[Game] Lord Windos' PokeRole Adventure: Celadon City Vandel

[Lord Windos]

Your slightly unstable cousin continues to stare at you as you understate the sheer amount of adversity and absurdity you've been subjected to only THIS week, and briefly contemplates OTHER trouble you've gotten up before the Flower Festival.....before she threw her back and started to laughs, and walks over to give you a tight hug. Hurk! "Hah Hah Hah Hah Hah HAH! Only you could non-chalently take being friends with Mew herself and your life being turned goddamn dramedy in stride! No matter how much your unrivaled stubbornness and resolute spirit has made dealing with you a pain in just my ass alone , its kept you alive, kicking, and screaming bloody hell for all this time, no matter what! By Arceas above, I missed that so much......I missed you so much....."

After a few more minutes in the maybe uncomfortable grasp of the suddenly affectionate woman, she releases you and Ridia (Who briefly looked tempted to Bite her before wisely reconsidering) and walks back over her pillow and takes a seat, closing her eyes and coughing into her hand, doing her best to ignore the mess she made in her.....unease. It did not due for Blackthorn's Gym Leader to lose her composure like that, so she's going to pretend like it never happened. Isn't that right, Reiner? Right? You draconic Eevee gives them a rather dim stare for her behavior, but is quick to throw her head back and dismiss your cousin, and do her best to enjoy your company as best she can right now....

Once the both of you fully settle down and move on from......that, you resumed trying to reason for lenacy/flexibility from Clair. The first reason you list caused her to grimace in anger over you MONSTER of a 'Boss' trying to 'reclaim' like a stray Houndour, or the thought of them trying to kill ANY of her family.......it almost sent her straight back into RAGE mode if it wasn't for her trying to maintain her calm and the other people you mentioned. "Grrr...... that fucking bastard can TRY and harm our family if he likes, and I'll be ready to put him and any of his cronies he sends either six feet under ground......or in my Dragons bellies if they don't feel so charitable. Whose's Emily and Kyubi, though? Are they friends or 'friends' of yours that you got caught up in your wild week?"

Your second point, however, quickly causes Clair to sober up as the gravity of your convoluted and dangerous obligations reared its ugly head once more. Her face grows severe as you bring up your future meeting with Valarie Malcom and the bind that Erika is in (because of you, natch) , and become gravely concerned as you bring up your hunt for the Cursed Arms ('I HAVE to get him to cough up those details.....which is easier said than done....') , particularly venturing into the Fallout Zone surrounding the Nuclear Research Facility. She hardly anything about THAT situation, but she WAS distinctly aware of the Nuclear Disaster that took place in Tandor, and all the horrifying dangers that spawned from that catastrophe. The fact a repeat of THAT could happen here , and that other Legendaries could come in to 'deal' with it............she really didn't want to think about it.

Third and final point.......that caused her to tilt her head downwards and scrunch up her fists. Unlike yourself, Clair never had any qualms with the old Traditions/Customs/Training and the decisions of the Elders, as they were responsible for nurturing her own talent and skills to the point where they are now AND for the strength and endurance of The Dragon Clan and Blackthron for times innumerable.

That is, until the Elders ended up spurning Lance for him choosing to blaze his own trail and making his own destiny instead of the one they laid out for him, and exiling you for simply being reckless and headless. Make no mistake, her interests firmly aligned with those of Blackthorn and the values and teachings it was founded on, but even so.....she found the way her Elders handled various situations before and after she took the reigns as Gym Leader to be wanting.

Correcting or balancing their extremism and/or hindbound thinking would be beneficial......but Clair was extremely doubtful that letting her cousin have a dig at that sensitive and delicate issue would be for the best interests of everyone involved. Call her violently tempered and viscous all you like, but you can't say Clair's unintelligent in her decisions and reasoning. She knows your.....distaste and bias of everything involving The Elders and....Grandfather, and that letting you handle things the way you want could have unpleasant, far reaching consequence for everyone involved. Its one of many reasons why she wants to handle this matter herself, as that way things are far less likely to go FUBAR with her moderating things between you and them. Her Offer wasn't foolproof or easy by any means, but it was a damn sight better than letting either you or the old windbags go at each other full throattle, with the whole Dragon Clan caught in the crossfire...

Clair was silent for a long, long time as she digested everything that has been discussed thus far.

...

...

"...........Reiner.......*Angry Sighing, followed by placing a palm on her face*. Cousin, you are asking a lot from me, little dragon. A LOT. I've well explained my duties to you, and the responsibility that I have to uphold them. You know well I can't just let you run free and trust you'll do no harm to Blackthorn even if you swore a blood oath, as their is far too much at stake to risk it, regardless of my beliefs on the matter. The Elder won't stand for it, and I unlike you or Lance I have no desire to oppose their will. Not in this case, at least. One way or another, I have  to bring you in, or at least try to. I'm sorry cousin, but that is the way it is......."

