Hello friends. It's time for another chapter of fun and friendship! AND NOOO, I TOOK LONG

Spoiler alert: Procrastinated… a lot. A lot happened but we're back in full swing. And as a celebration, I'll do more work with this and finish. Thank goodness for my note-taking and sheets, I am still in the know of everything and didn't forget anything like in my other TPIs.

So enjoy!

Teddiursa hummed to herself as she built a cute little sand castle on the beach. She gracefully picked off a stray shell from the sand and adorned it on top of her quaint sand structure. As she patted the sides of the castle, Floatzel walked over to her with an interested expression.

"Are you building a sand castle?"

Teddiursa looked up from her creation, giving the weasel a curt nod in response. "Yep, it helps with my nerves UWU! It takes a lot of work to be cute like me, tee hee~ Come on! Together now, XD! UWU! OWO! Let's goooo!"

"I'm sure it takes a lot of dignity to be able to say those… words seriously," Floatzel commented before clearing his throat. "Do you need any help?"

Teddiursa arched a brow in interest as she turned to the weasel, a bit surprised that he wasn't yelling about justice as usual. "Oh? I'm almost finished, hehe! It's my best creation yet! But I can chat, mmhm! Do you wanna talk about how much of a cutie I am?!"

"... perhaps…" Floatzel commented, putting a hand to his throat. "Aren't you tired of faking it though?"

Teddiursa blinked in confusion before mustering a weak smile. "I d-don't know what you're talking about, tee hee~"

"... you do get that I'm a hero of justice, right?" Floatzel pointed out raspily. "I lost my voice yelling a lot but I can still detect evil villains out here."

"Oh… uhhm… maybe, you should check with Chansey about that…" Teddiursa suggested, concerned before giggling to her paws. "But I'm not a villain. I'm a cutie patootie with a hawt of gawd!"

"... I didn't say you're evil. You're just obviously fake…" Floatzel explained, eyes narrowing. "You really think that you can even hide something from me?! I have 20/20 vision… okay, not really. It's metaphorical, okay!"

"..." Teddiursa deadpanned. "Oookay… maybe, I'm not too cute, but is that too much of a problem? And why are you literally confronting me about this first thing in the morning?!"

"It's 7:3-"

"You know what I mean…" Teddiursa sighed, exasperated.

"I was just taking a walk…" Floatzel admitted with a sigh. "I didn't expect to run into you here… and might as well, call you out!"

"... okay?! UwU, my cuteness might be a tad bit exaggerated but you gotta admit… I'm still a cutie!" Teddiursa pointed, winking at the weasel. "But if you're looking for villains, I can give you directions cuz this cutie has been snooping around!"

Floatzel's face turned red from awkward embarrassment. "I suppose you are cute… but I can't be DISTRACTED… okay, my voice is slightly more here now… but if you're going to help me fight the hidden VILLAINS out here, I'm all ears!"

"So… Floatzel is sooo random. We had a really… surprisingly casual chat while I gave him deets since Musharna told me shit's shady… so wow, what a great way to deflect attention from little 'ole me!" Teddiursa admitted, rubbing the side of her arms with a pout. "And I have the random sudden alliance with Musharna too!"

The little bear then blinked as she innocently tilted her head to the side. "Gee, all of this random shit is so oh so interesting but since it benefits… I guess I don't mind."

She tapped her chin with a hmmm. "Maybe, Sableye might even make an alliance with me too! It's the benefits of being cute!"

"So basically… it's about the last vote," Teddiursa started, lying down on the sand next to Floatzel, who was hudded close to her. "Don't you think something was weird about it? I didn't find anything weird lol, to be honest. But after Unfezant left the building, yep… something was definitely weird."

"I agree. Unfezant was barely a bother and wasn't a slouch either and could've been useful to the team but a VILLAIN decided to sabotage us by taking her out!" Floatzel remarked with a curt nod.

Teddiursa blinked before giggling to her paws. "You're actually gonna believe me on that? Not gonna think I'm a lying cutie?"

Floatzel scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Oh please… I can SEE right through everyone so it would be IMPOSSIBLE for any hidden villain to slip right past me! And judging from your intro… it HAS to be Chansey! She's probably faking being a nurse. She's actually an assassin for hire!"

"That's… pushing it a little bit…" Teddiursa commented, smiling sheepishly. "But looking at the numbers… Pikachu and Bayleef were probably the two Musharna votes. Empoleon's vote was for Unfezant, by the process of elimination. Magearna and Chansey were always going to vote together, with how close they are… and well, they either voted for Bayleef or-" Teddiursa was interrupted by Floatzel putting a finger to her mouth.

"Yeah yeah, strategy. We need to be STRAIGHTFORWARD here. Wouldn't being a STRATBOT make you a villain as well?! We wouldn't want that!" Floatzel pointed out, waving a finger at the little bear. "But if it's between Magearna and Chansey, I think Chansey's more suspicious since her background sounds too generic and artificial… but at the same time, Magearna's a fucking mythic and I think that's really weird."

"I mean… Magearna is an artificial Pokemo-" Teddiursa argued.

"That's not what I meant!" Floatzel interjected. "Don't you think it's weird she's the only Mythical Pokemon here. She sticks out like a sore thumb!"

"I know right!" Teddiursa agreed with a nod. "Maybe… she's working undercover or something."

"Either way, it's suspicious. We need to keep an eye on both of them!" Floatzel enthused, pumping a fist with a satisfied smirk.

Teddiursa cocked a brow with an amused look. "You look strangely happy about this, UwU."

"Well, you gave me a LEAD. We're this close to exposing EVIL!"

"Suit yourself~" Teddiursa giggled, winking at the weasel. "I mean, if it makes you happy, then I don't mind you being all giddy… but uhh… it's really funny that you're choosing to trust a cutie like me though!"

"It's not too funny. I can see that you mean well," Floatzel argued, crossing his arms.

"Awww, that's the sweetest thing someone's ever said to me on this island!" Teddiursa said, giggling to her paws.

Floatzel sat in the confessional with a surprisingly refreshed expression. "Following Sableye around for the past few days has been tedious and exhausting. I am here to DEFEAT VILLAINS… but when he's not even doing anything, I can't even do much to stop him without being ejected… so getting to chat. Not just a chat… a NORMAL and HEROIC chat with Teddiursa really helped in lifting up my spirits!"

He then pointed both his fingers to his eyes then pointed back to the camera. "But I'm keeping my eyes peeled! She gave me a lot of information. I'm going to USE it to the best of my abilities to EXPOSE the potential villainous culprits out there!"

Teddiursa winked at the camera, showing a playful smirk. "I think my social game is really on-point and I've struck a perfect balance between overbearing cute and charming cute! Floatzel actually likes me, even if he does see through it… and that's not a problem honestly. I mean, it's not like I'm a shitty person underneath all my UwUs and OwOs."

Her eyes then shifted to the side. "But I must say… I don't have a read on people like Bayleef or Sableye… but whatevs, they'll probably be voted off soon, if everyone's smart… oh wait, they aren't!"

Cramorant groaned audibly as she stabbed her fork into her discernible mush. "Ugggh… mush again?! Sheesh, does Indeedee like… not know anything about variety or whatevs?"

"Hey, I'm sure Indeedee tries his best!" Gossifleur argued. "Besides… we have a day off too, so no worrying about losing any challenges or voting anyone off too! So let's appreciate everything we can get."

"Yes… we are thankful for the day off." Klingklang affirmed with a deadpan expression. "But this mush… I can barely compute. What is it made of?"

"Ooooh, maybe you can scan it like data or whatevs!" Magcargo suggested, chewing on his mush without any problems. "Like… it tastes like sidewalk chewing gum! It's a bit chewy but there's a bit of zest to it."

