Alright, I'll be calling the vote here. Looks like you'll be challenging Flynn to a battle, and at long last calling Tetsuya. As it's now relevant, his team is made of Onix, Krabby, Drowzee, and Pidgy. As for your fight with Flynn, he's going to be sending out a Gligar that he wants to train up and thinks you're around the right level to handle it.
Health: C+
Stamina: B-
Attack: C+
Defense: A--
Special Attack: D--
Special Defense: C++
Speed: B-
Evasion: B+
Scheduled vote count started by Daemon Hunter on Jul 10, 2024 at 8:26 PM, finished with 7 posts and 7 votes.
[X] Challenge Flynn to a Battle - You're not going to win, but Flynn is one of the strongest trainers you've seen. He'd go easy on you and use some of his newer Pokemon, but his strategy would likely be interesting to see.
[X] Call Tetsuya - An old childhood friend of yours, the two of you drifted off recently. He is currently preparing to take on the Saffron City Gym and just barely beat one of the trainers to allow him to do so.
[X] Travel to Cinnabar Island - There are a number of ferries to Cinnabar Island, which would let you fight one of the more remote gyms now rather than later.
[X] Travel to Saffron City - Heading to Saffron City would let you work towards challenging Sabrina. However, your parents would drive to visit you, and you would have to meet them. Tetsuya is also here.
[X] Challenge Flynn to a Battle - You're not going to win, but Flynn is one of the strongest trainers you've seen. He'd go easy on you and use some of his newer Pokemon, but his strategy would likely be interesting to see.
[X] Call Tetsuya - An old childhood friend of yours, the two of you drifted off recently. He is currently preparing to take on the Saffron City Gym and just barely beat one of the trainers to allow him to do so.
It had been months since Violet called Tetsuya. One of her only childhood friends, Tetsuya was an energetic kid who was very into Pokemon from a young age. Thinking of it, Violet's friends were a set of extroverts, as was Dratini. Was this becoming a pattern?
The video call rang a total of thrice before it was picked up. "Violet! It's been so long!" Tetsuya greeted loudly, causing her to lower the volume.
"S-Sorry…" Violet hesitated, she hadn't remained out of contact thanks to the use of texts and images, but she hadn't heard his voice since she had left on her journey. "I-it's been busy."
"Yep, yep," came the reply. "Between training, traveling, and battling I don't have enough time in the day. Just cleaning Onix takes hours."
"How is the team?" Violet asked quietly. From her texts with Tetsuya, she knew he had started with a Krabby (a rather unorthodox choice) before catching an Onix (another unorthodox choice) and then caught a Drowzee and Pidgy. She'd seen Pidgeots in conference battles before, but the other three were far rarer.
"They're great!" Tetsuya declared proudly. "You let Krabby get in close, then bam! You're out! Onix can't be hurt with physical moves! Drowzee is great for statuses!"
There was a slight waver in her friend's voice when talking about Onix, giving Violet a concerned thought. "Tetsuya …" she said quietly and noticed her friend grow notably more nervous. "Did you use Onix against Misty?"
"...Maybe."
Violet brought her hands to her face, seriously concerned about her friend's capabilities. "W-why?"
"How's your team?" Tetsuya blatantly tried to redirect the conversation to something less embarrassing. "I just saw that video of you beating Surge, you didn't break a sweat!"
"Good," Violet said simply, trying to think of a way to get Tetsuya to think before acting rather than just going with what his first instinct was. "I-I just had to plan f-for it."
"I can plan too…" Tetsuya groused in a small voice. "Just wait, when we meet again, I'm going to show you how much I've learned!"
He was still the same driven fool even after starting his journey. There were signs he had begun to temper himself admittedly. For one he was taking her words seriously rather than brushing them off. And Violet was certain he'd try and think at least one step ahead in his next battle. "Y-you'll have to get in line," Violet said. "Willow gets to fight me first."
"Yeah, but you're not gonna lose." He said with such confidence that Violet couldn't help but blush at the fate he placed in her.
"T-t-thank y-you." Violet stuttered. She still wasn't used to such praise so reacting to it always felt awkward. Despite this, the conversation continued for another 10 minutes, the two of them sharing details of their teams and their journey thus far. During which Violet told Tetsuya that if the two of them fought, he'd be facing an uphill battle.
Dratini's Water Gun would devastate Onix, Magnemite had a notable type advantage against Krabby, Pineco could handle Drowzee, and Pidgy was rather inexperienced. She'd been less direct about it, but that didn't change the facts. To his credit, Tetsuya seemed to understand this, even if he was content to accept the situation. Based on what she knew of him, he was the type to continuously slam his head into a wall rather than find a way around it.
After the conversation with Tetsuya, Violet sent a message to Flynn, the trainer who had been convinced to give her two tickets to the Staryu Resort. She was happy with the tickets, but a part of her wanted to challenge herself against a trainer far above her. And so she asked him for a battle and he accepted.
"So, you're a, uh, you've got two badges?" Flynn said awkwardly, slightly distracted by the sight of Willow holding up a sign that said 'Go Violet!'
"Y-yeah," Violet said nervously, mentally reminding herself of the skillsets of her various Pokemon. "Is-is that a problem?"
"No, no," Flynn clarified, "I have a new guy around your level, he's almost ready to evolve so this is perfect."
Tossing a Pokeball, Violet saw Gligar emerge from it and immediately take to the air. Desiring a fast-paced battle, the FlyScorpion Pokemon was hyping himself up for the fight to come.
Health: C+
Stamina: B-
Attack: C+
Defense: A--
Special Attack: D--
Special Defense: C++
Speed: B-
Evasion: B+
Violet's Thoughts: A fast, tough Pokemon that's hard to hurt with physical attacks, Gligar's use of Acrobatics makes them terrifying to face. The only "weakness" is their vulnerability to ice and water attacks.
Violet's Perceptive Trait Kicks in!
