Old Lady at the Gym (Done)

[Marchbaby]

As worried as Falkner was he was still very pleased to hear he was not the only one worried. Janus had been a very brave opponent to his Pidgey and had earned his respect especially hearing that the spider had lived in fear of bugs his whole life. " Janus certainly faced his fears in the most admirable way I have ever seen. If he keeps at it I have no doubt he will never have to live in fear of bird Pokemon again. Facing my Pidgey was no small task for a Pokemon like himself." His own worries refused to die down as nothing had gone right this whole battle.

Now with his last Pokemon having it's defense lowered in the previous round he was really facing a rough situation as Pidgeotto could not afford to take much damage. Her paralysis was still a major concern as well as it slowed her down so badly. She could not even keep up with a Whismur now and he knew it would only get worse. As he thought of about his options Placido opened his mouth sending out another deafening Screech. As Astrid asked him how his hearing was he could not even respond as his ears continued to ring for several minutes after the attack. By the time they stopped ringing he quickly ordered an attack hoping for a miracle.

" Use Gust Pidgeotto, things are not looking very good right now at all. I think we are both going to be deaf by the end of this match." His order was for nothing however as Pidgeotto stood perfectly still just looking at her foe. The paralysis continued to hold her back not allowing her to make a move. She was helpless in the current situation with no good options on the table. Unless luck decided to show Falkner mercy soon this battle was going to be a hopeless cause. " Another round of awful luck it looks like. Janus is proving his bravery paid off way more than he could have ever hoped for." Falkner said as he began to get depressed at his awful performance so far.







Gym Battle

---

Falkner's Pidgeotto| Level 15
HP: 100% (48/48 HP)
Status: Paralyzed, Defense -4
Move: Paralyzed,

VS

Astrid's Placido | Level 15
HP: 75% (36/48 HP)
Status: Normal, Special Defense +1
Move: Placido used Screech

---

OOC: It had not been actived so I edited the previous post and this one to fix that. 

[Tarlar]

Astrid looked at Falkner and tried to hide her pity. She felt bad for him, he had been so full of energy and had spent a lot of time trying to give her more confidence, but he apparently was more inexperienced and than she had thought. Perhaps not with battling or his flying types, but in handling losses and troubles, and in controlling the desperation he clearly felt. It wasn't easy to see the pokemon you had worked a lot with, having difficulties or losing.
She was a bit surprised he hadn't used some of the tricks she had been warned about. She had heard plenty of stories from her former colleagues where they had challenged him or his father with strong pokemon and still had lost simply because they hadn't taken it into account that his pokemon could heal themselves or make them lose their eyesight.
Falkner had either forgot or decide to give her an easier battle, though of course he could also be saving it for later.
Astrid looked closely at him, he didn't look like he was acting, and she hadn't heard anything about him being trickery, so why had he forgot?
It was a bit of a dilemma since she wasn't sure she could beat him at all, not even with the paralysis and the lowered defense, but on the other hand it would feel weird if he partly gave her the victory because he had decided to make it easy on her or had forgotten somehow.

"This is why I should not be a police officer, I would end up helping the criminals as well," Astrid sighed and smiled dryly to Janus, who had now places himself on her lap.
"I think it is enough Placido, we cannot have a deaf gymleader on our conscience," Astrid called out to her whismur, who tilted his head before he ran forward to get close enough to give the pidgeotto a slap with one of his ears.

"Falkner? Can you hear me?" Astrid called out to the gym leader. She knew she was going to regret this, but she was too much of a parent and had helped too many youngsters for her to just sit back and take advantage of the situation. If it costed her the victory, so be it and she would have to try again another time.
"Why are you acting like this?" She asked him with a smile.
"I know you have plenty of tricks up in your sleeve, that is why it si you and not one of the other Gym leaders the IPF uses as test, remember? Why are you so moody instead of using them? I would say it is not very nicely done to you pokemon to forget all the training you surely have done with them, and act like you do not know how to handle a single disadvantage," Astrid said kindly by sternly.
"I came here to challenge you and I am sure I am going to regret this and lose the battle because of it, but please Falkner, pull yourself together and show me what you got," Astrid said with a little sheepish laugh.

