[@Dusksong][@Old Amsterdam][@Gardevoiran][@Demon Shinobi] In the background, Kalmia suddenly got a phone-call and had to take a couple steps away from Jacques, but she still very much kept her eyes on the battles. She did look suddenly perplexed from what she heard over the phone, but overall smiled. Her attention was still on the battles, Jacques turning to eye her a bit curiously a little before looking back. __________________________ [@Dusksong] Oaken dropped the confident smirk at Eryn yelling back at him, frowned a little [sub]as he internally considered that perhaps his little speech had been uncalled for[/sub] and he simply refocused on the battle, looking at Skorupi going in to attack against Dei. Then, both Skorupi and Oaken heard Eryn’s next command. [color=7eab87]'Heh,'[/color] Oaken made a small amused sound, [color=7eab87]'I understand your desperation, but something that isn’t a proper move is not going to serve you. Skorupi! Go!'[/color] [color=606094]'Skoruuup!'[/color] Skorupi sounded out, Growl reducing its attack as the scorpion tried to go in for another Knock Off… when the flaming tail was waved at it. [color=606094]'SKRPI!'[/color] Skorupi sounded out in a positively terrified tone and winced backwards, crawling back and away from Dei. Oaken blinked a bit in confusion. [color=7eab87]'… Skorupi, what are you doing? He has no moves that can hurt you. At him. Knock Off,'[/color] Oaken commanded, frowning at the thing not doing what he wanted. [color=606094]'Sk-skoru-pi…'[/color] the scorpion replied, looking back at his trainer and then towards Dei, shaking a little. [color=7eab87]'You’re… afraid of the fire,'[/color] Oaken stated, getting it finally. … He reacted by closing his eyes, frowning hard in annoyance, lowering his head, and closing his two hands into fists with enough annoyance one could hear the bones knack a bit. Skorupi tensed up, scorpion-eyes wide, hearing the cracks. [color=7eab87]'Skorupi… Do you remember… what I told you when we met?'[/color] Oaken stated, in a barely restrained focused tone, seething in contained anger. [color=7eab87]'You understand… what’ll happen if you lose this battle that by all accounts you should win?'[/color] [color=606094]'Sk-skoooo…'[/color] Skorupi sounded scared, this time both of the fire before it as well as the trainer behind. [color=7eab87]'You do understand,'[/color] Oaken confirmed, like a teacher done lecturing a naughty child. He pushed his glasses back a bit, and then stated in a tone that said that there were no other options. [color=7eab87]'Go. [i]Win[/i].'[/color] That command made, Skorupi forced himself forward, trying to find a manner to get a Knock-Off in without getting hit by the flaming tail. … What would Eryn command? __________________________ [@Old Amsterdam][@Gardevoiran] Cici shot out a Smoke Screen pellet, which hit #8 straight on and a cloud of black smoke emerged around them, close enough to Cici that there was nothing to be seen… except the sudden burst of Mud-Slap coming out of the smoke to hit her in the face. The burst of mud did some Ground-type damage, and some got into her eyes to lower her accuracy slightly. [color=607ebf]'That’s it! Keep up the Mud-Slap! Use her loss of accuracy, dodge the bubbles and Mud-Slap again!'[/color] Simon commanded from over there, and #8 pressed on the attack. The fish appeared to have a pretty good idea of where Cici was despite the smoke in its face. #8 kept close to Cici, trying to dodge the Bubble attacks and going in for another Mud-Slap. Seeing how Mud-Slap is also the only move in #8’s arsenal, that’s probably how it’d continue, too. Meanwhile, Seabreeze was setting up and starting to Water Gun at Scraggy’s “pants”. Scraggy didn’t even register anything except the force, stumbling a bit but preparing to attempt to jump. It was a bit heavier, but with such a burst of water it was hard to actually make the make the majority stick to the pants… but Scraggy was confused with reduced accuracy. [color=f7ce74]'Scraaaaaaaa-!'[/color] Scraggy let out a yell and leapt right into Seabreeze! … Except, instead of hitting Seabreeze with a kick, it instead just flew straight up into the bird, headfirst! Scraggy inadvertently used Struggle! As such, both Pokémon took a significant dose of damage. In addition, Scraggy fell out of the air headfirst and hit with his head first into the ground. It hurt itself in confusion! Seabreeze could just keep afloat. [color=b5e6e2]'Scraggy!'[/color] Vivia called, somewhat worried. However, the Dark/Fighting-type wasn’t out yet, struggling back to its feet. [color=b5e6e2]'O-okay. Um. Run and help #8! Go Low Kick the Horsea!'[/color] Vivia commanded. [color=f7ce74]'Scraggy!'[/color] Scraggy confirmed, trying to run in the direction of the other battle… in a less than straight line, considerably damaged already. So, how would Alice and Skylar proceed? __________________________ [@Rune_Alchemist] The Gym Guy looked like he was considering how to answer Claire’s first question, then she went on to say she got this. He smiled in reply. [color=6d80ab]‘Alright. Go show them what you’re made of!’