Flynn will have Gligar feint that he's using Acrobatics before aborting into Sand Attack. Then he'll have Gligar feint Quick Attack and instead use Acrobatics. He'll perform similar feints where possible and have Gligar use Acrobatics around 75% of the time but will add variety with Quick Attack, Sand Attack, and Poison Sting (unless Magnemite is used in which case it'll mostly use Quick Attack).
Once he realizes his feints aren't working (~8 turns), he'll switch to trying to predict your moves and countering. During this time, he'll have Gligar use Quick Attack as a dodging tool as he tries to figure out your strategy and any patterns in your fighting style.
Throughout this, Gligar will use an Evasive Stance.
[]
Send Out: Dratini
Stance: Aggressive
Battle Strategy: Use Water Gun primarily, with Twister used to avoid any patterns forming in the battle strategy.
[]
Send Out: Magnemite
Stance: Reckless
Battle Strategy: Use Supersonic to disorient Gligar if possible before using Gyro Ball repeatedly.
[]
Send Out: Chansey
Stance: Turtle
Battle Strategy: Have Chansey repeatedly use Charm to reduce Gligar's attack capabilities before using a variety of attacking moves
Alright, I'll be closing the vote here, and it looks like it's Magnemite vs Gligar. This ends up being a much harder fight for Violet, namely due to Gligar being extremely evasive and difficult to even damage for Magnemite. That being said, Gligar has a similar issue and his best moves are all countered by Magnemite. As a result, it ends up being quite the fight overall and Magnemite almost manages to win, only being edged out due to Gligar managing to both outstamina and outspeed him. However, Magnemite has learned a lot from this fight.
Magnemite's Gains:
Health improves to C--
Stamina improves to D+
Attack improves to C--
Defense improves to B-
Speed improves to D
Tackle improves to C++
Gyro Ball improves to C
Round 1 Gligar: Gligar feints Acrobatics. Gligar used Sand Attack (DC1: Autosuccess). Magnemite's accuracy decreased!
Round 1 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC70: 17). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 2 Gligar: Gligar feints Quick Attack. Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 59). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (91%).
Round 2 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC70: 15). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 3 Gligar: Gligar feints Quick Attack. Gligar used Sand Attack (DC1: Autosuccess). Magnemite's accuracy decreased!
Round 3 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC75: 73). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 4 Gligar: Gligar feints Sand Attack. Gligar used Quick Attack (DC1: 98). A Critical Hit! Magnemite lost 8% of its HP (83%).
Round 4 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC75: 11). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 5 Gligar: Gligar feints Sand Attack. Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 46). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (72%).
Round 5 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC75: 55). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 6 Gligar: Gligar feints Poison Sting. Gligar used Sand Attack (DC1: Autosuccess). Magnemite's accuracy decreased!
Round 6 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 2). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 7 Gligar: Gligar feints Quick Attack. Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 38). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (63%).
Round 7 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 41). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 8 Gligar: Gligar feints Acrobatics. Gligar used Quick Attack (DC1: 35). Magnemite lost 4% of its HP (59%).
Round 8 Magnemite: Magnemite used Tackle (DC65: 78). Gligar lost 6% of its HP (94%).
Round 9 Gligar: Gligar feints Sand Attack. Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 48). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (50%).
Round 9 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 91). Gligar lost 23% of its HP (71%).
Round 10 Gligar: Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 79). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (41%).
Round 10 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 12). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 11 Gligar: Gligar used Quick Attack Defensively (DC1: Autosuccess). Gligar's evasiveness increases by 10 this turn.
Round 11 Magnemite: Magnemite took a moment to rest.
Round 12 Gligar: Gligar used Quick Attack Defensively (DC1: Autosuccess). Gligar's evasiveness increases by 10 this turn.
Round 12 Magnemite: Magnemite took a moment to rest.
Round 13 Gligar: Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 29). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (41%).
Round 13 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 81). Gligar lost 23% of its HP (48%).
Round 14 Gligar: Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 40). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (32%).
Round 14 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 15). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 15 Gligar: Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 53). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (23%).
Round 15 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 15). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 16 Gligar: Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 79). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (12%).
Round 16 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 95). A Critical Hit! Gligar lost 46% of its HP (2%).
Magnemite's Stamina increases to D
Round 17 Gligar: Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 74). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (3%).
Round 17 Magnemite: Magnemite used Tackle (DC65: 38). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 18 Gligar: Gligar used Quick Attack (DC1: 97). A Critical Hit! Magnemite lost 3% of its HP (0%). Magnemite fainted!
Scheduled vote count started by Daemon Hunter on Jul 12, 2024 at 8:29 PM, finished with 9 posts and 8 votes.
Send Out: Magnemite
Stance: Reckless
Battle Strategy: Use Supersonic to disorient Gligar if possible before using Gyro Ball repeatedly.
Magnemite and Gligar sat at opposite ends of the arena, while their trainers looked each other up and down seeking insight into their plans. Violet could hear Flynn faintly whispering to Gligar, providing orders well before the battle started while keeping his voice low enough that the young girl couldn't hear it properly. Yet body language told another story, as Violet caught the faint hint of an enthusiastic expression on Gligar followed by forced casualness. It reminded her of some of Magnemite's plots, where they would pretend to do one thing before doing another.
As she was thinking it over, the referee indicated the battle was about to start, leading Violet to give Magnemite some advice. "You have to rely on Gyro Ball," she unenthusiastically stated. It wasn't ideal, but it was one of the few choices available to her.
If she truly wanted to win, she likely would have used Chansey. But that wasn't what this fight was for. This fight was for Magnemite and Gligar so the two of them could improve their battling skills. The Fly Scorpion Pokemon was quick and tough, a combination she hadn't dealt with before. Supersonic would be difficult to hit, but if Flynn tried a poorly practiced move Magnemite may have a chance to land it. But it would only be a chance.
The referee signaled for the battle to begin, and Gligar rose into the air. Diving towards Magnemite, all indications seemed ready for a brutal opening series of rapid Acrobatics. Then Violet whispered so that only Magnemite could hear. "It's Sand Attack."
