this is the run, we are invincible

[domeinion]

[The days are here, and the Battle Park is all done up for the show. Banners with a weird shield-like symbol announce the Dome-tide tournament, and everything is organized in an orderly fashion. Everyone who signed up will be directed to their place and given a free water and name tag, and spectators will get a program detailing all the matches and locations.

The prizes are... well, something that a weird nerd would think are good prizes. First prize gets a Nugget, second a bunch of EXP candy, and third and fourth get literally just 30 Ulternian Poké Balls each. She had to be talked out of giving you textbooks.

select your team, b yourself, and have fun!]



[HOW IT WORKS

The bracket was seeded with characters who were signed up on the thread linked above for the month's plotting post! Since there were 10 teams and thus four people would have had to play an extra round, I gave those slots mainly to people who signed up multiple characters. You can find the bracket here with all the results, which were done via RNG.

The matches can be threaded out on the post in their toplevels according to the RNGed results, or can be skipped, depending on player preference. There will be a toplevel for rounds 1, 2, 3, and 4, and another for general spectating.

ICly, this runs on the 12th, but backtags until whenever are fine as always! This is a player-run event, so if you need anything, let me know!]

Comments

[gold_drum]

"Aw man... Carn, you did good. Return!" Gold recalls Carn, a bit bummed out. Well, it was the best he could expect, against a flying-type, and a Champion to boot.

He's already decided on his next Pokemon before Ash selects his, and throws his Pokeball as Pikachu's stepping out onto the field.

"Go, Mateo!"

The Umbreon appears and immediately snarls at Pikachu, teeth exposed and fur bristling. They might've fought together side-by-side against a Dunsparce once, but that had no bearing on this! Carn wasn't Mateo's favorite teammate, but he was still a teammate, and Mateo wasn't letting his loss go unavenged!

"Confuse Ray!" Gold commands. Pikachu's probably faster than Mateo, but he'll try to get the first move anyway.

Mateo creates dark orbs from his fur markings, and fires them at Pikachu, trying to confuse him.

[goingallout]

Hearing Gold's first command, Ash acted quickly as he thrusted his hand forward gesturing his partner to move immediately.

"Quick Attack!"

Pikachu ran on all fours and in immense speeds, rushing towards Mateo and through those orbs as they burst upon impact. But Pikachu kept going, and still kept going, until he's close enough and threw a strong headbutt at the Umbreon.

"Yes!" Ash cheered, but quickly his expression shifted when he saw Pikachu on the ground staggering and teetering, affected by Confuse Ray's effect.

Now Pikachu is far more vulnerable, and Ash knew there were no guarantees his partner would be able to make a hit while in his confused state.

[gold_drum]

Gold expected this, so he doesn't falter. As Mateo stumbles and shakes off the effects of the Quick Attack, Gold gives his next order.

"Sand-Attack!" he calls out. It might be a cheap strategy, but unlike Pikachu, Mateo doesn't have strong attacks to rely on, so he has to try and not get hit.

Mateo kicks up sand at Pikachu, which isn't difficult at all thanks to the desert-themed stage.

[goingallout]

There was no time to react while confused. As once sand is pelted into Pikachu's face, he tries to rub it off with his paws and then shake his head. Unfortunately, some of it got into his eyes making it hard for him to see and lowering his accuracy. Ash could only grit his teeth at the outcome.

This isn't good. He better switch-

"Pikaaa!"

Ash could hear Pikachu's determined cry as if telling him he's willing to keep going despite everything. He frowned for a second, but decided to give into his partner's decision.

"In that case, use Thunderbolt!"

Pikachu slapped onto his cheeks, desperately trying to snap himself from his confusion and immediately discharges electricity. But because of his still confused state, instead of aiming towards Mateo, all of that electrical energy spreads around the arena. Good thing the whole ring is just full of sand!

[gold_drum]

"Dodge, Mateo!" Gold calls out.

Mateo easily jumps out of the way of a stray, aimless surge of electricity, and another one too. Gold's glad he took precautions, that amount of power would seriously hurt if it was more controlled. Even if the battle's going his way right now, a single successful attack from Pikachu could turn the tables, so Gold tries not to feel too hopeful yet.

"Good job! Now, Quick Attack!"

Mateo rushes forward to headbutt Pikachu at great speed, just as Pikachu did earlier.

1/2

[goingallout]

"Get back, Pikachu!" Ash commanded.

However, Pikachu's response was far too sluggish as his vision blurred and the world around him swirled. And before he could even make a move, Mateo's attack hits and it was enough to throw Pikachu to the ground.

"Pikachu!" he cried out, hoping his partner would get back up again.

He didn't.

[goingallout]

Now seeing that Pikachu was out cold, Ash walked towards the battlefield to where he laid then carefully picked him up and held him in his arms. Gold might notice that he doesn't even recall the Mouse Pokemon back into his ball instead.

"You gave it your all out there buddy, so take a good rest." he said softly.

Soon he set Pikachu down under a tree nearby before returning to position.