[/color] he encouraged, and then Claire climbed the stairs to enter the gym. Aroma Lady Tanya would like to battle! Shroomish was slower than Zeal, meaning Zeal immediately got his Taunt off. Trying to get some damage off, Tanya commanded Shroomish to Tackle, hoping Effect Spore would be induced on the contact. However, while Shroomish got a Tackle in, Zeal was too hot for spores, and Zeal Embered the Shroomish into smoking ruin. With Tangela, Tanya went all out with the Vine Whips, ignoring any possible Taunt! Despite being Not-Very-Effective, Tanya got an additional Vine Whip off while Zeal was Taunting, counting on just being overall stronger with the vines! Zeal replied with Embers, that did way more damage, however come the time when the burns on Tangela finally caused it to faint Zeal was pretty badly hurt. Treecko quickly turned out to be Tanya’s most capable Pokémon. Zeal being damaged, Claire switched to Ritz. With Ritz being Bug/Flying Absorb would do Treecko no good, so Leer plus Quick Attack it was. However, after the Leer he was quick to impact into a Reflect wall, making life difficult. The two Pokémon found themselves pretty evenly matched. Treecko was overall more formidable, but Reflect evened the playing field. Quick Attack and Comet Punches were exchanged, the punches doing 3-3-2-5 hits, leaving Treecko badly damaged. However, Ritz was damaged too by repeated Quick Attacks, and as such Claire switched to Lure who promptly Gusted the damaged Treecko to its defeat. [center][color=6ecff6][i]Lure grew to level 13! Lure learned Bug Bite![/i][/color][/center] [right][sub]for good and bad, hah[/sub][/right] [center][color=6ecff6][i]Claire is victorious! Claire gained 303P![/i][/color][/center] [color=d6818f]‘Fuhuhuhu… Ouch, having to use Grass-types only really hurts~! One day, I’m leaving this gym and town behind and make a name for myself with a more varied team~!’[/color] With that, Claire could walk by Tanya, then up to Daisy! Lileep was prevented from using Confuse Ray by taunt, but in a move to make Taunt less OP, it instead sent Acid shooting at the chimp-Pokémon without sacrificing a move. Power-Up Punch was super-effective, but as Chimchar wasn’t a Fighting-Type yet and Lileep had considerable Defense, Lileep was still tethering onto a smidgeon of health left after two punches. It had managed to spit acid onto Zeal thrice before Zeal could finish it off with a punch that ultimately was powerful enough to have OHKO’d it, Daisy having to hurry to return Lileep before she flew over the edge. The three acids, the second one lowering Zeal’s special defense, had left him pretty damaged. However… speaking of not being a Fighting-type yet… [center][color=6ecff6][i]Zeal grew to level 14![/i][/color][/center] … … … … … [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UUkMoeKohg]Oh?[/url] Zeal felt a certain energy having gathered within him. He can choose when he wants to release it. Is this the most optimum moment? For dramatic reasons, the event that approaches would fully heal him, along with the more notable thing it’ll do. The choice is his, and potentially his trainer’s if he manages to ask her. Not going through with and leveling more would not have any negative consequences long-term when it comes to moves. [hider=If he so chooses to]A burst of fire emerged from within Zeal’s stomach. The energy built up surged along his limbs and muscles, growing them, changing them. Fire and a bright light erupted around him as this significant event took place, limbs growing longer, fire burning fiercer, muscles growing stronger. His tail, of which he had none but a flame before, grew long and flexible with an intense flame on its end. And on his face, grew the blue markings around his eyes that their kind were the pride of the kind… [center][color=6ecff6][i]Zeal evolved into Monferno![/i][/color][/center] [center][url=https://cdn.bulbagarden.net/upload/2/2e/391Monferno.png][img]https://i.imgur.com/6I68pn0.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][color=6ecff6][i]Pokédex Entry #391 – Monferno, the Playful Pokémon. A great and playful martial artist, it is known to climb walls and ceilings to spring from and attack. Its tail is a weapon right alongside its limbs, and it increases the intensity of the flames for attacks and keeping enemies on an ideal distance. The brighter the blue pattern on its face, the greater its rank in the pack.[/i][/color][/center] [center][color=6ecff6][i]Zeal learned Mach Punch![/i][/color][/center] [center][color=6ecff6][i]New Pokémon evolved! Claire earned 2000 P![/i][/color][/center] And, because of the dramatic change that is evolution, Zeal’s damage was healed![/hider] We pause here a bit, because that decision might impact all the battles ahead.