Deep Forest Showdown [Gym Challenge]

[Karin Norling]

[Challenging Party: Lampent, Snorunt, Phantump]
[Music: Eterna Forest Remix]

Karin had to wonder if the Hapuu Gym needed to be a building at all. With a roof that was half skylight, half entirely open, and an interior environment that looked no different than the rainforest outside, the building was less an actual building and more an enclosure, serving the sole purpose of saying 'hey, there's an actual gym here, please don't forget about us'. At that point, the leader might as well have just put a fence and a bunch of signs up and called it a day.

She wasn't here to criticize design choices, though. As the gym guide pointed out the moment she stepped inside, she was here to challenge the gym. She listened to his advice for a moment, not particularly appreciating the automatic assumption that this was her first challenge (here it was, but she still wasn't happy about the assumption), then waved him off and started her way into the gym proper.

Only a few feet into the indoor foliage, and Karin could tell that she wasn't going to get very far at ground level. Large roots blocked off her path forward, and she could see a solid wall of tall grass on the other side. She looked towards one of the nearby trees, spotting several thick vines hanging from them that looked easily climbable. She hurried over to one and tested the strength of the vines, satisfied to find that they could support her weight. Planting her feet against the trunk of the tree, Karin started pulling her way up and walking her way up to the lowest branch. Once she got there, she climbed onto the branch and looked down over the gym floor. Sure enough, the roots would have been much more trouble to climb over, and beyond that was a maze of tall grass, made even more complicated by more roots, trees, and plants that Karin couldn't even begin to recognize. A couple of trainers also seemed to be lurking in the grass maze, but once she looked up again Karin could see a few more waiting on some of the larger branches as well.

Most of them even looked reachable.

"High road it is, then," Karin said, carefully making her way down her current branch, then using another low-hanging vine as support to cross over to another one. Here, a trainer challenged her, using a few low-level grass types that Shiranui easily took care of. Once he was defeated, he climbed down the tree into the maze, leaving Karin with another open path through the branches. A few more branches later, she pulled herself onto the last reachable branch. From that point, she'd have to go the rest of the way on foot. Seeking out more vines, Karin found another one that would support her way, although it was a bit too far from the trunk to rappel down. "Well...this is going to be trouble," Karin said, grasping it and pulling on it. It seemed safe enough, and not so slick that she'd just slide right down so long as she was careful. "Let's see..." She hefted herself onto the vine, then pulled her feet together around it to momentarily stop her descent. Then, after a couple near slips, she worked out a pattern of climbing down hand-over-hand, then moving her feet to lower herself down, that allowed her to descend safely.

From there, all she had to do was get through the rest of the tall grass maze and she found herself at the end of the gym, facing an older man who had to be the Gym Leader. "Hey," Karin said casually. "I'm here to challenge you for a badge. Hope this is a good time."

[Pap]

The older man stood in the grassy clearing, the middle of it bearing the league's emblem. "Good job getting through the maze." he congratulated. The man then crossed his large arms and gave an irritated snort. "Wish you'd have gotten here faster though, I've got shit to do y'know." When he heard your challenge the man was quick to reply. "I know why you're here dammit. I'm Verne, the Hapuu Town Gym Leader. If you're expecting some grass pun then just think one up yourself."

Must be this man's time of the month because just by this man's posture you could tell that he wasn't overly pleased to see you. While his face was in a perpetual state of 'I'm too damn old for this shit.' The two of you took your places on the field before the man spoke up once more, "I'm sure you already know how this goes. You're a newbie so we go three on three. I'll send out first." Man was he in a rush. "Alright Roselia, get out there." The man tossed his pokeball, revealing the small flower pokemon.

Music: Unova Gym Battle (remastered)

Gym Challenge: Vs Verne

Opponent 1: Roselia
Gender: Male
Ability: Poison Point

"All on you now kid, try to make this worth my time will ya?" The grouch added when his Pokemon landed on the field. "Best of luck to ya." he added in a lower voice. "First move is on you too." he felt he needed to add, the man's age was definitely showing.