"........However, after hearing the utter lunacy you've put up this week, the heroic deeds you accomplished, and the various responsibilities you have yet to resolve.....I believe we can........compromise on this. Hey, don't give me that surprised/relieved look! I'm not heartless, or unable to understand you have a lot of shit on your plate. Just like me...... *Sighs* .......Here's what I've come with that give us both enough leeway on our respective tasks without pissing our 'superiors' . I'll loiter around Celadon until Sunday Afternoon, 'searching' for you and Lindworm during that time, before I leave with or without you. He's in hot water to for stealing that experimental Dragonair the Elders have been poured several years worth of effort into, and I can always say you either 'got away from me' or 'fought me off' if they ask why I came back empty handed, if you insist on your stubborn doofus self and doing things on your own terms, seeing where THAT gets you this time. If you accept my help - which you should if you ever want to reunite with the family or 'change' Blackthorn without waging war against The Elders and Grandfather - I'll do as promised. Open ended deal like this sounds right up your ally, doesn't it? 

"But," Clair says, holding one finger up, before clasping both hands together and leaning in towards you. "Call me overprotective or a doubtful nag if you like, but I frankly think you are also way in over your head , and that the 'problems' you are handling will end up handling you instead. While I know the Elders would be tickled pink if you end up 'dealt with' that way, but I or your parents won't. So, I want to see for myself if you really the threat Grandfather thinks you are, and the anime badass you make yourself out to be. ....Battle me, Reiner. My team vs. yours , no Healing Items, no overkill or trying to kill each other. If you win, I'll leave you be, and we can both have excuses to give our 'Bosses' to....ugh.....'keep up our acts.' I'll even give you my Gym Badge, since if you can beat my War Team, you more than earned it than any of my other challenger! If I win, though....then that just proves you've gotten lucky or been cutting it close up until now, doesn't it? Anyway, if I win, I'll 'chaperon' you around Celadon ,and help you deal with all the sorry messes you've gotten tangled up in, just like old times. Afterward, your ass is heading with me back to Blackthorn, no ifs, ands, and especially no butts! You lose, and you are mine."

A pause as she lets her new 'deal' sink in, before she simply says: "Well?"

(The Losing Penalty is essentially Clair 'joins' your party, but she's in charge from then on, and Reiner loses all Encounter Slots but the most critical ones (Valarie, Nuclear, Team Rocket Base if you choose to raid it) , and Arial is more or less obligated to 'save' him anyway possible, including assassinating her. You can try to negotiate for a different deal, but I'll have to roll to see if she wants to even consider them in the first place, much less hear them.)

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Your slightly unstable cousin continues to stare at you as you understate the sheer amount of adversity and absurdity you've been subjected to only THIS week, and briefly contemplates OTHER trouble you've gotten up before the Flower Festival.....before she threw her back and started to laughs, and walks over to give you a tight hug. Hurk! "Hah Hah Hah Hah Hah HAH! Only you could non-chalently take being friends with Mew herself and your life being turned goddamn dramedy in stride! No matter how much your unrivaled stubbornness and resolute spirit has made dealing with you a pain in just my ass alone , its kept you alive, kicking, and screaming bloody hell for all this time, no matter what! By Arceas above, I missed that so much......I missed you so much....."

After a few more minutes in the maybe uncomfortable grasp of the suddenly affectionate woman, she releases you and Ridia (Who briefly looked tempted to Bite her before wisely reconsidering) and walks back over her pillow and takes a seat, closing her eyes and coughing into her hand, doing her best to ignore the mess she made in her.....unease. It did not due for Blackthorn's Gym Leader to lose her composure like that, so she's going to pretend like it never happened. Isn't that right, Reiner? Right? You draconic Eevee gives them a rather dim stare for her behavior, but is quick to throw her head back and dismiss your cousin, and do her best to enjoy your company as best she can right now....

Once the both of you fully settle down and move on from......that, you resumed trying to reason for lenacy/flexibility from Clair. The first reason you list caused her to grimace in anger over you MONSTER of a 'Boss' trying to 'reclaim' like a stray Houndour, or the thought of them trying to kill ANY of her family.......it almost sent her straight back into RAGE mode if it wasn't for her trying to maintain her calm and the other people you mentioned. "Grrr...... that fucking bastard can TRY and harm our family if he likes, and I'll be ready to put him and any of his cronies he sends either six feet under ground......or in my Dragons bellies if they don't feel so charitable. Whose's Emily and Kyubi, though? Are they friends or 'friends' of yours that you got caught up in your wild week?"

Your second point, however, quickly causes Clair to sober up as the gravity of your convoluted and dangerous obligations reared its ugly head once more. Her face grows severe as you bring up your future meeting with Valarie Malcom and the bind that Erika is in (because of you, natch) , and become gravely concerned as you bring up your hunt for the Cursed Arms ('I HAVE to get him to cough up those details.....which is easier said than done....') , particularly venturing into the Fallout Zone surrounding the Nuclear Research Facility. She hardly anything about THAT situation, but she WAS distinctly aware of the Nuclear Disaster that took place in Tandor, and all the horrifying dangers that spawned from that catastrophe. The fact a repeat of THAT could happen here , and that other Legendaries could come in to 'deal' with it............she really didn't want to think about it.

Third and final point.......that caused her to tilt her head downwards and scrunch up her fists. Unlike yourself, Clair never had any qualms with the old Traditions/Customs/Training and the decisions of the Elders, as they were responsible for nurturing her own talent and skills to the point where they are now AND for the strength and endurance of The Dragon Clan and Blackthron for times innumerable.

