Decaf Beatdown! (Bugsy Gym Battle)

[Goni]

Azalea Town was cramped... Super cramped. The small town seemed nice enough, but it had very limited options in terms of places to stay and things to do. There was the famous "Slowpoke Well", but each time Sara had attempted to visit, she had been shoo'd away- evidently some entrepaneuring company had taken a liking to some of the natural resources stashed away deep in the well or something like that. One thing that there seemed to be plenty of in this town was natural herbs and aromatic ingredients for tea, though one thing that was lacking was coffee. Sara had visited the pokemart each morning hoping for a cup of coffee, but there was none at all.

"Please sir..." Sara said, her eyelids flickering "I... I need coffee... to function..." She stammered, her eyes completely closing by the end of the sentence. Momo stood fast next to Sara as her trainer swayed back and forth in the Pokemart. "Ma'am, I told you yesterday, we simply don't stock coffee here. The only person in town who even touches the stuff- well, it's just not worth it for us to bring it in." Sara's eyelids fluttered back open. "I... I understand..." Sara said, slumping over onto Momo who, with a sigh, dragged Sara's slumbering body out of the Pokemart.

It had been a long few days for Momo- charioting around her slumbering trainer from place to place attempting to find something to snap them out of their slumber, but no luck. There was only one place that Momo hadn't tried visiting yet- a rather large building with a sinister aura to it. The entire place seemed to be covered in webs and all of the foliage outside of the building seemed to be infested with some kind of strange sickness. Momo let out a courageous bray before slowly dragging her sleeping owner onward toward the large building.

Sara's eyes fluttered open again at the loud sound of the automatic door sliding open to the gym. "Izzat... spider carts?" Sara said, the bags under her eyes pulling her eyelids open. Sara stumbled forward and backwards, gently guided by Momo. "HELLO!?" Sara shouted to the dark room, somewhat suprised to hear her own voice echoing back to her in the cavernous room. Sara took a few steps forward into the room, peering off the dark cliffs next to the spider carts. "Who... where.... Momo, is this a dream?" Sara said, trying to even understand what she was seeing. Momo let out a soft huff before taking a look around the entryway herself. Sara slowly found her way onto one of the spider carts, with Momo in tow. It jerked forward, slowly pulling itself through what seemed to be an amusement park ride. "Momo, where are we going?" Sara said, as she turned around and watched the entrance grow smaller and smaller.

Sara turned back around and watched as the spider cart slowly carried them forward through the gym. Sara watched dumbly as the entrance grew further and further away. "Momo, where are we?" Sara said, yawning. Momo seemed to shrug, and as the cart reached its destination on the other side and stopped short, Sara lurched quickly, stumbling out of the cart and onto the ground. Momo sighed and nudged Sara with her hoof, and Sara quickly climbed back up to her feet. "Huh?" Sara said, looking at the person in front of her. Sara whispered to Momo "Um... do you see this child too?" Sara said, staring at the kid wearing all green with vibrant purple hair. "I really need a cup of coffee..."

~~

I'd like my party to be: Momo, Gwynn, Margo, Kellen, Avery, and Krobus.

LAIKA OF GANGNAM STYLE

[AshenPhoenix]

The gym was enveloped in foliage and spiderwebbing, creating a sense as if it were its own biome. Caterpie, Weedle, Ledyba, and Spinarak crawled all over the small trees and greenery, curious about the new challenger that had just entered their territory. As Sara and her trusty Mudbray companion rode the Spinarak cart towards the centre, several Kakuna and Metapod lowered themselves from the branches around the trainer, also eager to get a good look at them, creating a path towards the middle. Countless eyes stared, waiting to see what they were capable of.

On the other side, Bugsy tended to his Scyther underneath the largest tree in the building, helping her sharpen her already fearsome scythes, resembling two enormous swords. "Looking good! Let's make sure we give it our all, right Scyther?" he spoke to his Pokémon, which let out a confident battle cry in response. "That's right! You'll show them what bugs are all about! Speaking of... a challenger approaches!" he exclaimed, turning towards an incoming cart, slowly but surely making its way towards them. He was very excited to meet a new trainer, to tell them all about the best qualities of Bug-types, and to show them his very cool strategy...!

