Alec looked around. The Kirlia seemed to be in trouble, one of the Houndour reached her. For a moment he thinks about sending Pincers there, but she seems to be managing herself well on her own. He decides to knock out his enemy first.
The Gligar was at the rim of the crater, looking down at the wounded Houndour as the water level started to rise slowly. Being so close to the pond made it so any hole deep enough filled with water pretty fast. She hated water but knew her enemy hated it too. And he was the one down there. She smiled and stuck out her tongue at him. Sucks to be you, dog.
The pokemon was too blinded by rage to realize he was being provoked. He tried to climb the slope but his paws were wet and muddy, making him slip. The Gligar laughed, this was fun.
"Pincers! We don't have time to play! Grab him and Poison Sting!" Shouted her trainer ho seemed a bit on the edge. Their allies might be in trouble. She didn't like that kid's pokemon but right now they were a team. Better finish this quickly.
She jumped from her elevated position and glided down, making a circular motion around the crater waiting for her chance. When the Houndour tripped again, she attacked, diving into his back. First she grabbed his body with her pincers and got her stinger ready.
Gligar (32) vs Honudour A (88)
But the dog was too muddy for her to get a good grip.
After rolling on the floor the Houndour was covered in water and mud, making her pincers slip after the first attempt at holding onto him. That was all the pokemon needed to turn things to his favor. He turned around making the Gligar drop to the ground. She moved her limbs to get a grip on something, but the Houndour jumped on top of her.
She was small. Smaller than a normal Gligar. That made her even faster but also meant she wasn't as strong. At that moment she realized something. The Houndour was dumb, but also much stronger than her. Not only that but her small size made it easy for him to hold her down, and the water filling the crater was starting to cover her head. The water now slowly sapping her strength.
To anyone, it would look like the Houndour was trying to drown the Gligar, but that wasn't the case. He just needed to hold his prey in place. That's when he started biting down on the pokemon, not bothered by the water around his muzzle as he did.
[Gligar +1 wound]
And again, and again. He was attacking with a vicious rage as the Gligar's view was slowly being covered in water. A panicked thought crossing her mind. "Oh Arceus. Is this how I die?!" She didn't hear her trainer shouting her name.
[Gligar 1/3 wounds, drowning. Houndour A 1/3 wounds, slowed.]
…
Things weren't going exactly according to plan. The pokemon fighting Fang was gone, now closer to Lily and her fight. It even managed to distract her for a moment. You thought it wouldn't do that but it seems that their pack instincts work even when under the influence of whatever is happening to them. That meant it was time for a change of plans.
The Houndour in front of you was already pretty hurt after receiving an attack from both your pokemon. You think Fang can handle it. He is stronger than your pokemon but yours is in top shape right now. No problem. The one that worries you is the one near Lily. It was the weakest Houndour of the pack but if it distracted Lily even more it might mean your side losing your best bet at not being eaten. You can't let that happen.
You don't like it but this meant splitting your attention. Maelstrom pursuing that Houndour and Fang finishing off the one in front of you. So you gave the order as soon as your Magikarp landed. "Maelstrom! Chase that Houndour! Bounce and Aqua Jet!" You shouted.
Maelstrom was ready and, as soon as you gave your orders, he started to jump. He took two short jumps to build momentum for the big one, but as soon as he did that, the closer Houndour tried to attack before he could. Luckily Fang, knowing your plans, stood in the way making the Houndour stop his attack before it landed. Giving Maelstrom time to jump high into the air. Higher that you've seen any Magikarp jump. It was actually pretty impressive, but he would spend a couple seconds in the air. Time to take the other one. "Fang, time to finish this off. Thunder Fang!" You shouted.
Fang's mouth was now full of electricity as he charged the pokemon in front of him. He felt his blood pumping as the adrenaline rush carried him forward. This was one of the few real battles he's ever been in. The Houndour got into position for a counterattack.
Fang (19) vs Houndour D (15)
Fang tried to bite the enemy with his electric bite but it failed when the pokemon stepped back. The Houndour then, to Fang's surprise, used Fire Fang trying to bite him in the same way he did, but also failed. Then both started to dance around each other, trying to bite the enemy with their elemental fangs but without success. Both too agile for the other to get a good hit in.
The Houndour was slightly faster, slightly stronger. He managed to scrape and burn some of Fang's skin but nothing bad enough to actually be noticeable. However, that might change soon if things continued like this.