That is, until the Elders ended up spurning Lance for him choosing to blaze his own trail and making his own destiny instead of the one they laid out for him, and exiling you for simply being reckless and headless. Make no mistake, her interests firmly aligned with those of Blackthorn and the values and teachings it was founded on, but even so.....she found the way her Elders handled various situations before and after she took the reigns as Gym Leader to be wanting.

Correcting or balancing their extremism and/or hindbound thinking would be beneficial......but Clair was extremely doubtful that letting her cousin have a dig at that sensitive and delicate issue would be for the best interests of everyone involved. Call her violently tempered and viscous all you like, but you can't say Clair's unintelligent in her decisions and reasoning. She knows your.....distaste and bias of everything involving The Elders and....Grandfather, and that letting you handle things the way you want could have unpleasant, far reaching consequence for everyone involved. Its one of many reasons why she wants to handle this matter herself, as that way things are far less likely to go FUBAR with her moderating things between you and them. Her Offer wasn't foolproof or easy by any means, but it was a damn sight better than letting either you or the old windbags go at each other full throattle, with the whole Dragon Clan caught in the crossfire...

Clair was silent for a long, long time as she digested everything that has been discussed thus far.

...

...

"...........Reiner.......*Angry Sighing, followed by placing a palm on her face*. Cousin, you are asking a lot from me, little dragon. A LOT. I've well explained my duties to you, and the responsibility that I have to uphold them. You know well I can't just let you run free and trust you'll do no harm to Blackthorn even if you swore a blood oath, as their is far too much at stake to risk it, regardless of my beliefs on the matter. The Elder won't stand for it, and I unlike you or Lance I have no desire to oppose their will. Not in this case, at least. One way or another, I have  to bring you in, or at least try to. I'm sorry cousin, but that is the way it is......."

"........However, after hearing the utter lunacy you've put up this week, the heroic deeds you accomplished, and the various responsibilities you have yet to resolve.....I believe we can........compromise on this. Hey, don't give me that surprised/relieved look! I'm not heartless, or unable to understand you have a lot of shit on your plate. Just like me...... *Sighs* .......Here's what I've come with that give us both enough leeway on our respective tasks without pissing our 'superiors' . I'll loiter around Celadon until Sunday Afternoon, 'searching' for you and Lindworm during that time, before I leave with or without you. He's in hot water to for stealing that experimental Dragonair the Elders have been poured several years worth of effort into, and I can always say you either 'got away from me' or 'fought me off' if they ask why I came back empty handed, if you insist on your stubborn doofus self and doing things on your own terms, seeing where THAT gets you this time. If you accept my help - which you should if you ever want to reunite with the family or 'change' Blackthorn without waging war against The Elders and Grandfather - I'll do as promised. Open ended deal like this sounds right up your ally, doesn't it? 

"But," Clair says, holding one finger up, before clasping both hands together and leaning in towards you. "Call me overprotective or a doubtful nag if you like, but I frankly think you are also way in over your head , and that the 'problems' you are handling will end up handling you instead. While I know the Elders would be tickled pink if you end up 'dealt with' that way, but I or your parents won't. So, I want to see for myself if you really the threat Grandfather thinks you are, and the anime badass you make yourself out to be. ....Battle me, Reiner. My team vs. yours , no Healing Items, no overkill or trying to kill each other. If you win, I'll leave you be, and we can both have excuses to give our 'Bosses' to....ugh.....'keep up our acts.' I'll even give you my Gym Badge, since if you can beat my War Team, you more than earned it than any of my other challenger! If I win, though....then that just proves you've gotten lucky or been cutting it close up until now, doesn't it? Anyway, if I win, I'll 'chaperon' you around Celadon ,and help you deal with all the sorry messes you've gotten tangled up in, just like old times. Afterward, your ass is heading with me back to Blackthorn, no ifs, ands, and especially no butts! You lose, and you are mine."

A pause as she lets her new 'deal' sink in, before she simply says: "Well?"

(The Losing Penalty is essentially Clair 'joins' your party, but she's in charge from then on, and Reiner loses all Encounter Slots but the most critical ones (Valarie, Nuclear, Team Rocket Base if you choose to raid it) , and Arial is more or less obligated to 'save' him anyway possible, including assassinating her. You can try to negotiate for a different deal, but I'll have to roll to see if she wants to even consider them in the first place, much less hear them.)

*HURK!* is right!  Clair's hugs are rare, sudden, and never loose!  Considering Reiner's both sitting and has Ridia in his lap (guess Poe was recalled to his Luxury Ball at some point for various reasons), he's not really able to do anything except take it!  "...well, Mew would much rather be treated like any other pokemon for the most part, so...and quite frankly, that's the MOST believable thing that's happened this week, too..."

...

"...yeah, I've missed you too, cuz..."

