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Gaddwick was finished with his exam far before most of the others in his room. He stood up and left quietly. As the door closed behind him an employee who had been waiting spoke up. "Mr. Lenns?" he asked as he handed Gadd back his identification card. "I have a message for you from Mr. Goodshow. He would like to have someone in the League assess the Skill level of the Rangers. He wasn't able to make it himself but sent Champion Lance as a representative. You will be battling Ranger Rain. Do you accept the challenge?" Gadd was a little stunned, he didn't know of a Ranger Rain. "I can't say I expected this but I'll do it." "Excellent" replied the employee. "I'll escort you to arena 9 and Mr. Rain and Champion Lance will be along shortly."

Gadd was escorted to a slightly larger but featureless grass arena in the park. He gripped the Pokeballs he had been given. He had no idea what to expect and his draw of the Pokemon didn't make him feel any better. He stood still, lost in thought, waiting for his opponent and judge to come.

Two rooms down the hall a similar exchange began as Eryk Rain finished his written exam. "Mr. Rain. I have a message from your team leader. She would like to to face Ranger Lenns in a battle both to build experience and to begin assessing the skills of the Kanto branch. Your match will be overseen by Champion Lance. If you would please follow me to the arena we can begin."

By the time Eryk had arrived Lance had shown up. Gaddwick almost hadn't noticed. There was no dragon swooping in or Limousine pulling into the park but instead a smallish Taxicab pulled near the edge of the park and the Champion stepped out. Gaddwick was a little too stressed to approach the Champ before the match but watched him out of the corner of his eye. It appeared that there would also be a standard referee for the match though Gaddwick didn't recognize him.

As soon as Eryk stepped onto the field the ref raised a hand and blew a whistle. He addressed both Gadd and Eryc. "The rules of the match are as follows: Each trainer is given 3 random Pokemon to battle with. If any Pokemon becomes unable to battle both trainers will switch to their next Pokemon. After two full rounds have passed both trainers will switch to their next Pokemon unless Champion Lance requests that the current pairing continue. After all three Pokemon have been used both trainers will receive a score."

"When both trainers are ready we will begin."

Gaddwick gripped one of the Pokeballs tightly and set the other two gently on the ground. "Ready!" The judge turned to Eryc.

Gadd smiled a little as he tossed the Pokeball out. He was glad he hadn't started with his Pokemon he was hoping to wow the judges with. The types would work nicely in his favor. The ball rolled a short way and Slugma burst out scorching the nearby grass. If things went his way his second attack would be quite impressive. Slugma would have to hang in there though and endure Growlithes attacks.

"Brace yourself Slugma. Lets see what you got."

Gadd was a little stunned. He hadn't expected that the Pokemon they were given would know any TM moves. He had no way of knowing if Slugma had any and Slugma couldn't handle the dig attack if it hit full force. He quickly racked his brains for a plan. 'Slugma could possibly fit down the hole but it probably wouldn't be able to catch Growlithe.' he thought to himself 'It would be so nice if Slugma could could float off the ground like his Koffing but wait maybe..!'

"Slugma flush him out! Cover the hole and use smog!" Slugma quickly inched its way to the spot where Growlithe had dug into the ground and stretched its body over the hole. Slugma's body swelled for a moment and released a poisonous smog into the ground through the loose soil.

((OoC: Just so you know you can use sources now to check moves and things. I don't expect anyone to know each Pokemon's moveset. I like to use Bulbapedia.))

Gaddwick grimaced as Slugma took the attack but its semi-fluid body helped it to endure the attack. 'Right, now. Big finsish.' "Slugma. Use Ancient Power!" A deep red ball of of energy appeared in front of Slugma. It summoned its energy forcing the ball toward Growlithe. As the ball approached it hardened into a solid rock in midair.

The referee blew his whistle. "Next Pokemon!" Gaddwick quickly returned Slugma before Growlithe hit. Looked like he had managed to hang in there that could have really hurt.

He tossed out his next Pokeball. This Pokemon another sludgy mess. Grimer oozed onto the field the grass wilting around it.

The opponent seemed confident. But this battle would be his. Gadd knew a bit about Grimer they were pretty similar to Koffing. Just replace toxic fumes with toxic sludge. He knew Porygon even better. It had been one of the first Pokemon he caught and he knew the strengths and weaknesses it had gained being part machine. There was one attack the Porygon knew that concerned him though. He would have to act fast and Grimer wasn't the quickest of Pokemon.

"Grimer. Hit 'em quick in the eyes with Mud Slap and prepare disable if the opponent tries to fire a beam." It was a complex command. He wasn't sure if Grimer was up to it but if he could pull it off it would be a huge step towards victory.

Grimer picked up a clod of dirt from the ground and hurled the sludgy mess haphazardly towards Porygon. The move wasn't as accurate as Gadd wanted but it might still hit its target if it didn't dodge. Grimer withdrew its arms into its body and started to generate a gas that would induce temporary amnesia.

((OoC: As a note this combo while good in theory won't work as well as Gadd hopes. He is more used to the Psychic form of disable not Grimers gaseous form. It might work against other Pokemon but Porygon doesn't breath. However if the sludge does hit Porygon in the eyes it would have difficulty removing it.))

Gadd gritted his teeth as the opponent readied their attack. He knew there wouldn't be any dodging it and with its attack boosted there wouldn't be much chance for Grimer to survive. He glanced to the judge. Returning his Pokemon early probably wouldn't be allowed. He tried for a desperation strike. "Grimer. Hit Porygon with pound and draw it in." It was a risky move but it was his only chance. Grimer reached towards Porygon trying to grasp its opponent with its slimy hands.

Gaddwick winced, Tri-Attack or Psybeam would have done Grimer in. He returned his Pokemon as the ref blew the whistle. He hesitated before drawing his next Pokemon. As much as he was afraid of ghosts this is what he had been given. He shuddered an silently threw out his Pokeball. Misdreavus spun 360 degrees in the air taking in all around it.