Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park

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played by

Wanderer

The Liberator
he/him/his
24
April 10
Lavaridge Town
Figuring it Out
Penitent
Renegade
I've got a, I've got a
Pocket fulla sunshine
Short King height
Short King height
Turned on my friends and brought them pain. I have no right to show I can change. But I gotta try!
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Isaac Merlo
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 4, 2023 0:12:59 GMT
Isaac Merlo Avatar
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[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗
[attr="class","skulloverlap"]BUT HOLD YOUR BREATH, GUESS WHO'S RUNNING THE SHOW?



[attr="class","skullbody"]Mauville Gym. A long time ago, Isaac promised himself he'd never set foot here again. Every interaction he had in Mauville City only reinforced that decision. This was a land of bad days and worse memories, all set in the heart of Hoenn's most excessive economic district.[break][break]

It was also where a friend of his had built his legacy.[break][break]

was a natural choice of his first big battle challenge. He'd trained her, after all. He understood her desires, both as a Rocket Grunt and as someone who desired More afterwards. He was thrilled to see her progress, and could leave the gym knowing that she'd gone out into the world and made him proud. After that, though, was a wild frontier of names Isaac barely knew.[break][break]

Well, everywhere but one.[break][break]

Approaching the gym left a knot twisting in the pit of his stomach. The last time he'd visited the gym with a fight on his mind, things . . . didn't go as planned. But he'd learned since then. He'd grown. He'd triumphed. He'd failed. He'd doubted. He'd wanted. He'd suffered. He'd bled. He'd changed.[break][break]

Tonight, he'd keep working to proving that fact. He was on the cusp of the halfway point of his journey through Hoenn's gyms. Each had a new lesson to learn. Each had a new skill to prove. Each was tangible proof that he'd made an impact, both on this region and himself. Each was a sign that he still had so much further to go.[break][break]

At the horizon of that journey lied something Isaac dreaded facing. But he could only handle one boogeyman at a time. Today, he'd deal with a far more personal one. With his teammates in tow, he took a deep breath. He swallowed his nerves and his pride.[break][break]

And then he stepped through the doors of Mauville Gym.

[break][break]





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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
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Josh Devlin
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 6, 2023 4:51:43 GMT
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Josh's Gym lobby hadn't changed much since Isaac's last visit: it was still a love letter to the legendary Pokémon Raikou. It was also a sad, late afternoon day for the Gym Leader. He was excited to do battle with one of his best friends, , fair and square. And yet... depression started to set in. It would be visible on the Master of Faster's face as soon as his receptionist, ANDREW WEISS, admitted Isaac to the rear of the Gym.

Today would be the final Gym Challenge he was personally taking until September.

It was part of the restitution had levied upon Josh for the attempted murder of . While the full details would not be public, and may never be public, as it would be a PR disaster for the League otherwise, all of Josh's Gym Staff were aware of the changes. After today, he would be doing mere paperwork for his Gym, relegated to simply watch his best Gym Trainers take challenges all spring and summer long.

It was agonizing to think about.

"Challenger Isaac Merlo?" the short, black-haired man called Isaac to the front desk. "The Leader will see you now. Follow the signs all the way to the back of the Main Sector, to the moat arena. Good luck, and remember: with great speed comes great responsibility."

Provided Isaac followed the directions, indicated with ample signage, he would find the Gym Leader, Josh Devlin, riding on the back of Aslan, a shiny Pyroar, who was moving about the Main Sector's concourse at a good clip. A Skarmory, Manectric, and Dragonair would be watching intently from the battle court's sideline. As the rider caught a glimpse of the challenger, he would rein the Pyroar toward the battle court, then dismount and begin removing the feline's saddle.

"Hey, buddy," Josh casually greeted one of his best friends with a somber tone indicative of something not being right. "You should know these four well. Saber, of course, and the three Pokémon you faced last time you were here. I couldn't think of a better team to match you with. I would have brought Yagyu instead of Saber, but she..." Josh sniffed. "She perished. Died an awful death." Thinking about the Doublade only made his feel worse.

He shook his head. There was nothing he could do about Yagyu now. There was nothing he could do about now. Today, he needed to cherish the very last challenger he would take for six months. "We'll pit our four Pokémon against one another, two at a time. Defeat my four before I defeat your four, and the Badge is yours." Hydraulic lifts elevated the trainers above the large, grassy battle court's surface. The Skarmory and Pyroar looked ready to dive down and engage in combat with Isaac's Pokémon. "This is going to be Aslan's first battle since recovering from his surgery after the Meteno operation. He's been looking forward to it, and I can't think of a better opponent. Now, pit your Pokémon against me. And think about it carefully, as it will be the only decision you will have time to consider."




{WC: 529}
{PC: 1}



NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Aslan         Pyroar**       Good  
Bladestorm    Skarmory       Good  
Resheph       Dragonair      Good  
Saber         Manectric      Good  
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played by

Wanderer

The Liberator
he/him/his
24
April 10
Lavaridge Town
Figuring it Out
Penitent
Renegade
I've got a, I've got a
Pocket fulla sunshine
Short King height
Short King height
Turned on my friends and brought them pain. I have no right to show I can change. But I gotta try!
awards
4,402 posts
Isaac Merlo DOLLARS
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Isaac Merlo
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 6, 2023 22:59:32 GMT
Isaac Merlo Avatar
[nospaces]

[attr="class","skullhover"]

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗
[attr="class","skulloverlap"]BUT HOLD YOUR BREATH, GUESS WHO'S RUNNING THE SHOW?



