Brock vs Metallica Fanboy (Ref: Negrek)

Metallica Fanboy (XOO)

Megatherium (M) <Vital Spirit>
Health: 36%
Energy: 4%
- Running on fumes. Heal blocked. Burned (3%/round). +2 Attack

Wargle (XXO)

Nero (X) <Levitate>
Health: 33%
Energy: 84%
- Getting a bit broken down. +2 Attack

Megatherium wants nothing more than to rest, but his trainer has one last task for him before he can take a break. The vigoroth's chest heaves as he tries to catch his breath, the first words of his taunt stammering and choked. His tirade rapidly gains traction, however, and he bravely staves off exhaustion in the interest of foiling Nero's plans. It's truly pitiful that the baltoy is struggling against a pokémon as weak as him--honestly, can't Nero even finish off a half-conscious vigoroth? Apparently not, since he's still standing here, clawing away at Nero's health while the baltoy is just barely staying in the game. The occasional raspy cough detracts somewhat from Megatherium's taunting, but it is effective nonetheless. Nero, already feeling a bit insecure after a prolonged battle against the tenacious vigoroth, stops spinning in vexation, mind racing with thoughts of how it might prove its worth to both its trainer and Megatherium. Unfortunately, it forgets about power split entirely in the process.

Having said his piece, Megatherium gratefully slumps down into a seated position, letting his head droop and his arms hang loose as he gives up all thought of attack in favor of resting. The sight of the vigoroth's relaxed pose only further infuriates Nero; so the vigoroth thinks it's so small a threat that he can just chill out on the battlefield without fear? Well, he's got another thing coming.

The baltoy bounces in place, landing with a sharp crack as it pumps seismic energy into the concrete below it. A ripple of force spreads out in all directions, cracking concrete as it goes. Megatherium is completely unprepared for the attack, and it knocks him onto his back. The vigoroth doesn't move, only covering his face with his paws and trying to ignore everything as the bulldoze continues past him, weakening as it goes. It still sends unsettling cracks spreading up the columns supporting the ceiling, though, and a few chunks of concrete come loose overhead. Most of these shatter harmlessly on the ground or only further damage the cars unlucky enough to be parked on this level, but by pure chance one happens to land on top of Megatherium instead. Nero looks on in extreme satisfaction as the vigoroth painfully extracts himself from the debris, removing chunks of broken concrete from his now-bruised leg. Much to Nero's disappointment, though, the vigoroth doesn't retaliate or give any further indication of how badly he's been hurt; instead he simply curls up into a ball, eyes closed and coughing now and again as the smoke grows ever thicker. Nero wobbles on his axis as he spins, fuming. Why won't the vigoroth stand up and fight? Why hasn't its trainer given it any orders to finish the stupid pokémon off already? The baltoy longs to spill blood and has no patience for his passive commands.

Ultimately, it is the arena that finally cools the baltoy's temper. A tree just next to the structure, easily visible from where the battle is taking place, goes up like a torch, shedding burning leaves and sending waves of black smoke pouring into the structure. The referee's aerodactyl is out by her side again, and she glances back and forth between the raging fire and the battle. By now the fire has the parking deck surrounded, and the only safe way out will be to fly. In light of that fact, Nero's anger seems a bit petty; after all, the situation here is rapidly becoming one of life and death. It withers in the heat of the fire, leaving the baltoy feeling anxious about more than just a potential loss.

Metallica Fanboy (XOO)

Megatherium (M) <Vital Spirit>
Health: 16%
Energy: 21%
- In poor shape. Burned (3%/round). +2 Attack, -1 Speed

Wargle (XXO)

Nero (X) <Levitate>
Health: 33%
Energy: 79%
- Very nervous. +2 Attack

Terrain Notes
The parking structure is now definitely unsafe. Nero's bulldoze has left deep rents in the floor and dislodged some chunks from the ceiling, and the fire is now on the parking structure's doorstep. If the next round is not spent evacuating, the trainers will be forced to flee at its end in order to escape the blaze.

Final Notes
- Nero's bulldoze was a critical hit.
- Metallica Fanboy attacks first next round.

Let's move out.

The trainers would have to be even crazier than the norm to stick around with the fire on their doorstep. The next couple minutes are a smoke-shrouded scene of chaos as Metallica Fanboy releases his aerodactyl and Wargle argues with Negrek over having to share her own ride. Meanwhile, the atmosphere is only growing more choking, the heat sucking moisture from the air and smoke rushing in to take its place. In the end, the transportation issue is worked out through a series of angry hand gestures as shirts are pulled up over faces and eyes water from the smoke. Metallica Fanboy picks up Megatherium, being careful to avoid aggravating the vigoroth's burns. The exhausted pokémon is content to hang limp in his trainer's arms. Wargle scoops up Nero, and the trainers hurry across the parking deck towards the area where the smoke seems thinnest. The aerodacty leap onto the concrete barrier at the edge of the floor, and the trainers clamber up and onto their backs, Negrek's complaining about her double burden. Leathery wings spread, and with powerful leaps the aerodactyl plunge into the smoke.

