(Intro)

Grant has left the training, after a heated argument with the loud Incineroar, what will Grant do now. After all, it still has a day before his friends finish

(Grant)

As I woke up, I honestly didn't feel so good. Our home was far to away, so I simple just slept on a branch. It was comfy and it was nice. Much better than what Incineroar would make us sleep on.

This is a choice I don't regret. Incineroar, what a bully. He thinks he's so right when clearly he's not. If you can be smart, and use your brain for the situation, you should. You don't have to tackle every task head first. I know that, clearly he doesn't.

I move down the branch and walk along, looking for a branch with some berries on it. I was gonna wait for my friend, after all they only have one day left on this stupid quest.

I know they're running path, so I was gonna wait there, maybe convince them to do the smart thing and quit.

First I was going to get food though, moving over I found a branch with some Oran berries. Incineroar would probably want him to jump and try to swipe them down, but I, can and will simply climb.

Making my way up the branch, climbing up I grabbed the berries. Eating all that I could. I was no doubt having a better breakfast than the others.

As I ate the berry in the tree, I suddenly hear a loud boing sound. It made me freak out first, until I looked down to the ground.

There was a Spoink. Bouncing on it's tail, looking up to the branch.

"Oh uh... Hi Spoink." I said acting casually. I didn't know this Pokemon, but I did know it's name.

"Hey Grookey!" he replied back before springing into the air. Reaching his sort limbs to the berries, only to narrowly miss and fall down. He bounced again and tried again, only to fall short once again.

"Hey, if you want," I start to say to him. "I can knock a couple of berries down. You know, so you don't have to try."

"Nah, it's fine." The Spoink said as he bounced once again. Leaving me so confused and dazed. What is the point of this? Why would he not just let me help?

He kept trying, and I kept offering to help him. He keeps rejecting me and I am so confused.

After a while, he managed to bounce high enough to actually grab the berry! Bringing the Oran down to the ground and nibbling on it. He did it, but it took much more effort than it would be if I acted.

I just had to ask.

"Hey, why wouldn't you just accept my help?" I said down to him as he stopped pigging out for a second.

"Cause I didn't need it. I just needed to try harder." He said with a smile. "Plus, it would taste so much better knowing the work I did to get it."

And with that, he bounced away as I was left even more confused. Why?

(Sara Pov)

As I was leading the pack in the run, I got to admit, I was seeing progress. On the first day, it was the worse thing in the world and we all wanted to collapse halfway on the road. Now, we were going at a good pace. We were of course tired but not to the point on the first day. Even Bidoof was keeping up with us. He has improved the most I would say, so I was darn proud of him.

"Oh hey guys," A voice said as we all stop, looking up at the tree the voice came from, it was Grant. Laying down on a branch with a smile. "Still going through it huh?"

"Yep, last day," Ty replied with a smile. "Still making our way through. What about you? Having fun with freedom?"

"Not being forced to push myself, yeah I feel pretty good." He said as I couldn't disagree more. Pushing yourself is how someone improves.

"Let's go guys, Incineroar will know if we stop, and I really don't want to get attacked by him."

"It's not very nice," Ty added with a laugh, "Huh Grant."

"That's why I got out of it." He said with a loud laugh, really loving it. "Hey, if you guys want, you can join me. I mean, just duck out, who cares?"

"Incineroar would care." Bidoof said as I smiled at him.

"We can do this, we need to push ourselves." I said to the others, but Grant was quick to put in his opinion.

"Says who. Go at your own pace, use your brain. Be smart, like me." He said, laying down onto the branch. I could just tell he was expecting all of us to see his way.

I've known him for the longest out of the team, he's sadly always been this way. There was a reason I didn't speak up last night, cause it was sort of true. He was always willing to take the easy way, to skip over parts. Sure, he can put his back into it when he tries.

"Come on Bidoof," Shaun said to the normal type. "Let's go."

"R-Right." Bidoof said as they led the way. Ty and I giving each other a look, basically questioning what will be done with Grant.

"I mean... you're team leader." Ty said as he then ran to the others. Leaving me along with Grant.

I gave out a loud sigh before telling him. "Grant, listen. I love you, and the way you are. However, you are wrong here."

"Wrong?" He said looking at me.

"It's not bad to take shortcuts, to make things easier of course not. You are smart, and you've always been able to see paths and things I haven't. At the same time, it is not bad to do things the right way. Doing your training right, and doing your path right. I hope you can see the difference."

I really could of said more, but I had to go. Running and joining the others, I didn't hear a response from Grant. I'm sure that was a bit harsh, but she seems to have really struck a cord with him. I just hope he does the right thing

(Grant Pov)

I can't believe I am doing this. I can't believe for a second U was doing this. It was late at night, the others were asleep and I snuck my way in. Getting right to Incineroar's home.

I did some thinking about this, some heavy thinking. Maybe, I was wrong. Just maybe?

As I banged the branch on the door, I could hear rusting inside. It was long, but it was happening. When the door finally opened, Incineroar was staring down right at me.

"What?" He barked, obviously not happy about this.

"I... look I'm up for it. Train me or, whatever?" I say, not really having more care for this. I thought he would jump at this, however he didn't.

As the door shut closed.

"No."

"No? What do you mean no!? Let me in!" I shout, banging the door over and over again. Saying I was wrong was hard, but getting rejected was even worse. "I'm just gonna keep knocking okay!" I shout, showing that I was not gonna stop or give up.

After a long sigh from the over side of the door, Incineroar opened up. I wasted no time running inside, on the other side of the door as I face him.

"Ha! Now you got to train me! Otherwise i'm not leaving."

"Why would Incineroar train you. You are stupid, rude and a slacker."

