[X] My Assistant

[Toogee]

Pan was taken by surprise as the large beam collided with her venusaur. Turnip was pushed back by the blast, but he was sturdy enough to recover from the hit. Troy was starting off rough; she had to keep up if there was any hope to pull through.

“Shake it off, Turnip! Let’s show him our wheel combo!”

The venusaur shook his head to get his head back into the battle. Fenrir immediately took position front and center of Turnip. Vines quickly emerged from the grass pokemon, their tips holding the growlithe at his side. The pup immediately started to run, fire forming under his feet. As he charged, the fire grew a bit more intense.

“Aim for that steelix’s tail!”

Turnip released Fenrir, causing the growlithe to speed across the stage. A wheel of fire formed above and below him, the old pup running through it like a hamster wheel. He zoomed past the mawile in hopes of climbing the steelix like a racetrack.

[Living Arrow]

Troy blinked and grinned. Charging up a Flame Wheel like that was so Cool that he wanted to give it a score right there and then! Even so, it was clearly a bad match-up for his own Pokemon and ignoring the fact that a Fire-type was on the stage could be a massive mistake. True, Steelix held an equal advantage over the canine (and was by far the physical superior) but the same could not be said for little Mawwie.

Before Steelix could react, the Growlithe was bursting up his tail and making the great Iron Snake roar angrily. Up and up the whirling fire raced, right into the path of a waiting Mawile. The crowd cheered as Fenrir scorched the Hall Leader's Steelix but Troy wasn't ready for the move to end so well for the challenger - points were already being taken from his own score.

"Mawwie! Hold down that Growlithe with Vicegrip!" Troy called out.

With a grin, Mawwie surged at the oncoming Growlithe, running down Steelix's neck and bringing her jaws about for an attack. The fire-type poured more speed into the Flame Wheel, intending to crash into the Deceiver in a two-hit combo but she had other plans. Enormous jaws clamped down hard on the Growlithe's midsection even as she continued to run down the Steelix's back. Although she did not manage to stop the Growlithe, she had slowed it.

"Great! Now, Steelix! Use Bind on the Growlithe and Mawwie!"

The crowd gasped as one as the glowing orange Iron Snake brought up his pained body to ensnare both Pokemon in a fierce grip, squeezing them hard with powerful metal muscles. Troy chuckled to himself as Fenrir whined loudly and Mawwie laughed in response. She, naturally, had a resistance to regular physical attacks like these but the dog was clamped between jaws and a glowing orange coil.

Points fell from Pan's score.

[Toogee]

Pan watched as the steelix took in his ally as well as his opponent. Soon, after, her points were down. She had to think of something quick before she lost even more points.

“I’m too old for this stuff,” Fenrir growled as his two foes worked together to crush his old bones. The only good thing to come out of this was that the orange steel coils were hot enough to activate his Flash Fire ability. His body glowed in flames, waiting to unleash its energy in a new assault. The growlithe looked over to Turnip and Pan for assistance.

“Turnip, Vine Bat! Distract that steelix!”

The venusaur obliged, unsheathing two vines out of his sides. The vines wrapped around each other to form a much thicker weapon. Turnip charged into the fray and leaped upward. His strength combined with gravity allowed the vine bat to come down upon the steelix.

“Fenrir, Flamethrower!”

With the venusaur providing a distraction, the growlithe was able to face the steelix and bellow out searing flames from his mouth. Hopefully, it would provide enough incentive for the steelix to unbind his coils.

“I think Darryn made you soft,” Pan playfully sang to Troy. It was likely a bit premature to start issuing taunts though; the night was still young…

[Living Arrow]

While the 'vine bat' had regained Pan some distance on the score board, Troy wasn't surprised to note that the Growlithe's Flamethrower gave relatively little respite to the different in points - where was the Co-Ordinator-trained flare in that move? Where was the stylish flourish of flames?

"Soft!? Hah!" Troy laughed, not flinching as his Steelix unwound and toppled to the stage under the weight of Turnip. "Is this soft?! Mawwie, Flash Cannon!"

