AN: Mercenary Bands Participating In Merc Madness Festival:
1: Aramis
2: Team Moonbrand
3: Team Horizon
4: Team Soulwind
5: Team Steel Heart
6: Team Ebonshade
7: Team Celsius
8: Team Azure (Submitted by Blackfang)
9: Knights of the Round
10: Team Skullblasterz
11: Team Aquarius
12: Team Obsidian
13: Team Revenant (Submitted by Tambry)
14: The Twin Flames
15: Team Grass Flare (Submitted by William)
16: Team TMNT
17: Team SONA
18: Haywood's Legion
19: Team Kirei
20: The Leafguard League
21: Guards United
22: Team Attract
23: Team Gentilhomme
24: Team Aspect
25: Team Discharge
26: Team Sniper
27: Fortune's Four
The UGM Senate Wishes You All Good Luck In The Competition!
AN2: Before we begin, let me warn you that this chapter is LONG (It's a WHOLE DAY of Sparring and Racing) Furthermore, let me remind you that in this world, the d20 is Arceus, and I am powerless against it (You'll understand why I say this as you read the chapter, as there are multiple reasons and you're bound to pick up on at least one of them)
AN3: Also, Starting This Arc, the Lore Before The Legend will be accompanied by a Lore After The Legend at the end of the chapter. With that out of the way, enjoy this long-ass chapter! Enjoy First Day of Merc Madness XXXVII!
Lore Before The Legend: The Azure Syndicate has worked closely with the Normal Province representatives since year 400 and the ownership has been passed down to many within the main family or those whom rank the highest in the Azure Syndicate once the original owner either resigns or dies. They protect their Province and will punish all that cause trouble within or disrespect their Province. The Province doesn't see that much crimes or disrespect with them around. However, the Syndicate has been known to ignore problems caused by Normal Province locals outside of the Normal Province. Recently, the Azure Syndicate has created their own Mercenary Band, Team Azure, and thanks to their connections with both current and former Normal Province Representatives, they became Royal Rank in no time at all.
Steel Province: Capital City of Southshore: Merc Madness Festival Grounds: Canvas Ring(Normal Province's Arena): Age of Mew: Year 656: Normal Province Sparring Matches
"For our first Sparring Match of the day…" Neron announced.
"And of the Festival…" Rio added.
"We have Team TMNT's Tyran Tyrantrum!" Neron continued. "VS….The Knights of The Round's Dio Diggersby! Mercenaries! Step into the Arena!"
"Here to give us an overview of the Normal Province Arena, is Normal Province Representative, Zavier Zangoose." Rio announced as Tyran and Dio both stepped into the arena known as Canvas Ring.
"Thanks, both of you." Zavier thanked Neron and Rio. "This year, the Normal Province has decided to bring back the missed arena from Merc Madness XXXV, The Canvas Ring. It's a very special arena that-"
"Woah!" Tyran exclaimed as the screens around the stadium showed the Arena floor changing beneath both his and Dio's feet.
"I don't think I had that much to drink during lunch…" Dio scratched his head with his ear.
Under Tyran's feet, the floor had become incredibly craggy and barren. Withered plants were growing through the cracks and a small volcano was forming on his side of the arena. Dio's side was decidedly more field-like. What appeared to be a large farmland stretched out over his half of the arena. Within his half, there were also various rabbit holes that seemed to interconnect to each other, very suitable for small pokemon to burrow through, but a large pokemon might end up getting their ankle sprained or broken if they weren't careful.
"The Canvas Arena…" Zavier explained. "Likes to complement the pokemon using it. As such, the arena is sure to be different for each individual battle."
The audience began to cheer.
"So…" Mandy turned to her boss Excadrill. "This arena was used two years ago huh? Did you see it back then?"
"Not personally, no." Her boss replied. "But a lot of pokemon really loved it, and were sad when it wasn't brought back last year."
"I want a good, clean fight from the both of you." Zavier said to Tyran and Dio. "Remember, only regular attacks and pokemon moves are allowed. Items are strictly off-limits. The match is over once one of you is either unable to continue battling, knocked out of the ring, or forfeits the match. Any fighting after the match has been decided will result in the attacker's disqualification without exception. Do you both pledge to fight by these rules?"
"'Course I pledge that!" Tyran said.
"As do I." Dio smiled.
"In that case…" Zavier announced. "May the match BEGIN!"
TYRAN VS DIO
"Let's start off strong with Earthquake, eh?" Dio asked as the entire arena began to tremble, causing Tyran to scramble about, attempting to keep his balance.
"W-Whew…" Tyran panted as the tremors subsided. "I wish I could get a bit closer to you...I'm to far away right now, but I suppose if I start moving now, my Rock Polish should get me where I need to go soon." He said as he began to pick up pace into what appeared to be a sprint across his half of the arena.
"Then I'll take this time to Swords Dance and power myself up for your arrival." Dio announced as he began to perform a Swords Dance in the safety of his side of the arena.
"Great!" Tyran exclaimed as he crossed over into Dio's territory. "Time to-"
He stopped short.
His foot was stuck in a rabbit hole.
"You've got to be kidding me…" He mumbled. "Whatever...I'll stretch for it! Ice Fang!"
His mouth began to freeze over as he leaned towards Dio, who was just out of reach.
"I might as well throw a Hammer Arm your way." Dio said as he swung his arm-like ear at Tyran.
The force of the Hammer Arm knocked Tyran out of the rabbit-hole, across the arena, and out of it, where he lay dazed for a good fifteen seconds.
"Tyran is out of bounds!" Zavier announced. "Dio is the winner!"
"Good match, friend." Tyran tried his hardest to stretch his arm out for a handshake.
"Same to you." Dio said as he extended his long ear to reach Tyran's short arm.
"Next up…" Zavier announced. "We have… Team Aspect's Bai Bagon VS Team Horizon's Elvina Escavalier! A Royal Rank Rumble!"
As Bai and Elvina both entered the arena, the Canvas Ring changed once again.
Bai's half was up high with waterfalls flowing from caves atop steep mountains. Elvina's half become a lush marshland with large grass and cattails sticking out of the murky waters below.
After giving the same speech he gave Tyran and Dio to Bai and Elvina, Zavier once again declared the match begin.
BAI VS ELVINA
"Hup!" Bai leaped from atop the mountain, down towards Elvina. "Aerial Ace!" She announced.
Her head rammed directly into Elvina, pushing her back a bit. Bai then landed in the shallow waters of the marshland. "Iron Head!" Elvina rushed forward, coated in metal. Upon contact, Bai was pushed back through some of the tall grass, and sneezed.
Bai jumped out of the water and lunged towards Elvina with a Fire Fang, managing to cut through Elvina's natural armor and do damage directly to her body.
"Argh!" She said. "Fire Fang.." She muttered as she got her footing back, "I should have known…" She turned towards Bai and tossed a lance. "Reversal!" She announced.
Bai ducked under the lance, and kept her face near the water.
"Rock Slide!" She announced as a large rockslide tumbled down the mountains towards the sparring pokemon.
"That's so cheap…" Elvina muttered before the Rock Slide pushed her out of the arena.
"Elvina is out of bounds!" Zavier announced. "Bai is the winner!"
"Good match." Bai mumbled as she returned Elvina's thrown lance to her.
"Yeah…" Elvina replied in just as much of a mumble.
