[09] Heavy Lobster vs Grass King

1vs1 Single
DQ: 3 Days
Damage Cap: 35%
Banned Moves: direct healers limited to 1/pokémon, chills 3/pokémon

Terrain: Artisan Cave

While crowds gather to watch the league championships rage aboveground, a smaller, rather more furtive group of trainers are drawing together in a somewhat more subterranean locale. A small, ragged opening in the side of the cliff at the edge of the Battle Frontier leads into a surprisingly spacious cavern. This is the fabled Artisan's Cave, home to Hoenn's only native population of smeargle and now the stomping ground of trainers looking to shoulder their way into the ranks of those battling for the championship.

Powerful halogen lights cast a cold white glow through what would ordinarily be a dim cave, and most of the wild smeargle have been scared away by the crowd and the unnatural illumination. One or two can still be seen lurking in the shadows, curiosity overcoming fear, and every trainer has managed to acquire one--which they are now frantically training up, teaching all the techniques they can think of before a battle in which the freshly-caught pokémon will be their only companion.

The center of the cave is flat and open stone, leaving plenty of space for unhindered brawling. Around the edges, though, it starts to rise in uneven, craggy tiers, with plenty of loose stones and jutting stalagmites providing a potential means of escape or gaining higher ground for any smeargle inclined to take advantage. The ceiling of the cavern is high enough as to be lost in darkness so that any weather conditions magically called into play by the smeargle's sketch will function as normal.

A whine of feedback cuts through the chatter of the trainers crowded into Artisan's Cave, eliciting winces and expectant silence in the anxious group. Battle pairings are read off and a general scuffle ensues as people try to pair up, try to find an empty spot to start their match, try to figure out where their smeargle got off to while they weren't looking. After brief confusion most of the trainers manage to get sorted out, a couple giving a last few desperate instructions to their smeargle companions, gesturing with paint-spattered hands while the pokémon looks on in confusion. As the referee appears to handle the match, there can be no more stalling: nervous smeargle are hurriedly ordered forward, commands are given, and the battles commence--while, all the while, curious eyes gleam out of the darkness as the round's strange audience crowds around just out of reach of the light, waiting to see the outcome of this unexpected gathering.

Grass King's smeargle: Picasso (M) <Technician>
Moveset: Sketch, Tail Whip, Doubleslap, Iron Tail, Protect, Drain Punch, Counter, Draco Meteor, Spore, PoisonPowder, Zap Cannon, Tri Attack, Dream Eater, Leech Seed, Magnitude, Transform, Wring Out, Ancientpower, Aqua Tail, Aqua Ring, Aura Sphere

Heavy Lobster's Smeargle: Jutsu (M)
Moveset: Sketch, Tail Whip, Doubleslap, Iron Tail, Protect, Lock-On, Spore, Substitute, Roost, Surf, Counter, Mirror Coat, Taunt, Fire Blast, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Hydro Pump, Ancient Power, Brick Break, Aqua Ring, Psych Up

1. Heavy Lobster gives attacks and declares an ability for his smeargle
2. Grass King attacks

Hmmm... Maybe I should have thought of a strategy beforehand... Anyway, Technician seems like the obvious choice here

Alrighty then, our first problem here Jutsu is that we have the same speed, so using moves like Taunt, Substitute, and Psych Up may end up with... interesting consequences, though that is no matter at present.

Begin with an Aqua Ring to start, as there's nothing better than a bit of HP Recovery. Then a Brick Break, followed with Ancient Power. If he protects on either of the last two actions, take the opportunity to get to high ground by jumping up onto the crags on the edge. If at any point he uses Draco Meteor, I want you to Sketch it (unless he uses it more than once, then continue with your normal commands).

Aqua Ring / Sketch ~ Brick Break / Get to Higher Ground / Sketch ~ Ancient Power / Get to Higher Ground / Sketch

I just know I've looked over something, I just know it...

OKay Picasso. Start off with a Leech Seed, to steal that helth he's giving himself. Then use Drain Punch twice.

Leech Seed ~ Drain Punch ~ Drain Punch

Grass King (O)

Picasso (M)
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
- Twirling his tail in his hand, looking confident.

Heavy Lobster (O)

Jutsu (M)
Health: 100%
Energy: 100%
- Raring to go.

