Destiny Colosseum

[Namohysip]

The crowd cheered as it always did. Incineroar was excitedly doing his usual calls and announcements, waving and gesturing to hype the crowd up as the four combatants entered the arena.

"We have a truly heroic match for us today, folks!" Incineroar said. "The Heroes of Paradise against two Warriors of the Dark!" Their epithets seemed to change with the months.

As Incineroar continued his introductions, Pine and Nanab approached the center of the arena. Nanab had her usual, cheerful smile, waving her tail at the incoming opponents. Pine stood there, stoic as always, and only tilted his head. Perhaps he was sizing them up.

"So, you sure about this?" Pine asked.

"Ohh, I think it'll be fine," Nanab assured him.

"Was talking to them."

 

[Chibi Pika]

Pine's tone wasn't cocky--he didn't come off full of himself. He just genuinely didn't think they knew what they were getting into, did he.

Starr gave the Haxorus a crooked, toothy grin. "Nah. Don't really care, though," she said, folding her arms behind her head. "Brisa was itching to fight a human-Pokemon duo, so we might as well start with the best."

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa grinned. She'd made peace with the idea of getting their tails handed to them by these two. If that was how it went down, it'd be a thrilling match and no mistake. Just like every fight with her and Starr. She padded into the arena alongside Starr and flicked her tailtuft from side to side in anticipation.

"Good to see y'both again, y'all," she called. "An' don't you fret none, we know you're strong as hell! Wouldn't expect anythin' less from ya!"

She looked to Starr and felt a rush of brightness in her chest. They were strong as hell, too. The strongest they'd ever been.

 

[Namohysip]

Pine nodded sagely. "Okay," he said. "I trust you."

Nanab coiled into a defensive stance. "Good luck, then!" she said. "Let's start!"

Pine looked to Incineroar and waved. Incineroar replied with a nod of his own.

"And so, with both sides ready... BEGIN!"

Nanab slithered back and entered some kind of defensive stance. But along with it, it seemed like there was an odd aura around her and the ground below her. It looked like grass was sprouting where she stood, emitting a curious aroma...

Nanab's Paradise activated!
Nanab gained the Paradise terrain, which relaxes everyone who interacts with her! Defense, Resistance, and Accuracy gains 100 in debuffs per turn under its effect!

Pine's Grapple activated!
Damage dealt and received is cut in half until he's hurt enough!

Starr: 399
Brisa: 405

Nanab: 6000
Pine: 5000

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa looked to Starr, exchanged a glance. They'd drilled together for this, trained a dozen different strategies, but they'd never really known what they'd end up against. They'd have to improvise. They'd have to outdo themselves. They'd have to be beyond their best, both of them.

The way Starr always pushed herself to the point of pain to be what she needed to be. The way Brisa set herself ablaze with the effort she put into every fight. They were both used to giving their all, even when it put the hurt to them to do so. If they could just keep each other going, even with that thrum of power burning them out, they'd be unstoppable.

From the look Starr was giving her, Brisa damn well felt unstoppable. And looking at Starr, she wanted nothing more than to take some of that pain her friend went through, to shield her through it, anything to make her Radiance a gift and not a burden...

I'll be my best, fer you.

Something hit her, full-on, like a hammer-blow to the ribs. Every part of her was on fire, even more so than her Arcflash already put her through. Yet, despite the pain, she felt... Better than she was. Stronger, faster, full of energy. And, strangely . . . she felt safe.

Brisa looked out past the flickers of electricity that crowded her vision, and the shimmering golden shield she'd summoned, and saw that she'd placed one on Starr, too.

She grinned, and flexed the digits of one paw experimentally. They bristled with lightning. Okay. Neat. Let's do this.

Trying something new, Brisa concentrated the unprecedented electrical potential in her body into her paws, and ran towards her target with her pads not even touching the ground.

This was gonna be spectacular.

1. Brisa used Brilliant Paragon! Brisa and Starr exerted themselves!

2. Brisa used Magnet Rise!

3. Brisa used Ice Fang on Pine!

 

[Chibi Pika]

Starr recognized that feeling. Her own Radiance. But... coming from Brisa. How...? (Somehow it felt easier to endure when it was the both of them.) This was good. This felt... right.

She flashed a grin at Brisa and let her inner fire heat up the air inside the arena. Time to see what they could do.

Starr used Sunny Day! The sunlight grew harsh.

