Pokémon Legends: Court of Kings

[Jump Einatz]

Salieri knew that Biz Marquis was trying to taunt Vivillon into making the next attack so he could be the one to react. If she went along with it, then she couldn't throw out an order. She had to trust that Biz would make the right move.

And she did. She chose Biz for this fight because she trusted him, and if he was going to make this move on his own, then for now she had faith. You can seal the deal, Biz Marquis!

As soon as Viola ordered the "Infestation!", Salieri nodded to Biz and Biz was acting. With both of his arms, he pulled up and then pushed off the ceiling before the creepy crawlies could fall, spinning around in quick tight circles. It was a reversal of method from the normal Aerial Ace. Instead of using his legs to propel himself to strike with his arms, he used his more reliable upper body strength to give himself the same push, and darted at Vivillon with a drill kick threatening to grind the flier into the arena floor.

In theory it was similar to when Veillantif had Bounced off the ceiling at Vivillon. The difference was that Biz had the swiftness of Aerial Ace behind him. It wasn't as strong as Bounce, but he only needed a little damage to down the bug.  

[Marsuru]

Infestation rushed out from the webs as soon as Biz pushed off. Vivillon blinked with surprise at the speed of Biz's attack. And at just that moment, she recalled how to use Gust. Were the Chespin using any other technique, she might have had enough time to use the newly-recalled Gust as well. Still, she'd been prepared to use "Psybeam!" and made to do so. Her aim wasn't 100%, but with the grass type rushing towards her, she could still land her blow.

Aerial Ace would hit home, but not before Vivillon fired off her Psybeam. The attack would shoot slightly wide, but most likely scrape against one of Biz's arms before abruptly ending when Vivillon took a shot to the face.

The butterfly pokémon would succumb to gravity. Though the pokémon dropped like a rock, the gym leader managed to catch her with a recall beam before she hit the ink-stained floor. As Vivillon fell unconscious, the Infestation bugs crumbled to dust.

"Well, now I'm really impressed," Viola said, grinning. In truth, Vivillon had been a little overlevelled compared to the pokémon she would normally have sent out against Salieri. The fact that the girl had managed to take Vivillon out without considerable damage to her second pokémon more than earned her the badge in Viola's book, but rules were rules. She reached up to another webline, and chose a pokémon that was more about skill than power. "Let's see if you can keep it up! Go!"

Viola launched her next ball, and her second pokémon appeared in a flash of light. Accelgor landed on the arena with his arms folded, helmet turned down with his eyes closed, and his membranous cloak floating slightly on the breeze coming in from the ceiling hole. He was level 17, and rarely called upon for direct combat, but he was also a poison-spraying bug ninja.  

[Jump Einatz]

Once Vivillon was recalled, Biz stopped his spiraling drill kick and landed in the center of the arena. He stood with his chest puffed out, literally swelling with pride, and not a moment later he subtly rubbed his arm where he had been struck by the Psychic force. Salieri pumped her fist into the air.

"Hell yes!" she growled, morale boosted by the victory. A ring came from her pokedex, and Sal checked the update. Biz had learned Leech Seed and was close to gaining another level. The serendipity of gaining a new recovery move compounded on her current feeling.

Now Accelgor came into play. Regardless of the level, Accelgors were wickedly fast and landing a blow would take a lot of consideration, even with the speed of Aerial Ace.

"Ivan, what's up with Accelgor?" Salieri asked as stars appeared in Biz's eyes. He was already beside himself in wake of the ninja-like entry.
"Beeeeeep Accelgor is a ninja. It doesn't like being dry so it wraps itself in derpy lookin' skin clothes to stay wet. Ha beep ha, stay wet. Even in that bandage get up it's still leagues faster than your slow a** pokemon-"

Salieri shut off the analysis. If what Ivan said was true then maybe she dry the pokemon out somehow. But how do you catch a ninja?

"Spikes!" Salieri called out. From out of his shell armor, Biz fired an array of hardened quills into caltrop formations at Accelgor's side of the field. The Chespin's quills became hard enough to pierce stone at his will, making them stronger than the average Spikes.

This was the same tactic she had pulled on Banksy the night before to force the Torkoal into the air. Salieri was hoping to limit the swift pokemon's movement by showering his area with caltrops. Biz Marquis fought better at close range, and if the Accelgor didn't then this play would work even better.  

