[15] Aletheia vs Eta Carinae (ref: Keldeo)

1 vs 1
DQ: 5 days
Damage Cap: 35%
Banned/Restricted Moves: OHKOs, Pain Split, moves that KO the user; direct recovery is restricted to 1 use in the match, and Chills are restricted to 5 uses
Arena: Santalune City

Like an emerald in the rough, this town in the center-south of Kalos glows verdant with lush grass and forest green roofs mottled with rustic pavement and ancient stone walls. The battle begins in the circular fountain plaza at the very center of the city, from which most else can be seen, including the majestic Trainer's School right across, the great Bug-Type Gym in the distance, and the tables of several small cafés and restaurants in the fountain area, although most seem dwarfed by comparison to the notable establishment atop a hill nearby.

For this round of the tournament, each trainer's Pokémon will be wearing a specified hat from the Santalune Boutique. Each hat grants its wearer the ability to use certain moves (usually three), and often adds an Ability to the wearer's current Abilities as well. After five rounds, the currently worn hats will be replaced by another set of two hats, again chosen at random. The hats' descriptions and effects are as follows:

• Bamboo Sprig Hat: A round cap that closely resembles Pangoro, bringing about an aloof sense of menace for the hat seeker that's not to be messed with. Grants the moves Sky Uppercut, Crunch, and Parting Shot, along with the Scrappy ability.
• Boater: A nifty straw hat that keeps the head cool in sunshine and protected in the storm, perfect for weathering a long voyage. Grants the moves Rain Dance, Hurricane, and Tailwind, along with the Swift Swim ability.
• Camo Cap: A beanie that blends right into the wilderness with its military-grade motif, complete with grenades and reinforcements, enabling its wearer to move in and out of cover -- or maybe their opponent just doesn't want to be seen with someone who actually wears camo. Grants the moves Egg Bomb, Night Slash, and Attack Order, along with the Sniper ability.
• Exotic Cap: A repurposed casquette with bold patterns, for those who aim to make an unusual fashion statement and also don't mind looking like they have a toadstool for a head. Grants the moves Hex, Venom Drench, and Infestation, along with the ability Effect Spore.
• Fedora: A distinctive kind of hat that has been through many associations in pop culture, and we're pretending for our own sake that the most recent one is Indiana Jones. Grants the moves Rock Slide, Bulldoze, and Power Whip, along with the ability Sand Rush.
• Felt Hat: A porkpie hat famously worn by a trainer that Professor Sycamore placed all of his faith in. Grants the moves Spiky Shield, Mystical Fire, and Water Shuriken.
• Knit Cap: A woolly, tight-fitting beanie with which one can not only keep warm, but thrive in the cold. Grants the moves Blaze Kick, Frost Breath, and Hail, along with the ability Ice Body.
• Logo Cap: A snapback with a readily recognizable sigil that's associated with the Kalos Pokémon League. Grants the moves Gyro Ball, Dragon Tail, Flame Charge, and Clamp.
• Sports Cap: A polyester cap for athletic types who want to sprint and make sparks fly when the sun is out. Grants the moves Quick Attack, Acrobatics, and Electro Ball, along with the ability Unburden.

Bluberry Bat's active squad
Assigned hat: Knit Cap

Anastasia the female Lucario <Inner Focus> @ Expert Belt
Vivian the female Vaporeon <Water Absorb> @ Leftovers
Terra the female Snivy <Contrary> @ Sachet
Malika the female Larvesta <Flame Body> @ Exp. Share
Adrianne the female Joltik <Compound Eyes> @ Wise Glasses
Zora the female Zorua <Illusion> @ Lucky Egg
Mina the female Skrelp <Adaptability> @ Black Sludge
Nyx the female Eevee <Adaptability> @ Soothe Bell
Jasper the male Skiddo <Sap Sipper> @ Big Root
Comet the genderless Staryu <Natural Cure> @ Water Stone


Eta Carinae's active squad
Assigned hat: Fedora

Sefer the genderless Golett <Iron Fist> @ Lucky Egg
Smash Maestro the male Gurdurr <Sheer Force> @ Black Belt
Jink the male Murkrow <Super Luck> @ Dusk Stone
Plattitude the male Ledyba <Swarm> @ Lucky Egg
Lamellibranchiata the female Shellder <Skill Link> @ Water Stone
Django the male Growlithe <Intimidate> @ Fire Stone
Commodus the male Rhyhorn <Rock Head> @ Protector
Miracle Max the male Pidove <Super Luck> @ Razor Claw
Chloris the female Flabébé (White Flower) <Flower Veil> @ Shiny Stone
Cordelia the female Chikorita <Overgrow> @ Lucky Egg

Up next:
1.Bluberry Bat sends out
2.Eta Carinae sends out and issues commands
3.Bluberry Bat issues commands

Re: [15] Bluberry Bat vs Eta Carinae (ref: Keldeo)

DQ warning for Bluberry Bat. You have 48 hours to send out.

