Zwei - Scraggy
Wes - Buizel
Karen - Eevee
Aran - Pidgey

Some of these tags are unnecessary as Derrick's pokeball is significantly scratched up and Wes' has a white streak running diagonally through the shell. Many trainers mark their pokeballs with stickers, draw on them with markers, or have some other way of quickly differentiating between their pokeball and someone else's or a few of their own. Nothing would be more embarrassing (or deadly) than sending the wrong pokemon out into battle!

Feel free to describe your pokeball if it's special (although you all have only a basic pokeball). Not all trainers decorate their ball - as far as you can tell, Vivian's isn't.

[Arcran]

Aran winces as the nurses talk about the Pokemon becoming worn down, a little concerned himself. Was that what he was doing to Kibau? He really hoped it wasn't; the Pidgey was his best friend and making her hurt almost made Aran sick. He didn't know who had the Machop but, at the very least, Aran would try to go easy if he came into a battle with them. The last thing he wanted was the poor Trainer to lose his Pokemon because he was pushing it too hard.

As the Pokeballs arrive Aran quickly grabs Kibau's Pokeball, running his finger over the 希望 he had carved into the Pokeball. The character for hope, and the root for Kibau's name. As he clipped it onto his belt Aran can't help but think that this hopes and dreams might not be enough to let him win this tournament. Still, he'd done what he could. Kibau was fast and her screech could lay low most Pokemon. Sand Attack gave her time to regroup. With some luck he might just win this...

Visibly shaking Aran waddles down the hall, trying to calm his nerves as he approaches the field. He pauses for a second, squeezing his eyes shut and taking a deep breath before waddling once more, albeit faster, towards the field. This was his chance.

[Zelphas]

8:03 AM

Angela gives a wistful glance at the door to the hot tubs, but decides against it. Her camera might not survive the steam, and she doesn't trust anyone here enough to leave it behind.

While she waits for the hour to end up, Angela amuses herself by taking a few more photos of the locker room, making sure to discreetly snatch a shot of the reclining Vivian as she does so.

Spending an AP to take a Photograph of Vivian, and then using the time to put her picture in my Profile Album. I get +2 to Charm, Command, Guile, Intimidate, and Intuition Checks against her from now on.

Stealth Check to keep from being noticed: [roll0]

8:59 AM

Angela smiles as she sees Vivian's card. "Charmander doesn't sound quite as intimidating as Charizard," she murmurs to herself, picking up Butler's slightly battered-looking Poke Ball. Angela walks out to the stadium, seeing if she can get a seat to watch the battle.

[INoKnowNames]

All concerns, be they of her own lack of confidence or the opinions behind the eyes of others, fade entirely away, as Abigail sinks into the warm waters. Though, she is not so lost as to completely ignore time. She actually exists the tubs and redresses herself privately as she did before about 15 minutes before the hour is up, as to be dry and ready to greet her partner when Rachael is done healing. Her remaining time is spent looking at a bit of her homework, which she swiftly puts away when the announcement begins.

Attempting to speed to the downstairs center, Abigail takes a moment to look for her Pokeball. With a smile, she recognizes it before she even reads her nametag, having drawn both Rachael's egg and her own initials on the ball. "Thank you for taking care of her for me." she greats the nurse with a bow as she reclaims the ball. Without hesitation, she taps it's seal with her finger to enlarge it, before pointing it to the ground and opening it, her efforts rewarded with a burst of light. The light forms into the small humanoid shape of a Ralts, who takes one moment to look around before finding and jumping into the waiting arms of her trainer.

"Rachael!" Abigail happily greats her Pokemon as they begin to walk out. "It's great to see you! I'm glad you're okay! I missed you!" she continues praising Rachael, pulling her into a tight hug which she reciprocates to her ability. "Speaking of friends, it looks like Karen and Elucid will be battling next. And their opponent seems like a nice boy, too. We should wish them both the best of luck and a good match. Let's see if we can't find a nice seat." The Feeling Pokemon chirps happily in agreement, and the duo advance toward the stadium.

[Boolprop]

The hot tub is a total bliss. Not only did Zwei enjoyed the warm waters, the tub itself is suited for medical purpose; though Zwei used it as a source of stress relieve. The pressured jets did wonders to massage his muscles, while the apron of his fundoshi dances within the waters.

Stepping out 15 minutes before the hour is up, Zwei felt like a new man. Heading over to his locker, Zwei dries himself before putting on a new dry fundoshi and dress up. He of course tries to have his back face the others as he dresses, in hopes that he doesn't want to spook or weird the others out. Since he've notice some of the contestants seemed more reserved. Once finished, Zwei does a couple of stretches before heading over to the Pokémon center.

Once there, Zwei takes a moment to look for his Pokéball. He quickly looks for the Pokéball with a smooth and glossy finish. Smiling, he palms Vincent's Pokéball, which Zwei have manage to kept polished everyday and have also carved his initials into it. "Thanks for looking after my friend here. Boom!" Zwei quickly thanked the nurse, and then walks off towards the stadium, in hopes he'll be able to watch the battle.

[Yodas_Free_Boat]

'If she's going to the spring, she'll probably be wearing that bathing suit I got her...' the thought sprung into Karen's mind, along with a heavily exaggerated mental image. A blush starts to form on her cheeks, and it feels like it spreads to every other part of her body.

I've got get outta here' she thinks as she leaves thee main room in search of somewhere more solitary.



8:59 AM
Karen walks up to the counter with a slightly guilty look in her eyes, and with her hair just slightly out of place.
She walks up and grabs her pokeball, a tan and brown orb that Prof. Cedar told her would change to match the eventual evolution of her eevee. A small 'thank you' is given to the nurse before Karen presses the button and allows her pokemon to spring out.

He yips at her excitedly, clearly eager to see his trainer again. His enthusiasm and energy brings a small smile to the corner of Karen's mouth.

'No need to keep beating myself up about it' She thinks to herself 'After all, I've got a tournament to win'

"Hey there Euclid. Ready to kick some ass?"

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:00 AM

With Vivian relaxed and her eyes closed, Angela is pretty confident she didn't notice the picture taken. If she did notice, she didn't react at all. When the time comes, the two of them find themselves at the front of the line of eight trainers.

"Yeah, I dunno what that kid was talking about," the charmander's trainer hears Angela and responds with a smirk surprisingly less confrontational than you expect from the trainer. Maybe that's only because you aren't her opponent... at least not yet. "Lucy an' I got a long way before that." Her eyes drift to the hallway you are all walking down with your pokeballs in hand or on belt. A small crack of blue sky illuminates the cement tunnel. "Ahh," Vivian stretches her arms out to her sides, basking in the moment as the group emerges onto the field for the second time today. "Don't you love it?"

Behind the girls, the boys Wes and Aran find themselves side by side. The two of them - opposite in build but equal in width - leave almost no room to pass in the skinny alley. "You aren't nervous, are you?" Wes breaks the silence. "I mean, don't let that kid get to ya. He's a sore loser. Doesn't matter how, doesn't matter why - you beat him." When Aran hesitates to respond, Wes continues, "Don't get in your head. An old coach once told me: 'It's not the size of the poochyena in the fight, but the size of the fight in the poochyena." The blue sky approaches quickly and you can hear the buzzing of a crowd. "Go show me your fight, Aran."

Third in queue, Karen walks aside Derrick. Unlike the others, he says nothing. His head down staring into his pokeball, he walks like a man on his way to the gallows. Unless she has something to say, he doesn't speak either.

Finally, Abigail and Zwei follow behind. A strong smell of chlorine emanates from the two of them. At the end of the hall, a red sign with bold white letters above the open doors reads "BE THE VERY BEST."

As the party emerges from the tunnel beneath the stadium they find themselves in the stadium for the second time today. This time, the sun is up and you can see in the stands at least one hundred people all huddled up near the end you find yourselves. In relation to the empty seats the arena still seems empty, but still, one hundred spectators is most likely your biggest audience by far. Not to mention the camera to right recording your profiles as you follow a man in black-and-white-striped clothes towards a field of grass. "Good morning trainers." Earlier, a man in a blue polo with a clipboard monitored your matches; actual referees makes the event feel much more legitimate. He motions to Aran and Karen specifically. "Follow me to the ring." Ahead of you in the field you can see the painted white circle in the grass he's talking about. It's larger than last round, about twenty yards in diameter.

"Aran," he points to a blue square, "Karen," he points to a red square at the other side of the ring. "We'll follow the same rules as last time: knocking a pokemon out of the circle will reset the battle, and exiting on purpose is disqualification. Good luck." Before the two trainers depart to their starting squares the referee gives you two a moment to shake hands, say something, or whatever you will.

[Zelphas]

Angela smiles easily back at Vivian, staying quiet until they enter back into the stadium. "I don't know," she says in response to Vivian's question. "I'm more used to being on the other side of the lens. Still," she continues, eyeing the marginally larger crowd, "The limelight doesn't feel half bad."

Angela makes sure to find a seat with a good view of the show, and gets her camera ready. Action shots usually sell well.

[Arcran]

As Aran is about to exit the tunnel he turns to thank Wes, trying to think of some words to convey his thanks. He'd been a real Trainer for what, half a day? Already two people had looked past his (admittedly disappointing) exterior and treated him like a person. It was... different. Everybody was so nice to him, even people that shouldn't have looked at him twice like the girl from earlier. He almost didn't need to continue to battle since he'd already made friends. Still, the thought of whether they're friends with him because of, well, him or just because he's a Pokemon Trainer lingers. He had to win, just to show everybody who'd made fun of him and to, finally, make some real friends.

Aran listens closely to Wes' words, the message filling him with enough confidence to possibly win this. He considers trying to jump to reach the "BE THE VERY BEST SIGN" (Trainers touch that when leaving the locker room, right?) but decides he'd only look ridiculous.

Before Aran can say anything he finds himself swept away by the bustle, Wes going one way and Aran the other.

With each step into the ring Aran begins to break into a nervous sweat just a little more, with precipitation dripping off his forehead by the time he reaches the middle. He hardly listens to the rules as he tries to wipe away the sweat on his hand for a quick handshake.

"Um, I have a question," Aran mutters as the man finishes talking about the rules. "How high can I fly?"

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:10 AM

The referee looks at you then down at a small crumbled notepad. "Oh yes, you have the flying pokemon," he mumbles. "Aran, the rules state that one must remain in battle." He emphasizes those last three words. "You may order your pokemon as high as it can fly. But if you use your pokemon's flight as an escape mechanism, to stall out the battle, that will be considered forfeit. Does that makes sense?"

If either of you have a reaction, another question, or anything else to say or do, post it and I'll edit the next section of this post out. Otherwise, we can start the fight!

Once you two are in your colored squares, the referee raises two flags - one blue flag on his right, and one red flag on Karen's side. "At the sound of my whistle," the referee speaks into a microphone now and the crowd quiets with his words, "the battle between Aran Debune and Karen Green will begin. The battle is over once a pokemon is unable to battle, voluntarily leaves the ring, or is recalled. Are the two combatants ready?" He looks to each of you for any sort of confirmation. "Three... two... one..." he speaks with the whistle between his front teeth. "Pftweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!" The referee throws down his flags and the small crowd erupts with cheers ten times its size. All eyes are on the ring.

Remember when I said I wasn't going to use a crude MS Paint map? Oops...

http://i.imgur.com/9Qq8hy0.png

Let's start this off with a classic! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3o5-Ny4eU0)

Initiative:
Karen
Aran
Speeds are tied at 10! This roll decides who moves first (even = Karen) [roll0]

[Arcran]

Aran breathes a sigh of relief. He'd been worried that Kibau was going to be stuck on the ground, something that would probably mean a quick loss and an end to this tournament.

"Ready," Arab squeaks as the referee asks, reaching for his Pokeball just before the whistle goes off, doing his best to ignore the cheers. The fact that people were cheering for him did more than a little for Aran's confidence but he couldn't let it go to his head. It'd do a fat lot of good for Aran to lose this battle. Sure, there'd be other tournaments somewhere down the line but this was his chance to prove what he could do!

Aran moves to fling the Pokeball out into the ring, a motion he'd practiced a thousand times, just barely slower than Karen.

[Yodas_Free_Boat]

'A flying type?' Karen thinks to herself. 'Crap. Euclid doesn't have any ranged moves... Well this will be interesting.'

"I'm ready!" She says confidently, trying to hide her concern over facing the avian adversary

As soon as the referee calls for the start of the match, Karen lets the pokeball fly from her fingertips. It's only milliseconds before Aran lets his own pokeball loose, but before the latch is even fully open, Euclid is already charging out towards his opponent.

A smile spreads across the red headed girl's face as she sees her pokemon charging forward.
' He may not be the toughest. He may not be the strongest. But I've yet to see a pokemon whose faster'

"Let's ground that bird!"she calls out to her charaging partner.


So things I did
*Sent out Euclid
*Declared Kibau as Euclid/Karen's Quarry.
*Euclid took a sprint action, and moved 9 meters to L7. Also gained +2 speed combat stages

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:10 AM

Euclid the eevee races to meet his opponent!

http://i.imgur.com/BFKbn3k.png

[Arcran]

As the Eevee races towards him, Aran should be becoming increasingly more and more nervous. What if he messed this up? What if he wasn't able to win the battle?

Instead, the chubby Trainer finds himself experiencing a strange sense of calm. He was good at battling. He'd done it time and time before. He could win this!

"Kibau, let's go!" the Trainer shouts, flinging his Pokeball outward. "Blast some eardrums!"

The bird emerges from the Pokeball in a flash of red light, soaring down on its short wings before nearing the Eevee and letting out a massive cry, waves of sound rolling across the arena.

Release Kibau in L8.

Kibau uses Round!

AC 2: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Hefty Lefty]

I've been heading each post with the time - it's about time I actually put that to a use.

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:10 AM

The pidgey enters the battle with a boom! The tiny bird pokemon makes several small children in the stands cover their ears, but its target in the ring reacts quickly to duck his head and ears down. He battles on unphased.

Next up: Karen

http://i.imgur.com/g47l26Q.png

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:15 AM

The second fight of the round is pitted between the boys Zwei and Wes. After copious handshaking from Wes, both take to their marks on either side of the ring. "Good luck, friend," Wes offers before seeing to his red circle.

"At the sound of my whistle," the referee starts again, "the battle between Zwei Reinhardt and Wes Czizik will begin. The battle is over once a pokemon is unable to battle, voluntarily leaves the ring, or is recalled. Are the two combatants ready?" Wes nods confidently, and the referee looks to Zwei for the same. "Three... two... one... Pftweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!"

Wes starts the battle off by releasing his pokemon first. From a cloud of red light, a small, bipedal orange otter pokemon appears. It sniffs the air and looks to its trainer curiously. Unlike the eevee in the match before, however, Wes keeps his pokemon close to him. It appears he's waiting on Zwei to make the first move.

Next up: Zweihttp://i.imgur.com/2TZQqjp.png

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:20 AM

The final match of the round belongs to Angela and Abigail. Like the six before, the girls share a moment between themselves in the center of the ring before taking to its edges.

The referee announces the names of the round's final two combatants during his usual speech, "Angela Dawson and Abigail Joy!" Crowds murmur in anticipation. "The battle will begin at the sound of my whistle. 3... 2... 1... Pftweeeeeeet!!!"

Next up: Angela

http://i.imgur.com/V2VD7nW.png

[Zelphas]

Angela smiles excitedly at her opponent, hiding the nervousness she feels. I guess it's time to see what this 'magic' looks like... "Let's win this, Butler!" she calls out, throwing Butler's Poke-Ball to the center of the ring.

There's a flash of light, and Butler materializes at the center of the ring. The Machop stands ramrod straight, eyes moving slowly around the arena from behind wraparound shades.

Standard Action: release Butler at the center of the ring.
Move Action: None.

Butler has Speed 4, so he'll be going last in this.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:10 AM

Next up: Aran

http://i.imgur.com/g47l26Q.png

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:20 AM

The young machop appears in the center of the ring as Angela's ball bounces back into her hand.

Next up: Abigail

http://i.imgur.com/ib2ncax.png

[Arcran]

As Kibau misses Aran frowns, concerned. That was supposed to be the big finish to the fight; without it, could he still hope to win?

"Come on Kibau, you've got to focus! Don't get in your own head!" Aran shouts, cheering on his companion.

Focused Training on Kibau.

[Boolprop]

"Hyahyahya. Likewise." Zwei answers Wes's handshake with vigor, before walking over to his colored circle.

"Steady yourself and remember your training." Zwei whispers into Vincent's ball before throwing the ball into the air, releasing his partner into the ring. Zwei catches the ball and clips it back onto his belt. He then takes on fighting stance, punching the air in front of him. First his right fist, then followed by the left. Vincent pulls up his rubbery-like elastic pants before letting it go as he looks back towards Zwei, then across the area to Wes and the Buizel.

Standard Action: Releases Vincent at the center of the ring.
Move Action: None

Zwei Speed: 6
Vincent Speed: 5

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:10 AM

http://i.imgur.com/g47l26Q.png

Initiative
Euclid
Karen
Kibau
Aran

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:15 AM

Wes makes his way to the center of the ring cautiously, directing his buizel to the side with a steady hand. "Let 'em know who's boss, Riffy. But keep your distance, he can only engage in melee." The buizel nods and sprints around the edge of the ring, then lets out a fierce squeak - a sonic attack much like the pidgey a round before - which echoes through the arena walls.

Wes shifts forward.

Enemy Buizel shifts.

Enemy Buizel uses SonicBoom on Vincent!
Attack: [roll0] - AC 6
Damage: 15+6=21 (-10 Vincent Sp. Def = 11) totally forgot the point of Sonic Boom lmao. 15 damage.

http://i.imgur.com/HQ79hPv.png

Initiative
Enemy Buizel
Wes
Zwei
Vincent

[Boolprop]

"Don't let that Buizel out run you. Stay close and show him what you got." Zwei then mirror Wes' movement, though rather walking forward, Zwei jumps forward with a flying kick. Once he landed, Zwei performs a basic 1-2-3 punch-punch-kick combo in rapid succession. Then his arms crosses one another as Zwei brings them down by his waist, shouting "Vincent, show them what you got!"

Hit by an unseen shockwave, Vincent narrows his eyes, emitting a low short gruff sound before jumping towards the enemy Buizel performing a flying like Zwei did seconds ago. Using the momentum, Vincent tumbles forward towards the Buizel once he lands from his flying jump kick. At the end of his roll and with practiced movements he done many times before, Vincent glares at the Buizel as he stands up from his acrobatic maneuver.

Zwei shifts forward, focusing his energy into the battle ahead.
Move Action: shifts up 3 squares.
Standard Action: Focus Energy

Vincent takes 15 auto special damage!
Vincent's HP: 27/42

Vincent shifts towards the Enemy Buizel.
Move Action: shifts up 2 squares, 3 squares left.
Standard Action: Attacks with Leer on Riffy.
New Attack Roll: 18. AC 2; Cone 2, Friendly (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showsinglepost.php?p=18636142&postcount=99)

Attack: [roll0] AC 2 Was out of range
Damage: [roll1] (Physical). DB = WCx2 + STAB. DB is 8 Was out of range

[INoKnowNames]

Abigail nervously bows in response to the appearance of Rachael's opponent, before looking down at her own Pokeball. 'No matter what happens, I'm just proud we made it this far at all.' she thinks with a smile.

"Do your best, Rachael!" she mutters, as she tosses the pokeball into the space in front of her. The Ralts appears in between her trainer and the enemy Machop, and moves its head left to right, before focusing on the Pokemon in the middle of the ring.

After a moment, her hand pressed to her heart, Abigail shakes her head, before lowering her hands. "Go on, Rachael!" she directs her Pokemon. With that, the Ralts nods, bringing it's hands together for a moment, as if gathering something between them. The air distorts for a moment, as Rachael launches an invisible wave toward the Superpower Pokemon.

There should be enough room for Ralts to form 3 spaces above Abigail and 3 below Butler. I suppose it is easier this way, since Ralts won't be outrunning a Machop, and her projectile is relatively short ranged.

Abigail doesn't have anything she can actually do to influence the battle, as far as I am aware, beyond surrender, so her initiative doesn't matter as far as I know. It's 5, for the record. Rachael, on the other hand, has an initiative of 7.

Sorry to keep us waiting!

Edit: Attack Roll (4): (1d20)[11]. Damage Roll: (1d8+11)[19]. Focus Rank 3 and Telekinetic means she can shoot at a distance of 3 squares, putting Butler just within her reach.

I think that's a hit, anyway.

[Yodas_Free_Boat]

Karen lets out a sigh of relief seeing her Eevee manage to avoid pidgey's sonic attack at the last second. Just hearing it from across the field, it's clear that it could have ended the match
"That's it Euclid! Now hit 'em with the counter!" She calls out while moving along the edge of the arena, trying to get a better view of the fight.

Euclid almost seems to grin when his trainer calls out for him to attack. He might have avoided the brunt of the attack, but that high pitched sound still hurt.
The small tan pokemon springs of the ground, positioning his body to maximize speed through the air so that he's hurtling towards the flying creature.


*Karen moves ahead a few spaces. She wouldn't be in range of any fighting, but close enough to get a better view of the action.
*Euclid tries to tackle Kibau.
-Accuracy Roll: [roll0].
-Damage: [roll1]

[Arcran]

Aran winces as Kibau gets slammed into by the powerful attack, more than a little concerned. Kibau had been hit pretty damn hard right there. The bird might be able to take another hit, but it'd be a risk.

"Alright Kibau, give it all you've got!" Aran shouts, doing his best to encourage the bird. "Just keep hitting him!"

With a cry Kibau darts forward, simply trying to smash her body into the Eevee.

Kibau: 21/42

Aran moves up two, left one and uses Focused Training.

Kibau uses Tackle!
AC 3: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Two Injuries for Kibau; 50% and Massive Damage.

[Yodas_Free_Boat]

The hit sends Euclid flying back, bouncing off the ground a few times before landing a defeated heap. Karen wants to call off the match and run towards her partner, to try and comfort him after a particularly nasty hit. But before she has a chance, the Eevee makes a struggling sound and slowly pushes himself back to his feet. A look is exchanged between the two, letting Karen know that Euclid isn't going to give this one up. Not just yet

"Okay Euclid." The trainer says, a hint of concern in her voice. "You've got one more."

There's another grunt of effort and pain as Euclid readies himself. But once stable, and sure of his footing, the pokemon rushes forward at the same blistering pace towards the flying opponent.


Euclid: 16/39, 2 injuries

Eevee Moves back into position and tries to Tackles Kibau
-Accuracy Roll: [roll0]
-Damage: [roll1]

[Arcran]

Aran winces as Kibau gets hit by the Eevee once more, nearly making his companion fall unconscious. No matter which way the battle went, it would be close. He needed to help, but how...

"Hey, look over here!" Aran shouts, not really trying to think of a better diversion as he quickly waddles so he'd be on the opposite corner of the Eevee, flanking it for his Pidgey. Maybe his distraction would be just enough?

"Now Kibau! Bring the house down!"

With another great shriek the Pidgey lets loose a powerful blast of sound, hopefully doing just enough to end this.

Kibau 6/42, 2 Injuries

Aran moves diagonally up-left one then three up. That puts him on the top-left corner of Euclid, making the Eevee Flanked. That's a -2 to the Eevee's Evasion.

