Test 2.

[azumods]

WILLPOWER The chamber at the back of the cave is not unlike the one before it - it's large and oppressively dark, with shallow pools of water puddled on the floor. However, it isn't entirely impossible to see; off in a far corner of the cavern, there's a dim light shining pale blue, the soft glow pulsing steadily like it's keeping time, like a heartbeat. It's likely, however, that you're not going to get a good look at whatever is causing it before a voice rings out from the entrance behind you, immediately setting the Spiritombs off with loud, ringing shrieks that indicate over half a thousand souls aren't pleased with what seems to be happening here, and as the words register, you'll realize it's probably for good reason. "In the name of Team Galactic, I'm going to have to ask you all to leave. The Guardian is rightfully ours." It's immediately obvious that at the very least, the voice doesn't belong to Saturn - it's higher-pitched, belonging to a woman from the sound of it. Turning to face the source will reveal a woman in full Galactic grunt uniform; she seems young in the face and she's rather short, though she's built as though she's likely strong for her size. While she's clearly here to do a task, her eyes are noticeably just as devoid of spirit as the others that you've seen - she's just as heavily brainwashed as the rest. The Spiritombs you've encountered will do their jobs; they'll protect the Lake Guardian physically, promptly proceeding to get between it and...well, everyone else here. They aren't going to back down until the perceived threat is dealt with; they really, really don't like Team Galactic. What happens now is up to you.

Comments

[enjoymyatelier]

[ahh, Velasquez takes that pretty hard, since he doesn’t have much time to react. Lickily Ghost resists Grass for some fuckin reason... and perhaps because of his natural vanity and not wanting to look bad in front of onlookers, Velasquez is almost down, but not quite out.]

Alright, you can probably get one shot in, so let’s make it count. Use that Night Shade move to soften it up.

[Yeah! Let’s see if he can pop that spooky aura that ignores defense off before Breloom attacks again!]

[azumods]

[...does Velasquez still have the bowtie. This is an important question.

Either way, Night Shade is - ...That's obnoxious, that's what that is.]

Again. Take it down this time.

[Another volley of seeds coming your way, buddy.]

[enjoymyatelier]

[of course he does. He probably straightened it to look cool before the fight started.

But of course... even if he tries to dodge out of the way, Velasquez is a little too messed up to avoid getting conked in the noggin by that Seed Bomb.]

...Right. You did well, Velasquez.

[He returns the bedraggled Frillish to his Pokeball, then gestures to the Murkrow on his shoulder.]

Alright, Huginn. Be careful with those Spores, and hit it with a Wing Attack. It should do fairly well, I think.

[Well, Huginn blankly but obediently flies at the Breloom. Will she hit her mark??? Find out in the next tag!]

[azumods]

[It will in fact do fairly well - not nearly enough to take the Breloom out, because the discrepancy in experience and training is going to prove to be A Problem, but the hit is a good one- ]

Stone Edge.

[...The mushroom raptor is not going to be kind to your bird, either, it looks like.]

[enjoymyatelier]

[OH, yikes. That was completely unexpected by both Pokémon and trainer, so the stone jutting up hits Huginn like a truck and sends her arcing through the air. Kayneth at least manages to recall her before she hits the ground, but he does wince a little...]

Well, I really hate to admit defeat, but I don’t think I’d like to subject my newest catch to all this given I haven’t had the time to examine what he can do. It’d probably be unfair to leave him to his own devices in a fight like this.

...

That was an enjoyable experience, though. I feel like I have a better idea of what to expect from a proper battle and what I should prepare for.

[azumods]

[Oh... She pauses for a moment before recalling Breloom, and she bows her head a bit once she's done so.]

Thank you for the battle. I feel like I've learned a lot from you; you're going to be a fine trainer with a bit more practice.

[enjoymyatelier]

Ah, really? Well, I suppose my Frillish isn’t native to this region, so that might be new... but then, is the Pokémon you used a Sinnoh native? I don’t remember it coming up in my research.

[azumods]

No - Brelooms are from Hoenn, originally. Another region entirely.

[enjoymyatelier]

Ah, interesting! It seems like a very versatile Pokémon. I seem to remember reading that Gym Leaders specialized in a single type as a sort of self-imposed challenge, right? I assume it must be Fighting, given your gym’s theme and the fact that nothing about Breloom screamed Steel to me.