The Magnet Pokemon closed their eye just as Gligar dove prematurely, ripping sand from the ground and throwing it at Magnemite. A dirty crust formed, but if they hadn't been forewarned it would have been far worse. Magnemite spun rapidly a moment later, sadly far too late to have a chance of hitting.
Gligar suddenly sped up, a clear sign of using Quick Attack. "Acrobatics," Violet warned, noticing the faint disparity as Gligar switched moves, slamming into Magnemite and forcing the Magnet Pokemon to abort a second attempt at Gyro Ball.
"Don't fake it this time," Flynn declared with a frown. His voice was calm and collected, a notable change from his usual nervous demeanor. Then he added a second sentence quietly enough that Violet couldn't hear, but it was enough to confirm her suspicions.
"It's not an attack," Violet realized, "Magnemite, step into it!"
The Fly Scorpion Pokemon darted forward, using Sand Attack once more. But Magnemite had been ready this time and stepped into the attack. A foolish choice had it been any other attack, but in this case, it worked well.
The Magnet Pokemon spun, steel-type energy coating their frame with only a moment of preparation needed. Yet, that moment was enough for Gligar to begin flying upwards as fast as possible after coating Magnemite with yet another layer of sand, further degrading their sight and aim.
Gligar dived downwards once more, dragging his claws into the ground in a move Magnemite was sure was Sand Attack. Stepping into it once more, Violet suddenly shouted, "Magnemite that's not Sand Attack!"
It was too late, as Gligar suddenly accelerated, striking with Quick Attack hard enough to throw the Magnet Pokemon across the arena. "Don't let up," Flynn calmly ordered, "Keep up the deception for now."
Gligar's tail rose, but Violet knew better. Poison Sting on a Steel type? Really? "Sand Attack," she forewarned, allowing Magnemite to roll and prevent the coating of sand from being worse than it was. Yet, the Magnet Pokemon was still reeling from the previous blow, slowly getting to their metaphorical feet even as Gligar struck with another Acrobatics before switching to another Quick Attack.
However, the second attack was something Violet saw coming. Magnemite may be too slow to dodge or mitigate the damage, but there was something he could do. "Meet it! Tackle!" She yelled, surprising herself with her volume.
The two Pokemon clashed, and for the first time, Gligar came out of the exchange worse than Magnemite due to their steel frame. "Keep on it!" Violet heard Willow shout from the crowd, and she had no intention not to.
Still trying to right himself in the air, now was the perfect chance for Magnemite to land a blow. "Hit him hard Magnemite!"
"Go through them Gligar!" Flynn shouted as well, and Gligar immediately understood what he had to do. Scraping a claw on the ground to gain some degree of control, the Fly Scorpion Pokemon then forced himself forward through the use of his wings, voluntarily clashing with Magnemite head-on, Acrobatics versus Gyro Ball.
Once more, Gligar came out of the exchange with more damage, but the attack had launched them into the air where Flynn could take a moment to reevaluate the situation.
"So, feints aren't working…" Violet heard him mutter. "Gligar, full evasive."
The Fly Scorpion Pokemon began to dart through the skies, interspersing their movements with Quick Attack and Acrobatics. Trying to hit him now would be entirely luck-based, and based on Magnemite's halting movements, they didn't have much stamina left. "Take a moment Magnemite." Violet shifted her hat as she chose the only option that made sense. "Catch your breath while you can."
The Magnet Pokemon complied, tracking Gligar through the skies but making no move to attack or dodge. Instead, they simply rested for several seconds as a lull in the battle began. "So that's how it is…" Flynn muttered with a frown. "In that case, Gligar, Acrobatics, Acrobatics, Acrobatics!"
Dashing through the air, the Fly Scorpion Pokemon accelerated, darting in and out of Magnemite's range repeatedly. Left, right, front, back, above, each approach came from a different, unpredictable location. Violet's eyes darted through the skies, trying to track the unpredictable path and sometimes succeeding. "Magnemite, just keep trying to hit him. I believe in you!"
The Magnet Pokemon's eye narrowed as they spun and spun and spun. Steel energy was constantly used, the sheer exertion involved forcing them to rapidly begin to slow down. And yet, Gligar landed Acrobatics after Acrobatics, slowly but surely whittling down Magnemite with scratches and dents beginning to appear across their entire frame.
But despite the constant barrage of attacks, despite the significant speed advantage held by Gligar, neither Magnemite nor Violet gave up. Gyro Ball was used constantly, and eventually, luck turned against Gligar.
Guessing the Fly Scorpion's approach correctly, Magnemite spun clockwise with a slight upwards tilt. Meeting the Acrobatics head-on, they only half-heard the cheer of the crowd as the Magnet Pokemon spun with the hit, using Gligar's speed against him. The Fly Scorpion Pokemon bounced once, then twice across the ground, skittering to a halt before struggling to stand.
"Dig deep Magnemite! Just one more hit!" Violet yelled. "Don't bother with Gyro Ball, use Tackle!"
"Get in the air Gligar! Hurry!" Flynn ordered a nervous expression coloring his once calm demeanor.
It was rare to use Tackle at any level past the first gym badge. Often outclassed by other moves in potency and breadth, Tackle at its core was a basic move that was meant to be moved past. But in this situation where Gligar was just barely hanging on by a thread, it was the best move available.
Despite their clear exhaustion, Magnemite forced themselves to move. A picture-perfect Tackle was used, and if it hit, Gligar was done for.
It didn't land.
It wasn't a matter of inches that decided it, Gligar had simply recovered too quickly for that. Instead, the move was avoided with a comfortable margin to spare as Gligar rose into the air for one last Acrobatics.
Magnemite met it head-on, one last gamble that maybe the damage could be mitigated and they could land a final blow. At this point, both Pokemon had been pushed to the very edge of their limits, and each one was a step away from fainting.
Yet there would be no miracle, and after one last exchange, a heavily injured Gligar panted as he stood over the defeated Magnemite.
