ROUND 1: Jen vs Mishelle

[Angelness]

Jen using Dasher and Shimmer; verus Mishelle using Blast and Aynok.

You agree on single or double battle, and whether or not there are items. Winner will go on. Loser will receive the consolation prize.

[Jeniella (Jen)]

Jen grinned broadly as she stepped into the arena, her eyes gleaming with joy and excitement. This was her first real arena battle, in fact, it was her first battle with another trainer. She took in a breath and let it out, tapping her foot slightly as she waited for her opponent to show up.

[Alemaru]

The light that flooded her determined brown eyes immediately made her squint, but Mishelle blocked the sun out with a raised arm and continued forward.
"Wow! People!" She said, looking up and around the arena. Honestly, she hadn't really expected anyone to come.
Were her pokemon ready?
Taking a minute to analyze the battlefield (dirt... Oh goody), she found the supposed spot where she would stand. Maybe she was wrong. Oh well, a judge or something would tell her.
The past battles had prepared her and her pokemon for this. Their bond was a lot stronger since they first started the journey. When it came down to the battle, they had started out as a team. Well, thought Mishelle, they would end like one, win or lose. She had told all of her pokemon about this, Blast was excited, Aynok mumbled something about 'humans, always fighting.'. The thought gave Mishelle an inside laugh, which she was glad she felt. Laughing and crying was good for you. And now, she would need to be calm. Just by the way her opponent carried herself and her expression, Mishelle could tell she was strong. It made her wonder what pokemon she had. Bah, it didn't matter. If Blast and Aynok were strong, it didn't matter.
Aynok's attitude troubled her. Maybe he wasn't the fighting type? Mishelle tried to push the thought away. Looking at the trainer, she even felt a little fear.
At what? Losing? Think of how the other trainer feels. Mishelle pondered, but then let her emotions come. Gut instinct was a helpful thing. Even fear was good for you. It told you what to do.
Looking at the trainer reminded her of the small advantages. Mishelle wanted her pokemon to know what was coming, to get an idea of what they were facing. With that in mind, Mishelle released Blast and Aynok, who stood on either side of her.
Blast quivered with what Mishelle figured was a bunch of emotion, but he had a smile, so she knew he was ready. To her surprise, Aynok ruffled his feathers anxiously, like he wanted to fight. It was then Mishelle was sorry she ever doubted him.
Blast was feeling scared, excited, nervous, anxious, willing, and more. It was a weird bunch of emotion. Normally, he'd go into battle without a question. Mishelle had chosen a Squirtle, and it was mere chance that they met. But he was glad of it. And he had complete trust in Aynok, who may just have turned out to be his battle partner. He would see.
Of all times he wanted to do something for Mishelle, now was the most. He was afraid to lose, but then told himself that if he believed in himself, Aynok, and Mishelle, then he would not lose. The trio had gone over plans, with Bluze watching and listening so she could learn.
Blast wondered vaguely why she had sent them out when it obviously wasn't time, but then he knew. The opposing trainer looked tough. It was simple for him to understand; Mishelle wanted him to be prepared. So he watched the girl and tried to figure her out.
Aynok felt a cool breeze flow past his feathers. It was calming, like being in the sky on a cloudless day, so high nothing could be above you but stars. And then, you could see everything below.
He forced himself to give half a mind to watch the battle, but knew he should calm himself this way so he would be more than focused when the time came. He wanted to prove himself to Mishelle, not that he thought she didn't like him, he just wanted to show he wasn't lazy. Peering at the trainer opposite Mishelle, he realized what was at stake here. It was more than just some prize. It was pride, experience, and the pursuit of dreams.
Dreams are at stake. Mishelle thought, subconsciously feeling her mind connect with her two pokemons'. She didn't know how it happened, or why, but it was good, it was calm, and it was magical, so she embraced it. She had a feeling this would be a good battle. It would be tiring and challenging, requiring the most discipline and determination, teamwork, skill, and heart. The winners would be those that had all that and so much more.
Meaning, Mishelle thought, That even those who lose are winners. She felt her soul change, she knew it had from the day she first saw Blast come out from his pokeball, Bluze hatch from her egg, and Aynok flap up to stay with them on their journey to the Center. She felt a deep entwining of the minds and hearts of her pokemon and her, and knew that it could only be love.
But she would not let those things change her, or make her bad in any way. And so, Mishelle walked up to Jen with a smile, a real, genuine smile that showed so much and contained so much more. And then she spoke, wanting it to be quick, fearing that f she shook hands or something, this trainer would feel the sweat in them. And that would take away some of the pride; Mishelle wondered since when she had cared, and why it mattered so much now. Somewhere, deep inside, she knew the answer, she found it within her pokemon. "Hey, I'm Mishelle. My pokemon are Blast the Squirtle and Aynok the Spearow. I believe your name is Jen, from the postings? Good luck, and I hope we have a good battle." Without waiting for anything, Mishelle turned and walked back to her pokemon. She hoped she hadn't seemed rude by not waiting for a reply, but then again, most people wouldn't even go up and give a greeting. Even if Jen thought of her as rude, that was okay. The only thing that mattered was how she thought of herself and how her pokemon did. And because they seemed to like her, Mishelle figured she wasn't that bad. The thought normally would have sent a laugh up her throat, but the other feelings crushed it somewhere in her stomach.
Mishelle looked at her pokemon. Love. That was all it could be, all it would be, and all it would remain as, until the end of time.
And right then, Mishelle knew they were ready.

