It would be so fine to see your face at my door [Closed]

[scratchitti]

Who: Neku Sakuraba And Nagi Naoe
Where: Goldenrod
When: Backdated to March 19th, after the circus
Summary: After beating Whitney (finally) Neku texts his victory to his...friend? And a long put off battle is thrown down
Rating: PG-13
Log:

[Neku was on Cloud Nine. He knew his dislike of Whitney was silly, but he still felt pretty great about finally beating her. So after sending his victory text to Nagi he headed to a nearby coffee shop, sipping something cold and frothy, his Lucario (who had carried the fight) nibbling a poffin and a caffeine free cocoa frappe.

He had already healed his team, and everyone was resting now. Soon they would find a place to stay and hang around Johto until the fashion show... then back to Kanto to continue his badge quest. But for now he was happy relaxing]

Comments

[unkinder]

[Nagi jerks, shouting without hesitating or thinking.]

Double Team!

[Neba heard his trainer's command, but he can only screw his eyes shut as Lemon catches him in the front with his head mid-charge before he gets the chance to use his attack. He reaches out and hangs on, riding with the attack instead of trying to brace for it, knowing that he'll receive more damage than he can withstand at the moment otherwise.

Then he disappears once again, and when he reappears Lemon may think he's seeing double. Copies of the Abra surround the Goodra in a wide circle, but he's not in good shape. Even the copies are showing it as he barely holds himself up off the ground, his claws shaking.

Nagi won't admit that the battle is closer than he had ever imagined. Instead he manages his best attempt at a sneer, blue eyes flashing in Neku's direction. One more attack like that and Neba was done, higher level or no.]

Which one's the real one, Neku?

[scratchitti]

[Neku's eyes slit]

Doesn't matter. I told you that you should look into Dragon pokemon. He won't listen to me anymore anyways.

[That was the risk of Outrage. He would just keep attacking until he was done. Or well, until the confusion took over

Lemon's eyes were still blank and full of anger, lashing out wildly with his tendrils- if he hit it would be through pure luck, not any skill. Seems Nagi wasn't the only one willing to toss a suicide gambit]

[unkinder]

[The tendrils that swing out and around swipe through copy after copy, causing them to vanish. This was the sort of window of opportunity that Nagi had been looking for. At the same time, he knew that Neba wasn't going to be able to just one hit KO the dragon in one more attack. Zen Headbutt was the strongest offensive move he had to use against a S. Attack wall, and Neba was in danger of being knocked out the moment he got close enough to do that a second time.

So while Lemon destroys the copies, Nagi calls out again.]

Psych Up!

[Now he could copy his target's stat changes- meaning that his own physical attack gets raised twice over.]

[scratchitti]

[Soon enough, Lemon wore himself out, standing there gasping, and obviously confused, his lashing hitting only himself

But that last smack was enough, and he was focused once again]

[unkinder]

[He had exactly one shot left. Even if the attack hit there was no guarantee it would be enough to KO Lemon, and if it missed he would be in even worse shape than before. But he had no more room for barriers with his previous two wearing off, and no more time for status inflicting moves.]

Zen Headbutt, again!

[And with that, Neba drops the Double Team illusion, the rest of the copies disappearing all at once as he Teleports again. But his moves are exceedingly slow and sluggish. Abra are fast and Goodra are slow, but without evolving their speeds would be fairly close.

Neba appears in front of Lemon again, rearing back his head. There's a second of a window, should Neku think of something quick enough.]

[scratchitti]

[Everything seemed to slow, and Neku knew he couldn't afford to lose Lemon just yet-]

Protect!

[unkinder]

[The barrier goes up just as Neba headbutts the other Pokemon, resulting in a very painful miss. He lets out a muffled whimper before all but dropping to the ground like dead weight.]

Neba! Teleport, get out of the way!

[But the Abra doesn't move, lying prone on the asphalt on his belly. The incident has stunned him, but he isn't out yet. He is, however, completely wide open for an attack and Nagi knows it.]

Neba! Move!

[scratchitti]

[Neku hadn't been keeping perfect count of the barriers, but he knew the Reflect would go down first. Plus Abra wasn't known for it's physical defenses. He had one shot]

Body Slam!

[unkinder]

[Neba doesn't even have the strength to look up at the dragon towering over him, but that's probably for the best. The Goodra's full body weight comes crashing down directly on top of him, and for a moment he's completely lost beneath the Pokemon's bulk.

When Lemon stands back up, Neba is completely unresponsive. Meanwhile, Nagi's gaze is dark and hooded as he just stares blankly at the road where his level 100 Abra was flattened by a fat goo dragon.

He grips the Abra's premier ball tightly for a moment before turning it outwards, returning him in a dull flash of red without a word.]

[scratchitti]

[Lemon certainly seems pleased with himself, even with his injuries. But when he turns to Neku to celebrate, his trainer just looks... blank.

This isn't how he wanted this rematch to go. But he was in it now, he would see it through]

[unkinder]

[Nagi doesn't move for a moment or two, his hand running blindly along the Pokeballs on his belt. He wants nothing more than to destroy the dragon, but he had to take into account the Pokemon he knew that Neku had remaining. The Goodra was likely teetering in the yellow and Bell was still poisoned. He needed something that could finish off the dragon while still being able to take care of Bell, should it come to that.

He needs something fast.

Nagi throws out a Pokeball, and after a brief flash a Greninja stands crouched in the center of the road, his long tongue wrapped around his front as he stares up at Lemon. Before anything else happens, though, Nagi finally speaks up again in an undertone.]

If you want to switch out, do it now.

[scratchitti]

[A Greninja? Neku hadn't expected that, and does some quick thinking. Fast, but maybe not that powerful? Could he take a few hits?

