Cold Shoots (Alex Burke) [F]

[Sky]

The Cyndaquil darted up the last flight of stairs, its eagerness clear in its quickening gait. Both Pokemon and trainer were soon at the top of the stairs, emerging into a large, dimly-lit room. The only light came from several narrow windows that lined the room, and from the flame that burned brightly on the Cyndaquil's back. The room appeared empty, and the fire rodent sniffed at the air curiously.

At that moment, an elderly man stepped out of the shadows. His intricately embroidered robes and the air of superiority around him betrayed who he was before he even spoke. "Ah, so I see that the rat has been joined by a foolish child," he spoke softly, his voice surprisingly even in comparison to the other monks. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Elder Li, and I protect this tower and its secrets. Normally we would greet you with more kindness, but you have somehow managed to find your way into this rat's good graces. As this rat is not allowed within these walls, I must ask you to leave."

The monk's words seemed to enrage the Cyndaquil, and it leapt forward, the flames on its back shooting higher as it yowled out a challenge. Li frowned as he gazed at the fire mouse, but he did nothing. Instead, a low whistle and a loud crack cut off the Cyndaquil's cry. A Bellsprout stepped into the light, but something was off about it. It appeared an almost golden color instead of the usual yellow and green. The weedy Pokemon warbled out a battle cry of its own, glaring daggers at the Cyndaquil. The monk pulled another Pokeball out of his long sleeves, expanding the orb as he said, "It seems that this thousand-year Bellsprout will not allow you two to leave without a fight."

Elder Li initiates the final confrontation!


He sends out his Bellsprout (level 12) and his Hoothoot (level 10).


Cyndaquil leaps into the fray, eager to face off against its arch-rival.

Choose a Pokemon for battle!
Cyndaquil will assist you in this battle.

[Tiki]

After listening to the monk's introduction, Alex was ready to respond and to initiate the battle. But first, he wanted to ask why would the monks fight such a fire mouse, without much respect in his inquiry, of course.

"So that's why..." he muttered. "This pokemon want to burn some fresh fossil fuel..."

He let his voice trailed a bit, before adding, "At least it's easier than asking Jirachi for fresh gasoline. Hm, I wonder if there's one in Johto." His tone sarcastic, and rude.

"Alright, use ember on the bellsprout like before!" Alex recommended the cyndaquil, even though he cannot read its mind.

The, with a pokeball on his hand, he tossed out a pokemon.

"Rosthrem, Night Slash the Hoothoot, just like before!" he instructed, then realized he ended both thoughts in the same idea.

What happened before... were pokemon battles from Cherrygrove up to this point, and he was glad to have those memories to think about. Not before his battles get too long to remember.

Seeing that the fire pokemon was eager to battle, he hoped that it would finally appease whatever that bothers it with this... tower of bellsprouts.

[Sky]

Elder Li kept his composure, even as Alex made strange jokes. "This rat holds a grudge against my Bellsprout," the monk explained patiently, tucking his hands into the opposite arm's sleeves. "The monks of this tower have long trained our Bellsprout to be able to withstand fire attacks, but our only success has been with this ancient Bellsprout. He defeated the rat that stands beside you. However, the thing refuses to accept defeat, and constantly attempts to force its way up here. Its actions disturb our meditation. Thus, it must be stopped." The Bellsprout warbled in agreement, glaring at its rival with a vehemence that suggested the true depths to the animosity between the two. The Cyndaquil merely returned the expression with a fiery glare of its own.

"But such sentiment is of no concern now." The elder monk sighed, an almost regretful look passing over his face as he continued. "Hoothoot, soothe the angry rodent with a Hypnosis. And Bellsprout, once it has been neutralized, rid it from our sight with your Magical Leaf."

The two Pokemon voiced their assent, Hoothoot with a faint hoot and Bellsprout with a loud warbling growl. But neither Pokemon was able to attack before Rosthrem was charging forward, her talons glowing purple. Before the Hoothoot could even react, she had launched herself into the air, slashing her talons toward the owl. The attack connected, and with a bang, the Hoothoot was flying backward, screeching in pain. Cyndaquil was quick to follow Rosthrem's example, darting forward with its back ablaze. The fire mouse came to a screeching halt before the golden Bellsprout, flames dripping from its maw as it shot a flurry of embers at the weedy Pokemon. The tiny flames slammed into the Bellsprout, leaving singe marks across its body and causing the creature to rear back and warble out a pained cry.

Before the Bellsprout could retaliate, though, the Hoothoot was back, launching a wave-like projection at the Cyndaquil. The fire mouse staggered backwards a bit, its eyelids drooping sleepily. It struggled valiantly, but no Pokemon could break free of that sleeping spell when hit full-on. As its eyes closed and it fell backward in deep sleep, the Bellsprout chose that moment to strike, summoning strange multi-colored leaves out of thin air and launching them at the sleeping Cyndaquil. Naturally, the poor creature had no way of dodging, and the leaves lanced across its fur, leaving bloody gashes in their wake.