Re: [15] Bluberry Bat vs Eta Carinae (ref: Keldeo)

Whoops, nearly forgot about this. Bluberry Bat is DQed, no one gets anything. I think Aletheia takes her place now?

Re: [15] Bluberry Bat vs Eta Carinae (ref: Keldeo)

a comeback four years in the making

Re: [15] Bluberry Bat vs Eta Carinae (ref: Keldeo)

Indeed, Aletheia now takes Bluberry Bat's spot, as has been agreed to.

Quick on-mobile copypaste of Aletheia's active squad:
Turtlez ♀ Squirtle Torrent 0 0 Dawn Stone
Lazarus ♂ Gastly Levitate 1 1
God Killing Himself ♀ Rattata Guts 2 3 Magnet
Francisco Franco ♀ Noibat Infiltrator 2 2
Pagliaccio ♂ Mime Jr. Soundproof 0 0 Lum Berry
Brian Eno ♂ Elekid Static 0 0
Road Warrior ♂ Pawniard Defiant 0 0 Muscle Band
Not Espeon ♀ Eevee Adaptability 0 0 Soothe Bell
Frag ♂ Gible Sand Veil 0 0 Dragon Fang
Pan-chan ♀ Pancham Iron Fist 0 0 Zoom Lens

Aletheia may send out now, and battle will proceed as usual.

let's show them that first-round loss was a fluke, Frag! >:o

This looks like a job for the Maestro!



Alright, Smash, let's get this show on the road! Start with a Toxic, Ice Punch any substitutes, Focus Energy if you can't hit him for another reason. Then two Ice Punches for some nice super-effective damage. If you can't hit him for any reason besides a sub on the last two actions, use Focus Energy. If you've already used Focus Energy, Bulk Up.

Toxic/Ice Punch/Focus Energy ~ Ice Punch/Focus Energy/Bulk Up x2

let that gross poisony stuff hit you, I guess, but give him a Scary Face for it to make sure everyone around notices you're by far the quicker one (in more ways than one ;) )

now that you've got move priority, show him your Iron Head and hope it convinces him not to throw that icky punch- follow that up with a contest-grade Dragon Rush with similar intentions but maybe just a touch more power!

Scary Face~Iron Head~Dragon Rush

Leaving behind the carnage wreaked upon the Prism Tower by a few careless Draco Meteor users, the intrepid trainers from Asber now converge in a small city located just to the southeast of Lumiose for the next round of the tournament. Surely the police won't find them here—especially considering that they're camouflaged with stylish hats, politely borrowed from the neighborhood boutique. The gathered crowd, eager to pick up some juicy battle tricks from the renowned foreigners, parts around the entering trainers, nine pairs in total, as they take their allocated places around the central fountain of Santalune City. Some even run around the cobblestoned streets, puzzling out orders in their own battles before rushing over to direct the ones that they're refereeing. Gym Leader Viola, flying high over the city with the help of her beloved Vivillon, snaps a few exciting shots of all the battling Pokemon, while their trainers just hope she won't hear from her bosses in the League anytime soon. Thanks to a league-owned Natu, the tournament director himself is teleporting back and forth between an anonymous point above another Kalosian landmark, Azure Bay, and the battles here that need his attention.

But even after many of the other battles around Santalune's central square are underway, Bluberry Bat hasn't shown up to her set location (much to the chagrin of a group of spectators who had somehow discovered/spray-painted bulbous blue hats to wear). After a search of the city yields no results, the assigned referee makes an urgent call to the officials back in Asber, and Aletheia is teleported in to take Bluberry Bat's place. The spectators have a whispered discussion over what to change their theme to and finally decide to procure gray and red hats that, in the name of history, look remarkably like stars, employing the help of a nearby Smeargle to paint the digits 6 and 9 on two of them. On the other side of the small stretch of sidewalk that the battle will take place upon, Eta Carinae's cheerleaders are also wearing gray and red star-shaped hats, in the spirit of their chosen battler's new moniker. As the two sides' shouts of encouragement devolve into monosyllabic ripostes and counter-ripostes regarding whose hats exactly are the better ones, the referee nervously orders the trainers to send out their Pokemon, hoping to divert the crowd's attention before anything serious happens.

