Unfortunately for Hideo, it was not Liam King's first match.

He tosses a pokeball idly in one hand, waiting, as his challenger approaches. Some kid, not one he recognizes — when they send out their Pokemon, he grins in a flash of sharp teeth. This ought to be a quick fight.

Cradily emerges from its capsule, swaying as if in an invisible breeze, and Gavin gestures across the field. He doesn't realise that his opponent is blind.

"First move's all yours."

Hideo could hear his opponent deploy Pokemon of their own. He couldn't yell what Pokemon he was facing, but that was part of why he got a Rotomdex. "So what am I up against?" he asked, not even trying to look towards his opponent.

"Here, lemme check." His Rotomdex scanned their opponent, quickly getting results. "Ooh, this matchup is not looking good for Swimcoach."

"Grass-type?"

"Yeah, it's a Cradily. Buuuut it's also a ground-type, so you got a shot."

Hideo sighed. Not the best opponent, but he could work with it. And his opponent was generous enough to offer the first move.

"Well, if you insist...why don't we make it rain?" His Seismitoad got the hint, starting her Rain Dance post-haste. It got results very quickly, a light drizzle soon turning into a shower.

Seismitoad uses Rain Dance

"use a weather-changing move or ability." condition fulfilled

Rain Dance Duration:  1/5

Cillian Quinn

Rain soaks clothes, skin, but Gavin doesn't mind.

Cradily is equally indifferent, though its STORM DRAIN seems to draw in the puddles that form on the ground. It explores the softened earth with its roots until they're firmly INGRAINED within the soil.

Hideo didn’t mind getting soaked either. The rain would only be temporary, and no doubt the June sun would dry it all up when this was over. And his Rotomdex was waterproof, so no risk there.  "Go for a big hit!" Hideo ordered, "Make 'em really feel it!"

His Seismitoad takes full advantage of the empowering weather, firing a Hydro Pump straight at the Cradily. Surely this was the smartest move to make in this situation, and wouldn't backfire in any way.

Seismitoad uses Hydro Pump

Rain Dance Duration:  2/5

Cillian Quinn

Hearing the child's command, Gavin braces for a devastating attack.

The tension dissipates immediately when the violent stream of water is fired; drawn by the STORM DRAIN, it curves directly into the Cradily's waiting maw. What to Gavin looks incredibly uncomfortable seems to reinvigorate the plant.

A horrific gurgle soon bubbles up from where the water had went down. Cradily hiccups, gasps, then vomits a putrid stream of GASTRIC ACID toward the Seismitoad.

“Ewwww.”

“What? What happened?”

“It ate that attack. Literally. It ate that hydro pump with its mouth.”

“What? How?!”

“Might have to do with that Storm Drain ability it has.”

Oh, right. The ability that let a Pokemon draw in water attacks. And absorb them. And get stronger from absorbing them. “...when were you going to tell me about that?”

“Well I - oh Arceus it’s vomiting at us.”

Oh right. Don’t get distracted. “Quick, dodge it!”

Fortunately, the very ability the Gastro Acid aimed to suppress, was the one that helped Swimcoach avoid it; through her Swift Swim, she moved deftly through the rain, the attack missing her entirely. And fortunately for the people who’d fight here next, the rain would wash it away.

And with that speed boost, she headed straight for the Cradily, aiming to deliver a solid Drain Punch, a grin on her face.

Seismitoad avoids the Gastro Acid thanks to her Swift Swim-enhanced speed

Seismitoad uses Drain Punch

Rain Dance Duration:  3/5

Cillian Quinn

Though he notes the speed with which the overgrown toad dodges the attack, a lack of familiarity with the species leaves Gavin ignorant to its possible abilities. He frowns thoughtfully through sheets of rain.

Seeing the Seismitoad reel back its fist, Gavin assumes a fighting-type move and quickly clicks his tongue. A shimmering barrier forms between the two Pokemon, PROTECTING against the powerful punch.

