[RAID] Tricksters in the Dark

[Rocket Agent Tambrey]

"Neph, String Shot!.. please.." She muttered the platitude after calling the order, then called out one to Treestar "Try Poison Power, just make it uncomfortable!"

Neph... complied. Of course, it wasn't for her trainer's benefit. No, String Shot made an opponent's life awkward and she enjoyed doing that. She liked making things easier to hit, more difficult for them to run away.
<<Laugh now, sure... While you can.>> She continued to chitter away.

Treestar trotted forward, determined to do well as he aimed his attack.  

[TRHQ Harvard]

Mesprit chortled happily as it sent another Swift attack their way, even as the attack bounced uselessly off Yale's Protect. The giggling quieted under Koschei's intimidating stare. And now Discord was giving creepy looks, and it felt like Mesprit had forgotten something, like it was... Disabled... or something... Mesprit decided it really didn't like this so much and pouted. It wasn't so fun anymore, giving the humans the runaround. And Neph's String Shot was sticky! Ew! Made it hard to dodge the icky Poison Powder dust, but Mesprit managed it somehow. Some particles still somehow tickled at Mesprit's nose, making it sneeze.

Mesprit made a sniffling noise and started wailing. In the corners of the room, what had looked like part of the dull rock ceiling shifted. Zubat! About a dozen of them! Mesprit sniffled again and batted its eyes in a sad little use of Charm. Flapping to stretch their wings, the small bats dropped down and started to swoop at the intruders, using a mix of Astonish and Confuse Rays to boot.

Harvard covered her head with an arm as one swooped near. "Stanford, distraction." With an excited trill, Stanford scurried out into the room and chattered away with a noisy Follow Me. The little Furret moved quickly between sources of rock cover, never stopping in his movements in order to keep his chances down of actually getting hit. Maybe it was just his opinion, but those flying rodents with teeth looked like they would HURT!  

[Natsuko-neko]

"Eclipse, Pursuit!" Xander said and gestured to the Zubats that had followed after Stanford. The Umbreon darted after them with a dark glow surrounding her. "Umbre!" The agent turned to Conrad and Angel next. "Use that Trump Card on the Zubats, Angel, boost the Protect." Both pokemon jumped to follow the orders, releasing energy cards and strengthening the shield respectively.  

[LexThetaSigma]

The Mespirit's chuckles were getting creepier by the second as the little thing attacked them, or tried to anyway. Thankfully the giggles quieted, though Rory doubted that was a good thing for them.

"Koschei, keep your eyes on that thing," Rory ordered as the Zubats swooped down. "Jace, Demeter, help take care of the bats."

Jace gave a 'char' in acknowledgement before unleashing an Ember towards the swarm that had followed Stanford while Demeter continued hovering quietly, yet let out a Will-o-wisp towards the flying pokemon.

Koschei gave a noise of disagreement with his trainer's order and dug his claws into the earth beneath him, yet sent another Leer at the Mespirit.  

[TawnyAngel]

Zubat? Ugh, well that was just peachy! "Red, Char, Discord, take on those Zubat! Tortie, Night Slash Mesprit; Paul, slow it down more with String shot!"

The patched Absol growled her understanding and sprang towards the legendary, claws gleaming red with the attack's power.

Rather reluctantly, almost shrinking back with every hurrying step, Paul skittered to within range of the scary shrieking pokemon and launched a sticky web at it.

With rather more loose orders the other three pokemon turned to the cloud of Zubat. Char loosed a powerful Flamethrower at the annoying flying types while Discord both protected his person and provided a distraction with Double Team. Red, her head muddled by one of the Confuse Rays, tumbled out of the air and landed with a crump at the edge of the pool where she promptly started trying to attack her reflection.  

[Rocket Agent Tambrey]

Neph honestly couldn't care less about the zubats; this pink hatted thing before her was the opponent and she could tell, despite it's, in her opinion, ridiculous appearance, it was something that was actually worth the battle.
Not that she'd tell it.
<>
She ignored Tambrey as she called for her to use Leech Life, instead attempting to send a Night Shade toward the Mesprit.

Treestar let out a squeak of alarm though; suddenly lots of unfriendly, darker coloured, tiny 'Lasi's were fluttering all about.
"Fine. Do that then," Tambrey muttered at Neph, then turned her attention to Treestar. "Try to ignore them. Let the others handle it! Attack Mesprit again with another Poison Powder!" If they could make it uncomfortable enough... While she ducked the zubat cloud, she fiddled for another pokémon, hoping to help deal with them.
"Sorry Zubats..." The grunt muttered, letting out Lasi.
The Golbat looked astounded at his surroundings before going to work as he received instruction too.
"Lasi! Try and Confuse Ray some of y'r cousins please? They're a bit 'f a nuisance..."  

