[11] Karkat Vantas vs Barubu

1 vs 1
DQ Time: 3 Days
Damage Cap: 35%
Banned Moves: OHKO's, chills, direct healers
Terrain: Castelia City Square

Castelia City is the gateway to Unova, its port welcoming trainers from around the world. Today those trainers include a fair number from Asber, turned out to compete or spectate on the first round of the League Championship. The city square at the center of Castelia has been reserved for the first round of battle, its broad cobbled expanse providing plenty of room to fight and the central fountain offering a refuge for pokémon that would rather swim than stand. Skyscrapers rise on all sides, framing the scene with the imposing prosperity of Castelia City.

More than just Asber's own trainers have turned out for the battles, though; plenty of curious Castelia residents and tourists mill about the rim of the arena, hoping to catch a few exciting battles. To ensure that they don't go unsatisfied, the regional authorities have generously--and forcefully--provided some of Unova's most powerful pokémon for the trainers to test-drive and show off for the crowd. Unfortunately, with the number of battles that need to be run through before the TCoD League's lease on the square expires, some of the fights might have to be truncated a bit.

For this battle, you will be using a pokémon on loan from the Unova League. Your choices are below. The first player will get first pick of pokémon, and the second will make their pick and then attack as usual. This match will be capped at five rounds. If both pokémon are still standing at the end of round five, the pokémon's health and energy will be added together and the one with the most will be declared the winner.

The pokémon:

Mienshao (F) <Regenerator>
Hydreigon (F) <Levitate>
Throh (M) <Inner Focus>
Darmanitan (M) <Sheer Force>

1. Barubu chooses a pokémon
2. Karkat Vantas chooses a pokémon and attacks
3. Barubu attacks

I'll go with the Hydreigon, methinks.

b b bb bb b but i wanted hydreigon :(

But I suppose that Mienshao will do.

So, my newly acquired weasel (I dub thee Adrian), start with a Fake Out.

Now, on action 2, if she doesn't try to damage you, Toxic. If he protects or is currently unhittable, Bulk Up.

Finally, on the last action, could you give me a Brick Break? Unless she's protecting, in which case I think another Bulk Up is needed. If she's flying, Swift instead.

Fake Out ~ Toxic/Bulk Up ~ Brick Break/Bulk Up/Swift

Make me proud, Adrian.

Joan Lennon(Sue me), gogogo!

Start off with Protect. Next, use a Sunny Day. Finish with a Flamethrower.

Protect~Sunny Day~Flamethrower

Scattered applause greets the trainers as they step up to the makeshift arena, turning their borrowed pokéballs over in their hands but not looking the slightest bit nervous. There is further excitement as the start of the match is announced and the trainers toss their pokéballs to the pavement, revealing their choices. On Barubu's side of the field a hydreigon floats, three heads hissing and tattered wings paddling gently to keep her aloft. Karkat Vantas' mienshao looks Joan Lennon over carefully, fiddling with her moustache as she listens for orders. As the commands come, the pokémon get serious, waiting anxiously, and in a matter of moments the cheering starts in earnest--the battle has begun.


Barubu (O)

Joan Lennon (F) <Levitate>
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
Commands: Protect ~ Sunny Day ~ Flamethrower
- Oblivious to the humor of her name.

Karkat Vantas (O)

Adrian (F) <Inner Focus>
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
Commands: Fake Out ~ Toxic/Bulk Up ~ Brick Break/Bulk Up/Swift
- Calm and collected.

Adrian takes off with incredible speed, long sleeves flapping behind her as she skips lightly over the cobblestones. Joan Lennon has no time to react before the mienshao is upon her, one paw raised to strike--or does she?

The fake out never hits home, Adrian instead crashing into an invisible barrier in the air in front of Joan Lennon. The hydreigon leers unpleasantly at her from within her defense, but Adrian seems unperturbed. She recovers neatly, landing back in a ready crouch. The only sign she gives of discomfort is a light cough, hidden behind one of her paws. When Joan Lennon lets go of her protect, though, Adrian sweeps her arm out in an expansive gesture, flinging the toxic she'd coughed up at the hydreigon in the process. The scattering of poisonous droplets doesn't look like much, but given time it will eat through even Joan Lennon's tough skin, causing her persistent discomfort.

