4.0 Dedicated to its Members and Fans of Pokemon A Pokemon Sandbox RP
Pokémon Dubstep (ft. Lindsey Stirling)
W
elcome Adventurer to EPOCH! A Pokemon Sandbox Rp set in the original region of Nue. Everything you need to know will be in the Guidebook and PokeDex 101!
EPOCH uses the Manga and is built on the Original ideas suggested by our members.
We are more than just a Pokemon RP, we're a friendly community with a goal on being a memorable experience for those that look in.
Golden Rule: Treat others as you wish to be treated. If you find yourself content with being an asshole EPOCH and its members will not tolerate you.
RULES
Understand We're All Human. Respect the staffers as well as your fellow members and guests. We all have flaws, tempers and quirks. Be patient with one another, but if issues involving other members come up please don’t just grin and bear it. Contact a staff member, informing them of what's going on so they can address and resolve the situation. The staff won't know what's bothering you unless you tell them.
EPOCH is PG-13. Proboards’ Terms of Service:
Sex; When you get under the clothes, fade to black.
Violence; Do not go into extreme nauseating detail.
Cursing; This is so fucking allowed, but don't go overboard.
Suggestive Content; In avatars, signatures and templates can attract the wrong kind of attention. So be careful.
Cyllage Town was quite a feat to behold. Even without a battle with their Gym Leader, Xue felt fulfilled. She didn't challenge the leader not because of fear, but she felt her team wasn't ready. Armada, in particular, needed more time to grow. It wasn't the Pokemon's fault; just the issues of being the youngest in the team! Acknowledging that, and the lessons learned from one of the world's most acknowledged trainers, Xue had a fire burning brightly in her heart. She could practically feel the heat!
"Or...it could just be Beato nomming on my spirit again." Xue sighed, lifting up her Litwick that was cuddling against the nook of her neck.
It was strange to her. Ghost types like Litwick and Xing Cai, fed off the spiritual essence of those around them. Xue triple confirmed that way back when they first met. Despite that, she's never felt heavy-hearted or sluggish; despite her Pokemon's constant connection. Beatrice in particular, who Xue had to resist at times, had the most significant draw of her line-up. As she carried the coo'ing candle in her arms, she pondered upon that mystery for a bit.
Kaguya, who still took her place on Xue's shoulder, tapped her trainer's cheek. Xue grinned, gave the Ralts a little hi-five, and then nodded a thank you to her. Whenever she did that, it meant Kaguya sensed a friendly person nearby. That meant a whole new adventure for the brand new day!
"Wonder what today's got in store for me? Mayhaps a new friend, huh Beato and Kagu?" <Ra raaa!> <Litwick!>
The three of them continued onward along the route, singing without a care in the world.
The journey back westward was always troublesome. The holidays had ended, so the maiden was to return back to Unova within the month; she'd rather celebrate the region-exclusive holidays at her homeland. For example, the fellowmen at Kalos did not exercise things such as Thanksgiving or Black Friday. Since she did not possess a Pokemon who could possibly be mounted for speed or naval transportation, the woman decided she would instead just go by foot back to the airport to Unova. It would be less troublesome that way, as opposed to asking her relative for a ride. Now that would just be a hit to her pride.
Besides, she was a trainer now! If she were to act accordingly, then she would be traveling by foot hundreds, nay, thousands of miles for the sake of adventure and development. It wasn't good to travel quickly as a trainer, as training in the wilderness and building your body was essential to surviving any battle, especially the more intense ones. Catching is especially limited in urban territories, as well. And so, as wooden geta plowed through sand and waves, Shinju made her way across the coast towards Cyllage Town.
Inari was perched on her shimenawa; to her right, Hachimon, to her left, the newly caught Izanami. Luckily, the Corphish was happy to accompany the team, and her two Pokemon welcomed her along. Izanami seemed to get along well, and was rather amiable, but had bursts of fury. She'd gotten the signal from Inari that they were working on that, however. She came across a quarry of boulders in her path, and made to climb the uphill for the intent of relieving the mindless boredom of walking in a straight line.
She continued along the rocky path, which lead to a dirt road. As she'd been walking for hours, Shinju decided to take a seat on a particularly large boulder near the road and release the strain in her legs. She sat cross-legged, with her Pokemon stopping their conversation and moving to the other rocks to interact there. They seemed at home in this area. Inari was originally a native of Dewford Island, which she heard was rather rocky. Hachimon was acquainted with the caves near the plains, and Izanami, of course, thrived in water. They played in the background as Shinju took a breather.
