Sunrise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc6rf8Ou2cw

Donald awoke from a light sleep. It was time to get out on the road, for his first day. He was doing something new, this trainer business. Already a successful comedian, actor, and rapper, Donald was ready to see if his widespread talents included pokemon battling. It would be a strange transition, as he was never allowed to have a pokemon during his childhood days. He was often bullied for it, but could never fight back as his tormentors had pokemon to protect them. Oh how he had wanted a pokemon of his very own! But he had never owned one until now. Chances are there would be a lot of younger trainers that knew quite a bit more about pokemon training than him. But he'd adapt. He always did, by simply working harder than anyone else.

"Hey Donald, wait a sec!" A female voice called out. Donald turned around to see Tina, his old boss from the television show he used to write for. Tina was a good friend and mentor of his.

"I know that I can't convince you to come back and write for the show, but perhaps you'd do me the honor of a practice battle before you go out into the world?" She pointed to a lone pokemon on her belt.

"Aren't your pokemon really strong, Tina?" Donald was a bit worried that he and his new Celsinge would be crush easily.

"Oh, I've brought a new one for this. It should be about as strong as your new pokemon."

"Well..." Donald pondered. "Alright, let's go!" He sent out his Celsinge on the shores of the water by which they were standing. Tina released her pokemon, an Echoise. It was the water-typed counterpart to Celsinge, and was pretty rare.

"Okay... let's see..." Donald tried to remember what moves his Celsinge knew. "Is it Scratch? Yeah, I think it's scratch. Okay Celsinge, use Scratch on that Echoise!"

Celsinge moved fast, shaking its claws in anticipation. But Tina's Echoise was faster. Just as Celsinge was about to leap, it gathered the rest of its strength and powered through the air, sending Celsinge flying with a blisteringly quick tackle.

4 Damage!

:celsinge: [Male] 21/25

Celsinge snorted off the attack, although Echoise had the upper hand in speed, he had the upper hand in strength. Finally landing his intended attack, Echoise broke free, but not after suffering some vicious gashes to its snout.

:echoise: [Male] 20/25

Donald was a bit surprised that the Echoise moved before his Celsinge at first. He had figured that his Celsinge would be quicker than the Echoise due to being at home on the land. But Echoise was equally at home in the shallow water in which it was swimming.

Furthermore, Celsinge was standing on sand, a much more difficult surface to move around in for a land-based pokemon. Donald found that he got tired more quickly when he ran on the sand as opposed to on the pavement or a dirt trail. He would have to find a way to get Celsinge the upper hand in the terrain battle.

On the other hand, his Celsinge had done a bit more damage than the Echoise had. Perhaps his Celsinge would have enough extra power to counteract the Echoise's speed and maneuverability. But then again, perhaps not. He would need to help his Celsinge out a little bit.

Donald looked around. There was a small strip of land bordering the water a bit further down the beach that had some coastal grass around it. Perhaps Celsinge would be able to get more solid footing there, while perhaps being able to make the Echoise miss among the reeds.

"Celsinge, move over to that more grassy area so you have a bit better footing! Then use your Scratch attack on that Echoise!"

Celsinge obediently moved to the grass and reeds. Once it was inside, however, it found that the advantages of its placement were counteracted by the disadvantages. As Echoise fluttered from side to side, Celsinge didn't always have sight of it! Tina whispered some instructions to her trusty Echoise, who craftily leapt towards Celsinge. Celsinge took this moment to dodge, but Echoise never came. Echoise had just disappeared. Suddenly, Echoise was much, much closer! Celsinge leaped into the air, but it was another feint! Echoise, seizing its chance, rammed Celsinge who was now wide open and exposed up in the air.

4 damage!

:celsinge: [Male] 17/25

Now out of the reeds, Celsinge shook its head with discomfort, but saw that Echoise was still resting from its attack. Seizing the opportunity, he landed a few nice blows. Sometimes being crafty is too tiring to be of much benefit.

:echoise: [Male] 15/25

"Hmm..." Donald pondered out loud. The reeds had been a decent place for Celsinge to take refuge from Celsinge's attacks, but Tina's Echoise had proven to be very crafty. The Water type had used Celsinge's cover to its own advantage! It had found the blind spots in the reeds and approached that way, surprising Celsinge! Donald had not expected Tina's pokemon to be so smart, considering that it seemed like it was as young as his pokemon was. Luckily the Echoise had been too tired to get away, or the move might have ended in disaster for Donald and Celsinge.

Tina smiled. "You've got to think things through a little more clearly, Donald. Did you really think the reeds would fool me?"

"I guess not!" Donald half-laughed, a sheepish look on his face. But where to go from here? There wasn't really a place where Celsinge could get a better vantage point, and the sands made Celsinge too slow. He'd have to keep more to the edge of the reeds, but then he would risk falling in...

There wasn't much that Donald could do to get an advantage. "Keep to the edge of the reeds so you can see the Echoise, Celsinge! Try to land a Scratch and get back to cover!"

