Burn the House Down [GYM][F]

[Pixel]

Silas crossed his t's and dotted his i's. Registering for an appointment at the gym was easy, especially with the time of year making it less busy due to the youngest children being in school. So it was on a foggy, cool autumn evening that he went to the gym. The sun set much earlier this time of year than it did during the summer. Soon, it would be dark even as families settled for an early dinner.

In his many layers, the damp air didn't chill him. Though his blond hair did flicker a bit in the breeze. Confident that he had this handled, he didn't even stop by the pokemart on his way into the gym for potions or revives. Just wandered right through the doors of the gym and checked in at the reception desk.

He offered the young lady behind the counter a charming, pearly white smile and nodded along when he was told that he would be able to see Bugsy soon. He settled in a worn chair to wait for about ten minutes before the prior challenger left the gym with a tired expression. Did he win? Did he lose? It was hard to tell if that was a man who was relieved after a hard won victory or if he was stewing in his thoughts after a harrowing defeat. 

But that was his sign.

The receptionist waved for him to go in and so he rose to his feet and did just that. He stepped through the sliding doors and looked around, somewhat impressed by the vegetation that filled the arena. There were trees all around this indoor space, mimicking a forest. He was pretty sure he saw pokemon in said trees, likely that lived here in this mock ecosystem. 

Silas then made his way towards the marked lines of the battling portion of the gym, and grinned when he spotted the leader. A small young man called Bugsy.

"Greetings! I am your next challenger. Silas Goldsmith. I am most eager to meet this challenge head on," he said in greeting. "From what I have heard, you're quite the gatekeeper for young trainers seeking to challenge the league. I'm guessing people underestimate the bug catcher turned gym leader and think all bugs are pushovers, eh?" Silas chuckled, keeping up his friendly act. No need to act any different. As far as Bugsy was concerned, Silas was just another challenger, nothing suspect about him at all. "Now, I'm sure you're a busy man, same as I...so why don't we get started, hm?"

—

Word Count: 400 (+400) | OOC: 

Taking Choice Scarf off Jessica and putting it on Mercenary.

[Caramell 🍬]

The young man barely gave away the results of his match against the walking Bug type encyclopedia. The modern age left many to become geniuses with the click of a button on their smart devices, though Bugsy kept all of the information safely tucked away inside of his mind. He seemed to understand his Pokemon well and prepared them not only with their strengths in mind, but also to defend them adequately against their known weaknesses. A young lizard with a sharp horn protruding from her skull clung to the young man’s leg, growling softly underneath her voice as her flame-tipped tail wavered behind her. They pushed out the front door with barely a whisper uttered from their voice. “What a match.”

Bugsy greeted Silas the same as he greeted all of his rivals, though so few managed to leave the place one badge richer. The ecosystem that surrounded the inside of the gym was the first official welcome. Large butterflies of various colors swooped through the air high above the canopies, landing on nearby flowers that decorated the long branches of the tall shrubs as the last of their blooms fought bravely to stay alive in the approaching winter. Some were purple bugs fluttering on bright white wings with streaks of black coursing throughout their delicate touches. Some were almost identical grey bodied butterflies though each wing’s colorations and markings were unique and different from the next. And still some were bright white and black butterflies with multihued wings of blues, reds, and golds, fluttering in the gentle breeze created by the temperature controlled environment around them.

More remarkable than the multitude of butterflies were the countless other bugs who nestled amongst the trees and leaf litter scattered about the grounds of the inner gymnasium. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Silas Goldsmith.” Bugsy called out, camouflaged temporarily behind a tree before hopping out, net clasped firmly in hand, to reach his spare hand out to shake Silas’. “I have sent many home who underestimated my bugs, that is true. They come with their birds or packing heat, but don’t quite expect what my bugs are fully capable of.” Bugsy laughed, as though he were hinting at what the previous match had meant for the fella Silas watched leave the gym earlier on. Small steel grey grasshoppers leaped through the tall grasses as bright red ladybugs shuddered and clung closer to the rough bark of the nearby trees.

“Bugs do not hurry themselves unless they need to.” Bugsy added with a raise of an eyebrow. A man who wanted to waste no time collecting their next badge, who had no time to stop and enjoy the moment around them as impatience boiled underneath their skin, would often find the hardest lessons in life slapping them across the face and knocking them on their rear ends. “But I assure you, my bugs are definitely no pushovers. Scyther, come greet our guest!” Bugsy tossed his Pokemon’s ball in the air as he called the large green mantis out of its home and into the light. The large mantis sharpened its bladed arms against each other and smirked as she turned to face her new opponents. “Scyytherr sccyy!” She chirped excitedly.

Gym Leader Bugsy accepts Silas' Challenge!

He sends out his Level 21 Scyther. What will Silas do?

