Kohaku Heroes! Josh VS Maxine!!

[Josh Dragomir]

It'd been quite the few days for Josh Dragomir, having reunited with his old friend and traveling companion Maxine Quinlan over in Slateport. Finding out his old friend was alive after their tearful goodbye long ago elated Josh, who invited Maxine to his families ranch to meet his Pokemon and catch up. After an experimental foray into the sea leads to a successful shortcut to Petalburg City, Josh and Maxine would arrive at the ranch in no time. But our heroes didn't rest long before they picked up right where they left off over a year ago, and Josh has challenged his friend to a battle, student against mentor. The question is though, how much has Maxine improved since they met last, and will Josh's new experience be able to match that of what Maxine has found herself over in Unova?




                                                                                                            


Josh smirked a bit as he stared across the open fields that served as the makeshift battlefield for his battle against his old friend, Maxine. They hadn't battled in quite some time, and Josh had to admit he was nervous. But he had faith in his Pokemon, and he knew this would be great practice for the both of them. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, breathing in and out and allowing himself to relax. If he was relaxed, his Pokemon would be too. If he was nervous, his Pokemon would be nervous. His Pokemon would be a reflection of him, and he had to set the standard, the example, for them. It was his responsibility and duty as a Trainer to do so. 


"I hope you don't think I'm going to go easy on you just because you're still as good looking as you were back on Kohaku!" Josh teased over to Maxine with a smirk as he looked over at her on the other side of this makeshift battlefield. He noticed from the corner of his eye that a host of Pokemon had come to watch, both wild, his parents's pokemon, as well as Pokemon that Josh himself owned. Curiosity had obviously drawn them in, and Josh couldn't help but smile a bit. Looks like he'd have supporters cheering him on here. 


"Looks like class is in session" he joked with a smirk, teasing about the relationship they once had and may even still have, he didn't know. But regardless... Josh nodded at Maxine and smirked as he took out a Pokeball and tossed it. "Go, Vulcan!" he said as out would come a Combusken, with unique colors and a glittering entrance just like the one the Gyarados had. "Combusken!" he let out, ready for a fight. "Now you get to see how much Vulcan's improved since you saw him last!" he said.

[Deleted]

She had some butterflies inside bothering her stomach when she stared across the field to watch her opponent on the other side, her old friend Josh. They're finally able to do the battle that was long overdo that they were unable to complete during their journey. Like him she followed the same breathing pattern as him and stood with her feet apart in front of him, her face changing from small looks to doubt into a calm demeanor, she learned to take hold of her anxiety and take it by the horns to control it, change the energy into something useful.

"I wouldn't want my mentor to go easy on me anyway, even if he's handsome give me all you got, Josh!" She called out after his teasing and reached onto her belt, taking off one of her Pokeballs when she too noticed his other Pokemon had begun to circle around the two to watch their battle unfold and waited for him make the first move. Which he revealed to choose his Combusken for his first Pokemon, she nodded her head, "Great, I'll show you my other Pokemon I forgot to show you." Maxine threw her Pokeball up in the air and cried out, "Come on out, Gunner!" 

Her choice of Pokemon was her Horsea and he shouted over his name to his opponent, "Horsea!" Maxine nodded her head once more and spoke up to Josh, "I'll let you have the first move in this battle, show me what you've learned, Josh!"

[Josh Dragomir]

He smirked a bit at her reply. Ah, just like old times. She seemed more inclined to tease right back though, when before she would tend to just blush and get flustered, to the point where it became an inside joke between them. He chuckled a bit, allowing himself to relax, remain calm and keep a cool head. No need for butterflies now... He was confident in his Pokemon. If he believed in them, they would in turn believe in him.

Huh... A Horsea? Had she hidden Horsea on purpose, knowing that if they battled he would pick a fire pokemon? Fire Pokemon seemed to be his specialty after all, he'd told Maxine that himself. Regardless of her strategy though, he believed in Vulcan. He couldn't help but smirk though. "So, a Horsea huh? Did you hide it until I sent out a fire type, Maxie Max?" he teased with a small smile.

"No matter! Vulcan, you ready?" he called to his Combusken after Maxine would let him have the first attack. "Not a wise move, Maxine" he teased with a chuckle. "Vulcan, use Quick Attack!" he commanded. "Com-busken!" Vulcan replied in affirmative as his chicken legs would carry him at hefty speeds, before a sudden spike in speed would send him careening toward the Horsea. Before they could contact though...

"Vulcan, use Peck!" Josh called. Vulcan would stop his Quick Attack just an inch from the Horsea and start pecking at it's face with a fury, over and over. It was no Fury Attack, but the repeated pecks would hurt indeed!

