Round Seven
ultraviolet (O)
![kecleon](http://www.dragonflycave.com/oldforums/images/vbsprites/bw/kecleon.png)
Circe (F) <Vital Spirit>
Health: 25% (capped)
Energy: 31%
Used: Solarbeam ~ Ice Beam ~ Drain Punch
- Struggling to get her breath back. Covered in minor burns. Ice-typed.
Karkat Vantas (O)
![primeape](http://www.dragonflycave.com/oldforums/images/vbsprites/bw/primeape.png)
Kong (M) <Color Change>
Health: 20%
Energy: 37%
Used: Overheat ~ Attracted ~ Counter
- Regretful. Attracted to Circe (mild). Fighting-typed. +2 Attack, -2 Special Attack, +2 Defense
Maroon 5 is chased off the stage by a welter of frantic guitar playing as "Flight of the Bumblebee" comes on over the speakers. The wavering, buzzing tune is uncanny in its ability to put the pokémon in mind of creepy-crawly, flying things, and Circe shivers, unable to shake the feeling that she's covered in little, many-legged creatures. Kong, meanwhile, is scratching irritably at his stubby fur, trying to deter the bites of phantom mites. As ever, the mind is powerful in the face of reality, and the primeape's fur smooths itself down into a kind of light carapace as the primeape takes on something of a bug's characteristics himself, thanks to his stolen color-changing powers.
After a couple last swats at nothing, Circe shudders again and decides that if she's going to get away from these horrible bugs, she's going to have to get moving. The kecleon springs into action, darting back and forth around the stage. Though she appears to move blindingly fast within the reality-warping confines of the trick room, her ability to produce clones is not enhanced, and when all is said and done, six kecleon stand in a ring around Kong, awaiting their opponent's next move with narrowed eyes.
Kong can't help but be nervous to find himself suddenly outnumbered, but his fear is tinged with an edge of longing. The kecleon standing around him are positively radiant in their beauty, unfriendly expressions or no. Why, they're fairly glowing, their scales shedding a fine gold mist of light into the air... Kong sighs, overcome with melancholy to think of the kecleon he is quite sure will never be his.
Circe harbors no similar sentiments. Seeing her opponent with his guard down, she recognizes only an opportunity to attack. The kecleon glows golden as she summons as much energy as she can, power normally locked away and dangerous to use. It's now or never, though--no time for caution. The circle of kecleon around Kong closes as the clones and their creator rush forward as one, then swing around, their coiled-up tails lashing out in unison. Only one of them actually deals any real damage to Kong, striking him full across the face with an impressive
crack!, but it's more than enough. The primeape is knocked off his feet, his fur springing up again, now pale and wispy as dandelion fuzz as he chances types once again.
Kong picks himself up off the stage with a slow deliberation born of rage. It's anger at himself more than anything, for being taken in by Circe once again, tempered with the knowledge that unless he finishes this battle quickly, he's going to lose. It's the primeape's turn to charge up now, blue-white sparks of light dancing in the air around him as he focuses his thoughts on striking a decisive blow. The primeape rushes forward, heedless of the way the new gash across his face is starting to drip blood into his eyes, and brings a fist down atop the first kecleon he sees.
It passes right through the clone and shatters the floorboards beneath with its tremendous force. Kong falls to one knee, blinking blood out of his eyes and huffing with exhaustion as he stares numbly at his throbbing hand, still wedged into the hole it's created in the floor. That's it--it's over. He screwed up again, and any second now Circe's next attack is going to come flying in to knock him out for good.
As it turns out, though, the primeape's luck hasn't quite forsaken him. The powerful spell Circe wove over the arena is fraying at last, the brilliant lines of force supporting the trick room flickering and dissolving back into empty air. As time resumes its proper course, Kong feels suddenly energized, returned to some approximation of his usual restless, quick-footed self. The primeape rises to his feet, wrenching his hand free of the stage. He rounds on Circe and her four clones, rejoicing in his one last chance to win and determined not to waste it. Once again energy dances in the air around him as he prepares his attack, and this time, as he flies at the kecleon on the far right, he is rewarded by seeing its eyes widen as he draws near. This time the primeape's punch hits home, slamming into Circe's stomach and sending her sailing through the air, all her clones evaporating in an instant. She hits the far wall of the stage with a heavy thud, then falls back to the stage to land facedown, limp and unconscious, as the audience cheers.
ultraviolet (X)
![kecleon](http://www.dragonflycave.com/oldforums/images/vbsprites/bw/kecleon.png)
Circe (F) <Vital Spirit>
Health: 0%
Energy: 19%
Used: Double Team ~ Last Resort
Knocked Out!
Karkat Vantas (O)
![primeape](http://www.dragonflycave.com/oldforums/images/vbsprites/bw/primeape.png)
Kong (M) <Color Change>
Health: 7%
Energy: 20%
Used: Attracted ~ Reversal x2
Victorious!
Kong hoots and prances around the stage, fists held high in the air as his fur slowly begins to take on its usual dense, creamy appearance. Karkat Vantas appears onstage to join his pokémon in celebration, although he's careful not to get too close to Kong, who is having considerable difficulty seeing through blood-scummed eyes and is throwing mock punches with more enthusiasm than it would be wise to tempt. ultraviolet makes her entrance shortly thereafter, collecting her fainted pokémon and receiving her own round of applause, and she and Karkat exchange a handshake before the referee joins them to distribute the closing prizes.
Good game, you guys. Sorry that the refereeing process was at times tortuous. In the end, Karkat gets $20 and a ticket into round three, while ultraviolet gets $10, and I get $15. Kong gets two EXP, and Circe, one.