Chapter 9: Pokken Arts Tournament

On their way to the Pokken Arts Tournament, they were suddenly ambushed by two sky bandits known as Unhaus the Unfezant and his child prodigy Eve the Eevee. Thanks to the group's quick thinking, they manage to subdue them, and in exchange, Zamenza offers to let Unhaus be a part of Happy and Charles's team. They were only an hour away to the Pokken Arts Tournament to register, and the only thing they could do now was wait.

Zamenza: It's only an hour away, everyone. Once we get there, I'll register you, Charles and Unhaus.

Unhaus: Wait, wait, wait! Me?! Why?! I ain't even on the same level as your students! How could you suddenly enter me when I couldn't even hit them?!

Zamenza: Like I said before, you have potential. I know it when I see it. This will be a great opportunity for you.

Unhaus: ...Eve? What do you think?

Eve: I think you should do it. It'll help you build at least a little morale. And I'll do my best to cheer you on.

Unhaus: *smiles* Thank you, Eve. I won't disappoint you. I will try my hardest.

Zamenza: Hold on a moment. But knowing your intentions...I think it's best if someone kept an eye on you.

Unhaus: H-Huh?! Why?

Zamenza: Because you're planning on stealing things, aren't you?

Unhaus: W-What?! But I-

Moody: He's a mind reader. No use lying to protect yourself when you're in front of him.

Zamenza: It's also why I haven't released you from those vines yet.

Unhaus: You don't trust us?

Zamenza: It's not like I don't trust you. I just think that you seem to be more deceptive with yourself than with others. Maybe being honest with yourself will help build a more solid ground with us and Eve, don't you think?

Unhaus: ...Heh. So you saw right through me. I didn't expect that. Fine, then who do you propose to watch me?

Zamenza: Hmm…

He glanced over to Baye whilst rubbing his beard, which caught her off-guard. Moody himself didn't like where this was going, so he interjected.

Moody: Zamenza, don't drag Baye into this.

Zamenza: *smiles* Oh? But the two of them could get along together! Maybe become future associates?

Baye: *frustration mark* In your dreams, old man! He might try to kill me!

Unhaus: *sweat drop* Uh, h-hey now…"Kill" is a subjective term, isn't it?

Baye: Be quiet, you!

Unhaus: *whimpers* Y-Yes ma'am!

Eve: *sweat drop* (...Wow...I didn't even think he would be intimidated like that…)

Baye: And as for you old man, I think you've got a few screws loose! Or more likely what screws you had!

Zamenza: ...Baye, do you like plants?

Baye: Yes I do!

Moody: Zamenza, where is this going?

Zamenza: Congratulations. Meet your new partner, Unhaus.

Unhaus & Baye: W-What?!

Zamenza: Unhaus...you also like plants too, don't you?

Unhaus: W-Wha…?

Zamenza: Deep down inside you, botany is what you'd like to do, right?

Eve: (...He did have a keen sense of identifying plants even when we were out pilfering…)

Unhaus: ...Y...Yes...It's true…

Baye: R-Really?!

Unhaus: Yeah. I might not look it, but I do like plants. I wanted to become a botanist, but...the other birds back when I was young thought I was weird for studying it. So, I took a different path to where...you know, where we are today…

Baye: Oh wow...I apologize for snapping at you earlier.

Unhaus: No need to. I think since this is out in the open, I might as well come clean a bit…

Moody: I'm curious, really. Why did you become a sky bandit? And how does this little Eevee come into the picture?

Unhaus: ...Well...You see, I went out on my own away from my parents to support myself. However, I needed to survive, so I joined a gang before being on my own, learning how to steal from even the most gullible Pokemon from the air. One day, I came across a burning village and Eve was there. She was the only child I saw then and took her with me to allow her to live. I even taught her how to steal.

Eve: ...My parents aren't around anymore, as they died when that village burned…I also had siblings, but I don't know if any of them survived…

Moody: Oh, wow...That's...really sad. Do you know who caused the fire?

Eve: A group of Pokemon dressed in cloaks did it. I didn't get a good look at them, since they were impossible to see through their cloaks.

Moody: (...Hmm...I think I know who they are…)

Zamenza: ...Moody, do you know something about this?

Moody: ...Yeah. I think the group that did that was known as the "Dirty Delinquents".

Happy: What's that, Grandpa?

Moody: ...They are an organization meant to rebel against societal order and "adulthood responsibilities"...

Zamenza: So, a bunch of teenage delinquents, then?

