"Alright, now Crocalor use Incinerate on the ground!" Miguel did as he was told creating a burst of flames on the ground.

The problem was that wasn't what Florian was trying to achieve.

"Okay, it shows here that the user of Fire Pledge creates a column of fire try and do that okay? Maybe if you aim upwards well using Incinerate"

Crocalor tried to do that but just ended up creating more of a mess of flames than a coherent attack.

After such a great performance in Couriway Florian was looking to make an even better performance for the next contest in Alfornada.

So Florian was at the Ruchbah squad base training his Pokémon.

Although so far his attempts at getting Miguel to learn Fire Pledge had ended in using Incinerate on the ground.

Even attempting to combine Incinarates with Kuipers Salandit created more fire than anything else.

Eventually, Florian had given up trying that method and Kuiper was showing her Salandit and Grafaiai how to use Trailblaze and he didn't want to disturb her.

"Wow, this is the guy that's representing Team Star in competition okay then" Florian could hear Ortega talking from behind him.

"Well, then why don't you try and get him to learn the move yourself then huh?"

"Hmmm nope, I'm good. I'm a fairy specialist if you couldn't tell"

"Trust me we know you're a fairy trainer you're already the height of one" Kuiper shot back.

"W-what the how are you! Dashbun get her!" Ortega yelled although the dog only jumped on her and started licking her face.

"I wasn't saying that it's a bad thing I would have loved to participate in contests"

"Then why didn't you?" Kuiper asked when she Dashbun off of her.

"I was still too scared to go against Mother and Fathes'r wishes then and it would have been totally disgraceful for a son of theirs to compete in a girly activity"

"And now I'm too tied up with running Team Star since the boss disappeared but I'm happy to see other members take part in it"

"But if I'm honest it is also because it gives me immense satisfaction watching for ass-hats get stomped by Team Star" Ortega twirled his cane around in his hand.

"I have to admit I like seeing that too beating down Trinity in the last contest felt so satisfying"

"Ya, I liked it too if only I could beat her!" Kuiper sighed well Grafaiai and Salandit bounced off each other with Trailblaze.

"I'm sure that you'll get over that hump eventually nobody who uses an eventual Swanna as their ace can't stay on top forever"

"What's wrong with Swanna?" Kuiper asked.

"I actually think Swanna's a perfect ace for her" Florian replied "After all their both pretty but anyone who knows them knows that their cold-hearted assholes underneath"

After having a good laugh at Florian's joke he went back to practicing with Crocalor to learn Fire Pledge when Oort fumbled into the base.

"Hola! Hola! Hola!" Oort shouted cheerfully "Sorry I'm late Alejandro recommended I try this new orange drink that's popular in Galar and oh man dose did I not realize the alcohol content in it"

"Anyway, Alejandro's girlfriend gave some of these T-M's, said she found them in the math teacher's room" Oort held out a bunch of brown-tinted disks.

"What are they anyways?" Florian asked.

"I'm well she never said but it's some kind of rock move" Ortega snatched the disk and examined it.

"It says here that it's 150" After a quick Google search that turned out to be Stone Edge.

"Florian you have a Naclstack you could use it since I don't know any else with a Pokémon that can learn Stone Edge"

Florian forgot that he actually had 2 Pokémon that could learn Stone Edge.

With a hefty below El Macho broke out of his Pokeball grabbed one of the disks on his horn and booked it.

"Oh ya I forgot that Tauros could learn Stone Edge"

Well, that was going to make the training a lot more interesting.


"The champ is here! Du du du dum the champ is here!" Morpeko sang happily spinning around with Aura Wheel.

"He does know that this is just one of the qualifiers to get top cut right?" Glimmet suggested.

"Let him have his fun well he's in full belly mode" Pelipper replied.

"Actually now that you mention it quick eat well you can" Wobbuffet yelled as he began wolfing down his food.

"Sed vis exercere!" Veluza shouted dragging Bramblin away to practice.

"Imagine having that kind of energy for anything" Bombirdier scoffed.

"You're just jealous that you didn't get to compete" Glimmer replied watching Veluza and Bramblin exchange Aqua Cutters and Phantom Forces.

"Of course, I wasn't jealous of your silly contest"

"Oh please, I saw the way you were looking at Wobbuffet and Bramblin when they shocked the crowd" Meowth chimed in.

"What no!" Bombardier scoffed.

Even if he adamantly denied it Meowth and Pelipper definitely noticed him putting in more effort when practicing.

When he used Stealth Rock he spread it around with his wings when Glimmet added Power Gem managed to create an actual pretty visual.

He was a lot more accurate when he hit Wing Attack, Rock Blast, or Payback.

He actually watched Morpeko and Veluza's next training session where Morpeko somehow learned Seed Bomb (Meowth guessed that he ate the TR for it at some point)

Whether or not he actually wanted to be part of the contest for the thrill of it or because he saw how much personal glory it could bring him didn't matter at least he was putting in some effort.

And his work, whatever it was for clearly paid off because he was going to be going out to perform with Glimmet.


"Alright, so Salada you should be able to learn Stone Edge pretty quick right!"

"Nacl-Stack!"

"That's what I thought and if I know anything about El Macho he'll only want to go for Stone Edge. So Aceituna and Miguel you run behind Naclstack anytime he attacks you since she has the highest defense"

Sure enough, when he sent out Tauros he immediately went for a rather flimsy Stone Edge that Naclstack was easily able to block with an Iron Defense.

