"no need to be so formal, man." [break][break]

noah laughs. his fingers steady two pokeballs between them. a flick of the wrist is all it takes for them to expand like ripe oran berries.[break][break]

he tosses them against the metal fencing and from their red-white parcels, a passimian and haunter spring.[break][break]

the bell rings. the battle commences. stage lights intensify and form gems of brilliance in between the metal links. [break][break]

"move in quick, haunter! FIRE PUNCH the corviknight." noah shouts. "passimian, SCARY FACE the bird too!"[break][break]

the ghost phases out before reappearing, spectral claw burning bright.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DEREK HOFFMAN [break]
TL;DR - haunter fire punch / passimian scary face -> corviknight

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-passimian"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-haunter"]

A nod is all Derek affords as he heads to his side of the fencing, releasing two fighters just as Noah. The match is quite the spectacle, as far as gym battles go. The steel fencing was a nice touch. He'd have to think about trying something similar back in Petalburg.

Quick to be put on the defensive, Derek doesn't waste time and orders his pokemon like some sort of coach. "Protect yourself, Corviknight!" That Haunter's fiery fist wasn't something to take lightly, even if it was a little off-brand for the ghost type. It's feathers came together in front of the bird, manifesting a protective layer to keep it safe.

The following Scary Face made by the Passimian would be reflected in the sheen of it's Mirror Armor, causing the monkey to suffer the effects instead. "Hatterene, use Psychic on the Haunter!"

---

Corviknight used PROTECT vs. Fire Punch
Corviknight's MIRROR ARMOR reflected Scary Face
Hatterene used PSYCHIC vs. Haunter

noah faber

☉

the mirror-gleam startles noah, his hand swinging to his chest. the MIRROR ARMOR catches him off-guard.[break][break]

"ah!" though his lack of galarian knowledge could be lamented, the gym leader brushes his lack of study to the side. still, he does not falter. "take the hit! then DISABLE!"[break][break]

a PSYCHIC warps the HAUNTER'S spectral serration-shape. it persists. a large, floppy tongue droops out from its conniving smile as it grasps the air toward the HATTERENE.[break][break]

as its claws close onto its palm, the PSYCHIC IS DISABLED.[break][break]

to counteract its slowed speed, the PASSIMIAN throws its hard BERRY at the CORVIKNIGHT in the hopes of distracting it. a TAKE DOWN follows, attempting to grapple the bird to the canvas.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DEREK HOFFMAN [break]
TL;DR - haunter hit; disables psychic on hatterene / passimian throws berry (ball) + take down on corviknight

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-passimian"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-haunter"]

"Help 'em out, Ava!" Derek calls towards the Hatterene, whose able to act freely unlike the Corviknight that's been pinned to the ground. A diligent DAZZLING GLEAM is emitted from it's lengthiest appendage, properly striking the Passimian aside in order to free it's ally.

"Get up, Oryx! We're doin' it!" Revealing a mega-stone from beneath his cuff, it resonates with one concealed on the bird to enact a transformation. Now they could really go on the offensive. "Now get after that Haunter!"

Effectively going berserk on the thing, Derek's Corviknight lashes out with it's POWER TRIP, doing all it could to deal some damage on the pesky ghost type.

---

Hatterene uses DAZZLING GLEAM vs. Passimian to free Corviknight
Corviknight mega-evolves
Mega Corviknight uses POWER TRIP vs. Haunter

noah faber

☉

"don't let up!" noah shouts to his passimian. "show him what verdanturf's got!"[break][break]

the monkey is struck by the DAZZLING GLEAM. fur ruffled frantic by the attack, the monkey bares its fangs.[break][break]

while the corviknight POWER TRIPs, the passimian darts back in, the close proximity afforded by the cage allowing little respite.[break][break]

a barrage of fists and kicks comprise a CLOSE COMBAT that threatens to strike the steel bird toward a cage wall.[break][break]

meanwhile, the haunter moves in closer toward the mega evolved bird. a PROTECT clashes against the steel-type's strike, spewing spectral smoke. a shadowy claw hovers over its jagged maw to cover a snicker.[break][break]

"mega evolving, huh? you really want this!"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DEREK HOFFMAN [break]
TL;DR - passimian hit / close combats corviknight ; haunter protects[break][break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-passimian"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-haunter"]

"Oh, can't wait your turn?" Derek claims as the opposing Passimian moves in close, plastering Oryx against the cage. It's attack against the Haunter had failed. "Heal him up, Ava!" Prompting the support of it's partner Hatterene, a punctual LIFE DEW improves their vitality.

"Now let the monkey have it!" Kicking off from up on the cage, Derek's Corviknight comes in with a brutal SKY ATTACK to mitigate the momentum on Verdanturf's side.

---

Mega Evolution 2/3
Hatterene uses Life Dew
Mega Corviknight uses Sky Attack vs. Passimian

noah faber

☉

"not a chance!"[break][break]

as the last of LIFE DEW shimmers away, noah's haunter shifts in between the mega evolved corviknight and passimian. it raises its claws, spire-like fingers like wretched curses as it DISABLES SKY ATTACK.[break][break]

the haunter is clawed by the steel raven. such a direct hit is a grievous shift in battle, but curiously, noah's smile reveals that he is undeterred.[break][break]

the ghost remains conscious as it falls toward the canvas. but it will not endure much else.[break][break]

a shrill monkey shriek leaves the detaching passimian. after it flips back from the corviknight and haunter's tussle, the monkey DOUBLE EDGES the supportive pillar (hatterene) of derek's team.[break][break]

"corviknight your ace?" noah asks. "he's stupid strong!"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DEREK HOFFMAN [break]
TL;DR - haunter takes hit for passimian (close to fainting); disables SKY ATTACK.[break]
passimian disengages to DOUBLE EDGE hatterene.[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-passimian"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-haunter"]

"He's one of them." Derek returns as he takes in the battle playing out before them. In this fight Oryx is definitely the ace, and the Haunter is quickly taking whatever else he had to play from his hand.

