Srs business

[aquaboss]

[Normally Archie would be by the beach training his Pokemon, but his life has been anything but normal for the past few days. He's finally decided that it's time to seriously train his Pokemon, and that is why he's in the Aurora Forest today, with all six Pokemon out and spread out in a circle around him

Comments

[oceansbane]

[Maxie's last couple of weeks have pretty much been spent doing two things, and two things only.

1. Training - which has basically consisted of power leveling, alone, though keeping in enough contact with the other members of Team Magma to keep them from trying to find him, and
2. Avoiding the hell out of everyone he knows.

The latter point is due to an unfortunate run-in with Norman; since that incident he's had more important things to deal with than socializing. Such as the quickly fading vision in his left eye. He's been keeping it covered, for several reasons; makeshift bandages made from strips of black fabric have been handling that nicely.

However, clearly a guy can't avoid everyone he knows in peace on this island. Well...if he had to run into anyone here, at least it's you. He'll watch the proceedings from his current position leaning against a tree for a while, toying idly with one of his Pokéballs between his fingers while he does so; after a few moments, he decides that he might as well make his presence known.]

[aquaboss]

[Archie didn't hear Maxie approaching, nor did any of his Pokemon make a note of it. Their opponents go down easily enough, and it's around that time that Maxie speaks up.]

[It's obviously Maxie's voice - though he's willing to bet it's the crazy version from the emphasis in his tone. He turns and then stops dead, expression somewhere between confusion and frustration.]

...Maxie.

[He scarcely hears the other's words - he's too busy staring at that makeshift bandage. Just what did you do to yourself, Maxie? For now he's not going to bring it up - since that look of yours makes it pretty clear now isn't the time to talk.]

I'm game. [Archie's Pokemon follow Sharpedo forward, though he doesn't bother to call any of them back.]

[oceansbane]

[If Maxie notices the sudden freeze and the staring, he doesn't give any indication; of course, judging by how he is right now, the chances are high that he doesn't. He laughs, the sound harsh; it isn't the dark, snarling sound that implies recent possession, but it's wild and unrestrained, sending sharp tremors ripping through his body.]

All-out, then. Trying to make it a challenge?

[He doesn't wait for an answer; if anything, his tone implies that he's speaking more to himself than to Archie.]

Excellent.

[His hand moves to his belt immediately; four of his Pokémon are released quickly - the two Houndooms, Magcargo and...that Swellow again. Whether he actually intends to lead off with a Swellow doesn't exactly matter; the thing arcs into the air quickly, vanishing out of sight entirely thanks to the trees.

Maxie watches him go, though he doesn't comment on...whatever the hell that display was, and then sends out a fifth; however, he doesn't release it nearby, instead throwing the Pokéball hard in Archie's direction - he's

[aquaboss]

[Archie doesn't reply, though Maxie makes it almost painfully clear that he wasn't really talking to Archie anyway, and then releases his Pokemon. There's that fucking Swellow again, but it vanishes into the air quickly. Archie nods to Crobat and the bat Pokemon takes off after it.]

[The two Houndooms and Magcargo are familiar, but that last one? Archie hasn't seen the Ninetails before, but there's no reason to believe it's any less powerful than the rest of Maxie's Pokemon. The fact that he released the Pokemon so close to Archie clearly indicates that it's up to something--]

[Oh shit, that is not good.] Protect! [Cloyster is the closest to Archie, and he throws up the barrier in time to block the Fire Spin attack. It's rather clear that the poor Cloyster hasn't forgotten his humiliating defeat at your hands, but using defensive moves seems to be a good bet at the moment.]

Tentacruel! Surf! [And then there was water everywhere. None of Archie's Pokemon are fazed by it, and two Waterfalls from Sharpedo and Poliwrath quickly

[oceansbane]

[Maxie laughs again, stepping back to avoid getting hit by the majority of that himself; as though his Pokémon don't know what to do when the battlefield gets flooded abruptly?

Light Screen.

Sunny Day.

Despite how much the water attacks' power will be cut, Ninetales is going to take some serious damage and Maxie knows it; regardless, he's serving his purpose as an amazing distraction rather well. Maxie remembers that Poliwrath, as well as the fact that at least one of your Pokémon has Ice Beam; he's not about to let you Brick Break that Light Screen, nor does he seem too inclined to allow anything to attempt taking out Swellow in one go. However, since Tentacruel and Cloyster are both preoccupied...

Maxie has no doubt that Crobat is going to prove problematic eventually, but that disappearance earlier was in preparation for Fly. A divebombing for you, Poliwrath; enjoy it. And Gyarados? Enjoy that SolarBeam now that you're in such close proximity.

As for you, Archie? Once that Protect is down, you're immediately getting another

[aquaboss]

[The Light Screen and Sunny Day combination isn't unexpected by any means. Archie gives Cloyster his orders - Rain Dance. The Cloyster is perfectly fine with defensive moves; Archie gets the feeling ordering him to attack would probably end badly. His type advantage will keep him alive longer than the others, along with his incredibly high defense. He's not worried about Cloyster - it's the others he has to keep an eye out for.]