Despite being released by Steelix, Mawwie and Fenrir were still attached to each other. In truth, Mawwie was in pain from the searing heat in her jaws, but Fenrir was hardly in great shape, either. She screamed with pent-up rage, whirling her jaws and blasting out with a fearsome Flash Cannon that through Fenrir high into the air where his flame-covered body was extinguish by a wave of silver light that capture the fire and dispersed it like fireworks in night air.

"Steelix, Dragonbreath on the Growlithe!"

Segements spinning to regain purchase on the stage, the Iron Snake tilted its head back and spat free a swirling blue vortex of mystical flame toward the plummeting fire-type.

"Darryn only makes me hard, my dear." Troy snorted back across the stage, nodding to the scoreboard where Pan lost even more points.

[Toogee]

There were only moments to contemplate what to do next; Fenrir was in midair, about to suffer Steelix’s attack. In her past adventures, Pan always had to think fast. Usually, the consequences were a bit more severe than a lost match. Within seconds, Pan was recalling her high school chemistry. She also remembered messing up on several questions, so her next move would be an awfully big risk.

“Fenrir, counter with Flamethrower!”

The interaction of flames and the chemicals emitted from each pokemons’ breath caused a small explosion, enough force to propel the growlithe further upward. After floating over the arena for a second, Fenrir headed downward, back to the mawile. Using the momentum of his fall, the growlithe latched onto the less-toothy base of Mawwy’s ponytail. This caused him to spin around the base, but he landed on his feet in the end. Fenrir was relatively safe behind the large jaws and the pokemon’s body, but that probably wouldn’t last long.

Fenrir, Fire Fang! Turnip, grab your mace!

The growlithe’s fangs were drenched in flame, enhancing his bite attack further. Meanwhile, the venusaur’s vines latched onto Fenrir’s hind legs and started spinning his vines around. He was going to take both pokemon for a ride.

Round and round they spun, eventually spinning over the venusaur. They were going faster and faster until…

“Fenrir, release!”

The growlithe let go of the mawile’s ponytail, allowing her to sail across the stage towards the steelix.

Meanwhile, Turnip stopped spinning Fenrir and allowed him to rest on his back. The growlithe was laying flat on his belly, taking advantage of the momentary lapse in fighting. He panted heavily; it was the hardest fight he had in a very long time.

The venusaur kept both his vines and his guard up, awaiting the next move from their opponents.

[Living Arrow]

"Mawwie, NO!" Troy cried as his Mawile soared through the air, an openly pained expression on her face as she wailed miserably. He chanced a glance at the scoreboard and hissed to himself as his points rolled down.

"Steelix, catch Mawwie!"

With his Iron Snake scooping his Mawile out of the air with his tail and replacing her atop its head, Troy frowned intently. He'd made a mistake by using such straight-forward attacks and as a result, Mawwie was flagging. Too many fire attacks had truly taken their toll and now she was on her last legs... Then again, so was the Growlithe. Whatever the case, she was going down and she'd have to make the last move count if Steelix was to be left out on his own.

*Damn fire types in my Hall!*

"Steelix, Dragonbreath one more time! Mawwie, jump into the stream and use Iron Defense!"

The crowd gasped once more as the tiny Deceiver leapt into the rushing flames of Steelix's attack and was swept into the current, fired at the opposing duo like a flaming bowling ball. Amid the azure rush, shining silver sparks poured out like ice in a comet's tail stimulating raucous applause.

Like a mini-nuke Mawwie hit her mark on the Venusaur-Growlithe duo in a flash of glitter and flame that consumed all three amid a cloud of diamond dust.

Troy narrowed his eyes and peered into the fog. Mawwie was out cold but what about the other two...

[Toogee]

Pan and Turnip watched their opponents ready their next move. Together they created a spectacular comet that hurdled towards Fenrir and the venussaur.

“Turnip, do the boomerang!” Pan shouted. She had to get Fenrir out of there; they needed to get one more hit on the other side. Turnip used his vines to grab the growlithe by his hind legs once more.

Then the mawile hit with a furious impact. The fog created by the dragon breath clouded the stage. Pan couldn’t see how her pokemon made out. Was that it for her? A few seconds later, just as Pan was about to grab their pokeballs, Fenrir came flying out of the fog. Turnip had managed to hurl his tired body across the stage, the growlithe spinning in circles as he approached the steelix.

