"Ya done chatting?" Doug's voice came from the end of the arena. The youth's arms were crossed over his chest, his expression uncharacteristically serious considering whom he was dealing with Hideo.

The master and student duel was pretty important, after all.

"Caesar, get in there." He ordered, the dog standing by his side barking before springing into the arena, magnificent beard flapping in the wind.

The youth fixed his gaze on Hideo's Rotom.

"And you. Don't half ass it this time." He said bluntly to the pokemon; he had been there to witness Hideo's first bout, of course. It was practically his duty.

He had seen the bloody rotom run its mouth while failing to give any useful information whatsoever, too.

Hideo was talented despite his problems, but nearly every pokemon he raised lacked even a lick of discipline.

"Ya got the first move, Hideo."

---

TAG: Hideo Kino

Already here, it seemed. "Yeah. Ready when you are!" Hideo tensed up, trying to stop himself from jittering in anticipation. Which bug would Doug choose for him to battle? He was hoping his scyther; his strongest vs Doug's strongest.

Except this bug barked. "I thought you said he was a bug fanatic," his Rotomdex whispered, "What's he doing with a Stoutland?"

Hideo was just as baffled as his companion.  "I dunno. Maybe he's shaking things up."

"Well that's a pretty big shake-"

The two paused as Doug shouted at them. Hideo didn't know what Doug was talking about. His Rotomdex definitely did, sheepishly trying to avoid Doug's disappointed gaze. "Y-yeah, right," it half-shouted as the Rotomdex screen became a lightly-tinted red.

Oh. He must've seen Nosey's mediocre performance in another match.  Hideo'd been meaning to tell him to get his act together, but he'd been bouncing from match to match and didn't have the time for it. "We can't hold back against Doug, alright? You gotta tell me everything."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it. Stoutland's a normal type. All of his hurty attacks are close-range, and his ability isn't anything that'll get in Rocky's way, so...yeah."

"Got it. Close range. Just like Rocky." Fortunately, close range wasn't the only range Rocky had at his disposal. And Doug gave him the first move. "Rocky! Toss some rocks his way!"

Rocky nodded, tearing out a few large rocks from the area around the arena, tossing them at the Stoutland, intending to limit or trap him in a Rock Tomb.

Rocky uses Rock Tomb

John Sullivan

"Don't just give 'im the cliffnotes!" Doug's voice snapped at the Rotom, sweeping his arms wide. "Roar, Caesar!"

The Stoutland's friendly countenance suddenly morphed into a fearsome scowl, his mustache flaring as the pokemon reeled back before unleashing an absolutely devastating roar. It whipped through the arena like thunder, whipping past with enough force to throw grown men and pokemon about like sacks of potatoes, throwing back the oncoming boulders the way they came.

Sprinting across the arena, the Stoutland howled before glaring down Rocky, expression deathly.

"Most moves and abilities can be used for just about anythin' if ya get just a lil' creative! Even if ya can't see how they would serve a use, let Hideo know. He's a bright kid- just a head's up is enough for 'im."

---

-Caesar used Roar, blasting back the rocks Rocky's way.
-Caesar's intimidate is active.

TAG: Hideo Kino

The Rotomdex pretty much retreated behind Hideo once Doug chastised it again. “A-Alright!” it shouted - mildly irritating the boy it hid behind. “His ability is Intimidate! And he knows Odor Sleuth, Helping Hand, Play Rough, Crunch, Ice Fang, and-”

“Roar.” Hideo could hear Doug order the attack - and if he hadn’t, that Stoutland wasn’t the quiet type. “But why’s he trying to use that?”

The Rotomdex peered from behind its trainer. “That roar was strong enough to push the Rock Tomb rocks away...and now they’re headed towards Rocky!”

Well, that wasn’t good. But he knew this wouldn’t be nearly enough to deter Rocky. That Intimidate did trigger Rocky’s fight or flight response. But he was always the one to choose to fight.

And Doug had a point; attacks always had multiple uses. “Rocky, go full speed! Take him head-on!” Rocky’s body was covered in a light as he rushed around, dodging around the deflected rocks, weaving around until he’d avoided them all - and could Accelerock right into the Stoutland.

