For all his troubles, Skarmory gets Scald'd, and Joe successfully and easily Slash'es Honchkrow because he was too close after the Pursuit attack that presents him with the ground. Skarmory caws and glides away to the other side of the arena, complaining (in Monese) that the water is too hot and that he doesn't like burnt things.

Falkner: "Not bad. But this is only the take off, now we should steady the flight. Honchkrow, go ahead with a Night Slash; Skarmory, you need to secure the ground. Go with Spikes."

The Honchkrow manages to stand up (being a Glass Canon, is already fairly close to fainting) and imbues wings in Obscura to try a swirling attack on Melinoe, while Skarmory already has taken off thanks to the Agility and after bating wings a couple of times rains about eight Steel arrows from his wings, which when reaching the ground dig under it and start growing spiky protrusions.

(For purposes of information; Rest of team is Delibird, Pelipper, Dodrio and Pidgeot)

Violet Gym

(After this post)

The Skarmory, still a bit distracted from the Scald and having to Spike the field, doesn't see Joe coming until it's nearly too late, thanks to a hint from Falkner; all the metal bird can do is to bare chest against the attack while still in mid-air, and is pushed a good distance back from the Brick Break, but manages to recover.

Honchkrow is not nearly as lucky. The bird had just spread his wings to try and take off to avoid the attack when he is hit by the Ice Beam, encasing a large portion of his chest in ice. Falkner sees the bird lean forwards and fall to the ground.

Falkner is quick to recall the dark-type and then sends out another Pokéball wordlessly. The device opens to reveal a Dodrio.

Dodrio -heads look mostly at Joe: <Hello!> <There you are~> <Betcha you didn't expect this!>

Falker turns to Skarmory and motions for him to fly back and to the other side, to switch opponents.

Falkner: "Let's deal with this differently. Dodrio, Reflect and then Fury Attack that Bisharp; Skarmory, deal an Aerial Ace of your own!"

Skarmory cries and flies up to then dive at Melinoe with a Aerial Ace; meanwhile, Dodrio stays behind materializing a Reflect shield and preparing to rush at Joe for a Fury Attack.

(After this)

While Maekrite starts poking Silent's item bag and trying to drag it to the part of the store where they sell incinerators, Silent is busy checking a message.

Sol -follows closely: <I knew that item would be [important], purr~>

Silent and Sol rush to catch Maekrite before he is done dragging the item bag, while Ichtacya stays behind fiddling through the TM case, and tilts her head when she notices the Curse TM is still there.

Ichtacya: <…Oh? This still here? Dintel learned it long ago...> -- pokes the TM disc.

The TM disc, now inert, falls from the case and rolls away on the ground.

(After this post)

Ichtacya and Sol are pet, the Espeon purrs while the Leafeon wags her tail and hold the package.

Sol: <I'm an Espeon, that makes me cute by default. :3>

Ichtacya: <Oh I love this...> -- turns to Apollo -- <I'm a visitor, lemme some privilege~>

Sol -focuses psychic powers: <Do you know [Ammy] by any chance? Since you are in the linked post I guessed you had to have some nominal relationship to her... we have a package.>

Ichtacya -frowns while being pet: <Don't listen to her, she's gone crazy. Play fetch with me instead!>

(After this post)

Sol notices Issun.

Sol: <[‼]>

Ichtacya looks quite happy when Ammy reveals the package, and purrwoofs at Sickle.

Ichtacya: <Ooooh so the gift probably was for you? Are you a special Pokémon? Silent always pays attention to the Pokémon his friends have...> -- walks up to Ammy -- <Hope you like it. Also remember the opportunity to pet Eeveelutions is a gift! :3>

Sol notices Sickle and looks back at Issun, feels a bit uneasy, her fur standing on end; she hesitantly crouches in front of Issun, narrowing her eyes at the bug with the expression of a cat who has discovered a microwave oven or something.

Sol: <…U-uhm... hello? You can see [important] things too?>

(After this post)

Dodrio steps back after completing the Fury Attack.

Skarmory -looks around and noties Melinoe: <Creepy.> -- gulps.

Falkner: "Okay, this is getting harder... hang in there, kitty Dodrio!"

Before he can do much, Dodrio is hit on one of the heads by Joe's Iron Head; that head yells in pain and the others start complaining. After a moment of moving around eerily, the weakened head faints, which impairs the other two.

Dodrio Head #2: <Oh this is just great...>

Skarmory meanwhile tries to fly up away but can not get too far before getting Scald'd and falls to the ground yelping in pain, finally fainting. Falkner looks as the Pokémon's body  boils somewhat then recalls the bird. Sends out a new Pokéball from which a [Delibird] emerges.

Falkner: "Okay, we'll have to show them the versatility of Flying Types. Dodrio, aim with a Tri Attack; Delibird, Future Sight."

Dodrio nods (well, at least two of the three heads do) and then they start trying to charge elemental attacks for a Tri Attack, however they quickly find themselves cut short because of the imbalance of the missing head (and correspondingly a missing type), causing them to yelp and step further back.

