"Contest time, contest time isn't going to end well!" Florian heard Oort singing well he fumbled with his shoelaces.

Florian was geared up for his first contest outside of Paldea one train ride and he was in Couriway.

Coincidentally he and Oort would face each other in their first match. Strangely it made Florian feel better meeting a friend in a contest match rather than someone like Trinity who by luck, was also facing in his third and final match.

And right now it was almost time for his big reveal with El Macho the Tauros that still didn't listen to him outside of threats of Crocalor putting him to sleep.

So that was why he had the two of them going out first against Oort.

That was Florian's game plan going into the battle against Oort.

There was also the matter of picking a song to listen to well he performed.

His first song on his playlist was Why'd You Only Call Me When Your High he decided sounded like it would do from the first part he listened to before he was called.

Gumshoos and Skrelp vs Tauros and Crocalor.

"Use Icy Wind!" Skrelp released a breath of cold wind at Tauros and Crocalor.

Already the beat of the song was getting into Florian's head.

"Crocalor jump behind Tauros!" Tauros charged forward with a Flame Charge well Crocalor jumped behind the path Tauros cleared keeping him safe from the Icy Wind speed drop.

"Gumshoos use Sand Attack!" Gumshoos kicked up a cloud of sand causing Tauros to go charging into the wall.

Florian let himself get lost in the lyrics of the music.

"And as I arrived I thought I saw you leaving, Carrying your shoes"

"Decided that once again I was just dreaming, of bumping into you"

"Now Crocalor use Snarl!"

"Dodge it!" Gumshoos and Skrelp dodged the Snarl but this was what gave Florian an opportunity.

"Now it's three in the morning and I'm trying to change your mind"

"Left you multiple missed calls and to my message, you reply"

Tauros charged forward with another Flame Charge breaking through the snarl stopping at Crocalor for fear of being put to sleep by Yawn leaving a dazzling display of red, black, and purple behind him for now giving Florian a higher score.

"Why'd you only call m when you're high?"

"High, why'd you only call m when you're high?"

"Skrelp jump onto Gumshoos then Double Team!" Skrelp leaped onto Gumshoos and went for Double Team creating copies of both of them.

"Crocalor get onto Tauros" Crocalor nodded and hopped onto Tauros's back something that El Macho wouldn't do for any other teammate and charged forward with Headbutt and Round.

They met Gumshoo and Skrelps combo of Super Fang and Water Pulse which still did more damage to his own score but the charge forward spared him at least some points.

"It's harder and harder to get you to listen, more I get through the gears"

"Incapable of making alright decisions, and having bad ideas"

Florian could feel himself getting into the lyrics of the song.

He really did feel incapable of listening when he was in a state like this. Even if he had never done drugs, he really did feel high when performing.

"Use Sand Attack and Icy Wind!" Skrelp and Gumshoos created a vortex of wind and sand blinding Florian and his team's view.

"And I can't see you here wondering where am I?"

Tauros and Crocalor were flung into the air by a Wild Charge and Icy Wind combination set well the sand obscured Oort's team.

"It sort of feels like I'm running out of time"

"Use Water Pulse!" Skrelp fired another Water Pulse at Tauros well he was in mid-air.

Tauros surrounded his body with Flame Charge to brais for impact.

Not the most brilliant move by Tauros but Florian could work with that.

"Crocalor use Incinerate on Tauros!" Crocalor fired the balls of fire further enveloping Tauros in flames so intense the Water Pulse evaporated, Well Tauros was still heavily damaged it saved him from being knocked out letting him land on his feet instead of fainting.

More importantly, it created a layer of steam that obscured Skrelps Water Pulse and Gumshoos Wild Charge.

"I haven't found what I was hopin' to find"

Tauros charged forward from the mist catching Gumshoos off guard as it missed Wild Charge on Crocalor.

Tauros rammed into Gumshoo's side with Headbutt tossing it into the air.

"You said you got a be up in the mornin' Gonna have an early night"

As Gumshoos came down Tauros slammed it with Double Kick sending flying into the side knocked out.

