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]

Elena's ears perk, and she listens to the singing... It's a lovely song! But thanks to the veil of Safeguard around the field Umbar left earlier, she feels no sleepiness whatsoever.

"Stay awake, Elena!" Gold calls out, then blinks as he remembers the Safeguard. Oh, right, he'd only been trying to safeguard against paralysis, but it works against sleep too. "Uh, good job!" he adds awkwardly. "Now Surf!"

Elena, who was slightly distracted by the singing, nods and summons a wave, riding it down onto Fueco once again. Will it be enough?

[grapetreasure]

[As soon as she watched her Skeledirge singing, Juliana thought she is going to turn things around. But then, she notices something is wrong. Gold's Furret isn't sleepy and she is preparing another Surf.

It isn't long before she sees the Safeguard still surrounding Gold's side. At that point, she realizes one thing.]

Oh, lo arruiné.

[That's all she can say before her fire crocodile is hit with another big wave. Unlike before, it's enough to knock it out as his crown broke and his scaly skin is back to normal.]

Skelidirge is unable to battle! Furret wins!

[Everyone gasps at this while some booed. In her defense, she forgot the Safeguard is still active. If she knew that, she would have immediately used Overheat. She even feels that her Miraidon is shaking its head in dismay at her flub.

Juliana groans at this. She can't believe she made a mistake! Now that her Tera Orb is used up, she knew she has one last trump card in her sleeve.]

So much for my ace. Sorry about that, Fueco. I'll make it up to you later. [She returns her Skeledirge before switching balls. Let's see if I can knock that Furret out of the field.] Pin, use Brick Break!

[Her last Pokemon is a final evolution of Bisharp and it's no surprise everyone gasped to see another new Pokemon. But it didn't waste any time as the shogun-like Steel/Dark-type Pokemon charged in and tries to chop the poor Normal-type with his metallic hand.]

[gold_drum]

Gold grins as Elena is declared the winner. They did it! He still doesn't know what that crystal-y thing was, but it sure looked pretty when it broke apart. Maybe he'll ask Juliana about it once the battle's over.

"Great job, Elena!" Gold cheers.

But then the next Pokemon immediately chops at her, knocking Elena back half across the field. Gold gasps.

"Elena? ...Ah man," he says, shoulders slumping when Elena doesn't get up. He recalls her, then looks at the mystery Pokemon he's up against, eyes sharpening. It's red, but it can't be a fire-type, Juliana wouldn't send another one out immediately after the last one. Based on the edges, steel, maybe? Gym Leader Jasmine from back in Johto was a tough opponent with her steel-types, so Gold has some experience with them.

"Go, Carn!" he calls out, sending out his Meganium. "Razor Leaf!"

Carn bellows as he twirls his neck-flower, sending out razor-sharp leaves to attack Pin.

[grapetreasure]

[With two of her trusted Pokemon knocked out, her only hope in keeping her place in the tournament was none other than her Kingambit. She wasn't surprised at everyone's gasp. She guessed that nobody saw Bisharp's evolution outside of Paldea before.

But now that she's backed into the corner, she isn't playing games anymore. It's time to get serious. Once she saw Gold take out his Meganium, she knew she have to play smart.]

That's not going to work on Pin. Swords Dance to dodge them!

[His Dark/Steel-type Pokemon twirled around from his "seat" in his attempt to avoid the leaves before a red aura surrounded him. Even if some of them hit him, they can only leave a few scratches on his body.]

[gold_drum]

Gold grits his teeth. Hardly any effect... But he can't falter! None of Carn's other moves would have any better effect on a steel-type, so he has to trust in Razor Leaf. It has a high chance of a critical hit, after all! It's their best chance at winning!

"Keep it up, Carn! Razor Leaf!" Gold yells.

Carn keeps sending leaf after leaf at Pin, filling the air with them!