“Come on Fenrir. One more attack. Reversal!”

With a powerful roundhouse kick, Fenrir hind feet were headed for the steelix. Whether they hit or not, it would be the growlithe’s final attack for the night. He landed on his side and made no attempt to get up. Finally fainted, Pan returned Fenrir back to his pokeball and hoped the match wasn’t totally lost.

Unfortunately, things weren’t looking much better for Turnip. When the dust finally cleared, the venusaur’s vines were laying limp on the ground. There was a large bump on his head from where the mawile crashed. The venusaur growled furiously as his limbs remained mothionless. He was paralyzed from the dragon breath attack.

“Hang in there, Turnip,” Pan said, attempting to reassure the venusaur. “Stupid timer. Beep already!”

[Living Arrow]

When Pan made the call for her Venusaur to hang on, Troy began to panic. Hanging on with their scores so close only meant trouble for him and the loss of a ribbon. He grit his teeth and survey his own Pokemon’s injuries.

Steelix was tired. That much was clear, but his Rock Polish was still in effect… For them to definitely pull off a win, all they had to do was beat the opponent down…

*Let’s hope that paralysis holds fast!*

“Steelix, Iron Tail!”

“Turnip! Vine Whip!”

Glowing tail met ensnaring vines and the two mighty Pokemon locked heads as their respective appendages fought to slam the other to the ground. The struggle was fierce on both sides, the crowd clamouring for their favourites to come out on top but in a one-on-one match the two were tied in strength.

“Turnip, toss it!”

Troy gasped as his Steelix was lifted clear from the ground in an unexpected turn of events and thrown up and away, the Iron Tail never quite meeting its mark. The points on the Hall Leader’s side of the board began to dwindle and the onlookers gasped in apprehension as the timer counted down the final few seconds.

“Now, Steelix! Dragonbreath, full power!”

“Turnip, dodge it!”

Troy held onto his breath as the final moments played out, watching as everything seemed to move in slow motion at the end of the match.

Four seconds…

A roaring gout of azure flame spiralled down towards its target.

Three seconds…

Turnip’s wide face gained a painful expression as his muscles tensed up under paralysis.

Two seconds…

Pan gasped in shock as her Venusaur was consumed by the raging attack that descended upon him.

One second…

Troy clenched his fists as his Pokemon crashed to the ground, his score lower than that of the opponent… A buzzer rang.

It took a few more seconds before Troy recognised the sound of that buzzer. The call for a technical knock out. He looked back to the timer. One second remained… And looked back to the stage… Pan’s Venusaur lay in a very large unconscious heap. And finally, Troy began to breathe again.

[Toogee]

As the smoke cleared, Pan gave a heavy sigh: Turnip was finally knocked out. She walked across the arena, not to great Troy, but to make sure the venusaur was all right. Pan knelt next to the creature’s giant head, caressing his forehead with her left hand. Turnip weakly opened his eyes as his human kissed the big bump on his forehead. Though his body wasn’t the only thing that was bruised, Pan’s touch more than made up for it.

Meanwhile, Lima was enjoying the utter applause from the audience, not realizing that the people were cheering for the hall leader. In her mind, she had won: her face appeared on the screen earlier and she already claimed her prizes: those tasty pastries. Someone threw a bouquet of roses onto the stage, which the cleffa promptly pounced on. Ripping off the plastic wrapping, she started to devour the red petals, oblivious that they likely weren’t meant for her.

“Lima!” Pan shouted as she returned Turnip back to his pokeball. She got up from the floor and picked up the cleffa (Lima was still clinging to a single rose). Pan then turned to Troy, finally reaching out to shake his hand. She had no harsh feelings about the loss, but Pan was certainly not leaving empty handed.

“You owe me drinks. Douken too.”

[Living Arrow]

Troy placed his hands on his hips and sighed out, content in his defence of the Metalliclaw Ribbon once more. The last Co-Ordinator to get by him had already claimed another... and his heart. Troy had absolutely no idea when it had happened but Darryn Kellor had managed to break into his mind and showed no sign of leaving ever since they had met in the Pokemon Center of Arasam.

“You owe me drinks. Douken too.”

Troy rolled his eyes and nodded. "That, I do. But be warned - we drink nothing softer than vod... how old are you?"

