Clearing the Infestation [COMPLETE]

[Deleted]

	Almost imediately after exiting the pokemon lab, Gwendolyn's X-Gear began beeping, before automatically playing off the announcement of what she already knew -- there was a swarm of anorith in town. She may have been fresh out of the lab, but she had no intention of passing up on her first job. She paused to grab one of the poke balls that were clipped to the strap of her shoulder bag, and released her newly acquired Mawile. The Mawile looked up calmly at Gwendolyn. "I'm honored to have been chosen to join you, sensei." The Steel type said, bowing her head to her. The Mawile's voice was strong, but still clearly feminine. She gave off a bit of a Japanese warrior vibe. Gwendolyn nodded her head in return, though wasn't entirely positive of the correct way to return the greeting. Sensei, she knew meant teacher, which was fitting enough. "I'm glad you are pleased. If you aren't bothered, would you like it if I named you Sakura?" She asked. She wasn't really an expert on japan or anything, but she knew the name meant cherry blossom. Sakura smiled. "It means cherry blossom. It's pretty. It might just fool our enemies in underestimating me!" She said optimistically, her lips curling into a modest smile, though the giant mouth protruding from the back of her head seemed to smile a lot more. Gwen smiled a bit as well. It might have been a long shot to find an enemy who knew enough to know what the name meant, but not enough to see past such a ruse, but it was a pleasant way to think about it. She then took the second ball from her shoulder bag, and released her second pokemon, the charmander. The fire lizard appeared, and have Gwendolyn another suspicious look, before crossing it's arms. Gwen tilted her head at the fire type, but for the life of her, she couldn't figure out what it was expecting from her. "Why do you look at me like that? Are you unsatisfied with me?" Gwen asked the Charmander. "Maybe." The Charmander responded vaguely. Gwen decided that was definitely yes, though the fire lizard continued on before she could ask him to elaborate. "Are you satisfied with me? Regional starters are never the first choice given." He asked bluntly. Gwen's expression was as unreadable as ever. "I wouldn't have chosen you if I didn't want you, and I'll do my best as I would with all my pokemon to train you, so long as you are willing. Otherwise, I'll let you return to Professor Oak if that is what you want." Gwen answered plainly. She of course, would not force any pokemon to stay with her if they really didn't want to. It was disappointing to think that such an issue could pop up among one of her starters, though. The Charmander gave Gwen a long hard stare, before shrugging. "We'll see." It said, standing firmly where he was. He wasn't going to be immediately impressed by this strange woman. It was comforting though, to know he had the choice, and maybe she might turn out better than he thought? Gwen nodded. It seemed that it would just be a matter of proving herself to the charmander. That, she could do. Otherwise, hopefully she'd at least have some time to fill up her team before he decided to leave. "Very well. Are you okay with the name Ignis?" She went on, giving the same opportunity to accept his name, as she had done with Sakura. The Charmander nodded once, though he didn't show any sort of joy about it as Sakura had. "My name is Gwendolyn, though I'm okay with Gwen." Gwendolyn said, finishing off their little introduction. "Now it seems there is already an urgent mission for us. A bunch of Anorith are invading town. Any qualms about getting straight to work here?" Gwen questioned. She might have taken things a bit slow, but given the opportunity, she thought it would do them well to get straight into work. "Anorith? Childs play. What say you Ignis? Are you afraid of some little bugs?" The Mawile taunted jokingly. Ignis didn't really seem to think the Mawile was that funny though, and simply snorted in her face. "Let's just get on with it." The Charmander huffed, lashing his tail irritably. If anything, he could at least take his irritation out on the insects. "Take it easy you two. You will need to work with each other." Gwen warned as the three of them set out towards the beach area. Hopefully it wouldn't take them too long to find those Anorith. It shouldn't, if the swarm was so bad that they needed to call every trainer in town to deal with them. -------------- Gwendolyn is searching for the invading Anorith! +1 Happiness for Ignis (In Party) +1 Happiness for Sakura (In Party)
Words: 785
Tagged: Mod	Credits: Aquarius of BTN

[Ula]

 It didn't take long for Ms. Steele's quarry to show up. A pair of anorith quickly progressed across the field, catching sight of the woman and her team right off the bat. Little demons, they were, and with a temper to match. The first one, a bit larger than its companion, urged its friend on with a wave of its shiny claw. It knew the ropes around a battle and might pose a greater threat than expected.