Aran uses Focused Training!

Kibau uses Round again!
AC: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Yodas_Free_Boat]

Euclid, momentarily distracted by the pudgy trainer now oddly opposite him, turns just in time to hear the ear piercing cry of the pidgey. It's strong enough to be an actual psychical wave of sound, hitting the small pokemon and sending him flying across the arena after shattering his ear-drums. He tries to stand one last time, but just can't do it. His knees buckle beneath him and finally falls.

Karen can't keep the terror off of her face seeing her partner landing in a defeated heap just a few meters away from her. She rushes towards him, noticing as she gets closer the small crimson pool that's forming.
"NURSE!" She cries out, trying desperately to find a pulse, no matter how small, through Euclid's matted fur. Tears start to slowly leak out of her eyes when she realizes that she doesn't hear him breathing "PLEASE! I NEED A NURSE!"


Euclid: -21/39
1 injury for getting pushed past 0. 1 more for getting pushed past -20. 1 for an attack that dealt more than 19 points of damage.
So Euclid, with the two injuries sustained in the last round, would be at six injuries. He is now heavily injured. And half way to death.

[Zelphas]

Butler hardly reacts to the wave of force slamming into him, his eyes locking on the new opponent. He straightens his sunglasses, which had been knocked slightly askew by the telekinetic blast. Right then. No messing around. Butler breaks off into a sprint towards the Ralts, dropping into a slide at the last moment and striking at the tiny mon's feet.

Butler's current condition: HP 39/48. no injuries, no status conditions.

Move Action: Move straight forward to Rachael.

Standard Action: Low Kick, AC 2 Physical Fighting
Accuracy: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
If crit: [roll2]

Unless it's a crit, Butler can do no damage with this move, but Angela and Butler don't know this yet.

Angela watches in confusion as Butler's best attack does nothing to the tiny creature before him. "What on... Butler! Don't do Low Kick! Do something else!" she yells out, moving slightly into the field to stay close to her Machop.

Move Action: Move two squares forwards.

Standard Action: None.

Free Action: Learn why Fighting Types don't usually fight Psychic Types.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:11 AM

Pidgey's booming caw is rivaled by the wave of noise of the crowd reacting to each hit. For such small pokemon, they really pack strong punches. Blow after blow, they fight on an equal level until Aran steps forward to change the tide of the fight, distracting the eevee so his pokemon can knock it out.

The crowd booms confused in applause and jeering at the battle's sudden end. Regardless of what anyone thinks, Aran is the battle's victor; the referee raises his blue flag. "Eevee is unable to battle! Aran is the winner!" The man in stripes goes to raise Aran's hand in victory, but upon seeing the frantic Karen, runs up to the fallen pokemon at her side. "Recall your pokemon, you fool," he says from his knees. You notice his microphone is off now. "The stasis stops the pain."

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:15 AM

The stare-down stops the buizel dead in its tracks for a moment; the fear is visible in its eyes. A good trainer breaks that up: "C'mon Rif! Forget about it!" Wes continues slowly walking through the ring directing his pokemon along, "Keep your distance!" The buizel does as told and scampers across the width of the ring.


Wes shifts one down.

Enemy buizel shifts eight right and one up.

http://i.imgur.com/lAXA8AP.png

Initiative
Enemy Buizel
Wes
Zwei
Vincent

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:21 AM

(I'll update this as soon as I can, my ride in to work was shorter than usual. Feel free to fight without me in the meantime.)

[Arcran]

As the Eevee falls Aran grins widely, looking at the crowd. Somehow, the cheers seem twice as loud as they should have been and the jeers never quite reach his pudgy ears. He stands still for a few seconds, turning in a circle, his mouth forming a perfect "O" as Kibau flits over to his shoulder, the bird beginning the slow process of preening, clearly hurt.

"Take a break girl," Aran states, returning the Pidgey, hopefully allowing the small bird to ignore some of the pain from the two brutal hits the Eevee had given her.

As he continues turning he sees the Eevee, lying upon the ground with blood pouring out of its ears. Had Kibau done that? Of course she had; what else could have inflicted anything near that much damage? Concerned for the safety of the Eevee, Aran waddle-sprints over, what the nurses had said running through his head. What if the Eevee hadn't been ready for this? Could it be dead? It couldn't be; Pokemon didn't die in real battles, right? Just when wild Pokemon ate them!

Heavily concerned Aran continues sprinting, eventually reaching Karen's side.

"Is she okay?" he asks in a whisper, the panic obvious in his voice. "I didn't mean to - I mean it was an accident - I just wanted to win," Aran says, babbling as tears come to his eyes.

[Boolprop]

Vincent sees the fear in the Buizel's eyes. He grins almost wickedly at his immobile enemy, preparing for his next attack. Unfortunately being a good trainer, Wes was able to snap the Buizel out of it's temporary fear. "He's afraid! Keep at it Vincent!" Zwei shouts as he moves forward. "Show him your Shrimp Chili Surprise!"

Vincent turns to face the running Buizel and follows him. Quickly rushing over with subtle grace despite his pants nearly falling off. Vincent jumps at the last second spinning in mid air, his tail lashes out just out reach. But as quickly as he lands, Vincent sweeps the ground with enough force to direct dirt towards the Buizel.

Zwei shifts up 2 squares.

Vincent's HP: 27/42
Vincent shifts 1 up and 4 right.
Vincent uses Sand Attack on Riffy!
Attack: [roll0] AC 2; Range 2, 1 Target
Damage: -
Effect: If hit, the target is Blinded until the end of their next turn.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:15 AM

"Your what?" The confused enemy trainer repeats, too late to issue an order for his pokemon to shield its eyes. Vincent sweeps the ground and blinds the weasel pokemon with dirt, catching it and its trainer off guard. "What was that - Riff!" The little pokemon lets out aggitated and distressed hissing sounds. "Don't let him get to you, hit him right back!" The buizel does its best to carry out orders; it lets loose a close blast sonicboom attack - although through the stress the attack sounds weaker than before. It doesn't need its trainers direction to sprint away after attacking. When the pokemon runs off on its own, Wes follows it through the circle. The calm demeanors both started with seem to be eroding.

Enemy Buizel uses SonicBoom on Vincent!
[roll0] AC: 6 (base) + 2 (Vincent SpD) + 6 (blinded) = 14
Damage: 15

http://i.imgur.com/MYGZ3Lu.png

Initiative:
Enemy Buizel
Wes
Zwei
Vincent


Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:20 AM

If Rachel's first attack did little damage, Butler's output was microscopic. After three wild battles preceding, the combatants' young pokemon may finally be showing their age.

Rachel: 25/30 HP

http://i.imgur.com/AszH68B.png

Initiative:
Angela
Rachel
Abigail
Butler

[INoKnowNames]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:11 Am

As the match begins to come to a close, Abigail allows Rachael to take her seat, standing to watch as her friend finishes fighting. As the intensity of the match increased, so was she mentally bracing for the worst. And when Karen begins sprinting toward the fallen Eevee after the final blow, so does Abigail break into a run, carrying her backpack with one hand and reaching for her own medical supplies with the other. Her friend's desperate plea only has a full second to echo before Abigail is on her knees next to Euclid, bag dropped mid-transit, to be pushed by a trailing Rachael. Though she does hear the recommendation of the proctor, his words fall on deaf ears, as Abigail wastes no moments in trying to treat the Eevee.


I know it's a complete waste of resources, but screw it. Too in character to not do. Medic Feature, draining 1 Ap for now.

[roll0] The poor Eevee gets double that back as hit points, so at least 18 hit points back. Hopefully enough of those rolls are above 1 so he can at least be back to positive hit points...

Edit: 12, huh? That means 24 hit points regained, right? Does that do enough for Euclid to regain consciousness?

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:20 Am

"Be careful, Rachael! Back away, and try again!" Abigail calls as best she can to her Pokemon, waving to the left as she steps over herself. Rachael, for her part, steps out of range of the Machop, and fires off another translucent wave of energy.


Rachael Shift Action: Move to the left 3 spaces.
Rachael Standard Action: Telekinetic Struggle.
Attack Roll (4): [roll1]
Damage Roll: [roll2]
Abigail: Shifts one up, and one over.

I swear if I screwed this up post, I'll be sad...

I don't think I missed too much or messed up too much.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:13 AM

The referee stands back and lets Abigail work - although it seems she would have treated the eevee right then and there regardless of what he said. After hour-long minutes of urgent care, Euclid the eevee opens his eyes weakly. He opens his mouth to pant but dares not make a sound; his bandage-wrapped ears are frail, sore, and beat red.

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:20 AM

Another psychic blast connects.

Butler: 31/48 HP.

http://i.imgur.com/51m4Rmc.png

Initative:
Angela
Rachael
Abigail
Butler

[Zelphas]

9:13 A.M.

Angela had taken several shots of the match, trying to catch as much as she could. She winced and gasped along with the crowd at the conclusion. Watching with bated breath as Abigail revives the little Eevee. "Man, that sound-wave attack is nasty," she mutters worriedly. How well would Butler stand up to a hit like that?

9:20 A.M.
Butler still does not seem to respond to the psychic blasts, though dark bruises are forming where the telekinetic blasts connect. He moves into range with Rachael again, stopping and sizing up his opponent. His kick hadn't done much, but... what about a punch.

The Machop lifted up a balled fist and stared at it, seeming to sigh. Punching was so unprofessional; any unskilled brawler could do it. Still, Miss Angela wanted him to win; so with another sigh, he drove his fist towards the Ralts' head. Close observers in the audience would notice that this strike was markedly more wild and untrained than his kick.

Move Action: move two blocks left, one block down.

Standard Action: Struggle, AC 4 Normal Physical
Accuracy: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
If crit: [roll2]

[INoKnowNames]

Rachael recoils from the powerful yet untrained punch, nearly stumbling as this hit lands it's mark and heavily damages her. She struggles just to keep her head held up. The first kick, even though performed in a way that had little effect on her, still hurt her a bit, but this wild punch left visible bruises, as blood began to trickle to the ground. Rachael backs away from Butler, and begins to attempt to focus on the enemy again.

...though she stops after a moment. Rachael's arms drop back down to the side, and she merely sighs, as Abigail moves between her and the Machop, blocking possible line of effect. Seeing that Rachael could read her thoughts, Abigail smiles at her Pokemon, before raising her hand to the sky. "Um, Mr. Official?" She asks, trying to raise her voice just enough to be heard. "We forfeit. Angela Dawson and her Pokemon are the winner of this match."

Gonna wait for Karen to say something before Abigail roleplays with Euclid, since Karen would probably react pretty swiftly to Eevee gaining consciousness.

At 9 HP with 2 injuries, Rachael isn't taking another hit. And she wouldn't force the fight if she could feel Abigail mentally freaking out (being in sync with the surface thoughts of her master certainly is helpful). Abigail for her part would be able to tell that another hit would not only end the match, but put Rachael into critical condition, and Abigail loves her too much to do this to her. She's also respectful enough not to let her hurt Butler in what would be a futile hit.

I actually knew all along that the second Butler breaks out a Struggle Hit, he'd win this match on the spot. If Rachael actually had a Stab hit to work with, Psychic or Fairy, then maybe this match could have been interesting or possibly ended differently. But there's no chance of her winning right now. And a forced repeat of the Euclid situation is simply not in Abigail's character.

[Zelphas]

9:20 A.M.

Angela blinks in surprise at Abigail's sudden forfeit, then breaks into a grin. "You did it, Butler!" she exclaims, running up to the Machop and giving him a giant hug, which Butler tolerates with his usual stoicism. Angela then straightens up and approaches Abigail, holding out a hand to shake with a smile. "Good match. You had Butler in trouble for a bit there."

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:22 AM

Murmurs from a disappointed audience flood into the ring. The official, of course, obliges Abigail's forfeit request, but does so a tad distressed. He quickly grasps Angela's hand and raises it above his head. "Abigail has forfeited. This battle's winner is Angela Dawson!" He tries to sound triumphant, but his words don't do much to change the mood of the crowd. - if anything, they're more let down by the official announcement. The man clicks a button on the gadget on his chest to speak to the two of you personally. "Recall your pokemon. Sounds like it's time to head in." With a hand behind each of Angela and Abigail's back he urges you out of the ring. As this was the rounds' last battle, he motions for the six other trainers to return down the steps into the concrete tunnel at the end of the stadium leading into the locker rooms.

[Yodas_Free_Boat]

Karen doesn't smile seeing her friend rush into the ring, but she is able to at least stop the streaming tears and wipe away the dirty smudges on her face. Outside of one of the nurses, there's no one Karen would trust more with the safety of her pokemon

Time seems to come to a standstill for Karen as her pink-haired friend works tirelessly to make sure Euclid is alright. But everything snaps back, all of the built up tension is released, when her partner lets out a small cough.

She reaches out to her partner and gingerly pets his fur, testing to make sure he's really alright, before she recalls him to his pokeball. There's a split second of calm before Karen finds herself breaking down. She bursts in tears and throws her arm around Abigale, struggling to get out words to show her appreciation in between her sobs.

After a few minutes, Karen finally lets go of her friend and pulls herself off the ground. "Thank you" she says in a hoarse voice before walking off towards the nurse's station.

[Boolprop]

Zwei focus on Wes and moves in front of the trainer as the guy continues to move around the arena, all the while a the strong smell of chlorine still emanates from Zwei. "Hit and run tactics. Smart but cowardly choice for a man to fight. Especially in an area like this. Boom!" Zwei speaks loud enough so the crowd can hear. He then performs a couple of punches and kicks maneuver, hitting nothing but air before spinning around for a finishing kick or so he thought...

At the same time, Vincent quickly readjust his pants once he finish sweeping dirt into the Riffy's eyes. He however didn't expect the Buizel the attack at close blast, thus getting hit despite the Buizel's limited blindness. Wincing as another sonic boom attack hits, Vincent hisses, clearly agitated at the Enemy Buizel's hit and run tactics. Vincent lets out a loud roar at Riffy, briefly glancing at Zwei, and then rushes off towards the Enemy Buizel.

Zwei shifts 1 down, 3 to the right.
Struggle Combat Maneuver (Push) May accidentally hit and push the Buizel.
Attack: [roll0] AC 7 (4+3)
Zwei's Combat Check vs the Buizel: [roll1]
Effect: If successful deals no damage but pushes Riffy up 1 square.

"Huh?" Zwei turns to see whom he hit. Now noticing the Buizel who wasn't there before, Zwei grimace at the thought he may have interfered with Vincent's fight.

Vincent's HP: 12/42
Vincent suffers 1 injury from hitting 50% HP mark.
Effect: -1 speed combat stage

Vincent dashes towards the enemy Buizel. Once he was within range, Vincent does a jumping spin attack, using his tail as a feint, followed by a kick which is also a feint. Using the momentum from his spin, Vincent follows up with a low kick once he lands.

Vincent shifts 3 to the right, 3 down. And is now flanking the Enemy Buizel.
Vincent attacks with a Low-Kick on Riffy!
Attack: [roll2] AC 2
Damage: [roll3] (Physical). DB = WCx2 + STAB. DB is 8
Vincent sprints towards the enemy Buizel. Finally close to his adversary, Vincent stares at Riffy.

Vincent uses the Sprint Action to shift 2 to the right, 4 down.
Standard: Used the Sprint Action, so no attack.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:15 AM

The buizel dashes haphazardly across the ring, blinded by the dirt from Vincent's maneuver, and it isn't clear to anyone in or out of the ring whether it stumbled into Zwei's extravagant showing or the scraggy trainer actually intended to trip up the weasel pokemon. Fortunately, the two bodies narrowly miss each other. "Whoa, easy," Wes puts his hand on Zwei's shoulder to catch the boy before he kicks straight into the passing by Riffy, "That was close."

Suddenly surrounded by both trainers and the tireless Vincent, a panicking buizel acts on its own accord, hissing a harsh squeak, then dashing through Vincent in an ugly somersaulting tackle on its way away from the crowd.


Enemy Buizel uses Struggle on Vincent!
Attack: [roll0] AC: 4 + 2 (Vincent Defense) = 6
Damage: [roll1] (+5 from Buizel's Vanguard ability)
Enemy Buizel shifts 1 up-left and 5 up.

Vincent: -4/42 HP (see OOC for damage breakdown). Vincent has fainted!

http://i.imgur.com/fGFHTCu.jpg

Intiative:
Enemy Buizel
Wes
Zwei
Vincent

Perhaps harder than it intends, the slippery buizel grabs Vincent and tosses him overhead. The pokemon crashes to the ground with a new bruise. After several long seconds of the weasel pokemon dashing away, it becomes apparent that scraggy has lost the ability to continue chasing. The referee approaches the two boys, clicks on his microphone, and raises Wes' hand.

"Scraggy is unable to battle. Wes Czizik is the winner!"

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:17 AM

If you blinked, you missed it. The battle between Vivian Caruso and Derrick O'Hurley lasted about fifteen seconds, twenty if he was lucky. Ten if his pokemon was lucky.

Both trainers took to their sides of the ring with little to-do; Vivian didn't much to say, which was fortunate because Derrick looked like he might vomit if he opened his mouth. Vivian released her pokemon first, an athletic charmander, and perhaps surprised some by spending her first action in combat coddling it, giving it a treat and some words of wisdom as Derrick released his Karrablast. In the end, though, it didn't matter. Once the clamping pokemon got within range, Vivian's charmander started a fire that could not be put out. Blast after blast, the little lizard charred Derrick's pokemon to a crisp. The second time Karrablast fell to ground - in retrospect, it's amazing it was able to get up from the first ember attack - Derrick recalled the bug pokemon. It disappeared into a red beam of light before Vivian had the chance to fry it off the earth. The frustrated boy pocketed his ball and held his head in his hands in frustration. The crowd was loud with a mix of cheers and applause for Vivian and some concerned "oooo"s for Derrick. The referee lifted Vivian's hand high into the air. "Karrablast is unable to battle. Vivian Caruso is the winner!"

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:22 AM

The eight trainers, four beaming in victory, four shaken in defeat, return through the tunnel, give their pokeballs to nurses behind the counter to be healed (regardless of how injured the creature was or wasn't), and finds themselves back in the locker room. It doesn't appear that anyone has been here since they left. Derrick, internally fuming in defeat, quickly makes his way to slamming his locker door open and stuffing bags, much like the boy Aran defeated in the first round. Vivian breathes a cocky laugh and flips onto the couch, again recreating the earlier scene. Wes is the only one of the three who seems social; he turns to Zwei with a smile and a handshake, "I got caught up back there, man. Excellent battle. You really through Riffle for a loop." You can't tell if the smile is from a place of sportsmanship or smugness. Or perhaps that's your negativity creeping in.

http://i.imgur.com/X0hvMOJ.png

Aran and Angela receive:
EXP = [5 (pokemon level) + 1 (trainer level)] x 3 (Tournament and your first (IC) victory) = 18 EXP. Aran's Kibau receives 22 EXP with Training Techniques.
Butler: 58 EXP. Butler grew to level 6!
Kibau: 62 EXP. Kibau grew to level 7! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XdvY9E-9XE)

Aran and Angela... and Abigail, Karen, and Zwei receive 1 Trainer Experience!
Win or lose, your first battle is always a learning experience.

[Boolprop]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:15 AM

It only takes Zwei a second to regain his balance after his kicked nearly connected with the Buizel. "Sorry, I didn't meant for that to happen." Zwei told Wes, knitting his brows as his words carried a sense of remorse. He then looks over to Vincent whom barely stands up after being thrown by the Buizel, only to fall to one keen before finally falling unconscious.

Knowing that Vincent have been enduring his injury despite it hardly being visible, Zwei quickly recalls his partner. "You did the best you could, I couldn't be more proud." He said into the Pokeball, before turning to face Wes and offer the boy a handshake. "You and your Buizel did well together, like butter and toast. Boom! Though I may not have agreed with your tactics, it worked out for you. Congratulations."


Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:22 AM

After handing the Pokeball over, Zwei heads on over to the locker room, this time finally noticing the strong smell of chlorine emanating from himself. Before he could take care of that problem, Wes turns to Zwei. Zwei nods at the trainer "Same here. Sorry about nearly kicking your Buizel. He crept up on me like cheese on eggs. Boom!" He then takes the offered handshake. "Though we lost, I have learn something from that battle."



Edit: decided to remove roll since Zwei shouldn't had made one, due to what his personality is for now.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:15 AM

Wes shakes your hand back with a great smile, but doesn't say anything. You feel awkward standing next to him as he soaks in the crowd noise - this moment should have been yours.

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:22 AM

"Hey don't worry about it. It's crazy out there." Wes pulls his shirt over his head as he talks to you and takes a dry towel from his locker. "Hey you're funny man, what're you doin' after the tournament - you're staying to watch the end, right? - I'm havin' a bit of an afterparty at my place downtown, you should swing by."

Just a reminder, this is a sandbox game. I have plans for you going and plans for you not going.

[Arcran]

Aran hesitantly hands over Kibau's Pokeball; the Pidgey had taken some big hits; hopefully she'd recover from the injuries alright, otherwise he'd be in trouble. He'd be up against that Buizel, putting the two of them into a battle of sonic attacks. Kibau could have a hard time against something that fast too, unfortunately.

Still shaken from the bleeding, broken Eevee, Aran isn't feeling particularly social. The chubby boy quickly tries to clean off as much as he can; the lights had been hotter than he'd expected and, unsurprisingly, his little dash across the stage had taken a strain on Aran's pudgy, squishy body. After the quick shower the trainer quickly gets dressed, trying to hide from everybody else in the locker room as he does so, before heading out to the room where everybody else was, taking whatever seat was closest to Vivian. Everybody seemed scared of her, so maybe they'd leave him alone if he was close by?

The pudgy boy closes his eyes and leans forward, doing his best to not be sick as he thinks about his upcoming battle.

[Zelphas]

Angela hands over Butler's ball with a smile. Only a few bruises here and there; her friend had come through, as usual.

Her smile fades a bit when she thinks back on Vivian's battle. Those flames had been vicious; Derrick's Pokemon hadn't even gotten the chance to fight back. Unfortunately, this meant that she knew almost nothing about the Charmander's defenses. Angela glanced over at Vivian. Time to put some of those reporter skills to good use...

"That was an awesome match!" Angela gushes excitedly to Vivian, having crossed to her and plopped down in a seat nearby. "Lucy must just burn her way through anything she's up against, huh. I bet nothing even lands a hit on her!"

Guile to get her to spill about her Charmander's skills and defenses: [roll0]+2 from Photographer feature.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:29 AM

"Uhh, yeah, thanks," Vivian responds, a bit surprised. Her eyes were closed - was she sleeping? She sits up straighter to talk to you. "I guess so. I mean that was just a really easy match for us with the type advantage."

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:46 AM

Vivian takes up most of the space on the couch laying across the length of it, but Aran finds a seat down at her feet. She still wears her gear from the battle; you don't recall her even moving since her battle while everyone else hit the showers - then again, you don't think she broke a sweat either.

"Slick move out there, kid." She tosses your way, looking up briefly from the armrest.

[Arcran]

"Uh, thanks," Aran says, doing his best to avoid eye contact. "We trained a lot to make it work."

Aran stares at the floor, two chubby legs dangling a few inches above the ground.

"You did good too. That Bug-Type didn't have a chance," the chubby boy says, doing his best to sound complimentary rather than terrified.

