5 Course Cuisine & Combat [F]

[Morrigan]

vs Sailor Ellen - ROUND 5
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The graceful Kingdra leered down her nose at the vile, incomprehensible speech that flowed out from the mouth of Hoodlum. Not able to be described as some kind of English, the water dragon certainly held herself in high regard and was more than pleased to see her attack bring Hoodlum down to his knees. The Kingdra looked away in a snooty manner, whilst Ellen appeared to be very calm in comparison to her own Pokemon. Almost as if not choosing to acknowledge the Scrafty's unique abilities, she instead smiled at Joey's reaction regarding Lance. "The very same. It became very clear to me how he was able to retain the title of Champion for so long. He is an incredible man." Tilting her head to one side ever so slightly, the smile remained on her face. "I may not be in the same realm as him but my Kingdra is still not one to underestimate." Whilst talk of champions was all well and good, Joey had a long way to go before he could meet such an opponent but standing before him was a worthy foe, for now.

With paralysis settling in over Hoodlum, Joey knew of a very special ability the Scrafty was capable of but it was up to Hoodlum if he would be able to actually pull it off. His skin, that is. Coiling and tossing as he tried his best to fight the paralysis, Ellen made a soft sigh at her opponent's words. "The flow of a battle can change instantly. We have not won until all three of your Pokemon are down. There is no need to get excited." Eyeing her mighty Kingdra, who felt very differently from her trainer, Ellen gave her next order. "Our opponent is a stubborn one, so be on guard, Kingdra. How about... A Hydro Pump." Her tone very dull, considering the incredible power behind the attack she had just ordered, the viewers in the cafe seemed to mutter as the Kingdra smirked with her eyes. Victory was basically guaranteed with this move, it had turn the tides of many battles for them in the past. With this, Hoodlum wouldn't be able to last another round, especially if paralysis played into the Kingdra's favour.

Rearing her head, all of a sudden, a powerful gush of water spurted out from the Kingdra's snout, thrusting forward with incredible velocity. The sound of the current of water crashing into itself echoed throughout the cafe and the impact against Hoodlum was stomach clenching, as the Scrafty was forced back and pinned to the wall. As the attack came to a halt, Ellen remained silent. She wasn't going to announce her victory until she was certain and luckily, she missed making a fool out of herself. Even if she did subtly click her tongue in irritation. Staggering back up to his feet, Hoodlum was not the type to give up so easily and even despite his wounds and paralysis, was finally able to dish out some payback. Bounding forward in his baggy trousers, the Scrafty punched both of his arms forward, one after the other, striking the Kingdra in several different places. Jumping up, he then kicked the dragon down with one foot before landing back on the water drenched floor. Gasping, the Kingdra struggled back up after the humiliating blow and it was very clear to see that both Pokemon were on a very similar level.

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Kingdra: | Level 40 |
Health: 34% (41/122 HP)
Status: Normal
Kingdra used Hydro Pump!

VS

Hoodlum: | Level 41 | Choice Band
Health: 33% (39/117 HP)
Status: Paralyzed
Hoodlum used Payback!

[The REAL Joey]

Taking into account everything she was saying about the current champion, Lance, it was clear he was trying to form as much information as he could on him. If Lance managed to retain his championship spot, which there was little doubt he wouldn't, then he would have to go and face off against him one on one. For Joey it wasn't so much about being the champ than rather having the bonuses that came with it. The moment he became champion he could clear his name and walk once more on Kanto soil. For that he would fight tooth and nail until he had nothing left to give. Taking this battle as a test of his Pokemon's prowess, he was glad he had decided to drop off here. Sometimes it was worth following your gut. Even if it was rumbling from starvation. Grinning coolly, he brushed aside Ellen's comments about herself. "Don't be silly, Lance is the champ, sure. But from this fight alone I can tell you're no ordinary trainer. I guess i've got kinda complacent with how much of a steamroll i've been on lately. You're forcin' me to think things over carefully." Nodding his head, he thought he'd share his goals with her. "One day, I hope to face Lance. So facing you today is a good way of checkin' myself before I go head first into the fight with Lance and wreckin' myself." Honestly, if this battle was anything to go by, they had a fair bit of work to do. Joey had never really faced any Dragon types but this Kingdra alone was enough to make Joey single them out as a potential threat.