*Magnemite upgrades Health to C--*
*Magnemite upgrades Stamina to D+*
*Magnemite upgrades Attack to C--*
*Magnemite upgrades Defense to B-*
*Magnemite upgrades Speed to D*
*Magnemite upgrades Tackle to C++*
*Magnemite upgrades Gyro Ball to C*
*Magnemite upgrades Stamina to D+*
*Magnemite learned Screech at D++*
The Twentieth Week, Pick 2
Pokemon Actions
[-] Catch a fifth Pokemon - Now that your team has its core members, a fifth and sixth member would be useful and have more possible options. However, it's still quite early for that. Locked.
[] Train with your Pokemon - All of your Pokemon are skilled in battle with unique skills. Several of them are near breakthroughs so training would help considerably.
[] Buy and Use TMs/HMs - You're a big enough trainer to afford TMs and HMs for your Pokemon. You should take advantage of it when you can.
[-] Train with Willow's Pokemon - While it would be nontraditional to train with your rival, both of you have unique skill sets that could complement each other. Unfortunately, Willow is busy this week.
[] Meet with Flynn - You were so close to winning last time, and some of the tricks he tried are giving you ideas. He seems to be the type to help you with your ideas.
Battling Actions
[] Challenge New Trainers - Now that you and your Pokemon have developed, fighting a few trainers in rapid succession would be easy.
[] Challenge an Experienced Trainer - Some trainers in the area have two badges, beating them may be a good experience.
Exploration Actions
[] See the Sights Inside the City - There are a number of interesting attractions in Vermillion City. The port is rather interesting and holds a fair few internationally-themed attractions.
[] Explore the Boats - A few boats from various regions are currently docked. Most of them have a policy of allowing trainers onboard to challenge others. It may be fun to check out the area.
[] See the Sights Outside the City - With Diglett Cave nearby, it could be fun to spend a few days exploring the cave system and see what interesting locations and Pokemon are within.
[] Explore Unorthodox Locations - There is a lighthouse nearby that's seldom visited. Spending a day or two to visit could be interesting.
Traveling Actions
[] Travel to Saffron City - Heading to Saffron City would let you work towards challenging Sabrina. However, your parents would drive to visit you, and you would have to meet them. Tetsuya is also here.
[] Travel to Celadon City - Celadon City is rather nearby, and you do have plans on challenging the Gym Leader. That being said, you would have to meet your parents at home.
[] Travel to Fuchsia City - It's a longer trip than the others due to the lack of towns along the way, but it would make for a fun experience.
[] Travel to Cinnabar Island - There are a number of ferries to Cinnabar Island, which would let you fight one of the more remote gyms now rather than later.
[] Travel to Write-in - There are many locations in Kanto one could take a direct route towards.
Social Actions (For socials, it's assumed you keep up a basic level of contact through text, choosing a social means I write it up)
[] Call up your parents - Your parents are very curious about your new traveling companion and would like to ask about Willow.
[] Call Tetsuya - An old childhood friend of yours, the two of you drifted off recently. He is currently preparing to take on the Saffron City Gym and has spent several days constantly battling.
[] The Hotel - The Hotel Flynn had tickets for is very, very fancy. A four-star resort it'd be fantastic to just relax with your Pokemon and Willow.
[] Willow's Battle - Willow feels ready to take on the Vermillion City Gym. She attended your match with Flynn, it'd be good for you to see how she battles with her full team.
Round 1 Gligar: Gligar feints Acrobatics. Gligar used Sand Attack (DC1: Autosuccess). Magnemite's accuracy decreased!
Round 1 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC70: 17). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 2 Gligar: Gligar feints Quick Attack. Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 59). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (91%).
Round 2 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC70: 15). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 3 Gligar: Gligar feints Quick Attack. Gligar used Sand Attack (DC1: Autosuccess). Magnemite's accuracy decreased!
Round 3 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC75: 73). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 4 Gligar: Gligar feints Sand Attack. Gligar used Quick Attack (DC1: 98). A Critical Hit! Magnemite lost 8% of its HP (83%).
Round 4 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC75: 11). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 5 Gligar: Gligar feints Sand Attack. Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 46). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (72%).
Round 5 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC75: 55). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 6 Gligar: Gligar feints Poison Sting. Gligar used Sand Attack (DC1: Autosuccess). Magnemite's accuracy decreased!
Round 6 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 2). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 7 Gligar: Gligar feints Quick Attack. Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 38). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (63%).
Round 7 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 41). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 8 Gligar: Gligar feints Acrobatics. Gligar used Quick Attack (DC1: 35). Magnemite lost 4% of its HP (59%).
Round 8 Magnemite: Magnemite used Tackle (DC65: 78). Gligar lost 6% of its HP (94%).
Round 9 Gligar: Gligar feints Sand Attack. Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 48). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (50%).
Round 9 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 91). Gligar lost 23% of its HP (71%).
Round 10 Gligar: Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 79). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (41%).
Round 10 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 12). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 11 Gligar: Gligar used Quick Attack Defensively (DC1: Autosuccess). Gligar's evasiveness increases by 10 this turn.
Round 11 Magnemite: Magnemite took a moment to rest.
Round 12 Gligar: Gligar used Quick Attack Defensively (DC1: Autosuccess). Gligar's evasiveness increases by 10 this turn.
Round 12 Magnemite: Magnemite took a moment to rest.
Round 13 Gligar: Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 29). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (41%).
Round 13 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 81). Gligar lost 23% of its HP (48%).
Round 14 Gligar: Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 40). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (32%).
Round 14 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 15). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 15 Gligar: Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 53). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (23%).
Round 15 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 15). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 16 Gligar: Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 79). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (12%).
Round 16 Magnemite: Magnemite used Gyro Ball (DC80: 95). A Critical Hit! Gligar lost 46% of its HP (2%).
Magnemite's Stamina increases to D
Round 17 Gligar: Gligar used Acrobatics (DC1: 74). Magnemite lost 9% of its HP (3%).