[Boolprop]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:15 AM

Though he felt awkward standing next to Wes, Zwei is glad to have at least participated in the tournament, despite losing now. Sure he would have liked to win the match, but then remembers his master's teachings. "Winning or losing is less important than whether you were satisfied with the match." As he walks away, Zwei thought back to the match. He remembers Vincent's struggle to chase after the Buizel, who out ran him. He then thought back to the almost accidental mishap on his part. However after reflecting on such thoughts, Zwei began to think of alternate ways to fight while still trying to keep to his master's teachings.

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:22 AM

"After the tournament?" Zwei asks while he thinks to himself, before returning an answer to the man who seems to be stripping in front of him. "I haven't gave it much thought. But our match have provided me a new ingredient to use. Boom!" Zwei smiles as several ideas formulate in his mind. "Thanks for the invite, though I'm unsure of my decision as of now." Zwei shakes his head, before heads over to his locker, which happens to be a little away from Wes.

Opening his locker, Zwei begins to undress. Though he didn't really work up a sweat, he wants to wash away the chlorine that still remain on him. Stripping down in just his fundoshi, Zwei grabs a dry towel before heading towards where the bath stalls are.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:23 AM

Wes gives another laugh at Zwei's chef-speak. "Sure thing." He flips you a small piece of paper with an address on it. "If you feel like stoppin' by that's where I'll be."

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:46 AM

"Nah I mean," she looks across the room for anyone listening, then straightens up a bit and faces Aran, "I mean when you tangled up with that eevee. You aren't planning on doing that Wes are ya?"

[Arcran]

"I-" Aran says, stuttering a little bit. Was she actually impressed by what he'd done? "I plan on doing what I need to win," he says, voice filled with conviction. "I owe that much to Kibau," he quickly adds, sparing a quick glance at Vivian.

That, and he owed it to himself. He'd made it another round and he couldn't lose now.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:46 AM

"Hmph. Good luck with that." Is all Vivian gives you before flopping back down. She curls up a bit, giving Aran an honest portion of the last cushion.

It is around this time that a man comes in through the hallway leading to the stadium, dressed in the same blue polo and clipboard from the first round of battle this morning. None of you remember him monitoring your matches, but you've seen so many officials and your minds were simply somewhere more important this morning that you'd believe it if he's been in the stadium proctoring all day. "Okay," he gruffs, then reads from his clipboard, "Karen, Abigail, Zwei, and Derrick." He looks up briefly to see if he's getting a response; regardless, he continues, "there are four seats reserved for you in the stands, Section 010 Row A Seats 1 through 4. Prime spots right on your right as you go through the tunnel." A nurse comes by with a tray of four pokeballs with labels for the four defeated trainers. "You four, your pokemon should be healthy momentari-" the nurse murmurs over his shoulder, "in ten or twelve minutes. Around then we'll call you up for the next round." He gives a quick bow to anyone watching and leaves.

[Arcran]

"I'll need it," Aran mutters, none too confident in his own battling skills.

Aran quickly jumps up when the worker arrives, only to realize that he isn't about to go into another battle. With a sigh the chubby boy sits back down, frowning as he tries to figure out how to win the battle. The Buizel had a sonic attack as well and, as far as Aran could tell, it had hurt quite a bit. The battle could be rather interesting...

[Zelphas]

9:23 A.M.

"Oh, sorry to wake you," Angela quickly responds, inwardly cursing. She listens to the discourse between Vivian and Aran with interest, but ends up disappointed. Well, that was pretty much a bust.

9:46 A.M.

Angela is cleaning her camera when the referee comes in. She's intrigued by the delay in healing, but not overly concerned. Butler had made it through the last battle mostly unscathed; he'd survived worse before.

Angela returns to polishing her camera lens, trying to clear her mind. This next battle would not be easy; she may have to jump in to help.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:59 AM

Four trainers make their way back into the stadium for a third round of combat. Just like before, the crowd is louder and larger in number than last time. The referee first splits the group into the boys fighting first, then after, the girls. Some of the trainers from last round cheer from the closest seats. Even those just recently defeated have a sporting attitude, even Derrick, who it appears is finally getting over the loss to Vivian.

The referee introduces the two combatants as he did before. Again, he states the rules (nothing has changed) and offers the two opponents a chance for words in the middle of the ring before sending them to their starting positions.

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
10:02 AM

"All right," Wes offers to Aran, extending his hand to shake as it seems he always does, "Good, clean match, right?"

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
10:08 AM

The crowd cheers with anticipation for the beginning of the penultimate battle of the tournament. Both girls feel the pressure shiver up their spines. "There it is. That's what we do this for, right?"

One more post to respond and take your places, then I'll set up initiative and start the fights.

Those not fighting: feel free to jump in at any time and post cheers/reactions to the combat. Alternatively, post here in the IC side conversations you're having in the stands, or go ahead and say you're leaving to go somewhere else and I can narrate that scene for you in the meantime.

[Zelphas]

10:08 A.M.

"I'm mostly here for the money to get out of town," Angela replies flippantly, with a smirk. "I have to admit, though... the cheering is definitely worth it."

The reporter takes her place and sends out Butler. "Take the lizard down, Butler!" she calls out encouragingly.

Releasing Butler at the center of the field, as before.

Butler's Speed: 5

[Arcran]

"Of course," Aran says meekly, shaking Wes' hand. The last thing he wanted to do is get into a brawl with Wes. This was his chance! Win this, and he'd be in the championship.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
10:02 AM

A flaming orange lizard pokemon appears in front of Vivian. It stands proud on its hind legs overseeing the battlefield with beady black and blue eyes. "Don't let it close to you Lucy," the trainer directs, "Keep it at bay with an Ember attack!" The flame-spitting pokemon does as told and lets loose a stream of fire, torching the grass as it runs along the field to Butler.

Vivian releases Enemy Charmander two spaces beneath her.

Enemy Charmander uses Ember on Butler!
Attack Roll (AC 2) [roll0]
Damage Roll [roll1]

Butler: 29/49 HP.

Enemy Charmader shifts 3 left, 1 up.
Vivian shfits 2 down.

Initiative:
Angela
Vivian
Enemy Charmander
Butler

http://i.imgur.com/HQynl5g.jpg

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
10:08 AM

The lithe buizel forms from a ray of red light at Wes' feet and, as before, Wes orders it to wait for his opponent to come to him. While the pokemon seemed frightened near the end of its last battle, that mood has been completely rewritten with confidence.

Wes shifts 3 down.

Enemy Buizel shifts 3 left.

Initative:
Enemy Buizel
Wes
Aran

http://i.imgur.com/nC2golP.jpg

[Zelphas]

Butler actually winces as the fire washes across him, but gives no other sign of pain. He runs across the stadium, ignoring Vivian as he closes with the lizard that had thrown fire at him. At the end of his run, he slides once more into the practiced kick he had shown earlier.

"Yeah! Go get him, Butler!" Angela yells, hiding her worry. She moves into the field, trying to get close to the action in case Butler needed help.

Butler
Move Action: Butler has an Overland Speed of 5. If he moves two up and two diagonal left, 1+1+1.5+1.5=5, his entire move action, putting him in range of the Charmander, right? If so...

Standard Action: Low Kick, AC 2 Physical Fighting
Accuracy: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
If Crit: [roll2]

Angela
Move Action: Move 5 up.

Standard Action: forfeit for another move action, to move 2 up, 3 left.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
10:02 AM

Butler gets a bit caught up passing around Vivian, but still makes it in time to slide tackle the charmander at the edge of the ring. "C'mon Lucy, don't let him trip you like that! Get into the ring and burn him again!" She directs him across the field.

Enemy Charmander shifts 3 down-right, 1 down.
Enemy Charmander uses Ember on Butler!
Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage Roll: [roll1]

Butler: 13/44 HP. 1 injury.

Vivian shifts 1 down-left.

Initiative:
Angela
Vivian
Enemy Charmander
Butler

http://i.imgur.com/fvdX6WH.jpg

[Zelphas]

Butler grunts in pain as the ember licks across his legs, limping slightly in the aftermath. Angela bites back a grimace. Butler can't take another hit like that... "Loop around behind it and throw a punch!" she calls out. Butler Grimace but complies, passing between Vivian and her Charmander before winging a sloppy punch at the lizard's head.

Time to break the unspoken rule, Angela thinks to herself, tip-toeing up to the Charmander as its back was turned. "Hey you," she says, hammering the Charmander in the back of the head before it can turn around, "Boo."

Butler
Move action: Shift two down, two right, and one diagonal down-right.

Standard Action: Struggle, AC 4 Normal Fighting
Accuracy: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
If Crit: [roll2]

Angela
Move Action: Sneak up two to the right. If possible, she'll use Stealth so that the Charmander is unaware of her presence. Stealth: [roll3]

Standard Action: Astonish, AC 2 Physical Ghost (Auto-Flinch if target is unaware, otherwise Flinch on 18-20)
Accuracy (+2 from flanking bonus): [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]
If Crit: [roll6]

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
10:02 AM

Butler's untrained punch sails wide right of its target, but Angela's slam is spot-on. The charmander turns around just in time to see the two-fisted attack by the girl before it topples to the ground at her feet. The crowd rises to its feet as the battle heats up. Vivian's charmander stands up with slow determination.

"So that's how you wanna play, huh?" Vivian glares, more in competitive intensity than anger, as she dashes to flank Butler with Charmander. She catches the machop just as he finishes his elongated punch, grabs his arm, spins him around to grab his other arm, and holds him helpless in melee range of her lizard pokemon. "Have at it Lucy!"

One final time, the charmander engulfs her opponent in flames. The machop yelps in pain against the red embers until the pokemon's attack ends and Vivian drops him limp to the ground. "Ha. Nice job." She takes a second to admire the job well-done, but after taking a glance at Angela, she quickly recalls her pokemon.

The referee sprints into the fray with the girls. "Machop is unable to battle. This fight goes to Vivian!"

"Better luck next time, Angela." The winner says with a cocky grin as hundreds of voices cheer for her victory.

Sorry, but I can't rule that Charmander is unaware. You rolled very well, but there's no way a pokemon wouldn't be aware of the trainer (not hiding behind anything) who just sprinted towards it. I think that is much more suited to starting off encounters with a surprise attack.

Vivian shifts 1 right, 1 down-right.

Enemy Charmander uses Ember on Butler!

Attack Roll: [roll0]
Damage Roll: [roll1]

http://i.imgur.com/oQdA5Q7.jpg

[Arcran]

Aran gulps visibly as the battle begins before waddling forward as quickly as his stout legs will carry him, flinging out Kibau's Pokeball, intent on ending this quickly. Wes had said he wanted a clean fight; Aran was going to have to hold him to that.

As the Pidgey erupts from the ball Aran shouts out a command, doing his best to keep moving.

"Round!"

Once again a piercing cry cuts through the stadium, right next to the Buizel.

Aran moves 4 forward!
Between my Release range and Kibau's Movement I have 11 squares to work with. Put Kibau on the bottom left corner adjacent to the Buizel.

Round!
AC 2: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] I'm bad at math, so just 41 but there is crit damage.

[Zelphas]

No problem. It was just something I thought I'd try as a last-ditch effort to survive this round. Low Kick is almost useless against tiny Pokemon.

Angela's face goes blank as Butler falls. Time seems to slow around her, as she watches her Machop's limp body fall.

She glances at the Charmander. It's already taken a few solid hits, and it does too much damage. A hit it once, maybe twice, and it's down. Another kick or two will keep it down, but that can happen later.

She looks up and meets Vivian's eye as the trainer looks at her, absolutely no emotion on her face. She's next. Unknown abilities, unknown fighting power. Hit her hard and fast, don't--

Angela blinks, and time returns to normal. She suddenly remembers that she's in the middle of a stadium, having just lost a match. "Heh, it was worth a shot," she says, quickly recalling Butler to save him pain. "I'm so sorry, buddy," she whispers to the ball, stowing it gently away. She sticks out her hand to shake. "Good luck in the finals."

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
10:08 AM

Before it can even react, Wes' buizel is literally swept off its feet by the devastating sonic attack of Aran's pidgey. Wes covers his ears and hides reflexively from the blast. "Riffle! No!" He dives over to craddle the unconscious pokemon on the ground, no blood has started forming yet, but the buizel is doing little more than breathing. The people of the crowd were silenced as they, too, covered their ears, and continue to be silenced as the match is already over. Wes recalls his pokemon, completely shocked and unable to form any words. The referee can. "Buizel is unable to battle. Aran is the winner!" He grabs your arm and raises it high into the air.

[Arcran]

Before Aran can contain it a triumphant whoop escapes from his lips, echoing through the silent stadium. Fractions of a second after his cry Aran realizes his mistake, hastily putting both hands over his mouth.

"Kibau, come back!" he whispers, the Pidgey seeming somewhat rattled by the damage it had done as it flies into the red beam of the Pokeball.

Concerned and more than a little embarrassed by his reaction, Aran hastily dashes across the arena, face red from the exertion and his shame.

"Is he going to be okay?" Aran asks with concern, a frown on his face. He'd made it another round but what had he actually done?

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
10:08 AM

It's not a mistake at all. Aran's victory whoop validates the move and fight to the audience, and snaps them out of their stun. They explode in cheers for the amazing fighter.

"Uh, yeah." Wes rocks back on his knees, taking a while to choose his words, "Yeah yeah. That was... that was insane, man." He finally stands up and states the obvious. "You're good."

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
10:12 AM

Back in the locker room, the four pokemon are with their nurses and the four trainers are either resting for their next match or preparing to leave. Vivian is in the locker area digging through her bags for something, and Wes is in the opposite corner of the area slowly packing his things.

[Zelphas]

10:08 A.M.

Angela was upset by her loss... but not so upset that she forgot her backup plan in case she lost the tournament. She caught the Pidgey's insanely powerful blast in a quick shot, wincing as the sound washed over her unprotected ears. With the Pidgey blasting like that, and Vivian's Charmander spewing fire, it looks like the final will be something to see. Perfect for a photographer.

10:12 A.M.

Angela waits impatiently for Butler to be healed. She doesn't talk to anyone; no need to, now. She didn't bring anything along but herself and Butler, so there was nothing to pack.

[Arcran]

10:08 AM

To say that Aran was caught off guard by the comment would be to say that water is wet. Nobody, nobody had ever cheered for him like this and, even more, nobody had actually complimented him when he won. Normally it was just a "Screw you Piggy" or some other equally intelligent remark.

"Thanks," Aran mutters, cheeks turning red. "It was a lucky hit," he says dismissively, too embarrassed to actually make eye contact.

10:12 AM

"Um, excuse me?" Aran says, waddling towards one of the aids. "Can I get some practice in with Kibau before the next fight? She shouldn't need a doctor," he says in a whisper, not wanting to seem like he was bragging about it.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
10:12 AM

"Sorry kid," a nurse responds without giving you much attention; Aran remembers him as working hours ago on a machop, "We're not allowed to let 'em go without a full healing. Just because they didn't get dinged up doesn't mean they aren't tired."

Aran, feel free to try again with Command/Charm/whatever.

[Arcran]

"Please," Aran pleads, looking up with his big, brown eyes. "I know Kibua isn't tired after using one attack. She'll be okay," Aran says, completely sure of himself on that fact. "Please? Kibau and I don't want to lose because we couldn't practice enough," he says, sending a worrisome glance towards Vivian.

"And have you seen that Charmander? I have to make sure that Kibau isn't going to get burned alive by it," he quickly adds, legitimately scared to battle with the tiny lizard.

Should use Command but it's not really In-Character for Aran yet.

Charm: [roll0]

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
10:13 AM

"Don't you think I know what I'm talking about, kid? The answer's no. You're pokemon's a f*ckin' infant, you have no idea how much rest it does or doesn't need." The nurse responds. Apparently you struck a nerve. As he takes your ball into the backroom with the three others, a man with a more sympathetic expression replaces him for a moment. Again, Aran recognizes this man. "Hey, sorry about Mazos," he offers, flicking a thumb back at the room with the angry doctor, "He's just... well actually I dunno what crawled up his *ss. But the point is we're not even allowed to give your pokemon back without healing. Even in higher rank battles, when not every pokemon is released. We still heal them all, just to cover our own *sses, you know?"

[Arcran]

"I could sign some papers," Aran mutters, a little disappointed, a little embarrassed and very, very worried about the coming battle.

He mutters out some half-assed thanks to the doctor before quickly making his way towards the lounge, rocking back and forth in a chair as he tries to steady himself for the next fight. Sure, he was good; Wes had confirmed as much, but none of the others regarded him with the same terror that they had for Vivian. He'd have to be at his best and maybe a little lucky to win.

Ready to go when you are!

[Boolprop]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:23 AM

"Sure thing." Zwei takes the piece of paper and places it away within a pocket.

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:46 AM

Zwei picks up Vincent's Pokéball and thanked the nurse before heading towards the designated seats, reserved for the defeated trainer. Once Zwei was seated, he lets out Vincent from his Pokéball. "Sure we lost, but we did give it our all. For now lets watch the other matches. Who knows, we may discover new ingredients to use. Boom!" Zwei emphasis on the word ingredients as he spoke to Vincent.

The Scraggy nods, knowingly what his trainer meant in more ways than one. Pulling his pants far enough to hide his face, Vincent lets go as the rubbery pants snaps back in place around his waist. One watching would thought the force of the pants snapping back would have hurt the Scraggy, but Vincent didn't give away any signs of such. In fact, Vincent is already familiar to it that he likes the slight tingling feeling.

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
9:59 AM

As the remaining four trainers comes out to the arena for the semi finals, Zwei and Vincent watches with anticipation. Throughout the next two matches, Zwei threw out a couple of words at the ensuring battles, often using cooking metaphors as he spoke.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
11:02 AM

The time arrives for the two finalists to meet center stage. Aran didn't pay attention much during the intermission, but when Vivian meets him at the pokecenter to receive their pokeballs, he realizes he didn't know where she was this whole time. She wasn't on the couch in her usual spot, and he didn't hear any locker doors or water running down the hall. Perhaps she just needed her space?

She doesn't say anything to him on their walk together up the hallway. A long sigh and a slap on the red motivational banner overhead; she seems concerned for the first time all tournament. It's about time.

The high sun blinds you both for a brief moment when you rise from the subterranean tunnel. A loud crowd, easily four or five times the size of last round applauds your entrance. The audience is so large that some people actually sit in the upper sections of the stadium seats. Zwei, and a good number of the other eliminated trainers, are lucky to have such advantageous seats. Through the hazy buzz of loud cheering, yelling, and whistling, but Aran thinks he can hear some "Piiiii-dgey! Piiiii-dgey!" and knows he can hear plenty of "Char-man-der! Char-man-der!" Both of you, stunned, look at each other reflexively to confirm if the other hears the same. It's real.

To add to the commotion, instead of the referee greeting you (you see him in the ring about 100 feet ahead), a woman with a microphone meets you at the foot of the tunnel steps. A scruffy cameraman follows her dragging dozens of coiled wires.

"Good morning Amaranth City!" The reporter with a bright turquoise dress and professional make-up speaks into the camera. She isn't speaking in your direction, but she's making sure to make sure you two are in the shot. "Lee Harper here in Julianne's Kintery Stadium with the first of a brilliant day of matches for you! We've got plenty of action coming from the battle grounds today, including two up-and-coming trainers from Ochreton going after their fourth badge, five trainers bravely pursuing their Level 5 badges in an epic team clash, and hometown favorite Patrick Cane squares off against Julianne herself for that elusive Level 8 badge!" She waves the camera towards her with a flick of her hand and backs up surprisingly quickly to squeeze between Vivian and Aran. "But first, we're here for the final round of Julianne's favorite Rising Stars tournament!" Behind her, in the ring, the referee, with a stern and concerned look, waves you over. The woman continues, "Sixteen challengers have been whittled down to just these two youngsters... have any words for the folks back home before you give it all you've got!?"

[Arcran]

Aran spins about as he enters the room, mouth hanging open stupidly. This much for a bunch of amateur trainers? This wasn't even a real fight in the grand scheme of things; just a couple of young Trainers showing what they are capable of.

The Trainer looks at Vivian with a fair amount of caution, wondering exactly what she had done between the battles. Where could she have disappeared to and, more importantly, what was she doing? Had she managed to convince the judges to let her train her Charmander? Hopefully not; the Pokemon was terrifying enough as-is.

As the reporter asks if he has anything to say, Aran hesitantly stands as tall as he can, speaking into whatever microphone is provided.

"T-to everybody from school," Aran says hesitantly, unsure exactly what to say. "I'm here, just like I said I would be."

That would have to do for now; if he said what was really on his mind to everybody at home he might be disqualified for poor sportsmanship or something.

With a bit of his confidence restored, Aran strides towards the arena, head help high as he fumbles for his Pokeball with a sweaty hand, making his way towards the beckoning referee.

[INoKnowNames]

After her match is said and done, Abigail feels no disappointment in Rachael, both of them having tried their best just to get this far. And though the competitive scene is not entirely her style, she found herself wanting to watch the rest of the matches, wishing for luck to befall both Angela and Aran. She barely managed to convince Karen to stick around after the quarter finalists all received their Pokemon from the medics, and was shocked, both at the skill and tactics displayed during the Charmander-Machop match up, and at the speed at which the Pidgey immediately defeated the Buizel in one shot.

However, she was not oblivious to the feelings of her friend, and realized that Karen was not enjoying the proceedings as much as Abigail was, still crestfallen at the poor state Euclid was reduced to. "We don't need to watch any of the other events, if you'd prefer to go someplace else. The day is still young, and if you'd like, we could look around Amaranth City. It's much bigger than home is, and I didn't see much myself trying to make it here on time." she whispers, trying to help console her friend.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
11:02 AM

"Sticking it to those who doubt him!" The reporter Lee reiterates to the camera, "We've got a driven competitor here today, folks!" she continues speaking, but Aran leaves earshot quickly after giving his quote.

Vivian doesn't say anything. Aran is too busy himself to tell if she's focused or camera-shy; when he turns around, she finds her halfway to the ring. He hurries up to meet her with the referee.

"Lesson one, my friend," the referee greets Aran, a small part upset that the boy got hung up with the camera, and equally understanding the intense pressure the two kids are suddenly under. The three of you are huddled together a bit closer than usual to hear each other over the noise, "Forget about the media. Now, are you both ready?" He offers you to each other, then spreads his hands to present the red and blue starting blocks.

[Arcran]

"Sorry," Aran mutters. He'd been too caught up in the moment and excited by the idea of being in the finals.

As they huddle in together Aran quickly wipes some sweat away, blinking rapidly. This was it! He was here! All he needed to do is say one word and his final test would begin.

"Ready."

[Yodas_Free_Boat]

Karen looks over at her friend and gives her a weak smile. Maybe that's not a bad idea Karen thinks to herself Moping around and waiting for Euclid to get better isn't doing anybody any good


"You know what, I think that's probably a good idea. It would be nice to get out and do something to get my mind off of all this."
"Maybe we could go to see a movie?"

[Zelphas]

Angela gets her Poke Ball back from the nurses and immediately takes out Butler, to assure herself that he was all right.