[attr="class","skullbody"]It seemed Isaac wasn't the only one having a hard time today.[break][break]

Isaac didn't know any of the details behind what had happened. All he knew was that Josh was insistent that they have their gym battle, and he was insistent that it happen today. Frankly, after the Mauville incident, Isaac was ready to kick it down the road and delay it until he had the guts to show up. But that apparently wasn't an option. It had to be today. It had to be now.[break][break]

The somber tone in Josh's voice didn't help with all of that. The man had a lot of moods. Excitement. Irritation. Over the top passion. Rage. Fits of tears. But all of them were big moods, to the point where it seemed like he could barely hold them back. To have Josh somber, downright quiet, only added to the day's uncanny feeling.[break][break]

He mentioned the Pokemon Isaac "faced before," and only Josh's somber tone stopped him from him asking if he was so casually referring to the worst day of their lives. He was the one who had been most badly impacted by that night. How could he refer it without even skipping a beat like that?[break][break]

On Isaac's part, he'd left them home. Rampage, Shiver, Sunny, even Luck & Pluck . . . he loved them, but they weren't for today.[break][break]

"I'm sorry for your loss, man," Isaac said, a soft, sympathetic smile on his face. If only he knew how much deeper that statement would actually resonate. "Then let's put on a hell of a battle to honor her, alright?"[break][break]

It was a standard double battle, four on four. Josh was leading with Aslan and Bladestorm, an assault from the air and the land. Smart. Resheph could cover for either in a pinch, so it made sense to start with the specialists. And that left Saber, his #1 and his closer. The stage was set for a flexible strategy, and Isaac knew a speedy team like Josh's wouldn't leave him with much time to readjust.[break][break]

He was gonna have to rely on instinct instead. And that was exactly what Isaac did, grabbing two random Pokeballs off of his belt and tossing them out onto the battlefield. "Let's show him what we've been training for!" he said, squinting as the light of the Pokeball release flooded the arena.[break][break]

Lucky Josh. To start things off were two Pokemon that he'd had plenty of time to face off with before. Duster the Alolan Marowak was the first foe of Isaacs that he'd faced down, and Lord British the Vikavolt had been an anchor for the team as they rediscovered Twilight's Mega Stone. With twirling bone and gnashing mandibles, they already looked all set and ready to go. They'd had several encounters, as friends and as foes. But for the first time, Isaac and Josh would truly settle the score in battle.[break][break]

"Good luck out there, Josh. And may the best man win!"

[break][break]





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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
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7,164 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
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Josh Devlin
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 8, 2023 23:41:01 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
Josh sniffed as he heard Isaac's condolences. "...You really are a shining diamond in the rough of everlasting darkness, you know that?" . . . . How could people so nice, so considerate, and so loving to their Pokémon be in Rocket? Some, of course, had left. Some were still there. His outlook on them had changed, though.

No longer was the endless war between the League and Team Rocket so black-and-white. For every Asher, Chu-e, Isaac, and Cian there was in Rocket, so must there have been a bad actor within the League. And it took nearly wrecking his career to at last learn the lesson Isaac had tried to teach him the day of the "assassination attempt".

The League was far from ineffable, far from incorruptible, and certainly far from infallible.

Josh was a clear case of this. He had been dogmatized by the League even before coming to Hoenn, thanks to fighting Team Rocket when he was a teenager. He wanted to avenge the living hell his parents had been put through. What he failed to realize was that the Team Rocket that had kidnapped his parents all those years ago, the Team Rocket that killed Raikou in the Kanto War, and the Team Rocket he had faced at Meteno were so different in the way they operated they they were effectively different enemies. They had to be handled in different ways. A one-size-fits-all, scorched-earth approach was not going to cut it anymore.

This was, of course, in direct contradiction with the League dogma that had been shoved in his face when he took the oath of office as a Gym Leader. And which League official had he gotten most of his information about handling Team Rocket from?

, the Volatile.

Fuck . Fuck the League's scriptures and dogma. There were far too many (mostly) innocent people like Isaac within Rocket. Effectively using divine power to carpet bomb the entire organization into oblivion would be condemning helpless, innocent people who were abandoned by the League, and for what? was right. Matias' viewpoint was the League's dogma taken to the most literal extreme possible.

He shook his head as he commanded his Pyroar and Skarmory to descend to the battleground. "Bladestorm, lay your SPIKES in the blue corner!" The blue corner, of course, being Isaac's. "Aslan, light that Vikavolt up with your FLAMETHROWER!" While the Skarmory took high into the air, dropping metal shrapnel all over Isaac's half of the battle court, the fresh-feeling shiny lion tore up the grass around him with sharp turns in an attempt to fake out the buzzing bug before spewing a cone of flame its way.