"Eighteen?"

Troy shook himself. "Oh good! I thought you might be, like, fifteen or something - seriously, more make-up would work wonders. Where was I...? Oh yes! Like I was saying, nothing softer than vodka and shots are always doubles. Buuuut fiiirst..."

He quickly moved out of the way as a camera crew, headed by Gillian Meridian, approached them with Douken being urged forward to join Pan mid-stage. They were out to get a post-match interview and no doubt would air it on the Channel 4 News.

[Toogee]

Perhaps she should have chosen her words better. By drinks, Pan was thinking sodas or even milkshakes. Not that she was going to correct Troy.

Pan was actually a bit excited for tonight, more so than for the contest itself. Though she wasn’t proud to say it, this would be her first night out for “drinks”. Back in Celadon, she respected her parents’ wishes to abstain from that kind of stuff. Now that she was on her own, curiosity took over. It wouldn’t exactly be a gateway to adulthood (Pan was determined to never grow up), but it was definitely a momentous occasion.

What she wasn’t excited about was the upcoming interview. She didn’t want the big media attention her stint in Arasam would bring. The gossip would be flying all over the place; who knows what stories would come out? At least the science magazines didn’t have a propensity to spread nasty rumors around.

“Hey, let’s dump these reporters and head out now,” Pan asked Troy. She signaled Douken to avoid the stage and start heading out.

“Sorry, no comment,” she told Gillian and the cameramen. Pan flashed a smile as she headed off stage, towards Douken. Lima climbed up on her human's shoulder to face the disappointed reporters. She started waving and blowing kisses, hoping for some pictures and more attention for herself.

This post has been edited by 2gamers: Jul 19 2010, 06:35 AM

[Douken Sota]

As Douken watched the match on screen, some of the more experienced coordinators came up to him and congratulated him on the match, even if he did lose, and gave their own bits of advise and what they would of done with their own style. The only one he thought would be most interesting was a male with his Machoke who had a performance to demonstrate his strength, telling him that he shouldn't feel ashamed on using an offensive move defensively (who also bragged he got his first and only ribbon that way).

However, with the match coming close to an end, he pretty much became a shadow to everyone around him with the moves both sides were having. Douken took that moment to head back to the dressing room and return to his usual attire. Luckily, there was a monitor in there too so he could see the ending. A second short of victory, he thought as the screen showed the judges declaring Pan's team couldn't fight anymore. It was a disappointing win for him, seeing how she still had more points.

As he hung the jacket back in place, Douken glimpsed at the monitor to catch the sign from Pan to avoid the stage. It was a good idea, seeing how he didn't want to get bombarded with cameras. So with her heading backstage, he went back to the waiting room to wait for Pan to come back (most likely to get bombarded with "Congratulation" comments).

[Toogee]

Though Pan walked off stage without a ribbon, one wouldn’t be able to tell with all the cheering. There was still a crowd of coordinators backstage watching the outcome of the match. Most were very happy with Pan’s performance, congratulating her with pats on her shoulders. Some had brought cameras to take pictures, which Lima was more than happy to pose for. Pan, however, was just trying to get out of everyone’s way.

Though the recognition was nice, Pan could do without the crowds of admirers. She preferred to be admired from afar. She would rather be around a small gaggle of friends than a giant crowd of unknowns. Stage life did not suit her, even if it made Lima happy. Pan loved her cleffa, but how would they be able to compromise between two very different lives? This troubling difference between human and pokemon was something they would have to deal with in the future.

Finally, Pan was able to reach Douken. He had already changed back into his street clothes and likely ready to leave the premises.

“So, what did you think?” Pan asked. “Anyway, Troy has graciously offered to take us out on the town. Care to join us?”

[Douken Sota]

"If you only had one more second less," he laughed as she was able to break through the crowd. True, it wasn't as hard for him, since he just got pats on the back and tips since he lost of points. Pan, however, was leading and would of won if it wasn't for the last second knockout.

When she said that Troy was going to 'take them out on the town,' Douken chuckled and said, "Sure, but first, how about we hit the center and let you get changed? We can also let our injured team recover while we are out as well. They deserve a rest."