However, the challenger behaved quite strangely. Mudbray was leading them like a lost child. "Um... are you alright? Do you need assistance?" he asked hesitantly, glancing at his Scyther. The Pokémon shrugged, equally bewildered. "I'm... not a child..." he grumbled. Not the first time and certainly not the last time someone mistook him for a kid, it still slightly stung nonetheless. Damn his short height! "My name is Bugsy and, uh... welcome to my Bug-Type gym. Presuming you ARE a challenger... right?" he asked unsurely, noticing that they were having a lot of trouble keeping their eyes open. "And you're certainly NOT drunk, yes? Because the League doesn't allow us to accept drunk challengers."

---

Bugsy and Scyther would love to accept Sara's challenge... if she's not drunk, of course.

[OOC: Party swapped, Bugsy will lead with Scyther]

[Goni]

"Bugsy...?" Sara said, lifting her hands to her head and peeling her eyelids up to stay awake. She eyed the boy up and down. "And you're a gym leader?" Sara asked flatly and rhetorically, not waiting for an answer. Sara swayed gently, and Momo quickly came to her aid, helping her to stand up straight. Sara let out a groan and put her hands to her temples as she slowly processed everything that Bugsy said. "Am I okay...?" Sara said, pondering the question. She furrowed her brow in concern before her face dropped revealing a somber expression. "I guess if I'm being honest, I could really use a cup of coffee..." Sara said, her eyes lifting to Bugsy's and locking with them in an unusually intense manner.

It was as if a switch flipped, and in just a moment Sara's sole focus landed on Bugsy. "I've been trying all over town, and it seems like all roads lead back to this place... to you. You're all anyone talks about! Want to leave the town? Oh, you'll have to visit Bugsy. Want to get through Ilex Forest? Oh, Bugsy's the key to getting through there. It's nearly impossible to get through without getting league authorization to use the pokemon move Cut. Something about 'preserving nature' and 'only allowing skilled and responsible trainers' to use moves like that. It's a blur, honestly. This little village of yours seems to have quite the high opinion of you." Sara said, gesturing wildly and exasperatedly as she paced the floor of the pokemon arena. "There's one rumor which I haven't been able to find the source of however."

Sara let out a laugh as Bugsy accused her of being drunk. "There's only one thing which I enjoy drinking, and it's definitely not liquor." Sara said with a grin, "Though it seems it's in short supply in this town. The local pokemart says they don't keep it in stock because the locals prefer tea. Can you imagine? TEA!" Sara shouted. Sara covered her face with her hands, and began chuckling to herself. "It's... It's cruel!" She said, smirking. "Tea of all things, tea this, tea that. It seems like wherever I go everyone always wants to drink tea." Sara pulled her hands down her face, stretching her face into a strange and distorted visage as she did, the dark and unforgiving bags under her eyes accenting the sleepy look which if you had never met Sara before you would think were a permanent feature of her face. "Well what about what I want to drink!" Sara shouted out to the gym in frustration.

"I've searched every house in this town..." Sara said, a look of sad reflection on her face as she paused ominously for a second- allowing the weight of what she said to hang in the air for a moment before she let out a sad sigh. "I've been to each store, and have asked everyone I met the same question."

Sara once again locked eyes with Bugsy. "You're right I'm a challenger. Not just to this gym, but to this world." Sara said, letting out a manic chuckle. "I think maybe people shouldn't drink tea anymore, I think maybe we should all drink COFFEE!" Sara blurted out before covering her mouth as if the impact of what she said might actually have some kind of negative repercussions. Sara covered her mouth guiltily looking up at Bugsy, before gulping audibly as if she could swallow the words that she had just said back down her throat. "Forget what you just heard..." Sara pleaded, her eyes widening in fear. Sara looked around as if taking in her surroundings for the first time.