[Karin Norling]

Wow. This guy was...pretty grouchy. Kind of impatient too, come to think of it. He claimed he had 'shit to do', and seemed to rush through his introduction, getting to the start of the actual battle as quickly as he could. Karin did her best to not be intimidated by his attitude, although she had to admit that it irritated her a little. Sure, she hadn't gotten there sooner, but who was it that made her choose between going through a grass maze or tree branches?

As for the comment about a pun, Karin's mind immediately jumped to the fact that his name sounded an awful lot like 'fern'. Obvious, really.

Well, whatever. She was fine with getting the battle on right away. "As you like," Karin said once she saw his first Pokemon. A Roselia, huh? She knew that they packed a lot more punch than their size would imply, but she would also probably have no trouble taking it out with Shiranui's raw power. With that said, if he was opening with Roselia, he probably had stronger Pokemon in store. No sense wasting Shiranui's strength when she didn't know what else was coming.

"Aya, you're up!" Karin said instead, tossing out her Snorunt's PokeBall. The small, hat-like ice-type materialized on the grass in front of her, surprisingly standing even taller than the Roselia and looking down on it. "Start us off with Ice Fang!" Karin called out, thrusting her hand forward in a dramatic gesture. If Aya didn't appreciate the dramatics, she didn't show it, as she lunged at the rose Pokemon and tried to viciously bite it with frozen teeth.

---

Summary:
Karin sent out Snorunt!
Snorunt used Ice Fang: 65 BP STAB (x2 Weakness) Ice move from 50 base Attack, with a 10% chance to freeze or flinch the target.

Freeze Roll - 1 for success
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Flinch Roll - 1 for success
1-101-10·1-10

[Pap]

Opponent 1: Roselia
Gender: Male
Ability: Poison Point
Health: Danger Zone

Your Snorunt bit down on the Roselia with icy fangs, by the cry the Roselia gave you can tell the attack had done a decent number to the Flower Pokemon. "Seems we've got someone with guts." The gym leader commented as he watched his Roselia take the extra damaging blow. "Always hated winter." he added in a mutter. "Not gonna give this up so easily now, got it kid?" The man seemed to be getting into it, he pulled up the right sleeve of his shirt, showing off more of his muscular arm, and with gusto announced, "Use Mega Drain!"
klF9xTo91-10
1-3 = Poison Point proc1-10

[Karin Norling]

"You may be in for some trouble, then," Karin said, smirking just a little as Verne commented on hating winter. "I'm from Snowpoint City in Sinnoh. Feels like winter most of the year there, and I brought a bit of it here with me." Verne seemed to get into the fight a little more as he took his turn, directing the little rose Pokemon to hit Aya with Mega Drain.

It wasn't completely insignificant. Aya certainly felt the attack, but other than a momentary reaction she didn't seem too hurt, and proceeded to look coldly down at the Roselia as if to say 'is that all?' Karin considered having Aya bite it again, but looking at the Roselia again, she noticed small, poisoned thorns on its arms. Aya had managed to avoid them the first time, but maybe it was best to ensure that she could stay in the battle moving forward. Switching to range, then. "Let's finish this one off. Frost Breath!" Karin called out. Aya's body shook and shivered for a second then, with a rattling breath, it blew out a blast of freezing air at the Roselia. That would hopefully be it for Verne's first Pokemon.

---

Snorunt Health: Fair (~66%)
Summary:
Snorunt used Frost Breath: 60 BP STAB (x2 Weakness) (Guaranteed Critical) Ice move from 50 Base Special Attack

[Pap]

Even with the Roselia's stolen energy, the super effective Frost Breath was more than enough to take out the opposing Flower Pokemon. Verne recalled the defeated Pokemon with a grunt. "Well aren't you full of surprises young'un. Keep it up." This was probably the only compliment anyone would ever get from the grouchy senior. "Alright Lombre, get to it." he announced, tossing his second pokeball. "You've got chops I'll give you that, but this isn't gonna go as easy as you want it to kid. Alright Lombre, Rain Dance." The Jolly Pokemon  performed it's awkward dance, clapping its hands and parading around. Soon clouds formed and rain quickly fell, collecting in the Lombre's lily-pad head.

