Destiny Colosseum

[Chibi Pika]

Starr really wasn't too sure how she'd let Brisa talk her into spending almost as much time in the colosseum as she did, but one match every once in a while had turned into this, and the weirdest part was that she didn't even mind. They just lived here now, apparently.

Brisa must've felt like their last match wasn't hard enough or something, cause this one was a doozy--up against fucking Zekrom. She'd been really focused about this one, for one reason or another. Like she really had something to prove this time. Starr wasn't too sure what made this one any different from the last Legendary battle, but at least her own firepower would actually work this time.

Astrid seemed pretty hype too. Starr hadn't said much to her since the mission in the Radiant Void, but the Ninetales hadn't been acting like there was anything weird between them. (And it would have showed if there was, that was for sure.) So yeah, everyone was cool with pretending it hadn't happened. That was fine by her.

- Starr used Substitute!
- Starr used Sunny Day!
- Starr used Void Catharsis!

Net: -180 Stm [+53], 75% HP, +40 Shd, +4 Atk, +4 Spd, +1 Protect, +1 Action

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

So, the Dragon of Ideals. Brisa had been looking forward to this one since her first meeting with Zekrom. She'd been hoping to speak with her before the match, but then again, there was something that had held her back. Like she wasn't ready. Maybe she would be, once the match was over. Come win or loss.

"Let's do this," she said to her friends. They'd taken on one higher deity already and won. They hadn't gotten any weaker, any less coordinated, any less determined. They could do this.

Brisa took zeraora form, seamlessly transitioning from her usual gait to a bipedal one, cracking her knuckles, and letting plasma bloom over her fists. The crowd cheered, and she relished it so much she didn't even care who they cheered for.

The sunlight grew hot, pink fog shrouded the arena, and Brisa's Radiance burned her body and Starr's even as Starr's Shadows soothed them. Astrid called out a cocky taunt. Brisa grinned fiercely. Perfect. There were no two gals she'd rather be doing this with.

Brisa focused hard...
Brisa used Brilliant Paragon, twice! She pushed herself and Starr to their limits!
Brisa Unleashed her Tenacity!
Net volatiles: -192 stm, +59 stm, 150% hp, +55 Rad
Net status: Tenacity, Paragon, +4 Charge, +1 Protect, +4 Atk/Spd, +1 Action
Net team: Misty Terrain/Reflect

 

[Namohysip]

Zekrom used Rock Slide on the team!
Astrid: A grazing 59
Brisa and Starr Protected against it!
Zekrom used Bolt Strike on Astrid, dealing 343 damage!
Zekrom used Zen Headbutt on Brisa, dealing a grazing 49 damage!

Zekrom's opening volley seemed to be more one meant to grapple against them. She hummed. "Oh, interesting... You prepared for my attacks! Now, how did you know I was a physical attacker? Was it my winning smile?" She grinned, even as she prepared for their incoming strikes.

Astrid: 57
Brisa: 725
Starr: 1008

Zekrom: 30,000

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa's ears burned. It helped that she was so focused on the attack patterns she'd drilled with her friends, otherwise she'd be flustered. Zekrom wasn't using Attract, right? She'd better not be. That would spell disaster.

Glancing to Starr, she saw the incineroar wouldn't be ready to synergise with her for a minute yet. Brisa inhaled sharply. Better pace herself, save some power for the next combination attack.

"Impressive Bolt Strike!" she shouted. "Why don't y'let me show ya mine?"

Brisa didn't waste time glancing at Zekrom's expression before she charged forwards with fists like lightning bolts.

[+8, Guts, Link Boost 20%]
Brisa used Facade!
Brisa used Plasma Fists! [Stab, Charge]
Brisa used Electric Facade! [Stab, Charge]
Brisa used Titanic Bolt Strike! [Stab, Charge, SE]
Net: -113 stm, +48 hp, -3 charges, +30/30 BL

 

[Chibi Pika]

No tricks, no games, just one bigass lightning crash that smashed Astrid into the dirt. God dammit why hadn't she done that, that thing--where she went all weird and Radiant and nothing could touch her for a while. (Because she'd been putting up defenses for the team, obviously.)