"I don't think anyone is interested in hearing that comparison…" Klingklang commented. "I don't think I'm even hungry anymore…"

"Ooooh, can you give me your serving?" Magcargo requested, smiling widely as the gear Pokemon slid his plate over to the lava snail. "Thank you! This is not so bad! I think Indeedee specializes in chewing gum culinary or something! It's really good, no joke!"

"He called it… Meaty Surprise…" Gossifleur gulped, closing both of her eyes.

"Surprise? Like, does he mean… it's like a surprise that it's legal to be fed that or whatev?" Cramorant said, unamused. "Ugh, I wish my phone was working so that I can call 911 about this…"

"Oh yeah, that reminds me! How is your phone holding up?" Gossifleur asked, concerned.

"It's fucking dead!" Cramorant cried, sobbing into her wings. "It survived for a good couple of years at least but like, now I can't even play Minesweeper to pass the time so like, what a fucking rip."

"It's only a phone. No need to be overdramatic," Klingklang said.

"What do you mean it's only a phone?!" Cramorant huffed, cocking a brow. "It's more than a phone… it's family!"

"... again, it's only a phone…" Klingklang repeated flatly.

"Ugggggh… why are you sooo annoying?! Can I undo this convo?!"

"Klingklang has a point," Gossifleur murmured, eyes shifting to the side awkwardly. "We can't be too caught up on our gadgets and focus on things happening in real time… you don't know what opportunities you're missing when you look at your phones after all."

"But online memes are just too funny!" Cramorant argued.

"What's a meme..?" Gossifleur queried, confused.

"Wattafuck?!" Cramorant queried, incredously. "How do you not know what a meme is?! Were you born in the wrong century or whatevs?!"

"... well… I didn't have much access to… a phone," Gossifleur explained. "Which is why I was a bit puzzled with your strange attachment to it. A phone is like a miniature picture box, right?"

"I don't think a phone's a mini-tv or anything!" Magcargo chimed in. "I didn't bring a phone here like Cramorant but I don't use it much back home either since I mostly binge Netflix originals on my laptop instead!"

"You guys are missing out! I don't know what life would be without a phone!" Cramorant said before pausing in realization, blushing in embarrassment. "But I guess… now would be the start… feeling the jitters already…"

"I believe in you!" Gossifleur reassured her teammate with a smile.

"Phones are overrated." Klingklang said plainly with a curt nod.

Cramorant gave the steel-type a look. "Uhhmmm… okay? Did you like have some pent-up trauma that start cuz of phones or whatevs?"

"Not in particular. But you're really overvaluing them for no good reason," Klingklang answered.

"Weeeell, it helped me with my communication skills el ohhh el!" Cramorant said with a giggle.

"..." Klingklang's eyes narrowed at this. "I see."

"Cut her some slack, dude!" Magcargo said, now eating Gossifleur's mush. "I mean… we all have our crazy obsessions too. Like one time, I was really obsessed with loom bracelets but realized that I can never get too much into it because of my obvious lack of arms!"

"I won't press too much into it… despite it being too weird to be too fixated on a phone, of all things…" Klingklang mumbled quietly, rolling his eyes.

"The team is all getting along really well!" Magcargo commented before frowning. "But Klingklang has been… rubbing people off the wrong way, with his callousness and as a friend, I wanna be by his side! After all, we're bunkmates! Bunkmates have to stick together and I can tell, he's the smartest person I've ever met!"

Magcargo then tilted his head to the side thoughtfully. "Or maybe, we might go on a winning streak and I don't even have to worry too much! What are the chances of that happening? That's basically the dream scenario, since I like pretty much everyone on this team."

"Klingklang is soooo rude! Does he not know how to shut up and not post if he has nothing good to say?! Like seriously!" Cramorant said with a childish pout. "Uggggh… can we get someone to ban him from the chat?! Or does that sound too mean?!"

She sighed, putting her wings to her head. "I'm trying to keep myself together after like… my phone died but it's really tough. I'm honestly pretty lost in like these convos since like… it all happens way too fast…"

Vivillon looked at the trio of Oricorio, Skwovet and Dedenne with an unamused expression as they all stood in front of the infirmary. "Okay? So why exactly do I need to be here?"

"The infirmary's now open and I want us to spend some more time together and explore," Oricorio explained, putting her wings together.

"That, and you need to get sent into the infirmary from all of the future burns you'll be getting," Skwovet joked with a smug expression.

"Mmmhm? Don't be too cocky," Vivillon scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Do I have to remind you that I won our team the last challenge?"

"Actually, it was technically G-" Dedenne started only to stop as Vivillon turned to glare at him.

"Hey… play nice… let's walk into the infirmary and see what's in there," Oricorio said, standing in between the group, trying to mediate between everyone.

The group grumbled in agreement as they followed Oricorio into the now-accessible infirmary.

The infirmary had a few beds lined up against the fall and a receptionist desk near the entrance with medical cabinets containing medical supplies behind it. There was a waiting bench near the entrance, directly in front of the receptionist desk. A bored-looking Lopunny wearing a nurse's hat stood behind the desk.

Skwovet chuckled as he walked over to the desk, winking at Lopunny. "Hey. I'm Skwovet, you're looking really sexy right now."

Dedenne gawked at this, rolling his eyes. "Are you seriously flirting with the staff? If you wanted to flirt with nurses, Chansey's on the other team, dude."

"Flirting with the middle class is disgusting," Vivillon agreed, narrowing her eyes.

"I mean, I bet the so-called middle class are better than you, just saying," Skwovet said, making the butterfly growl in response.

"We're here to relax… not have random one-shot arguments…" Oricorio pointed out, crossing her wings.

"Yep, that's why I wanna get to know this Lopunny better," Skwovet mused, leaning on the receptionist's desk. Lopunny recoiled in response. "Aw, don't worry. I don't b-"

"You do know I'm a boy, right…" Lopunny grumbled, voice surprisingly really deep.

"..." Skwovet blinked in response before slamming his head on the desk. "I'm really sorry for assuming your gender."

"I get it a lot, no biggie…" Lopunny said nonchalantly.

"I mean… boy or girl, he's still pretty hot," Dedenne pointed out sheepishly.

"Ummm? How about me?!" Vivillon queried.

Skwovet snorted, rolling his eyes. "You're a 4 at most."

"Excuse me?! I'm clearly a 10! Your head must have a few lost screws in it, if you say otherwise," Vivillon huffed haughtily. "I mean, my wings… look at them."

"They look like paper," Skwovet commented flatly.

"WHAT?! No, they aren't! Its pattern is majestic and upper class, don't you agree?" Vivillon retorted, glaring at the squirrel.

Skwovet scoffed before turning back to Lopunny. "Do you have anything to cure delusions, so that I can recommend it to my friend right here."

"Sadly, we don't," Lopunny answered, folding his arms with a slightly amused expression. "Maybe some painkillers can dull the pain of standing next to her."

"Oooh, great idea! I like your style, dude!" Skwovet snickered only to gulp as the rabbit frowned at him. "H-hey? What's with the frown. Is anything wrong?"

"I saw you nick some pills on the count…" Lopunny explained, putting both of his arms to his waist. "Give it back."

"Ooooh, silly me! I thought it was mine!" Skwovet said, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head before walking back to Vivillon, Oricorio and Dedenne. "Wow, Lopunny is not only the hottest person I've ever met. He's also pretty keen."

"Well, he's the camp nurse… so he has to be smart, don't you think?" Dedenne pointed out.

"I mean, I watched a few Total Pokemon shows and usually, the medical staff are usually not shown or visually incompetence," Skwovet admitted with a shrug. "He's definitely a keeper."

"Are you seriously going to keep flirting with him?! Flirt with me instead!" Vivillon said with a pout. "I'm richer, smarter and wiser than him anyway."

"Yeah… I'm not here to flirt with people," Skwovet explained. "I just wanted to joke around and see if he would get skittish… but at the end of the day, dang… he got me."