Opponent 2: Lombre

Gender: Male

Ability: Rain Dish 

[Karin Norling]

"Yes," Karin said under her breath, clenching one hand into a fist and pumping her arm back as she saw the Roselia go down. "Good work, Aya! Keep it up." It didn't take anything Verne said for her know that things were about to get harder from here. The elderly gym leader had seen how Aya fought now, and would be able to better prepare for how to deal with her. And sure enough, the next one out was a water/grass type that she couldn't just bring down with super-effective Ice moves.

Then it used Rain Dance, though, which gave Karin an idea. "Aya, use Hail!" she called out. Aya let out another high-pitched, rattling breath as it started radiating cold air. The falling rain started to get much colder, and soon turned to chunks of ice that would damage instead of healing the Lombre. Aya, meanwhile, started to recover from the frozen precipitation.

---

Snorunt Health: Fair (~72%)
Snorunt used Hail
Snorunt recovered 1/16 HP with Ice Body

Hail counter: Turn 1/5

[Pap]

The man snorted as it started to Hail, cancelling out the rain. "Had to make it feel like home, huh?" Verne commented. "Well, guess that strategy isn't gonna work anymore. Lombre, use Rock Smash." the trainer ordered. Lombre charged at thee opposing Snorunt, hitting it with a strong punch, capable of- well, smashing rocks. When the attack was finished Lombre started to flinch from the buffet of hail that assaulted it's body. "Damn Winter kids." the man cursed under his breath as he started to shiver slightly. One would thing to roll down their sleeves in a case like this, but Verne wasn't your average man.

Opponent 2: Lombre

Gender: Male

Ability: Rain Dish
Status: Okay

[Karin Norling]

"Of course," Karin answered. "It's much less stressful to take on challenges in a more familiar environment." Never mind the fact that Karin neither looked nor felt all that stressed. She was still taking everything in stride, even when the Lombre turned out to have a proper way of dealing with ice types. With force normally used to break rocks, it punched Aya hard, but still only managed to do moderate damage. Huh. Guess it wasn't good for much else but breaking rocks. Karin didn't know enough about martial arts to really consider why that might be, but she'd take it.

"Aya, Frost Breath!" Karin called out, prompting the Snorunt to blow out another blast of ice at the Lombre. Karin had to wonder if all this cold air wasn't bad for the tropical rainforest. But it was just a Pokemon battle, so it'd probably be fine. She also had to wonder why Verne didn't roll his sleeves back down, since he was clearly getting cold.

Oh well.

---

Snorunt Health: Middling (~50%)
Summary:
Snorunt used Frost Breath: 60 BP STAB (+Guaranteed Critical) Ice move from 50 Base Special Attack
Snorunt recovered 1/16 HP with Ice Body

Hail Counter: Turn 2/5

[Pap]

The battle clearly wasn't in the man's favor that was for sure. To tell the truth, he was starting to get used to the droves of unprepared, wide eyed kids that thought friendship was going to get them a badge.  "Lombre, use Rock Smash." Verne ordered once more. Lombre charged at thee opposing Snorunt with a heavy fist. When the attack was finished Lombre once again took minor damage from the hail that was starting to add up. "Good job kid." the man applauded under in a low voice. Any smart person could tell the battle wasn't exactly in his favor. He was backed in a  corner, at this point he would just need to play it through. 

Opponent 2: Lombre

Gender: Male

Ability: Rain Dish
Status: Steady

[Karin Norling]

Karin could tell that she had the upper hand. The weather was in her favor, she was dealing solid damage to Verne's Lombre, and the damage Aya was taking was being mitigated by the hail. Even Verne, grouchy as he had been up to that point, seemed to acknowledge that he was being backed into a corner. All she had to do was to see this through without getting too cocky before the end. She spared a moment to think ahead, wondering what Verne's final Pokemon would be. She doubted that it would be anything Shiranui couldn't handle, and if it was, she had Skull Kid in reserve as well. But that aside, she had to be careful that whatever else this Lombre had in store didn't mess things up for the rest of her Pokemon.

"Aya, hit it with another Frost Breath!" Karin called out. The Snorunt, brimming with confidence over how well the battle had been going, let loose another blast of freezing air at the Lombre, seemingly taking little notice of the punching damage she'd been accumulating.

