DOUG VS SILPH

AN OLD GUARDS FAITH IN THE NEXT GENERATION

“GOOD.”

Despite his Baltoy fainting from its EXPLOSION, Fernando’s expression remains positive. His smile is muted but the curl of his lips pervade from behind his otherwise tight lipped neutral.

“I wanted to see if your Mr.Mime had the reaction timing needed,” he explains with a loud enough volume to carry across the field.

The smoke dissipates underneath the sheen of Mr.Mime’s DAZZLING GLEAM but it can’t hope to penetrate the PROTECT ushered by his Probopass. The small segments of its mini-nose come loose once more as they deviate into autonomous flight patterns.

Fernando recalls his suicidal Baltoy as both trainers draw to an end of their double battle. While Fernando accrued an early lead, he happily throws it away to even out the odds. For him, this is less about victory and more about cultivating the talents of those present. His moves focus on testing what Doug can do and seeing how he compares relative to those around him.

“But no more of that; TAUNT!”

The main body squints at the Mr.Mime before turning away, prodding the Pokemon to attack instead of utilizing some sort of defensive or utility based measure.

John Sullivan

DOUG vs SILPH

Judgement vs Tactics

"Ya know we don't get to fight twice, right?" Doug called out after Fernando, gripping the edge of his hat. Hadn't he already been tested at Fernando's own gym?

He swiped his arm dramatically for the spectators.

"Very well! Battle's drawin' to a close regardless!" Said Doug, prompting the Mr. Mime to snap its eyes wide and suddenly shove forth its hands, throwing all thoughts of defense or trickery aside to unleash yet another flash of blinding light in the form of Dazzling Gleam.

Then the Mr. Mime rushed forth like a sprinter athelete through the blinding light, face set in a determined, kinda scary frown as its arms flapped at its sides arms closing into dimly glowing fists as it swung a pre-emptive Sucker Punch at the Probopass!

---

-Mr. Mime used Dazzling Gleam to hopefully blind the Probopass.
-Mr. Mime used Sucker Punch to hopefully pre-eventively strike before Probopass' attack does.
tag: FERNANDO SILPH

DOUG VS SILPH

AN OLD GUARDS FAITH IN THE NEXT GENERATION

“NOT THAT EASILY! PROBOPASS!”

The DAZZLING GLEAM renders the field invisible under the duress of a pink flash but that has little impact on the Probopass. It doesn’t need to aim in order to invert the GRAVITY in the arena. Everyone’s weight increases and their ability to move becomes drastically more difficult.

Neither it nor Fernando can see the SUCKER PUNCH as the Mr. Mime comes closer until its too late. But coming in close leaves the Pokemon vulnerable. Before the Mr. Mime makes contact, as the light fades, each piece of Probopass’ mini units create a triangular perimeter in front of it.

The punch lands and electricity ripples from its main body and each piece. Its DISCHARGE radiates off all three, crackling as it engulfs several meters outwards from each piece.

John Sullivan

DOUG vs SILPH

Judgement vs Tactics

Just when one thought things couldn't get any worse, they naturally got much worse. Electricity coursed through the Mr. Mime's fist, then the rest of his body as the discharge was expelled.

Not good- but hey, an attack was an attack, if nothing else.

"Remember Junior?! Fight dirty!" Shouted Doug over at Misterio, reminding the Mime of his sparring sessions with Cobra Jr...

Electricity still rocking its body, the pokemon summoned all of its focus- before sharply punching towards the Probopass' eye, then utilizing as much psychic force as it could muster to grasp at his electrifying mini-noses-

And also shove it in its eyes.

---

-Mr. Mime used Sucker Punch to hopefully punch Probopass in the eye.
-Mr. Mime then used Psychic to momentarily seize the shocking mini-noses and shove them into its eyes as well!

tag: FERNANDO SILPH

DOUG VS SILPH

AN OLD GUARDS FAITH IN THE NEXT GENERATION

THERE IS NOTHING THE PROBOPASS CAN DO TO PREVENT THE SUCKER PUNCH. That lands clearly. But Mr.Mime does not hit soft flesh. Its eyes are round, polished stone, reminiscent of marbles more than anything else. When it comes to physical strikes, the steel type doesn’t so much as flinch.