---

Battle!
(VS Elder Li)

Li's Bellsprout | level 12 |
Health : 43% (16/37 HP)
Status : Normal
Attack : A successful Magical Leaf.

Li's Hoothoot | level 10 |
Health : 23% (8/35 HP)
Status : Normal
Attack : A successful Hypnosis.

VS

Alex's Rosthrem | level 12 |
Health : 100% (36/36 HP)
Status : Normal
Attack : A successful Night Slash. CRITICAL HIT!

Wild Cyndaquil | level 10 |
Health : 73% (22/30 HP)
Status : Asleep
Attack : A successful Ember. IT'S SUPER EFFECTIVE!

[Tiki]

"As ancient as Palkia and Dialga?..." he murmured the question, didn't feel like having a long conversation with the old man at all, since in his opinion, "ancient" is relative. Also, he was from Sinnoh, and those pokemon were as ancient as he know.

Then, speaking up and back to his normal volume, he uttered a comment, "This mouse can't really fly up here, can't it? If it could, it wouldn't have to force its way up here. Oh, and at least you monks didn't fall asleep while meditating."

Returning his focus to the scene, he shouted some encore to the defending pokemon.

"Rosthrem, Night Slash again on the Hoothoot! You're doing great!" he shouted. "Wake up, mouse"-- as he clearly have no clue what that pokemon is called at the moment-- "you wouldn't want to miss this fight, do you?"

Then, Alex wondered if there was a way to distract the Bellsprout to attack his torchic instead...

[Rane]

Elder Li's eyes narrowed dangerously, as if on the brink of scolding Alex for his sarcastic comments. However, the old monk pushed away the impulse to yell, trying to maintain his calm composure.
"You have made an enemy of us by helping that rat,"Elder Li said coldly, pointing to the sleeping form of the Cyndaquil.

Rosthrem made not hesitation in attacking as the chick dashed forward at the Hoothoot, talons burning dark energy as she lept at the Hoothoot. The owl was too weakened to defend himself, let alone dodge the attack. It could only stand there as the Torchic's talons slashed at the owl, causing dark purprle claw marks to appear on the Hoothoot's chest. The owl let out a feeble hoot, unable to withstand the pain as he keeled over.

A slight twitch appeared on the old monk's calm face as he watched his Hoothoot faint.
"I will deal with your Torchic after I deal with that pest! Bellsprout, Magical leaf on that rat!"Elder Li commanded.

The Bellsprout was only too happy to do so. Facing the sleeping Cyndaquil, the Grass Pokemon sent rainbow-colored leaves spinning like deadly blades at the Fire Pokemon. The Cyndaquil's sleeping state didn't break, even as the leaves sliced even more of his pelt, creating more, bleeding wounds.

---------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------

Elder Li

Trainer Battle

Status: KO'D


Li's Bellsprout |Level 12|
HP: [orange]16/37 43%[/orange]
Stauts: Normal
Successful Magical Leaf

Alex's Rosthrem |Level 12|
HP: [green]36/36 100% [/green]
Status: Normal
Successful Night Slash

Wild Cyndaquil |Level 10|
HP: [orange]14/30 47%[/orange]
Status: Asleep

[Tiki]

Yes. No duh. He have heard of that idea rephrased at least 10 times from the last few battles. I know that every old man in this tower hates me because of the few battles I have helped the mouse pokemon. But where is your army? Alex thought, keeping his mouth zipped while glaring intensely as the thought flashed in his head.

"Well then, since you just want to battle, then we'll battle. Rosthrem, Night Slash the Bellsprout!" he ordered. Not that he didn't want to use a more advantageous offense on the Bellsprout, but his Torchic was inexperienced for this kind of thing. Just a few more battles, he thought.

"Maybe you should deal with my Torchic now, since your Bellsprout is the plant equivalent of pest," he smiled cleverly. "Weed."

"TOR-CHIC!" Rosthrem squawked angrily, after all, she would not like the feeling to get whipped to bleeding wounds either if she fell asleep somehow....

"Weeeed," he teased, stretching the syllables, and angrily. What kind of people openly and loudly discriminates other pokemon? "No wonder everyone here is intoxicated with them. I can help you find some addiction control group in Violet City if you want." Alex sarcastically offered, although he thought he was real with the offer.

OOC:
oh lol, I think I just implied people in pokemon world have drug problems like in real life

[The REAL Joey]

His face scoffing, the very act of trash talking his Bellsprout seemed to enrage the Elder with an indignant fury unlike any before. "HOW DARE YOU! Do you not know who you are referring too?! HARRUMPH! Youth! So ignorant and assuming. The Bellsprout you see before you is none other than the hallowed reincarnation of the founding Bellsprout of this pious religion. Born every 100 years, you have over stepped your mark by even referring to the glorious sprout in such a way." His eyes now like angry slits in his wrinkly face, the Elder was clearly in a state of perpetual rage. "Worse yet you pledge your support with that verminous pest. I thought I had laid waste to that moons ago... At least now I can lay the righteous deliverance upon it!!" Clutching his chest, the Elder seemed taken aback by Alex's accusations. "Whuzzat...?! Harrumph... No... How could he possibly... NO! Your attempts at trying to blemish this holy order will NOT be tolerated. O glorious Bellsprout, unleash divine punishment with Vine Whip!" Calling out to his last remaining Pokemon, it would have been perhaps an idea to do it earlier. Having already sped forward, Rosthrem used her darkness infused talons and laid waste to the opposition in one fell swoop of her claws. "BLASPHEMY!" Was all that could be heard ringing throughout the tower.