"And you're startin' to bore me, baby Why'd you only call me when you're high?"

Unfortunately, the steam had faded giving Skrelp the chance to strike Tauros with a point-blank Water Pulse also knocking Tauros.

Not that it mattered since Tauros had managed to work with Crocalor and took out the stronger of Oort's Pokémon. Now he was just down to his most trusted Pokémon, Migueal his very first team member.

"Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?"

"Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?"

Florian did wonder that. How did this version of him the version of him that was so fluid and so high on himself so willing to do anything that appeared in his mind? Only come out at times like this.

"Use Double Team!"

"Use Snarl!"

"Dodge it" The clones gave the real Skrelp enough time to jump over the Snarl and fire a Water Pulse.

"Crocalor run forward into the Water Pulse!"

Florian banked on Crocalor being healthy enough to survive a hit. Thankfully he was right and Crocalor came out on the other side.

"Now catch Skrelp" Crocalor caught Skrelp in his jaws.

"Use Water Pulse!"

"Use Yawn" Before Skrelp could attack Crocalor caught it in a white bubble putting it to sleep.

The timer rang out signaling the end of the battle looking at the scoreboard Florian was ahead of Oort by a respectable margin.

Florian finally felt himself coming down from his high he had won the contest battle and he managed to win without knocking both of his opponent's Pokémon.

He didn't even realize that the song had ended and was just listening to the end over again in his head.

So Florian was feeling great going into his second round battle which Naclstack and Crocalore were able to win without much concern. That left him Oort who had won his second match and Kuiper who had won both her matches to get a break well they waited for the rest of the second-round matches to conclude.

In the background, Trinity's match against Jessalena the person who came in 3rd in Florian first contest was playing. In the background, Florian got a glimpse of Mightyena and Joltik against Bramblin and Wobbuffet.

"So Farbauti you sure you didn't come yourself after our battle?" Oort asked.

"Javier!" Kuiper smacked him on the back of the head.

"What I'm just asking Do you know anyone else who gets into a contest like that? Yeesh using my don't go using my actual name now"

"That just means that he's into it that's a good thing"

"Do I look off when I'm performing?" Florian asked suddenly self-conscious about what his mid-performance high must look like.

"No, no, you just look like you're really having fun out there" That was a relief that was the one time where he felt like he was the brightest person in the room at least he didn't look like a dunce well doing it.

"Oh! what an unexpected attack!" the announcer yelled on the TV.

When Florian looked up at the screen he saw Trinity standing in shock her Mightyena knocked out in one hit.

The replay showed Bramblin attacking its partner Wobbuffet with Bullet Seed Wobbuffet went for a Counter on the Bullet Seed doing double damage to Mighyena.

"I heard about that Jessalena woman she beat Julianna's friend in her first match with a Glimmet and Morpeko"

Florian was thankful for such an event to unfold in front of his eyes. It made his next opponent seem way more beatable maybe he was still feeling high from his other wins but he felt surefire that he was gonna win.

Maybe he was also thankful that he didn't have to face Jessalena. Not yet anyway.

He was half considering bringing Tauros back out but Crocalor had already battled twice today and one good battle with Tauros was already pushing his luck.

Another day for now Naclstack and Dolliv would do.

His phone was flooded with messages from his parents asking about the Tauros. But that could wait for now he had a battle to addend to.

A Counter propelled Rapid Spin by Bramblin and it was over now all Florian had to do was wait for 15 minutes.


The 15 minutes flew by pretty fast and before Florian knew it he was out to face Trinity.

This time he felt confident not like the child anxious at stepping into the spotlight he was a confident teenager ready to show himself to the world for all he is.

Florian saw Trinity smirk at him this time he was confident enough to sneer back at her.

So it was Dolliv and Naclstack vs Ducklett and Cetoddle.

Florian just let the music sink in and let his opponent make the first move.

"Use Ice Shard and Aerial Ace!" Cetoddle fired shards of ice around Ducklett who flew forward with Aerial Ace the shards of Ice surrounding it.

"Dolliv hide behind Naclstack!" for once Aceituna did something she was good at quickly hiding behind her teammate.