But then they heard the strange sound of music. A human and a few Pokemon, somewhere in the distance, was singing a tune. Blinking, Shinju turned to where the noise came from, while Hachimon and Izanami returned to their Pokeballs. Inari, however, took her perch on the giant rope halo that was attached to the former shrine maiden.
Twas a teenager, with pink hair and what Shinju recognized to be a Litwick. She didn't recognize the other white-bodied Pokemon, however. Setting her left arm on her leg, her right arm entered an amiable, calming wave. Inari crossed her arms on her perch, and together, they looked like one of those bronze statues you would find as the centerpiece of a major shrine. Shinju warmly greeted the smaller girl as she approached, her deep tone vibrating in the open area. "Hail, stranger! How are you, today?"
and here i am listening to nonon's theme for muse, haha
Xue just had a total, childhood deep dive when a stranger called out from nowhere readily apparent. Back before she saw her first Pokemon League battle; during the days where magical girls and heroes in colorful jumpsuits dominated the fields. Bright effects, amazingly daring stances, and best of all, a proud voice to echo the lands! Having this sort of childhood memory added to the glittering stars littered in Xue's violet eyes. The teen happily gazed up and gave the caller a jubilant response as she could muster. Carrying Pokemon was a bit of a challenge after all!
"Yaho! I'm doing indubiously well, thank you!" Xue called out, "What are you doing way up there being so cautious? Hold fast and I'll be right up!"
Beatrice hopped out of Xue's arms, and began ascending up the hill to see who this new person was. They, much like her trainer, also had a very vibrant soul that called out to the attention curious Pokemon. Xue was not used to seeing Beatrice act so friendly towards others, so it was difficult to stifle the giggling she did at the candle's excitement.
"Hang on Kagu-chin~ we’re taking this off road for a tick!" the girl said, as she joined her Pokemon in the journey to see the owner of the warm greetings.
The hill wasn't too bad to climb. Several larger rocks jutted out and made it fairly easy for the girl to climb. While she was by no means an athlete, Xue did enjoy the outdoors and valued staying in shape. Her lithe frame ascended without too many troubles, just shy of Beatrice's pace. The candle had a clear advantage though; phasing through solid objects just like a ghost could. Kaguya continued to hum the happy tune from before and cheered from her perch. While not unable to do the same as her trainer or Beatrice, Kaguya's droopy legs made her pace far slower without the assistance of telekinesis. Then there was the occasional frequent slip just because it was a character trait. Kaguya fell on herself very often.
One more hop and Xue was now level with the individual in question. The figure was indeed a female like herself, though appeared to be a bit older and contrasted in colors. In fact, this lady had a VERY different yet similar vibe; as if one were looking at a Pokeball variant. They do the same job, though had their differences to fit a niche. It wasn't just her appearance that caught Xue's eye. This lady's choice in Pokemon also summoned the stars that glittered brightly in her eyes. The mischievous looking Gligar, and was that a Mawile?! Feelings were rushing out all at once, and the girl had a difficult time discerning and containing them all. All Xue knew was that...
"...I totally, if you don't mind me speaking my mind, adore your style and Pokemon miss! They look so healthy and vibrant, that it definitely reflects the bonds they've developed!" she squealed, making her way up and offering both a curtsy and a handshake.
"My name is Xue Yi, a trainer hailing from Zepheron City in lands far away from here. These two here, are Beatrice of Gula and my first partner...Kaguya of Luxuria. Ladies, if you'd please~!"
On her shoulder, Kaguya shyly peeked out after stopping her humming. She looked at the newcomer, thought for a moment, then waved with her little arms. Amidst its shiny, blue hair, was a red blush spawned out of being put on the spot. Beatrice, however, took a liking immediately and was curious to see what this trainer's soul was like. It creeped over to the purple haired woman's shadow and let its flame grow a bit. It wasn't taking a big chunk; instead opting to sample what type of person Shinju was. Pending that she stood still for it that is.
Xue though, scooped up her Litwick and lightly bonked it on the head. "Beato! It's very rude to do that to a new person. Not everybody enjoys that sort of feeling you know!"
<Lit..../'Okay...'> Litwick sadly said, kind of disappointed she couldn't keep tasting the new person's spirit.
