14th Grail: [Video]

[dressofheaven]

I don't tend to make a big deal out of this sort of thing, ordinarily. But under the circumstances it seems appropriate.

[Ilya holds up Claire's Rising Badge to the camera, then shows off the other seven badges pinned to her collar. She adds the last one and makes no effort to restrain her victorious smirk.]

That's the eight badges of Johto collected. I hope the elite battles over in Kanto give a bit more of a challenge. I don't suppose anyone can give me an idea of what to expect from them. I'd like to hear any stories you might have.

Oh, but I'm feeling nostalgic. Even if you haven't fought the elite matches yet, even if you only have one or two badges, why don't you tell me about them? It seems like as good a way as any to celebrate, at least until I get my little gathering underway.

Also, Claire, if you're listening. Gyarados still isn't a dragon type.

Comments

[video]

[captainash]

It might not be, but why would anyone complain about a free double weakness to exploit?

[Not that he's planning on exploiting it much, but still.]

Congratulations. I hope you haven't trounced her so badly that she'll refuse challengers for the rest of the month.

[video]

[dressofheaven]

I have several Pokemon with ice-type attacks. The double weakness of her Dragonite was even easier to use.

[Not that she didn't electrify the Gyarados within an inch of the poor thing's life, but it would have been nice if she could have used the same tactic on the rest.]

Oh, she's not the type to turn down a challenger. It'd hurt her pride too badly.

[video]

[captainash]

Came to the battle ready, did you? I almost have to feel bad for her, living so close to the best source of Ice-type Pokémon in the whole region.

[Then again, she lives even closer to the best source of Dragon-types, so...]

Glad to hear it. I hope her pride won't mind the extra bruises, then.

[awesmazings]

Oh hey! I just got that badge, too!

[After a bit of shuffling Jimmy pulls his badge case from the inner pocket of his jacket to show her. He would be wearing his, but...after a few mishaps of nearly losing them, he decided a case might be a better idea.]

I don't have all eight yet, though. Just four. I kinda missed a few on the way, but I'm gonna head back to get the rest! Claire's a really good trainer, don'tcha think?

[dressofheaven]

No, not really. I didn't have much trouble beating her.

Perhaps if I could have fought her elite team it would have been different.

[awesmazings]

[Ouch.]

Maybe! Sounds like you can take on her elite team soon anyway, since you've got all eight Johto badges, yeah?

video;

[bertall]

_{[Past matches... Hoo boy.]}

The second gym I challenged, um... I left feeling a little bad for the leader because his entire team was bug-type and I ended up using my Ninetales for most of it.

<sub>[So.

Much.

Fire.]</sub>

video;

[dressofheaven]

Oh that's funny! I think I mostly used Cerberus on him... that's my Houndoom.

[Yeah, she feels absolutely no guilt about that. At all.]

His Scizor was especially upset.

video;

[bertall]

I think my friend used his Houndoom too. I got the idea to use fire from him but I didn't tell the leader that, I-I mean, maybe he would've thought we'd tell everyone to use fire or something.

[video]

[ajustcaws]

Oh, darn, you beat them all? Well, that's not too much of a surprise, since your team wrecks everything! Seriously, though, congrats. I feel kinda bad fighting the gym leaders now, though... I mean, it should be fair, but if you're too far above them it kind of isn't!

[video]

[dressofheaven]

That's what the elite teams over in Kanto are for! All the more reason to get all the badges, wouldn't you say? Besides, even if they had been at their strongest level her Pokemon wouldn't have been a match for mine.

video;

[pipers_son]

[He was going to offer a congratulations, but that last sentence makes him laugh.]

Now don't say that! You'll hurt her feelins.

video;

[dressofheaven]

[She just laughs right back.]

Don't worry, I won't lose the Circus any favor. Odds are she's still too busy sulking to respond even if she did check the network.

video;

[irenicly]

You've beat all the gym leaders? Congratulations.

[He hasn't had a chance to get any badges himself, but something else has caught his attention.]

Gyarados does look a little like it should be a dragon-type, doesn't it?

video;

[dressofheaven]

Only the Johto ones. There are still eight more to go in Kanto!

[And she's really looking forward to something that might actually pose a bit of a challenge to her team.]

It does, yes, being a great sea serpent and all. But it's water and flying. That doesn't stop our dragon-type gym leader from using it though, it seems.

video;

[wing_attack]

My first Pokémon was a flying type, and by the time I fought Bugsy he'd evolved, learned all of his attacks, and couldn't really get much stronger. ... So Bugsy wasn't exactly a problem.

video;

[dressofheaven]

Oh dear. Did any of his Pokemon last more than one hit?

[She doesn't sound too sympathetic to poor Bugsy's plight.]

video;

[in_praetego]

I think it's a great reason to make a big deal out of it, if you ask me. Congratulations!

[ His ears might have gone a little red at that point because he isn't one to brag but since she asked... ]

Back when my brother left the first time, I decided to go after the badges myself. We've gone back on the road again so hopefully, I'll be able to finish what I started soon enough.

video;

[dressofheaven]

Thank you, Yukio.

[He blushes so easily. It's enough to tempt her to laugh, though she keeps it behind her lips.]

And where are you now? How many do you have?

[nvcr]

Oh, I've seen a few Gyarados before!

And uh...to be honest? I'm just not really bothering with the gyms.

[dressofheaven]

In the wild? Have you been to the Lake of Rage, then? Or are you talking about tame Gyarados?

[They are one of the species people love to show off over the gear, after all.]

As for the gyms, well, all I can say is that's a shame.

video

[shatterings]

Congratulations, Ilya.

[ She really does look happy for her! It also reminds her that she doesn't have badges of her own. Oops... ]

I'm sure you'll get the other badges easily.

[ It's easier to be confident for someone who isn't yourself, after all. ]

[dressofheaven]

Indeed I will. Thank you, Namine.

[Ilya has enough confidence for both of them.]

You should come join the celebration at the hot springs. I'm willing to bet you've never seen anything like them before.

[video]

[faintwaves]

[Even though they're probably not that far away from each other, Xion's casually chatting to the feed.]

I don't have...any badges yet. I've been training and stuff, but the first gym is all the way back in Violet, isn't it? Riku doesn't seem to like going there.

[A pause, then:] Can you imagine Clare with a Goodra? She'd probably flip out. I doubt she was very happy when those were discovered.

[video]

[dressofheaven]

I can take you to Violet sometime if you want. Riku's right in that it's not all that interesting, but beating Falkner wouldn't take you all that long.

[She chuckles at that mental image.] She's probably offended by their very existence. Well, I'm not liable to get one, I already have Hydra and Typhon. But any Pokemon can be useful. She's just a fool.

Anyway, you should come to the hot springs with us. We're going to celebrate my victory over the collective Johto gyms there.