[Marsuru]

Accelgor quietly observed the caltrop quills shower around him, turning the arena into a minefield. Spikes was normally used as an entry hazard to damage fresh pokémon, and it might have caught the bug ninja had it been used in the previous round. He closed his eyes. It seemed his opponents hadn't that kind of forethought.

"Infestation," came the command, and the black bugs were summoned for the last time. Unlike Vivillon's use of the technique, the bugs didn't crawl out of the spider webs on the ceiling, but from the gaps in Accelgor's bandaged body. Their buzzing grew to a screeching pitch, streams of tiny black bodies spewing from the pokémon who remained entirely calm, any loose flaps of its outer membrane quivering amidst the technique. And then they stopped, silent. The Infestation bugs stayed in formation around their master, circling him, a wispy shroud of shadow.

"Now," Viola said, and Accelgor balled a fist into his palm, then drew it away, pulling out a long strip of rigid, sharp membrane, "Quick Attack!"

Accelgor shot forward with his famed speed. The shroud of Infestation followed his every movement, breaking into the screech of a tortured violin. He paid no mind to Biz Marquis's Spikes. The black bugs tore into them first, ripping them from the ground, devouring them into nothing before they ever reached their master. Accelgor shot across the battlefield, holding his membrane blade to his side with both hands. He aimed to fly past his opponent and slice across his chest before any counter could be made, then land some distance behind him, half-turned for a follow-up attack, his sword spinning in one hand.

If Biz stayed in Accelgor's line of attack, then part of the Infestation shroud would break loose and latch onto him. No matter how hard his flesh could become, the black bugs could eat through it, and burrow into his body.  

[Jump Einatz]

Both Sal and Biz looked up to the ceiling at first when Infestation was called, and both were surprised when it was summoned from the ninja's body. The Chespin was creeped out. His trainer thought it was kind of cool. Troublesome, but cool.

"Bulk Up!" she called to Biz as Accelgor began to draw his sword. Looking his opponent in the eyes, he flexed. His muscles beefed up for a second before compressing back down, denser than before.

As Salieri watched Accelgor's Infestation shield carve a path through her Spikes, she began to regret setting up such an obvious ploy against a ninja. Her plan was to set up even more Spikes to force Accelgor to be where she wanted, but if he could remove them that easily then there wouldn't be a point. Now she had to rethink her strategy.

When Accelgor dashed at Biz, he knew he had no time to dodge. The speed was too intense. But there was still a frame of time for him to attempt a block, and if was ever going to become a true badass, there was something he had to try. If a ninja can do it than so can a knight!

He reached behind his back, pulled out a long, tough quill and held it up like a sword with both hands to meet the Quick Attack head on. The organic swords clashed not with a metallic ring, but with a hard clunking sound. Biz grinned at Accelgor, pressing his blade against the enemy's with his increased muscle power. [Ha! Two can play at BLEH!]

A patch of the Infestation shroud broke free and crawled up Biz's arm. He struggled not to break away, body tingling with a dull pain that crawled around inside of him. A sweat drop appeared on his forehead.

Sal took a second to be impressed not with Biz's quill sword, which he wouldn't have thought of without Accelgor, but with his ability to not freak out as tiny bugs nibbled at his insides. As long as he could keep his cool like Durendal, then he might be okay for now.

Accelgor was still close and ready to follow up. Biz needed more health, and if he had time he could Synthesize for it. But the enemy was too close for that move to finish, so instead she ordered a "Leech Seed!"

Still clashing swords, Biz spit out a group of tiny seeds at Accelgor point blank. If they hit, they'd work similar to Infestation, landing on the ninja and growing thin vines throughout his body to absorb nutrients.

Part of Sal hoped the technique would go off without a hitch and Biz would be able to recover slowly off of Accelgor's hit points. But part of her hoped that the seeds wouldn't get past the membranes, forcing the vines to grow through the membranes instead. In theory, since the membranes had little nutrients in them, the Leech Seeds would suck out the moisture instead, weakening Accelgor over time and making an Aerial Ace or Rollout easier to hit with.  

[Marsuru]

The spray of Leech Seeds caught Accelgor on his sword arm as he pulled away from Biz. In one clean effort, the pokémon grabbed his own membranous flesh with his free hand and ripped away the infected layer, tossing it aside where it was consumed by Biz's attack. He had a fresh layer of bandages, and lost a little bit of health, but nowhere near as much as Leech Seed would have taken otherwise.