Ah, what an energetic girl! How sublime; she always did enjoy the company of somebody more confident. She, herself, was admittedly extroverted in many ways, so she could relate to somebody of high confidence more. Shinju gave a bright smile to the girl as she and her Pokemon scaled the boulder. It seemed that her Litwick was also glad to see her, no? How odd; it must be an innate Pokemon thing, then. Shinju was sure it came with being a trainer. The woman waited patiently as the girl approached her. Luckily, she was very fit, fitting of a youth. Too many times, Shinju had seen people who had to rely on Pokemon to climb rocks... It was somewhat baffling, as she had climbed rocks multiple times in her own youth.
As swift as the wind, the girl started praising her aspects. Ah, how kind of her? It tickled the maiden's pride quite a bit, seeing how much she brought this girl joy. At least, judging by the squeal. Shinju stood tall as the girl held out a handshake, her full height looming an entire foot - 6'3" over 5'3" - over the pinkhead. She shook the girl's hand solidly and firmly, as one would do with great respect... and muscle strength.
Ah, so she was Xue Yi, of distant lands. Beatrice and Kaguya, then? Shinju found their company quite pleasing, as they were optimistic and energetic, but not to the point of annoyance... not yet. They were young, and they acted young. Kaguya seemed like the bashful type, which was perfectly acceptable. However, a warm sensation came over her as the Litwick lit it's flame in her shadows. It was benevolent, but still held that supernatural feeling that it always had.
Xue Yi scolded the ghost-type, but Shinju made to say otherwise. "Oh, it's perfectly fine. I'm native to Unova, so I'm quite used to a Litwick's treatment. She may continue." Shinju hazarded a 'she', given the name. But she digresses. Moving right along, the muscular lady folded her arms, showing a bit of brawn. The Mawile on her shimenawa did similarly, and they both gave a similarly charismatic smile to the female under them.
"It is an honor to meet you, Xue Yi! My name is Randorosu no Shinju'ichi!" She stated, the traditional name ringing in the air. "However, I insist you call me Shinju. I, myself, hail from the Abundant Shrine in Unova. It's dedicated to the legendary Pokemon Landorus, and I was the former shrine maiden before the next one took the mantle."
Seeing a guest, the Gligar and Corphish made their way to Shinju's right and left, respectively, to be present for introductions. Their trainer introduced them, as expected, in a very gallant manner. "To my right is Hachimon, who served as watchman at the shrine. To my left is Izanami, who I caught recently. And above me is Inari, who served as gate guardian at the shrine."
"Uwaah." Xue slipped out, amazed at how big Shinju was! "I knew shrine maidens were amazing, but you're like a mountain compared to me!"
She couldn't help but stare for a moment at Shinju's chest too. Impressive. Just like the woman's towering height. As well as her grip! Firm, powerful, and probably could crush her smaller hand without much of a worry. Arceus be praised that Xue was getting a peaceful feeling from Shinju; confirmed by Kaguya's empathy skills.
"Is that why you've also chosen famous deity names for your Pokemon too? It's so befitting, if I may be so bold!" the girl chuckled.
Litwick brightened up after hearing the gracious offer from Shinju, though lost interest shortly after. It went back to creeping to Xue and reappeared in her arms, enjoying the attention. Having found the Litwick abandoned from her trip towards the air station, Xue couldn't quite blame the Ghost-type for being so clingy. Everyone and thing had their troubles. Even trivial things such as height!
"So if you're from Unova Shinju, then what brings you to Kalos? Here to take on their gym challenge before your own region's circuit? I take it you're here because of a sense of adventure. These girls know that I am."
Ah, how embarrassing, how this girl kept complimenting her... Shinju was almost too flattered to notice that the girl was staring up her rack, but when she did, the maiden showed no outward surprise. Inside, she was half-questioning 'did Xue Yi just stare at my chest...?' That argument, however, was quickly snuffed out by the sound of inquiry. "Hm..." She thought a bit about it before answering. Her nomenclature wasn't all that spontaneous, admittedly, and she did base their names off of legends. "Possibly! I've always felt a resonance with those names, but that could be the subconscious reason behind it."
Shinju paid no heed to the ghost-type retreating back to it's owner, though the warm feeling did subside. When asked about her existence in Kalos, the woman just chuckled heartily and explained herself. "Well, it's not so much that, sadly. My relative invited me over to spend the holiday festivities over at Laverre City, and I'm on my way home, since it ended. However, it's been quite the quest, this land! I suppose it's an adventure, in some ways."
