If it's serious training Charlie asks for, it's serious training she gets. They plod onward through the rain, which is pouring harder and harder every minute. Charlie knows it's getting dangerous to be out here in the mountains so she urges Celia to start maneuvering a way down. The frog-like Pokemon peers over the cliff edge and the two keep walking. Eventually they find a path that dips downward and they take it, Charlie using extra care with every footfall.
Of course she inevitably slips. The grace she typically holds is lost as her right foot slips out from under her. Her limbs fly out and she feels a muscle in her back twinge as her ass slaps into the ground. The slippery rock surface acts like a water slide and she barrels into an unsuspecting Celia, whose orange eyes widen fervently in surprise. They only go a few feet and Charlie screams when they near the cliff edge.
It's then that she peers over, legs dangling off the side, and sees the drop is only a couple of feet. They've reached the base of the mountain. Feeling more than a little ridiculous, she stands up. Celia brushes off the gunk and grime from her purple body and shakes out one unfortunately mud-caked foot. "
Croa-gunk-gunk-croa," Charlie hears.
It's rare that Celia makes noise so she looks at her Pokemon in surprise, but she's confused when she sees Celia's head darting from left to right. "
What is it, C?" Charlie says and Celia takes a couple of steps forward. Then she points.
Charlie peers through the rain and sees several shapes loping towards them. "
Are those--" Celia nods and Charlie bites her lip. Well, they're certainly in a pickle. She realizes they must have stumbled upon their home, since upon a closer inspection it appears that they're at a small circular opening at the base of the mountain. In order to get out, they'd have to scale back up the walls. "
Looks like we're fighting our way out of this. Pabu and Beira are going to help." Celia nods and Charlie unclips two Pokeballs from her belt.
Charlie doesn't have much experience fighting with Psychic types and she's been putting off using Beira for quite some time. Now probably isn't the
best time to put her skills to the test, but facing this many Pokemon at once would be too much for just Celia and Pabu. "
Okay, okay. Slow yourself down, Charlie. You can't just dive headfirst into this one."
Celia croaks towards Pabu and Beira in what Charlie believes is an attempt to hurriedly explain the situation. "
Pabu, get ready with Charge." The electric type's cheeks crackle with electricity; nearby raindrops light up like short-lived lanterns and Charlie remembers her advantage with the rain. She's just going to have to make sure Celia and Beira aren't anywhere near Pabu's attacks...
-- Battle Start --
The first Croagunk lands in front of Celia with a loud thud and emits a thunderous, "
GUNK!" in her face. Celia is nonplussed and stares the Croagunk down with just one long puff of her cheeks. The Croagunk's teeth part and Charlie recognizes its body posture as it prepares
Poison Sting. "
Celia, get ready to dodge to the right. Go in for Brick Break. Pabu, use Charge Beam on the Toxicroak and Croagunks to Celia's left. Beira, after Pabu's Charge Beam, jump in and use Hypnosis!"
The battle really starts when the first
Poison Sting flies. Celia, anticipating the attack, parries in close quarters and delivers
Brick Break straight into the Croagunk's gut. The Croagunk makes a disgruntled noise and places one hand back onto the ground as he is forced backwards over the slippery terrain. Celia's cheeks puff in and out as the Croagunk comes at her again, this time with a Toxicroak counterpart. "
Slow 'em down with Mud-Slap, Celia! Follow up with Brick Break."
While Celia holds her own, Pabu manages to land a hit on two approaching Croagunks. The electric type moves aren't the most effective, but combined with the rain, leave them sizzling a bit more than usual. The Emolga bounces back and Beira lumbers into place, the flaps of her ears twitching as she whirls her hands in the air. One of the Toxicroaks and only one of the Croagunks hunch over, eyelids drooping until they collapse onto the ground. The leftover Croagunk ribbits and launches
Mud-Slap at Pabu. He attempts to dive out of the way, but Beira lumbers into his path and the both of them are swept under the mud.
"
Get up. We have to finish it off before the other two wake up!" Charlie says. She has no idea how long the Croagunk and the Toxicroak will stay under, but each moment is precious. Pabu struggles to pull himself out from the mud, but Beira reaches down and yanks him free. Her ears droop and it's obvious to see she feels awful, but Charlie only blames herself. "
It's alright, Beira! Show that Croagunk what you can do with Zen Headbutt." Desperate to prove herself, Beira ducks her head and lumbers straight towards the Croagunk. She knocks her thick skull straight into its chest and it collapses, the air whooshing out of its puffed cheeks in one fell swoop.
