Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter One: A Call to Action.

Brightness, rushing straight towards him, Kieran blinks as he didn’t think he even had time to look around at the three around him, ‘They do say going to the light is the end’ he though to himself, around him the light reflected off the crystals and cast a rainbow of brightness around him, and the light of Terapagos’ raw power surged towards him.

His legs felt like they couldn’t move, the single strand of black hair that refused to stay back in his tied back purple blocking one of his eyes as he tried to think of what he could do, but his body would not move, frozen in shock and fear.

Then he felt it, a pair of hands on his back and he moved, his body shoved backwards and his head twisted, his eyes went wide, standing where he had been was Florian, his arms outstretched to push Kieran out of harms way as the attack came for him, his brown hair neat and his brown eyes seemingly panicked, as he saved Kieran.

Words failed Kieran in the moment as he managed to right his footwork, before the light struck, hitting Florian right in the chest and sending him crashing backwards against the crystal wall behind them, where he lay unmoving.

“FLORIAN!”

It was Carmine’s voice and Kieran was once more frozen.

‘N-no….. F-Florian… I…. Why?’ Kieran’s thoughts were fragmented, unable to move on from the single absolute fact in his head, Florian had taken that attack to protect Kieran… and now he was hurt, bad.

Kieran dropped down to his knees for a moment, his yellow eyes looking down at the floor as he heard a Pokeball open, and the great purple dragon, Miridon appeared next to Florian, nudging the boy with his nose.

“Kiki…. W-we need you to stop Terapagos!”

Carmine’s voice filled Kieran’s ears again, and he looked up, Sinistcha floated before his sister, looking like it was ready to try and battle the glowing force of Terapagos, before he saw Miridon flash and transform, turning from his usual look into a form Kieran had never seen before, as it floated over to join Carmine.

Kieran’s eyes darted about, Mrs Briar was frozen in place, and seemed too stunned by the outcome of their actions to take action and Kieran stood up slowly, for now… he needed to protect them… he raised his hand and threw the ball he automatically found within it.

(Hours later)

The phone on the desk rang and a single hand reached out to pick it up, “Director Clavell” spoke the man sitting behind it, his white glasses resting upon his nose as he listens to the words spoken by the person on the other end of the phone, he swallowed a little as he heard them, barely believing them as he did so.

An incident. Master Florian injured. In hospital. Emergency situation.

He took in the main points of it and put the phone down as he leant forward his head in his hands as he allowed himself a few moments to breath and process the news, he took a breath to calm his nerves, as he made a plan of action in his head.

His purple suit seemed to restrict his breathing, or perhaps that was the weight of his own guilt, he had not protested, not once when he heard Master Florian had been offered temporary schooling at Blueberry Academy instead of his own Uva, not a single complaint had fallen to his mind.

However he knew that he would need to journey to the hospital, to be there… to know what is happening…. But there was something he needed to do fist.

Pressing a button on his desk he tried to keep his voice on an even level, to betray none of the panic he felt within him, “Master Arven, Miss Penny and Miss Nemona, Please come to the Directors office…. Urgently”.

He frowned at himself, upon the last word he had allowed his voice to crack, he was the adult here, he had to be strong, he had to be calm, to present a reassuring façade to his students.

Less than five minutes later, the door opened, and all three of his students walked in, seemingly having rushed from classes to come when he called.

Master Arven with his hair covering one eye seemed the most calm, as if the panic had yet to set in on the boy at being summoned her, his blue eye watching Clavell as he tapped Paperwork on his desk to neaten it.

Miss Penny, her blue and red hair sitting neat as her black eyes behind their glasses seemed to be the most panicked, as if she had heard Clavell’s slight faulter when calling them and knew something was wrong, something had happened.

Miss Nemona with her hair tied back as per usual and her eyes looking around seemed to know something was up, but seemingly couldn’t tell if it was good or bad, her orange eyes watching her school director as he waited for them to approach.

“Thank you for coming so promptly” Clavell spoke evenly as he wondered how to proceed, how could he tell these three that their friend was in hospital, in critical condition?

He took a moment and looked up at them, “there has been an incident, and of all the students of the school, you three deserve to hear about it from myself rather than schoolyard rumours which may not accurately portray the facts” Clavell spoke evenly, weighing every word and trying to convey that he was trying to do a kindness, even if this news would not be pleasant to hear.

“What’s happened?” Miss Penny spoke up, her Eevee bag bouncing a little on her back as she speaks,

Clavell turned his head to look at her, “as you may be aware, each year we have an exchange program with our Sister Academy, Blueberry” Clavell says trying to sound normal, to not rush through the information and miss something important, “this year, by recommendation of one of their students….a Miss Carmine, a student was chosen, Master Florian”

“Yeah… We heard he was off battling over there” Miss Nemona spoke with a slight grin, “bet he will be tons stronger when he gets back…. It will be awesome to see him battle!”

Clavell’s lip twitched as he listened to her speak, it was so like her to think of battling at a time like this, and Clavell nods, “quite Miss Nemona” he agrees with a nod, “however, it seems during his stay there, Chairwomen Greeta visited and requested his assistances, along with two other students, Miss Carmine and Master Kieran” he says carefully, “they were to head down into Area Zero”

At his all three students seemed to take a sharp breath in, they knew the dangers of the place, they knew the mystery and power of the Pokemon that hid within that place, having all travelled to Area Zero previously, however before they could begin to launch into questions, Clavell continued to speak,

“As Master Florian has a prior experience travelling into Area Zero…” Clavell began, before seeing the three exchange looks, a secret shared between them that Clavell didn’t know.

“Florian has been there a lot more than once” Miss Penny says carefully, “he used to go there all the time to train… and make sure none of the Paradox Pokemon down there escaped like one did before” she explains.

His eyes blinking a few times, Clavell decided to process this information later, for now he had to reassure his students, he had to be strong, “I see” he says carefully, “very well, as Master Florian has had experience travelling into Area Zero, he was asked to be the guide for an expedition down there, to head down into an area that was previously undiscovered, save for Professor Turo himself.

Master Arvan looked up at him as he heard his fathers name spoken, it was not something they discussed often, letting the memory of his father remain a memory in order to not allow news of his death spread too far and wide. “What happened to our little buddy?” Master Arven asked,

Clavell nods as he continues, “Master Florian had recently been crowned Champion of the…. Blueberry League within Blueberry Academy, and naturally agreed to offer his help” he speaks evenly, “the group set off three days ago, Master Florian and his companions Miss Carmine, Master Kieran and a teacher from Blueberry Academy Mrs Briar.”

The group before him was getting restless now, Clavell could see it and he knew he had to get to the point now, “they managed to locate a way to get to a level lower than any had been to before, beneath the Zero Lab, and in there encounter a Legendary Pokemon called Terapagos” Clavell took a breath to ensure his words were calm, “Which was captured and they attempted Terastallization upon it, to see its secret power, however Terapagos grew out of control… and during the chaos of this, Master Florian was struck by one of the… power bursts” Clavell tried to think how best to describe what had happened and went with that, before swallowing, “he is quite badly injured and has been rushed to Mesagoza Hospital, where he is currently in a critical condition receiving care from the doctors within”

The three students reactions were what he expected, Miss Penny was shocked and seemed to be trying to hold back tears, Miss Neoma seemed ready to go off and fight Terapagos herself to settle the situation and Master Arven seemed ready to dash out the door to go to the hospital, holding up a hand to keep them from interrupting Clavell continued, “I received the call not five minutes before I made you aware, however with how news flies around this academy like a pack of Pidgey, I thought it best if you heard it from me directly, and know that I am on my way to the hospital to watch over Master Florian and hopefully see him back to our Acadmey’s care”

“I’m coming too” Master Arven spoke quickly, “If my Little buddy is in hospital, no way am I sitting here and wondering whats happening!” he says quickly, and Clavell nods lightly,

“I had suspected you would…” Clavell began before Miss Nemona and Miss Penny interrupted,

“count me in” Miss Penny nods

“I’m going!” Miss Neoma adds, looking resolute.

Clavell’s lip twitched as he looked at the three, “Master Florian is lucky to have such caring friends, very well, I know better than to try and deny you such a request, please… come with me, and we shall head off immediately.”

(An hour or so later)

Kieran’s leg bounced as he watched the door to the waiting room, hoping someone would walk through, someone would come and advise them that it was ok, that Florian would be ok. His hand span the Masterball in his hand, Florian’s own…. It had rolled out of his bag during the struggle to quell Terapagos and now contained the turtle creature.

He doubted that Florian would mind, more likely being glad that everyone else was safe.

It had been a hard battle, his team had to go all out to fight, even with Miridon and Carmine’s help, but they had just managed it, they had managed to recapture Terapagos, and now the Pokemon that had hurt Florian, the person Kieran most aspired to be like was herein his hands.

It had taken them a full day to escape Area Zero, carrying the unconscious and injured Florian on Miridon, in its rage, Terapagos seemed to have reshaped the pathway out, causing them to get lost and have to backtrack a few times before they managed to get to the lift and get out.

Kieran tore his eyes away from the door for a moment to look at Carmine, pacing as she seemed to be trying to decide if she should be angry, be sad, panicked or calm, while Mrs Briar sat in a corner with her head in her hands, she had called  Top Champion Greeta, Director Cyrano and Director Clavell to inform them of the situation, and now seemed to just be sat there, head in hands, as she blamed herself for what had happened.

He couldn’t really blame her for feeling like that, Kieran decided, she had been the one to insist they immediately try to uncover Terapagos’ power, to rush without proper preparation or planning, and now here the three of them sat, in silence as they waited to hear news.

The door opened and Kieran’s yellow eyes immediately flicked to it, hoping it was a doctor walking in, smiling to reassure them that everything would be ok, instead it was man in a purple suit, six Premier balls on his belt, his white hair and small beard seemed neat and trimmed as he walked in followed by three people Kieran only recognised by a photo he had seen once.

They were Florian’s friends… though their names escaped him at that exact moment.

The man looked between them, “Master Kieran, Miss Carmine and Mrs Briar, I assume?” he spoke in an even voice, as if trying to enforce some level of calmness onto those around him, to try and ensure that panic did not set in and cause them to worry

Mrs Briar looked up, yellow hair usually so styled was messy, and her red eyes seemed dulled as she nods and stands, “Director Clavell….” He says

And Kieran knew who this was, this was the director of Uva academy, Florian’s school, he guessed that he had rushed over, wanting to ensure his students safety, and Clavell nods,

“yes, thank you for informing me of the situation, has their been any update?” Clavell asks as the three students behind him seemingly take seats and listen in,

“Nothing” Briar replies as she looks away, “He was taken into surgery the moment we got here, but we haven’t heard anything yet” she says quietly and Clavell nods,

“I believe, then all we may do is wait for news” Clavell speaks as he sits down in a chair, looking out of place, and out of sorts, “whatever that news may be…. We shall all be here to hear it”

The three students all seemed to be whispering to themselves, perhaps trying to think of what could be done, what could they do… what should they have done to stop this…. To try and ensure they did not fall into this situation.

Kieran’s hand moved and held the Master Ball, spinning it around as he bit down on his thumbs nail, a habit of when he was much, much younger, a way to try and calm the raging ball of nerves within him. he wanted to throw the Master Ball, throw it out the window and pretend he had never heard of Terapagos… never seen it, never pulled it from its resting place and set its power loose.

But he knew he couldn’t, he couldn’t let this Pokemon fall into anyone else’s hands, he couldn’t allow it to hurt anyone else who failed to control its strength, so for now... for now Kieran would have to keep it, despite the thought of the Pokemon made his stomach turn.

A while later, one of the students, a girl with twin coloured hair moved and sat in the chair next to him, his eyes looking up at her, as she seemed to be playing with the straps of an Eevee bag… trying to think how to start the conversation, how to try and bridge the gap.

“You… you’re Kieran right?” she asked quietly.

Kieran was surprised that she knew his name, although he guessed Director Clavell must have told them who he was, Kieran nods his head a little and looks away.

“Florian…” the girl began again, before shaking her head, “I’m Penny” she says quietly

Nodding again, Kieran made sure to try and remember the name, not that he thought he would ever forget what had happened in the last few days, before he hears Penny try to speak to him again,

“Florian… he told me a lot about you” Penny says quietly and Kieran’s eyes snapped to her in shock.

‘He had told his friends…. About Me?’ Kieran thought to himself,

“H-He did?” Kieran asks carefully, his eyes looking up, a slight amount of their old light returning,

Penny nods, “Yeah, hes got this picture… it has the two of you in it” she says quietly, “he keeps it on his desk in his room…” she smiles a little.

Kieran felt his cheeks warm a little, maybe his recurring nightmare wasn’t as bad as he throught…. Maybe he didn’t have to worry as much… “I… he never said” Kieran admits quietly, leaving out that he had barely spoken to Florian since they parted ways at the Dreaded Den in Kitakami.

After a minute Penny gently placed a hand on his shoulder and seemed to try to think how to reassure Kieran before he hand moved off and she looked away, “he… doesn’t often talk about himself… “ she says quietly before looking away from him, and looks down at the ground.

The duo fell silent, and while Kieran desperately wanted to ask questions of Penny, wanting to know all the things he had always wondered about his….

What was Florian to him?

His savour? Sure… he had taken that attack for Kieran, but was he more than that… rivals, friends perhaps?

Kieran hoped they were… hoped they could be friends still, but his mind rolled over once more, images of his nightmares, Florian speaking in his mind so harshly, proclaiming him too weak to be his friend plagued him and caused him to remain silent.

Hours seemed to pass with the group all sitting quietly, no one speaking, no one daring to voice the question… what if Florian wasn’t going to be ok… what if they were too late…. What if…

As this thought rolled over and over in Kieran’s mind the door to the Vistor’s room opened once and a doctor stepped in, looking around at the gathered people, Clavell stood immediately and looked at the woman, who smiled softly to them,

“He is stable” The doctor says, her voice reassuringly calm, “he is out of surgery and should regain consciousness in a few days, but he may have some pain from his ribs, and need to take it easy with his back for a while” she says to them all, “but he is ok”

Hearing the news they had been waiting for Kieran took off, running out of the room, into the bathroom and proceeded to hide.. his stomach finally giving out and the panic escaping him as he recalled the words…

Florian would be ok… he was safe…. He was going to be ok….

Chapter Text

Chapter Two: Behind Closed Doors

Drayton sat tapping his hands on the table before him, it had been three days since Kieran, Carmine and Florian had all left to head to Paldea, and no word of their exploits had yet reached them in Blueberry, and due to the time passing, a meeting needed to be held.

Drayton had white hair with a single streak of purple hidden within, along with yellow eyes that held more intelligence than anyone seemed to perceive, he looked around at the other members of the elite four.

Lacey sat closest to him, her elbows on the table as she rested his head on her linked hands, her light pink hair flowed around her kind face and her own yellow eyes looked around at the other members in contemplative silence. Amarys sat prim and properly, her black hair tied back neatly and her own turquoise eyes behind their glasses.

Cripsin had just arrived, almost late his youthful energy seemed to overflow as his red/orange hair was messy from working in the kitchen all day, and his combination black/yellow eyes looked around at them all in confusion,

“Tell me again… why are we having this meeting?” Crispin asks them carefully as he rubs his head lightly looking around,

Drayton leant forward and rested his arms on the table and his head atop it, “We are here, because Kieran lost his championship match” he explains, “so now we need to decide what to do about the role of BB league Champion… and what happens to the Elite Four” he adds,

“Why would anything happen to the Elite Four?” Crispin frowns rubbing his head,

“If Kieran is no longer Champion and we allow Florian to take that place, Kieran will take a place in the Elite Four, leading the Elite Four instead of Drayton” Amarys says, “But there would be five members, yourself Crispin, myself, Lacey, Drayton and Kieran….”

“is that a problem?” Crispin asks still confused,

“There can’t be five people in an Elite Four” Amarys says, “just as there cannot be three” she says carefully.

“So… the question is do we let Florian become the BB League Champion completely?” Drayton asks casually, “he isn’t technically a student here at Blueberry, so he wont always be here” he adds looking around, “Being BB League Champion should mean he is here to be battled whenever we need him to be”

“So you propose we give the role back to Kieran?” Amarys asks curiously,

Drayton shakes his head, “Kieran’s strong… but the whole school just saw him get crushed by someone in battle” he leans back, “someone no one has any respect or knowledge about… and now he isn’t here either”

“So, your saying we take the title and give it to you, Drayton?” Lacey asks with crossed arms, “absolutely not, you don’t do any of the word needed!”

“Everyone else pitched in before” Drayton replies carefully, “I’m sure Kian would be happy to come back to the Elite Four” he adds.

“Kian did a lot of the work before” Amarys agrees, “but you would in essence be expelling Kieran from the club because he lost one battle, that seems… unfair”

“What’s unfair is how he’s been runnin’ the place” Drayton shrugs, “He’s going through stuff, adding club responsibilities on top of all he’s got going on… too much for anyone” he says carefully

“We should hold off on decisions regarding the Championship until we have spoken to the Director, and to Kieran himself” Amarys says evenly, “No matter what, Kieran is still the strongest full time trainer in the academy, I don’t think even Director Cyrano could defeat him in a full out battle…”

“I agree” Lacey nods, “They should be back from their trip to Paldea soon, right?”

“If everything is going according to the schedule, they should have returned two hours ago” Amarys says,

“So… if its not to schedule, something went wrong?” Crispin thinks,

“Very good Crispin” Drayton nods as he looks up, “someone should go find out what happened then… the Director should know” he says casually, as he looks around.

“Why don’t you Go?” Lacey asked with a frown at Drayton,

“Directors not happy with me… too much missed classwork” Drayton yawned as he leant back, “So I doubt he’d be happy me waltzing in and asking questions”

“I will go, it should be a simple matter to deal with” Amarys says as she stands up,

“Well… if something bad happens, I wanna know!” Crispin stands and points to Amarys,

“You are welcome to accompany me” Amarys nods, before looking at Lacey, “Will you join us, as Drayton is too… reluctant to?”

Lacey looks at Drayton with a scowl and nods, “Sure, lets go” she confirms as the three head off, the door opening and they walked out, leaving Drayton alone in the League Club room and he sighed a little.

Well, that had been a bust, he knew getting the elite four to oust Kieran would be difficult, but he didn’t expect everyone else to vote against it… or at least put off the vote until they had consulted Kieran about what he wanted to do.

Drayton looks down and rolls a Pokeball in his hand and frowns a little, he missed the weak willed Kieran… the one who ran and hid behind Carmine whenever someone so much as reached for a Pokeball…

What the hell happened in Kitakami?

With that question circling his mind, Drayton yawned and decided now would be a good time for a nap.

An hour later, his nap was interrupted by a loud sound next to his head and he shot up, looking around.

Lacey was stood beside him, one of Crispin’s pans in hand that she had clearly slammed down onto the desk next to his sleeping head.

“You… are… unbelievable!” Lacey said emotionally as she looks at Drayton, and the Dragon trainer instantly knew something was very, very wrong.

“What happened?” Drayton asks quickly,

“There was an incident in Paldea, Florian was badly hurt and is in hospital, the Director says he is in surgery and Mrs Briar has yet to call to inform us of an update to his condition, but we are aware that his Academy’s director, Clavell has just arrived at the Hospital” Amarys explains, her usual calm seemingly undisturbed by the news.

“Well… that” Drayton frowns as he looks around, “Where’s Crispin?”

“When he heard the news, he ran off to try and make some food to assist with Florian’s recovery” Lacey says as she sits down, and doesn’t look at Drayton or Amarys.

“What about Kieran, Carmine and Mrs Briar?” Drayton asks curiously, as he sits back and looks between them,

“Kieran and Carmine had some minor injuries, Mrs Briar was unharmed, but they are apparently shaken” Amarys says evenly,

“Do we know what this… incident was?” Drayton asks curiously

“No…” Lacey replies, “just that it took them a couple days to get back to a hospital, so Florian is in a bad way” she says quietly.

Drayton looks away and thinks for a moment, “is it… possible Kieran…?”

Lacey and Amary’s eyes snapped to him quickly, “Don’t you even dare suggest…” Lacey began,

“You saw how bad he reacted to losing” Drayton shrugs carefully, “maybe he saw a chance and took it… when no one was looking” he says

“It is… unlikely” Amarys says carefully, “But not a possibility that is completely able to be ruled out”

Lacey looked between them, “Absolutely not!” She says standing up and slamming her hands on the desk, “Kieran wouldn’t do something like that, and how dare you even suggest he would!”

Drayton raised his hands, “fine, fine… guess we’ll just find out when Mrs Briar returns…” he says, evenly,

Lacey looks at him with disgust at the idea and then walks off, while Amarys looks at Drayton too, “I believe it would be best not to talk ill of the character who may end up the hero of the story” she says before turning, “I shall take my leave”

And with that, once more Drayton was alone, tapping his fingers on the desk and thinking.

Florian was a student of another academy, under the watch and guardianship of Blueberry Academy, which meant that the fact he got badly hurt enough to be sent to hospital could end up as an international incident…. And could break the relationship between Uva and Blueberry Academies..

‘Especially if certain points were pressed behind the scenes’ Drayton thinks lightly, ‘and as Kieran was present…. The blame would partially fall upon him, and the director would have no choice but to support the move to remove him as BB league Champion.’

But then came the thought of the other members of the League, Amarys, Cripsin and Lacey…. All three would know Drayton was behind the power play, the almost cue against Kieran.

‘Well… then they need to be deseated too’  Drayton surmises carefully, as he looks at the table, he knew he could get Kian back on the league, he had only just lost out to Crispin and with the right word, he could likely take that position, so that just left Amarys and Lacey….

He grabbed his phone and flicked through the rankings, and smiles lightly, Kassandra…. The eight most skilled trainer, she had stopped battling when she reached the top 10, in theory, she too could be given the tools and advise to deseat Lacey, especially if Drayton were to give Kassandra a Tera orb to rival Lacey’s.

With a nod Drayton  counts them in his head, so that was two of the three ticked off, he once again flicked his phone screen and scrolled looking at the list, Amarys was tough as steel… and in theory no-one could really take he down easily, not even with light tutoring… but if he did get Crispin out, and Lacey, he could easily have the votes to remove Amarys.

But who to replace her with?

He sighs a little as he once again scrolls, and pauses, Eliza? He blinks as he checks, a first year, but someone who got into the top 15 within that time, only known loses were to Kieran, Carmine and... Drayton.

Drayton taps his fingers, well… three out of four members, now he just need to fill his own seat, so he could take on the role of Champion, he looks at it and nods as he smiles, Lawrence… of course…

 Lawrence was his rival, or at least the closest thing he had to a rival, Drayton had always crushed the other in battles, but recently Lawrence had grown stronger, maybe even strong enough to take over as an Elite Four?

Clicking his phone he sent messages to the four, of them, asking them to meet him down in the Terrarium… he didn’t want to be overheard about this, or let the news leak of his plans, or of Florian’s… incident.

He quickly took a quick flight over to his arena, and saw Lawrence was already waiting for him.

The boy had brow hair, tied back in a short ponytail and his steel grey eyes watched Drayton carefully, he wore a Karate outfit he had got one some island far away, where he had studied before coming here,   “Whats going on Dray?” he asks,

“I’m going to wait for the others to get here so I don’t have to explain it multiple times” Drayton replies lazily, as he looks at his rival carefully, and within a minute, Kian arrived, yellow hair spiked out like lightning, and black eyes, watching everyone as he holds an electric guitar

“You interrupted my Practice Drayton!” he calls as he strums his Gitar and seems to realise that without it being plugged in, it wouldn’t work, as it required power. He wore a strange outfit unable to be described as it was busy, except for the fact that there were multiple bolts of lightning a band logo upon it.

A few minutes later, a girl appeared berating another, “How many times, do I have to tell you Kass, not to poison the roses, they die if you do that!” one of them spoke, she wore a brown version of the school outfit, with a muddy apron and brown gloves, she pulled them off and threw them on the ground in a huff, her brown hair tied in a bun on the back of her head and he brown eyes glaring at the last figure to arrive to this group.

She had bright acid purple hair, which flowed behind her back, black eye shadow around her pink eyes as he says carefully, “they looked thirsty and I didn’t have any other liquid to give them” Kassandra spoke in a sickly sweat voice as she steps forward, “Hey Drayton…” she smiles as she walks forward, “Quite the group you brought her” she smiles.

“Yeah… now will you tell us why you brought us here?” Lawrence asks carefully, “its bloody cold this deep in the Polar Biome”

Drayton looks at them, “I… am preparing to make a move” Drayton explains, “But in order for it to work, I need to have four other strong trainers at my back” he says carefully,

“Ooh… sounds like a scheme” Kassandra says happily as she squeals.

“Whats the move?” Lawrence asks,

“Kieran needs to go” Drayton says simply, “he’s too…” he tried to think carefully, “harsh”

“He kills the buzz faster than a powercut” Kian admits, “But he is strong…”

“The strongest in the school” Eliza says as she tries to brush some mud off the front of her apron.

“And has the backing of Lacey, Amarys and Crispin” Drayton replies lazily as he looks at them, “but… he lost to the new kid” he shrugs, “and now…. When they were away from school, suddenly an incident happens and… new kid in hospital and Kieran is completely fine?”

The four others share looks, “Are you suggesting little Kieran did something to…. Prevent Florial…” Kassandra says with a giggle

“Florian not Florial” Kian tells her interrupting her speech,

“Fine, Kieran did something to prevent Florian taking his Championship?” Kassandra asks happily as she claps her hands, “Oh… that would be deviously smart  of him!”

 “Not that smart” Eliza says, “Florian isn’t even from this school… gotta have some blowback from Uva Academy about this”

“Yeah, and we could… angle it so all that blowback land smack bang….” Lawrence frowns,

“On the BB League Champion” Drayton nods evenly, “and thus have him removed from his role… and I’ll return to it…” he says carefully, “Lawrence takes my place, while Kassandra beats Lacey and takes her place, and Kian can take Crispin and blow out his flame”

Kian grins, “Well… Crispin’s flame is strong enough to with stand my shocks…”

“For now” Drayton replies, as he looks at them, “but I can offer some couching…”

“And what about me?” Eliza asks curiously looking at Drayton as she pauses the brushing of mud from her apron.

“You, Eliza… will take Amary’s place when the four of us” Drayton nods to the three others and himself, “vote her out for supporting Kieran and letting him be so…. Dictatorial”

The group falls silent as they think about the scheme,  “So… who is in… for the benefit of the academy or… something” Drayton says carefully looking at them,

“If it means more battles with you, I’m in” Lawrence nods carefully,

“I’ll do it… just gotta make sure that none of the league meetings clash with performances or practices!” Kian replies happily as he holds his guitar and gives it a silent stum, “I need to make sure these places still get power” he huffs.

“I will join” Kassandra nods, “I’m sure it will mean more opponents for my sweet little poison pals to battle, they’ve been missing it for ages now”

“I’ll join in if I’m needed” Eliza nods, “Gunna turn that Savanha into a lust green garden” she says thoughtfully as he looks at them all,

Drayton smiles a little as he looks at them, “nice, well… I guess I’ll need to do some work to actually drum up a plan for you” he says with a deep sigh, “can’t even get Lacey to do it for me…” he mutters before his Rotom Phone bleeps up and he checks it, “Director Cyrano has just left to head to Paldea to discuss the situation” he says carefully, “sounds like Florian will be ok” he reads from a message.

He thought back to where the group had gone, and suddenly his eyes light up, “I have a plan” he smiles, as he grabs his phone, “we need to head to Paldea…”

Chapter Text

Chapter Three: Hospital Visits.

The scent and sounds of a hospital were not something Kieran ever hoped to ever get used to, the rhythmic beeps and shuffling sounds of people moving around the area was something he knew he had to bare for the moment.

It was fortunate that Florian had the title of as a Champion of Paldea, as such a high profile individual was given a private room within the hospital, meaning that those who came to see him were not bothered by other patients or doctors visiting anyone else, other than Florian himself.

It had been just over a day since they had heard that he would be ok, and Kieran had refused to leave the hospital until he spoke to Florian directly, to ask why he had pushed Kieran out of the way of that attack, letting himself be hurt in his place.

So far during the course of the day Florian had a steady stream of well-wishers,

The first had been a strange women from the Pokemon League, with long green hair and sharp red eyes, who had come in and nodded to herself before returning with a small child with dark blue hair and dark blue eyes who spoke quietly to the other women before they both left so other visitors could approach.

The next had been what Kieran had initially thought was another women, but turned out to be someone he recognised as a former pro snowboarder of some reputation, with long light blue hair and blue eyes which seemed to show a large amount of emotion, he had spoken to Kieran about how Florian seemed to constantly hang around his Gym, and encouraging Grusha back into boarding, and that the league had told him in confidence that Florian’s favourite Gym leader had been him, which he wanted to know why….

After he left, two men walked in, one crying on the others shoulder, the one who supported his… friend(?) had almost thorn-like green hair and grey eyes, while the crying man had curtains of blonde hair and yellow eyes. The grey eyed man spoke and advised the other was a teacher of Florian’s and couldn’t bare to see him like this alone, they both thanked Kieran for staying with Florian and that he was lucky to have someone like Kieran.

The Academy director, Clavell had come in for a while and stood at the end of the bed as he looked at Florian, he spoke softly to Kieran, answering some questions he had, the man knew his stuff, able to speak on nearly any topic Kieran had tried to enquire about, his calm and confident attitude had left an impression on Kieran, so unlike his own Academy Director.

The last one to show up had been the Top Champion herself, Geeta, her long black hair and Blue/Yellow eyes as she looked at Florian, saying that this was her fault, and Kieran honestly couldn’t argue much with that, had she not authorised the mission down into Area Zero’s Underdepths, then Terapagos wouldn’t have been awoken by him and Mrs Briar, and Florian wouldn’t have gotten hurt.

Kieran shook his head as he pushed down the thoughts that bubbled up inside his mind, like a poison flowing through his mind, whispering dark thoughts and feelings to him, speaking how he wanted this, how he wanted Florian to be hurt, to collapse before him… to crush him completely. He shook his head again, and took a breath, pushing it away… knowing those thoughts would plague him when he next slept again.

His thoughts were interrupted by the door opening and his eyes snapped up,  seeing the boy from before stepping into the room and closing the door behind him, he walks over and sits in the other chair, looking at Florian.

“You are… Kieran… right?” the boy asks carefully, as he sits before the bed, his hair covering one eye,

Kieran nods in silence as his eyes move away from Florian to the boy,

“I’m not sure if… he would have told you my name, or if it would even… come to your mind while our little buddy is… like this” The boy sighs as he runs his hands over his face, “my name is Arven.” He introduces himself

Taking a moment, Kieran through back to the stories of Florian’s Paldean adventures and recalled the story… or at least part of it.

“Y-your… the guy who… went against the Titan’s, right?” Kieran asks quietly as he looks up at Arven who nods with a grin,

“Ha!” Arven smiles and nods, “Guess its not just you he talks about to his friends” he says with a smile as he leans back, “yep… all to heal my Mabosstiff” he adds the last part brightly, before shaking his head, “even so… Florian… he… told me a lot about you”

Kieran smiles slightly as he hears that, “I… didn’t realise… he told people about me” he says quietly as he lightly scratches his cheek with one finger,

Arven shrugs a little, “Yeah… he likes to talk up those he’s close to” he says lightly with a smile, “helps him dodge questions about himself sometimes” he adds lightly as he looks between Florian and Kieran, “I guess he didn’t tell you much about himself did he?”

Taking a few minutes to think back on their conversations, Kieran shakes his head, “No…. I… never really noticed it” Kieran says softly, “What… what’s he like… before I met him?” he asks curiously

“He…” Arven begins before pausing, “is relentlessly optimistic… works hard and giving”  he adds after a moment before smiling, “I remember the first real time I saw his attitude towards others… including Pokemon”

“Can…. You tell me about it?” Kieran asks curiously and Arven nods with a smile,

“Sure…” Arven replies leaning back, “So… after a day of travelling in Paldea, the two of us found the first Titan, a Giant Klawf… and I mean it was GIANT” He says holding his arms at maximum length to show off how big it was, “Florian fought it with his Sprigatito… and then when it was beaten, we could enter its lair… and we found this really rare ingredient… called Herba Mystica”

“That stuff is real?” Kieran asks quickly in some surprise, they had mentioned it in a class a while back, but the teacher had spoken of it like it was a myth.

“Yeah” Arven replies as he leans back, “There are five flavours I know of…. Sweet, Bitter, Salty, Sour and Spicy” he lists off, “I think it was the Sweet we found when he beat the Klawf” he frowns thinking before shaking his head a little, “doesn’t matter which it was” he decides, “but I used it to make some sandwiches… it was made to be an absolute culinary delicacy…” he says remembering it, “then that… greedy Miridion of his just appears out of its ball, and looks at his sandwich….” Arven says lightly, “and without even thinking twice, he just… gives it to Miridon, no through of his own stomach or even trying a little of the herb he worked so hard to find… he just saw something that his Pokemon wanted, he gave freely”

Arven paused for a moment as he sat almost lost in memories, “it was… kinda about then I knew he was different, not only did he stand up against Team Star in public, but he just gave such a prized thing away without a thought of his own needs” he says lightly looking at Florian carefully, “I guess that’s… why he took that attack” he says lightly

Kieran’s eyes snapped to Arven at this mention of the attack, “what… do you mean?” he asks quietly

“He thinks of others way more than he thinks of himself… he’s the kind of guy to make a sacrifice play for himself, just so someone else can be better of” Arven says quietly, looking at him before looking away then he shook his head, “No… I doubt he would… do it for anyone” he mutters, “I’d… like to hear him explain why he took that attack”.

Nodding, Kieran too pondered that question, rolling it over and over in his mind as he thought on it too, both he and Arven fell into contemplative silence as they watched Florian’s steady breathing, the rise and fall of his chest, the beeps of his heart monitor reassuring them both that he continues to just sleep, his body recovering and healing before them.

Eventually Arven stands, “I need to get back… I’ve got a class and they wont let me skip…” he sighs a little, “thanks.. for watching over my little buddy” he says as he places a hand on Kieran’s shoulder and gives it a small squeeze.

Kieran was able to give a short nod to Arven as the other left the room, leaving just the two trainers in the room again, Kieran began to slowly fiddle with the ball containing his Hydrapple, thinking over how he had come to get what was his ace while being champion…and how he got the drive to become Champion.

Florian… it was always Florian.

He remembered how his team had been weak…  he had nothing to push him onwards, push him to grow… Carmine had always seemed such a distant power to him, and he didn’t think with all his effort he could ever get anywhere near her strength.

And then that meeting in Kitakami… he’d seen him walk in, looking all wide-eyed and curious as he looked around like this was the most fascinating place in the world, how he hadn’t been like many of the trainers at Blueberry, how he hadn’t treated Kieran like a porcelain doll who would break if you didn’t handle him delicately… or how yet others treated him as an annoyance…

No, he had been kind, but tough… he pushed Kieran and in that single battle had made him want to be stronger, his Sentret and Yanma…  the two Pokemon Carmine had caught for him as he was too scared of failing to capture his own Pokemon.. he began to train them, soon Sentret Evolved… and while they travelled, Florian had encouraged Kieran enough to capture his first Pokemon.

It was only a Poliwag. Kieran smiles a little as he recalls the smile he had on his face when he completed the capture, and then he trained the new Pokemon up too… he wanted to show off and so challenged Florian again… he lost, as he expected, but it filled him with… emotion, something that he hadn’t felt battling anyone else, ever.

Kieran had then managed without help to catch an Applin, which he had managed to accidentally evolve… and soon found a kinship with his new Pokemon, his ace, it became strong for him, even when he felt like he wasn’t himself. He didn’t even remember coming back to the academy after leaving Kitakami, his nightmares had been filling his head with dark thoughts, like poison seeping through his mind and changing him…

He put down most of his team when he retuned to Blueberry Academy, catching brand new Pokemon in record time for someone, he was able to get Carmine to help with his Porygon, and soon he had a strong team, strong enough to crush all five members of the BB League, dethroning Drayton and becoming its Champion.

Shaking his head, Kieran remembered how he had acted… how he had treated those around him, and his eyes look to Florian, would he even want to be around Kieran anymore when he had been so… so…  he didn’t even know what to call his attitude, but he hadn’t been nice.

Would Florian even look at him kindly ever again?

Kieran looks down at his knees as he thinks, remembered how in his dreams, Florian had spoken so coldly to him, and now he deserved it… this time not for his lack of strength as the dreams had suggested, but for the way he treated those around him.

But then…. Why had Florian almost given himself up to protect him… why had he pushed Kieran out of the way of the attack, let himself be hit?

‘Maybe he would take the attack for anyone… and I just happened to be the one in danger this time?’ Kieran thinks quietly as he spins the ball he was holding faster in his hand, ‘But… he moved so… quickly…’  Kieran thinks after a moment before looking away from Florian and putting the Pokeball down, leaning back, he closed his eyes and let the waves of fatigue that had been building finally hit him and he fell into a troubled sleep.

Once again, Kieran would find himself waking in a version of his dorm room, however purple liquid flowed down the walls, and pooled at his feet, he backed off and found himself against a wall, the purple liquid flowing over his arms and legs holding him in place, the liquid beneath him rising up and forming into figures, standing like statues before him, each speaking in a voice he knew wel…

“We trusted you to be our champion, and instead you treated us like dirt” spoke Lacey’s statue, the usually happy girl was angry, far Angrier than Kieran had ever heard her in the waking world

“I was so happy you became stronger…. But your still too weak to be truly strong” said the statue of Carmine,  his sister usually so supportive seemed to laugh at his failure, his weakness…

“You’re a disgrace” Spoke Crispin’s statue, the usual happy and carefree boy spoke with coldness and harshness that would chill anyone to the bone.

“You don’t deserve to have Pokemon” Spoke the statue of Drayton, the laid back trainer usually so casual sounded like he was spitting purest venom into Kieran’s ear, his hand reaching out as if to take Kieran’s Pokeballs away from him.

“My assessment of you was never right, you are worthless” Said the statue of Amarys, the usual calm voice was filled with bitter resentment, as if she was disappointed in him.

Kieran shook his head, trying to ignore the dark speech of those close to him,
“I’m… I’m sorry!” he called honestly as he looks at them, tears filling his eyes, “I…. I’m sorry” he says with his voice breaking a little

The statues continued their speeches, ignoring his efforts to beg for their forgiveness, before a final figure formed out of the purple liquid and spoke in Florian’s voice, “Why would I ever be your friend…  why do you deserve my attention?”

Kieran tried to reply, but the purple liquid began to flow over his face, muffling the scream he tried to let out…

Startling awake, Kieran found himself back in the hospital room as he sits up and breaths heavily, he groans as he leans back, the nightmares were getting worse… at the start it had just been Carmine and Florian… now Crispin, Amarys, Lacey and Drayton all showed up too… all of them whispering the thoughts his conscious mind tried to push down… he looked at the clock and saw barely an hour had passed since he had tried to sleep… and he groans a little, knowing another sleepless night lay before him.

(At Uva Academy)

“I fail to see how you could possibly blame my academy for this situation Velly” Cyrano speaks lightly as he stand before Clavell’s desk, the two Directors so rarely in one place seemed to have met far more frequently of late.

“it is simple” Clavell says carefully, “Previously Master Florian ventured into Area Zero with three students of Uva Academy and all four of them came out without a single wound, other than ones emotions…. Yet when he travels down with two of your students and one of your teachers, he ends up in hospital… had he been allowed to take some of my students down as well… he may not have been harmed.”

“Then you would be best to direct that thought to the Paldean Pokemon League Velly!” Cyrano replies heatedly, “It was your Top Champion Geeta who reached out to MY academy and not yours.. and I wonder why she did that, maybe because your students just do whatever they want!”

“My students acted under the direction of Professor Turo himself…” Clavell replies as he rises to his feet, “and under the advice that their failure to act could cause the downfall of the entire ecosystem of Paldea… which they managed to protect with their bold actions!”

“Ah yes, its all fine when you phrase it like that Velly!” Cyrano huffs, “But they still went down to Area Zero without permission or your knowledge before hand!”

“Delay such as that could have cost them precious time preventing the threat within Area Zero from erupting out upon us all!” Clavell retorts heatedly, “it still stands that Master Florian’s only occasion of being hurt lies when your students are involved!”

“They were under a difficult situation…!” Cyrano replies loudly,

“Difficult situation?” Clavell asks coldly, “all they had to do was not try and rush a situation they had no clue about because they didn’t want to weigh all the options before they acted… and because of their arrogance and lust for knowledge, Master Florian paid the price and is injured, while under your protection!”

“Well, you can have him back then… sine you seem to not trust me with your students safety anymore!” Cyrano says sharply, and Clavell frowns,

“I had planned to cancel the exchange program for now” Clavell confirms, “We will need to discuss at a later date if it will ever be resumed”

“Then I think I am done here, Clavell” Cyrano says as he puts on his hat and turns on his heels, “it still stands, your student pushed mine out of the way to take that attack… it was his recklessness that caused him to be hurt” he says as he walks out of the room, slamming the door before Clavell could respond.

Cyrano took a breath outside of the room before beginning to walk, and when he does, he sees a group of familiar figures standing waiting for him in the middle of the corridor.

“Director, we need to have a brief talk” Drayton smiles as he looks at Cyrano.

Chapter Text

Chapter Four: HospiBrawl

While Kieran sat Vigil by Florian’s bedside, downstairs, Carmine sat with Mrs Briar, the women distraught at the news that she would like be suspended pending an investigation into what happened in Area Zero, she sat with her head in her hands and remained silent as she considered what she had done and what could have been done differently.

However this was interrupted when one of Florian’s schoolmates walked up to them, “You went down there with Florian, didn’t you?” Nemona asks Carmine carefully, “and your from Blueberry?”

Carmine stands up, “Yes… I was there” she says preparing to defend herself if the other girl saw issue with her going down and Florian coming back injured.

“Right” Nemon says as she looks at Carmine, “then lets battle!”

“What?” Carmine asks in shock,

“Battle, you and me… right now” Nemona says firmly, “6v6”

“Why…. Your friend is in hospital, and you just heard he will be ok… and you want to battle?” Carmine asks carefully,

“Yes” Nemona nods, “In battle you can see who someone truly is…” she says firmly, “and I want to find out who you really are”

Carmine blinks and nods, following Nemona out of the hospital to a field just opposite and the two stood facing each other, “We’ll be battling Blueberry Style, double battle…” Carmine says, “then you can really see who I am”

“Fine with me!” Nemona grins happily as she grabs a ball, ‘This Battle… it will show me… if she meant Florian harm, she can say all the poisoned sweet words she wants to say, however in battle.. she can’t lie… and I’ll know for certain!’

“Go, Mightyena, Toucannon!” Carmine calls as she throws both balls forth,

“Go, Lycanroc, Kommo-o!” Nemona replies as she throws her own balls out,

The four Pokemon appeared on the battlefield and faced off, each trainer waiting to see who moved first.

“Lycanroc, use Stealth Rock, Kommo-o, Use Thunder Punch on Touannon!” Nemona calls quickly as he two Pokemon leap forth into battle,

“Mightyena, use Super Fang on Kommo-o, Toucannon, use Flame Charge on Kommo-o!” Carmine counters.

Lycanroc launches stones into the air and it shatters before landing down spiked on Carmine’s field, while Kommo-o punches forth and strikes Toucannon, which continues to move on and cover itself in flames before that crashes against Lycanroc, seemingly to grow faster while Mightyena leapt and took a bite into Kommo-o, seemingly drastically weakening it.

“I see your plan!” Nemona smiles, “Lycanroc, use Accelrock on Toucannon, Kommo-o use Drain Punch on Mightyena!”

Carmine frowns as she watches the two move close and then smiles, “Mightyena, use Yawn on Lycanroc, Toucanon, use Throat Chop on Kommo-o!”

Nemona frowned, “dodge it Kommo-o!” she calls quickly, knowing he would be unable to use his best attack If hit, but knew that in dodging the attack, he would be unable to complete his drain punch.

Kommo-o leapt back to avoid the throat chop, while Lycanroc shot a stone right at Toucannon and knocked it back, while the wave of sleepy energy struck Lycanroc. Nemona frowned again as she bites her tongue, she wasn’t used to double battles… but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t give it her all…

“Lycanrock… use Accelrock on Toucannon, Kommo-o, Thunder Punch on Toucannon!” Nemona calls, wanting to try and deal with one threat at a time if she was able to do so.

“Mightyena, use Howl! Toucannon, throat chop on Kommo-o!” Carmine counters,

Once again Lycanroc shot a stone right at Toucannon which struck the bird before the bird stuck back at Kommo-o with its attack before being blasted with an electric fist and knocked from the sky, dropping down to the ground, fainted. Meanwhile, Mightyena stood back and howled, driving up its own offensive power.

Carmine raises her hand to recall Toucannon and puts it away, before raising her hand and throwing out another, “Go Morpeko!”

The small mouse appeared to take the Toucannon’s place, while Lycanroc dropped to the ground to fall asleep, as the Yawn took effect.

“Return, Lycanroc… go Ribombee!” Nemoa calls, “Kommo-o, use Drain Punch on Mightyena!” Lycanroc vanishes in a flash of white and then the small fairy bee appears in its place, Kommo-o leaps forward to try and punch at Mightyena.

“Mightyena, counter with Sucker Punch, Morepko, use Thunder-Wave!” Carmine calls as she smiles, the Sucker Punch Smackes into Kommo-o, before it was able to strike back on Mightyena, and Thunder Wave strikes quickly onto Kommo-o….

Nemona scowls, looking a t the battlefield, Carmine seemed to be an expert on controlling the battlefield, even when there were multiple Pokemon, disrupting strategy’s and plans while also ensuring she could deal maximum damage. Nemona knows she was out of her element, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t push Carmine as far as she could, she just needed to think of a plan…

“Mightyena, use Super Fang on Ribombee and Morpeko, use Aura Wheel on Kommo-o!” Carmine calls, snapping Neoma out of her thought endued stupor… how could she have been so stupid as to remember this was a battle, they weren’t going to just wait for her to act…

“Kommo-o, use Drain Punch on Mightyena again, Ribombee, use Bug Buzz on Mightyena too!” Nemona counters,

The Pokemon moved quickly, although she saw the slowing effect of the thunderwave taking hold of Kommo-o, it still was able to land its blow while the Aura wheel crashed into its back and the Mightyena leapt at Ribombee which sent its bug energy surging forth, the mughtyena crashing down, and out..

“Return, Mightyena!” Carmine calls with a smile, “Your not bad… but I’m not out yet, go Ninetales!”

Nemona smiles a little, seeing that she was currently two Pokemon up, Kommo-o was practically fully healed from the two drain punches, and Ribombee was down to half health, thanks to the Super Fang.

“Ninteales, use Flamethrower on Ribombee, Morpeko… speed it up with Aura Wheel again on Ribombee!” Carmine gives the order,

“Kommo-o.. use Clangorous Soul, Rimbombee use Moonblast on Morpeko!” Nemona calls,however notices that the Paralysis took full effect preventing the dragon from doing… anything.

Morpeko strikes Ribombee quickly with its attack, before it moves to reveal Ninetales right behind it with fire engulfing the poor bee, which quickly took the poor bee down, causing Nemona to frown as she recalls the Pokemon.

“Nice moves, lets see if your mouse can handle my Pawmot!” Nemona calls as she throws out the Pokemon,

“Wow… that’s super cute!” Carmine calls as she looks at Pawmot, “I’d love to squish his paws sometime, they look so fluffy!”

“They are super fluffy!” Nemona replies, “many when you lose you can squish his paws from victory!” she grins,

“this battle isn’t over yet, Ninetales, use Will-o-Wisp on Pawmot, Morpeko use Aura Wheel on Kommo-o!” Carmine retorts as the two Pokemon move, Nemona frowns as once again she let herself get distracted by Carmine,

“Kommo-o, Counter with Drain Punch on Morpeko, Pawmot, use Mach Punch on Morpeko!” Nemona orders, Morpeko was smacked by the Mach Punch before it could act, before Pawmot was struck by the Flames of Will-o-Wisp then the Aura Wheel struck Kommo-o, the mighty dragon feel to its knees before fainting, the multiple strikes it had taken finally bringing it down.

“Return Kommo-o!” Nemona calls as she frowns, she doesn’t have much let to counter Ninetales and Morpeko… what she really needs is something with a ground type move, but none of her Pokemon had one… or at least none of her awake Pokemon.

“Come on back out, Lycanroc!” Nemona says as she returns her rock dog to the field, still laying down asleep from Mightyena’s Yawn.

“Morpeko, lets use Seed Bomb on Pawmot, Ninetales, lets go with Extrasensory on Pawmot!” Carmine orders calmly as he flics some of her hair over her shoulder, with a smile clearly in her element.

“Pawmot, use Double Shock on Ninetales!” Nemona says with a wave of her arm, seeing that her Lycanroc was still asleep,

Morpeko moves quickest and smacks Pawmot with seeds, before Ninetales followed up with a psychic surge at Pawmot which sent it realing, but it climbed up and sent a powerful blast of electrical power at Ninetales, which tore the ground beneath it and send the Pokemon realing backwards, Ninetales wavered a little, but it stood firm.

“Not bad as a trump move, shame it didn’t work” Carmine calls calmly, “Now Morpeko, Seedbomb on Lycanroc, Ninetales, Finish the Pawmot with another Extrasensory!”

The two Pomemove moved and readied their attacks, “Pawmot, use Mach Punch on Morpeko!” Nemona counters, and the attack blasts into Morpeko and it knocked out the Mouse, before Pawmot was struck by the Extrasensory and fainted as well.

“Return!” Both trainers called as they returned their mouse to the ball and smiled to each other,

“Go Deciduye!” Nemona calls,

“Lets go Scrafty!” Carmine smiles,

The two Pokemon appeared and Nemona smiled widely as she saw Lycanroc stand back up, finally awakening,

“Awesome, things are really looking my way!” Nemona smiles happily as she looks at her two Pokemon, “Now Lycanrock, use Accelrock on Ninetales, Decidueye, use Sucker Punch on Ninetales!”

“Ninetales, use Flamethrower on Decidueye, Scrafty, use Brick Break on Lycanroc!” Carmine calls at almost the exact same moment, before seeing the two Pokemon closing in on her Ninetales, both striking the multi-tailed fox and knocked it backwards, struggling before collapsing down, before Scrafty strikes Lycanroc and knocks it to the ground, but the dog stands up again.

“Return, Ninetales!” Carmine smiles as she looks at Nemona, “I didn’t expect you to be so good, but can you handle my, Sinistcha?” she ask as she throws the ball out and revealed the small pokemon in a mug.

“Awww…” Nemona smiles, “that’s adorable!”

“Lets see how you like this!” Carmine adds as she raises her Tera orb and it glows, energy flowing into it before she threw it forth and it tapes into Sinitcha, “Glow Crystal and reform, Terastallise!”

Nemona’s eyes go wide as she looks at the Pokemon in shock, “You can terrastalize,  but that’s only meant to be possible in Paldea!”

“We at Blueberry Academy have found a way to replicate Paldea’s ability to Terrastalize” Carmine smiles as Sinistcha forms into a Pure-Grass Tera Pokemon. The crystal glowing around them, “Now, Scrafty, use Brick Break again on Lycanroc, Sinistcha use Scald on Lycanroc!”