"As for gym challenges, I don't plan on taking too many yet. Well, not until my team is sufficiently strong, of course. I only started my trainer career four months ago! We're all a bit green, our team." An idea clicked in Shinju's head as she said that. Hm... Xue Yi's team appeared small. Though Shinju knew the furies of more petite Pokemon, it was still a good indicator that she might be able to take Xue Yi on. If not, then it will simply be a fun experience, and Shinju would understand another important aspect of being a Pokemon Trainer.
Ever so courageous, the mature woman went forth with her proposal. "Ah, that reminds, Xue Yi. Would you be willing to battle me? I have heard that experience is best gained on the field, so I think it'd be good if were were able to battle! Do you accept?" Hearing the conversation, the Gligar and Corphish faced Xue Yi a bit more... forwardly than before. You could almost hear the sound of pincers snapping and pseudo-jaws crunching, even if it wasn't physical. The challenge was just that apparent, so to speak.
"You'll never know until you try Shinjuju~" Xue replied with a confident point. "And because of that, I accept your challenge!"
The air about Xue changed slightly. Her looks of happiness and easy-go-lucky aaura shifted its focus. She played with her longer strand of hair with the index finger on the right hand. While Shinju's Pokemon made their intimidating motions, the young trainer sized up their motions and never dropped her smile. In fact, Xue seemed even more jovial.
"I propose, a three Pokemon match in a one on one format. Switch-outs as you deem necessary, is that fine?" she proposed, narrowing her gaze a bit.
It wasn't that Xue was any less happy or peppy. Pokemon battles just struck a cord inside and brought out the competitive nature to her personality. She loved the feeling of getting to showcase the bond with her Pokemon live and in action. Challenging the odds, devising new attacks on the fly, and putting one's bonds to the test! She had no doubt that just because her Pokemon were young, that they were any less competent. Shinju looked promising, and so did her Pokemon. What made matters even better, was neither side had a particularly lopsided match-up bar Beatrice and Inari. Xue, however, was plenty sure these Pokemon had coverage moves. Most trainers did, but only the battle would tell! At that point, it was up to the pink-haired diva to figure out her opponent's tendencies as quickly as possible.
"I'll start off with Beato, Gula's devouring flame." Xue explained, making a motion to sign that Shinju had the honors of the counterpick and first move.
The poetically named Beatrice let out a little coo after hearing her called. Letting go of Beatrice, the Litwick plopped onto the ground and hopped into battle position in front of her trainer. Its flame grew slightly and eyes locked onto Shinju's movement. Much like her trainer, Beatrice echoed Xue's confidence and strangely proud demeanor.
The atmosphere changed significantly. It felt like a challenge, now; heavy, hot, intense. Like a pine tree spontaneously combusting into beautiful, glorious fire. It made Shinju feel alive after hours of walking, like it was another holiday to celebrate. Her legs entered a rather traditional stance, similar to a fighting stance, and her hands were solidly gripped onto her hips. Battle was commencing, and it was time to wage war. Hm. Beatrice, the Litwick first? She knew it was a ghost, and it most certainly packed moves of fire. How interesting. Shinju determined that, since water puts out fires, it would be best to send in her newly caught Corphish first.
"Very well, I agree to those terms. Then I shall bring forth Izanami!" At once, the Corphish did as told, and it's amiable demeanor just flipped into a rather aggressive behavior, and the scuttling of it's feet tapped over the rocks quite loudly as it went into position. Not saying a word, Izanami snapped at Litwick one, two, three times, issuing it's own challenge of strength and honor. Shinju noted their position along the rocks. It was her strong terrain, what with her lifetime around waterfalls and cliffs... but Izanami could possibly be inexperienced with rocky areas. Luckily, at least one of them knew how to use the terrain here, and that happened to be the trainer of the two. Water to slip along the rocks, strength to break stones and send debris, hiding niches... All good tools, along cliffs and quarries and stones. The nearby water was also an added bonus to their terrain advantage; hopefully, she could use this over Xue Yi.
After looking at Izanami's anatomy and capabilities, Shinju noticed it was a rather defensive Pokemon. Harden for protection and Bubble for range. Crunch and Vicegrip were it's forte, should the opponent dare come close. However, it wasn't all too fast, so that was to be noted. "We are READY!" She announced to the heavens, before stamping on her right foot, her hand on her leg. It was similar to a sumo wrestler, and it made just as much of a noise as a sumo wrestler did. The gravel around her figure vibrated visibly.