The two smeargle, identical save for tiny variations in the markings on their backs, just stare at one another across the arena, for a moment seeming at a loss for what to do. Then their newly-learned attacks start to come back to them, cutting through their excitement and nervousness, and they clutch their tails tighter, ready to draw into being their first moves of the match. Picasso whips his tail forward, sending several droplets of green paint sailing across the arena at his opponent. Jutsu raises a paw to shield his face, and they splatter his arm and chest. Immediately upon touching his skin, though, the paint transforms, turning to shoots that stretch up towards the powerful lights overhead and roots that burrow into Jutsu's flesh, feeding on his blood. The smeargle looks down in shock at the leech seeds that have planted themselves in his body where just a moment before there were nothing but splashes of paint.

As a smeargle, though, he's ultimately seen much weirder appear from his comrades' paintings; Jutsu doesn't dwell long on the leech seeds, instead drawing his tail in a broad ring around his body. Paint flows off the tip of his brush and up into empty air, where it transforms into water and begins to swirl with a life of its own, forming an unbroken ring of liquid that hangs suspended around his body, constantly splashing him with a stream of cool, soothing water.

Picasso is already at work on his next attack, brow knitted in concentration as he draws an intricate symbol on the back of his left paw. As he puts the finishing touches on it, it starts to glow green, and the smeargle runs at his opponent. As Picasso approaches Jutsu, the glow spreads and extends into long tendrils of green energy that wrap themselves around the smeargle's paw and wrists. Picasso draws his fist back and fires off a punch, striking Jutsu square in the gut and causing him to double over even as the green light latches onto him, greedily sucking away his lifeforce. Though the injured smeargle quickly staggers back to break the connection, the drain punch routes some of his health back into Picasso, energizing the smeargle still more.

Before his opponent can back away again, Jutsu scrawls a quick symbol of his own on his paw and then, possessed of a new power, leaps forward and deals a shattering blow to Picasso's shoulder. The strike spins Picasso around so that the next blow falls on his side, and a final punch catches him in the back, slamming him facefirst into the ground. While Picasso lies on the ground in a daze, Jutsu takes advantage of the moment's respite to draw the rough outline of several rocks in the air in front of him, feathering the edges of his lines up into hazy auras of power. As he passes energy into his paint, the outlines are filled by real rocks, rocks burning with a weird spirit aura. A gesture of Jutsu's tail sends them piling atop Picasso, leaving the smeargle bruised and burned.

Picasso's not done for yet, though, and he easily shoves the relatively small rocks off himself, renewing the symbol on his paw with a couple of quick strokes. He rushes in for another drain punch, and Jutsu winces and struggles to get away--between the leech seed and the drain punches, he's beginning to feel rather parasitized.

Grass King (O)

Picasso (M)
Health: 91%
Energy: 86%
- Enjoying a steady stream of health from his opponent.

Heavy Lobster (O)

Jutsu (M)
Health: 74%
Energy: 88%
- Bruised and a little disheartened. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Seeded (3%/round).

Final Notes
- Grass King attacks first next round.

Okay Picasso, it's time for status inflictions!

OKay start off with a Spore. Then Tri-Attack and PoisonPowder.
If he sucessfully Protects, then replace the action with Aqua Ring. If he sucessfully protects and youv'e already used Aqua Ring, then just do nothing.

Spore / Aqua Ring ~ Tri-Attack / Aqua Ring / Nothing ~ PoisonPowder/ Aqua Ring / Nothing

Simple Strategy

Protect ~ Spore ~ Brick Break

Grass King (O)

Picasso (M)
Health: 91%
Energy: 86%
- Enjoying a steady stream of health from his opponent.

Heavy Lobster (O)

Jutsu (M)
Health: 74%
Energy: 88%
- Bruised and a little disheartened. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Seeded (3%/round).

This time Jutsu is the first to act, swiping his tail back and forth through the air in front of him to lay down a quick layer of paint. The fluid transforms into a thin, translucent green barrier as soon as it leaves the smeargle's tail, and in moments the smeargle has sketched himself a protective sphere of energy, strong enough to withstand even the greatest attack.

Picasso doesn't really feel like testing Jutsu's defenses at the moment, though. The smeargle instead draws his tail in a circle around himself, creating a mirror of the aqua ring that rushes around Jutsu's body even now. As the paint transforms into water, Jutsu enjoys the refreshing spray against his fur while waiting for his opponent to give up on the protect.

