[b][u][color=7cff30]Antoinetta[/color][/u] and [u][color=yellow]Troy[/color][/u][/b] [i]Rollout. Of course.[/i] Recalling Troy's earlier plan, Netty mentally cursed herself for not thinking. [color=7cff30]"Quick, brace yourself! Struggle Bug!"[/color] she called. Thankfully, Mellona didn't need much range of movement for the red aura, or the sparkling energy swirls that followed, to look impressive. It dawned on Netty, however, that Gust and Struggle Bug were Mel's only viable moves for this battle. Bug Bite wouldn't get past Shuckle's tough shell, and Sweet Scent worked better against faster, more evasive opponents. Netty's already considerable unease grew. Using the same moves over and over again, no matter how spectacular, wasn't the best way to keep an audience's interest. Troy was in a similar boat. Defense Curl and Infestation are one-and-done moves, and his only other option was ineffective on Combee. Although two misses in a row was not a good sign, the only thing he could do was continue to- [color=yellow]“Rollout. Keep going!”[/color] Troy couldn’t help but raise his voice a bit. How could he resist when rooting for Shuckle? Although thrown off a bit by gust, Shuckle was still spinning as he hit the ground, swerving back around toward Combee. He tries to weave around some of the missiles produced by Struggle Bug, but inevitably has to crash through some of them on his way to Combee. Well, this is what Troy meant when he said ‘anything in your way’. As he nears Mellona, he does as before and pops up off of the ground, leaping at her like he’s grown a pair of wings. [hider=result] Against all the odds, Shuckle was able to zero in on Mellona just as the Infestation started to flare up once more. The Combee was temporarily distracted by the pain and disruption from the tiny black particles that gnawed at her, her movement completely hindered in the moment. That moment of weakness was all it took. The Shuckle certainly looked roughed up from the previous Gusts and attacks, but the tanky pokemon was still holding strong. Rollout hit Mellona squarely, and the quadruple type effectiveness combined with the previous damage from Infestation was enough to knock the bug/flying type completely. Caprea checked Mellona’s condition carefully, then raised her hand towards Troy’s side of the field. [color=palegreen]”The match has been decided! Netty’s Combee has been knocked out, Troy and Shuckle are the winners!”[/color] There was a burst of applause; the battle had been flashy and thrilling, everything that a semi-final should have been, and the students were no less than impressed. How did Troy and Shuckle feel? How were Mellona and Netty taking the results? [/hider] Troy returned Shuckle to his pokeball. A battle like this was not one he could be proud of, much less a contest he could be proud of. Miss after miss, and outdone as a performer in most if not all aspects. He felt like he owed Antoinetta an apology for his earlier suggestion. Of course, battling was an important aspect of contests, but it still felt like a one-sided stipulation he imposed on her. Netty kept her composure before the cheering crowd - outwardly, anyway. The result was far from a surprise, but the applause towards Troy sounded like mockery towards her. It hadn't been Mel's fault, or her own, just a bad match-up. The problem was, the crowd surely wouldn't see it that way. The crowd would see someone beating them at their own game. Stepping forward and crouching, she broke her uncharacteristic silence as she returned the fainted Combee. [color=7cff30]"You did great, Mel, that was quite a show."[/color] She kept her eyes on the Pokeball clenched in her trembling hand as she stood. She couldn't look at the audience, or at her victorious opponent. Troy walks up to Antoinetta and silently offers her a handshake. Bringing herself to meet his gaze, Antoinetta wore her grin like a mask. [color=7cff30]"Oh, you haven't seen anything yet."[/color] She put on that self-assured tone as she shook his hand. [color=7cff30]"Not bad for a non-coordinator, but next time there's a test like this, I'll be the one who's centre stage."[/color] In spite of how he felt, Troy kept to his typical frowning poker face, cold and impersonal. To make mention of his earlier proposition would, at least in Troy’s mind, be an insult to Antoinetta, as if to say that she wasn’t cut out to be a contest performer who can handle a battle and a performance without the compromise of either. Although he certainly tried, he couldn't think of anything worth saying. Without waiting for a reply, or saying anything herself, Antoinetta hurried to the healing machine. No way would she hang around and listen to what the audience had to say about their handshake. Cheeks burning, she stared at her feet as she waited for the healing process to finish, trying not to think of the inevitable judgements from everyone. The other students, Tessa, Caprea. As soon as the telltale beep sounded, she took back the Pokeball. [color=7cff30]"I'm sorry, Mel,"[/color] she whispered. She couldn't let herself and her Pokemon down like that again. Troy took a deep breath, a mental reset, before following suit. [hider=Lucky Black Cat / Antoinetta] PP: 16 [hider=Pokemon Team:] [list][*] Combee (Mellona), lv11 Current moves: Sweet Scent, Gust, Struggle Bug, Bug Bite[/list][/hider][hider=Items] [hider=General][/hider] [hider=Medicines][/hider] [hider=Pokeballs][list][*] Pokeball x5 [/list][/hider] [hider=Berries][list][*] Oran Berry x5 [*] Cheri Berry x1 [*] Pecha Berry x1 [*] Rawst Berry x1 [*] Chesto Berry x1 [*] Aspear Berry x1 [*] Persim Berry x1 [*] Leppa Berry x1 [/list][/hider] [hider=TMs][list][*] Hidden Power [/list][/hider] [/hider] [/hider] [hider=Ryik / Troy] [hider=Team]Shuckle Lv. 11 Ability: Sturdy Item: Berry Juice - Mud-Slap - Defense Curl - Rollout - Infestation Full moveset: [hider][u]Level-up moves:[/u] Withdraw (lv. 1) Wrap (lv. 1) *Rollout (lv. 5) Struggle Bug (lv. 10) [u]Previous generation exclusive moves:[/u] Bide (lv. 1) Constrict (lv. 1) *Mud-Slap (egg move) [u]Egg moves:[/u] Acid Acupressure Covet *Defense Curl Final Gambit *Infestation Knock Off Sweet Scent Toxic [u]Learned TMs:[/u] Hidden Power ([url=http://www.psypokes.com/dex/hp.php]Electric based on ivs[/url]) [/hider] [/hider][hider=Bag]Poke Ball x5 Berry Juice x3 TM Hidden Power x1 Cheri Berry x1 Chesto Berry x1 Pecha Berry x1 Rawst Berry x1 Aspear Berry x1 Leppa Berry x1 Oran Berry x1 Persim Berry x1[/hider]PP: 16[/hider]