The Kanto Biregional Tournament: OPEN BATTLES LOG

[these_balls]

Who: All participants and their pokemon! (for general mingling, check here)
Where: Vermilion City & surrounding area.
When: Nov 5th to the 22nd, FORWARD- AND BACK- DATING FRIENDLY
Summary: It's the big tournament! Get your battle on!
Rating: PG-13 for poggleman violence.
Log:

Like a good drill sargeant, he's making his rounds. Double-checking and triple-checking, making sure the facilities are spartan. His Gym, his training center, and the local sports arena have all been repurposed for the tourney, their safety equipment ready to activate in the case of Fire Blasts or Earthquakes gone out of control. There's games to play for the little ones come to cheer their parents, sales to be shopped for bored spouses, most of the town's hotels are booked solid. Roark and Brock both came to make sure the fossils were in top shape. All in all, he's pretty pleased with himself.

He's got his speech all laid out, his best suit on (not even camo, Misty had been surprised), all that's left is crossing his fingers for good weather...and good sportsmanship. He thinks about all the newcomers filling out his brackets and stands. Whitney had argued to cut them out of it, saying they were all crazy and mean besides. Surge is reserving judgement.

Raichu bounds up and onto his shoulder, nosing the graying blonde hair at his temple.

"If I wound up in a strange place without you, I'd be pretty lost," he admits softly, reaching up to scratch her behind the ear. She 'chu's gently back.

As he exits the gym, one of his trainers runs up, pauses, salutes and waits.

"The opening ceremonies are ready to start, sir!"

"I'll be over, make sure they're ready for me."

"Sir, yes, sir!"

And off the kid goes again, gangly-limbed Luxio at his heels. Surge makes Raichu walk. It's time to get this show on the road.

Let the games begin!

[INFO POST] [WINNERS POST]

Comments

Round I; Saber vs Archer; Elite Cup

[autocratic]

[ This is all a performance to her. A grand one she will put on, for sure, and one in which she will claim victory in her hand. She can do no less, and whoever is her opponent will meet fierce opposition. She cannot be defeated, but Saber isn't foolish to think her victory is assured. She's just going to have to play it careful, yet at the same time, give her opponent's team no quarter.

With a flourish, the once emperor of Rome walks out into the arena and nearly sings at the applause that roars around her. Obviously at the prospect that a match is going to start, but still, she can't help but feel a surge of excitement and anticipation well up in her chest as she takes her position and waits for her opponent to make their own appearance. ]

[determinator]

[Archer had never been in front of a crowd this large. He wasn't nervous exactly, but for a brief moment he began to wonder if he was in over his head. Could he really compete in front of all these people?

The answer was obvious. Of course he could. His confidence restored, Archer proceeded to join Saber in the arena.

The referee states the rules: three Pokémon, whoever is the last standing wins. He gives the signal for the fight to begin and Archer immediately releases his first Pokémon.

Queen is certainly prepared for this battle; she's been antsy all day in preparation for it. The Bisharp crouches into a fighting stance immediately, prepared to face whatever challenge comes her way.]

May the best trainer win.

[autocratic]

[ His words make a confident smirk appear on her lips as she pulls out her pokeball. ]

I very much intend to.

[ In a flash, her Scizor stands to meet up against his Bisharp, claws snapping and wings fluttering. Saber crosses her arms, and there's that moment of tension: two Pokemon staring each other down. She knows how to work and stretch the crowd, and before the silence goes on too long... ]

Gladius.

[ At the call of his name, her Scizor immediately snaps into action and initiates a Swords Dance. ]

Cobra Commander vs. Crow Hogan | Elite Cup | Round 1

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

[Hmph. A tournament. Being merely a participant and not the host irked Cobra, but far be it from him to pass up this opportunity. The chance to potentially crush several of his enemies and show that shifty lieutenant that no matter what he was planning, it would fail against the forces of Cobra? He couldn’t sign up fast enough.

And now here he was, walking out into the stadium, clad in his regular Cobra uniform, battle helmet obscuring his face, and a fancy cape purchased from a clothing store in Goldenrod. If he was going to win this thing, he would win it in style. And with no outstanding warrants for his arrest, and security everywhere, he could dress as he pleased without having to worry about some heroic idiot trying to capture him.

And the best part? His first opponent was that idiot Crow. Cobra was looking forward to shutting up that bird-brained idiot once and for all, especially in front of a cheering audience.]

[darkenedgales]

[After spending about ten minutes having an honest conversation with (read: yelling at) some poor tournament hostess, Crow gave up on trying to comprehend why on Earth would anyone let someone like Cobra Commander take part in the event. Sure, she explained to him over and over again that there was absolutely no reason why "Mr. Cobra" would not be allowed to participate, but that was far from convincing the duelist. Unlike the organizers, he wasn't going to trust that guy; considering the things he'd done in the past, Crow would not be surprised in the slightest if he'd try to pull something this time, too.

