Undella Town

[CYNTHIA]

Cynthia had to calm down. She had to see what Giovanni was trying to do. This didn't require her own personal feelings to get in the way. Despite the fact that Giovanni was absolutely infuriating. She clenched her fists at his comments on her fellow champions. He didn't know them, not at all. Steven, Alder, Lance, Red, Wallace... All had grown to respect her. And she would not lose that respect now.

So what if Chaos's illusions were destroyed and the Spiritomb knocked off to the side? She still had more left. "Cae, Will-o-Wisp!" She ordered. The ghost looked forward in confusion. Its eyes clouded with pain; it had hurt itself. Cynthia looked at her pokemon. They had been in worse situations. Like the times with Steven's Cradily and Lance's Altaria. That had been rough. They would survive this.

Gerry had had enough of this. He hated Honchkrows. Scheming little demons, he wished that he was in their to tear that thing apart... But he could't. Not now anyway. But he could still help. Gerry screeched loudly. He yelled at Cae to snap out of it, to kill the Honchkrow, and focus.

Cae stopped spinning for a brief second. Cynthia held her breath. He started to spin the right way agian and Cynthia breathed a sigh of relief. Now, everything was better. But she was at the mercy of the Honchkrow. And that just couldn't end well.

[GIOVANNI]

"Hm...Cynthia, I'm starting to get the impression you don't like me very much. Is there any reasoning behind that? I mean, after all, this is merely a game we're playing right now. I hope it's not too stressful to you...I wouldn't want you to be in discomfort while we play."

Honchkrow stayed silent for a moment, watching and observing as the Spiritomb helplessly flopped over in it's confusion. It appeared to gain little satisfaction out of it, yet showed no outward pity or mercy to it. Instead, it looked merely inquisitively at the spectacle, observing it with mild interest.

"Alright Honchkrow. You may end this."

With those words, it sprung once again into action, flying incredibly fast towards the wounded ball of energy, lanuching a devasting attack. A ball of pure darkness swelled up within it's beak, and launch fourth viciously, speeding directly at Chaos. Once it launched it's attack, it flew back at Giovanni, perching itself on his shoulder in a mirror to Cynthia's own bird. Giovanni smirked once more, and pet it approvingly, and the Honchkrow itself squawked comfortably.

[CYNTHIA]

Cynthia smiled, her furious emotions smothered for the moment. "I don't dislike you Giovanni. Not particulary. Of course, the stories have reached my ear of your... ambitions. Ambitions crushed by a child of all people. Yes Giovanni, we are playing a game but don't act like you haven't lost before. You do yourself a dishonor that way. Now, let us continue the battle. I'm enjoying myself you know, I love a good challenge."

Cynthia looked at her Spiritomb, worried. It was having difficulties but this was normal. As a lead-off pokemon, it always got the most brutal assault. Though the Dark Pulse/Shadowball or whatever the Honchkrow used hadn't knocked out Chaos, the Spiritomb was weak and would fall at the next strike. And so Cynthia planned to speed up the process.

"Cae, you know what to do." Being her second pokemon, Cynthia had trained with Chaos for a long time and she trusted the ghost immensely. Cae knew exactly what his trainer was talking about. Despite his exhaustion, he managed to build up the blue and orange flames that were Will-o-Wisp. After he had a couple of wisps, he spent them slowly floating to Giovanni's side of the ring.

Unlike most Will-o-Wisps however, the flames circled the area. They didn't even move towards Honchkrow in any way. The wisps were much like Stealth Rock; the next thing that touched the ground on the Rocket Leader's side would get burned. With that, Cynthia returned Chaos to his pokeball where the ghost would have a long rest and then continue on with its afterlife.

Now it was Gerry's turn. Cynthia nodded to the pokemon on her shoulder. The Braviary cawed and flapped down from the champion's shoulder and landed on the sand in front of her. He nodded to the Honchkrow, then spread both of his wings out, daring the Honchkrow to follow him. With another cry, he leaped into the air and twirled up towards the heavens at a great speed for such a large bird.

Geronomo tilted his wings and was now in a banking turn. He was up so hight that the people below looked like ants. And then he tucked his wings and extended his talons forward. They were sharp, extended into a Crush Claw. Gerry liked this. It would force the Honchkrow up into his territiory or else have him and his master ripped to shreds by his claws. And even then, Gerry would have the advantage of height and his Crush Claw which would most likely break through the trickery of the large crow.