After another moment's pause, "You're a member of the Pokemon League aren't you?" Sara said awkwardly. Sara's eyes wandered all over the gym, watching as things seemed to skitter out of view wherever Sara's eyes would land in the room. She slowly turned around seeing the elegant Spinirak carts, the intricate design of the gym carefully crafted. "I see..." Sara said, completing her turn, her eyes focusing in on Bugsy. "You're like me... Smitten by something completely even if it's bad for you. You love bug pokemon, don't you?" Sara said, smiling. "My love isn't bug pokemon, it's something much better... But you work here all the time, accepting challenges and battling." Sara let out a pitying huff. "Must be such a bother when people want to come in and battle you when you just want to relish in appreciation for the thing you love more than anything else. Forced to compete never knowing if you can truly win... if you can ever get people to see things from your perspective." Momo seemed to shuffle uncomfortably as Sara's tone shifted. "I'm jealous of you Bugsy, I truly am... I wish I could appreciate what I loved as publicly as you." Sara said, letting out a nervous chuckle. "Please keep what I've said today between us." A pitying look crossed Sara's face. Momo stepped forward boldly, slowly taking stock of the Scyther which stood before her. "I suppose if we want to travel through Ilex Forest we need the badge which can only be acquired here... Please keep what you've heard today between the two of us." Sara said, her eyes falling to the floor.

"Momo... You know what to do."

Momo pawed at the ground, and the ground responded by rumbled gently. Rocks seemed to worm their way up to the surface of the gym floor. 

~~

Momo uses Rock Slide! (Gonna use it twice with Running Shoes!)

LAIKA OF GANGNAM STYLE

[Tiki]

"Heh. Sorry, miss. Coffee is for our concession audience only, and we brew them in house for visitors who would watch the challenger battle. Although if you're looking for high quality and fancy coffees, you'll have to go to an actual coffee store. We just brew generic coffee for the average population." Bugsy chuckled a little, and then explained how their coffee may or may not match this sleepy trainer's need. In fact, he wasn't sure if this trainer was serious about this gym battle or not, but at least she wasn't like those crying children at the sight of a squishy bug, or sad youngster crying at the loss of their battles.

Still, Bugsy wouldn't underestimate his opponent. Just because they might look weary and needing a good night sleep, it didn't mean their Pokemon weren't trained. He then smiled and resumed talking with Sara. "Some people say, this is out of respect and preservation of many Pokemon living in the Ilex Forest, such as bug type Pokemon." He may have winked at Sara, when it came to bug types. "Some people think that the Pokemon in the world outside is quite dangerous, so acquire my Hive Badge to prove that you're ready to take on the world! Perhaps, one of these might be the answer they're thinking about?"

When the conversation switched to tea though, he chuckled once again, although a little bit out of awkwardness and embarrassment from this caffeine depraved menace. He'll prefer handling this over screaming children who don't take loses well though. "Don't worry, I've been a gym leader for a while and I have seen many challengers. You'll just be one of the many interesting ones I'll possibly remember. Although I might forget that when I'm learning new facts about new discoveries about bug type Pokemon. Hmm... Is there any particular bug type Pokemon you want to learn about? I can tell you something cool, or maybe you'll find it weird."

"Yes, I am a member of Pokemon League because I am a gym leader." He mused Sara's possibly cranky caffeine depraved question. He wasn't sure if she didn't know or forgot because she woke up on wrong side of the bed this morning. "Yes, I do love bug type. And no, I am not bothered by people, which is why I sign up to be a Gym Leader. There's different ways to appreciate bug type Pokemon, some people prefer an exhilarating battle, and some prefer to watch bug Pokemon live their own lives."

Then, the acquaintanceship was interrupted as the battle began. The Mudbray might look unassuming, but since it was one of those foreign Pokemon, Bugsy had to be careful. "U-Turn, Scyther!" He hollered out his first move. The green mantis fluttered hastily at the opponent and smack the opponent, and then quickly retreated to the sidelines as Bugsy sent out his Metapod to take over. However, the Rock Slide used immediately crushed the emerald cocoon Pokemon into unconsciousness. Bugsy made note that this Mudbray was certainly different than the rest. It was quite a powerful one, or well trained one.