[Living Arrow]

Troy kicked back in the lounge of the Pokemon Center, waiting for his guests to prepare themselves for a night on the town with a local celeb. Oh, they didn’t know how lucky they were!

“Wile!” Mawwie came tottering towards Troy from behind the reception desk, her master’s Pokeballs clacking around in her jaws. He smiled fondly and lifted her to the seat beside him. She nestled close, enjoying the tickling scratch the he placed behind her neck and purred softly.

“Remember when we were here a little while ago, Mawwie?” Troy sighed, thinking back to the day he had met Darryn. “He was just some random trainer passing through. Sure, he failed that Gym match with dumb old Oaty but he beat me hands down. First time. Damn, he’s good… He’s just so…”

“Mawile!” Mawwie giggled, grinding her nose into his side and laughing merrily.

“But he’s out there and those… those thugs are still out there! Who knows what they might try next!? If he were here, with me, then at least I could protect him! At least he’d be safe…” Troy warred with his emotions, remembering the stories that the boy who plagued his thoughts had told him. How brave he had been…

The sound of approaching footsteps drew Troy out of his Darryn-induced stupor. Troy grinned and stood, tilting down his sunglasses to get a better look at the two younger trainers. He was dressed for a night out but they… *wow* they were innocent! A perverse smile spread out across the Hall Leader's face.

