Black Rose Tournament Interlude

**Black Rose Tournament Interlude**is the twenty-fourth Interlude sidestory in the expanded universe of *Pokémon Reset Bloodlines.*It is also the fifth sidestory written by Shadow Ninja Koopa and the forty-third story overall, and is currently ongoing.

It stars Ninja Riot and Marilyn Flame, a pair of professional thieves in the Kalosian underworld, when they're invited to an underground tournament in the Château de la Rose Noire, hosted by Duchess Ludenberg. Despite being rivals with each other, both of them agree to a truce to enjoy themselves and in case something comes up.

## Plot

### Chapter 1

Marilyn Flame receives a phone call from an unknown source, who is extending her an invitation regardless of how much it might cost. She accepts it once she's done with her current job, and then travels to the Château de la Rose Noire near Avignon Town.

Once there, she extends her invitation to the butler, who takes a while to verify it but lets her in before taking his leave. As Marilyn goes in, she takes the time to admire the place, and quickly sees that many other guests have arrived and are being served at the tables. The butler takes his leave and she's left to her own devices, so she decides to take a look to the other guests, recognizing one or two that could possibly be a threat. Suddenly, a familiar voice snaps her out of her thoughts, and she recognizes her rival Ninja Riot, who has also been invited, much to her chagrin. Riot isn't too elated to see her either, and after some bantering about their past heists, the two start discussing about what's about to happen this evening: it seems they've all been summoned for entertainment. Riot asks if she noticed something odd about the invite, and Marilyn takes out hers to read it again, first taking into account that the sender was someone called Duchess Ledenberg and it also requested for her to bring three of her best Pokémon. Admitting that it sounds odd, Marilyn asks Riot if the Duchess is involved in Pokémon thieving, but Riot doesn't think so, although he adds that his sources have told him this isn't the first time a gathering like this takes place, only the first time that happens in Kalos, with the exact same conditions of bringing Pokémon and not to divulge any information about it. As they take notice of several of the other guests, Marilyn notices that Riot seems unusually willing to share info with her, despite being rivals, which he shrugs off. She then proposes that, should battle break out and they need to make a run for it, they make a truce, which he agrees to without much thought. After they seal the deal with a toast, the butler from before, Ignis, announces that tonight's entertainment is about to begin, and then opens the large cellar doors to reveal an elevator, inviting all guests to ride it.

About an hour later, the elevator leads them to an underground chamber full of Pokémon-like gargoyles, surrounding a battle arena illuminated by a giant crystal chandelier, with a crimson carpet covering a set of stairs leading to a second floor above them. On said floor, a young woman in a gothic dress calls for their attention and introduces herself as Duchess Ludenberg, much to many of the guests' surprise, and then proceeds to explain the entertainment for tonight. From the ceiling several cards from ace to king are delivered for each of the guests, who are set for an impromptu tournament amongst themselves for a prize money and three elemental stones, and the cards determine who will fight who, but one of them gets a straight pass for the main event. That being a hooded figure whose identity remains unknown, as their voice sounds neither male nor female, and their face is covered by a mask. The Duchess explains she wanted to invite sixteen participants, but Hunter J decliner their offer, causing everyone in the room to briefly cringe in fear. She then calls for everyone, barring the owners of the Three and Jack cards, to leave the battlefield to get started.

Said owners are the hooded figure from before, who requests to be called "Bittercold" and King Koi. The latter brings out a large Gyarados while the former sends a Toxicroak. Despite the seemingly overwhelming disadvantage, right when King Koi's Gyarados prepares a Dragon Tage, Bittercold's Toxicroak dodges it and quickly freezes Gyarados with a single Ice Punch, and then finishes the job with a Poison Jab, much to King Koi's shock who thinks he must have cheated. Duchess Ludenberg denies the complaints, although she does call out Bittercold for making the match so short since she likes them longer. Bittercold promises to extend them next time, and King Koi leaves in a rage. Duchess Ludenberg apologizes for bringing such a rude guests, before requesting Ignis to call for the next participants.

The battles go one after another, as Riot and Marilyn continue to keep an eye on everyone, still somewhat wary. The five and nine cards are called, one of them being Riot, the other being a rollerblade-clad enthusiastic girl who seemingly can't stop talking. As Ignis requests from their names, the girl recognizes Riot and seems to be a huge fan of his, as she begins asking questions nonstop about him and Marilyn Flame, prompting Ignis to call her out. She introduces herself as Rhythm, and when Ignis calls for the battle to begin, she sends out a Pokémon she calls "Humdinger" from a Pokéball with a capsule, exploding a cloud of smoke to keep it hidden. Riot sends his Greninja. Rhythm's Pokémon turns out to be a Mienfoo, who quickly falls to Greninja unable to cause any damage, but Rhythm isn't bothered in the least; in fact she seems excited and takes her leave hoping that they can meet again one day for another battle, making Riot feel rather uncomfortable.

Lastly, the cards for Queen and Three are called for the final match. Marilyn takes her turn and her opponent is a mad-doctor looking man with a lab-coat stained in red substance that might or might not be blood and she doesn't want to find out. Her opponent introduces himself as Dr. Killgood, before the match goes underway. Marilyn sends her Delphox while the doctor sends out a crazy-looking Ducklett. Despite Ducklett managing to put up a fight, it ends up falling to Delphox, and the doctor accepts his defeat, though he mumbles something about the rudeness of young people not allowing their elders to win.

With the preliminaries finished, Duchess Ludenberg announces that the main event is about to begin. The arena sinks into the ground leaving a large hole, as two large wheels emerge on either side of Ignis. Several monitors descend upon a steel girder, and they come to life as Duchess Ludenberg calls to start the game of "Coins of Deceit".

## Continuity

* First appearances of Ninja Riot, Marilyn Flame, Duchess Ludenberg, Kruger, Ignis, General Buzz, King Koi, Bittercold, Rhythm and Doctor Killgood.

## Trivia

* Ninja Riot and Marilyn Flame mention a "Jade Electabuzz", a "Maltese Talonflame" and "Sunfloras", in references to the Jade Tiger, the Maltese Falcon and Vincent van Gogh's painting, "Sunflowers".

## Links

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent\_van\_Gogh
2. ↑ https://www.vincentvangogh.org/sunflowers.jsp#:~:text=%2010%20Facts%20that%20You%20Don%27t%20Know%20About,Van%20Gogh%20and%20Paul%20Gaugin%20exchanged...%20More%20