[Poliwrath doesn't wait for his orders - once his Waterfall attack is completed he charges toward that Light Screen with the Brick Break attack prepared. No, Maxie, you are not going to keep that up this time. The Swellow comes flying back down from the sky, but sheer dumb luck seems to be on Archie's side today; Gyarados is close enough to jump in the way of the attack at Archie's order, effectively keeping Poliwrath from being knocked out in one hit. A hit like that - even from a Swellow - really will take Poliwrath out. That means the Swellow's got to go.]

Tentacruel, Ice Beam! [Oh look, it's his best

[oceansbane]

[Use Rain Dance all you want; he's not about to let that cut down on his Fire moves.]

Ninetales - Flamethrower...!

[Archie, for once, Ninetales' attack isn't aimed at you; rather, Maxie is commanding for it to be aimed at one of his own Pokémon - one of the Houndooms at his side, the female. The male immediately kicks up another Sunny Day.

Cloyster may be high in physical defense, but its Special Defense is notoriously shit - and due to the water/ice combination? Fire will at least do neutral damage. Sorry, Archie, but that Cloyster needs to go - and the way Maxie figures it, if you Protect, you can't fire off another Rain Dance; if you don't protect and try to cut the power of his fire moves, Flash Fire will compensate.

So much Flamethrower aimed at that Cloyster. So much Flamethrower.

And seriously, damn that Gyarados to hell. Between the SolarBeam and taking that Fly attack, however...]

Magcargo!

[The command doesn't even need to be vocalized - suddenly it is raining rocks. Gyarados and Crobat can enjoy that; meanwhile,

[aquaboss]

[Oh shit - why do you have to do this to him, Maxie? Force him to choose between rain or Cloyster's health? Well, he's sure as hell going to need Cloyster, so he'll just be protecting himself now. But what are you doing to that Houndoom-- Flash Fire. Right. Shit. That is going to hurt like a bitch in a few minutes, isn't it. Okay, okay, we can still make this work. Just got to focus on taking out that Houndoom now. The Ninetails has been spamming Fire Spin, admittedly at Archie, but it's not the biggest threat here

[oceansbane]

[Great, now Magcargo is derpier than usual and that is a lot of water approaching his Houndoom rather quickly; at the same time, you aren't the only one who teaches your Pokémon obnoxious defensive moves for no real reason - for example, the male? The one not loaded up with Flash Fire, that you aren't aiming at? He'll just be throwing up a rather abrupt Protect and shielding his partner from the hit.

As for the partner in question, she'll be shooting off another Flamethrower toward that Cloyster. Go on and keep Protecting if you like. See what it gets you. Ninetales, in the meantime, will be sending off a Flamethrower of his own - toward Crobat this time. Damn thing has been enough of an annoyance.

Maxie snaps out an abrupt command for Magcargo to use Amnesia, hoping she won't just effectively punch herself in the - ...okay, apparently she just wants to effectively punch herself in the face, whatever.]

[aquaboss]

[...Well that was a waste of attacks, wasn't it. Dammit, Maxie, of course you'd spam Protect to keep your Houndoom alive. Tch, be that way.]

Again! [That's right, you try throwing up that Protect again and you'll-- Oh wait, it seems you're doing that to Cloyster right about now. Well, Archie's not an idiot, he knows Cloyster can't use Protect again so soon. Instead, he'll order another Rain Dance. That Flamethrower does a lot of damage, but thankfully Cloyster isn't out just yet. One more hit and he will be though.]

[Have another volley of Waterfalls and Surf. Crobat seems to be the most annoying Pokemon on the face of the planet though, because that Confuse Ray is getting aimed at your male Houndoom this time. Let's see if you can keep Protecting without smacking yourself in the face like a certain derpcargo is doing over there. He would laugh at it if the situation were any different.]

[oceansbane]

[You've actually solved the problem for him by confusing his male Houndoom, Archie; he'll let him take the hits while ordering the female back. It's a spectacular example of overkill on the male, obviously, and he recalls it quickly once it faints; he isn't about to waste the effects of Flash Fire, however.

He shoots a rather pointed look at Magcargo - are you feeling a bit less like...no, no, you're still failing over there, good job - and turns that Pokéball between his fingers again, though he still doesn't send it out; he'll continue to work with what he has for now.

And for now, what he has is a Ninetales that knows Sunny Day.

You were mentioning SolarBeam being less of a threat earlier, weren't you, Archie? Let's see if Poliwrath thinks so once Sunny Day kicks in.]

[aquaboss]

[...Alright, he wasn't expecting that, but it was a smart move. Still, as long as that female Houndoom is out there, he's going to be abusing those same moves. He has the advantage in numbers, but that really doesn't mean much considering just how tough Maxie's Pokemon are. At least with Magcargo confused Crobat is free to keep doing his thing - he'll be attempting to confuse your Ninetails now, Maxie

1/5

[oceansbane]

[Rain Dance, then. Since Cloyster isn't protecting, it's susceptible to attack, and the Ice should render it weak to Rock...and then Crobat, obviously...both of them are injured...

Magcargo, he swears to fuck if you hit yourself in the face again - ]

2/5

[oceansbane]

[...and then it was once again raining rocks.]

3/5

[oceansbane]

[Holy...shit. It actually worked. Questioning whether he actually hit anything is secondary, right now he's focusing on the fact that that actually fucking worked.]

4/5

[oceansbane]

[WELL DONE, DERPY!]