{WC: 446}
{PC: 2}



NAME          SPECIES        STATUS
Aslan         Pyroar**       Good  
Bladestorm    Skarmory       Good  
Resheph       Dragonair      Good  
Saber         Manectric      Good  
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played by

Wanderer

The Liberator
he/him/his
24
April 10
Lavaridge Town
Figuring it Out
Penitent
Renegade
I've got a, I've got a
Pocket fulla sunshine
Short King height
Short King height
Turned on my friends and brought them pain. I have no right to show I can change. But I gotta try!
awards
4,402 posts
Isaac Merlo DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @isaacmerlo
Isaac Merlo
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 9, 2023 5:03:42 GMT
Isaac Merlo Avatar
[nospaces]

[attr="class","skullhover"]

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗
[attr="class","skulloverlap"]BUT HOLD YOUR BREATH, GUESS WHO'S RUNNING THE SHOW?



[attr="class","skullbody"]Isaac blushed slightly at the statement, averting his eyes. "Good" was the worst adjective for describing him. Josh should've known that most of everyone, after what he'd done to him. He was ready to wave the compliment off, shoo it away, retreat back to his mental fortress where he could protect himself from such thoughts.[break][break]

And yet, if Josh insisted on this even after everything Isaac had done, maybe he had a point. If anyone had the right to hate him, it was Josh. Here he was nonetheless, insisting on the point in a . . . strange? manner. Hold on, since when was Josh the type to talk about everlasting darkness? Sure, he'd lost a Pokemon recently, but he seemed more the type to get the tears out of the way in a quick, explosive fashion before questing to get even. Even when he was in such a deep funk, that word choice just seemed . . .[break][break]

He didn't have time to focus on these worries. Aslan touched down on the battlefield, and Bladestorm descended beside him. Things were about to get intense, and he'd never stand a chance if he was stuck in his own head.[break][break]

"L.B., Duster, stick together! He's gonna want us spread apart so he can run circles around us!" Isaac warned. Obliging, Lord British perched on Duster's head, the Alolan Marowak raising his bone defensively. Team Josh could afford to split up. Team Isaac would get picked apart if they even tried.[break][break]

Already, Isaac's plan paid off. Aslan ran circles around the group, Duster and Lord British looking in opposite directions yet still barely able to keep up with the Pyroar's speed. At this point, they'd only know where he was when they felt the heat of his breath.[break][break]

And feel it they did, indeed. The second the temperature ran hot, Duster reached up to his companion, pushing him back so he could take the brunt of the blow. A few tongues of flame still seared the unlucky bug's exoskeleton, but Duster had at least intervened in time to take the grand majority of the damage.[break][break]

"L.B, bring Bladestorm down! Duster, cover him!" Obliging, Lord British scuttled off of Duster's back, firing ropes of String Shot towards Bladestorm all the while. At best, he'd be able to get a secure hold and prevent him from flying so far away. At worst, he'd at least be able to crowd the Skarmory's airspace and goad him into closer quarters.[break][break]

As he did this, Duster turned to face Aslan, bone in hand. He threw it towards the Pyroar, hoping for a clean, clear connection with his Bonemerang before the Pyroar started running again. Most likely, that wouldn't be the case. However, when the Bonemerang came back for him, he'd hit the deck instead of catching it right away, hoping to leave the Pyroar solidly bonked if he made a run for Duster's flank.[break][break]

TEAL DEER;[break]
Duster and Lord British split together, fearing divide and conquer techniques.[break]
As a result, Duster soaks (most of, but not all of) the Flamethrower for his buggy pal.[break]
Lord British tries to either tether or crowd out Bladestorm with some high-aimed String Shot.[break]
Duster aims a direct Bonemerang hit at Aslan, but also tries to get cheeky and fish for an indirect hit.

[break][break]





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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
awards
7,164 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
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Josh Devlin
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 11, 2023 20:02:12 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
"Slice through it, Bladestorm!" Josh cried. "Faster!" The steel-type's wings started ringing during a burst of AGILITY to soar above the first wave's angle. The second, though, was expertly placed. While the Vikavolt didn't completely strangle the Metal Menace's wings like Isaac planned, it did land on the Steel-type's flight surfaces. While it didn't impact how fast the Skarmory could fly, it did severely limit how much she could ascend. She found herself unable to fly higher than the top level of bleachers, limiting her ability to dodge future attacks.

Aslan and Josh at first hesitant to get close to Duster; while the flery femur was powerful at range, it was even more potent of a melee weapon. Josh was about to command a HYPER VOICE when he remembered that he tried using it against the Alolan Marowak before, to no effect! Grumbling, he instead pointed directly toward the burning phantom. "Aslan, use CRUNCH!" The Pyroar took advantage of Duster ducking down, reaching for the foe's neck with open jaws and attempting to clamp down on it. Even if successful, the lion would be forced to let go when whacked by the BONEMERANG on the return!





- Bladestorm uses Agility to dodge most of the String Shot, but some gets on the leading edges of her wings, making it difficult for her to gain a lot of altitude.
- Aslan attempts to Crunch Duster, but is forced to let go after being whacked by the Bonemerang on the way back.