"Next up…" Neron announced. "We have Team Obsidian's Bolt Rockruff VS Team Gentilhomme's Gerardo Gumshoos!"
Under Bolt's feet, the arena transformed into what appeared to be a valley surrounded on all sides by rocky mountain. Gerardo's half of the field seemed to revert to just that. A field.
After the same speech about sportsmanship, Zavier declared the match begin.
BOLT VS GERARDO
"Woo!" Bolt said as he rushed down the mountains towards Gerardo. "Let's end this early on with a Brick Break!"
"Sorry, my boy." Gerardo said as he stepped out of the energetic Rockruff's way. "But perhaps we both rest a bit hm? Hear me Yawwwwwn." He yawned.
"I…*yawwwn*..No! I'm still gonna Brick Break you!" Bolt announced as he jumped around and kicked Gerardo with his hind legs.
"Hm…" Gerardo grunted as he caught himself before he fell completely on the ground.
"I've been struck, so I suppose it's alright for me to strike back now."
He held his hand back as he stood up. "My father was a Zangoose, you know. And I inherited this little gem of a move from him. Revenge!"
He punched towards Bolt knocking the Rockruff out of the ring.
"Bolt is out of bounds!" Zavier announced. "Gerardo wins!"
"You did very well, for your first Merc Madness Festival." Gerardo said as he helped Bolt to his feet.
"Thanks!" Bolt replied with a smile. "I would have had you if that first Brick Break had landed!"
"Hah!" Gerardo laughed. "Yes, I suppose that's true. Work on your focus and you'll get stronger before you know it."
Bolt nodded and the two exited the arena.
"Next up…" Neron said as the next pokemon began to take their place in a wholly mountainous arena, half of which seemed to be undergoing a contained sandstorm.
"We have Team Celsius's Marian Mienshao VS Team Skullblasterz Tina Tyranitar!"
"Tina? Skullblasterz?" Aaron asked from the West Corner Waiting Area. "
"Um...Excuse me…" Aaron felt a sharp poke. He turned around to see a Sawsbuck standing behind him. The Sawsbuck turned his head towards Daria the Decidueye leader of Team Sniper.
"Moonbrand." She said. "Stop gawking at the match from right in the doorway. The rest of us want to see."
Aaron noisily(though not intentionally noisily) shifted so that the others could see as well.
After Zavier's sportsmanship speech, the match began.
MARIAN VS TINA
"Alright…" Marian said. "Let's go." She leapt for a Jump Kick, and pushed Tina back towards the outer edges of the arena.
"I guess...Giga Impact then!" Tina said as she charged towards Marian. Marian leapt over the Tyranitar as the Giga Impact died down.
"And another Jump Kick!" Marian announced. She shot down and crashed beside Tina, who was still recovering from her Giga Impact.
"Tina...get up…" Aaron muttered. "If Skullblasterz sees you like this…."
"Hungh…" Marian got back up and went for a third Jump Kick.
"Oof…." Tina said as she rolled out of bounds from the force of the kick.
"Tina is out of bounds!" Zavier announced. "Marian is the winner!"
Marian gave a nodding bow to her opponent before leaving the ring.
"It's not like she really stood a chance to begin with." Mandy's Excadrill boss said to her as the two mercenaries left the arena. "Marian had her own Dojo up north in the Fighting Province before joining Team Celsius."
"Really?" Mandy asked. "Did she teach you?"
"Hah!" Her boss laughed. "What makes you think I'd be a student there? But she did train pokemon of all types and backgrounds. I bet she'd have trained you too. But don't get any ideas. The Fighting Province might not all be terrible, but most places are still places you ought not to go."
"Hrmmm…" Mandy pouted. "You're just trying to scare me into staying in the mines."
"Whatever you say Mandible." Her boss said. "Now turn towards the arena. A new match is starting."
"In the East Corner…" Neron announced. "We have Team Revenant's Phoebe Plusle!"
"And in the West Corner?" Rio asked.
"Why, Team Moonbrand's Aaron Aggron!"
"Aaron?" Tina asked as they passed each other.
"Hi…" Aaron said softly before stepping up to the ring.
Phoebe's side of the arena seemed to be a field not unlike the field that Gerardo caused to happen, and Aaron's side of the arena morphed into a singular humongous mountain.
After Zavier's sportsmanship speech, the match began.
PHOEBE VS AARON
"Heya!" Phoebe waved sweetly. "You're a big strong Aggron and I'm just a teeny tiny Plusle, so don't go too hard on me okay?" She asked in the friendliest voice she could create.
"Um…" Aaron seemed confused. "You...You do realize that this is a Sparring Match right? I'm not going to hurt you…L-look, here I'll just Bulldoze and…"
Aaron's Bulldoze shook the ground and tossed Phoebe to the edge of the arena.
"O-okay…" She said as she stood up. "I think I get it...so if I use Copycat then…"
Aaron's eyes widened as the ground began to shake again.
"Nonononono!" Aaron yelled as the Bulldoze first caused part of the mountain on his side of the field to break off and clock him on the head, causing him to pass out, and then the bulldoze brought him out of the arena.
"Aaron is both unable to continue battling and out of bounds. Phoebe is the winner!"
"Oh no!" Phoebe ran towards Aaron. "I didn't think copying your Bulldoze would be that strong! I wasn't trying to trick you or anything, please believe me."
"It's fine…" Aaron sighed. "I just...think I'm going to go get something to eat…"
"And that's it for Phoebe and Aaron." Rio said. "Our next match is between Team Attract's Loliana Lopunny and Guard's United's Sanzo Sawsbuck!"
As both pokemon stepped into the arena, the whole thing became a sparsely populated forest.
"Lo…" Sanzo nodded.
"Sanzy." Loliana replied.
"I see you ended up starting a Mercenary Band after all." Sanzo said.
"And you've ended up joining one." Loliana replied.
"What's going on?" Mandy asked her boss.
The Excadrill shrugged. "Normal Type shit, I dunno."
"So, for those of you not in the know…" Rio announced. "These two mercenaries were once childhood friends in the Capital City of the Normal Province, Kingcardine. However, though Neron and I aren't quite sure what, something seems to have torn their friendship apart…"
After Zavier's speech about sportsmanship, the battle began.
LOLIANA VS SANZO
"Normally," Loliana said. "I would start off with an Attract on my male opponents, but for you, Sanzy, I'll make an exception. I'll jump straight in with a-"
"JUMP KICK!" Both pokemon yelled as they jumped towards each other.
"I'm not an idiot, Lo." Sanzo said. "If you want a fight, I'll give you one!"
"Not Likely!" Loliana replied as her Jump Kick landed on Sanzo first and sent the Sawsbuck flying into a tree.
"Ugh…" He brought himself up to his feet. "Gahhh!" He yelled as he charged towards Loliana. "Horn Leech!" He announced as his antlers captured Loliana's arm and drained energy from it.
"No!" Loliana struggled to free herself from the grasp of Sanzo's antlers. "Fine." She humphed as she brought her other arm down below her waist.
"Dizzy Punch!" She announced as Sanzo quickly lunged backward and Loliana took the brunt of her own attack, and began to tumble around, confused.
Sanzo sighed.
"I'm sorry that it's come to this Lo...but nothing you say or do will change my mind once I've made it up. You know that."