[Jeniella (Jen)]

( Wow...Awesome post, Alemaru!^^)

Jen smiled as the trainer approached her and only nodded in response as the other girl walked away, for she was getting just a little too nervous to speak. She eyed the trainer's pokemon carefully, thinking that they looked well-raised. She gulped and tightened her bandanna around her head, as she dug out two pokeballs from her back.

"Go Dasher and Shimmer!" she said quietly, so only she could her herself. Dasher was the first to appear, and the Stantler snorted and pawed the ground of the arena. She seemed quite eager to battle, and Jen was glad. Shimmer appeared and looked around carefully, surveying her surroundings with the utmost care. Jen waved them over, and she knelt down, giving them a small pep-talk.

"Okay you two, this is gonna be a tough battle, so no matter what happens, I'll always be proud of you. I won't let you two down, but promise me you'll do the same." she said firmly, her eyes shining with determination. Dasher smiled and nudged her trainer softly with her nose.

<Don't worry. We'll do great.> she said, licking Jen on the cheek. Shimmer nodded in agreement. Jen laughed and wiped her cheek off as she stood, turning to the trainer named Mishelle.

"It's nice to meet you, Mishelle! My name's Jen, a you seem to know, and I'll be using my Stantler, Dasher, and my Shiny Horsea, Shimmer. Good luck to you too! Do you like the idea of a single battle with no items?" she called over to her opponent, as Dasher stood beside her silently, and Shimmer yelled a 'good luck!' to Mishelle's pokemon.

[Angelness]

((This... Is going to be an awesome battle. I can just tell. Mreh, I think I pitted the best roleplayers against each other xP And all by accident of pokemon levels... This one could take a while, but hey, who cares?))

[Alemaru]

{Holy Flub Monkey... How did that happen?}

Mishelle was relieved. She had almost forgotten about double battles, being way too nervous about the simple singles. I have to be able to concentrate on more than one thing as a trainer. She thought, then tried to set the thought in a corner of her mind. No items was fine, that was what her pokemon were kind of used to.
Kind of? Kind of is not good enough! Look at those pokemon! Mishelle shut her eyes tightly, mentally pounding herself. Okay, Mishelle, you're starting to talk dictator. No dictator, more free-team mindish thing. Gah, what am I saying? This is getting too complicated! Though most people didn't realize it, the most complicated things branched from the simplest of ones. A single battle, no items. But it created a whole new world of possibilities good and bad. She would have to think about keeping an eye on Blast and Aynok's health and keeping it in check as well as giving the opponent everything they had, the best plans, attacks, and so on.
Okay, no pressuring them too much. They're not even level fifteen. Lower expectations and go with the flow.
Mishelle gave the best sigh she could as she opened her eyes, looked at the fluffy white cumulus clouds, and let all her thoughts go away. She tried to subconsciously reach out to her pokemon to give them that same calmness. Because with it, came something that would be a tremendous ally.
She could feel it. The three of them were in a state of total calm and completely and utterly focused. She wanted to convey one last message to her pokemon, however.
The stadium around us doesn't matter. The screaming people don't matter. Just your opponent and her trainer, that's all we live for. This moment.
And at the same time, she felt her pokemon respond, with a sort of soft warmth that said "We're ready and with you."
Aynok stood up tall on his legs, spreading out his wings slowly. It almost seemed like he was meditating, holding his wings like that, watching who he already knew would be his opponent. This was what birds were good at. In ancient times, hunting in the skies for prey, to hear the smallest squeaks and movements of a tiny Ratatta. His ancestors were built for that exact sort of focus, and he searched the deep caverns of instinct to find that settling quietness of the hunter.
Blast closed his eyes slowly, listening. He lowered himself to all fours, where he could feel vibrations on the ground better. It was what turtles did. He knew they would feel something approaching faster before they could turn and see it. It was that that made them immediately withdraw into their shell, before harm could be done. Time was life energy, and life energy was... Well, it explained itself. And deep, in every living being, was the will to survive. Life was to survive. Perhaps that was it's meaning. And thought his life was not on the line, there was much more at stake. He knew. Aynok and Mishelle knew. And with animal instinct, he could sense that the other girl and her pokemon knew it too.
Mishelle gave a replying nod to Jen, letting a soft smile grow on her face, relaxed. And because words were sometimes more powerful than actions, she said, in a firm, agreeing voice, "That's fine. I have a feeling I know who's battling who."
She nodded down to her pokemon, and Aynok withdrew his wings to half-open, and stepped out into the field.

[Jeniella (Jen)]

Jen grinned as the Spearow stepped onto the field, for she knew exactly who was going first.

"Okay Shimmer, you're up. Do your best." Jen said, nodding at the Shiny Horsea. She squeaked in reply and hopped onto the field, her dark skin shining in the light. She faced her opponent and stood silently, waiting for orders. Jen smirked slightly as she looked over at Mishelle, nodding slightly.