[gold_drum]

Gold holds his breath when Pikachu goes down... and releases it in a startled laugh when he doesn't get up!

"We did it?" he asks quietly, then breaks into a grin and runs up to Mateo. "We did it!" He kneels down to hug Mateo, who lets out a cheerful kind of growl. ...Then Gold notices Ash picking up his Pikachu all somberlike and kind of awkwardly coughs into his fist, turning his expression more serious as he stands up. "I mean... It's a bit too soon to celebrate." Mateo nods, and Gold pats him. "Let's keep this up."

He does notice Ash not using a Pokeball, and remembers how his Pikachu's always been out when he's met Ash. So Pikachu doesn't use a Pokeball at all, then? Makes sense. Gold's always thought the non-translucent Pokeballs from other worlds were weird, so it makes sense some Pokemon wouldn't like them. How do Pokemon even see what's going on outside from those Pokeballs?

While musing about this, Gold returns to his designated area, and sharpens up.

"Let's keep up the pace, Mateo! No matter what Pokemon he's sending out next, we can do it!"

And as soon as Ash's next Pokemon is out and the battle starts again, Gold gives his next command.

"Confuse Ray!" Because using the same strategy twice in a row can't go wrong, can it?

[goingallout]

Once returning to his position, Ash had already decided on who to send out next. Pikachu may be out, but he still has four other Pokemon (and one paralyzed bird) that he's sure are raring to go.

"Infernape, I choose you!"

The fire-type lets out a roar upon making his appearance. And seeing that Gold wasted no time to make his next move, Ash could see what he could do to counter this move.

"Dig your way through the ground, Infernape!" he ordered.

Infernape then quickly dug open a hole on the ground and tunneled through the underground, completely missing those lights. For a short time, the Pokemon is completely hidden, and it's unknown where he'll come out and strike. And if Gold makes his next move, Ash gives out another command.

"Now! Mach Punch!"

A fist suddenly burst from the ground underneath Mateo's feet, slugging it towards the Umbreon's stomach.

1/2

[gold_drum]

Dig? Aw, crap. Gold never knows how to deal with that.

Mateo's Confuse Ray fizzles into nothing, and both Pokemon and trainer look around the battlefield, trying to see where Infernape will reappear from.

"Uh, when it pops up again, Quick Attack!" Gold commands.

Mateo nods and gets ready, but in the next moment the Mach Punch knocks him off his feet and into the air.

Gold gasps as he watches Mateo get flung up in the air, then land with a thud and a puff of sand. Mateo twitches, kicking up some sand, but doesn't get up again.

"Ahh... Dang it," Gold says, gritting his teeth, then exhaling a breath to calm himself. "You did good, Mateo." He recalls the Umbreon into his Pokeball.

2/2

[gold_drum]

Now, which Pokemon should he send out next? He takes a calculating look at Infernape. Fire-type for sure, and uses fighting-type moves. He knows which Pokemon he wants to send out, but... Is now the right time? Umbar's already fatigued after the last two matches... Ah, whatever, he'll have to send him out eventually anyway.

"Come out, Umbar!"

The Lugia appears above the field, spreading his wings in a magnanimous fashion.

"Aeroblast!" Gold calls out, pointing at Infernape.

Umbar gathers a ball of energy in his mouth and releases it, blasting Infernape with a beam of concentrated wind energy.

[goingallout]

As Ash praised his Infernape for a job well done, the celebrations died down real fast when Gold sent out his next Pokemon. Ash's mouth opened agape. Both he and his Infernape marvelled at the Lugia at first, really feeling the pressure of his presence -- the same kind he felt when he saw Umbar being used in Gold's previous matches.

And before he could even utter even a single word, Infernape was instantly blown away by Umbar's attack, flying away from the field until he hits the ground. Luckily he managed to pick himself back up, but had sustained a lot of damage from that attack that his flaming mane began to burn brighter and bigger -- activating its ability, Blaze.

Then he formed a smirk on his face, as a sudden boost of confidence filled him.

"I was hoping you'd send your Lugia out!" Ash said excitedly, "Use Flamethrower!"

Infernape then breathed out a large jet of fire towards Lugia's direction.

[gold_drum]

Gold grins when he sees Ash's reaction. That sense of awe whenever he brings out Umbar always gives Gold a rush, a feeling of power, and pride in his Pokemon.

He should've expected Ash's Pokemon wouldn't go down that easily, and he really should've expected Ash would just get excited at the chance to face Umbar. Gold's grin tightens into something a little more feral, more teethy.

Oh, this is fun. This is why people like Pokemon battles so much, isn't it? Because there's people like Ash out there, whose enthusiasm is infectious.

Umbar grimaces at the Flamethrower, but holds his ground, or rather, remains in the air, using his wings to protect himself.

"Umbar! Gust!" Gold commands. He has a feeling Umbar's fatigued from so many Aeroblasts in these last few battles, so he'll use a quick lighter attack to give him time to breathe. And hopefully, it should blow away some of Infernape's flames too.

The Lugia flaps his wings to blow a gust of wind at Infernape, which inevitably blows some sand in the air as well.