“Lycanroc, use Play Rough on Scrafty, Decidueye use Leaf Blade on Scrafty too!” Nemona calls urgently as the two Pokemon move the attacks striking the Dark/Fighting Pokemon, but neither seemingly enough to take it down, before it once again stuck the rock-dog followed by Sinistcha’s attack blasting Lycanroc backwards, the dog dropping down to the ground and fainting.

“Not Bad” Nemona smiles as she recalls’ Lycanroc, “But lets see how you handle my Quaquaval!”

The dancing duck Pokemon appears before Nemona and she smiles, “Now, show off that quick footwork, Aqua Step on Scrafty, Decidueye, use Dual Wingbeat on Sinistcha!”

“Scrafty, use Crunch on Decidueye, Sinistcha use Hex on Decidueye!” Carmine orders quickly as the for Pokemon move, the two strikes on Sinistcha, the quick kicking power onto Scrafty before it bites down upon Deciueye and Sinsitcha blasts it with ghostly power,

The two trainers smiled to each other as they new the end of the battle was drawing closer to them, and that these would be the last few moves before a winner was decided, “Decidiuye, use Dual Wingbeats on Scrafty, Quaquaval use Aqua Steps on Scrafty!”

“Lets slow you down, Sinistcha use Stun Spore on Quaquval, and Scrafty, use Ice Punch on Decidueye!” Carmne smiles as she flicks her wrist and the Pokemon move, Scrafty getting its attack in first punching Deciueye before it strikes back and knocks Scrafty to the ground, while Quaquaval quicks it once again, knocking it out, before the stun spore covered over Quaquval.

“Two-against-one” Carmine says as she recalls Scrafty, “But I’m not out yet, Sinistcha, use Matcha Gotcha!”

Nemona’s eyes go wide, “Use what?” she asks quickly as the attack blasts both her Pokemon, sending them both realing backwards, Decidueye dropping to the ground before Nemona sees energy flowing back into Sinistcha, healing it, “Wow… that move is amazing!” she smiles, “Guess it’s a one-on-one now…” she adds recalling Deciueye.

“Your speciality” Carmine smiles as she looks at the other trainer.

“Yep, and let me show you how we Terrastalize in Paldea!” Nemona calls as she raises her own Tera orb, and energy flows into it, “Glow Crystal… Reform and Terrastalize!” Nemona calls as she throws the orb forth, it striking Quaquaval and turns it into a pure-water type,

The two girls stood on opposite sides, both ready to give their battle command,

“Matcha Gotcha!”

“Aqua Step!”

The Pokemon moved quickly and struck, before one collapsed down to the ground, the tera energy shattering and flowing away,

“Aww man!” Nemona sighs as she raises her hand, recalling her fainted Pokemon, “Man, you really are strong” she says as he walks over, seeing the stones that had helped damage her foe fade and offered her hand to shake.

Carmine recalls Sinistcha and smiles as she shakes the others hand, “You are as well, I can see Paldea isn’t just one tough trainer” she adds as the two turn to head back to the hospital, “did you see what you needed to?”

Nemona nods as she uses Revives on each of her Pokemon, before using full Restores to bring them back to fighting form, “Yeah” she says carefully before offering Carmine some items too,

The taller trainer smiles gratefully as she takes them and heals her own team too, “and what did you…” she begins before seeing the front of the hospital now seemed to have guards, “what in the name of…” she starts.

“Team Star!” Nemona frowns, “What are you doing here?”

The group of students turned to face Nemona and Carmine, before one steps forth, “the bosses sent us here when they heard that one of our allies got hurt bad, they want us to make sure nothing else happens!” they say calmly, “they don’t want him to get hurt no worse!” they tell them, “but they got detention so can’t come protect him themself…”

Nemona blinks as she laughs a little, while Carmine stands there blinking confusedly, “What… is going on?” she asks,

“This is part of Team Star” Nemona explains, “they were a group formed to combat bullies that used to cause problems in Uva Academy” she says, “there are five groups of them… but I can never tell which of the squads these guys are from” she says as she rubs her head in confusion, “they all have names which confuse me!”

“We’re in the Ruchbah Squad” one of the group calls, “Our boss told us to come here!”

“Ruchbah….” Nemona blinks, “so… that’s… Mela?”

“Mela is Schedar Squad Boss!” the group replies to Nemona,

“Oh, it must be Eri then!” Nemona adds happily,

“Eri is the boss of Caph Squad” Another of the group replies,

“Oh man… this is really embarrassing” Nemona sighs, “so its gotta be either Atticus or Giacomo right?”

The group seems to sigh as a collective, “Giacomo is the boss of Seign Squad and Atticus is the boss of Navi Squad” one of the group replies, “The boss of Ruchbah is Ortega”

“Ortega… the little rich kid who… doesn’t seem…” Nemona starts before stopping and blinking, “never mind… so he sent you here to make sure no-one comes to harm Florian?”

“Yeah, after the bosses lost to Florian, they all wanna be the one to beat him in battle when they rematch, even though hes like their tutor or something now…” One waves their hand, “But they have to make sure he is safe first…”

Nemona nods her understanding while Carmine stands there completely lost on he politics of Uva Academy and its Team Star, “so… can we go past?” Nemona asks happily,

The group pauses and looks between them, “sure… we doubt you two will cause problems!” they nod, before hearing a shout and looking between themselves, “Crap, its Mr Hassel!”

The group all runs in different directions before the teacher appears, seemingly out of breath, “My…. Apologies… ladies…” he says as he pants and stands up, “I hope they were not being a bother, they mean well… but they can’t just barricade the front of a hospital…”

“oh they were no bother” Nemona smiles, “Oh, Carmine, this is one of our teachers… and one of Paldea’s elite four, Mr Hassel!”

Carmine blinks as she looks at the man, “Its nice to meet you sir” she says politely, “What is it you teach?”

“I teach the deepest expressions of ones self…” Hassel begins before the doors open, and Arven comes running out, the three all turn to face him, and see the look upon his face, a wide grin, and says two words they had all been waiting to hear.

“He’s awake”

Chapter Text

Chapter Five: Awakening

It was less than ten minutes later, that Carmine, Nemona, Penny and Arven all burst through the door to Florian’s room, the boy sitting up in bed and drinking from a cup of water a nurse was giving him, the four trainers all smiling and looking around, seeing that it seemed that the nurse and Florian were alone,

“Florian!” Nemona smiles, as she rushes over to his side

“Little Buddy!” Arven calls, as he sniffles a little bit

“Florian” Penny smiles and waves a little as she messages on her phone.

Carmine sees the group and steps out of the room, “I’ll give you some space to catch up” she says as she heads off, walking towards the entrance as she is lost in thought,

“Carmine” A Voice calls snapping her out of her thoughts and she looks up, seeing Briar stood there carefully, “Will you join me for  a coffee?” she asks carefully,

With a slight nod, Carmine follows her teacher out of the hospital and to a small café, it looked quiet, the kind of place where they could sit and talk without being disturbed, a few pokemon trainers sat with their teams, the trainers enjoying a coffee while their Pokemon all had special cookies made for their type.

The two ordered their drinks and Carmine bought two sets of the cookies and some chocolate, planning to give one set to Kieran when she returned to the Hospital later, and also the chocolate, knowing how much of a sweet tooth her little brother had, the two took their coffee back out of the café and then found an empty table, where the two sit down, “I’ve been dismissed” Briar says as she adds some sugar to her coffee and leans back looking at her, “however, this wont be the end of it” she warns quietly,

Carmine frowns a little as she sips her own coffee, it was strong and rich, “what do you mean?” she asks after a moment, as she looks around, seeing that the world of Paldea seemed to be passing them by, without a care for what these two were discussing in this little café.

“Blueberry Academy will do all they can to distance themselves from any scandals they may find themselves involved in” Briar replies lightly, “they dismissed the teacher that was present, however they are still going to need another scapegoat to take the fall for this event” she frowns as she looks at the coffee quietly.

“And you think…” Carmine begins before Briar raises her hand to silence Carmine for now, with an apologetic smile to the student for wishing to finish what she had to say before interruption,

“While they could target you, as the third year student who was present during the event, its unlikely that they will aim for making you the scapegoat for this, as your not a figure who will be able to take much flack… as” Briar looks at Carmine lightly, “no offence, you are only a third year student, not only someone of authority or note… so that means” Briar frowns a little,

“Kiki” Carmine surmises as she sips her coffee, calling out her team and giving each of them a cookie to enjoy, as they sat down munching happily.

“Yes, young Kieran” Briar nods as she frowns, “BB League Ex-Champion, who lost to the person who got harmed… I wouldn’t be surprised if there was already rumours running throughout Blueberry that Kieran was the one to injure Florian”

“Kiki would never…” Carmine says indignantly, as she glares at the coffee, and if looks could kill, her coffee would be boiling like lava or magma.

“We both know that” Briar replies, “but it makes a good story” she sighs lightly, “With Florian out of the Picture, Kieran would be free to continue on as BB league champion, and with only you, me and him as witness’ to the event, it will be hard to convince many people that Kieran didn’t purposeful engage in an activity or promote Florian to get harmed when he had the chance.”

Carmine nods in her understanding, “So… why are you telling me this?” she asks curiously as she pauses with her cup close to her lips.

Briar brushes something from her lap as she looks down, “You are Kieran’s sister, possibly the only ally he will have at Blueberry Academy when your forced to return there… he will need your support and help to try and find a place there, even if everyone else hates him.. and he will need you to help protect him from those who will try to take advantage of this situation or their own ends and means…” she adds carefully,

Nodding gently as she looks up, “you think that its likely that someone is already planning something?” Carmine asks with a small frown

“Undoubtably” Briar nods as she sips her coffee again, “it wouldn’t surprise me if there wasn’t multiple plots and plans in place…”

“So it will be me and Kiki against the whole school” Carmine narrows her eyes as she thinks before shrugging a little, “I think I can find a few allies who can help…” she nods after a moment, before pondering who it could be that was plotting, she doubted that anyone in the league club elite four would make a move…

Amarys was to close to Carmine to want to get rid of Kieran, Lacey was too… nice… Drayton was too lazy and although she got on with him, Crispin didn’t really have the brains to pull off a complex plot… so who did that leave?

“While I may not be able to help from within the school” Briar says as she pulls out a piece of paper, “I will do what I Can from the outside”

Carmine blinks as she looks at Briar, “You have a plan don’t you?” she asks curiously again as she puts down her drink,

Briar nods carefully as she looks at Carmine, “Of course”

With a careful look, Carmine nods softly, “What is it?” she asks.

Briar smiles as she raises her cup to her lips, and begins to explain to Carmine her plan she had in mind for her students…

(Meanwhile)

Cold water splashed onto his face as Kieran looked into the mirror, his hands shook as he clenched onto the side of a sink in the bathroom, his heart still racing as he tried to calm himself down.

Florian had just woken, the first thing he did was smile… he smiled right at Kieran and tried to say his name, this small act caused Kieran to panic and flee, wondering why he couldn’t get the image of the smile out of his mind… why he couldn’t shake the feeling of elation at the smile… even if he didn’t understand it.

Why in the name of Arceus did Floran smile… just because he saw him? He had been so… so focused on Florian’s downfall, on crushing him in battle and proving he was strong… and yet, he didn’t glare or look at him with hate… he damn well smiled…

Kieran had fled at the smile, and nearly revisited his breakfast again, however his stomach had soothed slightly since and now he just looked into the mirror, his disturbed sleep causing bags to appear under his eyes, his whole face looked paler and less… lively thanks to his regiment of training and he mused a little this was the first time he had spent any time actually seeing what he looked like recently.

He huffed a little as she saw he was paler than he had ever been, thinner too… and while he liked his new look, he softly plays with the few strands of hair he left over his face, as he looks at his reflection.

A cough caused him to jump and turn to face the voice, standing there was Director Cyrano, and behind him was Drayton,

“D-director” Kieran says as he tried to recover himself, falling back on his shielded self, the image he projected of strength, dominance… the mask he had put on ever since he came back from Kitakami.

“Kieran” Cyrano says evenly, “I had hoped to find you before we all head back to School” he says evenly as he looks at the student,

“What did you want to talk to me about?” Kieran asks carefully,

“Simply wished convey my disappointment in you” Cyrano says in a lightly harsh tone, “You are the best student at my academy, currently… however this situation we are in now is a direct result of your actions within Area Zero”

“W-what?” Kieran asks in shock, “I didn’t…”

“You allowed a student of another school to get injured, when you yourself could have prevented it from what I have heard” Cyrano says quietly as he looks at him, “either way, you will need to find a way to ensure we get through this crisis of confidence in our school, as it is your mess…” he says looking at Kieran, “Consider yourself on warning for this situation”

With that Cyrano turns and leaves the bathroom, leaving both Kieran and Drayton in the room, the dragon trainer looked at Kieran with a smirk, “So, from what I hear, Ex-champ… with Florian no longer attending Blueberry, your back to being the Champ huh?”

Kieran’s eyes narrow a little as he looks at Drayton, “Don’t call me that… Drayton”

“Whats the matter, Ex-champ, does it hit a nerve?” Drayton asks coldly, with a smile, “knowing your not the best, not the strongest”

His fist clenching As it shakes a little before Kieran tries to calm himself, “I know I’m not the strongest” Kieran says with a slight note of bitterness in his voice, “But I’m stronger than you”

“For now, Ex-champ…” Drayton shrugs a little, “however your going to have a tough time back at the school, everyone watched you get wrecked by Florian in battle… and then suddenly he gets hurt when off alone with you, your sister and a teacher whose now been dismissed..” he smirks a little as he looks at Kieran, “Almost convenient for you… ex-champ”

“You think I wanted Florian to get hurt?” Kieran asks coldly,

“Me?” Drayton asks lightly, “It doesn’t matter what I think, but what the majority of students at the school think of you… the way you’ve been acting… I doubt many of them would put too much throught into believing you are innocent” he says evenly, “especially if someone starts to suggest its likely”

“What do you want Drayton?” Kieran asks sensing the lingering threat in Drayton’s words,

“Perhaps you should stand down as Champion, hide away and try to manage to finish school as a student who doesn’t draw any attention to himself, and let a real trainer take back over the club, and you can go back to being the little Wimpod who ran and hid behind his sister when anyone tried to issue any kind of challenge to you”

Kieran frowns, “And that would be convenient for you, Drayton… it would leave you as Champion… wouldn’t it?”

“Oh… would it?” Drayton says in a carefree voice, “I hadn’t realised”

“Tauros droppings you didn’t” Kieran scowls back as he looks at Drayton, “I’m not going to run and hide away from all of this, I didn’t want Florian to get hurt… I didn’t hurt him and when he was hurt, I was the one who carried him on my back all the way out of Area Zero! I am not going to let you or anyone else blame me for this incident”

Drayton smirks a little as he looks at Kieran, “Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you… I’m sure that everyone back at school wont be as welcoming or give you the warning like I did, I was just trying to be nice to you and save you all the dark looks coming your way, Ex-champ” he says as he turns,

“Don’t call me that!” Kieran calls as he watches Drayton walk out of the bathroom, leaving Kieran alone and he feels the pains of a stress headache starting up and he groans a little as he leans against the wall, sliding down and putting his head in his hands, tears beginning to sting his eyes.

(Meanwhile, again)

Florian smiled as he saw three of his friends walk in, slightly upset that Carmine had left without staying too long, and he listened to the three Paldean companions all talking quickly and fussing over him, before Arven seems to drag Nemona away to find something ‘with some actual taste’ for Florian to eat now he had woken up, leaving Penny and Florian alone in the hospital room.

Penny sits down in the chair and looks down, “Everyone was really worried, y’know?” she says softly,

“Sorry Penny” Florian replies quietly as he looks away from her, “I didn’t… intend anyone to be worried about me…” he says embarrassedly.  

“I know” Penny says softly as she looks away from him and looks at the window in his room for a moment, “I know everyone will ask this…” she starts, “why did you… take that attack?”

Florian looks away from Penny and down to his lap as he thinks, “I guess… I kinda just… acted.. I didn’t really think” he says quietly,

Putting her phone away, Penny shakes her head, “that line… might work on others” she says carefully as she watches the door, “But there… there is more to it… I know it!”

The boy in the bed wiggles a little and looks down at his hands, “I…” he starts softly, but shakes his head as he seems unable to voice anything further,

“I Think I know why” Penny says, “While I don’t doubt you would… just in front of any attack that tries to hurt any one of your friends…” she says quietly, “would it… help if I said I was… in somewhat of a… similar position with someone… once, minus the… attack and hospital thing?”

The champion trainer frowns a little, “what do you…?” Florian asks,

Penny looks away from Florian and back to the window as she speaks quietly, “back in Galar, where my dad lives, there was someone who… I cared about, more than anyone else” she says softly, “they were older than me, but… they had such… confidence… and looked good… and made me feel happy to be around” she says softly, “and… she was a girl”

Florian’s eyes go wide as he looked at Penny carefully, “You… your…”

The girl nods a little, “something like that, I am… half and half…” Penny replies gently, “Girls… boys… doesn’t really matter to me” she admits quietly as she fiddles with her hands, “its why… I got bulled before in the academy, before we formed Team Star” she admits quietly, “I fell for someone at the school and tried to express how I felt, she didn’t… she was with one of the bullies, which I didn’t know… and that lead to them harassing me”

“You… don’t deserve that…” Florian starts quietly looking at Penny,

Smiling a little, “Thanks… most of the other of… Team star know… about it… but I’ve never told anyone else, because there’s always that… voice in my head warning me about opening up to anyone… and fearing starting up the bullying again” Penny replies softly as she looks at her hands, “so… you know you can… be open with me, right?”

Nodding a little, Florian looks away from her and sighs a little, “I… might… have some… feelings” he admits softly, “for Kieran”

Penny takes a small breath and laughs a little, “Yeah, I guessed as much” she says lightly, “I guess… no-one else knows, do they?”

Florian shook his head, “N-no…” he admits quietly, “I… haven’t told anyone… even my… my mom doesn’t know” he says softly,

“Well…” Penny says, “you can be assured that… everyone of the star bosses will… support you…” she says, “Giacomo is… well he doesn’t know what he is, but he doesn’t really like girls, Mela and Eri are kinda… both interested in each other, Atticus is very… out there about it… and will kind of flirt with anyone around his age… your probably too young for him” she smiles a little, “while Ortega is a little more… reserved about it… but yeah… he’s mostly into guys”

“Wont they…. Be upset you told me?” Florian asks quietly, as he looks at his friend

“Maybe… most of third year students know… as do a few of the teachers and the Director” Penny admits softly, “but when they… find out that your… well…” she looks away, “I guess one of us… they wont really mind that I told you, I think”

Florian smiles a little, as he looks at Penny, “Thanks Penny… it does… feel kind of nice to…  admit it to someone”

Penny nods happily as she looks at Florian, “yeah, I’m sure it does…. “ she says with a smile, “I imagine that… Nemona will want to battle him… and Arven… well he might be jealous that you’ll spend more time with Kieran than us going forward”

Florian begins to speak and flushes as he looks away, “He doesn’t… I haven’t…” he mutters,

Penny laughs a little at him carefully and looks at her friend, happy to be able to be open with him for the first time.

Standing outside the room, Director Clavell smiles lightly to himself and nods as he walks away, having been about to come and see Florian, he had stopped when he heard the conversation, and Florian’s confession, he walks down the halls of the hospital, noticing Cyrano walking out a bathroom he narrows his eyes a little in concern, he knew something was going on and with a sigh he pushed his glasses back up and looks around the area, hearing something going on in the bathroom he stands outside before a student walked out, someone he didn’t recognise, and seemingly not recognising him.

Clavell left it a few moments watching the boy walk off, in the same direction as Cyrano had headed before he lightly pushes the door open, “Ah… Master Kieran” he says softly seeing the boy on the floor, crying, “let us go somewhere more… comfortable” he says as he gently guides Kieran from the bathroom floor to an empty waiting room, “Now… let us… discuss about what is bothering you so…”

Chapter Text

Chapter Six: Student-Teacher Conference.

“Please, Master Kieran, take a seat” Clavell says as he walks into he waiting room, and heads over to a coffee machine, ordering a hot chocolate and then bringing it to the younger trainer before sitting down on the chair and looking at him,

“T-thanks for the drink” Kieran mutters as he places it down,

“Quite alright” Clavell nods, “Now, let us discuss what seems to be troubling you so”

“Its… nothing, really” Kieran lies smoothly, his practiced lie coming easily to his lips as he looks away from Clavell,

“Pease, Master Kieran, do not insult me so, I do no think that it is common to be sitting upon the floor of a public bathroom in tears” Clavell says kindly, “I am not here to judge, simply to offer some advise from a man who has done a lot of things in his life, many of them have caused me distress” he explains as he leans back on the chair, his posture still looking prim and proper but also casually relaxed.

Kieran bit his tongue, as he looks down at the floor, “they… they are telling people that I… I wanted Florian to get hurt” he says quietly,

“I See” Clavell frowns as he looks at Kieran, “I assume this to be the schoolmate I saw leaving the bathroom shortly before I found you?” he asks carefully,

“Y-yeah… Drayton..” Kieran nods as he looks at the floor,

“I have heard of him” Clavell nods, “he came to Uva Academy as part of the exchange program around two years ago, according to the reports that exist he was, not the best student, I would imagine the deception he intends to spread will not be too widespread” he admits carefully.

Kieran nods, “B-but… it only takes one… word to the r-right person”

“Also true” Clavell confirms carefully, “however school rumours come and go, they pass by faster than the wind blows” he admits evenly, “and much like the wind, these frivolous lies will blow over, and new stories will catch the students ears, and minds”

“Y-you, don’t think I wanted him h-hurt?” Kieran asks shyly as his eyes move to look at Clavell for the first time,

“No” Clavell confirms as he interlaces his fingers and rests them upon his knee, “I do not believe you wished Master Florian any harm, and what occurred was more an oversight of good intentions, but poor planning on all parties involved”

Kieran smiles a little, the feeling almost foreign to him as he looks at Clavell, “so… how do i… face it?” he asks quietly,

“You keep your head held high, those you trust close and let anyone who would put you down’s voice be completely silent in your ears” Clavell replies as he looks at Kieran, “But I think, this apparent rumour is not the only think that is clouding your mind, is it?”

Kieran blinks and looks away as he shakes his head a little, “N-no… but… I’m not sure you can help with the… other thing” he admits gently,

“You will never know until you advise me what it is” Clavell replies calmly as he sits forward a little,

“N-nightmare… anytime I sleep” Kieran mutters in a soft voice,

“I see” Clavell muses in an even voice, “when did these start?”

“About two months ago…” Kieran replies quietly, “While the school trip to Kitakami happened”

Clavell nods evenly, “I see, and is it often the same nightmare, or does it change every night?”

Kieran’s eyes looked up at Clavell in silence before he speaks, “pretty much, A-always the same” he says softly,

“And what happens within these nightmares?” Clavell asks curiously,

“I… I-I’m in my dorm room… but liquid… p-purple liquid flows down the walls, when I try and back away, I end up trapped, the liquid holding me in place… then people i-I k-now… appear from the liquid on the floor, and hey say… things… h-horrible things…” Kieran says as he pulls his knees to his chest, “then I try to… b-beg of their forgiveness… but they continue to speak, over and over, and while they do the liquid rises and a-as the last figure appears, the liquid overflows me… and I wake up…”Kieran feels tears stinging his eyes, “A-at first it was only a couple of p-people… b-but over time i-its grown, more p-people appearing and… t-telling me how.. w-worthless… d-disgraceful… I am”

Clavell sighs as he hears this, “I see, If I recall the details of your time in Kitakami, while you were there, Master Florian, Miss Carmine and yourself helped dispel the falsehood surrounding the Legend of the Ogre and Loyal three?”  he asks, brining his hand to his chin in a thoughtful manor

Kieran blinks as he takes the opportunity to wipe his eyes with his sleeves before nodding, “Y-yeah… we did” he mutters, “w-why does that…” he begins

“You see it is rare for Pokemon to come back to life, as the loyal three did” Clavell frowns, “it is possible something else is at work within Kitakami… if you’ll permit me, then I would like to investigate this during my own time to try and find out what is going on” the director says to Kieran with a light smile,

“Y… you want to… l-look into it?” Kieran frowns a little, “b-but I’m not… I mean…” he shakes his head, “I’m a Blueberry academy student” he says, “n-not… Uva”

Clavell shakes his head, “It does not matter to me, you are a student, and in need of support… while I understand Cyrano’s style of leadership is… far more hands off, I believe you may benefit from having someone who will take some of the weight of looking into this off of your young shoulders”

Kieran smiles again, and nods his thanks, “I… if you wouldn’t mind, i… I would appreciate it” he says softly

The Director nods, “I will look into the apparent history of the Loyal three, as I understand it they did not originate in Kitakami… so I will begin to look into reports of them elsewhere” Clavell says carefully, “However I believe it would be best if you were to take a sleeping aid, I believe nurses can diagnose dreamless sleeping medication, which should help in your situation” he says with a nod, “One of my former colleagues used to take them”

Blinking softly, Kieran looks at him, “I… didn’t know such a thing existed” he says softly,

Nodding gently, “It is most commonly given to trauma patients who might relieve their trauma in their sleep” Clavell explains, “I believe your school nurse should be able to write a prescription for it…” he adds carefully as he looks at Kieran, “So my recommendation would be to speak to them regarding this, and ask if it is possible to gain a prescription, it is possible they will not have any on the academy campus, but can likely get some within a couple of days”

Kieran smiles again, “T-thank, you… D-director” he says gently as he looks at the hot chocolate, taking a sip he felt the warmth soothing to him,

“Now… perhaps you would do me the courtesy of answering a few questions I have for you” Clavell says lightly,

The boy blinks as he looks up at the white haired man and nods, “E-erm… sure..”

Clavell takes a breath, “From what I have heard, when he awakened, you fled the room, might I ask why you were so…” he looks at Kieran closely, “hesitant” he nods as he chooses his wording carefully, “to be in a room while Master Florian is awake?”

With a slight flinch, Kieran looked away and sipped his drink again, “he got hurt protecting me” he says softly, “What if…” he swallows, before shaking his head, “When we last were… talking, back in Blueberry, I was… wasn’t really myself…” he says sadly, “I… c-can’t bare hearing that… because of how I acted… he doesn’t want to be…” he looks away sadly, “my friend anymore”

“I See, you are fearful of Master Florian no longer wishing to associate with yourself after you have been unkind towards him?” Clavell asks lightly, as he stands up and heads to the coffee machine again, ordering himself a drink as he turns to face Kieran, “due to circumstances that are not mine to disclose, I have come to know Master Florian far better than many other of my students”

Kieran frowns, wanting to know why Clavell knew Florian better than others but kept silent, as he watches the man,

“During that time, one thing that has struck me is his unconditional forgiveness and kindness, towards both People and Pokemon” Clavell replies as he grabs his coffee and walks over, sitting opposite Kieran, “It is my opinion, and likely that of all of his Paldean companion’s, that he will forgive you for the prior attitude you held towards him, as long as the actions that follow the apology prove it to be sincere”

Out of nerves, or a need for comfort, Kieran played with the single bunch of hair that flowed infront of his face, “you think so?” He asks after a few minutes,

“I am certain of it” Clavell nods, sipping his small coffee, the name of which Kieran was sure was fancy but he didn’t know, “However, you wont hear what you wish to hear from me, it is only Master Florian you could hear what it is you need to hear”

Kieran nods again and finishes his hot chocolate, “T-thank you, D-director” he says gently with a shy smile, “it… helped to.. have someone to talk to”

“I Am glad to have been of assistance in this matter” Clavell says with a nod as he stands up, “Now, I would recommend you get yourself something to eat, as I believe you have not eaten substantially since before you arrived within this hospital, and then come to Master Florian’s room” He tells the boy, “I have a few things to discuss with Master Florian, and will ensure that the room is empty for when you are ready to sit with him again”

Blinking softly, Kieran thinks back… Clavell was right, he hadn’t really eaten properly for… a long time, mostly potted ramen, chocolate bars or quick energy drinks, “there is a rather good restaurant in Medali city, called the Treasure Eatery, I would recommend heading over there with a taxi to gain a good meal where you can have some time to yourself to think what it is you wish to say”

With another nod, Kieran stood up too, “t-thanks for the advice” he says lightly, “Medali… city right?”

“Indeed, the front desk can call you a Squakabiliy Taxi to Medali” Clavell says as he opens the door, “it was nice speaking with you, Master Kieran, I hope in future the issues we have discussed no longer cause you concern.”

Kieran smiles briefly and nods once more, “T-thanks… Director” he says as he rushes off, heading to the front desk and Clavell watches him go keenly, “So… that is Master Kieran…hmm?” he says to himself before spinning on his heel and heading to Florian’s room.

As he approaches, he can hear the noise from within from several doors down, he frowns and shakes his head, finishing his espresso and putting it n the bin he walks to the door, “Miss Penny, Miss Nemona, Miss Carmine, Master Arven, I apricate you are all happy Master Florian is awake once more, however this is a hospital, I would ask you all to calm yourselves, or you may find your ability to visit Master Florian severely limited, if not outright revoked” Clavell says as he stands in the open door way, looking at the group within them.

“Sorry Director” came the voices of the three Paldean students,

“Y-yeah, sorry” Carmine adds after a moment,

“If the four of you would be so kind, I need to have a few words with Master Florian, perhaps it could be nice of you to show Miss Carmine some of Paldea’s sights for the rest of the day” Clavell says to them and the group catches the hint, “And stay away from The Zero Gate… and Area Zero” he calls after them, as they rush off, leaving Clavell and Florian alone.

“Sorry they got so… rowdy” Florian says quietly as he looks down at the bed,

“It is hardly your fault, they were quite concerned when they heard of the injuries you had sustained” Clavell replies as he closes the door and sits down in the chair so often occupied by Kieran, he light brushes some dust from his suit trousers.

“What did you… want to talk to me about?” Florian asks while watching the man,

“Ah, just a few matters, I’ll get the formalities out of the way now” Clavell tells him, “Due to the incident in Area Zero, your transfer program has ended early, and you’ll be returning full time to Uva Academy” he says to him, “I must also inform you that the relationship between Blueberry Academy and Uva has been… strained of late” He says,

“Oh… guess I messed things up pretty badly huh?” Florian says as he looks away from Clavell.

Shaking his head, “No.. it is not your fault, merely the pride of adults in their students… both sides have likely said thins that have caused this, but you, nor your fellow students are at fault for this situation, and I hope that in the solution, you do not need to get directly involved and that I can smooth things over”

Florian smiles a little, “What about the others, are they…”

“As I understand it, Top Champion Geeta has been put under investigation for commissioning the mission that caused the incident, Mrs Briar has been dismissed from her post by Blueberry Academy and they have gone into damage prevention to try and limit the impact that this incident has caused, including bad press” Clavell explains, “As far as we can tell, apart from yourself, Master Kieran and Miss Carmine suffered no serious injuries, nor will any blame fall upon them from the masses in the media..” he tells him,

Florian blinks and nods quickly, “D-do you… Know if Kieran is… ok?” he asks quietly, “I tried to ask the others but they were too busy talking to give me an answer” he replies,

“He is quite well to my understanding, I have just finished speaking at length with him regarding a private matter” Clavell replies to him, “He is currently on the way to Medali City to enjoy a meal in peace and private” he says looking at Florian, “I am unsure if you know, but nearly every minute of every hour since you were admitted to this room, Master Kieran was sitting vigil by your bedside”

“He did?” Florian asks in surprise, “I know he was here when I woke up, or at least I think he… was” he frowns a little looking at the bedsheet, “I thought I saw him, blinked a few times and he was gone”

“Ah, yes…” Clavell nods, “I believe he can explain the reasoning for his actions, but I can assure you he has been quite concerned over your recovery… he may feel indebted to you”

Florian shook his head a little forcefully, “Of course he isn’t!” he says quickly, “He didn’t ask me to jump in the way of that attack, I kinda just… did it” he adds after a moment, “I didn’t even stop to think about it”

“That is the story that I have heard indeed” Clavell confirms as he looks at Florian, “both brave and foolish in one simple stroke… but no less selfless than I have come to realise makes up your personality, Master Florian” Clavell almost sounds a little proud at this,

Florian flushes a little and looks away, “t-thank you, Director” he replies gently,

“This is partially what I wished to speak to you about” Clavell explains to him, “How are you feeling after the incident, and I don’t mean physically solely” he adds the last few words quickly,

“Oh…” Florian mutters as he rubs his cheek a little, “I… guess I’m ok” he says quietly, “more embarrassed about everyone… worrying about me”

Clavell smiles a little, “It shows just how much all of your friends care for your well being, Master Florian” he says carefully, “oh… I almost forgot…” he says after a moment, “I have called your Mother, however she is currently out of the country, I believe she is in Kalos…” he begins before seeing a dark look Passover Florian’s face, “but we are keeping her informed regarding the situation”

“Thanks.. Director” Florian says in a slightly defeated voice as he leans back on the bed,

“You seem to have some… distate for Kalos… would you mind me asking you… why?” Clavell asks,

Florian sighs a little and opens his mouth, beginning to explain what happened before he came to Paldea…

(A couple hours later)

Walking back into the hospital with a much filled belly, Kieran sighs contently, The Treasure Eatery had indeed been a treasure, it almost single handedly had convinced him that when he headed back to Blueberry Academy, he would be throwing out his supply of Microwave Ramen in exchange for actually going to the cafeteria, and enjoying real meals again… he hums a little as he walks, his troubles seemingly a mile away as he walks, his steps slowing as he realised that when he walked in, this time it wouldn’t be the unaware, sleeping Florian he would find waiting for him, instead It would be a fully conscious and aware boy who would be able to reply to him.

He pauses as he feels his body freeze, his insecurities creeping back like vines crawling up his leg taking root in his mind, he shook his head as he remembered the discussion with Director Clavell and forced his body to move forward, whatever happened when he spoke to Florian, he could listen… he could sit there, he could apologies…

He arrived outside Florian’s room and Clavell saw him, standing and seemingly speaking to Florian before he walked out, leaving the boy alone, “I trust you enjoyed your meal?”

“Yes… Thank you Director…” Kieran nods happily as he looks at him, “thank you very much for the recommendation” he says with a small incline of his head,

Clavell nods as he smile, “Then I shall leave you and Master Florian alone to discuss things” he says as he steps away, walking own the corridor calmly, his hands behind his back.

Kieran watched him go and waited until the man was out of sight before he took a breath, and pushed the door open, seeing Florian turn to face him, he smiles shyly, “Hey Florian”

Chapter Text

Chapter Seven: Between…. Friends?

Kieran stood in the doorway, for the first time in a while he looked, truly looked at the boy who had changed everything for him, pushed him forward, made him want to grow into more than he was. There were some bandages around his head, where it had smacked into the rock wall. Memories of the moment flowed into Kieran, the sounds threatening to overwhelm him, drown him in despair, the concern, the worry of loss.

However he pushed it down, Florian was ok, he was sat here, his eyes moving from the window to look at Kieran, a small smile appearing as he saw his visitor, “Kieran” he says in a soft tone, a tone that Kieran recognised well, it was one he often heard Florian using whenever he was around, he assumed it was the tone he took with all of his friends.

But were they friend?

A small frown played on Kieran’s face for a few moments as he closes the door, not letting Florian see it on his face as he did so, they had been friends.. maybe… back in Kitakami… but it ad been months since then, Kieran hadn’t heard from him since, partly because he didn’t have a phone, partly because he hadn’t reached out, but then neither had Florian…

Maybe they weren’t friends?

Kieran pushes this thought down too, not letting it plague him as he steps to the chair and sits down, looking at his hands instead of Florian, knowing that he was responsible for Florian’s injuries, if he had been more careful, more thoughtful… then Terapagos would never have gone rogue… never have unleashed the attack towards the trainer who tried to trap it within a ball.

“Did you get hurt?” Florian asks, still in the same soft tone, watching as Kieran played with his hands,

“No” Kieran shook his head, “y-you managed to get me… out of the way before it hit” he admits quietly, “I think you took the entire attack” he says softly, “I…” Kieran began as he felt a stinging in his eyes,

“I’m glad you didn’t get hurt” Florian smiles as he leans back on the bed, interrupting Kieran’s speech, “I don’t want anyone of my friends to get hurt”

Kieran’s head snapped up, looking at Florian as he heard that, “F-friend?” Kieran asks as he feels tears begin to form,

“Of course!” Florian nods, “I mean” he rubs the back of his head and looks away, “I still consider you my friend, do you, consider yourself to be my friend?” he asks

His face moving in a frown Kieran shook his head, “Friends don…. Don’t let their friends take an attack meant for them because they were too” he rubs his eyes with his sleeve, “too focused on getting strong to think what could happen”

Florian smiles, “I don’t blame you for wanting to find what Terapagos could do” he assures him gently, “I probably would have done the same as you” he admits embarrassedly, “especially when being told to do it by Mrs Briar”he adds

“But It was still my fault” Kieran replies, “you got hurt because of me” he says quietly,

Shaking his head, “Not because of you, protecting you” Florian replies, “my choice was to act and protect you, make sure you didn’t get hurt” he adds softly, “because I think, that if the roles were reversed… you might do the same for me”

Kieran frowns a little, looking at Florian and thinking, for only a moment of time before he nodded, “Y-you’re right” he says with a sniffle, before laughing a little, “I probably would jump… between you and an attack” he add softly, “given the chance”

“Well, lets hope that things don’t require it” Florian laughs and Kieran felt a small smile play on his lips hearing it,

“Yeah” Kieran smiles, the feeling foreign to him, “I hope we don’t run into that situation again” he says softly,

Florian held out his hand, “Still friends then?” he asks with a smile to Kieran

Kieran nods as he takes the hand and shakes it, “I’d like that” he nods softly, “friends” he smiles, but strangely feels a small void inside, as if he had lost something by agreeing.

“So…” Florian says with a smile, leaning back on the bed, “the new look…” he says with a slight tease in his voice,

Feeling suddenly worried about Florian’s opinion, the boy looks at him curiously, “D-do you like it?” he asks softly, “I thought with everyone seeing before, shy and hiding away, that this new look… it makes me more…” he frowns as he tries to think of the word

“I didn’t at first” Florian replies carefully, “But its grown on me” he admits lightly, “it shows off a more… confident you” he says happily, “it suits you” he admits gently,

Kieran feels his face heat up a little and he smiles, “thanks, I’m not sure Carmine likes it”

“I think she was more concerned about you than your new look” Florian admits, “she said you’d stopped showing up for meals, stopped sleeping and even dropped off most of your pokemon in favour of new ones” he says softly as he turns his head looking at his friend,

A Small sigh, Kieran nods, “Yeah” he admits quietly as he plays with the strand of hair he didn’t tie back, it was almost ritualist when he was worried that he would play with it for comfort, he didn’t know why, “I… just” he sigh as he leans back and looks up at the ceiling, “I wanted to be stronger, so I could” he takes a breath, “be more like you” he says in a quiet voice, not looking at Florian.

Florian face flushes and he smiles softly, “You don’t have to be like me, just be… you” Florian says,

Kieran smiles a little, “but when I was me, I lost… and I kept losing no matter what”

A Small laugh plays on Florians lips before he smiles, “BUT!” He says loudly, “did you give it your all, and enjoy yourself?” he asks

Pausing for a moment, Kieran blinks and nods, “yeah, each time we battled my heart felt like it was in my throat” he says happily as he nods, “it was fun, battling”

“And even when you lose, you learn how to do better next time” Florian replies, “plus you get to bond with your Pokemon and the other trainer through battling” he adds with a smile,

“Yeah, even if I don’t battle with them much anymore Yanmega, Furret, Poliwrath, Gliscor, Cramorant, Shiftry and Probopass are still all way closer than when we first battled you” Kieran admits softly, “Furret actually keeps Grandpa company now”

“I did wonder what happened to them” Florian admits softly, “I bet its some comfort to him to have a Pokemon of yours so close by at all times” he says,

“Yeah, that’s what Grandma says too” Kieran replies, “I called her, recently… Furret apparently fell asleep on the telephone after my call” he says with a small laugh,

“That sounds adorable” Florian replies with a laugh too, the two boys falling into a comfortable silence for a moment, before a nurse brough a sandwich in for Florian, who took a couple bites before wrinkling his nose, “that’s horrid” he says

“Hospital food always is apparently” Kieran agrees, “my grandma had to go to her local hospital, not sure which one, but it was outside Kitakami… for a hip operation last year, she said the food almost made her go back into hospital”

Florian smiles, “Maybe if I ask Arven nicely he’ll bring me something he cooked” he mutters,

“Arven cooks?” Kieran asks with a few blinks,

“Yeah, he does, he’s really good at it” Florian admits, “Nemona’s really strong battler and Penny is good at hac… computers” he says brightly,

“Wowzers” Kieran mutters before frowning, suddenly feeling self conscious about is own skills and connection to Florian,

“Yeah, I imagine that a match between you and Nemona would be really close in a one-vs-one style” Florian admits with a nod,

Kieran’s eyes flick up and he blinks, “You think so?” he asks quietly,

Florian nods happily, “Yeah, maybe when I get out of here you and her can have an exhibition friendly match” he says brightly, “you’ve got really strong, and Nemona keeps messaging me about this new team she built to battle with!” he says happily,

A small smile plays on Kieran’s face at Florian’s praise of his skills, his self doubt shrinking a little, “Hey… do you, mind if I ask you something?” he asks quietly,

Nodding Florian smiles, “Sure” he says as he sits up to look at Kieran,

“its something that… has been on my mind since Kitakami” Kieran admits as he bounces his leg a little nervously, “do you… prefer my sis over me?” he asks quietly, “back in Kitakami… she and you seemed to so close” he mutters gently,

The first sound to escape Florian’s lips was a small laugh as he looks away and tries to stifle the laugh as he shakes his head, “No…” he manages to say after a few moments, “She’s a friend too but…” he says looking at Kieran, “I enjoy spending time with you more than her” he admits, a little colour filling his cheeks as he does so.

Kieran’s heart which felt like it had stopped waiting for Florians reply beat faster as he heard the reply, a little colour filling his own cheeks as he looked away, “you just seemed to have stuff in common, loads of friends, being really strong….” He admits a little, before he shakes his head, putting it to the side for a moment, “nevermind” he says quietly.

“its ok” Florian confirms gently, “I didn’t have friends until about a year ago, not really, there was someone who… kept people away from me, kept me down so they could feel good” he adds quietly, “I sort of envy you and Carmine’s relationship” he says, “she cares about you, and you care about her”

Kieran blinks, mentally trying to store this new bit of information about Florian in his mind, and nods as he looks down, trying to think of something to say, but was cut off by Florian.

“Maybe when I get out of here, I can show you some places in Paldea” Florian says happily, “and you can see Ogerpon again, she keeps looking around for you whenever I bring her out” he admits,

“Ogrepon… misses me?” Kieran asks in shock,

Florian nods quickly, “Oh yeah, she wanted to thank you for all the work you did to right the story of the Ogre and the lousy three” he admits, “and she’s been growing a little more social, but I think she would be more comfortable with people she has seen before, and knows like her” he adds.

Nodding happily, Kieran smiles, “I’d like that” he says happily, “did you take her with you to Area Zero when we went?” he asks,

“No, anytime we went near Area Zero she’d retreat to her Pokeball, so I always keep her away from it” Florian admits lightly as he scratches his cheek with one finger, “I did originally want to bring her to Blueberry so she could see you, but then…”

“You saw how I was” Kieran finishes for him, with a frown, “I’ve got so much making up to do” he says as he throws his head back, “I doubt they’ll ever forgive me”

“Honestly, I bet you that Amarys will forgive you, Lacey will want to move on and forget it and Crispin will have already forgotten about it” Florian replies, “Drayton… he might be a dick about things”

 Kieran laughs a little as he nods, “Yeah, he might but I think I might… be able to ignore him” he says softly,

Nodding Florian replies, “Yeah, just ignore him, he seems like he is still bitter you got stronger than him”

“I still can’t believe how strong I was able to become” Kieran says softly,

“I think you were always able to be strong, just needed a reason to let yourself be strong” Florian replies happily, “and I guess a friendly rivalry pushed you into it” he says gently as Kieran laughs a little,

“Yeah…” Kieran replies before he sees Florian yawn, “Oh… you should rest, your still healing” he says as he stands up,

“Yeah… I guess your right” Florian replies, “see you tomorrow?” he says questioningly,

Kieran nods happily, “you bet!” he grins happily as he looks at him, “I’ll see you tomorrow, hope you rest well, Florian”

Kieran walks to the door and looks back to see Florian laying down on the bed, his eyes flicking closed as weariness overcomes him, Kieran steps out of the room and heads towards the hospital entrance, his mind filled with a small bursts of pleasure at the direction the conversation went in, Florian still wanted to be his friend, he didn’t blame Kieran for getting him in hospital, he didn’t hate him..

Yawning too, Kieran headed towards the hotel he was staying at, it wasn’t a massive place, but was close to the hospital, likely as a place for family and friends to be close to the hospital while they had someone in the hospital. he headed up to his room and lay down on the bed, it wasn’t fancy or high tech as his school dorm room, but the cozy, historic design helped him feel more relaxed.

Laying on the bed, Kieran looked up at the ceiling, wondering if he would be able to sleep better now he had spoken to Florian, he flicked his eyes as he tucked himself down and closed his eyes…..

Once again, Kieran’s eyes flicked open, finding himself in his dorm room back at Blueberry Academy, he sighed as he looks around, purple liquid flowing down the walls, pooling down at his feet, he screamed loudly as he fell to his knees, his head hanging as he felt he would never escape this nightmare.

The purple liquid flowed higher, wrapping around his arms and legs, holding him in place as he waited to hear the voices of those who were once close to him, saying words that struck him deeply.

Words that deep down he knew the more he heard them, the more he had begun to believe them, the more they had formed within his mind, striking him down from being bale to be happy, be himself, as if something was trying to isolate him… he closed his eyes as he waited for the statues to rise from the liquid…

But this time, instead of statues, there was a light, beaming down from the roof, the liquid fleeing at the brightness, Kieran found the liquid flowing back into the walls, and Kieran looks around as he stands up, “huh?” he says, his voice sounding like an echo as he headed towards the bed in his dream, laying down on it he closed his eyes and slept on.

Had he focused more on the light, he would have seen it beamed down in the shape of a smile… a smile Kieran knew well.... a smile he had spent the last few hours seeing, each time Florian looked at him… but under its bright light, for the first time in months, Kieran got a restful sleep….

(Meanwhile)

Ortega span his cane in hand as he stood in the classroom 2-D of Uva Academy, he checked his phone and grinned, “Looks like Florian’s woke up, finally” he mutters scornfully, but the words had no heat to them,

“Aw, that’s awesome” Giacomo replies, “we should go see him soon!” he grins happily

“Yeah, maybe” Ortega frowns a little as he leans on his cane and looks at the group, within the classroom was the bosses of the five Team Star Squads, Eri, Ortega, Giacomo, Atticus and Mela, “We can even ask him the big question everyones been wanting to know…”

“I told you why he took that Attack” Mela replies, “he heard of that professor over in… Aloha or something who takes attacks to research them!” her voice loud and confident.

“I don’t believe it” Eri replies brightly, “I think he took it because he wanted to show he was strong!”

“Nah, he wanted to feel the power of the Pokemon!” Giacomo replies,

“He wished to see its beauty more closely” Atticus counters,

“I doubt its any of those reasons” Ortega mutters as he throws his cane into the air and then catches it in one hand and then spins it again.

“Oh yeah, why do you think he did it?” Mela asks loudly,

“I don’t know” Ortega lies, as he looks away, not wanting to voice his true opinion, of all of Team Star, he had spent the most time with Florian after he had come back from Kitakami, and felt he knew why, but it wasn’t his secret to share, and he didn’t even want it to be come a rumour he had started, wasn’t his place to out Florian after all… and even though he knew they wouldn’t do it on purpose, he knew that the bosses of Team Star would eventually say something that leaked the truth to the whole school.

“Guess we gotta ask him tomorrow then!” Giacomo replies happily, “I’ll bring him some music to listen to, so he can enjoy his recovery!”

“I’ll see if I can make him a fashionable outfit, those hospital gowns are horrid!” Atticus declares, proudly, standing up and rushing off before anyone can stop him,

“And… ’ll go and make sure he actually gets some sleep tonight” Mela sighs as she stands up and walks off, followed by Giacomo who had his headphones on, his face in his laptop, seemingly unaware of anything outside the screen or his musical tastes.

Ortega looked up at Eri, the two strongest of the Star bosses staring each other down, “You know the reason, don’t you?” Eri asks quietly,

“I think so” Ortega replies as he looks out of the window, “but its not my secret to tell, Eri”

Eri nods, “Works for me, just wanted to make sure that I wasn’t imagining it” she says as she stands and looks at him, “make sure to get some sleep tonight, Ortega… don’t want you grumpy when we see out tutor” she grins as she rushes off, Ortega huffs a little and then watches her go, as he looks out of the window, watching the night sky outside the school, pondering on if his theory was more fact… or fiction.

Chapter Text

Chapter Eight: Eye of the storm.

Two weeks after waking up, Florian was finally allowed to leave the care of the hospital, his injures were mostly healed. Arven handed back his Pokemon, having taken them to ensure they got fed while Florian was unable to, and then made sure that Nemona knew that Florian would need to take it easy for a week at least, meaning he wouldn’t be allowed to battle her, which had taken three days, four people explaining it and a half dozen threats of not letting her see Florian, but she had finally understood.

Taking a breath of fresh air out of the hospital, Florian smiled as he saw Kieran, Carmine, Nemona, Penny and Arven all waiting for him, the groups having grown fairly friendly during this whole ordeal, although Nemona did keep challenging the two Blueberry Students to battle her, which she summarily lost each time, which just seemed to fuel her more into wanting to battle her.

“We’ve got a picnic, we’re going to head up to South A5 and sit on a hill!” Arven calls, “give us all a chance to relax and let our pokemon run around together!” he says as he grins, “now, call out that big lug of yours and get on, we’ll take it slow but you should be resting” he says firmly.

Florian smiles as he throws a Pokeball, with a flash of light, Miridon appeared and shook its head, turning and looking around it rushed to Florian and began to push him with its nose, clearly seeking affection from its trainer, Florian laughs a little and pets the Pokemon a few times before climbing on its back and following Arven’s lead as the older boy lead the group to the spot he had picked out.

“How are you feeling?” Penny asks as she falls back a little, playing on her phone as she did so, making it look like she was simply slow walking while texting, to avoid anyone seemingly realising she was checking on Florian,

“Happy to be out of the hospital” Florian admits, as he watches Carmine teasing Kieran, who over the last two weeks seemed to be losing the bags under his eyes, and looking brighter, happier… as if some weight was taken away from him.

“Yeah, I hate hospitals” Penny agrees as she walks with him, noticing his eyes and smiling a little, “How’s things with…?” she began, her voice rising a little to tease her friend,

“Shhh!” Florian flushed as he waved at her, and she laughed, the group turned to look at her and she was suddenly focused on the phone before her, after a minute the group seemed to assume she was laughing at something on her phone,

“He’s going to notice, y’know” Penny replies softly, “You can’t keep your eyes off him” she adds in quiet voice as she laughs softly, “Its… kinda cute” she smiles,

Florian went bright red and looked away from her, “I just. I haven’t really spent too much time…” he says quietly,

“just warning you” Penny smiles as she speeds up and looks back at him, “Oh, and the group wants to see you on Wednesday for tutoring, If your up for it!” she replies,

“Sounds good to me” Florian calls to her, and he leans back slightly, some semblance of normality sounded good, before he blinks, and grabs his phone, biting his lip he sent a message;

‘Do they know?’

