@PlatinumSkinkBasil accepted the challenge, which was rather unsurprising considering they were more evenly matched than he was with Lesley. Though, it would’ve been interesting to see who was the better arm wrestler between Lesley and a Hawlucha.
Basil’s Pokedex rang then, and he picked up a call from none other than Professor Kalmia.
“Hi Professor!” Eryn called from the background when he mentioned her being there over the phone.
Eryn looked between Basil and Amelia when Basil mentioned wanting to talk after the battle, and between Basil and Lesley when he mentioned coming to speak with her. Lots of secrets today, it seemed. But, Eryn didn’t exactly want to pry. She had a whole new Pokemon to get to know now, after all, so she could worry about other things later.
At Lesley’s comment about Pokemon Centers having battle arenas out back, Eryn blinked. “Oh huh, convenient,” she said, heading to the back with the others.
In the back of the Pokemon Center was indeed a battle arena, modestly sized with a large screen overhead too.
“Alright, Atha.” Eryn got into position on one side of the arena, waving the Bagon over as she pulled a Pokeball from her belt. “You remember Dei right?” she asked, calling out said Charmander.
Dei looked around, noting Basil and his Hawlucha as well as Lesley.
“Dei, you up for a double battle with Atha here? Against Basil and his Hawlucha,” Eryn said. “I’m going to need you to show Atha the ropes here.”
Dei eyed Atha, then snorted. Atha huffed back, but with a grin Dei didn’t mirror.
“Alright, well,” Eryn said, looking to Basil across the field,
“ready when you are.”"Then I better not keep you waiting," said Basil. He tossed a Pokeball from his belt and a Darumaka appeared from a flash of white light.
The little round gal looked up at Basil and then towards Eryn and her two lizards. A grin formed as she started to get a better idea of what was going on.
"Alright Cecil, Glory. Ready to show your stuff?"He did not need an answer. Their battle-ready stances were all the answers that he needed.
Eryn nodded, glancing at Dei and Atha and noting the glints in their eyes.
“Okay. Dei, let’s start with a Growl! Atha, Ember!”The Charmander's growls caused the duo to tense up, which lowered their physical attacking power. Basil, undeterred by this, quickly retaliated.
"Cecil use Rollout to punch through the Embers and hit that Bagon! Glory, into the air and use Karate Chop on the Charmander."The Darumaka's armed popped into its body and rolled at high speeds towards the Embers with the intention of just smashing through it. Meanwhile. the Hawlucha leapt into the air and maneuvered gracefully before diving down to bring its hand down to chop Dei's head.
The Darumaka’s Rollout shredded through the Ember fairly easily, leaving Atha’s eyes wide. Eryn, though, had expected something similar given the Bagon’s inexperience.
“Atha, Rage!”Her voice prompted the Bagon into action. Atha’s eyes glazed over, and she let out a roar, charging headfirst at the rolling Darumaka in an imitation of a headbutt. A lifetime of ramming into opponents, driven by instinct, showed its head.
Basil’s Hawlucha, on the other hand, seemed to have the speed advantage, closing the distance despite some additional aerial acrobatics.
“Dei, tank the hit and retaliate with a Smokescreen!” Eryn called, clenching her fist as she watched the Hawlucha dive.
The Hawlucha’s Karate Chop made impact, knocking Dei’s head to the floor briefly, but Dei’s eyes were open quickly, smoke in his jaws.
A belch of dark smog was spat at the Hawlucha’s face as Dei sprang out of the bird’s immediate range, giving his head a shake.
The Darumaka’s Rollout did not slow down after smashing through the sparks of flame. She just barreled down towards the Bagon that charged towards her.
Meanwhile, the Hawlucha smirked at the Charmander that briefly ate floor though it did not last for long. Its vision was soon obscured by smoke and coughed a lung out.
“Back into the air again and then use Detect!” ordered Basil. The Hawlucha jumped back up and moved nimbly in the air. That bird looked like it was about to give Dei the bird for that little trick. Its eyes glowed a gentle blue.
Atha and the Darumaka made impact. The Darumaka barely moved, but Atha was sent reeling back. The wince on her face, however, didnt stop Eryn making out the grin across her features. Her eyes, in particular, were alight with excitement, and seeing that made Eryn grin as well.
“Keep it up, Atha!” Eryn called.
“And Dei, let’s switch targets. Smokescreen!”Dei complied, spewing smoke at the Darumaka as Atha charged the balled-up fire-type again.
The Darumaka won that collision and made a sharp turn to come around towards the Bagon again though there was now a plump of smoke that made its way towards the red wrecking ball.
"Cecil, don't stop! Glory, use Aerial Ace on the the Charmander!" called out Basil.
The Hawlucha dived down towards the fire lizard again with white streaks of air coursing around it before it vanished from sight and then reappeared to dive kick Dei's head.
“Use the smoke to dodge, Atha!” Eryn called to the charging Bagon who, mid-charge, slowed for a second, then veered to the left before charging at where the Darumaka was rolling.
Dei, on the other hand, took another hit, skidding to the side. He rose with heavy breaths, scratched up but still determined to finish the fight.
Atha made impact again. Unfortunately, the nature of Rollout meant that there was no way to attack without taking damage, and Atha was left heavily damaged as well, panting where she fell.
“Alright,” Eryn said, looking between her Pokemon.
“Good job you two. Let’s finish off strong. Dei, Ember! Atha, Rage!”Dei rose first, planting himself and swelling with air before he spewed forth a stream of flame. Atha, not to be outdone, rose quickly afterwards, pawing at the ground once with each foot before running at the Darumaka anew.
“Let’s return their efforts in kind,” said Basil with a smile.
“Glory, use Detect followed by Aerial Ace! Cecil keep on rolling!” The Hawlucha’s eyes glowed blue once again and dashed towards Dei. It maneuvered around each spark of flame that came his way before he vanished in front of the charmander’s eyes and then reappeared to drop kick it. Meanwhile, the Darumaka continued to play chicken with the Bagon, but her attack only increased in power as time went on.
This clash was the last. Hawlucha’s build seemed innately stronger by a good margin than the unevolved Charmander’s, and where Dei’s injuries seemed substantial, the Hawlucha’s seemed almost manageable. Evolution, Eryn noted, would probably be a good thing to work towards, and soon.
Similarly, Atha’s injuries seemed quite substantial as well, but given her inexperience, that much was guaranteed. Eryn’s Pokedex told her that Rollout was a move that increased in damage with successive hits, much like Rage. On a stronger Pokemon, the move was rather like a countdown.
Still, her Pokemon had held out well despite the odds, and she recalled them from where they fell with a small smile.
“Good job, you two,” she whispered, then looked to Basil and his Pokemon.
“Good job to you all too! We’ll have to do this again sometime.”Basil smiled and returned both of his Pokémon to their respective Pokeballs.
“Well done. Rest well you two.”He looked up at Eryn and nodded.
“I look forward to it.” 
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