R1 - Adelaide Hardy Vs. Scarlet

[Jake]

Lights come up on Arena 4, a slick, clean Arena surrounded by cheering and screaming spectators. There's not an empty seat in the house. They wave signs and giant foam fingers in the air to show their excitement.
Two doors open on the East and West sides of the Arena. The door on the East opens to allow Adelaide to step into her position on the stage and the door on the West does the same for Scarlet.
And the doors open and the cheers incredibly intensify, the field official dressed in classic black and white step into his own position on the field and holds up two flags, one blue and one red.
As the flags swish through the air, the crowd miraculously grows silent. After the hush has fallen over the spectators, a rich, baritone voice echos through the Arena.
"Would the two participants please take their place on the Arena."
The crowd goes wild.

[Bad Horse]

Holy crap.

Addie stepped into the arena and was almost blown off her feet by the applause. She had anticipated a crowd, but nothing like this. When she saw mysterious flyers, she couldn’t help but sign up for the exciting tournament promised. She was easily seduced by bold fonts and bright colors. She swallowed the swear that had leapt to her tongue and shakily stepped up to her place. How long had it been since she battled? She tried to remember but the cheering was drowning out her thoughts. She felt a chill sweep across her skin, giving her a fierce desire to wrap her arms around herself. That’s good. Maybe I’ll pass out and forfeit, she fantasized. Rational quickly dashed her hopes. If she hadn’t hit the floor yet, she wasn’t going to. Exhaling to steady herself, she pulled the first pokeball off her belt that her hand touched. No time to question it. With a flourish she had spent several hours beforehand practicing, she released her first Pokémon onto the battle field. Posturing for the crowd, the typhlosion Inferno roared to life, the flames around his neck blazing with renewed vigor. Adelaide couldn’t help but smile sadly. My Pokémon is more optimistic than I am…

[Pink]

Scarlet stepped into place, her eyes on her opponent. Such a big crowd with so many fans. She bit her lip and picked up her pokeball with her mother's pokemon. "Okay, Kikku. Don't be stubborn and do your best... Let's try to make Mom proud, kay?" She threw the ball to the field and an older looking Luxray jumped out, growling as it took it's place on the field. For a moment it glanced back at Scarlet and flicked it's tail, showing her that he'll be kind to her just this once. With an understanding smile, Scarlet put it's empty ball back in her bag. She cocked a grin at Adelaide with a wink. "Don't be nervous over there! But don't go easy on me!" Kikku glared down it's foe with golden eyes. "Here we go..."

[Bad Horse]

Adelaide laughed sheepishly, feeling a bit less self-conscious. She toyed with the end of her ponytail as she turned over ideas in her mind. Inferno glared back at his adversary, not seeming to mind the visible difference in strength. “Alright then, show me what you’ve got,” she called. The Pokémon half turned his head, waiting for his cue. “ Inferno, use flame wheel!” The typhlosion seemed more the happy to. The crest of flames along the Pokémon’s neck spread down his body to engulf him in the blaze like a charcoal briquette. Rumbling, he fell onto all fours and charged forward, aiming to ram the luxray.

[Pink]

Scarlet nodded to her Luxray. "Kikku jump to the middle of the flame wheel and use Spark!" The Luxray leaped into the air, shooting sparks through the middle of the flame wheel. It winced as the flames caught it along the edges, taking damage. "Hang in there, Kikku!" Scarlet clenched her fists but managed to keep a smirk.

[Bad Horse]

Inferno roared, shaking it’s head and drawing to a quick halt. “Jeez, they’re strong,” Adelaide murmured, brow creased with worry. The typhlosion had only been hit by one attack but he had clearly been taken down a notch. “If he takes a couple more of those, he won’t last long at all,” she mumbled, running her hand through her bangs. Why didn’t I train more in Johto? She thought miserably. More importantly, why am I internally monologuing in the middle of battle?! Oh, I’m going to lose for sure. She snapped for an idea before inspiration struck and she was shouting across the arena, “Inferno, use quick attack!” Maybe if he was enough fast he could land a blow and avoid an incoming attack. The typhlosion dutifully charged again, but this time flameless and faster than most human eyes could follow.