It was easy to feel like they could do anything. Easy to feel like being here, being who she was, was a good thing.

Starr used Shadow Complacence!

They deserved it. They both deserved to feel good about things for a change.

Starr used Void Catharsis!

 

[Namohysip]

Brisa's Ice Fang dealt 46 damage to Pine! The damage and status effects seemed reduced, but Pine resisted it by half thanks to his Grapple!

"Huh," Pine said, raising his arm to block Brisa's initial, icy bite. He pushed back in an effort to gain some distance. "That wasn't so bad." He shook off the crystals from his arm. He looked like he'd been barely affected!

"Pine! Focus!" Nanab cried, waving her vines in the air as a barrier of light surrounded them. "I'll keep us covered, alright? Hang on!"

"Wait, let me attack first," Pine said. "I forgot that I was supposed to do some fighting."

"Wh--you FORGOT?"

"Yeah. The Ice Fang was pretty cool."

"...Was that a--"

Pine rushed for Brisa in retaliation. "Wanna see something cool?" he asked once he was face-to-face with her. He didn't wait for a response.

Pine used First Impression on Brisa, thrice! The first one was blocked! The second one was dodged! The third one struck Brisa for a reduced 419 damage!

Pine used False Swipe on Brisa, dealing 190 damage to Brisa! It left her with 1 HP!

Nanab used Light Screen! Nanab used Reflect! Nanab used Leaf Storm on Starr, destroying the Protect! Nanab's Magic went up by 2!

Paradise reminded Nanab to work hard! Her Defense, Resistance, and Accuracy went up by 1!
Paradise made Starr's Defense, Resistance, and Accuracy go down by 1!

Starr: 798
Brisa: 1

Pine: 4954
Nanab: 6000

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa grit her teeth and pushed through the pain of being hit almost to the point of unconsciousness in a single salvo, down from the strongest she'd ever felt. She knew Pine would be strong, but this was more than she'd even conceived of! Time to change targets, see if they could get anywhere with Nanab before that grassy effect made her too tough to hit...

Brisa charged at the serperior and laid into her with a series of frost-wreathed bites and swipes, channeling Ice energy just like she'd practiced for this fight. Just when she was starting to run low, she leaped back, and breathed steadily for a moment, focusing what energy she had left into restorative power.

(+5, Guts, SE)
1. Brisa used Ice Fang on Nanab, striking to flinch! It's Super Effective!
2. Brisa used Ice Fang on Nanab, striking to flinch! It's Super Effective!
3. Brisa used Ice Fang on Nanab, striking to flinch! It's Super Effective!
4. Brisa used Rest! Brisa's HP was restored to 150% and her burn was cured!
Brisa got her Second Wind!
Nanab took 900 to flinch and 300 to freeze!
HP: +607
Stm: -133

 

[Chibi Pika]

God damn Pine hit Brisa like a freight train. Brisa went flying, and Starr felt an uncomfortable lurch with the realization that he'd barely been trying, had he?

C'mon, focus. She can handle herself. She'll be fine, focus.

Starr focused!

As badly as she wanted to hit him with a burst of Radiance, she knew that was a recipe for burning out, hard. Had to pace things better than that. Nanab was weak to Fire. Simple.

- Starr used Umbral Insolence!
- Starr used Fiery Ultra Power!
- Starr used Fiery Ultra Power!
[SE, STAB, Sun, Blaze]
Stm: -66

 

[Namohysip]

Brisa's Ice Fangs dealt a total of 249 damage to Nanab!
Nanab is Flinching!

Starr's Ultra Fire Power attacks dealt 523 damage total to Nanab!

"A-ahh!" Nanab cried out and lost her protective stance.

"Hey!" Pine called, sounding more bothered than anything, as he stomped toward Starr, but then saw Brisa still biting into Nanab's leaves with icy breath. That was going to be a problem, even with Starr's powerful punches also dealing some damage. he decided to knock some sense into both of them.

Pine used Dual Chop on Brisa! She dodged the first, but took the second for 252 damage!
Pine used Dual Chop on Starr! She dodged the first strike, but took the second for 216 damage!

"Ow, ow ow ow, y-you hit my... that's... urk! I th-think I'm going to...!" Nanab kept it together and retaliated against Brisa, casting another Leaf Storm flurry to sweep the Luxray up in the tornado.

Nanab is Flinching! She used Leaf Storm on Brisa, dealing 220 damage!