Penny saw the message ping up and she shook her head, replying ‘No, they’d want to hear it from you’

Florian nods and breaths out a breath he didn’t realise he had been holding, and the group continued to walk, neither Florian nor Penny aware that Carmine had heard their full conversation.

An hour later, the group found the hill, it had a large tree that provided shade, plenty of space for their Pokemon to roam, and views of both the ocean and Mesagoza,

“We’re here!” Arven tells them and grabs his bag, while Nemona throws a blanket on the floor, Penny sits down happily and sighs in relief,

“Finally, way too much walking” Penny sighs again as she watches Florian dismount Miridon and sit down on the blanket too,

“Oh Wowzers, the view from here is amazing” Kieran says brightly as he looks around, before joining Florian on the blanket,

“Lets let our Pokemon have a run around, then we can start to battle some more!” Nemona calls happily and pretty much everyone groans a little,

“Welcome to the survivors of Nemona group” Arven mutters to Carmine and Kieran who both laughed, “but shes right, lets let our Pokemon enjoy the weather!” he calls as he throws his six Pokeballs out, Greedant, Cloyster, Scovillian, Toedscruel, Garganacl and Mabosstiff appeared before the group, they all looked around, but seeing no opponent for them to battle began to play together.

“Yeah” Penny nods as she pulls out her Pokeballs, revealing Umbreon, Vaporeon, Jolteon, Flareon, Leafeon and Sylveon who pretty much all curled up in a nice shady spot close to Penny.

Kieran copies the other two, throwing his Pokeballs carefully so that his Politoed, Dragonite, Grimmsnarl, Porygon-Z, Incineroar and Hydrapple could appear, the Pokemon quickly looking around for battle, but seeing nothing they seemed to be confused but saw Arven’s Pokemon playing and decided to join in.

Carmine smiles as she watches them go before letting her own Pokemon out to play, Mightyena, Toucannon, Morpeko, Ninetales, Scrafty and Sinistcha all appeared and seeing the playing Pokemon, went to join in.

Neoma threw her Pokeballs quickly, wanting to get in on the fun and her Lycanrock, Kommo-o, Decidueye, Ribombee, Pawmot and Quaquaval all appeared, much like Kieran’s, they looked around for battle, but seeing playtime, they rushed to make sure they joined in,

“Just mine left” Florian says softly as he throws five balls, Espartha, Annihlape, Baxcalibur, Maushold and Meowscarada all took to the field, running off to play.

“You only sent five?” Kieran frowns, knowing that as Miridon wasn’t in his battle form, he didn’t count as part of Florian’s team,

“Yeah, I thought this one might be happier staying closer to us” Florian replies as he holds up a Friend Ball,

Kieran’s eyes went wide, as the ball opens, and standing before him, was Ogerpon, “Wowzers, Friendballs are really rare outside Johto!” he says before smiling to Ogerpon, who turned to face him, walking up and smiling to him, “Hey Ogerpon” Kieran smiles a little forcefully, “sorry about… everything last time I saw you” he says quietly,

The Pokemon looked at him and smiled, jumping up and gently giving him a small hug on his arm before sitting between the two boys.

“Told you she forgave you” Florian smiles a little to Kieran who grins,

“Yeah, you did” Kieran admits before playing with the strand of hair before his face, “Just hope that… the league back at school does too” he says in a sombre tone.

“I’m sure they will, and if they don’t…” Florian says confidently before sighing a little,

“Then I’ll have to keep making it up to them” Kieran finishes the sentence, watching as the Pokemon all played before him, while the Eeveelutions and Miridon slept in the shade of the tree, Ogrepon happily sat between two trainers she trusted, Carmine was doing some exercises, Nemona cheered on her Pokemon in whatever game they were playing, Arven prepared the food and drinks for them all, and Penny played on her phone.

The afternoon weather seemed to be perfect for the picnic, and the group chatted continually, Nemona trying to ‘help’ Arven but annoying the boy, who ended up throwing a slice of ham on her face when she nearly touched a shaker of Herba Mystica, wanting to add extra spice to a sandwich.

Nemona eventually managed to convince Kieran to battle her, and the duo headed down, Ogerpon watched curiously, before moving as she saw a shadow pass over them, and Carmine took Kieran’s place while he was battling, and then Ogerpon saw it was another trainer she trusted and relaxed once again.

The duo sat in silence for a couple of minutes, before Carmine opened her mouth, “So…” she says simply, noticing that Penny had dozed off in the afternoon sun, and Arven was chasing Maushold, who had stolen one of his bread rolls, “You… like my brother?” she says in her level tone.

Florian froze and looked away from the sight of Kieran’s Porygon-Z hyperbeaming Nemona’s Pawmot, “W-what?” he stutters his face going red as he looked around too to make sure no-one had heard.

“I heard you earlier, taking with Penny” Carmine says as she doesn’t turn to look at him, watching the battle before her, “It took me a while to work it out, but…” she tells him, “Kiki didn’t hear, he was too busy trying to decline Nemona’s battle invitations.”

Wiggling a little, Florian’s face was red as he tried to work out what to say, Penny had worked it out and she was in a similar position to him, making this conversation easier, but he had no clue what kind of person Carmine might like, or if she would even be ok with the fact both him and her brother were guys.

“If I’m wrong, tell me” Carmine says, still not looking at him as she watches Quaquaval begin to glow with Tera energy, and charge against Porygon-Z.

“You” Florian begins, “Your not wrong” finishes in a quiet voice and Carmine nods,

“I had some suspicions” Carmine admits, “with how quickly you got to Blueberry and how eager you seemed to be when you wanted to find Kiki” she shook her head softly, “its really unlikely that he’ll know unless you tell him” she tells him carefully.

“Y-your ok with it?” Florian asks quietly and he sees Carmine’s eyes move to him, her face still not looking at him, and she seemed to be trying to read something from him.

“If he’s ok with it, so am I” Carmine replies levelly, “I’m his big sister, so its my job to keep him safe from people who would be bad for him” she smiles a little, “people who wouldn’t treat him right, would want to hurt him or simply to have him around” Carmine smiles gently, “I don’t think you would treat him badly, especially as you know I’d destroy you if you hurt him”.

Florian shivers at the words, knowing it wasn’t a threat, but a promise, “I don’t want to hurt him” he says quietly, “i… like him” he replies in a nervous voice,

“First time you’ve said it aloud huh?” Carmine asks carefully,

“In those words, yeah” Florian admits quietly as he rests his chin on his knee while watching the battle, “Do you think i-its hopeless?” he asks in a nervous voice,

“Honestly” Carmine replies, “I wouldn’t say its hopeless” she says carefully, “Before we came to Kitakami, Kiki was” she thinks as she leans back and thinks, the breeze blowing through her hair, “too nervous to approach anyone about anything, let alone romance” she admits softly. “I’m not sure even Kiki knows if he likes boys or girls” she laughs to herself, “I don’t know either to be honest” she smiles, “but something happened in Kitakami, it changed Kiki” she admits, “he was able to grow past his fear of everything and everyone and stand on his own two feet”.

Florian nods a little, “Yeah, he’s changed a lot since the first time I met him, when he hid behind you”

A Small smile played on Carmine’s lips, “he has” she confirms, “He was worrying me for a while, when he stopped sleeping, stopped eating and only focused on getting stronger and stronger” she says in a gentle voice “But since we got back from Area Zero, I’ve seen more of the old Kiki coming back, his eyes are brighter, he’s eating full meals, sleeping all night and back to smiling and laughing” she smiles, her eyes drifting to Florian before turning to watch the end of the battle.

“Yeah, he doesn’t have bags under his eyes anymore” Florian says quietly, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

Carmine laughs a little and nods, “yeah, it took me a while to notice, but… they are fading” she nods, “Before we go back to Blueberry, I’m going to get him a Roto-Phone” she smiles, “he might kick and protest, but I’m sure if someone gave him their number it would soothe over that issue” she teases him a little.

Florian’s face flushes at that and he nods a little, looking away “It would be nice to keep in touch” he admits, “especially with how long Peli-Mail takes to arrive”.

“Grubs up!” Arven calls, and the two of them watch as the Pokemon and trainers rush Arven, who hands each one a custom sandwich for each Pokemon, or in Maushold’s case, four little sandwiches, one for each of the four mice.

“C’mon… lets get food before it all ends up gone” Carmine says as she stands up, and Ogerpon grabs Florian’s hand and walks with him to grab food, noticing Kieran nearby the Oger pokemon moved between the two again and held both their hands, standing between the two like a small child holding her parents hands.

“O-oh, Wowzers” Kieran mutters softly as he smiles looking at how happy Ogerpon appeared to be between the two of them,

Grabbing their food, they heaed back to their spot, followed by Arven who placed a sandwich before Miridon who happily munched it, “lazy beast” he says in an exhasperated tone, sitting down, “yours has a blend of all five Herba, Florian” he tells the boy, “should promote healthy recovery!” he adds brightly,

“It must have taken you ages to hunt down all this Herba Mystica” Florian says as he looks at just how much the older trainer must have used,

“Nah” Arven waved, “not that long honestly” he lies, having spent the two weeks hunting down raid dens, with the assistance of the Star Bosses to gather as much Herba Mystica as they could.

A peaceful quiet enveloped the group as they all feasted on Arven’s food, the two Blueberry students first time trying his food, and seemingly enjoying every bite.

After the food, a peaceful lull fell over the entire group, their Pokemon napping happily with filled stomachs, the warmth of the sun shining down on them, while a gentle breeze kept them from getting overhot, while their trainers all seemed to nap, Nemona flopped out on the grass, Arven sitting in a chair he had brought, Penny and Carmine leaning on a tree, Kieran laying next to Ogerpon and Florian, while Florian himself, leant against Miridon, pretending to nap as he spent time watching Kieran sleep.

He felt like a creep and he wiggles a little, before closing his eyes and taking a brief nap too…

All too soon, the quiet was broken by a loud shout from Nemona, “alright, who wants to go swim?” she calls, dragging Arven down to the beach.

“I’ll pass” Carmine admits, as she looks down at Kieran still asleep,

“Go ‘way” Penny muttered as she wiggled in her sleep, her Eeveelutions cuddling close to her just as they may do when back in her dorm room.

“Its probably best I don’t swim right now” Florian admits, never having been the top swimmer, he knew how to get himself out of shallow water, but often panicked in deeper places, especially if a water Pokemon appeared suddenly beside him.

Nemona shrugs as she rushes off with Arven, most of the groups Pokemon began to play again, keeping quiet after a sharp glare from Carmine.

A few minutes later, Carmine began to speak in quiet voice, “you seem” she says to Florian, “concerned about people judging you for…” she says as she waves her hand, “well, y’know”.

Florian nods a little, “yeah, I guess I kinda am” he confirms, “people haven’t always been so” he began to search for the right word, “accepting”

“Want to talk about it?” Carmine asks as she sat next to him, moving her head to see that both Ogerpon and Kieran remained fast asleep, cuddled up together.

The champion level trainer sighed a little, as he ran a hand through his hair, “I’m not sure” he admits, “its not something I’ve told anyone about really”

“I can be a good listener” Carmine tells him, “plus its possible one day I might be your sister” she notices a slight flinch when she says that from Florian, “so Its best I know things others might not” she finalises, before running a finger over her lips thoughtfully, “tell me about your sister”

Another flinch and wince came as Florian looks away and sighs, “how did you….?” He begins,

“You flinched when I mentioned becoming your sister” Carmine confesses, “kinda gave it away” she smiles.

Sighing and muttering several colourful words that Carmine was surprised that Florian knew, the trainer began to speak, “my twin” he admits quietly, “Juliana” he says her name in an emotionally null voice, “she lives with our dad over in Kalos”

“Your parents aren’t together then?” Carmine asks curiously

Shaking his head, Florian sighs, “No, because of me and my sister” he says sadly,

“I doubt…” Carmine begins but Florian waves her down,

“It was, we both know it” Florian tells her softly, “my father and sister blames me, my mother blames my father and sister” he says quietly, “I’ve always kind of known” Florian says, “that I’m, y’know… Gay” he says quickly, “ I didn’t used to hide it, I was out and proud” he frowns as he fiddles with Miridon’s Pokeball, “but my sister, she was always the, golden child, expert trainer, super strong, super quick to know everything, we both started travelling in Kalos and she zoomed ahead, becoming stronger and stronger, I couldn’t keep up with her”,

“She learned so much I didn’t, went places I didn’t and her strength made her more confident in her views, her opinions, and the opinions of those she surrounded herself with” Florian tells her, “she started to call me Florian the…. Fa…” he shook his head unable to say it, “eventually our parents found out, mum took my side and wanted to punish Juliana, while my dad wanted me to” he looks away and Carmine hands him a tissue which he used to wipe his eyes, “he wanted me to change, to become” he wrinkles his nose, “normal”.

“Bastard” Carmine surmises,

Florian laughs a little, “maybe” he says softly, “eventually the fighting grew so bad that my parents split up” he confesses, “my pokemon stayed in Kalos with my dad, while me and mum moved her to Paldea, and I was enrolled in Uva” he says with a smile, “but I always have the” he looks away, “the image the worry about people thinking like my sister, and her friends.”

Carmine curses under her breath, “bitch” she says in a level voice, “well, trust me on this, very few people in this day and age are homophonic, and the number of people, thank Arceus, decreases by the day” she smiles, “trust those around you, they wont think less of you…” she cuts herself off, seeing Kieran yawn and sit up, rubbing his eyes, in his sleep the band in his hair having come loose and drapped his hair over his face again.

“Morning Kiki” Carmine smiles as she leans over and ruffles his head,

“Get off” Kieran mutters sleepily and rubs his eyes, “Wow… Arven can really cook well” he smiles as he looks at the two, then at the sleeping Ogerpon,

“Yep!” Florian smiles, “I’ve been able to try his food a lot, thanks to us battling the titans…”

“This is a story I’ve not heard…” Carmine says brightly, and the trio fell into stories of past battles, adventures, enjoying a moment of peace together…

Chapter Text

Chapter Nine: Growing Shadows

Watching as Amarys walked out of the room, Drayton yawns and stretches, looking out of the window in the league room at Blueberry Academy, they had just received word from Director Cyrano that Florian was now out of the hospital, and soon he would be returning to the academy, and would be making sure that any Blueberry Students who had travelled to Paldea would be brought back, which meant the league had been discussing one topic.

Kieran.

They had heard nothing from the boy since he had left the academy under the instructions of Mrs Briar to investigate Area Zero, with Carmine and Florian, and while Drayton himself had gone to Paldea briefly, and brought his… ‘allies’ with him, they had swiftly returned to Blueberry Academy as not to arouse suspicion of what it was they were trying to accomplish.

He leant back in his chair and span a Pokeball on his finger, his latest acquisition from his trip to Paldea, he had never seen it before, but knew he had to have it when he saw it. Fortunately, since his return none of the challengers who had come after him had forced him to use it yet, he wanted it to be his secret weapon against Kieran when he eventually made his push to take the boy down.

“You’re scheming again” A voice snaps him out of his thoughts, and he looked over, seeing Lawrence stood before him, the 3^rd year with his arms crossed,

“How could you tell?” Drayton asks casually as he threw the ball in the air and caught it, the male walks forward and sits opposite him,

“Because you are always scheming Drayton” Lawrence replies evenly as he looks at him, “So, what was so important it called the elite four of the league into a speedy meeting?”

“Kieran is coming back to the school within a week” Drayton tells him lightly as he leans his chair back,

“So soon?” Lawrence sighs, “guess we need to step things up then”

“How much of the Academy do we have who are against him?” Drayton asks in a causal voice,

“Less than half, from what Kassandra, Eliza and Kian have told me” Lawrence complains bitterly, “most of those who dislike him had experience with him as Champion of the League, and they are going to be spreading word to others about him, and how likely it was purposeful that he attacked Florian in order to make sure he could stay League Champion, but it would be a lot more helpful if we had some kind of video of Florian saying it, or at least acting negatively towards Kieran”

“From what Amarys has reported, according to Carmine, there is no hatred towards Kieran from Florian, so that’s not something we are likely to ever get” Drayton scowls at the table as if it had offended him in some way,

“Unless… we fake it?” Lawrence says as his eyes light up, smirking and looking to Drayton, “The League still records all the audio and video from battles that take place, right?”

Drayton seemed to suddenly have the same idea, “We use his voice from those tapes and make a fake… a fake audio we can ‘leak’ around the school!” he says as he slaps the table, “brilliant” he nods, “that should Alienate the entire school against him, and then we can possibly even turn the league against him, once he’s out, I’ll be back as Champion, and we can kick the others out one-by-one…” he adds happily, “think Kian can manage it?”

“Doubtful, guy is a few lighting bolts short of a thunderstorm” Lawrence sighs as he scowls darkly as he thinks,

“I’ll pay someone…” Drayton huffs, “or rather, Grandpa will” he says holding up a card, “I’ll just have to get an ace on the next quiz, and he won’t question anything I spend this month, I’ll just say it’s a tutor or something” he shrugs, “done it before, and probably will do it again” he admits.

“I’ll find someone” Lawrence nods, “since it was my idea”.

“Your concept, I fleshed it out” Drayton replies, “or do you want to settle this with a battle?”

Lawrence holds up his hands in a surrender motion, “I can’t be bothered to fight over this, if you want to say it’s your idea, go ahead, If this doesn’t work, you can just take all the blame” he tells him with a smile,

“it won’t blow up in our faces, we just need to circulate the video before Kieran gets back, maybe when he is flying back and boom, when he lands the video from ‘Florian’ is everywhere, he doesn’t have a phone, so he can’t even contact Florian to ask about it” Drayton grins maliciously, “He thinks everyone hates him, because they will by then… and he’ll want to go back to being the little Wimpod he always should have been, and we’ll all take our rightful place in this Academy, which will let us leave here at the end of the year we will be able to get massive contracts in the pro battling scene”.

“So that’s why you want to be champion” Lawrence realises, “I always thought you’d want to go into taking over Opelucid Gym, especially since the successor your Gramps was training went off to become Unova Champion… but It did bug me because your so…” he tries to think of a nice way of saying it to his rival, “Lazy, that the responsibility seemed like something you’d shy away from”

“Yeah, the title has drawbacks, but Lacey has dealt with most of the work for me” Drayton waves his hand casually, “and I imagine that Kassandra will be similar, maybe Eliza…” he yawns, “if not, we can always find someone who will” he shrugs, looking at Lawrence.

“You honestly don’t give a crap about who you have to stand one the back of in order to make your own name, do you?” Lawrence says in surprise as he looks at Drayton, who shrugged.

“In battle you need to be willing to crush anyone who stands in your way” Drayton replies looking at him with coldness in his eyes, “So I take that requirement into everything I do” he smirks a little, “anyone stands in my way of getting a massive contract for my skill’s in battle…. And when I get that contract and take the pro-world by storm, my name will eclipse the name of any of my relatives, or anyone this school has ever produced!”

Lawrence looked at him in silence, his eyes widened as he heard his rivals full ambitions, “There will be one thing standing in your way of that” he says carefully as he gently strokes his chin.

“What obstacle?” Drayton eyes narrow,

“Florian, he beat you… and as a first year student… that might tarnish your reputation a bit” Lawrence told him with a smirk, “and because he’s not here at the school anymore, you’ll never be able to beat him with a pubic audience to prove your better than him” he says carefully.

Drayton frowns as he fiddles with the ball in his hand, “maybe” he admits bitterly, “unless” he says with a gleam in his eye, “We find a way to have a graduation battle, me Vs. Florian… and then I crush him, embarrass him in front of both academy and send him running with his tail between his legs… but first  need to prove I am the strongest at Blueberry… Be the champion, and have an Elite four who will support me”

Nodding carefully, Lawrence smiled, “we’ll need the Director to sign off on that” he admits,

“That guy will sign anything I say will make his job easier, I just need to hide the part about our battle within something else” he shrugs, “did it before when I got the former champion thrown out of the school” he grins mischievously.

“Wait” Lawrence says as he leans forward, “that was you?”

“Yeah” Drayton replies casually, “or at least, it was me that got the Director to search the guys phone, and find what he had stored on there” he adds lightly, “and maybe the one who… ensured such material was on his phone, from an anonymous source” he said with a grin.

“You scare me sometimes Drayton” Lawrence admits as he looks at the other boy warily, “remind me never to get on your bad side” he admits, then frowns, “why not do the same thing with Kieran?” he asks,

“firstly, that…” Drayton starts before raising his hand pausing and then beginning again, “… boy” he says carefully, “doesn’t have a phone, so I can’t make it seem like hes got stuff on there he shouldn’t.” he says, “but even if he did get a phone” he scowls and slams his fist onto the table, “he embarrassed me by beating me, and the lording my loss over my head, and now.. I want him to suffer”.

“So social banishment, wide spread dislike, and then later public embarrassment, that will make you happy?” Lawrence asks as he looks at his nails,

“Exactly” Drayton nods, “first we make sure no-one wants to be near him, even that sister of his, then we crush his spirit, and then we humiliate him, and make sure he knows he’s a worthless little stain on the history of this academy, and that we’d all be better if he went running back to whatever backwater town he came from”

“What about his sister, plan for her?” Lawrence asks, as he sees Kian, Kassandra and Eliza walking in and joining them,

“Sure, every trainer needs a cheerleader” Drayton shrugs, “think when her families been humiliated enough she’ll be glad I even give her the time of day” he smirks, “especially since she wont get in the pro scene with a scandal like this on her record.”

“So, I assume you have some plan to handle Kieran?” Eliza asks casually as she checks her uniform for dirt.

Drayton nods, and with a smile, begins to explain his plan…

(In Paldea)

Three days after being let out of hospital, Florian and Kieran were sitting enjoying a hot chocolate at a small Café, Florian had been tasked with keeping Kieran busy while Carmine was busy getting the boy a Roto-phone, aided by Penny, as the tech expert of the group she would be able to ensure he got the right model and that they could add Florian’s number to it before Kieran received it.

Since the day on the hill, the two boys had spent pretty much every day exploring Paldea, Florian showed Kieran the four mystery shrines that existed within Paldea, Casseroya Lake, the top of Glaseado Mountain and Fury Falls, where Kieran spotted a small bear Pokemon Florian had never seen before.

The two spent most of the prior day playing with the bear, neither trying to catch the Pokemon, as they didn’t want to argue over who got to catch it.  This morning, they had gone to the the Auction house, where Kieran managed to successful buy a Dream Ball, which he kept smiling down at every time he saw it.

“So what do you plan to do this afternoon?” Florian asks conversationally,

Kieran pauses sipping his hot chocolate and hums to himself, “Maybe we can see your school, you got to explore mine, and it would be a little unfair if I didn’t get to see your school too” he smiles, as he plays with the hair,

“Oh right!” Florian says as his eyes go wide and he nods, “I didn’t even think of showing off Uva Academy” he admits sheepishly, “but I’m sure Director Clavell wont mind me showing you around it” he says happily.

Smiling as he nods, Kieran finished his drink and the duo took a slow wander towards the school, “oh wowzers…” Kieran says as he sees the stairs leading up to the school,

“Yeah, I can call Miridon out if you don’t want to climb them all?” Florian offered and Kieran shook his head,

“No, that’s ok” Kieran says as he rubs his cheek, a tiny red hue on his cheeks, “I’ll be ok walking.” He nods

Florian smiles as the two begin the climb, Florian in silence listening as Kieran counted each step under his breath, and before too long they were stood before the gates to Uva Academy.

“It… looks so” Kieran breaths as he looks at the school before him, “grand” he finishes after a few moments of silence.

“I guess it is” Florian replies as he rubs the back of his head and the two step onto the school grounds, Kieran’s head turning in each and every direction as he watched the students, the school, the teachers, the pokemon, everything at once.

The two saw Nemona battling with a student Florian didn’t recognise, but the two made a speedy pass, knowing that the moment Nemona saw them, the two would be challenged to a battle, and neither of them wanted to be waylaid by spending half the day battling, and then rebattling the champion-level trainer.

Florian showed Kieran the cafeteria, the store, the nurses office and the classrooms, they walked past classes in full session, lessons on Biology, Maths, History, Art, Home Economics and languages, Kieran’s eyes went wide as they entered the Schoolyard area, and saw a Battle studies class, the two headed to sit under a shaded tree together and leant against it quietly.

Kieran hummed softly as he smiles, enjoying the gentle warmth of the Paldean day sun, Florian smiles as he listens to the hums, and then looks over at the class, seeing that someone was watching the two, he waves a little, noticing it was Ortega, who looked between the two and then turns back to his class.

Not many knew the about their friendship, the stand-offish ‘posh’ boy and the first year champion, both had socialised to start only with plans for the New Team Star, but eventually they had begun to talk outside of that, even outside of the tutoring Florian gave all five of the Team Star Bosses, they had managed to become somewhat close, and while there had been some talks between the two of possible romantic leanings, they had ultimately decided, a week Florian first went to Kitakami that they were incompatible with each other, but both had sworn to try and set the other up with someone.

Florian had some plans in his mind, but thus far had failed to actually get the boy with anyone, and Ortega had been unable to find someone for Florian either, maybe because Florian had been talking about Kieran ever since he returned to the fairy boy, who seemed to get this strange look in his eye about it.

The two sat in peaceful quite before Florian’s phone bleeped, and he checked it, a message from Penny, asking where they could find the two of them, Florian messaged back advising they were in the school courtyard, under the tree and then put his phone away.

About half an hour later, Carmine stepped out onto the courtyard, looking around, spotting the two she headed over, “Hey Florian, Kiki” she says lightly, “Penny insisted on rushing back to her room” she sighs, “she didn’t like taking me to the shops”

“I don’t think Penny likes being out of her room for anything” Kieran replies softly as he sits up and looks at Carmine before frowning at the small box in her hands, “whats that?” he asks curiously,

“This, is for you Kiki” Carmine says with a smile as she offers him the box, wrapped in red paper,

Kieran frowns a little as he gently tears the paper, taking it slow as not to make a mess, before he gasps as he sees the packaing, “T-this is” he begins

“A Roto-Phone” Carmine smiles as she sits down opposite Kieran, “Its high time you step into the modern world, and have a way to speak to people who might want to keep in touch, without waiting for letters to be posted”. She says, her eyes drifting to Florian and Kieran’s eyes looked between the two.

“W-wait, you k-knew?” Kieran asks with a small squeak in his voice,

Florian nods, feeling a little bad, “Yeah, Carmine said she wanted to get you a phone, and made sure that my number would be stored in there for you” he says to Kieran happily, “so we can always keep in touch, even when separated by an ocean”.

Kieran sniffled a little and wiped his eyes on his sleeve as Carmine smiled and leant over, giving the boy a gentle hug, small sniffles and sobs could be heard as he whispered words of thanks to his older sister, who patted his back, after a couple of minutes he emerged and sniffled a little.

“I r-really like the idea of being able to” Kieran started before the trio realised that someone was approaching them, Carmine turned and saw Director’s Clavell and Cyrano approaching them,

“Master Kieran, Master Florian and Miss Carmine” Director Clavell nods to each of them, “Cyran-“ he began but was cut off by Cyrano,

“All Blueberry Students are going to be heading back to school, tonight” Director Cyrano tells them, “Kieran, Carmine, both of you have tickets booked, and within the hour need to be heading to the airport so we can get our flight, please say your goodbyes and then meet me in the atrium”  he says in a formal voice, “I will be back if you are not there in ten minutes” he says firmly and then turns, walking away and heading off.

Both Kieran and Carmine exchanged a look, and stood up followed by Florian, “I-I” Kieran says as he looks at Florian sadly, “I d-didn’t” he says sadly,

Florian pulls the boy into a hug and wraps his arms around Kieran, who after a moment copied the action, the unsaid words, and wishes for more time spread between them, before they parted, Carmine gave Florian a soft hug too, and he walked them to the door of the atrium, where Cyrano stood, nodding as they climbed into a Taxi and flying off, Florian waving sadly as he watched them until they became a small dot, and then disappeared into the sky, he stood watching the sky, as if it would return Kieran and Carmine back to him.

After a few minutes he realised he wasn’t alone, a familiar voice asked, “was that…?” Ortega asks,

“Yeah” Florian nods sadly, turning to look at his friend,

“You looked good together, I approve” Ortega says, showing a rare smile to Florian, “c’mon, lets see if that food mad friend of yours has overtaken the cafeteria. Again”

The duo turned and headed back into the school, just before the door closed, Florian couldn’t help looking at the sky, feeling that despite the brightness of the day, something dark was dawning….

Chapter Text

Chapter Ten: A New Normal?

The Day after watching Kieran fly off to Blueberry, Florian tried to settle back into his regular life, the first step of which was attending classes, although during them he noticed that each and every one of his teachers seemed to be taking things lightly on him, Dendra for example had not made him run laps of the entire school when he had failed an answer to one of her questions, but instead made him run a lap of the much smaller track.

While Jacq seemed to leave small packages of sweets or chocolate within his desk whenever Florian had his back turned, his homeroom teacher seemingly taking what had happened harder than others, and wanted to make sure his student had plenty of treats he might not buy for himself.

Eventually the end of classes came and Florian yawned as he stretches, he checked his Roto-Phone, knowing that by now Kieran should have landed back in Unova, and be back at school, making a mental note that after he did his tutoring session, he would send the boy a text message to check how the flight was.

He walked down the corridor, his body tired from his first day back, his first time truly pushing himself, as he stretched and pushed open the door into the classroom where his tutoring sessions were held, inside he saw Penny, Eri, Mela, Ortega, Atticus and Giacomo, all chatting happily before they looked up,

“Oh hey!” Giacomo grins as he jumps up and walks over, wrapping an arm around Florian and dragging him into the group, “Guess there isn’t anything that can keep you down!” he says proudly as he slaps the boys back and nearly knocks him forward not a desk,

“Be careful you brute” Ortega huffs, “I doubt Florian wishes to be sent back to hospital when he only recently got out!” he says in a cold voice, looking at him.

“I quite agree with our diminutive companion, that it would be horribly inconvenient for hi to land back into the care of doctors and nurses when so recently he had made his escape from them” Atticus put in, “especially before he has a chance to see my latest works!”

“Not another Fashion showwwww!” Mela shouted while Ortega turned to protest being called short

Eri laughs and Penny smiles watching the group, while Florian sighs, sitting down and letting the group argue it out, and eventually wear themselves out. A minute into the discussion, where Ortega now stood on a desk so he was taller than Atticus, Florian felt Penny sit next to him,

“Not going to step in and handle it?” Florian asks curiously,

“No” Penny replied, “its good for them to argue like this once in a while” she says as she texts quickly on her phone, “plus, I’m sure you can see it” she says carefully, as she raises the corner of her lip and Florian frowns before he looks at the group, wondering what he was looking for. And then he saw it, and smiled too,

“How longs that…?” Florian asks curiously

“Not happened yet, but it will soon I’m sure” Penny replies casually, as if the two were discussing the weather instead of their friends romantic entanglements, or potential feelings that may bubble beneath the surface, “Have you decided if your going to… say anything?” she asks,

“One… kind of already knows” Florian admits sheepishly as he rubs the back of his head, “They saw me and… erm” his cheek heats a little and he looks out of the window, “and worked it out” he says casually.

“Really?” Penny asked as she tears her attention from her phone to look at him, “I didn’t think anyone would…”

“Well he kind of knew about…” Florian makes a gesture with his hands, “me”

“Really, you told someone, and I didn’t know?” Penny asks in surprise, “who?”

“Erm… Ortega” Florian admits sheepishly, “we were… kinda talking about maybe, being a thing…” he says carefully, “but we worked out we weren’t really… romantically compatible” he tells her, “so we decided to just be friends… and see if we could set the other up with someone” he laughs a little.

Penny thinks, “I could see you two together” she admits carefully, “but I imagine you know yourselves best, so if you say your not compatible, I wont pry” she tells him lightly.

“Thanks Penny” Florian smiles, as he sees the argument wearing down, Giacomo, Mela and Eri had all stopped joining in, while just Atticus and Ortega were left, “Ok you two!” Florian calls, “i… erm… want to tell you all someone” he says quietly, and the room fell silent, everyone taking their seats, Ortega with a cushion to boost his height, and all eyes fell on Florian.

“T-this… isn’t something I’m telling everyone but…” Florian swallows as he takes a breath, “I trust you, and Penny mentioned something about you understanding…” he rambles, and then looks at them, “I… I’m gay” he tells them,

“Oh, how fun!” Eri says happily, the tall girl walking over and almost picking Florian up as she hugs him, “Its always nice to find your not as alone as you once thought!” she smiles, before she lets him down, and the others all surround him, each speaking various compliments on him actually telling them, or contemplating if that meant that they could find a boy for Florian, or in Ortega’s case, subtle teasing about how much Florian seemed to adore purple.

After a minute, in which everyone of the group (minus Ortega and Penny) had reconfirmed what Penny had told Florian regarding their dating lives, the group fell into a comfortable silence, beginning to actually study, although this time with the occasional tease sent Florian’s way about him one day studying his own biology up close and leaving the purple-clad champion red in the face.

Eventually the time came for their session to end, and the Star leaders insisted on leading Florian to the canteen, in which they found Nemona challenging a student to a battle, which she dropped when she saw the group enter and grabbed them a large table to sit together on. When they sat down with their food, Arven joined them and looked around.

“Meant to tell you, lil’ bud” Arven sighs as he looks down at his pasta as if it had offended him personally, “While you were in hospital, the school board announced an… investigation into our trip to Area Zero, to decide if we would receive any discipline for it, apparently ol’ Clavell couldn’t talk his way out of them starting the investigation”.

Florian paused, the garlic bread he had been about to bite stopped before his lips, “What?” he asks in shock,

“Yeah” Nemona replies, waving her fork at them, a bit of beef on it, “they think that we should have alerted someone to the danger we suspected…. And if we did and they didn’t believe us, then at least we’d have warned someone” she sighs, “most they’ll likely do is make us do lines or something”

“And the worst that could happen?” Florian asks, feeling a little sick to his stomach suddenly,

“If they decide we acted maliciously, they could kick us out” Arven grumbles, “its doubtful they will go that far, especially as…”

“La Primera is likely to be defending us, and Director Clavell too!” Nemona says quickly, “so we hve nothing to worry about!” she smiles brightly.

“Your not the only ones” Giacomo admits as he glares down at his own bowl of soup, “all the Team Star Bosses have also had an investigation by the school board”

“Really?” Penny asks in shock, “You… guys didn’t…”

“Yeah, yeah…” Giacomo waves, “we didn’t wanna worry ya’” he tells her, “we got told a week ago, guess they decided to launch both investigations at the same time” he grumbles, “I mean we didn’t cause any harm but… they could still kick us out…” he mutters bitterly,

“I doubt they’ll wanna throw out…” Eri did a quick head count, “nine of their strongest battling students” she says simply, “especially as one of them is the strongest in the whole school, maybe all of Paldea!” she adds as all eyes move to Florian who rubs the back of his head,

“H-hey I’m not that strong!” Florian protests,

“Just because none of us have beaten Florian yet doesn’t mean I’m weaker than him!” Nemona grins, “I’m going to work on a strategy to handle and beat Florian!” she grins as she runs off, leaving her food uneaten.

“I’m going to make sure she… at least eats something” Arven sighs, “Hey, Pres… get back here!” he calls as he stands up and rushes after her, leaving just the Star leaders and Florian at the table, over the next hour the group slowly parted, first Penny dashing to her room when the dinner rush started, and then Ortega, Atticus, Mela, Giacomo, and finally Eri parted ways with Florian, each heading off to enjoy the rest of their nights…. While Florian sat and realised that constant worry, this was his new normal.

(Meanwhile in Blueberry Academy)

The Boa from the mainland arrived quietly in the early hours of the morning, the suns rays just hitting the blue dome of blueberry academy, Director Cyrano, Kieran and Carmine climbed off the boat, while a few suppliers began to unload supplies to the academy, Cyrano didn’t look at the siblings before heading off into the school.

Carmine smiles to Kieran, “Whatever happens, we’ll face it together” she says to him as she walks towards the school, turning back watching as Kieran follows her, a step behind as he looks down at the ground, feeling like it was his first day again, how could he face everyone after what had happened in the last few months?

He shook his head, and looked up.

No. this time he wasn’t alone. This time he had someone he could talk to. This time he could message Florian. He takes a breath as he raises his head and the two walked towards the entrance, no students yet out and about, which Kieran was glad for, they stepped through the entrance and climbed into the elevator, hitting the button for the dorm level, they began to descend into the school.

Kieran bounced one of his legs as he internally panics, the door stopped on the club room level and the doors opened to reveal Amarys and Lacey, both had been in conversation, but stopped when they saw Carmine and Kieran, both sharing a glance before stepping into the elevator, and turning away from the pair.

“No Greeting, huh?” Carmine asks them carefully,

“Forgive us if we do not welcome you back with open arms” Amarys replies as she takes off her glasses and cleans them with a small cloth, before placing them back on, “however, after what has occurred, it surprises many of us that you thought it wise to return at all”.

Carmine and Kieran share a look, “What… are you talking about, Amarys?”

This time it was the two elite fours turn to share a look, “the incident in Area Zero” Lacey says quietly, “Kieran purposefully putting Florian into the hospital”.

“What?” Kieran replies as he looks between the two of them, “I… i- didn’t” he stutters, as he looks between the three,

“He’s telling the truth” Carmien replies, “He never ordered the attack that hurt Florian”.

Lacey’s eyes frown a little as she looks between the two and then grabs her Roto-phone, opening it and a voice message begins to play.

‘… in Area Zero… kept glaring when he throught I couldn’t see… when we found Terapagos he immediately ordered it to attack me… told his sister and Mrs Briar that they had to keep quiet about it… hes a danger… a threat’.

Kieran recognised the voice as Florian’s and his own eyes went wide. “b-but that’s not…” Kieran says as he steps back, looking around, panic setting into him once again, “I.. d-didn’t, I… w-wouldn’t”

Within a moment, Carmine pulled Kieran into her arms and held him, so his face was hidden from view, “Amarys, you’ve known me for years...” she says looking at the girl, “look me in my eyes” Amarys did as she was requested, “Kieran did not do that…” she says honestly.

Silence fell within the Elevator, Amarys and Carmine staring at each other before she nods, “I believe you” she confirms, and Lacey looks between them and nods,

“I trust Amarys’ judgement on this” Lacey confirms quietly as she frowns, “but why would…?”

“Where did that recording come from?” Carmine asked curiously,

“No-one seems quite certain” Amarys answers, “it started circling just before dinner today, original sender seems to be anonymous, but its spread throughout the entire Academy, everyone seems to have heard it”.

The three girls fall silent as the weight of that those words falls upon everyone, “Florian wouldn’t have said anything like that” Carmine says confidently, “So either someone edited that message, or…”

“Or it is fake” Lacey finishes the sentence, and Carmine eventually lets go of Kieran, the door opens and revealing Crispin on the other side, he yawned, looking sleepy as he stepped on, seeming to not even notice the other four people within the elevator, he presses the button for the dining hall, clearly heading off to breakfast.

“Morning Crispin” Lacey greets him and he turns bleary eyed to look around,

“Hi Lacey, Hi Amarys, Hi Carmine, Hi Kieran” Crispin greets each of them in turn, “its early” he complains seemingly not bothered anything.

“H-hi… Crispin” Kieran says carefully as he plays with the hair before his face nervously.

Carmine blinks in surprise, if everyone had heard the recording, then why was Crispin acting so casually towards Kieran, but they had more pressing matters right now.

“So… why would someone fake the voice message?” Lacey frowns,

“Huh?” Crispin asks looking around as he blinks, “fake message?” he yawned,

“You didn’t listen to it?” Lacey asks in surprise, “I thought everyone had heard it by now”

“I listened to it” Crispin nods, “but it made my head hurt to try and think why Kieran would do something like that… so I stopped” he says brightly.

The group all smiled and let out a small laugh at that, it was something only Crispin could say, but it seemed to brighten the mood, the doors opened and they all stepped out, each grabbing food, Carmine making sure that Kieran did too, and they found a table where they could all sit together.

“So” Amarys frowns as she leans on the table, looking around, “the video has been faked” she says simply, “that must mean it was faked by someone.” She looks around at them all, “the question that now faces us is who would fake it, and why?”

They fell into silence, each eating. Kieran being elbowed by Carmine to ensure he ate, none-of them able to put down a concreate suggestion on why someone would fake the video, or indeed who did it.

“Either way, I doubt that the school will believe us if we tell them that it is a lie” Lacey says to them, crossing her arms, “so sadly pretty much every student will…”

“Not want to go anywhere near me” Kieran glares at his porridge, his eyes sharpening, “I guess I’ll have to live with it.” He says coldly as he stands up, “I’ll see you all later” he says in a cold voice and walks off, his expression forced into a hard look, but the moment he had stepped from the room, he let the mask slip and leant against a wall. He had hoped that coming back to school would mean some normalcy, but it seemed that someone had other plans.

Someone had to make his life hard, he shook his head as he felt tears sting his eye and he walked to the elevator, pressing the button for the terrarium, he decided to go and find somewhere quiet he could sit and think, he took out his phone and bit his lip as he tried to think what message to send to Florian, how could he express all the worries on his mind, or how could he push them down and try to act normal.

As it stopped on the dorm level, he looked up and saw Drayton standing there, he causally stepped in and looked at Kieran, seeing the roto-phone he turns away, “So… back to being the champ, by any means huh?”

“I didn’t hurt Florian” Kieran proclaims looking at him,

“Of course you didn’t” Drayton smirks a little, seemingly enjoying this as he presses the stop button, the elevator stops, leaving the two suspended in the elevator, unmoving, “both you and I know that…” he says looking at Kieran, “but everyone else… they all see you as a monster, which is what you are” he says turning on Kieran.

“I-I’m not a monster!” Kieran protests as he backs off, pressing himself against the wall,

“Of course you are” Drayton says as he snatches the phone from Kieran’s hand, “And your still trying to play being a nice little boy who just wants everyone to love him” he smirks as he looks down, “oh look, still trying to text your little friend” he says as he looks down, “let me make this clear for you”  he says stepping closer and pressing Kieran back more.

“B-back o-off D-drayton” Kieran tries to protest.

“You don’t get it, Kieran… this isn’t your school to rule anymore” Drayton smirks down at him, towering over the smaller boy, “this is MY school now” he glares down at him, “if I find your texting anyone outside of this school, I’ll make sure a new video gets released, and it will absolutely. End You.” He says darkly, “and then, I’ll get your sister thrown out of the school, bet she will love you when she finds out its all your fault, wont she?”

“I’ll… te-“ Kieran began before Drayton punched the wall next to Kieran’s ear.

“If you tell anyone, I’ll get both you and that bitch of a sister of yours thrown out too… this is your mess, your alone in it” Drayton tells him, “and if you tell anyone, If you even try to let anyone know that I released that video… then I’ll make sure your out before the end of the day” he says darkly, “both of you… so think carefully about all your actions from now on, Champion…” he laughs as he moves back and presses the button for the elevator.

When the doors opened, Drayton walks out of the elevator and looks back, “you don’t want to test me… do you?” he grins as the door closes, leaving Kieran inside. He falls down to his knees and feels tears stinging his eyes.

He knew… that now more than ever, being alone… this was his new normal.

Chapter Text

Florian was annoyed.

It had been two month since he and Kieran had parted ways, since they’d both come back to their schools, and he had heard nothing from the other boy. During those two months, the end of year exams had come and passed, and now they only had a month of school left before it ended for the year, classes had mostly calmed down, a few additional classes had started up by the teachers, while they spent most of their time marking exams for the entire school.

Florian had tried to text Kieran during these two months, but gotten no reply, not even a notice to say Kieran was reading the messages. A few times he had spent all night wondering why Kieran was ignoring him, sitting on the roof with Miridon, staring at the stars. He had tried to message Carmine too, however she said that there was some stuff going on, and Kieran was pulling away from everyone.

He had video’d a couple of times with Carmine thanks to Penny, and she confirms that they too had finished their exams, however due to how they took them they had gotten their grades almost the day after it was finished, Kieran apparently had finished top of his year in battling, while finishing mid in many other subjects, such as Unovan History, Home Economics, Maths and Biology.

Florian found it quite endearing that Carmine and Penny had a weekly video call, however Florian had only been invited a couple of times, so he had no clue what the two girls were talking about together, but he liked to imagine that the time they had met had forged a bond that would likely surpass time and space in strength.

During these two months, he had seen Arven beginning to drift closer to Nemona, making sure the battle obsessed trainer actually ate something that would fuel her efforts going forward. Florian began placing bets with the leaders of Team Star who would be the first one of the two to realise their feelings.

Due to his friends seemingly finding their own… someone, it left Florian a feeling slightly left out… which left him spending more time by himself, or hanging out with different members of Team Star’s leadership, Acting as a model for Atticus, Battle opponent for Eri, Audience for Giacomo’s music, fixing Star Mobiles with Ortega and helping to organise Team Star with Mela.

Many of the ‘grunts’ of Team Star had started to refer to Florian as the ‘sixth boss’ of the group, and they had a few times pushed different versions of their outfit on him, stating it was only fair that he would wear it as he was as good as a member by now.

Having spent the entire weekend with Ortega and Atticus, first fixing the designers Star Mobile, and then helping Atticus source materials for his clothing outfit, Florian stretched as he headed back to his room, pausing as he saw Director Clavell standing outside him room, as if waiting for him, “Master Florian!” he says in a polite voice, “would you walk with me?”

Florian blinks as he rushes to the mans side and walks with him, the two taking a path Florian often took, when heading to the roof, “What is it you wanted to talk about Director?” Florian asks curiously as he looks up at the man.

“Let us discuss it where there are not so many curious eyes and ears listening in on what we will be discussing ” Clavell replies and Florian nods, following the man and heading up to the roof with him, Clavell nodded to a table and chairs that wasn’t there the last time Florian had been up here, Clavell took a seat and Florian sat opposite him.

“As I know this will likely be of concern to you, and I do not wish to keep you in the dark, I wished to update you in regards to Blueberry Academy” Clavell tells him carefully, “and our relationship with them, which I am sure you know, before this year was quite strong” Clavell sighs, betraying his age a little.

Florian still felt a pang of guilt when the topic of Blueberry and Uva’s relationship was brought up, feeling as if the strain that had been put upon them recently was the fault of him and his actions, had he taken any other action it was likely the relationship between the two schools would remain strong.

Perhaps some of this had been betrayed on his face as Clavell shook his head, “Please, Master Florian, do not blame yourself for this” he says to him kindly, “the actions you took likely prevented a international incident and something far worse from occurring” he says with a small smile, “however there remains a stubborn dispute between Uva and Blueberry, which seems to refuse to perish”

A small frown on his face, Florian looked at Clavell curiously, the Director must have some reason to share this information with him, he stays silent for a few moments but then can’t help himself, “Director Clavell… is there anything I can do to help?” he asks curiously.

Clavell smiles gently and nods, “Indeed” he confirms, his voice almost sounding proud of Florian for asking, “Tonight is a meeting between myself, Director Cyrano and a few other key individuals in both academies, such as Chairperson Geeta, to try and finalise a resolution for the dispute, otherwise to formally dissolve the relationship between the two academies” Clavell explains, “I would like you to be present, along with Master Arven, Miss Penny and Miss Nemona” he says calmly, “as the only students in Uva Academy who have experienced the danger that dwells within Area Zero, I believe it would be useful to have your experience to draw upon during the discussion.”

“Will…” Florian began, preparing to ask if Kieran or Carmine would be present at the meeting,

“I am unaware of who else will be in attendance, other than myself, Director Cyrano, Chairperson Geeta, Mr Jacq and yourselves” Clavell tells him quickly, “I would imagine it would be of benefit to Cyrano to bring them, but I cannot say for certain” he says apologetically, as if unhappy he had to decline Florian’s hope.

“Where is the meeting taking place?” Florian asks curiously,

“It is due to take place at the Pokemon League here in Paldea, as Geeta is the chairperson of both academies, it is impractical for her to leave Paldea for too long, especially with her championship in question in relation to this incident in the first place” Clavell explains,

Florian nods, “I’ll be there, sir” Florian confirms with a second nod,

“Thank you, Master Florian” Clavell smiles a little, “I shall speak to the others shortly, but yourself as the…” he looks both amused and disapproving, “resident student expert in Area Zero” he pauses here, “having yourself present is likely to give us the best chance to resolve this diplomatically”.

Florian smiles a little as he nods, a little sheepish about his many, many trips down into Area Zero, most he had suspected the director had not known about, but he had grown to imagine that there was very little that happened to the students of Uva Academy that the director didn’t know.

With that the two parted, Florian heading to shower if he had an impotant meeting that evening, and the director to gather more students to assist his rebuilding of the relationship.

Hours later, Florian stood beside Nemona, Penny and Arven with Director Clavell and Mr Jacq, all wearing their uniform and sitting in a conference room, at the head of the table was Geeta, the top champion looking tired, far more than Florian had ever seen before and he wondered how much weight this would be putting on her, there were also some officials from both the Unova league and Paldean League, wearing suits and having expressions that could not be read.

After a few minutes the door opened, and Director Cyrano stepped through, holding it open as Carmine, Kieran and Drayton stepped into the room, Kieran once again looked tired and seemed to refuse to look at Florian as he sat down, Drayton leaning in to whisper something in Kieran’s ear, the boy scowling at Drayton and nodding before looking down at the table.

Florian felt a strange prickling feeling at that, something not sitting right with him… or perhaps it was just jealousy that Kieran refused to look at him, let alone talk to him, but he pushed it down for the moment, every head turning to look at Geeta as she rose to her feet.

“Thank you everyone for making time in your schedule to be here today to try and resolve this dispute” Geeta says calmly, “Both sides have raised concerns regarding the incident which has sparked this conversation, and we are here to see if middle ground can be formed and the relationship put back on track, and if none can be found, to organise formally dissolving any and all relations between the two academies, which I am certain none of us want”

“No” Clavell confirms,

“Ideally I do not” Cyrano nods,

“So, who wishes to begin?” Geeta asks as she sits down and looks between the two of them,

“I Will” Director Clavell says as he stands up and clears his throat, “the incident within Area Zero has proven the danger of sending anyone into its depths, unless they are accompanied by skilled, trained professionals who have been searching out the secrets of the Pokemon world” he says looking at Cyrano, “However, the agreement to such a trip, without informing Uva Academy or any of its staff was both foolish and showed brazen disregard for the safety of the student who went down into Area Zero, unprepared for the dangers…” Clavell stops as he was interrupted.

“Yeah, yeah” Drayton says as he leans back in his chair, “it was stupid, students were risked, but it wasn’t one of our students who got hurt” he says carefully, looking at Clavell, “it was one of your students” he says with a flick of his eyes towards Florian, “thus is pertains that it was due to your own flawed teaching that he ended up getting hurt”

Clavell bristled, first at being interrupted so rudely, and second at being questioned regarding the competency of his students, “Thank you for putting in your own view point” he says coldly, and Florian could almost feel like a blizzard had rolled into the room, “ however, these four” he says gesturing to Penny, Arven, Nemona and Florian, “went down into Area Zero on their own once previously, there they faced down a Legendary Pokemon, an AI out of control, and a horde of Pokemon they had never faced before, dangers which were mitigated by the tim..” he continues.