Astrid was picking herself up, though, so that attack hadn't finished her off at least.

"Try to last more than five minutes this time, yeah?" Starr said with a smirk before letting her fur ignite with blue flames.

Starr Unleashed her Resolution!
- Starr focused deeply.
- Starr used Umbral Insolence!
- Starr used Blue Flare! [+10, SE, STAB, Sun, Blaze]
- Starr used Blue Flare! [+10, STAB, Sun, Blaze]

Net: +10 Shd, -140 Stm [+87 Second Wind]

 

[TheGOAT]

The first onslaught was merely a warmup… yet it was nearly all Astrid could take. Zekrom had used that same move Brisa could use—the one that made Astrid’s chest vibrate with Blacklight energy every time she witnessed it. A flash, an earthquake of power, and before she knew it, blinding electric energy had overtaken her vision.

She was sent spiraling. Spiraling, until finally grinding to a halt in the dirt, almost at the far wall of the arena. Visibly shaken, barely able to stand, she fought to her feet and established her ground once more…

…then inexplicably rushed forward, curving towards Zekrom, ready to anticipate and dodge if she pivoted in her direction.

"Try to last more than five minutes this time, yeah?" Starr said with a smirk before letting her fur ignite with blue flames.

“I’ll shoot for six!” Astrid called mid-stride, tongue out, pupils sharp. A minute in battle was a long time. Seconds could stretch on forever. Could she make it that long? Did she have it in her?

I should’ve went with Wonder Room… mmm, oh well. Catch me if you can!

Astrid is in an Evasive Stance!
Astrid is winding up!

Astrid used Shadow Recurve! Brilliant Metanoia was stored!
Astrid Focused deeply!

Stats: N/A
Stamina: -50
Shade: +7
Radiance: +58
Misc: Evasive Stance (+10 Speed)

 

[Namohysip]

Brisa's Facade dealt 623 damage!
Brisa's Plasma Fists dealt 755 damage!
Brisa's Electric Facade dealt 1124 damage!
Brisa's Bolt Strike dealt 1369 damage!

Starr's Blue Flares dealt a total of 2844 damage to Zekrom!

"Oof! Now there are the strikes I've heard so much out..." Zekrom beat her wings and blew the three of them back, gaining some distance and breathing room. "That's pretty impressive, you three! But don't think I'll be through with you just yet! Time to get serious!"

She slammed her foot on the ground; from the soil came solid boulders that rained down on the trio. Without Protects, the team took a few hits this time...

But during that distraction, a bright, silver sheen enveloped Zekrom as a new technique empowered her. It seemed that Zekrom was taking this battle seriously indeed...

Zekrom's Rock Slide struck all three of them!

Astrid: A grazing 11 stamina damage!
Brisa: A grazing 34
Starr: A grazing 34 to her Substitute!

"Ohh, that won't do, will it? Not very 'ideal' at all. But that's fine..." Zekrom giggled. Her voice boomed. The very dirt shook from each syllable. "I'll do a little better next time!"

Zekrom used Hone Claws! Her Attack and Accuracy went up!
Zekrom used Divine Ideals! Zekrom gained 3 Divine Protects and +1 Valor! Her engine is speeding up! Every turn, her Speed will go up by 1!

Astrid: 57
Brisa: 691
Starr: 504

Zekrom: 23,285, 3 Divine Protects

 

[TheGOAT]

Getting away was a piece of cake—but Astrid quickly realized Zekrom’s plan was not to strike her down yet. She was setting up. She was playing smart.

“Gotta keep up the pressure…”

Astrid is Enduring all hits!
Astrid focused deeply!
Astrid used Shining Inspiration on Starr!

During the Maple fight, flames had lit across her body when she struck Starr’s massive, possessed form—not with precision Flailing like she usually did, but with energy that she released in a ball of reddened light.