"Don't joke around the staff next time!" Dedenne advised. "I mean… we don't know any of them too well."

"I guess you have a point there!".

"That was a SEVERE waste of my time…" Vivillon complained with a frown. "I don't know what came over Oricorio to even think that inviting me for a good old fashion romp was a good idea… but it wasn't. If they're seriously considering voting me off, despite spending my crucial time 'bonding' with those idiots, then I would be sincerely livid."

"So hanging out with Dedenne and Oricorio has been really fun and I think there's an unspoken alliance or safety pact between us too!" Skwovet commented, leaning back with a satisfied smirk. "Vivillon was more of a tagalong, but Oricorio insisted on letting her join… and she was obviously a pain in the ass."

He chuckled, playfully rolling his eyes. "But then again… she's still pretty fun to annoy. And she's not that bad so I won't be complaining about keeping her around. I mean! I need something to keep myself instead, y'know…"

Sighing, he leaned on the wall with a shrug. "Or whatever. We haven't lost yet, so I'm going to take it pretty easy. But if we do lose, I'm more than prepared for it. As cocky as that sounds."

"Today was a pretty uneventful day for me…" Dedenne admitted flatly. "But that's every day, so I can't complain. Oricorio is still pretty solid. Skwovet's the only boy I can level with. Vivillon is still a pompous bitch. It can be a bit stagnant. I'm honestly hoping something interesting happens…"

He then paused, closing his eyes. "Then again, do I really want to dip my toes in crazy?!"

"Bayleef, wake up…" Empoleon said sternly as he repeatedly shook the dinosaur awake to little success. "It's almost lunch time. You're a winner, so why are you still fucking asleep? You're wasting this day off, sleeping in! We need to get started with your training."

"Mmm… mom, I need ten more minutes… mmm..." Bayleef mumbled, burying his head deeper into his pillow.

"You fucking said that ten minutes ago!" Empoleon shouted, annoyed. "We can't just waste our energy like this!"

Sableye, who was just casually sitting on his bed, cocked a brow, intrigued. "Are you still trying to wake him up, hehe. I already told you. He's a really heavy sleeper."

"Mind your fucking business, dude…" Empoleon grumbled, narrowing his eyes. "I don't care if Bayleef is a heavy sleeper. He needs to change himself, if he wants to survive in this game. And to think, I was impressed yesterday…"

"... okay…" Sableye said awkwardly, sinking back to his bed to stew in silence.

"Ugh… Bayleef… fucking wake up!" Empoleon grumbled, clenching a fist.

"Bayleef is fucking slacking right now. It may be a day off, but winners NEVER have a day off," Empoleon said, arms folded. "So he better shape up, if he wants to prove that he deserves to be here. I mean… we fucking voted Unfezant off and she was far from the weakest player on the team… so I don't want to look like a hypocrite for dragging dead weight!"

Empoleon face-palmed, annoyed. "I have the patience of a fucking SAINT so I don't care if it takes forever to shape him up, I. NEVER. GIVE. UP!"

Sableye winced as he watched Empoleon firing a Hydro Pump… towards the sleeping dinosaur, waking him up from his slumber with a high-pitched scream. "Ouch…"

Bayleef screamed as he quickly covered himself with his blanket. "E-E-Empoleon, what's wrong with you?! We have a d-day off!"

"Winners don't get a day-off!"

"If t-that's the case then I'm fine losing…" Bayleef muttered nervously only to scream again as Empoleon pulled the blanket off his body. "E-Empoleon, w-why are you doing this to me?!"

"I know you may be a fucking spineless guy or whatever but last night showed to me that you can think for yourself, which is why I voted with you even," Empoleon explained. "You have POTENTIAL!"

"What about Sab-" Bayleef started to suggest.

Empoleon glared at the dinosaur, clenching a fist. "You're my FIRST choice. I'm not the type who fails on the first try, do you get that? What I want, I get. And no, it's not because I'm a prissy bitch diva like Vivillon, I DO what I have to, to get what I want. Do you get the drill?!"

"... uhmm… not really…" Bayleef admitted with a sheepish expression. "I'm… still confused… why me? I'm not exactly the most… c-confident person ever… or the strongest. And I don't know what you're talking about, with the v-vote… I voted for Mus-"

"You told me to vote for Unfezant!" Empoleon argued with a huff. "I didn't even hear her name for the whole evening yet she went home, so I believe you strong armed that vote… and that takes a LOT of strength, if you know what I mean."

"Wait w-"

"SO! I won't take no for an answer, Bayleef. We'll start training! We'll run laps around the island. Is that alright?!" Empoleon asked his fellow Johto starter.

"N-"

"DON'T. SAY. NO. Only losers say no to a challenge!" Empoleon growled in response. "You need to face a challenge with a confident expression AND attitude, or you'll crumble apart!"

"That's… putting it simply…" Bayleef commented with a nervous laugh at the end. "B-but… I'm not sure I can even… run? I'm sorry…"

"You never know until you've tried it!" Empoleon said simply, folding his arms with an unamused expression. "Do you seriously think anyone else on this team can do this?"

"Chansey?" Bayleef suggested half-heartedly.

"She can't run her way out of a locked room with a serial killer, trust me." Empoleon retorted dryly. "You're more useful to the team than you think!"

"I t-think I was just lucky people wanted to get Unfezant out…" Bayleef murmured, sweatdropping.

"No, you are here for a reason. There's no such fucking thing as luck…" Empoleon replied sternly in a haughty fashion. "Luck's just really stupid and doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things."

"... that j-just sounds like you're jinxing yourself…" Bayleef muttered under his breath.

"What?"

"Oh, it's n-nothing!" Bayleef lied with a nervous chuckle.

Bayleef was all curled up into a ball on the toilet seat as he shuddered in panic. "Empoleon can be r-r-really intimidating when he doesn't mean to… h-he thinks I'm his… protege? For some reason… I-I-I don't know how to feel… h-he did save me from elimination so I don't want to… be… r-rude and bite the hand that feeds me but…"

Bayleef's face suddenly paled. "He gave me a lot of nightmares!"

Magearna, Chansey and Musharna are eating lunch in the mess hall, ignoring each other for most of the time until Chansey clears her throat before smiling awkwardly. "Errr… is something wrong?"

"What do you mean?" Magearna asked, stabbing her meat surprise with her fork. "We're just eating lunch… it's also a day off for now… so nothing is happening, which is a HUGE whiplash after losing the challenge and having to vote someone off personally."

"Well… we've been eating together for… about an hour and I can sense some awkward tension…" Chansey explained, laughing nervously. "And well… I don't want to make anyone feel uncomfortable with my mere presence after all…"

"Don't worry… you're not making anyone uncomfortable, last time I checked," Magearna assured, patting the nurse on the back reassuringly. "And I'm sure Musharna is just sle-"

"I'm not sleeping…" Musharna corrected with an unamused expression. "I'm just feeling rather awake right now… and you know how cranky I get with sheer lack of sleep after all…"

"We don't actually know that… since well… you're asleep most of the time…" Chansey pointed out before covering her mouth sheepishly. "Sorry if that sounded rude coming from me, of course!"

"Eh… you're on-point there…" Musharna replied with a nonchalant shrug. "If I can sleep through this whole competition… I'm down for that. It's more peaceful, with Unfezant not being here to complain about camp life and us… mmmhm… probably one of the best sleeps I've had since we've arrived here…"

"I mean, you're missing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity sleeping!" Chansey pointed out before turning to Magearna. 'Don't you agree, Magearna? I mean… out of the many applicants, the twenty were the lucky ones chosen to compete. Doesn't that sound like fate and destiny?!"

"I guess you can say it like that," Magearna said with a lighthearted chuckle. "We made it through one elimination too, so this game is going by like a breeze. You voted with us against Unfezant, right? There were four votes against her and well, that vote was REALLY close."