[Pink]

With widened eyes, Scarlet called out to the Luxray. "Let him hit you and latch on with Bite!" The Luxray did as it was told, grunting as the foe's attack landed but returned to attack by digging it's sharp fangs into the Typhlosion's flesh. "They're fast... Kikku! Good! Now turn the bite into Thunder Fang!" Sparks ran around the Luxray's body and into the enemy through it's teeth. Kikku could only hold on for a moment before letting go panting heavily. "They managed to do a lot of damage... but if we can use their moves against them..." Nervously Scarlet looked down at the pokeball. "This will be hard with just one Pokemon..."

[Bad Horse]

Inferno roared in pain, staggering as he was released from the luxray's jaws. "Inferno!" Addie cried. Her hand went to the pokeball at her belt, but her typhlosion grunted and rose up on his back legs. His sides heaved with each breath and it appeared that even staying upright was draining him. Yet upright he remained. He wasn't giving in yet. His trainer gritted her teeth at his stubborness and sighed. who is he kidding?
"Last shot."
No matter how much will power he had, he wasn't going to last any longer. "use lava plume!" His body started to super heat, molten rock pouring over the battlefield like a plague. Adelaide took a step back, feeling the heat almost immeaditly. Maybe if he could stay away and attack from a distance he could do some damage before he went out.

[Pink]

The Luxray fell to it's knees, breathing harshly. "You okay, Kikku?!" With a growl her Pokemon managed to get up. Sweat formed on the trainer's brow as she watched nervously. "It seems both our Pokemon are barely holding on. But that doesn't mean either of us should give up!" Scarlet's fists were clenched so tightly her nails dug into her skin causing a small amount of blood to trickle down her knuckles. "Chase him down and use Crunch, Kikku!" Luxray bolted at the foe, fangs open and ready for impact.

[Bad Horse]

The typhlosion didn't have the energy to dodge. He was bitten by the luxray for the second time in that battle. Addie saw an oppurtunity to pay back for earlier. "Flame wheel, now!" she shouted across the field of congealing lava. He was obviously not going to be able to tackle anyone, but the attack does engulf the user in flame.

[Pink]

The Luxray is throw back, falling to the ground with a thud. Scarlet gasped and ran out to the field, wrapping her arms around him. "Kikku!" It was silent as it blacked out, she stroked it's fur and pulled out the pokeball. "You did good... Mother will be proud of you..." The maroon light engulfed the pokemon, letting it rest inside the ball. Scarlet stood up and smiled at her opponent. "Good battle. I can see that you and your Pokemon have grow to be strong. I wish you luck in the next round." She winked playfully. "And don't get yourself knocked out right away or I'd feel bad about losing to you."

[Jake]

The official on the side took a step forward and closer into the center of the stage. He held the red flag over his head and gave it a gentle wave.
On the giant screen above the Arena, both Adelaide and Scarlet had their pictures up along with their names and thee poke balls under their image. Two of the three poke balls under Scarlet were black before the battle even began and, with the raising of the blue flag, the third poke ball blacked out.
The crowd went wild with cheers but were quickly quieted by that omnipresent voice.
"The battle is over. The winner is Mrs. Adelaide Hardy."
More cheers and screams.
The official stepped onto the stage and motioned that Adelaide and Scarlet may now leave. The lights on the stage were joined with house lights, signaling that the crowd may stand and move about between rounds.

[Pink]

Scarlet got up and turned with a smile. "You finally listened, Kikku... Maybe we can be a team after all..." She left the arena with her head held high, feeling that even though she lost the match, she still won something. "That girl seemed to be a bit shaky... but is stronger than she thinks... Who knows... maybe this Tournament will help her feel just as great as she really is." Scarlet looked down at her only pokeball and closed her eyes. Her heart pounding matched the cheering of the crowd, slowing down as she got further away.

[Bad Horse]

Adelaide couldn't speak. She hadn't thought the crowd could get an louder than before yet their riotous cried had increased in both volume and vigor. She turned to say something to her adversary, but was too late. She was already walking off stage.

“I… won.” The idea was strange. She had figured she’d lose since the beginning of the battle. The other trainer was older and the Luxray looked stronger.

“I won.” The repetition helped. She stared up at the crowd in awe. So, they were cheering… for her? A smile slowly spread across her face till she was laughing, giggling hysterically. “I won!” She swept her gaze around the coliseum and her grin dropped. Jesus Christ, she had forgotten Inferno! “Shit,” she hissed, jogging over to where her Pokémon had collapsed and recalling him to his pokeball. She would have to find out where Pokémon got healed between rounds. Placing the pokeball on her belt, she exited the arena.