Celia's
Mud-Slap hits the opposing Croagunk head-on and stops it in its tracks. The Toxicroak is more prepared and leaps out of the way on spindly legs. It comes down from the air ready with an attack, but Celia's prepared. She pivots one foot and shoots her other one in the air, glowing toes hitting the oncoming Toxicroak with
Brick Break.
The Toxicroak folds limply onto the ground and then lunges towards Celia with
Astonish. Its spiked hands glow black as it delivers a squeezing slap to the lesser evolution. Celia winces and the Toxcroak rears to expel
Poison Sting. "
MOL!" Pabu's tinny voice echoes against the splatters of rain and Charlie shields her eyes as
Thundershock sparks from his body. It zigzags towards Celia's Toxicroak and gives Celia enough time to recover from the cringe and backpedal at a safe distance. Celia expels
Mud-Slap at the same moment Beira readies
Zen Headbutt. Charlie's happy the other two Pokemon are still asleep. While the Toxicroak is focused on Celia, it misses Beira running at it full force. It croaks out as she knocks her head into its back. The attack is super effective and the Toxicroak goes down.
"
Two down, three to go, guys," Charlie says. The sleeping Toxicroak is the first to wake of the two and immediately launches back into battle. Celia's Croagunk frees itself from the slop of dirt and uses
Swagger. Celia's cheeks flare out and her eyes dull. She staggers towards the Croagunk with a glowing palm and manages to slap it across the face. It's not the most conventional method, but it does the job and gives Pabu enough time to barrel into it with
Quick Attack.
Beira squares off with the Toxicroak and blocks it from approaching the other three Pokemon. Charlie knows Beira's outmatched when it comes to the Toxicroak's speed, and the Toxicroak knows it as well. It darts in circles around Beira and she turns in frustration; the target's too fast for another
Zen Headbutt. The Toxcroak suddenly pauses with its legs bent and uses its momentum to head straight towards Beira. The psychic-type's snout trumpets as the
Pursuit hits her hard. Charlie cries out and returns her before her body can hit the ground.
Celia and Pabu charge after the Toxicroak and Charlie watches wordlessly as the two Pokemon get revenge for Beira. Celia slams down on the Toxicroak with another
Brick Break and as soon as she's in the clear, Pabu leaps from her shoulder and electrocutes it with
Thundershock. The Toxicroak stiffens and sags to one side.
Before she knows what she's doing, Charlie's withdrawing three balls from her belt, two Ultra balls and one a Pokeball. She throws them at the two fainted Pokemon and orders Celia and Pabu to hold the rest off. If she can manage to capture the Pokemon, she'll grab her team and hightail it out of there before things got serious.
Notes:
5 Croagunk | 2 Toxicroak in total
1 Croagunk + 1 Toxicroak vs. Celia
2 Croagunk + 1 Toxicroak vs. Beira and Pabu
(
Catching 2 Toxicroak and 1 Croagunk)
Dry Skin Activated: Celia, Croagunk #1, Toxicroak #2, Croagunk #2Croagunk #1 uses Poison Sting -> Celia (missed)
Celia uses Brick Break -> Croagunk #1 (80%)
--
Pabu uses Charge Beam -> Croagunks #2 & 3 (70% & 84%)
Pabu Sp. Atk +1Croagunk # 3 uses Mud-Slap -> Beira (60%)
Beira uses Hypnosis -> Toxicroak #2 and Croagunks #2 fall asleep
Croagunk #3 uses Mud Slap -> Beira (40%) + Pabu (70%)
Beira uses Zen Headbutt ->
Croagunk #3 faints --Celia uses Mud-Slap -> Croagunk #1 (65%) + Toxicroak #1 dodges
Celia uses Brick Break -> Toxicroak #1 (90%)
Toxicroak #1 uses Astonish -> Celia (95% + Cringe)
Pabu uses Thundershock -> Toxicroak #1 (75%)
Beira uses Zen Headbutt ->
Toxicroak #1 faints--Dry Skin: Celia (100%) , Croagunks #1 & 2 (70% & 86%), Toxicroak #2 (100%) recover health-- Croagunk #1 uses Swagger -> Celia Atk +2 + Confusion (100%)
Celia uses Brick Break -> Croagunk #1 (55%)
Pabu uses Quick Attack -> Croagunk #1 (35%)
Toxicroak #2 uses Pursuit ->
Beira faints--Celia uses Brick Break -> Toxicroak #2 (70%)
Pabu uses Thundershock -> Toxicroak #2 (45%)