Reminded of that instinct, Astrid reached, reached, and pulled at it.

And then she caught fire.

Astrid is Inspired by Starr!

Astrid used Null Ice Burn on Zekrom! [+10, STAB, SE, sun, Blaze]
Astrid focused deeply! She’s no longer Unleashed!

Stats: N/A
Stamina: -53
Shade: -37
Radiance: -46
Misc: N/A

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa uttered a muted, vulgar yowl of frustration. It was on her to take out those barriers. She'd saved her charge for nothing. Too fucking bad! She wouldn't let a thing like that dampen her fighting spirit!

"Astrid, Starr, I'll leave her open!" she cried, darting forward to make the way clear.

You only look like you're burnin' to death...

[+8, Stab, Guts, Link Boost 10%]
Brisa used Charged Plasma Fists!
Brisa used Charged Electric Facade!
Brisa used Electric Facade!
Brisa got her Second Wind!
Net volatiles: +30/+30 BL, +48 hp, -51 stm [+99 Second Wind]
Net status: set Charges to 1 😿

 

[Chibi Pika]

Starr had thought that she'd be able to tear through those shields with a rapid flurry of flaming claws, but--dammit. It was the same kind of shield that Lugia had used. Weak attacks would bounce right off. God dammit. And before she could do anything else, Brisa had yelled out that she'd make an opening before rushing ahead, fists charged with lightning.

Fine, someone would have to hit Zekrom where it hurt, then. Her blue flames were blazing hotter than ever--almost like the chill of Astrid's ice was making them even stronger. Fire and Ice? Fuck it, she wasn't about to question it now.

- Starr used Umbral Insolence!
- Starr used Blue Flare! [+10, SE, STAB, Sun, Blaze]
- Starr used Blue Flare! [+10, STAB, Sun, Blaze]

Net: +30 Rad, +50 Shd, -105 Stm [+69 Second Wind]

 

[Namohysip]

The flurry of blows came to a head again. Zekrom blocked several of them with her silver sheen, but even after that faded, it was as if all of their attacks weren't even making Zekrom flinch. Was this the true power of an Original Dragon component? It was no wonder they were rumored to be Arceus' second in command. Had things gone wrong, perhaps had Team Spectrum overstepped and defied Pop in some way, they would have been truly terrifying foes...

Brisa's Divine Protects shattered to Brisa's attacks!
Astrid's Ice Burn dealt 1686 damage to Zekrom!
Starr's Blue Flares dealt a total of 2280 damage to Zekrom!

Zekrom used Bolt Strike on Starr, destroying the Substitute with a grazing strike!
Zekrom used Rock Slide!
Astrid endured the hit!
Brisa: 115
Starr: 220

Zekrom used Zen Headbutt on Brisa, dealing 282 damage!

Astrid: 1
Brisa: 457
Starr: 452

Zekrom: 19,319

Zekrom stepped back, grinning. "Good, very good. I'm wide open for an attack... But can you afford it?" she tilted her head. She only had a few scratches and burns on her, nothing to make her winded.

"Zekrom is getting even faster!" Incineroar announced. "This might be Team Spectrum's best chance to deal real damage to Zekrom... but will it be enough?! Or will they be cautious?!"

 

[Chibi Pika]

A deafening Bolt Strike smashed Starr's Substitute into bits, and she felt the unsettling sensation that it was going to hit her if things had gone just a little differently. Whatever the hell that meant.

Anyway, the rocks still hurt like hell, so she needed to heal if she didn't want to go down to the next hit. And Brisa was looking a bit battered too. Astrid and Brisa had the offensive covered for the moment, she could take a second to recover...

- Starr focused deeply. [Exit Unleashed]
- Starr used Substitute!
- Starr used Void Catharsis!