[Deleted]

..well yes that did make her flustered, but managed to keep it hidden from her face. If he tried again later on he would have some success on that, but back to the matter at hand. The calm attitude she was maintaining would relax her Pokemon and kept her confidence steady, "Maxie Max huh? It's been a while since I heard that. And like I said before when we got here, I wanted to show you all of my Pokemon, Gunner was next to show you anyway, I didn't take into thought you had a fire type out." Fire Pokemon were both their specialties, due to her research and different Pokemon she had a balanced mix, but knew more about Fire types from Josh.

"Come on, Gunner, let's show him how much we're made of." Maxine encouraged her Pokemon, which he responded calling out his name and furrow his brows slightly. His taunt didn't phase her too much and just stepped her foot back to balance the weight of her feet, giving her a steady posture. "Give me all you got, no holding back." She remarked before calling out against his attack, Gunner, quick use Focus Energy!" Gunner cried out to his trainers command and took a deep breath in, closing his eyes for a moment before he exhaled and opened his eyes. 

Maxine noticed how close he was and tried to call out an attack, but she was drown out from Josh's command, leaning up when she saw he changed attacks. Gunner cried out from the repeated Pecks in his face and slid back from them, "Gunner, use Water Gun." She commanded, which he threw his snout back and aimed right ahead for the fire Pokemon, shooting water directly in front of the two. "Hor-seaaa!" 

[Josh Dragomir]

He laughed a bit at her comment. "Be careful what you wish for" he warned with a smirk. "Because you just might get it" he teased. After the sequence went, Josh would realize that Focus Energy would be quite the boon if Water Gun hit... And it was going at close range too.

"Vulcan, Flamethrower!" he quickly called as the jet of water went toward the Combusken. "COOOOMMMM... BUSKEEEEEN!" he let out as he spewed a beakful of searing white hot flames that roared toward the water gun and hitting it dead on. The two attacks would cancel each other out and cause a small, yet smokey explosion. Josh smirked a bit as he held up an arm to shield himself, though tried to see through the smokescreen.

"Sense where Gunner is, Vulcan! Then use Quick Attack!" he called. "Combusken!" Vulcan let out as he would use his senses, honed in the mountains, to try and identify the Horsea in the smoke, before charging through it, his speed increasing every second as he tried to slam into Gunner.

[Deleted]

His taunt had her wince slightly from it, closing her eyes and shaking her head to keep her cool composure, any faults that show up can affect the battle and it wasn't something that she needed. Water Gun and Focus energy backed up from it would surely put her a step ahead of the battle.

But soon that was cut off when he called out a Flamethrower to her attack it surprisingly to meet at an even point, her hands balled into fists in anticipation until it backfired and caused a could of smoke in between the two, throwing her arm over her mouth and squinting through the smokescreen, clearing her throat for a moment.

"Gunner, Focus Energy once more and try to dodge any incoming attacks ahead!" Maxine instructed to her Horsea, which he nodded and took a deep breath to allow him to focus. Right now it was difficult to tell what was coming from his side, but knowing Josh, he would use this to an advantage and backfire on the other trainer.

[Josh Dragomir]

But when the smoke cleared, nobody would have attacked. Instead, Josh would allow the Focus Energy to wear off, because while their vision had been impaired....

Josh had switched out. He smiled a bit, because for writer-based reasons agreed to prior by both writers, Josh had returned and switched out Vulcan with another Pokemon.

"Wynaut!"

Oh shit, Josh had done it now. He had sent out Wob, his Wynaut.

Wob Says Hi.

Josh smiled a bit. "I hope you don't mind the change, I want to see how you handle taking on something a bit more... Different" he said, chuckling. "Wynaut, Wy!" Wob let out as he looked around. "Alright Wob!" Josh said. "This is it! This is your first battle! Give it all you got!" he cheered on, hoping Wob would be alright.


"Wy? Wynaut!" he let out in response excitedly. Battles? Oh boy! He was gonna get to battle! "Wynaut Wynaut Wynaut!" he started letting out, running around excitedly like a child.

[Deleted]

Once the smoke cleared she waited for the blonde to call out an attack, but instead he called his Pokemon back, what was he planning? Gunner's Focus Energy by this time was worn out and useless for her turn, gritting her teeth she watched for his next move, calling out his next Pokemon... Wynaut?

Maxine fixed her posture after he revealed his next Pokemon, wonder why she picked his Wynaut for this. Whatever it was, Josh had a plan and knew to make notes of his actions. She didn't mind the change and nodded to him.

Afterwwards though.. she let out a small giggle to the small Pokemon's excitement for his first battle, he wasn't ever in battle before? Guess he can't help himself, but enjoy the moment. "Alright, maybe he should use that energy in battle too, Josh." She reminded him, watching as Gunner would tilt his head to the baby Pokemon running around.