After she was reassured, Angela takes her seat at the side of the ring, her camera at the ready. If they let me stay for all the matches, I could get enough money here to make it to the next town easy... I hope.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
10:17 AM

Getting up from the seats, Abigail and Karen stand beneath a black block-lettered "Section 104" sign before a hallway away from the center stage of the stadium. Spectators brush by in either direction. Some small children wear colorful hats celebrating their favorite pokemon or green foam fingers pointing "Number 1!". Some older audience members have pokeballs strapped to their belts. The sunny sky and exciting competition seem to confuse people's stomachs: fans leave the concession stands with cheesy nachos and snacks despite the early morning.

If either girl takes out her poketech, a few simple taps would reveal the Suicune St Cinema, just a short walk away, is playing:


Sunny Day - The poster depicts a girl around your age surrounded by cute plant pokemon. - Next showing 10:35 AM
Undefeated - The poster features a fierce-looking athletic girl gripping a pokeball tightly. - Next showing 10:25 AM
Leaving Home - The poster shows two boys and a girl around your age, each dressed seperately in all blue, red, or green. - Next showing 11:00 AM
Tides - The poster presents a man and woman, a bit older than you, embracing in front of an ocean setting. - Next showing 10:35 AM

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
11:02 AM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui6wp7VV9VU)

[roll0]

Before stepping off to her starting position, Vivian gives Aran a small bow with her hands at her sides. "Hope you saved your best for last."

Over the overhead speakers, the referee presents the final battle to his audience. "Ladies and gentleman, the final round between Vivian Caruso and Aran Debune is about to begin. The battle begins at my whistle and ends when either pokemon is unable to battle. Trainers are limited to one pokemon and must keep themselves and their pokemon within the white ring at all times." He raises a flag in each hand - red in Aran's direction and blue in Vivian's. "The contestants are ready..." he looks to both battlers one last time to make sure, then flips his whistle between his lips. "3... 2... 1..." He brings each flag down across his body. "PHFFEEEEEEEETTT!!" Blasts his whistle.

Angela's camera isn't the only light to flash at this moment. Most use their PokeTech as a simple camera, but there are a few like Angela with a more professional device. There are two men with large, high-definition cameras with long scopes, kneeling on the edge of the field grass. Angela finds herself seated on an aisle seat next to Zwei the Scraggy trainer. Next to him is a dark-haired boy you may recall was eliminated in the first round excitedly talking to a girl next to him.

Vivian pops her pokemon first at her feet. The charmander stands tall and strong as ever, with a determined stare. Like the battle hours ago, Vivian takes some people by surprise in coddling the pokemon: kneeling beside it, feeding it a small treat, patting its head, and giving it (supposedly) a pep talk before the fight begins. After their moment, the team steps forward ready to take on Aran and Kibau.

Vivian releases Enemy Charmander one space down.

Vivian moves 1 down-right.

Enemy Charmander moves 1 left.

Initiative
Vivian
Charmander
Aran

http://i.imgur.com/DEAmn4J.jpg

[Arcran]

Aran frowns as he watches Vivian feed the Charmander a treat; what was the treat actually going to do? It seemed like some sort of trick, something that would hurt Kibau badly.

Still, there was no time for hesitation. With the Charmander's superior range with Ember the only way to win would be to hit it hard and just keep pressing the attack. With a shout Aran flings Kibau's Pokeball out as far as he can, watching as the bird appears across the map in a flash of red light.

"Kibau, again! Round!" Aran shouts, watching as the Pidgey glides swiftly towards the Charmander. Aran was ready, already dropping to cover his ears but, hopefully, the Charmander wouldn't be.

Aran releases Kibau at the maximum distance!

Aran uses Focused Training!

Kibau moves to the bottom left corner of the Charmander!

Kibau uses Round! Using 1 AP to boost the roll.
AC: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

[Hefty Lefty]

- post scrubbed. see below -

Vivian moves 2 down-left.
Vivian uses Struggle on Kibau!
Attack Roll (AC 4+2): [roll0]
Damage Roll: [roll1]

Enemy Charmander uses Ember on Kibau!
Attack Roll (AC 2+2): [roll2]
Damage Roll: [roll3]

[Arcran]

Posting this because Initiative issues.

As Kibau lets out her mighty shriek, the bird uses a quick flap of wings to send herself flying up and over, making a quick, tight loop.

"Kibau! Finish this!" Aran shouts, blissfully unaware of the dangerous attacks that were about to happen and hoping this was enough to put the Charmander down. Could he possibly win the fight before Kibau was hit again?

Technically the Focused Training used as an Orders from last round still applies but you're free to say it doesn't.

Using an AP to boost the AC by 1.

AC 3: [roll0] As a note, any non-Stat Evasion is ignored by Kibau.
Damage: [roll1]

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
11:02 AM

The charmander watches Aran's pidgey flutter towards it; the lizard seems to anticipate the attack as it carefully eyes down Kibau, but when it comes to deflecting damage there's not much it can do about the screeching bird. The sonic attack nearly topples the fire pokemon; the charmander drops to one knee, supporting itself only with its stubby arm, and for a moment it's weak to lift its head. Members of the audience flinch with the high-pitch scream.

A deadly-fast Kibau sends out two strikes before the lizard can respond. With its foe already staggered, the bird loops through the air for a second attack. "chuhhh" The charmander is pummeled into the ground and looks like it won't get up. Blood flows like a fountain from cracks between the pokemon's tiny scales staining the grass a dark red.

"Lucy! Now!" No response from the pokemon. "LUCY GET UP!" Vivian screams ferociously. With or without her pokemon, the girl dashes towards the pidgey. As she runs forward she reveals a sharp steel blade which had been sheathed at her side and catches the pidgey and many others off-guard. One swift swipe across the body of the bird cuts deep.

Beneath the fray, one black eye cracks open. Using every ounce of its rapidly depleting strength, the charmander lifts its head off the ground. "CHAAA!!" The tiny pokemon cries, letting loose a torrent of flames from its . Kibau is engulfed in a jet of fire as Vivian sprints by, slicing at him with her toothy knife.

See above scrubbed post to verify rolls.

Vivian moves 2 down-left.
Vivian uses Struggle on Kibau!
Attack Roll 20
Damage Roll: 37 (after critical)

Enemy Charmander uses Ember on Kibau!
Attack Roll (AC 2+2): [20
Damage Roll: 34 (after critical)

http://i.imgur.com/dFCYktb.png

The tiny pidgey is absolutely torched by the flames and eviscerated by Vivian's blade. Blood and feathers explode where pidgey once stood, and when the smoke clears all that remains is a limp, barely breathing, black bird. Vivian's charmander drops to the ground limp, until, that is, her exuberant trainer lifts it up by the shoulders to help it stand. Aran isn't necessarily nearby and can hear an unsettling *crack* as she rights her charmander; it sways on its stubby legs again staggering and catching itself with one arm to keep it from face-planting into the ground. "Lucy, we did it!" She shouts with a triumphant fist in the air, apparently unaware of her pokemon's terrible condition.

You could hear a pin drop in Kintery Stadium. Jaws droop hang open and eyes gape and the massive attacks that devastated both pokemon. After hour-long seconds, the referee breaks the silence. "Pidgey is unable to battle!" His whistle dangles around his neck as he runs to give care to the fallen bird pokemon. "Vivian is the winner!"

Instead of raising her hand, however, he takes to his knees at Kibau's side. The shock of the lightning-quick battle finally sinks in, and the crowd rises to its feet in a massive roar of applause, chanting "VIV! EE! IN!!" and yelps of concern for both pokemon.

[Yodas_Free_Boat]

Karen looks over the listed movies, for a few seconds. Ordinarily she would have picked Undefeated without a second's hesitation. But now... She wasn't sure. Would that just be torture for her, seeing a character succeed where she had failed just a few.

But that hesitation faded after a few seconds. She wasn't going to let one set back make her second guess every decision she ever made.

"Wanna see Undefeated?" Karen asked her pink haired friend.

[Arcran]

Aran stands in stunned silence for a moment, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Slowly, bit by bit, it sinks in, the two terrible facts hitting right after one another.

"KIBAU!" Aran shouts, tears already beginning to stream down his chubby face as he sprints across the arena, tripping halfway across and going sprawling. He tries to get up, only to slip again as he tries to get to Kibau fast enough. Finally, Aran gets back to his feet, sprinting to Kibau's side, not even bothering to look at Vivian.

"D-don't be dead, don't be dead, don't be dead," Aran mutters over and over again between sobs, fumbling with his pack to pull a Potion. When he finally manages to get one out of the tangle of his pack he dumps the whole thing over Kibau, hoping that its healing powers might keep Kibau from dying.

For a moment Aran considers picking up Kibau and running before his very basic medical knowledge comes into play, as well as what the referee had said in the last game. Aran grabs Kibau's Pokeball and hastily presses the return switch, pulling Kibau from the ground, leaving only singed feathers and blood behind.

Before anybody can say anything else Aran sprints away, wiping tears from his face as he tries to get to the medics as fast as he can. He couldn't let his only friend die.

Yes, I know the Potion does jack-****. It just seems like the most IC thing to do.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
11:05 AM

"Heh, nice try Aran, but I -" Vivian tries to tease the boy's way, but he isn't listening to a lick of it. The referee, too, tries to offer some words you don't really listen to, and before long your tiny legs have brought you back inside the locker room walls where a nurse is waiting for you and Vivian. A TV mounted against the wall in the healing center shows a live feed of the field, although there's no audio or editting (perhaps it's just there so the nurses are prepared for what they are about to treat?).

"Hey tough break, kid." The nicer medic from before casually offers as he reaches for Aran's pokeball. "Can't win 'em all, right?"

Down the hallway towards the lockers where your bags are, you hear a few voices talking.

Back above ground, the stadium doesn't take long to die down. It seems people were more excited at the sudden explosion of action rather than actually rooting for either side to win or Vivian in particular. The girl hides her knife as best as she can in front of a couple hundred people and finally recalls her pokemon, after the bloody battered charmander practically begs for it. A few people meet her on the field; nearly everyone in the stands recognizes the first woman as Julianne, the city's gym leader. Despite only being ten or so years than you all, she's a major force in Amaranth City, and thus, all of Lidello. She shares some personal words with the winner of the rookie tournament and gives her a small pin - the Amaranth City Triumph Badge you were all lusting for hours ago. A thought runs through the minds of everyone in the front-row seats with Zwei and Angela: That should have been me!

A second person hands a number of small objects to Vivian - must be the rest of the tournament prizes. She takes a picture with the gym leader, and just like that, it's over. Vivian walks by herself back to the locker room one final time. The crowd has returned to a murmur of chatter as they prepare for the next fight to begin. Kids in the seats with Zwei and Angela start to get up and leave.

[Arcran]

"I-it'sall your fault!" Aran half-shouts, half-blubbers. "You wou-wouldn't let me train Kibau and now she's hurt and we lost! Kibau could have been ready but you made me heal her and she wasn't hurt but now she is," Aran continues, hardly coherent at this point.

"M-my only friend is almost dead and everybody is gonna make fun of me again and it's all because you wouldn't let me get Kibau ready!" Aran finishes, the last part somehow coming out halfway coherently.

In a brief moment of self-awareness Aran is able to be ashamed of himself for the outburst but is still angry enough to not quite feel sorry for it. Kibau and he should have won, and Kibau shouldn't be dying.

"Sorry," Aran mutters begrudgingly and, with a sniffle, waddles away, just waiting fir his friend to come back.

[Boolprop]

From his seat, Zwei could tell the small pudgy boy Aran and his Pidgey meant business. The match with Wes ended quickly within seconds as the Pidgey unleashes a sonic blast at his quarry. As for the match between the two girls, Zwei watched with curiosity as the trainers decided to enter the fray; despite the impression they gives off as non combatants. "Each to their own," Zwei thought.

During the breaks in between matches, Zwei takes out a small packed box of macaroons, ones he and Vincent had made earlier during the day. Feeding his partner one to sate the Scraggy's appetite, who knows when they'll be eating lunch. In between readjusting his pants, Vincent happily takes a macaroon with both hands, leaving his pants to fall between his knees. With one hand, Vincent quickly reaches down and pulls up the elastic pants and adjust it. Now chowing down on his snack, Vincent is oblivious that he may have mooned Angela, who just happened to take a seat besides the two. Noticing the photographer now, Zwei was first to break the ice. "Your Machop did well against that Charmander despite the loss. Boom!"

Each to their own hits home during the finals when Vivian pulls out a knife and cuts Aran's Pidgey as her Charmander spew flames onto the bird. In his heart, Zwei always knew everyone and their Pokémon battles differently. But this was the first time he saw someone pulling out a knife to finish a match. He had heard of such methods, but have never actually seen one done so.

[Zelphas]

Before the Finals

"Heh, thanks," Angela replies to Zwei, smiling quickly. I should have jumped in to help right away; then maybe Butler wouldn't have gotten hurt so much. "You did well in your match too. You would've won if that Buizel had stood still."

After the Finals

...Maybe jumping in right away wouldn't have helped, Angela thinks wryly to herself as she snaps the picture of Vivian going after Kibau with a knife.

She got some good shots of the match, as well as some pictures of Vivian posing with Julianne, but kept a good amount of film ready for the rest of the day's festivities. She frowns as the other trainers start packing to go, trying to wave over the ref. "Excuse me, sir, but are these seats only reserved for this last match? I was hoping to see some of the others, too..." she says, smiling winningly.

Charm to try and keep her seat: [roll0]

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
11:07 AM

The medic is taken aback by Aran's accusations. He reflexively holds his hands palms out in front of him as if the boy had a weapon. "Hey," he tries to interject, "hey I- "

"Your friend isn't dead." He clasps Kibau's pokeball in two hands once the trainer is finished. "Pokemon have a... an intense spirit. Yours especially. Give me some time and your pidgey will be back like nothing ever touched it."

As he turns around, the less-tempered doctor meets him and an Aran overhears, "Do you see what I was saying? I f*cking hate this day, every year it's sh*t like this."

When Aran returns to his lockers, he finds he is not alone. Two boys and a girl, several years older than Aran, and physically much larger and stronger, are using the room like he and fifteen others had all morning. They form a loose circle, each with their legs wide apart stretching before their match. A small yellow-and-red weasel mimics their motions and the side of one of the boys. The girl spots the pudgy boy and straightens up. "Yo, you warm up the field for us?"

Back above ground, a referee reaches for his water bottle against the side of the field wall and responds to Angela above him. "Uh, I'm sure if you tell them you were competitors it'll be fine." He takes a swig of his water, and continues, apparently unhappy with his first answer. "If some stadium crew tries to make you leave, tell them Ben said it's ok."

[Zelphas]

"Perfect. Thanks, Ben." Angela settles in to watch the rest of the big matches, her camera at the ready.

[Arcran]

As Aran slinks away from the counter he can't help but feel a little ashamed; it wasn't the doctor's fault, not really. It was only his fault; he was the one that hadn't trained Kibau enough and he was the one that had tried to blindly blitz the Charmander, hardly even considering that Vivian could be a threat as well. He'd have to go out and get stronger, otherwise Kibau would get hurt again, maybe worse than before. As soon as his companion was healed he was leaving, period. He wasn't going to go back to school and be ridiculed for only getting second. He wasn't going to waste his time in a town where nobody wanted him. Even winning just one fight had gotten him some respect; he needed to find another tournament and win that. That would get him respect.

"Uh, yeah," Aran mutters as the girl asks, sniffling audibly. "We're all done now," he says, looking at the small yellow and red weasel with curiosity, mostly because he couldn't quite place what it was. "Good luck," he says, beginning to pack up the few supplies he brought with him and grabbing his shower supplies.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
11:08 AM

The girl goes back to stretching, not reacting much to Aran's words, but the owner of the weasel pokemon now turns around and takes a turn. "Didn't go so well did, it?" He must notice the boy's reddened cheeks and sniffling. "You'll get'im next time."

"That's the best part of battling." The other boy chirps in. "There's always a next time."

"Your head would spin if you knew how many battles we've lost."

"Yeah Storm especially." The girl adds without looking up from her stretches.

The weasel trainer laughs while the other group member play-flinches. "Ouch Cassie. I thought we were friends."

Down the hall Aran hears a girl speaking with the medics. Vivian must be back from the fields.

- - -

Back above ground, the stadium seats refresh with crowd leaving and new people filling the seats. Around Zwei and Angela's ever-focused camera, most of the trainers from the morning's competition leave. Zwei is caught off-guard a bit when a strong hand clasps his shoulder from the row behind.

"Hey, pal you're still here!" Wes slips into the now-vacant chair next to Zwei. "Good ta see ya; I thought everyone was taking off." After a moment, he recognizes the red-head behind the lens. "Oh Angela! So I guess we'll never know who placed third..." he says with a smile.

[Boolprop]

Before the Finals

"Hyahyahya!. If only. But it's all in the past." Zwei nods in agreement. "I'm Zwei, and this guy here is Vincent." Zwei thumbs a hand to the Scraggy by his side.


After the Finals

Zwei cross his arms as the outcome is determined. "Hyahyahya!. That was quite a sizzling match. Unity! Harmony! A cult of tasty blends! Boom!" Zwei said to no one in particular, despite his personal preference when it comes to Pokémon battles. However his eyes sparks briefly as the culmination of the todays battles have lead Zwei towards an budding idea.

Hearing the ref's ok to Angela, Zwei stayed in his seat. "Well if you so then we'll also stay right buddy?" Zwei turns to face Vincent, who nodded in agreement. Startled, Zwei turns towards Wes. "Of course! Even if we didn't advance further, we can still learn something by watching." Zwei smirks.

[Zelphas]

Angela returns Wes' smile, though her eyes never leave the arena. "Tell you what," she says, thinking up a quick way to earn a bit more money for her trip. "Let's find out, after the festivities. Amaranth Park, 200 wager. That okay with you? Or are you afraid you'll lose?" she replies, softening her words with a joking smile.

[Arcran]

"This one was supposed to be special," Aran mutters somewhat dejectedly, although the Trainer's words do a little bit to boost his spirits. They'd lost and they still had friends, right? They were also bigger, stronger and more attractive, but those were just a few very minor details that didn't matter at all for making friends, right?

Aran chuckles sadly to himself, the laugh cut short as he hears Vivian. With a scowl he heads towards the shower, hoping that Kibau would be fixed up by the time he was done.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
Kintery Stadium
11:08 AM

"Oh you're on!" The boy responds with a smile. "Right after this fight, m'kay? My sis Cassie is going for her fifth badge and I can't miss this."

Aran gets to the showers unbothered. He can't hear much from the other room over noise of the streaming water; silence is just what the young trainer needs.

[INoKnowNames]

Abigail's eyes lingered a bit on the Tides and Sunny Day posters, but at her friend's suggestion, she re-examined Undefeated. "Hm... it looks exciting. If that is what you want, it is fine with me, too." she replies to Karen. Though she hoped to keep her friend's mind off of fighting and combat, letting her have her wish seemed like it would be as effective aid as she could offer. Looking back, Abigail observes the increase in activity occurring at the stadium. "I think the next events may be starting soon. We should hurry before everything becomes more busy." she remarks, attempting to lead the way to the Suicune St Cinema.

I just realized something... do we have to pay for movies in this world? I don't think I have that much money on me.

[Arcran]

Aran takes his time in the showers; after all, it isn't like he has anywhere to go anytime soon. Even that quick battle had made him work up a considerable sweat, and the shower was more than needed.

After a good fifteen minutes Aran finishes, gets dressed and makes his way out back into the locker room, grabbing his supplies and, without a second word to anybody, heads out towards the medics, waiting for Kibau's Pokeball to get returned to him.

[Zelphas]

"Sounds good to me," Angela replies, grinning. "I'm planning to get some shots of the level 8 match, myself."

One more double-check of her camera, and Angela is ready for the upcoming matches.

I'm going to have Angela take the "best" of each photo from the gym matches to sell. With the current arrangement of photo sale prices, the highest each individual photo can be worth is 60 pyen, or a little over $1.

Vivian and Aran's Match: [roll0]x3= 57

Fourth Badge Trainer 1: [roll1]x3= 54
Fourth Badge Trainer 2: [roll2]x3= 15

Fifth Badge Trainer 1: [roll3]x3= 57
Fifth Badge Trainer 2: [roll4]x3= 57
Fifth Badge Trainer 3: [roll5]x3= 39
Fifth Badge Trainer 4: [roll6]x3= 6
Fifth Badge Trainer 5: [roll7]x3= 9

Eigth Badge Trainer: [roll8]x3= 48

TOTAL= 342 pyen. Enough to buy a movie ticket, at least.

[Boolprop]

"Ahyahyahyahyahya! A saucy battle to determine who takes 3rd." With one hand, Zwei rubs his chin. "I would like to witness such a battle. Perhaps if you two need a referee, I'll be happy to help. Hyahyahya! Boom!" Zwei smiles brightly.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
12:14 PM

Aran returns to find the lockers exactly as he left them; the three trainers and one pokemon doing calisthenics and joking with each other in the center of the room. As he made it relatively clear earlier that he didn't want to chat, they ignore the boy as he collects his things from his temporary locker one last time. His pokeball is sitting on a tray on the counter unattended; through a cracked-open door Aran spots Vivian inside the operating room talking with the nurses. Instead of snooping around again, the second-placer decides the best thing for him this afternoon is to vacate the stadium, so after rising from the lockers, he makes for the nearest exit for fresh air and quiet in the town square. A seat on a park bench next to a babbling fountain will do just the trick.

Back in Kintery Stadium the crowd is treated to an exhilarating show. The three trainers Aran found downstairs took on three Gym Trainers of Amaranth in a three-pokemon showdown. In the span of just a few minutes, a competitor's mienfoo dashed around the battlefield with the grace of a ballerina, Wes' sister Cassie literally parted the clouds with her bayleef, and an especially courageous boy took to the skies atop a pidgeotto. He sniped foes' pokemon with impeccable aim on his crossbow from high above their heads as his bird pokemon deftly dodged beams of ice and electricity from the gym trainers. The rush of excitement crashed like a wave over the stadium, with no one cheering louder than the buizel trainer next to Zwei and Anglea as the three challengers pinned their new badges with pride. When the short ceremony concluded, he rushed the field to congratulate his older sister. Zwei and Angela leave the stadium with most of the departing fans. A few hundred feet away from the masses, Angela finds her opponent just as he spots her. He waves her over to the grassy crop in the town park. A white cobblestone path intersects the field with benches and an ornate water fountain in the center. It doesn't exactly match the stadium layout, but it'll do the job. "Don't think I forgot abou'cha!" Wes grips his pokeball in his hand, ready when Angela and Butler are.

Karen and Abigail leave the cinemas to greet a sunny afternoon. The friends saw Undefeated, an exciting movie about the young Sam McKay rise the ranks of the Pokemon League in a fictional region. As the title would suggest, she never even lost a match! To some of the younger members of the audience it was a very exciting show, but even as green as Karen and Abigail are, they know no one the career of no pokemon trainer is without its pitfalls. The movie had plenty of action, but seemed a bit childish - or maybe that was just the influence of the incessantly-obnoxious school-age boys behind them. At about this time, the pair, strolling downtown Amaranth, find a few familiar faces in a field in the heart of the city.

[Zelphas]

Angela's camera is in constant motion during the stadium show. She fumbles a few shots, but for the most part they turn out better than she expected.

When Wes calls out to her in the park, she responds with a grin, letting out Butler then and there. "Ready when you are," she calls out, moving into the field slightly behind her Machop.