'Let us begin this challenge!" She vocalized to Xue Yi, her crimson eyes burning with intensity. Her smile, though snakelike, still held that ambition of victory and that strength of a fighter, even after all these years after her teenage days. "I shall grant you the first strike! COME AT ME!" She bellowed, in a most traditionally Japanese manner.
Remember when I tried to trade Corphish for Litwick? Ain't this ironic, huh?
CURRENT Litwick [Beatrice] A: Flame Body M:Ember| Minimize|Smog| Astonish
NOTES. I was hoping you'd go for it!! Xue is speaking Italian, with the translations below the template.
I dare to try. Dare to face the challenge.
can you?
The young girl smiled at Shinju's choice to combat Beatrice. Corphish. A natural enemy to the Ghost and Fire hybrid Pokemon and probably one of the best picks the titan could have made. "I was wondering if you'd send Izanami first. Wonderful. Simply~ Wonderful~"
The terms were agreed upon and the match began! Shinju's manners gave Xue the initiative and brought up an interesting point. Perhaps just a coincidence, but her opponent favored secondary movement it seems. This could very well be due to her innate affinity for courtesy and manners, though the tactical advantage of reaction to enemy contact was a tried and true philosophy of war. Something Xue was plenty sure, Shinju had heard of at least once in her life. It mattered not, since a battle was not decided by raw power alone!
"Beato, si prega di apparecchiare la tavola." Xue calmly said in a foreign tongue.
Litwick's eyes glimmered, as it twirled in place and launched a shower of Ember within the immediate area. The raining fire targeted a wide area around itself and Izanami the Corphish, creating an array of small pyres akin to candles being lit for a noble banquet. It burned and heated the dried leaves and moss of the area, and gently released a soft light next to the powerful sun. Xue gave Shinju a second curtsy, before engaging in giving orders once again.
"Graci Beato, graci~! Le luci, se si farebe!"
Beatrice opened her tiny mouth and let loose a noxious gas; dark, foul, and thick. It began to coat the area like a smokescreen, though did not get released in as large of a dose as the actual attack. The candle instead created a recreation of a controlled area of darkness, attempting to breach the Corphish's mighty position through attrition. Xue's attack pairings were careful and precise in nature, and contrasted greatly from her earlier demeanor. She continued to smile and took note of the lights within the hazy smog, of which the bigger flame was her Beatrice. The dimmer lights were the pyres created by Beatrice's Ember and together, the two created a decadent stage for Shinju to respond back against!
Saying 1: Please set the table. Saying 2: Thank you Beato~! The lights, if you would. template by darkee of btn.
Despite her lack of knowledge on the foreign tongue, Shinju's eyes and mouth were as one when she saw the shower of heat falling upon her Pokemon. Her voice rumbled like thunder as she bellowed, "DODGE!" The Corphish responded briskly to the single-syllable command as a rain of fire flew across the field, and it scuttled mere inches away from the spreading flames when they came down. The lobster was not fast, but it seemed to be precise enough to move. More than a few embers did lick her, but due to the typing, it wasn't an immediate problem. Some of them fell upon the stone ground, immediately put out, but some of them hit fuel and remained in the area, successfully creating a dangerous environment for Izanami. More foreign words came from Xue Yi, and Shinju's sight was blurred as a deep smoke covered the area. There were only small flames of violet spewed from the attack, but then there was a large flame. It was probably the Litwick, as it burned alive, unlike the other flames which died out due to the moist air of the beach, or simply were too big to live on without much fuel. This one was big, and lasted very long.
After a moment of analyzing the situation and watching the other large flames go out, Shinju roared her command, stamping her foot on the boulder once more. There was no need for vision! Her voice would carry her wishes, even in the darkness! "IZANAMI!" The Water-type stood at attention, not trusting it's vision, and listening for a voice. "ADVANCE UPON THE GREAT FIRE! PURIFY THE SMOKING PATH WITH WATERS! MOVE LIKE WIND!" Shinju's old style of speaking, only heard in plays and history texts today, rang understood by Izanami. Her eyes scanned the fog for the lights, and instantly locked onto a flame that seemed like the Litwick's from before. Larger than others, and strangely alive.
