Canalave City, a large port filled with sailors ready to set sail and tourists seeing the sites of Sinnoh on what it holds for them. Though one of the less important landmarks in the Sinnoh region, it is nonetheless a spry place for everyone to see.

Near the busy docks was a lonesome pokemon sitting on a bench that had two suitcases close to her. She was a deer-like pokemon, but an odd one at that. Though similar to the Stantlers natural in Sinnoh, this one has noticeable differences. Normally Stantlers have a brown coat of fur, however this particular one has gray on her which also has a white snowflake pattern, and the added fact that she has a large white fur around her neck to further discern her from the norm. Antlers with a black orb on each one and nicely hanging on around her neck was a blue and black scarf.

Currently, she was a bit... annoyed. She had been laying there for a better part of an hour with nothing better to do but wait. Not even the history book of Sinnoh could distract her. It was only then that a voice grabbed her attention.

"I'm back, did I miss anything?" She turns towards the whimsical voice that would be coming along with her travels. The pokemon was a red, bipedal insectoid that has black dots around his abdomen, and black wings behind his back. Black eyes that match with his curled up feelers that act as if it were a spiffy mustache. The final thing that could finish his pristine visage was a black bowtie on his neck. He looks around the dock, "No boat at all, dear Wyrdeer?"

She sighs out in frustration while closing the book. "And no host in sight, Kricketune." She responded, hiding a slight growl coming from her throat. For hours, the two pokemon was waiting for their host to pick them up for Total Illusion Island, and yet there was no sign of her or the weasel. Not only did they travel from Jubilife City to get to Canalave city, but they have also arrived nearly an hour before the expected time that someone should be there to greet them, "It's almost twelve o'clock, that host is sure taking her time."

"Don't need to worry, they'll come get us soon you see. We just have to wait." He responded, though it did little to relieve her dwindling patience. Seeing as his words didn't give ease to her, he tried the next best thing he could do, "Rather than sightsee, pecha for the lady?"

She looked over, seeing him with a bag full of pink, heart shape berries. In an instant, her annoyed look was replaced with a neutral smile, "Yes, thank you."

Taking a few for himself, he nibbles on the sweet fruit as he let his companion eat the rest, "I wonder what the show have in store for us. Will we see might, or fright, and endless grandeur~?" He ponders as he turns to her with a smile, "What do you think, miss?"

"Please stop calling me miss would you?" She asks, holding herself back from glaring at the bug, "Though meeting some new people is good and all, I just want the money... so I can give to charity, nothing more."

"A noble quest, so few can possess. Incredible, incredible."

"Heh, I am, aren't I?" She smirked from his compliment, though it turned downwards as she looked out on the ocean horizon for anything that could hold the host, "Yet I can't get that money if no one shows up. We might as well-"

"Go home?" The two staggered off the bench when a voice came from behind them. The pokemon that surprised them was a quadrupedal feline that has pale green fur and ruby red eyes. On her face was a darker green mark that looked like a five pointed leaf. On top of her head were leaves, vines and sticks all together that resembled a witch's hat. She rudely pushed Wyrdeer to the side and set aside a pack that carries baubles and potions inside it, "Yeah, from the way yas two thump-sticks look, I wouldn't be surprised if yas just completely drop dead the moment ya see me."

"...Who are you, exactly?" Wyrdeer said, trying to make a wry smile to the crude stranger, "And why are you here?"

"The same reason why ya are here dumb dumb, going to this 'Total Imaginary Isle.'"

"Illusion Island." Kricketune corrected.

"Don't correct me buggy, I got it the first time," The little weed pokemon snapped on him, "And since we cant say our names, not really caring a Rattata's tail what you two are anyways, call me Sprigatito."

Wyrdeer almost looked offended by the cat's aloofness. Seeing the deer looking a bit aggravated for the worse, Kricketune quickly chirped out, "Where exactly do you live, you must've traveled pretty far if you didn't come earlier."

"Live in Eterna forest." She scoffed as swiped a few pechas for herself. "Can ya believe that stupid host think I could get there in when the sun is on it's peak. I don't even know whoeva their face is found me deep in the forest."

Kricketune tilts his in confusion, "But miss, it's only hairs away from Eterna Forest to here."