For now, though, she seems fine. All three heads turn towards the sky, letting out a weird keening that makes Adrian back away warily. The hydreigon isn't planning to aim any attacks the mienshao's way, though; instead she shrieks a mysterious spell to the heavens. In seconds, what few clouds marred the sky are swept away and the sun beats down with unusual harshness, illuminating the arena in a spotlight of light and heat.

Joan Lennon turns her attention back to Adrian, only to receive a brick break in the face. There's one, two, three powerful strikes, one for each of Joan's heads, and the hydreigon lurches back in the air, heads jabbering their disoriented surprise.

Adrian's victory is only temporary, however. Once they get reorganized, Joan's heads turn unpleasant grins on Adrian, mouths gaping, and breathe out three streams of flame for a powerful flamethrower enhanced by the sun's power. Adrian raises her paws to shield her face, but as the attack ends, she is left wincing, sporting a painful burn on one paw.

Barubu (O)

Joan Lennon (F) <Levitate>
Health: 81%
Energy: 85%
Commands: Protect ~ Sunny Day ~ Flamethrower
- Pleased to see the flamethrower's effects on Adrian. Badly poisoned (2% next round).

Karkat Vantas (O)

Adrian (F) <Inner Focus>
Health: 82%
Energy: 88%
Commands: Fake Out ~ Toxic ~ Brick Break
- A little grim. Burned (3%/round)

Terrain Notes
An unnaturally bright sun bakes the arena (2 more rounds/6 more actions).

Final Notes
- Barubu attacks first next round.

Start off with another Flamethrower. If that hits, follow up with a Facade. If it doesn't, try a Thunder Wave. Finish with a Facade.

Flamethrower~Facade/Thunder Wave~Facade

Not letting you take another hit from a Flamethrower, Adrian. Let out a Rain Dance.

Follow it up with a Me First, then figure out what your Hidden Power type is.

Rain Dance ~ Me First ~ Hidden Power

Barubu (O)

Joan Lennon (F) <Levitate>
Health: 81%
Energy: 85%
Commands: Flamethrower ~ Facade/Thunder Wave ~ Facade
- Pleased to see the flamethrower's effects on Adrian. Badly poisoned (2% next round).

Karkat Vantas (O)

Adrian (F) <Inner Focus>
Health: 82%
Energy: 88%
Commands: Rain Dance ~ Me First ~ Hidden Power
- A little grim. Burned (3%/round)

Adrian doesn't have time to nurse her paw, though. Smoke is rising from Joan Lennon's maws, and already the hydreigon is drawing in a deep breath, getting ready to blast out another flamethrower. Adrian takes a deep breath of her own, gathering her concentration, then starts to dance. She sways side to side, slowly at first, then gaining speed until she finally makes a daring leap, starting in on an energetic, complicated dance with many jumps and spins. Joan Lennon is temporarily distracted, watching Adrian with rapt attention. It's not until a raindrop spatters on one of the hydreigon's snouts that she realizes she's in trouble. The arena's grown dark and chill, black storm clouds covering the sky.

Joan hastily engulfs Adrian in another flamethrower, but it's too late--the downpour has started in earnest, attenuating the hydreigon's attack's power and leaving Adrian, if not exactly happy, at least not as badly burned as she was last round.

The mienshao is done with her dancing and now watches carefully, trying to deduce what attack Joan will use next. As the hydreigon's three heads hiss at one another and her muscles tense, Adrian's eyes widen. Facade! Before Joan can pull off her attack, Adrian lets out a screech and dives at the hydreigon, unleashing a facade of her own. Joan is taken aback, in a daze as Adrian unleashes a truly furious assault, kicking and biting, hampered only slightly by her burn as she unleashes the full power of her rage on Joan. The hydreigon plows into the ground as Adrian gnaws on one of her wings, and at this point she snaps out of her surprise. She's not going to just lie down and let Adrian beat on her.

The hydreigon's three heads twist around, snapping at Adrian. The mienshao finds herself on the receiving end of Joan's facade at last, doing her best to fend off attacks from three directions at once and not doing terribly well, hampered by her fatigue after her me first attack. Joan Lennon manages to tear Adrian free of her back and hurl her across the arena, rising back into the air and howling, in high dudgeon.