Rocky's attack was lowered by Intimidate

Rocky uses Accelerock to avoid the deflected rocks - and to attack the Stoutland

John Sullivan

"It's a playdate, then. Play Rough!" Ordered Doug with a grin, prompting the Stoutland, to leap forth to meet the charging Rocky in the middle of the field, fae energy covering its form as it charged with elegant mustache swaying in the breeze.

A crash between the two Doggos at the center of the arena followed, whipping up a strong cloud of dust all around the arena and sending uprooted stone hurtling all around the place.

"Lock him down! Ice Fang!" Ordered Doug a moment after the crash. Even if he couldn't see anything, a measure of trust for one's pokemon was always needed in any battle. Hideo of all people probably knew best.

---

-Caesar used Play Rough!
-Caesar is using Ice Fang!

TAG: Hideo Kino

The two attacks collided, the shockwave powerful enough that Hideo could feel it from where he stood. He could even hear rocks get pushed around by the force. This wasn’t going to be an easy fight - not that Hideo expected one from Doug.

Rocky didn’t even wait for an order to react to the Stoutland’s attack; the moment he saw those fangs turn frosty, he was moving back. It didn’t avoid the attack completely - a small patch of frost appeared on the flank that the fangs found - but it wasn’t going to hold him back. Rather than whine from the pain, he growled.

Already, he was making his counterattack; his claws glowed bright as he charged ahead, aiming to give the Stoutland a claw-ful of pain.

“Rocky’s going in with a Rock Climb,” the Rotomdex said, “You...just gonna let him go loose?”

“With how fast he goes when he gets going,” Hideo said, “it can get pretty hard to direct him. Besides, he fights smart early on, so I think he’s got something planned.”

Which was true; that attack wasn’t just to hurt the Stoutland; he was going to go past it.

Rocky was hit by the Ice Fang, but suffered no additional effects

Rocky attacked with Rock Climb...and will use the momentum of the attack to get past the Stoutland

John Sullivan

Rocky's power surged forth, striking and trampling down the Stoutland with his claws, drawing a cry out of Caesar as he kept going forth.

As the Stautland landed spread eagled-

"Help him out." Doug said suddenly, causing the Stautland's eyes to snap wide open and his mustache to whip about wildly as it breathed in.

A booming roar shook the stadium, the shockwave following after the rushing Rocky whilee sending the Stautland sliding across the ground closer to Hideo's side.

The shockwave whipped at Doug's hat, sending it hurtling out of his head.

"Crud!"

---

-Caesar was hurt by Rock Climb!
-Caesar used Roar!

TAG: Hideo Kino

“He got him!” the Rotomdex announced. “Rocky got him, I mean. That Stoutland’s down!”

Hideo raised an eyebrow. “In just one hit? I don't think any of Doug’s Pokemon are that weak. ‘Specially not a Stoutland.” He was proved correct very quickly, with Doug spoke another order - Hideo couldn’t hear the exact words, but he could tell it wasn’t Doug admitting defeat.

Hideo was fortunate that his Rotomdex covered his ears for him; even if the Stoutland was facing away, it was still closer to him than the first time. He could still feel the Roar through the air, but his hearing would be spared.

Rocky had to brace himself against the noise, his Tough Claws digging into the ground to forcibly stop himself from hitting a wall. He took notice to Doug’s momentary hat loss. That could be the distraction he need; he prepared a set of Stealth Rocks, trying to blend them in with the stone debris pushed around by the Stoutland’s roars.

“Did he just...are those Stealth Rocks?” the Rotomdex whispered, uncovering Hideo’s ears.

Hideo whispered back, “Probably. I think I know what Rocky’s got planned.”

He shot the opposing canine a Mean Look, slowly approaching. No attacking yet, but that look was more of a taunt than an intimidation attempt; he wanted an attack to come his way.

Rocky braces himself against the Stoutland's Roar, stopping himself from running into a wall.

