Dual Pokemon Quest

[Space Jawa]

While the realizing that Kate was holding back initially put a dampener on Lee's supposed victory, having time to think about it made him realize it wasn't as big a deal as he'd first considered. He wasn't expecting Flannery to fight with all the might she was capable of when he challenged her, and if Kate realized that Lee was preparing himself for such a gym battle, it made sense that she would likewise fight at a level that was intended to test what he was capable of rather than if his team was legitimately stronger than hers.

[X] Get team fixed up at the Pokemon Center.
-[X] Inquire about the Magikarp. What is its story, how did it end up in the Pokemon center to potentially be adopted?

The first order of business, of course, was to ensure his team was all fixed up. Nova especially needed attention due to the Toxic exposure she'd taken to the face.

While he was there, he decided to learn more about the Magikarp that he'd seen when he'd been in the center the first time. With the challenge Team Magma presented and the unofficial race they were in, perhaps Lee needed to take a chance on investing in a future Gyarados after all. He certainly wasn't going to adopt it now, not when he had a major battle coming up, but perhaps he could learn more about it and see if he should indeed take it with him before they finally left town.

[X] Gym Battle

 

[Tascion]

[x]How are you going to keep training while carrying around a big egg, Sam? Also, it's an egg, so it's going to hatch eventually and then you wouldn't have an egg anyway and you'll instead have a baby pokemon. If you want, you can have my sableye jewel? Or we could go visit a volcano to look for gems created in fire?

 

[Blacksheep]

There was some amusement from Latios and Latias at Jaden's response. A new pokemon would come, yes, but that would only empty the crystal, not destroy it.

Sam listened to Jaden's words with thoughts before nodding. Something fiery would be great to have. And he already had the sableye jewel. Didn't he share it with Jaden?

Latios nudged Jaden and asked him to contact the xatu. Jaden grinned and reached out to the psychic network. It was hard, but Uri was there to help support him in making the stretch he couldn't make on his own. The xatu's presence immediately narrowed in on him. Warmth and acceptance responded, and a moment later the xatu was there on the island in person. She preened herself for a moment before looking at the two dragon pokemon she had come for. They stared at her in awe, and quickly began to converse.

[ ]Write-in

 

[Blacksheep]

The nurse at the pokemon center was more than happy to take Lee's pokemon and restore them to full health. She glanced up at Lee's question about the magikarp and gave a small sigh before smiling. "It is unusual to take in a magikarp like this. Magikarp are so sturdy they're fine being released back into the wild. Unfortunately, this one was continually seeking humans out. Not for battle, but to spray with water and try to steal food from. It was decided that it would be best for the magikarp to receive a trainer, rather than remain as a nuisance in the wild."

The Lavaridge Gym was built on top of a natural hot spring. People could come in and soak and enjoy the baths while watching gym battles if they paid a fee. They could of course watch gym battles for free from the regular set of stands. The gym was carved with stone and leaned into the volcano aesthetic. It was hot leading up to the field where Flannery stood with an eager grin on her face. She spun a pokeball in her hand. "I hope you're ready, cause I'm coming in hot!" She threw her first pokeball releasing a magby. It snorted and spouted a small jet of flames into the air.

[ ]Write-in

 

[Tascion]

[x]"Well, I dunno, Sam. I thought you wanted to carry the egg around with you, so I thought I'd offer to let you carry around the sableye gem. How about we ask Latios if we can have the egg crystal after its done hatching?"
[x]Take a meal break while the pokemon work out their plans. Jaden checks if he can help with these plans. Once this is done, ask about having the egg crystal after it hatches, then it's probably time to head back from this island. See where the group can get dropped off.
-[x]Maybe Uri wants to visit some friends in the safari?
-[x]Would Oliver like to head anywhere in particular?
-[x]How about lavaridge, to look for gems?

 

[Space Jawa]

"Show them what you've got, Nova!" Lee Hinsu declared as he sent in his Vulpix, effectively fighting fire with fire. He would be putting a lot of weight on both Nova's nature as a Fire-type - nullifying any ability to burn her - as well as her general immunity to fire attacks in general. Both together, he reasoned, would nullify many of Flannery's usual options.

That didn't mean he was going to get overconfident, however. A woman like Flannery didn't become Gym Leader by being easily thwarted by one simple trick. If anything, he was treating Nova's advantages as a way to level the playing field rather than as a way to get a leg up on her.

And, of course, he still had to actually defeat her.

[X] Lead with Nova
-[X] Make the most of the Fire training Lee took at the Gym
--[X] Primary opening strategy of using Confuse Ray and Tail Whip to keep Magby off-balance and soften it up.
---[X] Keep alert for any potential trickery Flannery and her Magby try.

 

[Blacksheep]

Sam considered that. Jaden was using very good logic about this. He nuzzled into the side of his trainer. He would like his own treasure to hold.