Well, there was only one way to find out: by facing him in a duel.

... Or a Pokémon battle, whichever worked.

Stepping into the arena, his Murkrow perched on his shoulder as usual, the duelist couldn't help but roll his eyes as soon as he spotted his opponent. Seriously? A cape? Who did he think he was, some comic super villain? He just never made it any easier for Crow to take him seriously, that idiot.]

You sure you got the directions right? The Junior Cup is over that way.

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

[Cobra Commander expected nothing less than insolence from Crow, and the Junior Cup remark was no exception. But just because he expected it didn’t mean he was going to tolerate it, so with a dramatic point, for added punctuation, he’ll return the insult.]

Make jokes while you ssstill can! By the time my Pokémon are done with you, you’ll be the one wishing you had signed up for the Junior Cup!

[Cobra pulls his hand back, and selected his first Pokeball, bringing out his starter, A.S.P., the Arbok. A.S.P. immediately coiled, prepared to strike at a moment’s notice. Normally, Cobra would have immediately issued an order, but since he was, ugh, playing by the rules here, he’d wait for the matchup to officially begin.]

You sssstill have time to back out now, of course. Before my sssnakes clip your wings!

Standard Cup: Round 1 - Saber vs. Sasuke Uchiha

[beforethedarkness]

[This is it. Weeks of effort and training had brought him to the tournament, and now - after waiting for the final match of the Standard Cup's first round to arrive, Sasuke is finally taking the stage against his opponent - a woman named 'Saber'. He doesn't know what's in store for him, but he's confident that he can win. His pokémon are strong, and they had been training for this.

It's also the first chance for him to regain some of the pride he had lost during that possession incident, and he's going to take full advantage of it if he can. He smirks at the woman across from him, enlarging the pokéball in his hand and holding it before him. He's an unknown here, but it seems like the crowd at least knows of the woman, and if the roar of the crowd is an indicator then he's fighting someone strong. That almost makes him shudder with anticipation.

It was different than fighting using his own body and techniques, but it seems like a worthy challenge regardless.]

Are you ready?

Alex Louis Armstrong vs. Saber | Advanced Cup | Round 1

[sculpted]

[[Armstrong would be lying if he said he wasn't excited about all this. Collecting badges was one thing, but the chance to fight in a tournament...why, what better test could there be for his Pokemon? And what a chance to show off their beautiful muscles, their elegant silhouettes...!!! Yes, it was perfect!

So here he stood on the field in the middle of the arena, patiently awaiting his opponent. What luck, what an honour to be fighting such a lovely young woman! So noble! One couldn't ask for a better opponent.

Not that Armstrong was going to underestimate her. That would be quite the mistake.]]

Ah, Miss Saber, what a pleasure it is to see you here this fine day! I trust you are ready for our bout?

[ex_cashcow493]

[ Saber's familiar enough with Armstrong from the exchanges they've had over the PokeGear; enough to not underestimate the man. One who trains with his Pokemon in physical combat is one who's sure to be more active on the field of battle. She does know one or two of his Pokemon, but is unaware as to which ones he's brought with him here.

Fortunately the three she entered in this bracket were all unknown to her companions. A gift from a man who no longer was here, a refugee from his best companion when he left, and the third one from an exchange with another breeder. A shroud of deceit gave her some security, but her guard was raised for sure. ]

Yes, of course. [ Lifting her gaze to match his own, there will be no distinguishable emotion on her face. ] Do you need more time to prepare or shall we begin?

[sculpted]

I would never enter the battlefield unprepared; ha!

[[And with that cry, Armstrong hurls a Pokeball high into the air. Exploding open, the light pouring out soon forms itself into the shape of a rather massive Samurott, who promptly roars and lowers his horned head, eager for battle.]]

Select your first Pokemon and we shall get this fight underway, my dear!

Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi vs. Rose Lalonde | Elite Cup | Round 1

[enjoymyatelier]

[Entering the tournament was something that Kayneth really couldn't avoid. Given how prideful and competitive he was, he absolutely couldn't pass up this chance to show off his superior skills. He wasn't as experienced as some of the other competitors who'd been here for more than a year, for sure, but when had that ever been an issue for him?

Furthermore, because of that, this would clearly force him to use his talents to their fullest extent. Unlike the gym challenge, this would likely prove to be an actual challenge worthy of him.

And he'd win, of course, because he always won.

PFFFTHAHAHA GOD YOU ARE IN FOR A RIDE KAYNETH

So, here was his first opponent... a... teenage girl. Given that he was a prodigy in a lot of senses, one would expect him not to underestimate someone simply because they were young... but... well... underestimating people was sort of his thing.