(insert uncomfortable silence after the hug here)

"...yeah, they're friends of mine.  Emily is the 11 year old girl that rich dastard killed.  She's a very talented artist.  Hard career choice.  I...kinda empathized with her, so I decided to try and...help her out during the surprisingly large amount of free time I had this week.  Which ended up getting her killed, so Mew and I had to bring her back...Kyubi was that rich dastard's wife that Mew and I brought back.  At his request.  I was already going to kill him for killing Emily over rather...petty reasons, and his wife had apparently urged him not to do it at first since she had a bad feeling it wasn't going to end well for him, so it really wasn't any skin off my back to oblige him.  Particularly since it's a rather...painful process for the one being sacrificed to save another's life.  I've promised Kyubi and her late husband that I'd help her adjust to the various...changes she's gone through, which she's particularly appreciative of since she has amnesia.  And she was also a Ninetales, but is now a fox-like human who can spew fire and has ethereal powers...it's weird and uncomfortable and completely messed up in multiple ways, no question, but it's...not entirely terrible in some ways, I suppose, since she's more than willing to use her skills to protect me if need be...anyways, she'll typically be disguising herself as a normal looking human using an altered form of Hypnosis that she picked up while in limbo, so...don't mention I told you about what she actually is if and when you happen to meet her.  And considering Mew and I went to the trouble of reviving both of them from the dead, I'd rather they not die an early death again, obviously."

Yup, Reiner really can talk to Clair about almost anything...

...

"...thank you, Clair.  Compromise is all I was asking for.  I don't really claim to be an 'anime badass', but I'll try not to disappoint.  Two questions though before we go find our suitable, quiet, outdoor battlefield: is Megido's Revelation going to be buffing you during our battle? If so, I'll have to even the playing field slightly using one of my own tricks. Only affects me and my pokemon, though, so don't worry about who it targets any. And two: we doing a single or a double?"

[Lord Windos]

Clair sweetly and happily smiled when you said you missed her too, but since she was at the time trying to valiantly squeeze all the vileness out of you, you didn't get to see it yourself. Fortunately, Mew did, and was able to send you a mental imagine of it, as such a thing was a treasured rarity with how serious/grumpy she usually is. Oh, how you wish it wasn't so, but such is the way of things, you suppose.....

Informing her about Emily earned you a light grunt and a nod of understanding , as the draconic woman found you befriending and helping a little girl achieve her dreams well within reason, even if a bit strange given your status as a Team Rocket grunt. Then again, within the context of your downright insane week you've had so far, which included Mew herself preforming necromancy to raise said little girl from the dead after she carked it, anything you've done/will do seems either perfectly reasonable or not, depending on one's perspective. Explaining/Clarifying the particular of your relationship with Kyubi , on the other hand......Clair's weirded out and thoroughly baffled expression would have said it all, if she didn't speak up about this after a lengthy pause.

".....That is perhaps the most disturbing and unbelievable thing I've ever heard of happening EVER, no fucking hyperbole. You killed that wealthy, morally bankrupt motherfucker who was also a nasty pokephile on top of the usually debauchery rich fuck and nobles get up to, had Mew play necromancer and revive his Ninetales wife .....*Shudders*  in a twisted form of punishment and redemption, and end up somehow transforming her in a amnesiac fox spirit that the Elders used to wax on about to us when we were kids. Which, in an even more perverted twist, you subsequently SOMEHOW caused her to fall hopelessly in love with you over a course of a single day, her husbands and her own indirect killer. "

Clair pauses to shake her own head in naked disgust and incredulity, before continuing.

"That's...that's so fuck up its on a level all on its own, cousin, and I don't say that lightly. I've SEEN the aftermath of wild or enraged Dragonite turning stupid or unlucky bastards and their Pokemon into chum, and even THAT I compare roughly equal to the unmitigated surreal.....whatever word that aptly describes how messed up that is. Ugggh.....I swear, its as you were cursed with interesting times as a child by Rayquaza or something. with all the trouble you get in or ends up finding you....... If that is the cause, I wouldn't even be surprised at this point......"

Your cousin then looks you back in the eyes, and lets out a long, suffering sigh, before shrugging their shoulders.

"Of course, that doesn't change to fact you are responsible for her, eh? Well, so long as you are just helping her and not trying to give her the bone, or letting her take it Arceas forbid, I can play dumb and deal with a Ninetales turned Kitsune. If you end up doing the nasty with her.......just don't ever say anything about it, or have one of my Dragons flame purify your togger in revenge, bleh....... "

.....Well, she took it well, all things considering. Moving on to the battle conditions/compromise:

"Don't thank me yet, little dragon, 'cause you and I both know that I have more than fair odds of razing you and your team of Pokemon to the ground and hauling your ass back to Blackthorn like I should have done AGES ago. Me and my War Team are taking no prisoners with how devious and a right pain in the ass I've heard you've become, so you damn well better prepare for the fight for your life cousin! Still, a chance is still just that, so take it for what is worth I guess. Yeah, I'll be using Megido Revelations in battle, as have every intention of winning against you, and I'm going to use every tool I have to hedge me bets and trim yours up. Use whatever tactics or skills you like to even the odds, 'cause trust me when I say you'll need all the advantages you can get. Battles will be Singles, as I don't want either of us gangbanging individual Pokemon. Hell, I'll even allow you to Revive or Fully Heal ONE Pokemon , just because I believe my odds of winning won't be hurt much at all by doing this. That good enough clarification for you, Reiner?"

[Dragonstrike]

Reiner (perhaps wisely) doesn't comment further on Kyubi and Clair's comments concerning her...

...cursed as a child or something...well, it's kinda like that, I suppose...

...and Clair probably doesn't have to worry too much about Reiner's romantic life.  Yet, anyways...

Moving on, though...

"...all I needed to know.  Just got some pre-battle prep to do, then...shouldn't take too long.  A couple hold items to rearrange, a TM to teach, a stone evolution to evolve...and then my little trick to even the odds a little when I'm ready to begin."