{WC: 196}
{PC: 3}

FIELD: Spikes (1)



NAME             SPECIES          STATUS
Aslan           
Pyroar**         Fair  
Bladestorm       Skarmory         Good  
Resheph          Dragonair        Good  
Saber            Manectric        Good  
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played by

Wanderer

The Liberator
he/him/his
24
April 10
Lavaridge Town
Figuring it Out
Penitent
Renegade
I've got a, I've got a
Pocket fulla sunshine
Short King height
Short King height
Turned on my friends and brought them pain. I have no right to show I can change. But I gotta try!
awards
4,402 posts
Isaac Merlo DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @isaacmerlo
Isaac Merlo
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 11, 2023 20:27:18 GMT
Isaac Merlo Avatar
[nospaces]

[attr="class","skullhover"]

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗
[attr="class","skulloverlap"]BUT HOLD YOUR BREATH, GUESS WHO'S RUNNING THE SHOW?



[attr="class","skullbody"]Ha! It wasn't a direct hit, but it was close enough. "Don't cut that string yet," Isaac warned, right before Lord British's mandibles snipped the webbing off of its mouth. "Hold on tight, and Dig on down!"[break][break]

Vikavolt were not just masters of the skies. They could also dig through the earth with just as much ease as their previously evolved forms. Combined with the webs of String Shot still connected to Bladestorm's wings, it was clear what Isaac had in mind. Like a fisherman reeling on a pole, Lord British was going as deep as he could and hoping to bring Bladestorm back down to earth with him.[break][break]

It'd seem like a wasteful technique at first. After all, by the time the Vikavolt could resurface, the thread would be slack again and the Skarmoy would be able to fly up with no issues. There was just no hitting Flying types with slow, earthbound Ground attacks, no matter how hard you tried.[break][break]

In addition, it meant Isaac's "stick together" strategy was broken up, meaning Duster had little to no defense as Josh's Pyroar Crunched down on him. While he leaned out of the way of the a direct neck shot, his chest was still clamped down on hard. He let out a hiss of pain, flame flashing in his eyes, and yet . . .[break][break]

"Hang in there, Dust. I need you to keep firm," Isaac urged. In response, Duster grit his teeth and planted his feet, trying to wait out the technique. It could've been real bad; only the Bonemerang returning from its previous loop ended up cutting the technique short, sparing Duster the worst of the pain.[break][break]

"Now! Get pulling!" Understanding flashed in Duster's eyes. He grabbed the rope that Lord British was already pulling beneath the earth, turning this game of tug-of-war from a fair fight into a double team. Duster only had so much time to work. The Pyroar would only be so dazed from taking a Bonemerang right to the back of the head. If he didn't put his all into it, he risked all of this effort being for nothing.[break][break]

Yet if he could even get Bladestorm vaguely adjacent to the ground, he'd be content. "Soon as he gets close, run him down with a Flare Blitz!" Isaac called. Letting out a war cry, Duster gave the String Shot as much of a tug as possible, then made a brazen, desperate leap for Bladestorm's position. Would he meteoric ascent prove successful? Or would he be left flailing at thin air?[break][break]

TEAL DEER;[break]
Direct hit! While not critical hit, and broken out of the bite early by his Bonemerang, Duster is hurt bad.[break]
Lord British Digs down deep, keeping the String Shot tethered instead of fully releasing it.[break][break]
Duster tries to help join Lord British in pulling Bladestorm down.[break][break]
If even close to successful, he rises in a Flare Blits headbutt, knowing his avenues for reaching the Skarmory are otherwise limited.

[break][break]





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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
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7,164 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
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Josh Devlin
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 14, 2023 15:54:22 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
The Skarmory and Vikavolt struggled against one another in an aerial tug-of-war, the bug-type's wings droning loudly enough to get Josh to cover his ears. While Bladestorm was the stronger of the two, Lord British had a huge advantage: gravity. He could easily overcome the insect's pull, but not both. He found himself being dragged toward the ground. Josh saw what was coming; this was a one-two knockout blow from two of Isaac's most well-coordinated Pokémon. "Bladestorm, BRAVE BIRD!" Josh cried.

The Skarmory dove straight for the nearby Marowak, the String Shot going slack just after the bug-type burrowed. Josh doubted his foe could dig faster than the Skarmory could dive. The blades of the Metal Menace's wing hummed with a tinny sound as he attempted to beak-bomb Duster. Josh's hope was that his strike was fast enough that on the swoop back up, he could either lift the Vikavolt out of the ground or the force would be so great that the string would not be able to withstand the tensile force.

That would not be the case. Hit or miss, the steel-type would shriek after the string's tension held. The Skarmory lost all his lift, stripping him of the Flying-type and leaving him open to the brutal combination attack of Duster's FLARE BLITZ and Lord British's DIG.

"Skarmory is unable to battle. Judges' call: one point, challenger Merlo," the side judge called, raising a red flag.

Aslan let out a bellow, not letting any of that stand. Without so much as a command, the lion pounced the Vikavolt with a potent TAKE DOWN as Josh withdrew the fallen bird for Resheph, his Dragonair, who twirled and contorted her body in gorgeous ways that would make world-class figure skaters jealous.