To the wild cheers of her supporters, Aletheia releases a smiling Gible, Dragon Fang hanging from a string around his neck, and outfits him with a black wool beanie. Frag makes a valiant attempt to adjust his cap, which isn't quite snug over his jagged fin, but can't reach it because of his stubby arms. Taking a second to size up the opponent, Eta Carinae decides to send out his Gurdurr, a Black Belt tied securely around his waist. Smash Maestro is able to fit the referee's proffered fedora comfortably on his bumpy head and hefts his trademark girder up to the eager flashes of phone cameras. Once the crowd has grown bored of photographing the battlers at a standstill and the faux shutter-clicks come to a gradual halt, the referee waves her flags to begin the battle and the Pokemon leap into action…

Aletheia (O)

Frag (m) <Sand Veil, Ice Body> @ Dragon Fang, Knit Cap
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
Currently: Eager to fight and loving his new cap, but a bit dazzled by all the attention he's getting.
Commands: Scary Face ~ Iron Head ~ Dragon Rush

Eta Carinae (O)

Smash Maestro (m) <Sheer Force, Sand Rush> @ Black Belt, Fedora
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
Currently: Posing for the cameras, looking somewhat like a very muscled neo-noir detective.
Commands: Toxic / Ice Punch / Focus Energy ~ Ice Punch / Focus Energy / Bulk Up ~ Ice Punch / Focus Energy / Bulk Up

Field Notes
-Movement order: Frag (42) > Smash Maestro (40).


The watching Kalosians wait with bated breath to see what Frag's first move—indeed, the inaugural move of this great battle—will be. Turning towards Smash Maestro, the Gible takes a deep breath to steel himself in front of such a large crowd before unleashing what will surely be a devastating attack. With all the gusto he can muster, Frag takes one dramatic step forwards, then… puffs out his cheeks, exaggerates his natural overbite, and stretches out the corners of his eyes with his fingers, all while trying to do a Gible's version of some sort of ballet move, perhaps the "splits-but-not-really". The crowd lets out their disappointment with a resounding oh, but Frag's unnerving maneuver has its intended effect on his opponent. Intimidated by the grotesque display, Smash Maestro takes a careful step back, adjusts his fedora, and watches the Gible carefully to see if he's going to try anything like that again.

Satisfied that Frag won't do something so horrifying anytime soon, Smash Maestro decides it's time to prepare his next move. Suddenly coughing and wheezing, the Gurdurr makes a show of hacking up a blob of purple-grey toxins onto the tip of his girder. After turning around to show the blob of Toxic off to everyone watching, he takes a daring leap towards Frag and smears the noxious goop all over him. Frag squeals and attempts to rub away the poison, but he only spreads it over his skin, hastening its spread through his bloodstream; Smash Maestro steps back and admires his handiwork with some joviality, to a pattering of applause from the spectators.

Frag grits his teeth as he feels a sudden wash of nausea from the poison circulating through his system, but he recovers quickly. More acclimated to the crowd now, the Gible is confident that the still-wary Smash Maestro won't attack him while he prepares this one, so why shouldn't he make it as flashy as he can? Focusing, Frag summons an aura of shining gray energy that expands to coat his forehead under his cap and solidifies into a thin sheet of solid metal, barely deterred as the crowd oohs and cameras flash off his reflective, silvery covering. With a draconic hiss, the Gible rushes forwards and slams into his opponent's head, the sheet metal on his head turning back into Steel energy for a single second and exploding out at Smash Maestro with a searing-white crack. A few audience members cheer and clap at this.

For his part, Smash Maestro is too stunned by the sheer force of the blow to remember his commands for a good few seconds, and by then Frag is coming at him again, a swirling tornado of blue-red-white dragonfire surrounding his entire body. With a battle cry, Frag bowls straight into his opponent, knocking both of them over, but he's not done yet. Concentrating, the Gible shapes the sparking draconic aura into a Gabite's head that shakes majestically, as if it's roaring. And for his final move—grinning, Frag transforms the whirling energy into a miniature Garchomp that dives forward and swipes viciously at Smash Maestro before bursting into a shower of countless tiny embers. The Gurdurr winces as the dragonfire sears the tender areas where Frag rushed at him before, but the audience isn't paying attention to that. Everyone collectively gasps for a precious few seconds, then bursts into wild applause. Showing no external sign of the tumultuous gastrointestinal distress he's undergoing, Frag simply smiles and nods.

