Slamming your fist straight into a goddamn wall of spikes does... 1/8 of Phantasmo's max HP! Owchie oofers zoinkies.
Phantasmo, being Ghost-type, resists Venoshock pretty well - it deals neutral damage, accounting for the Poison boost.
"Gnch!"
The glitchy apparition rears up and tries to slam Meanie with another Thunder Punch.
Edited by Rbade on Sep 30th 2021 at 12:57:18 PM
/\。。/\The thunderpunch, this time, strikes against the actual baneful bunker, being totally repelled. It's a rather common and usually considered quite annoying strategy, but Meanie is... yeah, just trying to stall out some poison damage.
If it works it works.
Andi seems to be deep in thought. They aren't even smiling.
Yatta!Well. It works! The punch doesn't break through Baneful Bunker, and Phantasmo takes another hit of Poison damage.
"Gurgh... AMEKNAJKDAJDHELKHF—"
Glitchy energy crackles around it for a moment, before it goes for a Shadow Punch; Lucas watches passively. This is the correct option, in his eyes. While not super effective, the STAB boost is half as good, and it should still hit if Andi decided to switch to a Ground-type in order to preempt the attack, which could have been another Thunder Punch instead.
Edited by Rbade on Sep 30th 2021 at 1:03:15 AM
/\。。/\It should be the right call on Lucas's part- Andi does go to switch out Meanie, but Meanie actually refuses to enter the Net ball, instead choosing to fire off a venoshock in the hopes of striking Phantasmo and finishing them off before their shadow punch manages to hit!
Regardless, Andi comes to a silent decision she is about to unveil...
Yatta!Lucas raises an eyebrow at the refusal to return. Either Andi isn't a particularly strong personality as a trainer, or Meanie... well, deserves its name.
Phantasmo has a lot of momentum - it's fast and strong, and no matter what, that punch is going to hit something.
Immediately after, however, it keels over - that Venoshock was a nasty shock, and the Poison has taken its toll;3 its HP slips to 0.
"Return."
Eeny... meeny... miney...
He tosses out a Beast Ball. There's a flash of purple light.
"Eternatus, stand by for battle."
"CHOUROWOURGH!"
/\。。/\Meanie is rather a few inches from defeat... but is not quite knocked out. With that in mind, Andi returns Meanie to its Net ball.
Andi sighs.
"No more."
She puts a hand up to say to stop.
"I've noticed. Some things. About both of us. I'm trying to play by your rules. But I don't know what those rules are. And you're trying to adapt to my rules. But you also don't know what those rules are. This is making me feel uncomfortable."
Andi blinks.
"Sorry about that."
Yatta!"I would imagine the rules don't drastically affect the basic strategy. ... Using attacks until the other Pokémon faints."
"But... that's fine. Friendly battles are supposed to be fun. ... If you aren't enjoying the experience, we should stop."
Eternatus seems disappointed, as though it perfectly understood her. It snorts some caustic dragonbreath into the air before being returned.
/\。。/\Andi nods, and sends out Meanie, to the side to make sure Lucas knows this isn't an invitation to continue.
Truth be told, it's more like she conceded than anything. As the battle went on, she determined one very important bit of insight.
Just the act of engaging in a battle with another trainer was enough for this confounded place to decide for her what the rules of engagement were, what the limits of her Pokemon's strength were. It was certainly bad before, but this was on a whole different level.
It was nonsense to her.
Meanie was... well, mean, but she hadn't seen them that mad since she first caught the little thing a little over 20 whole years ago.
It didn't take a genius to figure out why.
So, it was a little big mean-spirited and kind of unfair to Lucas to just call off the whole battle like that, and she realizes it, but.
Ok.
It was making her feel bad and also.
She didn't want to lose that would just be embarrassing.
...
Andi begins to pet Meanie whilst simultaneously administering medicine. It's a bit... concerning to watch under the knowledge that her accidentally stabbing herself on one of those spikes could very well sentence her to days or weeks of horrendous pain, but she seems to know very well how not to do this.
She has definitely accidentally stabbed herself a little on one of those at least once.
You know. Just. A little bit.