They rapidly gain height and break free of the worst of the smoke. Looking back, Negrek can see the parking deck, completely surrounded by flames. They have to fly quite a ways to find the edge of the fire, leaving the city proper behind in the process. By now, both skies and streets are empty; most everyone who could evacuate, has, and the rescue workers are off somewhere else; the edge of the fire is now far too broad for them to patrol. The city below is alien in its emptiness, abandoned cars jamming the streets and the detritus of a hasty evacuation littering the streets. All is still now, all life fled, and a great silence has fallen over the normally sleepless city, only the screeches of the aerodactyl challenging one another to race sounding over the rushing of the wind in the trainers' ears.

Skyscrapers and narrow streets have been left behind for houses crowding onto small plots of land, row on row of them fanning out in all directions, growing gradually less compact as the aerodactyl fly on. It is Wargle who spots the next likely battle location: an elementary school tucked in the midst of the suburbs and, behind it, a playground.

Dextrous touches down first, screaming his triumph over Negrek's aerodactyl, who argues back something about her extra load as she touches down nearby. The trainers disembark and, after a little negotiation, set the pokémon down in the gravel next to a looming wooden ark. To their right are swing sets and a small play structure sprouting spiral slides and climbing bars. Megatherium sighs, gives himself a shake, and tries to restore some of his usual vigor--if he's going down, it won't be without a fight, and he's taking Nero with him if possible. The baltoy, meanwhile, is wondering what use humans have for the strange human artifacts around it.

Metallica Fanboy (XOO)

Megatherium (M) <Vital Spirit>
Health: 13%
Energy: 26%
- Grimly determined. Burned (3%/round). +2 Attack, -1 Speed

Wargle (XXO)

Nero (X) <Levitate>
Health: 33%
Energy: 84%
- Much calmer now. +2 Attack

Terrain Notes
The battle has been moved to a playground. Deep gravel surrounds the play structures, which include a large wooden boat, the hull of which is open on one side, a couple of swingsets, a tall slide, and a multi-tiered plastic play structure with slides and various climbing poles stuck to its sides. The fire is far, far off now, but advancing steadily nonetheless (nine rounds).

Final Notes
- As usual, both pokémon got 5% energy back.
- Metallica Fanboy attacks first next round.

I'd loathe to let you finish it and hog all the experience, Megatherium. Instead, we'll set for the next man up to spike.

Icy Wind twice, finish with Flail. Destroy any Substitutes with Facade. Chill if it protects.

Icy Wind/Facade/Chill ~ Icy Wind/Facade/Chill ~ Flail/Facade/Chill

I think a nice boosted EQ should do.

EQ ~ Protect ~ EQ

Metallica Fanboy (XOO)

Megatherium (M) <Vital Spirit>
Health: 13%
Energy: 26%
- Grimly determined. Burned (3%/round). +2 Attack, -1 Speed

Wargle (XXO)

Nero (X) <Levitate>
Health: 33%
Energy: 84%
- Much calmer now. +2 Attack

Megatherium snorts and turns an annoyed look back over his shoulder at Metallica Fanboy. So he's supposed to just keel over in a dead faint so some other runt on the team gets a chance to come out of hiding and get spoon-fed EXP off a pre-chewed opponent? What an insult! Though, unfortunately, in his current condition, he can't hope to do much else.

An irritated breath steams from Metatherium's nostrils, leaving a fine crusting of ice on the fur covering his muzzle. He opens his mouth wide and spews a blast of icy wind at his opponent, and Nero's spinning slows just the slightest amount as the temperature of its clay body falls. With no moving parts to speak of, it's not directly affected by the frosty side-effects of the attacks, but the bite of the cold does make it sluggish and uncomfortable.

It's going to take more than a little breeze to stop the baltoy from retaliating, though. It hops up and comes down with a crunch, point sunk deep into the gravel and seismic energy racing into the ground below. An earthquake rumbles up from below almost immediately, and swings jiggle and slides list as the earth trembles and jumps. The attack is less potent than it might have been, though, as the loose-packed gravel dissipates a fair amount of the earthquake's force. It's enough to knock Megatherium facefirst to the ground, certainly, but not quite enough to keep him there. As the last of the aftershocks passes, the vigoroth groans and slowly raises his face, every movement ginger and reluctant. He isn't knocked out yet, though, and pride simply won't let him lie down and wait for Nero to finish him off.