Naclstack responded with her own Stone Edge which like Tauros was rather flimsy and Tauros was able to easily dodge.

Tauros kept charging at Naclstack with Stone Edge that missed and when they did hit Naclstack was easily able to block them with Iron Defense.

Conversely, Tauros was fast enough to dodge the much slower Stone Edge from Naclstack so the pair made a great training duo in no time both of them were attacking with perfect Stone Edges.

Well, the training would have been perfect if Florian hadn't also forgotten another thing.

That Stone Edge had a high critical hit ratio.

Of course, Tauros would strike with a crit first the jagged blue stones erupting from the ground sent Naclstack flying off her feet leaving Florian and his other Pokémon exposed to the raging bull.

"Alright then Crocalor use Yawn" Florian commanded but Tauros charged forward with Flame Charge and knocked Crocalor over.

Tauros slammed his hooves into the ground to create Stone Edge. In a panic, Crocalor fired an Incinerate which bounced off the Stone Edge igniting the jagged rocks in columns of fire.

The fire column halted Tauros long enough for Dolliv to through up a Sweet Scent that obscured Tauros so that Crocalor could put it to sleep with Yawn.

Crocalor fired another one of the fire columns this time without the help of the Stone Edge.

"Look at that Tauros you managed to teach Salada Stone Edge and Miguel Fire Pledge isn't that nice?"

"Nice Job man if it weren't for you I wouldn't have managed to learn that Fire Pledge without you!"

Tauros didn't respond to Crocalor when he woke up just grumbled something to himself and stomped off.

"Do you think he'll ever come around Salada?"

"Hopefully I'd love for all of us to work together as a team"

"I hope so then maybe I can finally shake the feeling that he wants to kill me" Aceituna added mickly.

"What was that!"

"Nothing! I swear please don't murder me!"

With his team's new moves with him, Florian felt more confident entering Alfornada.

He was so confident that he had even brought out the crop top to wear for his final match.

Because number one his final match was against Jessaliana who the online forums were calling one of the best up-and-comers to watch in the season. Two if they both presumable won both of their first matches then they would move into the next rank. Three Terastalization was legal in the next rank and being able to use it meant you were getting somewhere in the contest scene.

"Are seriously gonna wear that?" Florian heard an all too familiar voice come from behind him.

"Yes, you got a problem with that?" Florian countered.

"Actually I do theirs no reason someone like you should be wearing something like that" Trinity countered.

"Oh, what that I'm sorry it's hard to hear you over the sound of placing on the podium"

"Imagine having to lie to yourself to make you feel better"

"Imagine not having a chance at moving up into the next rank can't relate" Florian went to wait for his turn to be called.

He did hear Trinity mention that Jessaliana would kick his ass in a contest which could be true. So far Jessaliana had one of the best win-loss records and had won all of her matches easily.

Right now Florian got to watch some of her first match where her opponents Chansy and Pyroar were already on the back foot.

The announcer was talking about her strategy of having Bombirdier attack Glimmet with Rock Blast to activate its Toxic Debris ability which when he slammed into the ground with Wing Attack launched the Toxic Spikes into the air.

It was no surprise to Florian that she won her first match without losing either Pokémon.

Well, Trinity might have been right that yes Jessaliana was a strong coordinator, and yes maybe when they had to battle each other in a contest yes she might beat him.

But the thing was he could also win if he was better than her.

Plus even if he lost it would be against an actual good coordinator and not someone who kicks over sand castles at the beach like Trinity.

That gave Florian some comfort well he walked out for his first performance.


End Credit Song-Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes.

Sorry that this chapter is short and took so long to get out as stated in the last chapter I was on vacation and had like no motivation when I got back.

It's also going to be a few chapters until we get to see the continuation of Florian's contest since will get to see Ash and Julianna's training and then I'm finally continuing the Inteleon storyline and I promise that those chapters will be longer.

Anyways heres the team recaps for characters in this chapter Julianna and Ash will get theirs next chapter.

Florian

Crocalor (M) (Miguel) Ability-Blaze Nature-Relaxed (Round, Fire Pledge, Yawn, Snarl)

Dolliv (F) (Aceituna) Ability-Early Bird Nature-Timid (Razor Leaf, Mega Drain, Sweet Scent, Helping Hand)

Naclstack (F) (Salada) Ability-Purifying Salt Nature-Docile (Headbutt, Salt Cure, Stone Edge, Iron Defense)

Tauros-Blaze-Breed (M) (El Macho) Ability-Intimidate Nature-Rash (Flame Charge, Double Kick, Headbutt, Stone Edge)

Team Rocket (Along with Wobbuffet and Meowth)

Morpeko (M) Ability-Hunger Switch Nature-Brave (Aura Wheel, Stomping Tantrum, Seed Bomb,)

Pelliper (F) Ability-Keen Eye Nature-Calm (Hydro Pump, Air Slash, Wing Attack, Mist)

Glimmet (F) Ability-Toxic Spikes Nature-Sassy (Venoshock, Ancient Power, Power Gem,)

Bramblin (M) Ability-Wind Rider Nature-Mild (Night Shade, Bullet Seed, Rapid Spin, Phantom Force)

Veluza (M) Ability-Mold Breaker Nature-Quirky (Aqua Jet, Aqua Cutter, Psycho Cut,)

Bombirdier (M) Ability-Rocky Payload Nature-Bashful (Wing Attack, Rock Blast, Stealth Rock, Payback)

Until then stay toned.