[Pixel]

"I do not doubt that your pokemon are impressive. I have heard many tales about that scyther," Silas remarked as Bugsy emerged from his hiding spot and send out the mantis. He came prepared, however. Very prepared. He tucked a hand into his coat pocket, the picture of a gentleman in casual repose, a smile on his face, full of confidence as he soaked in the atmosphere. "The gym is quite remarkable too. I had heard it was forested, but seeing it in person is rather inspiring. You must work hard to cultivate an environment for all these pokemon to thrive in."

He pulled out a plain pokeball. The kind most carried. Especially starting trainers who boasted fiery starters or early route birds. It was an unremarkable ball. Cheap but well polished. It gleamed in the overhead lights as he rolled it in his palm. 

"The biggest problem I heard trainers faced here was your scyther just being too fast for most pokemon to handle. It moves like lightning and hits harder than expected. Like it just knows how to cut deep even with the weakest moves." Silas' pearly smile was a razor of white against his face. It didn't quite reach his eyes, giving him a slightly unsettling quality, though his body language and tone were pleasant and personable. There was a calm arrogance to him. Like he was confident he had this puzzle all figured out.

"Mercenary, why don't you show Bugsy what you can do!" he threw that pokeball high into the air and watched the ball burst open into a bright red light. From the glow emerged a recently evolved houndoom with a pretty blue scarf around her neck.

Silas wasn't sure if Mercenary could outspeed the mantis, so he didn't want to risk a thing on chance. So he put the scarf on his houndoom and was confident it would be enough to ensure she moved first. 

"Now. Flamethrower." He pointed at the scyther.

Mercenary, bolstered in her speed by the scarf, ran swift and light to close the distance between herself and the mantis. From her maw poured a harsh jet of flame. Burn. Burn. Burn. Hunt. Hunt. Hunt. She was a survivor. A fighter. She was the leader of this pack and would not falter. She would burn the whole world down if she must. Her focus was on that mantis. On the scyther that stood between her and her master's approval. She wouldn't disappoint him. Failure was not an option.

—

Word Count: 400 (+400) | OOC: 

Sending out Mercenary (Holding Choice Scarf) and using Flamethrower.

If scyther faints, please use Mod Bar.

[Tiki]

This gentleman was definitely not an immature unprepared child. He had an air of arrogance, preparedness, and certainty with him. He had some sort of determination about this gym battle, and once the Houndoom was sent out, Bugsy quickly understood. It wasn't a bad thing that people came prepared and did their homework, and in fact, he was glad people like Silas did. Still, he would have to give it his best for any challenger who entered his venue.

Now with the Scarf added on top, one that he didn't usually see other, younger trainers have, he knew he would have to give it an attempt to put a dent on this Houndoom. "I see, you've did your research. Scyther, use Quick Attack!" Bugsy held onto his net catcher tightly with one hand as he shouted his order.

The blitzing Scyther slammed onto the Houndoom as it raced through the air, but Mercenary reacted by quickly turning her head around and blasted it with a flamethrower before it could run away at a safe distance. The myth of Bugsy's Scyther was gone as quickly as it had arrived.

"So far so good. You did great, Scyther!" the bug type expert thanked his Pokemon. Then, he tossed out another Pokeball and sent out an unassuming cocoon Pokemon. "Metapod, you're up next!"

---

Mercenery gained 2 levels and is now Level 26!
+1 Level from mod bar and is now Level 27! (0/2269) to next level!
+1 Happiness, now +7!
She can learn Beat Up, delete a move?
Mercenery is locked into Flamethrower!
Mercenery is now above Loyalty Cap!
Mod Bar used!

Mercenery HP 67/85 (79%) after level up and Quick Attack.


Bugsy sent out (Level 18) Metapod!

quick attack crit |9hM6n1i1-161-16

[Pixel]

"I did indeed do my research. I am a bit of a scholarly gent, you see. It is why I am out here as an adult collecting badges rather than as a young boy. Spent my boyhood years in school, putting my nose to the books. And now I have some money and some freedom. It's a pleasant diversion." Silas shrugged and smiled, leading Bugsy on to perhaps believe he was just having a quarter life crisis of some sorts. Where he spent all those long years studying and was simply unfulfilled and was now on a quest to discover himself.

He could play the part too.

He watched as the scyther moved faster than a blink to slam into Mercenary, but her flames were just too hot to handle. One hit and the infamous scyther was felled. She howled in victory, her battlecry that of hell itself. She dared any to challenge her in this moment, to test her ferocity and glory. SHE. WAS. THE. VICTOR. 

"You did well, my dear girl," he praised, even as the hound salivated with anticipating, her pupils small, her fangs bared. She was clearly ready to continue the fight. The remnants of her flamethrower still licked at the grasses and left them smoking and singed. And there was a black streak of char between her and Bugsy. 

Upon seeing the Metapod, she growled, clearly ready to pounce and burn it too, but Silas whistled sharply.

"Down, girl. Return. You deserve a break."

Groowwwwwllll.

