His own echoing steps were deafening. The closer he came to the double doors, the louder they- and his beating chest- seemed to become.

When he swung them both open dramatically however, everything became silent.

Possibly the richest man in Hoenn stood on the other side of the arena. Even Doug, who recognized neither champion nor Elite 4 on sight, could recognize the man who technically owned the Netballs at his hip.

He had done his research before challenging the gym- needless to say, given what he had found, he was floored at the fact the man had deemed to deal with the bugcatcher himself.

Running a country, a megacorp, and a gym at the same time, the guy must have been an exemplar multitasker.

Or 1 step away from extreme stress hair loss.

"Pleasure, sir." He said briefly, tipping his straw hat at the man.

He had no frame of reference for dealing with a person so many tiers above him in the social totem pole. Dude'ing it up was usually his way- but he had heard rumors of people getting thrown in the slammer for mouthing off.

Or had it been just some kid...? Couldn't recall.

"I'll try and not waste yer time. Kama! In there!" He said as he swung his arm towards the arena, his Scyther leaping high before landing on his half of the field, scythe arms hanging low as she glared down the opponent.

Doug felt a drop of nervous sweat roll down his neck as he stared at the leader's choice.

Had to make it as hard as possible, huh?

---

TAG: FERNANDO SILPH

Doug crossed his arms at Fernando's question, seemingly going deep into thought as his brows furrowed together and his head tipped forward, his gaze hidden underneath his straw hat...

And then he tilted his head to the side.

"... Patience!" He said with absolute(ly unjustified) certainty, giving the man a thumbs up.

Meanwhile, Kama stood off in front of the Smeargle, tilting her head at its taunts, her eyes narrowing dangerously. Slowly she peered over her shoulder at her trainer.

The youth just grinned and shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest once again.

"Don't make 'em anger management lessons go to waste, love." He said with a laugh, before turning his gaze towards the arena. "Why don't ya get acquainted with yer surroundings in the meanwhile?"

The Scyther's gaze narrowed further, but she gave a nod all the same- and sprang to motion.

Rushing straight for the Smeargle.

"Ugh, fo' da love o'..." Began to curse Doug as Kama's swift, ninja like movements brought her face to face before the Smeargle, her murderous gaze boring deep into the other's own.

She blew upon it derisively, her breath blowing upon its face. Taunt her?

"Sassy little..." Said Doug under his breath, tipping his hat down.

---

TAG: FERNANDO SILPH

Kama did not so much as shift as the other pokemon went to disable one of her moves, staring him down as her Vacuum Wave was sealed.

His last move.

Should've used it to run.

Kama responded by raising her arm and aligning it neck level with the Smeargle, tilting her head.

Yeah. That seemed about right.

"'Bout six, soon to be seven years, give or take." Said Doug to the man, arms at his hips. "Her temper runs pretty hot most o'da time."

The Scyther breathed in deeply, seemingly gnashing her teeth.

"But ya know? She's actually pretty good at followin' directions."

Waiting time was over.

---

Vacuum Wave has been disabled. [3 turns remaining.]

TAG: FERNANDO SILPH

"You and I both!" Said Doug with glee as the Smeargle transformed. There was a moment of pause as the opponent parried off the strike, Kama staring him eye level now that he had deigned to try and imitate her.

And then she spat in his eye, a heavy droplet of saliva sent flying.

"She's a very freeform fighter."

She hadn't just been gnashing her teeth before.

In that same spitting motion, she rammed her face into the smeargle's, before a powerful flap of her wings sent the rest of her body crashing against his, her wings flapping once again to send her figure hurtling across the air.

---

Kama (Scyther) used Acrobatics!
Vacuum Wave has been disabled. [2 turns remaining.]

TAG: FERNANDO SILPH

Doug laughed at the spectacle, watching Kama's figure hurtle across the air. One, two, three spins, and she nailed her landing, shooting a glare at the youth.

"Don't look at me, gorgeous! Your opponent ain't out for the count yet." He said with a grin, gesturing with a finger up at the air.

Kama peered upwards, seemingly gazing through her opponent as neon, verdant green flooded the edge of her scythes. With a snarl, the Scyther blurred as she rushed to stand underneath the airborne opponent, before swinging a large scythe of green energy up at his back.

---

Kama (Scyther) used Fury Cutter!
Vacuum Wave has been disabled. [1 turns remaining.]

TAG: FERNANDO SILPH

Blades of pink slammed into the green scythes, a cancelling each other out with a booming echo and strong whiplash.

Back at the ground, the youth tipped back his hat, releasing a whistle.

"Vacuum Wave?" Said Doug, looking up at the air. "Kama, hold."

Several more waves cut through the air next, rapidly accelerating towards Kama as the remained grounded, green pooling in her Scythe once again.

"Go!"

She swung just as they came- but the scythe that came out next dwarfed the previous one, twice as large as before, slamming into and the Vacuum Waves, a sharp shockwave spreading through the arena as they collided and exploded on contact, kicking up a large cloud of dust all around the arena.

Kama slipped into the cloud of dust.

---

Scyther used Fury Cutter again. Fury Cutter's power was doubled.

TAG: SPIRAL