“Oh yeah, your students went in to Area Zero before, not good at following rules are they?” Drayton interrupts again, with a smirk, “maybe if they were good at following rules, then we wouldn’t need to be here to discuss this”

“Right indeed” Cyrano says as he jumps on Drayton’s point, “my students did their duty getting your boy down into the base of Area Zero, and then the incident occurred” he says, “while I may have my disagreements with them, and they will likely be feeling the repercussions of this incident…”

“My point” Clavell says as he seems to be trying to finish his speech, “is that had you notified myself of this endeavour, I could have arranged for more experienced people to join you” he says looking at his four students.

“And put more people in the line of fire for danger” Cyrano replies, “had it been my students alone that went, nothing would have gone wrong, the situation would have been handled without incident!”

“That is balderdash!” Clavell says tiredly, “my own students would be able to handle this!”

For a moment, it looked like Carmine was about to say something before Drayton again spoke, “it is well known that the students from Blueberry Academy often into the pro battling leagues, which is a sign of our continued strength and dominance as a school of excellence” he says, Cyrano nodding proudly, “however, and I mean no offence, but Uva Academy is a relic… not one of its students have entered the pro league in the last five years!”

“The Pro League” Clavell begins,

“Is a show of the greatest battlers outside of the regional champions” Drayton cut him off,

“the Pro leagues...” Clavell continues his eye twitching slightly at the constant interruptions, “are only one path the students of my school may choose to pursue” he says carefully as he looks at him, “and as I may recall, Master Drayton” he says the name with a slight amount of ice in his voice, “one of my students attended your academy and not only defeated you within a week, but also became champion of your entire school within that week” he says the last part with pride, “aiming for the Unovan pro battling league is commendable, however my students are free to pursue any dream they may wish, this can range from becoming a Star in PokeStar Studios, designing the latest outfit trends… they are not pushed into narrowminded view that becoming a Unovan Pro battler is the greatest deed in the world!”

“So…” Nemona says as she stands up, blocking anyone else from continuing, “if I’m, getting this right… “ she frowns, pointing at Cyrano, “you think that your academy students are the strongest overall battlers in the world of education…” she pauses and then turns to Clavell, “and you director, think the same of Uva?”

“Correct, Miss Nemona” Clavell nods, “your illustrious academy has produced the highest number of champion class trainers anywhere in the world”

“Maybe because you hand the title out like it’s a packet of sweets” Drayton smirks, “real regional champions are one per region, not a title that can be just given to any old trainer…”

Nemona scowls at Drayton, “was I right, Director Cyrano?” she asks, ignoring Drayton’s taunts,

“You were correct” Cyrano nods, “but I hardly…”

“Then the answer is simple” Nemona smiles excitedly, and Florian felt dread fill him… he knew what was coming,

“Would you be so kind as to inform us of this simple solution, Nemona?” Geeta asks as she stands,

“a tournament!” Nemona says proudly, “the interschool battle brawl, each school sends its best students in, and whoever wins, their school is known as the strongest!” she smiles, “one-on-one battling, no hiding…” she adds

“That… could work” Clavell nods thoughtfully, “We can each arrange for say, 32…”

“Sixteen at most” Cyrano cuts in,

“Very well, Sixteen of our best battlers to fight it out, here in Paldea…” Clavell smiles calmly, “we can house your students far easier than you finding rooms for sixteen of my students, and any staff I wish to send to supervise their safety”

“Hmm” Cyrano pauses as he taps his foot, “a good idea… we’ll settle this with a battle, but when we win… I want you to admit your students are not as good as mine, Clavell!”

“If you win” Clavell replies with a nod, “I Will admit your teaching is superior” he confirms, “and when we win… you will admit it was incorrect not to inform me of the trip to Area Zero, and that the resulting fallout of the incident, rests solely upon the Blueberry Academy”

“Deal” Cyrano confirms, “shall we say, one week to gather our students?”

“Reasonable” Clavell agrees, “Miss Nemona, can I ask you to handle setting up the details for this, I believe you have experience in this field?”

“You got it Director!” Nemona nods happily, “I’ll make sure to make this the greatest tournament either school has ever seen!” she smiles, “Oh.. and Penny, I’ll need your help!” she says turning to the girl,

“w-WHAT?” Penny asks in surprise,

“You, I’ll need your help to set up the randomized matches!” Nemona tells her, “we don’t want either side to get accused of rigging matches, so we have to make sure they are random, and your like… the expert on computer stuff!” she smiles proudly,

“I… ok” Penny nods in surprise.

“If you can both provide me with a list of students before the tournament, Directors” Geeta confirms, looking between them, “then I will ensure that the randomised matches are set up correctly” she says confidently.

Both men nodded, and stood, their students standing too,

“Then in one week, we will begin battling to find which school is superior” Geeta confirms, “this modern  masterpiece, Blueberry Academy, or the Historic institute of Uva Academy”

Everyone nodded, and turning on their heel, the Blueberry delegation filed out, Carmine sending a glance over her shoulder at them, and a smile towards the students, before she vanished,

“Excellent work, Miss Nemona” Clavell smiles as he claps, “quite brilliant, as expected”

“W-what?” Nemona asks in surprise,

“A Tournament such as you have suggested has been on my mind for some time” Clavell admits, “However I know that Cyrano would reject such an idea if it came form me, purely out of spite” he shakes his head, “thus I needed the suggestion to come from someone else, and while I could have asked Top Champion Geeta to suggest it, I believe such a course to be unwise” he smiles,

“So that’s why you invited her” Geeta confirms as she claps her hand at the situation, “bravo Director, a quite masterful move” she smiles, “I knew you were bringing Florian here as he was the victim of the incident, but I was confused at your other choices.”

“I had to invite them all or Cyrano would know I had a plan” Clavell confirms, “Miss Nemona, Master Florian, would you both be so kind as to draw up a list of suggestion with the teachers as to who you think our entries should be?”

Florian and Nemona locked eyes and nodded to each other, knowing that in the coming weeks, the fate of their school would hang on their choices…

Chapter Text

Chapter Twelve: Teambuilding

“And that’s what happened” Florian surmises as he sits in the classroom, the Bosses of Team Star listening with rapt attention a four days after the meeting, “We have three days to build a Team of Sixteen students from our school… and then we fight it out with Blueberry Academy for the title of the strongest school” he tells them carefully.

“And how is that going?” Atticus asks curiously as he examines his nails,

“Nemona is trying to find a way to battle every student to find who the strongest is, Penny is trying to use a computer to calculate everyone battle averages to do the same and Arven is running after both of them trying to get them to either eat or sleep” Florian replies as he puts his head in his hands and rubs his eyes, “Which just leaves me trying to make up the list, and the students outside of Penny, Arven and Nemona consists of the people in this room” he sighs.

“People do find you… unapproachable” Ortega smirks a little as he leans back in his chair, “nothing that’s your fault of course” he adds after a minute of uncomfortable silence, “tamer of legendary Pokemon, defeater of Team Star, Savour of Paldea… Champion level trainer in your first year” he lists off, “anyone who doesn’t know you would be intimidated by that record”.

“Thanks Ortega” Florian replies bitterly, “doesn’t help the situation, we don’t turn up with trainers, we are going to be disqualified and then we will be an embarrassment” he says looking at them

“It’s a good job that we know nearly every student at this academy” Giacomo tells him as he stands up, “I’ve seen most of them battle, I know their strengths” he confirms, “so you want sixteen trainers right?”

“Yeah” Florian replies as he looks at Giacomo,

“Well” Giacomo says as he opens his laptop, “most of the first years, suck…” he says simply, “None of them have the experience we are looking for in this, with the exception of you” he points to Florian, “so trainer one right there”

“Then you have Nemona, arguably next to Florian, she’s the strongest trainer we have at this school” Eri puts in as she looks up at them, “trainer number two”

“Next up, you wont know them, her name is Holy” Giacomo says, “she specialises in using the ace Pokemon of famous trainers, like Alder, Steven Stone and Cynthia” he lists off, “she has a fierce team, and knows how to use them” he smiles, “trainer number three”

“Next is the guy…” Mela says as she stands up, pacing, “uses those old Pokemon his dad helped him find…” she frowns,

“Frank” Giacomo nods, “Uses ancient Pokemon from a long-lost region called Hisui, trainer Number Four”

“Then does come Penny” Atticus says as he grabs Ortega’s cain, “for our leader, a mighty trainer is she. She would rank upon the fifth place within the schools rankings” he says, “so I do declare her… trainer number five”

“Then we have that creepy Zoey girl” Ortega snatches his cain backe from Atticus and glaring at the taller boy, “uses that horrid Dream Eater Technique to stop anyone from acting in battle while she wears them down” he tells them, “Trainer six”

“Then comes Arven, strong trainer, but distracted by food too often to climb the ranks” Giacomo tells them, “Trainer seven” he adds, calmly.

“Bull boy Asher would be next, guys family owns a ranch, brings a whole bunch of Tauros to bare…” Mela says lightly, “but they can trample most people” she nods, “Trainer eight”

“Trainers nine through thirteen are in this room” Giacomo takes charge, “Eri, Ortega, Atticus, Mela, Me” he lists off, “you know us, and with your help we’ve added to our team to make it more rounded” he nods, “let us in to it”

Florian smiles and nods, “wouldn’t miss your new debuts for the world” he smiles, “trainer fourteen?”

“A girl called Bethany, uses a bunch of really strange Pokemon, no theme, but she brings out the best in all of them” Mela tells him, “she’s number fourteen”

“Kate I think would be next, she’s a third year, keeps her head down but she is tough in a battle, I wouldn’t want to fight her” Ortega says as he looks around, “Trainer Fifteen” he nods,

“So.. that leaves…” Florian says cally as he writes down the names so far,

“Trainer sixteen, Charlotte” Mela hums, “she uses Pokemon she thinks are cute or awesome” she sighs, “she could be higher if she used better Pokemon, but she still wins with them.”

“So, our team is Asher, Holly, Mela, Giacomo, Ortega, Arven, Nemona, Atticus, Eri, Penny, Bethany, Charlotte, Kate, Zoey, Frank and me” Florian lists off, “I believe I can submit this to Director Clavell and he’d be happy to sign off on it” he says brightly, “thanks guys, honestly…” he smiles “I couldn’t have done this without you”

“We know” Ortega says as he sits back down and looks at him, “what we don’t know, something you left out of your little message about the meeting, is how your… friend” he says pointedly, “was”

Florian felt a stab of hurt at the thought of Kieran, “He didn’t even look at me, let alone talk to me” he replies bitterly,

“Ouch” Atticus says as he stans up and walks over, looking down, “my heart does weep for you, it must be so hard to witness the one you care about above all treat the space in which you dwell as if you are simply not present”

It took a few moments for Florian’s brain to catch up, “I Never…” he mutters embarrassedly,

“You didn’t have to, they worked it out” Ortega smirks s he leans on the desk, “plus they thought you two would be adorable when I showed them pictures…”

“Thanks Ortega” Florian pouts a little as he leans back and then looks at him,

“Your welcome” the other boy replies cheerfully, as the others all begin to fire questions at Florian, and he knew it would be a long time before he managed to hand his list to Director Clavell.

Meanwhile, in another room of Uva academy a group of Blueberry Students sat down, Kieran, Carmine, Drayton, Lacey, Crispin and Amarys,

“Amarys, you have the statistics of every trainer in Blueberry” Lacey begins, as she looks around at the classroom,

“How does anyone work here, its so… ancient” Drayton muttered to himself as he looked, “its barely out of prehistoric times” he grumbles, “how do they think they could beat us?”

Amarys chose to ignore this, “Understood” she confirms, “the first six choices sit within this room” she nods at each of them, “Firstly, Blueberry Academy’s League Champion, Kieran” she says, “our strongest trainer currently” she confirms,

“Then myself” Drayton replies, “Master of Dragons” he grins lazily, “and the true strongest trainer, well… when I beat Kieran when all this is over”.

Everyone’s eyes flick to Kieran awaiting some retort from the boy, however he looked away down at the floor and after a moment, Amarys continued quickly.

“Next would be Lacey” Amarys confirms,

“Master of all things cute and cuddly” Lacey smiles happily, “my fairies will walk all over them”.

“Third strongest is Amarys, right?” Carmine asks looking at Amarys herself, and she nods,

“You would be accurate in this assessment” Amarys confirms, “My steely defences will keep our reputation safe” she nods.

“Fourth is…” Amarys begins,

“Me, right?” Crispin asks,

“Absolutely” Amarys nods in his direction, “your flames should burn away the competition” she nods, “Which brings us to sixth”.

“Lawrence” Drayton fills in,

“Statistically incorrect, while he battles skilfully, he has a lower win-to-loss ratio than Carmine” Amarys advises, “statistically she has only lost in battle to the people within this room, and Florian, while Lawrence has historically lost to other students due to him underestimating his opponents or not taking them seriously”.

“Fine, but Lawrence is seventh then” Drayton scowls, as he looks down at the table, “but I’m telling you he should be number 2”

“With you as number one, of course” Carmine mutters coldly.

“Of course” Drayton nods, “I am the best”

“Except little Kiki beat you” Carmine replies, “he came back from Kitakami and within a month built a team that kicked your backside all over the battlefield until he won”

Drayton scowls as he looks at her, “something I plan to rectify” he tells her,

“I’m sure we’re all looking forward to seeing him take you down again” Carmine smiles, “the look on your face when your put in your place…. It will be…” she pauses looking at him in his eyes, “breathtaking”.

Drayton was about to speak, but Amarys interrupts, “after Lawrence and his fighting Pokemon, I would believe the next strongest statically would be Kian”.

“I remember him, he was on the elite four before, right?” Crispin says brightly, “he uses erm…. Erm”

“Electric Pokemon” Lacey nods, “shocking and strong” she confirms.

“Next is Kassandra” Drayton says kicking his chair back and looking at them, “takes down her foes with her poisonous power”.

“Very well” Amarys confirms, “ninth trainer, would be Eliza”.

“Really, I never see her batting!?” Crispin says confused,

“That’s because every time she battles, its usually over before anyone can get to watch it” Carmine admits, “her ground Pokemon help her tend to the plants and vegetation, she is not someone to mess with”.

“That’s all the obvious ones” Drayton yawned, “who’s the small fries we’re dragging to this dump?”

“I like this school” Carmine cuts in, and then looks at Amarys.

“I believe the weather trio would be the next three, Georgie the snowstorm, Rhys the Blazing sun and Clarissa the downpour” Amarys confirms, “they are near constantly switching positioning, so it is impossible to rank them in strength.

“Next” Drayton calls lazily,

Amarys eye twitches lightly, “Sonia, master of the battle order” she confirms looking at Drayton, “after that is Louie, the hero worship battler”.

“The one who only uses Pokemon he thinks look like superheroes?” Carmine asks lightly,

“The same” Amarys nods, “well rounded team, and strikes hard…”

“if I’m right, we should be naming the last trainer now… right?” Drayton asks in a bored tone,

“Correct” Amarys says quietly, “and that slot, I believe goes to Ben”.

“The One-hit king?” Lacey asks, “I would expect him to be much lower”.

“He has had a recent string of luck” Amarys confirms, “it just pushes him just into the rankings”

“Lets hope he fights Florian and has perfect luck against him, poor guy wouldn’t know what hit him then” Drayton laughs, “Now… that’s done, do we need to stay in this… ruin, or can I head to the very nice hotel I just rented?” he asks,

“Your free to go if you want” Amarys tells him quietly,

Drayton stands, “oh… I just have something to discuss with our Champion, so can you give us the room?”

Crispin, Amarys, Lacey and Carmine all stood up and walked out of the room, closing the door and Drayton turned to look at him,

“This new you, the silent beaten down little brat” Drayton smirks as he walks towards Kieran, “it works for you, suits you” he tells him coldly

“You’re an ass” Kieran replies quietly as he glares up at Drayton,

“No, just teaching you your place” Drayton replies quietly, “all this, is because of you… its your mess and now we’re all here to clean it up for you” he says, “because even when you started dong something, you didn’t even make it clean by tying up loose ends”

“I didn’t…” Kieran protests,

“I know you didn’t, but everyone outside this room from our school believes you did” Drayton reminds him coldly, “and now they are seeing those your bringing here as knights in shining armour coming over here to deal with the mistakes you made.” He tells them, “and when we go back, victorious, you can slide down the line, so your not even close to the Top Sixteen in your year, let alone the school” he tells him.

“I’ll…” Kieran begins to say as he looks up, his eyes turning dull.

“Do. Nothing.” Drayton tells him, “You can do. Nothing.” He glares at him, leaning over the boy and forcing him to back against his chair, “here is the new deal, you sit there, silent. When you battle, you win, except against me. You  don’t talk to our opponents. You don’t even look at them. You lose any of the battles, except in the finals against me, both you and your sister are out. You talk to your little friends. Your both out. You even give them a heads up on what’s going on. You. Are. Both. Out” he tells him coldly, “but you behave, like a good little brat… Then you get to finish your schooling, and so does your sister, and you can both go back to whatever backwater little hole you appeared from and disappear”.

Kieran frowns as he looks away, “fine” he says quietly as he looks away,

“Good boy” Drayton tells him, “now, get to your room, and don’t leave until your ready to battle it out” he smirks, “and if you have any visitors, even in the middle of the night, I’ll know…” he warns him, as he turns, “Now, I’m off to a lovely five star hotel and leaving this dump behind” he smirks as he walks out.

Two days later, Drayton leans back in his hotel room, Kian, Kassandra, Eliza and Lawrence sat opposite him, “so, the list was submitted and their systems have randomly assigned matches for us, which they’ll announce tomorrow, when the battle start” Kian tells him,

“We need to tip the odds” Drayton tells them as he lazes on a sofa looking at them

“Not confident we can win?” Lawrence asks curiously as he leans forward,

“We don’t need to just win, we need to crush them beneath us, dominate them so they never dare to rise up against us again” Drayton scowls, “for that, we need the perfect match ups, we need to take out their toughest trainers early… break their spirit so they fall apart and are left scrambling until the finals is only Blueberry students, where I’ll be crowned strongest trainer, disgrace Kieran and send him packing”.

“So what do we do?” Kassandra asks curiously, as she leans forward, “we poison the tree to kill its apples?”

“Exactly” Drayton replies as he checks his phone, “and our hacker is in” he smirks, “they are manipulating the matches now…”

“So how do we handle the biggest problem?” Eliza asks, “the biggest thorn we have, Florian”

“We send Ben against him” Drayton shrugs as he looks at Eliza, “his one hit kill moves should handle Florian with no issue” he smirks, “nothing he can do against them” he says, “not even that little legendry lizard of his would stand against it”.

“Big risk” Lawrence says carefully, “relies on a lot of luck for those attacks to hit him”

“If we are going to cheat, then we shouldn’t go part way” Eliza tells him, “there is a plant, whose spore reduce a Pokemon’s evasive abilities” she says calmly, “we spread them on Florian’s side of the field… it should double, if not triple the chance of the moves hitting”.

“Perfect” Drayton says as he sits up, “How much will it cost to bring the spores here?”

“I’ll send you the bill” Eliza informs him, to which he nods gratefully.

“So who else is a threat?” Kian asks, “and how do we show them their place?”

Drayton smiles as he looks up, “there are threats on both sides, I am sure we can crush them.. entirely…” he grins as they spend the evening discussing their full plans for exactly how to defeat each and every one of their enemies, on both side of battle….

While this meeting was going on, another was being held inside Uva academy, Lacey paced the room, while Amarys sat still watching the door, Crispin played with his frying pan and span it a few times while Carmine bounced one of her legs, until the door opened and Florian stepped inside, “You asked to see me?” he says curiously,

“Yes” Lacey says as she waves, to Florian, who walks over and sits down on a chair of his own and looks between them,

“Drayton’s up to something” Carmine frowns, as she looks up at him, “We don’t know what he’s doing” she admits, “but we know that he’s got his own little group of… minions to help him” she warns him quietly.

Florian frowns as he looks between them, “do we know who his ‘minion’s are?” he asks them curiously, as he examines

“He has four of them” Carmine informs him, “he seems to be trying to make his own little Elite four, with a plan to oust these four and install people that he has control over, so he can rule the school.. its something we’ve been trying to work against in secret, but have not been able to accomplish much, as Drayton has the backing of the director”

“Do you have names to give me?” Florian asks with a small frown,

“His Rival, Lawrence, the head of the gardening club, Eliza, former Elite four member Kian and a trainer named Kassandra” Amarys informs him, “we believe that you are potentially in danger from his scheming, and we do not wish you to come to additional harm at the hands…”

Florian stood up and kicked he chair back, “I’m sick of that idea” he says harshly, anger flashing across his usually calm face, “I haven’t suffered harm from anyone from your school, Kieran didn’t do anything to hurt me!”

“Told you” Carmine smiles as everyone suddenly looks more relaxed the moment he stops speaking, the tension that had been secretly hanging over them disappearing and letting them relax and breath

“Sorry Florian” Lacey sighs gratefully as she smiles up at him, “We just had to hear it from you directly”.

“What, why?” Florian asks curiously as he looks between them all,

“There been a lot happening… stuff we didn’t tell you about” Carmine admits as she looks at him, “and it will explain why Kiki hasn’t spoken to or looked at you, since he left to return to Blueberry Academy”.

Florian sighs… this would be a long night.

Chapter Text

Chapter Thirteen: First Blood

A Few days later, cameras were pointed at the battlefield inside Uva academy, stands had been built around the track, enough seats for every student, teacher, gym leader and elite four member to have their own and then some. Each trainer who would be competing had a personal seat which was labelled, each on opposite sides of the battlefield so they could send glares at each other.

Florian had already decided he wouldn’t be watching many of the battles, most to prevent himself from storming across the field and smacking Drayton, mostly as a result of exactly what he’d been told by the Blueberry student about what they suspect he had been up to, regarding Kieran. He knew he wouldn’t be in the stands, but thanks to a generous offer from Mr Jacq, he would be able to stand in a classroom and watch over the battles.

Round one was due to last for four days, eight matches per day, four in the morning, four in the afternoon. He stood on the side of the battlefield and looked up, waiting for the match ups.

Match One: Asher Vs Carmine
Match Two: Kieran Vs Holly
Mach Three: Crispin Vs Mela
Match Four: Giacomo Vs Lawrence

Florian was surprised as he read the match ups, both Carmine and Kieran would be battling on day one, as would Mela and Giacomo, meaning he would sit and watch all four matches, he turned his head and looked at the afternoon’s matches.

Match Five: Ortega Vs Louie
Match Six: Kian Vs Clarissa
Match Seven: Drayton Vs Arven
Match Eight: Nemona Vs Lacey

Florian winced as he saw Draytons name against Arven, and frowned as he looks at it, Lacey would be a tough opponent, but if he had to bet, his money would go down on Nemona taking it. He looks to the next board.

Match Nine: Atticus Vs Eliza
Match Ten: Eri Vs Sonia
Martch Eleven: Penny Vs Kassandra
Match Twelve: Bethany vs Charlotte

Titling his head, Florian frowns as he tries to work out the outcome of the matches, but shakes his head, it wouldn’t be easy as he hadn’t seen most of the trainers fight, most of but he would be there for his friends, swallowing he turned his head to look at the afternoon matches for the second day.

Match Thirteen: Kate Vs Zoey
Match Fourteen:  Rhys Vs Amarys
Match Fifteen: Florian Vs Ben
Match Sixteen: Frank Vs Georgie

Nodding, Florian takes a breath, he wouldn’t be the final battle, but the second to last. He frowns as he tries to predict the matches but was interrupted when he felt someone slap his back,

“You are thinking too much” Ortega commented as he looks at the board too, “Day two, not bad…” he muses, “know anything about my opponent?”

“From what I’ve heard, he has a hero thing…” Florian tells him, “Uses Pokemon who he thinks look like Superheroes” he looks at the other boy, “no idea what Pokemon he uses” he admits.

Ortega nods, “useful” he says brightly as he smiles, “hopefully it won’t be a problem for my fairies” he says calmly.

“Well, that’s what you both are” a voice drifts over as they both turn and see Drayton standing there, “A pair of little fairies, who we are going to crush into dust” he smirks as he walks past them.

Florian clenches his fist as he feels Ortegas cain pushing on his stomach, holding him back from smacking Drayton. Over the next few minutes, everyone took their seats, Florian looking over at the other side, he saw that none of the gym leaders, elite four or any members of the league of Unova had come to watch, however when he looked behind him, every gym leader from Paldea was there, some looking more enthusiastic than others.

He smiles a little as he looks at the cameras and saw they were already broadcasting, discussing the matches, who would battle, the records of each and every trainer, primarily boasting and benefiting the Blueberry students, which caused him to bite his cheek in displeasure.

Then it was time, Director Clavell and Cyrano walked onto the field and shook hands, before turning, and Asher and Carmine stood up, and stepped onto the arena.

Ashe stood there confident as he smirks, “So, y’ur goin’ to be ma Opponent?” he asks looking across at Carmine, who nodded.

“Not for long I’m sure” Carmine smiles

“THE FIRST BATTLE IN THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN, FROM UVA ACADEMY, WE HAVE ASHER AND FROM BLUEBERRY INSTITUTE, WE HAVE CARMINE. AS PER THE AGREEMENT, THIS FIRST ROUND IS A 3 ON 3 BATTLE!”

“Go Wild Tauros!”

“Go Mightyena!”

Both Pokemon took to the field, the Kantoian Tauros against the Hound Pokemon,

“Tauros, lets finish this right quick!” Asher grins darkly, “Use Clos Combat!”

“Mightyena, dode it and then use Howl!” Carmine orders.

The Pokemon move, Tauros rushing in and crashing into the ground, while Mightyena leapt in the air and opened its jaws, letting out a howl to increase its offense.

“Bad move for you there, Asher” Carmine boasts with a smile, “not only are your defences down, but I got stronger” she smiles.

“Al’ I need is one hit on ya, then it won matter” Ashe promises, “Clos Combat once mor!” he calls as his Tauros rushes forward,

“Mightyena, dodge once again and use Yawn!” Carmine orders, as Mightyena takes a quick leap, avoiding the blow and striking Tauros with a yawn, causing it to sway.

“Blast ya!” Asher growls, “no matta, all I gotta do is mack you with this move and your little puppy will fall!”

“Only if you hit, which you haven’t been able to do even once!” Carmine smiles, as she looks at him, calm and relaxed as she looks at him.

“Gah, Tauros smack that little dog outta here!” Asher calls harshly, “Use Clos Combat once again!” he orders, and Tauros rushes forward.

“Mightyena, use Sucker Punch to knock him off course!” Carmine orders, as Mightyena leaps forward, its attack connecting with Tauros and crashing it to the ground, while Mightyena lands down and sees that Tauros has fallen asleep.

“And now, Mightyena, howl again!” Carmine smiles, taking the time when her opponent couldn’t fight back to strength her next offensive, she did this once again a few moments later, before smiling, “Super Fang!”

Mightyena rushed forward and bit down on Tauros, the pain causing it to awaken and throw its horns, which had Mightyena backing off

“Outrage NOW!” Asher orders as Tauros rushes forward and tries to smack into Mightyena,

“Sucker Punch once again!” Carmine smiles as she looks at Asher, knowing that the tripled attack power of Mightyena against the less than half defence Tauros would be a knock out.

The two Pokemon rushed towards each other, and with one blow, Tauros was thrown back and collapsed down, fainted.

“Tauros is unable to battle, Asher must send out another Pokemon or forfeit the match!” The Announcer calls.

“Return Tauros…” Asher scowls, “Your pretty strong” he tells her, “lets see how ya handle this one, Go Tauros!”

This time a Paldean Blaze Tauros too the field, throwing its head around it stopped looking at Mightyena.

“Tauros, go on all out with a Double Kick!” Asher orders and the Tauros moves kicking twice and both smacking the Mightyena back,

“This once a bit faster than the last one” Carmine smiles, “Now, Mightyena use Super Fang!” she calls and Mightyena leaps into the air and then bites down on Tauros, drastically weakening it before Mightyena landed down once again.

“Damn it” Asher growls, “Tauros, use Temper Flare!”

“Mightyena, Counter quickly with Sucker Punch!” Carmine calls as she raise a hand and lets it fall as her Mightyena leaps forward and slams down onto Tauros before it ignite and sends Mightyena flying back, his legs landing on the ground and sliding back before standing tall.

“Not much longer till your 2 and 0” Carmine says calmly as she smiles calmly, “Make your move then” she says looking at him with a grin.

Asher stands there and looks down at the ground, scowling at the floor as he tries to think how to save this battle, his eyes flicking wildly, “D-double kick”

“Sucker Punch” Carmine counters with.

With a quick clash, Tauros collapses down to the ground, fainted.

“TAUROS IS UNABLE TO BATTLE, TRAINER ASHER MUST SEND OUT HIS FINAL POKEMON!”

“Tauros, return!” Asher scowls, “Go… Tauros!”

A Combat form Tauros appears on the battlefield and looks ready to trample anything before it.

“Another Tauros I Beat two of those things already, I can beat this one too” Carmine smiles

“Not when I make it all sparkly!” Asher smirks as he pulls out an orb and holds it up, energy flowing into it , “Glow Crystal… Time ta reform and Terrastalize!”

Asher throws his Tera orb and the crystals grow around Tauros, before forming into a its trademark glowing coat over the creature, a large fist forming above tauros’ head, a fighting tera.

“Oh wow, that will make a big difference, I’m sure” Carmine says carefully, “Mightyena, use Super Fang!”

“Tauros, strike back at it witha Double Kick!” Asher orders,

The two Pokemon moved and while the Fangs bit in, Tauros kicked and sent Mightyena flying back, crashing down to the ground, and fainting.

“Mightyena is unable to battle, Trainer Carmine must send out a new Pokemon!” The announcer calls,

“You did amazing Mightyena” Carmine smiles as she recalls the Pokemon,  “Now, Go, Toucannon!” she calls throwing out a ball and the bird appears, flying around and landing down.

“Beak Blast” Carmine orders and the Toucannon begins to charge up,

“Tauros, don’t give it a chance to attack, use your Raging Bull!” Asher orders as the Tauros charges forward, smacking into Toucannon, and it turns and rushes back towards Asher, but then a mark begins to grow on Tauros, before Toucannon flew forward and struck Tauros, sending it crashing back, weakened as the burn on it took more of its energy.

“Wha- what happened?” Asher asks stunned,

“Beak Blast” Carmine advises with a laugh, “you see if you make contact with Toucannon when its charging up, you get burned, which not only continues to hurt your Tauros, but it also weakens all of its Physical Attacks, and I bet all you have are Physical!”

Asher looks up at her stunned, as he drops to his knees, his head hanging low.

“Toucannon, Finish this with a Dual Wingbeat” Carmine says calmly and Toucannon flies forth and strikes the Tauros twice with its wings, the crystal surrounding Tauros shattered and Tauros collapsed, fainting.

“Return Tauros” Asher says in a quiet voice,

“Tauros is unable to battle, the winner of the first match is Carmine, of Blueberry Institute!” The Announcer calls, and Carmine smiles as she recalls her Toucannon, before turning and walking back to her seat.

Asher stands up too and turns, walking back to his chair and sitting down in silence, everyone looked up to the scoreboard and saw he numbers, a purple 0 and a deep indigo 1.

“We’ll get them with the next battle!” Nemona says brightly, “you did good, Carmine is a tough trainer, I can’t wait to face her again!” she adds with passion in her eyes.

“Yeah, but…” Asher mutters, “shes no-not even their stronges’ is she?”

“No…” Florian says as he looks up, seeing Kieran walking onto the battlefield, “Shes not… but he is”

A Minute or so later, Holly had rushed onto the field and waved to the crowd, “So you’re the champion guy right, if I beat you, doe that make me a champion?” she grins happily.

“Don’t count on winning yet” Kieran counter coldly, his eyes dark and cold.

“THE SECOND BATTLE IN THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN, FROM UVA ACADEMY, WE HAVE HOLLY AND FROM BLUEBERRY INSTITUTE, WE HAVE CHAMPION KEIRAN. AS PER THE AGREEMENT, THIS FIRST ROUND IS A 3 ON 3 BATTLE!”

“Lets Go Charizard!” Holly calls, throwing a quick ball and the Fire Pokemon appeared with a roar

“Politoed, go!” Kieran says almost in a bored voice, throwing his Pokeball and the toad Pokemon appears before him, and as it does so, the clouds seem to open and rain falls over the battlefield,

“ah man… drizzle!” Holly huffs as she looks at him, “Charizard… erm.. Use Dragon Pulse!” she orders, and Charizard flaps its wings and launches itself into the air as he opens his mouth to unleash a dragonic burst,

“Politoed, use Weather Ball” Kieran says in the same monotone voice, and Politoed raised its hand together, an orb of water forming in its hands before it gets launched at Charizard, the Dragon attack clashes into the orb, but seems to pale in comparison to orb from Politoed, as it split the attack in two, both halves missing Politoed and then striking Charizard, “Now follow it up with Psychic”, Politoed threw the psychic energy at Charizard and caused to crash into he ground,

“Charizard, stand up and use Air Cutter!” Holly orders quickly as she watches her Pokemon stand up again sending slashes of air right at Politoed.

“Use Helping Hand to slap them away!” Kieran says carefully and Politoed slaps its hand forward, sending the slashes out of the way and crashing them into the ground.

“N-no way” Holly stutters as she takes a step back,

“Politoed, use Weather Ball once again” Kieran says carefully and the water orb flies through the air and strikes Charizard, launching it back and causing it to crash into a wall, and collapse down.

“Charizard is unable to battle, Trainer Holly must send out another Pokemon!” the announcer calls.

“C’mon back Charizard!” Holly mutters as it seems her confidence was shake slightly by how effortlessly she had been beaten in that first round, “Lets Go Dragonite!” she says as she throws a ball forward, the Dragon Pokemon appearing before her,

“Politoed, use Weather Ball again” Kieran says calmly as he raises a hand,

“Dragonite, use Ice Beam to freeze that Orb!” Holly tries to counter, and while the orb is flying towards her Pokemon, Dragonite freezes it but the orb keeps coming, smacking into Dragonite and causing it to shake its head a little,

“M-man,… this is… re-ridiculous” Holly stutters as she tries to formulate a plan, but while she does so, Kieran gets his next assault ready.

“Politoed, use Ice Beam” Kieran calls as the rain begins to lighten up, the normal weather returning and a quick burst of ice shoots at Dragonite, which strikes it and, in a strike of luck, forms an icy block around Dragonite, causing to fall down to the ground, frozen.

“A-ah… D-damn..” Holly sighs, as she looks down, clenching her fist as she looks to the announcer and gives a nod as she recalls her Pokemon,

“Dragonite is unable to continue battling, Trainer Holly must send out her final Pokemon!” The Announcer says carefully,

“You got lucky kid” Holly tells him coldly, “but you wont so lucky again, Now Go… Gardevoir!”

The Gardevoir appeared and landed down looking at Politoed calmly, “Now Gardevoir use Moonblast!” Holly orders and Gardevoir raises her hands and calls on the power of the moon and fires a blast right at Politoed.

“Use your Ice Beam” Kieran says boredly as he crosses his arms, as the two attacks strike the pokemon, Kieran looks at her, “Your not even your own trainer, your just want to coast on the skills, reputation and power of real trainers.” He tells her

“W-what?” Holly stutters as she steps back looking at him, “H-how am I doing that?” she asks.

“Charizard, Dragonite, Gardevoir…” Kieran lists off, “Galar, Johto, Kalos…. Leon, Lance, Diantha… you use the Pokemon used by famous trainers, trying to emulate their skills to hide your own lacking skill” he says coldly as he raises his hand, “Now Politoed, use Weather Ball again!”

“G-gardeoir, prove your not w-what he says, use Aura Sphere!” Holly orders, clearly thrown off by Kieran’s words, the two orb attacks clashed the Weather Ball still broke the Aura Sphere before it crashing to Gardevoir.

“Politoed, Use Ice Beam!” Kieran calls pointing just beneath Gardevoir,

“Gardevoir, use Moonblast!” Holly says seeing her chance to get an attack in, but failing to realise that the ice would cause her Gardevoir to slip and miss its attack,

“Now while she is off balance, use Psychic on the ice!” Kieran commands quickly, and the ice shatters with psychic power, blasts of the ice strike Gardevoir and cause it to collapse down.

“wow…” Holly mutters as she recalls her Gardevoir.

“Trainer Holly has been defeated, The winner is Champion Kieran from Blueberry Institute!”

Kieran didn’t say a word as he recalled his Politoed and headed back to the chairs, pausing before walking past them, heading off.

Florian watched him go, his nails digging into his palm as he saw Drayton stand and follow the boy, walking off.

“There will now be a twenty minute break to clear the battlefield!” The announcer tells the audience, and every eye turned to the scoreboard. To the purple 0 and Blue 2. First Blood had been drawn....

Meanwhile, Kieran stepped into he bathroom and washed his face as he took a few breaths to take a moment for himself.

“Well, didn’t know you had it in you to be so brutal, little ex-champion” A Voice drifts in and mocking hand claps follow as Drayton stepped into he bathroom, looking at Kieran.

“What do you want, Drayton?” Kieran asks coldly, as he looks at the taller male.

“Just a reminder for you” Drayton says as he looks at the boy grabbing him by the chin and forcing Kieran to look into his eyes, “I saw you… you were trying to catch your little friends eye, weren’t you?”

“N-no… I…” Kieran protests,

“Don’t lie” Drayton growls, “If I find you trying to look at him again, if I even think your trying to contact him…” he warns, “You’ll find yourself thrown out like the trash you are” he smirks down at him, “you are not to look at Florian, your not to…” he stops and then he laughs, “Holy Arceus… how…” he puts his hand on his head, “how did I not see it” he laughs more,

“S-see what?” Kieran asks, glad that the boy wasn’t touching him anymore, and he backs off a little,

“You…” Drayton smirks as he walks forward, “Your in love with him, aren’t you… you pathetic little…”

Kieran winces as he looks away, “L-leave me alone, D-drayton”

“I’m right aren’t i?” Drayton growls, “You’re a fucking…” he pauses and whispers the next word to Kieran and the boy winces, “well… good to know, but If you ever look at him again, even if you are a little…” he pauses as he smirks, Kieran knowing what word he was about to say, “then both you and your older sister…. Will both find yourself out of the school, fater than you can say, ‘Yes, Drayton’” he says as he turns, “oh… and you really should change your taste… Florian would never, ever want YOU” he smirks as he walks out of the bathroom.

Kieran leant on the wall and sobs as he slides down, curling himself into a ball as he tries to hide his weakness… tries to protect himself, his sister… Florian… unaware that the door had opened again…

Chapter Text

Chapter Fourteen: Blaze and Glory

A few minutes after the first battle had ended, the teachers of Uva had managed to clear away all the ice and debris from the first two battles, everyone had been talking and quickly talking about the battles so far, and if the fact that both the two matches so far had shown Blueberry’s strength, and if Blueberry would continue to dominate every match.

Florian had commiserated with both the two trainers, who had thanked him for it, before they returned to their chairs, Florian looked at Mela, knowing she was up next… and while she wasn’t the strongest of the Star Bosses, that she would have a good chance of sharing a heated battle with Crispin.

“How are you feeling?” Florian asks her quietly,

“Fired up and ready” Mela replies with a nod, seeing his face, “this hot head wont know what hit him when I’m done with him!” she smiles carefully as she walks towards the battlefield, Florian returning to his seat as he looks at her, she had shed her school uniform, in favour of wearing her ‘power suit’, also known as her Team Star Outfit, including her large boots as she walked onto the field.

A Minute later, Crispin was pushed by Lacey onto the field, as it appeared the boy had gotten distracted by something and he walks on, his Pan in hand.

“THE THIRD BATTLE IN THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN, FROM UVA ACADEMY, WE HAVE STAR BOSS MELA AND FROM BLUEBERRY INSTITUTE, WE HAVE ELITE FOUR CRISPIN. AS PER THE AGREEMENT, THIS FIRST ROUND IS A 3 ON 3 BATTLE!”

“Star Boss?” Crispin frowns as he rubs his head with the handle of his pan, “wont change who wins this battle!” he grins, “Go Rotom!” he calls, throwing his ball forward to reveal his Rotom-Heat.

“Prepare to get Messed up!” Mela smiles, “Get ‘em Torkoal!” she smiles, as her pokemon appears before her,

“Ah man, this is awesome!” Crispin says brightly, “we’re going to have such a blazing battle!” he grins as the sunlight turns harsh,

“Yeah, and my moves will torch ya till there is nothin left but ash!” Mela replies, “Now Torkoal, use Flare Blitz!”

“Awwww…. Yeah!” Crispin says happily, “Lets get heated, Rotom, use Overheat!”

The two fire types unleashed their flames and the entire field was coated in heat as they clashed and unleashed a wave of fire which cooked the grass around the arena.

“Aw man, I can tell your cooking on a super high heat!” Crispin calls happily as he raises his pan in the air, “Rotom, Overheat again!”

“Torkoal, burn it away with Flare Blitz!” Mela orders as the two fire types once again heat up and unleash their flaming attacks, both looking slightly burnt out.

“Your fight fire with fire” Mela says impressed as she looks at Crispin.

“And you really know how to turn up the heat in the kitchen!” Crispin replies happily, “Once more?”

“Once more” Mela nods.

“Overheat!”

“Flare Blitz!”

The two Pokemon clashed once more and the fire blazed around them, before clearing to reveal both Pokemon had fainted,

“Return!”  Mela calls

“Come on back!” Crispin nods.

Both trainers raised their hands and released another Pokemon,

“Go, Ceruledge!” Mela smiles as the blazing blade appeared

“Go, Magmortar!” Crispin grins, sending out his own Pokemon.

The two fire types appeared and took their battle stances, looking at one another, before they moved, milliseconds after the trainers commanders were give.

“Heat Wave, Magmortar!”

“Dragon Claw, Ceruledge!”

The Fire attack slammed into Ceruledge, but the flames didn’t seem to cause any harm, instead pushing it forward, its own flames burning brighter as it slashed its bladed arms around, staying close.

“Damn” Crispin frowns as he looks at the Ceruledge, “that things strong”

“Heck yeah it is” Mela smiles as she stands up, “this guy was trained by both me, and the Biggest Boss of Uva” she grins, “hes the might of both of us put into one, Now let me show ya what he can do, Ceruledge, use Bitter Blade!”

“Nice, then I’ll enjoy taking it down, Magmortar, use Thunderbolt!”

Ceruledge tried to keep close to slash its burning arms at Magmortar, but it kept moving back before it raised a cannon and fired a thunderbolt point blank at Ceruledge, sending it back as paralysis racked it,

Mela growled as she saw her Pokemon being paralysed, its mobility halved, “Ceruledge, use Bitter Blade again!” she asked, Ceruledge leapt forward and slashed its arm, slower than ever,

“Magmortar, send it crashing back with a Psychic!” Crispin grins as Magmortar raises his arm and sends Ceruledge crashing down into the ground, “And then follow it up with Thunderbolt!", Magmortar opened its cannons and from it send bursts of thunder striking Ceruledge as it tried to stand up.

“Phantom Force” Mela orders, and Ceruledge vanishes from sight, both Crispin and Magmortar looking around in confusion,

“W-wait, where’s your Pokemon?” Crispin asks as he scratches his head with the handle of his pan.

“You’ll see” Mela smirks, as reality itself almost seems to be torn as Ceruledge appears behind Magmortar and slashes its sword right at Magmortars back, before it lands down before it,

“Magmortar, Thunderbolt!” Crispin says as it raises its hand,

“Phantom Force again!” Mela smiles as Ceruledge vanishes once more, and Crispin frowns as they look around, trying to spot where the bladed Pokemon would reappear form.

Moments later, Ceruledge reappeared from right infront of Magmortar and slashes its blades, Magmortar looking weakened.

“Magmortar, use thunderbolt once again!” Crispin says, worried that he’d lose his Magmortar.”

The Bolts of lighting shot from Magmortar and struck Ceruledge and found it as it sent it into the air, before Ceruledge vanishes once again,

“Damn…” Crispin frowns as he and Magmortar look around, “Magmortar, use Psychic to unleash a burst of energy around yourself!”

As Magmortar did this, Ceruledge reappeared and slashed its blade, just catching Magmortar before being thrown back, Crispin looking at it and nodding, “Sunny Day!”

Magmortar raises its arm and above them all the sun seemed to grow harsh,

“Ceruledge, use Bitter Blade!” Mela orders, and the Pokemon rushed forward, with a slash of its arm, Magmortar dropped down, fainted.

“Come on Back!” Crispin frowns as he smiles, “You’re a full banquet of skill, now let me show you my best, Go Blaziken!”

The Pokemon appears before Crispin and kicks the air with flames

“Ceruledge, use Bitter blade again!” Mela orders as the Pokemon rushes forward,

“Not so far!” Crispin smiles, raising his hand with a tera orb ready, “Glow Crysal, Terastalize and reform!” with that the energy flowed around him and he threw the orb as the crystals grow around Blaziken, before they shatter, revealing Blaziken covered in a crystal coat, a great flame candle above its head.

“Blaziken, use Shadow Claw when Ceruledge gets close enough!” Crispin smiles, as Blaziken rushed forth and slashes its hand catching the blade and its other hand clashed Ceruledge with shadowy claws, “Again…” Crispin smiles, “and again!”

Twice more, Blaziken slashes at Ceruledge, each time its movements speed increases as it slashes, Ceruledge backs off and stumbles,

“Finish it with Stone Edge!” Crispin commands,

“Quick, use Phantom Force!” Mela counters,

Ceruledge made a move but Blaziken was faster, crashing into the ground and sending the shards of stone right at Ceruledge, which sent it crashing back to the ground.

“Damn it…” Mela frowns, recalling Ceruledge, “If you didn’t get that Paralysis, then I’d have been faster” she says as he raises her hand, “Go, Armarouge!”

The Cannon Pokemon appears before her, taking Ceruledge’s place,

“Wow, that looks awesome!” Crispin grins, happily, “but it can’t take down my Blaziken!”

“Tch, I’m not burned to a crisp yet!” Mela frowns, “I’ll take you down for all of Schedar Squad!” she raises her hand showing her own Tera orb, “Glow Crystals, burn bright and form anew!” The energy flowed around her before she threw the orb and it formed around Armarouge and it too shattered, revealing Armarouge in a crystal coat and a flame atop its head.

“You asked for this, I’m blowing up this battle!” Mela says, “Armarogue, use Armor Cannon!”

Armarogue raised its arms and formed a cannon, before it unleashed a blazing ball of flames right at Blaziken, sending it back as the flames exploded upon it,

“Wow” Crispin says impressed, “that’s got a lot of spice to it!” he smiles, “now Blaziken, use Focus Blast!”

“Counter it with an Aura Sphere!” Mela orders, as the two Pokemon unleashed their orbs of power, the Focus Blast clashing into Aura Sphere, before it seemed to push past it and strike Armarouge, but it had little power left, “Armor Cannon again!” Mela orders,

“Blaziken, get in close and use Shadow Claw!” Crispin orders, as the two Pokemon moved to make their attacks, the Blaziken moving faster and faster with each moment that passes, slashing at Armarogue, “Now use Stone Edge!” The Armor Cannon fired but the stones blocked most of it before more of them struck Armorogue.

“Armarouge Armor Cannon again!” Mela orders, “full fire force!”

“Blaziken, dodge it and then use Shadow Claw!” Crispin instructs as the Pokemon move, the flames from Armor Cannon missed Blaziken and then slashed at Armarogue, several times,

“Now finish it, Stone edge!” Crispin grins,

“Armarogue, Use Aura Sphere!” Mela orders,

The two Pokemon unleashed their attacks, the aura sphere striking Blaziken as the stones flew at Armarogue and in seconds crystal shattered around the battlefield, as Armarogue was sent crashing onto its back, fainted.

“Star Boss Mela has been Defeated!” The Announcer called, “The Winner is Elite Four Crispin of Blueberry Institute!”

A groan rose from Uva’s side, but Mela simply recalled her Pokemon and turned her back on the battlefield, heading back and sitting in her seat.

No one from Uva’s side looked up to the scoreboard, which clearly now showed a Purple 0 and a Blue 3….

“We are getting wrecked!”  Penny groans a few minutes into the break while they let the field cool down from the blazing battle, “we’re 3-0 down… if we don’t start turning things around now, we’re going to become an embarrassment!”

“Keep calm” Arven frowns, “so far they’ve sent out Carmine, Kieran and Crispin, three of their top seven trainers” Arven lists, “at least that’s how strong I think they are…” he counts on his fingers,

“Kieran was always going to crush his opponent, unless it was me or Florian… no offence” Nemona grins as she looks around, “and Carmine is super tough too!” she smiles, “so we’re going up against their aces before they send out the lowers…”

“Lawrence wont be a pushover” Florian says as he walks up to the group, frowning at the ground, “From what I’ve been told, he’s the rival to Drayton, whose the head of the Elite Four”.

“Man… this sucks” Arven groans, “That’s the guy I’m up against right?”

“Yeah” Florian nods, as he looks down with a frown, “he’s tough, but arrogant… if you can get under his skin it will throw him off.” He smiles.

“Guess you have experience with that?” Arven asks,

Florian grins proudly and nods, “yeah, he had this stupid rule that you had to face him with Pokemon you caught at Blueberry… so I trained for a week and the battled him, when he sent out his last Pokemon, I taunted him about losing to a guy who caught the Pokemon he was using less than a week ago”.

A few people let out small grins as they begin to discuss strategy.

Meanwhile, Drayton was pushing a classroom door open and stepped inside,

“That was embarrassing for a member of the Elite four” Drayton scowls as he looks around, “You should have wiped the floor with that girl, but instead she nearly beat you!”

“Hey, we had a blazing battle, and cooked up a real good match!” Crispin protests,

“And you nearly lost” Drayton replies coldly, “think that would look good on our school, you losing to… them?”

Crispin feel quiet as he tried to think of a reply… but it made his head hurt so he stopped.

“Drayton, there is no need for that” Amarys says carefully, “Mela is known to train closely with Florian, her skill is natural if she is learning from the one person to have defeated everyone in this room” she says in a level voice.

Drayton scowls at the ground, remembering his own battle before he runs a hand through his hair and seems to calm, “Good job I went easy on him when I last fought him, if he makes it through round one and I face him, I wont go easy on him” Drayton says calmly, “but I talked with the Ex-… I mean The Champion” he says as everyone’s eyes flick to Kieran who sits in silence, “he agreed that any member of the Elite Four who loses before the semi-finals… they lose their seat” he grins up at them, “no excuses”.

“What?” Lacey asks as she stands up, “you cant…”

“If you lose to this… school…” Drayton smirks, “then you don’t deserve to be guaranteed your seat” he says to her, “isn’t that right, Kieran?” he says as his eyes look over at Kieran.