"Yes, yes, I know you wish to continue, but now is the time to share in the victory with others." The houndoom reluctantly returned to Silas' side before he sent out a honchcrow. It might be a little difficult to not mistake him for a dark-type trainer at this rate. Even if these were the only two on his team. They happened to be his best solution to Bugsy's bug type, ironically enough. 

"Syn, why don't you blow the metapod away?"

The honchcrow cawed and flew high, swooping down with glowing wings to strike the cocoon as hard as he could with a wing attack. There was nothing shiny here to distract him. Nothing to covet. So he obeyed without question or loud cries of 'SHINY?! MINE!'. The last shiny he found turned out to be a dusk stone hiding in some leaf litter, and thus he evolved. But alas, nothing sparkled its temptations...How unfortunate. He would have loved to add something new to his collection rather than smack around a bug.

—

Word Count: 400 (+400) | OOC: 

Sending out Honchcrow to use Wing Attack x2
Will NOT be learning the headache that is Beat Up.

Background note: Placing a mystery gift flame orb in Silas' inventory. And moving Chingling and Budew to Adrian's PC.

[Professor Oak]

The moment Honchkrow's wings sliced through the air, a swift and decisive attack, Metapod found itself at the receiving end of a formidable strike. The pitch black feathers closed in like a curtain falling upon a cocoon, and with one resounding hit, Metapod was sent tumbling. The battlefield trembled under the sheer power of Honchkrow's Wing Attack, and it became evident that Silas's careful planning was paying off.

Bugsy, however, was not one to be easily discouraged. He had seen countless battles and faced numerous challenges over the years. With an unwavering spirit, he acknowledged the strike. "A swift victory, indeed," he remarked, a tone of admiration in his voice. "But the amazing thing about bugs is for every one you squish, another crawls under the surface."

---

Syndicate gained +3 levels for defeating Metapod.
Grew to LV 19

(+1 happiness)

---

With a knowing smile, Bugsy sent out his next Pokémon, a Kakuna. The Poké Ball opened, and Kakuna emerged, poised and ready for the battle ahead. The cocoon Pokémon was a testament to endurance, with its tough exterior and the potential for greater power lurking within.

Silas's Honchkrow, still radiating dark energy, made a menacing figure. As it swooped down with menacing grace for another attack, Kakuna braced itself for the inevitable impact. However, the dark type's second Wing Attack struck with such force that Kakuna crumbled under the pressure. The arena was momentarily enveloped in a cloud of dust before slowly clearing, leaving Bugsy to contemplate the crumpled yellow form that was all that remained of his fallen Kakuna.

Bugsy nodded in defeat, though his expression was one of respect rather than despair. "You're a formidable trainer, Silas," he conceded, his tone gracious. He reached into his pocket and retrieved a small, metallic badge with an intricate design of a ladybug's spotted wing casing, the Hive Badge. With a gracious smile, Bugsy held out the Hive Badge towards Silas, the red and black badge glinting in the wan light of the gym. "You've shown remarkable strength and power in our battle. This Hive Badge is a symbol of your victory and your commitment to your Pokémon. Keep in mind that, like the bees in a hive, we can learn valuable lessons from Bug-types such as cooperation, unity and loyalty."

He continued, "Take this TM as well, the move U-turn. It embodies the essence of Bug-type Pokémon, allowing you to adapt and strategise. It's a move that can help you thrive in your journey and adapt to any challenge that comes your way."

---

Syndicate gained +2 levels for defeating Kakuna.
Grew to LV 21.

(+1 happiness, +2 total -> 3)

---

VICTORY

---

Congratulations! Bugsy was defeated!

Rewards:
£1800

 Hive badge

  TM89 U-Turn

 Can use HM01 Cut outside of battle

*updated all, let me know if something was missed!

---

SPOILER: Click to show

Wing attack crit:
OxKRNG2j1-16

1-16

[Pixel]

A decisive victory for Syndicate.

Two wing attacks, just swooping down to knock the pair of cocoons out without a thought. As quickly as the battle began, it was over. He was the victor. 

Syn flew high and crowed his victory to the sky, pleased with himself. Silas just smiled at Bugsy.

"Thank you for the kind words. As I mentioned before, I do attempt to always be prepared for what may come. It's just good business sense," he said. He reached out with one hand for the badge and TM, and quickly snatched his hand back to pocket them both as the honchcrow dive bombed them with a cry of "SHINY!". 

"Apologies. He is very fond of shiny objects and tries to hoard them. His keen eyes must have spotted the badge." Silas then returned the big bird to his ball before he could seed more chaos. Then he thanked Bugsy for his time and headed out of the gym, head raised high. He did it.

And nobody was the wiser of his mayhem in Violet.

All was right in the world.

But what was next? Did his venture into Ilex? Did he linger here and further establish an alibi. He needed to think for a while on his next actions. He had some pokemon he needed to train and he honestly had no good solution for Whitney should he make it through the forest. 

So for now...he would return to the pokemon center and think over his next plan of attack.

—

Word Count: 260 (+260) | OOC: 

FIN!