Showdown at Sunset

[beforethedarkness]

Who: Sasuke Uchiha (beforethedarkness), Bowser (kingbowser), Lightning Farron (soggypastry), Obito Uchiha (itsjustdust), Tenten (usedswift), "Evan" (Riku Replica) (falseshore), Ren Jinguji (saxsongs), Hope Estheim (eagletalons), and anyone else who happens to be in Olivine City at the time
Where: Olivine City, near the gym
When: March 15th, early evening
Summary: Being in hiding doesn't stop Sasuke from going out to try and get his third badge, but on the way back home he's interrupted by an unwelcome surprise visitor.
Rating: PG
Log:

That was an easier battle than he had expected; although Getsukage was still weak from the bout, but Hiruzen and Senshi still did amazingly well. Obito, Evan, and Tenten had insisted on joining him, and it was hard to turn them away -- especially when Lightning thought that the additional company and protection was a good idea. Sasuke couldn't win against the argument, so all three of them ended up spectating for Sasuke's battle.

Still, something felt unsettling as he began to walk back, and in an attempt to not think about it he kept his eyes focused on the badge in his left palm, walking back towards the house alongside the others and no longer paying close attention to his surroundings. Unfortunately, that lack of attention paid was going to bet the start of a rather untimely event.

Comments

[kingbowser]

[ Bowser had been watching gym fights for a while, just to see what kinda chumps dropped into town. Not that anybody would recognize him with a cool pair of shades and a mysterious trench coat. And just his luck that he woulda caught one such chump in a battle against that metal-loving broad...

There was no mistaking that Blaziken... At least, he sure hadn't seen any other kick boxing chickens around! Sure, someone else could use one, but what were the chances? If this was his chance to get back at the runt, then he'd take it!

Which is why Sasuke may hear the sound of a propeller's puttering as a shadow casts down from above. An eerily familiar voice follows...]

Gotta hand it to ya, your chicken dinner's tough stuff.

[Bowser cracks his knuckles, and Sasuke may hear something heavy thudding into the ground.]

But that ain't gonna stop me! This time, I mean business!

[itsjustdust]

And then the universe decides we've had too good of a month. [Well shit. How Bowser will know what he specifically looks like. EXCELLENT. Just what he wanted. Rly.]

[beforethedarkness]

[He didn't say anything right away, whirling around with a glare to Bowser. Damn... He would appear then. Without waiting he threw a pokéball into the air, revealing his very tired Charizard.]

Cover us!

[Getsukage blinked blearily before blanketing the area with Smokescreen, disappearing in a flash of light after that. They didn't have much time... Using his good hand, he slipped the ball away and pulled out the gear, trusting the others to follow him as he made a call.]

Lightning. There's an emergency near the gym. Bowser's here. Get here as soon as you can.

[Hopefully the message got through, but if not... He'd have to work with Hiruzen, Senshi, and Sakura for as long as he could. Getsukage was too tired to fight, and he knew the others didn't have strong enough pokémon to stand up to Bowser...

He'd do what he could to get the rest of them out, if it came to it... He was the one Bowser wanted. It had to be him.]

[usedswift]

[She had never been so happy to have temporarily boxed her eggs in favor of bringing along Pokémon who were actually adequate for protection. Distance, then she was grabbing Sasuke and flying out of there. But for now, they needed to see what they were up against.]

Dammit!

[Her own Pokéball left a Bronzor floating at her side -- and then floating really fast to try to catch up as she threatened to leave it behind by running with Sasuke. What had its trainer brought it into?! But no time to berate her -- Tenten crossed both forearms to make an X, signalling the shield-like Pokémon to live up to its name, at least for the moment, and use Safeguard.]

[saxsongs]

[It had been Ren's last day of community service, so he was on his way back to the house when he heard the commotion near the Gym, so he headed that way.

Only to spot Bowser and the ninjas. Why was this happening? It had been so calm for so long. Ren took out two of his Pokémon; Ringo the Gardevoir and Raitei the Zebstrika.]

Ringo, use Heal Pulse on that Charizard! Raitei, go back them up!

[falseshore]

[Well, this sucks. You'd think Rep would've learned by now to take less...useless Pokémon with him when he went outside, but he's got a Houndoom and Zorua by his side, and a Jigglypuff and Noctowl in balls. Great.]

Sora, Smog! Aura...see if you can cause a distraction.

[Don't mind that extra Sasuke nearby, that's the first thing Aura picked to turn into.]

[kingbowser]

Grah! You think that's gonna work? Well, think again!

[Bowser stomps his feet before hurling six Pokéballs into the air. One of them releases a Machamp, who flexes her muscles and roars at the group. Another sets loose a Hypno. Then a Torterra, Salamence, Granbull, and Magmortar.

With his minions loose, he points a finger into the smoke.]

Listen up, minions! I want you to go all out. Keep 'em good and busy while I stomp that pesky runt.

[He doesn't need to say anything else. Per Bowser's instructions, the Pokémon make their moves, slinging attacks every which way (it's hard to see in the smoke, after all). Lockjaw the Granbull flings a Thunderwave into the air, Blargg blasts a Hyper Beam. Shell Smasher? Well, she's unleashing a frenzy of roots in the form of Frenzy Plant attack, while Chargin' Champ rushes through the smoke to hit whatever unfortunate fools cross her path with DynamicPunch.

Powerful attacks, sure, but wholly disorganized. Every single one of them except the Hypno is focusing on brute strength alone, including their trainer. And speaking of, he's going straight for Aura, thinking her to be Sasuke!]