Releasing Butler to the center of the field, as before. Angela will also move until she is two squares behind Butler on the field.

Angela's Speed: 10
Butler's Speed: 5

[Arcran]

Aran leaves the building quickly, not wanting to talk to Vivian at all. Maybe later, but right now was not a good time for that.

The rotund boy sets down his bag on the bench, holding Kibau's Pokeball in both hands. He'd been so close, so agonizingly close, especially if Vivian was still in surgery with the medics. So close to proving that he was strong and so close to being able to spit in the face of everybody that had dared to insult him. If he hadn't made Kibau charge in blindly, if he'd made Kibau retreat a little after that second hit, maybe Vivian wouldn't have been able to pull that knife on Kibau. One more hit would have lain the Charmander low, and he would have won.

Aran sighs, pressing the small release button on his Pokeball, Kibau appearing beside him in a burst of red. The Pidgey is disoriented for the briefest of seconds before noticing Aran, the small bird cooing almost immediately and attempting to nuzzle him on the shoulder, as if in apology.

"Stop," Aran mutters. "I messed up, not you. I shouldn't have made you just run in there. It was dumb, and you got hurt bad because of it," the boy says, voice cracking about halfway through.

The Pidgey doesn't seem to care and keeps nuzzling Aran's arm.

"You're supposed to be mad! I got you hurt! You almost died because I messed up!"

Without a word Kibau flits over to her Pokeball, picking it up in taloned claws and dropping it in Aran's lap. A small grin crosses Aran's face as he looks at the ball. It was a game they'd played many times before and, hopefully, would play many times in the future.

"Fine, don't be mad," Aran says, the grin reluctant as he picks up the ball. "But you're going down this time!" In a quick motion Aran flings the ball at the bird only for Kibau to almost lazily evade the clumsy toss.

A few short minutes later Aran's whining is replaced by laughter and grunts as he lobs Kibau's ball at the bird over and over again.

Aran is going to Train Kibau. Kibau will get 5 EXP.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
12:15 PM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX6zM0bLvmc)

Aran is reminded of his errors in his battle with Vivian as his pokemon innocently nuzzles at his side; two small feathers on her right wing seem to hold her attention for a moment, fragile and permanently black despite her preening. Additionally, between the white feathers on her breast, the boy can see two faint stitches from the stadium doctors. The young pokemon already has quite the collection of battle scars. Aran seems to be more concerned than Kibau with the marks, however, time from time he catches her subconsciously picking at the blackened feathers.

Butler is no better off. The superpower pokemon is released for combat with a confident fist pump, athletic stance, and tiny, bubbly discoloration under his right arm from the burn of the charmander. Again, the pokemon's trainer seems to care more about the injury than the pokemon itself.

Angela's machop leaps to the grass at the same time as Wes' buizel. It, too, sports relics of the Rising Stars tournament: a dark red circle on the inside of its left ear. The mark is rather unnoticable when the pokemon turns its ears down, which it does as it charges the machop. "All right Riffy, give it your best!" The orange weasel pokemon dashes up to Butler, feints around his first few punches with quick reflexes, and gives an shouting squeak on its way by.

Riffle uses SonicBoom on Butler!
[roll0]
Damage: 15

Initative:
Riffle the buizel
Wes
Angela
Butler

http://i.imgur.com/lluhtsL.jpg"]http://i.imgur.com/lluhtsL.jpg

[Boolprop]

Zwei watches the stadium show unfold as the crowd shouts cheers and jeers. He notice Vincent is enjoying himself, watching the battlefield with a glint in his eyes. The show itself was better than he expected. Upon leaving the stadium, Zwei recalls the Scraggy into his Pokéball.

With a battle underway in park, Zwei grins as he station himself between two trainers. To the best of his memorizes, Zwei repeats what the referee have said each time at the start of the battle. But this time he does so for the two trainers, with an arm outstretch. Once both trainers and their Pokémon are ready, Zwei arm flies up to signify the battle to commence. "Battle start!"

[Zelphas]

12:15 PM

Butler winces ever so slightly as the Buizel shrieks, but remains his usual stoic self otherwise.

Angela doesn't hesitate this time, sprinting to the Buizel and throwing a sucker punch. "Hit it from the other side!" she yells to Butler. The Machop, tired of seeing his practiced kick do nothing, runs up to the little furry mon and simply punches it.

Angela
Move Action: Move one square diagonal-right.

Standard Action: Astonish, Ghost Physical (Flinch on 18-20)
Accuracy: [roll0] vs 2 plus evasion
Damage: [roll1]

Butler
Move Action: Move one square diagonal-right. Riffy is now Flanked.

Standard Action: Struggle, Normal Physical
Accuracy: [roll2] vs 2 (due to flanking) plus evasion
Damage: [roll3]

Note: Jumping in immediately might not be the most sporting thing to do in a friendly match, but Angela doesn't care. Butler's already been hurt once today because she did nothing, so she isn't going to let it happen again.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
12:15 PM

The buizel is distracted by both opponents closing in on him. It skitters around Butler the as he approaches only to run smack into Angela's closed fist. Riffle bounces off the blow into a punch of Butler's own. "Hey!" Wes calls to interrupt, but is much too late. The weasel pokemon stumbles as it is thrown to the ground. It catches itself on all fours - albeit one noticeably weak front leg - and frantically dashes off without trainer command, throwing Butler around in a somersault tackle attack on its way past. Seeing his pokemon hurry towards him, Wes meets the buizel halfway and stands in front of it with arms spread and a stern determination, attempting to prevent at least one of his pursuers from engaging again.

Riffle uses Struggle on Butler!
[roll0] (4)
[roll=Damage]1d8+6

Riffle moves 3 up-left, 2 left.
Wes moves 6 right.

http://i.imgur.com/twAQBYz.jpg

[Zelphas]

Amaranth City
12:15 AM

"Heh, sorry about that," Angela says, grinning and walking towards Wes. "I got a little caught up in all the battles, there. You won't hold it against me, will ya?" she almost purrs, batting her eyelashes at the boy.

Butler, mostly unfazed by the hit, follows after the buizel, swinging his fists at the aquatic mon once more.

Angela
Move Action: Move one square up, two squares left.

Standard Action: Baby-Doll Eyes, Special Fairy
Accuracy: [roll0] vs 2+evasion. Lowers Attack 1 stage on a hit.

Butler
Move Action: Move two squares diagonal-left, one square left.

Standard Action: Struggle, Physical Normal
Accuracy: [roll1] vs 4+evasion
Damage: [roll2]
If Crit: [roll3]

OOC Question: How much damage did that tackle do to Butler?

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
12:15 AM

Angela catches Wes off-guard with her flirting; he's confused, but drops his protective stance as Angela intended. Meanwhile behind them, Butler keeps in hot pursuit of the fleeing critter and manages to connect on another punch, this time, right in the face of the not-quick-enough buizel. A strong pop in the nose sends Riffle blinking, teetering on his hind legs, and collapsing to the ground in a lump. When Wes finally turns around the battle is over. Butler the machop stands over his opponent victoriously, exercising restraint in delivering further blows until the pokemon gets up to continue the fight.

That moment never comes, however, as Wes wastes no time recalling Riffle into his pokeball. "Wow, good fight." He seems more or less to have forgotten about Angela's interruption. "That's enough for Riffy today."

[Zelphas]

Amaranth City
12:15 PM

Butler swiftly moves to Angela's side after the fight ends, standing at attention next to his trainer and watching the area all around with relaxed vigilance. Angela ruffles the Machop's head ridges before looking up at Wes. "Yeah, you too. Sorry again about jumping in like that," Angela replies, sounding much less flirtatious and much more sincere.

She collects the bet from Wes, staying polite and keeping Butler out the whole time. Noticing the other tournament contestants hanging around the park, she walks over to where they are gathering, though she stays quiet for now.

[Boolprop]

For Zwei, being up close to the match is quite exciting. He watches both trainers and Pokémon dart around the park, taking hits as well as making one of their own. The match ended as quickly as Zwei blinked. Quickly, Zwei rushed over to ensure the match is over, kneeling down to check the Buizel. "Riffy is unable to battle! The winnrr is Butler!" With one hand, Zwei gestures towards the Machop. "Hyahyahya! That was a good match. Boom!"

"Riffy is unable to battle! The winner is Butler!"
Not sure if it's just me, but I'm hearing Mr. Referee's voice from Metabots when Zwei said that line.

[Arcran]

Aran sighs as he looks at the stitches on Kibau's chest, knowing that the scar would be there for a long, long time, serving as a constant reminder of how he failed his Pokemon.

As the game begins to end Aran sits down, not sure where to proceed from here. He had lost the battle, meaning that he didn't have the chance to talk to the Leader. Without anywhere to go, Aran looks to Kibau, a puzzled look on his face.

"Where do we go from here?"

[INoKnowNames]

Abigail had mixed feelings about the movie. On the one hand, it was entertaining; a fun distraction for the day. On the other, the unrealistic depiction of the struggle most trainers commonly face, particularly poignant after the losses she and Karen just experienced, was enough to break her immersion here and there. Still, it served it's purpose in chewing up time. When made publicly available, she wouldn't mind seeing it again.

Amidst the massive number of people entering the cinema, those leaving, and the general traffic outside, Abi has trouble being bumped around in the big city. She loses sight of Karen, and in trying to find her, ends up lost. Eventually, she makes her way to the central park within the city. "I suppose we can rest here for a bit, and try to find her once the crowds thin out." Abigail remarks to Rachael as she lets the Ralts out of her pokeball. For her part, the pokemon merely tilts its head at it's trainer, before following alongside her through the park.

While following on a trail, Abigail spies a familiar fellow resting with his feathered friend in the middle of the grass. After hesitating for a moment, she slowly walks toward him. "Greetings, Champion in the making." she remarks with a smile as she taps him on the shoulder.

[Arcran]

Aran looks up, a confused smile on his face. "Abigail, right?" Aran says, offering a pudgy hand. Was she making fun of him for losing? Or was she just being polite?

"Not really a champ in the making anymore," Aran says with a frown, looking at Abigail with disappointment. "I lost to Vivian in the finals. She decided to pull a knife right at the end. Nearly killed Kibau," the boy says, the last sentence hardly above a mumble.

[INoKnowNames]

"How nice of you to remember my name, Aran." she sweetly replies as a slender palm shakes his hand.

She nearly cuts him off before he finishes his first comment, but lets him continue, shock visibly painting her face when the knife was mentioned. "Is he?" she begins to ask, looking for the little bird, but after noticing it to be in spirits higher than it's master, she brightly smiles at them both.

"So, you are the second best rising super star in the city, and your opponent had to attack you herself, with a weapon no less, before you two were finally defeated. How are you not a champ in the making? You have great potential, held back only by your lack of faith in yourself." she consoles him. "You did better than many could, even out performing me and my best friend. You should not make little of yourself; you are better than that. I can tell just from how much Kibau loves you. Just be careful, and try to trust yourself more."

[Arcran]

"She," Aran corrects almost subconsciously, looking with a small degree of pride at his bird before turning back to Abigail.

"But where the hell do I go from here?" Aran says, looking to Abigail for advice. "I was supposed to win, then have the Leader tell me where to go. I can't ask for advice from them if I only go second," Aran says, a frown on his face. "I mean, I don't know how to be a Trainer at all! All I know is how to battle," Aran says, a frown on his face.

[Boolprop]

Right after congratulating Angela and Butler, Zwei's ears perks up as he senses distress? "What? Another lost soul?" Zwei thought to himself before quickly scanning around the park to see where the individual is. Spotting the same pudgy boy from earlier, Zwei somersaults over the flowers, rolls over and with the momentum jumps forward onto the bench.

"Hyahyahya! Losing is but a setback. You should use your lost as a stepping stone to grow stronger. Boom!" Zwei grins with his arms folded together, his bandanna flapping with the subtle breeze. "Do not wallow in your watery slop. Instead, set ablaze your heart and face the flames! Only then could you discover a tastier path! Boom!" At this, Vincent appears adjacent to Zwei as he releases himself from his own Pokéball, nodding and agreeing with his trainer and friend; before pulling his pants back up and snapping it in place.

[Zelphas]

Angela, who had until this point been staying mostly to the fringes of the little group and listening, steps in. "I was planning to get out of Amaranth; visit new sites, snap some photos, maybe even take the gym challenges. It's safer to travel with the group, and everyone here has proven that they know at least something about taking care of themselves," she muses, making her decision at the spur of the moment. "Whaddaya say we all travel together? You can take a crack at a different gym leader, Aran, and get their advice." Plus, group rates are always cheaper than solo, and even with Wes's prize money and whatever I get for these photos, I'm still not exactly rich. She thinks to herself.

[Arcran]

Aran looks at Zwei in confusion, not exactly sure what the man had just said. He settles with just nodding in agreement, figuring that would be enough for the time being.

"That sounds like a really good idea," Aran says in response to Angela. "When do you all want to leave?" the boy asks, looking up at the Pidgey circling overhead. "The sooner the better, but I want to make sure Kibau is in fighting form before we head out. Safety and all that, you know?"

[INoKnowNames]

Before she could respond to Aran's initial question, the bold fundoshi trainer from earlier made his extravagant aerial appearance, and Abigail outright falls onto her back, partially dodging his landing, and partially out of shock. And as the trainer who defeated her makes her presence known, Abi finds the desire to speak fading rapidly. One on one is relatively easy, but to do so with multiple is hard.

It isn't until Aran mentions his continued concern over Kibau's health that she pipes in, all but just above a murmur. "Before the three of you go anywhere, you could visit a regular Pokemon Center to have them check on her health. It shouldn't take them so long if they are merely examining, rather than actively treating her. ...I suppose I could try to do the same, if you'd value a stranger's oppinion..." she remarks, the last part all but inaudible.

"In any case, I hope the three of you have a rewarding adventure." she adds, as she attempts to stand up; Ralts attempting to help push Abigail to her feet. "I was planning on traveling myself, though the friend who I was going to be traveling with together may be lost in the city..."

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
12:17 PM

Zwei feels another hand on his shoulder. "Hey man, I'm gonna take off." It's Wes, who seems a bit more concerned than you've seen him as he looks more at his pokeball than you. "Sounds like you guys have your own plans. But if ya change your mind, things are startin' around ten." The athletic boy looks up at you all with a friendly wave, "A'course you're all invited. Anyway," he tosses the pokeball up, catches it with his other hand behind his back, and secures it to his belt. "It's been a pleasure meeting and competing with you guys. Take care." Unless interrupted by any of the four, Wes leaves with a smile past across the park towards the heart of the city.

At about the same time, Abigail's pocket starts vibrating and a short jingle plays. She reaches for her PokeTech to see an incoming call from Karen! A quick tap on the green Accept symbol brings up the video call. Abigail can see her friend via the phone's camera; she's perfectly fine, but in some lab Abigail isn't sure if she recognizes. Karen has taken her friend to Prof. Cedar's labs before, but each grey room of books and vials look the same. "Hey Abi!" As usual, she dominates the conversation. "Sorry we got split up, but I got a call from the professor; I guess he needs me for something. Actually, he needs Euclid he said..." her wandering eyes and puckered lip expresses concern for a second before she continues talking, "Dunno what that's all about, but I guess I'll find out when I get back to Sarcoline Town. Oh who're you with?" She asks, perhaps hearing some off-camera voices.

[Arcran]

"I'll have to do that," Aran mutters, looking around to see if he can locate that trademark red roof from here.

As Abigail mentions traveling alone, a strange expression comes over Aran's face. "Why don't you come with us too? I mean, if you want to," he says, looking at his feet. "And if you want to check out Kibau, go ahead! I don't really trust Pokemon Center people after my last meeting with them," Aran mutters, a scowl on his face.

[Zelphas]

"A party?" Angela says, surprised. Then she grins. "I wasn't planning on heading out until tomorrow morning, so I'd love to come, sounds awesome!" she exclaims, waving cheerily to Wes as he leaves.

"If, you're willing it'd be great to have you along. You've already proven that you're smart enough to know when to stop fighting, something I can't really say about myself," Angela interjects with a self-deprecating laugh. "Plus, if you know how to take care of Pokemon, that'd save us long trips to the Center and keep our Pokemon in good shape--speaking of which, hold on." Angela rifles through her pack, pulling out a Potion, which she quickly turns and begins applying to Butler. "I'm sorry I didn't get this to you right away, Butler. In all the excitement, I forgot I had these."

[Boolprop]

Turning to face Angela, Zwei eye's briefly glisten. "That is a great idea! Vincent and I would love company. Besides sharing a meal together would taste even better! Boom!" Satisfy the pudgy boy Aran seems to cheer up a bit, Zwei smiles heartily before hearing someone muttering.

Now noticing Abigail is on her back, Zwei realizes the situation, as Abigail continues at her pace. "Sorry about that. I hope you aren't hurt anywhere?" Zwei kneels down and offers Abigail a hand to help her up. "You're quite a trainer, rushing into a battle to stop your Ralts from further harm. I haven't seem many others do the same." Facing the little Ralts, Zwei flashes her a grin. "You got a good trainer and friend. Boom!" He observes the Ralts for a moment to see if it's alright to pat her on the head, avoiding the horns as not to startle the Ralts. "You and your friend is welcome to come travel with us. The more the merrier! Boom!" Zwei said to Abigail once she's on her feet.

Feeling another hand on his shoulder once he stands back up, Zwei turns to face Wes. "It was a good battle. your Riffy is quite a fighter. I hope he's alright." Zwei nod at Wes and at his invitation. "In case we don't meet again, I wish you the best of luck, both your party and your future with Riffy. I do hope we'll meet again one day." Zwei offers the athletic boy a handshake before the trainer walks off.

"Lets make it official, I'm Zwei Reinhardt, aspiring chef and a martial artist. The little guy here is Vincent. He's my Sous chef, friend and companion." Zwei introduces himself to the rest when he realized they haven't actually introduced themselves before. Even if they may know each other's name, it was only when the referee introduce them during the matches. The Scraggy set up besides Zwei, nods and crosses his arms, with his pants sitting comfortably loose around his waist...

[INoKnowNames]

After being hoisted to her feet, Abigail gives Zwei a very brief nod before all but burying her face in her Poketch as she answers it, hiding behind it and her hair to obscure the growing redness in her face, blushing both at how silly she felt she looked and at the mild additional attention. Rachael merely keeps tilting her head back and for at Zwei, before allowing her gaze to wander.

"I was just talking to some of the other rising stars, whom I ran into at the city park." Abigail responds to Karen, glancing at each of the other trainers for a moment before going back to the phone. "I understand if you are busy, but I am glad you are at least safe. Take care for me, and maybe we can talk later." she finishes the call, waiting for her friend's goodbye before closing the PokeTech and returning it to her bag's pocket.

"It is a little silly not to trust 'Pokemon Center People' but be willing to value my input, little champion. After all, if you couldn't tell just by looking, my mother is a Joy, and it runs in the family." she begins with Aran, covering a small laugh with one hand and playing with a strand of her long ping hair with the other. "But if you are all going to travel together, and would not mind me coming along, I would be happy to do what I can, even if I am still in training, more or less. Though even I can tell that Kibau probably doesn't need any therapeutic care right now. She looks to be ready for anything." Abigail remarks, staring into the sky at the energetic tiny bird.

Looking back down, she matches Angela's eyes after she treats Butler. "You may be headstrong, but it seems it has paid off quite handsomely for you. Butler seems to be so strong, even if Rachael had not been holding back her real power, we still might have lost. Attempting to hurt him still would have been spiteful and just gotten Rachael more hurt. It is good that the facilities are so advanced in some places, but I have seen enough hurt Pokemon without engineering it in vein. I felt bad after sending that Stunky into critical condition off of a lucky blow; doing so to Butler with actual power may have been worse..." Though she starts the conversation off attempting to be heard, her voice gets more and more faint as she continues, as her hands eventually come together above her chest.

Catching herself, she shakes her head back and forth, and pulls her arms back behind her. "Besides, I am on vacation from school right now. I mostly came to this competition to support my friend, and I would be more at home watching and cheering than actually competing. I make for a bit of an odd trainer, huh?" she laughs, eyes entirely closed as she tries not to feel more odd. Afterwards, she bows, intentionally allowing her rosy bushel of hair to fall forward and obscure her for a moment, just to catch herself. As she comes back up and pulls her hair behind her, Abigail's lips form a smile. "Odd trainers can occasionally be interesting, and hopefully not wear out their welcome. If this is becoming an official group, then I, Abigail Joy, and my partner Rachael, thank you all for your generous welcome. I am a Nurse Joy in training, and I hope to be of use no matter where we go... even if we go to a party." she finishes, the last part all but mouthed as she turns her head away, covering her mouth. The Ralts mimics her trainer, before tilting her head staring off into space.

[Arcran]

"Yeah, but you didn't stop me from training, did you?" Aran mutters, more to himself than anybody else.

"I think I'm going to skip the party tonight. They're not really my thing," the chubby boy says to his traveling companions. He wasn't one to look forward to something as social as a party, especially with the very high chance that Vivian would be there. "Kibau and I need to get ready for traveling. Where do you guys want to meet in the morning? Just outside the Pokemon Center?" the boy asks, gesturing for Kibau to fly closer.

"Oh, and I'm Aran," the boy quickly adds, realizing he probably hadn't introduced himself to everybody, offering a hand of sausage-like fingers. "Aran Debune. And this is Kibau," he says, gesturing towards the Pidgey who replies with a soft coo. "And, uh, I'm a Pokemon Trainer I guess?" the boy says, a bit confused as to what to say. Zwei had a defined role, as did Abigail, but him? He was just a halfway competent battler at the end of the day.

[Zelphas]

"Headstrong... sure, let's go with that," Angela replies, grinning. Beside her, Butler's remains stoic, though his eyes move slightly--did he just roll his eyes? "'Holding back her real power'... you didn't go easy on me, did you?" she teases.

"I'm Angela Dawson, freelance photographer," Angela introduces herself, looking around at the group. "Speaking of which--I'd better get these photos in to my soon-to-be-ex-boss before the paper goes out today. Tomorrow in front of the Center sounds good to me--say around ten o'clock?" She waits for an answer before giving the group a cheery wave and heading off to the headquarters of The Amaranth Gazette, Butler in tow.

[Boolprop]

"Hyahyahya! It's good to meet you, Abigail, Rachael. Aran, Kibau. Angela, Butler." Zwei lets out a hearty laugh before turning to face each trainer and their Pokémon as he spoke their name. "This is much like a potluck. Everyone has something to bring to the table." Zwei thought as he accepts Aran hand, and gives the boy a firm handshake.

"Whatever you know what you are or not, we'll discover it together as we journey across Lidello. Boom!" Zwei gives Aran a nod. "Tomorrow in front of the Pokémon Center is fine." Zwei agrees with Aran, "It'll allow us to get things in order, like food preparation. Boom!" Vincent stands by his trainer and bobs his head, before reaching into his pants, digging deep and taking out one of the wrapped macaroons he have stashed away earlier. About to take a bite after carefully opening it, Vincent instead offers it to the other Pokémon. Breaking it into equal pieces if others wanted.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
9:30 AM

Day turns to night as the group prepares excitedly and anxiously for the coming day. Angela delivers her photos from the Rising Stars tournament to her employer and makes a cool sum of cash. Despite her earlier interest, she decides against going to Wes' house when the others don't seem too interested: perhaps she realized she'd need good night's sleep for the upcoming day, perhaps she didn't feel comfortable going alone, or perhaps she simply was being polite earlier when waving to Wes.