Once again every eye flicks to him, “whatever” Kieran replies quietly,

“See… now… get back out there, crush the last of them so we can leave this fossil in the dirt where it belongs” Drayton says as he turns away and walks off before stopping at the door, “Oh and anyone found communicating with our enemies… even if they get defeated will face immediate expulsion” he says looking at Carmine, Lacey and Amarys, “they aren’t our friends…. They are nothing”.

With that Drayton threw the door open and walked out, leaving the room in silence.

About ten minutes later, the field had been cooled down enough for the battle to be resumed before lunch,

Everyone sat down and watched as Giacomo and Lawrence stepped onto the field, Giacomo had his head in his laptop and ears covered by headphones before pulling them down and looking right at Lawrence.

“THE FOURTH BATTLE IN THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN, FROM UVA ACADEMY, WE HAVE STAR BOSS GIACOMO AND FROM BLUEBERRY INSTITUTE, WE HAVE LAWRENCE. AS PER THE AGREEMENT, THIS FIRST ROUND IS A 3 ON 3 BATTLE!”

“Let’s step onto the main stage, I’ll be kicking off Uva’s comeback!” Giacomo smirks, “Go Hydreigon!”

“In your dreams stardust” Lawrence replies casually as he raises his hand, “Lets show him his place, Lucario!”

The triple headed dragon and Anubis Pokemon appeared before each other.

“Hydriegon, lets start this performance with Flamethrower!” Giacomo grins as he looks up and watches as all three heads unleash a burst of flames,

“Lucario, calm your mind” Lawrence orders, and Lucario kneels down, and the flames wash over it, “Again!”

“Err… Hydreigon… use Flamethrower again” Giacomo says carefully, seemingly thrown off by Lawrence’s lack of attack,

“Calm your mind again, Lucario” Lawrence says, as the Lucario kneels down again, as the flames wash over it, but seem to harm it less than the last set of flames,

Giacomo was completely thrown of as he blinks, “Your going to have to attack to win, y’know”

“I am aware of the method to win a battle” Lawrence smirks, “Calm your mind again Lucario!”

“Hydreigon, use Flamethrower again!” Giacomo says, the Lucario kneels down and the flames wash over it, doing less damage than ever.

“Calm your mind once More Lucario” Lawrence Commands, and Lucario kneels down for a fourth time,

“Flamethrower” Giacomo says, as the flames wash over Lucario again, but seem to be doing less damage than ever, “Damn it”

“Seeing now that your strategy will ultimately fail against my mastery?” Lawrence smirks carefully, tapping his head, “Lucario, once again, Calm your Mind!” Lucario kneels down, and Giacomo scowls,

“Hydriegon, use Dragon Pulse!” Giacomo orders as he raised its heads and unleashed a blast of draconic energy shots at Lucario, but it seems to do nothing against the Pokemon,

“Last time, Calm your Mind Lucario” Lawrence smiles as Lucario kneels down for the final time,

“Hydreigon, use Flamethrower!” Giacomo commands, and the flames wash over Lucario again, but as ever doesn’t do anything against it.

“Now then… the preparation is made, Lucario, use Dragon Pulse!” Lawrence commands and the Lucario raises its hands and then together they form a beam of energy which fires right at Hydreigon, sending it crashing back, fainted…

“W-wow…” Giacomo says stunned as he recalls Hydriedgon, “down in one…” He mutters before he shakes his head, “Time for a new track, Go Krookodile!”

“Krookodile, use Earthquake!” Giacomo orders and the entire ground shakes, and Lucario is knocked back a little, but stands firm,

“Lucario, Aura Sphere!” Lawrence commands, and Lucario raises its hand and fires off an Aura Sphere, which slams into Krookodile, sending it crashing down, fainted again in a single blow.

“W-what?” Giacomo asks stunned as he recalls Krookodile, “Guess I’m on my last beat, but you haven’t won yet, Go Kingambit!”

Kingambit appeared and landed down before Giacomo, who raises his hand, “lets start this off with a rocking beat, glow crystal and transform!”

With that he threw his tera orb and light flashed around Kingambit, before it disappears to reveal Kingambit covered in crystal,  a wicked face above. “Now, heads up, its about to get evil in here… but I wont win if I hold back after all… Kingambit use Kowtow Cleave!”

Kingambit slashed its blade down onto Lucario and it knocked back a little, but Lawrence smiles, “Aura Sphere” He says simply and the aura attack flies and strikes right at Kingambit, which sends it flying back, but it just lands back down,

“W-WHAT?” Lawrence shouts in shock, “you might have survived that, but you wont survive this, Aura Sphere once more!”

“Kowtow Cleave again!” Giacomo commands and the dark attack strikes Lucario, but the Aura sphere smacks right into Kingambit sending it realing back and crashing down, fainted as the crystal shatters.

“Star Boss Giacomo has been Defeated!” The Announcer called, “The Winner is Lawrence of Blueberry Institute!”

Giacomo sighs as he recalls his Pokemon, watching as Lawrence grins and recalls his own Pokemon, turning his back and walking away without saying anything, while Giacomo slumps back to his chair and sits down, “that sucked…”

Once again, no one from Uva looked up at the scoreboard…. 0-4….

Lawrence smirked as he walked past Drayton, “make sure to pay Eliza, the spores she used during the break worked perfectly” he says with a smirk, “just had to wait for them to take effect…” he grins as he heads off, Drayton grinning as he looks back,

“Lawrence” Drayton called, and the boy pauses and looks back, “The Champ is gay” he smirks, “think we can find some… use outta him when this is all over?” he grins maliciously,

“Oh… I’m sure we’ll make sure he’s handled” Lawrence nods as he turns and walks off, “now… lets see if this place has any decent food”

Dratyon nods and follows, smirking to himself… his plan was working… perfectly.

Chapter Text

Chapter Fifteen: Rise

The Mood in the cafeteria was down, the constant defeats on their side caused the Uva academy students to be down and quiet, Mela and Giacomo, unlike usual where they were the life of whatever gathering that was going on, were sat in silence, both feeling awful after they had been crushed in battle.

Florian looked around and bit his lip, knowing at this rate the moral of the team would crumble and everyone would be defeated, no matter if they should have won the battle or not. His eyes flicked to Ortega who was seemingly calm as he played with his walking cane, his face not betraying the slightest emotion or nerves,

“Hey” Florian says as he moves and sits down next to Ortega, “How…” he began before Ortega cut him off.

“Its going fine” Ortega says in a sharp voice, “I’ll handle whoever they throw at me” he says with a smile, “Or don’t you trust me to handle things?”

“I trust you, Ortega” Florian replies honestly, “you have a game plan?” he asks looking at him carefully.

Ortega nods once and smiles as he stands up and taps the cane on the floor twice, before walking out, his usual confidence and almost arrogance in each and every step as Florian grinned watching the boy head out.

Florian looked at the door, before hearing the bell ring, calling everyone back to the field.

Less than twenty minutes later, Ortega stood ready on the field before the battle was even announced, as he stood there, Drayton walked past and while Florian didn’t hear what he said to Ortega, he did see the look on the pink haired boys face, and the grin with which he replied.

Drayton walked off and sat down as he smirked, seeming to think he’d won their little interaction,

“THE FIFTH BATTLE IN THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN, FROM UVA ACADEMY, WE HAVE STAR BOSS ORTEGA AND FROM BLUEBERRY INSTITUTE, WE HAVE LOUIE. AS PER THE AGREEMENT, THIS FIRST ROUND IS A 3 ON 3 BATTLE!”

“Your another of those Star people, well you’ll be seeing stars when my heroes are done with you!” Louie says as he walks on the field, he wore a hoodie that looked like a superhero outfit, a bit letter L on the front as he walked on, his blonde hair styled liked it had been windswept, and his blue eyes looking at Ortega with distain.

“Ah, Perhaps my collegues lost, but I am not them” Ortega says as he raises his cane and aims it at Louie, “Now, lets see what you can do”

“Go Lucario!” Louie orders.

Ortega taps his cane twice on the floor and smiles, “Lets go Azumarill” He says as he opens the ball on his cane to reveal the Pokemon, “appear and use Belly drum!”

“Such a Villian to act before I was ready” Louie growls as he looks at Azumarill injuring itself to make itself more powerful, “Lucario, show him your Heoric might with Bullet Punch!”

Lucario rushed forward and its fist glowed steely grey as it moves to smack into Azumarill, but Ortega smiles, "Now Azumarill, show him your strength, Waterfall!" Ortega orders, and with that, water rushed towards Lucario, Azumaril smacking it right into Lucario knocking it back and it landed down, “And once more!”

“You Villian!” Louie roars, “How dare you defy the heroic plan?” he scowls, “Lucario, Drain this Villian of their strength, hit it with Drain Punch!” Lucario rushed forward, but again was smacked back by the waterfall,

“Damn…” Louie scowls, “Justice should aways be more powerful than any villain, how is it you are so strong?”

“Simple, I learned from my mistakes” Ortega smiles, “And from my tutor” he adds, “Azumarill my only have a base attack value calculated around 50, but thanks to the training I put it through with my tutor, we increased that to its maximum” he says proudly, “then its ability kicks in, doubling its attack power… and then belly drum quadruples that!”

“S-so what is its calculated attack power, you vil…” Louie begins,

“1,744” Ortega cuts him off, “a power few Pokemon will ever reach, but my Azumarill can handle with ease!” he grins, “Now let me show you just how strong the Waterfall is again!”

“Lucario, use Bullet Punch, get in there before Azumarill can summon its vile waves!” Louie orders as Lucario rushed forward and Ortega smiles,

“Got you” Ortega grins, “Azumarill, now its close, Show it your Play Rough!” Azumarill stopped its attack and then smacked Lucario with its fairy power, while Lucario did land its own blow, Azumarill landed a solid hit and Lucario backed off as it stumbled, “Azumarill, finish it with Ice Punch”

Azumarill raised its hand and smacked Lucario’s chin with an icy power as it crashed down to the ground, fainted.

“You. You. YOU VIILLIAN, MY OTHER HEORES WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU!” Louie screams at Ortega who stands there calmly, while Louie recalls his Pokemon, “Go Palafin!”

The Dolphin Pokemon appeared before them all and it looked up at Azumarill,

“Palafin, the mightiest hero I have, use Iron Head!” Louie calls as Palafin rushed forth to smack into Azumarill,

“Azumarill, use Play Rough to push it back!” Ortega commands, as the two Pokemon clash, before with a flash, Palafin vanished from the battle, “Where did it go?”

“My hero needed a costume change” Louie smiles, “he’ll be back out in a bit” he smiles, “but for now, you get to play with my Gallade!”

The Gallade appeared to take Palafin’s place, as it looked ready to fight, “mighty hero Gallade, strike true with a Leaf Blade!”

“Azumarill, use Play Rough!” Ortega calls quickly,

The two Pokemon both begin to strike, Gallade’s more nimble attacks landing on Azumarill while Azumarill seemed to smack harder but slower, the two both wearing each other down… neither stopping as they continued to strike each other.

“Gallade, finish this with a final Leaf Blade of Justice!” Louie commands, as he raises his hand, “show him the might of a Hero!”

“Azumarill, smack that Gallade into next week with your Play Rough!” Ortega orders, the two Pokemon clash and both smack into each other, neither of the two seem to be willing to give up but at the same moment, they dropped down, both fainted.

“How truly villainous” Louie scowls as he recalls his Pokemon, while Ortega recalls his own Azumarill with a smile,

“Come back to the fray, Mighty hero Palafin!” Louie commands, as the heroic form of Palafin appears before them all, standing tall and proud,

“Let me show you the newest star on my wall” Ortega says as he changes the Pokeball on his cane and opens it, as a shadow moves across the battlefield, before forming to reveal a Mimikyu,

“W-what is that thing?” Louie stutters as he steps back, before shaking his head, “no, it matters little, my hero will crush any villain put in its path, especially when I do this” he says as he raises a Tera orb, “Now glow Hero, rise together and reform!” he throws the orb and it reforms around Palafin, crystal coating it and it transforming into a Water Tera.

“That’s How your going to play?” Ortega smiles, “well, let me show you, Sword Dance” he says as Mimikyu creates fake swords in the air, increasing its own power.

“Palafin, use your mighty Iron head to crush that pathetic Villian!” Louie commands as Palafin rushes forth and smacks into Mimikyu, whose outfit tears a little, but seems to not do any damage to the Pokemon,

“W-what in the name of Arceus?” Louie stutters as he looks at Mimikyu,

“Let me guess, you didn’t know about Mimikyu’s disguise ability… the first hit always busts its disguise” Ortega smiles, “gives me a free turn to get stronger to smack you back, Now Mimikyu, use Shadow Claw!”

A shadow rose up from Mimikyu and slashed right at Palafin, knocking it back a little, “You’ll have to do better than that, Villian!” Louie growls, “Palafin, use Liquidation to smack that thing back to whatever shadow it crawled out of!”

The Palafin slashed with a sword of water and slashes right at Mimikyu, which knocked it flying, but Ortega stood calm and smiled, “Now Mimikyu, blindside it with Leech Life!”

Mimikyu immediately righted itself in the air and fired of pins which struck Palafin in the back and drained some of its strength healing Mimikyu.

“Striking a Heroes back, how utterly despicable of you!” Louie growls, “Now Crash that shadowy beast into the ground, Liquidation!” the blade of water formed again and slashed down and smashed Mimikyu into the ground, but the small Pokemon stood up

“Mimikyu, Leech Life again!” Ortega orders and once again the small needle fires to draw in more healing power to Mimikyu,

“Blast you” Louie scowls down at Mimikyu, “why wont you fall you…” he scowls looking at them, “Palafin finish this battle with Liquidation!” he roars, “full heroic might!” the water sword formed again and slashed,

“Mimikyu, show your Shadow Claw again!” Ortega confirms as the shadow met the water, they held firm before one cut through the other, and the Pokemon flew back, crashing down to the ground…

Crystal shattered around Palafin as it hit the ground, fainting completely,

“Trainer Louie has been defeated!” The Announcer calls, “The Winner is Star Boss Ortega of Uva Academy!”

Ortega smiles as he pats his shoulder and Mimikyu uses its shadow to grab Ortega’s cane and swing itself onto its shoulder, before it nuzzled against Ortega, who turned and walked back to his seat, everyone’s mood in the Uva camp brighter after their first win, Arven moved from his seat next to Florian and Ortega took it,

“Told you I had it handled” Ortega smirks confidently as he looks up at the scoreboard, a Purple 1 and a Blue 4, “we are behind, but we still have our ace” he says his eyes looking at Florian, “and you’ll kill it out there”

“What the hell was that?” Drayton growls at Louie as he returns to his seat, “you had an easy win, that kid can’t be older than…” he scowls,

“Ortega is easily overlooked” Carmine smiles as she examines her nails, “he doesn’t look it, but he’s a tough trainer” she smiles, “but it is interesting, Drayton… you underestimated Ortega and someone weaker was paired up to fight him.” She says evenly as she looks into his eyes, “almost…”

“Don’t say anything” Lacey hissed into her ear as Carmine smiles as she leans back

“Well…” Carmine says carefully, “I’m sure that this will be interesting” she adds casually as she stands up and heads off, “I’m going to… well, I don’t need to watch this” she says as she walks off calmly, Lacey, Crispin and Amarys following her.

“Get back…” Drayton hisses as he hears the call for the next match, scowling as he sits down to watch, as both trainers get up from his side…

“THE SIXTH BATTLE IN THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN, FROM TRAINERS ARE FROM BLUEBERRY INSTITUTE, FIRST E HAVE CLARISSA AND THEN WE HAVE KIAN. AS PER THE AGREEMENT, THIS FIRST ROUND IS A 3 ON 3 BATTLE!”

Kian grins as he raises a hand, “Lets rock out, and I’ll shock you to the ground, go all out Lanturn!” Kian grins,

Clarissa flicks her brown hair and watches with her blue eyes, “I know all about you Kian, you wont win this just because you’re an electric trainer, say hello to my Swampert!” she smiles, as the pokemon appears before her,

“Clever move, but what will you do when it fails you?” Kian grins, “Lanturn, show off your skills with Scald!”

“Swampert, counter it with Earth Power!” Clarissa grins as the earth beneath Lanturn opens and strikes it, but the water strikes Swampert and sends it crashing to the side, before getting back up, “Swampert Ancient Power!”

The rocks rise and launch right at Lanturn striking it one after the other, “Lanturn, now its nice and wet, use an Ice Beam!” Kian grins as the ice strikes it and seems to slow it slightly, “Lanturn again, Ice Beam!”

The ice beam strikes Swampert, turning it into a block of ice.

“Swampert is unable to continue Battling!” The announcer calls, “Trainer Clarissa must send out a replacement”

“W-Wow…” Clarissa frowns as she raises her hand and recalls her Swampert, “Erm..” she begins to panic as she raises her hand to hold out another Pokeball, “Go Pelipper!”

The Pokemon appeared and as it did so, the clouds gathered above them before unleashing rain down upon them all, and the audience found that covers were raised above them all to protect them from the effects of the rain.

“This will be quick” Kian grins as he raises his guitar, “Take Aim Lanturn, and shock that bird with a Thunderbolt!” he grins as the electric rises up and strikes all over the battlefield, including at Pelipper, which shrieked as the lightning rocked it,

“Pelipper, use Hurricane!” Clarissa orders as she flicks her arm across her chest looking at Pelipper as the lightning subsides, the hurricane forms around Lanturn and sends it into the air, the wind slashing against the fish,

“Show it that a little wind doesn’t bother you Lanturn” Kian smiles, “shock it again with Thunderbolt!”

The thunderbolt shoots from the centre of the Hurricane and strikes right at Pelipper, due to the rain the electric surges through the bird and it crashes down to the ground, fainted.

“Pelipper return!” Clarissa frowns as she looks at Kian, “This battle is far from over, Let me show you… Azumarill!” she smiles as the Pokemon appears, “You saw how dangerous it was when that pink haired brat used it… so say hello to mine!” she smiles as the Azumarill appears before them, “Belly Drum!”

The Azumarill injuries itself to make itself stronger, “Now Azumarill…”

“Lanturn, use Thunderbolt quickly!” Kian commands as the lighting strikes forth and hits Azumarill from both sides as it looks at Lanturn, which looks back it,

“Lets try this again, Azumarill use Play Rough!” Clarissa calls as the Azumarill launches itself forward and smacks into Lanturn, causing it to crash down to the ground in a dead faint.

“Return Lanturn” Kian grins as he plucks a different string, “Now let me show you my… Toxtricty!” he grins as the Pokemon appears quickly, taking the field, “Now… Discharge!” Kian grins as the sound booms out, striking Azumarill and sending it back, it holds itself against the floor to stop it flying of as the power of the sonic attack nearly sends it out of bounds.

“W-wow” Clarissa says stunned as she looks at Toxtricty, “That was some… attack” she mutters, before shaking her head, “No… I c-can win this” she confirms, looking up, “Azumarill, show off your Waterfall!”

Azumarill rushed forward with its water attack but Kian grins, “Toxtricity, use Discharge!” he grins as the attack unleashes, Azumarill doesn’t get to make its attack as it was blasted back, the water condicting the electric and crashing down to the ground, fainted.

“Trainer Clarissa has been defeated, Trainer Kian has won the battle!” The announcer calls as they watch as Clarissa recalls their Pokemon, Kian and Clarissa both making their way back to their seats,

“While we dry off the battlefield, there will be a short break” The announcer calls.

“You were amazing out there” Eri says as she pats Ortega’s back, “you showed them the might of Uva!” she grins, as the group huddles around,

“it was a simple matter of…” Ortega began before Florian felt his phone vibrate, and he checks it

“I’ll be right back” Florian tells them as he rushes off, leaving the group,

“What was that about?” Penny frowns a little, as she watches the retreating figure of Florian,

“No idea…” Giacomo admits, “but it had to be something pretty major for Boss man to run off like that”

“Speaking of Pretty major” Ortega smiles, “Penny… its time we let you in on a little something, got a while?”

Penny nods and the Team Star group all head off, to where, Penny had no clue.

“We need an advantage, no way am I going to underestimate another one of those brats” Drayton screams as he looks around at Kian, Eliza, Lawrence and Kassandra, “what can we do to guarantee the next two matches are in our favour?” he asks,

“Next is Arven” Kassandra says, “and your against him, your thinking you can’t beat him?”

“I can wipe the floor with him, if our intel is right” Drayton growls as he slams his hand on the desk, “but that same intel told us Ortega was a nothing, a weak trainer who Louie could wipe the floor with!”

“It was outdated, that’s all” Lawrence shrugs, “they get one win, let them savour it… and that will make their inevitable downfall all the sweeter, especially when Florian gets the floor wiped with him, in round one.”

“Is that plan in place?” Kian asks casually as he looks at Eliza,

“The spores will be different than the ones we used to have that… Giacomo defeated, but the method will remain the same” Eliza replies lightly, “it will prevent his Pokemon from evading the attacks, so when Ben uses his One-Hit-Knock-Out moves, his Pokemon will go down, one, two three” she smiles as she leans back and looks at them.

“He will be embarrassed beyond compare” Lawrence grins, “their star member taken out” he smirks as he looks at them, “fine…” he nods, “now, how do we handle…” he frowns as he checks the files “Arven and Nemona…”

“I have a plan” Kian says as he strums his guitar lazily, leaning back in a chair and smirking, “your not going to like it, but we need to spend some cash… and quick”

Drayton scowls, “what do you have in mind…?” he asks as he looks at the boy interestedly.

Meanwhile in a classroom a few doors away, Florian removed a set of headphones, “that son of a bit-“

“Language” Lacey chides him, looking at him lightly,

“This is worse than we thought” Amarys admits as she looks at Lacey, Crispin and Carmine, “Drayton is… cheating this whole thing, we should-“

“Outplay him” Florian says as he looks around at them all, “he doesn’t know we know about his scheme, but we’re not going to let him get away with this”

Crispin nods, “I’ll see if I can find what he’s doing with Kieran… because something is wrong there too, and I’ll bet Drayton is behind it”

Florian clenched his fist as he takes a breath, “I can’t wait to crush him in battle” he says simply as he looks around, the ground sat down to discuss how to fight back… and win.

About ten minutes later, everyone had returned to the battlefield, Nemona and Arven holding their Tera orbs and putting them away, Florian walked over but the moment he tried to speak to them, the announcer called for the start of the next battles…  and they walked off, moving away from him and he cletched his fist, hoping his friends could win despite Drayton’s cheating, as his eyes drifted over to Blueberry’s side, and for the first time since this began, looked into Kieran’s eyes….

Chapter Text

Chapter Sixteen: Scheming Shadows

As everyone took their seats once again, Florian could only watch as Arven headed to the battlefield, pocketing his Tera orb as the two trainers looked at each other, neither saying a word as they waited for the announcer to begin their match.

“THE SEVENTH BATTLE IN THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN, FROM UVA ACADEMY WE HAVE ARVEN AND FROM BLUEBERRY INSTITUTE WE HAVE ELITE FOUR DRAYTON, THIS FIRST ROUND IS A 3 ON 3 BATTLE!”

“You should just surrender now, save me the bother of kicking you when your already ready to go down” Drayton smirks as he throws his Pokeball, revealing Flygon,

“Go Cloyster!” Arven calls as the Bivalve Pokemon appeared before him,

“Flygon, show this backwater boy how you fight in the big leagues, use Stone Edge!” Drayton grins as he raises his hand and pointed at Cloyster,

“Cloyster, go into your shell to protect yourself, then use Icicle Spear!” Arven orders, and Cloyster’s shell closes as the rocks smast into it, not leaving a mark before it opens and five spears of ice shoot forth and all five strike Flygon, sending it reeling back, “How’s that for backwater?” Arven says confidently as he flicks his hair and looks forward confidently.

Drayton scowls as he grins his teeth a little and looks forward, “Flygon, you aren’t going to let this thing push you around, show it your Fire Punch!” Drayton calls as the Flygon rushes forward and its first becomes engulfed in flames, the fist connects with Cloyster, but it doesn’t seem too bothered,

“Cloyster, Icicle Spear once again!” Arven orders as Cloyster shoots the five spears of ice and Flygon flies back, looking tired from the ten spears of ice.

“You got lucky… icicle spear hitting five times twice in a row has odds that are stupidly low” Drayton glowers, “its got to be less than..”

“One percent” Arven replies, as he looks up, “or that’s what Florian would tell me… except for one thing” he says holding his finger up, “Cloyster’s Ability” he grins.

Drayton blinks, “Skill…”

“Yeah, now let me show it work once more, Icicle Spear!” Arven interrupts as the five spears of ice shoot out and strike Flygon, which cause it to drop down to the ground.

“Damn it” Drayton scowls as he raises his hand to recall his Flygon his hand twitched for one of his Pokeballs, but he moves and grabs a different one, throwing it out to reveal his Kingdra, “Say hello to this” he smiles.

“I’ll take that one down, just like I took down the last one!” Arven grins confidently as he looks at Drayton, “Cloyster, use Icicle Spear!”

“Kingdra, wash away the ice, Rain Dance!” Drayton orders as the Kingdra moves, and for the second time that day, rain pours down onto the battlefield, the covers moving over the spectators to protect them, as the ice shoots out, the rain causes it to slow and Kingdra moves out of the way at speed it didn’t have before, “and now you’ve lost your only attack with a chance of winning this battle” he says confidently.

“Rock Blast!” Arven orders as he points at Kingdra, and five stones raised in the air before blasting forth at Kingdra, all five striking it and causing it to shake its head at the dust the stones left behind, “You don’t think I’d step into this ring with only one Attack do you?” he asks

Drayton scowls as he looks at Arven, “Kingdra, use Hydro Pump!”

Kingdra raised its snout and fired a torrent of water which smacked into Cloyster, but it shook itself slightly before looking back at Kingdra,

“Cloyster protect yourself for Light Screen!” Arven orders, and walls of yellow energy builds around Cloyster, forming a box to protect it partially for the defence against special attacks, “Now Rock Blast!”

“Hurricane!” Drayton orders, as the wind whips up and crashes into he shield, partially blocked but the stones fly away and land outside of the battlefield, “Now add in Hydro Pump!” the water added to the Hurricane, soaking it as it almost turned into a whirlpool, “Now Ice beam!” Drayton commands as the Kingdra fires a beam of ice which turned the tornado into a massive icy statue, shattering Cloyster’s Light Screen.

“M-man…” Arven stutters as he looks up at Icy Tornado that was left, “Cloyster, use Liquidation!” Cloyster  gathered water and fired it at Kingdra,

“Answer it with Hydro Pump!” Drayton commands and the two water attacks clashed and the Hydro Pump went of course as it crashed into the icy tornado and shattered it, shards of ice raining down, the ice striking both Cloyster and Kingdra, crashing them to the ground,

“Double Knock out… huh?” Arven grins as he recalls his Cloyster, “but you only got one Pokemon left, and I have two” he says as he holds up his next Pokeball, “Odds aren’t with you!”

Drayton scowls as he looks at Arven, his hand shaking as it reached again for one of his Pokeballs, before it shifted to grab one, “Get him Archaludon!”

“Go, Garganacl!” Arven calls, as the salt Pokemon appears before him, the rain still pouring down over them all.

“Electro Shot!” Drayton orders as Archaludon, as it absorbs electric energy, before firing right at Garganacl, sending it back, its feet leaving marks in the ground, as it held firm.

“Garganacl, use Body Press!” Arven smiles as he watches Garganacl leap into the air and slam down on Archaludon.

“Archaludon, while its still raining, use your Electro Shot again!” Drayton replies, as it absorbs power before it fires and smacks into Garganacl, the Pokemon suffering more damage this time,

“So, your Pokemon gets stronger huh?” Arven asks curiously, “but what happens when the rain ends soon?” he grins, “Garganacl use Earthquake!”

The ground shakes as Archaludon is struck by he cracks and smacking into it. “Archaludon, continue using your Electro Shot!” the attack charged up and the blast struck Garganacl, before it collapsed down, in a faint.

“Return Garganacl” Arven sighs as he rubs his head, “ah well, Go Mabosstif!” he smiles as the Pokemon appears before him, before he grabs his Tera Orb, “Glow Crystal, Reform and Terrasalize!” he calls as he raises his hand and the tera orb takes in energy….

Before the light fades and nothing happens, “What?” Arven frowns as he looks down at his Tera Orb, which sits dull in his hand, as he raises it again, “Glow Crystal, Reform and Terrastalize!” Arven orders it as the light builds again, but fades… nothing happening.

“Look at that, he can’t even terrastalize properly” Drayton shakes his head

“GLOW CRYSTAL, REFORM AND TERRASTALIZE!” Arven shouts as he holds out the orb, the energy forming inside it and then shattering the orb, causing Arven to drop to his knees in pain, “ah… hell…” he groans as he holds his hand, hiding it.

“That boy needs to go and see the nurse immediately!” Director Clavell calls from the audience as he stands up, “Uva forfeits this match” he says as he recalls Mabosstiff for Arven and then walks with him quickly.

“Uva Academy has withdrawn from this match, the winner is Elite Four Drayton!” The announcer calls as he watches the retreating figures of Arven and Clavell.

Drayton smirks as he recalls his Archaludon, and turns as he walks away, a cocky look on his face.

“I’m going to check on Arven” Penny says as she stands up and rushes off, while Florian turns to Nemona.

“Give me your Tera Orb” Florian tells her firmly,

“What?” Nemona frowns as she pulls her Tera Orb out and looks at it, “why would I do that?” she asks confused,

“Because your going to be using mine” Florian says as he offers his own, which now Nemona saw the two side-by-side, Florian’s orb glowed more powerfully, brighter and more invitingly, “please Nemona… use mine for your battle” he says firmly.

“Why?” Nemona asks, confused, “my orb was just… inspected”

“And so was Arven’s” Florian replied, “and look what happened”

Nemona’s eyes go wide as she blinks and nods, taking Florian’s Tera orb and handing him hers, “I’ll give it back when the battle is over” she promises,

“thanks Nemona” Florian smiles.

“What the Hell was that, Drayton?” Lawrence growls as the duo enters the empty classroom they’d been using for meetings, “that kid had you on the ropes…”

“I know that” Drayton scowls as he looks back at Lawrence, running his hands through his hair, “I we didn’t bust his Tera Orb, its possible he’d have won” he admits as he looks away,

“We can’t let that happen, Drayton!” Lawrence shouts, “you want to get to the top, when your there, you can’t cheat your way past opponents who could have a chance of beating you!”

“No, when I’m at the top, I can set the rules to give me the advantage, every time!” Drayton scowls, “Like I do at Blueberry, and because I’m at the top, no one will question me, just like they don’t at Blueberry” he replies.

“And how will you get to the top, Drayton?” Lawrence scowled,

“Because when I’m in those leagues, I wont have to hide anything” Drayton replies, picking up a Pokeball and holding it, “I wont have to hide, this…” he says shaking the ball a little, “and I’ll use it to win every battle”

“You’ve gotten sloppy and lazy Drayton, you’ve grown weaker and everyone could probably see it” Lawrence growls, “now we need to make a way to get passed the next round without everyone realising you’ve lost your touch, Drayton”

“What do you suggest, Lawrence?” Drayton asks as he glares at the other boy.

“Round one was fixed in to be a three-on-three, get your hacker friend to make next round a one-on-one” Lawrence shrugs, “and fix the match so you go up against someone you can crush, instead of someone you underestimate…” he glares.

“Fine, just know how much this is costing me, those spore, paying off league , breaking tera orbs and multiple hacks… its stacking up” Drayton glowers as he sits down,

“And you’ll make fifty times that when you get into the Pro Leagues, and you know it” Lawrence shrugs, “now we should be heading off, don’t want anyone to think we’re scheming in here” he adds as Drayton nods and stands, “yeah, your right” he smirks as he walks out with Lawrence.

“We need to find our own hacker” Carmine sighs as she finishes listening in on Drayton and Lawrence, “see If they can hack back, undo whatever Drayton’s done…”

“We also need to warn Nemona” Amarys says as she looks around, “If Drayton broke his Tera orb, then its likely her own Tera orb has been tampered with”.

“Florian already handled it” Lacey says with a crossed arms, “I don’t want to lose because my opponent was disadvantaged from the start” she confirms as she stands up, “we also need to find if any of the others are in on the plot” she says looking around, “if Blueberry is going to enter a civil war, we want to know the size of our enemies”.

“You think it will come to that?” Carmine asks carefully,

“I’m certain, Drayton wants to oust us” Amarys replies as she looks at Carmine, “he wants to make himself Champion, and have those our he has schemed with, Kian, Lawrence, Kassandra and Eliza as his Elite Four… but we have one thing we don’t know”.

“What Drayton has that’s making Kiki act how he is” Carmine sighs as she leans back, “he was so happy to be coming back to Blueberry, but then…” she shakes her head as she looks at the floor,

“We’ll get someone to speak out” Amarys says calmly as she stands, “but we should be heading back, so Lacey can so her battle”

The group all nods and heads off.

An hour later, dusk was nearly upon them all, as everyone gathered for the final battle of the day, Lacey stepped onto the battlefield, and on the opposite side, Nemona stepped onto the field too. Both of them looking ready at each other.

“THE EIGHTH BATTLE IN THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL IS ABOUT TO BEGIN, FROM UVA ACADEMY WE HAVE CHAMPION RANK TRAINER NEMONA AND FROM BLUEBERRY INSTITUTE WE HAVE ELITE FOUR LACEY, THIS FIRST ROUND IS A 3 ON 3 BATTLE!”

“So your another Champion Ranked trainer, I’ll expect a full out battle from you!”  Lacey says proudly, “Now, lets see how you handle, Primarina!”

“Then I’ll send out, Kommo-o!” Nemona grins, “and I’ll expect a full force battle from one of Blueberry’s elite four!” she smiles as the Kommo-o Appears before her.

“Go, Primarina, use Hyper Voice!” Lacey orders as with a moment it opens its mouth and sends sonic waves crashing onto Kommo-o, but they bounce harmlessly off of its scales.

“Aw, yeah!” Nemona grins, “knew you’d make that move, but my Pokemon is immune to all sound moves!” she smiles, “Now Kommo-o, Use Thunder Punch!”

Kommo-o ran forward and with a shocking fist it slammed into the Pokemon and sent bolts of energy around the two of them,

“No matter” Lacey says confidently, “While its close, use Moonblast!” she smiles as she reveals the trap that Nemona had fallen into to, as the Fairy blast struck Kommo-o head on, It shook it mostly off as it moved back a little,

“Strike it again, Kommo-o, Thunder Punch again!” Nemona grins happily as Kommo-o smacks Primarina again, “and again, full flurry!” Kommo-o Kept smacking Primarina with more and more Thunder Punch’s, over and over,

Lacey stood stunned for a moment as she tries to think of a way out o the predicament, she takes a breath and looks up, “Primarina, use Ice Beam!” she commanded, and Priamrina quickly unleashes a beam of ice which pushes Kommo-o’s brutal assault back, and bought the Elite four member a little breathing room.

“Now Primarina, use Shadow Ball!” Lacey calls as she sees just how tired her Primarina was looking from the constant assault it had received.

Primarina began to charge its shadow Ball ready to fire, but Nemona was quicker, “Kommo-o, Use your Thunder Punch one more time!” she ordered and the Pokemon got under Primarina and with a swift uppercut of thunder, Primarina hit the deck, fainted.

“Return, Primarina” Lacey calls holding up its Pokeball and smiling confidently, “you’re a tougher opponent than I thought you’d be…” she says, “although from how strong the only other Paldean Champion I’ve fought was, I should have known better” Lacey adds as both trainers eyes flick to Florian before returning to the battle. “Now, lets see how you handle… Slowbro!”

 “That’s… not a fairy” Nemona blinks as she watches as Galarian Slowbro takes to the battlefield,

“No, its not” Lacey smiles as she crosses her arms, “it always helps to keep my opponent guessing, just like this, Slowbro, use Shell Side Arm!”

Quite almost impossibly quick reflexes, Slowbro raised the shell on its arm and fired a poison blast at Kommo-o, sending it backwards,

“Wow… even if its not a fairy, its still majorly tough!” Nemona says with stars in her eyes, “Kommo-o se Clangorous Soul!” Nemona calls as the Pokemons scales damage it, but it makes itself more powerful,

“Interesting strategy Nemona, but lets see how you take another Shell Side Arm!” Lacey calls as the Slowbro fires another poison blast at Kommo-o, knocking it back again, and poisoning the Dragon Pokemon.

“Kommo-o, your not out of this yet, use Earthquake!” Nemona orders and Kommo-o crashes into he ground, sending waves of rock and earth at Slowbro, which strike it firmly and knock it backwards a little, but not out yet

“Finish this Slowbro, Shell Side Arm again!” Lacey orders as Slowbro shoots once again and it hits Kommo-o, combined with the prior hits and the poison, the dragon crashed down,

“There was me worried this would be too easy” Nemona grins as she recalls her Kommo-o, “Now say hello… to my Ribombee!” Nemona smiles as the small bee pokemon appears from a Pokeball.

“A… Rimbombee?” Lacey blinks, before smiling, “you really need to brush up on your type match-ups Nemona” she says as if chiding a small child.

“Oh no, I know Ribombee’s fairy type is weak to your Slowbro’s Poison…” Nemona grins, “I just want to prove I can win with a type disadvantage!” She says proudly, a loud bang heard as a few people in the Uva camp fell from their chairs in disbelief.

“I… see” Lacey blinks as she was stunned, “Well no matter, Slowbro, use Shell Side arm again!”

“Dodge it Ribombee and then unleash a Bug Buzz!” Nemona calls and the poison crashes into the ground where Ribombee had been moments before, before it sends waves of insectoid energy right at Slowbro, knocking it backwards and seemingly weakening its defensive ability, “Perfect” she grins as Slowbro eats a berry to heal itself

“You tricked me” Lacey blinks as she smiles lightly, “made me only look at half your Pokemon’s typing…” she says happily,

“Your right” Nemona grins, “You’re a part Psychic type”

“And your part Bug type” Lacey admits,

“Which means we both have an advantage over the other” Nemona grins, “Now Bug Buzz again!”

Lacey blinks as she regains her focus, “Slowbro, use Shell Side Arm again!” Slowbro raised its shell and fired right at  Ribombee as it knocked it back, but it remained flying there.

“Now Ribombee, use your Bug Buzz once again!” Nemona orders as Rimbombee rights itself and unleashes a bug buzz right at Slowbro, which dropped down in a faint and Lacey recalls it.

“Impressive, but you’ve yet to win this battle” Lacey smiles, “Go Excadrill!”

The Pokemon appeared before her and looked up, ready to battle, as Lacey smiles, “and I’ll do this too” she grins, “Glow Crystal, Reform and Terrastalize!” she throws the orb and it forms a crystal around Excadrill, before it shatters to reveal Excadrill in a crystal coat and a pink heart above its head.

“Wow, a Fairy type Excadrill?” Nemona smiles happily, “knew you’d send that out sometime” she smiles, “Your dad must be proud!”

“He is” Lacey says brightly, “Didn’t think you’d remember”

“How could I forget?” Nemona asks with a grin, “But I wont take it easy as we have history, now Ribombee, use Moonblast!”

Ribombee charged the fairy attack and fired it right at Excadrill, but it seemed to barely weaken it,

“Now Excadrill, use your Iron Head!” Lacey orders and Excadrill leapt up and began to spin as it smacked into Ribombee, crashing it down to the ground, in a faint.

“Going down to the wire” Nemona smiles as she recalls her Pokemon, “Now, Go… Quaquaval!”

The large duck Pokemon appears and begins to dance, in place, as it looked at its foe, Nemona grins as she holds up Florian’s tera orb and the energy flows into it, “Glow Crystal, Reform and Terrastalize!” she calls as she throws the orb and it almost explodes with energy as the crystal forms around Quaquaval, before it reveals Quaquaval in a crystal coating, a water spirt above its head.

Lacey smiles as she sees the successful terrastalization and takes a breath, “Guess it comes down to our final Pokemon, huh?” she asks,

“Your right it does” Nemona nods,

“Rock Tomb to Slow it down!” Lacey orders,

“Aqua Step to speed yourself up!” Nemona calls as the two Pokemon attack, the stones slowing Quaquaval, however its quick steps to strike back at Excadrill,

“I see” Lacey smiles, “you know my tactics” She says calmly, “Excadrill, use Tera Blast!”

“Quaquaval, continue your dance, Aqua Step!” Nemona confirms as she looks at Lacey, “don’t worry Lacey… I haven’t forgotten anything” she grins.

The Blast of fairy power strike Quaquaval, but it continues to speed its movements as it strikes Excadrill, causing the Pokemon to weaken again, both Pokemon weakened from their assaults,

“Quaquaval dance on, Aqua Step!” Nemona orders as Quaquaval manages to strike twice before Lacey could order a counter, she frowns a little and sighs, as she sees just how weakened Excadrill had gotten, “Last stand Excadrill, Iron head!” she ordered,

“Counter it with Brick Break!” Nemona replies,

Excadrill leapt into the air and span as it dived at Quaquaval, before the duck blocked it with a single attack, “Now Aqua Step” Nemona calls as Quaquaval kicks up at Excadrill, sending it flying and crashing down to the ground, in a faint, the crystal shattered and Lacey smiling as she recalls her Pokemon.

“Elite Four Lacey has been defeated, the Winner is Paldea Champion Nemona!” The Announcer called as Lacey turns and heads back to her seat, where Drayton was glaring at her, while Nemona turned and smiled as she walked back towards her own chair.

“And that, ladies and Gentleman brings an end to day one of battles,  currently Blueberry Institute has won 6 matches, while Uva is trailing behind with 2, but we will see what day 2 brings!” The Announcer calls as the cameras turn away from battles to begin to discuss the battles, and the audience parts, heading off to get food, and check on Arven…

Chapter Text

Chapter Seventeen: The Beginning of Day Two

The Mood in the Uva camp was dour come the dawn on day two of the tournament, so far of the eight matches, Uva had only won 2 of them, with Ortega and Neoma securing places in round 2. The mood had been made slightly brighter by news that Arven would be fine.

He had come into the dining hall and joined the group with his hand bandaged but promises that soon it would be better and that it would recover. The Pokemon league of Paldea had been called in to investigate what went wrong with his Tera Orb and if the problem would be likely to repeat itself in other trainers orbs.

Penny had spent most of the night going over the CCTV footage for the league trying to find who had ‘inspected’ the Tera Orbs of Arven and Nemona, but so far they hadn’t found any leads on it, but Penny had said she had found something that was interesting to her, this lead her to be missing come the start of day 2, as Penny focused on whatever it was she had discovered at her PC.

Florian watched as everyone took their seats and sat down too, watching as Atticus laughed with Ortega before he headed onto the battlefield,

“THIS IS THE NINTH BATTLE IN THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL. FROM UVA ACADEMY WE HAVE STAR BOSS ATTICUS AND FROM BLUEBERRY INSTITIUTE WE HAVE ELIZA! THIS FIRST ROUND IS A 3 ON 3 BATTLE!”

Atticus steps forward and smiles as he looks forward at Eliza as the dirt covered girl approached, “You scoundrel from Blueberry, you face down me, Atticus, I come bearing the fangs of Team Star and the whole of Uva Academy!” he says as he throws a ball forward, revealing Dragalge.

“Scoundrel huh?” Eliza asks, “that’s not a very kind thing to call me” she says in a mock hurt voice and throws a ball, revealing an Ursaluna.

“Dragalge, let us show this knave our mighty poisonous potential, Use Toxic!” Atticus calls as the liquid pools around the floor of Urslana before sinking in as it begins to harm the large bear.

“How cruel of you to poison my delicate ground, shame, shame, shame on you!” Eliza stamps her foot, “Ursaluna use Bulk Up!”

Usraluna stands up onto its hind two feet and roars, looking down at Dragalge,

“Now Dragalge, use Venoshock!” Atticus orders, and the poison flows as it stabs at Ursaluna, having additional power thanks to the Toxic poison already working its way through Ursaluna,

“Oh you are a fiend!” Eliza cries as she looks at her Pokemon and then at Dragalge, “Now Urslauna, show him how strong you are, Façade!” she orders and the Ursaluna moves quickly, striking with strength it had not shown till now, the Dragalge slapped back. “Now unleash an Earthquake!” Eliza follows up, and the ground shakes, spiking and striking Dragalge, which bucked and writhed in pain.

“Dragalge, use your Venoshock again!” Atticus calls, “Do not concede this battle my friend, let our poison be vexation made manifest!” he orders and the poison strikes Ursaluna once more,

“Finish this with Façade!” Eliza orders and Ursaluna launches forth clashing into Dragalge, and the dragon collapses down, followed shortly by Ursaluna.

“Double knock out, how fiendish!” Eliza huffs as she recalls Ursaluna, “Go Krookodile!”

“Revavroom” Atticus calls, “Let us charge forth!”

The two Pokemon stand facing off, “Oh deer, you are at a tragic disadvantage” Eliza smiles, “Now Krookodile, use Bulk Up!”

“Revavroom, use Poison Jab!” Atticus commands, “Let us strike before it grows too strong!” he says swiftly, as Revavroom rushes forth and strikes at the Krookodile with a poisonous assault, but the Krookodile shakes it off,

“Now Krookodile, use earthquake!” Eliza orders, “shake that engine and strike it down” she orders as the ground shakes beneath them, but Atticus smiles, as a balloon is shown holding Revavroom just above the ground. “Oh my, you fiend… fine… Krookodile, use Dragon Tail!”

“Poison Jab again!” Atticus orders as the two Pokemon clash, before Revavroom is forced back into its ball, minus its handy Air Balloon.

“Gengar, go!” Atticus calls as he throws his Pokeball forward, revealing the ghost before he holds out his tera orb, flinching a little as he lowers it and places it away, not trusting that his orb  hadn’t been messed with too, “Go Gengar, use Sludge Bomb!”

Gengar opens its mouth and spews out a bomb of poisonous liquid which splashes over Krookodile,

“Oh how horrid of you” Eliza sighs, “Now Krookoddile, use throat chop!” she orders and Krookodile leaps forward, slashing into Gengar,

“Gengar, use Shadow Ball!” Atticus commands and Gengar charges up the orb and fires it right at the Krookodile’s back, causing it to crash down and look back, before it growls,

Eliza smiles as she raises her tera orb in hand, “Glow Crystal, reform, grow and Terrastalize!” she commands as she throws her orb forth and it covers Kroookodile, before it forms a crystal sheen, “Now Krookodile, use Earthquake, finish this battle!” Eliza orders as the ground shakes and cracks twice as hard as before, striking the Gengar and launching it up,

“Now Throat chop again!” Eliza finishes and Krookodile leaps up, slashing down and Gengar hits the ground, fainted.

“Return Gengar” Atticus calls as he frowns a little, looking at Elzia as he watches Krookodile’s strength increase, “Moxie…” he says softly, “Go Revavroom” he says simply, knowing the battle was lost, and with a single earthquake, Revavroom drops down too.

“The winner of this match is Bluberry Academy’s Eliza, brining them to 10 wins to Uva academy’s 2!” the announcer calls, as Eliza recalls her Krookodile, turning on her heel and sitting down

Attitcus turned too and walked back to his seat, sitting down and sighing, “t’was a bad match up, ground against poison” he says lightly, “but I have it  my entire worth, and hath no regrets” he says simply, as he watches Penny appear from a door and rush to her seat,

“You ok Penny?” Florian asks as he frowns and Penny waves her hand for him to relax,

“I’ll talk to you after your match” Penny says simply, “until then, focus on winning”

Florian blinks and nods, as he watches Eri stand up, the tall trainer towering over her opponent from Blueberry.

“THIS IS THE TENTH BATTLE IN THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL. FROM UVA ACADEMY WE HAVE STAR BOSS ERI AND FROM BLUEBERRY INSTITIUTE WE HAVE SONIA! THIS FIRST ROUND IS A 3 ON 3 BATTLE!”

“Go Hatterene!” Sonia commands as she throws the ball forth, revealing the Pokemon.

“Lets show them, Toxicroak!” Eri commands, as the frog Pokemon appears,

“Hatterene, use Calm Mind!” Sonia orders and Hatterne begins to calm, increasing its strength,

“Poison Jab, thousand strikes!” Eri commands quickly and Toxicroak leaps forth, striking rapidly at the Hatterene with repeated poisonous points,

“Hatterene… Hatterene….!” Sonia’s eyes go wide as she steps back, trying to find a gap in which to make a counter move, “Use… use!” she continues, watching as Toxicroak continues its rapidfire Poison Jab assault on Hatterene, “Use Expanding force, send that frog away!” she commands, and Hatterene unleashes a burst of psychic energy sending Toxicroak realing back, but it hops up quickly, looking at Hatterne, as it bends over, breathing hard.

“Toxicroak, once again, Poison Jab, thousand strikes!” Eri orders in a dominating voice, and Toxicroak leaps forth, ready to strike as the blows come fast and hard, striking Hatterene over and over, before the psychic type falls back, in a dead faint…

“Return Hatterene!” Sonia stutters as she looks at Toxicroak and Eri, before shaking her head a little, “Go Farigaraf!” she orders and the Giraffe pokemon appears before her, “Now use Psychic!” she orders, hoping to get in before Toxicroak can begin its assaults once again.

“Sucker Punch!” Eri orders and Toxicroak leaps forward, delivering a quick blow before Farigaraf can unleash its own psychic assault on the frog, which strike it from behind,

“Ice Punch!” Eri adds as she orders the frog pokemon, and Toxicroak turns and strike Farigaraf before another Psychic struck it, causing Toxicroak to fall down in a dead faint.

“Return, Toxicroak!” Eri commands as she smiles, “Go Annihilape!” she orders as the Ghost Pokemon appears before her, “now Annihilape, use Ice Punch!” she commands and the Pokemon leaps forth, raging at being sent out and punching over and over with icy fists on Farigaraf, which tries to use its psychic attacks, but can’t seem to get the focus, before it too was knocked to the ground in a faint.

“Return, Farigaraf!” Sonia blinks as she stares wide-eyed at Eri, who stands tall and proud, “Go Armarouge!” she orders and the cannon Pokemon appears before her, “appear and use Calm Mind!”

“Annihilape, use Rage Fist!” Eri commands, “Blitz assault!” she orders and Annihilape leaps in smacking Armarogue over and over again with each hit, the armor on armourogue seems to weaken, which while it makes the Pokemon more mobile, it also makes the attacks strike harder,

“Armarogue, unleash arm cannon!” Sonia calls, and Armarogue charges up and fires its cannon point-blank at Annihilape, which only seems to empower its assault on Armarogue, “again… again, again!” Sonia calls almost desperately and with each firing of the cannon, Annihlape seems to strike harder and faster than it did before, before too long it smacked Armarogue and sent it crashing down to the ground…

“The Winner of this Match is Uva Academy’s Eri!” The announcer called in a sightly stunned voice, “brining the wins 10 to 3 in Blueberry Institute’s favour!”  

