Arena: Bubbly Clouds
The arena is a platform of impossibly solid clouds in an equally improbable breathable atmosphere. The arena measures about six meters across, and any pokemon that somehow gets pushed over the edge receives 40% damage which ignores the damage cap. Flying moves get a 1% power boost at this high altitude, and since you're above the clouds, the only weather move that actually does anything is Rain Dance-which simply causes the cloud to be charged with electricity, doing 5% electric damage to each pokemon in the middle of each round.
Except for the first round, at the beginning of each round, Kracko Jr. has a thirty percent chance of appearing at the very beginning of each round and dropping three to four bombs in the general direction of the fighters. The bombs have a base power of 55 and are typeless, although ghosts will take half as much damage from them.
Pretzzel (O)
Ruse (x) <Illuminate>
HP: 90% | Substitute: 4%
PP: 77%
Status: Gaining confidence by the second.
moon-panther (O)
Halan (m) <Steadfast>
HP: 75%
PP: 79%
Status: Rather confused and unhappy.
Paralyzed (severe).
Accuracy -1.
Though it doesn’t feel very tired, Ruse doesn’t object to its command, instead releasing its hold on gravity and dropping gently to the platform. The staryu can immediately feel itself calming down; it’s barely noticeable, since it was hardly exhausted, but no one really objects to a break.
Except for Halan. The riolu grits his teeth; he stands only a few feet away from the resting staryu – not that he could tell – and yet is unable to move an inch. He was quite sure that
this move would have cured his pesky blindness, but noo, his stupid muscles have to object! He curses under his breath, wishing vengeance.
Slowly, Ruse rises from the platform, easily finding Halan and focusing on him. The staryu quickly releases another burst of water, accompanied by a high-pitched echoing scream; both hit the paralyzed Halan, knocking him onto his back and pushing him ever closer to the edge of the platform. Luckily he stops several feet away from it when the water dies out.
Halan shakes himself, water droplets jumping off him and landing everywhere. Clearly his paralysis has lifted for now, though he doesn’t take this for granted. The riolu is already feeling downtrodden, so early in the battle. He frowns, closing his eyes, and focuses.
With his eyes closed, it takes him a few moments before he can really see. The arena comes to focus within a few seconds, a gentle blue aura surrounding him; since the platform isn’t alive, the aura is weak, barely noticeable. But in front of him glows an incredibly bright aura – in a shape he knows quite well, by now. Beside the staryu, though, is another star; this one glows much less bright. Halan shrugs this one off, figuring it to be unimportant. The star-shaped Ruse is crystal-clear to Halan now, which is all that matters; the riolu gets to his feet, finally grinning.
Perturbed, Ruse waits a moment before releasing another burst of water towards the riolu. This time it’s more powerful than even Ruse expected; both Pokémon hear the screaming accompanying the water, and the crash as Halan is knocked onto his side once more, pushed way too close to the edge of the platform for comfort. He winces as he carefully gets to his feet, his eyes still closed; he nearly slips, but manages to stand straight, easily finding Ruse.
And much to the staryu’s dismay, the riolu charges. He seems to have no difficulty aiming this time – even with his eyes closed! – and reaches Ruse within seconds, too fast for the staryu to see anything. Its fear is quickly replaced by relief as its substitute jumps in the way, taking the attack; Halan crunches down on the substitute’s ruby center, liquid black energy leaking from his jaws. He shakes his head aggressively, tearing the substitute to bits; the broken substitute fades back to its liquid form, creating a puddle on the platform below. Wiping his mouth, Halan opens his eyes at last, squinting at Ruse’s bright illumination. He finally feels some confidence.
Ruse, on the other hand, is stunned by his display of aggression. Its coolness gone, the staryu is instead startled and even annoyed; that crazy riolu could have
killed it. It should be locked in a cage or something.
Crazy, crazy riolu.
Pretzzel (O)
Ruse (x) <Illuminate>
HP: 90%
PP: 78%
Status: Deeply perturbed.
moon-panther (O)
Halan (m) <Steadfast>
HP: 55%
PP: 69%
Status:
’Yeah! How d’you
like it?!’
Paralyzed (moderate).
Accuracy -1.
Notes
- Halan was paralyzed on the first action.
- Ruses’s second Water Pulse was a critical hit.
- Pretzzel attacks first.