Latios did tell Jaden that the crystal egg could not be taken. If a latios or latias was badly injured enough, their soul could retreat into it to rest and recover before returning. If they lost it, they would not be able to recover when badly injured. It was very special to them. It was why they were out here and hiding, instead of exploring the world. It needed guardians.

A meal for everyone was set up. Uri settled down to meditate and occasionally munch on offered food, while the large xatu that had been brought seemed to be making her food vanish without ever touching it that anyone could see. Sam was of course, more than happy to help grill things for everyone, while Oliver made a game of pretending to steal food. Latias and Latios were fascinated at the flame control that Sam displayed in cooking. They had certainly crisped their meals before, but this was a very controlled and different application of heat. The idea of different intensities applied to food beyond "crispy but not destroyed" hadn't occurred to them. Latias quickly began to make plans for their own meal experimentation, Latios looking a little dubious at what she was coming up with.

Uri was thankful for the offer to visit the safari again, but informed Jaden that he was keeping in contact with his friends telepathically just fine. Oliver was up for anywhere that would be exciting, like this island was. Sam had to receive an explanation of what Lavaridge was like, but once he received it he was all on board for heading there and looking for fire gems for him.

[ ]Play with your pokemon
[ ]Train your pokemon
[ ]Head to Lavaridge

 

[Blacksheep]

The magby was quick to release a smokescreen before charging forwards at Nova. Nova's tails twitched as she held herself steady. The magby came out of the smokescreen and she leaped back to nail it with a Confuse Ray. The magby stumbled into her before sliding into a tackle and hitting her as hard as it could. She danced backwards some more and picked up her tail whip. The Confuse Ray had worked to disorient the magby, but it was still trying its best to find Nova, even if it was flailing around blindly with its arms.

[ ]Write-in

 

[Space Jawa]

"Good job, Nova!" Lee exclaimed, cheering on his Pokemon. She'd done a great job seizing the initiative, but now came the hard part - not squandering it.

[X] Hit the Magby with a barrage of Quick Attack and Tail Whip to keep it on the back foot.
-[X] Make the most of Quick Attack to switch up what direction Nova hits Magby from and keep it disoriented and guessing.
--[X] Prepare to use Confuse Ray again if it looks like the Magby is coming to its senses.
---[X] Stay alert for any tricks that risk tripping up Nova.

 

[Tascion]

[x]Head to Lavaridge
-[x]Let Latios and Latias know they can ask Jaden for help any time they need it
-[x]Thank the Xatu
-[x]Once at Lavaridge, visit the pokecenter for a checkup on everybody and then ask around for a geologist. Ask the geologist about the kinds of gemstones that can be found in the area, and if any have any relevance to fire or dragon pokemon.

 

[Blacksheep]

Nova was more than happy to keep up quick attacking the magby. It was unfortunate that the magby's flailing made it difficult to predict where it would be swinging. Nova got more than one punch hitting her from that before Flannery called out another smokescreen, leaving Nova to wait and pace along the edges. She watched eagerly for the magby to reveal itself again.

[ ]Write-in

 

[Space Jawa]

"If it wants to hide, then let's make that hiding painful." Lee ordered. While fire attacks wouldn't be very effective against Magby, he also knew the Magby wasn't immune to them either.

[X] Harass Magby from a distance by pelting the Smokescreen with Ember attacks.
-[X] Keep mobile; stay alert for any counter-moves.

 

[Blacksheep]

Nova let out a yip of acknowledgement and began to dart around to create a field of fire. Much like she had against Kate's spinarak she left a field of flames that a pokemon would be hard pressed to face. The magby attempted to respond with with his own ember attacks, but he was left pinned in the middle and unable to move fast enough to keep up with Nova. Nova let out a howl of triumph before blasting another Confuse Ray followed with more blasts of ember. For now, the magby was pinned and hurting.

[ ]Write-in

 

[Space Jawa]

"Don't let up, Nova!" Lee said with further encouragement. "We've got him right where we want him!"

[X] Continue to pile the pressure on the Magby.
-[X] If an opportunity presents itself, look for an opening to go in and hit first with a Tail Whip to set the Magby off-balance and give Nova a damage buffer and then follow it with a solid Quick Attack.

 

[Blacksheep]

Nova kept up her flames eagerly. She saw an opening, and used it to dart in to a quick attack. Alas, the magby responded by releasing smog, forcing Nova back. The magby was hurting, but Nova was poisoned now, if only to a mild amount.

[ ]Write-in

 

[Space Jawa]

Lee was left in shock as a wave of utter disbelief washed over him.

"How does that keep happening?" He wondered, unable to comprehend how every time he tried to find an opening, it turned into some kind of trap. Was he doing something wrong? Was it just bad fortune? Did some cosmic force have a grudge against him for some reason?