"Ah, but that's exactly what that messenger Taillow or whateva told me." She begins to ramble, "Can't fool me, little bird-brain thing thinks I'm dumb and trying to get me in the wrong way. Me knows that the best path is by going through that Vilestone place, next to Pastry city, then to Lake Variety. Simple, clean, nobody ready to push me off the beaten trail and win me stupid papers."

A whole minute passed as Wyrdeer and Kricketune stared blankly at the green cat like she had grown a second head.

"I'm sorry but not only did you say the names wrong, you've basically gone the whole region in a complete circle... ar-are you high?" Wyrdeer, the attempted smile long gone from her face, asked incredulously while making the musical bug cringe.

The cat scowled at Wyrdeer and almost looked ready to pounce on her, "No, and if ya call me a weed, and I so so dare ya to, then I will show ya what me brews can do to ya ugly mug ya have!"

"Wowie, you three are by far the weirdest bunch." A new voice came as they turned to see Mismagius, behind her was a fairly large boat with a Buizel next to it. She approaches them as she tips her hat to the trio, "Greetings everyone, nice to meet my competitors readying for a rumble.."

Recovering quickly, Kricketune bowed to the magician, "Lovely to meet our dear host, we are thankful to finally greet our lovely ghost."

She giggled as she bows back, "Charmed, really. My apologies for making you three wait, the other competitors were a bit of a hassle to get." She points at Sprigatito, "Almost like that one right there."

"Ya got a problem with me?!" The cat yelled out, "And seriously, how did ya find me?"

"Haven't decided yet, and interns." She shrugged, "Now come, come. You three probably need some rest. We've got a long journey to get through and it's best to meet the others."

Sprigatito scoffed but followed along anyway. It was until they reached the boat that she stopped. Noticing her hesitation, Wyrdeer asked, "Something wrong?"

"Pfft, nah I fine it's just..." She turns towards her host, "Can't we just use a Lapras to get to that island than this stinking monstrosity."

She shook her head, "Again, apologies. It's crucial that you be on this boat, unless you want to swim all the way there. Last I've heard, cats and water don't mix, regardless of type."

Sprigatito groaned as she was about to get on before being promptly stopped by Buizel holding out an inkwell and a paper, "It's a contract, sign it please."

Sprigatito looked at both him and the contract for a moment before reeling back and spit on his cheek, "Sign that, bubble-blower." Blowing a raspberry, she smugly sauntered off in the boat's interior like she owns the transport, "I'll be in the room, don't bother me."

Buizel watched her the entire time, and if looks could kill, she would've been a burnt weed everyone could enjoy. Swiping the saliva off him and putting it on the paper, he turns to other challengers, "Anyone else want to spit on me today?"

"Sorry for her troubling you," Kricketune apologized, dipping a claw before signing his name on it, following with Wyrdeer doing the same by lightly tapping it with her hoof. After all that's said and done, Kricketune carries both his and the deer's suitcases with him, "Sir Buizel, if you don't mind showing me where to put these."

As the cricket and weasel go inside as the boat starts leaving the port, Mismagius turns towards the deer, "So how's it feel to be a complete star for this new hit Wyrdeer? Because not only do you have the looks, I see great potential in you."

"Well, I am planning on going far."

"Truly, but don't go far, go beyond. " she jabbered out, placing an appendage on the other's shoulder, "I see it now, you taking on the last challenger and being victorious. You'll have both fame and basically three million just like that... well..."

"...Well what?" She questioned.

"Well... you could be running home and be a laughing stock for the next century and gain not even an ounce of cash for your name if you lose...," She paused, letting her words sink in before adding, "...perhaps, you probably be the first one out. Now that would be embarrassing wouldn't it?"

"I'll assure, I can handle it and whatever you throw at me." Wyrdeer quickly snapped back.

"I'll believe it, out of everyone here you look the most capable, and most smartest looking one on top of that. All I'm just saying is these pokemon would be persistent and such a bore to chew through, if only there's some way to perhaps just skip through all that, hit to its core and have a guaranteed spot to win, hmm?"

She paused as she stared out of the steadily shrinking port of Canalave city, though out of the corner of her eyes she's watching the deer pokemon with utmost attention. From her goading and pruning, she already sees the growing doubt and smugness on Wyrdeer. The host had to honestly hold herself from chuckling.