"Naclstack use Iron Defense!" Naclstacks hardened metal body was able to avoid taking major damage from the attack.

"Now Dolliv use Razor Leaf!" Dolliv jumped out from behind Naclstack and fired a Razor Leaf hitting Ducklett and Cetoddle.

Perfect he was already out to an early lead.

"Naclstack use Smack Down on Ducklett!"

"Cetoddle use Bounce on Ducklett!" Cetoddle sprang into the air grabbing Ducklett out of the way of the Smack Down"

"Now Hidden Power and Avalanche!" Ducklett and Cetoddle rained down their attacks giving Trinity the points advantage.

"It's alright," Florian thought to himself "It's only a matter of time until I get the upper hand again. I'm not letting the other shoe drop that easily"

As if on cue the chorus of the song came around.

"Why'd you only call m when you're high?"

"High, why'd you only call m when you're high?"

"Dolliv use Sweet Scent!" Dolliv created a field of pink scent across the battlefield.

"Now Naclstack use Salt Cure on the ground!" Naclstack threw a ball of sodium on the ground creating a misty salty mass on the ground that Cetoddle and Ducklett had to dance around.

"Cetoddle use Bulldoze!" Cetoddle slammed into the ground dispersing the salt from the ground.

"Now Ducklett use Aerial Ace!" Ducklett slammed into Dolliv with Aerial Ace sending her flying back.

"Smoliv use Mega Drain!" Smoliv fired tendrils of green energy at Ducklett draining its hp as it flew away.

"Cetoddle use Ice Shard!" Cetoddle fired the icy shards at Dolliv sending her flying to the ground.

"Naclstack use Salt Cure!" Naclstack fired a Salt Cure at Cetoddle sending the Terra Whale tumbling backwards.

Both Dolliv and Cetoddle were on the edge of fainting and it made Florian feel so good.

It just felt so good to be able to damage Trinity's team, to not stand there and be beaten down like a loser, and to feel like a winner to be a winner.

"Use Bubble Beam and Ice Shard!"

"Use Smack Down and Razor Leaf!"

The two attacks collided in the air creating an explosion of colors on the battlefield.

The final part of the song came on as Florian watched the explosion fizzle in the center.

"Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?"

"Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?"

"Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?"

"Why'd you only ever phone me when you're high?"

Florian felt utterly high and completely entranced in his performance every movement felt as fluid as a liquid everything felt so sensitive his skin felt like it was covered in ants biting into it.

"Use Hidden Power and Bounce!" Cetoddle sprung up ready to crash down with the Hidden Power.

"Dolliv hide under Naclstack's stomach!" Dolliv slid under Nacklestack who took the Bounce and Hidden Power.

"Now Headbutt!" Naclstack smacked Cetoddle with Headbutt dealing the final blow to the already damaged ice-type.

"Use Bubble Beam" Ducklett fired the beam of Bubbles at Naclstack knocking her off her feet but it gave Dolliv an opening.

"Dolliv use Razor Leaf"

He felt like he could feel everything so much more acutely he felt like he could feel Dolliv leap out and fire the Razor Leaf that Ducklett blocked with her wings.

By now the timer had gone off and it was obvious who had won.

Florian didn't have many concrete memories of what happened after that.

He remembered seeing the satisfying look of defeat in Trinity's eyes he definitely filed that away to remember later.

He remembered standing on the podium with a silver medal only coming behind that Jessalena lady who won her last match with Pelipper and Veluza.

The rest of the night he had barely any concrete memories of. All he could remember was that he was somewhere in Couriway town with Oort and Kuiper and that he decided that Paldea definitely had better drinks than Kalos.

The next thing he remembered was waking up back in the hotel room the contestants were staying in with his head killing him.

Thank god had remembered to text his parents that he was "going to bed" he'd have to thank past him for that one.

At least once his head stop killing him which seemed like it was going to be awhile.


End Credit-Song Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High? by Arctic Monkeys

I was out with family so I couldn't write anything but the next chapter should be out sooner and it's all Julianna focused so we get to see both of their problematic way of dealing with getting stronger so stay tuned.