---

Snorunt Health: Poor (~29%)
Summary:
Snorunt used Frost Breath: 60 BP STAB (+Guaranteed Critical) Ice move from 50 Base Special Attack
Snorunt recovered 1/16 HP with Ice Body

Hail Counter: Turn 3/5

[Pap]

Another Frost Breath chilled the Lombre while the bouts of hail ticked away at it's depleting health. It was clear to the both of you that another hit like that would be more than enough to knock this Jolly Pokemon out. Though Verne was out of options, any other attack he could use wouldn't do enough damage to take the Snorunt out of the picture and a Rain Dance would only prolong the inevitable. So once again he opted to do as much  damage as possible. "Again, Rock Smash." he commanded.

Opponent 2: Lombre

Gender: Male

Ability: Rain Dish
Status: Danger Zone

[Karin Norling]

"Ah..." For all her haughty attitude, Aya was definitely just barely clinging onto consciousness after that last attack. It was only thanks to the gradual healing of the hail that she was still able to stand, and the last little bit of recovery had brought her back from the very edge of fainting. She definitely wouldn't be able to take another hit like that, though. "Can you keep going?" Karin asked, concerned. She was met with a short, rattling response that almost sounded like a 'hmph'. As though Aya was accusing Karin of doubting her.

"Well, as you like," Karin said. "Finish it with one more Frost Breath!" Still stumbling a little from being so close to fainting, the Snorunt managed to pull herself together, inhale deeply, and let out one more blast of freezing air at the Lombre.

---

Snorunt Health: Critical (~8%)
Snorunt used Frost Breath: 60 BP STAB (+Guaranteed Critical) Ice move from 50 Base Special Attack
Snorunt recovered 1/16 HP with Ice Body

Hail Counter: Turn 4/5

[Pap]

Another Pokemon down, things definitely weren't looking good for the old ma- Er, Verne. With Lombre down everything hung on his last Pokemon. "Alright Phantump, let's get to work." he sent out his last Pokemon. "You're good kid, but I'm not gonna let you sweep me under the rug with that scrawny little winter bug." the man hissed. If it wasn't any clearer the man absolutely despised ice. "Alright Phantump, finish it off with a Feint Attack." The ghostly stump vanished, then attacked with a surprise sucker punch, guaranteeing the attack would hit.

Opponent 3: Phantump

Gender: Male

Ability: Frisk
Status: Okay

[Karin Norling]

Alas, all good things had to come to an end. And such was the case with Aya's matchup against the Grass gym leader. After taking out two of Verne's Pokemon, the third finally managed to KO her with a guaranteed hit from a surprise attack. Reluctantly, Karin called her back. "You did great out there," Karin said once Aya was safely back in her PokeBall. "Get some rest. We'll celebrate our victory later." Yeah...later. She still had to earn that victory first. Fortunately, the battle had turned solidly in her favor. And nothing solidified that quite like seeing Verne's final Pokemon. And a very familiar sight it was: a Phantump.

"Well now. You use one of those guys too, huh?" Karin said. "Fortunately, I've got just the thing to take one on. Shiranui, let's finish this!" Karin sent out the first Pokemon she'd come to Aina with, now evolved into a Lampent and stronger than ever. Shiranui hung in the air over the ground for a moment, waiting for instructions. "Let's finish this off right in one. Overheat!" Karin called out.

For a second, it seemed like nothing was happening. Then, the purple flame at the Lampent's heart suddenly burned much brighter, growing to completely fill the interior of her bulb. The flames started to spill out, spreading into the air around it. The flames swept across the field in a sudden flash fire, spreading directly towards the Phantump. At the rate it was going, there wasn't much that could stop it.

---

Lampent Health: Full
Summary:
Snorunt fainted. Karin sent out Lampent.
Lampent used Overheat: 130 BP STAB (x2 Weakness) Fire move from 95 Base Special Attack. Lampent's special attack lowers 2 stages if successful.
Lampent took 1/16 damage from Hail

Hail Counter: Turn 5/5 (Ends after this turn.