Punch after another, the Aegislash absorbed, the thundering of each hit rumbling through the arena as it met the steel of the Royal Sword Pokémon. The Dragonite huffed, refusing to give up, and when his opponent finally drew back, he took it as his chance: instead of dashing forward with yet another punch, he extended his wings as wide as they would go, a strong and sudden motion causing winds to rise between him and the other pokémon. A HURRICANE of no small proportion.
[break][break]
”Pez!” That was bound to be trouble, not all that effective, and also bound to affect every single pokémon in the field, possibly even confusing them.
[break][break]
Thunder, hurricanes, and the roar of dragons. All things that were doomed to summon an even bigger crowd to watch their battle.
[break][break]
People gasped as they watched both Hydreigon and Charizard being locked together; claws slashing through black and purple skin and fangs digging into charcoal-like scales. It was quite the sight, but it was also a precarious position to be in, because the moment the Blast Burn came, there was no way the Hydreigon could have escaped. She roared once again, this time pained, the Charizard’s flames and the Dragonite’s winds both causing her to stumble back and fall to the sand. She shook all three of her heads, for now finding herself incapable of an attack.
[break][break]
But, hey, at least she somehow hadn’t been left with a lasting burn, right?


[BREAK][BREAK]

+ Stormy Silph | How does Blast Burn not cause burn??? Wanna burn me pls? ;-;

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

”OW! What the hell?!”
[break][break]
Of course that, out of all things, an Archeops just had to smack beak-first against his arm, because that was just Vic’s luck. It hurt like hell, and he felt something warm drenching his sleeve, but he could still move his arm, so let’s call that a win! Other than that, he was fine.
[break][break]
Or was he now?
[break][break]
While his Dragonite took a few seconds to rest after dealing with a barrage of birds, Vic looked around, squinting to be able to see past all the ash and tephra. Right there, at the crater of the volcano and half-sunken in lava, was Groudon. That kind of made it all sink in, huh? (No pun intended, mind you).
[break][break]
What was Vic’s response to this sudden sight?
[break][break]
He turned and got his phone out of his pocket one more time.
[break][break]
For just this moment, the bandana that had been protecting him from inhaling all this ash was pulled down, and while still wearing goggles, he smiled at the camera – making a peace sign with his free hand. Behind him, over his shoulder, Groudon was clearly visible, and up above raged the artificial sun.
[break][break]
Was it foolish, or was it the most epic selfie of the century? Jury's still out on that. But, he even tried posting the picture to Cliquesters Instagram despite the awful prehistoric Hoenn cell service, quickly writing the following caption:
[break][break]

its gettin hot up hre! stay safe everyone!!!💞 we got this! #justhoennstuff

[break][break]
It was important, alright?! People needed to know it would be alright even if things looked like absolute chaos! Even if, honestly, his own optimism was starting to falter a little...
[break][break]
Despite this, just like that, the phone was returned to his pocket and the bandana was pulled up. ”Alright, you two, let’s head up fast! Go steady though, this heat is getting really bad.” This was no lie, and Vic wondered if they would all end up with some awful tan lines once all this was done.
[break][break]
Anyways, onwards and upwards, to the sun!


[BREAK][BREAK]

+ TL;DR:
[break]WE DID IT FOLKS, WE GOT OUR GROUDON SELFIE!... 'cause Azul really needed something for Vic to do while he flew up.
[break]He takes it, tries posting it, and continues flying up while telling his pokémon to be cautious and go steady. To the sun, bby!☀️

[break][break]

Nle1vgKK

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Among the many unconventional arenas that had been set up at the beach for the Hoenn Star Tournament, there was a race track. It wasn’t particularly large, but it went around in a perfect oval, three flags having been set up equidistant from each other with the first being right by the starting line. These were, as Vic was soon explained, the positions where each pokémon was supposed to stand in a relay race.
[break][break]
It looked fun, so of course he wanted to give it a try! He signed up, and a metal baton was given to him the moment he did – one that looked resistant, and like the kind of thing any pokémon could easily grab.
[break][break]
Which pokémon of his would participate though?
[break][break]
This he took a moment to figure out, but eventually it was three of his usual companions that ended up waiting out by each flag: his Arcanine, his Dragapult, and his Dragonite.
[break][break]
Petting the fire canine, he gave it the baton with a smile. ”Give it your best, okay, bud? You all got this!”
[break][break]
This was going to be fun!