[Fang 0/3 wounds. Houndour D 2/3 wounds.]
…
Maelstrom was soaring through the air, observing the battle. He wanted to move faster, to land, but it still took him a couple seconds to focus enough for his attack. As he did, he observed. Some of his allies were doing great, some not so great. Lily was in a fierce battle against the Houndoom and it seemed like both were getting ready powerful attacks. That slightly concerned him because he was getting closer, but he trusted Lily.
He aimed at the Houndour close to her battle, his move ready, water energy flowing through him and encasing his body in liquid. Then he rocketed straight down trying to hit the enemy.
The Houndour was distracted by the fight between titans in front of him, doubting even in his rage if he should join. He made a decision when the sound of rushing water made him look up. A golden comet flying in his direction. Fast, but not fast enough to not leave him a chance to react.
Maelstrom (28) vs Houndour E (44)
The pokemon jumped to the side, dodging the yellow rocket by a hair.. Maelstrom tried to change direction when he saw the enemy move, but his control over his own powers wasn't good enough. His strength wasn't enough.
He impacted against the ground with surprising strength. It would have defeated his rival if it hit, but it didn't and instead all that power went into his own body, damaging it. Maelstrom felt his body tremble with that impact and some of his scales break. The impact was followed by all the water that only served to push him even more against the ground, not even touching his enemy.
[Maelstrom +1 wounds.]
When the pokemon managed to move and see the Houndour, he realized that not only his enemy dodged the attack, but it was also getting an attack on its own ready. The Houndour's mouth open and a cloud of poison forming. Maelstrom tried to jump again to dodge but felt a painful sensation in his right fin, where he lost most of his scales. That made him stop enough to be hit by the purple Smog.
The impact wasn't bad, but the effects were devastating. It hurt when the semi-solid cloud touched his body, but the real pain started when it entered his lungs. Maelstrom was used to breathe on land or water, but for the first time he felt like choking.
[Maelstrom +1 wounds.]
But he wasn't done. He wasn't going to fall like that, so he steadied himself and got ready for another round against that pokemon. Haru trusted him to be able to do it.
[Maelstrom 2/3 wounds. Houndour E 2/3 wounds.]
...
Everything was going according to Marissa's plan, or even better than she expected. The two Houndour were tearing each other apart and the kid wasn't even doing his part properly. She knew how he looked at her Roselia when she wanted to fight two of them. She was an elite and this was the reason.
"Flora, leech seed and growth! Let's enjoy the spectacle." With a smile she gave the order and her pokemon followed it. The Roselia launched from her roses a bunch of tiny green seeds. Some of them didn't land properly but the ones that did sprouted roots that dug into the two Houndour's flesh. It was painful, but they were so engrossed in their fight that they didn't notice.
Houndour B (75) vs Houndour C (92)
They were indeed tearing each other apart. Like two rabid beasts, the bit and scratched the other in a frenzy. Marissa was starting to get unnerved because even if she disliked people, pokemon were different. Seeing them in a mindless rage like that made her slightly nervous. It wasn't the first time she made two pokemon fight each other but… not like that.
Surprisingly the smaller one was winning. The bigger tried to bite his neck again and again, but he dodged every time, moving around his pack mate and biting his back legs, trying to slow him down. Sadly he couldn't keep dodging forever and the bigger one got a good bite in after the smaller didn't release his last bite quick enough. Both were bloodied and riddled with cuts and bite marks. The blood draining into the little green seeds and turning them slowly a reddish brown. Once they were full the seed launched some sort of green ball of energy in Flora's direction, the pokemon absorbing it through her skin as she grew a bit bigger. Her Growth working quicker thanks to that energy.
[Houndour B & Houndour C +1 Wound]
The two Houndour kept fighting, ignoring what was happening on their skin. The big one tried another bite but tripped. He was too tired, too sleepy to keep fighting. His wounds weren't as bad, but the seeds drained him quickly. The smaller want used that chance to tackle him until he fell unconscious, unable to defend himself.
[Houndour B +1 Wound. KO.]
The small Houndour won the battle against his pack mate. The battle for his mate. His mind still filled with rage and love for the Roselia. He turned around and started to walk in her direction. The seeds still sapping his strength, the wounds still bleeding, but he had to reach her. His brain filled with anger trying to resist the pheromones, trying to recover some semblance of control
Roselia (93)
But Flora's roses were still releasing pinkish clouds into the air around them, making everything seem like a dream to that Houndour. His rage slowly fading, returning his senses and showing him what was really important. He got closer to the Roselia, slowed by his wounds.