As the second anorith took to charging on stubby legs, the first began to focus all energy on its shell. Using a delicate process of shifting nutrients here and there, its shell grew a tad thicker than before. Its claws clacked together in pleasure, a watery voice chittering its glee. Just a few more moments and it will be unstoppable....maybe.

Its friend, sufficiently called the 'meat-shield' by the larger one, hissed out a war-cry. The large, misplaced eyes narrowed in on the Mawile, completely ignoring the Charmander and the mercenary. Though it was less experienced, it felt the backwards pokemon was a bigger threat than the mangy lizard and human. After all, a wave of its claw at the woman would surely send her running like the fisherman. One pincer came forward to snap at the air just beyond Sakura's face. The second danced at the anorith's side like a coiled snake.

Meanwhile, a third arthropod slowly made its approach. It was less confident than the rest which showed in its hesitation to join in. Instead, it stood off to the side with a shuffling step every now and then. It brought its claws closer to its face as if to hide behind them though nothing was really coming for it. Hopefully it wasn't just playing the part of a coward in order to catch Gwen off guard later on.

-------------------
3 anorith appeared!

Anorith 1 used harden!
Anorith 2 is snapping at Sakura!
Anorith 3 is...slowly joining the battle.
-------------------

[Deleted]

	The three of them weren't walking for very long when they found exactly what they had been looking for. Two Anorith had spotted them and were making quick progress toward them, while a third was taking a longer time getting there. "Be ready." Gwendolyn instructed her pokemon as their foes approached. Both Sakura and Ignis took a step forward, keeping a firm gaze on their opponents. It didn't take long for one of the anthropods to get offensive, clawing at Sakura's face. The mawile didn't avoid the hit, but the normal type move wasn't very effective against the steel type anyway. "Nice try! You'll have to do better than that!" Sakura jeered at the Anorith, not that the thing would understand her or anything, but saying it still felt good. "Sakura, respond with Iron Head." Gwendolyn instructed. She was well aware of the other Anorith raising it's defenses, but she paid it no mind. It might be a bit tougher to beat once she got to it, but she found it more imperative to take out the first one quickly before the third finally arrived and made the playing field a little less even. "Ignis, use growl and lower their offenses. Try to stay with Sakura." She then instructed the Charmander. Sakura wasted no time, once the order was given. Her head glowed slightly as it hardened, and she charged head first at the Anorith that had attacked her to deliver the blow. Ignis, though not too happy about playing support, conceded anyway and began growling at his opponents. ---------- Sakura was hit by Anorith 1's scratch! It wasn't very effective... Sakura is using Iron Head on Anorith 1! Ignis used growl on Anorith 1 & 2! +1 Happiness for Ignis (In Party) +1 Happiness for Sakura (In Party)
Words: 256
Tagged: Mod	Credits: Aquarius of BTN

[Olive]

The Anorith squealed as it it was sent flying by Sakura's attack. Dust puffed up where the Pokemon slid across the ground. Goggled eyes wincing in pain, the creature hoisted itself up and began hardening its shell, which, upon closer examination, was a bit cracked from the super effective attack.

Ignis' growl took Anorith 1 aback some, but the others ignored his call and continued their move. The second Anorith made a twist from Gwen and took a powerful snap at Ignis' tail. The creature held on tight and was not going to be easily removed. Anorith 3 seemed to dig its underbelly into the ground, leaving only its shell, claws, and eyes exposed. Hm, what a genius tactic. Guess they're not all quite so dumb eh?

