ITT: We Have All Become Pokémon

*I nod to Finley, off-put by the gaze she gave me.*

PJ: "Never said I wasn't, did I?"

(...On second thought, maybe I could've worded that better.)

edited 9th Aug '17 4:37:10 PM by CaliburnAbsoluteEX

On cue, a Houndoom with a dark purple cloak/cape-looking accessory saunters in to the arena.

With an arrogant look on his face, he just looks around and sneers.

In the stands, a Combusken clad in a similar cloak and a Magcargo with a spiked helmet bow their heads slightly. A trio of Slugma behind them follow suit.

edited 9th Aug '17 4:40:54 PM by Konkfan7

The Shelgon Landlord, of course, was totally oblivious to the invisible pair of Pokemon approaching, but once they made it upstairs to Room 17, they would notice one of the Pawniards standing right in front of the door.

Meanwhile, inside the apartment, the remaining four Pawniards regrouped in the middle of the central room. The leader, now completely abandoning any pretense of stealth, spoke up.

"So... no signs of the target in here?"

"No, sir!" all three of his subordinates answered at once.

"Hmm... well, any leads on where she may have gone? I don't expect to be working for that clanging-scales asshole for much longer, but I never leave a job half-finished. 'Specially not when there's a considerably payrise at stake. So please tell me you have some leads."

The soldiers began to murmur amongst themselves... or at least, they did for about ten seconds. Before the leader began to loudly sniff one subordinate in particular...

"...Private... that smells like... sludge. Waste. Muk. Did you find a Muk in there?"

The private in question seemed rather surprised. "Uh... n-no, sir... that'd be just silly, wouldn't it, sir?" he answered, taking a moment to gulp.

The leader scratched his helmet, but rather than saying anything, opted to investigate the room said private had taken a look at himself.

edited 9th Aug '17 4:59:49 PM by PresidentStalkeyes

(Unsure of what else to do, Maran sits down on a stone ottoman. Liesl goes with him.)

So what are you planning to do until your next battle, Maran?

Well, I dunno. (Maran says, shrugging as he takes a Super Potion) Maybe I'll just walk around outside. Grab a bite to eat...I mean, just enjoy being able to walk around out here without worrying about my curse.

That sounds like a fine idea, Maran. Go right ahead.

(Maran gets up and walks toward the door. He pauses before walking out.)

Say, Liesl...what do you think is going to happen to Cortez now?

I wouldn't know. (says Liesl.) And I really wouldn't care. Do you really care?

You did turn him into a kid, you know. (Maran points out.) It's a dangerous world out there for a little kid to be out there on his own. Even if he's mentally an adult, Cortez is still a kid. And there's stuff like that scary disease I've been hearing people talk about. If he meets someone with it, he doesn't stand a chance.

You know you're talking about the same person who bullied you for years. (Liesl points out.)

Well...yeah...he totally deserved what he got. (says Maran.) It's just that...maybe I wouldn't be so concerned if you just did what you did to me and turn him into a female Tyrantrum. But you turned him into a kid. An un-aging kid. He talks to the wrong person and he'll be injured or worse in minutes.

Doesn't he deserve it, Maran?

He definitely dezzzzerved being cursed, but he doesn't dezzzzerve to be killed. He never planned on killing either of us, remember? I'm sorry, Liesl, but I can't let this rest until I know he's in a safe position.

Maran, wait! (Liesl calls, but Maran has already gone out in search of his former boss.)

*Birch declares* This one's sure got his game face on, wouldn't you say so, Elm? *to which she replies* You said it, Birch! His challenger, I assure you, will have the class to match...a Dartrix who hails straight from this island, Green Hierophant!

The Houndoom's eyes narrow a bit as he hears about his opponent.

Noriaki walks in to the arena and sizes up his opponent.

"A Dartrix? A lowly little Grass-type?", the Houndoom said, his voice practically overflowing with arrogance as he spat a small ember at the ground next to himself, "You might as well leave now, there is no way lowborn seedling like yourself can best me."

Noriaki's face clouds up a bit as he responds, "For an apparent "prince", your manners are absolutely awful."

The Combusken in the crowd puts a claw to his own face as he muttered, "For the gods' sake, Christof..."

