[11] Big Red Cherry Bomb vs zeKieranator

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:

Heatmor (M) <Flash Fire>
Musharna (M) <Synchronize>
Mienshao (M) <Inner Focus>
Beartic (M) <Snow Cloak>

1. zeKieranator chooses a pokémon
2. Big Red Cherry Bomb chooses a pokémon and attacks
3. zeKieranator attacks

DQ warning for zeKieranator. Twenty-four hours for commands.

I'll choose Mienshao.

I'll take that HEATMOR then. His name will be DAVE.

begin by using WIL-O-WISP, though if your foe there WIMPS OUT LIKE A WIMP and uses protect or similar, use HONE CLAWS. Then BEAT THE GRIST out of him with AERIAL ACE, though if there is more protecting, use HONE CLAWS some more.

WIL-O-WISP/HONE CLAWS ~ AERIAL ACE/HONE CLAWS ~ AERIAL ACE/HONE CLAWS

(this was super nerdy and i'm sorry)

Alright then. Let's use a Large Substitute, to block out Will-o-Wisp. Then, Reflect those nasty Aerial Aces away, and finally, use your super-effective Stone Edge.

Substitute (20%) ~ Reflect ~ Stone Edge

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. Big Red Cherry Bomb's choice proves to be a heatmor named Insufferable Pri Dave, who couldn't look more bored with this whole tournament thing if he closed his eyes and took a nap right there. For his part, zeKieranator's new mienshao is doing at least as good a job of ignoring his opponent, taking a moment to meditate before the fighting begins. Ultimately, though both pokémon are putting on a fair show of not caring in the slightest about the battle, both are listening intently for their commands and don't hesitate to get down to business.


Big Red Cherry Bomb (O)

Dave (M) <Flash Fire>
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
==> WIL-O-WISP/HONE CLAWS ~ AERIAL ACE/HONE CLAWS ~ AERIAL ACE/HONE CLAWS
- Wishing he had his blackglasses.

zeKieranator (O)

Mienshao (M) <Inner Focus>
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
Commands: Substitute (20%) ~ Reflect ~ Stone Edge
- Preparing for battle.

Mienshao doesn't even bother to open his eyes, sinking still deeper into his meditative trance. He becomes one with the energy of the world around him, with the aura that suffuses all things. By an effort of will, he gives his own aura physical form, and a back on the material plane a flickering blue form steps out of thin air next to Mienshao. The substitute has the rough shape of its creator but is otherwise featureless, and it flickers unsteadily, blurring around the edges, a creature of pure aura not used to such confinement.

Dave regards the new creature, unimpressed. Well, figuring out whether or not that technically counts as "similar to protect" sounds like too much work. Might as well throw some fire at it and see what happens. The heatmor breathes out a tongue of weird blue flame, which quavers and dances in much the same way Mienshao's substitute does. Indeed, when the avatar steps into the flame's path, it simply absorbs the fire, showing no sign of singing or other effect. Dave's poker face doesn't change; he was, of course, only using that attack ironically.

Mienshao, on the other hand, is taking this battle completely seriously. He opens his eyes for the first time, raising his paws, palms out, in front of him, and conjures a barrier of energy between them. He's not a moment too soon, either. Dave suddenly vanishes in a blur of motion, only reappearing when striking the reflect slows him down enough for Mienshao's eyes to track. The heatmor's claws are extended, ready for a raking blow, but the substitute steps in to take its master's fall, suffering a long gash down its side.

With his defenses in place, Mienshao is at last ready to go on the attack. He now extends his power to waken rocks lying below the arena, imbuing them with the energy to dig their way towards the surface. Unfortunately for Mienshao, Dave feels the earth tremble ever so slightly beneath his feet, and in another flicker of motion, he is gone. The spires of rock that stab up through the cobblestones a moment later strike only empty air.

As before, Dave reappears only just before his strike, which slices another chunk out of Mienshao's substitute's health. The avatar is sturdier than it looks, Dave has to admit--even considering the reflect, it's impressive that it's stood up to two of his aerial aces.