---

Anorith 1 was hit by Iron Head! Super Effective!
Anorith 1 used Harden.
Anorith 1's attack fell.
Anorith 2 clamped to Charmander's tail!

[Deleted]

	"Mawile!" Sakura grunted in satisfaction after she successfully sent the Anorith flying, and causing some very visible damage. If things kept going like this, they'd have these Anorith beat in no time flat! Unfortunately though, Ignis hadn't managed to keep his teammate between him and their opponents, as Gwen had told him to do, and the second Anorith had gotten by, and managed to get a hold on his tail. The Charmander shrieked in fury, and immediately began whipping his tail around, lashing the Anorith with it's flaming tip. Perhaps it wasn't such a bright idea to grab onto a tail that was on fire? Gwen observed the battle, satisfied with Sakura's attack. Unfortunately though, Ignis was struggling to keep up. It was an unfortunate reality fighting against pokemon who were resistant to the only offensive move he knew. She didn't have to tell him anything though, the Charmander was already acting on it, lashing the Anorith with the flaming tip. Either the Anorith would have to let go, or otherwise face some very serious burns. She could have sent Sakura to help get it off sooner, but she believed that it wouldn't hang on for too long and she wanted to hit the other one while it was weakened, and hopefully get one attack closer to finishing it off, if it didn't faint from this attack already. It was unlikely that Sakura would be able to help Ignis anyway without hurting the Charmander in the process anyway. "Sakura, Iron head again. Same target." She ordered, and the Mawile quickly went in for a second attack on the hardening Anorith. Gwen then turned to the third Anorith which seemed to have finally arrived, finding it digging itself into the ground. Hiding his weak underbelly? Maybe. But if it actually wanted to do any damage, it would have to get back up and actually go after one of it's possible targets, who were presently too preoccupied with the other two to be actively going after this one. As for Gwen, she stared it down while standing out of the range of it's claws. Maybe if she could hold it's attention she could keep it out of the fight long enough for Sakura to even the odds. Without much else to do though, she dug her boot into the ground and kicked a wave of dirt on top of the Anorith. Maybe it would hurt the bug's vision? Or perhaps the Anorith would think she was trying to help bury it. ---------- Ignis was grabbed by Anorith 2! Ignis started lashing it's tail flame at Anorith 2! Sakura is using Iron Head on Anorith 1! Gwen used sand attack on Anorith 3? +1 Happiness for Ignis (In Party) +1 Happiness for Sakura (In Party)
Words: 415
Tagged: Mod	Credits: Aquarius of BTN

[Olive]

Aha! That was it. Mawile's attack took Anorith right out. Unfortunately, the little shrimp managed to cut Sakura's cheek pretty badly in the process.

Still, that's one out of three down. Ignis' bug wasn't doing much better. With one last flick of his fiery tail, the creature's side fins caught fire! Normally this would have been a great thing, but there was one problem. When the Charmander flicked the Pokemon off, he accidentally flicked it to Mawile's horn-jaw. Being made of steel, the appendage conducted the burn quite well.

A quiet hiss whispered from the Anorith taking Gwen's dirt. And, of course, it came with another surprise. Its eyes, now filled with dirt, narrowed at Gwen as if it was taking aim. Probably because it was. Unfortunately, Gwen's plan backfired. Anorith shot an unusually large stream of water from an origin between its claws and eyes, presumably the mouth... But it struck Ignis instead of the trainer. Ouch. Seems like this team is going to need some serious team-building.

---

Anorith 1 fainted!
Anorith 2 is burned!
Anorith 3's accuracy fell!
Anorith 3 used Water Gun on Ignis! Super Effective!
Mawile is burned!