[Blood_Goddess]

Bro' let out a snicker, eying the other two pokemon standing next to him.
The Gengar vanished out from sight, reappearing in the mess of battle where he reared back, hitting the first pokemon attack them with a Brick Break

Hirss was next out, though her hulking form moved much quicker them Bro' on the ground, surprising for her size. letting out a roar of frustration she spewed a mouthful of Toxic at the Mesprit.  

[TRHQ Harvard]

[Xander]
A Zubat squeaked and fluttered off course as it was hit by Eclipse. Others ducked and dove as the Trump Card from Conrad shot through their ranks. Yale gave an appreciative grunt as he was joined by Angel.

[Rory]
More Zubats squealed as the Ember singed their wings or tails, or flailed as the Will-O-Wisp move took effect. Mesprit responded to Koschei's Leer with a frown and another Swift sent their way.

[Aulus]
Mesprit eeped and ducked before the Night Slash could hit. The attack scratched the stone behind where the Pokemon had been, instead. A Zubat happened to fly in front of Paul's String Shot at just the wrong time, and flopped near to the ground to bat away the icky mess. Flamethrower singed some more wings and tails, but also drew attention back to the crowd in the entrance. Three bats flew in the direction of Aulus and his team, all Bite attacks and a Wing Attack.

[Tambrey]
Mesprit huffed at Neph's insults. Its face puffed up and strained in thought. But... nothing happened? Huh? Mesprit blinked, looking confused. Oh well, it though, it would just try something different. Shutting its eyes in concentration, it started to glow. According to Future Sight, an attack would happen soon...

[Jerome]
Another Zubat was dazed out of its flight by Bro's attack. Mesprit shot up near the ceiling to avoid Hirss and other attacks and attempted to counter with another big-eyed Charm.

A squeaking and chattering noise echoed along the tunnel behind the Rockets, getting louder and closer before yet more Zubats, another dozen or two, shot into the cavern in a flurry of wings. The bats circled in a living cloud in the center of the room, for the most part shielding the still pouting Mesprit from any direct attacks. Stray Zubat would again dive after any target that got near or made a hostile move. Mesprit itself tried another Swift, aiming for Stanford and Eclipse but instead hitting a rock outcrop. Chunks of stone were sent raining in the direction of the Rockets.  

[Natsuko-neko]

"Eclipse, use Quick Attack! Conrad, more cover fire with Trump Card, Angel keep up that Protect!" Xander commander then called out Zack. "Zack hit the Zubats with a Flame Wheel!" He told the Arcanine.

Eclipse ignored the failed swift attack and started to shine then rush up a rock formation and jump at the Zubats.

Conrad formed more energy cards and shot them at the Zubats with careful aim.

Angel gave another purr in acknowledgement and kept concentrating on keeping Protect up.

Zack gave a challenging growl to the Zubats then launched his self at them, a ring of fire surrounding him.

Xander lifted an arm above his head to help shield his face from the falling stone while looking from the Zubats to the Mesprit. He had two more pokemon in reserve if need be but both were weak still and one was not likely to listen.  

[TawnyAngel]

"Oh fu-"

Aulus ducked, whipping out his staff again and sweeping it over his head in an attempt to deflect the onslaught. Despite his efforts a rather painful wing attack still clipped his shoulder. "What the hell, Char?" he snapped, probably unreasonably.

Char rumbled his distress at having brought this down upon them and then roared as teeth sank into his shoulder. Twisting his head around his aimed a Dragon Pulse directly at the bat that had just bitten him.

Discord meanwhile slithered forward from the confusing mass of his images and swiped at another Zubat with Dragon Tail.

That horribly annoying voice dragged Red's attention away from her reflection and screeching loudly she flailed back into the air, aiming a Wing Attack at Discord who ducked, leaving the Pidgeot shooting on towards another Zubat.

Snarling as her claws rent only stone Tortie bounced off the wall and landed running back towards Mesprit, trying for another Night Slash.

All of this was getting too much for Paul; he scurried back closer to Aulus and aimed a String Shot at one of the Zubats that were pestering his trainer and friends. He wanted to go home back to his corner and have a pizza crust and never ever see anything scary like this ever again.  

[LexThetaSigma]

Rory was about to give his team of pokemon another command when the chunks of rocks started heading towards them. He ducked and put his arms over his head to try to avoid the rocks.

Jace got distracted from the targets when he noticed the rocks and raced back to his trainers side as the shift attack hit Demeter In retaliation, he sent another Ember towards the cloud of Zubats protecting the Mespirit.