Well, here's the slightly less vague summary of what he's doing:
- Teaching Kingdra Skill Swap EX.  Another powerful toy for her to use!  Fun!
- moving around some held items.  Like giving a Fortifying Shot to Shellder and bagging the White Herb for now.
- Evolving Shellder into Cloyster with that Water Stone.  She'll be happy to be receiving some attention at long last, right?

Oh, and...

'You want in on this battle if the battlefield is suitably quiet, Mew?'

[She'll get to hold a Gourmet Sitrus Berry instead of the Expert Belt if she participates.  If she doesn't, Rhyxemplar will be holding the Gourmet Sitrus Berry instead of his Wide Lens]
Once all of that is done...

"You ready to see some proper dragons duke it out, Ridia?  Come on, let's go find a quiet, outdoor battlefield where nobody will disturb us."

If Clair hadn't fully figured out why Reiner is giving so much extra attention to his eevee, that's one more clue for her to think over.

[Lord Windos]

Your cousin is indeed somewhat curious about the Eevee you are holding now the you bring it up again, as her general demeanor and the defiant glare she was giving them reminded the Gym Leader of the myriad Dragon types, but quickly puts it out of their mind in favor of focusing on the battle ahead. Devise and review strategies to make you submit to her will first, ponder the nature of your feisty brown fox later!

Once you announce you intention to prep your team before your soon to be trail by dragon fire, Clair gives you a curt nod of their head, before exiting the partially demolished room to give you the space/privacy needed for such things, though you could tell she was waiting nearby to make sure you didn't try to sneak out on her. She wouldn't put it past you to trying to escape and dodge a hairy and hectic battle if given even a sliver of a chance of doing so, or call for back up to stack the odds back in your favor. Regardless, you got the room to yourself for a time, and you made great use of it! Going by the order you listed.....

Kingdra was yet again thrilled to be gifted yet another phenominal power to add to her arsenal, especially one so devious and ripe for abuse/versitle as Skill Swap EX! Oh, she can't wait to test it out on a poor, unsuspecting target, and leave them totally confused as their innate talents are put to use against them (Or simply kept out of their use), ha! Shelldar was delighted to meet her new trainer after staying copped up in her Pokeball for so long, and even more so when as your first act you evolved her to a Cloyster! So much so she hopped forward and clamped onto you with a surprisingly gently hug, before releasing you and bobbing back and forth on their newly enlarged shell! She can't wait to get to know you better, and show off her enhanced prowess with Icicle Spear! Cloyster gains + 1 Happiness for Evolving her, which means + 1 Loyalty as well! Off to a great start with her!

As for the question you poised to Mew, she thought over for a few moments, before giving you a smile and a fist pump! 'Yeapers, Partner! If its possible, I'd the chance to both fight for your freedom from your......protective cousin AND work out some stress from yesterday by beating the snot out of her Pokemon! Besides, if nothing else seeing me in action might get her to reconsider her stance on you being some weenie beanie that she can just steamroll over!'

Oh, and she EXTREMELY quick to take the Gormet Sitrus Berry off your hands once you make your intension known with it. It hers, she tells you, ALL HERS! No one takes her percious, delicious Sitrus Berries away from her with them losing some fingers in the process, nope!

Also, I presume you will being using Zen State for this battle, so consider its being used and its effects applied to all Pokemon!

After your pre-battle preparations were complete, you exited the room to locate Clair, and finding to your complete lack of surprise that she leaning against the wall just a short ways away, with serious yet relaxed expression on her face as she peered at you, before it morph into the viscous smirk you've come to expect and fear from her. "While you were busy getting ready, I went and talked to Erika about a private location to hold battle, as I don't want people gawking over our duel or getting them and the city obliterated as my Pokemon tear yours apart, and she suggested [Insert the same private location you first fought Mew at] . That place good enough battle ground for you, little dragon? Also, my offer is still on the table, by the way, so if you want to save yourself, Kingdra, Weavile, that Arbok of yours, and whatever else you got up your sleeves getting reemed by my Dragons, all you got to do is ask nicely, cousin~ If not, well, I more than warned you at this point, so you only got yourself to blame for thrashing that'll be coming your way, Hah Hah Hah!"

Once you make your choice and press on, this will end your 2nd Encounter Slot for the day, and we will proceed to the Third, which will be your battle against Clair. That way, Arial can go capture that Muk now that the timelines align, and therefore be tied up doing that unless he decides to drop it all and try to search for you instead.

Tick Tock.

[Dragonstrike]

Spoiler

Your cousin is indeed somewhat curious about the Eevee you are holding now the you bring it up again, as her general demeanor and the defiant glare she was giving them reminded the Gym Leader of the myriad Dragon types, but quickly puts it out of their mind in favor of focusing on the battle ahead. Devise and review strategies to make you submit to her will first, ponder the nature of your feisty brown fox later!

Once you announce you intention to prep your team before your soon to be trail by dragon fire, Clair gives you a curt nod of their head, before exiting the partially demolished room to give you the space/privacy needed for such things, though you could tell she was waiting nearby to make sure you didn't try to sneak out on her. She wouldn't put it past you to trying to escape and dodge a hairy and hectic battle if given even a sliver of a chance of doing so, or call for back up to stack the odds back in your favor. Regardless, you got the room to yourself for a time, and you made great use of it! Going by the order you listed.....