"Flora, he fought well." Said Marissa solemnly. "He should rest now until we know what happened to him." She was sure this wasn't normal. No pokemon would be this filled with rage in normal circumstances.
The Roselia nodded and opened her arms. Inviting the pokemon to get closer with a smile. He did, his head almost as big as the little flower pokemon. He nuzzled her, happy to finally being with the one he fought his pack mate for. It was a weak nuzzle from a tired pokemon. Roselia's tiny black barbs that covered her body in different places slowly biting into his flesh. The venom making his consciousness slowly fade as his mind became clearer. Her venom wasn't strong, but enough to lull him quickly into unconsciousness. Flora planting a last sweet kiss on his forehead before retreating from him.
[Houndour C +1 Wound. KO.]
Marissa smiled. Her part was done and in record time. She got lucky with that first attack and her pokemon had time to get a bit stronger, now she had the chance to clean whatever mess her companion was making. But first… She decided she wanted that pokemon. It was a bit weaker than the other one but fought with as much strength as the other. It was time to get a new pokemon after all. A pokeball throw later, she didn't even stare at it. She knew that pokemon was caught and needed to make sure the situation wasn't going even worse than before.
What she didn't expect is to see her companion jumping into a crater where his pokemon was fighting.
"What the fuck, Alec?!"
[Houndour B KO. Houndour C Caught!]
…
Jumping into a hole with a rabid fire-breathing dog was a bad idea.
Leaving his pokemon alone down there with her head held underwater was even worse.
"Pincers!" He didn't ponder long on what to do next. He knew what was happening and how bad the situation was for her. He had to save his pokemon, no matter what happened to him.
With a jump, he fell almost on top of the Houndour, the pokemon too focused on biting the Gligar over and over. Trying to tear her apart. He knew these pokemon could be vicious, but not THAT vicious. He had to do something.
[Gligar +1 Wound, drowning.]
Alec (52)
A trainer usually doesn't get involved in a fight, but when you spend part of your life in Veilstone's gym, your perspective of combat changes. He wasn't just there to lead his pokemon right now. This was a life or death situation.
His stance changed to a combat one and kicked the Houndour hard on his ribs. It was a strong enough hit to send him back. The pokemon had to steady himself to not slip with all the mud and water. That gave Alec enough time to save his pokemon.
[Houndour A +1 Wound.]
Once his pokemon was out of the water, she started to breathe heavily, finally getting some air. She didn't spend too long underwater but her species wasn't made to do that kind of thing. Ever.
Houndour's growl reminded him that maybe using his pokeball to rescue Pincers would have been the better strategy and now he was trapped in a hole with a rabid fire pokemon. Oh, well. Not the worse situation he'd been in his life. He tried to steady himself, the sloped crater slowly filling with water wasn't the best surface to get in a good fighting stance, but he managed.
"Come at me, doggy." He taunted as Pincers climbed his back to stand on his head, ready to fight too. He hoped this wasn't going to hurt too much.
[Gligar 2/3 wounds. Houndour A 2/3 wounds, slowed. Alec 0/3 wounds.]
…
Lily was furious.
Using water from the lake and her psychic powers she managed to get rid of some of that fire clinging to her arm's skin, but the pain was still there. The water only made obvious that getting rid of the fire wasn't enough. The toxins already seeping deep into her flesh. It made keeping her concentration difficult.
The fact that her trainer was so scared of the pokemon in front of her and her well being… It made things even more hard for her. She felt her fear and shared it. It would be a crippling sensation for anyone, so much fear in front of an enemy… but she was used to it. To share and lessen Violet's fear and sadness. She had to be strong for her trainer.
With a rage-filled scream, she started to launch streams of water straight from the pond at her enemy. All her psychic might behind the attack. She knew how strong she was and how water affects this type of pokemon. She just needed a good hit.
But her enemy was getting an attack ready.
Lily (95!!!) vs Houndoom (99!!!)
Houndoom opened his mouth as the water flew in his direction, forming a torrentuous river. A hit that would surely defeat any of his pack, including himself. But at that moment he only felt rage, fury, and that fueled his own attack. From the depths of his being a column of red fire exploded with the same intensity as the water. Colliding in the middle.
