The Royal Pokemon Clan

The day was sunny and warm. The field was wide open and grassy with a few boulders lodged in the ground. It was a perfect day ... for a battle!

Magnus took off his sunglasses so he could lock eyes with the other trainer that was passing conveniently by. "Yo. Let's battle!" By the irrefutable laws of trainers, they must accept. The big bro grabbed a Pokeball and tossed it into the middle of the field. "Go get 'em, Renegade!"

The red light faded to reveal a Jolteon. He let out an excited cry and took an offensive stance, his fur crackling with static electricity.

A beautiful day, to be sure, with weather just perfect for a stroll. Or should have been, anyway... Beartrap was a little too preoccupied debating a break for a mid-morning snack to notice.

The trainer's challenge, however, she couldn't help but notice. Considering he yelled it out and everything. How considerate!
She might not be super-serious about battles but it was like a law of the universe or something. You couldn't say no, even if you wanted to!

Not that she wanted to. "Cool, yeah. Let's fight."

She squinted harder at the pokemon entering the field and gnawed the inside of her cheek. Something electric. Sounded kinda like an eevee, so probably a Jolteon? Nice.

"You're up, Ruhn."

Her dark ball bounced once and rolled along the ground before the krokorok inside decided to leave it. When it did, it blinked a few times at the electric type before it leaned back, crossed its arms, and grinned. "Krok." ("'sup?")

Magnus crossed his beefy arms as he inspected the crocodilian Pokemon that was sent out. Unless he was mistaken, that was a Ground-type--which meant his Jolteon would be at a keen disadvantage. But he couldn't recall him at this point, or he'd be down to just two Pokemon.

"Okay, Renegade, do your best! Use, uh, Pin Needles! Wait, no--Pin Missile!" He was just lucky that he was using a Bug move against a Dark-type, because he certainly didn't remember that it was effective!

Renegade sprang forward, his fur standing on end and becoming even spikier. Once he was a couple meters away, he came to an abrupt halt. A barrage of small needles of light erupted from his fur in Ruhn's direction.

The krok seemed more interested in the opposing trainer's actions for a moment, grin fading a bit. Then it returned. She kicked her pokeball off the field and shifted her weight forward to one hip.

"Kr--" The jolteon's attack interrupted whatever she had to say and it was only barely that she ducked the worst of it. Those pins that did hit, though, they stung and itched like crazy!

Ruhn snarled and spluttered, clawing at the offending spots. "K-Krok!"

"Well do that sand-thing you do and maybe you'll dodge next time," Beartrap scolded.

The krok huffed and next thing they knew had done a wiggly shuffle-step, kicking up a bit of dust with her tail. How that then translated into a full-blown sandstorm was anyone's guess, but the field was quickly covered and visibility cut. Within the swirling sand and debris, Ruhn tried to dart off to flank Renegade and disappear from sight.

Magnus threw up an arm in front of his eyes as his opponent kicked up a fierce sandstorm, which whipped grit and gravel all across their impromptu arena. "Get ahead of it--use Quick Attack!"

Renegade squinted hard through the sand, and spun around in an attempt to track Ruhn's location. Small pebbles battered his pelt, leaving stinging spots. He saw a shadow that might be her and sprang towards it, leaving a faint white trail in his wake as he gained extra speed. He tackled the shadow headlong, hoping his aim was true.

Dirt flying, pebbles glancing off of everything - Ruhn felt like she was in her element. Only way it would be better were if the ground were also sand, but right now was still good. Her sneaky antics would set her up for-- why was he turning?

"Move, Ruhn!" Beartrap tried to warn, but it was too late.

Oof. A solid hit, right to the chest. Not enough force to knock her down but enough to make the krok slide back.

On reflex, she grabbed for whatever she could reach on the jolteon, resulting in claw-fulls of fur. Claws that glowed darkly to match the sharp glow of her eyes. Experience said her opponent should be forming some soft spots now. So she aimed to take advantage of them.

Ruhn tossed Renegade down and away. Hard. Onto the roughest-looking section of the field she could see. Only after she had let go did it cross her mind that maybe she should have bit him instead... Oh well.

Renegade yelped and wriggled as Ruhn grabbed him and hoisted him into the air. Electricity crackled through his fur, a natural defense mechanism that was entirely harmless to the Ground-type. Despite his nipping and squirming, he couldn't free himself in time.