Round 17 Magnemite: Magnemite used Tackle (DC65: 38). Gligar avoided the attack.
Round 18 Gligar: Gligar used Quick Attack (DC1: 97). A Critical Hit! Magnemite lost 3% of its HP (0%). Magnemite fainted!
Alright, I'll be calling the vote here. Looks like you are going to be watching Willow's gym match. This match is a 4 vs 4, where Willow does manage to win, albeit it's a rather close fight overall. And now Violet has successfully figured out Willow's main strategies, which generally involve being very fast and very hard to hit. That and being very high energy.
As for the other winning option, that's currently a tie, so time for a d2
1 - Travel to Saffron City
2 - Explore Unconventional Locations
Scheduled vote count started by Daemon Hunter on Jul 15, 2024 at 8:56 PM, finished with 12 posts and 7 votes.
[X] Willow's Battle - Willow feels ready to take on the Vermillion City Gym. She attended your match with Flynn, it'd be good for you to see how she battles with her full team.
[X] Travel to Saffron City - Heading to Saffron City would let you work towards challenging Sabrina. However, your parents would drive to visit you, and you would have to meet them. Tetsuya is also here.
[X] Travel to Cinnabar Island - There are a number of ferries to Cinnabar Island, which would let you fight one of the more remote gyms now rather than later.
[X] Willow's Battle - Willow feels ready to take on the Vermillion City Gym. She attended your match with Flynn, it'd be good for you to see how she battles with her full team.
[X] Travel to Saffron City - Heading to Saffron City would let you work towards challenging Sabrina. However, your parents would drive to visit you, and you would have to meet them. Tetsuya is also here.
Violet found herself busy over the next day. Taking Magnemite to the Pokecenter and ensuring their health was nerve-wracking. She had never had one of her Pokemon faint before, and while she had been logically prepared, emotionally it was another story. While Magnemite had been fine, waking up within a matter of seconds, their injured body was worrying for Violet, which led to her spending the day in the Pokecenter while Willow prepared for her battle with Lieutenant Surge.
"You did great Magnemite," she remembered saying, and that they had. They managed to take the battle down to the final seconds, where one more successful attack would have won the battle for Magnemite. Flynn and Willow both said as much, with the former giving her his number in case they were in the same area again. Overall, the battle had been successful in its goal, improving Violet's Pokemon substantially. She could already see results across the board. Magnemite was stronger, faster, tougher, more energetic, and he had figured out how to use Screech, albeit poorly.
Violet couldn't wait to see what else she could make possible.
The next day, she joined the crowd of watchers in the gym. Unlike most of those present, she had a poster similar to the one Willow had written for her. On it, she'd simply written "Go, Willow!" She'd immediately started to regret it when she saw several people look at her, and one tried to drag her into a conversation about how Surge was going to win easily. Violet chose to ignore them rather than respond, which only served to make them angrier until they eventually gave up.
Distracted as she was by her own nerves, Violet almost missed the start of the battle as Staryu faced one of Lieutenant Surge's Voltorbs. It was then that she began to dislike the gym trainer after hearing his comments on Staryu. "You haven't evolved that one yet? That's a mistake."
Willow clearly took offense to that, with the energetic trainer lowering her voice from her usual high-energy demeanor to one that was slightly quieter but sharper. "Don't you worry, Staryu will show you what they're capable of!"
Immediately flowing into a planned series of Rapid Spins, Minimizes, and Swifts, Staryu was clipped by Voltorb's Charge Beam before they were even able to react. Managing to use a single Rapid Spin before a Minimize, Lieutenant Surge immediately put a stop to it. "Self-Destruct." The detonation was a surprise to Willow, as it had barely been a few seconds since the fight started. This resulted in Staryu taking the entire hit head-on, leading to the fainting of both Pokemon. "I'm not saying Starmie could handle that, but they'd have been far more capable of it."
Violet really didn't like Surge anymore, and by the looks of it, neither did Willow who had narrowed her expression considerably. Both trainers sent out their next Pokemon, a Jolteon and Bronzor before the battle continued.
Jolteon was incredibly fast, Violet realized. Faster than any Pokemon she had seen before, the Lightning Pokemon practically danced across the arena without issue. But Willow had experience with fast Pokemon as a trainer, which allowed her to slow the battle down through the use of Confuse Ray before landing a series of brutal Gyro Balls with Bronzor.
"So, you do have a few tricks up your sleeve…" Surge commented with what sounded like a compliment. Returning Jolteon and sending out Raichu, the Mouse Pokemon was immediately ambushed by another Gyro Ball.
"What?" Willow asked. "You didn't think I'd just let you switch, did you?"
Violet smiled at the frown on Surge's face. "No, you just caught me off guard is all." Rolling his shoulders, the gym leader chose to adopt a new strategy. "Raichu, keep your distance."
The Mouse Pokemon followed the order immediately, refusing to allow Bronzor to get anywhere near him and forcing a long-ranged fight, one which Bronzor was poorly built for with their moveset. And so, Violet chose not to play. Switching to Eevee, the Evolution Pokemon was just barely able to evade the use of Thunder before closing the distance with Quick Attack.
Then Surge shook his head in disapproval, "Another unevolved Pokemon?" Returning Raichu to their ball, Surge lazily sent Jolteon back in. "Kid, there's no reason to hold off on evolving your friend there. You're just handicapping him for no reason."
Willow frowned, returning Eevee to his Pokeball and sending out Bronzor. "I don't really like you …"
Surge shrugged, returning Jolteon before sending Magnemite. "Look, you're not a bad trainer, but unless your Pokemon don't want to evolve, there's no reason not to."
Willow's frown deepened, she clearly didn't like Surge's tone, but he wasn't entirely wrong. Violet realized something similar in that moment, Starmie did have better moves and was generally more physically capable than Staryu. It was similar with Eevee and their evolutions as well. "I'll think about it," Willow said neutrally, although Violet knew that meant she was seriously considering it.