Delibird meanwhile walks around getting close to Melinoe, then turns around and produces a small orb of pulsating Psychic energy from his tail sac. With a swift movement, Delibird lets the orb go, which starts rolling around slowly on the battlefield.

(After this post)

The attack has worked and the creeper present exploded pretty much on Joe's hands. Still didn't cause too much damage, and Falkner mutters about what strategy to use now, since Present isn't that reliable.

Delibird: <My presents are pretty~>

Yeah, keep believing that.

Dodrio head #2 -to Joe: <Oh, You're welcome to make us try.>

Dodrio head #3 -turns around, looks at Melinoe sadly: <…What's with that thing?>

Delibird retreats to a safer distance and stays there, turns to Falkner waiting for instructions.

Falkner: "Hmmm... Dodrio is pretty weakened, so I guess we'll have to try something else. Mud Slap on the Jellicent now, Dodrio. Delibird, stay on the Bisharp, Ice Beam him, at least that takes advantage of your typing."

Delibird nods and breathes deep to fire an Ice Beam at Bisharp. Dodrio's heads start getting into an argument about how safe it is to go and try to pester a ghost, and after a moment they decide to walk behind Melinoe somewhat hesitantly, waiting for the right moment to Mud Slap.

Meanwhile, the Future Sight orb is still rolling around aimlessly... and pulsating faster.

[spoiler]Future Sight orb explodes next post

Violet Gym

After a good job, Falkner's duo manages to faint Melinoe and force Joe to be switched out. However, victory shall be shortlasting - an Aggron has been sent out to battle instead, accompanied by a Houndoom.

Falkner: "This is going to be hard... Dodrio, can you continue?"

In response the Pokémon fluffs feathers and tries to look more aggressive.

Dodrio Head #2: <Yes!>

Dodrio Head #3: <Let's peck them!>

Then the heads notice that the [Reflect] barrier they put before is fading out.

Dodrio Head #3: <Uhm...?>

Dodrio Head #1: <My existence is a swirly thing of pain. ×_×>

Delibird, meanwhile, sits on the ground resting for a moment and trying to catch a breath.

Falkner: "All right then, let's continue the challenge, last as much as you can. Dodrio go Fury Attack on the Houndoom; Delibird, try your luck, circle around the Aggron using your small size and charge a Focus Punch!"

Delibird nods and stands up, charges Fighting power on his wing and starts trotting and hopping around more or less aimlessly. Dodrio meanwhile hops ahead to try and get the first attack on the Houndoom.

(After this post)

Delibird makes a painful walk towards Prometheus, gasping and flinching every other step, with the prose camera covering his shaking and slow motions in a way not unlike how slow dramatic scenes in war movies (plus panning to show the Spikes every once in a while).

Every step towards his opponent is an achievement.

And meanwhile, not far from there, Pidgeot was flying above, circling around Arlon to await for his next attack, when he is struck with a Stone Edge barrage that he can not escape.

Falkner: "Noooo! Silly super effective rock attacks can not down such awesome birds!" -- cries some manly tears, then turns back to the battle. "Surprise that Aggron and show him what the heat of the battle is like."

Pidgeot flies eve higher and with some effort unleashes a Heat Wave, however it's not very fast (or powerful for that matter). Meanwhile, Delibird finally manages to drag himself across the battlefield to where Prometheus is and lift his wing to try and hit him…

…And then Prometheus just taps the Delibird, knocking him over. Causing the little bird to fall to the ground, wings sprawled. Dramatically.

Falkner: "Delibird no!" He was too weak to continue.

Falkner meanwhile sends out his last Pokéball. Out of it emerges a Pelipper.

(After this post)

Falkner's Pidgeot stares angrily at Houndoom then looks back for instructions.

Falkner: "Give it an Aerial Ace with all your might! Make use of your superior agility. And Pelipper, blast the two foes with everything!"

Pelipper nods, laughs trollishly and flies a bit gracefully up until just about Arlon's height and opens his muzzle; just as soon as he does that, he unloads a whole lot of unholy greenish exorcism vomit high-pressure water in the form of a Suft attack. Right as he does that, Pidgeot gathers his last strengths and flies ahead to meet Houndoom's charge with an Aerial Ace, though even after he lands the attack he will faint (non-dramatically) from the last of the damage as a result.

After this post…

Pelipper nuzzles happily with the Lucario and shares with her some stories of life about back when Mossdeep and his flock trolling travellers with Protect. Speaking of which, by the lid of an eye the Pelipper sees the Slowking about to fire an attack. At them. As in he and she, who he is (temporarily) in LUV with.

Falkner: "Watch out! And I'll try to give useful advice!"

And that's terrible!

Pelipper: <No! Leave us alone!>

Pelipper grabs Gainas's arm and pushes her a bit back, then covers her and himself with a Protect shield, this time larger than before, blocking the effect of the Blizzard; Pelipper looks notoriously disconcerted at the attack.