"You did great, Metapod. Return. Scyther, go back in again and hit it with another U-Turn!" He ordered, and watched as his ace Pokemon went for the attack once more. After the attack, there was something else he noticed, as the ground type glowed a soft orange. He deduced that it was the Mudbray's ability. He sent out his Kakuna next to handle the attack, and once again it was Rock Slide again. Down to his last Pokemon, he had no choice but to send out his Scyther back into the field.

"Your Pokemon is quite strong. It's like an underdog, even. How did you and Momo started?" He asked curiously, and decided to save the curiosity for the Rock Slide later, or just won't ask it. 

Wild Encounter

---

Weather: Clear

[attr="class","qkt-bkgd"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Scyther LV 21
HP 100% [66/66]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Momo LV 24
HP 45% [34/75]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

Scyther [Technician]: Status
Momo [Stamina]: +2 Defense!

SP55 Scyther used U-Turn! Momo's Defense rose! Bugsy switched in Metapod!
SP34 Momo used Rock Slide!
Metapod fainted!

SP55 Scyther was sent out and used U-Turn! Momo's Defense rose!
SP34 Momo used Rock Slide!
Kakuna fainted!


U-Turn crit fYzt6qzCp_1-16 U-Turn Pokemon: p_1-2
Rock slide acc and crit p_1-100p_1-16
U-Turn crit p_1-16
Rock Slide 2 Acc and crit p_1-100p_1-16

---

Goni

Kellen +2 levels from EXP share, now Level 18!


+1 level to Momo, now Level 25!
+900 for another win!
900/1951 to next level!

1-16·1-2·1-100·1-16·1-16·1-100·1-16

[Goni]

Sara smiled eerily as Momo got to work, but Sara's sole focus was on what Bugsy was saying as soon as the word coffee was mentioned. The Scyther was getting in some shots, but Momo hardly seemed bothered. The Scyther returned to their trainer and a armored pokemon emerged onto the battlefield where the Scyther had been previously. Momo seemed completely unbothered by the change of pokemon and immediately switched target, firing her rock slide into the Metapod knocking it unconscious quickly. Bugsy repeated the same strategy, but once again, Momo continued its onslaught of rocks falling from all around. A kakuna flashed onto the battlefield momentarily but it met the same fate as the Metapod before it. Rocks quickly piled onto the battlefield, seemingly from no where. Momo stayed steadfast as the Scyther beat into her, and she seemed to bolster her defense each time she was struck, paying attention to how to best deflect the physical strikes that the Scyther was hitting her with.

"For audience members only?" Sara said, her face dropping as she heard the words. She looked around the empty stadium, where it seemed that there was no audience watching this battle. "Are you telling me you only make coffee if there's a challenge planned?" Sara said, tears forming in her eyes as she came to terms with the cruel reality. "I don't care about the quality, I just..." Sara started, before breaking down and beginning to sob quietly to herself. Momo's eyes flicked to the side, momentarily distracted by her weeping trainer before refocusing on the battle. The Scyther had been wearing her down attack after attack, but it seemed like she still had the upper hand.

As Sara quietly broke down, Bugsy continued with their probing questions. "You wanna know where Momo came from? She -sniff- came from Alolwaahahaahh, like mehe-heee." Sara sobbed as she spoke, the sentence coming out of her mouth as if a crying child was saying the words. Sara huffed for a second before taking a deep breath. "She's a good girl though... and my best friend." Sara said, wiping the tear streaks from her cheeks. Momo's eyes glistened with pride as Sara spoke those words, and she let out an excited bray of happiness as Sara praised her. "So..." Sara said, finally taking stock of the battle in front of her. "Sending out that bug as your first pokemon, huh?" She said, oblivious to the fact that Momo had already rapidly taken out two of Bugsy's pokemon already. "Well lets get this battle started then! Tell the audience to gather around, and get that coffee pot cooking! Momo! Use Rock Slide!" Sara said, pulling herself together somewhat as the thought that she might be able to finagle a cup of joe after this battle was over- as long as she could draw it out enough for a crowd to actually form. Momo brayed pridefully as she pawed at the ground once more, the pile of rocks once more coming to life and starting to move.

~~

Momo uses Rock Slide!

LAIKA OF GANGNAM STYLE