Kingdra was yet again thrilled to be gifted yet another phenominal power to add to her arsenal, especially one so devious and ripe for abuse/versitle as Skill Swap EX! Oh, she can't wait to test it out on a poor, unsuspecting target, and leave them totally confused as their innate talents are put to use against them (Or simply kept out of their use), ha! Shelldar was delighted to meet her new trainer after staying copped up in her Pokeball for so long, and even more so when as your first act you evolved her to a Cloyster! So much so she hopped forward and clamped onto you with a surprisingly gently hug, before releasing you and bobbing back and forth on their newly enlarged shell! She can't wait to get to know you better, and show off her enhanced prowess with Icicle Spear! Cloyster gains + 1 Happiness for Evolving her, which means + 1 Loyalty as well! Off to a great start with her!

As for the question you poised to Mew, she thought over for a few moments, before giving you a smile and a fist pump! 'Yeapers, Partner! If its possible, I'd the chance to both fight for your freedom from your......protective cousin AND work out some stress from yesterday by beating the snot out of her Pokemon! Besides, if nothing else seeing me in action might get her to reconsider her stance on you being some weenie beanie that she can just steamroll over!'

Oh, and she EXTREMELY quick to take the Gormet Sitrus Berry off your hands once you make your intension known with it. It hers, she tells you, ALL HERS! No one takes her percious, delicious Sitrus Berries away from her with them losing some fingers in the process, nope!

Also, I presume you will being using Zen State for this battle, so consider its being used and its effects applied to all Pokemon!

After your pre-battle preparations were complete, you exited the room to locate Clair, and finding to your complete lack of surprise that she leaning against the wall just a short ways away, with serious yet relaxed expression on her face as she peered at you, before it morph into the viscous smirk you've come to expect and fear from her. "While you were busy getting ready, I went and talked to Erika about a private location to hold battle, as I don't want people gawking over our duel or getting them and the city obliterated as my Pokemon tear yours apart, and she suggested [Insert the same private location you first fought Mew at] . That place good enough battle ground for you, little dragon? Also, my offer is still on the table, by the way, so if you want to save yourself, Kingdra, Weavile, that Arbok of yours, and whatever else you got up your sleeves getting reemed by my Dragons, all you got to do is ask nicely, cousin~ If not, well, I more than warned you at this point, so you only got yourself to blame for thrashing that'll be coming your way, Hah Hah Hah!"

Once you make your choice and press on, this will end your 2nd Encounter Slot for the day, and we will proceed to the Third, which will be your battle against Clair. That way, Arial can go capture that Muk now that the timelines align, and therefore be tied up doing that unless he decides to drop it all and try to search for you instead.

Tick Tock.

"Nice to finally meet ya in the flesh to, ya happy little bivalve!  Looking forward to seeing how you'll perform in a practical battle scenario!  I'm definitely expecting ya to do pretty well here!"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Yup, though I was planning for Zen State's triggering to be saved for right before the battle.  Both for dramatic effect and so we're not walking around Celadon with glowing auras of power.)

"Meh.  Kinda wanted to battle you anyways, really test how far I've come in a less...lethal environment.  Battleground should be fine, but we do have some tails we probably need to lose before we get there.  Some good ol' fashioned Smokescreens from our Kingdra oughta help."

First pokemon when we get out there is going to be...Arbok!  *Hissss*

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

"Nice to finally meet ya in the flesh to, ya happy little bivalve!  Looking forward to seeing how you'll perform in a practical battle scenario!  I'm definitely expecting ya to do pretty well here!"

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(Yup, though I was planning for Zen State's triggering to be saved for right before the battle.  Both for dramatic effect and so we're not walking around Celadon with glowing auras of power.)

"Meh.  Kinda wanted to battle you anyways, really test how far I've come in a less...lethal environment.  Battleground should be fine, but we do have some tails we probably need to lose before we get there.  Some good ol' fashioned Smokescreens from our Kingdra oughta help."

First pokemon when we get out there is going to be...Arbok!  *Hissss*

(Clair wouldn't have been impressed anyway, since she already saw your eyes glow earlier, so don't feel to bad!)

Clair let out a haughty chuckle, shaking her head slowly as she did so, before bouncing off the wall and heading towards the back exit of the Tea Shop. "Hah, hoping you wouldn't chicken out, and I'm glad you didn't disappoint! Let's beat feet to the battlegrounds then! Erika told me of a back exit we can use to avoid the gaze your nozy bastard mafia mates, so that should keep them out of our way long enough for us to fight uninterrupted.....if they know what's good for them."

Just as she said, you two avoided your tails via sneaky exit + stealthy traveling, and soon arrived at the clearly remember (for you, at least) battleground for your two's epic and most likely HIGHLY destructive battle! You could even see the distant field you fought Mew , as such a devastated and glassed landmark is kinda hard for you to miss! Both of you selected an appropriate and large enough area to lay waste to, and subsequently squared off against each other. "Let's see how far a life of crime has taken you this far, Reiner, and how well they'll fair against me, Clair Arendse, Gym Leader of Blackthorn City! Prepare for war, for I shall bring it unto you!!! " she shouted with a feral grin, before her own eyes started to light up purple once more! Looks she's triggering Megido Revelation early in this fight! + 1 STR, Defense, DEX , Survival AND Fight, and she Gain a Dragon typing! - 1 Will Point, Insight, and Knowledge! Level 1 Activated.