As he made a mental note to take things easy around future Dragon types, the next round would only serve to hammer that point in some more. His ears listening out for Ellen's decision, Joey winced his eye slightly as he made sure he heard the move right. "Hydro Pump?! Woah... Gettin' out the big guns. Oi, Hood! You best be takin' a stand and prepare yerself! This ain't gonna be no Water Gun!" Knowing he could only spare words of encouragement to his Pokemon, he and his team were in a tight spot. Paralysed to the spot, it meant the Kingdra had Hoodlum stranded like a sitting duck. Just enough time to pump up a torrent of water and jettison over his chosen fighter. Gritting his teeth, Joey watched as the majestic seahorse reared its head before shooting forth an ungodly amount of water. It's pressure was unbelievable too as it coursed forwards, hitting dead centre at its target, Hoodlum. "Yooooooglub, ayyblub, disglub, HOLLLLGLUBB!" Trying to get his words out against not only paralysis but also the forceful stream of water, it was next to impossible. And for a chatterbox like Hoodlum it was nigh inconceivable. Watching as he was eventually forced backwards up against the wall, Joey yelled out. Even he didn't want to say if his Pokemon had lost or not, it was almost too hard to tell. "HOODLUM! MATE!" Staring in suspense, it seemed almost as if he would have to call him back but to Joey's delight, the Scrafty pulled himself together. Spitting out a hefty batch of water from his mouth, he wiped his lips down before looking up at the Kingdra. It was go time.

"Ay, ay, ay. Dis hummin' mofo think dey can drown me out. Nah, nah, nah son. 'Bout to go CHIN CHECK, HOLLLLLLLLLLA BACK, WORD!" Darting forwards, as Joey cheered on with some triumph, it seemed as if the paralysis wouldn't be taking effect. Perhaps the dousing down of water had help shake off some of the noxious fumes. About to exact some delicious payback, Hoodlum yelled out again. "EAST SIDE RE-PRE-SENT-UH! YO!" Dabbing forwards with a series of strikes, it was plain to see his Pokemon had some wallop behind him. It all rested on whether he could connect the blows and overcome the paralysis. Kicking off backwards and landing on the water drenched floor, Hoodlum tried to sway from side to side but stopped erratically every so often. Letting out a cheeky whistle, Joey was pleased with his Pokemon's efforts. "Not bad, not bad at all. I'd say this levels the playing field some." Assessing his Pokemon and Ellen's, Joey put on a confident front but even he could tell this was down to the wire. "Ah crap, Kingdra ain't got much more left in it but if it get's off another Hydro Pump... Hood's done for. And I can't rely on the paralysis wearin' off. That could botch things right up." In a conundrum, he realised he would have to make a decision on what would happen next. "It's times like these a trainer asks what more they can do for their Pokemon. Most would just say they could cheer them on from the sidelines. But we can go beyond." Taking out a pharmaceutical item from his pocket, he dashed over to Hoodlum. Doing his best not to make an arse of himself and slipping up on the wet floor. Crouching down, he took off the spray's cap and used the max potion to revitalise his Pokemon's health. The paralytic hindrance would remain but he had faith in Lady Luck. The shed skin would kick in or it wouldn't be a hassle. Either way, he liked the odds. All he needed was for Hoodlum to recover some stamina.

"Yo, yo, yo, thanks J-Balla. All 'bout dat gin and juice, y'word?" Inhaling and exhaling triumphantly, Hoodlum went to strike a pose at the Kingdra. "Oh snap son, dis hood rat be all NUH UH but I be like UH HUH up in yo' b%$@# ass grill! Hood's back, biotch!" Hopping back to safe quarters, Joey finally issued his order. "Resume operation Payback! We can do this Hood!" Looking over his shoulder, Hoodlum yelled back. "Aight, aight. HOL' MY TOOF SON. ILLEST MAD MACK 'BOUT TO GO ROCK DA HOUSE, YO!" Receiving some cheers from Voltek and Chugga also, it seemed the whole team felt confident in their chances.