He hit the field. Hard. Magnus clutched the sides of his head as he watched his Pokemon go down and skid across the dirt, flopping and rolling several times. "Renegade! Are you okay?!"

The Jolteon remained still for a moment, then struggled to his feet and shook himself out. The field was particularly rough due to the pebbles whipped up by the sandstorm, and though he was looking worse for wear, he was a highly motivated Pokemon who never quit in a battle. "Jol!" he cried, sprinting towards the Krokorok. He turned at the last second so he was facing away from her, then bucked, kicking at her with his back paws.

((With the idea that each individual kick isn't too strong by itself))

"KROKKA!" Ruhn snarled after the second hit - those would bruise, for sure. She scurried back a little into the shifting sands to get out of further kicking range, and crouched down to dig away.

"Are you just gonna take that?" Beartrap goaded, unsure of what sort of attack to command next. She was going on sound and shadowy movement, and all she could tell was that the jolteon's last attack hit twice. "Just gonna let him push you around, huh? Get in his face!"

Another snarl - more of an indignant hiss this time - and Ruhn drew herself up to her full (big for a krok, but not impressive) height. Battered she might be but by all the moxie she possessed, she wasn't throwing in the towel yet. She fixed Renegade in a fierce scowl, crossed her arms and scoffed. Almost as if to say, 'y'all ain't nothin' I can't handle.'

This confident aura, this Swagger, was a gamble, but if it paid off she'd be golden. An oh, she hoped it paid off... If she got hit with another set of those kicks, she'd be done for.

The thought of it saw her hedge her bet by darting away into the sandstorm again. This time, once she got a short distance, she dropped to her belly and scurried around that way. Comfortable? No. But it made her a smaller target and kept her moving.

Oh, Renegade didn't like that. He didn't like that one bit. His fur stood on end as he squared off against the swaggering krok. Just who did she think she was?! She wasn't all that and a slice of cake! "Renegade?" called Magnus. "What's going on in there, little dude?"

The Jolteon wasn't listening--he was pumped up with energy and seeing red. Though he was about to keel over, nothing was going to stop him from wiping the smirk off that Krokorok's snout! He dashed towards her in a blind Quick Attack, his movements uncoordinated and erratic. It would hurt if he connected, but either way, the buffeting sandstorm would bring him down right after.

((Sandstorm lasts 5 turns in the games, and I think we've done 3 so far, so 2 more!))

Renegade missed the Krokorok by a mile and lost his footing, stumbling in the loose stones. The Jolteon didn't give up easily, but he was thoroughly beaten and he knew it. Magnus held out his Pokeball and recalled him. "Good work, little dude," he said, affectionately rubbing the Pokeball and putting it in his pocket.

The sandstorm was still blasting the field. Magnus knew there was only one proper course of action to take. He tossed a ball out into the buffeting wind, which had to divert around the huge shape of the Steelix that suddenly appeared. Halberd shook her head and hunted for her opponent in the sand.

"Use Double Edge!" called Magnus.

A faint golden aura appeared around Halberd. She reared up as tall as she could, then fell in a downward lurch towards Nidoking, leaving a faint trail of light in her wake. Normally this was a risky move due to the danger to the attacker, but Halberd knew how to position herself to prevent recoil.

((Thanks!))

Leorio squinted through the dirt and needly sand and frowned. They didn't hurt him, sure, but it still made it a little tough to-- oh, cool. It was a Steelix. Which meant this was gonna hurt.

He cracked his knuckles, expecting to rely on them for the majority of the fight and as he went to try and fire off the first attack, the Steelix was already there. He didn't have time to dodge, so he braced, taking the heavy attack across his back and shoulders.

It slammed him into the dirt and shifted some of his spikes uncomfortably. She wasn't the only one who knew how to apply force, though, and since she'd obliged, he decided to take advantage of her being so close. He hardly felt he needed to aim.

He punched the dirt, there was a slight pause where the air seemed to darken a moment, and the field erupted somewhat underneath the Steelix. Unfortunately, the brunt of the energy went wide, showering more earth into the air but probably coming off as little more than a nuisance.

Beartrap squinted harder at the silhouette provided by the blast and chewed her lip a moment. "Leorio, don't waste time getting fancy - just hit it with all you got, okay?"

((I guess Dig would work the same way as in the games, with the advantage of knowing already that I used Dig, so you have a turn to use a buff or something!))

