Masquerade (Sprout Tower) [F]

[Avalon]

"You can justify your tactics and actions however you wish, but trickery will not win you this day!" the Elder harrumphed, crossing his arms defiantly. This girl had come to help with clearing out the Cyndaquil and ending its vendetta, but the Elder must admit that the girl's defiant nature was beginning to grate upon his nerves. He was eager to get this battle over with, so he could end this so-called rivalry.

"Yes, balance is our way. But that Cyndaquil has upset our balance for too long, and so nature must course correct. Sometimes course correction means having to take some slightly drastic measures," the Elder responded. Maybe his comment was a bit too far, but this Cyndaquil had proven to be a thorn in their side for some time now. If they had known how much of a problem that it would become, then they would have rejected it and its novice Trainer from ever darkening their doorstep all that time ago. "Sacred Sprout, cut down that criminal rat! Hoothoot, remove that bug from our hallowed halls!"

Meanwhile, the Pokemon continued own conversations and banter as the fight raged on. "When I came here, everybody said that Sprout was the toughest mon around here. So I wanted to beat him to show I was strong, but I lost. And I tried again, and I lost. And lost and lost," the Cyndaquil squeaked, its eyes flashing red as its gaze focused on the Sacred Sprout. The Sacred Sprout launched itself forward, trying to slash at the Cyndaquil with its leaves, but the rat did as it was asked and kept dodging the attacks with ease.

"My food isn't gross!" the Hoothoot insisted, swooping in to get close to its aggressor and peck furiously at Nightflower. The attacks landed, knocking Nightflower onto her backfoot for a moment before the big-eyed bug sunk her own fangs into the wing of the rotund bird. Hoothoot let out a screech of pain, retreating from the bite only to collapse feet away. The pain of the bites had become too much for the bird, it seemed. The Elder grunted his disapproval at the sight, calling his bird back into its ball.

Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

[attr="class","qkt-bkgd"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Sacred Sprout LV 12
HP 100% [37/37]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn2"]
Hoothoot LV 11
HP 0% [0/37]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn2-1"]
Cyndaquil LV 7
HP 100% [24/24]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn2-2"]
Nightflower LV 11
HP 38% [14/37]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

Sacred Sprout [Chlorophyll]: Status, Growth (ATK+1 and SP.ATK+1), ACC-2 (Smokescreen), DEF-1 (Leer)
Hoothoot [Insomnia]: Status
Cyndaquil [Blaze]: Status
Nightflower [Tinted Lens]: Status

SP19 Hoothoot used Peck! It was super-effective!
SP18 Nightflower used Bug Bite! Hoothoot fainted!
SP18 Sacred Sprout used Cut! The attack missed!
SP16 Cyndaquil used Leer!

Gladius 30/42 hp[/i]

[Tarlar]

Lei rolled her eyes at the old stubborn man, he had seen so full of wisdom when she had talked with him earlier, a bit quirky with this strange plan of his, but otherwise easy to work with. Now, not so much.
"Well, they do say the best defense is an attack," she said to herself and then added louder to Elder Li, "I'm not trying to justify anything, if you don't like it, its not my problem," she said with a shrug. She had agreed to follow his plan and to battle him with the cyndaquil to take it away from here, she had not agreed to be berated during it, she would have demanded a lot more payment for that.
That cyndaquil was a rare prize was the only thing that kept her in this masquerade, she narrowed her eyes as she watched the Elder. She had thought of him as a person held in high regard and that she could benefit to be on good terms with him, now she was reevaluating and wondered if he would be worth it.
She rolled her eyes but decided that she might need to use him later, she could endure his harsh words by whacking his pokemon and show they meant nothing in the end.
"It's an interesting way to teach balance, what do you hope Cyndaquil learn from it?" Lei asked with a smile, deciding not to try defend herself and just go straight for attacking instead.

When the hoothoot got chased away, Nightflower pouted disappointed. Nothing interesting had come out of her attempts to start up some drama, the bellsprout hadn't even reacted on the news, and it was going to be a lot harder to stir up something when there were only one left. Well, if she didn't know what to do, it was because she needed more information.
"So, what is this place all about? What makes you so special?" she asked casually.