"Unfezant asked me to vote against Bayleef and I voted with her," Musharna admitted flatly. "No biggie. As long as us and Teddiursa aren't the ones in danger, of course. I was fine with either result.. Mmmm, both Bayleef and Unfezant were starting to get on my nerves at the time."

"Oh! Hmm… then that would mean Empoleon, Pikachu or Sableye… one of them voted with us against Unfezant then," Magearna said thoughtfully. "I mean… Unfezant wasn't exactly the nicest person to be with, so I can see any of those possibilities… though, Empoleon's the type to want the team strong so I'm confused why he would NOT vote against Bayleef, to be honest."

"Everyone has their own different connections. You can never be too sure…" Musharna murmured.

"Yes… Bayleef and Empoleon both seem… close, to be honest," Chansey agreed with a nod.

"The Shuppet girls except for Unfezant have formed… an unofficial official alliance," Chansey revealed with a sheepish expression. "I'm well… not the type who's proactive so I'm grateful that Musharna opened discussion yesterday to give way to a group forming between us, though I have no idea where Teddiursa's head is at since… we haven't talked to each other much."

Chansey then sighed as she shook her head slowly. "I'm just… trying to take the pieces of my game and hope I can make it far, since… I'm new to this. Everyone is… but I'm struggling a tad bit. I want to support people. But I know that just might be enough to win."

Magearna swallowed the mystery meat with shudder before clearing her throat as she turned to Musharna, "So… that's one vote done. What do you have in mind if we lose? I think it should be a toss-up between Sableye and Floatzel personally…"

"Not Bayleef?" Musharna asked, cocking a brow.

"Well… Empoleon and Bayleef seem to be pretty close, like you said…" Magearna explained, face flushed. "And I'm a bit worried Empoleon's going to take it on us, if we vote Bayleef off. And well… to say the least…" Her face suddenly paled as she hit both of her fists on the table. "He scares me."

"... he is a bit intimidating, to say the least…" Chansey affirmed with a nervous giggle. "But I don't think he's necessarily a bad person… just a little bit overconfident and overcompetitive and that's not a bad quality to have…"

"There's… no use sugarcoating it…" Musharna whispered, eyes half-closed. "He's pretty scary… even I'm scared of him, but not to the point he haunts my nightmares obviously… that's reserved for… something scarier."

Magearna sat inside the confessional with a concerned expression, arms folded. "Empoleon is probably the biggest threat to my game right now. He's physically strong… and intimidating. I don't think anyone is interested in voting him off. It would've been easier if he was a jerk but he was surprisingly listening to Bayleef's suggest-"

Magearna paused, eyes shifting to the side, "Well… Bayleef holds some sway with him… it's as simple as that. I mean… he really did vote against Unfezant… I'm confident in that. Teddiursa was the fourth vote… though I didn't get the chance to tell her the plan was Unfezant so I'm guessing Musharna tipped her off…"

Magearna sighed, rubbing the back of her head. "The dynamics… are a bit all over the place even when I try to map it in my head, how things are going…"

"Uhmm… Musharna… you did tell Teddiursa to vote against Unfezant yesterday, right?" Magearna queried, twiddling her finger joints together.

"I did… right before voting," Musharna answered.

Magearna nodded in response, "Oh, that's good. I had a bit of doubts, especially when you said that you voted with Unfezant… and I… forgot to tell Teddiursa about the plan, to be honest."

"We all make mistakes… unless you're me, who could do anything in my sleep…" Musharna drawled with a smug smirk.

"Oh you!" Magearna laughed, covering her mouth.

"I don't trust Magearna OR Chansey…" Musharna murmured, staring right at the camera. "I'm here to play for myself… and girls' alliance or not girls' alliance, I have my tight duo alliance with Teddiursa…" She smiled sheepishly as she said this. "Oookay… maybe not tight… but I trust her more than I trust these two… philanthropists? That sounds like a general term to describe them…"

She yawned, winking confidently at the camera. "I know one of those two is hiding something… I would read their minds… but it takes toooo much brain power… that, and I signed a contract that I won't do that without permission so…" She shrugged to herself. "I need to be more technical here."

Pikachu's eyes were narrowed, directed towards Gourgeist, who was just… lying on the ground at camp. Without saying a word, he approached the pumpkin Pokemon, nervously shaking, "W-what the fuck are you doing?!"

"Growing." Gourgeist answered.

"What does that even mean?!" Pikachu asked.

"I'm a grass-type… so I'm photosynthesizing," Gourgeist explained.

"You do get the sun's being covered by a tree, right?" Pikachu pointed out as the camera zoomed out to reveal that the duo are protected from the ultraviolet rays by a tall tree's shade.

"..." Gourgeist sat up at the electric mouse's words, glaring at him. "I know that. It's called nocturnal photosynthesis where I absorb nutrients from the soil."

"... I don't know what that even is…" Pikachu commented, laughing nervously.

"... I will kill you and bury your body…" Gourgeist threatened, expression darkening. Pikachu gulped in response as Gourgeist's face quickly changed to a smile as she giggled. "It's a joke, silly! I'm not gonna kill anyone. Murder is soooooo overrated."

"Yeah…"

"I was just taking a walk around camp, when I saw Gourgeist… doing… something, and curiosity got the best of me so I decided to see what she's doing…" Pikachu explained before smacking himself on the head. "Big mistake… t-there's a reason why Gourgeist scared the shit out of me last challenge… she's… like demonic. This is why I don't want to let something stupid like… curiousity or eagerness decide my decisions… it… j-just leads to stupid decisions being made and I don't like the feeling of that…"

"So… uhmm…"

"Why are you still here? I prefer to photosynthesize alone!" Gourgeist yelled at Pikachu, blushing in faux-embarrassment. Her eyes then suddenly shimmered as she gaped expectantly at her companion. "Are you perhaps… interested in joining me? I know you're not a plant… but maybe… you have a hidden fetish or something…"

Pikachu balked in reply, face turning bright red. "W-what?! What are you talking about?! Uhm… I-I'm just here to socialize… yes… and chat! Like friends do…"

"We're friends?" Gourgeist asked rhetorically.

"... yeees?" Pikachu said, rubbing the side of his arm awkwardly.

"Awww… you're so delusional!" Gourgeist mused, rolling her eyes playfully.

Pikachu frowned, pouting at Gourgeist' insult that the pumpkin attempted to play off as a joke, waving her tendrils at the electric mouse's face, slapping gently. "W-what is that supposed to mean?!"

"I'm just saying… you try too hard, think too much… doesn't it get tooooo overwhelming?" Gourgeist pointed out, rapidly shaking Pikachu's arm with a long 'hmmm'. The electric mouse's eyes rolled around its sockets as the pumpkin swiftly moved around him, bobbing and wearing, floating under the ground, popping underneath him. "I think you should calm down…" Tilting her head to side, she began hyperventilating at Pikachu's face, making him even more uncomfortable by the close contact she's applying to him. "Areyouokayareyouokayareyouokay?"

"W-what?! Gourgeist?!" Pikachu could barely breathe as he continued to process what was even happening in front of him. Sure, he knew ghost types… were obviously a thing, but that could never make it feel less creepy for him. "D-don't do that… it's… making me a bit uncomfortable. So p-" He paused as he gaped in shock as Gourgeist managed to detach her head and re-attach it into her pumpkin body's crevice, making it look like her body was eating her head. "I'm sooo regretting not quitting now…"

"Aww… you can't quit life… I quit life once… it was painful…" Gourgeist intoned, eyes glassy as they slowly returned back to perch on her neck "I used to believe in second chances and how you can buy one, get another one free… but no anymore. Not… after the 'incident'..." She shuddered as tears started to flow. "It was painful. A painful memory. Don't you remember? No, I don't want to. But I have to. My trauma is the root of drama. The reason I was cast."