Returning Bronzor and sending in Heracross, Surge responded by switching in Jolteon, resulting in the Lightning Pokemon being clipped by Heracross' Aerial Ace. This time, however, neither trainer chose to switch, with both Pokemon going at it with brutal tenacity. A close-range skirmish followed with Quick Attacks, Aerial Aces, Thunder Waves, and Horn Attacks. It only ended with Jolteon's Double Kick being caught by Heracross' Counter where Jolteon fainted but Heracross was left standing.
Surge sent in Raichu, and Willow switched to Eevee where the Evolution Pokemon was able to use his superior speed to win the fight, leaving Surge with just Magnemite. Magnemite then managed to beat Eevee, albeit not without a few scratches. But Heracross was sent back in, managing to win the battle thanks to their type advantage.
Immediately beginning to cheer for her friend, Violet stood up and let out a small cheer that was drowned out by the rest of the crowd's clapping. Mentally hyping herself up, the shy girl took a deep breath, then cheered louder, this time making her voice audible over the din of the crowd. Willow heard her, giving her a thumbs up. Then Violet blushed as she realized most of the crowd was looking at her with amused expressions.
After Willow earned her third badge, the two girls spent the day in the Pokecenter before leaving for Saffron City. With the journey being relatively short, the two of them had ample opportunity to have fun with both themselves and their Pokemon.
Pick 2. These interactions will be written up, all are assumed to happen.
[] Willow - Willow is proud of her third badge but has been thinking over Surge's words. Adding your thoughts could be useful.
[] Dratini - It feels like it's been a while since the two of you interacted one-on-one. There's even a lake on the way you can play in!
[] Pineco - Pineco would like to be carried along the way, desiring to see the sights. While the two of you do so, it'd be good to just talk.
[] Chansey - The Egg Pokemon has had fun in recent weeks, often being used in battle. It'd be good to talk to her about what she wants in life.
[] Magnemite - The Magnet Pokemon has grown rapidly due to their battle with Gligar. It'd be good to get their perspective on matters.
Alright, looks like discussions with Willow and Pineco win. These will be rather interesting social conversations for me to cover, which I certainly enjoy. And as I planned to roll what Willow's Eevee evolves into, I'll do so here.
1 - Jolteon
2 - Espeon
3 - Umbreon
4 - Sylveon
For reference, Willow was planning to evolve Eevee into a Jolteon, but things may develop otherwise.
Scheduled vote count started by Daemon Hunter on Jul 17, 2024 at 6:45 PM, finished with 14 posts and 8 votes.
[x] Willow - Willow is proud of her third badge but has been thinking over Surge's words. Adding your thoughts could be useful.
[x] Willow - Willow is proud of her third badge but has been thinking over Surge's words. Adding your thoughts could be useful.
[X] Pineco - Pineco would like to be carried along the way, desiring to see the sights. While the two of you do so, it'd be good to just talk.
Route 6 was relatively short in comparison to the other hiking pathways Violet had taken. As well as far less adventurous. The terrain was flat, there weren't many trees, and there were several paved roads on the way. It was complicated by a spur-of-the-moment decision VIolet had taken, namely to carry Pineco rather than have her inside a Pokeball. While the weight wasn't a problem at first, it did start to cause issues for her as the day went on, requiring more than one break.
During one of the breaks, Violet glanced over at her friend and rival who seemed rather introspective. Knowing Willow, she wouldn't voice her thoughts until she had settled on a plan. Admirable, but it could cause issues in the future. "Are you … thinking about what Surge said?"
It was an easy guess, Willow had seemed slightly off compared to normal after that fight. Somewhat tense even after the gym victory, the energetic girl had been quieter than normal. "He was really rude," Willow bluntly stated. "But he wasn't wrong. Both Staryu and Eevee are ready to evolve, I just hadn't realized it was an option."
She was used to the present Violet realized, it was a feeling she had herself. Change was complicated at the best of times, and permanent ones like evolution could be intimidating for Pokemon and trainers. "They … trust you," Violet said before realizing that was a rather generic statement that didn't convey the nuance she wanted. "I-I mean, you're a good trainer. S-so your Pokemon trust that you know when they're ready for something new."
Willow wore a pleased smile on her face, one she likely wasn't even aware of. "Once I make this decision, I can't undo it." A nervous edge entered her eyes, one that very few people could recognize. "It's … " Willow hummed to herself, trying to think of the word that accurately described it. "Intimidating."
"Y-You could always evolve Staryu first," Violet suggested, realizing what Willow was struggling with at this moment. Staryu could only evolve into one Pokemon, but Eevee could evolve into eight different types. Choosing the best option may seem easy at first, but there was far more to it than was visible on the surface.
"That's the easy way out," Willow dismissed, choosing to face the issue immediately rather than put it off for later. "And it'd be unfair to Eevee," the energetic trainer nodded towards the Evolution Pokemon who was currently swimming in the nearby stream. "He thought Surge's Jolteon was cool and wants to know when he can be that awesome."
Violet tilted her head, recognizing a few details hidden in Willow's words. "You bought a Thunder Stone?" There was a hesitance to Willow's posture. "D-did Surge give you one?"
"Yeah," the other girl said with a drawn-out sigh. "He said I was too promising to keep making mistakes like that."
"Are, are you going to use it?" Violet asked, trying to tease out what Willow really wanted. "Or is there … ?" She trailed off, not sure how to directly ask what Willow was seeking.
From everything Violet had learned about her friend, Willow was never nervous without a good reason. She was too upbeat and energetic for that. Rather, there must be something else that she wanted. "Do you think he's ready to evolve?" Unlike Violet, Willow was willing to get to the heart of the matter, albeit after dancing around the question for a few minutes.
The question wasn't entirely unexpected. Violet had very, very good eyes, capable of judging a Pokemon's attributes and skill sets from just a few seconds of looking. And by now, Willow had a very good idea of what Violet was capable of. "I … you're. You're his trainer?"