Eri grins as she recalls her Pokemon and turns, heading back to her seat and sitting down, next to Ortega who smiled up at her, “knew you had it in you” he grins,

“it was an easy win for someone with my training” Eri boasts, “Now for you to bring it home boss” she says looking at Penny who stands up and grabs a white handkerchief, throwing it out, “I forfeit my match” she says simply and the announcer and everyone present remains frozen in place,

“I… see” The announcer mutters, “very well, the next match, Penny of Uva Academy Vs Kassandra of Blueberry Institute will end with forfeit of Penny” he says simply and Penny stands, rushing off, followed quickly by Eri, Ortega, Mela, Giacomo and Atticus, the latter of whom forced Florian to remain seated

“You surrendered?” Eri asks stunned as they finally locate Penny in a classroom on the top floor, overlooking the area,

“Yes, because these matches aren’t what they seem to be” Penny says simply, “Blueberry isn’t playing fair, and I need time to prove it, battling wont earn me the time needed” she advises,

“you need time for hacks to work, for you to get information” Ortega frowns as he looks between them,

“Precisely” Penny confirms, “Now that Penny is out of the tournament, I can begin the real work as Cassiopeia, getting the final project up and running” she smiles,

“you mean the Mark III?” Eri frowns, “I thought it wasn’t even in development anymore?” she asks with a frown,

“Its past development, its into beta testing, and I have a feeling that the Mark III will be needed before the end of this tournament” Penny smiles a little darkly, “besides, I believe that our opponents have gotten into the system, these matches are too well played in Blueberry’s favour for it to be natural” she frowns,

“Each match between us seems to have almost the perfect person to counter us, be it a Ground Specialist fighting our master of Poisons, a person who is meant to utilise Trick Rooms and Psychic against our Fighting master or a master of Fighting against our Dark specialist…. They seem too scripted to be real” Penny frowns,

“I had been wondering about that” Atticus muses, “so you think Blueberry changed the matches around?” he asks

“I’ll bet they did, and if they did, they will try the same with round 2, and I want to be ready in the system for when they attempt it” Penny smiles happily as she looks between them, “in the meantime… Ortega can you ensure the mark III is fully functional, Atticus, I believe you know what I’m going to ask you to do…” she adds, “Eri and Mela ensure that all of our audience members known the sign” she lists off, “Giaccomo, work on that audio for us as well, I’ll see what else I can dig up that aids our case against Blueberry.” She says looking between the bosses of Team Star, “Its time for Team Star to go to war….”

Chapter Text

Chapter Eighteen: Twilight of Phase One.

Florian had spent the time during the next two matches preparing his own team, it had been a while since it had been a few weeks since he had actually properly battled at full force, and knowing the stakes should he lose. At least he knew a portion of them, he returned as he watched as Amarys stood up, straightening her clothes and walking forward towards the battlefield.

Nemona looks at him as she smiles, “Bethany beat Charlotte and Kate lost to Zoey” she explain to him, “You and Frank are the last two from Uva to battle”

Nodding he turns to look at the battlefield.

“THIS IS THE FOURTEENTH BATTLE IN THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL. BOTH FROM BLUBERRY INSTITUE, THE FIRST WE HAVE ELITE FOUR MEMBER AMARYS, AND FACING HER IS RHYS.THIS FIRST ROUND IS A 3 ON 3 BATTLE!”

“Go Torkoal!” Rhys calls as he smirks and throws the Pokeball to reveal the fire Pokemon, as it does, the sun begins to shine brightly down upon the two of them.

“I believe Dugtrio would be Advisable” Amarys nods to herself as she sends out her Alolan Digtrio,

“Torkoal, use F-“ Rhys began but Amarys issued her command quicker

“Dugtrio, use Earthquake!” Amarys says simply, and the ground shook, striking at Torkoal before it could move, “Now follow it up with Stone Edge!”

Rhys blinks as he tries to take action as the stones strike his Pokémon, leaving it much weakened, “Flamethrower!” Rhys ordered, and the flames blazed over Dugtrio, which caused Amarys to lightly push up her glasses.

“You may think entering this battle you had an advantage, Rhys” Amarys explains as she smiles a tiny amount, “A Sun attack team against my Steel types is a poor match up for me, but I will overcome it, Earthquake again!”

With that the ground shook once more and Torkoal was sent flying, landing on its shell, unable to battle.

“Return” Rhys scowls as he looks at her, “You think your so smart and prepared, see how you handle this, Go, Lilligant!”

With that the grass Pokemon took the place of the fire turtle, the sun still shining down on them, “Lilligant, use Sword Dance!”

Swords appeared above Lilligant, increasing its attack.

“Dugtrio, use Iron Head!” Amarys orders, and the Dugtrio dug under ground and slammed up under Lilligant with a shining iron head which sends it up.

“Lilligant, use Solar Blade!” Rhys orders with a smirk as Amarys looks up at them as the blade of pure sunlight forms and slams down on Dugtrio, which caused it to faint, however Lilligant also seems to suffer a little damage.

“Return, Dugtrio” Amarys blinks as she pushes up her glasses and thinks carefully, “Go, Scizor!”

With that the Bug/steel Pokemon appears,

“Lilligant, use Sword Dance again!” Rhys orders to try and power up his Pokemon once again, and as he does, the bright sun seems to fade.

“Quickly, while we have the advantage, use Pounce Scizor, Repeated strike!” Amarys gives the command and Scizor leaps forward and strikes repeatedly, each one slowing Lilligant, before Lilligant was able to get back and kneeled as it looked up,

“Lilligant, use Sunny Day!” Rhys commands and the sun blazes brightly above them once again, “Now-“

“Scizor, use Aerial Ace!” Amarys gives her instruction and the attack flew and struck Lilligant down, it crashed out, fainted.

“Return Lilligant!” Rhys scowls as he holds up another ball, “GO, CHARIZARD!”

With that the Fire Pokemon appeared with a roar,

“Blaze Crystal, shine like the sun, Glow and Terrastalize!” Rhys orders as he holds his Tera orb up and the crystal shines around Charizard, transforming it into a Tera Fire type, “FIRE BLAST!”

Amarys frowns, knowing she had only a moment to order her attack before the Scizor would faint, she took a second, “Scizor, use Bullet Punch!” she commands, and the attack strikes Charizard, before Scizor bites its Occa Berry, but even with it, the pure power of the Fire Blast, multipied by Charizards Solar Power, The Sun, Choice Specs and STAB knocked it out in second flat.

“Return, Scizor” Amarys frowns a little, as her hand moves over her different Pokemon before she smiles, “Go, Reuniclus!”

With that the Psychic Pokemon takes to the field, confusing Rhys.

“Hey, that’s not a steel type!” Rhys calls as he looks at it,

“No, it is no, however this was my very first Pokemon, so even now, I cannot bare to part with it” Amarys smiles before she looks up, “Shine bright like steel, glow and Terrastalize!” Amarys says as she holds her Tera orb and the Reuniclus transforms into a Tera Psychic type, she watched as the bright sun seemed to cause Charizard some pain.

“Charizard, use Fire Blast!” Rhys orders, and the fire blasts forth once again, locked into only using that attack.

“Reuniclus, use Protect” Amarys says simply and the shield forms before it, to take the attack, again Charizard gets damaged by the sun, “Now Reuniclus use Trick Room!”

With that the world seems to alter around them for a moment as faster Pokemon became slow and slow became fast.

“Charizard, use Fire Blast again!” Rhys ordered and the fire shot, but fell short and Amarys smiles, as she sees Charizard get damaged by the sun again, “again!”

The fire blast sored once again at Reuniclus, “Protect” Amarys instructs and the shield formed to take the blow watching as the damage seemed to weaken Charizard once again, “Now, use Psychic!”

The attack struck Charizard and seemed to cause a lot of damage, as the sun fades once more, returning to its normal brightness, “it seems your stratagem has failed, Psychic again!” Amarys says to him, and the Psychic strikes Charizard… which caused it to drop down, the crystal around it shatters and it hits the ground in a faint.

“The winner of this match is Blueberry Academy’s Amarys!” The announcer calls and Amarys recalls her Reuniculus, putting her pokeball down and walks to sit down next to Carmine.

As the break between matches began, Drayton grabbed Rhys and along with Lawrence pulls him into their empty classroom, “You told me you could deal with Amarys” he frowns at the other boy, “you swore you could knock her out round one”

“I didn’t expect her to have a non-steel type, I charged everything towards making my fire blaze as hot as the sun!” Rhys huffs, “you didn’t tell me she used a Non-Steel type in battles!”

“Pretty crappy excuse” Lawrence taunts as he looks at Rhys, “You didn’t do your research and know we have to come up with a new way to get rid of Amarys” he frowns, “she isn’t going to let us oust Kieran and restore Dray, so she has to go”

“I know that” Rhys frowns, “if this had been double battles I’d have turned her to ashes!”

“Well, you didn’t, you lost” Drayton says coolly, “and when this is all over, we can discuss your place at the school.” He says in a cold voice.

Florian takes a breath as his match was about to begin, he walked forward calmly onto the field as the announcer calls to announce the match.

“THIS IS THE FIFTEENTH AND SEMIFINAL BATTLE IN THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL ROUND ONE. FROM BLUBERRY INSTITUE, WE HAVE THE KNOCKOUT PRO, BEN! AND FROM UVA ACADEMY, WE HAVE CHAMPION FLORIAN!”

Florian watched as Ben stepped before him with a cruel smirk, however he noticed how the air around him seemed to almost sparkle,

“Go Haxorus!” Ben orders as the Dragon appears beside him,

“Go, Baxcalibur!” Florian smiles as his own dragon appears, and the two roared at each other,

“Baxcalibur, use Dragon Rush!” Florian orders and Baxcalibur rushes forward to strike Haxorus, the powerful dragon move hits, and Florian smiles, “Now use Ice Fang!” he orders

“Counter, Guillotine!” Ben smiles as the two attacks hit Baxcalibur and Haxorus at the same moment, Baxcalibur instantly crashes down in a faint.

“wow” Florian blinks as he recalls Baxcalibur, “Go, Maushold!” he says as he orders the small mouse appears before him, “Use Population Bomb!”

The attack strikes Haxorus ten times, and it roars in its displeasure, “now Haxorus, again, use Guillotine!”

With that the second attack strikes and Florian’s eyes go wide as his second Pokemon faints instantly, he recalls it.

“I thought you were a Champion, yet here you are being knocked out in two attacks, maybe you know its useless so your sending out weak Pokemon for me to battle!” Ben mocks as he laughs.

Florian bites his lip, and picks up a Pokeball, “Go, Annihilape!”

Ben scowls as he sees the Ghost Pokemon appears, knowing that it was immune to his Guillotine attack, “use Dragon Claw!”

The claw strikes Annihilape, “Now use Drain Punch!” Florian orders and the attack strikes Haxorus and it topples down, into a faint.

“Return Haxorus, so you got lucky with that one” Ben shakes his head, “Go Snorlax!”

As the Pokemon appears, there was a sudden gust as the fans meant to cool spectators off during the heat of the sun, turned on.

“H-hey, what’s happening?” Ben asks as he covers his face and a few moments later the fans turned off,

“apologies, it seems for some reason the fans activated without command to, but it does not impact the battle” Clavell explains as he looks around, “it has done no damage, nor blown anything away” he adds as he sits down,

“Snorlax, use Fissure!” Ben orders with a grin, clearly wanting to win…. But he missed, “w-what?” Ben’s eyes go wide as he looks stunned that his attack didn’t hit

“Annihilape, use Drain Punch again!” Florian orders and the attack struck Snorlax

“Fissure, Fissure, Fissure!” Ben commands, but each time, the attack missed and had no effect, and with each miss Annihilape smacks Snorlax with a drain Punch.

“Maybe you should use a different attack?” Florian suggests casually,

“I… Shut up!” Ben scowls back, “I will hit and defeat you!”

Florian shook his head as Annihilape smacked once again, this time knocking out Snorlax, “You didn’t have any other attacks on your Snorlax did you?” he asks with a teasing smile.

“SHUT UP!” Ben orders as he recalls Snorlax, and throws a ball to reveal a Lapras, “Lapras, use Sheer Cold!”

The Chill washed over the battlefield, but Annihilape wasn’t hit by it,

“Drain Punch!” Florian orders, and the attack strikes Lapras, sending it backwards.

Again and again the attacks are exchanged, an order of Sheer Cold, a miss and a strike of Drain Punch, before too long Lapras too faints.

“This battle is over, the victor is Champion Florian!” The announcer calls and Florian recalls his Annihilape and heads off quickly.

Taking the path he has a few times before, Florian soon finds himself knocking on the door of Penny, which swung open, revealing Penny at her PC.

“Hey Penny” Florian says as he steps in and closes the door, giving each of the Eeveelutions around the room a brief head scritch before he walks over to the desk,

“Nice win” Penny says carefully as she nods to him,

“Thanks, I’m guessing the fans were you?” Florian asks casually as he looks at the screen,

“Yeah, had to make sure Blueberry stopped cheating” Penny explains,

“What?” Florian asks shocked, “They cheated?”

“Yeah, they flooded your side of the field with these plant spores which lowered your ability to avoid moves, its why they hit Guillotine twice” Penny explains, “so I turned on the fans to blow them all away” she explains, “and that’s not all”

Florian leant on the wall and slid down so he was sat on the floor looking up, “what else are they doing?” he sighs.

“Looking at it, they have fixed the matches for day one of the match, I’m trying to lock them out of doing the same thing for day two, but we might be in for a rough one again… that’s why all of the matches have been so favourable to Blueberry” Penny explains as she looks at the screen, “Giacomo the dark type trainer against Lawrence the fighting type, Louie the trainer known for heroic Pokémon against Ortega, Arven being sent against Drayton, Rhys the sun user against the steel type Amarys…” she frowns, “and you against the One hit knock out specialist, Ben” she sighs.

“Do we know who is organising it?” Florian asks, “the cheating I mean?”

Penny shook her head, “not for certain, it has to be someone with authority…” she says, not wanting to suggest it might have been by Kieran’s request.

Florian scowls at the mere idea, let alone suggestion, “its not Kieran’s style” he says, wanting to make it clear he wouldn’t believe it unless given proof, “he fights his battles seriously and honourably”

“I didn’t mean…” Penny says defensively.

“I know” Florian sighs as he leans back and looks at her, as she frowns,

“Damn it, they managed to fix the matches before I locked them out…” Penny grumbles and Florian stands up to look to see who the matches were for round 2.

Florian Vs Kian
Georgie Vs Drayton
Carmine VS Zoey
Bethany Vs Ortega

Amarys Vs Lawrence
Nemona Vs Eri
Eliza Vs Kassandra
Crispin Vs Kieran

“How bad is it for us?” Florian asks with a frown,

“Kian is an electric trainer, shouldn’t pose any issue for you, but watch for his Eelektross” Penny says carefully, “Drayton will likely easily crush Georgie, even with the type disadvantage he would have, she is strong, but relies heavily on the snow…”

“Which is where Drayton spends most of his time training” Florian surmises.

“Exactly” Penny nods, “Carmine and Zoey must be an interesting one… sleep team vs Carmine is an interesting match, not sure who will win that one” she admits, “Bethany likely stands little chance against Ortega, but she might surprise us… Amarys after her last performance I wouldn’t rule out crushing Lawrence.”

“Nemona will likely win against Eri” Florian points out,

“Yeah, Eri’s good, but not Champion level good” Penny admits, “Eliza and Kassandra, not sure what the plan is  but Ground Vs Poison isn’t a match up I would bet against ground on anytime soon” she adds, “While Crispin Vs Kieran, well… I’m pretty Sure Kieran will win.”

Florian nods, “so… we can expect 3 wins you think?” he asks curiously

“Yeah, maybe Georgia will surprise us and kick Drayton’s butt, but I doubt it” Penny replies, “but don’t worry, come round 3, I will make sure they can’t fix any match, so that we have fair matches”

Florian smiles a little and nods, knowing that the battle wasn’t over yet.

So, Showdown where i was storing my teams cleared itself, so i had to rebuild everyones team... that took way too long to do.

Chapter Text

This isn’t an actual chapter, but you can see below the teams built for each and every one of the competitors, full teams, the first is  Uva Academy. These are likely going to be the same… for now 😊

=== [gen9] Uva/Asher ===

Tauros (M) @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Sheer Force 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Close Combat 

- Double-Edge 

- Earthquake 

- Outrage 

Tauros-Paldea-Aqua (M) @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Anger Point 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Liquidation 

- Double Kick 

- Earthquake 

- Body Slam 

Tauros-Paldea-Blaze (M) @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Anger Point 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Temper Flare 

- Earthquake 

- Double Kick 

- Iron Head 

Tauros-Paldea-Combat (M) 

Ability: Anger Point 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Double Kick 

- Curse 

- Earthquake 

- Iron Head 

Tauros 

Ability: Anger Point 

Shiny: Yes 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Body Slam 

- High Horsepower 

- Iron Head 

- Protect 

Tauros-Paldea-Combat (M) @ Aguav Berry 

Ability: Cud Chew 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Earthquake 

- Double Kick 

- Raging Bull 

- Stone Edge 

=== [gen9] Uva/Holly ===

Volcarona @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Flame Body 

Tera Type: Bug 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Quiver Dance 

- Fiery Dance 

- Bug Buzz 

- Giga Drain 

Garchomp @ Rocky Helmet 

Ability: Rough Skin 

Tera Type: Dragon 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Earthquake 

- Dragon Rush 

- Crunch 

- Liquidation 

Metagross @ Life Orb 

Ability: Light Metal 

Tera Type: Steel 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Bullet Punch 

- Zen Headbutt 

- Earthquake 

- Ice Punch 

Charizard @ Life Orb 

Ability: Solar Power 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Flamethrower 

- Air Cutter 

- Ancient Power 

- Dragon Pulse 

Dragonite @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Multiscale 

Tera Type: Dragon 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Dragon Pulse 

- Air Slash 

- Chilling Water 

- Ice Beam 

Gardevoir @ Bright Powder 

Ability: Trace 

Tera Type: Psychic 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Aura Sphere 

- Psychic 

- Moonblast 

- Calm Mind 

=== [gen9] Uva/Mela ===

Torkoal 

Ability: Drought 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Body Press 

- Yawn 

- Flare Blitz 

- Stone Edge 

Coalossal @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Steam Engine 

Tera Type: Rock 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Heat Crash 

- Rock Blast 

- Body Press 

- Earthquake 

Houndoom 

Ability: Early Bird 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe 

Hasty Nature 

- Fire Blast 

- Dark Pulse 

- Sludge Bomb 

- Thunder Fang 

Arcanine 

Ability: Intimidate 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe 

Hasty Nature 

- Flare Blitz 

- Extreme Speed 

- Close Combat 

- Overheat 

Ceruledge 

Ability: Flash Fire 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Brick Break 

- Bitter Blade 

- Dragon Claw 

- Poltergeist 

Armarouge 

Ability: Flash Fire 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Aura Sphere 

- Armor Cannon 

- Energy Ball 

- Psychic 

=== [gen9] Uva/Giacomo ===

Cacturne 

Ability: Sand Veil 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Bullet Seed 

- Sucker Punch 

- Spiky Shield 

- Thunder Punch 

Honchkrow 

Ability: Insomnia 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Hurricane 

- Dark Pulse 

- Psychic 

- Tailwind 

Mabosstiff 

Ability: Intimidate 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Play Rough 

- Crunch 

- Payback 

- Ice Fang 

Krookodile 

Ability: Intimidate 

Tera Type: Ground 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Earthquake 

- Crunch 

- Dragon Claw 

- Fire Fang 

Hydreigon 

Ability: Levitate 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Dragon Pulse 

- Dark Pulse 

- Hyper Voice 

- Flamethrower 

Kingambit @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Supreme Overlord 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Kowtow Cleave 

- Iron Head 

- Swords Dance 

- Stone Edge 

=== [gen9] Uva/Ortega ===

Klefki @ Light Clay 

Ability: Prankster 

Tera Type: Steel 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Flash Cannon 

- Dazzling Gleam 

- Reflect 

- Light Screen 

Azumarill @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Huge Power 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Waterfall 

- Play Rough 

- Ice Punch 

- Belly Drum 

Wigglytuff 

Ability: Cute Charm 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Body Slam 

- Play Rough 

- Fire Punch 

- Thunder Punch 

Hatterene (F) 

Ability: Magic Bounce 

Tera Type: Psychic 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Psychic 

- Dazzling Gleam 

- Shadow Ball 

- Misty Terrain 

Dachsbun @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Well-Baked Body 

Tera Type: Fairy 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Crunch 

- Play Rough 

- Ice Fang 

- Fire Fang 

Mimikyu @ Leftovers 

Ability: Disguise 

Tera Type: Ghost 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Swords Dance 

- Drain Punch 

- Shadow Claw 

- Leech Life 

=== [gen9] Uva/Arven ===

Greedent @ Sitrus Berry 

Ability: Cheek Pouch 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Bullet Seed 

- Body Slam 

- Psychic Fangs 

- Earthquake 

Cloyster 

Ability: Skill Link 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Rock Blast 

- Icicle Spear 

- Light Screen 

- Liquidation 

Scovillain 

Ability: Chlorophyll 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe 

Lonely Nature 

- Fire Blast 

- Energy Ball 

- Zen Headbutt 

- Crunch 

Toedscruel 

Ability: Mycelium Might 

Tera Type: Ground 

EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe 

Hasty Nature 

- Power Whip 

- Earth Power 

- Spore 

- Sludge Bomb 

Garganacl 

Ability: Purifying Salt 

Tera Type: Rock 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Stone Edge 

- Earthquake 

- Body Press 

- Stealth Rock 

Mabosstiff 

Ability: Intimidate 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Crunch 

- Psychic Fangs 

- Fire Fang 

- Play Rough 

=== [gen9] Uva/Nemona ===

Lycanroc 

Ability: Keen Eye 

Tera Type: Rock 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Accelerock 

- Drill Run 

- Play Rough 

- Stealth Rock 

Kommo-o 

Ability: Soundproof 

Tera Type: Dragon 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Clangorous Soul 

- Drain Punch 

- Thunder Punch 

- Earthquake 

Decidueye 

Ability: Overgrow 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Spirit Shackle 

- Leaf Blade 

- Dual Wingbeat 

- Sucker Punch 

Ribombee 

Ability: Shield Dust 

Tera Type: Bug 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Bug Buzz 

- Moonblast 

- Energy Ball 

- Psychic 

Pawmot 

Ability: Volt Absorb 

Tera Type: Electric 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Double Shock 

- Close Combat 

- Ice Punch 

- Mach Punch 

Quaquaval 

Ability: Torrent 

Tera Type: Fighting 

- Aqua Step 

- Brick Break 

- Aerial Ace 

- Triple Axel 

=== [gen9] Uva/Atticus ===

Skuntank 

Ability: Stench 

Tera Type: Poison 

EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe 

Naive Nature 

- Sucker Punch 

- Toxic 

- Venoshock 

- Flamethrower 

Muk 

Ability: Stench 

Tera Type: Poison 

EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpD 

Sassy Nature 

- Sludge Wave 

- Minimize 

- Drain Punch 

- Acid Armor 

Dragalge 

Ability: Poison Point 

Tera Type: Poison 

EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD 

Calm Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Dragon Pulse 

- Venoshock 

- Toxic 

- Protect 

Toxapex 

Ability: Merciless 

Tera Type: Poison 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Baneful Bunker 

- Hydro Pump 

- Venoshock 

- Blizzard 

Revavroom 

Ability: Overcoat 

Tera Type: Steel 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe 

Naive Nature 

- Spin Out 

- Poison Jab 

- Zen Headbutt 

- Overheat 

Gengar @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Cursed Body 

Tera Type: Poison 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Dark Pulse 

- Shadow Ball 

- Sludge Bomb 

- Psychic 

=== [gen9] Uva/Eri ===

Primeape 

Ability: Vital Spirit 

Tera Type: Fighting 

- Gunk Shot 

- Stomping Tantrum 

- Cross Chop 

- Rock Slide 

Toxicroak 

Ability: Anticipation 

Tera Type: Poison 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Poison Jab 

- Brick Break 

- Sucker Punch 

- Ice Punch 

Passimian 

Ability: Receiver 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Close Combat 

- Gunk Shot 

- Seed Bomb 

- Earthquake 

Lucario 

Ability: Steadfast 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe 

Hasty Nature 

- Dragon Pulse 

- Aura Sphere 

- Dark Pulse 

- Extreme Speed 

Tauros-Paldea-Aqua (M) 

Ability: Anger Point 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Liquidation 

- Bulk Up 

- Double Kick 

- Earthquake 

Annihilape @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Inner Focus 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Rage Fist 

- Close Combat 

- Ice Punch 

- Gunk Shot 

=== [gen9] Uva/Penny ===

Umbreon 

Ability: Synchronize 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA 

Quiet Nature 

- Dark Pulse 

- Quick Attack 

- Baby-Doll Eyes 

- Psychic 

Vaporeon 

Ability: Water Absorb 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpA 

Mild Nature 

- Hydro Pump 

- Quick Attack 

- Baby-Doll Eyes 

- Aurora Beam 

Jolteon 

Ability: Quick Feet 

Tera Type: Electric 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe 

Hasty Nature 

- Thunder 

- Quick Attack 

- Baby-Doll Eyes 

- Pin Missile 

Flareon 

Ability: Flash Fire 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA 

Lonely Nature 

- Flare Blitz 

- Quick Attack 

- Baby-Doll Eyes 

- Fire Spin 

Leafeon 

Ability: Leaf Guard 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Leaf Blade 

- Quick Attack 

- Baby-Doll Eyes 

- X-Scissor 

Sylveon 

Ability: Cute Charm 

Tera Type: Fairy 

EVs: 252 HP / 4 Atk / 252 SpA 

Quiet Nature 

- Moonblast 

- Quick Attack 

- Baby-Doll Eyes 

- Shadow Ball 

=== [gen9] Uva/Bethany ===

Lokix 

Ability: Tinted Lens 

Tera Type: Bug 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Brick Break 

- Knock Off 

- Leech Life 

- Swords Dance 

Oinkologne (M) 

Ability: Lingering Aroma 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Body Slam 

- High Horsepower 

- Play Rough 

- Lash Out 

Squawkabilly-Yellow 

Ability: Sheer Force 

Tera Type: Flying 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Brave Bird 

- Double-Edge 

- Lash Out 

- U-turn 

Grafaiai @ Iapapa Berry 

Ability: Prankster 

Tera Type: Poison 

EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD 

Calm Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Toxic 

- Protect 

- Super Fang 

- Taunt 

Eiscue @ Shell Bell 

Ability: Ice Face 

Tera Type: Ice 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Aurora Veil 

- Snowscape 

- Belly Drum 

- Icicle Crash 

Brambleghast @ Leftovers 

Ability: Wind Rider 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Seed Bomb 

- Phantom Force 

- Rapid Spin 

- Strength Sap 

=== [gen9] Uva/Charlotte ===

Magneton @ Eviolite 

Ability: Sturdy 

Tera Type: Electric 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Thunderbolt 

- Tri Attack 

- Flash Cannon 

- Thunder Wave 

Eevee @ Eviolite 

Ability: Run Away 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA 

Bold Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Calm Mind 

- Baton Pass 

- Stored Power 

- Wish 

Delibird @ Icy Rock 

Ability: Insomnia 

Tera Type: Ice 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Aurora Veil 

- Snowscape 

- Blizzard 

- Air Slash 

Arboliva @ Leftovers 

Ability: Seed Sower 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpD 

Calm Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Leech Seed 

- Protect 

- Energy Ball 

- Strength Sap 

Spidops 

Ability: Stakeout 

Tera Type: Bug 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Leech Life 

- Brick Break 

- Poison Jab 

- Throat Chop 

Kilowattrel @ Choice Specs 

Ability: Volt Absorb 

Tera Type: Electric 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Thunderbolt 

- Air Slash 

- Tera Blast 

- Weather Ball 

=== [gen9] Uva/Kate ===

Tinkaton (F) @ Life Orb 

Ability: Mold Breaker 

Tera Type: Fairy 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Gigaton Hammer 

- Ice Hammer 

- Play Rough 

- Knock Off 

Bombirdier @ Normal Gem 

Ability: Rocky Payload 

Tera Type: Flying 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Stone Edge 

- Acrobatics 

- Take Down 

- Knock Off 

Wugtrio @ Smooth Rock 

Ability: Sand Veil 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Sandstorm 

- Triple Dive 

- Stomping Tantrum 

- Throat Chop 

Orthworm @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Earth Eater 

Tera Type: Steel 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Earthquake 

- Iron Head 

- Body Press 

- Rock Slide 

Flamigo @ Choice Band 

Ability: Scrappy 

Tera Type: Flying 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Aerial Ace 

- Upper Hand 

- Lunge 

- Liquidation 

Farigiraf @ Leftovers 

Ability: Sap Sipper 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Psychic Noise 

- Hyper Voice 

- Dazzling Gleam 

- Energy Ball 

=== [gen9] Uva/Zoey ===

Gengar @ Leftovers 

Ability: Cursed Body 

Tera Type: Ghost 

EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Hypnosis 

- Dream Eater 

- Curse 

- Disable 

Gardevoir 

Ability: Synchronize 

Tera Type: Psychic 

EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Hypnosis 

- Dream Eater 

- Encore 

- Disable 

Spiritomb @ Iapapa Berry 

Ability: Pressure 

Tera Type: Ghost 

EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpD 

Calm Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Hypnosis 

- Dream Eater 

- Destiny Bond 

- Memento 

Oranguru @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Inner Focus 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Dream Eater 

- Encore 

- Future Sight 

- Pain Split 

Noctowl @ Rocky Helmet 

Ability: Insomnia 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Hypnosis 

- Dream Eater 

- Future Sight 

- Night Shade 

Kirlia @ Eviolite 

Ability: Trace 

Shiny: Yes 

Tera Type: Psychic 

EVs: 248 HP / 8 SpA / 252 SpD 

Calm Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Hypnosis 

- Dream Eater 

- Disable 

- Destiny Bond 

=== [gen9] Uva/Frank ===

Arcanine-Hisui @ Rocky Helmet 

Ability: Rock Head 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Flare Blitz 

- Head Smash 

- Morning Sun 

- Double-Edge 

Braviary-Hisui (M) @ Life Orb 

Ability: Tinted Lens 

Tera Type: Psychic 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Air Slash 

- Esper Wing 

- Dazzling Gleam 

- Heat Wave 

Zoroark-Hisui @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Illusion 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Bitter Malice 

- Hyper Voice 

- Dark Pulse 

- Extrasensory 

Goodra-Hisui @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Shell Armor 

Tera Type: Steel 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Shelter 

- Body Press 

- Dragon Claw 

- Iron Head 

Decidueye-Hisui @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Scrappy 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Leaf Blade 

- Triple Arrows 

- Aerial Ace 

- Shadow Claw 

Samurott-Hisui @ Choice Band 

Ability: Sharpness 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Aqua Cutter 

- Night Slash 

- Sacred Sword 

- X-Scissor 

=== [gen9-box] Uva/Florian ===

Espathra @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Opportunist 

Tera Type: Psychic 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Dazzling Gleam 

- Lumina Crash 

- Energy Ball 

- Flash Cannon 

Annihilape @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Defiant 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Ice Punch 

- Earthquake 

- Drain Punch 

- Rage Fist 

Baxcalibur @ Life Orb 

Ability: Thermal Exchange 

Tera Type: Dragon 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Dragon Rush 

- Ice Fang 

- Earthquake 

- Crunch 

Maushold-Four @ Loaded Dice 

Ability: Technician 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Population Bomb 

- Bullet Seed 

- Tidy Up 

- Thunder Wave 

Meowscarada @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Overgrow 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Flower Trick 

- Lash Out 

- Hone Claws 

- Play Rough 

Miraidon @ Electric Seed 

Ability: Hadron Engine 

Tera Type: Electric 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

- Dragon Pulse 

- Electro Drift 

- Flash Cannon 

- Calm Mind 

And Here is Blueberry’s students!

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Clarissa ===

Pelipper @ Damp Rock 

Ability: Drizzle 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpA 

Bold Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Hurricane 

- Hydro Pump 

- Protect 

- Rain Dance 

Barraskewda @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Swift Swim 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Adamant Nature 

- Liquidation 

- Poison Jab 

- Psychic Fangs 

- Brick Break 

Swampert 

Ability: Damp 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Earth Power 

- Chilling Water 

- Ancient Power 

- Hydro Pump 

Dragonite @ Leftovers 

Ability: Multiscale 

Tera Type: Dragon 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Thunder 

- Hurricane 

- Encore 

- Protect 

Kingdra @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Swift Swim 

Tera Type: Water 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Rain Dance 

- Hurricane 

- Dragon Pulse 

- Hydro Pump 

Azumarill @ Rocky Helmet 

Ability: Huge Power 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Belly Drum 

- Waterfall 

- Play Rough 

- Brick Break 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Rhys ===

Torkoal @ Heat Rock 

Ability: Drought 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Solar Beam 

- Flamethrower 

- Ancient Power 

- Will-O-Wisp 

Venusaur @ Leftovers 

Ability: Chlorophyll 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Leech Seed 

- Ingrain 

- Sunny Day 

- Weather Ball 

Lilligant (F) @ Life Orb 

Ability: Chlorophyll 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Adamant Nature 

- Solar Blade 

- Swords Dance 

- Sunny Day 

- Teeter Dance 

Chandelure @ Life Orb 

Ability: Flash Fire 

Tera Type: Ghost 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Fire Blast 

- Calm Mind 

- Shadow Ball 

- Will-O-Wisp 

Ninetales @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Drought 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Fire Blast 

- Shadow Ball 

- Solar Beam 

- Dark Pulse 

Charizard @ Choice Specs 

Ability: Solar Power 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Fire Blast 

- Solar Beam 

- Air Slash 

- Ancient Power 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Sonia ===

Indeedee-F (F) @ Sitrus Berry 

Ability: Psychic Surge 

Tera Type: Psychic 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD 

Bold Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Baton Pass 

- Light Screen 

- Healing Wish 

- Calm Mind 

Farigiraf @ Leftovers 

Ability: Armor Tail 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD 

Sassy Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Curse 

- Light Screen 

- Trick Room 

- Psychic 

Copperajah @ Choice Band 

Ability: Sheer Force 

Tera Type: Steel 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Heat Crash 

- Heavy Slam 

- Double-Edge 

- Supercell Slam 

Hatterene (F) @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Magic Bounce 

Tera Type: Psychic 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Quiet Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Light Screen 

- Trick Room 

- Calm Mind 

- Expanding Force 

Armarouge @ Life Orb 

Ability: Weak Armor 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Expanding Force 

- Calm Mind 

- Aura Sphere 

- Armor Cannon 

Magnezone @ Aguav Berry 

Ability: Sturdy 

Tera Type: Electric 

EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Def 

Relaxed Nature 

- Discharge 

- Explosion 

- Light Screen 

- Protect 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Lawrence ===

Lucario @ Leftovers 

Ability: Inner Focus 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Aura Sphere 

- Calm Mind 

- Dragon Pulse 

- Flash Cannon 

Scrafty @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Moxie 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Bulk Up 

- Brick Break 

- Crunch 

- Dragon Claw 

Chesnaught @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Bulletproof 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Drain Punch 

- Dragon Claw 

- Seed Bomb 

- Crunch 

Kommo-o @ Sitrus Berry 

Ability: Soundproof 

Tera Type: Dragon 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Clangorous Soul 

- Clanging Scales 

- Boomburst 

- Aura Sphere 

Annihilape @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Defiant 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Rage Fist 

- Close Combat 

- Earthquake 

- Body Slam 

Iron Valiant @ Booster Energy 

Ability: Quark Drive 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Drain Punch 

- Spirit Break 

- Leaf Blade 

- X-Scissor 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Carmine ===

Mightyena 

Ability: Intimidate 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Super Fang 

- Howl 

- Yawn 

- Sucker Punch 

Toucannon 

Ability: Sheer Force 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Beak Blast 

- Throat Chop 

- Flame Charge 

- Dual Wingbeat 

Morpeko @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Hunger Switch 

Tera Type: Electric 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Aura Wheel 

- Lash Out 

- Thunder Wave 

- Seed Bomb 

Ninetales 

Ability: Flash Fire 

Tera Type: Fire 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Extrasensory 

- Flamethrower 

- Will-O-Wisp 

- Disable 

Scrafty 

Ability: Intimidate 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Brick Break 

- Crunch 

- Ice Punch 

- Bulk Up 

Sinistcha-Masterpiece @ Occa Berry 

Ability: Hospitality 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Matcha Gotcha 

- Hex 

- Stun Spore 

- Scald 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Drayton ===

Flygon @ Life Orb 

Ability: Levitate 

Tera Type: Ground 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Earthquake 

- Stone Edge 

- Fire Punch 

- Breaking Swipe 

Haxorus @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Mold Breaker 

Tera Type: Dragon 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Adamant Nature 

- Earthquake 

- Breaking Swipe 

- Iron Head 

- Dragon Dance 

Sceptile @ Weakness Policy 

Ability: Unburden 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe 

Lonely Nature 

- Dragon Cheer 

- Leaf Storm 

- X-Scissor 

- Acrobatics 

Kingdra @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Swift Swim 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Rain Dance 

- Ice Beam 

- Hydro Pump 

- Hurricane 

Archaludon @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Stamina 

Tera Type: Steel 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Electro Shot 

- Dragon Pulse 

- Flash Cannon 

- Snarl 

Iron Jugulis @ Booster Energy 

Ability: Quark Drive 

Tera Type: Dragon 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Dragon Pulse 

- Dark Pulse 

- Air Slash 

- Flash Cannon 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Crispin ===

Rotom-Heat @ Rocky Helmet 

Ability: Levitate 

Tera Type: Electric 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Will-O-Wisp 

- Overheat 

- Thunderbolt 

- Hex 

Talonflame @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Flame Body 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Sunny Day 

- Brave Bird 

- Flare Blitz 

- Roost 

Exeggutor @ Sitrus Berry 

Ability: Harvest 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA 

Bold Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Leech Seed 

- Psyshock 

- Protect 

- Solar Beam 

Camerupt @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Solid Rock 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpA 

Quiet Nature 

- Earth Power 

- Heat Wave 

- Ancient Power 

- Zen Headbutt 

Magmortar @ Passho Berry 

Ability: Flame Body 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Psychic 

- Thunderbolt 

- Heat Wave 

- Sunny Day 

Blaziken @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Speed Boost 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe 

Lonely Nature 

- Stone Edge 

- Focus Blast 

- Temper Flare 

- Shadow Claw 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Amarys ===

Skarmory @ Rocky Helmet 

Ability: Sturdy 

Tera Type: Steel 

EVs: 252 HP / 232 Def / 24 Spe 

Impish Nature 

- Stealth Rock 

- Whirlwind 

- Body Press 

- Dual Wingbeat 

Dugtrio-Alola @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Tangling Hair 

Tera Type: Ground 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Earthquake 

- Sucker Punch 

- Iron Head 

- Stone Edge 

Scizor @ Occa Berry 

Ability: Technician 

Tera Type: Bug 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Bullet Punch 

- Trailblaze 

- Pounce 

- Aerial Ace 

Reuniclus @ Leftovers 

Ability: Magic Guard 

Tera Type: Psychic 

EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD 

Sassy Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Trick Room 

- Protect 

- Energy Ball 

- Psychic 

Empoleon @ Mystic Water 

Ability: Torrent 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Ice Beam 

- Hydro Pump 

- Flash Cannon 

- Grass Knot 

Metagross @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Clear Body 

Tera Type: Steel 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Hard Press 

- Ice Punch 

- Zen Headbutt 

- Brick Break 

=== [gen9-box] Blueberry/Kieran ===

Politoed @ Wacan Berry 

Ability: Drizzle 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 SpA / 8 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Ice Beam 

- Weather Ball 

- Psychic 

- Helping Hand 

Dragonite @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Multiscale 

Tera Type: Dragon 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpA 

Brave Nature 

- Hurricane 

- Thunder 

- Extreme Speed 

- Breaking Swipe 

Grimmsnarl (M) @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Prankster 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Sucker Punch 

- Spirit Break 

- Light Screen 

- Reflect 

Porygon-Z @ Life Orb 

Ability: Adaptability 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Hyper Beam 

- Ice Beam 

- Thunderbolt 

- Shadow Ball 

Incineroar @ Sitrus Berry 

Ability: Intimidate 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Darkest Lariat 

- Brick Break 

- Flare Blitz 

- Fake Out 

Hydrapple @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Supersweet Syrup 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpA 

Quiet Nature 

IVs: 0 Spe 

- Fickle Beam 

- Gyro Ball 

- Tera Blast 

- Earth Power 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Kassandra ===

Toxicroak @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Dry Skin 

Tera Type: Poison 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Cross Chop 

- Poison Jab 

- Toxic 

- Earthquake 

Dragalge @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Adaptability 

Tera Type: Poison 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Dragon Pulse 

- Sludge Bomb 

- Scald 

- Toxic Spikes 

Overqwil @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Intimidate 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Throat Chop 

- Barb Barrage 

- Pain Split 

- Toxic Spikes 

Salazzle (F) @ Leftovers 

Ability: Corrosion 

Tera Type: Poison 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Toxic 

- Venoshock 

- Flamethrower 

- Dragon Dance 

Toxtricity-Low-Key @ Throat Spray 

Ability: Punk Rock 

Tera Type: Electric 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Boomburst 

- Discharge 

- Psychic Noise 

- Toxic 

Iron Moth @ Booster Energy 

Ability: Quark Drive 

Tera Type: Poison 

EVs: 120 HP / 132 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Venoshock 

- Flamethrower 

- Bug Buzz 

- Energy Ball 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Lacey ===

Whimsicott @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Prankster 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Light Screen 

- Tailwind 

- Energy Ball 

- Moonblast 

Granbull @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Intimidate 

Tera Type: Fairy 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Play Rough 

- Fire Punch 

- Ice Punch 

- Stomping Tantrum 

Primarina @ Throat Spray 

Ability: Liquid Voice 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Hyper Voice 

- Moonblast 

- Ice Beam 

- Shadow Ball 

Slowbro-Galar @ Sitrus Berry 

Ability: Quick Draw 

Tera Type: Poison 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

- Shell Side Arm 

- Psychic 

- Flamethrower 

- Ice Beam 

Alcremie-Caramel-Swirl (F) @ Leftovers 

Ability: Sweet Veil 

Tera Type: Fairy 

EVs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD 

Calm Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Decorate 

- Recover 

- Giga Drain 

- Alluring Voice 

Excadrill @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Mold Breaker 

Tera Type: Fairy 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe 

Hasty Nature 

- Tera Blast 

- Iron Head 

- Rock Tomb 

- High Horsepower 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Eliza ===

Torterra @ Leftovers 

Ability: Shell Armor 

Tera Type: Grass 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA 

Bold Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Leech Seed 

- Curse 

- Protect 

- Scorching Sands 

Garchomp @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Rough Skin 

Tera Type: Dragon 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Brick Break 

- Crunch 

- Dragon Claw 

- Earthquake 

Gliscor @ Toxic Orb 

Ability: Poison Heal 

Tera Type: Ground 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Crunch 

- Earthquake 

- Poison Jab 

- Stealth Rock 

Krookodile @ Life Orb 

Ability: Moxie 

Tera Type: Ground 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Bulk Up 

- Throat Chop 

- Earthquake 

- Dragon Tail 

Ursaluna @ Flame Orb 

Ability: Guts 

Tera Type: Ground 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Bulk Up 

- Cross Chop 

- Earthquake 

- Facade 

Iron Treads @ Booster Energy 

Ability: Quark Drive 

Tera Type: Ground 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Iron Defense 

- Body Press 

- Heavy Slam 

- Zen Headbutt 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Ben ===

Lapras @ Leftovers 

Ability: Shell Armor 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Sheer Cold 

- Dragon Dance 

- Ancient Power 

- Sparkling Aria 

Rhydon @ Eviolite 

Ability: Rock Head 

Tera Type: Ground 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Horn Drill 

- Earthquake 

- Stealth Rock 

- Rock Slide 

Snorlax @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Thick Fat 

Tera Type: Normal 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Fissure 

- Counter 

- Body Press 

- Earthquake 

Haxorus @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Mold Breaker 

Tera Type: Dragon 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Adamant Nature 

- Guillotine 

- Dragon Claw 

- Dragon Dance 

- Earthquake 

Klawf @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Shell Armor 

Tera Type: Rock 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Guillotine 

- Iron Defense 

- Shadow Claw 

- Rock Slide 

Excadrill @ Life Orb 

Ability: Sand Force 

Tera Type: Ground 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Fissure 

- Earthquake 

- Iron Head 

- Poison Jab 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Kian ===

Golem-Alola @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Galvanize 

Tera Type: Rock 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Body Slam 

- Stealth Rock 

- Stone Edge 

- Explosion 

Lanturn @ Leftovers 

Ability: Water Absorb 

Tera Type: Water 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Ice Beam 

- Scald 

- Thunderbolt 

- Thunder Wave 

Vikavolt @ Life Orb 

Ability: Levitate 

Tera Type: Bug 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Agility 

- Bug Buzz 

- Thunderbolt 

- Baton Pass 

Toxtricity @ Choice Specs 

Ability: Punk Rock 

Tera Type: Electric 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Boomburst 

- Discharge 

- Psychic Noise 

- Sludge Bomb 

Eelektross @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Levitate 

Tera Type: Electric 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Thunderbolt 

- Flamethrower 

- Dragon Pulse 

- Giga Drain 

Iron Thorns @ Booster Energy 

Ability: Quark Drive 

Tera Type: Rock 

EVs: 244 HP / 252 Atk / 12 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Rock Slide 

- Supercell Slam 

- Brick Break 

- Ice Punch 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Georgie ===

Abomasnow @ Icy Rock 

Ability: Snow Warning 

Tera Type: Grass 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Aurora Veil 

- Blizzard 

- Giga Drain 

- Chilling Water 

Glalie @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Moody 

Tera Type: Ice 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Blizzard 

- Light Screen 

- Shadow Ball 

- Spikes 

Froslass (F) @ Focus Sash 

Ability: Snow Cloak 

Tera Type: Ice 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Blizzard 

- Reflect 

- Chilling Water 

- Shadow Ball 

Weavile @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Pressure 

Tera Type: Dark 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Blizzard 

- Shadow Ball 

- Chilling Water 

- Swift 

Ninetales-Alola @ Life Orb 

Ability: Snow Warning 

Tera Type: Ice 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Blizzard 

- Moonblast 

- Extrasensory 

- Aurora Veil 

Glaceon @ Leftovers 

Ability: Ice Body 

Tera Type: Ice 

EVs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD 

Modest Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Blizzard 

- Calm Mind 

- Chilling Water 

- Hyper Voice 

=== [gen9] Blueberry/Louie ===

Lucario @ Leftovers 

Ability: Justified 

Tera Type: Fighting 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Drain Punch 

- Crunch 

- Bullet Punch 

- Earthquake 

Palafin @ Eject Button 

Ability: Zero to Hero 

Tera Type: Water 

- Drain Punch 

- Liquidation 

- Acrobatics 

- Iron Head 

Gallade (M) @ Assault Vest 

Ability: Sharpness 

Tera Type: Psychic 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Aqua Cutter 

- Leaf Blade 

- Throat Chop 

- Psycho Cut 

Ceruledge @ Rocky Helmet 

Ability: Flash Fire 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Jolly Nature 

- Bitter Blade 

- Destiny Bond 

- Dragon Claw 

- Phantom Force 

Armarouge @ Life Orb 

Ability: Flash Fire 

Tera Type: Fire 

EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe 

Timid Nature 

IVs: 0 Atk 

- Armor Cannon 

- Aura Sphere 

- Dark Pulse 

- Dragon Pulse 

Scizor @ Expert Belt 

Ability: Technician 

Tera Type: Bug 

EVs: 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD 

Adamant Nature 

- Trailblaze 

- Pounce 

- Bullet Punch 

- Dual Wingbeat 

This also means that I'll never have the issue again of loosing my teams :D

Chapter Text

Chapter Nineteen: Dawn of the Second Round

Most of the night before, Florian had been strategically preparing his team, because he knew if Blueberry was planning to misbehave, there had to be a reason they pit him against Kian. That alone was enough to put him on edge.

Even after locking in his battle plan, sleep remained elusive. His mind cycled through possibilities, predicting counters, devising contingencies—anything to ensure he was prepared. It wasn’t until nearly 5 AM that exhaustion finally pulled him under, though it felt like only minutes had passed before his alarm tore him from unconsciousness.

Despite his grogginess, Florian wasted no time getting ready, dressing in his League uniform with practiced efficiency. His ribs still ached from his previous injuries, but he shoved the discomfort aside. He couldn't afford distractions—not when the entire tournament was stacked against him.

The moment he stepped into the hallway, his friends were already waiting.

“Eat,” Arven ordered immediately, shoving a wrapped sandwich into his hands. His expression was firm, though a rare hint of concern softened his usual sharp demeanor.

“Seriously, you look awful,” Nemona added, crossing her arms. “If you collapse mid-battle, I’m dragging you off the stage myself.”

Florian rolled his eyes but obediently took a bite, barely tasting the food as Penny began rattling off information, her own exhaustion apparent in the dark circles under her eyes.

“I’ve been digging into the match schedules,” she muttered, adjusting her glasses as she scrolled through her Rotom Phone. “There’s something off about these pairings. Either Cyrano knows and is turning a blind eye, or someone else is pulling the strings.”

Florian hummed in response, mentally filing away her findings. He needed to focus on his battle first—then he could start untangling the web of corruption.

For now, there was only one priority:

Defeating Kian.

The walk to Uva Academy’s battle stadium felt both too long and too short. Florian barely registered the towering walls of the school, the familiar banners bearing the academy’s insignia fluttering in the morning breeze. His body moved on autopilot, yet every step carried a weight of anticipation.

As he stepped through the tunnel entrance and out onto the battlefield, the bright morning sunlight hit him at just the wrong angle, forcing him to squint. The cheers from the crowd were deafening—a mix of students, teachers, and visiting trainers from Blueberry Academy all packed into the stands.

Even before he reached his designated side of the arena, Drayton’s voice rang out, dripping with amusement.

“Damn, Florian, you look like you just crawled out of a grave,” he called from where he was lounging against the railings of the VIP box, arms crossed and a lazy smirk plastered across his face. His golden eyes gleamed with mischief. “Didn’t sleep? Or are you just realizing that going up against Kian might be a little too much for you?”

Florian ignored him and kept walking, rolling his shoulders in an attempt to shake off the stiffness from his lack of sleep.

“Oh, no comeback? That’s not like you.” Drayton’s smirk widened. “Or maybe you finally get it. This isn’t just some friendly match. You’ve been thrown into a den of sharks, buddy. And trust me, the people running this tournament? They want to see you drown.”

Florian exhaled sharply through his nose, still not rising to the bait. He wasn’t about to waste his energy on Drayton—not when he had bigger problems.

“Right, right, stay focused and all that,” Drayton continued, waving a hand dismissively. “But be careful out there, Champion. Wouldn’t want you passing out in the middle of the fight. Bad for ratings, y’know?”

Before Florian could even consider a response, Kian entered the arena from the opposite tunnel. The crowd’s cheers doubled in intensity, a sign of just how popular he had become since taking the BB League Championship title.

Florian clenched his fists. It was time.

The announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers, signaling the start of Round Two.

“TODAY WE BEGIN ROUND TWO OF THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL, THIS ROUND IS THEMED IN DOUBLE BATTLES, SO EACH TRAINER HAS TO USE 2 POKEMON AT ONCE, THIS IS THE SPEICALISM OF BLUEBERRY ACADAMEY, SO WILL THEY CONTINUE THEIR DOMIANT STREAK, LETS FIND OUT!” The Announcer calls, “FIRST UP, FROM BLUEBERRY ACADEMY, WE HAVE KIAN AND FACING HIM DOWN FROM UVA, CHAMPION FLORIAN!”