But Smash Maestro isn't going to let some posturing little dragon runt steal his show, no sir. Hoisting his girder over his shoulders with one hand, the Gurdurr forms a fist with the other, and opens it to reveal a pale blue sphere of pure Ice energy. The orb flashes once and expands nearly faster than the spectators can see to cover his knuckles, slowly solidifying into a thick coat of ice. Frag takes a slow step back, knowing that not even his hat will protect him from a straight-up elemental attack like that, and for a second nothing moves— And then, with a guttural roar, Smash Maestro sprints up to Frag, drawing back his frost-covered hand, and gives the Gible a square uppercut to the stomach, sending him flying into the air. Frag lands with a soft grunt, rubbing his now-bruised stomach; the ice crystals left by Smash Maestro's punch begin to melt as he makes his tender way back to their appointed battle area. Smash Maestro just grins and adjusts his hat before striding confidently back to his side of the pavement. You know what they say: revenge is a dish best served with a cold fist to the face.

Aletheia (O)

Frag (m) <Sand Veil, Ice Body> @ Dragon Fang, Knit Cap
Health: 79%
Energy: 87%
Currently: Determined to persevere through Smash Maestro's attacks. Poisoned (toxic: 1% damage this round, 2% next).
Commands: Scary Face ~ Iron Head ~ Dragon Rush

Eta Carinae (O)

Smash Maestro (m) <Sheer Force, Sand Rush> @ Black Belt, Fedora
Health: 78%
Energy: 91%
Currently: Glad that what went around came around. -2 Speed.
Used: Toxic ~ (flinched) ~ Ice Punch

Field Notes
-Rounds until hat change: 4.
-Movement order: Frag (42) > Smash Maestro (20).

Action Notes
-Note that Smash Maestro's final damage will be boosted by a variable amount (depending on the type effectiveness of the move in question; 0 if the attack is not very effective, 1 if the attack is normally or 1.5x effective, 2 if the attack is 2x effective) due to his experience.
-I ref speed changes as ±10 each, and movement order as always by base speed, even if the difference is minimal. I ref Toxic poison as starting at 3% a round, then increasing by 1% per round, but still dealing damage per action. Negrek has brought up the point that Toxic poison is much easier to inflict than regular poison, and thus shouldn't be a pure upgrade of it, so I'm now following the DEG's scale on it.
-Iron Head caused Smash Maestro to flinch. Dragon Rush was this close but didn't.
-Smash Maestro's speed drop from Scary Face will wear off in 2 more actions or if Frag ceases to frighten him before that.

Aletheia commands next.

so admittedly I could have just asked about how minor speed discrepancies are worked out in these parts, but we got a good crowd reaction! I'll do anything to get that coveted Entertainment Award that I'm sure is going to be introduced at the end of this tournament

so! since they liked your moves so much, and since we need to do something to stop that icky sheep from freeze-punching you into oblivion, strut your stuff- nay, show your Swagger some more

after that, keep blowing them away with your Dragon Breath (and if you can make him freeze up, that's definitely appreciated)

if he won't have it (Protects), make it Hail to show your displeasure >:B

Swagger/Hail~Dragon Breath/Hail (x2)

He should have to wait to see what you do on the first action, so try and Taunt first. Then two more Ice Punches. If you become paralyzed, switch to Focus Blast. If you can't get out a Taunt before he moves on the first action, don't worry about it, and use Focus Energy instead to hopefully calm yourself down.

Taunt/Focus Energy ~ Ice Punch/Focus Blast x2

Aletheia (O)

Frag (m) <Sand Veil, Ice Body> @ Dragon Fang, Knit Cap
Health: 77%
Energy: 87%
Currently: Determined to persevere through Smash Maestro's attacks. Poisoned (toxic: 1% damage this round, 2% next).
Commands: Swagger / Hail ~ Dragon Breath / Hail ~ Dragon Breath / Hail

Eta Carinae (O)

Smash Maestro (m) <Sheer Force, Sand Rush> @ Black Belt, Fedora
Health: 78%
Energy: 91%
Currently: Glad that what went around came around.
Commands: Taunt / Focus Energy ~ Ice Punch / Focus Blast ~ Ice Punch / Focus Blast

Field Notes
-Rounds until hat change: 4.
-Movement order: Frag (42) > Smash Maestro (20).


The normally tame break between rounds is instead spirited; the members of the crowd closest to the battle murmur quietly to their neighbors, occasionally gesturing to each other, while those further in the back try to shove past the people obstructing their view of the Pokemon. It looked like the two battlers were fairly evenly matched at the end of the first round, but that could change at any time: it all hinged on the trainers' commands and the blessing of the random number gods. As the referee lowers her flags to signal the beginning of the round, the trainers back away from their Pokemon and the crowd quiets down, waiting in anticipative silence.