But Nanab strained herself too much and winced again. "Agg, that... I'm gonna--hrrrrk!"

Nanab used Gastro Acid on Starr! Starr's Ability was nullified!

Nanab's Paradise strengthens her while weakening Brisa and Starr.

Nanab is Staggered!

Starr: 582
Brisa: 135

Pine: 4954
Nanab: 5228

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

They were gonna lose. Harder than she'd even expected. Too bad, but at least she'd lose with Starr by her side, in spectacular fashion.

She threw up some shields to parry some of her opponents' blows, and rushed Nanab while she was staggered with her very best shot. And in perfect coordination, so did Starr.

1. Brisa used Protect +2!​

2. Brisa used Void Arcstrike! It reacted to Starr's Brilliant Flarestrike and became Fusion Arcflare! Critical Hit! It's Super Effective! (150bp, +5, Guts, STAB, SE, Charge, Crit)​

Brisa got her Second Wind!
Stm: -74

 

[Chibi Pika]

Starr staggered backward, not even bothering to hide her disgust from Nanab's attack. She could actually feel her inner fire dimming. God dammit. Brisa still wanted to give it her all, though, so... Starr could at least do that much for her.

- Starr used Shadow Complacence!
- Starr used Brilliant Flarestrike!
[150bp, SE, STAB, Sun]
Stm: -50

 

[Namohysip]

Starr and Brisa's Fusion Arcflare dealt a total of 1000 damage to Nanab!

"Yow, they hit hard..." Nanab winced again, but this time she didn't lose her balance. She shook it off and got ready for another strike, but Pine was already rushing forward with his usual attacks.

Pine's Dual Chop broke both of Brisa's Protects!
Pine's next Dual Chop was dodged by Starr, and then she took a grazing 132 damage!

Nanab used Reflect!
Nanab used Leaf Storm on Brisa, but it was dodged! Nanab's Magic was maxed out!
Nanab used Leaf Storm on Starr for 568 damage!

Paradise once again strengthened Nanab while weakening Starr and Brisa!

"...Mm." Pine thumped his tail on the ground. "Weird. They're getting stronger when they're getting weaker."

"They have counter-momentum," Nanab said. "Reminds me of me in a way..."

"Don't think they're ready for Omen Heroes yet, though."

"Maybe..." Nanab winced at a bruise that was forming on her side.

"Oh well." Pine thumped his tail on the opposite side. "I don't think they like to give up." He thumped his tail again.

"Not like you do, either" Nanab replied as the leaves spun around her body. Her aura was overwhelming...

Starr: 15
Brisa: 135

Pine: 4954
Nanab: 4228

Pine crouched down. "I wanna see your best."

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Their best, huh? Alright. She was tired, she was bruised, and victory looked unattainable, but they could do that. They could do that – together.

"Let's show him just what th'two of us can do, Starr!" cried Brisa, running up alongside her friend. "Y'can go all-out, hit him with yer best shot – I'll watch yer back and be ready fer the Arcflare! Whatever happens, I know you'll be fuckin' brilliant!"

Eye contact – Starr gave her the nod of assent she was looking for. And then they were off—

- Brisa called out to Starr!
- Brisa used Void Arcstrike against Pine! It reacted with Starr's Brilliant Flarestrike and became Fusion Arcflare!
[+5, 150bp, SE, STAB, Guts, Charge]
Brisa got her Second Wind!
Stm -57
+40 SHD

 

[Chibi Pika]

Pine crouched down. "I wanna see your best."

Their best wouldn't be good enough, but dammit if she was gonna let him get out of this without taking a single goddamn scratch.

She didn't have enough energy, though. Already this tired after barely putting a dent in a fucking grass-type? God. Brisa really wanted to see her do something though, so... she'd figure it out.

The Incineroar forced herself to her feet, almost through sheer will alone, a surge of Radiance setting her body alight. Maybe it wouldn't do much, but if it let her get one last hit off, then they wouldn't look have to look quite so pathetic.

- Starr entered Brilliant Stance!
- Starr used Shadow Complacence!
- Starr used Brilliant Flarestrike!
- Starr used Blacklight Z-burst!
[150bp, +8, SE, STAB, Sun]
[180bp, +8, UE, STAB]

 

[Namohysip]

Starr and Brisa's Fusion Arcflare dealt a total of 472 damage to Pine!
Starr's Blacklight Z-Burst dealt 314 damage to Pine!