Pikachu sighed, giving the pumpkin a cautious yet reassuring pat on the back. "Uhmm… hang in there?"

Gourgeist hissed at this, slapping Pikachu's hand off her back. "Stop sympathizing with me. I know you are using me. I was meant to be used, like a cellphone. So you think pressing my buttons would attract my affection? No, I'm not forgiving. Ohhhh, I ain't no forgiving mistress. I will destroy you, annihilate you, kill everyone you love. Will you say I love you to me again after all of that?"

"..." Pikachu slowly took a step back, eyes narrowing at the pumpkin, something burning inside of him.

Pikachu groaned as he tried to make himself comfortable in the confessional but struggle, before finally deciding on just slouching on the side of the confessional. "I don't care if it's the fourth or fiftieth impressions. Impressions matter. So Gourgeist is really turning me off… and it's making me feel very neurotic right now. Surely, someone c-can't be that spatially unaware, right?!

"So… Pika Pika, how do you feel about mainstream things?" Gourgeist abruptly asked, deadpanning. "I mean, you're a Pikachu, the most mainstream Pokemon ever, so like… how do you feel? Are you popular just because you're a Pikachu? I'm intrigued. Tell me all about it. I don't think pumpkin are too popular, leading to my growing insecurity. I'm so sad. Why couldn't everyone be more open to eating vegetables. I'm a friend, meant to be trusted. But for some reason, they think I'm quote unquote creepy. I'm not creepy. It's the truth. I tell it a lot. Be sure to mark it on your calendar and to-do-lists."

"Are you doing this… as a gimmick to be more memorable..?" Pikachu asked, furrowing a brow, slightly intrigued.

"Gimmick?"

"I mean… there's always an oddball in casting. The OTT-girl or guy who says random bullshit without any context…" Pikachu explained, slowly inching away from the pumpkin, in case she got any closer to him. "Uhhmm… why are you looking at me like that..?" The pumpkin Pokemon… her head was rotating around an axis, surprisingly doing no damage to her neck. "OHMYGOSH, I hope your team votes you off first."

"I doubt it. My alliance will come through for me. Do you have an alliance?" Gourgeist asked cheekily, tone changing to a more confident one. "I mean, you're riddled with indecision. You should've known when you signed up that this game is NOT for weaklings. CHOP CHOP, get to work. Just because I'm nice, you're included in my alliance!"

"Alliance? I don't…"

"You don't have to understand. This is a game. If I try to explain any further, you will steal the win from underneath my nose," Gourgeist explained flatly. "So you have to work with me. No… that's not enough. Work for me. You won't regret it. I will take it upon myself to drag your sorry carcass to the final 10."

"N-not the finale?"

"I don't make promises I can't keep."

"..."

"I don't care if people think I'm 'whimsical' or spontaneous. I'm a firm believer that everything I do leads to a certain effect that I desire," Gourgeist intoned with a yawn. "My guaranteed chance to win is the dependent variable and the players who play… the more stupid their decisions may be, the easier my journey to the end shall be. Do not dare question it…"

She then blinked, winking at the camera. "HOKEY POKEY! Put your right hand in then your left hand but if they're both in then don't you get sucked into an endless hokey pokey? I like the ice cream… anyways, my secrets are sealed. Don't message me ever again. Don't expect me to seen you, buh-bye."

A few moments later, the loudspeakers around camp blared, "GOOD MORNING, CAMPERS… OR CONTESTANTS… WHATEVER YOU WANT TO BE CALLED, IF YOU WANT TO BE WOKE. IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER CHALLENGE. PLEASE HEAD TO THE BEACH!"

Nihilego and Poipole faced the remaining nineteen campers with mixed feelings as Nihilego struggled to hide her grouchiness while holding an empty coffee mug.

The jellyfish Ultra Beast waved a tentacle around at the campers flippantly, tone serious, "Okay… so… we HAD a challenge planned but there were some… technical errors…"

"The equipment was EATEN!" Poipole chimed in, holding a half-eatened camera, dropping it onto the sand then revealing a stick of dynamite which he also dropped to the ground. "And the site was DESTROYED!" Poipole turned to Nihilego, who deadpanned in response

"Actually… the second part was YOUR fault," She answered flatly. "I mean… you suggested using dynamite to clear the land faster and whoop de doo, you blew up the place where the challenge was supposed to happen at. I don't know about the e-" The jellyfish gaped as she saw the smaller Ultra Beast, chewing on another camcorder. "Poipole… did you eat the cameras too?"

"Bwuh?! I don't know what you're talking about!" He replied, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, eyes gazing up to look at the sky to avoid Nihilego's persistent glares. "..." He then relented as he sighed, head drooping down. "I'm sorry… b-but the other incidents wasn't me! These camera are Marill's personal stuff… not the ones we use for the show…"

"... she won't like hearing that…" The jellyfish said.

"Uhmm… are we interrupting anything?" Gossifleur spoke up with a sheepish expression. "I thought it was time for the challenge. But it looks like you're engaging in a… discussion that might or might not be interesting, depending on who's listening." She gasped in a seemingly exaggerated way, making Floatzel scoff.

"I bet they were talking about a VILLAIN!" He exclaimed, waving his arms around, making Sableye and Teddiursa who were standing close to him take a step away to avoid getting hit. "I mean… this is clear SABOTAGE, right? Wait… and Poipole even admitted to being the perpetrator but it can't be that easy, right?! I think there is something afoot!"

"Uh-huh… don't just jump to conclusions. It was just a skit we hosts do, in the entertainment business," Nihilego explained nonchalantly. "Moving on… we're here since we're on a budget and since Poipole messed things up, we have to improvise so the setting for this challenge… is the BEACH!"

"The BEACH!" Poipole repeated, accidentally stepping on Teddiursa's well-built sand castle and destroying it. The little bear's left eye twitched at this.

"M-my creation is destroyed?! OWO, I'm suing!" She said in a sing-song voice.

"Uhh… you'll be fine?" Nihilego shrugged with an indifferent question. Teddiursa rolled her eyes with a playful huff in response with Chansey giving her an awkward yet reassuring pat on the back. "Ookay… the challenge is dodge ball."

"Dodgeball?" Sableye asked.

"No, dodge ball, with a space," Nihilego corrected, crossing her arms. She chuckled to herself. "There's a clear difference, don't you think?"

"I do-" Sableye started to say only to be hit at his stomach by a basketball that came out of nowhere, making him collapse to the ground with a groan. "O-ouch… w-where did that even come from!?"

"See, there's a difference. You don't just dodge regular dodgeballs… you have to touch balls. Vanilluxe, think fast!" Nihilego said a warning as she pitched a round object in the ice cream's direction.

Vanilluxe gaped as he didn't know what to do, "W-what?! I don't have any hands!" Surprisingly, the ball Nihilego threw didn't go too far as it land a few centimeters from the closest Trubbish who stood closest to the host. "O-oh… okay, Nihilego had a terri-ball aim…"

"Actually, that was an iron ball," Nihilego explained, making the ice cream's eyes widen.

"W-what?! You could've hurt me! If you had the power to throw it farther… can Iron away from that?!" Vanilluxe complained, slipping a pun in between, eyes shifting side to side, to gauge the reaction of his fellow competitors. "No reaction, huh? I didn't expect such a COLD reception. I get that I'm an ice cream and all but I'm a nice cream so treat me well." Vanilluxe could only smirk as most of the more mean-spirited campers groaned in annoyance. "I rest my case."

"Uh-huh… if you're done being a bit… cringy, the challenge is simple. You have to dodge balls. Yay? I don't know if that's an interesting challenge but we're trying to do a bit of everything."

"We played hide and seek last round and now, it's dodgeball… or well, dodge ball? But… aren't these just simple children's games?" Musharna interjected, yawning boredly into the air in front of her.

