STAB Rd 2 Chp 2

STAB Round Two Chapter Two

"This is silly." And although Alissa wasn't really inclined to agree with whiners, she had to agree.

It was currently 7:58am, and Alissa and all the other Round Two competitors were hiding behind some bushes not far from the lake. While originally people had just planned on showing up at a leisurely pace, the Magma member Alissa had been arguing with had on the boat had had different plans for their arrival.

Somehow, and Alissa still wasn't sure, Leo had convinced the entire group that they should wait until exactly 8:00am, then 'magically' appear. At first, the idea has sounded fun. That was until all the competitors had to cram themselves behind a few scraggly bushes.

"This is cruel and unusual." Alissa muttered. She crossed her arms, not caring that she just thwacked some poor persons Torchic, who ran for cover. Behind her, Alissa heard someone giggling.

"I can certainly agree to that." Alissa turned to see a shortish woman smiling slightly. A Chimecho was wrapped around her neck, making little inarticulate chiming noises. The women looked over at Alissa, shifting her position so that she now rested on her hands and feet. "He made it sound so convincing. And here I am, playing Twister." Alissa nodded.
"Yeah. Like, all 'right foot blue, left arm yellow' and stuff." She grimaced as someone stepped on her foot. "Hey watch it!"

"Oops, sorry!" The hand-stepper, a woman in an orange tracksuit, stepped back, bumping into someone else. Alissa glared at her for a moment, then turned back to her talking companion. "I'm Alissa, you're…?"

"Charpie. Nice to meet you." Charpie held out her hand, and Alissa was just about to shake it when a voice not far from her right leg announced

"It's 8:00! It's time!" With a sudden jolt, the group jumped to its feet, storming onto the beach. Alissa looked up at the judges from the back. Finally, it was showtime.

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"Um, ex-excuse me, can you hear what they're saying?" Alissa, who had been craning her neck to try to see the judges, just shook her head.

"Phfff, I wish. I guess you can't either?" The person who had asked her was a nervous looking boy only a couple years older than herself. A rather scary (not that Alissa would ever admit it) Banette was floating beside him.

"Oh, then sorry." The boy smiled apologetically, then winced as his Banette burst out with

"Of course she wouldn't be able to hear them! She's shorter than you, idiot!"

Alissa, who didn't care much for being called short, pointedly turned her back on them both. She was distracted from her righteous indignation by the phone buzzing in her pocket. According to it, her new opponent was…

Right next to her! Alissa looked at the screen. Luther Sable, age sixteen.

You're Luther, You're my opponent." She turned back to Luther, shoving the phone in his face as evidence. "C'mon, I'll make this quick."

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As it turned out, Round Two was supposed to be in the lake. Thankfully, some dinky little rafts had been provided, so Alissa wouldn't have to be trying to stay afloat while issuing commands. On the other raft, Luther's Banette was yelling at him for something Alissa couldn't make out.

"Hey, you two done over there? I mean jeez, there is a contest going on!" Alissa stamped her flip-flop shod foot. "I'd like to get back on the shore some time this century!" Luther winced, then nodded. The Banette gave Alissa the finger.

"Okay. How does, uh, a two on two match work?" Luther smiled sheepishly, holding up his hands in a defensive position.

"Yeah, sure. Dizzy, Cytoplasm, you guys are up!" Dizzy appeared on the raft, and his sudden weight made it tip alarmingly. From his floating position, Cytoplasm snickered.

On the other raft, Luther was nervously shifting through his pokeballs.

"Uh, I think James would be good. Or maybe Jackson…" Jason looked over at his trainer. Always so indecisive!

"God Luther!" Jason snarled and plucked two of the pokeball out of his hands. "Type advantage, duh!" In a flash of light, a Sneasel and an Absol appeared on the raft, making it dip dangerously and soaking the hem of Luther's pants.

"Oh, uh, Scott and Zoey then." Luther shot a quick glance at his Pokémon. Not his first choice, but it would work.