Big Red Cherry Bomb (O)

Dave (M) <Flash Fire>
Health: 100%
Energy: 91%
Used: Will-o-Wisp ~ Aerial Ace x2
- Still cool.

zeKieranator (O)

Mienshao (M) <Inner Focus>
Health: 80%
Energy: 83%
Used: Substitute (20%) ~ Reflect ~ Stone Edge
- Irritated by his failed attack, but certainly not showing it. Has a substitute with 8% health. Protected by reflect (3 more actions).

Terrain Notes
A cluster of long rock spikes has broken through the ground in a small patch of ground near Dave.

Final Notes
- zeKieranator attacks first next round.

Well, that's not fun. In that case, let's use Work Up to boost our stats. When your Substitute is destroyed, use Stone Edge, and if that misses, on the third action use Hi Jump Kick.

Work Up ~ Work Up / Stone Edge ~ Work Up / Stone Edge / Hi Jump Kick

Well if he wants to hide behind his...uh... PUPPET THING (oh god), then may as well take advantage of that.

Let's MAKE SOME MORE DAVES with a nice DOUBLE TEAM (aim for 3+ clones). Then resume the GRIST-BEATING with a couple FLAMETHROWERS.

>Show the weasel who's boss.

DOUBLE TEAM ~ FLAMETHROWER ~ FLAMETHROWER

Big Red Cherry Bomb (O)

Dave (M) <Flash Fire>
Health: 100%
Energy: 91%
> DOUBLE TEAM ~ FLAMETHROWER ~ FLAMETHROWER
- Still cool.

zeKieranator (O)

Mienshao (M) <Inner Focus>
Health: 80%
Energy: 83%
Commands: Work Up ~ Work Up / Stone Edge ~ Work Up / Stone Edge / Hi Jump Kick
- Irritated by his failed attack, but certainly not showing it. Has a substitute with 8% health. Protected by reflect (3 more actions).

If Mienshao's anger is subtle, his excitement is even more so. A careful observer might have noticed the faintest irritated twitch of his moustaches when his stone edge missed, but there are no outward signs of his working himself up save a little tremor in his tail. The fighting type is alive with energy inside, though, more than eager to get his revenge on Dave and bursting with the fighting spirit necessary to get it done.

Even if Dave noticed the mienshao's mindset, he probably wouldn't care. The heatmor retains his detached demeanor and executes a double team so swift he doesn't appear to move at all, six shadow images flickering into being around him and turning identical goading stares on Mienshao and his substitute.

The sight of further opponents only increases Mienshao's determination. His whiskers quiver as he works himself up still further, becoming utterly absorbed in his desire to do battle. He's barely disappointed when Dave lights some sick fires and breathes a flamethrower all over the fighting type's substitute, severing the last of its earthly ties and leaving it to fade forlornly into thin air.

With his defense gone, Mienshao is done boosting his stats. It's time to strike back. Once again he summons rocks below the arena to answer his call, and this time, Dave is too preoccupied with charging up another flamethrower to notice. Against all odds, the heatmor against which Mienshao has chosen to direct his anger turns out to be the real one. Dave has difficulty hiding his shock as razor-sharp blades of stone stab up from the ground below him, scoring long cuts down his sides and banishing his clones in an instant.

He won't let Mienshao see even a moment of weakness, and musters all his composure to contemptuously kick aside the rocks piercing his flesh and breathe another flamethrower in the fighting type's face. Mienshao ducks his head slightly to avoid the worst of the attack, but makes no other concession to the pain it causes him. The two proud pokémon, both now bearing the marks of battle, stare one another down as cooly as ever, awaiting further orders. Mienshao's reflect screen flickers and dies, leaving him entirely defenseless for the first time this match.

Big Red Cherry Bomb (O)

Dave (M) <Flash Fire>
Health: 79%
Energy: 79%
Used: Double Team ~ Flamethrower x2
- Inwardly cursing his screw-up against the stone edge.

zeKieranator (O)

Mienshao (M) <Inner Focus>
Health: 67%
Energy: 70%
Commands: Work Up x2 ~ Stone Edge
- Vindicated. +2 Attack, +2 Special Attack

Terrain Notes
There are now two clusters of bristling stalagmites, one of them bloodied.