Edited by Whoma on Sep 30th 2021 at 1:47:01 AM
Yatta!Andi swiftly finishes patching up Meanie and, rather than put them back in their Net ball, decides that, eh, whatever, they can stay out.
Andi then faces Lucas.
"Yeah I just."
Andi looks vaguely concerned, which makes it clear she is actually quite concerned.
"This place is weird. It made Meanie really angry which I guess seems in-character for their name but I swear, he is usually nicer. Fighting you felt like having a big sock shoved over my head or something. I. Need to figure out how this place works better."
She thinks for a moment.
"Not that you did anything wrong. It was fine. I just. Didn't like the battle for personal preference reasons not because of something inadequate about you or your Pokemon specifically."
Edited by Whoma on Sep 30th 2021 at 2:08:51 AM
Yatta!Lucas shrugs.
"This is another universe. The way things work are bound to be different. ... Laws of physics."
"..."
"Maybe if we define what sort of battle we want to have beforehand, we can mitigate it? Otherwise though. Nothing's forcing you to battle while you're here."
"I suppose you could just hang out in the city and avoid fights."
/\。。/\He nods.
"Life in general... is fine. Strong Pokémon exist everywhere, but advanced medical technology makes lasting harm minimal. Poké Balls used to use technology based around Aura to work... but we recently perfected real matter compression tech..."
"Sinnoh is cold as always. Kanto is warmer, but... can be smoggy. Johto is picturesque. If I was forced to stay put for a while, I might choose Johto."
"In battles... Pokémon league battles are relatively straightforwards affairs. The opponents stare each other down along an elongated field... limited maneuverability. The sport highly resembles battle sims. The tactical nature tends to slow things down a bit..."
"More freeform battles... ones are more casual, or life-and-death... can be a lot more varied. Quick Pokémon can sometimes string moves together... or attack with odd variations of techniques like yours. Though maneuvers like that would usually be christened with a new name. Like Toxic Spike Cannon."
Lucas blinks, inviting her to talk about her own home.
Edited by Rbade on Sep 30th 2021 at 2:29:45 AM
/\。。/\"I. Don't really think about the world that much. But it sounds similar to yours. Just. With less strict Pokemon league rules. Though maybe that's just my personal style of battle getting in the way. I like. Being weird.
She looks at Nebby for a moment.
"I live in Alola and Kanto, depending on the season. It's. About what you said, really. Alola is really hot during the summer, but the winter and fall are very pleasant. Kanto isn't... great, during the summer and spring, but it's much more tolerable than Alola. Both of my houses are big, but not super big... I have a lot of money, but big mansions don't agree with me or Lillie. They feel wasteful. And they're always so. Brightly colored."
Amalthus does not respond to what is said to him. He seems to have spaced out.
Edited by Whoma on Sep 30th 2021 at 9:59:49 AM
Yatta!He nods.
"Your style of battling... it reminds me of Red. He also sometimes uses moves in new ways. Even in the confines of a league battle... nothing stops him from using Moves oddly. Or thinking quickly enough to work in non-Move maneuvers."
"I could have a lot more money. But I spend it all on research expenses. ... I'm a junior Professor and researcher. And also the current Champion of Kanto, but that's a lesser priority to me. I might step down soon if no one beats me in a league battle."
/\。。/\Thee standeth bef're me masterless, but i can changeth yond with utmost ease. Thee shall riseth above thy station as a guardeth of Human lords and embrace something much most wondrous'r. Abandon thy human lords and their petty politics and embrace the grace of godborns.
Gwyndolin floats back and hold his hands out. A blade appears in it, identical to Bjarik's, but wreathed in an ethereal dark light.
Thee only needeth to heareth mine own voice, yond of Gwyndolin, and recognizeth t as thy mast'r's. Heed mine own calleth and defeat those who is't seeketh harmeth upon this tomb, and further rewards thee shall obtaineth. Those gents shall certes beest of most wondrous aid to thee in thy owneth endeavors through this god-forsaken landeth. And fear not to stray from this tomb, I will calleth upon thee.
Gwyndolin then stand still when asked for a paper, and frown beneath the helmet.