- Bladestorm looses a desperation BRAVE BIRD, knowing his days are numbered.
- LB's and Duster's combination attack succeeds, fainting Bladestorm in one blow.
- Aslan tries to avenge Bladestorm with a TAKE DOWN on LB.
- Josh sends out Resheph to replace Bladestorm.

{WC: 292}
{PC: 4}

FIELD: Spikes (1)



NAME             SPECIES          STATUS
Aslan           
Pyroar**         Fair  
Bladestorm       Skarmory         KO  
Resheph          Dragonair        Good  
Saber            Manectric        Good  
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played by

Wanderer

The Liberator
he/him/his
24
April 10
Lavaridge Town
Figuring it Out
Penitent
Renegade
I've got a, I've got a
Pocket fulla sunshine
Short King height
Short King height
Turned on my friends and brought them pain. I have no right to show I can change. But I gotta try!
awards
4,402 posts
Isaac Merlo DOLLARS
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TAG WITH @isaacmerlo
Isaac Merlo
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 14, 2023 16:28:55 GMT
Isaac Merlo Avatar
[nospaces]

[attr="class","skullhover"]

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗
[attr="class","skulloverlap"]BUT HOLD YOUR BREATH, GUESS WHO'S RUNNING THE SHOW?



[attr="class","skullbody"]Duster rose up, body aflame, skull brandished proudly, and a war cry rising from his gut. Bladestorm rocketed down, beak shining in the light and the wind beneath its bladed wings shining. The two's collision was as inevitable as it was devastating, the impact between the two launching a shockwave across the arena.[break][break]

Duster was knocked down to earth, skidding across the length of the Mauville Gym's arena. Were it not for the bone he planted in the ground, he may have been blasted straight through the wall.[break][break]

Unfortunately, all he had the strength left to do was brace himself against it. The Skarmory's strongest technique, paired with the explosive backlash from his own move, meant he was in a bad way. He tried to tear his bone from the ground and stagger forward, but pain shot through his shoulder from the Crunch he had taken. His head, already swimming from the head to head collision, was only made worse from the shooting pain. Duster's world went black as he hit the floor.[break][break]

"You made me proud out there, Dust. Rest up, y'hear?" Isaac smiled softly at the fallen Marowak as he deturned him to his ball.[break][break]

This wasn't ideal. Duster was down before he could break out his Z-Move, and never had a chance to redirect any of Josh's signature electric moves with his Lightningrod. Isaac had been gambling that he'd hang on by a thread after his Flare Blitz, letting Knuckles heal him up in the last leg of the match. That death or glory Brave Bird pushed Duster way past that point, and with it blasted a hole in Isaac's battle plan.[break][break]

At least his fall hadn't been in vain. As the Skarmory hit the ground, a familiar pair of mandibles tore from the earth to seal the deal. Lord British had come in the clutch, and both Pokemon's combined efforts grounded Bladestorm long enough to let his Dig actually hit. They were one and one now, all thanks to a Marowak that dared to soar.[break][break]

Aslan wouldn't let that insult stand, charging towards Lord British in a headlong rush. The Vikavolt, still embedded in the ground like an antlion, had no chance of unburrowing itself in time. Its wings buzzed furiously as it tried, but Isaac had other ideas. "Let him come at you, and then make him pay!"[break][break]

It was another reckless plan, but Lord British was far less hurt than Duster had been. He waited for the Pyroar's pounce, eyes narrowed and wings abuzz with fury. Closer . . . closer . . .[break][break]

He didn't strike until he could see the whites of the Pyroar's eyes. A tremendous Zap Cannon built up between the Vikavolt's mandibles, less to launch and more to practically smash into the incoming lion. Normally such an attack would be easy for any Pokemon to dodge, let alone Josh's lightning-fast pack. However, a point blank range and the Pyroar's own momentum would make the powerful attack far less simple to avoid.[break][break]

Pain exploded through Lord British's body as he was pounced, practically being slammed into his own burrow by the Pyroar. Isaac watched nervously for a sign that the cannon fired, knowing that if his gambit failed this would become even more of an uphill battle.[break][break]

Not that Lord British would be alone for long. As Resheph emerged Isaac's own dragon followed, the Vibrava darting through the skies in stop-start patterns as it tried to survey just what was going on.[break][break]

TEAL DEER;[break]
Duster is down! Super effective move + recoil is bad enough, but add Brave Bird and the poor guy's toast.[break]
Lord British takes Take Down on the chin, taking advantage of being in point blank range to try and smash a Zap Cannon into Aslan.[break]
Darude the Vibrava has arrive.

[break][break]





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[attr="class","skullcredits"]TAIKO!




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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
awards
7,164 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @joshdevlin
Josh Devlin
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 16, 2023 18:26:54 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
"Marowak is unable to battle. Judges' call: one point, Leader Devlin," the side judge announced as the dust from the high speed collision at last cleared. Even Resheph squealed as the shockwave caused her to recoil. The courageous Aslan, though, charged onward, even the TAKE DOWN as blistering fast as an ordinary Pokémon's Quick Attack.