Nihilego shrugged in reply, waving a tentacle at nobody in particular, "Don't complain if some challenges can be… repetitive in theme, but we did our best to differentiate. So the challenge is basically dodge ball, but we replaced the balls with kinds of balls since we're extra and yada yada, it's different, new, unique, groundbreaking, the start of a new era, revolutionary, amazing, show-stopping and really never the same."

"Uh-huh… so… where do we play?" Skwovet queried, scratching his head with interest.

"On the beach? Are you assuming we have the budget to afford a court for y'all to play in?" Nihilego scoffed at the squirrel's question. "Haven't you heard of beach volleyball? Well, this is the beach version of volley ball. Just stand in opposing sides of the beast so we'll get started. The rules are simple. Throw balls, if you get hit by a ball, you're out. If you catch ball, you're also out cuz we can't have anyone do anything stupid like catch every ball. The first team to lose all of their members go to tribal council. We're doing this in three rounds. Oh, I forgot to mention, you have to pick five people. OH YEAH, you can't use the same people in consecutive fights too and everyone has to play. Since the Shuppet has 1 less person, 1 Shuppet can play in 2 consecutive matches. But they can't play in all three matches. Now, you know."

"That… was not an organized explanation…" Klingklang commented flatly.

"That's just Nihilego!" Poipole said, waving his hands up in the air. "We'll cut out the footage of you guys discussing since we have TIMESLOTS and uhh… cut this out too, Whimsicott!"

And with that, the group dispersed into the two teams to discuss the challenge.

"Okay! For the Shuppet, we have Bayleef, Chansey, Empoleon, Pikachu and Teddiursa. For the Trubbish, we have Cramorant, Dedenne, Gossifleur, Oricorio and Skwovet! READY… GOOOO!" Nihilego yelled as she leaned back on her wooden recliner. "This is probably going to most boring match ever but woo, let's go!"

And the game was set. Empoleon grinned as he saw his competitors, "Nice, that crazy bitch isn't playing for the other team…" Grabbing a nearby soccer ball, he throws it full force, aiming at Cramorant who was too busy looking at her dead phone. The bird squawked in angusih as she was hit on the head, making her fall onto the court. "EASY!"

"Don't g-go too far…" Chansey suggested, approaching the penguin, holding a golf ball.

"UHHMM? We NEED to win so I don't care if I'm going all-out," Empoleon grunted, picking up a bowling ball… which Chansey stared at with an awkward chuckle. "WHAT?! Shouldn't you be more focused on winning this challenge?!"

"B-but a bowling ball? That's too… intense…"

"Hey… if it wins us the challenge, then I don't fucking care."

"But at the same time, it's a bowling ball, how far do you think can you even throw that?"

"Oh… that's a good point…"

"UWU! Stop talking to each other and throw ballsies at the other teamsies!" Teddiursa interrupted, screaming in pain as she stubbed her toe on a golf ball. "This is sooooo mindless throwing. I kinda hate it, _"

Gossifleur looked unsure before hurling an unknown ball, which hit the ground… and accidentally hits her own teammate, Skwovet in the face. "O-oops… so that was pingpong ball…"

"Ouch… does friendly fire count?!" Skwovet asked loudly.

"Uhhh… it doesn't?" Nihilego answered. "Some people are just too incompetent and we can't just have some BS of a team getting themselves out. Anyways, the battle RAGES on."

Pikachu gulped as he was looking around for any balls to throw before stumbling upon a basketball and a baseball. "What do I do?!"

"PIKACHU, JUST THROW A BALL!" Empoleon yelled, hurling a football at an unsuspecting Gossifleur, who yelped in shock. "NICE!"

"Shuppet was currently winning, taking out both Cramora-" Nihilego started only to interrupt herself as Skwovet was also hit by a golf ball, thrown by an apologetic Chansey. "Okay, they're still currently winning this round."

"I'm very sorry…"

"Don't…" Skwovet sighed as he exited the court with a defeated expression.

Dedenne and Gossilfleur both turned to Oricorio expectantly. The bird cocked a brow in confusion, "W-why are you giving me that look?"

"Do you know any secret strategies that can turn this around and give us the win?" Gossifleur queried, twiddling her appendages together.

"Uh… there's a plan I have…" Oricorio started as the scene faded to black.

"I'm not… sure why Dedenne and Gossifleur are turning to me for ideas on how to win… but well, it would be awful to turn them away so I have to give them ideas," Oricorio admitted, smiling sheepishly. "I like to think I'm a good leader anyway… but I wouldn't want that to get into my head too much. I prefer to remain down to earth and stuff…"

Oricorio sighed as she rubbed the back of her head, eyes darting to the side. "But I guess in a game like this, I should be thankful for getting all of this attention…"

"It's ADDICTING to be on the upper hand, for once. Losing the last challenge was a terrible blow, but of course… that doesn't count on the account of Gourgeist being a crazy deranged psycho bitch. But we all know that by now… that DID NOT count. We're going to win this. Bayleef's gonna prove himself to be really useful too!" Empoleon announced confidently before his smirks faltered for a bit. "Even though… he hasn't done anything yet… but he's definitely going to matter… since he learned everything he knew from a winner, mmhm…"

Meanwhile, Sableye, Musharna and Magearna were all sitting on the docks, just staring at the water to pass the time while the others were busy, hurling balls at each other, for the sake of the game… or well, until Sableye decided to jump into the water impulsively for a dip. Musharna and Magearna exchanged a confused look at this.

"Sableye, why are you suddenly in the mood for a swim?!" Magearna queried with a concerned expression.

"Hehe… it's like a bath," Sableye explained, only to gulp as dead Magikarp surfaced on the water. "Uhh… those were already dead, right?!" He paused for a bit, before chuckling nervously, "I k-know Gossifleur said I stinked… but I don't stink that much, right?!"

"Uhmm…" Magearna commented, tugging at her headpiece with an unsure expression. "I'm a steel-type so I don't know what you smell because I'm immune to poisons."

Musharna gave her a look, rolling her eyes afterwards, "Doubt it. I mean… I'm asleep most of the time and for some reason, I can smell Sableye from the other side of the cabin…"

"... I guess so…" Magearna said, voice trailing off until it was barely a murmur. She shook her head, clapping her hands together. "That aside, let's talk about the game!"

"Hmm? I didn't take you to be the gamebotty type…" Musharna commented, eyes half-closed. "But sure, let's talk game. You did a lot for the Unfezant vote after all…"

Sableye's head popped out of the water as she said this, "Talk game? Bwuh? Oh, I'm interested, hehe… I actually voted for Bayleef yet Unfezant left, hehe… I was a bit tempted to vote for Floatzel since he keeps calling me sus… hehe, that's a funny wow. Sus, hehe…"

"Uhmmm…" Magearna stammered, eyes gazing over to Musharna nervously. "S-Sableye is here so… nevermin-"

"Nah, I'm fine with him here… he's fine," Musharna murmured with a long yawn, blowing a gust of wind towards the gremlin who winced in response. "Don't you know what they say?"

"Gremlins just might save your life?"

"No."

"Diamonds are a girls' best friend?"

"NO!"

"Sleeping is important but too much of it is harmful?"

Musharna would've face-palmed if she wasn't too lazy to do it so she just rolled her eyes at the Mythical Pokemon, "The more, the merrier. It's almost as if you're making fun of my intelligence or something…"

"Uh… huh? I wasn't… I was just not sure…" Magearna explained, laughing nervously to herself.

"Eat sea salt then," Musharna said flatly, using her psychic powers on the water to pour it on the steel-type's face. She chuckled dryly as Magearna groaned in complaint. "Sorry, I was just worried."

"What… fine… I guess?"