“Steel types are known for their defense,” Fernando reminds his challenger. If only he had a fighting type to breakthrough.

The PSYCHIC hold seems to work at first. But manipulating the mini-noses proves difficult as the Mr. Mime has to lift them against GRAVITY. Not an impossible task but one that puts more strain on the otherwise easy task.

However, as the noses get projected closer to the Probopass—when it recognizes that it no longer has control over its mini units, the Pokemon unleashes another DISCHARGE.

The base body controls the mini-noses through magnetism. In order to move with precise direction the magnetism must be manipulated accordingly, not unlike psychic powers. But turning the magnetism up to pull or push, without any nuance, proves incredibly easy. The mini-noses refuse to budge as the magnetic push brings the PSYCHIC to a standstill.

GRAVITY pulls them downward. PSYCHIC pushes them toward Probopass’ eye. Magnetism pushes them away.

The end result is them slowly lowering as two forces collide.

John Sullivan

DOUG vs SILPH

Judgement vs Tactics

Yet another discharge, yet another full body spasm for the poor Mr. Mime, its eyes flitting from side to side as its focus was thrown off- causing his psychic energy to try and hurtle the mini-noses all over the arena.

The youth, meanwhile, was mumbling something under his lips when Fernando made his adept observation.

"Duly noted." The youth said dryly between mumbles, before swiping his arm back, squeezing his hand into a fist. "Misterio- Have it taste its own medicine!"

Somewhat nauseous by now, the Mr. Mime scrambled back while bringing its hands together like it were trying to squeeze a ball between them, gritting its teeth as it erected a visible sphere of psychic force around the Probopass.

There was no point in trying to grab it directly- its resistance was too great.

No, its plan was have its own discharge bounce back on it!

---

-Mr. Mime used psychic to randomly throw around the mini-noses.
-Mr. Mime used psychic to create a bubble of energy around the Probopass, hoping to entrap its discharge within and cause it to self-harm.
tag: FERNANDO SILPH

DOUG VS SILPH

AN OLD GUARDS FAITH IN THE NEXT GENERATION

ELECTRIC TENDRILS BOUNCE OFF THE CONFINES OF THE BUBBLE. Indeed, sparks flash, and the Probopass receives some whiplash from the resulting vistage. But the attack is still its own. Channeling it leaves it resistant to self immolation.

“Interesting, but that won’t be enough,” Fernando commentates, slyly ushering his opponent toward the correct solution. Unlike his actual Gym battles, he treats this match as a learning opportunity. With no need to judge, he can shove them toward the correct ‘strategy’.



“Not what I had in mind but what works, works,” he remarks with a shake of his head. His Probopass is promptly recalled. A conclusion is declared and Fernando nods with the expected humility of a public figure. He remains smiling throughout, muted compared to the dumb struck trainers in the stands.

He leaves the challenge’s stand to meet his opponent at the mid-point.

“Not bad for a pick-up match, hm?”

John Sullivan

DOUG vs SILPH

Judgement vs Tactics

"Wrong! It was just enough!" Doug countered as he finished muttering under his breath, face lighting up as he swung his arm in the air. "Mimic!"

The grunting and struggling Mr. Mime's face seemed to freeze in place for a moment.

And then he swiped his hand over his face.

---

Doug returned the waving Mr. Mime to his pokeball as FERNANDO SILPH met him halfway. He didn't know if the flashing cameras were the fans, the press or both, but he was glad he had worn his uniform for the first day now.

"Least two gym leaders could do is put on a show." The youth said with a grin as he clasped the man's palm, shaking his hand. "Mind cuttin' me a break on the taunts next time?"

Not that he expected Fernando to remember their gym match.

DOUG VS SILPH

AN OLD GUARDS FAITH IN THE NEXT GENERATION

A PROPER HANDSHAKE IS FIRM BUT GENTLE. Fernando lacks the same pressure he applied on the battlefield. He’s reduced to nothing more than a personable face—as personable as he can be considering the general consensus about him.

“How else can I force you to think?”