He walked up her. "Cut." He announced as he motioned with his antlers and Loliana stumbled to the ground in a dodging stupor.
"You...say that…" Loliana tried her hardest to regain her balance, though it clearly wasn't working. "But if someone you don't even know can convince you to join their Mercenary Band, then I think that maybe you're just being stubborn for a different reason."
She through another Dizzy Punch, hitting Sanzo square in the chest.
"Those are two very different scenarios and you know it." Sanzo replied as he attempted another Cut. His antlers grazed past Loliana's skin.
"Then…" Loliana shook herself free of her confusion. "We'll just have to talk about it…" She jumped up.
"Later!" She yelled as she descended. "High Jump Kick!"
Sanzo quickly dodged out of the way and Loliana crashed into the same tree she had thrown him into in the beginning of the battle. Sanzo rolled the fallen tree off of Loliana, who was clearly unconscious.
"And I'll decide when 'Later' is." Sanzo said.
"Loliana is unable to continue battling!" Zavier announced. "Sanzo is the winner!"
As the two of them left, the next two Sparring Mercenaries entered.
"Please welcome…" Neron announced. "In the East Corner, Aramis Aegislash! And in the West Corner, Team Sniper's Daria Decidueye!"
As Aramis took his part of the ring, the arena seemed to transform into a castle or palace courtyard. Daria's half of the arena erupted into a forest much denser than that of the last match.
After the same sportsmanship speech, the match began.
ARAMIS VS DARIA
Daria silently began the match with a Spirit Shackle attack, which was immediately deflected by Aramis's King's Shield. He then shifted to attack form to Night Slash Daria, who used a Double Team to dodge the slash. She then fired back with a Razor Leaf.
Aramis rose his shield as he took the Razor Leaf attack. He then slashed his blade for a Shadow Claw and immediately knocked Daria out once his blade made contact.
"What happened?" Mandy asked her boss. "I blinked."
"You just saw a seasoned soldier take out a sniper." Her boss said.
Aramis and Daria silently shook hands/ribbons/wings and exited the arena.
"Next up," Neron announced. "Our second to last match of the day, it's Team Steel Heart's Hashina Honchkrow VS The Leafguard League's Laicho Lurantis!"
Hashina's half of the arena spawned rather large buildings and well paved streets with many streetlights for her to perch on. Laicho's half of the arena grew even more dense as it became a bona fide jungle.
After the speech everyone was getting a little tired of, the match began.
HASHINA VS LAICHO
Hashina began to glow brightly as she prepared for a Sky Attack.
Laicho began to head out of the jungle and into Hashina's half of the arena as she used Sunny Day to shine bright sunlight down on the arena.
Hashina swooped down from a street light with a Sky Attack Laicho only just barely got away with a scrape from the attack, she quickly turned and used Solar Blade as Hashina flew away, effortlessly avoiding the attack, before she turned back to face Laicho, and flapped her wings to summon a Heat Wave attack.
Laicho, unable to take the heat, passed out.
"Laicho can no longer battle, the winner is Hashina!" Zavier announced.
"And now…" Neron said, excited, as Hashina and Laicho shook with each other and went their separate ways. "For our final Sparring Match on Canvas Ring!"
"It's Team Soulwind's Kavosa Krookodile VS Team Grass Flare's Sara Fennekin!"
"Let's get this over with." Rio said as the last two Sparring pokemon took their places.
Kavosa's half of the arena became a large desert plagued by sandstorms. Sara's half also became a desert, though plant life was clearly more common, and there did not seem to be any sandstorms on her end of the arena.
After Zavier's final speech about Sparring Match sportsmanship, the match began.
KAVOSA VS SARA
Kavosa sighed, and started off with an Earthquake.
That was all that was needed. Sara was sent flying out of the ring.
"Sara is out of bounds." Zavier announced. "Kavosa is the winner!"
The two pokemon shook hands rather awkwardly and walked off.
Steel Province: Capital City of Southshore: Merc Madness Festival Grounds: Double Valley(Normal Province Mystery Dungeon Racetrack)(3 Floor Mystery Dungeon): Age of Mew: Year 656: Normal Province Races
"And now begins the Normal Province Races!" Neron announced. "Rio, why don't you explain this year's Normal Province Mystery Dungeon Race Track to our audience?"
"Well…" Rio said. "Double Valley gets its name from being filled entirely with Ditto, all of which have the Imposter ability. That's right, the enemies the racers will be seeing in this admittedly short Mystery Dungeon are themselves. Let's hope they know themselves well enough to not get caught up in a fight while the other teams race to victory."
"And our first group of three racers has appeared!" Neron announced. "From Team Aquarius, we have Rune the Dartrix! From Team Azure, we have Esperia the Espeon, and from Team SONA we have Amella the Aurorus!"
RUNE V ESPERIA V AMELLA
"Welcome Runners." Zavier Zangoose announced to the three racing pokemon. "Double Valley is a 3 floor mystery dungeon. As with all racing competitions, your objective is your team's color coded flag at the end of the Mystery Dungeon. The first team to reach the end of the dungeon and grab their flag is the winning team. All mercenaries will be asked to leave the dungeon immediately after they complete it. Remaining in the dungeon to mess with mercenaries still racing is strictly off limits and will result in disqualification from the festival. The first place runner will receive 10 points for their team. Second place will receive 6, and third place will receive 2. If a tie occurs for a place, the points are split in half among the tying mercenaries and the next place will no longer exist (if two mercenaries tie for first place, they both receive 5 points and the next mercenary comes in third place, receiving 2 points). Once again, the use of items are strictly forbidden. Only pokemon moves and regular attacks are allowed. Any racer who starts the race prematurely will automatically forfeit the race and will not win any points. If a racer is knocked into submission by an obstacle or opponent within the Mystery Dungeon, they will forfeit the race and will not win any points, regardless of their placing. If a racer is knocked into submission by another racer, they will still forfeit the race, but will also be awarded the points they would have gained had they been able to complete the race. Are there any questions?"
No one seemed to have any.
"In that case…" Zavier said. "I want to see a good, clean race from the three of you. On your marks...get set...Race!"
The three pokemon rushed into the Mystery Dungeon, Esperia with the early lead, Amella in second, and Rune close behind her in third.
1F
As Esperia reached the main area of 1F of Double Valley, some Ditto began to make their way towards her. Without stopping, Esperia set up a Light Screen and continued to run through the dungeon, careful to not engage with any of her own Ditto counterparts.
As Amella entered the same room a while later, and the Ditto began to appear, she quickly used Flash Cannon on the Ditto that cloned her as she made her way forward.
Rune, following behind Amella, did his best to avoid his own Ditto clones, but if he ever got close to one, he would swiftly attack it with a Peck.
2F
Esperia continued to distance herself from the rest of the competition, while Rune managed to make his way past Amella, though she was still close behind him.
"Oh?"
"Oh?"
"Oh?"
"Oh?"
"Oh?"
"Oh?"
A bunch of Ditto dropped out of nowhere, two copies of each racer. Esperia brought up her Light Screen again and began to run towards the final staircase. Her two Ditto clones both turned her way and shot Shadow Balls at her. She shot out her own Shadow Ball to counter the Ditto on the right, and the Shadow Ball from the Ditto on the left managed to do shit all to her thanks to the Light Screen she had prepared earlier.