Frag waits a few seconds to determine if Smash Maestro will guard against his next move. Soon satisfied, he waddles up to the Gurdurr and screeches to catch his attention before beginning to boast about how he's clearly the better Pokemon and will definitely win that shiny Entertainment Award—yep, a real dragon like him, not some uncouth, punch-happy bodybuilder lugging some hunk of rebar around. Seriously? He isn't even cute, and everyone knows that's what really matters.

Unfortunately, much of the audience, not being versed in Giblese, can't understand Frag's speech and become utterly confused when Smash Maestro, shaking with anger at the dreadful insults to his appearance, abandons any thoughts of insulting his opponent. Instead, the Gurdurr takes a deep breath, trying to restrain himself from running straight at Frag in his rage, then looks away from the smug little dragon and shuts his eyes in an attempt to concentrate. Gradually, he blocks out Frag's continued taunts, the clamor of the crowd, and eventually everything around him, leaving him with nothing but his breathing, his thoughts, and his memories of the Gible's gloating. With one last exhale, Smash Maestro opens his eyes and hefts up his girder (not "some hunk of rebar", thanks much) newly readied for battle. The Entertainment Award one was a low blow, but the best path to victory would be a calm, controlled one.

Frag frowns and tries to ignore the puzzled stares of the spectators behind him. His bragging didn't have the precise effect he wanted it to, and he isn't liking that slightly murderous look in Smash Maestro's eyes… But he could still show off for the crowd with something a little more understandable: pure and utter destruction. The Gible imbues the air in front of him with the draconic energy contained in his inner dragonfire and the Dragon Fang around his neck, creating a deadly turquoise cloud of crippling chemicals and mythical energy. Opening his mouth theatrically, Frag blows the cloud as hard as he can towards Smash Maestro. The Gurdurr steps boldly into the attack in an attempt to block most of it with his girder, but succeeds only in procuring more chemical burns than normal; however, Smash Maestro does heed his trainer's desperate shouts not to inhale any of the debilitating agent. Frag grins as cameras flash behind him and to the front, but he grimaces internally as a poison-induced cramp suddenly strikes his stomach.

Once the worst of his opponent's attack has dispersed, Smash Maestro rubs absently at the energy burns along the sides of his arms before turning to face the Gible and summoning the same blue sphere as before. With a yell, the Gurdurr rushes towards Frag, crystals of ice already appearing on his closed fist, and delivers a fierce blow, this time hitting Frag's hat and driving the Gible into the stone pavement; Frag squeals as the cobblestones scrape his skin from below and the icicles on Smash Maestro's fist dig in from above. Once he recovers, he desperately tries to right his cap, which has slipped down to cover his eyes. After sticking his girder straight into the ground and adjusting his own hat, Smash Maestro simply leans against the girder, folds his arms, and laughs. Who's got the upper hand now?

Determined to make up for Smash Maestro showing him up, Frag concentrates again on combining teal dragonfire and some paralysis-causing chemicals. Focusing on making his attack better, faster, and showier, the Gible moves his head back and forth as he breathes the noxious mix out, forming a serpentine streamer of energy that weaves through the air towards an unsuspecting Smash Maestro. The Gurdurr lets down his guard for just a second as Viola makes another pass overhead, snapping a great shot of Smash smirking up at her with fedora in hand, and he inhales without thinking as the Dragon Breath sears his skin. Soon enough, though, he can feel the consequences of his mistake; the chemicals inherent to the attack creep insidiously into his limbs, preventing him from moving quickly.

But now the gloves are off. Spasming though he is, Smash Maestro manages to form a tiny sphere of glowing reddish-brown energy, barely as large as one of his fingers. The Gurdurr pours more and more force into the attack, shuddering with the pure energy passing through his body, until the shining sphere is as large as he is. The audience gradually grows louder and louder in anticipation of this great attack, and Smash Maestro manages the tiniest of winks before releasing the ball of now-sparking amber energy, which expands to blanket the area. Spectators scurry to get out of the blast's way, but Frag is not so lucky; the Gible is swept up by the force of the blow and buffeted by wave after wave of pure Fighting energy, trapped in a tornado of whirling amber. The toxins circulating throughout his body choose now to make themselves known, and Frag is seized by a convulsion even as the vortex around him grinds to a halt. Breathing heavily, he slowly picks himself off the pavement and makes his way back to the battle area, where Smash Maestro is waiting with a cocky smirk. Still determined to keep going, Frag levels a stare back as the referee lowers her flags.