"Yep, slacker and proud of it." I said to him. "If I see a way to do it easier I will but... a friend convinced me that maybe... putting all my effort into it isn't, that bad." I said finding the words so hard.

However it would seem Incineroar didn't care.

"Won't train you."

"Hey what's this?" I questioned as I spotted something. Grabbing a picture as for the first time, Incineroar broke.

"H-Hey! That's mine! I mean, that's Incineroar's! Give it!"

"Woah! What is this picture!?" I questioned turning and looking at him. On a desk I was close to his face. It was a picture of Incineroar, with a roaring crowd around him, inside of ring carrying a Pokemon and holding a belt. "This is so cool."

Incineroar didn't like me, but it was clear he did like talking about himself.

"That's Incineroar! In his prime. He was the greatest battler in the whole region. Being able to take down the strongest of Pokemons! Incineroar defeated fighting Pokemon, even though Incineroar had a type disadvantage, Incineroar still bet them!"

"Wow, but you're dark," I said to him. "How?"

"Through hard work. They might be strong against Incineroar's type, but they were not strong against Incineroar himself."

"Wow, you were even champion. Um... who's this." I said, pointing to the Pokemon he was carrying.

"That's Primarina. My love." He said dropping the third person. "She was the one I was fighting for. She took care of me when I was hurt, and I... loved her. She's... not with me anymore."

"I-Im sorry." I say of course feeling bad.

"Funny thing is, she was kind of like you. When I faced everything head on, she used her brain. Always thinking a smarter way around. She was perfect, she was mine."

"Uh... let's get off topic." I quickly say. "How did you... you know, get here? You seem to be on top."

"I was... Or Incineroar was, uh screw it. Dropping that." He said as he sounded more normal when he isn't talking in third person. "It was my last title defence. I was facing a dragon type, Garchomp. I was stronger than him, I was better than him when... he pulled out some kind of trick. I'm not sure what it was, but I knew it was something unfair. I lost and... never recovered."

"Oh," I say getting it together. That's why he hates tricks and tips. Cause he lost everything to that. I could not help but feel bad.

"That defeat sent my life into a tailspin. Both professionally and personally. I could not get over the obsession with the fact that I failed. I even lost Primarina, leaving me."

"Oh she's not dead? That's... Sorry." I quickly say to him. There was a moment of silence, until I jump down heading to the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Running, and then attacking a tree and then pushing the log. All night. I have to make it up." I said to him as I get going. With a determination to do well and do right.

The job was long, thankfully the cold night helped me. He watched as I returned, and starting attacking the tree. The second I ran out, I pushed the log. Of course, with it being only be since the others are all sleeping it was hard.

But I was determined. However, he was on me faster. Grabbing the log and tossing it aside.

"If you really have the resolve, then we can do the real training." He said as I was left confused. Catching my breath.

"What's that."

"Sparing!" He shouted, stomping his foot down. "Holding nothing back, all night!"

"I'm sure I will lose. I'm sure it will be painful as anything, but let's do it!"

And with that, I knew it was gonna be a long night.

(Shaun Pov)

As I woke up, It was to the sound of a loud bang. It made me jump, and got the others to wake up. I was the first one to move, while the others were quick behind me.

What I saw, was something else. Grant, laying in a giant crater. Destroyed and beaten, with Incineroar above him.

"Grant!" I shout, running over to him. I slid down the crater as I looked over his body.

"Aw man, please tell me you are okay. Please tell me!" I said even splashing some water into his face.

"You jerk!" Sara shouted seeing the sight.

"Swift!" Ty yelled as well, throwing his stars. Incineroar saw them coming, and took the hit. It was not like they were gonna really hurt him. As I look to Incineroar, Sara and Ty got ready to fight. Neither clearly happy. Bidoof got up as well, coming close.

"Relax, he wanted this."

"What?" I questioned to the cat.

"He fought all night. No matter how many times I beat him down, he got back up." He said. I don't know about the others, but I was stunned. Was that true, did he really. "Seems like Incineroar was wrong about him. He isn't what a thought. All he needed was a good kick of motivation."

"What are you talking about?" Ty questioned.

"Enough about him!" Incineroar yelled making us all jump. "You all have passed the test, and Incineroar is proud to say you have passed. Let me tell you one by one!"

"Uh...-"

"Sobble!" He said to me, making me jump. "Despite your weak and cowardly persona, you have hidden strength within you. Make sure to use it!"

"T-Thank you?" I said as Bidoof came near me.

"That was, encouraging. Down right heart felt?"

"Bidoof!" He said to the Pokemon next to me. "You were the weakest, and still are. Still, you faced adversity and pushed. You wanted to improve, and Incineroar will look forward to your future!"

Hearing this, he could not help but tear up.

"T-Thank you!" He said crying up a storm.

"Aipom!" He shouted to my friend. "One thing I have noticed, is you got the heart of a warrior! One that will never back down. You remind Incineroar of Incineroar!"

"Oh well... Aipom," he said jokingly using third person. "Is glad he passed."

"Don't mock Incineroar!" He shouted back grabbing Aipom. "Black Hole Brain buster!" Despite the name, it was just a brain buster. A devastating one that laid him out, but just a brain buster. Now we got two friends down.

"Scorbunny!" He said to the fellow fire type. Getting quieter for this one as he smiled. "You are a good leader, one that can push their team. Incineroar have no doubt in his mind, you will go places."

"T-Thank you Incineroar!" She said touched.

Incineroar then moved over to Grant, getting down on one knee. "And you, I know you won't stay like this. You will slow your pace, relax and use that brain of yours. Still you have shown what you can do, and I am proud of you. You are the best parts of Primarina and Incineroar, and I am so excited, to see how you will become."

(Outro)

With the team passing the test, and a new level of strength reached, what will be the next goal and quest for our heroes?