He turned, not speeding back towards his opponent, but instead dashing to his side, trying to get behind him. Infestation destroyed more of the Spikes as Accelgor went, clearing up the immediate vicinity, but leaving others dotted around the battlefield like a graveyard of blades. Accelgor shot about in straight lines, turning instantly at random angles, a demonstration of his speed. He closed in on Biz, using "Double Team!" to generate after images, which continued along the path he'd tread, but their speed making it appear as if his movements were all the more random.

Accelgor took to the air in an instant. His black bugs clouded together behind him, and he used them as a wall to kick off, bounding towards Biz with another "Quick Attack!" strike of his sword. This time he aimed to cut the Chespin from shoulder to hip, hoping his Double Team after images would serve as viable distraction. If it hit, the Accelgor would land in front of the Chespin, turn his blade and repeat the strike in the opposite direction, but this time aiming for a critical hit, his Infestation bugs swarming above the pair, ready to sweep in at a moment's notice.  

[Jump Einatz]

Biz wanted to lash out and smack the Accelgor images like pinatas with his quill sword, but refrained from doing it when Sal yelled for him to "Focus!". Instead of moving, he shifted his eyes around patiently while Accelgor used Double Team and opted for another Bulk Up. Synthesis would have been nice, but he didn't want to be caught by another Quick Attack while healing.

When Accelgor dropped down with Quick Attack, Biz was once again unable to dodge the speed. He lifted up his sword to block, but was met with an afterimage instead. When he shifted his sword to block another afterimage, Accelgor cut into him on the drop.

His two Bulk Ups helped mitigate the damage, using his tough muscles to absorb much of the impact, but Salieri knew they needed to deal a blow quickly. Biz had lost health to Vivillon beforehand, not to mention there were still tiny bugs biting away at his insides. It may not have been a full Infestation, but it still hurt.

When Accelgor came back around for a second Quick Attack, Biz held his sword's point straight at the bug. By focusing on which Accelgor had hit him, he had the real one in his sights for now. "Aerial Ace!"

With both hands he stabbed forward, parrying the membrane sword to the side while thrusting the quill's pointed edge at Accelgor's now exposed shoulder with respectable speed. Focusing Aerial Ace into a single point made it less powerful than a wide slash, but with Biz's Bulked Up power Salieri still hoped to deal some good damage.  

[Marsuru]

Accelgor fell on Biz's sword. He let it drive through his shoulder, abandoning his Quick Attack while rushing right up to the Chespin's face. His Double Teams caught up, vanishing one by one as they collided with their owner's true body, briefly illuminating the arena in blossoms of shining light. The Aerial Ace dealt considerable damage, but the bug type clung on to consciousness. Now it was a gambit. Using his Sticky Hold ability, Accelgor glued Biz's quill in place with his shoulder, and with the same speed he used to run around, he snatched out at the Chespin's hands to Sticky Hold them in place. It wouldn't last forever, but unless Biz found a way to avoid getting touched, he'd have the grass type in his grasp.

The swarm of Infestation bugs swooped down. Thousands of them, buzzing and screeching as they made to swamp Biz from every angle and consume him. If Biz was caught, then he'd be infested, and the pain of the attack would open him up to Accelgor's final strike. Assuming Biz hadn't found a way to evade Accelgor's capture, then he'd be wide open to a point blank "Struggle Bug!" More bugs would explode out of Accelgor's helmet, these ones green instead of black. They'd spray like bullets, dealing a super effective critical hit should they land.  

[Jump Einatz]

Biz let go of his sword when Accelgor pounced at him. In the back of his mind, he noted the badassery of continuing to fight with a blade sticking out of you, but for now he was focused on avoiding the Sticky Hold. He failed, and now his hands were bound to the Accelgor's.

Salieri didn't see this as as much of an issue as Biz might have. Now that they were bound together, Salieri intended to keep them that way. The Infestation flew towards Biz, and Sal ordered to him to "Lock it down!"

Vine Whips sprouted from the back of Biz's helmet and sprang forth. One wrapped around where the two pokemon held hands, further binding them together. The others lashed out at the Struggle Bug, slapping away tiny insect after tiny insect.

The Infestation was now fully inside of Biz Marquis, eating away at his flesh with full power. Sweat dripped down the determined Chespin's face as his eyes never left the Accelgor's.

Ivan beeped. "Emergency Limitations disengaged. Super Mode has launched."
"...what now?"
"Beep boop Overgrow activated. I like what I said more though."

That meant two things to Salieri. One was that Biz was on his last legs, at most with a third of his health intact. The other meant that Biz's Vine Whips had powered up, essentially nullifying the resistance Accelgor had against them. That made them stronger than Aerial Ace.