Better end this quick. "Guard her, Oryx."

Cast over the Hatterene was a shield that would PROTECT her from the DOUBLE-EDGE, and nothing more. But that's all they needed to go back on the offensive.

"Alright Ava, let it rip!"

Derek's Hatterene was quite the ringer herself, as evident when her attack reached far and wide to strike both of the opposing pokemon. It was too bad he hadn't managed to find her a mega-stone as of yet, seeing how useful she was on both ends of the battlefield.

But Noah's pokemon were proving to be quite a nuisance, and it only worsened with every chance the Haunter had to limit their options—their chances.

---

Mega Evolution 3/3
Mega-Corviknight uses Protect (Guards Hatterene)
Hatterene uses Dazzling Gleam vs. All Adjacent Opponents

noah faber

☉

the DAZZLING GLEAM spatters across the field. as the diamonds of light momentarily douse the field in clashing stardom, noah's HAUNTER FAINTS, while his herculean PASSIMIAN manages to purposefully endure it.[break][break]

"stay on em!"[break][break]

although the CORVIKNIGHT has PROTECTED, the monkey does not leave their space. instead, its deflected strike brings it to the cage's ceiling; a furry paw holds tight to a chainlink.[break][break]

but when the PASSIMIAN lets go, it does not fall. when the red beam takes its partner away, the PASSIMIAN receives its LEVITATE. [break][break]

"taste of their own medicine!"[break][break]

immediately, the monkey is back. a brutal swing of fists, feet and tail lands on one of the two, the empowered REVERSAL aimed to faint one of the two to turn the tide back.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DEREK HOFFMAN [break]
TL;DR - haunter faints; LEVITATE transfers to passimian[break]
passimian uses REVERSAL to land a brutal blow.[break][break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-passimian"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-haunter"]

"Oryx, take it!" Derek commands of the Corviknight, once more offering protection to the damsel-of-a-Hatterene as the Passimian drew closer. His ace was out cold, sure, but it's mega-evolution was wavering anyway.

Deft hands quickly delivered it back into it's pokeball.

"You like things up close and personal, huh?" Derek has an option in mind, which the psychic type seems to key in on. "Then let's take advantage, Ava!"

Reaching out with it's tail-like appendage, the Hatterene aspired to bring in the large monkey for a nuzzle. Such an affectionate display ought to leave it stunned, even if just temporarily. Assuming they made their mark...

---

Corviknight is knocked out!
Hatterene uses Nuzzle vs. Passimian!

noah faber

☉

the tentacle lashes out, clawed bulb seeking a floating passimian's fur. the monkey shrieks. swinging its paw, it grabs the appendage and hauls itself closer to the pokemon; however, the tail manages to latch onto noah's pokemon.[break][break]

an electric shock rushes through the passimian. paralysis, like wire fencing, pierces into monkey muscle like pins.[break][break]

"n-not bad! smart move, man!" noah says. "TAKE DOWN!"[break][break]

the monkey attempts to grapple the towering pillar contesting him, hoping to force it to the floor—unless the paralysis takes hold.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DEREK HOFFMAN [break]
TL;DR - passimian paralyzed by nuzzle; tries to use take down.[break]
feel free to determine whether passimian is paralyzed or not in your next post for fluidity/action/etc.!![break][break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-passimian"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-haunter"]

The bold attempt at a takedown as it's body defies paralysis is a nod to the fighting spirit of Noah's gym. There is nothing but respect for a pokemon that throws itself at a bad situation in an attempt to make the most of it. The fragile Hatterene is not lithe nor agile enough to avoid contact, ultimately finding itself plastered against the harsh arena floor. Signals of pain course through it's body, shock and fear causing a slight ripple in it's cognitive properties. "Ava, you alright?!"

Though it seems to have triggered something within.

One of the unparalleled psychic beings of the world of pokemon, the Hatterene finds itself relying on instincts of survival. It is no brawler, and the latent psychic powers are no longer being blocked by the absent Haunter's disable. Now she can fight her way.

Lashing out, the antenna behaves more like a wand as it gestures with a flick to send the Passimian up and down in a violent manner. Perhaps now it would be apparent that the Hatterene genuinely wanted to hurt them.

---

Hatterene is hurt badly!
Psychic is no longer disabled (4 turns)!
Hatterene uses Psychic vs. Noah's Passimian!

noah faber

☉

noah's passimian barrels into the hatterene. though brutish, its dexterity is a hidden art. one concealed by the blurred brushstroke of speed and heated adrenaline.[break][break]

still, such a nimble craft is dragged by PARALYSIS. when the PSYCHIC energies reemerge from DEREK HOFFMAN's pokemon, it is a cosmic expansion. the passimian is hurled to and fro; its image is blurred like a television's screen struggling to find connection.[break][break]

howling, the passimian attempts to trespass the psychic quagmire with the force of its REVERSAL, but eventually it succumbs.[break][break]

tossed away, the fainted monkey is recalled. a red light zips back into the pokeball in noah's hand.[break][break]

"damn. nice work out there buddy." his eyes glance toward derek. pillars of stagelight frame the challenger from petalburg. catches the reflective metal of noah's badge.[break][break]

"congratulations, man! you got me there."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DEREK HOFFMAN [break]
TL;DR - woo woo![break][break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-passimian"][attr="class","pkspr pkmn-haunter"]