As it becomes clear that no attack is forthcoming, Jutsu grumbles to himself and kicks the inside of his protect bubble, shattering it and giving himself clear access to his opponent again. He sprays a fine mist of paint from his tail which, as it drifts through the air, morphs into a cloud of light green spores. As the cloud engulfs Picasso, the smeargle sneezes and rubs at his eyes, which begin to water--but he doesn't have long to be irritated by the attack. The spores that he breathes in work quickly to smother his neurons, sending him into a deep slumber in the blink of an eye.

Jutsu smirks as Picasso falls to the floor, a faint dusting of green spores clinging to his fur and his eyes closed. It looks as though he'll have a bit of a respite before he has to worry about more of that smeargle's meddling. Jutsu takes his time painting a rune on the back of his paw, then lopes forward. It's a little awkward to punch at something lying on the ground, but Jutsu compensates easily enough, slamming three powerful blows into his unresisting opponent's side. Picasso jerks and whimpers in his sleep with each strike, but he doesn't awaken. Jutsu retreats a couple of paces and watches his opponent critically. Picasso might not be making any trouble for the moment, but Jutsu really doesn't want to be caught off-guard when the other smeargle awakens.

Grass King (O)

Picasso (M)
Health: 87%
Energy: 82%
- Sprawled out on the floor. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Deeply asleep.

Heavy Lobster (O)

Jutsu (M)
Health: 74%
Energy: 75%
- Smug, but not so enough to let his guard down. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Seeded (3%/round).

Final Notes
- Heavy lobster attacks first next round.

Brick Break if he's asleep, Spore if he's awake. If he wakes up and uses Taunt replace Spores with Ancient Powers for the rest of the round

Brick Break / Spore / Ancient Power ~ Brick Break / Spore / Ancient Power ~ Brick Break / Spore / Ancient Power

DQ warning for Grass King.

Do nothing if you're alseep. If you wake up, try and get a spore in before he can get you. If you're awake and he's asleep, then use Dream Eater.

Nothing/Spore ~ Nothing/Spore/Dream Eater ~ Nothing/Spore/Dream Eater

Grass King (O)

Picasso (M)
Health: 87%
Energy: 82%
- Sprawled out on the floor. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Deeply asleep.

Heavy Lobster (O)

Jutsu (M)
Health: 74%
Energy: 75%
- Smug, but not enough to let his guard down. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Seeded (3%/round).

There's still no sign of wakefulness from Picasso; the slumbering smeargle drools a bit and shifts around in his sleep, but other than that, he rests quietly. Jutsu creeps up on his opponent and gives him another set of three powerful punches, causing Picasso to whimper and curl in on himself, murmuring and shuddering as the heavy blows fall.

Though Jutsu watches with a critical eye, Picasso still gives no indication of being on the verge of waking up, ready for revenge. Although he's starting to feel a little uneasy, the smeargle slams another brick break into his unresisting opponent's side. This time, Jutsu is quick to scramble back as Picasso stiffens with a gasp, then opens bleary eyes that water in the harsh light of the lamps strung up overhead. Groaning a bit as he gets back to his feet, the Picasso grimaces as he feels the effects of the beating he's taken while napping.

So Jutsu wants to attack him while he's helpless, is that it? Picasso turns a scornful eye on his opponent and gives his tail a decisive flick. The splatter of paint that flies free of it morphs into a choking cloud of soporific spores as it flies. Jutsu's eyes widen as he sees his spore attack mirrored, but before he can even think about how to avoid it, the spores have settled in around him. Jutsu tries holding his breath and blundering his way out of the spore cloud, but the powder has settled in his fur; as soon as he is forced to gasp for air, the spores invade his body and rapidly drive him into a heavy slumber.

Picasso rubs at a bruise on his shoulder and smirks as Jutsu collapses in a sleeping heap. How's it feel to be on the receiving end, then? His opponent, of course, doesn't answer, sleeping quietly on while Picasso prepares his revenge. Swiping a broad, blank swath of paint into the air before him, Picasso watches as images start to impose themselves onto the empty canvas. The scenes playing out in Jutsu's dreams flicker across the surface of the makeshift window into his mind. Picasso waits until he sees one he particularly likes, then swipes his tail through the smear of paint, absorbing it back into his body. With it comes Picasso's dream, now trapped in the paint's essence, and some of Picasso's more minor injuries fade away as his body eagerly appropriates the new energy to repair some of the damage wrought by the battle.