As she exited the floor, Rune came in, followed by Amella. The two Amella clones turned towards Rune and both let out Ice Beam attacks, while the two Rune clones both shot Leafage attacks towards Amella. Rune swiftly moved out of the way of the first Ice Beam right before being hit directly by the second one.
Amella used a Blizzard to counter the Leafage, as the leaves shriveled up from the cold before they could hit her and she overtook Rune, who was limping after her.
3F(Dungeon Boss Room)
The biggest Ditto that Esperia, Amella, and Rune had ever seen was blocking the way to the flags.
Esperia, the first to arrive, noticed that this Ditto did not immediately copy her. She could see her team's flag just beyond the large pokemon. Unsure of what exactly to do in the situation she was in, Esperia attacked with a Psychic attack, dealing damage to the large Ditto, whose focus then shifted her way.
Amella arrived just in time to see him Transform.
"Is that?" Rune gasped as he limped into the room.
"It's copying Zavier…" Esperia mumbled.
"Revenge!" The large Zangoose announced as he turned and attempted to smack Amella with his tail. The force sent her careening into the Mystery Dungeon wall and as she managed to use her front legs to bring herself up and drag herself forward, Rune managed to overtake her again.
"Yes!" Esperia said as she saw opportunity. She quickly rushed under the large Ditto-Zangoose's legs and grabbed her team's flag, before exiting the Mystery Dungeon.
"Farewell!" Rune announced as he quickly used his wings to zip past the large Ditto-Zangoose and grab his team's flag before he too exited the Mystery Dungeon, leaving Amella alone with the Dungeon Boss.
"Thunder Wave!" She announced as she shot a Thunder Wave towards the Dungeon Boss and quickly dragged herself to her team's flag. "Whew…" She gasped. "Suck it, TMNT. 2 point lead."
RACE END
"Whoa, what a race!" Neron announced. "Now for Race number 2 of 3! For this race, we have Team Ebonshade's Farren the Furfrou! Team Kirei's Totarius the Togetic, and Team Discharge's Pillardo the Porygon2!"
After Zavier's race speech, the match started.
FARREN V TOTARIUS V PILLARDO
1F
Farren took the early lead, Pillardo in a not so close second, and Totarius in a not so close third.
As Farren was the first into the main room of the first floor, he was the first to see the Ditto copies of himself.
"Farren might be in the lead…" Farren announced. "But he's going to make sure that his place does not change!" He turned around at shot a Thunder Wave at Pillardo, causing the Porygon2 to halt immediately.
"No...Stop it!" Pillardo couldn't break free of his paralysis as Ditto copies of himself began to close in.
"Hahahaha!" Totarius laughed as he overtook Pillardo. "You, the Team Discharge member, got paralyzed!"
Pillardo growled as he looked at Farren who was heading for the staircase.
Totarius seemed to not at all fear the Ditto who transformed into him, and as he stopped momentarily to use Wish again, Pillardo understood why.
Farren slowly walked up the staircase as Totarius also slowed down for reasons unknown as he got closer to the Furfrou in the lead.
Pillardo remained on 1F, unable to break free of his paralysis.
2F
As Farren entered the main room of 2F, the six Ditto all dropped down again, two copying him, two copies of Totarius, and two copying Pillardo, who was still on 1F.
Farren immediately created a Substitute and began to run for the Staircase as Totarius entered the center of the room.
"I'm catching up, Ebonshade…" He chuckled as he kept towards the ceiling of the floor in order to avoid detection from any Ditto copies that weren't himself.
1F
Pillardo finally shook free of his paralysis and immediately began to spam Agility to move faster and catch up to the others.
2F
As Pillardo reached 2F, he managed to get there just in time to notice Totarius heading up the stairs as well as a Farren substitute in the center of the main room.
His eyes narrowed as he rushed forward through the Ditto copies.
3F(Dungeon Boss Room)
Farren was the first to arrive in the Dungeon Boss Room. Although, instead of Zavier, the giant Ditto, which happened to be soundly sleeping, and blocking the way to the flags, was instead copying Farren himself.
Farren Wild Charged his large counterpart out of the way and instantly grabbed his team's flag as Totarius showed up in the room.
"Ooh!" He said as he headed towards the flag. "I'll take those points thank you very much…"
"Sorry!" Pillardo announced as he zoomed passed Totarius, powered up by a ton of Agility. "You'll have to settle for 2...at most." He said as he shot a Thunder Wave towards Totarius before grabbing his team's flag.
As Totarius attempted to break out of his Paralysis, the giant Ditto-Farren got up and looked at the one other pokemon in the room.
"Wild Charge!" It announced as it rushed into Totarius, knocking him unconscious.
RACE END
"Well that race certainly wasn't as clean as the last one…" Rio announced. "But no one broke any rules, and the audience seems to be loving it."
"Woooo!" The crowd cheered.
"And now…" Neron said. "We come to our final race of the Normal Province!"
"Awwww…." The crowd pouted.
"But don't worry! We still have an entire Ground Province to get through today!" Neron exclaimed. "Before that however, let's enjoy this final Normal Province race through Double Valley! We have The Twin Flame's Sirina the Salazzle! Haywood's Legion's Zaman the Drampa! And Fortune's Four's Destiny the Dratini!"
SIRINA V ZAMAN V DESTINY
1F
Sirina got the earliest lead, and Zaman seemed to be slowly moving in third place shortly behind Destiny in second.
As Sirina entered the main room, the Ditto around it began to copy her. She ignored them and kept running towards the stairs.
As Sirina left and Destiny entered, all the Ditto shifted to copy her.
She crouched into a shy coil. "B-blizzard…" She said as she attempted to freeze the room over while she crept her way towards the staircase.
Before she could, one of her clones also used the move, instantly knocking her unconscious.
"Oh my…" Zaman said as he entered the room in time to see Destiny leave the dungeon. "Poor child…"
He then slowly made his way towards the staircase as the Ditto slowly began to copy him.
2F
Sirina, far ahead of her only competition, reached the main room of the second floor and found herself surrounded by the six Ditto. Two of them copied her, two copies were of Destiny, and two copies were of Zaman.
The Zaman copies drew their attention towards her. Sirina did not stop and quickly went for the staircase to the Dungeon Boss Chamber.
Zaman himself then walked into the room. All six Ditto copies aimed towards him.
"Hm…" He mused. "I guess they must be mad at me for going so slowly, though I can't help my age."
The Dittos all shot Dragon moves at him. Both the copies of himself and Sirina shot Dragon Pulse attacks, while the Destiny copies shot Dragon Rage.
They all deflected off Zaman's Protect as he patiently walked up the stairs to the Dungeon Boss Room.
3F(Dungeon Boss Room)
Sirina was easily the first one to the Dungeon Boss room. The giant Ditto had this time elected to copy Zaman, so a giant Ditto-Zaman was guarding the flags like they were a treasure.
Sirina rushed and jumped into the coil of the large Ditto-Zaman and grabbed her flag.
"Sorry big guy. I know to pick my fights." She said as she left the dungeon and Zaman arrived in the room.
"Oh...It appears you've copied me…" He observed. "Sorry about the back pain. But living through an entire Age and then some will do that to you."
The Ditto-Zaman turned its attention towards its real counterpart.
"Dragon Pulse!" The Dungeon Boss announced as it fired a Dragon Pulse Zaman's way.