"I see," Lapis said and then left the conversation as there didn't seem to be much more in this rivalry than hurt pride. Lapis watched the battling pokemon and hoped that they wouldn't get in the way of each other. There weren't really any team work, they just happened to have the same targets.

Lei smiled when Cyndaquil dodged as it had been ordered to, not many pokemon were clever enough for that, and the hoothoot had even been taken down.
"Well, now the biggest threat has been removed, it's time to finish this," she said maliciously, "Nightflower, Bug Bite! Cyndaquil, Tackle!"

Wordcount: 429

[Avalon]

The Elder was quickly made unable to answer the Trainer's questions and comments, his mind consumed by the battle. Hoothoot had fallen, leaving only the Sacred Sprout himself to handle the intruders. Even now, the Elder knew that this was an uphill battle for him and the Sacred Sprout. Lei had the type advantages and sheer numbers on her side, but he would not falter. He knew that this was the only way to proceed; to back down from this fight just because of something as petty as losing would be turning his back on the ways of the Sprout Tower themself.

"Sacred Sprout, cut that rodent down! Show them what is to be learned from our 'balance'!" he called out. The Sacred Sprout began advancing on the pair of intruders, wriggling and jiggling as it moved. But as it tried to cross the distance between them, a Venonat came leaping at it. Nightflower slammed into the Sprout, sinking her teeth into the plant's leaf. The Sacred Sprout could not contain its shrill cry of pain as the buggy teeth sank into its 'flesh'. Nightflower leaped back, getting out of the way of a poorly timed cut from the plant's other leaf. Bellsprout continued to lash out wildly, slashing at empty air; the smoke poured into its eyes earlier had done a number on its sight, and no doubt the stress of this encounter was doing little to help it. "No! I was the Sacred Sprout, I'm not supposed to lose like this! They told me I was chosen because I was special!"

As it did so, Cyndaquil finally got to leap into action. The rodent launched itself forward, slamming head-first into the stem of the plant. The plant was already barely standing after suffering the effects of Nightflower's bite and the humiliation of missing once again, but now it was unable to right itself in time. The force from Cyndaquil's running tackle was too much and the Sacred Sprout collapses under the weight of the fire rat's attack. In a rather poetic ending, the Sacred Sprout had fallen and the Cyndaquil now literally stood over the unconscious plant's body, proudly.

The Elder stood in disbelief, hanging his head in shame. This was to be their final challenge, it had been his own words. The outcome had been decided by higher powers, and it was clear that he and his Sages were the ones who had fallen short in their quest for balance. "You have both bested me, and the Sages of our esteemed tower. Perhaps we had allowed our age and bitterness to blind us, to take us off balance. Young Cyndaquil, you have my apologies, as well as those of my disciples. You have done well to become so strong. Though I think part of that may have to do with your new friend."

The Sage sighed, picking up the Sacred Sprout and cradling the fallen friend in his arms as he returned the unconscious plant to its home on a nearby pedestal. He then approached Lei, retrieving a disc held within a clear case from a pocket within his robes. "This is a secret move, guarded and possessed by members of our order. Take it with you as a sign of victory, and as a gesture of good will. Use it, and darkness will no longer be a problem for you or your companions." with that, the Elder handed a wad of money and the TM for Flash to Lei, depositing it in the younger Trainer's hands.

He cleared his throat awkwardly, gesturing to the back window of this level of the building. "Now, if you wish to avoid the stairs or dealing with my brethren on the lower levels, then there is a way out. We keep an Escape Rope on hand for emergencies." he explained, before returning to check on his Sacred Sprout friend. Meanwhile, the Cyndaquil poked expectantly at Lei's leg. It looked up at her, closed eyes somehow still managing to seem pleading and expectant. It looked more confident, more powerful, as if this battle and victory had awakened something in it.