Aletheia (O)

Frag (m) <Sand Veil, Ice Body> @ Dragon Fang, Knit Cap
Health: 42% (capped)
Energy: 79%
Currently: Slowly recovering his wits. Poisoned (toxic: 2% damage this round, 3% next).
Used: Swagger ~ Dragon Breath ~ Dragon Breath

Eta Carinae (O)

Smash Maestro (m) <Sheer Force, Sand Rush> @ Black Belt, Fedora
Health: 57%
Energy: 72%
Currently: Satisfied he at least made a comeback. Confused (moderate: 25% chance of failure). Paralyzed (severe: 34% Speed, 22% chance of failure). +2 Attack.
Used: Focus Energy ~ Ice Punch ~ Focus Blast

Field Notes
-Rounds until hat change: 3.
-Movement order: Frag (42) > Smash Maestro (13.6).

Action Notes
-Smash Maestro's speed drop wore off after the second action.
-Frag was only ordered to use a different attack if Smash Maestro used a prioritized or reactive move, and the speed difference between them was great enough on the first action that Frag was able to Swagger before Smash Maestro could Taunt, so Smash used Focus Energy. However, because he was using it to better his confusion, its secondary effects didn't apply.
-Frag's first Dragon Breath was a critical hit, and the second paralyzed Smash Maestro, but Smash didn't hurt himself in confusion at all, and Focus Miss hit. Keep it up with the RNG shrines, guys.
-http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=V7R4nHne is the list of moves I roll for paralysisfails for. Smash will gain back 9% of his speed (3.6 points) and lose 3% of his chance to paralysisfail at the end of every action he doesn't paralysisfail.
-Frag hit the damage cap on the third action.

Eta Carinae commands next.

Good Job, Maestro, though your status conditions are a bit worrying. Not much we can do about those really (I won't even ask if a Pokemon can use Smelling Salts on itself), so let's keep on beating on him! Focus Blast twice I think, using Focus Energy to clear your mind if you can't hit him for any reason other than a Substitute. Last action use Focus Blast if one of your first two was unsuccessful (miss, confusionfail, etc.) or you haven't used it twice. Work Up if you have used it twice, successfully, at that point, or you can't him for any reason besides a sub. Second action, if you would use Focus Energy but you already used it on the first action, Chill.

Focus Blast/Focus Energy ~ Focus Blast/Focus Energy/Chill ~ Focus Blast/Work Up

grr and other noises like that >:(

this is an Outrage! (3 actions? if it ends before that try a Facade or something)

Outrage/Facade x∞

Aletheia (O)

Frag (m) <Sand Veil, Ice Body> @ Dragon Fang, Knit Cap
Health: 42%
Energy: 79%
Currently: Slowly recovering his wits. Poisoned (toxic: 2% damage this round, 3% next).
Used: Swagger ~ Dragon Breath ~ Dragon Breath

Eta Carinae (O)

Smash Maestro (m) <Sheer Force, Sand Rush> @ Black Belt, Fedora
Health: 57%
Energy: 73%
Currently: Satisfied he at least made a comeback. Confused (moderate: 25% chance of failure). Paralyzed (severe: 34% Speed, 22% chance of failure). +2 Attack.
Used: Focus Energy ~ Ice Punch ~ Focus Blast

Field Notes
-Rounds until hat change: 3.
-Movement order: Frag (42) > Smash Maestro (13.6).


Smash Maestro becomes increasingly antsy as the break between rounds goes on and the whispers behind him increase in volume. Frag fidgets with his cap and grins over at him despite the pain, and as if to pour more salt into the wound, some spectators are embroiled in heated debates over which Pokemon will surely win the—oh no they didn't. Face contorted in rage at the crowd's Entertainment Award-oriented jeers, Smash Maestro discards his trainer's plans for him and marches over to Frag. With a guttural roar, the Gurdurr lifts up his girder, eyes wide and red in the corners, and slams the deadly weapon straight into his foot in rage. Smash Maestro winces, drops the girder, and clutches his now-bruised foot. An eager Aletheia supporter shouts, "Good going, pal, keep it u…" and trails off mid-sentence in utter fear as Smash Maestro locks his gaze with the spectator's. Big mistake, pal. Oh, he'll get that Gible…

Across the field, Frag takes deeper and deeper breaths as he allows an arcane and dangerous power over the elements to gradually consume all of his thoughts, senses, and feelings, leaving only anger and strength. Finally, no longer himself, Frag stares with unnaturally dull-looking eyes at his opponent before sprinting towards him, followed by a blazing off-white aura, and leaping on, scratching and tearing and biting at every inch of Smash Maestro he can reach. The aura around him augments the Gible's blows and leaps into the air almost joyfully before descending on the Gurdurr in a yellow-orange bolt. Smash Maestro lets out an "oof!", wind knocked out of him by the force of the blow, and falls to the ground as the last yellow sparks fade away and the orange aura returns to circle Frag, who continues his wild charge.