The next morning the four rise from wherever they were staying in Amaranth City. If they needed their pokemon healed, they retrieve their PokeBall from the PokeCenter and congregate in front as planned. On an electronic message board inside the facility scrolls the morning's route schedule.



Depature Time
Departure Point
Destination
Route
Safeway Captain


10:00 AM
Amaranth PokeCenter
Peridotton
Route 3
Kristin Reese


10:00 AM
Amaranth PokeCenter
Sarcoline Town
Route 1
Michael Ng


10:00 AM
West Gate
Glauco Village
Route 6
Vincent Pierre


10:15 AM
South Gate
Xanadu Bay
Route 10
Gary Pereira



General:
Any of these destinations will take longer than a day to travel. The Runner will have supplies on him or her, but it is never a bad idea to stock up on supplies just in case you get split up or the trip takes longer than expected. On the whole, however, none of these destinations are too daunting.

Peridotton:
Peridotton is a large city compared to most in Lidello, but much smaller than Amaranth. It is about 2 or 3 day's travel north and shares a similar client to where you are now. The route is most likely thick forest along a small mountain range. Peridotton invites Level 1 trainers to challenge its gym. The leader specializes in Rock-type pokemon, and his trainers generally do as well.

Sarcoline Town:
Sarcoline Town is a small cluster east of Amaranth. Perhaps if the Bubble is quick, you could make it by nightfall. The route is thick forest, again, however steers clear of the mountains. Sarcoline Town has a gym, but it is relatively short-staffed and only caters to higher-level trainers.

Glauco Village:
Glauco Village is a very small village high in the western mountains of Lidello. Traveling to the mountain might take a handful of days, and up it a few more. It is definitely going to be a tough trek. Exotic ice pokemon can be found on the way. In an attempt to be a more appealing locale, Glauco Village hosts a variety of gym challengers, including Level 1 trainers. The leader, expectedly, sports fire-type pokemon, but his trainers work mostly with the local ice types.

Xanadu Bay:
Xanadu Bay is a very fun and sunny destination a few day's travel directly south from Amaranth. While it isn't a terribly large city as far as residential population, it is quite a popular vacation spot. There's a party somewhere on the shore every night. Traveling to Xanadu Bay is very long, but very easy. The route is flat and devoid of any sort of challenging geographic features. Xanadu Bay loves hosting trainers of all skill levels at its gym.

[Zelphas]

Amaranth City
9:30 A.M.

Angela wakes up easily in her mostly-bare apartment. She takes a moment to look around the place where she had lived for a little over two years, reminiscing in the memories. "I'm getting away from him, Mom," she says quietly to the small room. "I'm sorry I couldn't get you away from him too."

Angela smiles and waves at the group as they gather in front of the Pokemon Center, before turning to the board. Butler, who had been awake before Angela, stand at her side as usual, scanning the area in what the Machop seems to think is a professional manner. She runs through what she knows of each place, and then turns back to the rest. "Where would you all like to go? I like the sound of Peridotton, myself, Though Glauco Village also sounds pretty cool." She chuckles softly at her own horrible joke.

[Arcran]

Aran wakes to a screech in his, suddenly rolling out of bed in terror, falling to the ground in a tangle of sheets in limbs. Above he catches a flash of brown feathers before Kibau lands on the desk and begins preening.

"What the.." Aran mutters, still slightly dazed before he looks at the clock. With a start the boy jumps up, a panicked expression on his face. They were supposed to meet in just a few minutes! The chubby boy (not quite literally) flies around the room, throwing on clothes and gathering his things before dashing out of the Pokemon Center room, sprinting down the stairs and only almost tripping once. He reaches the group a short while later, breathing heavily with his hands on his knees.

"I don't care," the boy mutters, a sad expression on his face. "All the starter Gyms are full of Rock and Ice Types which won't make things any easier for Kibau," the boy states, a frown on his face. Sure, one had a Gym Leader that used Fire Types but after Kibau's last encounter with a Fire Type...

"Perridoton is probably best though," he finally states, still breathing heavily.

[Boolprop]

Amaranth City
8:00 A.M.

Up early, Zwei and Vincent trained themselves like they usually done so for the past years. Normally they would trained for an hour, practicing their martial arts, but today was a special day. Today they were to travel with other Pokémon trainers. Trainers whom they knew little about, yet share similar goals. Outside of the Pokémon Center, both trainer and Pokémon move about as they stretched their body, practice the familiar maneuvers they done so many times that they've lost count.

"Sei! Hai! Ora!" Zwei grunts and shouts as he punches the air in front of him, alternating his fists, Vincent too does the same. Though from time to time, he picks up and readjust his pants as they fall. Noticing the time, Zwei had to stop the morning practice. So they would have enough time to wash themselves before meeting the others. After all, showing up all smelly isn't a good way to start off a new journey. Quickly heading to the showers, Zwei washes himself, as Vincent does to same.

Amaranth City
9:30 A.M.

Standing in front the of Pokémon Center, Vincent waves a hand, the other gripping his pants as he spots other trainers beginning to show up. Zwei folds his arms and nods to his fellow traveling buddies as they show up, grinning happily. "Either way, all destinations will take longer than a day to travel. Boom!" Zwei speaks up, nodding as the others suggest places he's unfamiliar to. "Vincent and I are up for any." Zwei laughs jovially.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
9:58 AM

Their destination decided, the group of four mingles in front of the PokeCenter for the next several minutes as many more congregate. A family groups near the PokeCenter door. An elderly couple sits patiently inside. A young couple around your age heals their pokemon before standing outside nearby. In all there might be around twenty people.

In some time, two fit young pokemon trainers dressed in vibrant blue polos with neon orange hats and belts approach the group.

"Good morning travelers!" A short girl with straight dark black hair gets the mob's attention with a confident call. By the nametag over her chest you understand that this is Kristin - the Runner you have been waiting for. "If you are heading to Peridotton this morning, please group over here with me. Those of you going to Sarcoline Town will be joining Michael."

You follow the girl to her smaller circle. The two aforementioned couples join you along with a pair of men in business suits who don't appear ready for travel. After a hushed discussion, she directs them to Michael.

"All right," she clasps her hands together and forms a little group huddle with the nine of you. "Looks like this is the group aside an late-comers. My name is Kristin Reese. I'm sure we'll get to know each other well in the next few days. Should be..." Hazel eyes roll around, thinking, "two nights. So three days. Uhh, first things first." She clasps her hands again. "Do I have any trainers here with fourth-level badges?" No one raises their hand. "Ok no problem. Third?" Still no hands. A concerned expression appears. "Well ok, no problem. Second?" The young boy and girl stop finally chirp up and proudly display their badges. "Ah! Great!" Kristin lights up. "If you'll, come on," she breaks the circle and waves them to follow her into the PokeCenter. "Tell me about your pokemon, you two. I need to know who to bring from my team." The boy starts talking first about his Breloom as they depart into the building leaving you four and the old couple under the bright morning sun.

[Zelphas]

Amaranth City
9:58 A.M.

Angela frowns as the woman walks away with the two two badge trainers. "Are the wilds really that bad?" she mutters to herself. I mean, sure, she's heard about them being dangerous, but surely that was exaggerated. Right?

Shrugging, she turns to the two people she doesn't know with a smile. "Hi! I'm Angela Dawson, traveling photographer, and this is Butler," she says brightly, indicating the ever-vigilant Machop. "Why are you two headed off to Peridotton?"

[Arcran]

"We can handle any wilds, can't we?" Aran says, looking to Kibau with pride. As Kristen calls the two Badge Trainers over Aran's ears instantly perk up.

"Talk to you guys when we start going!" he says to his companions before quickly waddling off towards Kirsten, hoping to learn something from what she asks the two Trainers. He stops from a short distance away, as soon as he can hear what's being said.

[Boolprop]

Feeling pumped to finally set out, Zwei looks north towards the road he would take. Though a bit disappointed that they had to wait a bit longer as the Runner had to gather her team. Sure he understood the need to be prepared, and doesn't fault the girl. Instead he decides to get to know the elderly couple. But it looks like Angela have beaten him to the punch.

"Hiya! I'm Zwei Reinhardt, traveling chef and martial artist, and this is my sous chef Vincent." Bowing, Zwei waited his turn to speak after the elderly couple have answered Angela. The Scraggy folds his arms and does a short bow, a gesture to say hello.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
9:59 AM

"Oh they are cute," the woman with thin white hair responds. "Our son moved out of the city when he got married. We promised we'd visit his new home, oh when was it Jeremy," she tugs on her husband's arm for him to add in to the conversation, but he seems much to concerned with his large, worn map. "Oh it must have been almost a month ago. But you know how you get busy and days pass too quickly..." She looks up at Angela with a smiling nod. "It feels good to be on the trails again. It's been too long."

Playing it cool inside the PokeCenter, it isn't too hard to spy on Kristin and the others. It's a bit loud inside with the ambient music over the sound system and several conversations going on around the room, but Aran can understand that the three at the computer are sharing details about their pokemon parties. Kristin appears to have a diverse party stored via the PC, and, like she started earlier, she's picking her pokemon depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the other two accomplished trainers' parties. The boy, Bryan, sports a Breloom and a Leafeon, while his girlfriend Ashley works primarily with a Whimsicott and a Spheal.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
North Gate
10:26 AM

"Umm," Abigail speaks up from the back of the circle. "If you don't mind, I think I changed my mind."

Her pal Karen appears from behind another group and throws her arm around her friend. "Yo guys, we're shippin' out to Sarcoline Town. I got called back to work. You know how it goes."

"Yes so I will be going back home if that's ok with you all."

"Good luck everyone. Especially you, champ-in-the-making." She clasps Aran's hand and gives a kind, smiling bow before being tugged by Karen to the other Runner's group.

"C'mon Abi, we gotta go," Karen seems anxious to leave. "Y'all have our numbers. I'm sure we'll meet up soon!"

By this time, Kristin and the two experienced trainers return from the computer in the PokeCenter. The young couple gives you a confident nod as the group of nine leaves Amaranth City. A short cobblestone road between sweet-smelling shops and expensive clothing retailers leads the group to the North Gate of the city.

While the great stone wall may have once been properly guarded to defend the city from dangerous wilds, those days are gone. The forests are still dangerous, of course, but the threat of nightmarish invasions are completely gone thanks to the dedicated Gym Leaders; frequent travel of the routes by the Lidello Safeway Captians also helps. The towers' crenellations are empty to your sight and you simply leave through the wide open wooden doors stories taller than necessary. Maybe to accommodate flying pokemon? Or the great legendaries of old?

Kristin leaves you for a moment to duck into a small building not larger than a shed built into the side of the wall. She returns two minutes later with a very large backpack. The square hiking backpack is reinforced with wooden beams and leather straps to support its intimidating weight. Small bits of burlap and cloth stick out from the top. It seems to be bulging at every angle with whatever is packed inside. A pot hanging on her side clangs against a metal buckle as she walks. A large rolled up cloth rests on top of the pack and behind her head. Her belt is lined with four pokeballs, and in between, two daggers sheathed in leather.

The Safeway Captain has found a neon orange hat to match her attire. Her black hair peaks through in a ponytail via a hole in the back. "All right folks, ready to go?"

[Zelphas]

Amaranth City
North Gate
10:26 A.M.

"Oh, okay, if you're sure," Angela replies, surprised and a bit disappointed. She hides is behind a smile. "Have fun, you two!"

Angela checks to make sure she has everything she needs, then nods and smiles to Kristin. "Ready to go!" I think... she adds in her own mind, eyeing the Safeway Captain's massive backpack.

[Boolprop]

"Are you sure?" Raising an eyebrow Zwei asks the Joy. "Well, if that's your decision, there's nothing we can do about it." Zwei shakes his head, a bit disappointed. "You two enjoy yourselves! Boom!" Zwei waves the two girls farewell.

Again raising an eyebrow, Zwei observe the Safeway Captain's massive backpack, then at his own. Knowing he have double, no triple checked everything he needed before arriving here, he gives Kristin a nod. "Vincent and I are ready. Aren't we? Boom!" Zwei asks the Scraggy standing by his side, whom seems to have an itch around his backside from all the waiting. Vincent quickly gives a nod, smiling as he feels satisfy from curing the itch.

[Hefty Lefty]

Amaranth City
North Gate
10:27 AM

Kristin gives Zwei a confident smile. "Good to hear." She slings her hands behind her straps and sets forth on the wide dirt trail out of the city. "So a scraggy, huh? Where'd you catch him? Couldn't have been around here, right?" She inquires.

Route 3
10:56 AM

Kristin leads the way down Route 3 as the group of eight leaves the city limits. About this time, the trees become more random than the patterned foliage lining the roads leading to Amaranth. The trail becomes thinner, and the grass around the trail proves much taller and more rugged than behind you. The gates still stand tall in your sight if you turn around. The sun shines bright overhead without a cloud in the sky; you feel confident that the weather won't be a factor today - a feeling Kristin confirms with you, for what it's worth. The old couple, to your surprise, seem to be keeping up nicely with the group. Despite their age, they certainly are in shape. The young couple walk hand in hand in the back of the pack, chatting quietly to themselves.

Everyone make a Perception check! This will hold until you get to a resting point or an encounter occurs.

[Zelphas]

Route 3
10:56 A.M.

Angela walked along the route with Butler at her side, her camera at the ready for any interesting sights to capture on camera. In a little while, she might strike up a conversation with someone; for now, the city girl is busy soaking up the new sights of the country.

Perception Check: [roll0]

[Arcran]

Aran walks along happily, simply staring about in awe at everything. He and Kibau mostly keep to themselves, although the Pidgey does occasionally dive perhaps a little too close for comfort towards other Pokemon.

Perception!
Aran: [roll0]
Kibau: [roll1]

[Boolprop]

Amaranth City
North Gate
10:27 AM


"Vincent just happen to drop into my life one day." Zwei looks over to the Scraggy. "It took a while, but we didn't get along at first. Vincent was eventually accepted as a member of my family. We're like two peas in a pod. Boom!" Zwei gives Kristin a confident smile. "No. Vincent and I met elsewhere."

Route 3
10:56 AM

Zwei follows behind Kristin, while observing his surroundings with interest. He thought he saw a couple of edible vegetation, but didn't get any chance to confirm it since the group is on a scheduled. Well, he'll have plenty of opportunity next time. Vincent happily walks beside Zwei, simply marvel at everything.

Perception Checks!
Zwei: [roll0]
Vincent: [roll1]

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
11:25 AM

Further up the trail the group is making steady progress. None of the others seem tired yet, which bodes well since the trek is only just beginning. The old couple even seems to be aggitated at time at the slow speed of the group. More than once you've overheard Jeremy, the older gentleman, remind Kristin that he has made this trip in one day numerous times. Each time the Runner would give a polite smile and just remind the man that she isn't out to win any races.

Conversation peters out and eventually even the young couple in the back stops talking. The group enjoys the music of distance bird pokemon in the cool breeze. At a certain point on the dirt path, however, the music stops and some sharper, more violent noises can be heard.

Aran, eagerly on the look-out for wild pokemon, is the first to spot the rattatas to the groups' "11 o'clock." At least three of the purple pokemon have a small, brown pokemon surrounded, and it appears a meal is on their mind. The boy spots this happening before anyone else in the group.

At the same time, the perceptive Angela finds a beautiful pink pokemon further up on the right side of the trail, grazing in a small clearing between trees. Angela, too, seems to have noticed this pokemon before anyone else.


The small brown pokemon encircled is a Sentret. This pokemon is usually very perceptive, aware of its surroundings, and quick to flee. Fighting is not its strength.


This pokemon is a Deerling. This majestic pokemon is seasonal; its coat changes with the seasons. It is now exhibiting its pink coat for the spring season. As the days have been heating up, this may be one of the last chances to take a photograph of this pink pokemon until next year. This is a rare opportunity for an already rare pokemon!

http://i.imgur.com/EovMZdB.jpg

[Zelphas]

Route 3
11:25 A.M.

Angela stifles a squeal at the beauty of the pink Deerling, her hand flying to her camera. "Oh, you are adorable," she murmurs, moving slowly towards the deer Pokemon with Butler in tow. And you're only gonna look like this for a few more days, too... she thinks to herself, pulling up the camera for a quick photo. She continues to move towards the Deerling, ignoring the other people in her group and making soft, comforting sounds to the pretty pink deer.

Move Action: move three squares diagonally up-right and one square to the right, towards the deerling. (Butler follows, ending up one square to Angela's left.)

Standard Action: Take Photo. This photo is worth: [roll0]x3 poke, plus any modifiers for the rareness of the Deerling's coat.

Free Action: Charm the Deerling, so it doesn't run away: [roll1]

I have a question: Angela has a Quick Ball. Would this be Round 0 of Combat, or does Round 0 persist until Combat begins? Either way, Angela is too far away to throw the Quick Ball yet.

[Arcran]

"Let's go Kibau!" Aran shouts excitedly, looking at the Rattata and Sentret. While he was certainly a fan of Flying types, the Sentret would be extremely useful, especially if he tries to travel on his own. Besides, the Rattata were bullying it. He couldn't possibly let that happen!

"Get the loner, then get ready!" Aran shouts, pointing towards the Rattata that was slightly removed from the others. Kibau rockets forward, body a streamlined flying machine before suddenly pulling back, the bird's jetstream flying forward to strike the lone Rattata hard.


Aran
Shift: Aran moves 3 over.
Swift: Aran uses Duelist on the Rattata! The Rattata is now Tagged!
Standard: Aran uses Focused Training!

Kibau
Shift: Kibau moves four over, up-left one.
Standard: Kibau uses Gust!
AC: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

If that hits, Kibau gains +1 Momentum.
If this counts as a round, Kibau gains +1 Momentum.

If either condition is met, Kibau gains +1 Evasion.

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
11:25 AM

Aran is the first to spot the rattata pack, but his reaction commands the attention of all other group members, who now can easily see the purple pokemon through the light foliage. "Oh no," Ashley, from the back, puts her hand over her mouth in sympathy of the sentret. Kristin, meanwhile, roots Aran on as he jumps into action. "Go get'im Aran!"

Aran's pidgey dashes across the trail and into the battle. The rats are too busy with their prey to notice the bird swoop in and kick up a storm. The tornado races along the grass, knocking one rattata into the air and sending him up then down in a lump on the ground. A few bumps and many angry hisses later, the rat pack turns its attention to the bird.

Wild Rattata appeared! Or rather, wild rattata were already there, and YOU appeared. Either way, battle time (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pYO0aHmez4)!

Initiative:
Wild Rattata
Kibau
Angela
Aran
Wild Deerling
Zwei
Vincent
Butler
Wild Sentret

http://i.imgur.com/ykCthGV.jpg

Meanwhile, Angela takes the opportunity of the distraction to steal a quick picture of the deerling. It instantly meets the gaze of the camera lens when the machine clicks; however, its attention is then torn to the other side of the trail with the big fight. With stiff, anxious movements, it takes a few steps closer to Angela. Too afraid to continue eating, it keeps its eyes pinned on the rattatas. Its ears move back and forth between Angela and Butler and the scrapping rats.

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
11:25 AM

Vicious balls of hate and hunger, the purple rats turn their back on their prey and leap at Kibau! The three pokemon swarm in a frenzy attack all at once in a matter of seconds. The first leaps directly on the bird, the second swiping underneath its wings, and the third simply chomps down on Kibau's exposed breast. The bird squawks in pain as feathers fly, and quickly falls to the ground silent and still. Blood stains the grass underneath as the rats protect their prey from those watching.



http://i.imgur.com/zlHfrOg.jpg

Three rattatas use Quick Attack on Kibau!

Rattata 1 (Left of Kibau) - The red dot signifies this Rattata has taken damage.
[roll0]
[roll1]

Rattata 2 (Up-left of Kibau)
[roll2]
[roll3]

Rattata 3 (Above Kibau)
[roll4]
[roll5]

Kibau: -35/49 HP. :smalleek::smalleek: Kibau receives 3 injuries.

Initiative:
Wild Rattata
Kibau
Angela
Aran
Wild Deerling
Zwei
Vincent
Butler
Wild Sentret

[Zelphas]

Route 3
11:25 A.M.

Angela is interrupted from her admiring of the Deerling by the sounds of battle nearby. She glances to the Rattata fight, and then to the Deerling, a look of yearning on her face. Finally, she makes a decision. "Butler, go and help! I'll be right there!" she calls out, moving quickly to the little deer Pokemon. "I'm sorry, cutie, but there's a fight going on, and you're just too pretty. Oh, are you scared of the fight? Here, this'll protect you," she says, lobbing her Quick Ball.

Move Action: Move two up-right, two straight up.

Free Action: Send Butler towards the other battle, keep charming the Deerling: [roll0]

Standard Action: Throw a Quick Ball at the Deerling.
Accuracy: [roll1] vs. 6
Capture Roll: [roll2] I think this should still be right; if not, add 25.

Butler will head to the battle when his turn arrives.

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
11:25 AM

"Aran, recall and get atta'there!" Kristin orders with some stress in her voice. She rushes over to the boy with pokeball in hand, but doesn't use it. "Zwei! Angela! Get in the action!"

"You want us to...?" the veteran trainers in the back hold up their pokeballs as well, offering to help, but Kristin waves them off. "They got it. Let's give 'm a chance."

Across the trail, the deerling gives Angela considerable trust in staying put as she walks near. Perhaps it is too paralyzed in fear or it actually understands Angela's sentiment and agrees, the pokemon does not flinch when the pokeball comes towards it. The blue and yellow pokeball flies through the air with impressive speed and opens mid-air before its target. The pink pokemon is encased in red light and sucked into the pokeball. It rocks once on the ground. Twice. Three times. Then a long pause.

*click*

Congrats! Deerling was caught!
Level: 4
Nature: [roll0] - Mild
Sex: [roll1] (1 = male) - Female

Great job with the Charm rolls and the clutch Quick Ball! As you'd imagine, that deerling was going to sprint off at the first sound of the battle or with any failed roll.

Initative:
Wild Rattata
Kibau
Kristin
Ashley
Bryan
Angela
Aran
Wild Deerling
Zwei
Vincent
Butler
Wild Sentret

http://i.imgur.com/Fn3XsX2.jpg

[Arcran]

"What the..." Aran says in shock before crying out as, once again, Kibau is literally torn to shreds in front of his eyes. With a panicked grab Aran returns the Pidgey before sprinting away, trying to put some distance between himself and the rats.

Aran returns Kibau then runs away!

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
11:25 AM

Aran grabs his pokeball and dashes back to the group. The rattatas snap at him as he turns his back to them, but it appears that with Kristin's presence, they held back on what could have been another round of devastating scratches.

http://i.imgur.com/5vG0PMM.jpg

Just a reminder that with 1.05 came Attacks of Opportunity. Technically, Aran exposed himself to three AoOs from the rattatas (there is no "Full Retreat" action in PTU).