Josh was the Master of Faster for a reason, though; while the focus of the battle was on Aslan and Duster, Resheph twirled through the sky in a DRAGON DANCE. She was glowing with purple dragon energy that made her much faster than she was before. Much of the glow concentrated around her short but sharp horn. She would be one slippery Dragonair to hit, and would strike fast and hard. Exactly what Isaac may have been expecting, given how well he knew his friend and rival.

The crowd gasped as the Vikavolt didn't seem to even make an effort to dodge the attack. That reason was made evident as Lord British started charging an unwieldy ZAP CANNON between his mandibles. Normally an attack Josh's Pokémon could easily dodge, but at such close range, it would have been a sure-fire electric eating. Or it would have been, if Josh wasn't the Master of Faster. "Aslan, boost fire your DOUBLE TEAM!" he commanded.

Acting like he was at the end of an intense race, the Pyroar zoomed forward as though the competitive racer slammed his heels into the big cat's flanks. Three trailing images of the shiny Pokémon materialized in a cascade behind him as the burst of incredible speed carried him out of the way of the ZAP CANNON.




{WC: 277}
{PC: 5}

FIELD: Spikes (1)



- Resheph uses Dragon Dance, becoming much stronger and faster for her imminent attack.
- Aslan evades the Zap Cannon with a use of Double Team, going really fast. He might he hard to hit at these speeds!

NAME             SPECIES          STATUS
Aslan           
Pyroar**         Fair  
Bladestorm       Skarmory         KO  
Resheph          Dragonair        Good  
Saber            Manectric        Good  
close tab

played by

Wanderer

The Liberator
he/him/his
24
April 10
Lavaridge Town
Figuring it Out
Penitent
Renegade
I've got a, I've got a
Pocket fulla sunshine
Short King height
Short King height
Turned on my friends and brought them pain. I have no right to show I can change. But I gotta try!
awards
4,402 posts
Isaac Merlo DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @isaacmerlo
Isaac Merlo
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 16, 2023 18:57:56 GMT
Isaac Merlo Avatar
[nospaces]

[attr="class","skullhover"]

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗
[attr="class","skulloverlap"]BUT HOLD YOUR BREATH, GUESS WHO'S RUNNING THE SHOW?



[attr="class","skullbody"]The Zap Cannon fired exactly as Isaac hoped, smashing right into Aslan . . . 's afterimage. Damnit. Had Lord British been able to identify the right target, Isaac was sure that would've worked.[break][break]

Now he was in a ridky situation. Aslan was fresh off a speed boost, and while he was the more injured of the two efforts at attacking him would largely be wasted. Meanwhile, Resheph was just starting to accelerate, his own efforts both far more consistent and far more dangerous.[break][break]

They could handle Aslan after. For now, Isaac needed Resheph gone.[break][break]

"Don't give Resheph any quarter! Get in the skies and stay on her," Isaac commanded. The Vikvolt, while banged up, was far from out of the fight. He shook his head, flitted his wings, and took to the air to start pursuing his Dragonair foe.[break][break]

As he did this, Darude waited in the wings, following her senior bug like a shadow.[break][break]

The flitting of Lord British's wings intensified to a fever pitch, and a bright green glow started to overtake them. What started as a threat display quickly turned into an attack. A Bug Buzz echoed out from Lord British's wings, a visible soundwave launching right towards Resheph's head.[break][break]

Perhaps the attack would seem like an attempt at fighting Resheph with sound, one of the few things faster than regular movement. However, it was little more than a smokescreen. In actuality, Isaac was trying to see how Resheph would react.[break][break]

After all, whether he hit or missed, Lord British's technique was loud, distracting, and force some sort of reaction. The move's loud, droning setup would cover perfectly for Darude as she glided into Resheph's blind spot. Any reaction to the move would buy time for Darude to pull her wings tight and dive, aiming not for where Resheph was but instead for where she was moving towards.[break][break]

Most importantly, were she to hit, her Dragon Tail would pitch her foe right out of the arena. It wouldn't be a KO, but it would break the momentum of her Dragon Dance and get Josh's strongest Pokemon on the battlefield early.[break][break]

TEAL DEER;[break]
Lord British comes for Resheph with a loud, distracting Bug Buzz.[break]
As he tries to hog her attention, Darude swoops in from the shadows with a Dragon Tail.[break]
Isaac seems to be trying to force a switch . . . but why does he want to face Josh's signature this early?

[break][break]





[break]
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[attr="class","skullcredits"]TAIKO!




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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
awards
7,164 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @joshdevlin
Josh Devlin
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 20, 2023 15:41:22 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
At last, Josh had the upper hand. Both of his Pokémon were in their high speed element. Aslan with his image trails and Resheph with her dragon energy, hurtling around the battle court fast enough that not many in the gallery could follow, sought to take advantage of that speed. Even Isaac was realizing Aslan was simply too fast to reliably hit, and had ordered both his Pokémon to double-team Resheph. "Resheph, DRAGON RUSH the Vibrava, quickly!"

Josh's glowing Dragonair raced horn-first toward the dragon-type with amazing speed, straight into the green-winged Pokémon's DRAGON TAIL and adding to her already high momentum. By the time she could recover, she had already passed the white line at the back of the court. The side judge raised a red flag. "Dragonair has been forced out of bounds. Judges' call: one point, challenger Merlo."

