"I would say we saved each other back then, but I'll take the compliment!" The youth said with a bark of laughter, cheeks flushed in delight at the praise.

"I've been trying to win this thing, but work won't let me focus on it." He said with a sigh, casually pointing his water gun behind himself and shooting blindly at the people behind him, a broad grin spreading over his cheeks as he heard a surprised squeal.

"The deadliest of all conflicts, of course!" He said between chuckles. "We're just cleanin' up after the paintball matches. Why, wanna join in?"

He waggled his gun enticingly, before tilting his head.

"Or... would ya like to battle?" He offered, grin turning to a smirk.

Doug simply grinned.

"Think it can wait until we're done'ere!" The youth said as he reached into his pocket, producing a ball and throwing it up in the air, stuffing his water gun into his swimming trunks before catching the ball with his now free hand.

"So, Mr. Maverick! Ya trainin' one of yer newbies, or rollin' out one o' yer stronger mons?" The youth asked as the pokeball expanded.

The youth nodded, grinning.

"She's cute! And if ya wanna test her limits, I picked a good one, then!" The youth said as he threw the ball high in the air, releasing a Tauros onto the field. The bull snorted, blowing hot air out as it gazed upon its opponent, the peaceful bull tilting its head.

"Asterios! The little one needs some training! Put her through the paces!" The bull reared back before banging its cloves upon the pavement, nodding.

Doug offered a thumbs up in response, and with that, the battle was on its way.

The Tauros' hooves grind against the pavement as a massive roar shook the battlefield, blowing Doug's hat right off his head with a Yelp and sending the bull hurtling back several yards.

The crack of stone breaking under its hooves as it managed to regain its footing was thunderous, and with good reason, as the pavement between it and the puppy suddenly began to upheave, throwing itself like projectiles at the Houndour!

---

Tauros used Stone Edge!

Almost as soon as the hit landed, both Doug and Asterios felt bad about it, the puppy's pain-filled whines stabbing a deep guilt into their guts.

Lip curled down, the youth reached for his hat, brow furrowed as Asterios looked back at him, and shrugged his shoulders.

She was still willing to fight, which meant they had to give it their best.

As the puppy blew fire the bull's way, and in response, it breathed in deeply before blowing a cool, winterous gale, ice and fire meeting in a mess of steam and dampness, generating a large, white cloak of mist all around them.

---

Tauros used Blizzard!

A sharp exhale left the Tauros' nostrils as teeth wrapped around its thigh, the little puppy's teeth crunching onto its meat. The bull remained surprisingly calm despite the pain, its gentler nature working in favor of both of them in this case.

Still, it did not mean it would simply sit still and let the puppy nibble it down to size.

The little Houndour was in for a rodeo!

The Tauras began to trash around wildly, attempting to shake off the little puppy without resorting to extreme force- none of its known moves could be qualified as 'gentle' in any level, all it could do was struggle.

---

Tauros used Struggle!