As you sent out Arbok as your first pick against the now literally Dragon typed woman, an analytical glean shown in her eyes as she calculated her next move.....

Clair's Decesion: Insight (*2) + Knowledge (*2) = 4D6 Dice
(1)(2)(2)(6)

.....And immediately pulls out a Guard Specs and breaks it open, covering her side of the battlefield in Anti Attribute reducing Mist! "I know all about that snake of yours Acid Spray and Mega Evolution's Petrifying stare, so I'm not going to let either hobble my Pokemon. Speaking of which, how about I show you a real fire breathing Dragon, Reiner! Go, Charizard! Gouge out a few scars for him to remember you by!!!"

Throwing her Pokeball at mach speed, it soon impacted the ground and summoned the mighty fire breathing lizard, which promptly let out a hellish *ROOOOAAAAAR!!!* at the giant poisonous snake as soon as their eyes meet. Oh, it would ENJOY teaching this welp what it meant to be a True Dragon!

Initiatives

Arbok: DEX (*4 [Will be 5 when Megaed]) + Survival (3) + Roll (4) = 11/12
Charizard: DEX (*4) + Survival (*4) + (1) = 9

Arbok goes first, and Charizard there after.

Clair Arendse Round 1

Music: Battle Against a True Hero (Cover!)

[Dragonstrike]

"Why is it everyone NOT from around this city seems to have heard about this already even though I only got a Key Stone this Sunday?  *sigh*...oh well.  Arbok, let's show 'em you're every bit a dragon as that Charizard is!  Not all dragons have wings, after all!"

One Mega Arbok, coming right up!

Coil
Accuracy: 5* Dex + 5 Fight + 2* Intimidate - 4 Actions = 8 D6
Effect: +1 Strength, Defense, and Accuracy

Thunder Fang (This'll be Bite instead in subsequent actions instead if the move isn't Super Effective)
Accuracy: 5* Dex + 5 Fight + 2 Brawl + 1 Coil - 5/6/7 Actions -1 Accuracy = 8/7/6 D6 (Bite has an accuracy pool of 9/8/7 D6)
Damage: 2 Power + 6* Strength + SE = 8 D6 base +1 Damage (Bite has a damage pool of 9 D6 base)
Effect: 2 D6 Paralysis Chance, 4 D6 Flinch Chance (Bite has a 5 D6 Flinch Chance)

If Arbok gets burned, Reiner's got that Rawst Berry ready, and a Full Heal as well if it happens a second time.  Not healing HP with those, after all!

[Lord Windos]

Spoiler

"Why is it everyone NOT from around this city seems to have heard about this already even though I only got a Key Stone this Sunday?  *sigh*...oh well.  Arbok, let's show 'em you're every bit a dragon as that Charizard is!  Not all dragons have wings, after all!"

One Mega Arbok, coming right up!

Coil
Accuracy: 5* Dex + 5 Fight + 2* Intimidate - 4 Actions = 8 D6
Effect: +1 Strength, Defense, and Accuracy

Thunder Fang (This'll be Bite instead in subsequent actions instead if the move isn't Super Effective)
Accuracy: 5* Dex + 5 Fight + 2 Brawl + 1 Coil - 5/6/7 Actions -1 Accuracy = 8/7/6 D6 (Bite has an accuracy pool of 9/8/7 D6)
Damage: 2 Power + 6* Strength + SE = 8 D6 base +1 Damage (Bite has a damage pool of 9 D6 base)
Effect: 2 D6 Paralysis Chance, 4 D6 Flinch Chance (Bite has a 5 D6 Flinch Chance)

If Arbok gets burned, Reiner's got that Rawst Berry ready, and a Full Heal as well if it happens a second time.  Not healing HP with those, after all!

Clair Arendse Battle Round 1!

Coil
(3)(6)(1)(4)(3)(2)(4)(6)
Mega Arbok gains + 1 STR, Defense, and Accuracy!

"We'll see about that, little dragon! Charizard, FULL POWER, NOW! PUT THE FEAR OF ARCEAS INTO THIS ARBOK!"

That was all the prompting that the pseudo dragon needed, as soon after a dazzling, prismatic orb of light surrounded his form, before he punched a now pitch black taloned fist through it, shattering the orb and revealing the newly Mega Evolved Charizard X, his eyes glowing a bright, bloody crimson!!!



Charizard X's Decision
(2)(2)(6)(2)

Seeing the pretender dragon buffing itself to better assault him, the now properly draconic Pokémon decided to give them one hell of a glower to show that choice of their would have consequences.

Scary Face
Accuracy: DEX (*4) + Fight (*6) + Intimidate (*5) - 4 Actions = 11D6 Dice
(1)(1)(6)(1)(1)(3)(6)(6)(1)(6)(3)
Mega Arbok's DEX drops by 2, return it to base speed!

Yikes, that Charizard could give the venomous hydra a run for his Poke in the Intimidation department! Never the less, the steel themselves against such a terrifying visage and lashed out with a sparking bite!