Violet, however, was still getting used to the idea of being drawn into important discussions. While she had been slowly coming out of her shell and stuttering less, she would still overlook herself at times. "It's why I'm asking," Willow explained, brushing back a lock of her hair out of nerves. "I think he's ready for anything and everything, but you're not as close to him as me."
The shy girl looked at Willow, then at Eevee. "He's ready," she said quietly. "He's starting to copy parts of what Dratini is doing."
"What does that mean?" Willow asked in confusion, not understanding how that remark had anything to do with if Eevee was ready to evolve.
"He's starting to learn Copycat," Violet explained. "He's grown enough to avoid any issues."
Willow stared at Eevee, trying to see if she could spot what Violet did. After nearly a minute, she slowly nodded, seemingly noticing the faint signs of one Pokemon copying another. "Thank you." Willow said simply with a gravitas that was far more meaningful than any explanation she could give.
Rather than reply, Violet simply nodded.
After a few more hours of walking, the two girls set up camp for the night. Where Willow turned in early alongside Eevee, leaving Violet to her own devices. The rest of their Pokemon were also asleep, apart from Pineco who was currently occupied with staring up at the night sky. "Have you ever seen Rayquaza at night?"
Violet's question broke the silence, after which Pineco looked at her. Then looked again, showcasing the universal expression of 'Wait, you actually asked that?'
"Well, they're supposed to be somewhere above…" Violet said as she realized that the answer was almost certainly no. "So it's not impossible."
The Bagworm Pokemon took on a slightly amused expression before shaking her head. She had never seen Rayquaza, although she had seen other Pokemon at night. Tilting her head towards one of the more recognizable constellations, Violet understood what Pineco was trying to convey.
"I see why you like watching things," the sky was beautiful tonight, the lighting conditions being enough to see many stars not visible in cities or towns. "Was this what you did at night before joining me?"
Pineco nodded her head. Back in the grove Violet found her in, the seasons would change slowly, allowing for unique views throughout the year. But the night sky was almost always constant, with only a few changes here and there when shooting stars could be seen. It was the beauty of the world that made Pineco as observant as she was.
"One day we'll head to a new region," Violet said with an eye on the future. After she beat all the gyms in Kanto, she'd have to face a new region to improve. "I've heard the stars are different in some areas."
The Bagworm Pokemon looked at her, highly intrigued by the idea of the night sky being visibly different.
Violet smiled, taking out her phone to show pictures of the skies above Sinnoh. "I want to go there myself one day," she said, even if it wasn't for the reasons Pineco wanted to visit. "Where do you want to go?"
Pineco tapped Violet's phone, causing the trainer to giggle. It fit the Bagworm Pokemon who wished to see new places and landscapes. So far, Violet had taken her places she never would have seen as a wild Pokemon. Being able to visit another region was rarely done by Pokemon without a trainer.
"Is there anything else you want to see?" Violet asked, holding out her phone for Pineco to view.
The Bagworm Pokemon nodded, beginning to indicate a few places she had heard of from other Pokemon and trainers but hadn't had a chance to visit. While it was certainly harder for Pineco to convey the idea of 'The Mountains north of Celadon City' it wasn't impossible. Especially when both trainer and Pokemon were as observant and watchful as they were.
The two ended up spending the night simply searching up natural and artificial landmarks, amassing a massive list of places Pineco wanted to see one day. Discussing some in further detail, the two continued to stay awake as dawn approached. Falling asleep by the campfire, the two leaned against each other as they slept. Only to be awoken by Willow's screech.
"WHY ARE YOU THAT COLOR?!"
A scrambling Umbreon quite literally tore a hole in the tent as Willow and the freshly evolved Pokemon panicked at the loud shout and change in color.
The 21st Week, Pick 1
Pokemon Actions
[-] Catch a fifth Pokemon - Now that your team has its core members, a fifth and sixth member would be useful and have more possible options. However, it's still quite early for that. Locked.
[] Train with your Pokemon - All of your Pokemon are skilled in battle with unique skills. Several of them are near breakthroughs so training would help considerably.
[] Buy and Use TMs/HMs - You're a big enough trainer to afford TMs and HMs for your Pokemon. You should take advantage of it when you can.
[-] Train with Willow's Pokemon - While it would be nontraditional to train with your rival, both of you have unique skill sets that could complement each other. Unfortunately, Willow is busy this week.
[] Review Past Battles - You were so close to beating Flynn, and some of the tricks he tried are giving you ideas. Going over your past battles may help with that.
Battling Actions
[] Challenge New Trainers - Now that you and your Pokemon have developed, fighting a few trainers in rapid succession would be easy.
[] Challenge an Experienced Trainer - Some trainers in the area have two badges, beating them may be a good experience.
[] Look into the Surge in Wild Pokemon Encounters - A lot of trainers have reported being attacked by Eevee on the outskirts of the city. An experienced trainer that was sent returned after being beaten by an Umbreon, Vaporeon, and Jolteon. Something is afoot …
[] Challenge a Saffron Gym Attendant - You need to face one of the attendants before you're allowed to face Sabrina. You're certainly ready for this but not so ready that you can do this and the gym challenge in a single day.
[-] Challenge the Saffron City Gym - Gym Leader Sabrina is one of the more intimidating trainers due to her psychic powers. But she is also an extremely experienced leader with a reputation for having her challenges be notably harder than the norm.
Exploration Actions
[] See the Sights Inside the City - There are a number of interesting attractions in Saffron City. You saw a fair few last time you were here, but far from all.
[] See the Sights Outside the City - With Diglett Cave nearby, it could be fun to spend a few days exploring the cave system and see what interesting locations and Pokemon are within.
[] Explore Unorthodox Locations - Saffron City is a large metropolis with a number of rather unconventional places to explore. See what you can find.
Traveling Actions
*You just arrived in Saffron City and have obligations. You can't leave just yet.
