Round 2

Round two was preceded by this teaser.

As everybody piled through the Hyperspace Hole, a warm breeze glided over their fur, skin, carapaces, and scales. In front of them stood a large tree with roots ensnaring a giant crystal that pulsed with energy. Merriweather hopped up the rock to continue her announcement, Hoopa closing its portal as swiftly as it opened.

"Welcome to the Infinity Sky Isles!" she barked, wagging her brush-like tail. "What I'm standing on is the Infinity Crystal, a source of pure Infinity Energy - and around us are your arenas. You'll be fighting two versus two, team versus team - last 'mon standing wins for their team!"

Looking around them, what the competitors saw was… Incredible. The island they stood upon did not lie in water, but floated impossibly high in the sky. Around it was a circle of eight more grass-topped islands and some wayward rocks, slowly drifting in an invisible spiralling current. Though separated from their neighbours, rope bridges, ladders, and vines connected each one to the central island the roster stood upon. Further below stretched a vast network of sticky-looking string.

A shaky Dora climbed up one of the bridges, quickly aided by Gran and the Espurr twins. She offered a tired smile before curling up to rest at the base of the Infinity Crystal.

"But remember," chimed Espurr’s brother, "you gotta be careful. Using more than one of these things could bite ya in a way even Gran 'n' Dora can’t heal."

Merriweather gulped. "N-now, then! The moment you've been waiting for… MATCHUPS!"

Hoopa gestured to the teams whose names its partner called as Merri's Sunny Day parted the clouds and shone faint spotlights upon them.

She paused to allow everyone a moment to process everything, fur bristling with excitement.

"Purrmageddon has put up some more signs about this round if you're curious. We'll show you to your Infinity Sky Isles - as soon as both teams stand atop them, it’s time to fight, fight, FIGHT!"

She hesitated before hopping back down. "J-just... Be careful with each other, okay? Let's make Grand Aid's job easy!"

And so began round two.

This description of events may be altered to suit your entry, so long as the prompt and matchups themselves are consistent.

Prompt Details

The following detailed information is available to competing expedition teams (on signs erected by Purrmageddon) should they choose to read it (Judge NPCs except Hoopa may also read information aloud to help illiterate contestants). Here, it serves as a guide to you! No need to follow this to the letter; take it as a jumping-off point.

Floating Islands

These islands are seemingly held up by magic - or perhaps some strange magnetism. If you fall off, don't worry. When you're eliminated from the fray, Purrmageddon will be there to save the day - as will Dora's Sticky Web. You won't take any damage from falling - and if you do, please don't sue us, we tried very hard.

You must stay on your island - don't interfere with other fights! Once a victor is crowned in each matchup, Hoopa will bring all four competitors back to base camp.

The Locals

While you might see some other Pokémon flying around, it seems not many live on the islands. If you find any, let us know afterward - it'd be an interesting find.

Energy Gems

These are small rocks (which vary in appearance) you may find atop the Isles.

They're easy to smash open - if you do, Infinity Energy will rush from the Gem and into your body, causing one of the following effects:

• Mega Evolution - in this dimension, any Pokémon can Mega Evolve, and it seems their appearance depends on the individual as much as their physiology. In other words: your Mega form could look like anything resembling your current species. This transformation lasts until you grow too weary to continue fighting, or until all tension leaves your body after a fight finishes. It increases strength and can cause new abilities to spring forth - but can be uncomfortable or even painful for some.

• Z-Power - a rush of energy that enables you to use one incredibly powerful move. It's often said only certain species can achieve unique Z-Moves, but here we have observed each individual's Z-Moves manifesting differently, as with Mega Evolution. These may cause interesting secondary effects that affect the battlefield or those on it!

• Dynamax and Gigantamax - a swirling vortex of red energy envelops those who smash certain Energy Gems, causing them to briefly surge to gargantuan sizes - Dynamaxing. This may alter your appearance, too - Gigantamaxing - and again, this effect isn't limited by species here: anyone can Gigantamax. Dynamaxed and Gigantamaxed Pokémon become more robust and can bring forth three powerful moves before reverting.

• Terastalisation - a sparkling crystalline carapace forms on the body of a Terastalised Pokémon - some say it transforms the flesh itself. Each Pokémon has an innate typing, often different from their usual type(s), which manifests as they Terastalise - this makes their moves of that type more potent and completely changes their strengths and weaknesses! A crown appears atop the head of a Terastalised Pokémon, as do small particles reflecting the nature of their new type. As with Mega Evolution, this ends upon leaving battle.

Though these effects sound enticing, be warned; Infinity Energy is a dangerous thing. Cracking more than one Energy Gem in the space of a battle can cause severe, irreversible damage to the Pokémon brave - and stupid - enough to do so.