Thunder Fang
(5)(3)(2)(5)(5)(5) Hit, but no crit!
Damage: 8 - Vitality (*7) = 1D6 - 1 Damage
(-) The fang couldn't managed to pierce their dragon hide!
Paralysis: (1)(1) Nor conduct its live current!
Flitch: (3)(2)(4)(5) Much less cause it to cease up!

Charizard's Decision
(5)(4)(5)(5)

Letting out a hearty laugh at the giant poisonous python tickling it with their fangs, the black demon decided to humor them wtih an elaborate dance to show them how REAL buffing is done!

Dragon Dance
Accuracy: DEX (*4) + Fight (*6) + Perform (*3) - 5 Actions = 8D6 Dice
(4)(5)(5)(1)(3)(4)(4)(2)
Mega Charizard X Gains + 1 STR and DEX! Now at the top of the Initiative!

Done with showcasing how clearly superior it was to the fuax draconic snek , the fire spewing terror lift one foot off the ground, before slamming it down HARD, generating a massive shockwave that could be felt by all, and most painfully of all by them!

Earthquake
Accuracy: DEX (*5) + Fight + Brawl (5) - 6 Actions =  10D6 Dice
(1)(6)(3)(6)(5)(5)(5)(6)(2)(3) The giant snake launched into the air by the attack, just like old times! Critical Hit!
Damage: STR (*8) + 4 + SE - Vitality (*8) = 4D6 + 1 Damage
(3)(5)(1)(5) Mega Arbok takes 3 Damage; 13/16 HP , - 1 Pain !
Unfortunately, backlash from M.R. kicked , doing 1 Damage in Recoil to Mega Charizard X! 9/10 HP!

Colliding back into the earth with a solid *THWACK* , the equally terrifying hydra let out a most annoyed and furious *HIIIIISSS!* at the black demon using the much hated Earthquake on it, and they barely had time to react before he was upon them and sinking their fangs right into their scaly hide once more!

Bite 1
(2)(4)(4)(2)(5) Hit!
Damage: 9 - Vitality (*7) = 2D6 Damage
(5)(1) Mega Charizard X takes 1 Damage; 8/10 HP, - 1 Pain!
Flitch: (3)(5)(5)(3)(4) Nope

Irritated at the poisonous python managing to actually managing to harm him, the furious dragon spew out a MASSIVE ring of fire to slowly but surely fry them alive!, while keeping them pinned in place right where they can wail on them!

Fire Spin
Accuracy: 16D6 Base - 2 Accuracy - 1 Pain - 7 Actions = 6D6 Dice
(5)(3)(2)(6)(4)(2)Hit!
Damage: STR (*8) + 2 + STAB - Vitality (*8) = 3D6 Damage
(5)(5) Mega Arbok takes 2 Damage and is NOT Blocked from the Fire Spin, due to that Mineral Oil rubbed into its skin, somehow! 11/16 HP
Mega Charizard X takes 1 Damage in Recoil! 7/10 HP!

Bite 2
(6)(6)(2)(6) Hit!
(4)(6) Mega Charizard X takes 2 Damage; 5/10 HP, - 2 Pain!
Flitch: (4)(5)(1)(6)(2) Third time's the charm! The fire breathing dragon is Flitched!

Fire Spin Damage: (4)(6) Mega Arbok takes 2 Damage; 9/16 HP , - 2 Pain! Just because its not Blocked doesn't mean its not take residual damage from the vortex of flames!

Clair lets out an even growl at the performance thus far, before grudgly saying: "Hmpt, your Mega Arbok is giving as good as he gets from my Dragon, but how long do you think he'll last before they end up fried alive? Not long, I imagine, so I hope you have one of your clever plans to bail him out of this cousin!"

Current Status:

Mega Arbok: 9/16 HP ; - 1 Pain, Zen Boost and Mega Boost sans DEX mods due to Scary Face, + 1 STR and Accuracy from Coil
Mega Charizard X: 5/10 HP ; - 2 Pain, M.R. Boost and Mega Boost, + 1 STR and DEX from Dragon Dance

Clair Arendse Round 2

[Dragonstrike]

Reiner's pulled up a chair that he got from...somewhere.  And is casually drinking a glass of that scotch...while also covertly giving orders to Mew since he never recalled her and she's not revealed herself yet.

'Mew, get yourself prepped for battle with Nasty Plot and Amnesia while you're still invisible, please.  Not sending you in now, but I don't think we want Clair's fight against a Mythical to be easy, now, do we?' 

Reiner finishes the scotch at that point, and puts the chair away. Ground's a little too unstable right now to keep it out. +1 Strength and Defense, (Arbok now has 9 Defense!) -1 Insight and Knolwledge, ignore 1 Pain for the rest of the encounter!

"Excellent. I see you're starting off strong as well, Clair. Exactly what I like to see.  Arbok, press your advantage as much as you can."

Zen State plus the ability to flawlessly multitask is awesome, isn't it?

Bite! x4 (If Charizard doesn't flinch from one of these Bites, all remaining actions will be Sucker Punch instead)
Accuracy: 3 Dex + 5 Fight + 2 Brawl + 1 Coil - 4/5/6/7 actions = 7/6/5/4 D6
Damage: 3 D6 since Arbok now has 7 strength. (4 D6 damage for Sucker Punch)
Effect: 5 D6 Flinch Chance (2 D6 Flinch Chance for Sucker Punch)