Her Drain Punch struck the Protect barrier, and bounced right off, forcing her to take a step back. “No dice,” the Rotomdex said, “Don’t suppose she’s got anything that can get past a Protect?”

“Nope.” Hideo grimaced. He was going to have to pull out everything he could, especially now that he could feel the rain start to let up. “Try to get around that barrier!” he shouted, “Take a shot when you can!”

Swimcoach tried to go through with that tactic, trying to get around the Cradily and toss a Mud Shot at him. Where did this mud come from? Don’t think too hard about it.

Seismitoad uses Mud Shot

Rain Dance Duration:  4/5

Cillian Quinn

At last, an attack connects.

Cradily gurgles its displeasure as it's covered in mud; though the rain does its best to wash away the sticky clumps, most of it remains. It finds its movements bogged down, though its roots absorb nutrients to deal with the pain.

Gavin clicks his tongue.

Another horrific gurgle emanates from deep within the fossilized plant. This time, the fluid it ejects looks downright TOXIC.

At last, one of her attacks hit (and actually did some damage). It wouldn’t be much, but it was something. “Nice!” Hideo exclaimed, hearing the impact and the Cradily’s gurgle.

But that attack didn’t go without retribution. The Cradily spewed out another substance, and the Seismitoad couldn’t escape it in time. She did her best to keep it from hitting her face, but hitting her arm was more than enough for the Toxic to take effect.

“Oof,” the Rotomdex said, “That poison ain’t gonna do her any favors.”

Crap. That definitely put them on a timer here. “Well if they’re gonna play it that way...Swimcoach, confuse’em!” His Seismitoad was quick to open her mouth wide, letting out an odd noise as blue rings floated towards the Cradily, the distinct signs of her using Supersonic.

Meanwhile, the rain was letting up, down to a light drizzle.

Seismitoad was hit by the Toxic.  Seismitoad was poisoned.

'inflict or sustain a poison' condition fulfilled

Seismitoad used Supersonic

Seismitoad is poisoned

Rain Dance Duration:  5/5

Cillian Quinn

As soon as the Toxic connects, a likely win becomes cemented.

There's a timer on the battle as the poison slowly eats through Seismitoad's bloodstream. Even the confusion that makes his Cradily sway uncomfortably from its rooted position does little to worry him.

He clicks his tongue.

Another stream of GASTRIC ACID is launched toward the toad as Cradily's roots draw nutrients to restore its condition.

---

Inflict or sustain confusion - complete!
Rolled a 43 to stave off confusion for the round.

"Heyyy, it worked!" the Rotomdex stated, "Maybe you got a real chance at winning this."

"Glad to hear you're confident now," he said, miffed by the backhanded compliment. Still, a confused enemy meant they had a better chance at winning this.

Unfortunately, Hideo could feel the rain dissipate. It was always a crapshoot guessing how long a Rain Dance would last, and it seemed this would be shorter than usual. Darn you, near-summer weather!

And unfortunately, Swimcoach was back to her regular speed. Which meant the moment she put her arm down, she was given a faceful of Gastric Acid.

"Gross."

Hideo was running low on options here. He had to act before the poison took her down. "Go for another punch!" he ordered.

The Seismitoad wiped off enough of the acid so she could open her eyes, charging forth to deliver another Drain Punch to the Cradily.

The weather has returned to normal.

Seismitoad got a faceful of Gastric Acid.  Her Swift Swim ability is suppressed.

Seismitoad used Drain Punch

Seismitoad is poisoned

Cillian Quinn

Whatever ability it had would trouble them no more.

Satisfaction is admittedly short-lived when the Seismitoad closes in for a devastating punch. Gavin doesn't signal Cradily to protect itself, for he has a different plan in mind. The attack connects, slamming its head against the sand.

Gavin clicks his tongue.

Cradily's head snaps back, volatile, and it gurgles as it attempts to latch on and GIGA DRAIN the Seismitoad, regaining whatever health it had taken.

---

Rolled for number of turns confused and got 4.
Rolled a 99 to stave off confusion for the round.