Knockouts

There are two ways to be eliminated - fainting, or being knocked off your island. The latter means being outside the edges of your islands, so you are no longer directly above it - even those who can fly or float can be eliminated this way with a good shove!
Deliberately causing permanent, severe harm to your opponents will result in disqualification. The referees will be watching, don't try anything silly.

Dimension

Weather condition: none or harsh sunlight by default, but could become any.

Terrain: any (including none).

Pokémon: wild Pokémon are very rare here, but flying-types or those otherwise depicted flying (not just floating) such as Garchomp, Flygon, and Roaring Moon may pass by. On the islands themselves, you may depict other Pokémon if you wish - most likely rock or grass-types, but perhaps others.

Geography: an outer ring of eight grass-topped islands with another in the centre. The outer islands are each large enough to serve as a battle arena - their precise features are up to you. Each one is connected to the central island via a rope bridge (or similar). The central island houses the Infinity Crystal, which has a large tree growing around it. Other floating rocks below the islands serve as anchors for the robust Sticky Web that will catch fallen competitors. The ground these islands float above (if it's even visible) is up to you.

Playlist (this is just for fun): each track corresponds to a competing team, in the order they were announced by Merriweather (Team Rapture through Team Verdict - they're also listed at the bottom of this page).
Battle themes

Inspirations:
Images from the Rescue Team games.

Rules

You must show one or both of your characters become the last Pokémon standing (conscious and still atop their designated island) by confirming the knockouts of both opposing team members (falling unconscious or leaving / falling off the island) for your entry to be counted. Whether they face additional obstacles is up to you. Including Energy Gems is optional (you won't lose any points for not including them at all), with a hard maximum of four Gems in one entry.

Please keep in mind our regulations for round two -

• You cannot confirm the outcome of any other matchup (i.e. who passed passed or failed). You can show that they returned to base camp - just don't allude to their status in the tournament.

• You may show -

  • your opponent's characters: evolve, learn new moves, sustain minor injuries, and use Energy Gems.

  • judge NPCs: sustain minor injuries and use one Energy Gem (which may involve a form change) - but keep in mind the focus of your story.

• You must ask permission from a character's creator to show -

  • your opponent's characters: sustain grave injuries or die.

  • other competitors' characters: use one Energy Gem (which may involve a form change) - but keep in mind the focus of your story.

• You may not show -

  • your characters: become unable to compete.

  • judge NPCs: evolve or learn new moves.

  • other competitors' characters: evolve, learn new moves, or sustain minor injuries.

• Information under "Prompt Details'' and "Dimension" may be bent within reason. Rigid exceptions are the Judge NPCs' leave-nobody-behind policy, no-maiming-opponents rule, and the adverse affects of using multiple Energy Gems.

• If you choose to include a legendary in your entry, we encourage you make it fitting for the setting and prompt and/or your overall story.  We discourage featuring multiple legendaries unless for strong reasons.

• You may make your own weather conditions and terrains.  Don't make up species, forms, abilities, or moves beyond what the prompt describes (so custom Mega Evolutions, Z-Moves, Gigantamax forms, and Max Moves are okay).

…And the tournament in general (some have been added since round one, please read thoroughly) -

• DO NOT EDIT YOUR ENTRY AFTER THE DEADLINE. If you wish to make slight changes (which don't alter the story, just its presentation), you have two options; make a SEPARATE version or make changes AFTER JUDGING is complete. We prefer the first! Don't make drastic changes as this becomes confusing - if you'd like to write an alternate version, feel free to do so, but the canon the tournament follows will always be in line with official submissions. Breaking this rule will result in a 0/5 for Rule Adherence and possibly disqualification.

• DO NOT DEPICT CHARACTERS IN BASE CAMP BESIDES COMPETITORS, SPECTATORS, AND JUDGE NPCS. Don't make your own NPCs in base camp; it can create confusion and unfairness. Ours suffice. There is a slight exception this round for the Pokémon described in the round one spectator prompt - if you wish to depict them in base camp after helping Dora construct the giant Sticky Web, you may (but they can't stay beyond this round).

• Be communicative with your opponent (and anyone else who has questions about your characters)! Please email us if your opponent doesn't respond for a long while and it disrupts your entry's creation - we'll take this into consideration.

• Your characters should want to win (this expectation will slacken progressively).

• Contestants who’ve been knocked out stay at base camp until the tournament ends - Hoopa will take them to a dimension solely inhabited by Pokémon (of the character’s choice) to live in for the rest of their lives. This is an in-universe rule: things may happen differently in finalists’ entries.

• Hyperspace Holes can’t lead to dimensions which harbour any species other than Pokémon (they’re limited to PMD-like dimensions), thus they cannot appear in round prompts.

• Characterise the Judge NPCs how you like whilst obeying the info on their refs.

Good luck up there - don't look down!

Matchups