Net: -30 Rad, -108 Stm (Revitalize included), [+83 Second Wind], +50% HP, +1 Action

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Brisa grit her teeth, and spat blood on the arena ground. But she didn't flinch. Not yet. The Shadows soothed her, Starr's cathartic hold on her bringing down the brightness in her mind...

Enough to do something spectacular with that energy resonating between her and Astrid.

"I'm goin' fer it!" she cried. "Back me up!"

The signature attack of her divine opponent, empowered by the energy of one friend she loved, made usable by the help of another, and delivered with the greatest effort she could muster... This would blow them all away.

Brisa was a streak of lightning across the arena, a conduit between every fighter on the field, an ideal self. Just for a moment. No longer.

But what a moment it would be.

[+8, Stab, Guts, HH, UE, Crit]
Brisa used Overcharged Titanic Radiant Bolt Strike! It's Ultra Effective!
Brisa focused deeply...
Brisa used Protect 4!
Brisa got her Second Wind!
Net: +75% hp, +48 hp, -6 Rad/+10 Shd, -157 stm, +58 stm [+94 Second Wind], +4 Protect, +1 Action

She gasped for breath and clarity of mind, and threw up some barriers, determined not to let Zekrom get the jump on her before her next onslaught.

 

[TheGOAT]

Astrid is Unleashed!

Astrid used Shining Inspiration on Brisa!

Mmnnn. Gonna risk it… we’re running out of time.

Thunder and chaos rang out from the center of the battlefield as Brisa delivered her next volley, knocking Zekrom off balance with her own move. Punch after punch was thrown, and Zekrom had an answer each time. But briefly, having been wide open, she was taken aback, and Astrid—

This feeling in my chest… when that Bolt Strike landed… when Starr used Blue Flare…

She was closing in, angling herself.

Racing into battle together was not how they’d met, Brisa and herself… but it was how their bond had tightened lately.

That hadn’t always been true, Astrid thought with a somber smile. Yet here they were.

“Down below!”

She rocketed from the ground up, nosediving skyward at Zekrom’s chin.

Astrid used Voidbound! It chained into Freeze Shock! [+8, STAB, Guts, HH, UE, Crit]

She could’ve tried to stick it out a little longer, could’ve saved her power a bit. Could’ve tried to follow Starr’s advice for real. But Astrid saw an opportunity, and Brisa—goodness, the courage radiating from her body was nuts. It rippled through Astrid’s body, building her corruption in just the right ways.

It was always Brisa’s ideals that she’d been so inspired by, Astrid realized as gravity began to pull her back towards the battlefield. Poetry.

Astrid is Inspired by Brisa!
Astrid used Z-Burst! [206 BP, Special; +8, STAB, Guts, HH, UE, Crit]

Stats: N/A
Stamina: set to 211
Shade: set to 0
Radiance: set to 0
Misc: Voidbound

 

[Namohysip]

Brisa's Radiant Bolt Strike dealt a CRITICAL 1825 damage to Zekrom!
Astrid's Freeze Shock dealt a CRITICAL 2156 damage!
Astrid's Z-Burst dealt a CRITICAL 4348 damage to Zekrom!

Zekrom's Rock Slide dealt a grazing 173 damage to the Substitute, destroying it!
Astrid was KOed by the Rock Slide!
Brisa's Protect barrier lost one layer!

Zekrom used Bolt Strike on Starr, dealing 628 damage!

Zekrom used Divine Ideals once more, gaining shields, Valor, and even more Speed!

"This is it, then, dears..." Zekrom said with a smile as that silver sheen returned to her body. Her engine was whirring even louder than the crowd and Incineroar's calls. "I'll admit... you're very good at coordinating your strikes. "But now..."

The dust settled. The smoke cleared. Astrid was on her last legs...

"This won't last much longer, will it?" Zekrom asked, then she smiled again, even as her scales showed signs of burns and wounds. "Let me see your ideals!"