Final Notes
- Big Red Cherry Bomb attacks first next round.

oh what >:C

Okay Dave. If he tries to Stone Edge you again, toss up a PROTECT. If he stat-ups or protects use DOUBLE TEAM the first time he stat-ups, and the other times or if he uses a different attack, use AERIAL ACE. Try and avoid anything else he tosses at you.


>PROTECT/DOUBLE TEAM/AERIAL ACE x 3

Since we can't use Stone Edge...

Rock Slide ~ Rock Slide ~ Rock Slide

Big Red Cherry Bomb (O)

Dave (M) <Flash Fire>
Health: 79%
Energy: 79%
> PROTECT / DOUBLE TEAM / AERIAL ACE x 3
- Inwardly cursing his screw-up against the stone edge.

zeKieranator (O)

Mienshao (M) <Inner Focus>
Health: 67%
Energy: 70%
Commands: Rock Slide ~ Rock Slide ~ Rock Slide
- Vindicated. +2 Attack, +2 Special Attack

Mienshao reaches up and pinches out a smouldering patch on one of his moustaches, a flippant gesture calculated to make Dave's blood boil, then calls on his power over rock once more in order to make the spires he summoned with stone edge take to the air, hovering darkly above Dave's head while the heatmor tensely tries to anticipate when they'll fall so he can pull off a dodge.

His timing is a bit off, and the rock slide cascades down over him. Mienshao only has a moment to be smug and satisfied before Dave emerges from the tumble of fallen rocks, no more than a blur of angry heatmor, and lands a lightning-fast slash down the fighting type's body.

This is the first of Dave's aerial aces that Mienshao's had the opportunity to experience firsthand, and he doesn't like it one bit. He actually winces, then in shamed annoyance, hauls the pile of rocks up off the ground and sends them sailing at Dave. Once again, the heatmor can't quite escape the rock slide attack and is buried.

Being bonked on the head by the narrow spires of rock is slightly better than being impaled on them, but Dave is still looking badly under the weather once he manages to dig himself out from the latest pile of rocks. His aerial ace is as blindingly-fast as ever, but by now even his best attempts at keeping cool can't entirely compensate for his fine collection of bruises, scrapes, and gashes.

Mienshao looks better off, only a bit singed around the edges and with two long cuts from Dave's aerial aces, but in truth he's about on par with his opponent as he once again drags his collection of rocks into the air and prepares to dump them on top of Dave. This time, though, perhaps through sheer angry contrariness, Dave does manage to get out of the rock slide's way, dashing away in a blur of motion and ripping another aerial ace home.

After a straightforward and violent round, both pokémon are looking decidedly ragged. Dave maintains a narrow health lead over his opponent, but after Mienshao's boosting, that could easily be eaten up by a single attack. The heatmor has to admit that the weasel warrior's a tougher nut to crack than he had anticipated--not that he won't win anyway, of course.

Big Red Cherry Bomb (O)

Dave (M) <Flash Fire>
Health: 44% (capped)
Energy: 70%
Used: Aerial Ace x3
- Grudgingly impressed by Mienshao's power.

zeKieranator (O)

Mienshao (M) <Inner Focus>
Health: 32% (capped)
Energy: 55%
Used: Rock Slide x3
- Getting worn down. +2 Attack, +2 Special Attack

Terrain Notes
A jumble of broken rocks sits near the center of the arena.

Final Notes
- zeKieranator attacks first next round.

DQ warning for zeKieranator. Twenty-four hours.

Just use Stone Edge. If he protects, Work Up.

Stone Edge / Work Up ~ Stone Edge / Work Up ~ Stone Edge / Work Up

Okay Dave. Here goes nothing.

Try and avoid his attacks, then charge in and make an INFERNO right in his face. Then run to a good distance and use HEAT WAVE.