Rocky (attempts to stealthily) plant some Stealth Rocks around the rocky debris on Doug's side of the arena.

Rocky used Mean Look and is slowly approaching the Stoutland.

John Sullivan

Hat back in head! All was good with the world again.

... Wait, did he miss something? Caesar didn't seem to have gotten hurt (more) so it couldn't have been terribly important, right?

He felt a rock (HAH) settle in the pit of his stomach, before swinging his arm.

"No time to rest, Caesar!" Said the youth, tightening his palm into a fist. "Your playdate ain't over just yet!"

With a howl, the dog leapt forth into action, fae energy covering his magnificent mustache as he made a beeline for Rocky, becoming a pink comet!

---

-Caesar was hurt by Rock Climb!
-Caesar used Roar!

TAG: Hideo Kino

Hideo knew Doug might catch on to Rocky’s ploy if he didn’t fight back. They had to act like everything was normal, like Rocky hadn’t set up a trap for his opponent. “Meet’im head-on!” Hideo shouted, “Don’t let him overpower you, Rocky!”

Not that Rocky intended to be that obvious. Rocky did try to make it look like a convincing clash, his claws glowing with more Rock Climb energy as he met the Stoutland head-on. Whether he actually managed to get a hit wasn't his priority; Rocky would take a solid hit himself, and that hit would send him tumbling back in Doug's direction - whether or not the blow had that much of an impact.

It took him a moment to stand back up, looking back at his opponent with another Mean Look. Egging him on to attack again - and enter right into the Stealth Rocks he set up.

“Rocky ain’t looking too good there, Hideo!” his Rotomdex informed him. Hideo bit on his thumbnail, the anticipation hitting him hard; he didn’t know if Rocky was actually in position or not. He had to act in total faith here - that Rocky was tough enough to take that attack, that he was far enough back, that Doug didn’t notice the Stealth Rocks yet.

Rocky clashes with Rock Climb, but is hit by Play Rough and knocked back.

The Stealth Rocks are now between Rocky and Caesar

Rocky uses Mean Look (again)

John Sullivan

Doug narrowed his eyes as Stoutland deftly evaded Rocky's boulder assault, squeezing at his bicep as something broiled in his gut.

Caesar was agile, but so agile Rocky couldn't even chip him?

What were Rocky's moves again...?

Ah, right. SHIT!

"Caesar, pull-" Crack! Splinter! FWUSH! Whine! "Ugh, crap baskets."

The youth gripped the bridge of his nose, more or less realizing just when Rocky pulled a quite literally fast one on him.

"Ya good over there, Caesar?" Asked Doug, to which he received a whine. "Yeah, didn't think so either. Odor Sleuth!"

---

-Caesar was hurt by the Stealth rocks!
-Caesar is using Odor Sleuth!

TAG: Hideo Kino

Crack! Splinter! FWUSH! Whine!

Hideo could hear Rocky’s trap spring successfully, that burst of satisfaction mixed with a tinge of sympathy for the poor Stoutland. Rocky was a lot more blatant about his satisfaction, a massive grin on his maw, while the Rotomdex had its (digital) mouth wide-open.

They couldn’t waste this opportunity. “Nosey, what’s he doing now?” Hideo quickly asked.

“The Stoutland? His nose is glowing, so-”

Hideo didn’t even let his Rotomdex finish; he’d been told enough times of what Rocky’s Odor Sleuth looked like to realize his opponent was using it now. “Rocky, go all in! Take’im down!”

Rocky was once again covered with a sheen of light, charging right towards the Stoutland with an Accelerock, going in with his Tough Claws first.

Rocky is using Accelerock

John Sullivan

"What's the rush, Hideo?" Doug asked, before winking at his Stoutland. "The are just starting to have fun!"

Rocky zoomed through the distance rather swiftly.

Good.

There was a glint in Caesar's eye as Rocky came to be near upon him.

His mouth snapped open like an Air Cannon.

A booming thunder shook the stadium as the Stoutland blasted the Lycanroc point blank, pointing him towards were he had detected one of his own traps.

VENGEANCE.

---

TAG: Hideo Kino