Paper thee hest, and paper thee shouldst acquireth. For thy condition is one I pity. A door on the left open. It leads to a small room, with a whole lot of empty books within.
but if it be true thy handicap is such yond thee may only communicateth via pap'r, has't the f'resight to bringeth some with thee.
Edited by Bolded1 on Sep 30th 2021 at 9:10:39 PM
Nautolan picture belongs to Bonesmarinated on twitterThe feast
Mar shrugs at his aquaintence's silence, moving on to eat their meal. A feast fit for royalty, in Mar's standards. Then again Mar has been eating MR Es on and off for the last while, so, his standards aren't as high as you'd expect from nobility.
Vincent, not sure what to say, simply has his meal.
She nods.
"Red is the second... third best trainer I know, in my world. Though. I don't talk to him. Almost ever. It's usually just the world championships. He makes it to the finals sometimes."
Andi pats Peeb on the head without even looking. Peeb does a little dance.
"I was the champion of Alola. Kanto sort of but I don't think it counts it you never intended to hold the position. I've stepped down on both ends though it was really boring and nobody liked me."
Yatta!Estraole - Unnamed Cavern
After his escape from Imperial forces, Wrustoiz had hidden far from his captor. Now huddled over a dying flame, covered in tattered, dirty, torn prison garments. Any Imperial insignia had either worn away or been covered by dirt, leaving him wearing what could be boiled down to a gray skinsuit. His shoes had worn away to the point he was walking on his feet, leaving them in immense pain.
His whole body in fact was in pain, soreness, and tired fatigue having set in many days before this point. His corrupted eyes could barely remain open, any sleep he had managed to attain was on rocks or high into trees upon their branches. He hadn't experienced any comforts in what to him had felt like eons.
He hadn't eaten in ages it felt like, having no time to scrounge before his fellow Sith had picked up his trail again, and he once again had to relocate. This confused him, he had left behind his stolen starfighter long ago. He had covered his tracks with complete secrecy, or so he thought.
A cool wind blows into the cavern, upsetting the dying flame, ashes, and sparks flying into the rock above. The wind also caused his very long hair to flow, covering his eyes. He blew it away, but something else had come with the breeze. A feeling, a sense.
He had been discovered, again. All that had sustained his slowly draining body was the force, his hate and anger giving him the strength to move forward and outpace his enemy, even for the briefest of times. However what the Imperials did not have in speed, they had in endurance, and time was running out for the Sith lord.
With a swift motion of his hand, the flame he was hovering over died, brief sparks and bright ash settling into dust a few moments later, allowing only the small light from the cavern's exit to grant him sight.
He did not need it, like all those attuned to the force, there were other ways to see, to feel the world surrounding you. He felt them, Sith, drawing closer. In numbers, they had strength, power. The Sith Lord had run long enough, he had but one choice.
Stand and fight, or run until he died.
Estraole - Outside the Cavern
Five Sith Warriors
◊ stand outside the cavern, accompanied by one Redacted, and a new face
◊ is among them.
" He is nearby."
The peculiar sith gestured to the cave,
" Within the cave, we should find him."
The warriors turned to Redacted, grasping their lightsabers, remaining in stone-cold silence.
Edited by KrampusTheTherapist on Sep 30th 2021 at 3:08:57 AM
"Alright. He's weak, he's been running for too long. Even if he escapes from our grasp this time, as he had before, he'll be weaker than he is currently."
The scientist sighed, a manhunt was probably not his forte, but he does whatever his master asks of him...
The device in Redacted's chest glowed bright, and out of thin air, a bolt action rifle
◊ appeared in his hands, as he nodded. His skin could be seen slowly turning into a black metal, as he started to walk into the cave
"Once we incapacitate him, I shall bind his hands and feet. I am not sure if you all can inhibit his ability to use The Force or not. But if you can, I ask that you do it as swiftly as you can once we have him."
With that, Redacted stepped into the cave, slowly sinking into the stone, concealing himself physically as he searched for Wrustoiz.
"Just a humble peasant looking for work~""Red... is one of my best friends. He's very energetic... despite being mute."
"I don't know about here, with how weird it is. But back home. He's never lost once, at least while serious. You'd think he'd take world tournaments seriously, but he always... has an air of being blasé about it. It might be for the better. The very serious Red... there's something scary about him.