[BREAK][BREAK]

+ Balder Schwartz | Feel free to start ♡

[BREAK][BREAK]Rotantion battle style!
[BREAK]A pokémon has to advance and pass the baton within 1 post
[BREAK]Next post is with the following pokémon
[BREAK]Pokémon can use moves to speed up, or to stop their opponents
[BREAK]2 laps around the circuit? (6 pkmn x 2 = 12 replies? Social to 15?)
[BREAK][BREAK]
✔ Endeavor: Participate in a rotation battle

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

”Ha! Well, if they’re having fun that’s what matters, right?” Vic grinned when Lars called back the Archeops, and to him, that was indeed the moral of all this – even if admittedly he was starting to feel a bit bad about this machine constantly telling his pokémon they weren’t doing a good job even when they landed powerful hits.
[break][break]
”Oh… Sure, I’ll give that a try.” Distracted by the thought of snow cones, he watched his Larvitar use a Rock Slide on the machine, and of course, even though the pokémon did pretty well, the screen still displayed the familiar ’meh.’ He was about to say something to cheer the Larvitar up, but then the Avalugg came, and it came with a Blizzard.
[break][break]
”Wait… wait! You’ll–” Too little, too late. Before anyone could do anything about it, the Rock and Ground type was frozen in place, Vic left staring at the ice statue that was once his pokémon, too shocked to even bother checking out how the Avalugg did. ”Arceus… Aw, I’m sorry, buddy.” He felt terrible, and with a sigh, he called it back to its pokéball so they could deal with the freeze later.
[break][break]
Then, he released a Sylveon. Pointing at the machine. “It’s all you. Give it all you got!”
[break][break]
That was all it took, the pokémon attacking its target with a MOONBLAST in response.

[BREAK][BREAK]

+ Laurence Anderson
[break]✔ Endeavor: Sustain freeze
[BREAK][BREAK]

Ok7WslVM

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Oh, right… Galarian pokémon had been banned or whatever in Hoenn for a while, huh? Vic is sure he had read about that somewhere, but since it happened right before he arrived at the region, he hadn’t really paid much attention. It is kind of weird to think about though, since he himself had spent like five years of his life at Galar, studying at Hammerlocke University.
[break][break]
”Oh! Is that a Barraskewda? He’s so cute!” Most people probably wouldn’t call such a pokémon cute, but Vic has always been weird about things like those.
[break][break]
This in itself also causes him to be distracted the moment the battle begins though, the pink-haired man finding himself watching the Galarian fish just as the Slowpoke charges beneath the waves, headed directly to headbutt it.
[break][break]
Above, in the sky, clouds begin to form, the result of a RAIN DANCE used by the Kingdra from the deep, out of what was mostly habit alone. Would that even do anything underwater? Maybe, maybe not! But it would probably double the speed of the Swift Swim pokémon, and it would probably also be really annoying for the trainers above the water...
[break][break]
”Oh, come on!” With a sigh, Vic raises a hand in a poor attempt to protect himself from the drizzle.
[break][break]
Now, where the heck was that Wimpod?!


[BREAK][BREAK]

+ FERNANDO SILPH
[BREAK]TL;DR: Slowpoke tries to headbutt the Barraskewda, Kingdra uses Rain Dance because Azul wants to clear endeavors hehe

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Hey now, leave Vic out of it, at least he warned Matias!
[break][break]
What else is he supposed to do, huh?!
[break][break]
Actually… When the Tauros readies a second Giga Impact, Vic’s eyes widen in horror, turning to his Altaria who is still preoccupied with the Miltank. ”Cotton! The Tauros!”
[break][break]
And, on the bright side, at least the pokémon is quick to act, the image of a full moon appearing in the sky for just a couple of seconds before the Tauros is hit with a MOONBLAST. Hopefully, that would do some damage, or at least distract it and get it to focus its attention on one of the pokémon instead of on Matias.
[break][break]
”Dude! Are you alright?!” Vic asks when he catches up.




[BREAK][BREAK]

+ MATIAS SILPH | TO THE RESCUE!!!

[BREAK][BREAK]

c0MdLEY1

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

If anything, this battle may have just proved why Hydreigon’s pokédex category was no other than the Brutal Pokémon, since little to no leeway was given to the Charizard as Skor rushed forward. Even worse: she became aware that the pokémon had flinched, but instead of granting her a second to breathe, she took advantage of the momentary lack of resistance to use CRUNCH on her opponent. All three of her heads bit down onto the Charizard, her sharp fangs being filled with dark energy.
[break][break]
But, hey, it was a battle, and at least she was getting some attacks in…
[break][break]
At the other side of the arena, things weren’t looking as good for Vic’s team.
[break][break]
See, Pez had never encountered an Aegislash before, and upon seeing the other pokémon go on the defensive in response to the attack, he scoffed. Weak! How dare! What an insult!
[break][break]
Just like that, the Dragonite was beginning to get annoyed, and so he chose to do what Pez apparently did best: keep punching his problems until they went away. This time, it was a right hook charged with electricity, the THUNDER PUNCH releasing a loud, rumbling sound upon contact. It wasn't like it would do much, but Pez didn't know that.