Item used:

x1 Max Potion (Auto-updated)

[Morrigan]

vs Sailor Ellen - ROUND 5
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Ellen was in a very similar situation to Joey, in that she was confident in her Pokemon but also knew it's limits. Joey had faced four other trainers and most of the time, Ellen didn't get a chance to even take part in this gauntlet challenge. But for once in a very long time, she was against quite the challenger and she didn't want it to end. "Hmm. That Pokemon is still standing. If my next Hydro Pump misses, then it can knock my Kingdra out. Payback is only much stronger when an opponent is hit but... Would it truly work in my favour, if the attack misses?" The battle being very close to the wire, to the point where both sides were even more cautious than before, it was Ellen who made the first decision to act more carefully. "Kingdra! Focus Energy!" Suddenly calling out a supportive, non-offense move, the water dragon lifted itself and began to gather it's energy and heighten it's focus. But Joey truly was once step ahead and lady luck had agreed with his choice of action. Gasping quietly, Ellen raised a hand to her mouth, "That's...!" Realising too late out of hasty actions, Joey had avoided using a physical attack to instead heal up his partner.

Making a mistake, Ellen knew now that the match had become even tighter. The effects of paralysis was still in place, so all she could do was cross her fingers behind her back and silently pray for success. "I must say, that was a good move, Joey. Your Pokemon would not have survived, if I had ordered another Hydro Pump just then." Chances were, if she had attacked before he had pulled out a Potion, victory would've been hers. Although she still would've needed to content with Joey's other two Pokemon but it was some form of success none the less. "I very much believe in my Pokemon, however. Cheering from the sidelines can still boost morale and success. Kingdra. Are you ready?" Exchanging glances, the Kingdra reared her head and with it, Ellen pointed forward. "That Potion will soon be for naught. Kingdra! Hydro Pump! Full throttle!" Having completely calmed her mind and become one hundred and ten percent focused, the Kingdra let loose and even more powerful cannon of water than before, which forced itself back into Hoodlum, forcing him against the wall once again and pinning him in place with a powerful jet stream of crashing water.

"This is it." Ellen muttered to herself, believing that one impact Hoodlum would be done for. But as the water attack came to a halt, there wasn't even the sound of Hoodlum's body hitting the floor. "Hm?!" Both Ellen and Kingdra as confused as the other, the two looked around, realising that Hoodlum was no where to be seen. All of a sudden, a mad rush burst out from underneath a nearby table and with a swift rush, the Scrafty landed his final, sneaky blow from the unsuspecting side of the Kingdra's body. "No! Kingdra!!" Calling out at her faithful dragon type went rolling across the cafe floor, all went silent as the results became clear.

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Kingdra: | Level 40 |
Health: 0% (0/122 HP)
Status: +1 Crit
Kingdra used Focus Energy!
Kingdra used Hydro Pump! Critical Hit!

VS

Hoodlum: | Level 41 | Choice Band
Health: 35% (41/117 HP)
Status: Paralyzed
A Max Potion was used!
Hoodlum used Payback!

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ROUND 5 COMPLETE!



Hoodlum gained 1000 exp! (1344/5167)
+1 Happiness (MAX)



Metyrant gained 1000 exp (due to Exp. Share)! (2167/3571)

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Claps from other guests soon broke the painful silence, snapping Ellen out of her shocked state. Shaking her head slightly, the female sailor managed to smile very quickly, her own hands joining in with the increasing applause. "It has been some time since I have lost... Congratulations, Joey! You have successful completed the Olivine Cafe Challenge! Please, take a seat and yourself and your Pokemon can eat as much as you like!" All of a sudden, Noah appeared and handed Ellen a large mop a bucket. Accepting it, although somewhat embarrassed, she tilted her head to the side and spoke, as if having no hard feelings. "I suppose I should clean up all this Hydro Pump water, hmm?" The kind of girl who was uncaring of getting her hands dirty, she withdrew her Kingdra and stepped to one side, allowing Joey to approach the counter and order to his hearts content. Meeting the bar tender, who leaned across the bar, a number of items were handed over to Joey. "Congrats, m'boy! Take these for a job well done. Now! What can I get'cha?!"