Astrid: Blaze of Glory
Brisa: 774, Protect+2
Starr: 328

Zekrom: 10990, +3 Divine Protects

 

[TheGOAT]

Astrid used Freeze Shock on a barrier! [+8, SE, STAB]

With a huff and no time wasted, Astrid slammed into the barriers at the same time as Starr, shattering them.

"This won't last much longer, will it?"

“Nope.”

Astrid used Shining Inspiration on Brisa!
Astrid used Voidbound! It chained into Ice Burn! [+8, UE, STAB, Guts, HH, Crit]

There it was again—no longer a surprise. Zekrom’s armored body couldn’t take ranged hits as well as physical ones, and Starr had given Astrid the means to deliver exactly that in a whirlwind of sapphire flames and snow. Brisa had given her the strength. Just like always, they were better together. A legendary couldn’t stop them. Not Zekrom, not Lugia, not Maple! Not anyone!

Thanks.

In her final moments, she turned toward Brisa, pausing in place. It was fine. The direction she faced wouldn’t matter for this next attack.

Brisa…

…

She reached out with her spirit—reached out towards the Whiplash headed that way, aimed right at a reeling Zekrom.

…You deserve every bit of this.

The Whiplash sparked, sizzled, and then everything went black.

Astrid used Explosion! [+8, UE, STAB, Guts, HH, Crit]

Astrid’s Last Wish revitalized Brisa!


Stats: N/A
Stamina: N/A
Shade: N/A
Radiance: N/A
Misc: N/A

Notes:
- Astrid is dead
- Refer to Jackie’s post about turn order

 

[Chibi Pika]

More barriers. Always with the barriers, and none of her usual tricks worked, so she'd just have to go all-out. Both of them--Starr and Astrid. That'd let Brisa land the decisive blow, and--well, they'd both sensed it, hadn't they? The way Brisa was yearning to show the full extent of her power, and maybe Starr didn't have a clue why, but she was gonna do her damnedest to make it happen.

'Let me see your ideals' ...? What?

Their power was combining in new ways, melding, reacting with one another. Radiant flames and dark lightning. Dark flames and radiant lightning. Ice that was somehow both and neither. Too much to hold it all. She couldn't keep going. Had to let it all out in a single, purifying burst and just hope that Brisa could take it from there.

She would. There wasn't any doubt of that.

- Starr focused deeply.
- Starr Unleashed her Resolution!
- Starr used Brilliant Flarestrike on a barrier! [+10, STAB, Sun, SE]
- Starr used Shadow Blue Flare on a barrier! [+10, STAB, UE]
- Starr used Blacklight Z-Burst on Zekrom! [+12, STAB, UE, 129bp]

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

This was it; now or never! Brisa looked Zekrom in the eye and grinned back, feeling no doubt in her mind that no, this wouldn't last much longer. They'd prepared themselves, kept up the fight until the critical moment, gotten as strong as they'd ever been. They were working together perfectly, with boldness and flair. Show Zekrom their ideals? Sure. They'd pull out all the stops just for this.

"Yer about t'see us at our best," she declared, voice crackling with Blacklight, mane surging with plasma, limbs pumping harder, "and I'll wager y'can't handle that!"

[Stab, Guts, Friendship, Link Boost 30%]
Something resonated between Astrid, Brisa and Starr...
Brisa used Radiant Bolt Strike! It reacted to Astrid's energy and became Titanic! [+8, UE, Crit]

The first strike was another of Zekrom's righteous, thundering blows, made with Brisa's fists, but empowered by her Radiance – her pure intent – resonating more powerfully than ever with Astrid.

D'ya feel the strength of my convictions, Dragon of Ideals?

Well, she ought to. Brisa would show her. Brisa would let Zekrom feel just how strong her commitment to ideals really was. Radiant tethers burst from Brisa's arms, whirling in the air, latching onto Zekrom again and again, searing her scales.

Brisa used Shining Whiplash! [+8, SE]

Time and time again, she opened her heart.

Do you feel this? The wish in my heart, the wish that's always there, intense and bright and desperate? To be just, and fair, and brave. To do what's right. To help people. I want that so badly sometimes that it hurts. Let me show you just how hard I'll strive, when I have something to fight for!