He frowns.
"... Nobody liked you?"
/\。。/\Bjarik slowly, hesitantly reaches for what I shall henceforth call the Darkmoon Iron Sword... and takes it.
Deimos grumbles when Gwyndolin reprimands him for not preparing something to write on. He writes a quick apology and adds that All I care about is preventing rampant chaos and bloodshed. If your goals align with mine, sign me up.
Estraole
An extremely loud crash echoes outside Wrustoiz's cave.
King... fucking... Dedede... has just landed outside, behind Redacted's hunting team. Based on his mask and equipped Dedede Hammer, it seems he has a bone to pick with Wrustoiz himself... for some reason.
"A wizard is never late, nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to."The Reach, Sky Haven Temple
In the courtyard of Sky Haven Temple
◊, Ben swings his sapphire-blue lightsaber about, hacking and slashing at a horde of imaginary foes. As he trains, the consequences of that disastrous infiltration mission swirl about in his mind. Discharge was dead; Angel had either joined the clone commando or been thrown into the Grip's brig, if not hung on an Imperial torture rack; he and Aqua had nearly been slaughtered by Darth Laxin himself; both them and the others were lucky to have barely escaped that juggernaut of a Star Destroyer with their lives. And Wrustoiz, their reluctant dark side ally whose imprisonment was the only reason for their attempted infiltration of Laxin's flagship? He was nowhere to be found.
"Wrustoiz... this whole operation was your idea, wasn't it?"
Maybe he was just being paranoid, but it just made too much sense. It was common knowledge that manipulating and backstabbing even their own allies was the Sith's stock and trade. Not only that, but Wrustoiz had famously never gotten along with him and the other Jedi, even when circumstances had forced them to work together. What better way to destroy them all in one fell swoop than by luring them right into Laxin's lair?
"I knew we never should've allied with Wrustoiz! All that talk about him hating Laxin enough to join forces with us was a load of rancor droppings! We've been his pawns ever since Zeloai struck that blasted deal with him!"
Anger begins to grow within Ben, and his strikes start becoming more and more aggressive. He was frustrated with himself for both continuing to fear Laxin and not doing anything about Wrustoiz sooner. He was angry at Wrustoiz for, as far as he knew, engineering the trap that had nearly gotten him and his friends killed. He was mad at Zeloai and Sovereign and Joshua for believing that joining forces with a kriffing Sith Lord was a wise decision. He was angry at Laxin, his acolytes, the Sith and their kriffing Empire...
With a shout of rage, he cleaves one of the nearby trees in half, causing it to collapse onto the courtyard's stone floor. Breathing heavily, he stares down at the lightsaber in his grasp for a moment before quickly shutting it off, then hurrying into the temple. Hopefully, he'd have enough time to cool off before Aqua or Terra had a chance to talk with him about his outburst.
"Control yourself, Ben... there is no emotion, there is peace. There is no chaos, there is harmony," he mutters under his breath, hoping that reciting the Jedi code might help calm him down.
In truth, though, he wasn't certain if he'd be able to keep the fires of his anger banked when the time came for him to confront Wrustoiz...

Andi's Toxapex lowers its arm things and shields itself within its outer... shell?, whatever that thing is, extending its spines to make sure that when that punch hits, it hurts Phantasmo in return. The effect is something like a mixture between baneful bunker and a straight up counter, preventing the attack from one-shotting (though much of the damage goes through regardless, that isn't exactly an attack to shrug off in any situation), and doing about as much damage to its user as, well... slamming your fist right into a wall of goddamn spikes.
Still, Meanie doesn't exactly look great after that.
Andi holds up four fingers.
Meanie, however, does not see this. Blinded by a mixture of rage and the narrow view cone that all Toxapex are cursed with, Meanie unleashes Venoshock, bombarding Phantasmo with a torrent of poison that, with Phantasmo already inflicted with poison, will deal double damage.
...What? The ability Merciless? Toxapex and Mereanie's signature ability?
Oh, sure, Andi knows very well a Toxapex is good at exploiting poisoned opponents...
But very few abilities actually manifest in her world. This is one of them.
Yatta!