Congratulations!
Joey and his team are the victors of the Olivine Cafe Challenge!

Joey receives;

x1 Pearl
x1 Big Pearl
x1 HM09 Dive

[The REAL Joey]

Feeling the electrifying intensity course through the air, Joey continued his vigilant watch over on Ellen's side of the battlegrounds. Staring at her directly into her eyes, he could tell she was going through the very same ordeal he had just had to deal with. It was one thing to think over how to respond in a fight but when the fight had you managing over it and involving a living being which was reliant on you, there was no room to mess things up. Just as Joey acted in the interests of saving his Scrafty, Ellen would do the same for her Kingdra. She could've healed it as well all things considered but if she calculated she was in an advantageous position, she would do everything she could do maintain that upper hand and claim victory. Eager to see what she would do, Joey was finally met with her decision. Hearing her cry out the order for not an attack but rather that of a strategic response caught him off guard. "Focus Energy?! I wasn't quite expecting that..." Not too sure of how this would alter his chances, he watched as the Pokemon focused intensely, giving it almost an aura like glow. "One thing's for sure, we can't afford any slip ups here." Mused Joey. As things settled, he heard her call out on his choice of actions. "No kiddin'. I could tell from that last blow we'd be washed out if you decided on riskin' another hit. Seems like we both decided to hold on back and conserve out positions. Hood's now in better health but your Pokemon seems to be raring to go. Wonder if our choices will cancel the other out?"

That was his main concern at this point. There was no need to heal if the opponent would then unleash a super powerful blow. What would happen next would decide the outcome. Listening out to her as she commenting on how important morale was to a battle, Joey cocked a sneering grin and looked over to his own Pokemon. "She ain't wrong. Just as she believes in her Pokemon, I have the ultimate belief you can take this. Whatever she dishes out. You're a hard man, Hood. We can do it!" As confident as he sounded, the next words from Ellen would be a serious detriment to his feelings. Hearing the words Hydro Pump, especially after the Pokemon had boosted up its strength. Watching as a similar sight unfolded, Joey was still taken aback by how much of a torrential stream was pumped out against his own Pokemon. Although, having witnessed it a first and second time, it seemed as if this was even more wrathful than the last. Checking up on Hoodlum as he struggled, pinned against the stream, Joey had no idea how Hoodlum was holding his own for so long. "At this rate, he's gonna be finished... He's holdin' on though, he's gotta do it." Thought Joey to himself as he watched the water intensify further.

Observing the hydro pump coming to its close, Joey gritted his teeth in anticipation for the high chance that Hoodlum had succumbed to such a catastrophic blow. To his surprise though, Hoodlum was nowhere to be seen. Knowing his Pokemon had somehow surprised, Joey darted his eyes about the cafe looking for the Scrafty but even he was taken off guard as the Pokemon launched a surprise attack from under the tables. Hurtling forwards, he made sure to unleash back some pain twofold to what he had just experienced. "YOOOOO WOOOOOORL' STAAAAAAAR UP IN DIS!" Even though it was a swift flurry of hits, the impact seemed almost comparable to the hydro pump he had been hit with and amazingly, the tables had been finally turned. Knocking the Kingdra out cold, victory had been achieved. With Ellen crying out over her fainted Pokemon, Joey felt somewhat bad but his elation at conquering the gauntlet outweighed his worry. Erupting into joyous thunder, he and the rest of the group all converged on Hoodlum. "Y'know, when you're not stoned out your mind you're a pretty decent brawler. I'm glad you got our back." Kissing his teeth, Hoodlum threw one of his gangsta poses as Joey turned to look at Ellen. Congratulating him on his win, Joey grinned thoroughly as he laughed. "Believe me, I think we all worked up an appetite here. That battle though, I really gotta thank you for the chance Ellen." Moving on over to the owner of the establishment, Joey collected his prizes and more importantly, the chance to take up the offer of food. Looking up the menu with Chugga, Hoodlum and Voltek in tow, Joey rubbed his hands together. "So? What kinda feast shall we have?"

- Fin -