ultraviolet vs. Zhorken, Round Four
Pre-Round Stats
ultraviolet (4/4 Pokémon Remaining)
Deuce (M) [Flash Fire]
Health: 58%
Energy: 63%
Status: Attack -1; TERRIFYING LIONS are so looooud ;-;
Deuce's Commands:
Flame Charge + Agility ~ Swagger/Swift
Zhorken (4/4 Pokémon Remaining)
Zylinth (M) [Intimidate]
Health: 75%
Energy: 57%
Status: Special Attack +3; Poisoned (very severe: 1% this round, 2% next); pardon me, sir, but was I just
on fire?
Zylinth's Commands:
Snarl/Snore/Shock Wave ~ Snarl/Snore/Shock Wave ~ Snarl/Snore/Shock Wave
Arena: Floaroma Meadow
The gentleman who sells honey in Floaroma Town has ... somewhat reluctantly let two trainers borrow his meadow for a pokemon battle. The area is covered in a rainbow of flowers, and the faint humming of Combee at work can be heard. Sunny Day is in effect, shining over the multicoloured meadow, and it's a warm spring day.
Other: There is a 10% chance that a pokemon will sneeze from the pollen in the air; this counts as a Flinch and will prevent the pokemon from attacking for that action.
Round Four: Begin
Deuce casts a skeptical glance over his shoulder, not sure whether he really wants to believe his trainer when she claims there's nothing to be afraid of. Sure, it's easy for her to say that, standing all the way back there where there are no TERRIFYING LIONS making TERRIFYING LION SOUNDS at her. So what if he's taller than Zylinth? Does she not
hear all of that roaring? It is
very very unsettling and if she can't see that, well, that just doesn't make any sense. Humans are weird.
Still... he does have to admit that she's never steered him wrong before. It's reasonable enough to assume that she knows what she's talking about, at least in theory. He
supposes he can try a little harder to be brave. Only because it's
her. The ponyta takes a deep breath, paws the ground with a hoof and sends his mane and tail into overdrive, turning the flames up so hot that the golden leaves in the tree overhead dry and crinkle up ever so slightly. He lets out a wild whinny and runs forward as fast as he can, his mind yelling at him all the while that this is dumb and why is he getting so close to the LION dumb dumb dumb but now there's adrenaline rushing through him and his flames are burning even higher and he's hollering even louder and apparently Zylinth has no idea what to make of all this because he just sits there and stares and ends up half-trampled by the charging, screeching, blazing ponyta before he's entirely sure what just hit him.
Zylinth paws alternately at his face and tail, wincing each time he touches the sore spots where Deuce's hooves smashed into him. What
was that he doesn't even—well, you know what, he tells himself, it doesn't even matter what it was. That was entirely too much sass from what was supposed to be a cowardly little pony, and we just can't have that, now, can we? The shinx takes just a second to shake more singed fur off of his body, then gives Deuce the lowest, nastiest snarl he can manage. The sound, while not as loud or fearsome as the genuine roaring from before, still sends a sharp chill down Deuce's spine and causes the ponyta to skid to a halt. The sound grates harshly on Deuce's ears and probably would have frozen his blood in his veins had it not been for the earlier surge of adrenaline and confidence; still, when he turns around to face Zylinth again he is almost as uncomfortable as he was when the round started.
But he has to be a
man, ultraviolet says,
be a man, dammit, and even though he really doesn't feel up to any manly swaggering he is going to
try. Another deep breath puffs out the ponyta's chest as he screws his eyes shut (don't cry, don't cry, be a man) and takes a few shaky steps forward, repeating his man-mantra with each footfall until they start to come a little easier. He calls out to Zylinth with the most derisive tone he can muster—difficult with his voice shaking the way it is—and says that actually, just kidding, he's not really scared of him any longer. And also,
also, he adds, cats are dumb and ugly, unlike horses which are awesome and smart and very beautiful, did he mention beautiful?
Also he makes stupid faces when he's getting ready to make those totally not scary TERRIFYING LION NOISES he means STUPID DUMB CAT NOISES. STUPID STUPID DUMB.
The insults get progressively weaker as Deuce struggles to find hurtful things to say, but his confidence is rising again in spite of that—sure, the insults might be kind of dumb, but he is taking a stand and talking back and being a
man, and that is all that matters! He can learn how to be a man who can trash-talk effectively later! Zylinth seems to understand the spirit of the swagger even with those rather childish digs, at least. The shinx's crispy fur is on end, his fangs are bared, his eyes are almost red with fury and he would probably have forgone TERRIFYING LION noises altogether in favor of tearing Deuce's throat out if his inability to see straight hadn't caused him to trip over himself and plow face-first into a rock concealed beneath the colorful wildflowers.
That tears it, Zylinth thinks as he picks himself up and snorts soil and flower stems out of his sore nose,
that freaking tears it. Where does that jerk Deuce get off running him over and spouting horrible lies about cats and now laughing at him when he trips and hurts himself? He lets out another snarl, long and low and dripping fury and a barely-restrained urge to have a ponyta snack right now. The sound does definitely give Deuce pause, and a careful eye would be able to see him shudder when the snarl hit his ears, but this time there is no all-out panic. Zylinth hisses and tears at the nearby flowers in frustration (why won't he
break anymore dammit dammit dammit arrrgh), and Deuce ventures a tentative smile. Maybe... maybe there isn't so much to be afraid of after all? He's still sore and his ears are ringing, but... well... his trainer
might just have had a point. Maybe.
Round Four: Close
Post-Round Stats
ultraviolet (4/4 Pokémon Remaining)
Deuce (M) [Flash Fire]
Health: 33%
Energy: 53%
Status: Special Attack -2, Speed +3; so... so what if you're loud, huh? You're... not that scary... sort of... owww...
Zhorken (4/4 Pokémon Remaining)
Zylinth (M) [Intimidate]
Health: 55%
Energy: 34%
Status: Attack+2, Special Attack +3; Confused (mild), Poisoned (very severe: 2% this round, 3% next); hissing, spitting and snarling at nothing in particular
Arena Status: A circle of torched flowers and exposed, slightly crispy dirt surrounds Zylinth; otherwise, nothing has changed.
Ref's Notes
-The increased momentum from agility added 3% to the combo's total damage.
-The first snarl was a critical hit.
-Zylinth was fully confused and hurt himself on the second action.
-The critical snarl probably would have undermined any efforts to improve Deuce's self-esteem, but by the time Zylinth finished staggering around he was at least feeling good enough to regain his lost attack.
-ultraviolet attacks first next round.