Thief In The Night (Dig In Quest)

[arkayne]

The hour was late by the time they had made their way into Cherrygrove City proper. This didn't particularly trouble Bishop as he was something of a night owl anyway but it appeared that most businesses were closed and  the good people of town had for the most part turned in for the night. So, with the streets seemingly deserted he was wandering about looking for a sign to direct him towards the Pokemon Center. What he found first though was something altogether different.

Walking along quietly with Clyde his Mudbray he saw a man in dark clothes prying open the window of a darkened house. Suspicious at this he paused for a minute and saw the mystery man quietlly crawl into said window and disappear. Bishop had supposed that if it was only someone locked out of their house that a light would go on immediately....which it did not.

"Clyde, I think we better look into this," he said in a low tone to the pokemon by his side. They were alone on the street and if he went to find a police officer the thief might well be gone before they could ever get back. Clyde seemed to agree with his sentiment so they too went to the window and, with only a little effort got the both of them inside. There all doubt that this was a robbery was cast aside as they saw the mystery man trashing the place trying to find....something.

"That's enough of that!" Bishop yelled out in challenge. "We aren't going to let you rob these poor people."

Reaching for his party pokeballs he made ready to switch Clyde out and substitute one of his more experienced pokemon in. The Mudbray's spirit was willing but he probably wasn't going to be ready for whatever came next.

[Marchbaby]

Kyle's mission had been going well so far as he had entered the Dig residence and subdued the family with no issues. All he had to do was find the crate of Dig TM's and then he could make a break for it but unfortunately he did not know exactly where the crate was. As he desperately searched for the crate not knowing that he had been spotted trying to break in by Bishop and by the time he figured out that his break in was not as successful as he thought it was too late. As he heard Bishop's voice his stomach turned realizing that his snatch and grab job was going to be a lot harder as no lie he told would cover trashing the house.

" Great now I have to deal with a pest who cannot keep to their own business. No point in trying to lie I am here on a very important mission but if you are willing to help me I can make it worth you while." Doubting that Bishop would want anything to do with his mission however Kyle grabbed a Pokeball from his belt containing a Diglett. As much as he was hoping that Bishop would hep him he would try to fight the young trainer off if he had no other choice. " The easy way we can settle this is you help me find the crate full of Dig TM's and the hard way is a battle between us. I can live with either option but my life will be so much easier if you help out."

As he left Bishop with the choice his Diglett popped out of its Pokeball ready to strike if Bishop did not make the less aggressive choice.

Rocket Grunt Kyle is asking for your help. You can either help him or battle him. If you choose to battle he will send out his Diglett (Level 12).

[arkayne]

Yeah, this was going about as Bishop had expected it might. This was no innocent case of a guy being locked out of his own house. It was a burglary, plain and simple. Recalling Clyde to his pokeball Bishop sent out his Charmander Ember to meet the theif's pokemon.

"No, afraid I can't do that," he said simply to the man. "Ember, use your Ember attack on that Diglett!"

He reasoned that the noise they would make in a battle would probably be enough to bring the police running. Even if this fellow were tougher than he looked all Bishop really needed to do would be keep him busy long enough to draw their attention. He should be able to do that no matter how strong the thief was.

[Marchbaby]

As disappointed as Kyle was to hear that Bishop would not help him on his mission he had expected the young man to refuse anyway and was quite prepared to strike well before Ember had any chance to launch an attack. Kyle's Diglett was very fast despite its simple looks and as soon as the mole hear Bishop reject their kind offer the mole gathered a small pile of mud from beneath the floorboards and then flung it at Ember's face right before her Ember attack could leave her mouth. The mud greatly reduced her vision making it hard to aim at the small Diglett but the ground type Pokemon made the mistake of staying still after attacking and Ember was able to score a hit of her own.

" It would appear our sneak attack did not work as well as we had hoped either. That is the second time in a row things have not gone in our favor but I can promise you we will not reach strike 3."[/font] As Kyle chuckled at the thought of unleashing his next surprise move against Bishop's Pokemon Diglett was more than ready as well as it was still upset with itself for allowing the fire type to score a hit by not moving after its attack. It was not the worst mistake in the world but it did result in a far closer battle than it could have been. With the next round just moments away either Pokemon could still steal the battle in their favor with a single lucky hit.




