Reginald Valerias
Date: June 2
Location: Pokemon Center -> en route to Pokemon Park, Tangelo Island, Orange Archipelago
Pokemon Team: Emeric the Shiny Haunter, Elvira the Munna, Bob the Shedinja, Large Marge the Drifloon, Missy the Misdreavus, Jones the Frillish, Legion the White-Striped Basculin, Gordon the Mankey
WCS Rank: 72,758
Battling: Reginald Valerias (Gordon the Mankey & Emeric the Shiny Haunter) VS Mason Saito (Zosar the Unovan Zorua & Trish the Togetic)
Interactions: Briar Hightower (ThAtGuY101), Adrianne Silvers (Godjacob)
The two Pokemon revealed themselves on Mason's side of the field: A Togetic, and a...
"Z-Zorua?" Reggie's body shivered.
Despite the adorable look of the fox, her gaze was actually chilling. She looked right through him. Maybe it was his massive empathy for Ghost-Types that led him to feel almost dangerously vulnerable and helpless against a Dark-Type, but he never really had good experiences with one. They always freaked him out and - upon sensing his fear - would almost
always make it worse.
None of his Pokemon were suitable for a Dark-Type, but his Haunter was the only one who had something against the Togetic. He'll have to trust his Mankey. He sent out his Haunter, who hovered onto the field, and Mankey stood ready and right beside him.
Mason chuckled. "Alright, let's see how well you do against this challenge, eh? Would be a shaaame if you failed. What gym you going to next?"
"I'm not telling you..." Reggie growled, wondering why this antagonistic motherfucker wanted to know where he was heading.
Mason just shrugged, continuing anyway. "Well, I
did have my sights on Trovita, but looks like I'll just go for Navel Island instead. I already got a badge from Kumquat Island anyway."
Wait... So what WCS rank was he? Reggie didn't even get to see. Reggie decided to say what was on his mind anyway. "Well, fine, we're heading to Mikan Island. And what WCS rank are you?"
Mason laughed. "Oh, you wouldn't believe me. I just got registered a week ago. I'm about 80,000, somewhere around there. But that's not all. I already got sixteen badges elsewhere, just never joined the WCS until recently." He then grinned, and Reggie swore it matched the sneer from the Zorua. "I think I'm out of your league, big boy." Reggie shivered, disgust roiling in his stomach.
The WCS Rotom drone spoke and initiated the start of the battle.
"Emeric, Curse on Togetic." He didn't like the look of that thing. "Gordon, Focus Energy." While he didn't know what moves the Mankey knew, he at least knew he held Focus Energy, most did anyway.
"Zosar, Hone Claws. Trish, Encore on Haunter."
Emeric's ghostly eyes stared down that Togetic, the ghostly emanations from his body hurting him before signing the Togetic to a similar, yet crueler fate. However, the fairy created a sphere of shining energy as the Haunter made his move, and fired it at him, while the Zorua's claws lengthened with dark energy and she slashed them against each other to hone her senses and make herself stronger. The Mankey pumped himself up, focusing on the weak points of the targets as his body shone briefly with red energy.
The Encore sphere hit the Haunter, and Reggie's face paled. The pain that fell onto the Togetic didn't do much to his already rising concern.
"Now, my lovelies, let's focus on that Mankey, yeah? Swagger, Burning Jealousy." Burning Jealousy?!
"Gordon, dodge." The monkey showered himself in sky energy and bounced around, having used Acrobatics to attempt a dodge. However, the Swagger from the swaying and taunting Togetic hit anyway, the confusion setting in as the Mankey lost his momentum and tumbled onto the ground. He tried getting up, especially as his strength increased, but it did him little good. The Zorua's body glowed a fiery red as her jealousy overtook her, and she fired a wave of fire at the Mankey. The poor monkey was beaten back and burned, and Reggie was starting to realize this was an uphill battle.
"Emeric, don't attack!"
"If he doesn't attack, the Encore stays, dearie~. You need to get it out of his system~." Mason cooed mockingly, earning a growl from Reggie. He wasn't even set
for a double battle! Why did he agree???
It wasn't like Emeric could stop himself from performing another Curse. This time, it was targeting the Zorua, the Curse making its mark. The Zorua growled from the pain, as did the Togetic, but the Haunter just barely hovered over the ground. Thanks to stamina training, there was a slim chance Emeric could survive two Curses. But Encore lasted.