Initative:
Wild Rattata
Kibau
Kristin
Ashley
Bryan
Angela
Aran
Wild Deerling
Zwei
Vincent
Butler
Wild Sentret

[Boolprop]

Preoccupied while looking at the scenery, Zwei and Vincent was snapped back to reality when Aran shouts to Kibau for an attack. It all happen to quickly, one moment Zwei is trying to see what is going on. The next second he spots Kibau falls to the ground. Before he could question anyone, Kristin calls out to Angela and himself into action. Quickly reading the mood, Zwei looks to his partner and calls out "Vincent, show them our Kale & Spinach Sandwich Surprise!" Nodding, Vincent understood what his trainer meant, despite his sometimes awful naming scheme.

Both trainer and Pokémon sprints off towards the rat pack, moving together as one before splitting off right behind Kristin. Sending a couple of dirt into the air as he Skid to a stop, Vincent lets the dirt settle before ominously looks at the Rattatas and glares at them with an intimidating look on its face. Coming from Kristin's other side, Zwei swerve around and strikes at a Rattata with an open hand.

Zwei holds his action until after Vincent goes, or specifically right after the 5 initiative mark. I believe Butler has the same speed as Vincent, but maybe not be able to get into position due to the trees are in his way? Anyways this is how it goes.

Vincent
Shift: Vincent moves four to the left, up one.
Standard: Vincent uses Leer.
Range: Cone 2, Friendly, Social, targeting all the Rattatas.
AC: 2 - [roll0]
Effect: If hit, all legal targets have their Defense lowered by 1 Combat Stage.

Zwei
Shift: Zwei moves three to the left, three straight up.
Standard: Zwei uses Karate Chop at the Rattata right next to him.
AC: 2 - [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]
Effect: Karate Chop is a Critical Hit on 17+

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uJgiCIjgx3U/UVToX7xTQII/AAAAAAAABFQ/IR9t7kNjZfI/s320/074.jpg

[Zelphas]

Route 3
11:25 A.M.

Hearing his mistress's command, Butler moves towards the fray, glaring through his sunglasses in a way oddly reminiscent to Vincent.

Move Action: Move four spaces to the left (if the trees don't block the way) and one space diagonally up-left.

Standard Action: Leer, Normal Special
Accuracy: [roll0] (AC 2) Lowers Defense 1 CS if it hits.

If I did this correctly, that Leer should hit all three Rattata.

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
11:25 AM

The three fighters dash into the fray; the two pokemon defend their trainers with vicious stare-downs which actually freeze the rattatas where they stand. The rats are so stunned, in fact, that Zwei miscalculates his karate chop attack and swipes at their air where he predicts his target should have been.

The small sentret takes the opportunity to flee the scene entirely up a nearby tree. The rattatas, suddenly outnumbered, spread out and attack with disorganization at the three foes who just targeted them.

Kristin takes a few small steps through the rattata line to help her travel companions flank the rats. Ashley has the same idea, moving over to help the machop. Bryan moves up the trail the defend the others who can't defend themselves.

"All right, you got it guys." Kristin claps her hands and cheers on the fighters with confidence.

"Yeah c'mon Vincent!" Ashley joins in.

http://i.imgur.com/L7l6gnU.jpg

Wild Rattata
Kibau
Kristin
Ashley
Bryan
Angela
Aran
Wild Deerling
Zwei
Vincent
Butler
Wild Sentret



Rattata 2 uses Quick Attack on Butler!
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Rattata 3 uses Quick Attack on Zwei!
Attack: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

Rattata 1 uses Quick Attack on Vincent!
Attack: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]

[Zelphas]

Route 3
11:25 A.M.

Angela lets out a whoop of excitement as her Quick Ball captures the Deerling, and then what she saw back at the Rattata fight finally hits her. She lets out a gasp and scoops up the Pokeball, running full-tilt back towards the battle. "I-I'm coming!" she shouts, looking about wildly for a way to be useful. She spots one of the Rattata attacking Butler. "Hey!" she shouts at it, and, thinking quickly, blows it a kiss.

Butler, meanwhile, turns to look at Zwei as he strikes at a Rattata, then down at his own hand, ignoring the Rattata that bounces off of him as he does so. After a moment, he nods, then slices at the Rattata before him with his hand held open in the exact same way as Zwei had been before.

Angela
Move Action: If Angela has to move forward to grab the Deerling's Pokeball, she runs right two squares to get it, and then left three squares. If not, Angela simply moves left five squares.

Standard Action: Sacrifice for double move action. Angela will move two diagonal down-left and two left, regardless of where she ended up in the first move. This means she will either end up directly above the topmost Rattata, or four squares to the left and one above that same Rattata.

Swift Action: Activate Quick Wit to use Sweet Kiss on the Topmost Rattata. No matter where I end up, I should be in range.
Sweet Kiss, Fairy Special
Accuracy: [roll0] vs AC 6 On a hit, The Rattata is Confused. On an 18+, the Rattata becomes Vulnerable and loses 1 tick of Hit Points (from the Push Buttons Feature).

Butler
Move Action: He's good.

Standard Action: Karate Chop, Fighting Physical, Crit on 17+
Accuracy: [roll1] vs AC 2
Damage: [roll2]
If Crit: [roll3]

[Boolprop]

Route 3
11:25 A.M.

Zwei quickly brings up his arms in a cross to absorb some of impact from the Rattata's attack. Although he received the attack, Zwei can't help but grin as the Machop runs up to his side. Briefly making eye contact with Butler, Zwei nods and shouts out to his partner. "Vincent, take care of the one in front of you! Butler and I will take care of our own. Show them what you're made of. Boom!"

Stamping a foot onto the ground, Zwei lets out a short cry as he makes a better foothold for his next attack. Using the same attack as before, but this time he swings his hand downwards from above the Rattata. Out of the corner of his eyes, he sees Butler now using Karate Chop at the Rattata before him. Delighted, Zwei snorts.

Meanwhile, Vincent spin his body with the direction of the Rattata's attack, lessening the impact. Moving with the flow, Vincent swings a foot around and kicks at the Rattata. After his kick, Vincent grabs his nearly fallen pants, pulls and adjust them.

Zwei
Shift: None
Standard: Attacks Rattata 3 with Karate Chop [Fighting; Physical] Crits on 17+
AC: 2 - [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
If Crits: [roll2]

Vincent
Shift: None
Standard: Attacks Rattata 1 with Low Kick [Fighting; Physical]
AC: 2 - [roll3]; Target is flanked, -2 to it's evasion.
Damage: [roll4]

[Arcran]

Aran continues to keep his distance, a panicked expression on his face as he looks at Kibau's Pokeball. Would his Pidgey be alright after getting hit so hard within such little time?

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
11:26 AM

Angela's blown kiss confuses some of the surrounding humans perhaps even more than her target, but still, it does the job in rendering the rattata completely vulnerable to a massive karate chop by the muscly Butler. One swift strike in the right spot is all he needs to send the rat to the ground in a thud.

Zwei leads the line of pokemon in command and force, striking a pokemon himself with a strong chop. The attack brings the rat to the ground, but only for a moment. It squeaks in pain and anger as it staggers before Zwei.

Vincent, meanwhile, makes simple work of the rattata before him who had previously taken damage from Kibau.

Its two brethren fallen at its side, the lone rattata looks weakly to either side before lashing out at the strongest of its three opponents, Butler, before trying to turn tail and dash away into the thick trees. ((The rattata is not moved on the image because its movement has provoked AoOs from Butler, Zwei, and Kristin (the last of which is deferring to Butler and Zwei.))

http://i.imgur.com/ec3xjPF.jpg

Wild Rattata
Kristin
Ashley
Bryan
Angela
Aran
Zwei
Vincent
Butler

Forgot to do this from last round:
Butler: 37/51 HP. No injuries.
Zwei: 26/42 HP. No injuries.
Vincent: 31/42 HP. No injuries.

Rattata uses Quick Attack on Butler!

Attack: [roll0] AC 2
Damage: [roll1]

Butler: 22/51 HP. Injury to Special Attack.

[Zelphas]

Route 3
11:26 A.M.

Angela is in the middle of rubbing the back of her head and looking embarrassed when the Rattata attacks Butler, prompting her to gasp and rush forward. Butler winces in response to the next attack, responding with an instinctive punch.

Angela

Move Action: Move left three squares, ending up next to Butler.

Standard Action: None for now.

Butler

Attack of Opportunity:
Accuracy: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
If Crit: [roll2]

Move Action: None.

Standard Action: None.

[Boolprop]

Route 3
11:26 A.M.

Not letting an opportunity slip by, Zwei responds with an instinctive sweep. Aiming for the Rattata's hind legs, Zwei's foot quickly glides across the dirt as he finds his mark. It's only after everything settles when Zwei spoke up. "Is everyone alright?" Vincent walks over, placing both hands on his waist and grins.

Zwei
Attack of Opportunity: Struggle
AC: 4 - [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
If Crit: [roll2]

Standard: None
Shift: None

Vincent
Shift: Moves one up, Ending next to Zwei and Bryan.
Standard: None

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
11:26 AM

With swift reflexes and a swifter leg, Zwei sends the last Rattata tripping over its legs and onto the ground in a heap. The three are breathing, but clearly out of the battle. Suddenly their incessant squeaking has stopped and you hear the silence of the forest; it seems every bird in the trees stopped singing to watch your fight.

After everyone catches their breath, Kristin throws an arm around both Zwei and Angela. "Great job guys!" She takes her arms back and kneels down next to the two fighting-types, "You two, too!" Finally, she heads back to the trail and addresses the group as a whole. "Nice work team! Zwei and Angela, that's exactly what I like to see from my group." She beams.

In response to Zwei's question, he receives a few nods. On further check it doesn't seem like anyone besides Angela, himself, and of course Aran, broke a sweat.

Congrats! Butler, Vincent, and Kibau gain 8 EXP!

Butler and Kibau grew to Level 9! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XdvY9E-9XE)

[Zelphas]

Route 3
11:26 A.M.

Angela's cheer at Kristin's praise is tempered somewhat by Butler's battered state, as well as the quick glimpse she had gotten of Kibau. "Do we need to head back to the Pokemon Center? For Butler, and... and Kibau?" she asks, already pulling out her last bandage and a can of Soda Pop in case Kristin says they should press on.

Her eyes fall on the three unconscious Rattata. "What about them? Will they wake up?" Clearly, the city girl hasn't seen too many wilds in her life.

I'm holding my Soda Pop and Bandage in reserve. I figure we'll continue on, but Angela would ask these things.

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
11:27 AM

"Butler will be fine, I can patch him up and he'll be better in a few hours..." Kristin plants her hands on her hips and puckers a lip. "But the pidgey..." she sighs, "I guess we should probably go back, right? We're only about an hour from town..."

Two male voices protest.

"Absolutely not!" The elder Jeremy argues. "We're moving too slowly as it is!"

"We just left!" Bryan groans with hands behind his head, "Two hours is gonna completely throw us off our route!"

"I'm not rescheduling my trip for Tubby's baby pidgey." The four others cringe a bit at the insult, but say nothing. "The boy can just take a backseat if another fight comes up."

Kristin looks up at her three youngest group members with indecisive eyes.

[Arcran]

"I-I'll just go back," Aran says, blinking back tears. "Kibau and I obviously aren't ready to travel just yet," he says sullenly, looking at the Pokeball with concern. "I can make it back alright," he quickly adds, hoping that the others will just let him go. "You guys shouldn't waste any more time."

[Zelphas]

Angela's mouth firms into a hard, angry line at the old man's casual abuse. "His name is Aran," she said in a half-growl. "His Pidgey's name is Kibau. Both of them are thinking, feeling beings who deserve the common mukking courtesy of concern, since one is badly injured." She stares at the old man for a long moment, then looks away scornfully.

"We started out on this trip as a team, Aran," she says more softly to the boy. "Zwei and I can protect you on the way there, if you're willing to come along. Then you can protect us later, okay?" she adds, a slight twinkle in her eye.

"If you're sure you want to head back... like I said, we started this trip as a team. If you're heading back, so am I. Zwei?" she turned to the other boy, her voice coming out somewhere between a question and a command.

[Boolprop]

Zwei simply smiles at Kristin's praise, casting a glance at Vincent. "We're good, a couple of bruises but am well." He turns to look at Aran when Angela's and Kristin's comments on the boy's Pidget, now realizing what have happen to Kibau. Zwei eyes falls onto the three unconscious Rattatas, He believes he may have spotted a fourth Pokémon when the he and Vincent jumped into combat, some small brown creature. He pretty much figure out what may have happen before hand.

His train of thought was interrupted as two male voices groans and voices their complaints. His brow furrowed at the older man's blatant insult. Laughing jovially, Zwei walks up besides Angela, his arms folded across his chest. "Hyahyahya! Well said, Boom!" Facing the others, he speaks in a firmer but calm tone. "Angela is right, it little common courtesy of concern goes a long way. You should know better to insult Aran, you are an adult after all. Boom!"

Casting a glance at Vincent, Zwei's turns to face the other two male. "Put yourselves in his shoes. If it was your partner that's hurt, wont you want to treat him as soon as possible? You must have been a fledgling trainer at one point. What would your younger self be saying to you now knowing how you're going to ignore Aran's feelings towards Kibau?"

Shaking his head, Zwei walks over to Aran and places a firm hand on his shoulder. "Angela's right. We're a team. We'll protect you while on the way to Peridotton or the way back." He faces Angela and gives her a nod before turn to Kristin. "Kristin, it is your call. But we'll like to stick with our buddy Aran."

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
11:28 AM


"I-I'll just go back," Aran says, blinking back tears. "Kibau and I obviously aren't ready to travel just yet," he says sullenly, looking at the Pokeball with concern. "I can make it back alright," he quickly adds, hoping that the others will just let him go. "You guys shouldn't waste any more time."

"No, you can't," Kristin stumbles for proper wording, placing a hand on the short Aran's shoulder. "I mean, I can't let you. That's, like, exactly what I'm hear for."


Speeches

The younger man folds his arms and furrows his brow. Still upset about the delay, he at least appears to understand his rudeness. The elder is the first to raise a finger and try to respond to Angela, "Oh, don't talk to me as if- " before Zwei starts up over him. "He should have the courtesy to not waste our time and resources! I swear- "

"Jeremy!" His wife interrupts him with a hand on his shoulder and a stern voice.

"I'm just saying we- "

"He was trying. You can't expect anything less."

"I can expect a kid not to act like such a- "

"Okay okay okay, enough!" Kristin interrupts the bickering and accusations waving hands by her head and stepping between the two parties. "Here's... here's what we're going to do. Ashley, you and Bryan are ok on your own, right?" The girl nods in response. "Would be ok going forward on your own with these two? I can take these three back into town and set out again later." The girl nods again with a casual confidence. "Yeah, we'll be fine."

[Zelphas]

Angela hesitates for a second, glancing back up the road. Going back to Amaranth means going back towards him. What if...she looks at Aran and his wounded Pidgey, and then the old man, and her resolve firms. She hadn't seen him in over a year.

"Sounds good to me," Angela sniffs, turning back towards Amaranth. "C'mon. The sooner we get back, the sooner Butler and Kibau get healed."

[Arcran]

"Sorry," Aran mutters, looking dejectedly at his feet. He was still too weak to help and, even when he tried his hardest, he only got Kibau hurt some more.

"And thanks," the boy adds quietly, just loud enough for the others to hear. "It means a lot."

A few short sniffs later Aran is silent, hands clenched on Kibau's Pokeball for the second time in as many days.

[Boolprop]

As things settles down, Zwei approach Kristin. "I'm sorry about all this. I know it's your job to get everyone here safely to Peridotton." He glances over to Aran, who steps forward with his own apology and thanks. "But not all journeys are without hiccups."

Zwei turns and walks over to his Scraggy and pats his head. "Just a few scrapes. But while we're at it, Vincent could get a check up."

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
12:35 PM

"It's settled then." All parties in agreement, Kristin takes off her overstuffed pack to distribute some supplies to Bryan and Ashley, who rather quickly leave the scene with the old couple. "Okay," Kristin sighs as she sees their silhouettes disappear behind a hill. "Let's see your pokemon." The Runner kneels down and addresses the scrapes on both Vincent and Butler with gauze in hand, but decides against any medical attention. "It'd be best to just recall these two. If they try to fight with these bandages on, they'll just fall right off. If we run into anything I'll handle it. We'll be waiting for Aran at the PokeCenter anyway, so we might as well give all three a full healing."

Kristin stands up after Zwei's words. "Yeah this is probably for the best. You guys are my main concern after all; now I can focus on just you."

As Kristin expected, the group makes it back to Amaranth without any more pokemon interactions. It's a relatively quiet trip until the party crosses under the big city gate and back through the cobblestone streets to the PokeCenter. Once inside, the group's leader plops herself on a couch in the PokeCenter waiting room and leans her big hiking bag on the side. A few clothes and hooks stick out from the opening in the top. "So it'll be a few hours to wait for pidgey. We'll meet back here around..." she checks her watch, "three thirty?"

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
4:11 PM

The intermission carried on uneventfully. The group eventually split to entertain themselves in the city for the afternoon, but as everyone's plan that morning was to be on the road, there wasn't anything anyone was terribly interested in doing. It basically felt like a complete waste of time - especially when the three of you realize how much the sun has lowered. You congregate in the PokeCenter to retrieve Aran's Kibau and find Kristin fingering at her PokeTech on the same couch as three hours ago. Has she been here the whole time?

She's eager to get back on the route, and so are you. Aran pockets his pokeball with some regained confidence, and soon enough, you find yourselves crossing under that giant arch on the perimeter of Amaranth.

"So here's the deal, guys," she turns around to walk backwards as she talks, hands through straps at her elbows, "We lost a lot of time going back. Ah," she catches herself and tries to meet Aran's gaze with some sympathy, "which is fine..." and readresses the group as a whole, "but what it means is that we can't stay overnight at the waypoint." She pats the giant package of tarp, bindings, and metal parts on top of her pack behind her neck with a smile. "Which means we're camping on the trail. You're all fine with that, right?"

[Zelphas]

Angela looks a little nervous about camping on the road, but she hides it behind a confident smile. "That's all right by me. It'll give me time to get Maiden used to being around people more slowly," she replies, patting the Quick Ball that held her new Deerling at her hip.

[Arcran]

Aran feels a bit uneasy about camping on the road as well but, to be frank, it was his fault that they needed to in the first place so he wasn't in much of a position to complain.

"I'm okay with that," Aran says, glancing up at Kibau, the Pidgey flying a few feet above the heads of the group. He'd tried to tell the bird to just stay in her Pokeball but, for some reason, that didn't really appeal to his companion.

[Boolprop]

Kristen's words have some truth in them. The three trainers did kind of forced the group to split up. Crossing his arms and nodding in agreement, Zwei smiles broadly. "Hyahyahya! Camping on the trail is fine with me. Boom!" Despite whatever danger may lurk, camping out is a man's romance.

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
4:11 PM

"Good!" Kristin nods enthusiastically to Angela and Zwei. "Let's get back out there. We can still make it a good distance before nightfall. Aran, stay close to me, and if you see anything, tell me and we'll engage together."

Perception checks, everyone! These will stand until you find something or you settle down for the night.

[Arcran]

"Alright," Aran says, too tired and humiliated to insist that he could take care of himself since, clearly, that wasn't true. He does give a quick wave to the Pidgey, trying to call her just a little bit closer. She'd been hurt enough in the past day that Aran didn't need her to get hit again.

[Boolprop]

Zwei follows Kristin as she leads the group out of Amaranth. Observing the sky slowly darkens with the receding sun, Zwei motions for Vincent to stay close and be watchful. Crossing over the trail, Zwei takes the moment to observe what he may have missed the first time around.

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
6:47 PM

The walk is long and uneventful. Butler and Vincent are happy to walk side-by-side with their trainers, but quickly their excitement fades. The inklings of boredom Angela and Zwei feel are proven true on their pokemons' faces. Kibau continues to be rather cold to Aran, flying in various spots around the group but never directly next to him. During one of the few times the bird pokemon comes close enough, Aran can notice a small cut across its back between the feathers. Another sign of a miscalculated battle.

Early on the route you pass the scene of that last fight. Branches of bushes knocked to the ground and tufts of grass and dirt flung around in the scrap remain strewn about the scene, but that's all that remains from the encounter. The three rattatas are gone, and since no one in the group touched them after the fight, the most obvious conclusion is that some other pokemon took the carcasses. "Circle of life..." Kristin offers as the group moves past.

The sky is now an orangey-blue mix as the sun is close to setting. The temperature hasn't dropped much, but you all know that in short time it could get quite cold, especially with no shelter. You realize some strain in your legs and have no issue setting up camp soon.

Pokemon sounds have been common along the route, mostly various birds chirping but you can't place the species without visual aide. Far off in the distance, however, Aran notices a chirping unlike the birds from before. Behind trees and bushes far off the trail, the boy sees something brown moving quickly between tall blades of grass.

Make a roll for Poke Education!

[Arcran]

Aran's face is sullen throughout the trip, looking longingly at Kibau soaring above. He was trying his best, but that was obviously not good enough. Kibau had lost not once, but twice in as many days and both had been because Aran had just rushed in without thinking about his Pokemon's safety. It wasn't Kibau's fault that they were losing battles, but she was the one taking the brunt of the punishment.

As Aran spots the brown shape approaching through the grass he is instantly put on edge, trying to track the shape.

"Kristin," Aran says urgently, trying to identify the bird. "There's something coming towards us from over there," the boy says before giving a short whistle, hoping that Kibau would understand (and listen to) the command and come to his side.

[Zelphas]

Angela was surprised for a moment by the sight of the Rattata fight, but then forced herself to shrug and keep moving. What did you think, they were just going to get up and wander away? she thought to herself. The quiet, long walk got to her a bit, but she made as much small talk as she could with Zwei, Kristin, and even Aran if he was willing to talk in an attempt to alleviate the boredom.

Angela is just about ready to move away from the group and start breaking Maiden in to being a trainer's Pokemon, when she hears Aran's comment. "Butler," she says, the Machop coming instantly to her side. She squints in the direction Aran indicated. "Where is it?"

If I can, I'll do anotnher Perception Check (if not, ignore this): [roll0]

[Boolprop]

Zwei silently offer some words of condolences to the Rattatas when the group crosses the previous area. If the situation had been different, he would have offer the Rattatas a small meal before the group left. But alas a battle happen. He simply nods at Kristin's words while the group pass through the area.

At Aran's comment, Zwei calls out to Vincent, simultaneously at the same time Angela calls out to Butler. A bit tired yet happy something may levitate the boredom, Vincent swoops over to Zwei's side, taking on a defensive stance. Both trainer and Pokémon observes towards the direction Aran had pointed out.

If possible, Zwei and Vincent will make a Perception Checks to notice what Aran have pointed out; otherwise you can ignore it.
Zwei: [roll0]
Vincent: [roll1]

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
6:47 PM

Kibau banks right and immediately restores itself at Aran's side, restoring some confidence in the boy. Everyone else calls their pokemon to attention as well, listening closely to the sound Aran alerted them of. The chirping of the creature moving in their general direction grows more rapid, but you also start to hear a dull, less noticeable, call of some other pokemon species. There's more of these noise-makers, and they're following the first pokemon through the tall grass.

"Angela, you want'a go check it out?" Kristin gives you the reigns, "Go ahead in with Zwei. Aran and I have your back," she says with a hand on a pokeball on her belt.