Both streams were pushing against each other. Houndoom's was much stronger, his fire impossible to stop with normal water, but Lily wasn't done. Rocks, grass, more water, even the air itself was condensing into the stream using her psychic powers. She knew that being hit by that attack would mean the end of the fight. She also was fueled but not by anger, but by fear. Her trainer's fear.
Violet's eye was wide in shock. She recognized that attack. She recognized it too well. It wasn't the same color or the same type, but for her, that Inferno attack looked exactly like the Dragon Pulse that took her pokemon away. A powerful attack fueled by pure rage. She was locked in fear, unable to react. Unable to think. She wanted to run away, she wanted to hide, but she also was too afraid of leaving Lily there. Of being completely alone.
As the fear increased, Lily's powers grew weaker. She tried to think happy thoughts but as the fire grew closer, her own fear joined Violet's. This was the end and she couldn't win. It was over. The attack was going to hit her, she would feel that horrible burning sensation again.
But she wasn't going to fall alone.
With a last scream, she curved her attack, all the water and rocks now moving above the fire attack in an arc. All her psychic powers behind it. She knew it wasn't going to be like an actual water type attack, but it was still strong enough to defeat her foe.
The impact was enormous. A torrent of water hitting the Houndoom with such strength from above that almost had no time to react. The water weakening him slightly, but the hit leaving the pokemon unconscious. Lily won that battle, but had no chance to celebrate or even realize she did.
[Houndoom +2 wounds. KO.]
Her world was now only fire and pain.
[Lily +2 wounds. Incapacitated.]
She couldn't fall unconscious. Her body wouldn't let her. The attack surrounded her whole body as soon as it touched her, sticking to her skin. Even if her enemy was defeated the fire was still burning. Even if Violet ran to her side and tried to put it off, the pain was still there. Everything was going so quick and painfully slow at the same time. She screamed with her own voice, unable to make any kind of mental connection with anything right now.
She felt the pain her trainer felt when she carried her to the pond. The same fire burning her being also searing her arms. The freshness of the water doing a lot for the sensation, now not increasing, but just staying as unbearable pain. The potion touching her skin, the burn heal, the antidote… Everything helped to lessen the pain enough to at least finally being able to fall unconscious.
[Houndoom KO. Lily KO.]
...
You took your eyes from Fang for a moment to look around. Maelstrom just landed but it seems like his enemy was too much for him. Clearly his initial attack failed and now was on a one against one battle. Fang wasn't doing okay, both needed your help or guidance.
You saw Marissa run to the crater on the ground where think you saw Alec jump down. They can take care of themselves, so you don't worry too much. It seems like Marissa defeated her enemies at least.
Then a huge ball of fire caught your attention. Where once Lily stood, now was a ball of fire in her shape. Your blood ran cold as you heard her scream. Not in your mind but in the air. Her body dropped to the ground as she tried to extinguish the flames. The ground was wet around her but it wasn't enough.
Violet ran with her, grabbing her burning body and running to the pond. You heard Violet's scream as soon as she started to carry Lily, but that didn't stop her. Seconds later she was in the water, a column of smoke rising from the pond. It only took a couple seconds to douse the flames and, as soon as it was done, Violet laid the pokemon on the shore to start applying many kinds of potions and medicines on her. You don't know if it was out of panic or she actually knew what she needed. Wincing in pain with each movement, her sleeves burnt, her arms and hands red after holding her pokemon.
Lily's situation made you stop in your tracks. For a moment you don't even remember what where you doing, but your mind kicks into gear quickly. Your friends were hurt, your pokemon losing and your allies busy with their own fight.
You had to do something.
Battles right now:
Maelstrom vs Houndour E (Rank E)
Fang vs Houndour D (Rank E+)
Pincers & Alec vs Houndour A (Rank D-)
[][Strategy] Write-in. You can use items, give orders, return pokemon or do like Alec and kick something in the face.
So huh... Yeah, that happened. The dice gods were good enough to give Lily a crit even if she received one. She is almost a whole rank stronger than the Houndoom but also had a huge situational malus because of fear. A Kirlia's strength is tied to its trainer emotions.
I will start doing something for strategy and combat votes. An hour moratorium. You can't vote in the next hour. Use this time to discuss strategy so the votes are a bit less all over the place. Also use this time to write reactions and comments because that is what fuels me and this update was almost 4k. I need more fuel. Tell me I'm pretty.