"Zosar, Torment. Trish, Life Dew." The Zorua sent a tormenting remark towards the Haunter, causing anger and resentment. Unable to use Curse now that Torment prevented him, he charged the Zorua, even as the Togetic showered himself and his ally with healing water. The Haunter used Struggle, bashing the Zorua, but succumbed to the recoil, his body slumping to the ground.
Returning the Haunter, Reggie looked at his Mankey with concern, but saw the Mankey was beginning to lose it, having gotten out of his confusion quickly. Steam blew out of its swine-like nose and he charged the Zorua, smashing it with a powerful Normal-type attack. If it weren't for the burn, Reggie was sure the Retaliate would have knocked out the Zorua.
"Huh, how cute. Trish, Rock Smash. Zosar, Foul Play." The Zorua jumped back, awaiting for her partner to go first, but the Mankey was not letting it, and Reggie was able to access Gordon's moves from scanning him with his phone.
"Gordon, Cross Chop!" The Mankey's arms became a brick red and he charged the Zorua, smashing it into the ground and incurring a critical hit.
Or... so he thought.
The illusion wore off, the Cross Chop only causing a crater in the ground. The Zorua chittered from the air, and the Togetic rushed at the surprised Mankey's side to deal a crushing blow with his fist, the hit being enough to weaken the Mankey physically. The Zorua then descended onto the Mankey, her body cloaked in darkness as she landed on top of the monkey. Crimson dark energy engulfed them both before an explosion occurred, and the Mankey's body was thrown back towards Reggie.
Mason smirked. "Maaaan... That was pretty rough, bud. I just had one more round of attacks before Trish was down for sure. If you hadn't used Curse to begin with and used a Poison move on Trish, you would have won. Probably."
Reggie
didn't have a Poison move on Emeric... His lip curled in disdain as he returned Gordon, anger boiling within him.
The WCS drone announced the winner, it's usual tone sounding like a mock to Reggie.
WCS Rank:
72,758 > 80,906
Reggie's fist clenched. He
hated losing. He never once liked it. Call it being spoiled but he never lost a match in school either. It was only when he started traveling was when the issue started. As he gathered badges, gyms began to feel more and more of a weight on his mind and shoulders. The familiar stone feeling in his gut became something painful.
And Mason continued, congratulating his two Pokemon before returning them and approaching the irate trainer. "Well now, look who's a sore loser. You should pick and choose your battles wisely, buddy. Don't want to fight someone out of your league just because they
annoyyyed you."
The Ghost specialist glared up at him, fury in his gaze. As the WCS drone flew away, Reggie grumbled. "
Don't call me buddy."
He swung at Mason, who laughed. The punch was a good punch, but it failed to land as Mason was much faster. The 25-year-old grabbed Reggie's arm and spun under it until he was behind Reggie, twisting his arm until it was pinned against his backpack and his other hand on his shoulder. "Man, how much stuff was in here? I'm surprised you got it all to fit. Anyhow..." Mason grinned, Reggie could just feel the smirk burrowing against the back of his head. "You lost, bud. How about taking a chill-pill and not be so mad like your Mankey friend, yeah? Actually, I'm surprised, your newest addition - a Mankey - actually has better anger management than you do. Who wants to fight a sore loser, anyway?"
"Shut up!"
Reggie struggled against his grip, but realized it was futile. Mason's grip was just too strong and he found his leg was kicked under him, making him fall to his knees with a grimace. Mason continued. "Aww, struggle-bug much? Hmph, well, better to get you back to your friends. Can't let them go on without you now~."
Letting go, Reggie quickly got up to look back up at Mason, but the damned Zorua was on his shoulder and caused him to completely disappear. A chill ran down his spine and he booked it to the Pokemon Center, healing his Pokemon with a chill running down his spine. He was as pale as a Galarian Corsola.
Why? Why him? Why did he choose him of all people?
Taking his Pokemon back, he walked back to find Adrianne and Briar had just battled. No matter how well Reggie tried to hide it, he just couldn't help but let the shame enter his face as a perturbed scowl. He approached them, his arms crossed as he tried to soften his expression when he looked at them. "Um... I'm ready now. Can we go?" He sounded slightly impatient, which was pretty impossible to hide. He grimaced, not wanting to send hate or any attitude their way.
He just wanted to focus on anything else that wasn't
him...