Zaman took the attack head on and fell to the floor, coughing.
"Heh…" Zaman coughed. "I'm not sure I'm cut out to fight myself...But I'll give it a go. Just this once." He slowly turned and swung his tail towards his counterpart. "Dragon Tail, move to another floor of the dungeon, or at least another end of this room. You'll be happier there."
The Ditto-Zaman stomped on Zaman's tail, trapping him.
Zaman stretched his body out as far as he could, and barely, just barely, gripped his team's flag with his teeth, and exited the mystery dungeon before the giant Ditto could do any more damage to him.
RACE END
UGM Update: Normal Province Events have Ended, Now Calculating Team Placement:
1st Place: 10 Points: Knights of the Round, Team Aspect, Team Gentilhomme, Team Celsius, Team Revenant, Guards United, Aramis, Team Steel Heart, Team Soulwind, Team Azure, Team Ebonshade, The Twin Flames
13th Place: 6 Points: Team Aquarius, Team Discharge, Haywood's Legion
16th Place: 2 Points: Team SONA
17th Place: 0 Points: Team TMNT, Team Horizon, Team Obsidian, Team Skullblasterz, Team Moonbrand, Team Attract, Team Sniper, The Leafguard League, Team Grass Flare, Team Kirei, Fortune's Four
Steel Province: Capital City of Southshore: Merc Madness Festival Grounds: Gemstone Stadium(Ground Province Arena): All Ground Province Sparring Matches
"Welcome viewers!" Neron announced as the crowds gathered in Gemstone Stadium for the Ground Province Sparring Matches. "We're about to hear from Province Representative Dimitri Donphan about this year's Ground Province Arena!"
"Thank you, Neron." Dimitri said as he stepped up to a microphone. "This year, the Ground Province is pleased to bring you Gemstone stadium. Looking around you'll see that the stadium is dark and cavernous, lit only by randomly placed gemstones along the walls, ceiling, and floor of the arena. But these beauties aren't just to help you see...if any of your ranged attacks miss, they might bounce of the gems one after another, and then anything can happen. Any attacks that cause you to make direct contact with the gemstones will instead cause the gemstone to shatter, and you'll either gain a great stat boost, or a terrible stat drop, which is completely random. Furthermore, as this is technically an underground arena, the moves Earthquake and Magnitude automatically do double the damage. And finally, we have a set time limit. If the match is not concluded within 10 minutes, the arena will cave in over both fighters and force a tie. That is everything our lovely audience needs to know about Gemstone Stadium."
"Woah…" Rio said. "That's a lot to take in at once...but maybe this first match can help demonstrate what the arena is capable of."
"You've got that right!" Neron announced. "In the East Corner, from Haywood's Legion, we have Haywood the Hippowdon! And in the West Corner, from Guards United, we have Gurst the Golurk!"
Dimitri gave the same speech Zavier did back for the Normal Province Sparring Matches, and the match began.
HAYWOOD VS GURST
Immediately, thanks to Haywood's Sand Stream, a sandstorm began occurring in the arena, and only occasionally did the glittering gems shine through it.
"Talk about a literal shot in the dark…" Gurst huffed. "Just like a warlord to hide from true authority."
"Shadow Punch!" Gurst announced as he aimed at a nearby gemstone, shattering it. Instantly the crystals of the gem attached themselves over Gurst's eyes.
"And Gurst is blinded by the gemstones!" Neron announced. "If he thought he couldn't see before, now he's really screwed when it comes to accuracy."
"Going for broke I guess." Haywood shrugged as he picked a direction. "Sand Tomb!" He announced as he shot a vortex of sand in his chosen direction.
"Um...so…" Rio began. "For those of you who can't quite tell..Haywood's Sand Tomb attack has hit a gemstone and is now bouncing around in the arena. We understand that it's hard to see as there is a sandstorm ruining everyone's sight, but it is there, and Gurst seems ready to act."
"You bet I am!" Gurst announced. "Magnitude, let's go!"
The floor of Gemstone Stadium began to shake.
"Is that really the best you've got?" Haywood asked. "I don't even feel this!"
"But the Stadium sure did!" Neron announced as a gemstone dropped near both Haywood and Gurst, who were closer to each other than either one realized.
"Gah…" Haywood's eyes were only barely able to open thanks to the shattered crystal, and Gurst's gem blindfold was only reinforced.
"Crap…" Haywood mumbled. "Screw it, you're shaking the arena, so will I! Earthquake!"
The arena began to shake again, and instantly Haywood as knocked back by his own Sand Tomb attack from earlier, trapping him in his new space, where two more gemstones shattered thanks to his bumping into them.
"Well folks, it doesn't seem to help out at all, but Haywood's Special Defense has been lowered by quite a bit!"
"If I aim my fist towards the direction I heard his thud…" Gurst reasoned. "I might be able to land an Ice Punch!"
Gurst launched his fist as it froze over, and it rammed straight into Haywood with a critical hit, knocking Haywood out cold.
"Haywood is unable to continue the match!" Dimitri announced. "Gurst is the winner!"
BATTLE OVER! WINNER: GURST
"Next up…" Neron announced as the arena reset itself. "We have Fortune's Four's Steadfast the Sandslash VS Team Celsius's Seth the Serperior!"
STEADFAST VS SETH
Seth was the pokemon to make the first move. "Leaf Tornado!" He announced immediately.
Steadfast was immediately knocked unconscious.
"Well…" Neron said. "I think we might be seeing a theme with this Mercenary Band…"
"Which one?" Rio joked.
BATTLE OVER(DID IT EVEN START?) WINNER: SETH
"Well, let's hope this next battle can take our minds off that." Rio said. "Who is up next?"
"We have Team Attract's Florencia the Florges VS Knights of The Round's Kylie the Kirlia!"
FLORENCIA VS KYLIE
"This will be interesting for me." Florencia said as the match began. "I've often sparred with my teammate Gloria, and she is a Gardevoir. I wonder how much different you are from your lines evolutions…" She held out a hand. "Nature Power." She announced.
Her nature power turned into a Power Gem attack, and Kylie was instantly knocked out.
"Hm…" Florencia said. "Perhaps I was a tad too forceful, assuming you'd be able to take the same amount of force I use against your evolution…"
BATTLE OVER! WINNER: FLORENCIA
"The next match is Team Ebonshade's Darron the Delphox VS Aramis the Aegislash!"
The two pokemon took their places in the arena and the match began.
DARRON VS ARAMIS
"Fire Blast!" Darron announced as he shot a fire blast, and the third match to end in one move in a row came to a close.
BATTLE OVER(C'MON...STAHP… ) WINNER: DARRON
"Our next match is Team Horizon's Zeria the Zekrom VS Team Aquarius's Eva the Primarina!" Neron announced.
"You've got to be kidding me…" Rio sighed.
ZERIA VS EVA
"Bolt Strike." Zeria announced immediately as she shot herself towards Eva in a Bolt Strike, and ended up hitting a gemstone instead. Zeria's muscles were then forced to relax a bit and she was forced to lower her guard ever so slightly.
"Really?" She asked.
"Pound!" Eva announced as she slapped Zeria with her flipper, causing the Zekrom to wince.
"Bolt Strike!" Zeria announced again. This time, she hit Eva directly.