Trainer Battle

---

Weather: Clear

Kyle's Diglett | Level 12 | Arena Trap |
HP: 57% (16/28)
Status: Normal
Used Mud Slap!

VS

Ember | Level 14 | Blaze |
HP: 84% (33/39)
Status: Normal, Accuracy -1
Used Ember!

[arkayne]

Bishop hated the attacks that lowered his pokemon's accuracy. Ember had this little ground type mole out classed in level and power but that first Mud Slap, and any that followed, might make this a lot closer than it should be. He would have to keep an eye out to switch Ember out if she started to fall behind in the fight.

"Your sure talk a lot for a thief in the night," he said with a frown. "Don't you realize that by staying to fight your just more likely to get caught when someone on the street hears the battle?"

Hopefully the very thought of it would make the guy begin to second guess himself and make mistakes. Even so there was still the little matter of his Diglett to deal with.

"Use your Ember attack again. Show this sneaky trainer who is boss!"

He had faith in his little Charmander. She could still get the job done!

[Professor Oak]

"Alright you brat, enough playing around," threatened the disgruntled Rocket Grunt. "You had your chance to run away, now we'll show you no mercy. Diglett, it's time to head underground! This was not the first time that the nefarious organisation had sent one of its operatives to ransack the Dig residence. The past few missions had paid handsomely and Team Rocket had managed to train up several of their Pokemon with the move Dig.

Bishop's Charmander still had some dirt in his eyes from the previous Mud-Slap but he picked up on his trainer's strong sense of justice and was just as eager to bring this criminal to task for his crimes. The Charmander spat hot cinders at the Diglett but before the flames could reach the mole Pokemon it had ducked underground. Looking around the room, there were several potholes similar to the one that Diglett had made but were much larger. It looked as though some larger creature had been turning the place upside down on a regular basis.


Trainer Battle

---

Weather: Clear

Kyle's Diglett | Level 12 | Arena Trap |
HP: 57% (16/28)
Status: Normal
Dug underground!

VS

Ember | Level 14 | Blaze |
HP: 84% (33/39)
Status: Normal, Accuracy -1
Used Ember! Attacked missed!

[arkayne]

Oh but this was going to hurt. When Bishop saw the Diglett disappear under the ground he knew what was coming and it would spell bad news for his little Charmander. The type match up was not in her favor and, while she would probably be able to withstand the attack, there was little point in leaving her out there to get beat up. Not while he had a better option that is.

"Ember...return."

Only she didn't. Bishop blinked in confusion as he tried to process this new development. Then it occurred to him; some pokemon had abilities that would keep their opponents from leaving a battle. He wasn't sure what they all were but he did know they existed....and one such ability had to be what was keeping Ember from being pulled back into her pokeball.

"Use your Ember attack when he pops back up," he quickly amended, knowing how much this was going to hurt the poor Charmander. "And then we are going to give this thief an entire world worth of hurt."

Now it wasn't just his sense of justice demanding that Bishop fight this guy. Now it was personal.

[Marchbaby]

Kyle could not help but to chuckle as Bishop tried to recall Ember as his Diglett's ability made the attempt a total waste of time. By trapping the young Charmander in the battle until she was either defeated or Diglett was defeated Kyle had all the advantages as the Diglett was about ready to pop up and strike as Ember helplessly tried to predict where it would appear. Even the slightest movement she made alerted the mole Pokemon allowing it to change its approach until it worked its way right underneath her. Once Diglett was in position it popped out of the ground sending Ember flying backwards from the collision in quite a bit of pain.

" Nice job Diglett, one more hit like that and we should win this battle. It seems our pest forgot just how useful abilities can be but this lesson is far from over." Kyle may have been a bit overconfident however as Ember had just enough energy left over to fire another ember at Diglett causing considerable damage as well. This time however her Blaze ability kicked in adding even more damage to the attack causing just enough damage to knock the Diglett out before it could strike again. Kyle was not quite finished yet however as he had brought a backup Pokemon just in case.

" Oh great you got defeated by that Charmander, that is just fantastic. Return you worthless mole I shall deal with you later. Meowth it is your turn to try and salvage this mess." Kyle grunted as he recalled the mole Pokemon and sent out the normal type cat Pokemon to replace it.





Trainer Battle

---

Weather: Clear

Kyle's Diglett | Level 12 | Arena Trap |
HP: 00% (0/28)
Status: KO'ed
Used Dig!