(( Mawile & Charmander gain 5 EXP each ))

[Deleted]

	After another successful iron head, the Anorith was down. The bug's final scratch had landed, but all the same it was ineffective against the steel type Mawile. Pleased, Sakura jumped up and cheered for herself a bit for her victory. Unfortunately time for cheering was not something she had, and she paid dearly for her inattention to the remaining Anorith by receiving a flaming Anorith straight to her maw. "Illlle!" She screeched, as she immediately whipped the burning bug off her, this time sending it flying in the direction of the third Anorith. Ignis, unfortunately had little time to apologize, as not too long after he had finally freed himself of that wretched bug's claws, he suddenly received a face full of water gun. "Charr!" The Charmander growled furiously as he jumped back away from the stream of water. Unfortunately, the damage was done, but at the same time, the Ignis' tail flame suddenly erupted, growing twice in size while his eyes glowed with an erie flame. Without waiting for an order, he approached the third anorith and once he was in range, he breathed a cluster of embers at the bug. Gwen meanwhile, watched as the battle more or less took an undesirable turn. Ignis had accidentally hurt Sakura, probably doing more damage than the Anorith were doing with their meager scratching, and apparently kicking dirt at the third Anorith hadn't really done much because it still managed to aim a direct hit on Ignis. Bad... luck? She could only think. She hadn't really expected the Anorith to know water type moves. The announcement had reported that the Anorith were all level 1. Well, she supposed they couldn't have been certain about every single one of them. Still, they were down one Anorith, and judging by Ignis' sudden use of Ember, it looked like defeating the first bug had been enough to level her pokemon up. Blaze was a bonus too, that would increase the strength of the fire type attack, though being the double edged sword it was, it also meant the Charmander likely wouldn't be able to take too many more hits this battle. She'd have to finish this soon before Ignis was taken down. "Sakura, use astonish on the third anorith." She instructed. Sakura nodded, turning her attention to the third and apparently stronger of the Anorith. Once Ignis had finished attacking the bug, she jumped between them suddenly, displaying her jaw to the bug which curled into an eerie sneer as dark shadows hovered all around it. If it worked, in addition to the further damage, there was also the chance that it would cause the anorith to flinch and leave itself open to another attack. ---------- Ignis' level increased to 2! Ignis learned Ember and Smokescreen! Sakura's level increased to 2! Sakura learned Fake Tears! Ignis was hit by water gun! It's super effective! Ignis' ability Blaze activated! It's fire type moves do 50% more damage! Ignis used Ember on Anorith 3! Sakura was hit by scratch! It wasn't very effective... Sakura was hit by the burning anorith! It was super effective! Sakura used astonish on Anorith 3! +1 Happiness for Ignis (In Party) +1 Happiness for Sakura (In Party)
Words: 447
Tagged: Mod	Credits: Aquarius of BTN

[SoJasp]

The second Anorith could not get a break today, it seemed. Tossed like a proverbial ball right at his own team mate, he cried out startled as he flew- the Doppler effect making his horrid scream almost humorous to the more sadistic of people. Colliding with the third Anorith , the second was at least cool enough from the air flight that what would have been a transmissible burn was not to the third- lucky him- sort of considering he still got all but tackled by a stupid team mate- ok maybe the other was stupid but they were in the middle of the battle and he could say what he wanted- or at least think it.

The third Anorith flicked his entire form in one obscure motion, his armor shell grinding against the second’s until the other could get off. Just as soon as this was the case, however, the Charmander had stepped forwards and released a package of fiery embers right at him. JAshdjkashdasdh. The Anorith flailed at being hit feeling a burn he probably should have gotten from being hit with the second. The Astonish that hit the third shortly thereafter had a chance of making him flinch- but it seemed the group just had no luck today as that was not the case. While a tad fidgety and certainly having taken on some damage, the third Anorith was not out! Giving a rather loud battle cry, he released another Water Gun at Ignis. Unfortunately even with his accuracy lowered, the Anorith seemed to know where to shoot in that moment- or maybe it was just his luck.

The second Anorith by this time was considering turning tail and running. This was becoming too much to handle and he hurt and this burn hurt and he was tired of being treated like nothing more than a flying projectile and- …wait he still needed to battle to then run away! Hit and run! That would work! Charging at neither Ignis nor Sakura, the third Anorith went for Gwen instead hoping to catch everyone off guard and maybe leave an opening wherein he could then turn and run.