The two Pokemon were in their element within the sandstorm, with neither having the advantage nor the disadvantage. After slamming down into Leorio, Halberd was in a prime position to be blasted by the force of the Nidoking's Earth Power. Dust and grit crept into the cracks of her steely hide, where she could feel them grinding.

The Steelix slammed her head into the ground, pushing it left and right to toss up dirt to either side. Her head soon disappeared, followed by the rest of her undulating serpentine form. The ground rumbled underfoot, but it was difficult to place exactly where she was going to pop out again.

((That makes sense, so that applies to other 2-turn moves, too, unless there's other things in play? Like Solar Beam will take time to charge unless the sunlight is harsh?))

Expecting a second attack from up close, Leorio's fist swirled with shadowy energy. But when the steelix dug into the ground instead, that energy fizzled out.

"Nido!" he exclaimed, indignant, and tried to take a second swing unaided by any actual technique or moves. Even if it did connect it would do nothing but he couldn't help it. It was the principle of the matter - you have a chance to swing, you take it.

Wait. No. Hang on. He should keep a cool head about this.

The ground shook, he knew running around wouldn't help, and he couldn't predict where exactly she'd attack from next. Well, below, naturally... but beyond that? Who knew.

Psychics knew, but forget them. With their mind warp, time warp crap.

He sighed. Nothing to do but brace for impact. He'd get her the next time around.

((Yes indeed!))

The ground suddenly stopped shaking, as if the massive Steel-type had wandered off or decided to take a dirt nap. Excrutiating seconds ticked on, and even Magnus began to shift his weight, wondering what was keeping her--RRRRRWHOOM! The ground exploded upwards as Halberd emerged head first, her hide gleaming in the sunlight. Of course, whether her aim was true was at first unclear, given all the chaos ...

Oh? Leorio perked an ear when the ground stopped, hoping to catch some sound that might give the Steelix away. When he got nothing, he shifted his stance to set up for his next move and tighten his focus.

Up came Halberd, attack forcing dirt under Leorio's own armored plates and knocking the wind out of him. But her aim hadn't been quite accurate, and he was thrown back instead of KO'd.

"Now!" Beartrap yelled, though what for she didn't even know. She didn't have any plan and Leorio tended to battle just fine without her.

Her timing was impeccable, though. Just before Leorio touched down, a glowing orb formed in one of his fists. His feet hit the ground, he wound up, twisting like a pitcher on the mound, and lobbed it at Halberd: a curveball made from pure fighting spirit.

Halberd could be surprisingly nimble for a massive snake made of steel. When Leorio wound up to hurl the energy at her, she darted out of the way, letting it whiff past one of her long spikes. As she ducked to the side, her glowing tail came rushing towards the Nidoking in a wide horizontal sweep.

Aw, shoot. Shouldn't have gone with the curveball.

Leorio took a few steps to his right, about to break into a run. But he wasn't fast enough and misjudged how close he'd cut it. He took Halberd's sweep right to the gut.

If he took another hit. Any other hit. He'd be done.

Still. You get the chance, you always swing.

Coughing and still caught up on her tail, he drew back and threw a punch, driving a powered-up fist into Halberd's armor.

Halberd was on a roll. Her tail carried Leorio across the battlefield, giving him access to drive his fist into one of her body segments. It hurt, and she felt the metal buckle a little. She reacted instinctively, as if swatting a fly: her tail reared up with the Nidoking still hopefully in place, then slammed him down against the dirt.

And that was it. He hadn't recovered enough to dodge and even had he braced it would have been too much. Planted into the dirt, Leorio gave a wheezing grunt and lay still.

"Dang. Come on back, Leorio; you did good," Beartrap mumbled as she returned the nidoking to his pokeball. It was always hard for her, seeing her first friend taken down. She glanced down at her last two pokeballs and nodded. There was only one logical choice.

"Get 'em, Oni," she whispered.

Red light, laser sound, and then a large garchomp appeared on the field. Without the sandstorm, it was easy to see by fin shape that she was female and the number of scars striping her hide suggested she was no stranger to battle.

On seeing Halberd, Oni shrieked her challenge and charged forward. As she moved, she tucked into a streamlined shape, glowing dangerously and flattening the ground in her path. Seemed she was intent on Bulldozing straight through the steelix.