(ooc: PLacido uses Pound)
~Wordcount: 529
dammit March, why do you make me feel bad for Falkner so I can't just enjoy an easy gym battle, and instead tries to make it harder for myself? And I who wanted to try finish it quickly so I could get on to Bugsy

[latani]

Vs. Gym Leader Falkner

If Falkner had realized what effect his behaviour had on his opponent, he may have dialed it back enough for her not to worry, and to instead enjoy the battle rather than distract her with his own self-doubt. The ringing finally subsiding enough for him to properly hear, Astrid's inquiry had the young man lifting his head in response, listening to her speak with a rapt expression and heated cheeks. Had he really been so naive as to think his opponent wouldn't notice and comment upon his mood after proving how astute she was? "I apologize, miss. My father left me this gym, and I want to do all I can to become as good a leader as he was, and maybe one day surpass him. It's a lofty goal, and sometimes it all gets so daunting that even the smallest of setbacks can make it seem a million miles away," Falkner replied honestly, deciding it was best not to tell a little white lie. "And you're right. I do my Pokemon disrespect if I don't believe in them when things get tight."

Pidgeotto turned her head as best she could, open affection and concern on her face as she stared back at Falkner. He met her gaze and nodded slightly. "Thank you, Astrid. I can't let my Pokemon down by moping instead of giving it all I've got," he continued, putting on a brave smile. No, he couldn't afford to remain morose about losing, not with both Astrid and Pidgeotto needing him to keep a level head. His partner swung her head back round to face Placido, a squawk of surprise lodging itself in her throat as the small Whismur had popped up right in front of her. He'd waited for her attention, not wanting to strike whilst she was focused on her trainer, and now took the chance to unleash his Pound attack by striking her in the chest.

She fluttered back a couple steps, body twitching with the spasms of paralysis that had yet to abate. Placido quickly retreated as she half-unfurled her wings again to give herself a more intimidating appearance, something Falkner noted and approved of with a slight chuckle. "Pidgeotto, if you can manage it, use a Sand-Attack!" the leader called out. Try as she like, the bird couldn't completely make her body obey once again as another shudder ran through her, though Falkner did his best to swallow a sigh of despair. Instead, he turned bright eyes to Astrid, determined to ensure that if she won it would be through her own ingenuity, and not him being folly to his emotions. "Plenty of trainers have come this far and lost, but you seem to be doing just fine to me. The next round could make it or break it, for both of us."

Gym Leader Battle

---

Falkner's Pidgeotto | Level 15
Health: 41% (20/48 HP)
Status: When I get my talons on you...; Paralyzed, Def -4
Pidgeotto was paralyzed and unable to attack!

VS

Astrid's Placido | Level 15
Health: 75% (36/48 HP)
Status: ...eep; Sp. Def +1
Placido used a successful Pound!

[Tarlar]

Astrid would not have felt better if Falkner had just tried to hide his trouble, she rather wanted him to learn to see past it and do his best for his challengers. He was young and perhaps lacked the experience to handle being a gym leader and she rather wanted to help him overcome it than leaving him be with the risk of becoming bitter with his life.
Especially since she knew he was an incredible bird trainer and all he needed was a bit confidence in his own skills.
Astrid sighed with a smile as he answered her.
"You are a good trainer! The best when it comes to flying types. You just need to believe in yourself and keep a leveled head so you do not forget all your know," she half interrupted him humored and smiled as his pidgeotto clearly was fond of him.
She wasn't sure what she thought of his brave smile, but hoped it was a step in the right direction. He really would need to take some vacations to get a break and do things that could boost his confidence, and she hoped he would stick to his promise to her to take some.

"Well done Placido!" Astrid said as the whismur managed to get close enough and a hit, without any retaliation.
"If we just were this lucky everytime this trainer thing would be a strive thorugh a flowerfield," Astrid commented bemused as she had heard that paralysis could come in handy and had turn a battle around, but not that an opponent got hindred this many times. If it had always been this effective everyone would use it constantly, but trainers didn't.