"You can start, if you'd like." she said plainly, excitement bursting from her being as she tried to contain it. Dasher stood next to her trainer, watching the battle with anxious eyes as her feet shifted impatiently.

[Alemaru]

Mishelle didn't nod. She knew that Jen knew what was going to happen. Mishelle whispered something inaudible to even herself, but in her mind, the message was soft and clear. Just as we practiced.
Aynok knew there wasn't actually any real serious 'combo' practices involved. Those took more than one move, and that took time to do before the opponent hit you. You had to meet certain conditions that they, at their level, were not able to cast. Aynok knew what Mishelle meant was to remember past experiences and prepare for new ones. Already, they were doing more mental training than physical. Maybe it helped, maybe not. They would see.
Aynok steadied himself to a center at which, if he thought fast enough, his body could follow quickly out of harm's way. And harm was more than just health going down, as they hoped, subconsciously, that they would prove. Aynok clacked his beak softly once, making sure the Sharp Beak was secure. Then, he looked at the Horsea and narrowed his eyes at it, starting the battle of with a Leer.
Sure, it was 'cooler' to start off with a physical attack, but it could be their downfall. Who cared about how 'cool' a battle was? That was for coordinators and contests and such. This was a battle. Either thing was demanding, but a battle was to give everything you had, not to be flashy. It was now that the line of victory was taught and secure, waiting to be ripped open by the one who would come out on top.
Neither pokemon nor trainer was thinking about further upcoming battles, simply because there was a fifty percent chance they wouldn't make it. That pushed them to focus harder on this, so much that you could hear the breathing coming from the pokemon if you could stand next to them and block the roar of the crowd.
Aynok wasn't surprised when he heard a soft whinny. He had expected Mishelle to release Bluze, who stood further back behind her trainer. Bluze was there to watch, so she could learn from the experience. After the first welcoming-of-fresh air-type-whinny, she stood silent, feeling the incredible pressure now on the two trainers.
Aynok tuned out everything except for Shimmer, Jen, and Mishelle as he waited for a reply to his Leer.
Here we go.

[Jeniella (Jen)]

Jen smirked as Aynok picked Leer as his first move, as Shimmer winced slightly as she was hit. She was a tad surprised that the battle started with a non-physical attack, but it didn't matter right now. She gave an encouraging nod towards the Horsea. Shimmer nodding back and took in a deep breath, before sending a huge mass of black smoke at the Spearow; a Smokescreen. Jen blinked, for she was slightly shocked at how big the cloud of smoke was, but, then again, all pokemon surprised her at one point or another. Dasher sniffed and pawed the ground eagerly, wanting to battle so badly at the moment.

[Alemaru]

Aynok squawked in surprise, the diffusion was extremely fast. He instinctively started flapping his short wings, lifting himself into the air. The motion of his wings blew the smoke away, but it was too late: Aynok's accuracy had been lowered. But the plus side of this was that he was in his natural environment, in the sky. He would have to force himself out of it soon, though. But that was okay. Battles weren't without a minor- or major- sacrifice, sometimes. This would just have to be one of those scenarios.
Aynok turned his wings downward and pointed his beak at Shimmer, directing the dive. The Sharp Beak glistened in the light as he went for a Peck attack in determination.

[Jeniella (Jen)]

Shimmer smirked slightly as the Spearow sped towards her, and she didn't move a muscle. Jen's eyes widened as the Aynok picked up speed, wondering what the little Horsea had planned. At the last second, Shimmer crouched down and dove to the side, dodging the Spearow's aerial attack. She then pointed her long mouth at the bird pokemon, releasing a jet of Bubbles at it. Jen smiled as she witnessed her pokemon's quick thinking, for that would make this battle very interesting.

[Alemaru]

The sides of Aynok's mouth twitched in a smirk. He had seen that one coming, and expected just that, which was why he didn't actually fold his wings.
A second before impact, he turned them upward, feeling a heavy jolt on his muscles as they took the shock of the flare, but in turn, he stared cruising just above the ground before feeling his wings suddenly get very heavy. They were wet- he had been hit with Bubble!
Crud! Crud crud crud!
He had lost the last time his wings were dampened, and it wasn't fun. He couldn't fly right, and a bird without wings was prey. And being prey was not good.
Aynok stretched out his wings, looking at them. And something clicked. A bird without wings was prey. But he still had his wings...
Aynok knew he couldn't fly high, so he jumped into the air, flapping madly and spraying water everywhere. He reached two feet above ground and started flying at that height at the Horsea, with another Peck ready at hand.
Hm, so losing wasn't that bad! It helped you out in the future.

{Sorry, terrible post! And I actually did figure that you would try to dodge to the side, so...}

[Jeniella (Jen)]

Jen bit her lip as Shimmer was hit with the Peck, but smiled as the little water pokemon bounced back up, ready for more. The Horsea growled and spun around, using a Smokescreen. The black ink surrounded Shimmer, hopefully concealing her from the Spearow. She then kept her eyes locked on his position, ready to move and attack when necessary.