Pine jumped back, staggering a little when he lost his balance. "...Huh," he said to himself. "That was pretty good." A few of his scales had been slashed away from that attack, and the Z-Burst left a dull scorch mark on his hands where he had tried to block it. It tingled in a way that Pine didn't know how to express--he'd seen the distortions, but not the actual attack. It was like a very powerful Hyper Beam...

"That was a physical attack?" Pine mumbled, squeezing his fists. Yeah, it felt like one. Which was too bad. He was better against those.

But despite that, it was still strong, and Pine had lost his balance.

Nanab slithered forward when she saw that opening, their team ready for a counter. "Keep going!" Nanab said. "Let's finish this!"

Pine used Dual Chop on Starr, but it was dodged completely!
Pine used Dual Chop on Starr! The first one was a grazing shot, but the second one hit completely for a total of 280 damage! Starr was KOed!

Starr's Last Wish fully healed Brisa!

Nanab used Leaf Storm on Brisa! She dodged it!
Nanab used Leaf Storm again on Brisa! It dealt a grazing 93 damage!
Nanab used one final Leaf Storm on Brisa, dealing 208 damage!

Brisa: 104

Pine: 4168
Nanab: 4228

Nanab panted and drooped after that last Leaf Storm. She wasn't badly hurt, but Leaf Storm always took out a lot of energy from her. It didn't look like she'd be able to launch a volley like that next time.

 

[Chibi Pika]

‘Pretty good,’ he’d said.

Yeah, alright, fine. Starr didn’t have the will to feel insulted. It didn’t even feel backhanded, coming from him. From anyone else, sure.

Fuck, that last blow hurt. Even after the Blacklight had left her feeling refreshed for about two seconds. So much for that. With her last scrap of consciousness, Starr glanced over at Brisa and—

“Don’t worry about me,” she said, forcing a grin. “Show them what you can do. I know it’ll be great.”

Then she collapsed face-first and didn’t move.

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Starr's last showing was a wild, burning, supernova of a final attack, and though Pine was an immovable mountain, and struck Starr down in a flurry of godlike attacks, Brisa was reminded once again of that first time she'd really seen what Starr could do, as she laid into the dragons of creation, her body ablaze. That Radiant glow around her as she went in against Pine, though... That was something new. Something Brisa wanted to do in kind.

Starr had left the final blow to her.

Brisa wouldn't let her down.

"You wanted to see us at our best?" she yelled, her body brimming with barely-contained light and darkness. "Well here's all I have!"

- Brisa entered Brilliant Stance!
- Brisa used Brilliant Paragon!
- Brisa used Umbral Overcharge to land a Blacklight strike on Pine! Critical Hit! It's Ultra Effective!
[+12, 40bp, UE, STAB, Crit]
- Brisa used Blacklight Z-Burst against Pine! It's Ultra Effective!
[+12, 219bp, UE, STAB]
HP & Stm set to 50%
2 Protect shields, 3 Charges

 

[Namohysip]

Brisa's tap dealt 110 damage to Pine!
Brisa's Blacklight Z-Burst dealt 641 damage to Pine!

Pine lost his Grapple!

The Haxorus actually fell onto his back from that, swinging his tail with such force that it propped him back up like a wooden board. He felt something wet on his chest and felt around, pulling back to see a smear of blood against his claws. "...Wow." He looked at Brisa, then at Nanab, who was still panting from exertion during their last volley.

Nanab used Reflect!
Nanab took some time to rest...

"Okay," Pine said, wiping his hand on his other arm. "Guess you were ready, a little. I'll get serious for this."

Pine gained an action!
Pine used Dual Chop, but Brisa's barriers protected against it!
Pine used Dual Chop again, but Brisa dodged both strikes!

"Oh." Pine glanced at Nanab. "You're fast. Okay. I guess I really have to get serious."

Pine used Divine Seriousness! He gained the Shield Breaker attribute, and Sure Shot for his next strike!

Brisa: 203

Pine: 3417
Nanab: 4228

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

"C'mon," panted Brisa, a wild grin all over her face, "let's see you knock me the fuck out with some actual goddamn effort, huh??"

She couldn't beat him. But she could damn well make him work for it.

And she could hit him as hard as fucking possible first, too.

- Brisa used Charged Void Arcstrike!
- Brisa used Charged Void Arcstrike!
- Brisa used Shadow Ice Fang!
[+12, STAB, SE]

"Good enough fer ya??"