The New Adventures of Raptor Trainer

Cold Blood

Guzma called out his first choice, releasing a Pokémon with massive feelers on either side of its head...The antennae looked like massive glaring eyes, peering into my own with every intent to destroy.

{What is that thing, Rotom?} I chittered quietly.

"It'zzz a Masquerain according to my data," he replied, peeking out ever so slightly to get a decent look at it. "Better put Sassafras up to the plate; she'zz your best bet."

I followed his advice, letting Sassafras back out into the open after having only been inside her ball for a short period...It didn't take her long to figure out what the circumstances were, and she looked to me for reassurance. I gave her a light nod, and she returned the gesture before tuning back towards her opponent.

At first, she was slightly jarred by the eye-shaped feelers staring right back at her...But the faintest indication of a grin slipped across her face when she acknowledged the type advantage she held.

"Srrrrrrlll..." she trilled eagerly.

"Masquerain, kick this off with Air Slash."

As the opposing Pokémon conjured up a series of air-formulated blades and prepared to hurl them towards us, I called out my first move.

{Dodge those and start off with another Flamethrower. See how much it does.}

She smiled again, ducking down and weaving through the gaps in the onslaught as they hurdled towards her. The moment the blades ceased to fly, she threw her open mouth back and released a stream of her fine flames. Licks of pink and amethyst could be seen among the reds and oranges as the attack engulfed the opponent, which had been too slow to dodge the sudden fiery flood.

When the flames ceased and the light they emitted dimmed once again, we saw Guzma's first pick on the ground, charred and unconscious.

{Only one move to take it down?}

At first I was a bit surprised, but then I remembered our trial at Brooklet Hill; Archer was still only a Dartrix, and he had downed that massive Totem Wishiwashi with just one Razor Leaf.

As Guzma grunted and returned his Masquerain, Sassafras looked back at me and we shared a smirk.

"Gettin' cocky, huh? Well, have fun dealin' with this. Ariados and I have been workin' on a little somethin' that'll put you in place."

He released his next Pokémon: the same Ariados he'd brought with him to Malie Garden when we'd first clashed.

{Good luck getting it to tank a Flamethrower. Sassafras, fire up another!}

She rose her head in preparation to launch another stream of flames.

"Now, Ariados! Use Disable!"

The Bug-Type's eyes emitted an eerie blue glow, and a moment later that same glow was projecting off of Sassafras just as she was readying to launch her next Flamethrower.

...But when she tried to fire the attack, nothing came out. Whatever build up had been preparing for launch in her open jaws petered, only a puff of smoke in its place.

{...What happened?}

"Sur-lah?"

Sassafras seemed just as confused as I was.

"Have fun tryin' to take us down without your fancy Fire-Type attack," Guzma sneered. "A'ight Ariados. Power things up with Swords Dance."

With the legs sticking up along its back and its two forelegs, the Ariados performed some sort of strange dance, its eyes focusing more intently on us than ever before.