Grass King (O)

Picasso (M)
Health: 76%
Energy: 70%
- Feeling okay. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round).

Heavy Lobster (O)

Jutsu (M)
Health: 64%
Energy: 66%
- Now the one slumbering. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Seeded (3%/round). Deeply asleep.

Final Notes
- Grass King attacks first next round.

Okay start off with a PoisonPowder. Then use Drain Punch twice. If it wakes up, then use Transform and turn into a Gengar.

PoisonPowder/Transform(Gengar) ~ Drain Punch/Transform(Gengar) ~ Drain Punch/Transform(Gengar)

Sleep wars >:3

Spore on the action that you wake up, Nothing if you're asleep, Hydro Pump on him if he's asleep (make sure to take aim on these attacks).

Spore / Nothing ~ Spore / Nothing / Hydro Pump ~ Spore / Nothing / Hydro Pump

Grass King (O)

Picasso (M)
Health: 76%
Energy: 70%
- Feeling okay. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round).

Heavy Lobster (O)

Jutsu (M)
Health: 64%
Energy: 66%
- Now the one slumbering. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Seeded (3%/round). Deeply asleep.

Justu sleeps on peacefully, no more than the shadow of a grimace passing across his face to suggest that he notices a sudden paucity in his subconscious. Picasso rubs his paws together, enjoying a clear moment to think with no direct threat from his opponent. Then he gives his tail a gentle flick, scattering a shower of paint droplets through the air. The attack takes shape much like the spore before it, but this time the fine powder produced is a toxic purple that settles in a smothering cloud over Jutsu. The sleeping smeargle's deep breathing draws the poisonpowder into the most remote corners of his lungs, and poison begins to seep into his bloodstream through the thin membranes.

The poisonpowder burns going down, and Jutsu is racked with coughs as he inhales the noxious stuff. Opening bleary eyes, the smeargle struggles out of the cloud of poisonous powder, choking and gagging. Picasso frowns, reflecting on just how little respite spore gave him, and gets ready to paint himself an entirely new body. Jutsu is quicker to the draw, though, his shoulders shaking with coughs but his head clear enough for him to whip his tail around, casting another dusting of spores through the air. Picasso is taken completely by surprise and engulfed by the attack, but his recent encounter with spore does offer him some protection. He struggles to stay awake for several seconds, but the spore is just a little too strong for him--he finally collapses in fitful slumber, a light dusting of spores drifting to the ground all around him.

Still stifling the occasional cough, Jutsu raises his tail again and blasts a thick column of paint at his slumbering opponent. The green liquid twists in on itself, transforming to water as it flies and utterly soaking Picasso as it connects with his body, powerwashing the spore off the stone floor of the cave and actually pushing Picasso back about half a foot. Sodden and shivering, the smeargle tosses and turns in his sleep, already restless and fighting his way back towards wakefulness.

Grass King (O)

Picasso (M)
Health: 68%
Energy: 64%
- Lying in the middle of a large puddle, drenched. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Lightly asleep.

Heavy Lobster (O)

Jutsu (M)
Health: 64%
Energy: 66%
- Throat and lungs burning. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Seeded (3%/round). Poisoned (3%/round).

Final Notes
- Because Picasso had so recently been put to sleep by spore, its effects on him were much more mild as his body was already prepared to fight it.
- Heavy lobster attacks first next round.

No more Spores Jutsu, that strategy has run itself out. Hydro Pump if he's asleep, Brick Break if he's awake.

Hydro Pump / Brick Break ~ Hydro Pump / Brick Break ~ Hydro Pump / Brick Break

Do nothing if you're asleep. When you wake up, Counter his Brick Break's.

Nothing/Counter ~ Nothing/Counter ~ Nothing/Counter

Grass King (O)

Picasso (M)
Health: 68%
Energy: 64%
- Lying in the middle of a large puddle, drenched. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Lightly asleep.

Heavy Lobster (O)

Jutsu (M)
Health: 64%
Energy: 66%
- Throat and lungs burning. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Seeded (3%/round). Poisoned (3%/round).

Once more Jutsu spews a firehose-strength blast of paint from his tail--but this time, unfortunately, he has a bit more difficulty controlling it. The roaring column of water jets into the rock just beyond Picasso, its roaring crash snapping the smeargle out of slumber with a start; as Justu starts to bring the hydro pump into line with its target, Picasso scrambles out of the way, slipping a bit on the slick rock but encouraged not to stay still for long by the watery hiss of the hydro pump just behind him.