Double Battle

---

Elder Li's Hoothoot | Level 10 |
Health : 0% (0/35 HP)
Status : KO'd
...

Elder Li's Bellsprout | Level 12 |
Health : 0% (0/37 HP)
Status : KO'd
...

VERSUS!

Rosthrem | Level 12 |
Health : 100% (36/36 HP)
Status : Normal
Someone's gotta take care of the weeds

Wild Cyndaquil | Level 10 |
Health : 47% (14/30 HP)
Status : Asleep
No mama... ZZzzzzzz

---

Victory!

---

Your Torchic fought courageously and has levelled up!
It went up by 3 levels and is now Level 15!

---

Seeing his prized special Bellsprout now in its deathbed, Elder Li moved to storm forward but felt a heavy palpitation in his heart and clutched it. Crying out in terrible pain as he collapsed to his knees. Sage Neal, who had crept up mid-battle and had been observing the battle, realised what was happening moved behind Alex and took his attention. "Now, now, trainer. That is not a pleasant sight to watch." By then a flock of monks had dashed past them and were attending to Elder Li. "You did very well to assist this determined Cyndaquil. Here." The monk moved away and picked up a number of items and handed them to the victor. "You have done well to scale this tower and prove yourself. Elder Li would hand you these himself but..." Neal looked over his shoulder and sighed as the Elder was still fighting off his pains and being devoured with bitter rage.

A number of monks were now trying to hold him back from going overkill on the Cyndaquil. "Here. The first is a gift of money. We monks do not carry much but you have more than earned this." He placed the money in Alex's possession and then produced a CD like item. "This is TM70 Flash. Use this to illuminate the darkest of times and forge yourself a path to enlightenment." The Sage bowed his head and continued speaking. "Do not think this is reward for letting this hazardous devil do as it pleases. I believe we can come to a mutual understanding these these items should be enough to keep you from returning here, mm yes?" Extending out his arm and swaying it towards the corner, Neal pointed to a long rope that was hanging from the ceiling. "You may use the rope to abseil down the building. If you will excuse me..." The Sage moved over to the Elder and seemed to be trying to reason with him. The ropes themselves however seemed to be near a balcony overlooking the entirety of the city.

With the sages attending Elder Li, the Cyndaquil seemed to stir from its deep slumber. Having been somewhat aware of the battle that had conspired, the Cyndaquil had at least seen revenge being enacted to its bitter rival. Shaking its head to try and instil some liveliness about it, the Cyndaquil remembered everything that Alex had done for him. Over the moon with Alex's assistance, the Cyndaquil jumped up and down in front of the trainer and seemed to be abuzz with trying to get the male to add the fire mouse to his team of Pokemon. Having seen how skilful the trainer was, the Cyndaquil knew he was going places and the last thing it wanted was to hang around this area lest the monks followed the age old saying of an eye for an eye or worse, two eyes for an eye. Standing directly in front of it, the fire mouse awaited Alex's answer.

Sage Neal hands you some of Elder Li's secret stash.
You are handed £1,000 in prize money and TM70 Flash!


The wild Cyndaquil also wants to join your team! Will you accept it?
If so, please fill out the following:
[img]http://serebii.net/heartgoldsoulsilver/pokemon/155-m.png[/img]
[b]Cyndaquil[/b]
Name: [choose]
Gender: [choose]
Level: 10
Attacks: Tackle, Leer, Smokescreen, Ember.
Ability: Blaze
Nature: [choose]

[Tiki]

OOC:
blox (blank/box) cyndaquil please

IC:
Seeing the Cyndaquil's eagerness, Alex reached into his backpack for an empty pokeball. Then, he petted the fire mouse's head with his other hand and the Cyndaquil disappeared as a beam of light encapsulated the pokemon and it disappeared.

Now, turning his attention to the old men, he happily accepted the prize money and the hidden machine, vowing to them that he would not come to this dark, woody building anyways. Additionally, those repeating Bellsprout made him cringe, hard.

Speaking of the Bellsprouts, he "offered" his advise on pokemon battle. "There are other grass types pokemon besides Bellsprout, maybe you elderly should take a look at them..." His voice trailed, covering his snicker.

Then, as the monks calmed their leader's rage, he quietly put the hidden machine in his backpack and scurried out of the tower with the escape rope.

As he reached the floor, he noticed that some snow had melted. Looks like the cold winter would be warming up again. He brushed his feet on the floor and cleaned off the dust of the tower, and proceeded to the pokemon center, looking for his next destination.