Why did it seem he was incapable of finding and trying to exploit an opening without being punished for it? Why did it seem like the universe refused to allow him to land any kind of finishing blow?

Unfortunately, now was not the time to answer some questions. He'd have to take a long, hard examination of what he was doing wrong later when he wasn't in the middle of a battle.

[X] Go back to continuing to do the exact same thing that was working previously since I guess that's what we have to do and there's not really any room to stray from it if we want to defeat the Magby.

 

[Blacksheep]

Nova backed up and resumed using ember. The magby couldn't tolerate it forever after all. The slight tingle of the poison wasn't affecting her yet, allowing her to still move swiftly. She again used tail whip before darting in and knocking the magby off balance. The magby replied with an ember of his own that Nova dodged. She retaliated with a confuse ray leaving him to again flail, lost.

[ ]Write-in

 

[Space Jawa]

[X] We have to have him on the ropes now! Press the advantage and finish him off!

 

[Blacksheep]

Nova responded with a yip and charged in. She knocked the magby over. More smog hit her, causing her to wince, but she wasn't retreating this time. She worried at the magby until he was returned and pranced back proudly, even as the subtle burn of poison began to make itself known. She panted as she held herself up, proud of her win.

"You took down my magby, but can you face my numel?" Flannery shouted. She sent out the numel, who nodded its head casually.

[ ]Write-in

 

[Space Jawa]

Lee's feeling of relief over defeating the Magby was short lived. With the deployment of a single Pokemon, the battle had quite possibly turned against him. It was the kind of move to be expected of a Gym Leader like Flannery.

While Nova had slim odd of beating the Numel at best, she didn't have to. If she could set up Lee's second Pokemon for victory, that might just be enough.

[X] Nova use Confuse Ray to set Lee's next Pokemon up to enter with an advantage.

 

[Blacksheep]

Nova hit the slow moving numel, who simply blinked. Flannery smirked. "Alright numel, use bulldoze!" Nova began to dance across the gym. The numel seemed to take a while for the command to register, likely from the confuse ray, before rocking up and breaking the ground with a bulldoze. Nova was tossed through the air as it hit her. She scrambled quickly to get back up on her feet.

[ ]Write-in

 

[Space Jawa]

A small sense of dismay quickly faded as gears turned in Lee Hinsu's head.

"Oh no." He whispered to himself - but not out of worry, rather out of deception. It was part of an act he tried to put on as a plan meant to fuel her ego, let her believe that Lee was acting increasingly out of desperation, let her think she'd stumped him, and keep her from catching on to what Lee was actually doing.

Nova probably couldn't defeat the Numel, but Lee wasn't even going to try - he wasn't going to complain if he surprised himself, but now, Nova was running intel and setup, letting Lee gain as much information as possible before sending in his next Pokemon and doing what he could to set up the Numel for defeat.

"Stay mobile, Nova!" Lee ordered, trying hard not to sound too confident, he didn't want to break the act he was trying to play at. "Keep up the Confusion and hit it where you can!"

Already, Lee had learned some key details. That it was sluggish, and that its power left behind a mess that was not beneficial to its general lack of mobility.

Those were things he could use. And there may yet have been even more information he could still exploit if only he could learn it.

[X] Keep Nova in the fight for now.
-[X] Use a mix of Confuse Ray to mess with the Numel alongside Quick Attack and Ember to both expose what the Numel is capable of, testing its defensive capabilities and how well it moves, and maybe chip away a little health too.
-[X] If Numel continues to use Bulldoze, try to get the damage spread around to arrange for the battlefield to be as difficult as possible for the Numel to navigate with its slow speed and stubby legs.
-[X] Analyze what is seen from the Numel to analyze its active weaknesses and exploit those weaknesses.

 

[Blacksheep]

Flannery watched Lee and smirked. "Keep shaking things up numel, and don't be afraid to play with fire!"

Nova responded to Lee's commands, even as the poison in her veins made her tremble more. The numel did alright when it could shake off the confusion, but when it was confused it moved like molasses. It managed to spit fire at Nova a few times, but only got bulldoze off a couple more times laying out a broken field.

[ ]Write-in

 

[Space Jawa]

It seemed that unfortunately, Lee could either get an accurate assessment of the Numel, or else he could keep it confused, but not both.

With Nova clearly running her energy out, Lee tried to make one play before calling her back.

[X] Try to orchestrate a maneuver with Nova that would cause the Numel to damage itself with its own attack (preferentially with its own Bulldoze).

 

[Blacksheep]

Nova did her best to follow up on Lee's command. The numel was stocky and solid, and took the tackles and bites that Nova delivered to it with flames. Nova was tiring rapidly now, but the numel had taken a fair amount of damage, if not from any of its own attacks.

[ ]Write-in