Jutsu frowns as the hydro pump peters out without striking his opponent; he's a bit winded after using such a powerful attack twice in a row, but at least he looks better off than Picasso, who is drenched and shivering, paint running in watery gobs from the tip of his tail. At least, Jutsu reflects, his next attack is much surer to hit its mark. Swiping symbols of power on the back of his paws, the smeargle takes off, ready to give Picasso another brick-break pummeling. This time, though, the other smeargle is prepared for the attack. As Jutsu draws nearer, Picasso draws a couple of hasty markings on his own paws, which start to glow a deep brown color as he gets into a defensive stance.

Picasso lets the first two blows that Jutsu launches land unpunished, but as soon as the other smeargle strikes with his third, Picasso grabs his arm, drags him into a spin, and hurls him to the floor with energy-enhanced strength. Jutsu stares up at the ceiling in a daze, the breath slammed out of his lungs and his entire body aching.

Picasso smirks as Jutsu slowly gets back to his feet. The other smeargle looks across at Picasso and grimaces as he starts to draw the same symbols on the backs of his paws. Just as he had expected, Picasso repeats his attack as well, and the same series of events plays out as before. In the end, Jutsu is left groaning on the floor, while Picasso is breathing heavily, the strain of enduring such powerful blows and converting them into destructive force taking an obvious toll on him.

Grass King (O)

Picasso (M)
Health: 52%
Energy: 43%
- Tired and still rather wet. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round).

Heavy Lobster (O)

Jutsu (M)
Health: 29% (capped)
Energy: 50%
- Lying on the ground and in serious pain. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Seeded (3%/round). Poisoned (3%/round).

Final Notes
- Grass King attacks first next round.

Counter any Physical Attacks, Aura Sphere any other time.

Counter / Aura Sphere ~ Counter / Aura Sphere ~ Counter / Aura Sphere

Well, I'm pretty sure I've lost anyway, but let's just go ahead and do this.

LEROY JENKINS!

Mirror Coat x3

Grass King (O)

Picasso (M)
Health: 52%
Energy: 43%
- Tired and still rather wet. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round).

Heavy Lobster (O)

Jutsu (M)
Health: 29% (capped)
Energy: 50%
- Lying on the ground and in serious pain. Surrounded by an aqua ring (+3%/round). Seeded (3%/round). Poisoned (3%/round).

Picasso takes a moment to rest, watching warily as Jutsu painfully gets back to his feet. The other smeargle is quite the sight, leech seeds growing all throughout his fur, soaked by the ring of water continually flowing around his body. Picasso smirks, taking a little heart, then raises his tail and describes a ring in the air with his brush. As paint flows into the circle, fleshing it out into a sphere, Jutsu draws a circle of his own. Rather than turning into a ball of raging energy, though, the paint that Jutsu spreads over its center turns metallic.

The mirror is complete just in time to deflect the aura sphere attack, bouncing the attack straight back at Picasso at twice the speed. The smeargle is blown off his feet, totally unprepared for the ferocity of the return strike. Meanwhile, Jutsu's mirror crumbles, an ache seeping back into his body as he absorbs the damage that it took.

Picasso scrambles back up but then hesitates. He has a feeling that this action's not going to play out any better than the last, but, well... what better option does he have? Resigning himself to the inevitability of counterattack, the smeargle describes another aura sphere in the air and sends it shooting off at Jutsu. As before, the other smeargle simply reflects it back, leaving Picasso reeling from twice the power of his own blow.

By this point, Jutsu looks to be on his last legs, though. The paw holding his paintbrush trembles, and it appears to be all the smeargle can do just to remain standing. Grimly, Picasso sketches up another aura sphere, while Jutsu does his best to set up a mirror coat. The weakened smeargle isn't fast enough, though; Picasso's ball of power smashes straight through the half-finished mirror coat and strikes the smeargle beyond head-on, driving Jutsu full into unconscious in a burst of fighting-type energy.

Grass King (O)

Picasso (M)
Health: 29%
Energy: 25%
Victorious!

Heavy Lobster (X)

Jutsu (M)
Health: 0%
Energy: 24%
Knocked Out!

And with that, Grass King is back in the tournament. Good game to the two of you, and better luck next time, Heavy Lobster. Grass King gets $20 for winning, Heavy Lobster gets $10, and I get $15.