VS

Ember | Level 14 | Blaze |
HP: 12% (5/39)
Status: Normal, Accuracy -1
Used Ember!

---

Ember gained 2 levels for her victory and she is now level 16.


Klye sends out Meowth (Level 9) would you like to switch Pokemon?

OOC notes: Dig caused 28 damage to Ember, Ember caused 20 damage to Diglett.

[arkayne]

"You did great Ember. Come on back and rest now."

To say Bishop was upset by his Charmander getting beat up like that would be an understatement. He was beside himself with anger at this thief. He needed to be dealt with before he caused anymore harm to anyone.

"Rex, your up!" he called out, releasing his Swinub from his pokeball. "Use your Powder Snow attack!"

A pity he didn't have any fighting types with him. A good fighting attack against the normal type Meowth would make for a quick battle. Still, Bishop had to reign in his emotions. While it was true he wanted to make the trainer pay for all of this he had nothing against the man's pokemon. In a way they were victims in all of this too since they were stuck with a lousy, no good trainer like this!

[Lamont]

Kyle was still in disbelief that his diglett managed to lose. With a type advantage even! It really ground his gears, clouded his mind with bubbles of anger. Something he and the young trainer had in common toward this battle: annoyance at the other. The rocket member glared down the room toward Bishop and his newly revealed pokémon. Swinub. That was a rare one.
Swiping that ice type would just about even out diglett's failure," he commented. A devious smile crawling across his face once again.

"Get up there quick cat, scratch that pug-nose!" The man thrust a finger toward the young swinub as if the target needed to be indicated. Meowth sneered down at Rex, extended her claws, then dashed across the room. Rex was still mustering up a cold breeze by the time the swift feline was overshadowing him. There was a second of hesitation, the illusion of a chuckle, before Meowth raked her fine tooth nails across the thin pelt of the frigid species. It was a practiced attack. Great precision went into where she struck. However, Rex knew where to focus his defenses thus didn't leave any too vulnerable sections open to her.

Cringing at the new slices in his side Rex huffed and hastened his own attack. Meowth hopped back a little ways but didn't turn her back. Instead she waited to take the attack head on. Unfortunately for her the frozen pellets weren't something she was particularly used to dealing with. Meowth suddenly found herself enveloped in a blistering wind ripe with cold snow splattering all about her. She hissed vehemently as she was covered in snow and nearly drenched as it started instantly melting on her warm fur coat. She hated being wet!

"Better get 'im back for that puss," Kyle cackled.


Trainer Battle

---

Weather: Clear

Meowth | LV 9 | Technician
HP: 71% (20/28)
Status: Normal
Used Scratch!

VS

Rex | LV 9 | Oblivious
HP: 70% (21/30)
Status: Normal
Used Powder Snow! Critical Hit!

[arkayne]

"Your awfully confident for someone who let his Diglett get beat up," Bishop said with a frown. "Maybe you better worry about winning this fight before you think of swiping anything."

The thought of this guy, or anyone really, stealing his pokemon set the young trainers nerves on edge. What was it lately with trainers trying to get under his skin? First there was that kid with the Totodile and now this trainer who was moonlighting as a cat burglar....with his own cat no less!

This guy did seem to be wound a bit too tight though. A real irritable sort. Maybe if Bishop were to push his buttons a bit it would get him to make a mistake. It was worth a shot.

"Rex, use your bite attack!" he called out to his pokemon, and then towards his human opponent he continued: "So you do realize I have four other pokemon after this, right? Even if by some chance you beat my Swinub I can put another one in....and I'm not seeing a lot of pokeballs there on your belt."

[Lamont]

Kyle's lip twitched with but a second of obvious worry in subconscious reply before his mind worked up something to say. It began as a slight chuckle, "What makes you think I play by all the league rules boy? In the trade of thieving you put on display all you got and you might as well be a kid with candy." Despite his claim the Rocket didn't seem at all at ease with the situation.

He watched as the snowy pig creature slid in toward his feline awaiting her orders. Her tail twitched as she glared at the brown mass, hissing at the approach with hair sticking on end. She extended her claws and hunched down in wait to give Rex a good pokey slapping when he was close enough but her trainer changed her plans.
"Silly cat, don't bat at the thing. Bite it back!" shouted the man. Meowth jumped a little, taken aback by the ferocity of her trainer's voice. Rex was nearly upon her by this point so she had to just go for it. The feline pounced on the swinub and chomped down on his back, getting a good depth of her fangs in but leaving herself fairly vulnerable.