Nevertheless, he wasn't going to fight like he was underestimating her, and it never hurt to act like a gentleman, so he'll smile pleasantly (if a bit haughtily) as he steps onto the arena.]

Are you prepared, then?

Sorry for the delay, had to clear my head <3

[ex_cashcow493]

[ Saber herself doesn't think much of her Pokemon team. Three named after legendary figures means they should hold their own in a battle against another. However, they have little skill behind them. Sure, she has trained them as a general would, but beyond that only one has fought against a gym leader. The other two have only fought against other Pokemon under her control or ones found in the wild, leaving her to wonder just how well they might perform.

This boy who was to be her opponent was also unfamiliar to her. She studies him despite the crowd's chants, heeding them little attention. Perhaps they mistook her for the flashier one in red, she thinks, thinking poorly of her own reputation. ]

Yes, of course. [ Her hand balls into a fist almost as though it were instinct to hold a sword at this time (some habits take a while to die) as she exhales. ] Let us begin. It does us no good to stand here otherwise.

Totally fine! I was worried you hadn't seen it or something ♥

[beforethedarkness]

[Performance in trainer battles isn't only a worry for Saber, but Sasuke has confidence that his pokémon will do well all the same. It's different because he's working on outsmarting another person's team strategy this time, but after observing some of the other matches he has some idea of how it works.

That confidence shows in his posture and he nods, waiting for the referee's ok before throwing the ball into the air.] Go, Ino!

[In a brilliant flash of light the Crobat appears, giving a cry and immediately flying high. Sasuke's smirk disappears when he hears the running commentary begin, however.]

WE'RE WAITING FOR THE NEXT POKÉMON. WHAT WILL THE NEXT POKÉMON BE?

[That's going to get irritating really fast, isn't it. Well, whatever, he'll try to ignore it in favour of actually battling.]

I do appreciate the heads up <3

[ex_cashcow493]

[ A Crobat. Saber's not terribly familiar with them, only with the more common nuisance known as Zubat, but she doesn't allow her emotions to show on her face. With a cool gaze, she sorts through her thoughts in her head.

With her are three Pokemon: Kay (a Wooper), Gala (a Vespiquen), and Badb (an Umbreon). Naturally she should save her weakest as a last resort, so Badb was knocked down a bit. Since the Crobat was a flying type, she should send out one of her own. ]

I beseech of you, Gala, win this battle swiftly! [ Throwing her own Pokeball with a bit more dramatic flair than necessary, the Vespiquen appeared in mid-flight herself, her claws tucked into tiny fists. ] Swiftly, but fair.

[beforethedarkness]

IT'S VESPIQUEEN! THIS IS A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TYPES OF POKÉMON!

[Considering what he's looking at, Sasuke figures he's made the right choice; between Ino (Crobat), Hiruzen (Blaziken) and Samurott, Ino's the best equipped to fight it since right off the bat he can tell that Vespiqueen's a bug type. There's just a slight pull upward on his lips, and he finally issues his first command to the pokémon before him.]

Use Mean Look, now!

[He's not about to give Saber the chance to change her mind. Ino's eyes widen and glow purple before shooting that gaze directly at Gala, which would have been more helpful if the announcer hadn't gone and explained what just happened.] IT LOOKS LIKE VESPIQUEEN CAN'T ESCAPE FROM UNDER CROBAT'S MEAN LOOK! WHAT IS VESPIQUEEN GOING TO DO NOW?

[ex_cashcow493]

[ It might be enjoyable to see if his words held any truth to them, so she may as well start large. Her strongest on her team was without a doubt Zu. Perhaps it was time to show him the strength she possess. ]

Understood. [ Yanking the ball free from her belt, she holds it out within the palm of her hand. ] Zu, prove yourself today.

[ Not even Saber is able to stand tall when the Garchomp emerges ferociously, flapping her fins to sweep up the dirt around her. Show off. ]

Geddoe vs Ryo Akizuki | Standard Cup | Round 1

[gyaooon]

[Ryo needed to become stronger. Eri and Ai weren't here to back him up anymore, but he won't let that get him down. To become a strong trainer and a popular idol... This tournament would show how far he was to getting to the former goal. Maybe then, people would take him seriously enough to quit this tiring masquerade as a girl.

Everyone else seems so experienced, though. It's kind of nervewracking, even if he was used to massive cheering crowds. He smooths out the wrinkles from his dress, and tightens the grip on his Pokeball. Okay, he's ready. He shoots a look of determination at his opponent before giving a polite bow.]

Nice to meet you, sir. I won't go down without a fight!

[sculpted]

Oho! I have been waiting for the chance to fight a Garchomp trained by the likes of you, Miss Saber!