Nero quickly puts up an energy shield, not at all interested in taking a beating from his easily-provoked opponent. Of course, in doing so, he tips Megatherium off to the fact that there would be no point in attacking anyway. And, for once, the vigoroth is content enough to sit still and relax for a few moments rather than flying off the handle. As soon as he sees Nero's shield dissipate, though, he forces himself to his feet. It's hard for him to think straight, but he's sure of one thing: if he's going to go down, he's going to give Nero a beating it won't forget first. Nero makes a desperate attempt to wrench itself free of the gravel as the vigoroth lets out a roar, raising his claws high and rushing at the baltoy. Megatherium attacks in a blind rage, lashing out with feet and hands and striking his target as much by chance as anything else. Still, the blows he deals are powerful for the very reason that they are unfettered, and Nero is wrenched from the ground and tossed around as though it weighed nothing by the force of Megatherium's blows. All the while, the vigoroth roars out incoherent battlecries, driving himself to the brink of exhaustion in his enthusiasm for destruction. In the end he is forced to stop and catch his breath, and Nero, now lying limp on the gravel, can begin contemplating retaliation.

The baltoy is now nearly as bad off as its opponent, its clay body riddled with cracks and scratches. It takes all Nero's willpower to right itself and gather the strength to unleash another earthquake, but it manages to do so, and this one is enough to actually topple a free-standing slide, and the boat looming over the pokémon takes on a drunken slant as its foundations are destabilized. Megatherium is knocked down again, but this time with a content smile on his face. Perhaps he didn't quite manage to knock his opponent out, but at least he got to go out in a blaze of glory. Metallica Fanboy recalls him without surprise, and Nero takes the opportunity of a lull in the action to wrench itself free of the rocks once more. The baltoy isn't optimistic about its chances of taking down a fresh opponent, but there's nothing for it but to try, and it shows no sign of fear as it waits to see what Metallica Fanboy has in store for it.

Metallica Fanboy (XXO)

Megatherium (M) <Vital Spirit>
Health: 0%
Energy: 23%
Knocked Out!

Wargle (XXO)

Nero (X) <Levitate>
Health: 5%
Energy: 72%
- Falling to bits. +2 Attack

Terrain Notes
The earthquakes have wreaked minor havoc on the arena, knocking over a slide, setting other play structures to listing, and tangling the swings in their own chains.

Final Notes
- The strength of earthquake was reduced since the seismic energy wasn't transmitted efficiently through the gravel.
- Metallica Fanboy sends out his last pokémon
- Wargle attacks
- Metallica Fanboy attacks

Wait, I don't get what happened that last round. Did Nero move before Megatherium in spite of having just been slowed down? And why would Megatherium have attempted an Icy Wind at the last action, when he was commanded to use Flail there?

Wow, okay. Three AM reffings--best idea?

Should make more sense/reflect your actual commands now, I hope.

Headbanger, FINISH IT.

Rest? I hope? (psssst MF you should let me rest up so this will be fair!)

Sleep and live X Infinity

What is that word, "fair"?

Thrash Metal x3

Metallica Fanboy (XXO)

Headbanger (M) <Mold Breaker>
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
- Impatient.

Wargle (XXO)

Nero (X) <Levitate>
Health: 5%
Energy: 72%
- Falling to bits. +2 Attack

As it turns out, Metallica Fanboy's third and final pokémon is a blast from the past--a few million years in the past, to be exact, when prehistoric pokémon roamed the land. Headbanger the cranidos snorts and digs his feet into the pebbles as he takes shape in front of Nero, turning his head from side to side as he tries to make sense of the unfamiliar playground landscape. The cranidos would be more comfortable if the area were more dominated by ferns and bryophytes but he never backs down from a battle, not even one staged next to bizarre, looming human structures.

Nero is quietly hoping for the opportunity to rest and refresh itself, the better to face--indeed, to have any chance against--a new opponent. It is not to be, however; no sooner has the referee given the signal for the battle to resume than Headbanger launches himself at the baltoy and knocks the last of the fight from it with a flurry of wild kicks and headbutts.

Metallica Fanboy (XXO)

Headbanger (M) <Mold Breaker>
Health: 100%
Energy: 94%
Victorious!

Wargle (XXX)

Nero (X) <Levitate>
Health: 0%
Energy: 72%
Knocked Out!

It takes a couple minutes for Metallica Fanboy to calm Headbanger down enough to communicate to the cranidos that the battle is over. Headbanger seems more disappointed than anything to hear the news, letting out a snort of derision--just what sort of opponent was that? He wanted to fight, not kick the crap out of some pathetic loser pokémon with a single attack. Though the cranidos is disappointed, Metallica Fanboy is plenty happy to see the end of the battle. It's been quite the ride, with several narrow escapes from immolation, frequent threat of personal injury, and a modest amount of property destruction. Wargle is disappointed, but looks similarly relieved that the battle has ended. The tired, sooty trainers exchange a few parting words between themselves and the referee, then go their separate ways once more, hopefully knowing better than to throw themselves into a battle in the middle of a blaze in the future.

And there you have it! When all is said and done, Metallica Fanboy gets $24, Wargle gets $9, and I get $15. Megatherium gets 3 EXP, Diamondback, Headbanger, and Nero get two, and Bagon and Ferno get one.

Knowing better than to throw myself in the middle of a blaze for a battle again? That's not knowing better. In fact, it's likely that I'll be doing it again soon.

It was a good fight, Wargle.

Well played.

REMATCH NOW THAT I HAVE BETTER TEAM.