Silently recalling his Dragonair, the sacrifice play worked almost exactly how Josh drew it up. Isaac's two Pokémon were right next to each other. "Aslan, HYPER VOICE!" With a deep breath, the lion's powerful lungs expelled a deafening bellow whose shockwave threatened to ground Lord British. If he could catch Darude in the shockwave, all the better!

Once the exchange had passed, Josh applauded Isaac. "You are truly an exceptional challenger. Few challengers can even scratch my third Pokémon. It is rare for me to need all four. But if you want my Badge, Isaac, you will need to get through a Pokémon I am sure you are quite familiar with." With the Dragonair out of the match, it was up to Josh's ace Pokémon, Saber, the Pokémon his Gym was most well-known for. "This is my closest partner, and he will see me through the Pokémon League. And through you, too!"





{WC: 302}
{PC: 6}

FIELD: Spikes (1)



- Resheph flies horn-first at Darude before being flung out of bounds and taken out of the battle.
- Aslan, taking advantage of the grouping, tries to HYPER VOICE them both, but primarily Lord British.
- Saber comes out of his Poké Ball.


NAME             SPECIES          STATUS
Aslan           
Pyroar**         Fair  
Bladestorm       Skarmory         KO  
Reshe
ph          Dragonair        OB  
Saber            Manectric        Good  
close tab

played by

Wanderer

The Liberator
he/him/his
24
April 10
Lavaridge Town
Figuring it Out
Penitent
Renegade
I've got a, I've got a
Pocket fulla sunshine
Short King height
Short King height
Turned on my friends and brought them pain. I have no right to show I can change. But I gotta try!
awards
4,402 posts
Isaac Merlo DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @isaacmerlo
Isaac Merlo
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 21, 2023 3:21:46 GMT
Isaac Merlo Avatar
[nospaces]

[attr="class","skullhover"]

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗
[attr="class","skulloverlap"]BUT HOLD YOUR BREATH, GUESS WHO'S RUNNING THE SHOW?



[attr="class","skullbody"]Normally, Dragon Rush was a rather inaccurate move. However, Josh was a master at spotting his opportunity, and had called for the attack when Darude was already committing to a blow of her own. The two dragons met head on, Resheph's horn sinking into the gap between the Vibrava's neck and wing for some serious damage.[break][break]

For a second, Isaac grew worried. However, Darude had been able to expertly redirect the Dragonair's momentum, sending it hurtling straight out of the arena. Resheph would continue to prove a threat later, but for the time being Isaac had cut her off at the apex of her power-[break][break]

And apparently, he'd done even more than that. Through a tournament-style ring out, the referee awarded Isaac the point.[break][break]

That rule hadn't come up before. Isaac didn't even expect it. However, he'd need to take that win while he could. The Dragon Rush left Darude in great pain, the Vibrava flitting down towards the ground as its aching shoulder left it incapable of sustaining flight. Lord British followed suit, tumbling through the air as Aslan repelled him with a vicious Hyper Voice. He was up 3 to 2 for now, but two of his three were left hanging on by the skin of their teeth.[break][break]

"Trust me, you're making me work my butt off to get that far!" Isaac said in return. "Even after that gamble, the tide could turn at any moment, especially with the best of your best hitting the field. But don't think that's gonna stop me from giving this my all!"[break][break]

"Let's see you try and outrun this!"[break][break]

Darude perked up. Even with her pain, this was her cue. Behind her, Lord British let out a protective buzz, swooping down from above to try and menace the skies over Saber. His legs spread wide, his wings beat furiously, and his mandibles dipped down to try and gnash around the Manectric for a brutal Crunch.[break][break]

Perhaps he hit. Perhaps he missed. What mattered was the he filled the airspace above Saber, shadowing him to try and make jumping an impossibility. Each gnash of his jaws was, if successful, a planned grapple, but if unsuccessful an attempt at corralling him closer towards Darude.[break][break]

After all, if he couldn't jump, and he couldn't run, how was he supposed to dodge the Earthquake that ripped through the stadium as Darude vibrated her wings with all of her might? Aslan was hurt. Saber was being menaced. Isaac was preparing a technique that quickness alone couldn't circumvent. In his eyes, this was his best chance at solidly turning the momentum in his favor.[break][break]

If it failed, his two bugs would likely be bowing out in retaliation. It would be Knuckles' war to win.[break][break]

TEAL DEER;[break][break]
Dragon Rush hits! Darude gets knocked from fresh to real hurt.[break]
Hyper Voice hits! A stiff breeze could take Lord British out.[break]
Lord British, knowing he has little time left, hovers over Saber. Through aerial harassment and a Crunch, he tries to limit the Manectric's dodging options.[break]
Darude tries to leave both foes hurting bad with a hail mary Earthquake.

[break][break]





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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
awards
7,164 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @joshdevlin
Josh Devlin
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 23, 2023 16:20:49 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
Josh grinned at Isaac's taunt. Both of Isaac's insectile Pokémon were surrounding Josh's ace Pokémon. The weakened Pyroar took advantage of it by lining up for a FLAMETHROWER to eliminate the Vikavolt from the battle. The more simplified the battle was, the more comfortable Josh became, able to truly use his speed to his advantage. "Outrun? You can't outrun me!" he taunted his friend and challenger. Not enemy. They were no longer enemies. Not in the traditional sense. More like friendly rivals.