[grapetreasure]

[It seems like Gold isn't planning to stop his Razor Leaf barrage. The more her Kingambit endures it, the more scratches she can see in his metallic body. She can't delay this any longer.]

Alright, Pin! Now use Kowtow Cleave!

[Kowtow Cleave is a Steel-type move that wouldn't be effective against a Grass-type against Gold's Meganium. However, it makes up for how it never misses and it's boosted with Swords Dance. So big damage by bowing and letting his blade helmet hit his starter with no effort.

Unfortunately, he is reaching his limit as most of the leaves became more critical the more he endures it.]

[gold_drum]

Gold cringes as Carn is hit by Kowtow Cleave, and Carn, naturally, is faring even worse. But he's not down, so they still have a chance. And their next move? You guessed it!

"Razor Leaf!!" Gold calls out once again. "You're wearing him down, keep it up!"

Carn, exhausted, barely hanging in there, puts all he has left into this one... last... attack!

[grapetreasure]

[And that attack hits hard! The barrage of leaves is the last nail in the coffin as her Kingambit collapses from his "seat". Everyone grew silent as they stare at the now unconscious Steel/Dark-type. That is until the referee raises the flag to break the silence.]

Kingambit is unable to battle! Therefore, the winner is Gold!

[Everyone erupts in cheers with that declaration of that exciting fight. Juliana, on the other hand, groans as she returns her Pokemon to her Poke Ball. Yet she smiles again as she approaches her opponent.]

That was awesome, Gold. I would have won with my other partner on me, but... [She raises her hand for a handshake.] It's an awesome battle anyway. Gracias!

[gold_drum]

Gold holds his breath, waiting for the Kingambit to get up... But when the referee announces the winner, he releases that breath. And a second afterwards, he breaks into a big grin and runs out onto the field.

"We did it, Carn!" he shouts as he flings himself to hug Carn's neck, laughing. Carn lets out joyful shouts too, jumping around with Gold hanging onto him.

When Juliana approaches, Carn calms down, and Gold lets himself down, looking at Juliana with a smile.

"Yeah, I bet you would've won!" Gold says as he accepts the handshake with a firm but not too tight grip. "It was really close! I think I just won by luck!" Carn makes a disappointed noise, and Gold glances back at him, then at Juliana. "I mean, my Pokemon were strong and it was all thanks to them that we won! But yours were pretty cool too. I've never seen Pokemon like those before!"

[grapetreasure]

[Juliana grins as, after the handshake, she turns to wave at her Miraidon, who is still in the stands disappointed at its Trainer's loss. Yet it roars happily to see her waving at it.]

Maybe in the next event or battle, we'll have a rematch and go all out. I hope you can make it to the finals, Goldy.

[gold_drum]

Gold's eyes follow where Juliana looks out of curiosity, and he spots Miraidon.

"Is that your other partner?" he asks. Somehow, seeing a robotic dragon like that just sitting in the stands and watching is funny.

"Yeah, maybe! But maybe I wanna stop while I'm ahead and say you've never beaten me! ...Dunno what that'd accomplish though. But if there's another tournament with prizes then I'll totally join! Oh, and thanks!" He grins, then blinks. "...Goldy?"

People rarely call him by nicknames, so that surprised him.

[grapetreasure]

Yep! It's weak in that form right now, but it's going to be awesomely strong when it's in battle.

[Miraidon roars again as it briefly puffs the throat wheel in pride.]

Yep. But I can still call you "Gold" if you. Good luck in your next battle.

[And she walks off from the stadium. She is disappointed, sure. But at least she got a good battle for the rest of the tournament.]

[gold_drum]

"Really? Kinda hard to believe it's weak," Gold says as he looks at Miraidon.

"Oh, nah, Goldy's fine I guess? Just surprised me. See you, uh... Julie?" He tries to make a nickname, but realizes it just sounds like he forgot her name. "I mean Juliana! See you next tournament!"

And Gold waves and walks off the stadium, patting Carn on the way back before recalling him into his Pokeball.