[eagletalons]

[ooc: Continued from here as a branch from the main thread and open to whoever wants in too.]

[Oh come now. He wouldn't be that bad if it's just a punch in the stomach-- even Lightning cant do that to someone, and he's seen her punch Snow Villiers several times.]

And who punched you?

[beforethedarkness]

... The Machamp.

[eagletalons]

[Oh for the love of--]

That's not just a punch. There's a reason why Machamps are classed as they are and it's because they are powerful.

[Okay no, saving the lecture for later.] I'm taking you to the Pokémon Center. [Nudges his Luxray that way.]

[beforethedarkness]

[He sighs - probably a little harder than normal - before shaking his head.]

I've been through worse.

[eagletalons]

I don't think you understand the gravity of the situation. You should count yourself lucky to have just gotten hit once-- unless there are other things I should know.

[beforethedarkness]

You're saying that as if I don't understand the risks of fighting against someone like Bowser. I understand it perfectly.

[Kind of annoyed, now, but at the same time he's not really up to arguing the point any further.]

...

[itsjustdust]

You and I haven't been long enough to do direct confrontation Tenten. Think of it as going up against a jounin by yourself. You do not have the practice to do so. Worse! You were involving civilians who don't fight in it.

You have to remember civilians see us as children, like it or not. They'll stick around because they think they have to. You would have gotten one of those inexperienced people back there badly hurt coming to rescue you even if I hadn't pulled you away. That was stupid!

Better still, you didn't try to coordinate with those that WERE experienced. I think the loss of that weapon, and it is lost because we can't go back for it, and if someone points out it was yours, you're going to jail. DO YOU SEE MY ISSUES?!

[usedswift]

A Jounin distracted by the chaos of the entire zoo around him. I didn't even need to get that close, just out of the Smokescreen and I'd have been able to take him down with one throw. I never miss.

[She shrugs a shoulder to try to dislodge his hand, fingers digging more tightly against one of the grooves in Feng's back before she lets go just long enough to let out a shrill whistle, alternating in tone. The rest of her team knows that sound well enough to break from battle and regroup, the Murkrow taking flight, the others scattering. Scatter had been one of the few things she'd been able to teach them as a team. Something to work on.]

The civilians were being great distractions. Yelling my plans to the rest of them would have gone oh so well, wouldn't it've?

Besides, who's going to say it's mine besides a known Rocket? Who're they gonna believe?

[itsjustdust]

The known Rocket. Seriously Tenten, do you not get this place at all? You would have gotten people hurt, or possibly yourself! Kami, I spotted you, but so did he! I don't know if it was before or after, but people can be crippled Tenten. I don't want that to happen to you because you overestimated yourself and underestimated your opponent.

[usedswift]

I was preparing to retreat until those civilians charged in. Do you think I carry more than one Flying type around for no reason?! You don't know if he saw me or not. It's not like I was moving in alone, either.

[She scowled and leaned down, pressing her face almost flush to the back of Feng's neck.]

Once you spot Sasuke, head that way, Feng, [she orders, to which the razorbird gives a soft crow of acknowledgement.]

[itsjustdust]

Civilians here do not see shinobi. They see kids. They will NOT back off while you're not backed off. If you'd actually gone with the retreat they might have actually GONE.

[usedswift]

We were backing off, then they charged in. I saw a chance and took it. If we don't do something to show we're not such easy prey, we're gonna be on the run the whole time. I don't know about you, but I don't want to spend the rest of however long I'm here running from some red-haired freak with a grudge.

The Aftermath

[beforethedarkness]

It had been an incredibly long day; after getting punched, Hope insisted that Sasuke be taken to a pokémon center to get checked out -- and to report the attack that had occurred then. Apparently Bowser had beaten them to the punch, because now Tenten had a warrant out for her too.

The entire way home, however, Sasuke had been quiet. When the two finally returned home, they found Tenten, Obito, Evan, and Ren already there. The only one currently missing was Lightning.

Without waiting for prompt he made to seat himself, his head remaining bowed as it had been since he left the battle area. He already knew what they were going to say. It was what they thought of him that bothered him the most (or at least what Sasuke thought their opinions were)... Had he really not grown at all?

[itsjustdust]

Obito had been restless since he and Tenten had missed Sasuke on the beach, and the second the teen was back he moved forward, giving a quick glance over before taking both his shoulders and looking him in the eye. "I'm proud of you."

[usedswift]

She'd been moving in to talk to Sasuke when Obito got there first. Lip curling, she hung back, crossing her arms over her chest and jutting her chin defiantly. She did nothing wrong, whatever Obito said.

"Where's Lightning-san? She's not still back there, is she?"

[beforethedarkness]

He stiffened at the touch, staring briefly before his head bowed again and he closed his eyes, saying nothing. He didn't believe a word of it. There was nothing to be proud of... Not of him.

Though, the question about Lightning got his attention and he was a little stiff, waiting to hear from someone else who possibly knew.

[itsjustdust]

Obito shook his head and sighed. "She didn't come back with any of the rest of us Sasuke. We'll go look for her if she's not back soon."

He hesitated, then moved his hand to catch Sasuke's wrist to pull him away from the others by a few paces. "I had a chance to talk to you Tenten, now I need a chance to talk to Sasuke, alright?"

[usedswift]

"I'm not stopping you." She let out a tch of annoyance and just crossed her arms tighter. "I'm just not going anywhere until Lightning-san comes back. Besides, I have to make sure you don't run from our spar."