It's a risk, but one he's willing to take]

I'll hold.

[unkinder]

[Nagi's expression remains unchanged. In fact, he almost seems emotionless for a moment as the Greninja looks over his shoulder at his trainer briefly, waiting for a command.

Then, Nagi murmurs.]

Smokescreen.

[The Greninja- Shuriken- stands up tall, exhaling deeply with his hands pressed flat together. When he exhales a thick, inky black cloud of smoke starts to envelop the entire area, masking both Pokemon while whisping around Nagi and Neku's ankles on the sidelines.]

[scratchitti]

[Neku fights to school his expression, but there's a twinkle in his eyes.]

Rain Dance.

[It seemed counter productive: after all, water pokemon just got stronger in the rain. But as Lemon danced around Neku just watched carefully to see what Greninja would do, the rain making his hair droop]

[unkinder]

[Nagi clenches his fists, trying to ignore the feeling of the rain pouring down and soaking through his clothes. The water has the desired affect, starting to very quickly dispel the smoke. But since it's not weather, per-say, it doesn't get rid of it completely. Not quickly, at least.]

...Shadow Sneak.

[When the smoke finally clears, Shuriken is nowhere to be found.

Neku will be able to see it before Lemon does. Something shifts and undulates in his shadow, the Greninja rising quickly from it with a forward jab from behind, aiming to strike Lemon in the back.]

[scratchitti]

[The smoke drifting away is nice- but when the frog attacks there's no way Lemon can avoid it. He bellows in pain, and somewhere in vidya game land his bar goes from yellow to a sliver of red. The dragon huffs in agony, and Neku's blank expression breaks a bit]

Sorry Lemon. But you did it...

Thunder.

[Washing way smoke was very nice. But even with it still there it didn't matter. As long as the rain fell the normally almost useless electric move had one benefit.

100% accuracy.

[unkinder]

[...shit. SHIT

Shuriken is rocked by the attack, his entire body convulsing as it momentarily sends him to one knee. It's a horrible thing, with the water acting as a nice conductor for the electricity. Not to mention the fact that the two are exactly matched as far as levels go. It hurts.

..and not only does it hurt, but Shuriken twitches, letting out a shuddering noise of frustration that causes Nagi to curse under his breath. Not only did that cut down a fourth or more of his health, but he's paralyzed.]

[scratchitti]

[The paralyzation was a god send: now Lemon could get one last hit in with the speed no longer being a counter-

or would have, if the moment he raised his tendrils for a swing he didn't wail and flop backwards.

Seems that Thunder was all he had left in him. And Neku sighs]

Okay, come on back.

[1/1]

[unkinder]

[It's a miracle. A straight up miracle, and Nagi might have cheered if he were a different kind of person. He's too caught up over the corner he's backed himself into to celebrate the victory. His fastest Pokemon may as well not even be close with his speed cut by half. The paralysis has the chance of making him totally immobile for who knows how many turns, and if Neku happens to have something else strong against a water type? That could end it right there.

His expression isn't stony or unreadable now. The anger is very clear, and what he says next causes Shuriken to look over sharply with surprise.]

Switch your Pokemon. Don't use Bell.

[He's already reaching for Shuriken's Pokeball with stiff hands. It wasn't a request.]

[scratchitti]

[That earlier break in his own walls is all the more obvious now.]

Nagi...

[He hovers a hand over the last ball he had chosen... but stops, and instead turns to Sota]

Go.

[The jackal pokemon blinks. Blueberry was higher leveled... but he nods, putting the drinks down and stepping out, falling into a fighting stance]

[unkinder]

[Nagi blinks after Shuriken has been returned, mutely lowering his hand to clip the ball back onto his belt. But he doesn't pick a second one yet, instead staring at his opponent from across the road.

A fighting type. A clear weakness against nearly half of his current roster. He might as well be throwing the match.

Why?]

...are you sure?

[His voice is flat, almost difficult to parse as an actual question.]

[scratchitti]

[He offers Nagi a small, sad smile]

He's half Steel. You really gotta learn your... your new types man. Steel resists Psychic so he breaks even.

[But his fighting moves wouldn't be very helpful against most of Nagi's team regardless]

[unkinder]

[...

Nagi shifts as he pulls his last Pokeball from his belt, rolling it over in his hands before actually tossing it out.

In front of him hovers a Lunatone, blue eyes glowing gently. She seems to give off a constant soft hum but otherwise is mostly silent. It's still raining, but she doesn't seem very bothered by it.]

Go on, then.

[scratchitti]

[His Luantone. He should have called it. Logically Nagi would have predicted his Draognite- he didn't keep it secret that his dragons were his aces. And rock moves would have wreaked her. But between her water moves and roost he might have been able to stall out. A level 100 too... 30 levels stronger then Sota.

He had no chance.

Sota bows lightly to the other pokemon, his aura slightly distressed, but steady]

This is a bad fight, but I'll do my best

[It's clear in his 'tone' he doesn't mean the difference in levels. But the bad air all around them right now. But he was a loyal warrior. He would fight regardless.]

Powerup Punch!

[Fighting was strong against Rock- but the level difference wouldn't make that advantage much... unless he could power up Sota's attack fast]

[unkinder]

[Kodokuna doesn't answer Sota with words, but with a feeling. She's uneasy, too.

The attack strikes the rock-type solidly, but she barely budges an inch. In fact she hardly moves at all, the rock unyielding as Sota's fist punches into her.]

Cosmic Power.

[She hums in response to Nagi's command, body vibrating beneath Sota's paw as a glow envelops her. The move is a status changer, raising both defense and special defense.

Throughout it all she still remains motionless where Nagi released her, even though the attack did do damage initially.]