Both boys walked onto the field and Kian smirked,

“Well, your in for a shock if you think you can survive this, Champion” Kian said with a grin, and Florian frowned a little, as he looked at the male, and then over his shoulder, when Florian saw Kieran sitting there, Next to him, Drayton leaned in, whispering something that made Kieran’s expression twist—discomfort, frustration, maybe even anger. But he didn’t react, just sitting there, hands clenched into fists, powerless to respond.

Shaking himself a little, Florian turned his attention back to the battle, quickly Kian had sent out an Alolan Golem and Vikavolt,

Florian picked up two of his Pokeballs, and threw calling out his Meowscarda and Baxcalibur.

Taking the first action, Florian moved, “Go Meowscarada, use Flower Trick on Golem, Baxcalibur, use Ice Fang on his Vikavolt!”

Meowscarada flipped into action, its signature Flower Trick spiraling forward, the attack always landing a critical hit—but Kian was already smirking.

“Set the field, boys! Golem, use Stealth Rock! Vikavolt, use Agility!”

The moment before Flower Trick struck, Golem slammed its fists into the ground, sending jagged, glowing rocks scattering across the battlefield. The hazardous stones embedded themselves into the field, waiting to punish any future Pokémon Florian sent out.

Meanwhile, Vikavolt glowed with an electric pulse, its movement suddenly becoming unnervingly fast, weaving through the air like a blur.

Then, Meowscarada’s Flower Trick struck, the petals exploding against Golem’s tough exterior, making it stumble back with a grunt—but it wasn’t down yet.

At the same time, Baxcalibur lunged at Vikavolt, its jaws radiating freezing energy as it snapped forward for Ice Fang—

—but Vikavolt dipped away just in time, its new boosted speed allowing it to barely dodge the attack.

Florian clicked his tongue. “Fast.”

Kian grinned. “Told you—you’re in for a shock.”

Meowscarada flipped into action, its signature Flower Trick spiraling forward, the attack always landing a critical hit—but Kian was already smirking.

“Set the field, boys! Golem, use Stealth Rock! Vikavolt, use Agility!”

The moment before Flower Trick struck, Golem slammed its fists into the ground, sending jagged, glowing rocks scattering across the battlefield. The hazardous stones embedded themselves into the field, waiting to punish any future Pokémon Florian sent out.

Meanwhile, Vikavolt glowed with an electric pulse, its movement suddenly becoming unnervingly fast, weaving through the air like a blur.

Then, Meowscarada’s Flower Trick struck, the petals exploding against Golem’s tough exterior, making it stumble back with a grunt—but it wasn’t down yet.

At the same time, Baxcalibur lunged at Vikavolt, its jaws radiating freezing energy as it snapped forward for Ice Fang—

—but Vikavolt dipped away just in time, its new boosted speed allowing it to barely dodge the attack.

Florian clicked his tongue. “Fast.”

Kian grinned. “Told you—you’re in for a shock.”

Florian’s mind worked quickly, running through possible counters. Kian was fast—too fast—but speed alone wouldn’t win this battle. He needed to shift momentum in his favor.

"Meowscarada, set up with Hone Claws!" Florian commanded.
"Baxcalibur, go for Ice Fang on Golem again!"

Meowscarada lowered into a poised stance, claws flexing as its focus sharpened, its attack and accuracy rising. Meanwhile, Baxcalibur lunged forward, icy fangs glinting in the light as it aimed to sink its bite into Golem’s rocky frame.

But Kian was already smirking. He wanted this.

"Vikavolt, Agility again! Golem—EXPLOSION!"

Florian's eyes widened.

Vikavolt flashed with electric energy, moving even faster, blurring midair as it darted higher—just as Golem tensed its body. The air around it shook violently, a deep, ominous hum reverberating across the battlefield.

Then—

BOOM!

A massive shockwave erupted as Golem detonated, a blinding explosion swallowing the battlefield in fire, smoke, and concussive force. The sheer heat and force of the attack slammed into both of Florian’s Pokémon, the crowd gasping in shock as dust and embers filled the air.

Florian instinctively shielded his eyes, his ears ringing from the blast.

When the smoke finally began to clear, the battlefield was a scarred mess of cracked stone and lingering embers.

Vikavolt hovered above it all, completely untouched, having escaped the blast with its heightened speed. Kian’s strategy had worked—Golem had sacrificed itself to deal massive damage.

But was it enough?

As the dust settled, Meowscarada wobbled, barely staying on its feet, fur singed from the blast—but still standing. Florian gritted his teeth. That had been too close.

Then, Baxcalibur’s form emerged through the smoke.

For a moment, it seemed to stand tall, but then—

It swayed… and collapsed.

Florian cursed under his breath as he recalled Baxcalibur and Kian recalled Golem, sending out a Toxtricity in its place.

Florian took a breath and sent out his Espathra, who took some damage from the floating rocks, but held firm.

Kian’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied Espathra, the sunlight catching on its shimmering feathers. Two Pokémon weak to Vikavolt’s Bug-type moves? That meant Florian was either reckless… or had a plan.

And judging by the confident smirk on Florian’s face, it was the latter.

Florian flicked his hand forward. "Espathra, use Lumina Crash on Toxtricity! Meowscarada, use Lash Out on Vikavolt!"

Kian grinned, letting out a small laugh. “Vikavolt, use Agility again! Toxtricity, Sludge Bomb on Espathra!”

Vikavolt’s body glowed once more, its movements growing even faster as it zipped around the battlefield, but Florian’s grin only widened.

Espathra surged forward, its psychic energy flaring. The bright Lumina Crash attack blasted into Toxtricity, sending it stumbling back, its defenses immediately shattered from the devastating effect of the move.

At the same time, Meowscarada lunged, striking Vikavolt cleanly with Lash Out—the attack landing with surprising precision.

Kian’s smirk faltered.

"What? I should be too fast for you to hit!" Kian blurted out, eyes flicking between his Pokémon.

Florian simply shrugged, his expression smug. “Hone Claws increases my attack and accuracy—meaning your Vikavolt isn’t dodging as much as you think it is. And more importantly…”

He pointed to Espathra. “…Thanks to Espathra’s Ability, Opportunist, it copies any stat changes you make. Every time you boost Vikavolt’s speed… you’re making my Espathra just as fast.”

Kian’s eyes widened in alarm. His own strategy had just been turned against him.

His jaw tightened before he quickly adjusted his plan. “Vikavolt, use Baton Pass! Toxtricity, keep up Sludge Bomb on Espathra!”

Vikavolt’s body shimmered, the accumulated speed boost transferring to the next Pokémon as it retreated into its Pokéball. In its place, Eelektross emerged, muscles flexing as it floated midair—immediately inheriting the boosted speed.

But Florian was already two steps ahead.

“Espathra, Lumina Crash! Meowscarada, Play Rough!”

The moment Eelektross entered the field, it was met with an immediate double attack.

Espathra’s psychic energy blasted through Toxtricity again, sending it reeling from the repeated defense drops. Meanwhile, Meowscarada struck Eelektross with Play Rough, landing a critical hit just as it appeared.

Kian gritted his teeth as his newly switched Pokémon wobbled in the air, already weakened from the ambush attack.

"Tch… you planned that, didn’t you?" Kian muttered, voice tense.

Florian smiled. “It’s all about controlling the field. You wanted to set up an unstoppable speed boost, but now your Pokémon are barely standing.”

Kian bit his lip, then quickly gave new orders. "Eelektross, use Flamethrower on Meowscarada! Toxtricity, Sludge Bomb Espathra!"

Florian’s expression didn’t waver.

"Espathra, Lumina Crash on Toxtricity! Meowscarada, Play Rough on Eelektross!"

Both of Florian’s Pokémon moved in unison, their attacks striking true.

Espathra’s final blast of psychic energy shattered through Toxtricity’s weakened defenses, sending it crashing onto the battlefield with a dull thud, its body twitching before it finally fainted.

At the same time, Meowscarada leapt forward, its claws wreathed in playful yet devastating energy, slamming into Eelektross with a powerful Play Rough. The floating eel Pokémon let out a garbled cry before collapsing to the ground, struggling for a brief moment before its body went completely limp.

Both of Kian’s Pokémon had fainted.

The crowd erupted into cheers, the surprise of Florian taking such a strong lead sending a ripple of excitement through the stands.

But Florian’s victory wasn’t without cost.

The moment Meowscarada landed, the burn from Eelektross’s Flamethrower took hold, searing through its body in delayed effect. Its legs buckled—then it collapsed, fainting in turn.

Florian exhaled, shaking his head but still smiling.

"You did great, buddy," he muttered, recalling his starter Pokémon back into its Pokéball. He tucked it away before pulling out another ball, a light grin forming on his face.

"Alright, let’s keep the pressure up—Maushold, you're up!"

With a burst of light, the tiny family of Pokémon appeared, chirping excitedly as they took position on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, Kian was scowling.

2-3.

He was losing.

His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his mind racing. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. He had the advantage going in—the better setup, the momentum. Florian was supposed to be cracking under pressure, yet here he was, still calm, still in control.

And then, from the VIP section, he felt Drayton’s eyes on him.

He didn’t need to look to know exactly what the older trainer was thinking.

If you lose, you’re worthless.

A chill ran down Kian’s spine, but then—he remembered.

His fingers brushed against the smooth surface of a Pokéball behind his back. Not just any Pokéball.

A Master Ball.

The grip of absolute power.

Slowly, Kian let out a steadying breath, the scowl easing into a cold smirk.

If Drayton wanted a victory, he would get one.

Kian reached for his next Pokéball, tossing it forward.

“Lanturn, let’s turn the tides!”

With a burst of light, Lanturn appeared on the battlefield, its bioluminescent antenna glowing brightly as it hovered above the field.

Florian watched it carefully. A good choice. Lanturn’s natural Electric- and Water-typing gave it solid coverage, and it could definitely play defensively if needed.

But then Kian grinned—and with deliberate slowness, he reached for the Master Ball.

Holding it up for the entire stadium to see, he smirked.

Kian grinned. “Hope you’re ready for a real shock, Champion… because this is where the battle ends.”

With a dramatic flick of his wrist, he threw the Master Ball forward.

"GO, IRON THORNS!"

A blinding flash of violet and silver light erupted from the Master Ball, and when it faded—

The battlefield trembled.

Towering over them all, the Paradox Pokémon no one should have stood in the arena.

A mechanical behemoth, covered in sharp, neon-green armored plating, Iron Thorns' red eyes glowed ominously as it let out a metallic roar, the sheer weight of its presence making the battlefield shake.

Florian's stomach twisted.

Paradox Pokémon—especially those from Area Zero’s restricted list—were not legally obtainable, as no one was allowed IN Area Zero (not that it stopped Florian, but that was beside the point).

And judging by the smug look on Kian’s face, he knew exactly how much of a problem this was going to be.

The crowd had gone silent.

Up in the VIP seats, Drayton watched closely, his fingers steepled as a slow smirk curled across his lips.

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty: Whispers of A coup

Kieran’s eyes went wide.

He recognized that Pokémon—how could he not? Iron Thorns. A Paradox Pokémon, one of the many dangers that had turned that disastrous expedition into Area Zero into a nightmare.

But how did Kian have one?

That shouldn’t be possible. The Pokémon of Area Zero were meant to be locked away, too unpredictable, too dangerous to be controlled. Even those who had ventured into the crater before had never walked away with a fully captured Paradox Pokémon.

So how had Kian—a student, not a scientist, not a researcher, just a trainer—come to possess one?

Kieran’s stomach twisted uncomfortably.

Something was very, very wrong.

Slowly, his head turned toward Drayton, who sat beside him, arms folded, expression unreadable.

But Kieran wasn’t fooled.

“How does he have that?” he demanded, voice low, barely above a whisper—but filled with urgency. “How does Kian have a Paradox Pokémon?”

Drayton didn’t react at first. He merely glanced down at the battlefield, his expression still as calm as ever as Kian gave his orders.

Then, with a slow, deliberate smirk, he tilted his head toward Kieran.

“Why don’t you ask yourself a better question?” he mused.

Kieran’s fingers curled into fists. He already hated when Drayton spoke in riddles, but right now, he didn’t have the patience. “What are you talking about?”

Drayton leaned in slightly, his tone almost amused, yet dangerously cold.

“Not how Kian has it…” His golden eyes gleamed as he let the next words drop like a bomb.

“…but how many more of them we have.”

Kieran’s breath caught.

His blood ran cold.

This wasn’t just one stolen Paradox Pokémon.

This wasn’t just Kian’s personal secret.

This was something bigger.

Something dangerous.

And as Kieran sat there, pulse pounding in his ears, watching Iron Thorns tower over Florian’s Maushold and Espathra, he realized—

This wasn’t just a battle anymore.

This was a warning.

Florian exhaled slowly, eyes locking onto Iron Thorns.

He trained against these things regularly.

They were powerful, yes. Unpredictable. Ruthless. But he’d faced dozens of them in battle simulations, trained for worst-case scenarios. This shouldn’t be any different.

Kian was expecting fear.

Florian wasn’t going to give it to him.

“Maushold, use Tidy Up! Espathra, Lumina Crash on Iron Thorns!”

Maushold sprang into action, the entire family moving in perfect unison as they swept away the battlefield’s hazards with startling efficiency. The lingering Stealth Rocks shattered instantly, and with it, Maushold’s speed shot up, making them even harder to hit.

At the same time, Espathra’s eyes gleamed with an intense psychic glow, and the air distorted with power as it unleashed Lumina Crash—

—but Kian was already moving.

“Iron Thorns, Supercell Slam on Espathra! Lanturn, Scald on Maushold!”

The massive Paradox Pokémon surged forward, electricity crackling violently along its jagged frame. Supercell Slam—a high-powered Electric-type attack unique to Iron Thorns—charged up in an instant.

And then, with blinding speed, Iron Thorns lunged.

The collision was brutal.

Electricity arced across Espathra’s body as Iron Thorns slammed into it full force, sending the Psychic-type flying backwards. It skidded across the battlefield, wings twitching as it struggled to rise.

At the same time, Lanturn launched a surge of scalding water, the boiling-hot Scald attack crashing into Maushold, drenching the small Pokémon in searing heat.

Maushold yelped, barely managing to hold its footing—but then, Florian’s eyes narrowed.

The steam from Scald slowly faded… revealing that Maushold wasn’t burned.

Good.

Now it was his turn.

Florian flicked his hand forward again, his eyes sharp, unwavering.

“Espathra, one more Lumina Crash! Maushold, Population Bomb on Lanturn!”

Kian’s smirk twitched slightly, his confidence wavering—but he wasn’t backing down.

“Iron Thorns, finish Espathra with Thunder Punch! Lanturn, Ice Beam on Maushold!”

Everything happened in an instant.

Espathra’s form flickered with speed, its feathers glowing with a pulsating psychic light. It launched another devastating Lumina Crash, the energy warping through the air as it slammed into Iron Thorns, lowering its defenses once again.

But before the damage could settle—

Iron Thorns moved.

The Paradox Pokémon’s fist crackled with electricity, a Thunder Punch charged to maximum power, fueled by its Titanic strength and enhanced attack.

The impact was brutal.

A single, devastating blow landed cleanly against Espathra’s chest, sending shockwaves of electricity ripping through its body.

Espathra let out a shrill cry before its body slumped to the ground, twitching weakly.

“Espathra is unable to battle!” the referee called.

The crowd erupted in cheers, but Florian was already moving forward.

Espathra had done its job.

Now it was Maushold’s turn.

The tiny family of Pokémon twitched their whiskers, their eyes locking onto Lanturn like a predator eyeing prey.

And then—they moved.

Fast.

Maushold rushed forward, darting beneath Lanturn’s line of sight before—

BAM.

The first strike landed.

Then another.

And another.

The hits kept coming, relentless, brutal, and impossibly precise.

Population Bomb was designed to hit multiple times—

But thanks to Technician, Loaded Dice, and Maushold’s boosted stats—

All ten strikes landed.

Each one perfectly executed, perfectly enhanced, perfectly devastating.

By the fourth strike, Lanturn was already struggling.

By the seventh, its movements were lagging, faltering.

By the tenth, it was over.

Lanturn collapsed, spirals in its eyes.

Both trainers silently recalled their fallen Pokémon, the battlefield left with only Iron Thorns and Maushold standing across from each other.

Then, with a flash of light, Kian’s last Pokémon returned to the field—his weakened Vikavolt.

But this time, there were no Agility boosts, no tricks left. It hovered lower than before, still feeling the lingering effects of Meowscarada’s earlier attack.

Kian tightened his grip on Vikavolt’s Pokéball, his jaw clenching. This was it. His final two Pokémon.

But then—Florian did something unexpected.

He paused.

Hands on his hips, he simply stood there for a moment, exhaling through his nose, glancing at Kian with an almost casual expression.

“…You have a Paradox Pokémon,” Florian mused, his voice carrying across the battlefield.

The crowd hushed slightly, listening.

Kian stiffened, eyes narrowing.

Florian let his lips curl into a small, knowing smile.

“Well, let’s see how you do against the strongest of all of them.”

Then, with an almost lazy flick of his wrist, Florian grabbed a special Pokéball—one unlike the others.

“Go Miriadon!”

The reaction was instant. The announcers were shouting. The crowd was on their feet.

A Legendary Pokémon had just entered the fight.

Kian felt a chill crawl up his spine.

He had expected Florian to be strong. He had expected a challenge.

But this?

This was something else entirely.

And for the first time all battle—Kian felt it.

Doubt.

But there was no turning back now.

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to smirk, though it wavered at the edges.

“Well then…” he muttered, more to himself than anyone.

His grip tightened on his Pokéball.

“Guess we’re doing this.”

Florian didn’t hesitate.

“Maushold, go! Population Bomb—take down that Vikavolt! Miraidon, Calm Mind!”

His commands rang clear and confident, cutting through the electric tension in the air.

Maushold sprang forward, its tiny bodies darting like blurs, fangs bared as it closed in on Vikavolt.

The first strike landed cleanly.

Then another.

And another.

Each hit slammed into Vikavolt, precise, relentless, devastating.

Kian could only watch, jaw tightening as his last remaining non-Paradox Pokémon faltered midair.

By the time the ninth strike connected, Vikavolt was already crashing down, its wings faltering, unable to remain airborne.

The final strike never even had to land.

Vikavolt hit the ground with a dull thud.

The crowd exploded into cheers, but Florian was already looking forward—because now, only one Pokémon remained on Kian’s side of the field.

Iron Thorns.

Florian’s Miraidon, meanwhile, had calmly hovered in place, its body pulsing with glowing energy as it completed its Calm Mind boost, enhancing its Special Attack and Special Defense.

Kian’s scowl deepened as he stood there, gripping his Tera Orb tightly.

One versus two.

His back against the wall.

And Drayton was watching.

He couldn’t—wouldn’t—lose.

Kian lifted his arm, his Tera Orb glowing with golden light.

“Let’s send the sparks flying for this.” His voice was low, but charged with determination.

The energy began to gather.

“Glow Crystal… Terastalize and reform!”

The energy surged forward, enveloping Iron Thorns, the Paradox Pokémon’s body glowing with intense golden hues.

Crystals spiked outward, refracting light in every direction, and then—

Its form shifted.

Iron Thorns’ entire frame solidified, its natural Electric/Rock typing now overridden—transformed into a pure Rock-type.

The Tera Crown gleamed ominously, jagged and brimming with power.

Kian’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“Now, Iron Thorns—Rock Slide!”

With a metallic snarl, Iron Thorns slammed its tail into the ground, sending a shockwave through the battlefield.

A cascade of massive, jagged boulders erupted from the ground, hurtling toward Maushold and Miraidon.

The rocks struck with devastating force, crashing down onto the battlefield in a chaotic landslide of stone and dust. The entire arena shook from the impact.

Florian’s Pokémon staggered.

Maushold skidded back, the tiny family of Pokémon huddling together, bruised but still standing.

Miraidon hovered in place, its metallic hide absorbing the brunt of the attack, sparks crackling across its frame. It barely flinched.

Kian’s breathing was heavy, his fists clenched at his sides.

His last attack had landed—but it wasn’t enough.

And now—it was Florian’s turn.

Florian exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders before pointing forward.

"Miraidon, lead the charge—Flash Cannon! Maushold, finish it with Population Bomb!"

Kian’s eyes widened.

Miraidon surged forward, its body pulsing with power, and then—a concentrated beam of silver energy exploded from its mouth, streaking across the battlefield in a blinding blast.

The Flash Cannon struck first, slamming into Iron Thorns with crushing force, sending a shockwave rippling across the battlefield.

Iron Thorns staggered, its Tera form flickering slightly—but it refused to fall.

And then—

Maushold moved.

Fast.

The tiny Pokémon darted forward in a blur, its entire family attacking in perfect synchrony.

BAM.

The first hit landed.

CRACK.

The second.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

Every single hit connected—every strike perfectly executed, fueled by Technician, Loaded Dice, and Florian’s expert strategy.

Kian watched, frozen, as Iron Thorns faltered, its frame sparking violently as it tried—desperately—to remain standing.

The final strike landed.

Iron Thorns let out a metallic roar, its glowing eyes flickering—then dimming.

And then—

It collapsed.

The battlefield fell into stunned silence.

Then, the referee raised their hand.

“Iron Thorns is unable to battle! The winner of this match is—Champion Florian!”

The crowd erupted.

Florian stood tall, watching as Kian silently recalled Iron Thorns, his expression dark, unreadable.

He had lost.

For a moment, Kian didn’t move.

Then—he turned without a word, walking off the battlefield.

But as Florian watched him go, he couldn’t shake the feeling—

This wasn’t over.

And whatever was happening behind the scenes…

This battle was just the beginning.

Florian immediately stepped off the battlefield, his victory sealed, but his mind already elsewhere.

The cheers of the crowd faded into background noise as he approached the waiting area—where, as expected, his friends were already gathered.

And from the looks on their faces, they all shared the same concern.

Nemona, Arven, Penny, Eri, Ortega, Atticus, Mela, and Giacomo—Team Star’s bosses—stood together, their normally casual camaraderie overshadowed by unease.

They weren’t celebrating.

Because, just like Florian, they understood the real issue.

Kian couldn’t be the only one with a Paradox Pokémon.

Which meant…

How many were they about to go up against?

Nemona, usually bright-eyed and full of energy, had her arms crossed, brows furrowed in uncharacteristic seriousness.

"That was… way too much," she admitted. "Kian shouldn't have had Iron Thorns. Nobody should have a Paradox Pokémon, outside of, well…" Her gaze flickered to Florian, and the Pokéball containing Miraidon on his belt.

Arven’s expression was grim. He had seen firsthand what those Pokémon could do. "Yeah, this isn’t just some kid getting lucky and catching one. Someone handed that to him. Someone powerful."

Penny adjusted her glasses, her fingers hovering over her Rotom Phone, her mind already racing through the implications. "I’ve been looking through the database of registered tournament Pokémon, and guess what? Iron Thorns wasn’t in Kian’s roster before today."

Florian’s jaw tightened. It had been a last-minute addition.

Meaning someone gave it to him specifically for this battle.

"Tch," Mela scoffed, crossing her arms, her usual fire nowhere to be found. "So what now? We just wait until the next guy comes out with an Iron Hands? A Iron Moth?"

Atticus’s voice was calm, but sharp. "The shadows conceal much, but deception cannot persist forever. We must uncover who granted him such power."

Ortega sighed, rubbing his temple. "Yeah, because this is exactly what we need—people handing out futuristic monsters like they’re just regular Pokémon."

Giacomo, normally the chillest of them all, shook his head. "This ain't a normal tournament anymore. This is something else."

Florian took all their words in, his eyes narrowing.

They were right.

This wasn’t about winning battles anymore.

This was about who was controlling the tournament from the shadows.

And what their endgame was.

He glanced toward the VIP section, where Kieran and Drayton had been watching.

Drayton knew something.

And so did Kieran.

Florian exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders. If they wanted answers… they had work to do.

"Alright," he finally said, his voice steady. "Then let’s find out who we’re really up against."

His friends nodded, their resolve solidifying.

Because if Kian had one Paradox Pokémon…

Who knew how many more were waiting in the rounds ahead?

And more importantly—who was really pulling the strings?

The battle was over, but the war was long from over.

Chapter Text

Kieran sat still, his fists clenched in his lap.

From the moment Florian’s final attack landed, he had been fighting to keep his expression neutral—but inside?

He was cheering.

Florian had won.

Despite everything stacked against him, despite Kian’s unfair advantage with a Paradox Pokémon, despite the pressure from Drayton and whatever forces were lurking behind this tournament—

Florian had still come out on top.

Kieran felt something bloom in his chest, something warm and almost painful at the same time.

He didn’t deserve to feel proud.

Not when he was sitting in the VIP box beside Drayton, watching silently as the battle unfolded.

Not when he had done nothing to stop it.

Not when he knew—knew—that this was only the beginning of something far worse.

And then—Drayton moved.

The older trainer’s expression was unreadable as he stood, casting a brief glance toward Kieran.

"Stay here." His voice was calm, but firm.

Kieran didn’t argue. He knew exactly where Drayton was going.

Straight to Kian.

To scold him for failing.

To remind him what was at stake.

To make sure he never lost again.

Kieran swallowed hard, watching as Drayton disappeared down the corridor, leaving him alone.

Or so he thought.

Because the moment the door shut—someone slipped into the VIP box.

Carmine.

His sister.

Kieran’s eyes widened, but before he could react, she grabbed his wrist and yanked him into the shadowed corner of the booth, away from prying eyes.

Her voice was low, urgent.

"Kieran. Talk to me. What the hell is going on?"

Kieran hesitated.

He wanted to tell her—he really did.

But he couldn’t.

He couldn’t risk pulling her into this.

Carmine must have seen the conflict in his eyes because her grip tightened slightly.

"Don’t you dare shut me out." Her voice softened, but only slightly. "I know you, Kieran. I know when you're scared. And I know when you're hiding something."

He looked away. "It's… complicated."

Carmine huffed. "Everything with you is complicated. Just tell me straight—is this about the tournament? Or is it about Florian?"

Kieran’s stomach twisted.

She was too sharp.

She had always been too good at reading him.

His silence stretched too long.

Carmine's eyes narrowed. "Oh my god. It is about Florian."

Kieran flinched. "Carmine—"

She let out a short breath, shaking her head. "Okay. Wow. You—you really like him, don’t you?"

Kieran’s chest tightened.

He should deny it.

He should brush it off.

He should laugh, or change the subject, or—anything.

But he didn’t.

Because he couldn’t.

Instead, his voice came out small.

“…Yeah.”

Carmine’s expression softened, just a little. She had known, of course. But hearing Kieran admit it? That was different.

"How long?" she asked gently.

Kieran rubbed the back of his neck, glancing away. "Since… Area Zero. Maybe before then. I don’t know. I just… he’s Florian, you know?"

Carmine watched him for a moment. Then, she let out a slow, exasperated sigh and patted his shoulder—hard.

"You’re an idiot."

Kieran blinked. "What?!"

"You’re an idiot, but at least now I know why you look like you’re dying every time he walks into the room." She crossed her arms. "So, what’s the plan?"

Kieran frowned. "Plan?"

Carmine rolled her eyes. "Yeah, you dummy. Plan. What are you gonna do about it?"

Kieran hesitated.

Because the truth was—he didn’t know.

There was too much standing in the way.

The tournament.

Drayton.

The looming threat of more Paradox Pokémon.

His own cowardice.

How could he possibly think about his feelings when everything around him was spiraling out of control?

Carmine studied his expression, then sighed again. "Alright. I get it. One crisis at a time."

She tilted her head toward the battlefield below, where Florian stood surrounded by his friends, already discussing what came next.

"But Kieran?"

He turned back to her.

Carmine’s expression softened again, just slightly. "You deserve to be happy too, y’know?"

Kieran didn’t answer, at least for now.

Carmine stood quietly, her gaze lingering on Kieran for just a moment longer.

She had gotten what she came for.

Kieran wasn’t just caught up in this mess—he was in love with Florian.

And yet… he wasn’t doing anything about it.

Carmine could read between the lines. This wasn’t just self-doubt. This wasn’t just nerves.

Something bigger was happening here.

Something wrong.

And Carmine had a terrible feeling that Kieran wasn’t just afraid of rejection—he was afraid of what was coming.

This was all too convenient.

Too many pieces falling into place.

And, more than anything—the Blueberry Elite Four were not as united as they should be.

She had seen it in the way Drayton had acted, the way Kieran had stiffened, the way Amarys had been watching everything too carefully.

Something wasn’t right.

And if Drayton and his friends were distracted, that meant she had a window.

A small one.

She caught Amarys’s eye across the VIP section. The older girl gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod.

Amarys knew.

Maybe not everything, but she knew enough.

And right now, that was all Carmine needed.

With practiced ease, she slipped away, moving through the crowd undetected.

She didn’t stop until she spotted her target.

Nemona.

The Paldean Champion was standing near Florian, deep in discussion with the rest of their friends, clearly piecing things together about Kian’s Paradox Pokémon.

Carmine didn’t hesitate.

She grabbed Nemona’s arm, pulling her aside.

Nemona barely had time to react before Carmine muttered urgently, voice low enough so only she could hear—

“This isn’t all of us.”

Nemona’s brows furrowed. "What?"

Carmine tightened her grip slightly. "What’s happening here? With Kian, with Drayton, with these Pokémon? This isn’t everyone from Blueberry. It’s not me. It’s not Kieran. I need you to know that."

Nemona’s eyes sharpened immediately.

She wasn’t just the excitable Champion Florian had trained with.

She was smart. Tactical.

And she caught on quick.

Her expression turned serious, gaze flicking toward where the Blueberry contingent had gathered.

"So who is it?" she asked quietly.

Carmine exhaled slowly.

"I don’t know. But I’m going to find out."

Nemona’s jaw set. "Not alone, you’re not."

Carmine almost smiled.

Good.

Because if there was one thing she knew for certain, it was this—

Something was about to break.

And Carmine was absolutely going to make sure she and Kieran was on the right side of it.

Carmine let Nemona lead her through the winding halls of Uva Academy, moving swiftly but discreetly.

Eventually, they stopped outside a small, dimly lit classroom, the murmur of voices coming from within.

Nemona pushed open the door, and Carmine stepped inside—only to pause.

Florian was there.

And he looked exhausted.

He was sitting at a desk, drinking coffee with a ridiculous amount of sugar, stirring it absentmindedly with a spoon as he tried to wake himself up.

Penny sat across from him, eyes scanning her Rotom Phone, clearly processing something fast. Arven was beside her, arms crossed, his usual smug grin absent as he watched the conversation unfold.

And then—

Team Star.

The bosses of Paldea’s most rebellious squad were all present, all serious.

Mela, leaning against the wall, arms crossed and scowling.
Atticus, sitting quietly, his masked face unreadable.
Ortega, tapping his fingers against his knee in frustration.
Eri, looking between the group with a frown.
Giacomo, head down, deep in thought.

But what truly caught Carmine’s attention was the two unfamiliar faces.

Lacey and Crispin.

Two members of the Blueberry Academy Elite Four—but unlike Drayton, they looked relieved to see her.

The moment Carmine entered, Lacey straightened.

"Good," she muttered. "You're here."

Crispin, who had been leaning lazily back in his chair, sat up and gave a small smirk.

"Finally. Someone who actually represents us."

Carmine’s eyes narrowed slightly.

So they were feeling the pressure too.

She took a step forward, arms crossed. "Alright. I assume this isn’t just a ‘congratulations’ party for Florian?"

Florian snorted, sipping his coffee. "Yeah, no. Definitely not."

Penny didn’t look up from her screen. "We’re here to share information. Because this whole tournament? Something’s wrong with it."

Nemona nodded, closing the door behind them.

"Carmine, they already know Kian had a Paradox Pokémon."

Carmine exhaled. "Good. Then I’m not crazy."

Lacey scoffed. "Oh, you’re definitely not crazy."

She gestured vaguely. "Drayton’s up to something, and we’re pretty sure it involves more than just one Paradox Pokémon. The problem is, we have no idea how many."

Crispin sighed. "Or where they’re coming from. But if Kian had one, and Drayton’s been acting like he already owns the whole tournament, it means someone—somewhere—is feeding these Pokémon into the competition."

Arven’s frown deepened. "And I’m guessing Director Cyrano either doesn’t know… or doesn’t care."

armine sat down at the table, arms still crossed, mind racing.

"Drayton told Kieran something." Her voice was low, steady. "Before I got to him, he said something that scared the hell out of him. I think… I think they have more. A lot more."

The room stilled.

And for a brief moment—just a second—Carmine caught it.

A reaction.

Florian, who had been casually stirring his coffee, froze for the tiniest fraction of a second.

His grip on the spoon tightened.

His eyes flickered downward.

A hesitation.

A shadow of something—concern? Guilt? Fear?

Then, just as quickly, he took a sip of his coffee, masking it.

But Carmine had seen it.

And from the way Nemona subtly glanced at him too, she had noticed as well.

Carmine’s brows furrowed.

Why would Florian react to that?

Did he know something?

Or was this about Kieran?

She didn’t press—not yet. But now, her mind was working in two directions.

One: How many more Paradox Pokémon were out there?

And two: What exactly had Drayton told Kieran… that made Florian react like that?

Penny finally looked up.

Her glasses reflected the light of her screen as she met Carmine’s gaze.

"Then we better figure out how many before it’s too late."

The room fell into silence.

Because if they were right…

This wasn’t just about winning a tournament anymore.

This was about who was controlling it.

And what they were planning next.

A Long winded explanation later, he air in the small classroom was thick with tension as the pieces of the puzzle started falling into place.

Drayton had been behind everything.

Nemona exhaled sharply, crossing her arms. "So let me get this straight—Drayton’s been cheating since Round One?"

Penny nodded. "It’s worse than just rigging the tournament. He’s the reason Arven got injured."

Arven let out a low scoff, rubbing his shoulder absentmindedly as if the pain still lingered. "Faulty Tera Orb. That’s what I get for trusting their tech."

Carmine clenched her fists, her blood boiling.

But it was Crispin who spoke next, his voice grimmer than before.

"That’s not all he’s done." He pulled out his Rotom Phone, scrolling for a moment before tapping a file. "We’ve been dealing with Drayton’s games for a while now. But this?"**

He turned the screen around.

A video.

The image was grainy, but the audio was clear.

A voice played through the speakers. A familiar one.

But it was twisted. Warped. Manipulated.

Florian’s voice.

Or, at least—a version of it.

"… in Area Zero… kept glaring when he thought I couldn’t see… when we found Terapagos he immediately ordered it to attack me… told his sister and Mrs. Briar that they had to keep quiet about it… he’s a danger… a threat."

The room fell into complete silence.

Carmine felt the rage bubbling beneath her skin.

"What. The. Hell." she growled, voice low, dangerous. "They made it sound like Florian—"

"—was calling Kieran a threat," Crispin finished grimly.

Lacey sighed, rubbing her forehead. "These recordings were leaked across Blueberry Academy before the tournament. It got passed around the students, whispered behind Kieran’s back."

Carmine’s stomach twisted.

"So that’s why he was so isolated before this started."

It wasn’t just his own guilt.

It wasn’t just Kieran pulling away on his own.

It was this.

This fake recording. These twisted words.

They had ostracized him before he ever had a chance to defend himself.

And now, this tournament was meant to be his way back in.

Rigged from the start.

Designed to make him win, to make him prove he was 'worthy' again.

Penny exhaled sharply. "That's fake. There's no way."

"Of course it’s fake," Crispin muttered. "But that didn’t stop it from spreading through Blueberry like wildfire before the tournament started."

He leaned back in his chair, expression bitter. "The whole school saw it. Heard it. And Kieran? He got ostracized overnight. No one would even talk to him. And then, just like that… he’s given a shot to ‘redeem’ himself by getting thrown into this tournament?"

Crispin’s eyes narrowed.

"Yeah. This whole thing was planned from the start."

Carmine clenched her fists.

No wonder Kieran had been so out of it. No wonder he had shut down before the tournament even began.

They had set him up to fail.

And then—she noticed it.

Another reaction.

Florian had stiffened again.

Just like before.

His hands tightened slightly around his coffee cup, his lips pressed into a thin line.

It was so small, so subtle, but Carmine had spent her whole life looking out for Kieran.

And now, she knew exactly what she was seeing.

Understanding hit her like a truck.

Florian was in love with Kieran.

Just like Kieran was in love with Florian.

And neither of them knew.

Carmine felt her breath catch, her gaze flickering between Florian’s unreadable expression and the replaying words of that fake recording.

Florian had taken that attack for Kieran.

The one that had started this entire mess.

She had wondered why.

Now she knew.

But she didn’t say anything.

Because this wasn’t the time.

Because Florian clearly didn’t know Kieran felt the same.

Because Kieran definitely didn’t know Florian felt the same.

Instead, she exhaled, forcing herself to focus.

This was bigger than their feelings.

This was about tearing down whatever was controlling this tournament—before it destroyed them all.

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty Two: Alliances

The atmosphere was tense as the Blueberry Academy group hurriedly gathered their things.

Drayton had made it clear.

Anyone caught talking to Uva Academy would be expelled.

That was the rule. The threat.

Carmine, Crispin, and Lacey had barely finished sharing what they knew before Crispin’s Rotom Phone buzzed—a short, clipped message from an unknown sender.

“If we stay for much longer, Drayton  will know. Get out. Now.”

That was all it took.

They had to move.

Carmine stood, adjusting her coat as she shot a look at Florian.

If he had any thoughts about what she had figured out about him and Kieran, he wasn’t showing them. He just took one last sip of his over-sugared coffee, set the cup down, and gave her a small nod.

They’d deal with that later.

For now, they had bigger problems.

“We’ll keep digging on our end,” Lacey promised, already heading toward the door. “But be careful. If Drayton’s pushing this hard to keep us separated, it means we’re close to something big.”

Crispin smirked, but there was no humor in it. “Or we’re already in the middle of it.”

Penny adjusted her glasses, eyes narrowing. “Just don’t do anything reckless.”

Carmine scoffed, but Nemona elbowed her before she could say something sarcastic.

“Same to you guys,” Nemona said firmly. “You’re not alone in this. We’ll figure this out.”

With that, the Blueberry group slipped out, careful not to be seen as they blended back into the crowd.

Florian and the rest of Uva Academy’s team weren’t far behind.

With everything they had just learned, there was no way they were missing the next round of battles.

If Drayton was going to pull more tricks, more Paradox Pokémon, more match-fixing

Less than ten minutes later, the tournament field was buzzing with confusion.

Nemona stood on the battlefield, waiting.

Her opponent—Georgia from Uva Academy—was supposed to be here.

But she wasn’t.

The timer on the official tournament clock counted down, signaling the allotted wait time for a competitor.

And when it hit zero—the referee raised their hand.

“Georgia from Uva Academy has failed to appear. Nemona advances to Round 3 by default.”

The crowd murmured, a few confused cheers breaking out, but mostly—there was silence.

Nemona stepped off the battlefield, frowning deeply.

Something felt off.

Then—Carmine’s turn.

She took her position on the field, adjusting her stance, eyes scanning the opposite tunnel entrance.

Her opponent—Zoe, also from Uva Academy—was supposed to be here.

But just like before…

She didn’t show.

Carmine’s jaw clenched.

“Zoe from Uva Academy has failed to appear. Carmine advances to Round 3 by default.”

Now the murmurs grew louder.

Something was wrong.

And then—Ortega stepped out.

He didn’t look thrilled to be here, but he still took his position, waiting for Bethany, his opponent from Uva Academy.

And once again—the field across from him remained empty.

The referee didn’t even hesitate before calling it.

“Bethany from Uva Academy has failed to appear. Ortega advances to Round 3 by default.”

The confusion in the crowd was palpable now.

Three matches. Three missing contenders.

Nemona, Carmine, and Ortega all moved through without even battling.

This wasn’t coincidence.

Something had happened to Uva’s competitors.

Carmine turned on her heel, immediately making a beeline for Florian and the others.

“Alright. What the hell is going on?”

Penny was already furiously typing on her Rotom Phone. “I don’t know. I’m trying to figure that out.”

Florian’s expression was grim. “Whatever this is… it’s not good.”

Nemona nodded, her fists clenching. “Someone is taking people out of this tournament. And we need to find out who.”

And more importantly—why.

With the last match of the day officially skipped, the Uva Academy team gathered near the tournament grounds, their expressions ranging from confused to furious.

Something was happening.

And they needed answers.

Nemona crossed her arms, her usual boundless energy replaced with a sharp edge of frustration. “Three of our people disappeared, and no one is telling us anything. This isn’t normal.”

Carmine, standing beside her, nodded stiffly. “No way this is just bad luck. Someone pulled them out.”

Penny was still typing furiously on her Rotom Phone, trying to access any security footage, tournament logs—anything. But her scowl deepened with every second. “They’ve scrubbed it,” she muttered. “There’s no sign of them leaving. It’s like they just… vanished.”

Florian exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “We need to go to Clavell.”

There was no more waiting. No more playing along.

If someone was manipulating this tournament, targeting Uva Academy trainers… they needed their Director involved.

They had barely stepped away from the tournament grounds when a mocking voice stopped them in their tracks.

“Running away already?”

Drayton.

He stood near the exit, arms crossed, a smug smirk plastered on his face.

“Can’t say I blame you. Uva’s team already proved they’re too cowardly to even show up to their own battles.”

Nemona’s hands curled into fists. “Say that again.”

Drayton chuckled. “Oh? Touched a nerve, did I?”

Carmine was already stepping forward, eyes flashing. “You think this is funny?”

Drayton tilted his head slightly, his golden eyes gleaming. “I think it’s exactly what Uva deserves.”

Florian’s jaw clenched. He wasn’t going to waste time playing Drayton’s games.

Instead, he simply met Drayton’s gaze with a calm, unshaken stare.

“…You’re scared.”

Drayton’s smirk didn’t falter—but something in his stance shifted.

Florian saw it.

Nemona saw it too.

Carmine grinned. “Hit a nerve, did we?”

Drayton’s expression darkened for a split second before he let out an exaggerated sigh. “Whatever. You’re wasting your time running to your precious Director.”

His smirk returned, sharp and taunting. “But go ahead. Maybe Clavell will hold your hand while the rest of us actually battle.”

Florian said nothing.

Instead, he simply turned away, leading the Uva team out of the tournament grounds.

Because Drayton’s words didn’t matter.

But his reaction did.

He was nervous.

Because Uva wasn’t backing down.

And now—they were going exactly where they should have gone from the start.

To Director Clavell’s office.

To tell him everything.

The Uva Academy team arrived at the Director’s office, moving with purpose.

Inside, Director Clavell sat as composed as ever, hands folded neatly on his desk, watching them enter. His expression was calm, unreadable—yet his sharp eyes told them he had already guessed why they were here.

He waited until they had all gathered in front of him before he finally spoke.

“I presume you have much to tell me.”

Florian took a steadying breath, nodding. “Yeah. We do.”

And so they told him everything.

Drayton’s match-fixing in Round 1 and 2, The faulty Tera Orb that injured Arven, Kian using a Paradox Pokémon—one he never should have had,  The ‘leaked’ recordings that were used to ruin Kieran’s reputation before the tournament even began and the missing Uva Academy trainers.

Penny even pulled up the evidence they had gathered—the manipulated tournament brackets, the audio distortions proving the leaked recordings were fake, and the clear bias in match setups.

When they finally finished, silence filled the office.

Clavell sat there, expression unchanged, absorbing everything they had told him.

Then—he nodded.

“I see.”

That was all he said at first.

Nemona, still tense from the confrontation with Drayton, crossed her arms. “That’s it? ‘I see’?”

Clavell’s lips curled into a faint smile, as though he had expected her reaction. “I assure you, Miss Nemona, I am taking this matter seriously.”

His expression hardened slightly. “I had my suspicions that something was amiss… but I could not act on mere instinct alone.”

Florian leaned forward. “Then what now?”

Clavell exhaled, tapping his fingers lightly against his desk.

“Unfortunately, I cannot stop the tournament.”

The words hit the room like a weight.

Carmine’s eyes flashed. “Why not?”

Clavell met her gaze evenly. “Because doing so would result in an automatic forfeiture for Uva Academy.”

Silence.

Nemona’s frown deepened. “You mean… if we pull out, Blueberry wins by default?”

Clavell nodded. “Indeed. And should that happen, I fear that whatever forces are orchestrating these events will walk away victorious—without consequences.”

Ortega scoffed, leaning against the back of a chair. “So what? We just keep playing along while they cheat their way to the top?”

Clavell shook his head. “Not at all. But if we wish to expose the truth, we must do so carefully. If we allow them to believe their plan is working… they may slip up.”

Penny pushed up her glasses. “You want to bait them into revealing their hand.”

Clavell gave a small nod of approval. “Precisely.”

Florian exhaled slowly.

It wasn’t the answer they wanted.

But it was the only one they had.

For now.

Carmine finally spoke up, her voice sharp. “And what about the missing Uva trainers?”

Clavell’s expression darkened.

“That… is the most pressing concern of all.”

He stood, walking toward the window, looking out over the academy grounds.

“I will begin my own inquiries regarding their whereabouts. But in the meantime… I would advise all of you to remain cautious.”

His eyes flickered back to them, gaze serious.

“If someone is targeting Uva Academy trainers… they may not stop at just three.”

A chill ran through the room.

Because Clavell was right.

This wasn’t over.

It was just beginning.

Meanwhile, in a private lounge tucked away from the main tournament halls, Drayton stood before the select few he considered useful enough to keep in his inner circle.

Kian was there—though only barely.

He lingered at the edge of the room, his presence tolerated, not welcomed.

The sting of his humiliating loss to Florian still hung in the air, evident in the thinly veiled contempt in the glances sent his way by the others.

The real focus of the group was on the three trainers who had actually done their jobs.

Lawrence. The methodical strategist, always keeping his calculations precise and his words sharp.

Eliza. The quiet yet vicious one, known for her ruthlessness both in and out of battle.

And then, there was Kassandra.

Smug. Confident. Fresh off a ‘job well done.’

Drayton leaned back against a sleek black table, arms crossed, his golden eyes flicking toward Kassandra with a mocking smirk.

"Well, I suppose I should congratulate you, Kassandra." His voice dripped with mock amusement. "Three Uva students knocked out of the tournament in one day. Impressive."

Kassandra smiled, running a hand through her dark hair, clearly pleased with herself. "Well, it wasn’t that hard. A little well-placed food poisoning, and they were done before the battles even started."

Eliza chuckled. "Honestly? That’s kind of hilarious."

Lawrence, ever the cold analyst, merely adjusted his glasses. "It does eliminate variables. Less competition is always a benefit."

Drayton let them talk for a moment before he sighed, shaking his head.

Then, in a voice dripping with sarcasm, he continued—“The only problem, Kassandra, is that you didn’t actually take out the right people.”

Kassandra’s smirk faltered slightly. “What?”

Drayton’s golden eyes narrowed.

"I was hoping you'd get rid of an actual problem. You know—Florian, Nemona, Ortega, or Eri? But instead, you managed to eliminate three complete nobodies.”

Kassandra’s jaw clenched, clearly not liking the dismissal of her efforts. “They were Uva competitors. That means fewer people to stand in our way—”

“No.”

Drayton’s tone was sharp, cutting through her excuse with ease.

"They were fillers. Background players. Their absence means nothing in the grand scheme of things." He exhaled in annoyance, rubbing his temple. "Meanwhile, Florian is still in. Nemona is still in. Ortega is still in. And Eri, of all people, is still in."

He let his words sink in, allowing the frustration to fester before finally continuing.

Eliza, sitting nearby, tilted her head with mild curiosity. “So? What’s it matter?”

Drayton exhaled, leaning forward slightly.

“Because now I have to battle Eri tomorrow.”

His voice was flat, uninterested.

“And I really didn’t want to bother.”

Kian said nothing, but his eyes flickered toward Drayton at that.

Drayton wasn’t afraid of the match.

He wasn’t worried about losing.

He was just annoyed that he had to do it at all.

Like he saw Eri as nothing more than an inconvenience.

Lawrence chuckled again, shaking his head. “Don’t worry, Drayton. We’ll clean this up soon enough.”

Drayton’s smirk returned, but this time, there was no amusement in it.

Only cold, calculated expectation.

“We better.”

His golden eyes swept over the four of them—Lawrence, Eliza, Kassandra, and Kian—before his voice dropped into something lower, more deliberate.

“Because remember… your spots as members of my Elite Four rest on Kieran being humiliated and defeated, and on me rising to the top.”

His fingers tapped against the armrest of his chair, measured and precise.

“And you ousting the current Elite Four—Amarys, Crispin, and Lacey.”

There it was.

The real goal.

Not just victory. Not just winning the tournament.

Drayton wasn’t playing just for the Battle Brawl.

He was playing to overthrow Blueberry Academy’s entire Elite Four structure.

Kassandra, normally so smug, tensed slightly. She had expected power—but Drayton was making it clear what was required to earn it.

Lawrence’s chuckle was softer now, but he didn’t argue.

Eliza remained quiet, watching with calculating eyes.

Kian, however…

Kian didn’t move.

His fists tightened in his lap, his nails digging into his palm.

He had never really been one of them.

He had always known that.

But right now, sitting there, being spoken about like nothing more than a tool to be used and discarded…

It made his stomach twist.

And Drayton wasn’t finished.

His gaze landed back on Kian, slow and scrutinizing.

“And with Kian’s woeful performance… and the botched food poisoning incident…”

He tilted his head, voice turning casual, yet sharp.

“…Perhaps I should look for more competent allies.”

The room froze.

The message was clear.

Kian was replaceable.

Kassandra was replaceable.

All of them were only useful for as long as they did exactly what Drayton needed.

Kian’s stomach burned with something sharp and ugly.

Drayton had already dismissed him.

And the worst part?

He couldn’t even argue against it.

Because he had lost.

And in Drayton’s world, losers were worthless.

Silence stretched for a moment before Lawrence broke it with another soft chuckle.

“We won’t let you down.”

Drayton smiled, but there was no warmth in it.

“See that you don’t.”

Because tomorrow—the second half of Round 2 began.

And Drayton had no intention of letting Uva Academy win another match.

Chapter Text

While the rest of Uva Academy focused on rest, recovery, and battle preparations, one member of the team slipped away from the main dormitory under the cover of twilight.

Ortega kept his hood low as he passed through the quiet halls, his polished shoes making the barest sound against the tiled floor. The light of the moon filtered through the high windows, casting pale silver across his path. He moved without drawing attention, every step with purpose.

Despite having a scheduled battle in less than twenty-four hours, his mind wasn’t on training.

It was on a project. His project.

One he had been building in secret for months.

He took the east route out of the main courtyard and down into one of the academy’s lesser-used wings—a long-forgotten building originally designed for mechanical electives. The space had once been filled with rusting toolboxes and broken robotic arms from student experiments past, but Ortega had arranged for it to be quietly cleared and refurbished with only a handful of trusted hands.

Because if anyone found out what he was building…

Well. There would be questions he wasn’t ready to answer.

