It's a close battle

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Town Whore Emilia – I won’t let you look down on me! I’m more than just some dumb country bimbo!

• Dugtrio – Strong, Healthy
• Vileplume – Strong, Healthy
• Primeape – Strong, Healthy
• Onix – Strong, Healthy
• Golduck – Fairly Strong, Healthy
• Ninetales – Strong, Healthy

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VS

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Gym Leader Blaire – It’s great that you’re so fired up! Keep that enthusiasm for the experiment, okay?

• Rapidash – Fairly Strong, Healthy
• Flareon – Strong, Healthy
• ???

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Blaire begins the battle much the same as last time. She calls from across the battlefield, “Do you remember the rules from last time, Emilia?” As a scientist, I’m a big fan of the scientific method. That means-”

“Yeah, I get it! Three pokemon each!” you reply with annoyance.

Blaire just responds with her signature, cute smile. “I was just trying to account for your level of intellect. Sorry! Now, who to pick first… Since you had so much trouble with Flareon last time, let’s start there. If you can’t beat it this time, the battle is already set, so we’ll end it quickly. Go, Flareon!”

Blaire’s Flareon growls cutely as it pops out of its pokeball. It’s a good thing that Blaire has put you in the mood to smash cute things. “Go, Primeape!”

As your violent monkey pokemon emerges, Blaire jumps up and down and claps adorably. “A pokemon fueled only by brute **** and rage! No thoughts at all! It’s just like you, Emilia. I’m so glad I can count on you to be true to yourself. I love that about you! I can’t go easy this time, though. So, from the start, use Sunny Day, Flareon!”

As before, a sweltering heat beats down on the battlefield, promising a battle full of overbearing sunlight. You’re already sweating, but Blaire seems completely unbothered, despite having an entire lab coat on. You put aside the distraction and issue a command at the same time as Blaire.

“Flareon, Flamethrower!”

“PRIMEAPE USE ASSURANCE ALREADY!”

You’re not surprised when Flareon opens up with a jetstream of flames, taking advantage of its ability to attack from a distance. Primeape barges through the flames, though, and delivers a powerful blow to Flareon. For once, surprise shows on Blaire’s face.

“It’s strong! Flareon, lock your opponent down with Fire Spin!”

“DON’T LET IT YOU DUMB APE! SEISMIC TOSS!”

Primeape stays glued to Flareon, preventing it from getting enough space for Fire Spin. After a brief pursuit, Primeape has its target in its grasp. Before it can launch Flareon, however, Blaire throws out a quick command. “Fire Fang, Flareon!”

Flareon bites down with searing heat against Primeape’s arm, and your pokemon responds by throwing it against the ground with a heavy thud. Both pokemon are clearly worn down and on their last legs.

“I-If it’s this close, then… Flareon, use Flare Blitz!”

“YOU BETTER NOT GO DOWN BEFORE THAT DAMN FOX DOG THING! CLOSE COMBAT!”

Both pokemon charge at each other full speed, trading fierce blows at the same time. When the dust clears, both are knocked out, so both you and Blaire return your respective pokemon to their pokeballs.

Blaire wipes her brow, seemingly more worked up by the battle than the heat. “That was way more intense than I expected. I have a question, though, Emilia… Why were you screaming like a lunatic at your pokemon?”

“Oh, uh… H-He doesn’t listen… unless I do that…”

Blaire bounces back to her cheery self immediately. “Oh, so he’s stupid! I’m sure he picked that up from his trainer. That’s so cute.”

“Shut UUUUUUUUP!” you screech. “JUST SEND OUT YOUR NEXT POKEMON!”

Blaire stitches her brow. “Uh-oh… I think your scream commands are becoming a habit. Humans won’t obey you just because you scream at them, you know. We’re not like pokemon.” Your only response would be further screaming, so you silently fume until Blaire gets on with the battle. “Now, let’s see… Next, I’ll send out Rapidash!”

You’ve been waiting for this particular rematch. “Onix, go!”

Onix roars as it enters the battlefield, ready to take on Rapidash. Blaire, however, is a little concerned. “Um, Emilia? Isn’t that the same pokemon that lost to my Rapidash last time?”

“That’s right,” you answer confidently.

“Ah, so you’re incapable of learning! Another wonderful discovery about your lack of intelligence. Let’s wrap this up quickly! Rapidash, Double Kick!”

As expected. “Onix, Dragon Breath!”

Rapidash manages to land a strong hit on Onix, but before it can even land on solid ground, it’s blasted by a sparking cloud of energy being fired out of Onix’s mouth. The horse pokemon falls out of the air and barely manages to land on its feet. It struggles to remain standing as paralysis takes effect. With its speed taken care of, it’s now a sitting duck for a Rock-type attack from Onix.

“Onix, use Rock Slide!”

Every rock easily hits its target, bombarding your opponent’s Rapidash and knocking it out in a single blow.

“Ha! That’s what you get for calling me stupid! I completely outsmarted you!” you gloat.

Blaire’s face stays frozen in a **** smile for a few seconds before she speaks. “Emilia, you weren’t lying, right? You really are dumb? You have to be! It’s what makes you yourself! Please, tell me you’re an idiot!”

“I’m not an idiot! I’m a battling genius and a classy, brilliant lady, too!”

Blaire bursts out laughing. “Thank you, Emilia. That was just the kind of reassurance I needed. I warned you I can’t go easy on you, though. It’s time for this battle to end. Go, Magmar!”

Blaire’s pokemon stands imposingly, but it’s hard for you to ignore one striking part of its appearance. “Its head looks like a-”

“Don’t say it!” Blaire demands. “Magmar, use Low Kick!”

Your distraction allows Magmar to get in close and hit Onix with a devastating Fighting attack, bringing it down immediately. Shoot…

As you return Onix to its pokeball, you have to consider how to counter this new pokemon of Blaire’s. The sun still beats down on the battlefield, making it hard to focus. Blaire quietly chanting, “Experiment! Experiment!” on the other side of the field doesn’t help either. In the end, you decide…

“Go, Ninetales!”

Blaire is quick to comment as your fiery fox pokemon leaves its pokeball. “Ah! It’s so pretty! You picked a good pokemon, Emilia. Unfortunately, I have a title as the Fire Gym Leader to maintain, so I can’t afford to let you outdo me in terms of firepower.”