"Bah, ignore my ramblings, just thinking out loud." She shrugs herself off from Wyrdeer as she approaches the door, "How about it we meet your competitio-."

"Maybe you're right," Mismagius stops to look at her competitor, "It would be easier to deal with those disposables. 'Hit it to it's core', right?'" Wyrdeer stated as a smile appeared on her. Seeing as there's no one else but them, both her eyes and horns begin to shimmer at a slight purple tint on them. The ghost noticed it, yet she was actively look into at them, "So, I think we should just skip the theatrics and make me-"

"What the-!" A scream was heard from inside the boat. This gave quite the shock to the deer pokemon that she lost her focus, making the host out of her trance. Though it look as if she was never affected at all. Mismagius looks back to where Kricketune has gone.

"Oh, looks like Kricketune found the surprise." She quickly floated near the door. "Come with!"

"What surprise?" Wyrdeer asked, her voice wavered from the lack of reaction. Rather than answering her question, Mismagius beckons her to follow along inside. Waiting for a moment, she followed along. After passing by a few doors, they spotted Buizel nonchalantly whistling with an open door next to him. Darkness blanketed the room, though she could see on side that Kricketune was beyond shocked, "Kricketune, what happened?"

He points inside through the darkness. She sees a light switch and pressed on it, making a light bulb illuminate the room. What she saw gave her a fright. Pokemon were scattered across the floor boards, few were big, and some smaller than others. If it wasn't for the fact that she could still see them breathing and didn't show any sort of injuries, she would have thought the worst.

She turns to her host and the assistant with utter confusion, "Explain!"

"Oh they are just catching up on some zeds, no need to worry about them." She snarked, acting like this is a completely normal thing. "Much like how you two should do the same."

Her eyes glowed purple as the room's light began to flicker on and off. Wyrdeer's eyes grew wide as realization of what the magician was doing to her. She tried to look away but it's already too late. Her legs already felt like twigs that were about to crumble and the world around her began to turn into mush. She took a step back when she felt something beside her and by looking, she saw Kricketune soundly asleep.

Using up every last ounce of energy in her, her horns begin to darken as a small, black ball grows in front of her. Glaring at the purple cloak, she struggled to say, "You... wretched.. har..."

Shamefully, she couldn't finish her insult before her body fall on the floor, making the dark ball disappear.

"Pfft, for someone who is a supposed expert at that, you certainly couldn't take it." She chortled as she looked through the collection of pokemon at her disposal, "Alright, we have everything we came here for and we even got the others back at the camp. Buiz, let's go before anyone catches wind of us. Oh, and call our friend to make sure everything's perfect."

"Aye aye, Miz." He mockingly said, "What about the weed though, she's still in the cabins you know?"

"Oh what about her, nothing but a good whack on the cranium would do it," The weasel looked at her for a moment before smiling as he went to where the annoying cat was. Mismagius turns towards the camera with a grin, ignoring the cameraperson falling asleep as well, "Just so know viewers, this is one-hundred percent legal. They did sign the contract after all, not my fault they didn't read the fine print. Stay tuned for more, as we'll be starting Total Illusion Isla-."

She was cut off when her assistant ran back in, "Ah, Miz?!"

Mismagius groans, "Buizel, if we are going to talk about how it's immoral to knock out our candidates again, can you hold it just a tick-?"

"Pirates!"

"Pirates?" She raised brow. Moments later, the entire boat shakes violently as the unconscious competitors slam onto the walls and pile onto each other. Though she's floating in the air and wasn't being thrown like a ragdoll, for the first time on camera, she has lost her smile, "Oh, pirates... right, forgot about her... Uh, welcome to TII everyone, can't wait to hear from you soon. Buizel, tell those swashbuckling numpties to give us their leader and shove their sabers up their-!"

The camera turns off.

...

Something short before the actual thing start. I get the feeling I ain't gonna get the feel of how actual TDI work on my this, but I will try nonetheless. Hope you are entertained for a tad bit and all that

Closing up by the end of next week so last chance for more OCs to be submitted.

See you in the next chapter for the real beginning. Have a nice week.