"His overconfidence will lose him this fight", said the Magcargo, "Even towards lowborn seedlings like that, being to comfortable on the battlefield is never a positive."

I guess I could walk around with you guys for a bit.

(I say to Fin.)

Looks like the Green Hierophant drew the short straw with matchup. Can his skill break through this wall of flames and into the second round? *Elm points out, and Birch segues to...* The challengers are in position. Get ready, get set...IT'S TIME FOR A POKÉÉÉÉÉÉ-BAAAAAAATTLEEEEEEEEE!!!

[Yes! We're in! We don't have to worry about that, thankfully...]

[...oh, fuck, now what? Gosh, I was just thinking of using this to get inside, now how would we get to that Flaaffy chick? Looking around for apartment...]

"Mila, remind me which apartment she was in again..."

edited 9th Aug '17 7:34:15 PM by BlackMageAnolis

Almost instantaneously, Christof breathes deeply and blows out a flamethrower. Noriaki dodges to the side, but Christof holds the flamethrower and oscillates it towards his opponent's direction. Noriaki continues to evade, but he noticeably sweats nervously.

His flames, he thought to himself, They're.. Rather potent. They're not just fire attacks, they're stronger. Downright scorching!

Christof halts his Flamethrower and rushes down Nori with a Fire Fang prepared. He lunges in for the bite several times as Noriaki barley slips out of the way of his opponent's jaws each time.

"What's the matter, seedling?", Christof japed between bites, "Afraid you won't even be able to scratch me?"

Noriaki once again tries to side-dodge, but Christof guessed he would try this and managed to place his next Fire Fang to get a hit on his wing.

Noriaki manages to tear himself free from Christof's bite in time to prevent too bad of burning, but the pain was very much there.

"Damn, he's tough."

"Then let's go." Finley leaves and goes by the front door. Waiting for Marlon to come by so they can leave.

So then, what do you guys want to do for now while we're about the city?

(I continue to PJ and Fin as I head to the door.)

edited 9th Aug '17 5:22:15 PM by Team42Larson

*Birch yells in empathetic pain* OUCH that had to hurt. Prince is just NOT giving Heirophant an opening here!

*while Elm's analysis is somewhat flowery to start with* Like a leaf swinging the breeze, Heirophant's agility is an impressive sight to behold. But we haven't even seen one iota of his offensive repertoire — he'll have to push back soon if he's to stand a chance.

Christof charged at Noriaki once again to deliver yet another Fire Fang, but Noriaki simply fixed his "hairdo".

"You're a bit repetitive", Noriaki commented before stomping forward and delivering a menacing Astonish. Christof flinched from this and fell back. Seizing the opening he created, Noriaki held out several quills in his wings at once and did a dance-like slashing barrage on the enemy Houndoom.

Christof clambered to his feet and snarled, but before he could start his next attack, Noriaki jumped back and threw all his quills down at him.

Christof howled angrily and blew an aimless flamethrower at nothing in particular before glaring back at Noriaki.

"How dare you...!"

"Hmm... I don't rememb— what about that one?"

Mila points ahead of her to the pawniard standing in front of a rather makeshift entrance to one of the apartment rooms. It seems they were a bit late on finding their target. She hopes that at the least Fan managed to make some sort of escape. She desperately didn't want to have to fight.

The Fire Prince seems PISSED, folks. *Birch posits* This kind of display of elegance is often reserved for the pros!

Indeed an elegant display from these regal Pokémon, Birch, but does Hierophant have the power to match? *Elm points out* The brash Fire Prince will need to get ahold of himself if he is ever to land a blow on his composed opponent!

*I follow Finley and Marlon as they leave the arena.*

PJ: "I dunno, what kinda shops've they got around here?"

Back inside Fan's apartment, the squad leader enters Fan's bedroom, shortly followed by the rest of his team. Contrasting greatly with the Private's rather lackadaisical manner of room-searching, the leader was considerably more careful. He simply pattered around the room at a snail's pace, scraping his blade-arm against the walls, tapping them, delicately lifting blankets and stabbing cushions; the Private seemed very nervous throughout the whole ordeal, in a drastic turn from his prior modus operandi.