Moody: Oh no. Not just teenagers, despite its name. There's even adults among them who wish to destroy the societal order. It is said to have been going on for almost 400 years…

Unhaus: I also heard about them back in my days. I didn't think much of them at the time, but now that it's come to light, it seems that they're becoming more rampant than ever.

Charles: I don't get it. Are they that dangerous?

Moody: Far more than you realize. They're like a paramilitary.

Happy: ..."Para...military"...? What's that?

Baye: I think it means like a military for their own cause.

Moody: In simple terms, yes. They are also like a mafia group. That's why they are dangerous.

Moby: I've heard about them as well. They even have some dangerous experiments being made there. Some say that some of the Pokemon there are genetically made.

Baye: That's...awful! Can't someone do something about them?

Moody: I wish there was, but they're so good at hiding that it's almost impossible to know where they are. They could blend into various roles of our society without us even realizing it.

Zamenza: (...He knows more about them than I did...I wonder why…?)

Moody: ...But enough about them. We have a tournament to focus on. *smiles* Let's keep our spirits in high hopes, shall we?

Zamenza: Good idea.

An hour later, they reached their destination. The place the Pokken Arts Tournament was being held stood on a large island filled with trees and resting houses meant for participants to stay in. There were also markets being branded to sponsor the event itself, using merchandise to support the fighters attending. Large transportations of every kind docked here, containing many Pokemon participants from around the world.

As Moby parked himself by the docks, he let out a big yawn, suggesting that he was tired from his two-hour trip.

Moby: ...We're here.

Zamenza: Thank you, Moby. You can rest for a while.

Moby: …I need one. Have fun.

Unhaus: Uh, what about us? Mind untying us?

Zamenza: Sure.

He used his spoons, which glowed with pink energy before using the pointy ends to slice with, cutting the vines and freeing them.

Unhaus: Now that's better. And see? We're not doing anything.

Zamenza: Alright, alright. But remember. Baye will be watching you.

Unhaus: Gotcha.

Everyone got off Moby and landed on the docks. However, when Charles got off, a piece of the boardwalk broke under his feet, causing him to fall through and into the water. He let out a scream and struggled as he couldn't swim.

Happy: Charles!

Charles: HELP! HEEEEELP!

Happy: I'm coming, Charles!

Happy jumped into the water, swimming towards his best friend. Charles almost submerged into the water until Happy grabbed him. Everyone else also stopped, worrying for their safety.

Happy: Grandpa!

Moody: Don't worry, my boy. *stretches vines* Grab onto these and I'll pull you both up.

Baye: I'll help too!

Baye also released her orange vines to assist Moody in pulling them up. Happy grabbed on, with Charles in tow. Moody and Baye then set them both on the docks. While Happy's skin absorbed the water, Charles was soaking wet. He was shivering, but his wide eyes said something different.

Happy: Charles! Are you alright?

Charles: *panting* ...N...N...No…

Charles then grabbed onto Baye's neck, hugging her completely as he was hyperventilating.

Baye: H-Hey! Get off me!

She tried to shake him off, but he hung on like a cat gripping onto its prey. To everyone, this was something that they never would have seen from him.

Moody: Oh dear. You're quite shaken up.

Charles: *stuttered panting* I-I-I'm...a-a-a-alright…!

Baye: I wish you didn't hang onto me so hard, you know!

Moody: Seems like he's got a fear of falling into the water.

Zamenza: Or more accurately, the docks.

Eve: Why did it break like that?

Zamenza: Sometimes the place isn't meant to last nearly as long as intended. Perhaps someone should repair that to prevent any more accidents like that.

Happy: Will Charles be alright?

Moody: I'm certain he will, Happy. Let's get off the docks for now.

Unhaus: By the way...Is this the place?

Zamenza: Yes it is. Welcome to the Pokken Arts Tournament.

Happy: Whoa…!

Zamenza: The Pokken Arts Tournament is considered to be a place to test skills, strengths and abilities. This is what I trained Happy and Charles for.

Moody: Looks like this is the big event.

Unhaus: If you mind me asking, how many Pokemon contestants will be entering?

Zamenza: 18. Why?

Unhaus: Just asking.

Zamenza: Now then, let's go to the register.

They approached the register, which stood a male Shiinotic at the desk. His mushroom-like hat was red, along with his undersides and appeared to be checking out a Ursaring for the roster before sending him on his way.

Shiinotic: Hello, are you here to register for the Pokken Arts Tournament?

Zamenza: That we are.

Shiinotic: "We"?

Happy: We're going in too!

Charles, who was afraid of docks earlier, walked among them on solid ground, glad to be away from it.

Charles: Yeah! We're going to kick butt!

