two steppe plan [c]

Yet again, when Sylvester came walking by it was with Flint, his Combusken at his side. It was becoming a trend, and even Sylvester was beginning to realize it. Was it wrong to be so proud of his pokemon? Perhaps, but he held no intention of holding back when it came to battling Dmitri. "You think you'll ever grow tired of challenging me?" Arrogant words, but there was a genuine wonder when it came to mind. Dmitri seemed rather discontent last time, though always managed to get his hopes up for their next battle. He was filled with high spirits.

"Well...what's it gonna be this time? How many pokemon are we going to use?" Sylvester secretly hoped they would use at least three, wanting to show off not just Flint, but his new pokemon as well. Battling with Dmitri would be the best way to showcase Absolem the Scolipede.

"Alright then." Dmitri's attitude was quite different from all of the times before, and the new face was also quite a surprise as well. 'A Gastly, huh? Figures he'd get something I want.' With the battle ensuing, Sylvester and his Combusken readied themselves and took up stance against Babadook. "Dodge the hypnosis!" With Flint managing to avoid the psychic rays before him, he began charging the Gastly head on in preparation for his own attack. Yet the Gastly performed a technique that surrounded itself and his Combusken in a suspicious aura. 'That must be the curse move...'

"Flint, beat him down quick with your flame charge!" With Flint always seemingly aggravated, he held no qualms pursuing the Gastly and trying to bring him a world of pain. It was obvious he had to go with fire type attacks, and thankfully they should be just as effective as whatever they threw at him.

Dmitri and his Gastly, Babadook, were proving troublesome for Sylvester and his Combusken, Flint. As they avoided his first attack and licked him, Flint too had a close encounter with another barrage of Babadook's hypnosis attack, though managed to dodge it. "Great job, Flint!" The bird screamed in response to the support, though winced for a moment as the ghostly aura enveloped him once more and exacted it's harsh payment.

"Combussssssken!" After being in pain, Flint stood back up angrily an began charging towards the Gastly. "That's right Flint, keep it coming. You have to beat the clock, our time is ticking." Crossing his fingers in one hand, the other balled into a fist from the tension of this match. By the looks of it Flint wasn't doing so hot, and Sylvester worried just how much further he could manage...

Watching as the cat caused Sylvester's own pokemon's moves to falter temporarily, he observed just how hurt Flint appeared to be. Kneeling down and using his arms to proper himself upright, the Combusken breathed heavily, though still glared at the Meowth with fervent anger. It couldn't very well be left at a stalemate between the two of them...

"Alright Flint, use Double-Kick twice over!" The fiery bird began to stand, smiling happily as his trainer deemed him worthy of resuming battle. It meant a lot to the pokemon, and it directed this prideful nature towards it's confidence of winning this next match-up. Stalking down the Meowth with haste, Flint relentlessly made a series of kicks, all aiming for fragile points on the Meowth. They'd be lucky if none of them managed to hit Meowth's face.

Flint fought bravely and to the very last stand. Sylvester felt blessed to have such a pokemon at his side, and though he could see Flint's part in this battle was coming to a close—Sylvester smiled. When he took the water gun head on, as well as the effect's of Gastly's curse, the look on his face spelled utter determination. Even in the face of defeat, Flint held onto hope. Not just for himself, but Sylvester it seemed, looking towards his trainer with a slight frown as his knees buckled, and he could no longer fight. Yet the bird smiled soon after, noticing that Sylvester was smiling back at him. However, something grew different about him as he gradual fell into an unconscious state. He began to...glow?

"Wait, really?" Sylvester was certain Flint was growing stronger, but...his final evolution? Sylvester couldn't help but grow excited, though it was unfortunate Flint was unable to witness it for himself before he fell into a forced slumber. "Wow...I guess I should change my pokemon then." Retreating the pokemon for now, Sylvester released another great choice of his. "Alright Kseniya, hit his Horsea with a duo of your shadow claw!" Having released the Honedge, it swiftly engaged the foe pokemon and emanated a wretched purple hue along the edge of her blade.

Dmitri's Horsea, Dagunov, did not fail to impress. It was another pokemon that originated in the Kanto region, and Sylvester would have been looking for one if he didn't trade for his Slowpoke. It was entertaining to be able to watch this battle unfold, though Sylvester needed to be quick if he wanted to win. "Dodge the bubbles and move in to strike." Flitting to the side of the first beam, Kseniya managed to get a fair bit closer. It was much better off in terms of movement, or so it seemed.

After receiving the attack head on, Sylvester's Honedge continued it's pursuit. "Now use shadow claw twice more." With a ghostly aura emitting from her edge once more, Kseniya sought to cut down the Horsea with fervent aggression behind each strike.

There didn't seem to be much changing between either of their strategies, and that disgruntled Sylvester to know, seeing how well his Horsea, Dragunov, was doing after defeating his Combusken. Even though Flint evolved, he knew the Horsea before him had manage to expand its confidence, and in doing so it also became much more powerful.

After it avoided one of his attacks, the other landed and the Horsea went back on the offensive. "Dodge the next attack." Almost as if done simultaneously, the Horsea attacked, and Kseniya managed to avoid it. However, the second made it's mark, and Sylvester saw just how much it hurt his Honedge the way she flinched. "Don't hold back now, hit Dragunov with everything you've got. Shadow claw!" With the same command given, a nostalgic hue encompassed the ghost sword pokemon as she sought to strike the Horsea again.