{OOC: Just trying to make the battle go faster. The Will-o-Wisp thing was some of my creativity. If you disagree, just tell me and I'll change it. I was thinking that it was fair compensation for having Spiritomb not get a hit off on Honchkrow}

[GIOVANNI]

((Fair Enough. I was wondering why you were letting me curb-stomp you anyway o.O))

Giovanni laughed for a moment. Cynthia's comment, as opposed to making him grimace or get angry, incurred a feeling of hilarity within the Rocket Boss. It was only when the flames surrounded him did he regain his full composure once more, yet even at that a chuckle or two escaped his snake-like smile. The Honchkrow remained still during Giovanni's hysterics, however, watching in silence as the new bird cawed it's challenge. It tilted it's head as it weighted it's options, and finally decided on one as it moved to action. Glowing beam of black enery formed in it's mouth, as it flew upwards to meet the bird...however, the bird had more tricks up it's sleeve yet. As opposed to flying straight up, it zig-zagged unpredictably, a cloud of black feathers being all there was to track it's location...for the moment.

"Ah ha ha...ha..the children of this generation are unstoppable, don't you agree? You of all people should know that. I mean, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it...an eleven year old child that actually defeated Cyrus? That captured Giratina? That ended the Distortion World conflict? That did...what you couldn't do? And didn't that same child go on to defeat you as well? Please Cynthia. If your going to insult me, insult me, but don't become a hypocrite in the process."

Mid-way through the conversation, Honchkrow horizontally dive bombed the attack-- a consintrated Dark Pulse-- before turning around to a separate part of air space in wariness of Gerry...internally, it feared that it may not be fast enough.

[CYNTHIA]

{lol, It's hard to rp as a Spiritomb...}

Gerry had seen this kind of behavior in Murkrow before. The zig-zagging, nasty little buggers they were. They were quite tasty morsels however. But Honchkrows were disgusting. The Braviary screeched as the Dark Pulse raced towards him and lifted up his glowing red claws just in time to slash through the darkness.

This countered his Crush Claw however and Geronomo was not happy about that at all. He continued diving down however and easily spotted the black, awkward bird trying to get away from him. Gerry was flying underneath and suddenly began to glow. He used the energy from Retaliate to thrust him upwards towards the Honchkrow. The last thing he would be expecting, every bird knew that attacks from above were better. But Gerry wasn't just any bird, was he?

Cynthia chuckled at Giovanni's comeback. They were just staring at each other from across the sand. The birds battled above but they were hardly visible. "This generation is quite good. Just like us, eh? But we're old. We have to give way to the new power sooner or later." Cynthia glanced in N's direction and smiled knowingly. She turned back to Giovanni. "Yeah, we can't win all the time now can we? So how has exile worked out for you? I always wanted to have a vacation..."

[GIOVANNI]

So now they would partake in small talk? Quite a shift from the earlier comments they threw back and fourth, Giovanni supposed. Still, he maintained his grin-- battles were always fun, he had thought. They reminded him of his time years ago as a trainer, Nidoran and Beedrill at his front facing off aganist a horde of Weepingbell. The adrenaline ran, that action was fast, and there was always a risk...Giovanni didn't feel quite so intimidated by Cynthia now, but frankly this was one of the better battles he'd partaken in for a long time...not since that time at Tohjo Falls...of course, nothing beat that one boy...that Red.

"Vacation? Hm, if only. No, I've been busy during my alleged 'vacation'. It's certainly not easy being dead, Cynthia. Which reminds me. How's good old Lance been this past while? Does he miss me? I've heard he's had a little thing for you the past while, you know..."

Honchkrow was caught off-guard by the sudden attack, and let out a painful squawk. It registered in his mind that he was facing off aganist quite the foe-- these weren't the normal one-off attack attack attack strategies he and his owner had become accustomed too. This trainer had quite the brain as well. Of course, it wasn't nearly as brilliant as it's own...and it was time to show this bone-headed eagle who was on the top of the food chain here.

The Black Bird wrapped it's wings tightly around the more colorful avian. It'd show it alright...Blocking out both of the duo's ability to fly, it charged up another dark pulse, as they spun haphazardly. The Honchkrow was trying to time the launch of the attack just right, so that Gerry was facing the ground...or more accurately, Giovanni's slice of the ground. It wanted to send the bird plummeting into the dirt, and then having /it/ be the target of the blue flames that so surrounded his owner. Carefully, it waiting until just the right moment...until finally it let loose the Dark Pulse.

[CYNTHIA]

"Well Giovanni, I'm slightly disturbed that you would associate Lance with death but getting past that... Well, he doesn't exactly talk about you if that's what you mean." She smiled at his last remark but she continued to look at him without flinching. Inside, she all chaos though. Love was never easy for Cynthia and she didn't exactly have a witty comeback for this new installment.