"Full on assault, Biz!" Salieri roared. "You can do it!"

[OKAY!] Biz roared back, picking up on his trainer's infectious enthusiasm. He shifted his stance, making it sturdier as he kept slapping away at Struggle Bug.

Overgrow caused a few more Vine Whips to sprout up and help deal with Struggle Bug. The whips didn't stop lashing around once Struggle Bug had been taken care of, continuing to writhe at whatever was in front of Biz. Unless Accelgor could escape the binding vine, that meant it would be the target of Biz's barrage.

If her plan didn't work, Salieri would have to make an opening to Synthesize before Accelgor landed another attack or the Infestation finished off her pokemon. Now she was sweating like her pokemon, practically feeling his pain as he continued to fight. "We won't give in, Viola! I'm gonna get that badge!"  

[Marsuru]

"I don't think so!" Viola shouted back. For the first time in the match, her calm composure was put under strain. Her eyes were open wide and her confident smile had turned into a huge grin. "Power Swap!"

Accelgor's speed was pushed to its limit as he ducked and weaved around Biz's Vine Whips despite their hands being bound. He couldn't keep it up forever. He was at his limit, and one solid strike would end him. A vine scraped the side of his helmet when Viola called her move. Power Swap would bestow Accelgor with all of Biz's attack changes, and vice versa. In effect, the bug type would double his attack strength and reset Biz's to normal. The only way for Biz to avoid the technique would be if both their hands became unbound. Assuming that didn't happen, a pink ball of energy would flash between the two pokémon, then explode painlessly.

Once granted Biz's strength, Accelgor would put it to good use. Before the vines could touch him, he'd use a "Quick Attack!" to lift Biz off the ground and swing him overhead, smashing him into the arena floor like a hammer. Unless he managed to stop this attack, Biz's face, unguarded by his outer shell, would hit the arena so hard that he'd send spider-web cracks across its surface.  

[Jump Einatz]

Salieri's eyes widened. Power Swap? Merde.

Biz saw the pink energy form and felt like he should let go. But Sal yelled for him to "Hang on!" Accelgor was too fast to catch again, and this might be the only time they could pin it down. Biz kept his defense boosts, but with his low health it wouldn't take much to knock him out as Infestation continued to crawl throughout him.

"Leech Seed!" Sal yelled as Biz was lifted up. When he was above the Accelgor he spat down seeds at the ninja's body, and once again Sal hoped that they'd absorb health and moisture from the enemy with their burrowing vines. Leech Seed would keep Biz in the fight longer as well.

Before he could be slammed into the ground, Biz's Vine Whips -save for the one holding onto Accelgor- pushed against the floor like arms. The power of Overgrow barely saved the Chespin from being crushed into the arena. He was flipped back around and the two pokemon were reset, the only difference being that they swapped sides.

He locked eyes with Accelgor, determination plastered on his strained face. [I don't need that power to kick your a**,] he growled, chest heaving with the effort it took to talk. Those tiny bugs really hurt.  

[Marsuru]

Viola flexed her jaw. If Accelgor couldn't bring down Biz Marquis, then Salieri would win. But Accelgor could faint as long as Biz did as well, and the gym would be considered victorious.

She breathed out sharply, then shouted, "Final Gambit!"

It was all down to this. Accelgor had been injured, but so had Biz. The bug type would use the last of his health, the last of his will, converting it into pure power for one all-out finishing move. Accelgor would faint afterwards, but that didn't matter as long as he took down Biz as well. He charged with whipping aura, bright sparks of light flowing from his body like embers. They were still bound together, making a dodge nigh impossible. The bug ninja pokémon launched himself at his foe, swinging his helmet with everything he had, aiming to smash Biz's face with a well-placed headbutt.

The battle would be in Biz's hands now, determined by his will to keep standing.  

[Jump Einatz]

Biz could feel his Leech Seeds fail as soon as Final Gambit started up and sapped away all the hits points. In that instant, he snapped the bind and leaned backwards, instinctively trying to dodge the move. In the next instant he failed, taking the edge of the headbutt full on.

The Chespin was flung backwards to Sal's side of the field, skidding to a stop in an upright position. He swayed side to side, vines hanging limp to the floor. The attack was to his face yet the wind was knocked out of him. The Infestation disappeared from his body, seeping from his pours in a black dust.

"Use your whips! Stand up!"

With the last of his strength the Vine Whips went rigid, struggling to keep him on his feet. Biz leaned his head back. That was all he had. There was no way he could keep going. Not badass enough, I guess.