Celsinge obediently stayed at the edge of the reeds, waiting for his chance. Keeping his eyes on Echoise, he prepared for a chance to strike. He leaped out of the bushes but Echoise was ready for him. Wham! A tackle from the porpoise sent Celsinge careening.

:celsinge: [Male] 13/25

Luckily, Celsinge still had a lot of energy due to its waiting and resting in the reeds. The use of terrain was keeping it well rested and spry. Recovering quickly from the blow, it went on the offensive once again, scoring several scratches onto Echoise's side!

:echoise: [Male] 10/25

Echoise is blazingly fast! Donald thought.

There wasn't much that Celsinge could do to outspeed the Celsinge, but at the same time his pokemon was doing quite a bit more damage to Tina's pokemon than he thought. He noticed that the Echoise hadn't been swimming so vigorously after that last exchange of blows. Perhaps Celsinge would simply be able to out-muscle this foe. It wouldn't be the flashiest way to win, but for his first battle, Donald would take what he could get. Tina's strategy seemed to rely on being swift enough to avoid some attacks and quickly dish out enough damage to fell frailer foes, but Celsinge seemed fairly hardy. If Echoise wasn't able to finish off foes quickly, it would get too tired to continue. Celsinge seemed like it might able to outlast Tina's pokemon and take the victory.

"Alright, Celsinge. Try to stick to the same strategy as before! Use Scratch again!"

Tina was getting frustrated. She could see that Echoise was getting scratched up, and wouldn't hold up much longer. "Any more of this," she thought, "and Echoise is going to pass out before he can finish off Celsinge! Alright then, time for a change of pace! Tail Whip!"

Once again, Celsinge leaped out of the reeds, and Echoise waggled its tail, taunting it for trying the same method again and again. It dodged out of Celsinge's way, causing it to let down its guard. Celsinge wasn't done yet though, it pounced again, this time catching the wounded Echoise in the tail, leaving a long gash running from midsection to tail. That would teach Echoise to wag its tail at him again. Somehow though, it still felt like Celsinge was more vulnerable than usual.

:celsinge: [Male] 13/25 [-1 Defense]

:echoise: [Male] 5/25

Tina had suddenly changed tactics, adopting a more subversive approach when she noticed that her usual tactics had not been working. Donald was quick to note that she was very adaptable in battle, and resolved to try and take some pages for her book, so to speak.

"Being able to change how you battle when time calls for it is pretty important, huh?" Donald asked.

Tina seemed a bit flustered by the Celsinge's constant barrage of attacks, but she smiled and answered "Well if one approach isn't working, it doesn't make much sense to keep using it, does it?"

She was right, but she was also a bit too late with her change in tactics. Her Echoise seemed to be nearing the end of its rope for this match, and these less direct methods only gave Celsinge more time to recover from the earlier blows. One more solid attack from Celsinge looked to be just enough to end this battle.

"Okay Celsinge, we've nearly got this in the bag! Pounce on that Echoise and put all your energy into this Scratch attack!"

OOC: Whew, making a bunch of Scratches in a row sound exciting is tough!

Seeing Echoise on the end of the line made Tina panic. "Tackle! No Tail Whip! No Tackle! No Tail Whip!" The poor confused Echoise had no choice. Celsinge was fast approaching and it had to do something. "No Tail Whip!" Echoise had to do something by now, it lashed out its badly injured tail, trying to find a way through Celsinge's defenses. Celsinge, however, realized that all this did was put Echoise within scratching range. With a final mighty heave, it bore its paw down on poor Echoise, who fainted in exhaustion.

:celsinge: [Male] 13/25 [-2 Defense]
:echoise: [Male] 0/25

You have defeated Tina! She hands you over 100P and Poof! Celsinge seems a little stronger! Congratulations on beating Tina! You may now proceed to Route 49.

"Whew!" Tina sighed in exasperation. She had been just as on edge during the battle as Donald had. "You did great for your first battle! I'd say you're a natural!" She shook Donald's hand, and right then it hit him that he had come out victorious in his first pokemon battle. Maybe everything really did just come easier for him after all!

"Thanks, Tina!" Donald replied, releasing her hand. "I feel ready to jet off on this adventure. Should be a nice bit of soul searching."

Tina laughed a bit. "Alright, but be careful! Not everyone is going to fight as fair as me! I'll look you up every now and then to see how you are doing, alright?" That sounded good to Donald. He barely knew anyone in the Caldera/Kirant area and thought it would be nice to see a friend every once in a while.

"Alright. I'll be looking for you!" Donald said as Tina began to turn to leave. Tina responded that she would do the same for heading off. Donald was quite excited. This was only the very beginning of his quest, and he had already done more with pokemon than he had done in his entire life! What new surprises would await him as he began his adventure proper?

OOC: Wahoo! Gonna move on to Route 49 now.