Adrian gets painfully back to her feet, only to find Joan bearing down on her again, murder in her eyes. The mienshao hastily taps into her deepest reserves of power, conjuring a ring of yellow-glowing orbs. The hidden power spins in a broad circle around Adrian, then shoots off at Joan Lennon. The hydreigon charges straight through it, barely noticing the impact of the sparking balls of energy, and swoops down on Adrian again, laying into her with all three heads. The facade is even more terrible than the last, catching the exhausted mienshao completely off-guard.

Barubu (O)

Joan Lennon (F) <Levitate>
Health: 54%
Energy: 67%
Used: Flamethrower ~ Facade ~ Facade
- On a rampage. Badly poisoned (3% next round).

Karkat Vantas (O)

Adrian (F) <Inner Focus>
Health: 47% (capped)
Energy: 71%
Used: Rain Dance ~ Me First ~ Hidden Power
- Cowering on the pavement. Burned (3%/round)

Terrain Notes
A downpour has begun (6 more actions/2 more rounds).

Final Notes
- Adrian's hidden power is electric type.
- Joan's second facade was a critical hit, not that it mattered, since she would have hit the damage cap without it anyway.
- Karkat Vantas attacks first next round.

Combat any Facades or Acrobatics with a Me First; Aura Sphere if he doesn't use a move like Facade or Acrobatics, and in case of protect (or Sunny Day) Calm Mind.

Still leaves me open to roasted Mienshao, but whatcha gunna do.

Me First/Aura Sphere/Calm Mind x3

(also burn damage should be lowered in the end of round summary)

Start with a Flash Cannon. Then, follow with a Body Slam. If she's not paralyzed after that, finish with a thunder wave. If she is already paralyzed, use a Toxic.

Barubu (O)

Joan Lennon (F) <Levitate>
Health: 54%
Energy: 67%
Commands: Flash Cannon ~ Body Slam ~ Toxic
- On a rampage. Badly poisoned (3% next round).

Karkat Vantas (O)

Adrian (F) <Inner Focus>
Health: 47% (capped)
Energy: 71%
Commands: Me First/Aura Sphere/Calm Mind x3
- Cowering on the pavement. Burned (3%/round)

Adrian keeps a close eye on her opponent, blinking raindrops out of her eyes and slowly flexing her burned paw. It doesn't look like Joan is planning any feats of acrobatics or rage; in fact, it looks like she has something distinctly special in mind, light radiating out around her stubby fangs. Adrian needs to grow an attack of her own, then, and the mienshao brings her paws together, letting aura flow into the space between them and coalesce into a large globe of blue energy. She lets fly with her aura sphere even as Joan releases a sparkling ball of metallic energy. The two attacks just miss one another in the air, sailing past one another to strike their respective targets. Adrian is briefly dazzled as the flash cannon strikes her, while Joan lets out a rueful triple hiss as the pure fighting energy sears against the blackness of her heart.

The hydreigon recovers slowly; three rounds in, and she's already really feeling this fight. Adrian is keeping watch again as Joan steadies herself, then swoops up just slightly, gaining height in preparation for a powerful dive. Adrian is quick to fire off another aura sphere at the hydreigon as she plummets, but she can't turn the dragon aside so easily. Joan comes down heavily atop Adrian, crushing the far-smaller mienshao to the pavement.

Joan floats off quickly enough, her natural buoyancy keeping her aloft, but Adrian is not so lucky. She struggles to move, her every muscle protesting. It doesn't take a whole lot of movement to prepare an aura sphere, but the mienshao is so slow that Joan is able to barf up a foul batch of toxic on her vulnerable foe before she can get her attack off. By now, Joan doesn't even feel the bite of the aura sphere as it strikes her directly in the chest, and it's a good thing, too--another powerful fighting attack like that is liable to finish off the weakened dragon. Of course, Adrian isn't looking too well herself, lying crumpled on the ground as puddles form around her.

Barubu (O)

Joan Lennon (F) <Levitate>
Health: 19% (capped)
Energy: 54%
Commands: Flash Cannon ~ Body Slam ~ Toxic
- Fading rapidly, but still determined. Badly poisoned (4% next round).

Karkat Vantas (O)

Adrian (F) <Inner Focus>
Health: 20% (capped)
Energy: 61%
Commands: Me First/Aura Sphere/Calm Mind x3
- Miserable as can be. Paralyzed (severe). Burned (3%/round). Badly poisoned (1% next round).