For a moment, Salieri looked scared. Cornered with no more moves. Suddenly she grit her teeth and leaned as far as she could over the guard rails in her trainer box.

"Don't lose like this, Biz!"

The Chespin's ears perked up. "You took my bandanna so I'd chase you through the #$%^ing Wonder Trade to get here, remember? I didn't choose you. You chose me, and I let you do it! I trained you, and you got stronger, so what's it gonna be?"

He felt his muscles tense up again, regaining control. In the producer's box at the edge of the arena, a man with headphones said to another, "Did you catch that?"
"You bet I ******** did," the censor replied. They bumped fists.

"You don't even know me, or what I want. All I know about you is that you wanted to fight. I gave you that! Now I want you to win!” Salieri banged a fist on the railing. “Stand UP!”

Biz Marquis’ eyes refocused. His vision became clear. Losing now wouldn’t be cool at all. A show of power was something anyone could have. But willpower would make him exceptional.

He stood up straight, panting hard, and limply swiped his thumb over his nose. [I told you so,] Biz said to Accelgor with a weak, cocky grin.  

[Marsuru]

Accelgor stared back, his eyes gone grey. And then he slumped, his helmet hitting the arena floor with a clatter as his body went limp. Viola's red recall beam struck the defeated pokémon's body a second later and she took him back, smiling at the ball before reattaching it to a free webline. The crowd's roar was deafening as they stamped and cheered behind the wire mesh fences surrounding the gym room. Plenty of challengers came to the Santalune City gym, and most were defeated with ease. When trainers did win, they were on equal ground with the gym leader, level-wise. To see the underdogs come out on top was a rare and truly exciting thing.

"Looks like I lost," Viola said, holding back a grin as she looked over to Biz. She gave the little Chespin a wink before turning her attention wholly to Salieri. Her hand to her chest, she said, "I'm not ashamed to admit you've bested me, Salieri Soledad."

Viola stepped out of her trainer box and went across the area, standing in the middle where it was stained black with Veil's ink. Holding out her hand, she presented Salieri with her prize.

"Take it," she said. In her palm was a metal pin shaped like a beetle, and a small silvery disc that could slip inside a pokédex, "The Bug Badge, indisputable proof that you've beaten my gym. And take TM83 as well, it teaches Infestation, a move I'm sure you're familiar with. I'm looking forward to seeing what else you can do, Sal."  

[Jump Einatz]

((EDITED cause I effed up))

Salieri could hardly believe it. The crowd's approval washed over her warmly, taking her out of the zone she put herself into for the fight. The street hardened teen was feeling a childlike joy as she practically floated down the steps of her trainer box. It wasn't just that the badge put her one step closer to the Pokemon League. It was that she and her team got the payoff. Training and battling, all of that added up to moments like these. And it had been crafted by their own hands. Watching it come into fruition filled her with pride.

She walked up to Biz, who was now scratching all over himself. The bugs from Infestation had given him a plethora of internal bites. Now that he wasn't filled with the rush of battle, he seemed very antsy. No pun intended. "Biz, I've got to hand it to you, you really held it down."

He nodded, still itching at himself. Biz was battered, bruised, and still felt the tingling left behind by the Infestation that crawled on his insides. But the feeling of victory afterwards made it worthwhile. [Hell yeah, I feel like a boss.]

In a flash of red light Biz was recalled, his pokeball put back to Sal's belt. She made her way to Viola, and took the TM and badge. Sal held the badge up to the light, letting it shine off. So many people and pokemon worked to the bone just to get one of these little pieces of steel. Some even died for them.

For some reason, holding it filled Salieri with a calm strength. Knowing she had the power to obtain this made her feel a little lighter, like it would be easier to move on.

"That match taught me a lot, Viola. It was a close fight." Salieri usually wasn't so humble, but in the face of such an experienced trainer she knew she still had a ways to go. The experience felt like a graduation of sorts.

The profound feeling quickly shifted back to business as usual. Now wore that confident smirk once more. Viola may have been respectable as a trainer, but she was still nobility. The feeling of beating a noble at their own game was good in a different, cathartic kind of way.

Salieri flipped her hair back and put her confident snarky grin back on. "But not close enough. Looks like official nobility training is on a lower level than street tricks, huh? Watch what else I can do, just don't forget what I've done." She spun away towards the exit, waving over her shoulder at Viola. "Or better yet take a picture. It'll last longer."