"Uhhmm… uhhh… so… did I interrupt your conversation, hehe… sorry, I keep doing… the wrong thing, hehe," Sableye interjected, lifting himself onto the docks, deciding to sit next to Musharna, who levitated a bit away from him to avoid his natural stench. "I uhh… haven't talked much to the folks on this team, hehe. So I'm shocked I wasn't voted off last night, hehe…"

"Do you think you should just freely admit that you're alone, in a game like this?" Magearna asked sweetly, putting a hand on the gremlin's shoulder.

"Uh… I trust you guys, hehe…"

"Okay… fine… uhhmm… well, since you trust us, well… Musharna and I have well… a relationship…" Magearna blurted out, red flushed from nervousness.

"You're dating?" Sableye queried, cocking a brow, leaning closer only to face-plant on the docks. He chuckled nervously as he struggled to sit back up. "Oof, hehe… I'm so clumsy."

"Uhmm… we're not dating… as in… uhh… we voted together…" Magearna corrected, twiddling her fingerjoints together. "Unfezant was… a terrible presence to us so we decided to vote her off together. Teddiusa and Chansey also helped out!"

"You girls are working together?" Sableye queried, expression darkening… before it brightened as the Dark and Ghost type smiled brightly at the duo. "That's pretty neat that you're all getting along. Empoleon is pretty much an overlord with the guys, telling us what to do. Floatzel hates me… I think he hates me. But he follows me whenever he's in the mood, hehe… or maybe, he's in love with me?!"

"Uhmm… we're kind of working together… sorry to hear about you boys and uhhmm… I don't think Floatzel is in love with you," Magearna answered, a bit unsure with her answers. "But you can hang out with us! We can vote together and uhmm…"

"Wow, you guys are already talking about voting together… gee, nobody has approached me about that yet… well, Unfezant did tell me to vote for Bayleef last round but obviously, it didn't work out… but since you guys got Unfezant out, you guys are good at this game!" Sableye complimented with a sheepish grin. "Do you uh…"

"Are you perhaps asking to join us? We can be like an alliance," Musharna suggested, feigning ignorance. "Oh, I think Teddiursa and Chansey were also interested. Us five… that's a majority, right?"

"Woah, my first alliance!... technically second but yay!' Sableye cheered before bashfully covering his mouth. "That means I'm in, by the way!"

"Uhmm… that's great," Magearna said quietly.

"..."

"..."

".."

"Uh… is that all, hehe?" Sableye asked nervously.

Musharna cocked a brow, intrigued by the gremlin's fidgety behavior, "I mean… what else can we even… talk about? Besides, I'm feeling all sleepy already, mmhm…"

Sableye laughed shakily, rubbing the side of his arm as he gazed at the water in front of them, "Well… I figured that since we're an alliance now… we're friends and I heard friends chat with each other a lot, hehe. I mean… Uhh… of course, I know. Since I definitely have friends… h-haha…"

"Uhhmm…" Magearna tilted her head to the side, unsure how to react. "M-Musharna, what do you-" Magearna gulped and blinked as she turned to see Musharna sleeping, face-planted onto the aged wood of the docks. "U-uhmm…"

"Is she okay?" Sableye queried, confused. "Uhhmm, not that it's the weirdest thing I've seen, haha. I think sleeping in random places is kinda cute, h-haha…"

"Well…"

"AAAAH!"

Magearna gawked as she sat up on her bed to find Musharna, casually floating around the cabin, still fast asleep. "M-Musharna, are you okay?! Do you need anyone to get you d-down?!"

Chansey rubbed her eyes, woken up by Magearna's scream. "La- Uhhmm… I mean, Magearna, are you alright?"

"M-Musharna, she's doing something odd!" Magearna explained, waving her hands around.

Chansey blinked before smiling sheepishly as she stood up, "I mean… Musharna must be having a great dream, after Unfezant left. Nobody's interrupting her sleep anymore!"

"That doesn't explain why she's floating while sleeping! How does that even happen?!" Magearna intoned.

"You're friends with Cresselia, right? Maybe, you can ask her about it. Surely, she's knowledgable on sleeping and… this, right?" Chansey casually suggested, completely unbothered by Musharna floating in front of her face. "Or Darkrai… he's a nice person, right?"

Magearna blinked, awkwardly looking over to the side, hugging her pillow tightly, "Uhhm… s-sure. Yes, I can ask Cresselia. I don't know when she's avai-"

Magearna was quickly interrupted by Musharna's eyes slowly opening, her eyes paling as she realized what was happening, "OH NO, I'M GOING TO FA- Oh wait… I can float… nevermind…"

"M-Musharna, you're finally awake! A-are you alright?" Magearna asked with a curious expression.

"..."

"Are you ASLEEP again already?! That fast!"

"Uhmm… Musharna told me before that she's a sleep expert after all," Chansey revealed, pointing a finger up.

"What is that supposed to mean?!"

Magearna smiled weakly, breathing shaky, "Uhh… I guess you can say that?"

"Really! Now, I want to see Musharna sleeping in random places now!" Sableye said, eyes glimmering with excitement, making the mythical Pokemon's smile waver a little. "Is Musharna the type to be angry if you wake her up for no reason, hehe… n-not that I was going to do that, I'm curious, haha."

"Uhhmm… I think it's creepy to watch someone sleep…"

"S-sorry, hehe…"

"But uhhmm… I guess it's been 'fun' talking with you, Sableye," Magearna said, eyes darting to the side. She yelped in surprise as Sableye crept closer to hug her right arm. "S-Sableye, this is in-in-indecent!"

"I just wanna get closer to you, hehe!" Sableye explained with a clueless expression. "It's been fun talking about sleeping and strategy and I feel like we've become closer friends, if that makes sense, hehe!"

"Bwuh?! Uhm, what if I don't want to be closer?"

"Chansey said you're a nice girl so I doubt it, haha!" Sableye ignored Magearna's complaints as he continued hugging her. "Uhh… let's do this until Floatzel's hit by a ball and hunts for me again. He thinks I'm bad business, hehe."

"..." Magearna blinked, completely speechless.

Sableye blinked in unison, letting go, "Uhh… are you okay?"

"Ahem… I'm fine?" Magearna asked nobody in particular. "Ah…"

"Haha, you're so funny phrasing it like a question, hehe!"

Magearna deadpanned, face-palming. She was standing in front of the biggest idiot ever.

"I'll errr… steer clear from Sableye for now… even if he did agree to working together. N-not that I discriminate or anything, but I-I'm not used to being so close physically with anyone… it makes me so nervous and stress out so much," Magearna commented, basically hyperventilating in the confessional booth. "Uh… if he wants to hug me again… I can decline. I'm a Mythical Pokemon… though, I don't wish to exercise my authority in a way that may seem to be well… abusive of my title…"

Sableye lets out a loud MASSIVE burp, patting his stomach with a satisfied expression, "I think Magearna's neat."

Bayleef and Empoleon exchanged a look, as they realized their mistake but it was too late. Bayleef smiled sheepishly, trying his best to avoid the penguin Pokemon's harsh glare, "We uhh… t-threw all of our balls to the other s-side… oops?"

"NO SHIT, SHERLOCK!" Empoleon growled, frustrated as Chansey yelped as she got hit by a barrage of assorted balls. "How the fuck are we losing to a bird, a pitiful flower and Dedenne?!"

"... aren't you a bird and I, a p-pitiful flower?" Bayleef pointed out sheepishly.

"NO, WE AREN'T! WE-" Empoleon started only to blink as Gossifleur hit him with a soccer ball to the stomach, making him fall to the ground with a thud. "URRRK!"

"EMPOLEON! N-NO, if y-you're down, does that mean that…" Bayleef stuttered out, starting to tear up as his teammates were suddenly being decimated. He quickly turned to Pikachu and Teddiursa who were struggling to dodge. "O-okay… it's n-not over yet!"