Demeter was stunned when the attack hit her and it took her a moment to look for where it came from. Spotted the hints of pink through the cloud of Zubats, she let out a loud Screech.

Koschei was growing more and more restless by the second, especially when the chunks came towards them. Ignoring his trainer's order to keep his eyes on the pink thing, the Absol darted forward and aimed a Scratch at any Zubat that got in his way.  

[Blood_Goddess]

Boss stepped in front of Jerome when the swarm of Zubats started to advance very quickly toward them.
With a hefty grunt, the Emboar smashed his fists together, the flames along his neck bursting powerfully a few time before the glowing blue ignited powerfully.
Throwing himself at the Zubat in a Heat Crush

Bro snorted at the Mesprit as it kept using charm, snickering as it had to dodge out of Hirss' toxic, and deciding to follow his team mates lead, coughing up a Toxic attack of his own at the Masprit..

Hirss, clearly infuriated by the pokemon dodging her attack. dropping herself down into the water in the cave, she instead launched up a jet of Scald, the water steaming dangerously  

[TRHQ Harvard]

Harvard had ducked when the wave of other Zubat's arrived. She considered the options of the scenario. Stanford, having mainly physical attacks, couldn't do much other than take out few Zubats or keep serving as a distraction. Yale was better for defending and close combat. That was even the name of one of his moves, for Arceus' sake.

Yale was alternating moves, using Psycho Cut to attack the Zubat from his guarding position, and Protect to defend whenever he saw a Wing Attack being prepared. So far, with Angel's help, that strategy had been working. The Gallade felt rather proud of himself for his work so far and smirked, slicing through a rock the size of his head that came his way. Too bad he knew they could only keep this up for so long.

The Zubats scattered at all of the fire attacks coming their way. Some would briefly fall out of formation to favor wounds, or slip away up the tunnel with a lopsided flap.

The Zubat that had latched onto Char flopped to the ground with a fainting cry and stilled. The one struck by Discord went smacking into a rock with what sounded like a shocked "wah!"

Out in the room, the living cloud shivered at Demeter's Screech. One Zubat in that cloud had just started to issue a Confuse Ray, but the surprise made it change directions.

That direction just happened to be Mesprit's, who moved right in the way while trying to escape more meanie attacks. Mesprit shook its head and blinked repeatedly. Something moved in its vision, and the small Legendary shot another Swift attack at it. Too bad that thing was a Zubat near the ceiling. The attack struck the stone, causing more chunks to shower down around the room.  

[Rocket Agent Tambrey]

<> Neph continued to taunt, attempting another Night Shade at the legendary.
She became aware of the bat problem as she did, seeing a great number more joining the cloud. As cocky as the spider was, she knew her own type.
<> Still, this meant a challenge... More fun to be had. She didn't really have time to line up another attack before she had to dodge a something from the bat cloud, as yet unaware of the Future Sight just a short time away. It was only a matter of time before she was taken out of the battle.

Treestar squealed in horror as hundreds more of the nasty little versions of Lasi appeared. Some were biting him! He puffed, in fear, a Razor Leaf into the air, quite randomly, in some attempt at defending himself, but he wasn't going to be able to hold his own against all the flying types either.
At least Lasi actually had been let out too... Treestar's squeal alerted the pink bat but... In fact there was very little the large pink Golbat could really do.
In the air, Lasi was swimming in a swarm, his Confuse Rays seemed to have made little difference and while he was listening for instructions, Tambrey didn't seem to be making any right at the moment.
<> Lasi had had enough. Reasoning wasn't working, Confuse Ray hadn't done anything. He started trying to cut a path through with Wing Attack.

There was a reason Tambrey wasn't calling instructions; every time she tried to move, tried to shout, sets of claws would rake across her, teeth would sink into anything they found. She was kept trying, but the mass of bats were all around and making things near impossible.
She'd adopted, at first, a stance Aulus had taught her, but the combat skills from those lessons didn't seem to be effective at all against an angry swarming bat-cloud.  

[LexThetaSigma]

Treestar's screech alerted Jace and caused him to look back to see the Zubats swarming them. Jace called to Demeter he motioned to Rory before scampering to Treestar's side and using Metal Claw to defend him.

Rory was still doing his best to protect himself when he caught Demeter hovering over him. "Demeter, use Night Shade!" he called out before ducking again. She gave a calm 'Shup' before unleashing the attack.

Koschei looked up when he heard the cracking above him as the chunks started to fall around them. if he could, he would have smirked before using Quick Attack on the Mespirit.