As powerful as the Crunch was, the moment he heard the hum of Darude's wings, he knew Lord British's role was to keep Saber grounded. Being Pokémon that were adept at racing, they were fantastic jumpers, and could easily leap over Darude's EARTHQUAKE to come... especially without the weight of a rider like Josh on their backs. Indeed, Isaac's plan was coming to fruition. He was goading and corralling Josh's prized Pokémon toward Darude. The dragon's vibrating wings buzzed louder and faster, the tremor they created slowly growing into a powerful, point-blank Ground-type attack easily capable of downing both Josh's Pokémon with proper timing.

And it would have worked, if it weren't for a trick up his sleeve. One Isaac had never seen before. Needing one of his electric rides, Josh sent out his Luxray and hopped aboard while still in the trainer's box, crossing the feline's reins in his hands as part of his Z-Pose. "HYPERSONIC..."

In a sweeping motion, the Gym Leader spread his arms, Blitz rearing from his trainer stretching his arms a little farther than necessary to discharge the Manectric's Z-Crystal.

"...PLASMA CHARGE!!!"



A maelstrom of lightning surrounded Saber, the Pokémon disappearing from sight. Almost immediately, he reappeared on top of Darude in a vicious lightning bolt accompanied by the shockwave of his own brutal speed. The Manectric was aiming to interrupt Darude's EARTHQUAKE with the fastest attack Josh had in his arsenal, and the only one he knew of that could outspeed Raikou, the Beast of Thunder. Even Ground-types were not immune to the Z-Move's electric wrath.




{WC: 343}
{PC: 7}

FIELD: Spikes (1)



- Aslan, taking advantage of the lull in the action, attempts to line up a FLAMETHROWER attack.
- Saber attempts to interrupt Darude's Earthquake with the Z-MOVE: HYPERSONIC PLASMA CHARGE.


NAME             SPECIES          STATUS
Aslan           
Pyroar**         Fair  
Bladestorm       Skarmory         KO  
Reshe
ph          Dragonair        OB  
Saber            Manectric        Good  
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Isaac Merlo
Here I Go Again On My Own [Gym]
POSTED ON Mar 24, 2023 1:59:55 GMT
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[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗
[attr="class","skulloverlap"]BUT HOLD YOUR BREATH, GUESS WHO'S RUNNING THE SHOW?



[attr="class","skullbody"]With how focused Lord British had been on harrying Saber, and how injured he was from his previous tussles with Aslan, it was no surprise that the Flamethrower rang true. As the flames sapped his consciousness away, Lord British steered his body towards Saber, trying to pull a Mothra in his final moments.[break][break]

A massive burst of power saw to it that this wouldn't happen. Lord British was knocked away as lightning crackled around Saber, Isaac catching the Vikavolt on his way down. "You did great, buddy. Rest up," he said, before turning his attention to the battle raging on.[break][break]

One second, Saber was standing there. The next, he was gone. The next, he was back again, having crashed into Darude like a living lightning bolt. For a second, Isaac wondered what the hell Josh was thinking. An electric type move on a ground type? And getting into point blank range of the Earthquake? Was he taking his biggest advantage and just throwing it away?[break][break]

Then the sonic boom followed the strike, and with it Darude went flying. Isaac had to quickly put Lord British down in order to catch the fallen Vibrava, skidding back a little from the sheer momentum. "Whoa there!" he said, equal points alarmed and amazed. "You weren't kidding when you said he's your best!"[break][break]

Some battlers would be daunted by entering the final round at a disadvantage, but if anything Isaac was thrilled. Not only did he relish the challenge, but he also got to see just how far his friend had come since their last encounter. This was their first true battle with one another, and it was only fitting that this would be the best they'd ever have, too.[break][break]

"Don't even think about counting me out, though. I brought this next 'mon out just for you." His grin wicked, Isaac threw out his last Pokeball with a flourish. "Come on out and even the odds, Knux!"[break][break]

The Lucario looked towards Josh, recognizing the man who had saved her from a deadly fall long, long ago. She shot him a single, respectful nod, a smirk spreading across her face. And then she clasped her hands together.[break][break]

Prideful purple and excited yellow swirled together into a glorious golden sphere, the Lucario ready to demonstrate her gratitude towards both of the battle's participants by giving this fight her all. This Aura Sphere was a technique that tracked the soul, not the body. Even moreso than Earthquake, it was truly impossible to avoid. Clearly Isaac meant it when he said he'd picked the perfect choice for this battle.[break][break]

This first Aura Sphere had Aslan's name on it. It was as if Knuckles was setting up a clash between their trainers' best Pokemon, mano e mano.[break][break]

TEAL DEER;[break]
Oh dear everyone's dead.[break]
Knuckles comes out, lobbing an Aura Sphere Aslan's way to even out the scales.[break]
Does a destined dual between two ace Pokemon await?

[break][break]





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[attr="class","skullcredits"]TAIKO!




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