Social Actions (For socials, it's assumed you keep up a basic level of contact through text, choosing a social means I write it up)
[X] Meet your parents - Your parents are looking forward to seeing you again. They took a car from Celadon City just to meet you. Putting this off isn't possible …
[] Meet Tetsuya - An old childhood friend of yours, the two of you drifted off recently. He just lost to Gym Leader Sabrina very convincingly.
[] Meet Willow's Family - You almost forgot that Willow is originally from Saffron City. She's invited you to meet her parents as well as provide a place for you to stay that isn't the Pokecenter.
Yep, I just added it to the Mechanics informational.
On that note, it's time for me to close the vote. Looks like this is going to be a rather social week for Violet as she meets both her parents and Willow's family.
Scheduled vote count started by Daemon Hunter on Jul 19, 2024 at 10:27 PM, finished with 12 posts and 10 votes.
[X] Meet Willow's Family - You almost forgot that Willow is originally from Saffron City. She's invited you to meet her parents as well as provide a place for you to stay that isn't the Pokecenter.
[X] Meet Willow's Family - You almost forgot that Willow is originally from Saffron City. She's invited you to meet her parents as well as provide a place for you to stay that isn't the Pokecenter.
The very first thing Violet did when she arrived in Saffron City was to start walking towards a restaurant her parents wanted to meet in. It was a nice place, relatively upscale with an outdoor seating area. It had been a while since she had seen her parents, and Violet was looking forward to it. There was another part that was nervous about it, especially with how her parents disapproved of her decision to face Team Rocket.
She must have hesitated long enough for the apprehension to show, as Willow gently tapped her on the shoulder. "It's easy to get turned around in Saffron," Willow said in a tone that made it clear that Violet could deflect easily if she wished. "But I'm pretty sure that's the place. Am I right?"
Willow clearly didn't know if Violet was simply lost in the city or if she had a reason to avoid her parents. But either way, the shy girl was grateful for the compassion shown. "Thanks," Violet mumbled quietly. "I'm looking forward to seeing them again." She added afterward, clarifying in a roundabout manner that her parents were great. They could just be a little much for her at times.
"What do they think of me?" Willow asked with a grin, clearly happy to avoid any possibility of a complex relationship between parent and child. "You told them about me right?"
Violet nodded, choosing not to clarify what exactly she told them. Describing her friend as loud was not exactly polite. …Actually, Willow would probably find that hilarious.
Stepping into the restaurant, Violet glanced at the specials, noticing a variety of imported sushi on display. Then she looked around, spotting her parents at one of the booths whispering to each other. She didn't say anything at first, choosing to walk over until one of them looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps. "Hi, mom. Hi, dad."
"Violet!" Her parents said simultaneously, standing up to hug her.
"It's been far too long," her dad said, glancing over at Willow who had thus far remained quiet, allowing Violet to welcome her parents first. "And you must be Willow, it's good to meet you."
"Hi, Violet's dad!" Willow chirped happily, waving at him with a cheery smile. "You wanna see some pictures of your daughter?"
Violet's head snapped to her friend, suddenly she was very concerned. Then her mother (traitors that parents were) leaned over with an eager look in her eye. "I like you already."
"Mom~," Violet whined, trying to avoid the embarrassment that was sure to follow. "Didn't I send you enough pictures?"
"I can never have too many pictures of my daughter," her mother said in a tone that was both pleased and serious. Flicking her eyes to Willow, who was currently energetically showing pictures to Violet's father, she allowed a soft smile to cross her face. "You never talk to strangers, I want to know what she thinks of you."
Willow looked up from her phone, an odd expression crossing her face at her mother's wording. "Violet's cool!" Violet immediately turned crimson, trying to hide in her seat as she already knew what was coming. "You should have seen her fight Flynn! He kept on trying to trick her, but she saw through it every time."
Covering her face with her hands in embarrassment, Violet made a mental note to do the same when she met Willow's parents. It was the least she deserved. "Oh she sent us that video," her mother explained. "I showed it to my coworkers, they were all very impressed."
"As long as she's facing regular trainers, I'm happy," her dad added. "I almost had a heart attack when she said she was going to Lavender Town two months back."
Had it been that long ago? Violet thought. It felt so recent but then again time seemed to blur with how much was going on these days. "We love her, but we worry," her mother directed towards Willow, accidentally cutting Violet out of the conversation. It unfortunately didn't surprise her, she had a habit of fading into the background during talks in a group. "Violet," her mother said, suddenly dragging her back into the conversation. "Do you need more supplies? We got some for you just in case."
Violet shook her head, before realizing her mother was going to start listing what she brought. "I-I'm fine," she said. "I've been regularly stocking up in cities." Pointing out the folded-up bike on her backpack, Violet smiled. "I have to avoid overpacking."
Her mother nodded, understanding the situation, albeit saddened that she hadn't managed to help. Her father, however, then entered the fray. "Perhaps that flashlight you saw. Holly, you remember the one?"
"Oh you're right," her mother perked up. "Violet, how about a lighter flashlight? I saw one online but thought you already had enough."
"I…" she was about to say she already had one before she saw her parent's expression. "That would help," she folded, deciding to accept the slight upgrade.
Her mother practically beamed, clearly happy her gift would be useful. "Thank you for the reminder dear." Placing a hand on her father's arm, Violet immediately looked away. The last thing she wanted to see was her parents flirting in front of her.
"Violet," her father said, ensuring she couldn't escape the sight of her parents flirting. Even if they dialed it down at her obvious embarrassment. "Do you know when you'll be facing the gym? Your mother and I can't stay for long, but we do want to see your fight."
[] Week 22 - Choosing to face the gym almost immediately, you will have to face the attendant then Gym Leader Sabrina within the same week. You could do it, but it would take the entire week.
[] Week 23 - Taking a few days to prepare, you would face the attendant next week then Sabrina the week after. It would allow you to train some of your Pokemon beforehand.
[] Week 24 - Spending almost a month in Saffron City, you will have enough time to extensively prepare for the gym. Almost too much in full honesty.
[] Write-in
