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[attr="class","bisc"]Not one to shy from Pokemon, Biscotti stepped forward to meet Pinky’s greeting. The tickling was met with a grin and gentle stroking. “Hey to you too, bud.” He’d try to return the favor, but that’d be super awkward. You never knew when some weirdo would take a bad picture.

Josh greeted him warmly. Warm honey eyes blinked twice. Have we met before? A backward glance at Jangle revealed his starter was just as confused. Was he talking about that weird game he played? Did other people know that you tried their stuff? Arceus, he hoped not. He’d never get a date. Instead of questioning this, Scotti responded with a grin and nod. “Uh, you too.”

As the rules were explained, Biscotti felt his heartbeat speed up. His hands rolled into fists at his side. You’ve got this. Nilla did, and she’s like 12 or something. Never mind that she had more gumption in her pinky than he did in his whole body. It wasn’t like he was doing any work. All of it would be up to Jangle and the company. The words began to blur together. What was that? Sudden death?

“I don’t know, bud.” Biscotti grinned at the gym leader. “I’m pretty good at pondering.” As the big fluffer took the field, the brunette withdrew his Incineroar. Fire is weak to water. And, rock, right? Or is it ground? His hands shifted between two balls for a moment. He muttered a quick song under his breath. Miney-mo. He then swapped his fingers away from the ball it landed on.

“Come on out, Chugga!” A long, spindly snake emerged from the ball. Dragon-like wings fluttered wildly. Hopefully, this guy would listen, “Hit that puppy with a hyper drill!” Its body spun rapidly, and the normal-type rocketed toward its opponent. Drills were ground type, right?

Josh Devlin

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[attr="class","bisc"]The giant serpent's spinning ended with it in a line a few yards from the fire dog. Any resilient dizziness quickly faded with a shake of the normal-type's ears. Though its expression didn't change, it couldn't emote much, the little wings on its back stood much straighter. But, if he was waiting on a follow-up, it'd take a minute.

Honey eyes widened as Biscotti's gaze flickered between the round boy and the now bald dog. He actually hit it? Holy crap on an Arceus sandwich! That was cool. For a minute, he struggled to find words for this feat. He didn't expect that hit to feel so good. It wasn't like he had done anything. A fist pumped in the air as he congratulated the expressionless lump in front of him. "Choo-Choo! Nice one, Chug!" But that smile faded when the gym leader's hound responded with a sparking maw.

Dodge! We need to dodge that! But the question of how put him off kilter. It wasn't like the thing had armor or anything. "Uh--" Biscotti hesitated. One heartbeat. Two. He tried to remember what he'd taught this newest acquisition. Or, at least, what had been sent with its owner manual. Maybe we should just hit back or something? He imagined impatience as the Dundunsparce stared at him, its wings stiff as the dog grabbed its tail. Electricity buzzed up and down the creature's body as it squealed.

"Shit! Sorry, Chug!" But if he wanted to shake it like a ragdoll, he underestimated the sheer mass of the thing in front of him.

But what to do now? He had to let go eventually, right?

"Poison jab!" Fighting against the pain, the snake launched back along its length, aiming to drive one of its spikes into the hound's face and maw.

Josh Devlin

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[attr="class","bisc"]Even if he didn’t feel pain, Biscotti winced in sympathy. Chew toy probably wasn’t at the top of the Dundunsparce’s life plans. Still, it’d be pretty hard to dodge a bite at close range. Like trying not to get bit by an Arbok when holding its tail. The heavy serpent’s lunge is surprising in its speed and ferocity. Biscotti grins, Hah!! That should make up for that little snafu!

The normal type’s spiky beard drips violet poison. It hisses and pops as it rolls down its bulbous chin to the ground. But this sludge never found its target. “Teleport!?” Biscotti squawked. Since when could dogs do that?! “Uh—uh—come on!” There wasn’t much time to ponder that question before the dog disappeared. On the far end of a whip crack, the Dundunsparce found itself flying toward the earth. He had to get it to straighten out! Maybe he could use the momentum to do, well, something. Anything? Wait, he’s got it! “Ice spinner!” The brunette blurted as his pink-on-yellow fellow almost kissed dirt.