"Well, at least it didn't end in one attack this time." Rio sighed.
BATTLE OVER(THIS WASN'T QUITE WHAT 'STAHP' MEANT) WINNER: ZERIA
"Next up The Leafguard League's Lei the Lilligant VS Team Aspect's Doyle the Dragonite!"
Lei and Doyle both headed into the arena, and after Dimitri's speech, the match began.
LEI VS DOYLE
"Attract!" Lei announced as she winked an Attract towards Doyle.
"Maybe if you were a part of Team Attract." Doyle said. He flew towards Lei and brought his fist up. "Fire Punch!" He announced as he hit Lei, who braced the pain and grabbed Doyle's hand as it cooled down from the flames.
"Then let's do a Teeter Dance, hmmm?" Lei asked as she began her Teeter Dance attack, causing Doyle to spin around, slightly confused.
"Dragon Rush!" Doyle announced as he rushed forwards into Lei, who now quite literally had her back against the wall.
She gulped. "I guess it's now or never then…" she held out her leaf arms. "Hyper Beam!" She announced.
Doyle shifted slightly and dodged the Hyper Beam which reflected off a gemstone and began to fly about the stadium.
"Fire Punch!" Doyle announced again as he threw another Fire Punch that Lei avoided by ducking under him, emerging at his backside.
"Fire Punch!" He tried once more as he turned around. Lei once again took the heat of the attack as she grabbed Doyle's hand, stopping the attack.
"Hyper Beam." Lei announced as she brought a hand up to Doyle. The Hyper Beam knocked him back into the wall of the cavern.
And then the whole stadium collapsed on top of both of them.
"Unfortunately, these two took up too much time inside the stadium." Rio said. "So a tie has been forced."
BATTLE OVER! LEI AND DOYLE DRAW!
"Our penultimate match of the day…" Neron announced. "Is Team Grass Flare's Wes the Chespin VS The Twin Flames's Sari the Salazzle."
"It was nice knowing you, Wes." Rio said.
"Well, we don't know that for sure yet." Neron reminded him. "Let's not forget Phoebe's upset in the Normal matches."
"True." Rio agreed as the two contestants took their place in the arena.
WES VS SARI
"Fire Blast!" Sari announced as she shot a Fire Blast at Wes, and the poor guy didn't stand a chance against the H Rank Mercenary.
"I thought these types of battles were over." Rio sighed. "But I guess everyone has the ability to be wrong once in awhile."
BATTLE OVER! WINNER: SARI
"And our last match of the day is…" Neron announced. "What everyone's been waiting for! In the East Corner...Slade the Silvally, the current leader of Team Azure and godfather of the Azure Syndicate. And in the West Corner….Team Moonbrand's Bennett the Banette!"
SLADE VS BENNETT
"Sucker Punch!" Bennett announced as he quickly hit Slade on the cheek.
The Silvally looked at him.
"I guess...I'm the sucker in this scenario?" Bennett shrugged, hoping that Slade would at least find enjoyment in the pun.
"Crunch!" Slade announced as he bit down on Bennett, who began to bleed a crimson gas from the crunch wound.
"Hngh…" Bennett stretched and attacked a nearby gemstone. "Foul Play!" He announced as he did so.
As the gemstone shattered, Bennett managed to put some distance between himself and Slade.
"It appears that Bennett's evasiveness has risen ever so slightly!" Neron announced. "There we have it! The first actual stat rise that the gemstones have provided us, and it's in the last Sparring Match of the day!"
"Crunch!" Slade announced again as he bit down on Bennett's foot before Bennett tore it an more crimson gas began to bleed out from him.
"Gahh!" Bennett announced. "Foul Play!" He cried as he attacked Slade head on. The Silvally dodged it and Bennett ran into another gemstone. His wounds seemed to widen slightly.
"Ice Beam." Slade sighed, clearly getting tired of the Banette running around the arena.
Bennett froze up and began to glow from the crystal gem light reflecting off of him.
"What's wrong, kid?" Slade asked. "Cold feet already?"
BATTLE OVER! WINNER: SLADE
Steel Province: Capital City of Southshore: Merc Madness Festival Grounds: Humongous Hole(Ground Province Mystery Dungeon Race Track)(B20F Mystery Dungeon): Age of Mew: Year 656: All Ground Province Races
"So Dimitri…" Neron said. "Tell us about the Ground Province's Mystery Dungeon Race Track this year…"
"Well...we really pushed the limit for how big a Mystery Dungeon can get this year, and made it the maximum limit of 20 floors. Now, one of the many features of this rather large dungeon is the Four Pits at the very beginning of the track. Each participating racer chooses a single pit to fall down, and will end up either at B2F, B8F, B14F, or B20F, the Dungeon Boss's Chamber, and said pit will close up after it is used, so each racer will take a different pit passage. And the pits shift each time a new race is started, so no racer watching the competition will be able to use memory to take a shortcut. Of course, to make this as fair as possible for those unlucky enough to not fall directly to B20F, there are very few pokemon in the dungeon. Only some Diglett, Trapinch, Drilbur, Sandshrew, you know, the usual pokemon you might find underground. On the lower floors you might see Dugtrio, Onix, and Excadrill as well, but again, the pokemon are few and far between. Most rooms will be easy to traverse.
However, unlike the Normal Province's Double Valley (and unlike most of the other Province's race tracks), the Dungeon Boss Pokemon must be defeated before any racer may grab their team's flag. Oh, but watch out for traps set up in the Prime Number Floors(2,3,5,7,9,11,13,17,19), because they could really hinder your chances at the race. And that's just about everything that I'm allowed to tell you that Humongous Hole has to offer."
"Interesting!" Neron said. "Well, we'll get you down there then, and you can start the first race!"
"Who's racing?" Rio asked.
"We have...Team Soulwind's Xenon the Sceptile, Team TMNT's Talo the Talonflame, Team SONA's Star the Staraptor, and Team Kirei's Comfort the Comfey!"
XENON V TALO V STAR V COMFORT
B1F
Talo was the first one to the four pits. "Crap…" He realized. "I have no freaking idea where to go." He jumped down the pit labelled "Pit #4" and landed on B14F.
Xenon arrived just in time to see Talo's Pit close.
He jumped down the pit labelled "Pit #2" and landed on B20F(Dungeon Boss's Room)
Star and Comfort both entered together.
Star quickly then dove into the pit labelled "Pit #3" and landed on B8F.
Comfort, left with "Pit #1" jumped down into B2F
B20F
Xenon stared up into the eyes of the giant, shiny, Mega form Steelix that was the Dungeon Boss.
"Substitute." He announced as he created a lifelike substitute of himself to distract the Mega Steelix with.
"Sandstorm!" The Mega Steelix announced as it summoned a large sandstorm that engulfed the entire floor.
B17F
As an Agility boosted Talo rushed into B17F, he triggered the trap of the floor, and three Excadrill popped up out of the ground. One of them created a Sandstorm, and the others both attacked with Rock Slides. Talo managed to use his speed to dodge both of the attacks, gave a quick sigh of relief, and zoomed past the Excadrill and out of the floor.
B20F
The Sandstorm raged on as Xenon planned his next move against the Mega Steelix. "Grass Knot!" He announced as he created a large grass snare and tripped the Mega Steelix as it moved. It fell with a large Thud, instantly putting each of the racers behind Xenon one floor lower than the floor they were on.