----

Anorith 3 is not about to give up and has delved out a Water Gun.
Anorith 2 is so done with this and is making ditch efforts by attacking the trainer instead of her pokemon.

[Deleted]

	After the onslaught of attacks, the water gun Anorith was unfortunately, still standing. Unfortunate, and it didn't even flinch from Sakura's astonish! Well still, another attack like that, Gwen was sure they could bring it down. They just needed to survive long enough until they had that opportunity. The third Anorith fired another water gun, though it was hard to tell that it was aiming at Ignis when Sakura hadn't moved from her position between the two. She didn't dare avoid the attack. Sure, she was furious about Ignis throwing that flaming Anorith at her, but she knew her priorities, and those were on the Anorith. Taking the attack, she cringed a bit as the water sprayed against her maw. She wasn't resistant to water attacks like she was with scratches, and though she hadn't taken too many good hits, she was already beginning to feel worn down. Despite that though, the water did feel a little nice on the spot the burning anorith had hit earlier. Though her pokemon were more focused on the third anorith, Gwen herself didn't allow herself to forget about anorith number two. The pokemon hadn't scuttled to help it's friend though, instead it seemed to go after her. Well, if she couldn't hold one pokemon's attention, she supposed it wouldn't make a difference to keep the second one distracted instead. As the Anorith came close to her, she repeated the same tactic she used earlier, kicking up a clod of dirt in the Anorith's direction. This time though, she followed up by stepping forward and kicking the Anorith back toward the battle, though not before taking a good scratch to her ankle. "Ignis, get over here and use ember on this Anorith. Sakura, use Iron head on the other!" Gwen ordered her pokemon. Ignis gave Sakura an apologetic grunt of thanks for taking the water gun attack for him, before hearing Gwen's command and he wheeled around to see the second Anorith facing his trainer. He snorted and went after it, running in a wide curve so he met at an angle that wasn't aiming at Gwen, and with his flame still burning intensely from his active blaze ability, he breathed another spray of embers at the Anorith. In response to Ignis' apology, Sakura just offered a little smile before returning her focus to the battle. Finally turning back around to face the Anorith. She then dashed forward, her head emitting a bright white glow as she charged forward to slam right into the rock bug. ----- Mawile took the water gun attack for Ignis! Gwen was scratched by Anorith #2! Ouch! Gwen kicked sand at Anorith #2! Gwen kicked Anorith #2 back toward the battle! Ignis's blaze ability is still active! Fire attacks do 50% more damage! Ignis used ember on Anorith #2! Sakura used Iron Head on Anorith #3! +1 Happiness for Ignis (In Party) +1 Happiness for Sakura (In Party)
Words: 418
Tagged: Mod	Credits: Aquarius of BTN

[SoJasp]

What Gwen would probably find out later was not only her ankle took damage from the scratch. It seemed when she then went to kick the Armor pokemon back to the pokemon battle front, the sole her shoe had been cut into nearly cutting it in half parallel to the foot portion. While combat boots were meant to be sturdy, Anorith were also born- or maybe hatched to be- sharp, and it seemed the pokemon had won out in more ways than one- even as the small Rock and Bug type went sailing back again like the kick ball he supposedly was. Landing at least without colliding with his friend this time, the Anorith steadied himself briefly only to meet a series of small embers shot off by the Charmander. He screeched and failed- not the attacks, mind you- about before the Anoriths eyes rolled up into the back of his head, and he fainted.

The last conscious Anorith had just a little time to use Harden right before receiving the Iron Head, yet it would do him no good. Though his defense had been raised, it still wasn’t enough to leave him with a Defense strong enough to remain conscious from the blow. Instead, a brief hiss of pain escaped from the small bug pokemon before he closed his eyes and fainted. Thereafter, an almost eerie serenity would sweep over the once loud battlefield. Well at least that was done?

--
The last two Anorith have fainted. Ignis and Sakura each receive +10 EXP for the combined efforts in wiping two out.