Gwyar vs Gavin

Terrible match up but it's all in good fun

This was an absolutely abhorrent match up for Raki. But then, Gwyar hadn't been trying to win for a good while now, so what did it matter. The man simply looked at the ghost type, then at the puppy, and nodded at him to get in.

A battle against an opponent he had few means to defeat would be a good experience.

"Thank you, and likewise." The man said in response to his opponent as the Riolu lowered his stance and prepared.

"Ah, a Riolu!" Gavin's delight rings genuine. "They're a personal favourite."

From where she'd been running and playing in the sand nearby, Gavin's own Riolu perks up her ears and gives a little yip of greeting to her kin. She's not participating in this battle, however, and soon returns to her exercise.

Palossand, at first glance, doesn't seem to be doing anything at all. A sharp eye might notice the way it seems to STOCKPILE the grains of sand drifting from the sky, bulking up its sandy frame.

Gwyar vs Gavin

Terrible match up but it's all in good fun

A small smile graced Gwyar's lips, his gaze shifting to the other man's own Riolu as she yipped and waved. Raki's posture and serious air faltered with the need to respond in kind, his arm rising to wave broadly and nearly dropping him from his low posture unto his bum.

"They are delightfully loyal companions, eh?" Gwyar said, chuckling as the little puppy's arms pinwheeled, before he managed to regain his balance.

Then, the fight began truly in earnest. Raki seemed ready to leap at the sandcastle-

"That," Interrupted Gwyar suddenly. "Is a ghost-type, Raki."

Those words cut the puppy's rush short, big eyes narrowing at the ghost before he suckled in a breath, shifted his stance, and raised his arms face level in a defensive posture akin to a Gallade's, aura displacing the sand around him as it surged.

---

Raki used Copycat! Raki used Stockpile!

A smile dawns brief at the antics of the other Riolu; it reminds him a little of Tempest Quinn's pudgy pup. The thought of the other man kindles fond warmth in the pit of his stomach.

He notes the way that Riolu copies his Palossand, rather than attacking.

Perhaps it has no access to moves that can affect us.

He could be needlessly cruel and spam his Pokemon's ghost-type attack for the remainder of the battle but it seemed like this little guy needed some battle experience and Gavin was willing to entertain that.

He clicks his tongue to instruct the spectral sandcastle, which lets out a low moan before hurling SCORCHING SAND toward its foe.

Gwyar vs Gavin

Terrible match up but it's all in good fun

Gwyar's gaze moved from the battle to Cillian Quinn as the man whistles and clicks his tongue, tilting his head ever so slightly. Though he preferred the hands off approach to battling, he had to admit that if you were going to order your pokemon directly, doing so in such an indecipherable fashion was certainly smart.

As the sands rose and surged forth to the puppy like waves, Raki leapt back several times, flipping over the sand to avoid before his feet suddenly planted themselves firmly atop the sands and his paws touched over the surface.

A burst of sand suddenly launched the puppy high atop the waves, the little guy flipping across as his arms weaved through the air with a blue glow, super heated sand floating between them before he swung them down with a howl, releasing a ball of aura-condensed hot sands at the ghost type!

---

Raki used Copycat! Raki used Scorching Sand!

Though small and evidently inexperienced, the Riolu proves agile as it leaps out of the way of their assault. The stationary sandcastle groans its dissatisfaction with the miss but Gavin simply watches, intrigued, as the Riolu once again mirrors their strategy.

Knowing that Palossand's other attacks would prove detrimental if used against it, Gavin nevertheless decides to give the opponent a more complete picture of their moveset. Learning, and all.

From the gaping 'mouth' of the sandcastle ghost is fired a SHADOWY BALL of energy.

Gwyar vs Gavin

Terrible match up but it's all in good fun

Raki panted slightly. He was expending too much energy this fight, Gwyar noted. The terrain wasn't the best for him and his nerves fighting an opponent he couldn't truly attack on his own initiative was making him a bit sloppier.

He thought the earlier stunt bad been rather well performed however, even if he got the impression that their opponent might be going easy on the Riolu.

He appreciated it; you could learn a lot from a loss, but only if you lasted long enough for there to be a lesson.

Raki crossed his arms over his chest as the ball surged towards him, attempting to dig his heels into the sand.

The ball pushed him back, burying him waist deep into the beach as his arms fell to his sides red and bruised.

Then, they crackled with dark aura, coming together to form a sphere of dark light in a fashion much like Aura Sphere before he reeled back and barked, launching it forth at the Sand castle!

---

Raki used Copycat! Raki used Shadow Ball!

Poor Riolu seems exhausted; the Hoennian heat and sweltering sands that swirl about the battlefield are no doubt taxing. Palossand is, in contrast, perfectly content with the sun and sand.

It makes no attempt to dodge the ball of energy that slams against its spectral form, a ghastly moan escaping the blackened mound.

This time, Gavin instructs it to launch a GIGA DRAIN.

Gwyar vs Gavin

Terrible match up but it's all in good fun

Raki's tired gaze narrowed as the sand castle suddenly sent a green wave at him, not quite knowing what to make of it for a moment before his mind flashed back to past experiences.

It couldn't let it recover now!

In a sudden blur, the Riolu burst out of the sand and rushed through the beach to dodge, kicking up bursts of sand with each long stride he took.

He didn't know what to do- it didn't feel like he could win only imitating his opponent, but he had no real other options...

---

Raki used quick attack to dodge!

Using its ineffective quick attack as a means to dodge rather than attack suggests an admirable ingenuity in the little pup. Palossand seems decidedly less pleased by the outcome.

Then again, the ghostly castle never looks pleased.

As the SANDSTORM begins to wane, Palossand lets out a low moan and shifts its bulky towers as it summons a fresh wave of grit to the battlefield.

Gwyar vs Gavin

Terrible match up but it's all in good fun

Raki found himself being buffeted by a sudden storm, sand whipping at his cheeks as he rushed through the beach. His chest burned with exertion and his legs felt like lead, but he wasn't one to give up.

Unfortunately, there was not much he could actually do if the opponent didn't attack...

All he could do was wait and endure.

---

Raki used endure!

Thanks to its endurance, the next volley of SCORCHING SANDS launched by the Palossand wouldn't be enough to down the resilient jackal.

It's nearly enough to put Gavin out of commission with the blasted heat; he fans at his face with a hand, sweat beading on his brow as the heat wave combines with the already intense Hoennian sunshine. Why'd this have to be an outdoor event? In the middle of summer, no less!

At least it wasn't the Pokeathalon.

Gwyar vs Gavin

Terrible match up but it's all in good fun

Raki has managed to stand his ground in the face of adversity, but he can feel himself growing faint even then.

There's only one shot left in the tank... And he's putting it to use. He would finish it with his next attack, one way or another!

Changing courses, the Puppy disregarded any attempts at dodging as he lowered his running stance, paws skirting over the sands as heat spread over them, waves following behind him as he roared, bursting forward in a sudden blur before bringing his sand covered paws to bear against the castle, his foot crashing down and spreading out a small crater along the beach as an explosion of blue aura was released around him!

---

Raki used copycat! Raki used Scorching Sands!