Terrain Notes
The fury of the rainstorm continues unabated (3 more actions).

Final Notes
- Reduced burn damage? Why? If you mean from the rain, that's not enough to do anything.
- Barubu attacks first next round.

Start with a Dragon pulse unless a Protect is used. I that case, use a Sunny Day. If Sunny Day is put to effect at any point, switch to Flamethrower.

Dragon Pulse/Sunny Day~Dragon Pulse/Sunny Day/Flamethrower~Dragon Pulse/Sunny Day/Flamethrower

IT'S TIME, ADRIAN

PUT EVERYTHING INTO THIS ONE LAST BLOW

KILL THE DRAGON THAT RAPED YOUR SISTER AND KILLED YOUR PARENTS

REVERSAL x3

Barubu (O)

Joan Lennon (F) <Levitate>
Health: 19% (capped)
Energy: 54%
Commands: Dragon Pulse/Sunny Day ~ Dragon Pulse/Sunny Day/Flamethrower ~ Dragon Pulse/Sunny Day/Flamethrower
- Fading rapidly, but still determined. Badly poisoned (4% next round).

Karkat Vantas (O)

Adrian (F) <Inner Focus>
Health: 20% (capped)
Energy: 61%
Commands: Reversal x3
- Miserable as can be. Paralyzed (severe). Burned (3%/round). Badly poisoned (1% next round).

Joan Lennon looms over her crushed opponent, weird lilac flames dancing around the teeth of her three heads. They release a three-pronged dragon pulse that Adrian can only lie still and accept, closing her eyes against the pain and brightness of the unnatural dragonfire.

It's all she can do to lie still and take the attack without succumbing to her injuries; it leaves her with only a sliver of vitality remaining. And, with her paralyzed muscles keeping her pinioned in an uncomfortable position and the burn on her paw a constant nagging drain on her initiative, the exhausted mienshao has to wonder whether it's any good even trying to keep in the fight.

As she opens her eyes to slits and looks up, though, she sees the sneering faces of Joan Lennon as they float over her, snorting smoke out of their nostrils and gloating over their victory. Determination wells up in her heart as she decides that she's not about to lose now, not to this stupid leering dragon and not in front of the crowd. She knows she has it in her to pull off a win, to turn the tables on her smug opponent and revel in the dragon's despair.

She slowly pulls herself to a sitting position, blue energy radiating from her body as she draws on everything she's got to overcome her weariness and paralysis. Joan Lennon's eyes narrow as the dragon starts charging another dragon pulse, hoping to finish Adrian off before she can counterattack. The mienshao is on the move now, though, egged on by the energetic encouragement of her trainer--she has no idea what he's babbling about, but he's certainly enthusiastic about it.

Adrian leaps at Joan Lennon with a shrill cry, the dragon's heads fighting each other to get away from the blazing blue light that surrounds the mienshao. There is no escape from Adrian's reversal, though, and the match ends with a brief, brutal flurry of incredibly powerful blows as the mienshao unleashes the fullness of her power in one last, desperate attack.

Joan Lennon crashes to the pavement, quite unconscious, while Adrian is left to land on her hind paws, then sway unsteadily and fall forward onto all fours, her sleeves pooling out around her. She remains upright, though, and is declared the winner above the cheering of the crowd.

Barubu (X)

Joan Lennon (F) <Levitate>
Health: 0%
Energy: 51%
Used: Dragon Pulse
Knocked Out!

Karkat Vantas (O)

Adrian (F) <Inner Focus>
Health: 2%
Energy: 52%
Commands: Reversal x3
Victorious!

Adrian and Joan Lennon vanish back into their pokéballs, but the cheering continues as the crowd celebrates a good battle and the battlers exchange an end-of-battle handshake. Karkat Vantas is obviously delighted by his victory, while Barubu accepts his loss with grace and, possibly, thoughts of a later rematch.

Karkat Vantas receives $10 for winning, Barubu gets $5, and I get $15. Good game to the both of you.

UMMMMMMMMMMMMPH

Great job, Adrian! Maybe I'll get a Mienfoo in your honor, you awesome weasel thing, you.

That was a pretty fun match, Barubu... of course, it could have gone a lot smoother but it was still pretty exhilarating. Hopefully we'll be able to have a rematch some time.