Like a tank along hills, Izanami traversed the flaming slopes as fast as she could. It seemed a form of angry, almost furious, but that was just the natural temper that the Ruffian Pokemon held. A Bubble attack was released from her mouth, and flames in front of the Corphish were extinguished or brought to very low intensity. In addition, water trapped smoke into a dormant form, so the few feet in front of Izanami was visible, There was nothing stopping her from approaching the flame; it was all in, no fear! Her legs grappled solidly onto every surface, so she wouldn't slip from the rocks. Her claws were bared, so that if her trainer commanded, then she was poised to attack.
Shinju heard. She had good ears, after years of listening for hooligans trying to desecrate her shrine. She heard the quick tip-tap of Izanami's feet, and she heard the blowing and popping of bubbles in the smoke. When her voice wasn't loud, then the world seemed desperately silent. She heard the tip-tap getting closer, closer, closer to the great fire. As soon as it was close enough, without thinking, the violet-haired woman barked out a terribly final command. "CRUNCH!"
Izanami's head was shaken by the loud noise of her trainer's voice, but she knew what she had to do. The Corphish pushed off with all of her legs, airborne for as long as her body would allow her. She couldn't see where she would land, but it was worth it, if it meant success. Her claws opened extensively, almost straining the muscles. As the water-type lunged forwards, her eyes fixated on nothing but the great fire, she extended both claws towards it before you could even blink. When her hold was fast, and the crab was sure, the attack was executed in the dark of the smoke. Bright red pincers made a loud SNAP!, the dark-type blow hitting as hard as it could.
CURRENT Litwick [Beatrice] A: Flame Body M:Ember| Minimize|Smog| Astonish
Health: 85%
NOTES. Steamy passion between two ladies and their Pokemon!
I dare to try. Dare to face the challenge.
can you?
Just as it was difficult for Shinju to get sights within the dark, fog of war, Xue also had that handicap too. What separated the two was the training involved. She knew that her Pokemon lacked the raw power others had. Much like herself, whose smaller body simply lowered the limit of what Xue could physically accomplish compared to others. In this case though, having robbed Shinju and Izanami of their precious eyesight, they would make use of their small stature through experience.
"Beato, Minimize your flames and prepare to flank our would-be Goddess. Sustain the Smog and get into position!" the trainer coyly prosed, hearing Beatrice's shrill as a confirmation of the order.
The incoming Bubble attack, large and oppressing, smashed into a larger flame and doused it. Releasing a bit of steam and adding to the attack on Shinju's ability to clearly see the battle. As more of the larger flames were doused, the steam rose and mingled in with the poisonous Smog. In that area, the humidity took a sudden spike upwards and grew increasingly uncomfortable for the Pokemon present. Xue was aware Litwick enjoyed the heat, but not the moisture. She would have to see if the Corphish had a lower threshold for the field than Beatrice did. Amidst the chaos, including the fierce smash into the ground from Corphish, Beatrice's smaller size scurried about in the humid veil. Bubble got a few minor hits in, but the overall force of the attack was degraded because of the shift in the target's size. As she moved about, Beatrice released more Smog and sustained the poisonous zone. Visibility grew worse and worse by the second.
Xue smiled and gave the call Beatrice was waiting for, "Remind our foe that water can still be boiled Beato! Ember!"
Beato would fire off spurts of fire at various angles, first from the right, and then from the rear. She even scurried underneath Corphish due to how small it was under Minimize's effect, and launched a few underneath Corphish before blasting a few more pyres into the area again. Xue, however, took notice that these flames didn't have the same sticking potency as the last wave. Unlike then, the area had been dampened by the earlier steamworks and would take more powerful flames to ignite or heat the surroundings. Xue played with her hair as she thought about if the risk was worth turning the terrain into a hazard again. Sacrificing Beatrice's smog veil and minimized defense strategy for a bigger offensive risk didn't seem worth it at the moment. She needed to instill a sense of unnerving anticipation within the atmosphere, so that Beatrice could get in close without risking eating that Crunch to the face. Hearing Shinju call that move out both confirmed her suspicion about Izanami, as well as take defensive measures to respond to. For now, the pink haired girl would see how this played out and began pondering how the opponent would fight without their eyes.
Shinju heard the cry. It sounded like... disappointment, with heavy tinges of anger. Izanami missed. Dastardly! Sinful! After that huge gambit, it hadn't succeeded! Shinju folded her arms and stared long into smog before listening to the command of Xue Yi. Visibility would be lowered, and the Litwick would become less apparent! Good Landorus, this was an aggravating fight! But Xue Yi was experienced, and smarter than Shinju. Respect was to be given.
