Alright, another chapter!

And thank you all for the kind reviews, I appreciate them!

This chapter will be focusing on the Isle of Armor, so hopefully you all enjoy it!

Wild Area Train Station

In order to use the passes Sonia gave them, Victor and Marnie head back to the train station. There, they run into an oddly dressed girl, who appears to be trying to board the train.

"Whoa." Victor said, looking this new girl up and down. All the colors are disorienting.

"Hmm, interesting outfit." Marnie comments.

As the conductor checks the girl's pass, they are interrupted.

*Slooo...* An odd colored Slowpoke has appeared.

"Oh, a Slowpoke!"

"Uh-oh," The conductor groaned, "Looks like another one's gotten on the train and ridden over from the Isle of Armor."

"Another?" Victor sweatdropped, "So this has happened before, and no one knows how to stop them?"

"Meh." The conductor merely shrugged.

The new girl seems to know about this new type of Slowpoke, so Victor asks her about it.

"Is this the first time you've seen a Galarian Slowpoke? The coloring on the top of it's head is curry-like. Isn't it superduper cute?"

"I guess I get the curry part..." Victor says, but then he asks Marnie, "Is it cute?"

"H-how would I know?" Marnie stammered. She isn't sure it's cute at all, let alone "superduper".

The train conductor then asks if Victor can catch this Galarian Form Slowpoke since they tend to be heavy and slow, and in their way. After an uneventful battle, Victor does so. Now they can get the show on the train, as it were. But the new girl fawns over Victor for a bit.

"Wow! Amazing! The way you caught that Slowpoke was the absolute coolest. Let's hang if we meet up again, 'K? Bye-bye, then! See ya!"

Marnie looks at the other girl, a frown on her face. She's not too thrilled with the way the older girl is so... friendly with Victor? Maybe it's just her imagination. But then the girl boards a train that leaves the station.

"Huh," Victor says, innocently, "She seemed nice, right?"

When he turns to Marnie, he sweats a bit, as her frown deepens. Something about her just rubbed Marnie the wrong way...

Armor Station

As the pair exit the train, they run into a guy who's supposed to join the dojo on this island, but he's too afraid of somebody outside. He runs off scared when said person then comes in, and it's that girl again!

"Shocker..." Victor deadpanned.

The older girl, now revealed to be named Klara, then mistakes Victor as the newbie. And his confusion over being mistaken as the new student makes Klara think she's being mocked. This causes her to challenge Victor to battle, under the guise of testing him.

So the two of them battle out, Marnie getting annoyed throughout the battle because of Klara's toxic attitude. But at least Marnie is relieved, she thought that maybe Klara was a little too interested in Victor...

One battle later, and all Klara is worried about is the newcomer showing her up. And her comments demeaning Victor's skill after the battle, has Marnie speaking up.

"Victor won fair and square. What happened to being respectful?"

"Huh?" Klara asked, "Who are you? And where'd you come from?"

Marnie just narrowed her eyes at her.

"Ah, I get it," Klara then said, "Sorry I talked bad about your ~boyfriend~". Said in such a sickeningly sweet, yet taunting tone.

"He's not my-" Marnie tried to say, but was cut off.

"Anyway," Klara continued, "Maybe you both can enjoy the sights of the Isle, but stay away from the Master Dojo over there, 'k?"

She even gave them a souvenir, a style card, that lets them get more selection at boutiques and hair salons. Klara then runs off, for some reason thinking that she'll never have to deal with them again.

"What is even going on?" Victor sweatdropped.

He looked over at Marnie, who had the style card, and a rather pleased look on her face.

"What a nice girl."

"You're friends now, huh?" Victor deadpanned.

"C'mon Victor, no need to be so Toxic."

"Uh..."

"Well, why don't we explore a bit?" Marnie said, changing the subject.

So they explored around the beach area, shaking a few trees for berries, and battled a few Pokémon that aren't in the main Galar region. The team also got to enjoy a beach-side lunch. They're limited in what they explore at the moment, but Victor and Marnie are enjoying each other's company, seeing sights and exploring places that most don't. Marnie hasn't admitted it yet, but already she's enjoying her time with Victor...

Entrance of the Master Dojo

Eventually, they made their way to the front doors of the dojo, despite being asked so kindly not to. Klara's in front of it, talking to an older woman. The lady's a bit sad that the new recruit apparently decided to go back home, despite Klara's "best" efforts. Until she sees that they've been joined by Victor and Marnie.

