Another 2v2 battle

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Town Whore Emilia – I-I can do fine on my own! I’ll prove it!

• Dugtrio – Fairly Weak, Healthy
• Gloom – Fairly Weak, Healthy
• Mankey – Fairly Weak, Healthy
• Onix – Capable, Healthy

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VS

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Gym Leader Erika – Poor, misguided Emilia. I’ll remind you of the error of your ways.

• Tangela – Capable, Healthy
• ???

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“The rules will be the same as last time. Two pokemon each,” Erika states. “But you may forfeit at any time if the stress of battle becomes too much for you. I hate for you to bear the weight of a burden you don’t need to carry. …But *yaaaaawn* I’d prefer that you give up sooner rather than later. I’m getting a bit drowsy.”

“I won’t forfeit, and I won’t lose!” you announce. “I may be sorta weak, and I may not be the smartest, and I m-may attract lots of perverts…” Looooots of perverts. “But I have hopes and dreams! I won’t just waste my life being sheltered and taken care of! That’s the easy way out!”

“Everyone always admires the effort involved in doing things the hard way… until it’s time to work hard themselves. Personally, I think you’re much better suited to idling through life while under the care of another. But we’ll see whether this ‘hard work’ of yours is paying off. Go, Tangela!”

Dugtrio and Onix are both at type-disadvantages against Grass (which you can think about, now that Gloom is keeping that pink fog at bay.) Since Gloom himself needs to stay standing in order to keep your mind straight, the best choice is Mankey.

“I’m not your sister!” you retort. “Go, Mankey! USE KARATE CHOP NOW!” Not wanting to keep the drowsy Gym Leader waiting, you go on the offensive.

“Tangela, Ingrain!”

Several of Tangela’s vines plant themselves into the field, rooting the pokemon in place. Which is a pretty strange tactic, considering it allows Mankey’s attack to connect directly with its target. But Tangela seems mostly unfazed.

“Now Tangela, use Bind!” More vines pop out and wrap around Mankey, trapping it in place. “Use Constrict!” The vines squeeze tight around your pokemon, dealing light but constant damage.

“Oh no! Mankey, BREAK FREE YOU IMBECILE!”

Mankey is strong enough to free itself from the vines and get some space from its opponent. Tangela, still rooted in place, can’t pursue. Hmm, Mankey can only attack in close quarters, but that’s exactly when Tangela can grab it… Maybe an attack from behind would work. It can’t turn around when it’s stuck in place, so it wouldn’t be able to see its attacker, right?

“GO AROUND IT AND ATTACK FROM BEHIND!” you command.

Mankey obeys, encountering no resistance as Tangela just sits there and lets Mankey move behind it. But as soon as your pokemon is in range, the vines emerge again, and Mankey barely gets to land its attack before getting wrapped up again. It manages to break free, but what bothers you is that Tangela seems unbothered by taking two direct Karate Chops. You’re also bothered by the lack of verbal commands from Erika. Tangela is acting on its own, while its trainer finishes a yawn on the other side of the field. Clearly it’s quite experienced.

“Emilia dear, might you consider forfeiting now? Your Mankey won’t be able to beat my Tangela as long as it’s regenerating, and I’m getting *yaaaaawn* quite tired.” Erika beckons you over, and you take a few steps onto the battlefield, disregarding the fight so you can return to Erika’s side. Nnn…

N-No!

Think. She gave away the fact that it’s regenerating. That’s why it planted itself in the ground, and why its vines start wriggling around whenever Mankey hits it. Okay, new plan.

“Mankey, use Seismic Toss!”

Mankey lifts Tangela, causing its vines to stretch in an attempt to keep it on the ground. It’s just about to launch the plant pokemon, when…

“Tangela, Mega Drain!”

At point-blank, Mankey has its health drained until it falls over, while Tangela looks as if the fight has just started.

“Shoot…” you mutter.

You return Mankey to its pokeball, ignore another invitation from Erika to give up, and choose your next pokemon. Dugtrio and Onix could both uproot Tangela easily, but they wouldn’t handle an attack like Mega Drain at all. And you need to remember that Erika has a second pokemon, also probably a Grass-type. You need someone who can win against both… You look at Gloom, who looks back at you with a smile.

“Go, Gloom!” Oh great, now you’ve done it. With every step Gloom takes onto the battlefield, the gas around you grows stronger. You better end this fast, or that gas is going to turn you into the same needy and shameless girl you were last time!