Shiinotic: *raises eyebrow* ...You're entering children in this?

Zamenza: Yes.

Shiinotic: Something's seriously wrong with you.

Charles: H-Hey! We didn't come here to be rejected!

Shiinotic: Sorry, but if you want to compete, you'll have to enter the junior league tournament.

Happy: Huh?

Charles: Hey! Quit treating us like kids!

Moody: Charles…

Zamenza: Oh, I assure you. They're stronger than they look.

Shiinotic: Hm. Maaaaybe I could take your word for it...Or...I won't allow it.

Zamenza: (...It seems a little trickery is needed to persuade him...I don't want to do this, but it's the only way…)

Zamenza's eyes began swirling, which made the Shiinotic appear to be in a trance. Moody was confused by this until he noticed Zamenza using his tricks to swing the situation in his favor.

Zamenza: (...You are the register…)

Shiinotic: (...I am...the register…)

Zamenza: (...You will enter...Happy and Charles…)

Shiinotic: (...I will enter Happy and Charles…)

Zamenza: (...They will be registered into the tournament…)

Shiinotic: (...They will be registered into the tournament…)

Zamenza: (...They shall compete in the Pokken Arts Tournament like everyone else…)

Shiinotic: (...They shall compete in the Pokken Arts Tournament like everyone else…)

Zamenza: (...Now write their names on the ballot…)

Shiinotic: *nods* (...Uh-uh…)

He began writing their names on the list, which worked on his behalf.

Happy: Grandpa, what's Master Zamenza doing?

Moody: ...Happy, he's hypnotizing him.

Charles: Hypnotizing?

Moody: Yes. You both can't learn that move, but I suggest not doing anything similar unless necessary.

Happy: Huh?

The Shiinotic's voice was normal, but still under the trance-like effect.

Shiinotic: Alright, they're on the list. Continue to the fighter's hall.

Zamenza: Alright. Moody, escort them, would you?

Moody: Sure.

Happy: Yay!

As Moody escorted Happy and Charles to the fighter's hall, Unhaus then stepped up to the register. The Shiinotic also appeared to be out of the trance-like state.

Unhaus: I'd like to register too, please.

Shiinotic: Sure. Name, please?

Unhaus: Unhaus.

Shiinotic: *raises eyebrow* …"Unhaus"? That's an odd name.

Unhaus: *sweat drop* ...You don't even know half of it.

Shiinotic: And how do you spell it?

Unhaus: U-n-h-a-u-s.

Shiinotic: Uh-huh.

He jotted his name down before confirming it.

Shiinotic: Okay, you're down. Have fun.

Baye: Let's go, Eve.

As Unhaus, Baye and Eve went to the fighter's hall, Zamenza stayed behind with the Shiinotic.

Shiinotic: You're a little too old to participate, aren't you?

Zamenza: Not really. Listen, I'd like you to enter someone. He'll be fighting in the tournament too.

Shiinotic: Er, who?

Zamenza: Call him the "Great Foodini". That's "food" with an i-n-i.

Shiinotic: *sweat drop* ...Er, sure… (...What a weird-ass old man…) *writes* Okay, he's down.

Zamenza: Thank you. I shall take my way to the fighter's hall and support my students.

Shiinotic: Suuuuuure… (...I'm not getting paid enough for this…)

As Zamenza walked away, the Shiinotic noticed something.

Shiinotic: (...Huh...Students…) ...Huh? Wait a minute! Those two little Pokemon he had earlier! He hypnotized me to get them on the roster! What a cheap-ass move!

He then ran after Zamenza shouting…

Shiinotic: Hey, old guy! Get back here!

...

As the group entered the fighter's hall, they were amazed by how many Pokemon came to the place. There was a ring in the middle of the room, which was known as the "Elimination Ring".

Baye: Wow...There are so many fighters here!

Unhaus: Tell me about it. A-Although...Some of them look pretty scary.

Moody: It's nothing to worry about. Don't let their looks fool you.

Unhaus: Right.

Happy: I can't wait to fight!

Charles: I know, right? We're going to kick so much butt out there!

Unbeknownst to the group, there was a purple cloaked figure watching them from afar. He pulled out a Roto-Phone to call someone.

?: Boss. I have located the target.

On the other end, a deep male voice answered.

Male: Is it the Tangela?

?: Yes. An old one, based on the descriptions provided by several of our members.

Male: Keep your eyes on him. The minute he's alone, that's when you nab him.

?: Certainly. I have backup in case he fights back…

Male: Bring him alive. He must be used as an example to society as to what happens when they impose their "rules" on us.

?: Yes, Boss.

...