As the heavy metal door creaked open, he was greeted by the hum of machinery, the bright white flicker of overhead work lights, and the comforting scent of oil and ozone.

The Workshop.

Inside, nearly two dozen Team Star members were scattered across the floor and upper walkways. They worked in quiet synchronicity—hammering, soldering, aligning cables, coding custom firmware. They didn’t need orders. They’d been at this for months. They knew what had to be done.

And at the centre of it all stood their pride and joy:

The new Starmobile version… what was it by now? Six? Seven… no wait… version nine. The ninth generation.

It towered over everything in the room, suspended on reinforced scaffolding, its armored hull catching the overhead light in sharp, striking angles. The frame had the spirit of the original Starmobile—rebellious, sleek, and powerful—but this one was clearly more advanced.

Longer chassis. Stronger plating. Aerodynamic design.

A vehicle not meant just for the road.

Though no one said it aloud.

Ortega approached the central terminal, where a holographic readout of the internal systems glowed faintly. He ran his fingers over the display, scrolling through the data—power flow, core stabilization, engine calibration.

They were close.

So close.

Behind him, the sound of boots on steel signaled someone approaching. Mela stepped into view, grease streaked across one cheek, sleeves rolled up and gloves still on.

“Core housing’s stable,” she said without preamble. “Reactor output’s balanced now. Your upgrades worked.”

Ortega gave a small nod. “Good. How’s the resonance delay?”

“Down to 0.4 seconds.”

His eyebrows lifted slightly. That was better than expected.

“I want it finished by the end of the week,” Ortega said.

“Cutting it close.”

“I know. But we don’t have the luxury of time anymore.”

Mela folded her arms. “Does the Big Boss even know about this?”

Ortega didn’t answer right away. He just stared up at the Starmobile.

The answer was no.

Because it wasn’t just a gift.

It was a symbol. A declaration. A shield and a sword, wrapped in steel and roaring engines.

A way to say everything he couldn’t with words.

Because the Big Boss deserved something that could carry them farther than anyone else.

Eri leaned against one of the support beams nearby, arms crossed and observing quietly. “You sure they’ll even use it?”

Ortega gave a quiet smile. “They won’t have a choice. Not when the time comes.”

“‘Time comes’ sounds ominous,” Giacomo muttered from a nearby workbench, tightening bolts into one of the rear stabilizers. “Should I be worried?”

“No more than usual,” Ortega said dryly.

A few chuckles echoed around the room, tension easing just a bit. But the energy remained focused.

They all knew the stakes.

They all knew what they were building wasn’t just for show.

Even if they didn’t speak of it directly, they felt the gravity.

This Starmobile was different.

More than a vehicle. More than a throwback to their rebellious past.

It was an answer to the future.

And it had to be perfect.

Mela moved to check the shock dampeners while Eri climbed up to adjust the upper framework. Down below, Atticus was finessing the power relay coding with poetic precision, his fingers dancing across the tablet in front of him. Giacomo, humming under his breath, reviewed the stabilizer sequence with his usual calm.

None of them needed to ask what made this Starmobile different.

They didn’t need to know it was meant to fly.

They just knew it was for the Big Boss.

And that was enough.

Ortega stepped back and took in the full view again. It was almost ready. And once it was, nothing would be able to stop them.

Not the tournament.

Not Drayton.

Not whatever was coming next.

The stars were aligning.

And they were building something that could reach them.

But Ortega wasn’t the only one working late.

A few floors above the workshop, in a quiet studio lined with fabric rolls, thread spools, and detailed design sketches, Atticus worked alone.

The room smelled faintly of lavender and ink, his preferred blend for focus. A single lantern cast warm golden light across the orderly chaos—bolts of luxurious fabric draped across mannequins, shimmering metallic threads spooled like treasure, and an open sketchbook beside him showing several careful drafts of a single, elegant design.

The centerpiece of the studio: a work-in-progress suit displayed on a tailor’s form.

Not armor.

Not a disguise.

But a suit.

Elegant. Regal. Meticulously tailored.

Atticus moved silently across the space, fingers trailing across the fabric options before selecting a bolt of deep navy silk with an iridescent sheen—matching the image in his mind. He laid it next to a spread of rich plum and ash-gray materials, comparing light, texture, and flow.

He was close.

It had to be sharp but not gaudy. Poised but not distant. Structured yet free.

Because this was the Big Boss’s suit.

He would never say who it was for—not aloud—but every stitch echoed loyalty. Every cut and seam whispered intention.

He’d already fitted the undershirt, a pale, clean ivory that offset the darker fabrics beautifully. The vest was halfway constructed, an angular design with sharp lapels and polished brass buttons. The outer coat would be longer, more flowing, like a cloak that moved with its wearer’s stride.

He let his fingers rest on the collar of the jacket-in-progress.

This wasn’t just clothing. It was tribute.

A quiet honor given shape in thread.

Behind him, the door creaked open.

Giacomo stepped inside, still in his workshop coat, holding two cans of soda. He tossed one gently toward Atticus, who caught it mid-air without looking.

"Knew you’d still be at it," Giacomo said, cracking his open with a fizz.

Atticus gave a small, amused smile. "The night offers clarity unmatched by the chaos of day."

Giacomo chuckled and walked over to the mannequin. He gave the half-finished outfit a slow, appreciative nod.

"You and Ortega," he said, taking a sip. "Both out here makin’ secret gifts for the Big Boss."

Atticus didn’t respond, but the twitch of a smile betrayed him.

Giacomo circled the suit once, running his hand down the fabric—not touching, just hovering in reverence. "That looks... incredible. Honestly."

"It must be," Atticus replied softly, folding a crease along the shoulder line. "For one who bears the gaze of all, and yet carries it with grace."

He paused, stepping back, inspecting the drape of the coat.

"It needed to be something that caught the eye and held it," Atticus murmured. "Not just a symbol—but a statement. Something that demands attention the moment they enter a room."

Giacomo tilted his head. "So you noticed it too, huh?"

Atticus looked over his shoulder. He didn’t need to ask what Giacomo meant. He simply nodded.

There was something changing. Growing. Rising.

Giacomo gave a quiet hum and took another sip of soda. "So when’s the reveal?"

Atticus returned to his sewing bench, threading a fine silver needle. "When the stars deem it time."

Giacomo didn’t press further. He didn’t have to.

But he wasn’t going to be outdone either.

He slipped his headphones on and pulled his tablet from the satchel slung over his shoulder. With practiced fingers, he opened a music production suite—one that already had a half-finished track waiting. The original theme he’d composed for Team Star was there, but tonight, he was giving it something new.

A deeper bassline. Stronger tempo. Layers of orchestral chords woven with futuristic synth.

It wasn’t just a remix. It was a declaration.

If Ortega was building the ride, and Atticus was crafting the look, Giacomo would build the sound—something that would rise with the roar of the engine, flow with the sweep of a coat’s tails, and echo through every speaker the moment their Big Boss stepped forward.

He didn’t need to say it aloud. The music would say everything.

This wasn’t just loyalty.

It was legacy.

A trio of tributes, stitched, wired, and composed in silence.

Because when the time came, and the stars finally aligned—

The Big Boss would rise. And they would not rise alone.

While the machines roared in Ortega's workshop, while the silk whispered under Atticus's needle, and while basslines thumped through Giacomo's headphones, Eri was already out in the field.

The cool night air brushed against her skin as she moved through the dorm corridors, past common rooms and lecture halls, always with a steady rhythm to her step. She wore no armor, no insignia, just the confidence of someone who knew exactly what she was doing.

A satchel was slung across her shoulder, packed tight.

She had spent the past week preparing—longer, really. A plan born not from impulse but from purpose. It wasn’t about sabotage or subterfuge. It wasn’t revenge. It was something deeper: a declaration. Something to unify, to remind everyone at Uva Academy of what they stood for.

What they could become.

And it started with the boxes.

Small, sleek black boxes, each one carefully sealed. They bore no names, no instructions, just a subtle mark pressed into the top—a five-point star, ringed in violet. Each was just large enough to be held in two hands.

And she had dozens of them.

Eri’s first stop was the student recreation lounge—a popular hangout spot even this late. Inside, the lights were low, music played softly from someone’s portable speaker, and students lounged with snacks, some still in uniform, others half-asleep in sweatshirts.

When Eri stepped through the door, her presence turned heads.

She was known.

Not just as one of the infamous Team Star bosses, but as a competitor in the tournament. As someone who had taken hits to protect others. As someone who never gave up.

She walked to the center of the room without needing to raise her voice.

"Hey. Got something for you all."

Murmurs spread. One student stood up—a younger girl from one of the general tracks.

"Is that… from Team Star?"

Eri smiled. Not smug. Not arrogant. Just calm. Strong.

"Something we’ve been working on. Something important. I’m not going to tell you what’s inside. But I am going to ask that you don’t open it until the time comes."

"What time?" a boy near the window asked.

Eri offered a small shrug, like the answer was obvious.

"You’ll know. When it happens, you’ll know. Save it for the finale."

With that, she began handing them out—one to each person, pausing just long enough to make eye contact, to ensure they felt seen, acknowledged, included.

A moment of silent connection. A shared cause.

When the last box was given, she nodded once, then turned on her heel and moved on.

She moved through the school like a phantom of resolve, a silent current of something building beneath the surface. A charge in the air.

To the battle strategy classrooms—where she found older students reviewing past tournament footage.

To the library—where a few students worked late, too stressed to sleep.

To the cafeteria—where even the night shift staff received one, their eyebrows raising as they turned the boxes over in their hands.

“Don’t open it,” she repeated with a small smile. “Just wait.”

It wasn’t a command.

It was an invitation.

A promise.

By the time the clock passed midnight, Eri had delivered nearly fifty.

And she wasn’t finished.

She ducked into the faculty hallways next, the lights dimmed, the quiet even heavier here. She passed trophy cases, plaques, old portraits of past headmasters. Her steps slowed as she approached a door at the far end of the hall—the one with the polished bronze plate engraved with a name every student knew.

Director Clavell.

She paused.

Straightened her posture.

Then knocked twice.

A few moments passed before the door opened—and there he stood, in his night robe, spectacles on, holding a steaming cup of tea in one hand and a raised eyebrow on his face.

"Miss Eri? I wasn’t expecting visitors at this hour."

She bowed her head slightly. "Apologies, Director. But I have something important for you."

She reached into her satchel and carefully handed him one of the final boxes.

Clavell took it gently, studying the star-shaped insignia on top.

"What is it?"

"A gesture. From Team Star, and Uva. From those of us who haven’t given up."

He looked at her for a long time, his eyes searching hers.

Then, to her surprise, he smiled.

It wasn’t condescending. It wasn’t political. It was simply… genuine.

He gave a small nod. "Then I will wait."

Eri exhaled and stepped back. "Save it for the finale. You’ll know."

"I believe I will."

The hours passed in a strange sort of clarity, the kind that only came with purpose.

She handed out the last few boxes to late-night maintenance staff, to a janitor who'd once helped patch her up after a sparring accident. She left two at the front gate for morning guards. One went to the nurse’s office, another to a student who slept in the art studio.

And then her satchel was empty.

But her mission wasn’t.

She climbed to the rooftop of Uva Academy, the highest point, and stood in the wind, looking out over the sleeping school. From here, she could see the soft golden glow of windows still lit—Atticus’s design room, Ortega’s workshop below. She could even hear faint thuds of bass from Giacomo’s speakers if she strained.

Eri smiled softly.

They were each doing their part.

And now… so was the school.

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty-four: Shattered Shield

The dawn came early for many, as the second day of Round Two began to rise over Uva Academy.

The courtyard glistened under a light dew, students emerging slowly from dorms and common areas, some clutching travel mugs of hot chocolate or tea, others yawning and stretching as the first golden rays of sunlight peeked through the clouds. The stadium had begun to buzz again—lights flickering on, monitors humming to life, and tournament officials reviewing brackets and matchups.

But for Florian, the morning brought something unfamiliar.

Rest.

Having already battled during day one, his name was not on today’s roster. And after staying up until the early hours meticulously strategizing, reviewing footage, and—finally—sleeping for more than two hours, he had woken in a strange sort of peace.

Almost.

Because beneath the stillness, beneath the comfort of not needing to fight today… there was unease.

The whispers of Blueberry Academy’s secrets still churned in his thoughts. Drayton’s smug presence in the bleachers. The reveal of Iron Thorns. The idea that this wasn’t just rivalry—it was something bigger. Something rigged.

And though Florian had won, though he’d silenced one threat… the battle wasn’t over.

Not yet.

Not by a long shot.

He dressed slowly that morning, deliberately. Comfortable slacks and a layered, sleeveless hoodie beneath a long jacket in Uva’s signature violet. His violet Rotom Phone chirped softly with morning updates—bracket changes, match timing, weather updates—before he silenced it with a quiet flick.

He didn’t need reminders.

Not today.

In the main hall, Florian was met by a few familiar faces—Nemona already bouncing with energy despite not needing to battle again until tomorrow, Penny sipping her sixth coffee, and Eri watching everything with her signature quiet intensity.

"Sleep better?" Penny asked, eyeing Florian's rare moment of calm.

"Not worse," he replied, which earned a small chuckle.

Nemona leaned closer, voice low. "You feel it too, right? Something's coming. Something big."

Florian nodded once.

He didn’t say it aloud, but in the pit of his stomach, that tension coiled again—the feeling that today might not go according to plan.

And he wasn’t wrong.

Because as the crowds began to filter toward the stadium for the first match of the day, a shadow was moving behind the scenes.

Florian took his seat beside the rest of Uva’s team, still missing Bethany, Zoe, and Georgia. However, they had confirmation from Director Clavell that all three were okay and currently under the care of the school nurse, Miriam. That news had helped settle some of the anxiety, but not all of it.

Fortunately, today only one of Uva’s team was battling—but that didn’t mean they weren’t watching closely.

Florian leaned back slightly in his seat, letting his eyes scan the stadium. Drayton was in the Blueberry stands, as smug as ever, surrounded by his usual entourage. Kian was noticeably quiet, head bowed. Lacey and Crispin were nowhere in sight.

His thoughts were broken up by the booming voice of the announcer.

“WE CONTINUE ROUND TWO OF THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL! TODAY, WE START WITH BLUEBERRY ELITE FOUR MEMBER AMARYS AGAINST BLUEBERRY STUDENT LAWRENCE! THIS IS A DOUBLE BATTLE—BEGIN!”

The crowd cheered as the battlefield lit up and both participants strode onto opposite ends of the platform.

Florian narrowed his eyes slightly.

This match wasn’t just another Blueberry-on-Blueberry bout.

This was a test.

Of loyalty.

Of power.

And of who really held control at Blueberry Academy.

Both Lawrence and Amarys took to the field, Amarys with her usual calm, while Lawrence looked almost cocky.

Before the Pokéballs even flew, the tension spiked as the two locked eyes.

"You sure you wanna go through with this?" Lawrence called across the field, cracking his knuckles with a grin. "I mean, it’d be a shame if one of Blueberry’s precious Elite Four got completely outclassed by a ‘mere student’."

Amarys blinked slowly, unimpressed. "If you spent half as much time training as you do talking, this might have been a fair fight."

A few members of the crowd let out appreciative oohs.

Lawrence smirked, unfazed. "Cute. But we both know how this ends. I win. You walk off the field wondering how you fell behind."

"We’ll see," Amarys replied coolly, adjusting her glasses. "Let’s put your arrogance to the test."

With that, the air shifted.

“Go Skarmory,” Amarys said calmly as she threw out the ball and the steel bird took flight. “And Dugtrio!”

The ground cracked as the golden-maned Alolan Dugtrio emerged beside the soaring steel-type, both Pokémon settling into position with practiced precision.

“Go Kommo-o!” Lawrence grinned as the large dragon let out a metallic roar. “And Scrafty!”

The dark-and-fighting-type cracked its knuckles and took stance beside the dragon.

“Skarmory, start this battle with Stealth Rock, and Dugtrio, show him your Earthquake!” Amarys instructed, pushing her glasses up with one finger, her voice cool and composed.

“Kommo-o, go for Clangorous Soul… and Scrafty, Bulk Up!” Lawrence countered casually, as if he were simply going through the motions.

The battlefield lit up with activity as Stealth Rocks scattered across Lawrence’s side and Dugtrio’s Earthquake shook the terrain violently. Kommo-o roared, sacrificing part of its own health to boost every one of its stats, while Scrafty tensed, muscles tightening from its Bulk Up.

It was a clash of styles: Amarys’s efficiency and calculated precision versus Lawrence’s cocky, aggressive buildup.

"Dugtrio, Earthquake once again!" Amarys instructed calmly, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips as the ground-type sprang into motion.

The golden-haired Dugtrio burrowed and surged with another tremor, the battlefield shaking violently once more as the move rocked both of Lawrence’s Pokémon.

"Scrafty, Bulk Up again!" Lawrence ordered with a grin, his tone confident, bordering on dismissive. "And Kommo-o, let’s make some noise—Boomburst!"

The sound that erupted was deafening. Kommo-o roared with overwhelming force, sending a sonic shockwave across the field. The energy rippled toward both of Amarys’s Pokémon—but to her credit, they held.

Skarmory’s wings buckled slightly, its metallic body groaning, but it didn’t fall. Dugtrio flinched but remained firm, its tremors slowly fading.

That, it seemed, was exactly what Amarys had been waiting for.

Her glasses glinted in the sunlight as she raised one hand.

"Skarmory, use Whirlwind on Kommo-o. Send it back."

The steel bird flapped its wings hard, conjuring a spiraling gust of wind that whipped across the field. Kommo-o’s boosted form tried to resist, claws scraping at the ground—but the force of the Whirlwind overtook it.

The dragon was yanked from the field in a swirl of wind and light, returned to its Pokéball with a flash.

And in its place—

Iron Valiant.

Gasps echoed through the crowd.

The Paradox Pokémon burst forth in a shimmer of violet particles, landing gracefully with twin blades glinting in the light. Its strange fusion of Gallade and Gardevoir traits cast an ethereal, deadly aura.

Florian’s fingers clenched slightly where he sat.

Another Paradox Pokémon.

And this one… was rare, even among the few who had ventured into Area Zero.

Lawrence’s smirk widened.

"Hope you're ready for the real fight, Amarys. Let’s see how long your strategy holds up now."

But Amarys’s gaze didn’t waver.

"One Pokémon is not enough to change the tide," she said simply, pushing her glasses up again. "Let’s see if you can prove me wrong."

As the rocks from Skarmory’s earlier Stealth Rock dug into Iron Valiant, it flinched slightly—but then the light shimmered around its body.

An item clutched tight to its hip—its Booster Energy—flared, increasing its attacking power immediately.

"Then you have not seen the power of a Paradox Pokémon!" Lawrence laughed, throwing his arms wide. "They are practically legendary!"

He raised his Tera Orb high, its crystal surface catching the sunlight.

"Now—burst forth, Crystal! Shine bright and glow… Terrastalize!"

He launched the orb into the air, and it burst into radiant light before crashing into Iron Valiant.

A brilliant dome of energy engulfed the Pokémon, its shape refining, reforming—and then settling into a new form.

Pure Fighting-type.

The crystal crown gleamed atop its head as Iron Valiant’s body pulsed with boosted energy.

"IRON VALIANT, USE DRAIN PUNCH ON SKARMORY!"

The strike was immediate—blindingly fast.

Boosted by the Tera form, by the Booster Energy, by Same Type Attack Bonus—twice over—it slammed into Skarmory with punishing force.

The steel bird shrieked as it was knocked backward, armor denting under the sheer impact. Though its held item—the Rocky Helmet—reflected a sliver of damage back to Iron Valiant, it wasn’t enough.

Skarmory crashed.

Fainted.

Amarys blinked once, calm as ever, and silently raised her Pokéball to recall it.

She didn’t flinch.

Instead, she smiled slightly. "Go, Reuniclus."

The Pokéball burst with soft light, revealing the gelatinous Psychic-type floating serenely to the field.

"Dugtrio, use Iron Head on Iron Valiant. Reuniclus, go for Psychic—same target."

Her voice never wavered. Calm. Precise. Sharp.

"Iron Valiant—X-Scissor that Reuniclus! Scrafty—Crunch it down!" Lawrence shouted, his grin manic now.

The attacks launched in perfect sync.

Iron Valiant dashed forward in a blur, blades glowing before it slashed twice across Reuniclus with brutal precision. The Psychic-type reeled in the air as Scrafty followed up, leaping forward with a vicious bite—teeth sinking into the jelly-like armor of its target.

Reuniclus wavered.

Barely holding on.

It drifted in midair, its form flickering faintly—but it wasn’t down.

Not yet.

"Looks like you made a bad choice, Amarys!" Lawrence taunted, laughter bubbling from his throat. "Iron Valiant, go again—Drain Punch on Dugtrio! Scrafty, Crunch on Reuniclus!"

Amarys’s hand didn’t shake. "Reuniclus, use Psychic on Iron Valiant. Dugtrio… Stone Edge on Scrafty."

The flurry of attacks clashed in rapid sequence.

Iron Valiant’s fist struck with blinding speed, a thunderous Drain Punch landing squarely on Dugtrio, sending the ground-type reeling from the impact.

Scrafty followed through, hurling itself at Reuniclus again, jaws snapping shut in a savage Crunch.

The psychic-type groaned as it was finally overwhelmed, body dimming as it flopped downward, fainted.

Scrafty let out a triumphant grunt—glowing with renewed energy as Moxie triggered, raising its attack.

Meanwhile, Dugtrio's Stone Edge connected, jagged rocks slamming into Scrafty and staggering it briefly—but it didn’t fall.

Iron Valiant remained firm, still fueled by Booster Energy and its Tera form.

Amarys calmly returned her Reuniclus without a word.

"Scrafty, go… use Brick Break on Dugtrio. Iron Valiant, use Drain Punch on her Scizor," Lawrence said in an almost bored way, his smirk cold and cruel as his Pokémon moved quickly.

"Scizor, use Pounce on Scrafty. Dugtrio, go for Sucker Punch on Scrafty!" Amarys instructed calmly.

The two attacks hit in quick succession—Scizor darting forward in a blur, slamming into Scrafty and lowering its speed, followed by Dugtrio bursting from below with a sharp, well-timed Sucker Punch.

Scrafty wobbled, staggering from the impact, but it clenched its fists, eyes narrowing in fury.

It lunged at Dugtrio and struck with Brick Break, the attack slamming down hard and finally knocking the ground-type out.

Amarys narrowed her eyes as she recalled Dugtrio’s Pokéball in silence.

Scrafty straightened, another glow of Moxie coursing through its muscles.

But across the field, Scizor didn’t flinch.

Amarys quickly replaced her Dugtrio with Empoleon, though she knew she was in a bad way… She had yet to defeat one of Lawrence’s Pokémon, and yet he had taken out three of hers.

But Amarys wasn’t going down without a fight.

"Empoleon, use Hydro Pump on Scrafty. Scizor, go for Aerial Ace… on Iron Valiant!" she instructed.

The emperor penguin Pokémon let out a commanding cry, water gathering at its beak before it unleashed a massive, high-pressure blast. The Hydro Pump slammed into Scrafty with full force, sending the dark-type flying backward in a spray of water and crashing into the battlefield with a wet thud.

It didn’t get back up.

Lawrence scowled and recalled the fallen Scrafty, glaring at the Pokéball like it had offended him.

Meanwhile, Scizor moved in a flash, slashing cleanly through the air with its wings and landing a clean Aerial Ace on Iron Valiant.

The Paradox Pokémon staggered slightly but held firm, still alight with Terrastalized energy.

"Grr… Iron Valiant, use Drain Punch on that Scizor again!" Lawrence snapped.

As he did, he pulled another ball from his belt.

"Go, Kommo-o!"

The dragon returned to the field in a blaze of light, only to wince as the previously laid Stealth Rocks jabbed at its feet, chipping away more of its health.

Amarys smiled, as if at a private joke. "Empoleon, pivot target—Hydro Pump on Kommo-o before it can set up again. Scizor, use Pounce on Iron Valiant to slow it down!"

Kommo-o roared as the powerful blast from Empoleon crashed into its side, knocking it back several paces—but as it skidded to a halt, it chomped down on a Sitrus Berry hidden beneath its scales, quickly regaining a portion of its health.

Meanwhile, Scizor launched forward again, Pouncing on Iron Valiant with sharp force, lowering its speed with precision.

Lawrence gritted his teeth. "Iron Valiant, use Drain Punch on that Scizor! Kommo-o, use your Clanging Scales on Scizor!"

Amarys’s eyes gleamed. "Scizor, move back and use Bullet Punch—force that Valiant back!"

Scizor’s claw gleamed as it darted forward with blinding speed, striking Iron Valiant just as the Paradox Pokémon stepped into position—right into the path of Kommo-o’s incoming Clanging Scales.

The echoing draconic cry rang across the field… and struck the Paradox Pokémon, knocking it off balance.

"Now Scizor, go for Aerial Ace! Empoleon, use Hydro Pump—both on Iron Valiant! Take it down!" Amarys commanded.

Both Pokémon leapt into action. Scizor struck with pinpoint accuracy, slicing through the air with a decisive blow. A moment later, Empoleon followed up with a massive jet of water that slammed into Iron Valiant, sending it skidding backward across the field.

The Terrastalized crystal crown on its head flickered—then shattered with a burst of light.

Iron Valiant hit the ground, fainted.

The crowd erupted, cheers and gasps blending into a roar of energy.

Lawrence scowled darkly as he recalled Iron Valiant. His jaw tightened.

"Now go—Lucario!" he growled, throwing his next Pokéball.

The steel-and-fighting-type landed on the battlefield in a crouch, aura flaring around its frame, and yet again the stones chipped a little bit away.

"Lucario, use Calm Mind. Kommo-o, use Aura Sphere on that Empoleon!" Lawrence instructed.

The two Pokémon leapt into action, Lucario closing its eyes to focus, its aura pulsing steadily as it boosted its stats. Kommo-o roared and launched a glowing Aura Sphere across the field. The blast hit Empoleon square in the chest—but the penguin Pokémon stood firm, tanking the hit with grit and endurance.

Amarys’s voice cut cleanly across the noise. "Now that you have lost the advantage of your Paradox Pokémon, and you do not have your Terastalization in reserve, this battle seems to have turned on you."

Lawrence’s eye twitched.

"Scizor, use Aerial Ace on Kommo-o. Empoleon, use Hydro Pump on Kommo-o!" Amarys continued.

Scizor dashed forward again, wings slicing through the air as it struck Kommo-o squarely in the chest. The dragon reeled just in time to be blasted back by a full-force Hydro Pump from Empoleon. The water-typed assault sent the dragon-type tumbling—and when the mist cleared, Kommo-o was down.

"Damn it," Lawrence muttered as he glared across the field.

His eyes flicked past Amarys—to Drayton, who sat in the stands, watching with stone-faced disappointment.

Lawrence felt the pressure tighten around his ribs, but he forced himself to breathe, forced calm into his limbs.

He recalled Kommo-o and pulled another Pokéball.

"Go, Chesnaught."

The Grass-and-Fighting-type took to the field with a heavy thud, pounding one fist into its palm, ready to fight, with the stones chipping away again.

"Chesnaught, use Seed Bomb, Lucario Aura Sphere—both on that Empoleon!" Lawrence instructed, and both Pokémon sprang into action.

Chesnaught hurled a cluster of glowing green seeds that exploded on contact, followed closely by Lucario unleashing a radiant Aura Sphere that streaked through the air. The two attacks struck Empoleon in rapid succession, the combined impact knocking it back hard. The penguin Pokémon gritted its beak and held firm—but only just.

"Empoleon, use Ice Beam on Chesnaught. Scizor, use Aerial Ace on Lucario!" Amarys countered without hesitation.

Empoleon responded, mouth glowing with cold energy before launching a piercing Ice Beam at Chesnaught, while Scizor blurred into motion, wings slicing through the air as it drove into Lucario with a precision Aerial Ace.

Lucario staggered but remained standing, its aura pulsing brighter.

Lawrence's smirk returned.

"One more time, boys! Chesnaught—Seed Bomb! Lucario—Aura Sphere! Take down that Empoleon!"

The two attacks struck again, and this time, Empoleon couldn’t hold on. The blows landed with brutal force, and with a groan, the water-and-steel-type collapsed.

The referee raised a hand. "Empoleon is unable to battle!"

Amarys silently recalled her fallen Pokémon and nodded to herself.

She reached for her final Pokéball and sent it forth.

"Go, Metagross."

The meteor-like steel giant emerged in a flash of light, its red eyes glowing with calculation as its four limbs clanked into place.

The battlefield trembled.

The final round had begun.

"Scizor, use Aerial Ace on Lucario. Metagross, use Zen Headbutt on Lucario!" Amarys instructed coolly.

The two Pokémon surged forward in perfect harmony. Scizor’s wings cut through the air as it struck Lucario cleanly, and a moment later, Metagross loomed overhead and crashed into it with glowing psychic energy.

Lucario dropped to the ground in a faint, its aura flickering out.

Lawrence scowled as he recalled Lucario, then smirked as he pulled his last Pokéball.

"Go, Annihilape!"

The spectral, rage-fueled fighting-type burst onto the field in a blur of dark energy. It landed with a roar, the Stealth Rocks digging into it as it crouched, fists burning with ghostly fire.

"Chesnaught, use Drain Punch on Metagross. Annihilape, use Close Combat on Scizor!" Lawrence barked.

The two Pokémon moved fast. Chesnaught rushed Metagross with a heavy punch, absorbing energy with each strike. At the same time, Annihilape lunged forward in a whirlwind of fury, fists pounding into Scizor with feral intensity. Though its defenses weakened from the move, the damage was done.

Amarys narrowed her eyes.

"Scizor, use Aerial Ace on Chesnaught. Metagross, follow it up with Zen Headbutt on Chesnaught!"

Scizor launched itself once more, its wings cutting the air as it struck with speed and precision. Metagross followed up with a crushing psychic headbutt, slamming into Chesnaught and sending the Grass-type toppling.

Chesnaught hit the dirt with a heavy thud—out cold.

Now, only Annihilape remained.

Chesnaught was quickly recalled, before Lawrence gave his instruction. "Annihilape, use Close Combat again on Scizor—deal with that pest!" he barked.

Annihilape roared and shot forward with blazing fists, crashing into Scizor with a savage flurry of strikes. The steel bug reeled—and then collapsed, fainted.

Amarys calmly returned Scizor to its Pokéball. Now it was one-on-one.

"Metagross, use Zen Headbutt on Annihilape," she instructed.

The great steel titan surged forward, its glowing forehead smashing into Annihilape, sending a shockwave through the arena. But the spectral simian didn’t fall. It staggered—then snarled, fists trembling with rage.

Lawrence’s smirk widened.

"Annihilape, use Rage Fist on Metagross!"

The blow connected hard, shadows pulsing from Annihilape's fists as they crashed into Metagross’s armored form. The titan groaned under the force.

Amarys frowned, reading the rhythm. That strike had grown stronger. The longer Annihilape raged, the more dangerous it became.

She didn’t hesitate.

Her hand tightened around the Tera Orb at her hip.

"Shine bright like steel—glow and Terrastalize!" she called, raising the orb high.

She hurled it skyward, and it burst into light—raining down over Metagross in a shimmer of silver.

When the light cleared, the massive Pokémon stood gleaming, crowned with crystalline spikes, its body now fully aligned to a single element—pure Steel-type.

The crowd erupted at the dazzling display.

And now the final clash truly began.

The two quickly ordered their Pokémon to make their attacks.

"Annihilape, strike with Close Combat till it falls…!" Lawrence shouted.

"Metagross, full force—strike it swiftly with Zen Headbutt, repeated strikes!" Amarys countered.

The two Pokémon collided again and again, trading blows with explosive force. Metagross barreled forward with relentless Zen Headbutts, each hit landing with thunderous weight. Annihilape retaliated with savage Close Combat strikes, fists blurring in motion.

Both trainers watched closely, every second stretching like an eternity.

Then Lawrence grinned.

"Now you’re fully raged up—go for Rage Fist!"

Annihilape’s fists ignited with ghostly fury as it roared and rushed forward.

"Metagross, move—!" Amarys tried to command.

But it was too late.

Rage Fist landed.

The blast struck like a cannon, shadow and fury erupting across the steel titan’s Terrastalized frame. The crystal crown above Metagross shattered into fragments of light as the Pokémon hit the ground in a heavy, metallic thud.

Metagross had fainted.

The referee raised their hand.

"Metagross is unable to battle. The winner is Lawrence."

Amarys had lost.

A moment later, as she recalled her Metagross and clipped the Pokéball to her belt, she watched Lawrence bask in his victory. He wore that same infuriating smirk as he recalled Annihilape and strutted off the field.

Amarys didn’t move. Instead, she turned, slowly and deliberately, to face Drayton in the stands.

He was already approaching.

“You lost, Amarys. And you know what that means,” Drayton said quietly, his voice low enough for only her to hear.

Amarys exhaled through her nose, straightening her glasses. “Yes. I recall the instructions we received. If we were defeated before the semifinals, we were to resign our post. I shall do so the moment I return to school.”

“Good,” Drayton replied with a razor-thin smile. “Nice to see you’re a woman of your word… ex-Elite Four member.”

He didn’t wait for a response. He turned on his heel and strode away, heading toward Lawrence, his coat flaring slightly behind him.

Amarys stood in silence for a moment longer, her gaze sharp.

This wasn’t over.

Chapter Text

Drayton caught up with Lawrence in one of the stone-walled corridors that led beneath the tournament arena. The echo of distant cheers still lingered in the air, but down here, it was quiet. Too quiet.

Lawrence walked with his usual swagger, brushing dust from his sleeves like the battle hadn’t taken its toll. But Drayton’s pace was different—controlled, sharp, predatory. His boots hit the ground in a rhythm that sounded more like judgment than applause.

"Lawrence," he said simply.

Lawrence turned, a lazy smirk on his lips. "Enjoy the show?"

Drayton stopped a few paces away, folding his arms. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes told another story entirely. Beneath the cool façade was something colder—something that didn’t look impressed.

"I gave you a Paradox Pokémon," Drayton said at last, his tone dismissive. "One of the strongest of them all. And you still barely won that battle."

The smirk on Lawrence’s face faltered, just slightly. He straightened.

"Barely or not, I won. That’s what counts."

Drayton's gaze didn’t waver. "You struggled against Amarys. A woman who, for all her strength, was never meant to reach the finals. I expected you to crush her."

"She’s stronger than you give her credit for, she was one of the elite four after all," Lawrence replied, a trace of irritation seeping into his voice. "She didn’t fold like some of the others."

"That’s not the point," Drayton said sharply. "The point is optics. Performance. You were meant to dominate. Not claw your way to victory while the audience wonders if the better trainer just got unlucky."

Lawrence’s jaw tensed. He opened his mouth to retort, but Drayton raised a hand.

"No excuses. Not here. Not with me. I elevated you above the others. I made sure you had every advantage. I staked part of my plan on your success."

He stepped closer, voice low but firm.

"Do not make me regret it."

For a moment, silence hung between them like a guillotine. Lawrence stared back, meeting Drayton’s gaze with something defiant—but uncertain.

Then Drayton turned, coat swaying behind him as he began to walk away.

"You still have one more match before the semifinals," he said over his shoulder. "You’d better make it count. Or I’ll find someone who will."

Lawrence stood there for a long moment after he’d gone, fists clenched at his sides.

The echo of the crowd above was gone now.

And all that was left was the sound of his own breathing—and the knowledge that even winning hadn’t been enough.

Too soon, Drayton had arrived onto the field, his own battle about to begin.

The energy in the arena shifted the moment he stepped out, calm and smug, as if he owned the very ground beneath his feet. A few in the crowd murmured with excitement, others with unease. His reputation preceded him.

“Don’t worry, I’m here,” Drayton said all too casually as he stepped onto the field.

Opposite him stood Eri.

Tall, strong, and composed, Eri cracked her knuckles once, her stance wide and ready. She said nothing at first, just stared him down with quiet intensity. The sunlight caught her hair, and the shadows of her stature made her look even taller than she was—a physical and emotional wall.

Drayton tilted his head, smirking at the sight.

"Well now," he drawled. "Didn’t expect to be fighting one of Team Star’s so-called Bosses. I hope you put on a good show, Eri."

Eri’s gaze didn’t shift. "I’m not here to entertain you."

"Of course not," Drayton said smoothly. "You're here to lose."

The referee took position between them, raising both hands.

“WE CONTINUE ROUND TWO OF THE INTERSCHOOL BATTLE BRAWL! TODAY, WE CONTINUE WITH BLUEBERRY ELITE FOUR LEADER DRAYTON AGAINST TEAM STAR BOSS AND STUDENT OF UVA ACADEMY, ERI! THIS IS A DOUBLE BATTLE—BEGIN!”

The crowd quieted.

Eri rolled her neck once, cracking the tension from her shoulders.

Drayton’s smirk only grew.

This wasn’t just another match.

This was going to be a message.

"Go, Haxorus! Flygon!" Drayton called as he threw both Poké Balls, and the two dragons burst onto the battlefield in twin flares of light. Haxorus let out a metallic roar, blades gleaming at either side of its jaw. Flygon hovered above the ground, wings buzzing with power.

Across the field, Eri didn’t flinch.

"Primeape, Toxicroak—hope you're ready for a good, proper battle!" she shouted, her voice echoing over the field as her Pokémon took their places. Primeape stomped into position with a furious snarl, while Toxicroak bounced lightly on its heels, poison sacs pulsing.

Drayton looked vaguely bored.

"Flygon, Breaking Swipe on Primeape. Haxorus, use Earthquake," he said with a yawn.

Eri's voice rang out immediately. "Primeape, use Cross Chop on Haxorus! Toxicroak, go for Ice Punch on Flygon!"

The battlefield erupted in motion.

Flygon swooped in first, launching a sweeping dragon-powered attack that slashed through Primeape and slightly dulled its offensive potential. But the fighting-type stood tall, taking the hit and snarling. However, Flygon seemed to suffer recoil—not just from the fierce retaliation, but from Primeape's Rocky Helmet and its own Life Orb draining more of its strength.

Haxorus reared back—and the ground shattered as Earthquake rippled across the arena, dust and stone blasting upward.

Toxicroak staggered from the blow but kept its footing. Primeape dropped to one knee before rising with a roar.

And then came the retaliation.

Primeape shot forward, fists glowing with fighting energy as it delivered a bone-rattling Cross Chop directly to Haxorus’s chest. The dragon staggered backward, eyes narrowed.

Toxicroak leapt into the air and delivered a frost-laced Ice Punch directly into Flygon’s side, the cold burst causing the dragon-type to flinch in midair.

Drayton’s hand twitched—he hadn’t expected her to have something like that. But no matter. He’d counter easily enough.

"Haxorus, use your Earthquake again. Flygon, use Fire Punch on Toxicroak!" he commanded.

Eri didn’t miss a beat. "Primeape, Cross Chop on his Flygon! Toxicroak, again—Ice Punch on Flygon, double team it!"

The crowd braced as the second round of battle exploded into action.

Haxorus roared again, stomping down with thunderous force as another Earthquake tore through the field. Dust surged outward, rocks and rubble cascading beneath both enemy and ally alike. Primeape, already worn down from the first wave and the Breaking Swipe, couldn’t hold on any longer—the second Earthquake hit full force. With a defiant growl, it collapsed onto the ground, finally knocked out.

Toxicroak gritted its teeth and braced itself, barely standing through the onslaught. But so did Drayton's own team. The recoil from repeated Earthquakes took its toll—Flygon buckled in midair, visibly shaken and panting, its body glowing faintly from the toll of the Life Orb. Haxorus, too, showed signs of fatigue, muscles trembling beneath its scales.

Then came the second volley.

Flygon dove down, its fist engulfed in flames as it struck Toxicroak with a blazing Fire Punch, searing across the poison-fighter’s side and leaving a singed mark.

Before it could retreat, however, Toxicroak's fist surged with cold energy once more, its Ice Punch landing clean into Flygon’s side again—sending the dragon spinning back through the air.

"Return, Primeape!" Eri called, recalling the fallen Pokémon to its ball. "Go, Passimian!"

With a flash of light, the simian fighter emerged onto the field, slamming its berry-shaped weapon into its palm as it let out a battle cry.

Drayton grinned. "Haxorus, continue shaking the world with Earthquake! Flygon, strike down that Toxicroak with Breaking Swipe!"

"Toxicroak, use Ice Punch one more time when his Flygon is close!" Eri countered firmly. "Passimian, use Close Combat on Haxorus!"

Haxorus reared back again—and the Earth cracked violently once more as a critical Earthquake ripped across the field.

Toxicroak collapsed instantly, finally overwhelmed by the sheer power—but not before it launched one final Ice Punch as Flygon closed in.

The punch struck clean and hard.

Flygon flinched—and then its own Breaking Swipe came down with punishing force, felling Toxicroak completely.

But the recoil and the punch had been too much.

Flygon fell from the air, crashing to the ground.

Both Pokémon fainted in a near-simultaneous knockout.

But the real surprise came next.

The Earthquake’s critical strike had triggered something deep in Passimian—its eyes flashed red, its posture tightening with rage.

Receiver.

Copying the ability of its fallen ally, Primeape.

Anger Point activated.

Passimian’s attack maxed out in an instant.

And with a howl of fury, it charged forward.

Close Combat landed—devastating, brutal, unstoppable.

Haxorus barely had time to brace before it was slammed with a flurry of high-speed strikes, fists and feet pounding it relentlessly until the dragon staggered, eyes wide—then collapsed.

Drayton’s expression soured.

Two of his Pokémon were down, and Eri had lost the same. This was not how it was meant to go… but no matter.

Eri quickly recalled her fainted Toxicroak and sent out her next Pokémon. “Go, Lucario!” she called.

Drayton silently recalled both his dragons and tucked them away. His fingers hovered over his remaining Poké Balls, and then with a smirk so cold it could cut steel, he plucked two from his belt.

"Fine," he muttered under his breath. "If that’s how she wants to play."

He stepped forward with a theatrical flourish.

"Go, Iron Jugulis… and well—" he chuckled, tossing the second ball high, "you’ll recognize this Pokémon, I’m sure… Miraidon."

The two Poké Balls burst open.

From one emerged the sleek, jet-black Iron Jugulis, its wings flickering like digital flame, its presence immediately warping the air with charged static.

From the other, a flash of violet lightning crashed down, revealing the unmistakable, gleaming form of Miraidon. The Paradox Pokémon hovered off the ground, coils sparking with power as its eyes locked onto Passimian… but unlike Florian’s, it was pure silver in color—all the usual violet hues stripped away.

The battlefield crackled.

The crowd erupted into shocked murmurs and gasps.

Two Paradox Pokémon.

Even the commentators were silent for a beat.

The field’s energy shifted dramatically as Iron Jugulis’ Quark Drive activated—its Special Attack spiking with the electric terrain Miraidon effortlessly created upon entry.

Eri’s eyes widened.

"Two Paradox Pokémon?" she asked, her voice low but steady. She remembered how hard it had been for Amarys to deal with even one.

"Yeah," Drayton said, tone bored, like he were commenting on the weather. "Thought I might as well end this quickly."

He shrugged. "You can surrender now and save face. I won’t hold it against you."

Eri stared across the field, unflinching.

Drayton, as if to emphasize his point, raised his hand and held out his Tera Orb.

"Now—burst forth, Crystal! Rage bright and glow… Terrastalize!"

He threw the orb high, and it exploded into a cascade of light.

Iron Jugulis shimmered and changed, its form bursting with radiant energy until it took on the aspect of a Dragon-type.

The transformation was complete.

Drayton looked entirely unimpressed.

"Surrender now, Eri… or I make you look like a fool," he said flatly.

But the fire in Eri’s eyes blazed hotter. She wasn’t about to give up just because the odds were bad.

"Jugulis, use Dragon Pulse on Lucario. Miraidon, show the strength of your Electro Drift on that Lucario too," Drayton ordered with a lazy flick of his fingers.

"Lucario, try to avoid it!" Eri instructed, urgency in her voice.

But it was no use.

The twin blasts of power surged across the field—Dragon Pulse spiraling like a storm, and Electro Drift crackling in a streak of violet energy.

Lucario cried out as both attacks landed, the double impact too much to withstand. With a heavy thud, it collapsed.

"Return, Lucario," Eri said, already lifting her gaze.

"Passimian, use Close Combat again—target Iron Jugulis!"

With a war cry, the empowered Passimian launched itself across the battlefield, fists blazing as it unleashed a full-force Close Combat on the Terrastalized Jugulis.

The blow landed—and this time, it struck deep.

The crowd gasped as the mighty Paradox Pokémon staggered backward from the assault, its crystalline crown flickering.

Eri took a breath and quickly reached for her next Poké Ball.

"Go, Tauros!"

A blur of muscle and hooves burst forth—Tauros, the Paldean form with streaks of blue in its fur, signaling its Aqua Breed heritage. It snorted once, steam curling from its nostrils, water churning faintly beneath its hooves.

Drayton gave a derisive chuckle.

"A Water-type against Miraidon? You must really be desperate," he sneered, eyes narrowing with cruelty. "Again—Dragon Pulse and Electro Drift. This time on that poor little Tauros."

"Tauros, quick—Double Kick on Iron Jugulis! Passimian, continue Close Combat on Jugulis!" Eri barked.

Both Pokémon surged forward.

Tauros struck first, its hooves battering Iron Jugulis with rapid, punishing force. Jugulis reeled as Passimian followed up with another relentless assault—one final Close Combat that connected with brutal efficiency.

But Miraidon was already charging.

With a screech of bending electricity, the Electro Drift attack blasted across the field.

It collided with Tauros in a burst of pure, violent energy.

The Aqua Breed was flung backward—hooves scrambling in the air as it was sent flying, crashing hard into the stadium barrier with a wince-inducing thud.

The crowd gasped again.

Tauros was down.

Eri recalled her Pokémon calmly. And smiled as she saw how weakened Jugulis was.

"Go, Annihilape!" she called out, sending her final Pokémon onto the battlefield.

The ghostly, raging simian hit the field with a snarl, fists trembling with pent-up fury.

"Aw… really going down fighting, aren’t you?" Drayton said casually, a dark gleam in his eyes. "Fine. Draco Meteor, Miraidon on Annihilape… Jugulis, use Air Slash on Annihilape."

The Paradox Pokémon moved fast—Jugulis’s wings glowed as it sent razor-like air slashing at Annihilape, followed swiftly by Miraidon conjuring a glowing sphere of draconic energy that erupted downward like a star crashing from the heavens.

"Passimian, strike down the Iron Jugulis—Close Combat one more time! Annihilape, use Ice Punch on Jugulis too!" Eri barked.

Both Pokémon charged.

Ice laced Annihilape’s fist as it delivered a bone-cracking uppercut to Jugulis, followed by Passimian’s final Close Combat—blows hammering into the Terrastalized titan.

The crystal shell around Iron Jugulis finally gave way.

With a thunderous crash, the Pokémon collapsed.

Jugulis was down.

But Annihilape had taken both Draco Meteor and Air Slash.

And yet—it still stood.

Wounded.

Furious.

Breathing heavy, but eyes still burning.

"Return, Jugulis…" Drayton said coldly, recalling the fallen Paradox Pokémon. He pulled out a new Poké Ball and hurled it into the air. "Go, Kingdra!"

The seahorse-like dragon emerged in a spray of water, coiling in midair with grace and power.

Drayton’s eyes narrowed. "Kingdra, use Hurricane. Miraidon, use Flash Cannon—both of you, take down that Annihilape."

Eri raised her chin, defiant. "Annihilape, Rage Fist on Miraidon! Passimian, now—Close Combat on Miraidon too!"

The attacks collided in a whirlwind of chaos. Hurricane whipped across the battlefield, blasting debris and hammering Annihilape with winds that made it reel. Flash Cannon followed, a gleam of silver light blasting into Annihilape's chest.

But Annihilape did not fall.

Instead, with a roar of pure fury, it surged forward, its fist ablaze with ghostly vengeance. Rage Fist smashed into Miraidon's core, dealing harsh damage.

Then Passimian followed through—body twisting mid-air as it landed another brutal Close Combat.

The Miraidon looked bothered, its frame sparking and trembling under the pressure.

Drayton’s expression twisted into fury.

"Miraidon, use Electro Drift on Passimian—shut down that monkey! Kingdra, Hurricane again—on Annihilape!"

Before Eri could counter, the attacks launched.

Electro Drift struck Passimian clean, the electric blast erupting with devastating force. Already weakened from repeated Close Combats, Passimian couldn’t withstand it.

The Pokémon dropped instantly, out cold.

Then Kingdra’s Hurricane crashed down.

Annihilape tried to stand firm, fists clenched, teeth gritted—but the buffeting winds were too much. It staggered—then finally hit the dirt.

Fainted.

The battlefield went silent.

Eri calmly recalled her Pokémon.

Across the field, Drayton laughed.

He recalled both Miraidon and Kingdra with a theatrical flick of his wrist.

"I expected better, to be honest," he said, voice dripping with smug superiority.

Then he turned.

And standing in the stadium’s upper tier, among the Uva team, was Florian.

The Champion was on his feet.

His hands clenched at his sides.

Eyes locked on Drayton.

And the fury in them said more than any words ever could.

Drayton took his time, stepping closer to the edge of the field, just enough so their eyes could lock fully—Champion to challenger, opponent to threat.

"What's the matter, little champion?" Drayton called, voice loud enough to carry. "Don’t like anyone else having access to the same resources you do?"

The sneer on his lips didn’t reach his eyes. His fingers drummed against Miraidon’s Poké Ball.

Florian’s reply came low, sharp, and unwavering.

"That Pokémon… is not safe. You shouldn’t be using it."

Drayton scoffed. "Why not? Don’t think I can handle it?"

Florian’s eyes didn’t blink. "It killed someone, Drayton."

The laughter that rose from Drayton’s throat was hollow.

"Always so dramatic," he mocked, waving a hand in the air. "Another tragic tale to make yourself look noble. What next? Gonna cry for the cameras?"

But Florian didn’t flinch.

He took a single step forward, and though there was distance between them, his presence suddenly felt enormous.

"You weren’t there," he said quietly. "You didn’t see what it did. I did. And if you think you can control something like that… you’re not just arrogant. You’re dangerous."

For the first time, Drayton’s expression wavered—just barely. Enough to register that Florian wasn’t bluffing.

"I’ll do you a deal," Florian said, voice regaining its edge. "After this round, both schools pick two trainers from the ones who remain—and we push straight to the semifinals."

Drayton raised a brow, intrigued. "Why would I want that?"

"Because it saves you the trouble of more battles," Florian said, cool and composed. "Only two instead of three. One less chance to embarrass yourself."

A hush fell over the field.

The air between them snapped tight, thick with challenge. The tension was no longer just personal. It was political. Symbolic. The entire crowd could feel it.

Drayton clicked his tongue, weighing the offer.

Then he smiled.

"Fine," he said at last. "But we twist it. Each side picks the other’s second trainer."

Florian’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t speak.

Drayton continued, casually brushing imaginary dust from his sleeve. "Naturally, everyone wants to see you and dear former Champion Kieran clash, if it comes to that. So let’s make it fair, shall we?"

He stepped back, nodding once.

"You pick ours. I pick yours."

The rules of the game had changed.

And the new game? It had teeth.