"Hngh…" The Steelix looked up at Xenon. "Gyro Ball!" It announced as it grazed the substitute that Xenon had created.
B19F
As Talo fell to B19F from B18F, he accidentally triggered B19F's trap as well. Immediately, all the Onix living on the floor were warped into the room with him.
A shiny Onix summoned up a Sandstorm, while the 5 other Onix all shot Dragonbreath attacks at Talo. He managed to dodge the first two with relative ease, but ran straight into the third, and was then hit by the fourth and fifth before he had time to recover, and he fell to the ground, paralyzed.
B11F
Star, having fallen from B10F, triggered the B11F trap. Immediately an alolan Dugtrio popped up and used a Sand Tomb attack, which Star easily avoided as she continued on her way.
B20F
"Energy Ball!" Xenon announced as he aimed an Energy Ball towards the Mega Steelix. The green orb of energy hit the Steelix square it its large face. The Steelix turned its attention towards the Substitute, and once again used a Gyro Ball attack.
As the Mega Steelix made contact with the Substitute, it disappeared into the sandstorm.
B19F
Talon slowly walked towards the staircase in his sight as the Onix all turned to him.
"Oh no...you better not-" He began.
Each Onix attempted a Rock Slide. Talo didn't stand a chance, and he was beamed out of the Mystery Dungeon.
B17F
As Star rushed through the dungeon, she too triggered the Excadrill trap. The three Excadrill popped up again The first Excadrill summoned a Sandstorm and the second two both attacked Star with Rock Slide. She dodged the first of the Rock Slides, but the other attack sent her spiraling through the air and crashing down to the ground. She only barely made it to B18F and narrowly avoided the Sandstorm present on the floor sealing her fate.
B9F
Comfort silently strolled through the Mystery Dungeon, not bothering to go terribly fast. He was creating Grassy Terrain around him where he went in order to see the areas where any trap triggers might have been buried in the sand and easily avoid them. He hummed pleasantly as he moved along.
B20F
Xenon once again used Grass Knot on the Steelix, who once again fell with a thud, causing the other racers to fall to the floor directly below them. This time however, the Steelix did not retaliate. Instead, it burrowed in further into the ground and Xenon noticed that it had dug up the Flags for the racers. He took Team Soulwind's flag and exited the Mystery Dungeon, netting 10 points for his team.
B19F
As Star fell into B19F, she triggered the Onix trap of the floor. All six Onix appeared in the room she was occupying. The shiny one began a Sandstorm, and the other five all aimed Dragonbreath attacks at her. Star, who was already weak from earlier, couldn't take the attacks and was evacuated from the Mystery Dungeon.
*MUCH Later(Same Floor)*
Comfort strolled into the B19F and once again used Grassy Terrain, unaware that it was that very move that would alert the Onix to his presence. Once again they all warped to his room. The shiny one began a Sandstorm and the rest of them all used Dragonbreath, which Comfort shrugged off like nothing, and continued down to B20F, noticed that he was still able to get a flag for his team, picked it up, and left the dungeon.
RACE END
"Well...that was an interesting turn of events…" Rio said.
"Talk about a come from behind story…" Neron agreed. "I did not think that Comfort would end up placing second."
"Next up…" Rio read off of his schedule. "We have, from Team Steel Heart, we have Nitro the Ninjask. From Team Obsidian, we have Bloom the Sawsbuck. Finally, from Team Sniper, we have Gent the Gliscor."
"So...one of the pits will not be used this race!" Neron figured out. "I wonder which pit it'll be!"
NITRO V BLOOM V GENT
B1F
Nitro immediately rushed into Pit 1, and fell into B2F.
Gent and Bloom were in a dead heat for second and jumped down Pits 4 and 2 respectively. Gent landed on B8F and Bloom on B14F.
B7F
Nitro, who had been double teaming his way through the dungeon, as well as Speed Boosting thanks to his ability. A small amount of Drilbur seemed to be waiting for him to arrive and immediately began to tunnel all over the place until the floor was no longer recognizable. There were a good ten narrow passageways going every which way, but only one of them led to the stairs to the next floor.
Nitro hurried through the closest path to him and gave a super quick sigh as he saw the staircase.
B13F
As Gent flew through the dungeon, using Swords Dance to power himself up just in case he triggered any traps and needed to fight, he heard a fast approaching buzzing sound and turned to see a flurry Nitro and double team Nitro clones gaining on him.
He knew there was no way he would outspeed the Ninjask.
"That's a fast one…" He mumbled as Nitro overtook him and he began to try his hardest to keep up.
B17F
Bloom had been using Agility to make her way through the Mystery Dungeon so far, but she accidentally activated the Excadrill trap on B17F. The Excadrill all popped up. The first one used Sandstorm while the other two used Rock Slide on her. The first Rock Slide scraped past Bloom, but she took the second Rock Slide head on and flinched in pain.
As she did that, Nitro entered the room, and while he distracted by the scene unfolding before him, he accidentally triggered an Excadrill trap of his own.
The first Excadrill didn't need to use a Sandstorm, so it used Hone Claws in order to get ready for an attack. The other two Excadrill both used Rock Slide as per usual.
Both of the attacks took out Double Team clones and Nitro rushed past the Excadrill.
As both he and Bloom who was now behind him, left the floor and the Excadrill retreated, Gent reached the floor himself, and made notes of where both the traps were before continuing.
B20F
The first racer to reach the B20F with the Giant Mega Steelix was Nitro, who immediately used Dig and dove under the ground. The Mega Steelix took the time to set up a Sandstorm.
Nitro then popped out of the ground towards the Mega Steelix, who wailed out in immense pain before looking at Nitro. "Thunder Fang!" It announced as it's electrically charged fangs scraped Nitro before Bloom entered the floor.
B19F
As Gent hurried through B19F, realizing how far behind he was, he accidentally triggered the Onix trap. The shiny Onix used Sandstorm, which Gent laughed at thanks to his ability of Sand Veil. The other 5 Onix all used Dragonbreath on him. Gent avoided two of the Dragonbreath attacks, but the other three all hit him, and he crashed to the ground. He couldn't move. He was paralyzed.
B20F
Nitro once again began to use Dig and dove under the ground. Bloom used Camouflage and changed into the Ground type. "Gyro Ball…" The Mega Steelix said as it attempted a Gyro Ball towards Bloom. The force from the attack sent Bloom into the dungeon wall. She struggled to get up on her feet.
B19F
Gent managed to break free of his paralysis and zipped into B20F before the Onix could do any more damage to him. He joined everyone fighting the Mega Steelix.
B20F
Nitro leapt up from the ground towards the Mega Steelix. After the Dungeon Boss wailed in pain from the attack, it quickly burrowed away, revealing the teams' flags.
"Quick Attack!" Gent announced immediately as he rushed past the others and grabbed his team's flag first.
Nitro grabbed his flag shortly after, and Bloom third.
RACE END
"And now...our final race, and final event, of the day." Rio said.
"Awww…." The crowd moaned.
"I don't want it to be over so soon though…" Mandy complained to her boss.
"Ugh…" Her boss sighed. "Fine. We can come back tomorrow."