[[Both Pokemon and trainer unfazed by the dirt, Team Armstrong promptly pauses to flex their respective muscles, before-]]

Let's start this bout with Swords Dance, Gatten! Combine it with Aqua Tail!

[[Obeying, Armstrong's Samurott immediately performed the technique, glowing red as his attack power rose, before leaping at Zu, roaring.]]

Jade Harley vs. Envy | Elite Cup | Round 1

[exeggutorhead]

[Envy's feeling pretty confident about this tournament, and he looks it as he walks out to his side of the arena. There's an easy, confident smirk on his face, not that this is too much different from his normal expression. He's hoping for a challenge out of this, because if he's going to have to play by the official rules he wants it to still be interesting.

A huge, cheering crowd isn't something he's used to, but he can't say he minds it. He tosses his Pokeball up and down a couple times, and gives a nod and a competitive grin to the girl he's going to be facing.]

Hope you're ready.

Riku vs Crow | Advanced Cup | Round 1

[islandshore]

[He lucked out this first round. A match against all water types was an easy enough set up. Sure it'd cause a few problems for his Gliscor, but it's not like she didn't have a few tricks of her own. Like Thunder Fang, for one.

So, when Riku steps into the arena, he's got a smirk on his face. He's not expecting a landslide battle by any means, and he knows better than to antagonize his opponent. Maybe two years ago, but not now.

Instead, he reaches for his first Pokéball, tossing it up and down.]

You ready for this?

Riku vs Sasuke | Standard Cup | Round 3

[islandshore]

[This was it. The semifinals... If he could push past one last round, he'd be in for the finals. Maybe he'd even take home the gold. Wishful thinking, especially when his team had already gone through hell dealing with Brock and Blaine. If there was one thing he could say about this cup, it was that it pushed him harder than any of his past experiences.

He might've slipped up in Elite, but that was okay. At least here he'd get to put his skills to the test.

But to come head to head to Sasuke... it's really kind of ironic. He'd been traveling with the group for a while, and Riku'd seen how far his team came from their early days. And now, he's finally got the chance to test Sasuke's skills as well as his own.

The roaring crowd, the boisterous announcer... they all put him a little on edge, but if his team can tackle huge level gaps and professional trainers, they can handle another round, even if it's against an acquaintance like Sasuke.

So, as he steps up to the arena's center, he keeps a cool exterior.]

Don't expect me to hold back.

[beforethedarkness]

I wouldn't want you to.

[The first battle was difficult, and the second was even moreso. He had barely made it out, but in the end he still won. And, with the match he was facing... He had hoped that this match wouldn't come until the finals, but with the match occurring then he probably wouldn't complain.

Of all the people in the tournament, Riku had to have been the one Sasuke watched the most. His matches, his training, everything to prepare for a fight against him. But a win against him wouldn't mean anything if Riku wasn't going to put all of his effort into it. It seemed like, even with his friend leaving, he was back on his game then.

The expectancy of the crowd and of his opponent prompted a shiver so slight that most wouldn't notice, and the anticipation brought a smirk to his expression as he pulled out the first ball.]

Let's go.

[He threw the ball high into the air then, letting out Samurott in a flash of bright light. Normally, he started with Ino. But Riku deserved a different approach than that.]

[islandshore]

[Riku tosses his first Pokéball up, and his Marshtomp emerges, smacking his lips as he lifts his flippers up high and gives 'em a clap. Riku says nothing, folding his arms and watching Drench's movements carefully. The ground rumbles. Pointed stones rocket into the air, forming a circle around the arena before vanishing from sight.

Good ol' Stealth Rock. With the stage set, Riku watches Sasuke and his Pokémon, one hand reaching for his belt.]

[beforethedarkness]

[He had seen this strategy in action previously, and it already put him at a disadvantage. Switching needlessly would just hurt his party, but he had the sinking feeling that Riku was going to switch to something more appropriate for fighting Samurott. He'd just have to be ready for it when it came.]

Focus Energy.

[His words were a little softer and less energetic than they had been in the previous battles, but only because he was more focused on watching Riku's tells than anything else. Anything that would aid him in seeing just what he was doing. If nothing else could be said about Sasuke, it was that he had a keen sense of observation.

Samurott almost seemed to gain a faint white aura in response to the order, eyes dilating while it started to try and identify every possible weak spot on its opponent. Anything that would be an opening.]

[islandshore]

[Riku turns around. Briefly, there's a sound of him shuffling balls before a white light sweeps Drench off the battle field, replacing him with Gigabyte in a flash.

The Porygon2 clicks and whirrs, body twitching. Its eyes narrow, and it rears back its head. Riku spins back around, eying Samurott once again. Sparks form around Gigabyte's bill.

Hopefully Samurott doesn't mind a little jolt to his system!]