Speed was one thing, but strength was another! Her Klefki prepared for the inevitable attack, ready to engage in FOUL PLAY to accomplish whatever it might need to get that final finishing blow.[break][break]

The two Fairy-type Pokemon collided in a magnificent display, the battle well-fought no matter who the victor was.[break][break]

Marianne was quite proud of her performance this time, she realized. It had been a battle very much on even footing.[break][break]

TAGS – Lutgarde Dijkstra[break]
NOTES – Vital City Tournament: Lutgarde vs Marianne!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Marianna Loveface? She laughed loudly, amused beyond belief that the first person whose name she felt confident she knew all tournament had gotten her name wrong.[break][break]

"My mother isn't going to believe this," she said, shaking her head as she summoned her Klefki. "Groudon is her favorite Pokemon, and you're her favorite member of the Elite Four."[break][break]

Her mom even had one of those creepy Matias merch mugs that had been discontinued by the League, informing Marianne very confidently that Matias could 'get it' when trying to explain her baffling purchase.[break][break]

"I didn't realize you liked Meowth," she remarked, surprised by his choice. Not that it mattered. She basically had already written off this battle as a loss, given her opponent.

TAGS – MATIAS SILPH[break]
NOTES – Vital City Tournament: Matias vs Marianne!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"I'm a coordinator at the National Museum of Natural History," Marianne explained, pushing her glasses up her nose. "I oversee various events and run tours, make sure things go as they ought to, things like that."[break][break]

Secretly, she'd wanted to pursue a phD and become a proper professor on those subjects, but she'd had to shelve that dream when her mother got sick. This was the closest she'd gotten to it, and she was so grateful to GIDEON GRAVES for allowing her to live that dream in her own way.[break][break]

"Not exactly a glamorous or battle-heavy career, though."[break][break]

Though her Klefki had clearly picked up a few things during this event, clearly evident in how she PLAYED ROUGH even in the face of the incoming MOONBLAST.[break][break]

TAGS – Navy[break]
NOTES – Vital City Tournament: Navy vs Marianne!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

This was it! The final round! The final blow! What an expectedly heart-pounding battle this had been.[break][break]

The MUDDY WATER sprayed in all directions, coating the Klefki in its icky sludge, but Angel fought back with a mighty FAIRY WIND that swirled with a newfound strength given the closeness of the battle.[break][break]

Whatever happened next, both Pokemon were giving it their all.[break][break]

TAGS – nabi park[break]
NOTES – Vital City Tournament: Nabi vs Marianne!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Gosh, this Sylveon was so fast. Once again, a QUICK ATTACK moved to strike her Klefki before she could manage to hit her next blow. As Angel began to glow with silent fury, she released a FLASH CANNON in hopes of a decisive conclusion to the battle![break][break]

Marianne watched events unfold with bated breath, knowing they were nearing the end now. The next round would decide it all![break][break]

TAGS – Lutgarde Dijkstra[break]
NOTES – Vital City Tournament: Lutgarde vs Marianne!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"You think? The Elite Four here always seemed special to me, but I've never lived anywhere except Hoenn, I guess. We have famous musicians, at least."[break][break]

Imagine being exceptional at two things. Marianne was just lucky she had exceptional memory about very specific museum-related things, despite her miserable retention everywhere else.[break][break]

"Well, you don't seem like someone who would like being famous, admittedly," she nonetheless dared to voice aloud.[break][break]

The PSYCHO CUT was blasted back against with a FAIRY WIND, hoping to lessen the otherwise hefty blow.[break][break]

TAGS – Navy[break]
NOTES – Vital City Tournament: Navy vs Marianne!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

CEO playboy?? Well. She didn't know that little tidbit about her government official, but she sure wouldn't forget it now.[break][break]

She caught the stunned look on her face and quickly changed it to something more polite and neutral.[break][break]

"S-sorry, didn't mean to offend. I have trouble keeping up with celebrities and names. I hear good things about Dewford Gym, though!" she added earnestly. "And congratulations on your new position."[break][break]

Though it almost certainly spelled a failure for her in this match.[break][break]