Eyes still glowing eerily, Frag skids to a halt behind Smash Maestro and whirls around for another go, but the Gurdurr picks himself up gingerly, using his girder for balance, and pours all of his strength into a searing wall of aura, attempting to guard himself before the Gible can change direction. Roaring, Frag runs straight into it and attempts to cleave a path through the burning shield, but is forced away and left to tend the fresh golden energy burns crisscrossing his front and arms. As if depicting his frustration, the orange energy around Frag forms into an angry dragon, lashing out at the amber energy of Smash Maestro's Focus Blast. The two opposing energies back off, circle each other, and then whip forwards, colliding in a flash of reddish sparks and throwing their creators in opposite directions.

As the battlers stand up and move closer once more, each breathing hard and eyeing the other warily, the Dragon energy whirling in snakelike tentacles around Frag lashes out one last time, leaving a gaping slash over Smash Maestro's left hip, before dissipating along with the burning glow in Frag's eyes. Rampage over, the disoriented Gible glances around in bewilderment as the power of the dragon muddles his senses and delays his reactions, and Smash Maestro uses the opening to throw another wave of energy at him, hurling the defenseless Frag across the pavement.

Frag gulps down a poison-induced nausea spell before glaring over at Smash Maestro. Now he's just had it. Abandoning any pretense of "entertainment" and mentally fighting into submission the supernatural force that threatens to consume his senses again, the Gible charges at his opponent, fists sparking with white energy. With a vicious roar, Frag leaps onto Smash Maestro and pounds the Gurdurr, acting totally on instinct, until the Maestro conquers his surprise and forces Frag off with a well-timed swipe of his girder. As the referee lowers her flags, both Pokemon back off and glare at each other while nursing the various wounds they gained from the past round. The spectators' murmurs become louder and louder; it looks like this one's going to come down to the wire.

Aletheia (O)

Frag (m) <Sand Veil, Ice Body> @ Dragon Fang, Knit Cap
Health: 7% (capped)
Energy: 60%
Currently: Tired and frustrated. Poisoned (toxic: 3% damage this round, 4% next). Confused (severe: 40% chance of failure).
Used: Outrage ~ Outrage ~ Facade

Eta Carinae (O)

Smash Maestro (m) <Sheer Force, Sand Rush> @ Black Belt, Fedora
Health: 16% (capped)
Energy: 55%
Currently: Breathing heavily, but still confident. Paralyzed (moderate: 61% Speed, 13% chance of failure).
Used: (confused) ~ Focus Blast ~ Focus Blast

Field Notes
-Rounds until hat change: 2.
-Movement order: Frag (42) > Smash Maestro (24.4).

Action Notes
-Frag's Outrage lasted two actions.
-Smash Maestro hit himself on action one.
-Smash Maestro's confusion, and the Attack boost from Swagger, faded after the second action.
-Because self-inflicted damage does not count towards the cap, Smash Maestro bypassed it. He hit the cap proper on the last action, as did Frag.
-I deducted 1 more energy for Smash Maestro's Focus Blast last round than I should have, so he gained 1% energy at the start of the round.

Aletheia commands next.

Endure this precarious position first, unless the Maestro goes for a Mach Punch, in which case Protect yourself; once you've finally Endured, take a Rest

Endure/Protect/Rest x3

Let's bring it home, Smash!

Mach Punch x3

pleasedon'tparafailpleasedon'tparafailpleasedon'tparafail

Aletheia (O)

Frag (m) <Sand Veil, Ice Body> @ Dragon Fang, Knit Cap
Health: 7%
Energy: 60%
Currently: Tired and frustrated. Poisoned (toxic: 3% damage this round, 4% next). Confused (severe: 40% chance of failure).
Used: Endure / Protect / Rest x3

Eta Carinae (O)

Smash Maestro (m) <Sheer Force, Sand Rush> @ Black Belt, Fedora
Health: 16%
Energy: 55%
Currently: Breathing heavily, but still confident. Paralyzed (moderate: 61% Speed, 13% chance of failure).
Commands: Mach Punch x3

Field Notes
-Rounds until hat change: 3.
-Movement order: Frag (42) > Smash Maestro (13.6).