"Huh? Agh!"

"Klara..." The woman started.

"Y-yes ma'am?" Klara gulped.

"Great job!" Klara was pat on the head by the older woman, confusing her. "The previous student may have left, but you did great bringing in two new ones!"

"Uh... yeah, that's me! I hope they like it here!" Klara said sheepishly.

Victor and Marnie introduce themselves, while they learn that this woman, Honey, helps run the dojo.

"We never had a couple come in together before! Ah, young love..." Her bluntness had Victor and Marnie embarrassed and stammering.

"But come in, and don't mind the faint stench of sweat!"

"Thanks?" Victor asked, while Marnie looked a little pale, not eager to find out why "faint" and "stench" were used in the same sentence. And Klara's grateful that they won't rat her out for her earlier actions.

Just before Victor and Marnie walk in, something feels off.

"Victor," Marnie asked, "Do you feel like we're being watched?"

"Now that you mention it, maybe. Oh well, must be nothing."

"Hmm..." Marnie said out loud, looking at a odd-shaped sign on the roof of the dojo. Maybe just her imagination?

Master Dojo

"Hi-yah! Welcome to the dojo!"

Inside, Victor and Marnie meet the other students of the dojo, and its master, Mustard.

Looks like Honey was right about the smell, and Marnie wondered why Honey let things be so funky in the dojo.

"I'm pleased as cheese that you could join us!" Master Mustard exclaimed.

"..." Marnie stayed silent, not wanting to be rude. Although the desire to be sarcastic was certainly there.

Victor was going to reply, "Cheesed to meet you!", but Marnie stopped him from doing so. No sense in joining in on this silly old man's nonsense.

So Master Mustard wanted to get to know Victor, through a battle. And all the other students were surprised when Victor won!

When it was her turn, Marnie did good as well, although it was a bit more difficult on account of her dark team. And their reward for doing well was their own Dojo Uniform.

"Hmm..." Victor wondered out loud, looking around. Is there a place to get changed? He's not expected to get changed right in front of everyone, is he? And what about Marnie?

Never mind, she had left, found a bathroom, and came back dressed.

"Alright, how do I look?" Marnie asked Victor, doing a little spin for him, then making sure everything was in the right places. But she kept her hair style the same.

"W-wow, really nice!" He replied, taking in the sight of Marnie in a new uniform. Seeing her like this... made Victor's heart beat a bit faster...

"Don't keep staring..." Marnie said, in an almost playful tone.

Mustard chuckled knowingly, watching these two interact.

So then Victor went and got changed. When he came back, he asked Marnie, "How do I look?" His eyes sparkled, as he thought he looked pretty cool.

"Hmmm..." Marnie walked around, studying him. Her analysis?

"Lose the man bun."

"But it's part of the uniform!"

Marnie crossed her arms. "No."

"But-"

"No."

"I-"

"No."

"...alright." Victor grumbled taking out the bun.

Marnie gave him a small smile after their exchange. "I like the way your hair was before." She then got embarrassed when she realized how that sounded out loud.

"Oooooh!" All the other students teased, only making Marnie and Victor's faces redder.

"Now, now, enough of that." Mustard chuckled. He's glad to have a max capacity of students, and these 2 new ones will certainly make things interesting.

But with an extra student being Marnie, this causes a problem for Klara.

"But Masterrr," Klara suddenly complained, "You haven't given me my uniform yet!"

"Oh dear. Do you really not have a uniform? My bad, my bad!" Mustard said, sadly. "Unfortunately, with the arrival of two students, I'm afraid Marnie got yours!"

"Are they even the same size? And why does the dojo have a limit?" The class wondered.

Marnie could feel Klara stare at her angrily, barely restrained on account of all the people around. Marnie could feel their friendship weaken...

"But no worries," Mustard said, "We'll just have to make one for you!" And to the rest of the students, "Alright, everyone back to your workouts!" He also needed time to set up what he has planned for the students.

Marnie wanted to apologize to Klara, but Victor pulled her away. After getting changed back into their normal outfits, they leave the Isle for a while, giving Klara a chance to cool down.

But they'll be back!

For now, they head off to the train, to check out where their other pass takes them...

So, there we go.

We'll be coming back here throughout the story, at proper times.

But just like in most games, you can leave a quest for months, come back, and the people are still just standing around, waiting patiently for you. So I guess that'll happen a few times in this story.

See you all next time!