Alissa groaned when saw her opponent's choice. Both pokémon would probably have STAB super-effective moves. She was going to have to play this one safe.

"Alright, are you ready? Okay then, begin!" Rob's voice boomed across the lake, and no sooner had the words left his both than Luther cried "Zoey, use Night Slash!"

Zoey didn't move.

"Uh, Zoey? Attack?" Zoey turned her head towards her trainer, a snarl on her muzzle.
"<Are you crazy? Do you know how long it takes for me to style my fur? Like hell I'm going to risk messing this" she gestured with a paw to her fur, "with that water." Zoey pointedly turned her back.

"Oh-kay." Alissa looked at the Absol. "One down, one to go, I guess. Uh, Cytoplasm, use Focus Blast!" Cytoplasm nodded, and launched the large ball of energy towards the remaining Dark type. Scott jumped, dodging the orb of force and landed again. His eyes locked on Cyto with a look of outrage.

"<Todd Ingram! The third of Ramona's>" Scott gestured at Zoey, who growled. "<Evil exes! The days of you abusing your vegan powers are coming to an end, you cocky cock!>" Scott launched himself at Cytoplasm, curled claws glowing purple.

"Oh, that must be Suckerpunch! Dizzy take that hit!" Dizzy threw himself in the way, Scott's fist connecting squarely across his jaw. Scott jumped back, then gasped.

"<Defending Todd? You must be… Envy?>" Scott looked at his hand. "<Noooo, I hit a girl!>" Alissa and her two pokémon exchanged glances. What was going on?

"Um, alright, Dizzy! Use Gale!" Dizzy raised his arms, swinging them back and forth, buy stopped midway to cough violently. When he had finished, part of the raft was lightly coated with chlorophyll.

Huh? But that was Suckerpunch…" Alissa looked at Dizzy. "Unless it was a Poison move. Can Sneasel even learn Poison moves?" Alissa fretted. This is bad! Dizzy is already poisoned! Think! "Fine, we can still do this! Dizzy, Giga Drain!"

Dizzy nodded, a green light enveloping him and Scott. Scott shuddered, then shook his head.

"<Envy! You broke my heart! I don't normally fight girls, but if you're going to defend Todd, I have no choice! HAHHHHH!>" Scott flung himself at Dizzy, his fist now glinting coldly.

"Okay, that's Ice Punch, I know it is! Cyto, counter with Dizzy Punch!" Alissa was jumping up and down, making the raft shake. This was so exciting!

Cytoplasm's fist met Scott's, but the Reuniclus's arm was made of much softer material, so it broke, globs of green goop falling into the water, accompanied by smaller orbs of flesh.

"<OW!>" Cytoplasm swatted Scott away with his other arm, face contorted with pain. Scott however was not to be deterred, and launched himself back at the Reuniclus.

"<For Ramona!>" He landed atop Cyto's head, and began pushing his fists thought the green goo.

"Dizzy! Get him off of there with Shadow Ball! Cyto, use Recover!" The attack beamed Scott on the head, pushing him into the water. Meanwhile, all of Cytoplasm's scattered goop and orbs lifted themselves up, reattaching to Cytoplasm's body.

"Scott, we can deal with the Reuniclus later! Try to take out the Whimsicott for now!" Luther's voice rang out. He wasn't going to lose this fast! "Okay, use Poison Jab again!" Scott launched himself at Dizzy, who looked nervous.

"Huh, they can learn Poison moves. Ah well, Dizzy, dodge!" Unfortunately, Alissa's command came to late, and Dizzy was punched off the raft, his body skipping across the water.

"Oh no! Cyto, lift Dizzy up with Psychic!" Cytoplasm nodded, and a purple light lifted Dizzy into the air. "Hey, Dizzy, you alright? C'mon, get up. I know you're faking." It was no use. Dizzy was out for the count, leaving Cyto alone with a STAB super-effective attacker.

"Crap."