He says so in jest but every move he makes reinforces the notion that his strategy revolves around forcing his opponent to create one in response. Unlike his Gym Challenge, there’s no brute forcing their way out of this one. Not when the expectation to lose is self-inflicted.

“Enjoying the festivities so far, Sullivan?”

John Sullivan

DOUG vs SILPH

Judgement vs Tactics

"Just send out Tapu Fini! I guarantee ya the ol' noggin'll be turning the gears like crazy then." He said with a laugh.

His chances against the deity were trash, but he would've welcomed the challenge all the same.

"Sure am! The food is both cheap and tasty, can't ask for much else." He said, grinning as he winked playfully. "And the battles ain't too shabby either."

It was a somewhat surreal experience to be... socializing with FERNANDO SILPH of all people, a man so many social tiers above Doug it could only be measured in Martian mountain ranges, but somehow, the youth had managed to get over his nerves since their first meeting.

"How 'bout ya, Mr. Silph? Havin' fun? Ya been lookin' a lot less stressed since ya left the council- got enough time in yer new schedule to enjoy the festivities in full?" He asked as he reached up to tip back his hat, throwing a look around the many stalls that crowded Slateport's streets. "Appreciate yer handywork up close?"

He wasn't certain, but he assumed the man had more than a little involvement with the organization (and funding) of the Star Tournament- given the location and all.

"Well... if ya don't mind a little work chatter 'fore all that- I was actually hopin' I could poke 'round yer head for a bit- since ya seem to know more 'bout legendaries than any other soul in Hoenn."

DOUG VS SILPH

AN OLD GUARDS FAITH IN THE NEXT GENERATION

FERNANDO MIMICS DOUG’S BODY LANGUAGE WITH AN ACCOMPANYING CHUCKLE. There is implicit guidance from him as he steers their conversation away from the arena. Every step he takes ferries them with the tried and true ‘walk and talk’.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. It’s a good break and chance to destress.”

He nods in regards to Doug’s question. “Indeed. This atmosphere is what the world should be. Everyone enjoying the world of Pokemon and appreciating all they do for us.”

He shoots Doug a wider grin before patting his shoulder. “And I get to marvel at trainers much stronger than myself.”

They end up at a stall that specializes in Unovian skewers. Fernando points out several as the attendant removes them from the grill.

“Indeed,” he reaches for his wallet from his back pocket, revealing a pure black, metal card. “What did you want to know?”

John Sullivan

DOUG vs SILPH

Judgement vs Tactics

Doug didn't know if he could call himself 'much stronger' than Fernando when it felt like the man had been testing him out the entire fight, but the man had little to gain from flattering someone so far below him he might as well be a mole, so the youth took it with good grace.

As they sat down for Unovan skewers and the man pulled out what Doug assumed was probably the most powerful credit/Debit card in existence, the youth cupped his chin and considered his question carefully.

He decided he didn't have much to lose by just asking.

"There's a legendary pokemon I need to find. They... have healing powers. Healing powers that go far beyond what modern medicine can hope to accomplish, supposedly." He said simply after a moment, grabbing one of two colorful glasses of fruit juice as they were brought to them and swirling its contents absentmindedly, staring into the whirpool that formed with a frowning brow. "I figure you of all people have a better chance of knowin where I might see them- not just cause of what I said before, but because you are also Tapu Fini's avatar."

He brought his gaze up to the man.

"Do you know where, or how I could find Tapu Lele?" He asked. "... Does Tapu Fini?"

DOUG VS SILPH

AN OLD GUARDS FAITH IN THE NEXT GENERATION

FERNANDO QUIRKS AN EYEBROW AT THE QUESTION. To preface it with need annunciates the dire perception Doug has. For what reason remains unknown. But Fernando presses on, peeling off a piece of the kabob with his fork while peeling off the layers of his curiosity.

“You need to be careful,” he leads with a hook to coerce the other into answering. Experience has taught him that many people tend to keep secrets for no more reason than the novelty of keeping others in the dark.

“Tapu Lele is not a Pokemon you want to seek. Nothing but misfortune comes to those who look for it instead of vice versa.”

His eyes shift from the piece of beef up to Doug’s face.

“Tapu Fini can find it but only when it needs to. You’ll need a good reason to get it to agree.”

John Sullivan