The mood of the audience boils to a fever pitch as every spectator volunteers their incredible theory, rebuttal of someone else's incredible theory, or defense of their incredible theory. It seems both Pokemon are in fairly bad shape, but will Frag hit himself in confusion first? What about Smash Maestro's paralysis—will Eta Carinae's RNG sacrifices finally fail him this round? What if a stray Draco Meteor strikes one of the battlers, what then?! The Pokemon aren't immune to the crowd's wild cries; as conscious as ever of its existence, Frag concentrates on repressing the draconic instinct still threatening to consume him, while Smash Maestro does some quick stretches and exercises in an attempt to control his now only intermittent spasming. As the referee lowers her flags, the battlers turn to face each other, and the audience's screams reach ever-higher decibel levels.

There's a tense pause, and then Smash Maestro rockets forwards in a gray-pink blur, the Black Belt around his waist brightening the flickering aura around his fist. He isn't quite fast enough, though, for Frag not to see him coming, and the Gible builds concentration and quickly raises an energy-absorbent wall. Smash Maestro collides with the shield, which easily takes the blow, and backs off, preparing some room for himself to perform the same technique again. But inside the transparent dome, Frag grits his teeth as the shield actively saps his energy, the remaining tiny amber sparks from Smash Maestro's attack still crackling over the surface. Watching his opponent carefully, the Gible lets his shield down and takes a panting breath to clear his head of a sudden bout of poison-induced nausea.

Smash Maestro runs forward again, meeting the same shield in a flash of sparkling energy; it flickers dangerously, but holds back the attack. This time, Frag is visibly sweating with the effort he needs to sustain the dome against Smash Maestro's light punches and his instinct to smash his face in. Couldn't the Gurdurr at least have allowed him some time to rest between attacks? Finally, Smash backs off, the energy traces left by his attacks fade, and the spectators yell even more loudly. It's the last action, shouts one watcher to the next. The round might be decided here!

Frag isn't unconscious of that fact, either. He pours all of his remaining energy into forming a shield, the blaze of Normal energy around him growing brighter and brighter by the moment… But the Protect seems to take an eternity to pop into existence, and it flickers from nearly invisible to completely opaque a few times. Across the pavement, Smash Maestro runs forward once more, finally mastering his twitching limbs, and spots Frag's dome fade for just a second. Convinced that victory is near, the Gurdurr continues forwards, forcing his legs to move, dropping his girder in his haste to reach the Gible, draws his fist back to punch like he's done now twice before—and breaks cleanly through the shield. While Smash Maestro's momentum is slowed slightly by the shattered bubble of energy, the punch is more than enough to take his opponent out of commission.

Eyes bulging, Frag clutches at his Dragon Fang, valiantly trying to force enough energy into himself to brave the hit, before slumping over with one last sigh. In unconsciousness, his cap slips to cover his eyes before falling completely off as Aletheia recalls xer defeated Pokemon. The trainers shake hands and pose as Viola snaps a final photograph from overhead, and a league Abra teleports everyone back to ASB Central to claim their respective prizes.

Aletheia (x)

Frag (m) <Sand Veil, Ice Body> @ Dragon Fang, Knit Cap
Health: 0%
Energy: 50%
Currently: Down and out.
Used: Protect ~ Protect ~ Protect (failed)

Eta Carinae (O)

Smash Maestro (m) <Sheer Force, Sand Rush> @ Black Belt, Fedora
Health: 16%
Energy: 49%
Currently: Elated.
Used: Mach Punch (blocked) ~ Mach Punch (blocked) ~ Mach Punch

Field Notes
-No parts of the arena were destroyed over the course of the battle, sadly.

And that's that! Good game, everyone. Eta Carinae progresses to the next tournament round and receives $20 and a Rare Candy, while Aletheia gets $10 and I get $18. Smash Maestro receives 2 exp/happiness and may now evolve, while Frag receives 1 exp/happiness.

As for the db, I do have ref powers for this battle, but I'm not sure whether I should close Bluberry Bat vs Eta Carinae and start and then close a new one, or have the existing battle changed to Aletheia vs Eta Carinae for the sake of preserving the start date/battle id number…?
edit: Alright, closed.

Way to go, Maestro! Congrats on acquiring two giant chunks of stone!

Great match Aletheia, thanks for stepping in on short notice! And thanks for the thoroughly entertaining reffings, Keldeo!

EDIT: I think you can just close the original battle and make a new one for this. I feel like battle ids aren't incredibly important.

it was a valiant effort

thanks for the brawl!