==>INFERNO ~ HEAT WAVE ~ HEAT WAVE

Big Red Cherry Bomb (O)

Dave (M) <Flash Fire>
Health: 44% (capped)
Energy: 70%
==> INFERNO ~ HEAT WAVE ~ HEAT WAVE
- Grudgingly impressed by Mienshao's power.

zeKieranator (O)

Mienshao (M) <Inner Focus>
Health: 32% (capped)
Energy: 55%
Commands: Stone Edge / Work Up ~ Stone Edge / Work Up ~ Stone Edge / Work Up
- Getting worn down. +2 Attack, +2 Special Attack

Although the rock slides were no failure, Mienshao judges that he needs more power to finish Dave off quickly. He therefore switches back to stone edge, closing his eyes, folding his paws before his face, and calling up spears of rock from beneath the earth.

Unfortunately, the more powerful attack takes more time to execute and gives more warning of its arrival. Dave tumbles out of the way just before the sharp rocks lance up out of the cobbles, coming up into a crouch and ramming his powerful digging claws into the ground. Cracks spread out from the point of impact, widening into a cone with Mienshao at its base as they travel across the arena.

His eyes still closed, Mienshao is oblivious to the attack until it is too late. The fissures in the earth glow a sullen red, as though Dave has opened fissures straight to the molten mantle of the earth, and it is only when Mienshao notices heat building below his paws that he opens his eyes and glances down.

This is only just before huge columns of fire erupt out of the cracks, shooting well over Mienshao's head and putting him at the heart of a blazing inferno.

There's nowhere to hide from the intense flames; Mienshao screeches and tries to wrap himself in his sleeves, but it's little use. He can only stumble around blindly until the attack finally ends, leaving him disoriented and badly burned. It's all he can do to fold his paws again and concentrate despite his coughing, once again summoning a stone edge.

This time, Dave isn't able to avoid the attack, and the spires of rock stab up into his legs and stomach. The heatmor doesn't even wince, however--he knows the end of the battle is drawing near, and his focus on his goal is absolute. Rather than breathing fire over his opponent, he releases a diffuse wave of superheated air. Mienshao is unable to suppress a groan as the suffocatingly hot air engulfs him, further aggravating his numerous burns. He barely has the presence of mind to remain standing, much less maintain his normal air of calm detachment.

As long as he can stand and fight, though, there's the hope for victory. He's already got his opponent pinned; if he can finish Dave off with another stone edge, he might just win this. Mienshao summons the last of his strength to call up another cluster of razor-edged rocks. Dave growls as they stab up into his body. His boiling-hot blood bathes both the rocks he's been impaled on and the street below. He's in better shape than Mienshao, but only barely, and it takes a lot out of him to blow out another searing heat wave.

Unfortunately, his wounds have taken a toll on his aim; the superheated cloud of air drifts right past Mienshao, not so much as clipping the proud fighter. It is little consolation to Mienshao, however. The terrible burns left by Dave's inferno attack are, ultimately, what lays him low. Try as he might, Mienshao can't hold out against the stabs of pain that accompany each breath he takes. Finally he collapses to the pavement, admitting defeat in the end.

Big Red Cherry Bomb (O)

Dave (M) <Flash Fire>
Health: 9% (capped)
Energy: 57%
Used: Inferno ~ Heat Wave
Victorious!

zeKieranator (X)

Mienshao (M) <Inner Focus>
Health: 0%
Energy: 35%
Used: Stone Edge x2
Knocked Out!

Dave slowly extricates himself from the stone edge, crushing rocks with his huge claws and contemptuously ripping them out of his flesh. The the crowd has plenty of opportunity to cheer on his apparent total indifference to his victory. zeKieranator recalls Mienshao in the meantime, and he and Big Red Cherry Bomb meet up at the center of the arena for an end-of-battle handshake. At length, it is decided that Dave has had enough time to bask in the crowd's adoration, and the heatmor is recalled as the referee begins to distribute the prizes.

Big Red Cherry Bomb gets $10 and advances to the next round. zeKieranator gets $5, and I get $15. It was a close match; good game, both of you.