Izanami was only vaguely aware of her position. Hm... the sun, then? Shinju yelled. "CLEAR THE SKY WITH RAIN! FIND THE SUN! ADVANCE EASTWARDS!" The Corphish, which was looking for her target to no avail, responded to the call by aiming a Bubble attack up. More moisture was created, and the smoke near the sky cleared up. Sunlight hit the eye of Izanami, and it squinted as the sun's rays seemed to be coming from the west. At that moment, the ember attack was called, and fire directly hit Izanami's underbelly. Shinju's Pokemon flinched and groaned from the attack, but only mediocre damage was inflicted. Typing and moisture appealed to that, and there wasn't a lasting burn on Izanami's exoskeleton. Ignoring the fire underneath, the hardheaded Corphish disregarded the enemy completely and started tanking straight towards the east.
More flames? More bubbles, then. Izanami didn't mind heat or moisture; the opposite, in fact, as Laverre was too cold in the winter seasons. Heat was greatly appreciated by the Pokemon. Scuttling along once more, more steam was emitted as Bubbles came out, dousing the smog and the fire as she scuttled along the rocks. For a moment, Shinju still listened very carefully for her beloved Pokemon, and she gave an optimistic "KEEP GOING!" when her ears picked up on legs moving east.
Sunlight begun to pour through as the Corpish got closer and closer to the border of the smog. Her hopes and faith rejuvenated, the pace was quickened as things suddenly became more visible. Three seconds. Two seconds. One second. Bursting out of the fire and flames, the sweating Izanami dashed out of the stage and into a great blue ocean, where fire and smoke did not exist in high quantities. "SUCCESS, IZANAMI!" Shinju cheered, even though the pleasantly surprised water-type couldn't hear her, still submerged in the water.
Now in her area of strength, Izanami floated to the surface, looking winded but still going. 'Twas a hardy Corphish, after all! Pokemon and Trainer shared intimate eye contact for a moment, glad the other was still going strong. It was comforting, in the literal heat of battle. However, they returned to business. Shinju commenced the second part of her alternate plan. Bubbles were small, yet precise and powerful. they wouldn't do in dousing large flames or smoke speedily, not at this rate. So she did something unorthodox. "BRINGSEAWATER TO THE BATTLEFIELD! UNITE THE OCEAN AND THE EARTH! ...And keep up Bubble while you're at it!"
Using it's large claws, Izanami obeyed the command and begun to splash large chunks of seawater onto the rocks, causing more steam as they hit the fire. A few Vicegrips were used to strengthen her claws, too. In the meantime, Izanami's mouth was still firing Bubbles, hitting some of the longer fires. Top priority was to clean up that field!
CURRENT Litwick [Beatrice] A: Flame Body M:Ember| Minimize|Smog| Astonish
Health: 45%
NOTES. Steamy passion between two ladies and their Pokemon!
I dare to try. Dare to face the challenge.
can you?
"That's rather troublesome." Xue said, still smiling at the face of this drastic change.
All that hard work, washed away in an instant through raw power. Xue didn't want to say it was disappointing. Just anti-climatic and frustrating. The smog was smothered and the flames were doused through the aquatic surges Corphish generated through its efforts. She looked at the battlefield and saw the large amounts of steam, smoke, and puddles to death with. Xue also took note of Corphish's apparent fatigue; a good sign of faith at her Pokemon's efforts thus far.
"Man Shinju-kyuun, you sure know how to bring down the house when you need to! Do all shrine maidens have such vigor? It's like I'm facing a Pyroar!" Xue asked, fanning herself from all the heat generated in the battle.
Beatrice, though, didn't get struck clean very often this battle and looked to being worn down. Those few splashes did enough damage to wear down her ghostly flame and force the candle to reappear at proper size. The majority of the water was evaded through smart cover while tiny. Everything else though, was unfortunate splash damage.
"Don't give in Beato! Calm yourself. Your opponent is showing signs of fatigue too! Put up another Smog and get ready to light up..." Xue commanded.
The Litwick let loose another cloud of purple, poisonous gas that aimed to cover the banks of the sea and the shallow water. Xue, however, preyed upon the fact Pokemon and humans were creatures of habit. She hadn't quite figure out Shinju's total battle strategy, but at the very least it was poetically simple. The complexity was just how to overcome the obstacle. That was why she had to keep her chains from being stale.