It wasn't a vital spot by any means, the appendage currently brushing by Rex's nose, but it would definitely get a rise out of Meowth. He rolled, wrenching his stubby neck out to snatch the cat's tail in his mouth and bite down. A sound so scratchy and high pitched assaulted the air like a siren. Teeth dislodged from both parties allowing Rex to continue rolling back to his feet while the wounded meowth retreated to tend to her delicate tail. She held and licked the wound, fur disheveled and puffed up. Kyle brought a hand to his forehead.

"How many times do I have to tell you to watch that tail?" He shook his head, face construing into disappointed agony. Luckily her history of not taking care of the sensitive member left it a little resilient. While damage was done, the cat looked more angry than injured.


Trainer Battle

---

Weather: Clear

Meowth | LV 9 | Technician
HP: 50% (14/28)
Status: Normal
Used Bite!

VS

Rex | LV 9 | Oblivious
HP: 33% (10/30)
Status: Normal
Used Bite!

[arkayne]

Bishop's lips turned up into a smile as he saw that his verbal poke had gotten under the other man's skin a bit. The thief didn't seem nearly as confident as he was trying to let on. And maybe, just maybe, he was starting to realize that all this racket would soon be drawing the police to investigate. His plans of robbing this place were going up in smoke pretty quick.

"I would think that in the thieving trade letting yourself be seen by wandering trainer and then getting into a loud battle in the middle of the night would be an even bigger screw up than playing by the rules."

Rattling the thief's confidence was all well and good but Bishop had a hard decision here. That Meowth packed quite the punch. He was worried that Rex might be knocked out by another attack like that. He could pull him now but that might rattle his confidence going forward. If he stayed he could get knocked out though....and either way he might not be as sure of himself going forward.

But then he remembered all the books about training he had read and his mother's own instructions. Sometimes a pokemon would lose. It was all part of growing up and being trained. If he lost they would work through it and grow stronger in time. There was still a chance he could win this and he would let his beloved little ice type have his chance.

"Rex! Use Powder Snow again. Try to freeze this kitty solid!"

If Rex did fall it would be unfortunate but he would help him thru it once he recovered. Either way the Rocket man would lose because Bishop had other pokemon to keep him busy till the police showed up. That was the important thing here.

[Sky]

Rex complied with Bishop's command as the small, brown pig Pokemon let out a resounding squeal, creating a powdered snowstorm which the feline Pokemon shivered, and got knocked down on her feet. It definitely made her body have tiny little icicles appear in which her own trainer snapped out of impatience. "Just what do you think you're doing?! You're supposed to finish that Swinub off, not freeze your butt off!" He was not one to stay here longer than he should, but Kyle just had to get rid of this meddling twerp, and return to his own mission before the boss would talk his ear off.

The Team Rocket grunt grit his teeth in frustration as he gave his Meowth an order. "Meowth, use Bite again, but this time, don't bite your own tail like an idiot!" The small, pale cat Pokemon's fur stood up in fear as she charged towards the brown pig Pokemon with her fangs out. The feline chomped down on Rex, pain had shot out again as Rex squealed, and attempted to get her off in resistance. As the Meowth finished, she returned, she promptly cleaned herself in a proud way, probably pleased with herself.

Trainer Battle

---

Weather: Clear

Meowth | LV 9 | Technician
HP: 25% (7/28)
Status: Normal
Used Bite!

VS

Rex | LV 9 | Oblivious
HP: 13% (4/30)
Status: Normal
Used Powder Snow!

[arkayne]

Well, he had promised himself that he would let Rex see this through. Things weren't looking great at the moment but Bishop could still see his little friend pulling this off. It just depended how chilled out the Meowth was. It had been hit by two cold attacks now and seemed a little frosty around the whiskers. Plus the poor thing seemed scared of it's trainer and the way it was being treated. All he needed was for it to be a little off it's game and for Rex to jump just a second sooner.

"Your doing great Rex! Now quick, try to attack first and hit it with more Powder Snow!"

It really was down to who could hit first now. Bishop had his fingers crossed for Rex. A victory here would really help the little guy's confidence....and making the Rocket man mad would just a beneficial side effect.

"Come on....you can do it!"