"Our final race today…" Neron announced. "From Team Gentilhomme, we have David the Dartrix! From Team Discharge we have Vienna, the Vikavolt! From Team Skullblasterz, we have Rachel the Rampardos! Finally, from Team Revenant, we have Macy the Minun!"
DAVID V VIENNA V RACHEL V MACY
B1F
Macy took the early lead as he jumped down Pit 3 and ended up on B14F.
Rachel then jumped into Pit 2 and David who was close behind her jumped into Pit 4. Rachel ended up on B8F, and David ended up on B20F. Vienna, who only had one pit left to go down, ended up on B2F.
B20F
"Hmm…" David thought to himself. "How can I…" He seemed to strike an idea.
"My, what a lovely Mega Form, you have." He said to the Steelix, hoping to high heaven that it was a female he was using Attract on.
It wasn't.
The Steelix began with a Sandstorm attack as per usual.
David then attacked with a Grass Knot attack that the Mega Steelix managed to dodge before it used Thunder Fang on the Blade Quill Pokemon, which David managed to avoid by flying to another corner of the room.
"Grass Pledge!" David announced as a column of grass shot up out of the ground, though it didn't seem to faze the Mega Steelix all that much.
"Thunder Fang!" The Dungeon Boss announced again, before David dodged the attack yet again.
B13F
As Rachel rushed through the dungeon, she triggered the B13F trap. She felt herself get lowered ever so slightly into what felt kind of like a pit fight arena, and noticed a Dugtrio had burrowed up to face her.
The Dugtrio used Earthquake right away, and Rachel fell over before she was evacuated from the Mystery Dungeon.
B17F
As Macy made his way through the dungeon, He accidentally triggered the Excadrill trap. The three Excadrill popped up and the first one used Sandstorm while the other two both used Bulldoze.
Macy's Protect kept him safe as he continued to run through the Mystery Dungeon and down to the next floor.
B20F
"Grass Pledge…" David panted, getting tired of the cat and mouse game he and the Mega Steelix seemed to be playing.
The column of grass merely grazed the Steelix as it turned towards him and went for another Thunder Fang, which hit David dead on, and paralyzed him.
B19F
As Macy rushed to get to B20F, he triggered the Onix trap. The six Onix all warped to where Macy was on the floor. The shiny Onix used Sandstorm. The other five all used Dragonbreath, and Macy's Protect kept him from taking any damage.
He then began to run towards the stairs. The Onix then all turned and shot Rock Slides at Macy, who managed to dodge one of them, but then took each of the other ones. He reached for the staircase. He needed to get out of there before the Sandstorm hit the room. He just barely made it to B20F before the B19F Sandstorm reached the room he was in.
B17F
Vienna had accidentally triggered the Excadrill trap as she made her way through the dungeon. The first used Sandstorm and the other two both used Rock Slide. She dodged the first one, and the second one sent her careening through the Mystery Dungeon and tumbling down the stairs to the next floor.
B20F
Macy entered the Dungeon Boss Room right as the Sandstorm effect ended, and he noticed that David was still battling the Mega Steelix. "Siiiiiiinnnnggg!" Macy sung.
"Not the most accurate of sleeping moves…" David said as he turned towards the Steelix. "But I'm having trouble landing a good hit on him as well…" He attempted another Grass Knot attack, which the Steelix once again avoided.
"Sandstorm!" The Steelix announced as the Sandstorm weather began to pick up again. The effects of the Sandstorm were too much for Macy to bear as he fell to the floor from exhaustion before being evacuated from the Mystery Dungeon.
B19F
As Vienna reached B19F, she also triggered the Onix trap. The shiny Onix once again used Sandstorm, and the other five Onix all shot Dragonbreath attacks in her direction.
Vienna took each Dragonbreath attack. But rushed through the room and into B20F.
B20F
"Grass Knot!" David was running out of energy. The Mega Steelix avoided the attack again.
"Here…" Vienna said. "Let me try…" She turned toward the Steelix. "Guillotine!"
The Steelix moved out of the way and Vienna hit David instead, and he was evacuated out of the Mystery Dungeon.
"Looks like David's getting points." Neron said. "But whether it's first from Vienna's evacuation, or second from Vienna winning is yet to be seen!"
The Steelix looked at Vienna. "Dragonbreath!" It announced. Vienna dodged the attack as the Sandstorm came over the room, knocking Vienna out of the last of her energy.
"Well now...it seems no one completed the race, but David is receiving points anyways!" Neron laughed.
RACE END
"And that's the last event of First Day." Rio announced. "Feel free to mingle with the mercenaries around the Festival Grounds if they're willing to talk, and remember to receive any of your winnings from the Bisharp Bet Booth over by the North Entrance."
"That's our cue, Mandy." Mandy's boss said. "We're heading to the North Entrance of the Festival Grounds."
"You bet?" She asked. "On who?"
"Not telling." He said. "I don't want you getting any ideas and spending your paycheck on bets you'll lose."
Mandy crossed her arms with a pout but followed her boss to the Bisharp Bet Booth anyways.
UGM Update: Ground Province Events Have Ended, Now Calculating Team Placement:
1st (20 points): Team Gentilhomme, Team Celsius, Guards United, Team Soulwind, Team Azure, Team Ebonshade, The Twin Flames
8th (16 points): Team Steel Heart
9th (15 points): Team Aspect
10th (10 points): Knights of The Round, Team Horizon, Team Revenant, Team Attract, Aramis, Team Sniper
16th (6 points): Team Aquarius, Team Kirei, Team Discharge, Haywood's Legion
20th (5 points): Leafguard League
21st (2 points): Team Obsidian, Team Sona
23rd (0 points): Team TMNT, Team Moonbrand, Team Grass Flare, Team Skullblasterz, Fortune's Four
Lore After The Legend: Although Haywood's Legion has a negative reputation among Ground Province city-dwellers, there are far more warlords in the province that help fuel their opinions. Not all Militia rulers are quite as willing to obey a set of rules as Haywood's Legion, and the negative stigma associated with the more common, and more dangerously ruthless warlords, has leaked not only into the popular opinion of Haywood's Legion, but into the popular opinion of Representative Dimitri Donphan as well. As such, Dimitri has a squad of his own to act as his bodyguards at all times. They are known as the Fissure Five, and rival even the Hellfire Legion in terms of ferocity and battle skill.
AN: Well then….that's….Day 1… (No you'll never know what Mandy's Boss betted on)
AN2: Also, I normally ask for OCs about now. I'm going to hold off on asking for them (Your still free to send them, and they'll likely still appear eventually), but I have a feeling that if I continue to ask, someone is going to be THAT person and try to say that their OC(s) are competing in Merc Madness. No. They Aren't. They can BE at the Festival, but they cannot compete, as the competition has already started.
So...here's the OC Form…
OC Name, Sex, Species:
OC Age(Levels don't exist here):
OC Ability:
OC 'Class'(Fighter, Scout, Mage, etc kind of thing):
Moveset(Should reflect their 'class')
Slot 1:
Slot 2:
Slot 3:
Slot 4:
Alt Move 1:
Alt Move 2:
OC Role(Teammate, Villain, Babysitter, Janitor, etc that kind of thing):
OC History(I want to know 1: Where they grew up and how life was for them there, 2: How they became the 'class' they became, 3: What they are currently doing right now):
OC Personality:
Anything Else Doobop Should Know:
So, yeah, I hope you guys enjoy reading ^.^!