[BREAK][BREAK]

+ Stormy Silph

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Needless to say, the little Goomy was disappointed. As she stared at the screen, she flopped down to the ground, falling almost completely flat like the slimy blob she was. But, thankfully, Vic was ready to come to the rescue, beaming at the tiny lilac dragon. ”Gummy! You did so good!”
[break][break]
It helped, and she was doing much better by the time she returned to her pokéball, the man then turning his attention to the Archeops that tried to attack the machine with an all too recognizable Dragon Claw. In return, this pokémon also only got a ’git gud’.
[break][break]
”This is so weird… You’d think that would have been worth at least a little more than that. Oh… Do you have Pinap Berry flavour?”
[break][break]
He called out a pokémon of his own, this time a small but confident-looking Larvitar that jumped out of his pokémon. ”Hit that thing!”
[break][break]
Maybe a different type of attack would do the trick? The Larvitar was quick to action, putting his little paws on the ground and causing a few rocks to rise, these then dashing towards the machine at top speed.


[BREAK][BREAK]

+ Laurence Anderson
[BREAK][BREAK]

REn_QUgb

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

”No worries, we weren’t waiting too long." Vic’s smile was radiant like the sun up above, ever the amicable guy. Of course, his Dragonite didn’t quite agree with the wait time being all good, but it wasn’t as if Pez got a say in any of that, right? The pokémon just stood there: staring down the other Dragonite as if attempting to determine if it was a worthy opponent or not. Pride may have run in the species after all.
[break][break]
”Yeah! I’m Vic and this is Pez. Figured a sky race sounded really fun,” the ranger continued, shaking Amor’s hand and being – or maybe acting – totally oblivious to the tension between both dragons. Man, he really hoped this would be a fun race and wouldn’t turn into some sort of Dragonite showdown...
[break][break]
He even reminded Pez of this as they prepared to begin, the words ”Take it easy, okay, bud? We’re here to have a good time,” being said quietly as he petted the dragon’s side a few times when climbing onto his back. And at first, Pez sure did, his first move when the race began being a DRAGON DANCE and not an attack as he focused on flying at top speed.



[BREAK][BREAK]

+ Amor Rose | Figured we don't really need to roll?

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The Dragonite swang his tail with as much strength as his body would allow when in such a position; water swirled around it as if a dancing blade. But, the Talonflame was swift, and she managed to avoid the attack at the very last second before it hit. Pez wasn’t too happy with this, and in response he rolled his eyes before steadying himself in the air with a few flaps of his wing.
[break][break]
”Oh! That was pretty good! Get her, Pez!”
[break][break]
The Dragon watched his opponent closely, preparing for an oncoming attack, but proud as he was, Pez didn’t move out of the way when the Flame Blitz came – only avoiding it by a hair (or by a scale?) at the last moment.
[break][break]
He bent backwards as if limbo dancing in the sky, and without wasting a single second, he tried to throw a quick electrified jab up towards the bird the moment she passed over his head. THUNDER PUNCH.




[BREAK][BREAK]

+ maverick noah ryder | Thunder Punch can cause paralysis
[break]No worries about that first hit btw! I'll just count it as a flat 50 for you <3
[BREAK][BREAK]

Tm9ZgaUh

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Looks like the dice doesn’t like excuses. Or, maybe it just has it out for us?
[break][break]
Maybe, normal types actually got an incredible overnight upgrade and that’s why a Miltank is now mopping the floor with poor Hitmonlee...
[break][break]
The Altaria tries to help, but in a cruel twist of fate, for some reason it doesn’t have any attacks that won’t harm his allies if nearby, choosing to do the next best thing and use a SAFEGUARD on himself and the Hitmonlee before pecking the Miltank to try distract it (like… actual bird pecking, not the attack).
[break][break]
Meanwhile, the Tauros that had been put out of commission for a moment thanks to his Giga Impact is now shaking off the exhaustion and ready to attack, but instead of going for the other pokémon, the target it chooses is the guy running for their flag.
[break][break]
”Matias! Behind you!” Vic warns, running after the pokémon.



[BREAK][BREAK]

+ MATIAS SILPH | Sorry Matias ily, just trying to make things more fun hehe

[BREAK][BREAK]

z6tkOCEC

[attr="class","pokeclass"]