[center][h2]Henrietta Durand[/h2][/center]
[center][h3]Arsenic Island[/h3][/center]

Disappointingly, rather than stay and face up to the challenge she presented most of the Nidoran instead chose to scatter and flee. A single individual did stay behind, but not in the way the young trainer had hoped; a small and timid looking female had remained, apparently paralysed in fear and certainly not displaying any desire to fight.

Henrietta couldn’t help but feel a little dejected at the result, her usual smile falling away and a slight frown creasing her brow. She supposed that was to be expected when dealing with the younger examples of the species; a Nidorino or a Nidoqueen would have like stuck around to fight off an aggressor and to defend their territory, while for the younger Nidoran it made more sense to run. Nonetheless she was hoping to find at least one among the bunch who showed the spirit and vigour of their larger brethren.

Then, as if in response to her wishes, another Nidoran appeared to stand between her and the female; male, small like the other one was, but certain not timid. It had a few small marks that she could see, perhaps scars from previous fights, as It stared down her Atlas with exactly the kind of determination that she was looking for. [color=f7941d]“Bien. Very good. A knight comes to defend the fair lady; such valour should be rewarded. I guess it’s up to us to play the villain, hmm, Atlas?”[/color]

[hider=Battle!]
The Nidoran made the first move, charging towards the Mudbray in small bounds as it rapidly closed the distance between them, leaping once it was close enough and driving its horn into Atlas using its [b]Peck[/b] attack. The Mudbray recoiled, tossing his head and braying loudly as the pain set in.

[color=f7941d]“Atlas, use Bulldoze.”[/color] The Ground-type reared back, forelegs rising off the ground before slamming back down, the Mudbray repeating the action again and again as it stomped the soft dirt under his feet flat. The Nidoran was caught in the middle of it all, alternately trampled under the heavier Pokémon’s hooves or battered by the shockwaves the heavy footfalls produced, before eventually managing to break free and run some distance away.

Now looking bruised and beaten, yet still with a defiant look in its eye, the Poison-type Pokémon charged in again. This time he leapt sooner, jumping higher and flipping over in the air to point his hind legs towards Atlas; the smaller Pokémon collided with Mudbray with one foot extended, the heel impacting with Atlas’s forehead, before using its other leg to both deliver a second kick and push away from his opponent at the same time. The [b]Double Kick[/b] left Atlas looking dazed, but he shook it off a moment later and held his ground.

[color=f7941d]“Good work, Atlas. Finish this with Strength.”[/color] Now it was Atlas’s turn to charge, lowering his head and breaking into a gallop towards the Nidoran. The Poison-type didn’t seem to be able to move out of the way in time, perhaps too injured by the Bulldoze to do so, and the Mudbray crashed bodily into the smaller Pokemon and sent it tumbling and rolling through the dirt. It came to a stop and despite being clearly hurt by the attack it still tried to stand again, lifting itself up on shaking legs and turning towards Atlas again. Just as Henrietta was about to call this fight to a close, the Nidoran opened its mouth and fired several glowing purple darts in a stream towards Atlas, catching both trainer and Pokémon off guard. [color=f7941d]“Dodge it!”[/color]

The Mudbray dove to the side, throwing himself to the ground a moment too late to completely avoid the [b]Poison Sting[/b] as a few of the purple needles dug into his skin and the dirt behind him. The poison did not take hold, fortunately, and Atlas rose back to his feet not much worse for wear. [color=f7941d]“Use another Bulldoze; end this.”[/color] Rushing forward again, Atlas this time leapt towards the weakened Nidoran before coming down on top of it with both forelegs soon followed by both back legs as well. Rather than continue the attack, the Ground-type pulled back, moving out of the way to reveal a clearly unconscious Nidoran.
[/hider]

[color=f7941d]“That’s enough Atlas. Come back.”[/color] Henrietta didn’t return her Pokémon just yet, instead calling him back to her side as she walked towards the defeated Nidoran. It had fought well, but the difference in size and weight, the type disadvantage and the fact that Atlas only grew tougher with each hit served to make it something of a one-sided arrangement. Nonetheless she wore a wide smile as she approached the fallen Pokémon, crouching down as she neared its side, and reached out a hand to stroke along its side. [color=f7941d]“You fought well little knight. A knight who will one day become a king. I’ll have to think of a suitable name for you.”[/color]

Reaching into her bag Henrietta pulled out a Pokeball and pressed it to the Nidoran’s side. The Pokémon turned into red light in an instant and was sucked inside the device, the ball shaking three times in Henrietta’s hand as a light in its centre pulsed intermittently before both shaking and pulsing light ceased. Still with the smile on her face the trainer stood and turned towards the female Nidoran, who was still frozen in fear in the same spot as before. It was unlikely to be feeling any less afraid after witnessing the battle that had just taken place.

[color=f7941d]“Run along little one. Go back to your friends.”[/color]

[@Sho Minazuki]