Soon, as the leader was walking from one side of the room to the other, he heard a very loud creaking sound coming from one particular floorboard. His eyes widened. Almost immediately, he began shifting his weight up and down, noticing that it sank quite deep if enough pressure was applied, creating an opening one could pry open.

"Private, would you hold this down, please?"

"A-actually, sir... the stink in here, it's kinda making me feel-"

"I said... hold this down. That's an order."

The Private did as he was told, giving the leader the literal opening he needed to crowbar his blade in there.

I saw a shop for alchemical wares or something like that.

(I say to PJ)

edited 9th Aug '17 5:54:15 PM by Team42Larson

I shrug back at Jack. "I dunno. Depends if I feel like it."

Christof's body lights on fire as he lunges at Noriaki with a quick Flame Charge. Noriaki jumps to the side and throws a bundle of quills at the ground in front of his target that ricochet forward and hit him in multiple spots. Christof unleashes a flamethrower that hits directly this time, advancing forward with flames in his mouth as Noriaki reels back.

Noriaki sweats as Christof rushes him.

That last hit got me pretty good... I can still move, but not enough to dodge him in time, he thought to himself. Looking at the Fire Prince's expression, Nori knew he wouldn't just end this like a friendly bout. This Houndoom... Terrified him a bit, honestly.

"I'll teach you to think you can stand against me, you pathetic little seedling...!", Christof growled through gritted, flaming teeth as he approached.

Noriaki's tired expression became somewhat of a glare as he prepared some more quills.

"Quit it with this "seedling" nonsense...."

"More quills? As if that would work on me again!", said Christof as he raised his head and began breathing deeply to prepare another full force Flamethrower.

The quills in Noriaki's wings began to glow greenish as they lengthened and took on a sharper form. He grinned ever-so-slightly as he managed to cough out, "Nah, I've decided to mix it up a bit for you."

The Dartrix jumped forward and did the same barrage from earlier, except his quills now in the form of Leaf Blades. Christof stagger in place and looked to be in shock, his Flamethrower interrupted as he coughed out loose embers and smoke. He snarled loudly and prepared another Fire Fang.

"You filth...!"

As soon as his jaws opened, Noriaki threw every one of his Leaf Blade quills directly at Christof. A loud piercing noise echoed as the critical hit left a stunned Houndoom in place with a shocked expression.

Noriaki slowly walked over to Christof and inquired with a surprisingly respectful tone with just the right hint of sarcasm, "How was that, young prince? Did this "seedling" manage to scratch you a little?"

The Green Hierophant lightly smacked the Fire Prince's head with his wing, causing him to fall over on his side, only letting out and angry whimper.

From the audience, the Magcargo groans, "Shameful."

edited 9th Aug '17 6:26:16 PM by Konkfan7

[[ignore]]

edited 9th Aug '17 6:25:10 PM by CyberController

A STUNNING UPSET BY THE GREEN HIEROPHANT! *Birch bellows, while Elm points out* A textbook example of how skill, training, and determination can turn lopsided situation into a stunning victory. By focusing on crippling his opponent and emphasizing evasion, the Dartrix just managed to tire his foe out whilst luring him into trap after trap.

The Green Hierophant will be the one to look out for in Round 2.

*time passes, Noriaki and Cristof leave the stage (to be elaborated on by Konk) and the inner arena's cleared by the staff*

Next up, hailing from the Northern Lands, a Delibird who has traveled a long way to be here, give a warm Hoard welcome to...THE PUFFIN PRINCE!!! *wait for applause, Delibird's entrance, etc.*

His challenger will be yet another ambiguously placed individual from this island! Sure got a lot of those in this event... A Snorlax with a penchant for chance, The Metronome Menace!!

edited 9th Aug '17 6:54:30 PM by sarysa

The Delibird walked in, waving like his namesake would suggest. "Hullo, hullo!"

Meanwhile, Guy walked in, scratching the back of his head and looking bored out of his mind.

The Delibird looked up at Guy and told him "You like the chances? So do I!"

Guy looked down. "Oh, really? Um... okay."

"Great, Nori, you can do it!"

(Man, if only Goobert was here)