Luckily, she was saved by the bell. Or rather, the birds. The pair were locked in mortal combat, but neither was flying.

Gerry had locked his talons onto Honchkrows and was in no condition to block the Dark Pulse. But he didn't let go, nor did the attack knock him free. The Braviary's head was whipped back but he brought his sharp beak forward and begin to peck madly at the Honchkrow's face. They were getting ever closer to the ground and the flames of the Will-o-Wisp.

This had to stop. Gerry locked eyes with the Honchkrow, hoping that it understood that if they continued, they would both break their necks. The noble eagle spread out his wings and forced the crow's confinements off. He then began to flap, keeping the duo in the air, but only barely. Honchkrow was now dangling dangerously close to the fire but Gerry continued to struggle against the weight. Still, they were drifting closer and closer into the range of the ghostly flames.

[GIOVANNI]

Giovanni looked...actually, marginally disappointed with the mention that Lance hadn't talked much about him. He actually was expecting some sort of response, some sort of activity or supposition from the Kanto Champion...he didn't /actually/ think he was dead this time, did he? Bah, no matter; either he thought of it internally or he'd get a surprise by the end of the day when he finds out what's become of good old Giovanni.

The Viridian City Gym Leader noticed the beating Honchkrow was taking. He sighed-- he knew that Honchkrow wouldn't back down, but he was doomed to lose at this point-- forcing the krow to move ended up being a smart move indeed. He decided, however, that it was time to take control at last. Regrettably, he'd need to do it verbally-- the krow was too far away to catch any movements Giovanni might make.

"Honchkrow. You've fought well. But now I need you to take one for the team. The Briavary is too stubborn for your technique...I'd like you to take the flames, and then swagger. Thank you for your work so far."

The Honchkrow itself looked down at Giovanni with moderate disappointment, and then looked up at Gerry with...something else. It's eyes showed something like appreciation-- a sort of acknoledgement and thanks for keeping him afloat. Then, it loosened it's strenuous grip and flew off on it's own, obviously wounded, but still capable of landing. It was weak, and it and Giovanni knew it. Landing softly on the dirt, the flames soon ganged up on the bird, swarming it and burning it. Yet as it did, it began to glow a familiar purple-- swagger. Regardless of it's result, it cooed once more before falling unconscious from it's new burns. Giovanni sighed in response, and called it back from the pokeball it came from.

"Very good, Honchkrow. Now then...how to finish the job...Ah. Persian. Let's prepare ourselves for a workout, hm?"

In a blinding light, a magnificent white cat errupted from another pokeball at Giovanni's side. Perhaps one of his most signature pokemon, Persian crept out from it's master's side carefully, eyeing it's new target-- the wounded Gerry wouldn't take that much effort to take down, thought the cat...with some luck, perhaps it would defeat itself? Such were the thoughts of a lazy cat.

[CYNTHIA]

Cynthia nodded her head as the Honchkrow went down. Well, it was about damn time! She looked at Gerry, worried about the affects of the Swagger. The bird looked back at her but his pupils were dilated. He was confused. "No, Gerry, no." The bird stared blankly. "Gerry!"

The large eagle cawed at Persian aggressively, but Cynthia knew that his time was over. Gerry looked at the Sinnoh Champion again and Cynthia shouted his name. Gerry didn't hear anything. Once again, Gerry spread his wings and lifted himself into the air with a powerful down stroke. The Braviary soared into the sky on tired wings. When he was sufficiently high enough, he turned and surveyed the ground. After aligning himself with the Persian, he folded his wings and let gravity bring him to full speed, into the life-risking Brave Bird.

"Please forgive me Giovanni, I'm worried about my pokemon's current state of mind." Cynthia tossed out another pokeball, Rosaline the Roserade. The grass-type appeared with crossed roses and kneeling. She opened her eyes and spread her "arms" out. "Rosaline, Extrasensory Gerry for me," The Roserade nodded and began to glow with a pink light. The diving eagle mirrored the aura and slowly began to slow. By the time he reached Persian, he was barely inching forward. Persian sidestepped the falling Braviary easily when Rosaline let the Extrasensory go five feet above the ground.

Gerry landed with a puff of sand, hitting his head hard on the ground. "Gerry, come back!" The Braviary wasn't confused anymore, the bump on the head cleared up his mind. He bent his head and flapped up to his trainer. She held out her arm and Gerry landed, turned around, and continued to perch on the girl's shoulder. "Good job Gerry," Cynthia praised and ruffled his feathers a bit with her hand.

"Now Giovanni, let us continue. Rosaline, Energy Ball." The Roserade made a glowing green ball apear between her roses and sent it forward at Persian.