Roland's FOCUS BLAST would meet a blinding FLASH CANNON of similar strength, attempting valiantly to overpower the other move.[break][break]

TAGS – Navy[break]
NOTES – Vital City Tournament: Navy vs Marianne!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"Oh, well, sure," Marianne managed, watching her Klefki readily get into position. She tilted her head at him thoughtfully as they stepped to the side, considering her next words. "This is a weird question, but do I know you? You look familiar."[break][break]

Then it clicked together. Upcoming conference. Gym Leaders. Oh.[break][break]

She peered at him, trying to determine which of the Gym Leaders might have such an important position.[break][break]

Timidly, she ventured, "Are you possibly FERNANDO SILPH?"[break][break]

That was the Slateport one, right? And a councilman? This felt like a mostly good guess. Probably.[break][break]

Her Klefki, unbothered by the same social dilemma as her trainer, started things off with FOUL PLAY![break][break]

TAGS – Navy[break]
NOTES – Vital City Tournament: Navy vs Marianne!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Marianne tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for the foot traffic to die down enough for her to cross the street. It'd been a busy few days at the Vital City Tournament, but geez! People could still be so rude, jostling and shoving each other around, and then battling with their Pokemon in the most inconsiderate of locations.[break][break]

Did no one have manners anymore? She glumly guessed not, considering the state that the museum had been in after last year's Winter Masquerade.[break][break]

So caught as she was in her in her quiet indignation, the masculine voice of Navy startled her. She vaguely recognized him as someone important, but not the name. It was a worryingly repetitive problem here. She'd already insulted Barney Funich (BARNABY FINCH) and CIAN MAHER, who was not actually a lead singer in Teravolt, apparently.[break][break]

She squinted at him, afraid to make a guess.[break][break]

"I don't know if enjoying is the right word," she said, pushing her glasses up her nose. "Are you, uh, also here for the tournament?"[break][break]

Her Klefki, more eager to battle than her by a longshot, floated over encouragingly as it awaited an opponent.[break][break]

TAGS – Navy[break]
NOTES – Vital City Tournament: Navy vs Marianne!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

The metallic equivalent of a 'pfffbbtt!' jingled out as the HYDRO PUMP hit its mark.[break][break]

Indignant, the Klefki fumed as she twirled about, striking back with a blinding FLASH CANNON![break][break]

Marianne crossed her fingers, hoping against hope for a comeback.[break][break]

TAGS – nabi park[break]
NOTES – Vital City Tournament: Nabi vs Marianne!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"She was embarrassed at looking different than the other Phanpys, but then realized her spots made her special I think, or something..." Marianne scratched her head, trying to remember. "I think she had a tutu?"[break][break]

Oh, wait. They were battling. She blinked, turning her attention back to battle.[break][break]

Another QUICK ATTACK caught the Klefki unawares, and she changed her tune, her attack shifting quickly to PLAY ROUGH in retaliation![break][break]

TAGS – Lutgarde Dijkstra[break]
NOTES – Vital City Tournament: Lutgarde vs Marianne!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"I think I read a children's book about a Phanpy with red polka dots once," she mused aloud, tapping her chin. "That would be cute..."[break][break]

No, no. The proud little thing would never forgive her. Better not to daydream.[break][break]

Her Klefki tried to overcome the REFLECT with FOUL PLAY, jangling loudly with mischief!

[break][break]

TAGS – Lutgarde Dijkstra[break]
NOTES – Vital City Tournament: Lutgarde vs Marianne!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

She rubbed the back of her neck at the unexpected praise, flattered despite herself as her Klefki chirped a little chiming sound of glee. The Fairy-type spun around her trainer with a happy little dance in mid-air, and the sight of it cheered up Marianne more than anything else all day.[break][break]

"You were a really good opponent," she said sincerely, moving to shake his hand. "Thanks for battling with me! Maybe I'll take you up on the offer sometime."[break][break]

And hey, he might even come visit the museum at some point! You never knew.[break][break]

TAGS – Noel Parker[break]
NOTES – Vital City Tournament: Noel vs Marianne!

[attr="class","pkmn"]