Placido was quite surprised to avoid getting hit and he smirked when he saw the pidgeotto fight to move.
"Not so fast now, are you?" He murmered and ran in closer to give it yet another pound with it's ears.
"Let's see what you say to yet another slap, shall we?" He murmured to himself as he ran.
"Hurry up! You need to hit it before it takes to the sky, since then you can't reach it!" Janus shouted unnecessarily and Placido made an annoyed sound.

(Placido goes in for another Pound)
~Wordcount: 367

[Midnightive]

Vs. Gym Leader Falkner

The power of her Pokemon excited the young trainer, and while that very much meant there was a high chance he'd lose. He was happy to lose to such a strong and wise lady. A smile was on his face when she complimented him, not many did and he welcomed the change. "Thank you, a wise lady you are indeed." he stated.

but the battle was still going on and he knew that, and she had told her Pokemon to the fainting attack. He knew this and so did his Pidgeotto and the static that coursed through it's body was a telling tale of how this match was going to go but he wasn't known for giving up and he was going to try. "Pidgeotto use mud slap!" Pidgeotto tried it's best to move but it just slowed him down. The happy Pokemon jumped forward swigging a powerful punch, as it connected the flying type fell to the ground.

Falkner let out a heavy sigh, but he smiled and recalled his Pokemon. "Even though I lost I couldn't be happier to lose to someone has charming and happy as you" he noted as he walked over to her. "Thank you for the fight, for winning you get the tm roost. While I didn't get to use it in battle. It's a powerful move that heals the user." he told her handing over the disk. "Now for you badge you earned. Where it with pride, I will never forget this match"

You have defeated gym leader Falkner!
He has handed over 1,560, TM51 Roost x1 and

Placido fought well in battle.
Placido gained 3 levels making them level 18 and gained +1 happiness.
Placido can learn Supersonic learn the move?

[Tarlar]

Astrid was baffled as Placido took down the mighty pidgeotto and she blinked as she tried to understand it was all over. And with her as the winner!
She had prepared for it, that was true, and she had chosen her strongest pokemon, but she had still expected more of them had needed to participate than just two of them. She had even made sure she had plenty of healing items to help with what she had thought would be a tough battle.
Astrid looked thoughtful at Falkner and then at Placido, who were calmly walking back to her looking pleased and a little tired. She quickly decided that she hadn't overestimated Falkner, not when the IPF still used him and he had such a great reputation. No, she must had underestimated her own pokemon who were much stronger than she had believed.

Astrid watched Falkner closely to see his reactions to his loss, but he seemed to take it well.
She was a bit suspicious as he happily congratulated her and gave her the prizes, but if he had any trouble with it he would be a surprisingly good actor, and he hadn't exactly been good at hiding his frustration earlier.
She wondered what could had made the difference, but hoped it was her words that had made him realize his situation and that he really was a good trainer.
She smiled wryly as he called her charming, that may work on younger women but she had known too many players in her lifetime, though she was not immune to the flattery, it was always nice to hear.

"Thank you, it was an honor to face off a gym leader with such great reputaion as yours. I am sure this will save my butt later on," Astrid said with a laugh and stood up to accept the gifts.
"It is good my skiddo is not out at the moment, she would probably try to eat this one too!" Astrid said and wavered a bit with the TM before she tucked it safely into her trolley. "She did so with another before I noticed what she were up to."

Astrid smiled warmly to Falkner when he said he would never forget their battle.
"Neither will I," she answered and then winked at him, "I hope you will remember my words about taking care of yourself and take a break once in a while too!"
She offered him a handshake as a farewell before she made her way to the elevator with Placido in her heels, and Janus sitting on her trolley, relaxing and relieved they were leaving all the birds behind.
All the way down she praised her two skilled pokemon for their achievements in this battle.
When they reached the pokemon center and the rest learned what had happened, the two were admired, though there were more than one who were disappointed to not get the chance themselves.

(ooc: Placido doesn't learn Super Sonic. Joltik paralyzed pidgeotto and should get a level too! He doesn't learn any new moves from what I can see)
~Wordcount: 489

Updated Janus (+1 LV & Happy)!
~L