Its body turned crystalline as its death spiral turned into something more graceful. Its tail dug a furrow into the ground as it redirected itself. All of the Arcanine’s energy was sent right back at it as the reptile turned into a spinning, crystalline shuriken.

Josh Devlin

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[attr="class","bisc"]The blades of ice were less katana and more kitchen knives by the time Chugga hit his target. Water dripped onto the field around them, the result something like a hound shaking after a bath. As he went for another rotation, the dog lit up like a beacon. This was a big-daddy move right here! “Nnngh!” Biscotti turned away as bright flashy fire mixed with a cloud of hissing steam.

Sudden, intense flames burnt away what remained of the Dunsparce’s frosty armor. Its fast trajectory and moist skin lessened the damage. But it didn’t erase it. A strange noise—half squeak and half hiss—punctuated the fading heat. An angry burn mark covered the creature’s side. The sound of crumbling bricks followed. When Biscotti opened his eyes, the Dunsparce had vanished into a hole beneath the ground.

It looked like an underground attack was in their future. Or, uh, it had been. Unable to sustain the burn, the Dundunsparce would come to rest at the bottom of the hole. Its half-opened eyes were closed. Its drill-like tail spins lazily like a child’s pinwheel. “Oh, uh, nice one, dude.” Biscotti nodded to the Arcanine and its trainer. His hand slipped to a belt at his side as he waited for the call. "Talk about a heat wave..."

CHUGGA IS KNOCKED OUT

Josh Devlin

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[attr="class","bisc"]The brunette grinned. “Don’t worry!” He started. “‘I can take plenty of heat.” Not because he was a tough guy, though. His disorder just stopped any pain from coming with the fire, There’d been plenty of blisters before he learned not to stick his hands on hot stuff. Then, of course, there were the hospital visits. His mom had tanned his back when she found out he hadn’t fell into the bonfire but stuck his arm in it on a dare.

At the rush, Biscotti paused. His voice stuttered as he fingered the belts at his waist. “Right! I should probably, uh…” He chewed at his lips. Only the taste of blood let him know it’d been too hard. “Come on out—!” After a second of struggling to grip the orb with his sweaty palms, he chucked it onto the field.”Rawr…” From it emerged a towering Tyranitar. Its beady eyes shifted back to its trainer with a look of disbelief. ‘Seriously? A dog?’ Its gaze seemed to say. Shaking its head, the dragon stomped onto the battlefield proper.

As he lifted a finger to point at the tired dog, Biscotti wondered if he should have led with the ground type before him. Or, at least, he thought that’s what it was. “Hit...Fido with a Rock Slide!” It seemed like a pretty wide move. And, hopefully, that’d stop it from missing. And, hopefully, that name sounded more like a taunt than acknowledging he totally forgot the dog's name.

Josh Devlin

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[attr="class","bisc"]Come on! Come on! Biscotti crossed scarred fingers as the rocks fell around them. At some point, he must have squeezed his eyes shut, because he remembered opening them. Seeing the Arcanine down, the baker felt a spike of joy. A breathless, meaningless noise of excitement escaped,“Ha!” But any good feelings faded at seeing the dog passed out. The good boi didn’t deserve that. “Sorry! I’ve never—” What? Actually been cool before? Well, way to ruin it, Biscotti. “I hope he’s alright.”

As the three-headed dragon took to the stage, the brunette’s heart jumped in his throat. A red Converse slid back a few steps as he stared up at the towering beast. What the hell can I do against that? The question about the Sylveon didn’t cross his mind. “Okay.” He didn’t even know that the ribbon-fox was a better choice here. “Okay, uh—” Again, hesitation threatened to choke him off. That thing could fly, so that meant earthquake was out of the question. He also doubted a Fire Fang would do much. You beat one of them. Just keep winging it! With a nod, he turned to order the Tyranitar forward. “Let’s start with a…Screech?”

But, unlike Chugga, the kaiju wasn’t waiting. Nor was he backing down. The Tyranitar glared right back at the mutant freak. Rows of white teeth began to spark as he built up his own attack. Fuck this guy. Digging his back feet into the ground, he unleashed a Hyper Beam at the dragon’s middle head. Hopefully, that’d be enough to put that Tri Attack on ice. If not, he’d take it like a champ.

Josh Devlin