"Are you leaving now? I won against the Sprout, so...can I go with you? I promise to be strong, and not get in the way or burn any of your bugs!" the Cyndaquil squeaked, seemingly hoping to continue this partnership. But with the Sacred Sprout beaten and Lei having claimed her prizes, it was up to her what to do from here. She could escape with the Cyndaquil and go on with her travels if she so desired now

Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

[attr="class","qkt-bkgd"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Sacred Sprout LV 12
HP 0% [0/37]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn2"]
Hoothoot LV 11
HP 0% [0/37]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn2-1"]
Cyndaquil LV 7
HP 100% [24/24]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn2-2"]
Nightflower LV 11
HP 38% [14/37]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

Sacred Sprout [Chlorophyll]: Status, Growth (ATK+1 and SP.ATK+1), ACC-2 (Smokescreen), DEF-1 (Leer)
Hoothoot [Insomnia]: Fainted
Cyndaquil [Blaze]: Victorious
Nightflower [Tinted Lens]: Victorious

SP18 Nightflower used Bug Bite! It was a critical hit!
SP18 Sacred Sprout used Cut! The attack missed!
SP16 Cyndaquil used Tackle! Sacred Sprout fainted!

Gladius gained 2 levels for participating (1 additional level due to Lucky Egg)! Gladius is now Level 16!
Gladius is trying to learn Acid Spray! Forget a move to make room?
Gladius gained 1 Happiness! (2/15)


Nightflower gained 3 levels for beating up a holy symbol and its pet bird! Nightflower is now Level 14!
Nightflower is trying to learn Poison Powder! Forget a move to make room?
Nightflower gained 1 Happiness! (2/15)

Lapis gained 1 level from watching through the EXP Share! Lapis is now Level 13!

Elder Li gave Lei £2,000 (boosted due to Nightflower's Amulet Coin) and TM70 Flash for her victory.

Lei can also take the Cyndaquil of Sprout Tower with her on her journey:
[img src="https://play.pokemonshowdown.com/sprites/bw/cyndaquil.png"]
[b]Cyndaquil[/b]
Name: [choose]
Gender: [choose]
Level: 10
OT: Leilani Keoloha
Attacks: Tackle, Leer, Smokescreen, Ember
Ability: Blaze
Nature/Personality: [choose]

[Tarlar]

No emotion was shown on Lei's face as Nightflower showed why she was bore the name Silverstone's. Bred by Lei herself she was in the top percent of venonat and special in more than just her shiny outlook. Of course Lei wasn't a breeder by profession and if she really had, Nightflower had probably been even more impressive, but Lei had picked her parents which both had great lines and plenty of prizes to show off and therefore the offspring was usually in the good category as well. Nightflower was, or perhaps she was just really lucky this time, but the Sacred Bellsprout didn't feel so well afterwards and it was easy for the cyndaquil to get the final hit in and really feel it earned the victory on its own.

A smirk would linger in the corner of her mouth as Elder Li got all poetic. The cyndaquil snorted and turned its nose away from the elder, an apology was not going to cut it.
"Why would you being special make you invincible? And why would losing make you not special?" Lapis asked the air but the bellsprout was out cold and probably wouldn't hear a thing. Cyndaquil glanced back at him and looked thoughtful.

"Thank you Elder," Lei said respectfully and bowed to him, "I have learned a lot from this and I will bring it with me on my journey."
I have learned you are a bunch of old crooks who has no clue what you are doing, she thought to herself, and accepted the TM and they money with a smile. She raised an eyebrow and ignored the cyndaquil's prodding as she went to glance out the window and the long drop down to the ground.
"Eh, no, I think the stairs will do, thank you," she said with a grimace and looked down at cyndaquil.
"With me you'll never lose, I'll make sure you reach your full potential," she told it and the fire type was grinning from ear to ear as she poked it with a pokeball and caught it.

Lei recalled Nightflower and Gladius as he peeked out from his hiding spots, and then turned to the Elder.
"Satisfied with my work?" She asked him with a grin and he grimaced and made a gesture she didn't understand.
"Since I am here on your bidding and you refused to let anyone know of our agreement, I expect you to make sure I can leave your tower unbothered," she said sternly and he gave her a reluctant confirmation and called a monk in to lead her out.


(ooc: Nightflower forgets Struggle Bug to learn Poison Powder, Gladius forgets Endure to learn Acid Spray. Updated cyndaquil, a pokeball for capture and tm, and requested the money to get updated as I can't do that myself.)