It's tough to make out anything with the distance far across the forest from the trail you're on right now (maybe thirty yards); about twenty yards from the trail the grass grows much taller and thicker, and trees become more dense as well. As tough as it is to see through, it might be tougher to walk through. Despite this, Zwei catches glimpses of the pokemon in front. It's some sort of small brown mammal. Not a bird. Still no sight of the pokemon in back.

[Arcran]

Aran considers saying that he could head in with the others, only to see the numerous scratches on Kibau. The chubby boy decides that keeping his mouth shout is likely the better choice here, and simply stands by Kristin, still trying to make any movement in the trees out.

Perception: [roll0]

[Boolprop]

After considering the situation at hand, Zwei nods and moves forward with Vincent in tow. "Vincent, stay frosty," Zwei whispers. Moving as quietly as possible, Zwei continues to move forward as Vincent helps lead the way. Both the chef and Scraggy take in the surroundings as they move onward. Zwei stops once he catches a glimpse of a small brown Pokémon in front, he signals to the rest as well.

I suppose you may be asking for Stealth rolls.
Zwei: [roll0]
Vincent: Has the Stealth Capability, do doesn't need to make a roll. Here is a Stealth roll in case you still want Vincent to make one. [roll1]. He also has Darkvision, if it helps lead the way.

If a roll is needed, Perception check to watch their surroundings as the two move forward.
Zwei: [roll2]
Vincent: [roll3]

Pokémon Education to determine the small brown Pokémon. Or if his PokéTech is capable of providing such information, Zwei will pull it out and use it instead. He'll make sure to set it to mute if possible, with subtitles/text. Otherwise will set it to the lowest volume possible.
Zwei: [roll4]

[Zelphas]

Angela nods to Kristin and starts forward with Butler, both of them trying to keep as quiet as possible while moving towards the sounds. Seeing that Zwei is moving straight towards the disturbance, Angela and Butler swing to the right.

Stealth
Angela: [roll0]
Butler: [roll1]

Perception
Angela: [roll2]
Butler: [roll3]

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
6:48 PM

The group moves out with Zwei taking the direct lead. His pokemon and he do a good job of staying low behind branches of trees, but it appears the little pokemon has already identified their group and continues towards. Closer, Zwei can see it more clearly, and recognizes the pokemon as a bidoof. This fluffy quadruped isn't typically found in dense forests, and is certainly showing it by struggling through the grass. It moves strenuously through the twisted natural knots towards Zwei.

The bidoof coming at the group shows no signs of aggression; in fact, it seems terrified, making strange whimpering sounds in high-pitched fear. The tall grass itself seems to be closing in on it, ready to swallow it whole. Aran with his eagle eyes is able to identify that this isn't actually the grass moving, but rather, a group of stubby blue pokemon with long ferns attached to their heads: oddish. These pokemon aren't having any trouble moving through the thick fauna, and while Aran can identify four separate bodies, it's tough to tell how many more there could be.

http://i.imgur.com/sHHHMGr.jpg


Kibau
Angela
Aran
Kristin
Zwei
Butler
Vincent
Oddish
Bidoof


Battle! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCH6nQYflwY)

On the map above, bushes and trees are merely scenery. Feel free to move straight through them (the leaves and branches are high above your heads). On a map where the plant life affects your movement so that you must move around it, I'll let you know. On that note, the discolored grass on the right is the thick, apparently dangerous grass.

[Arcran]

"There's a Bidoof," Aran tells Kristin, a frown on his face. "There's some Oddish chasing it, but they're a little ways behind right now. I can't count them," Aran says downtroddenly, a frown on his face.

"It seems scared," the Trainer quickly adds, unsure what to do. "Should we try to help it?" the boy asks, as much to Kibau as to Kristin.

[Zelphas]

Angela's face hardens as she watches the Bidoof panic and struggle. If there was one thing she understood, it was bullying. "Zwei, go after the grass! I'll help the Bidoof!" she calls out, moving quickly towards the poor creature. Butler follows quickly behind her. "Come here, little one; we'll protect you," she murmurs, holding out her hands to the Bidoof.

Angela and Butler: Double move action. Angela moves 9 squares right, 1 square up. Butler moves 8 squares right, 2 squares up.

Swift Action: Charm on the Bidoof: [roll0]

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
6:48 PM

Angela quickly discovers the bidoof's struggle, nearly tripping as she enters the thicker grass. To move through here, she'll need to watch her step.

http://i.imgur.com/BHTMqIh.jpg

Angela and Butler are Slowed (her movement speed is Halved).

Initiative:
Kibau
Angela
Aran
Kristin
Butler
Vincent
Zwei
Oddish
Bidoof

Italics means the character is an NPC.
Bold means it's this character's turn to act. For a group of teammates, and simplicity's sake on PbP, feel free to act if you're bold, even if the character above you hasn't moved yet.

[Arcran]

Aran takes Kristin's silence as her answer, deciding that, out of all of them, he and Kibau could best handle the advancing plant army.

"Let's go Kibau!" Aran shouts, sprinting forward even as Kibau darts forward, flying forward at blinding speed as they try to catch up to Angela and Butler.

Aran uses Agility Training as Orders, then moves diagonal down right three and one right.

Double-shift isn't a thing, so Kibau will be using a Sprint Action. Base 5 Overland, +1 from Agility Training [Training] and +1 Agility Training [Orders]. That gives us Overland 7 which, when multiplied by 1.5, is 10. Kibau moves right one, diagonal down right five then right two.

[Boolprop]

Clearly seeing the Bidoof is terrified of the Oddish Aran have informed the group of, Zwei frowns for a moment. "What's with others bulling brown colored Pokémon these days." Zwei muses to himself as he thinks back to the battle earlier today. Without needing Angela to say so, Zwei sprints off, closing the gap between himself and the panicked Bidoof, with Vincent following closely.

Stopping a few meters away, Zwei calls out to the terrified Bidoof. "Come with us if you want to live." He then looks over at the distance, focusing his energy and shouts out to the Oddish "Kiiiiiiaaaaahhhhh! Four on one? You should be ashamed of yourselves!" Zwei strikes the air in front of himself. Vincent jumps forward, passing Zwei as he lands before the Bidoof with his arms crossed.

Zwei:
Shift: Moves 5 squares to the right.
Standard: Uses Focus Energy, he is now Pumped.
Charm Check on the Bidoof: [roll0]

Vincent:
Standard: Sprint Maneuver; +50% movement speed. (5>7)
Shift: Moves 7 squares to the right. If there is enough movement left, Vincent will spend them moving forward this turn.

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
6:48 PM

The party moves to action. Kristin watches from the back lines still yet to release a pokemon. "Aran wait on the group before going in on those oddish..." she requests.

The oddish catch up to the bidoof as expected. The stop short of the mammal in fear of the oncoming trainers, but still close enough for each of them to attack. The plant pokemon's tall green stalks contract and seem to pull at the air, and just as it seems it's doing nothing, the bidoof stumbles and falls, turning several shades whiter as a group of yellow-green orbs form around its body and float into the oddishs' stalks. The orbs leave no mark on the bidoof, but instead seem to be pulling directly from his life force.

Somehow after the onslaught, the bidoof pokemon returns to its feet with a very weak whimper, and continues running towards the party. It doesn't seem to react to the charm attempts; motivation isn't the creature's problem, rather, the ropes of grass tangled around its legs restrict it from freedom once again.

http://i.imgur.com/9TApvPV.jpg

Initiative:
Kibau
Angela
Aran
Kristin
Butler
Vincent
Zwei
Oddish
Bidoof

[Arcran]

"Got it!" Aran replies, not particularly wanting to be the first one into the battle anyways. In all liklihood that would only end badly for Kibau again and, while the bird had an advantage against plants, Aran still didn't want to take any risks.

"The closest one is mine!" Aran shouts to the rest of the team. "Kibau, get ready!" the Trainer adds.

Aran uses Agility Training on Kibau!

Aran is going to Tag the top left Oddish. At the end of this round Kibau will get +1 Momentum against that Pokemon.

Aran moves five to the right.

Kibau moves vertical-up-right, veritcal-up-right (should put Kibau two meters off the ground and up-right two), then up-right two.

Kibau holds her Standard until after Zwei and Co.

[Zelphas]

"Stupid....grass..." Angela mutters to herself, struggling towards the Bidoof. "C'mon, little guy, let's get you out of here," she says, holding out her hands.

Move Action: Move one up, one up-left.

Standard action: nothing I can do.

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
6:48 PM

Kristin moves forward with the group and finally activates the pokeball in her hand. The red light forms into a small four-legged creature next to her much sleeker and athletic than the fluffy bidoof. The blue cat pokemon exhibits sharp features on its tail, ears, and locks of fur extending from its head. "Misty, stand down." The runner commands her pokemon. "Let them handle this. We're just here for backup."

"Gllllau!" The cat meows in reply with stiff surveillance.

This is an eeveelution!
This is a Glaceon! It's an ice type, so it'll be great vs. these oddish.

http://i.imgur.com/vlnVY1E.jpg

Initiative:
Kibau
Misty
Angela
Aran
Kristin
Butler
Vincent
Zwei
Oddish
Bidoof

[Zelphas]

Butler struggled through the grass until he was standing next to his trainer. He rolled his head around and flexed his fingers, staring fixedly at the coming Oddish.

Move Action: Move 3 squares straight up (Butler's movement should be at 6, due to earlier Agility training, so when halved by the grass, he's at 3).

Standard Action: Butler Uses Focus Energy! Butler becomes Pumped!

[Boolprop]

Realizing it's difficult to move around in the tall grass, both trainer and Pokémon briefly makes eye contact and nods at another. Vincent jumps straight up, landing on Zwei's shoulder as the chef moves forward. Zwei moves forward quickly, but was forced to stop when a foot was caught under some natural twisted knots from the grass. "Fighting on their home turf may be difficult. But we're up for the challenge! Boom!" Quickly trying to get his foot free, Zwei points towards the Oddish. "Vincent, you're up. Show them your specialty! Boom!"

From his elevated seat, Vincent jumps forward, doing a barrel roll. Landing safely, Vincent rushes forward before skidding to a stop. Staring down at the Oddish from behind the tall grass, Vincent ducks down and swings one of its legs around.

Zwei
Standard: Picks up Vincent (the jump was fluff)
Shift: Moves up-right one, and two to the right. Essentially, he moved 1 up, 3 right, if my math is correct.

Vincent
Shift: Moves two to the right.
Standard: Attacks the Oddish with Low Kick (the Oddish that is adjacent to the tagged one)
AC: 2 - [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
If Crit: [roll2]

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
6:48 PM

Vincent's attack is a sloppy one after the improvisational move by the trainer/pokemon duo, and on top of that his foot gets significantly caught in the tall blades, but somehow, the scraggy still manages to connect his attack. Instead of catching his target beneath their center of gravity and tripping them as normal, the oddish is so stocky and low to the ground that Vincent just strikes it hard in the body.

"Odd!" It exclaims in dim surprise, and quickly the horde turns its aggression on Vincent.

The three creatures rally to attack the newcomer to the fray using the same tactic as earlier. The scraggy is a much more clever fighter than the bidoof, however, and after a few seconds of struggling with their long stalks, the oddish decide instead to furiously kick at the lizard with short stubby legs.

"Misty, take it out!" Kristin orders her pokemon, who responds eagerly with a sharp "Glau!" and a sharper icicle dart it seems to form instantly from the vapors in the air.

Oddish 1 uses Absorb on Vincent!
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Oddish 2 uses Absorb on Vincent!
Attack: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

Misty uses Ice Shard on Oddish 3!
Attack: [roll4] Super effective! x2 damage!
Damage: [roll5]

Oddish 3 uses Absorb on Vincent!
Attack: [roll6]
Damage: [roll7]

Oddish 4 uses Absorb on Vincent!
Attack: [roll8]
Damage: [roll9]

Vincent: 2 / 43 HP. 1 injury to Sp. Attack.

Scrub all of that oddish nonsense. They all use Struggle instead!

Vincent: 22 / 43 HP. No injuries!



Misty's target manages to continue its channel throughout the blast from the ice missile. "C'mon Misty! Give'em a hand with these weeds!" The light blue feline bounds between long grass stalks behind an oddish and yips again, this time encouragingly in Kibau's direction. "Lace!"

"Aran, your time to shine!"

Misty used Helping Hand on Kibau! (Kibau has +2 to her next Accuracy Roll and deals +10 damage on her next damage roll.)

Initiative:

> Misty
Kibau
Angela
Aran
Kristin
Butler
Vincent
Zwei
Oddish
Bidoof

http://i.imgur.com/tgtlmYk.jpg

The bidoof, throughout the scuffle, appears to be forgotten. It scampers out of the thickness of the weeds to rest between Aran and behind Angela.

[Zelphas]

Seeing that the Bidoof is as safe as it's going to be, Angela turns her attention to the attacking Oddish. She remembers her group's reactions to her...unorthodox methods in the last fight, and blushes before quickly saying, "I don't know why this works, but it sometimes does!" that being said, Angela blows a quick kiss at one of the attacking plants.

Move Action: None.

Standard Action: Sweet Kiss, Special Fairy on the bottom-most Oddish.
Accuracy: [roll0] vs AC 6. On a hit, the Oddish is confused. On an 18+, The Oddish is Vulnerable and loses a tick of Hit Points as well.

[Arcran]

Aran nods towards Kristin as the Glaceon helps Kibau, glad that somebody other than him was concerned with the health of his Pokemon.

"Alright Kibau, you know what to do! Take down that Oddish!" Aran shouts, grinning widely as his Pidgey buffets her wings, sending a powerful stream of wind at the offending Oddish.

Kibau should be at +1 Momentum right now due to the last round ending.


Aran
4/5 AP
57/57 HP
Standard Action: Aran uses Focused Training on Kibau!


Kibau
50/50 HP
Shift Action: Move up 2
Standard Action: Kibau uses Gust (Flying, Special)! Keen Eye means we ignore any non-stat Evasion.
AC 2: [roll0] (2 Focused Training, 1 Duelist, 2 Helping Hand)
Damage: [roll1] (8 from DB, 14 from Special Attack, 10 from Helping Hand) Add 13 for crit, making this 54

Also, Zelphas, SE is only 1.5x now in 1.05.

[Boolprop]

As the Oddishs close in on the Scraggy, Vincent takes on the initiative. Seeing brief glimpse as the Oddish lower's guard to move, Vincent reels his head backwards. When the Oddish waddles closer, Vincent slams his head into his quarry. However the brief windup have left him defenseless as he takes simultaneous kicks from the Oddish and it's friends. The Scraggy however was able to parry the one of the attacks, lessening the damage he took.

Truly unsuspecting to be kicked by an Oddish, Vincent glares at the wild Oddishs when all of a sudden cold icicles darts pass him and hits one of the weed Pokémon. Turning to take a quick look, Vincent sees a blue cat-like Pokémon. Just then a gust of wind blows past the Scraggy, hitting another Oddish. Understanding reinforcements have arrived, Vincent smiles smugly, pulling his pants and snapping it back in place as the wind have loosen it.


Vincent
22/43 HP
Attack of Opportunity: Vincent attacks with Struggle.
AC: 4 - [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
If Crit: [roll2]

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
6:48 PM

Kibau's attack absolutely shreds through the oddish. Tufts of its grassy head tear loose from its body and blow off yards away in the gust. The foe is tossed through the air and lands with a thud, unmoving on the ground.

Vincent's attack sends his opponent reeling on its legs; weak but still standing.

Finally, Angela's unorthodox strategy pays off again. The oddish, her "target," seems to lose all will to fight and stands simply perplexed, staring at the girl.

"Way to go guys!" Kristin shouts, pumping a fist through the air.

http://i.imgur.com/kQk3lVy.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kQk3lVy.jpg

Initiative:

> Misty
Kibau
Angela
Aran
Kristin
Butler
Vincent
Zwei
Oddish
Bidoof

[Zelphas]

Angela smirks as the Oddish stops and stares at her, nudging Butler with her elbow. "Set 'em up..." Butler nods up to his trainer and moves as quickly as he can through the thick undergrowth, swinging at the stunned Oddish with an open palm.

Move Action: Move one right-up, one right.

Standard Action: Karate Chop, Physical Fighting
Accuracy: [roll0]+2 (from flanking) vs. 2, Crit on 14-20
Damage: [roll1]
If Crit: [roll2]

[Boolprop]

Perhaps it's due to the environment, or his stomach slightly grumbling. Whatever it was, Zwei thought rather loudly to himself. "Hmm, maybe I should make grass porridge for dinner. Boom!" Clearing his thoughts when he heard Vincent's grunt when the Oddishs teamed up on the Scraggy in a kicking match. "I'm coming buddy! Their kicks got nothing on you. Show them what a real kick is. Boom!"

Hearing his trainer's words, Vincent grins at the Oddish in front of him. He briefly points to it's fallen friend before changing his stance. Swinging his leg around in a semicircular motion, Vincent strikes with the front of his shot leg.

Freeing his foot from the grassy knots, Zwei moves forward to assist the others an Oddish. In a lowish-loud grunt, Zwei swings an open palm from above.


Vincent
22/43 HP
Standard Action: Vincent uses Struggle [Physical; Normal] at the same Oddish from before.
AC: 4 - [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]
If Crit: [roll2]
Shift Action: None, Vincent stays in place.


Zwei
39/42 HP
Shift Action: Zwei moves one down-right, one right.
Standard Action: Zwei uses Karate Chop [Physical; Fighting] on Oddish 3? It's the Oddish that is to Vincent's right.
AC: 2 - [roll3]; Karate Chop is a Critical Hit on 14+ (Focus Energy)
Damage: [roll4]
If Crit: [roll5]

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
6:48 PM

The attacks from Butler and Zwei don't seem to land like they should; the oddishs' flimsy, plant-like form must be too suitable for bending and rolling with the punches and kicks, you figure. Nevertheless, damage is certainly still dealt, and the combined effort from pokemon and trainer fells one weed pokemon The oddish cry out in their low whimper, "Odd!"

South of the fight, Aran can see a few more stalks of grass shimmying through the field, but they stop as soon as the two oddish left standing try to make a run for it through the thicket.

Meanwhile, the bidoof seems spooked as well, and also decides to leave the scene before any more fighting turns its way.

http://i.imgur.com/D4C5BS0.jpg

Initiative:

Kibau
Misty
Angela
Aran
Kristin
Butler
Vincent
Zwei
Oddish
Bidoof

The oddish running away provokes an Attack of Opportunity from Zwei, Vincent, and Butler (hoo boy). We'll stay in combat as long as you want, as you appear to have a pretty good control of this area.

[Zelphas]

Butler snaps a quick punch at the Oddish as it turns to run, but otherwise allows it to escape if it still stood.

Struggle, Physical Normal
Accuracy: [roll0] vs. 4
Damage: [roll1]
If Crit: [roll2]

[Boolprop]

Noticing the Oddish trying to hightail out of here before he could give it a good kick or two, the Scraggy furrow his brows as if he had one. Vincent quickly launch a swift kick when the Oddish runs.

With the same hand he used to hit an Oddish seconds ago, Zwei makes an arc as he aims for the Oddish.


Vincent
22/43 HP
Attack of Opportunity: Vincent attacks with Struggle [Physical; Normal]
AC: 4 - [roll0]; Oddish takes a -2 to Evasion due to Vincent flanking with Butler
Damage: [roll1]
If Crit: [roll2]

Zwei
39/42 HP
Attack of Opportunity: Zwei attacks with Struggle [Physical; Normal]
AC: 4 - [roll3]; no flanking bonus for Zwei
Damage: [roll4]
If Crit: [roll5]

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
6:48 PM

The group's front-line fighters connect in a crescendo of hits the oddish makes the terrible mistake of trying to flee. One punch sends it wobbling, another knocks it out cold, and another keeps it down, all in a matter of split-seconds. Of the four motionless pokemon scattered around Vincent, Zwei, and Butler, this one seems the most injured.

Kristin makes her way towards the main group but stops short of the tall thick grass. "Great work you three!" It isn't readily apparent if she's talking to the three punchers or the three trainers, but the fight is over regardless and you feel good about you and your pokemon's performance. "Let's get back on the path and I'll patch these guys up." The Runner's brushes herself up against her trainer's leg.

Kibau gained 8 XP! Kibau: 99 XP (11 to Level 11)
Vincent gained 8 XP! Vincent: 58 XP (2 to Level 7)
Butler gained 8 XP! Butler: 96 XP (14 to Level 11) Butler grew to Level 10! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XdvY9E-9XE)

The bidoof is within range if you wanted to give chase, although if you don't do so now it seems like it'll keep running away within a "round" (we're out of combat now, so post whenever you want). Aran has an inkling there's more oddish towards the south.

But nothing seems threatening anymore. It's up to you.

[Arcran]

"Good work Kibau!" Aran says excitedly, a wide grin on his face. They'd won a battle without Kibau getting torn apart which, lately, was a rare occurrence. Of course, there was still the small issue of the Bidoof fleeing to the south and more of the Oddish being in that direction...

"Uh, guys?" Aran says slowly, knowing that, after the last few battles, his input probably didn't matter for much. "I think that Bidoof is running towards more Oddish. I mean, we don't have to help it, but it would kinda make us just saving it pointless if it gets eaten all over again," the boy says, hoping the rest of the team shares the same sentiment.

[Boolprop]

"Good work guys! Boom!" Zwei spoke while checking Vincent's health. The Scraggy has taken a few more bruises, but otherwise he seems fine. "That's a good idea." Zwei nods in agreement at Kristin.

Turning to look south when Aran notify the group, Zwei looks for the panicked Bidoof. "You're right. We should at least try warning it first." Zwei agrees with the boy, sharing his sentiment. "We could try calming the Bidoof down first, that way he'll more likely listen to us. Boom!" Zwei moves closer to where Aran and Angela stands, motioning for Vincent to follow.

[Zelphas]

"Yeah!" Angela exclaimed, punching the air with her fist. Butler had come through unscathed this time, so she was feeling pretty good about the day as a whole.

When Aran mentioned the Bidoof, Angela called out to the Bidoof, her voice dripping with honey. "Hey, little one! You don't want to go over that way, there's more of those scary plants. Come over to us, okay? We'll keep you safe.

"I don't think we can really 'help' it permanently, unless one of us catches it," she says in a more normal tone, watching the Bidoof skeptically. "Any takers?"

Charm Check: [roll0]

[Hefty Lefty]

Route 3
6:48 PM

The bidoof seems to recover its footing and be making solid strides through the grass. It appears to have its mind set when on leaving when Angela convinces it to turn around. It rotates its head a few times, perhaps realizing it isn't sure where it is, and takes a few stubby steps towards the group of trainers. At this distance you can see some weariness in its eyes; the same look shared by Vincent after the oddishes' attacks - although not to the same severity in the scraggy.

Kristin nods her head when the group decides to go after the straggler. "Mm. Misty. Take a look around and fry anything you see."

"Glay!" The ice pokemon chirps and leaps back into the tall grass. It shirks low to conceal itself beneath the ferns, but its bright blue coat doesn't help it hide too well.

[Zelphas]

"That's right, little one; we can help you," Angela coos, crouching down and holding out her arms to the Bidoof. She turns her head to Zwei and Aran, one eyebrow raised. "Seriously, does anyone want to catch this Bidoof?" she asks in her normal voice. "I already caught Maiden today, and I don't know if I can feed any more right now."

If necessary, another Charm check: [roll0]