[Josh Dragomir]

Josh laughed a bit in response. "She'll calm down in a moment, she's just a bit overexcited" he said, obviously incredibly amused by Wob's enthusiasm. Josh knew Wob would be a bit excited... But this excited? Shit.

"But.... Don't underestimate her. Trust me, you'll regret it if you do" he suddenly warned, a grin starting to cross his face.

"Wob, use Destiny Bond!" he suddenly called.

Wob would come to a stop, her running around coming to a sudden halt. She would quickly turn to Gunner, and start glowing Red. "WYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" she suddenly let out as Gunner would glow red for a moment as well. A chuckle emitted from the blonde as he cracked his neck. Maxine was too quick to underestimate the really young Wynaut.

"Go on, try an attack" he teased with a smirk. He knew that Maxine would have to command Gunner to attack eventually... But when?

[Deleted]

Ah, it was female. That was her error and corrected herself, "I noticed, but I won't fall for your tricks you have hidden." She stated and stood back in her old stance, knowing him and his ways anything that doesn't seen strong would have you start to build an ego from it.

And she wasn't wrong, Destiny Bond was called out and had the Wynaut stop in her tracks. Damn it, shit was getting serious.. Hearing his smirk caused her to bite her lip, she couldn't stall with this nor attack him either. Man he got her good..

"A-Ah, shit.." She muttered to herself and Gunner furrowed his eyes to the small blue Pokemon, just what were they planning? Still left with little options and time clicking she blurted out the first thing that came to her mind, "Gunner, use Water Gun!" Of course with that, her Horsea cried out and let out a shot of water into their direction. It wasn't a smart move at all.

[Josh Dragomir]

It wasn't, no. Because even if you KO'd the Wynaut, she'd lose her Horsea too if she did. Josh had trapped her, and now she'd struck...

"Wob, use Mirror Coat!" Josh would call in response. "WYYYYY!" she would let out as she was encased in a black veil just as the Water Gun hit, and then the water would begin to manipulate... It would stop in mid-air just before it could hit the Wynaut... It would actually start floating in the air! And then the damndest thing happened... It suddenly went flying toward Gunner!

Josh chuckled a bit. For as young as Wob was, he knew she was good with Mirror Coat... Enemies got cocky. Enemies got arrogant. They got prideful, complacent, greedy... Selfish. Overconfident. And he could mould that to his advantage. Wob was the perfect fit for this sort of situation that left opponents trapped.

What would Maxine do now?

[Deleted]

God damn it, Mirror Coat! 'Gunner, dodge it quick!" That shot was coming back at a rapid pace! Unfortunately before her Horsea could move, he was shot with the water he previously fired, sending him back a little. Man, he really put her in a bind and she didn't even doubt his Pokemon. "Gunner, you okay.."

She couldn't make any moves without it causing harm to her Pokemon and doing damage to his Pokemon would fire back on hers... "You left me in a tight space, Josh. But of course, I never expected anything less from my teacher.." She explained, "And now that you left me in a space like this, I have no choice but to keep going forward. Even if it means risking my Pokemon's health. Gunner, let's use Bubble!"

Gunner took in a breath and when he let it out a ray of bubbles came out, picking up a fast pace to aim down at the Wynaut on the other side of the battlefield. This wasn't going to end well for the two of them.

[Josh Dragomir]

Josh chuckled a bit at her reaction. "Perhaps I put you in an awkward situation too soon, Maxine.. But yet, it was necessary, for you need to learn to handle every situation" he said calmly, cracking his neck. "You have to think of a solution to every situation or you won't survive. Simple as that. No matter the issue, you gotta find a way around it. A Trainer's ability to adapt and overcome is very important" he advised, before watching her send out a command to her Pokemon. "Gunner, let's use Bubble!" she had said. Josh chuckled and took a ready stance. "Get ready for it, Wob!" he said as the bubbles were shot out like little pellets heading straight for Wob.

"Wynaut!" Wob let out as she prepared for what was to come. "Now, use Mirror Coat!" he called. "WYYYYYYYYYYYYYNAUUUUUUUUUUT!" she let out as she was engulfed in it again, sending the bubbles back at Gunner. Before Josh could capitalize though, he heard a voice coming from the lab.

"Josh! Maxine! Dinner!" Serena called out from the lab. Josh shrugged and nodded to Wob. "Good job, Wob. Return" he said as he returned his Wynaut to it's Pokeball. He chuckled over at Maxine. "Got off easy, did ya?" he teased with a cheeky grin before he headed to the lab for dinner.