"...its bravado! Astonish it with your Ember!" Xue cheerfully called for. <LIT!>
Litwick paid close attention to the frequency of Corphish's splashing, and then vanished from sight. In a single blink, the ghost type reappeared right in front of the Pokemon in hopes to scare and unnerve it. Shortly after, it took a deep breath and let out a blast of fire right at Corphish's face. Afterwards, Beatrice scurried back to bigger land as fast as its hops could allow.
Yes! YES! YES! The field was cleaned up! The plan worked splendidly, and now she could finally get that advantage she was longing for. Working with no sight and a large quantity of debris was one of her least favorite situations, especially because it hindered any advances considerably. Izanami was most definitely a straightforward fighter, so it wouldn't do to keep the area hazards for a prolonged time.
At Xue Yi's conversation, Shinju gave a hearty laugh from across the way, her fists on her hips. Shinju-kyun? How endearing. "Just me, wahahaha! I aim to please, Xue Yi!" When that little excerpt was done, her crimson eyes locked onto the swimming Corphish, then back to the now-revealed Litwick. It seemed tired, and it's candle was thoroughly damp. Suddenly, her ear twitched as Xue Yi started to give out commands to the little Litwick, and both Izanami and Shinju became alert. ...Smoke! It was masking the coast, the fiend! It was sure to attempt an attack at Izanami, most likely, very forward and very quick! SHE HAD TO DO SOMETHING!
As the pink-haired girl gave the two commands of Astonish and Ember, it seemed that her voice was completely flooded out by the thunderous, repetitive, instinctively scared roars of "CRUNCHCRUNCHCRUNCHCRUNCHCRUNCH!" Izanami immediately stopped it's movements and submerged slightly underwater, so as to gain an upward angle. She was so paranoid at the panicked tone of her trainer, that when the Litwick attempted to Astonish it, the Corphish made one, two, three, four, five Crunch attacks in resounding succession out of pure fear.
The crustacean had eyes of a rabid animal, eyes that were trapped in a corner. As soon as it saw a fire in front of it, it thrashed about in the water as it's claws kept Crunching at the fire and it's fuel, not even thinking about anything else. Enemy! Attack! Alert! Alert! Alert! Alert! At times, Izanami even forgot how to keep herself afloat, but her lunges at the fire pushed her to the water's surface. Everything was instinctive, irrational, but crudely and grossly effective.
The tone of a trainer's command can really change how the battle goes, sometimes.
CURRENT Litwick [Beatrice] A: Flame Body M:Ember| Minimize|Smog| Astonish
Health: KO
Beldum [Armada] A: Clear Body M:Take Down|
NOTES. How dare you! You need to be taken down!
I dare to try. Dare to face the challenge.
can you?
"Crunchcrunch...wait, DID SHE JUST SAY CRUNCH?!" Xue realized a little too late.
Beatrice's scurry reflected her trainer's surprise and wasn't fast enough. Corphish came charging out of that water with a flurry of strikes bearing the dark malice effective in taking out Beatrice. She had forgotten for a moment, that Corphish and many other Water-types had a sub-typing that offered flexiblity in use. In this case, the Pokemon's super-effective strikes bashed and sent Litwick flying back onto center stage. Xue gasped and realized that no words would reach her Pokemon now. The only sense working was Beatrice's vision, which was only seeing stars as far as its eyes could go.
"Fumumu~ It's a regrettable loss, but there's no one else to blame but myself." Xue pouted before taking out Beatrice's Pokeball. "Return and sleep well Beato."
The girl then looked to Shinju and pointed a declaration her way. There was passion in her eyes and she would not bend under the weight of this battle! No further words were necessary at the moment, and Shinju was a great opponent that deserved respect. With a flick of the wrist, and the use of a quick draw magic trick, Xue made a new Pokeball appear in her extended hand! Pressing the button she released the creature inside.
<Bzzzt!!!> the Beldum went.
It hovered and eyed out its opposition. Xue went over the battle in her head and began reflecting on certain choices. She would go deeper into thought afterwards, but now was the time to act. Competition was deeply rooted in her family and she knew the importance of momentum. The longer she waited, the more time her opponent had to rest. Shinju'ichi's Corphish looked battered from Beatrice and probably was suffering from some lasting injuries. She'd have to capitalize on it with Armada's raw, explosive power.
"No tricks Armada. Show it your raw power. Take it down!" Xue commanded in a fiery voice.
Beldum rose momentarily up and charged at the Corphish. Its lone, red eye looked square into Corphish's, issuing a challenge in a test of power. Would the aquatic Pokemon accept it though?
Probably enough.