*Time to defile the pure!*

~~~~~

Troy awoke groggily.

A headache… One shoe was missing… His knuckles were scraped and bleeding… His shirt was torn in two places… Someone’s name was signed on his neck… From the feel of it, his ear was pierced... again... The taste of vomit was stale in his mouth...

He smiled. It had been a good night and with friends like Pan in Darryn’s life, Troy knew he didn’t have to worry about him anymore.

[Toogee]

“Change? I thought you said I looked good?” Pan feigned disbelief at Douken’s comment, but quickly set aside any fears of offense with a smile.

“Just playing with you,” she said to her friend. “I think I’ll stick to my outfit for the rest of the night. Who knows when I’ll put on something like this again?”

Though Pan disagreed about changing, that didn’t mean she wasn’t willing to go to a pokemon center. Both Turnip and Fenrir took a beating tonight. It would do them well to have the rest of the night fully healed inside their pokeballs.

“If there’s no healing machine here, I suppose we have to head back.”

With that, the pair (presumably followed by Troy) made their way through the crowds and headed for the local pokemon center.

***

Two quick heals later, Pan and Douken were ready to hit the town with Troy. The hall leader led the way, talking about the virtues of their first stop: Phoenix. The lounge was the hot spot for the young crowd in Arasam. In addition to the full bar, the lounge was also equipped with a karaoke area (a combination that often proved hilarious).

The three passed a series of torches before entering the building, identified only by the emblem of a fiery bird perched upon the doorway. The atmosphere inside was similar: darkness only broken by torches and dim lighting. The music playing was rather loud, though that didn’t seem to stop people from talking and otherwise enjoying themselves.

Troy went off to get drinks, while Pan and Douken found a table near a roaring fireplace. It was a fairly comfortable place considering the cool night outside.

“I have to say, not a bad place to hang out,” Pan said, looking around at the scenery. It didn’t take long for the conversation to lead to the big day.

“So, is everyone ready for the gym match tomorrow?”

[Douken Sota]

The Phoenix was an interesting place, indeed. Just the sheer fact that they were using flames instead of light bulbs to light the place gave an interesting feel to the area. That didn't mean the place was completely void of electricity, however. The television was broadcasting some events they called "Pokeathelon" over from an area named Jhoto, showing a trainer and a team of three were showing off how stamina they had with a lot of different endurance tests. It was hard to hear it, however, seeing how someone was on stage, singing some Karaoke to the others a song called Wanted: Dead or Alive, his fingers flying through the air, as if he was playing the guitar himself.

"For the most part, yeah," Douken replied to Pan's question. "I am just curious on a few details. For instance, what does he use? I mean, my dad told me a few stories when he was younger and having his adventures traveling around a place called Sinnoh. Apparently, there were a lot of strong Gym Leaders there as well, each confident in controlling a specific type. I mean, if I was to make any guesses, part of me would think of ice from what happened in the Castle, but seeing how we are not as high, I can't see that as a main possibility."

He sighed, thinking about his battle plan before setting his teammate's Pokeballs on the table. "I knowq Croagunk would love a strong challenge, but I am not willing to place him in a situation where he has a major disadvantage. The others, I am not sure how they do against strong foes. Still, I am placing my trust in all of them!"

[Toogee]

“Wait, you haven’t looked up the gym leader yet?” Pan asked curiously. “There isn’t some Furoh League website where you can look this kind of stuff up, or are you keeping things as a surprise?” It was admirable to go for a challenge; it was good for personal character (for both human and pokemon). However, it was foolish to enter a battle unprepared. She couldn’t tell which one Douken was.

“If you’re still looking for hints, I can tell you that, according to the tourist guide I read, Mt. Carello isn’t a mountain but a dormant volcano. Maybe that’s a hint…” The guide also mentioned the typing of the gym, but out of respect for Douken’s challenge, Pan didn’t outright tell him.

As the two continued the conversation, a stream of fire flashed between them. Pan nearly fell out of her chair to avoid getting singed. It turned out that Troy was the source of the flames (along with a nearby torch): one hand held a read glass bottle while the other supported a tray of drinks intended for his guests.

“Spitfire,” Troy began, smiling at the reactions of Pan and Douken. “You can drink it AND breathe fire with it. It’s one of the newest selections at the bar. Don’t worry, I got you some kiddie drinks.”

Troy’s tray revealed a dark bottle with a couple of shot glasses. According to the label, the drink was vodka, a blend created in a Gigarte vineyard three years ago. The hall leader poured the glasses for the pair.

“So what did I miss?” Troy said, taking another swig from his bottle.

Don’t apply laws in a fantasy world to the real world. It won’t work out well :P. No underage drinking kthxbai .

[Douken Sota]

"Well, I am not all that great with computers," he said with a slight chuckle, rubbing the back of his head. Maybe it wasn't that obvious with how long it took him to register for his contest pass. "I spent more time helping my parents with their work than leisuring in front of a monitor. I mean, if I didn't, then I wouldn't have my companions with me."

Still, the information about the town resting on a dormant volcano was very useful advice. In that respect, then there is a better chance the gym deals with fire types more than ice. If that's the case, Croagunk will be disappointed, seeing how his Dry Skin will have him suffer, and I won't place him in a disadvantage. However, before he was able to share his battle plan, a stream of fire went across their faces, showing that Troy came back with a very interesting drink.

Douken took the small glass when it was offered, but didn't even budge to drink from it just yet. Instead, he merely held it in his fingers, rolling the shot's bottom on the table. "Well, you did suggest I should try going after the Gyms, so we are just trying to think of some plans for tomorrow, seeing how I will challenge the leader then.

"Which reminds me, during our match, you said you used to be the Gym Leader for here. Any chance you know of who the current leader is and his style?"

This post has been edited by Douken Sota: Jul 24 2010, 01:54 PM

[Toogee]

“What, ol’ Oaty? Yeah, I know him,” Troy said. “Hee Hee…Oaty. He hates it when I call him that. Oaty Oaty Oaty!”

Pan raised her eyebrows as the hall leader became fixated on funny nicknames. Something told her his behavior had something to do with his chosen beverage.

“Er, how strong is that drink you’re having?” Pan asked. It must have had quite a bit of alcohol to be able to breathe fire with the stuff.

“No clue; I’m the first one to test it out,” Troy said with a big goofy smile. “Yep, it’s good to be the hall leader.” The hall leader took another gulp out of his bottle and blew contents through another torch. Fire stretched towards the ceiling as Troy performed his best Flamethrower impression. Pan attempted to get his attention before he burned the place down.

“Hey, why don’t you get us some water to wash all these drinks down,” Pan asked politely. In response, Troy gave a look of surprise.

“That will dilute the taste! You’ll ruin it! *sigh* Maybe I should just get you some lemonade, or are lemons too strong too?” Both stuck their tongues out at each other as Troy walked back towards the bar, though the hall leader had a bit of a stumble in his step.

“Hope he’s alright,” Pan said to Douken. She quickly changed subjects to avoid Troy overhearing.

“How do you like Furoh so far?”