Astrid and Starr.

Around her, Starr and Astrid were putting out powerful attacks, their energy and Brisa's own brimming within each of them. But as always, Astrid burned bright and quick, and Starr burned slow and steady. The explosion was magnificent, and Brisa barely shielded herself from it. Within her, the energy in her blood grew so intense she could hardly bear it... Going down first didn't mean Astrid was done; her energy would stay with Brisa. Astrid would let her truly shine bright, if only for this moment.

Astrid’s Last Wish revitalized Brisa!

Thanks, partner. You'll always be incredible to me.

Now to use that power, and make them all proud.

Brisa used Umbral Overcharge to empower her Void Arcstrike! It reacted to Starr's energy and became Fusion Arcflare! [150bp, +12, SE, Charge, Crit]
Brisa used Blacklight Z-Burst! [218bp, +12, UE, Crit]

If the crowd cheered, Brisa didn't hear, nor see. The thunderclap of her final, cataclysmic attack was enough to kill all other sound, all other light. How could it not? It was her arcing Shadows and Starr's flaring Radiance all bound together in a fusion of opposites alike, like them, both of them at their very best.

You're like a part of me. I won't let you go.

And then it was over, Brisa gasping for breath on one knee, head raised, waiting to see if they had done enough.

​

Spoiler: Turn Order

​

- Starr Deep Focus​

- Starr Unleash​

- Starr Fusion Flarestrike [150bp +10, STAB, Sun, SE]​

- Starr Shadow Blue Flare [+10, STAB, UE]​

- Astrid Freeze Shock [+8, SE, Stab]​

- Starr Z-Burst [129bp, +12, STAB, UE]​

- Brisa Radiant Bolt Strike [+8, UE, Stab, Guts, Friendship, Crit, LB 1.3] (Has +1 Acc if dodged, Crit is from last turn's Voidbound)​

- Astrid Inspiration​

- Brisa Whiplash [+8, SE, Stab, Guts, Friendship, LB 1.3]​

- Astrid Voidbound Ice Burn [+8, UE, Stab, Guts, Friendship, Crit]​

- Astrid Explosion [+8, UE, Stab, Guts, Friendship, Crit]​

- Brisa Overcharge Fusion Arcstrike [150bp, +12, SE, Stab, Guts, Friendship, Charge, Crit, LB 1.3]​

- Brisa Z-Burst [218bp, +12, UE, Stab, Guts, Friendship, Crit, LB 1.3]​

​

 

[Namohysip]

The incoming storm gave Zekrom pause mid-strike, first with alarm, then with a proud smile. "And so, these are your ideals..." She braced, crouching for a defensive stance.

Starr, Brisa, and Astrid's Blacklight Supercell Burst destroyed all of Zekrom's barriers, and then dealt a grand total of 20,089 damage!

By the time the dust all settled, Astrid flopped on the ground as was tradition, with Brisa and Starr panting from the exertion, and Blacklight flames invisibly coating parts of the battlefield, Incineroar finally found his microphone to announce the results.

"It seems..." Incineroar began, stepping a few paces forward.

Zekrom stood, taking all of the hits and then some. The sheen on her body was gone, and her body had several wounds, but she stood nonetheless, laughing. "Truly a wonderful display," she said, voice booming as ever. She sighed, and with it, her body gave out; she collapsed to one knee. "I yield," she announced.

"And with that... the winner is Team Spectrum! Another stunning performance!"

 

[unrepentantAuthor]

Not a knockout. Not quite. But more than Zekrom could handle.

That... That was enough.

They'd done it.

Brisa got to her feet, and on impulse, bowed. First to Zekrom, a worthy opponent. Then to the crowds on either side, cheering wildly. Then to her friends, her teammates, her partners in battle.

"Couldn't have done that without th'pair of ya," she said, mostly to herself.

Fucking spectacular.