"S-stop complaining and throw some b-balls, Bayleef! Use those vines, _!" Teddiursa claimed, barely dodging a stray pingpong ball. Rolling her eyes, she huffed cutely, "T-this is a really boring and drawn out challenge and is a severe waste of this cutie's time!"

"A-agreed!" Pikachu exclaimed, jumping to one direction.

Sitting and watching this, Nihilego deadpanned with a long young, "This challenge… is really really longwinded. When is this ending?! Who said throwing balls was fucking entertaining?!"

"Uhhhmm… I mean…" Poipole said, twiddling his fingers awkwardly. "Balls are fun?"

"MMmhm?! It's not. I think I would've preferred to see them scramble around a haunted house and get killed one by one, but of course, I don't want to copy challenges from the original Total Pokemon Ultra what fucking ever…" Nihilego groaned, face-palming. "Just get fucking hit with a ball already!"

"UWU! My cute face would BRUISE if I got hit by a ball!" Teddiursa complained, dancing gracefully across the court to avoid the balls.

"Correction… WHEN you get hit by a ball!" Dedenne taunted, hurling a 8-ball at the little bear, who dodges it with ease. "Okay?! Wow, you're better at this than I thought…"

"Hehehe, are you flirting with me~" Teddiursa said, slowing down a bit. "I know I'm cute an-" Teddiursa stopped dodging as she got hit by a billiard ball right in the forehead. "BWWWWWAAAAAAKWWWWW" She could do nothing but collapse as she lost consciousness. Nevertheless, she was eliminated from the challenge.

Dedenne smiled weakly at Gossifleur, who threw the shot, "Uhh… t-thanks for the assist?"

"It's like archery!" Gossifleur said proudly, puffing up her chest. "Just aim for the head and they're goners!"

"Uhhm… I think we can just hit them anywhere?" Dedenne pointed out.

"Its still fun either way," Gossifleur admitted with a polite nod as she aimed another ball at a desperately hiding Pikachu, who shouted in pain as it hits his tail. "BULLSEYE!"

"P-Pikachu?! T-Teddiursa?! D-don't tell me I'm alone now…" Bayleef gulped in realization as his two teammates were escorted off the court… or well, in Teddiursa's case, carried. "N-no… I'm not ready!"

"JUST FUCKING THROW A BALL ALREADY!" Empoleon yelled from the sidelines, only to get chided by Nihilego for 'coaching'. "WHAT?! We're fucking losing for stupid reasons… this is not fair."

Bayleef gulped as he nodded. Lifting a dodgeball with his vines, he closed his eyes.

He threw the ball, hoping it would hit something.

Anything…

But of course, hope is just hope in the end as it accidentally bounced back and hit him right on the face. "AAAAAA-AAAAAH!"

Oricorio blinked at this, smiling sheepishly. "I-Is he okay?"

"Let's just take him out while he's distracted," Dedenne pointed out, shrugging with indifference.

"It feels… scummy…" Oricorio admitted only to be interrupted by Gossifleur successfully hitting Bayleef with a miniature snowglobe on his foot. "O-okay? We're actually doing that?"

"AND THE FIRST ROUND IS OVER AFTER LIKE… SO LONG?! I don't care. That was boring. But Trubbish earned their first ever point. Woo, only one more. I'll give everyone a break since ARCEUS, I think we need it!" Nihilego announced, clapping her tentacles together. "I can't wait for more ball hitting? GOD, maybe we should've went for the ball-themed Hunger Games…"

Bayleef gulped as he avoided eye contact with a very annoyed Empoleon as they sat in the mess hall, for a short break. But he yelped as Empoleon grunted, smacking a wing on the table. "Eep!" Blinking for a split second, he quickly closed his mouth before muttering quietly, "S-sorry about that… I-I'm not… good at aiming…"

"Don't fucking worry. It's a group effort," Empoleon tried to reassure his companion but his annoyed expression and his incessant tapping on the table was enough to show Bayleef how horrible his mood was.

"A-are you sure?" Bayleef murmured, covering both of his eyes with a thick vine.

"I'm fine… ugh! You're too much of a coward. You better fucking stop doing that…" Empoleon grumbled, one wing balled into a fist.

"W-what if I'm just too scared o-of something!?" Bayleef pointed out, voluming increasing only to decrease as he whimpered, "I-I'm so sorry for b-being useless b-but that's just who I am!"

"I'm training you to be a winner stop being such a fucking loser," Empoleon growled, making the grass-type crumple even further. "Ugh… I'm not trying to threaten you but I'm so fucking sick of losing… and worst yet, that crazy bitch wasn't even playing and we still lost. Everyone on this team is just SO useless."

Bayleef could do nothing but weakly nod in agreement, "... I-I understand…"

"NO, DON'T UNDERSTAND. We have to fucking win a challenge. This is a fucking physical challenge so I feel very DISGUSTED that we're somehow losing.

"U-uhmm-"

Putting a wing to his head, Empoleon interrupted the shortspoken grass-type, gritting his teeth in aggravation, "NOT NOW… I need to fucking calm down… we still have a chance… even if that evil bitch is playing."

"E-evil bitch?"

"Gourgeist obviously!" Empoleon explained, glare turning even harsher making the grass-type even more flushed. "She's… it's so hard to understand what she's thinking. I don't even know HOW she won the last challenge but I'm sure she's cheating."

"Are yo-" Bayleef was again shortly interrupted. This time, by the door opening. Magcargo blinked as he crawled into the scene, confused by everything that's transpiring. A groggy-looking Dedenne followed after him. "O-oh… hey?"

"Hello! It looks like somebody had the same idea!" Magcargo exclaimed, quickly making the widest smile he could ever make. "I need some energy for the challenge, hehe! I mean, I'm so slow because you know, I'm a Magcargo and I don't have hands so the best that I could do is-"

"Don't just share your weaknesses with the enemy," Dedenne interjected with a blank expression. "Anyways… what exactly are you two doing here?"

"Why do you fucking care? We're just talking," Empoleon huffed, annoyed. "You're just acting all cocky just because you won a single match. I can easily defeat your whole team in a fistfight blindfolded."

"... uh-huh," Dedenne said flatly. "I don't want to fight with you all… though uhh… your friend… is he okay?" The rodent pointed to the direction of Bayleef, who was sweating bullets, wanting to speak but was unsure what to say and worried that he might say too much.

"..." Bayleef sweated even harder, eyes basically shaking in their respective sockets.

"Uh-" Dedenne started, only to back down as Bayleef opened his mouth with a loud yell. "?"

"I'MFINEPLEASEGOAWAY!INEEDTOGATHERMYTHOUGHTSAAAAAAAAAHH!" Bayleef exclaimed, out of breath once he finished speaking. Dedenne and Magcargo both blinked, exchanging a confused expression. "I'm… t-t-t-t-tired!"

"Are you-" Magcargo started only for Dedenne to sheepishly cover his mouth. "Mmmmmffff!"

"Let's uhh… go somewhere else…" Dedenne muttered, awkwardly pushing Macargo out of the building, leaving Empoleon and Bayleef alone again.

Empoleon blinked before smirking at Bayleef, who was still trying to catch his breath, "SEE! You intimidated those two to leave. You have more potential than you think!"

"... I-I don't think I want to have potential, if that's what it m-means…" Bayleef mumbled, laughing shakily in between his words.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. You're not like anyone else. You and I… we're both strong!" Empoleon said with a reassuring tone, patting him on the back roughly, making the dinosaur wheeze in retaliation. "We just might be the two strongest people on the team, so we have to do our job to carry us to the finish line. I believe in us."

Bayleef eyed the taller starter cautiously, gulping as he looked to his direction, "U-uhmm… I-I'm glad you think of me that way b-but I'm n-not that s-strong… I'm well…" He chuckled nervously, to the point that it sounded like indistinct sobbing, "I-I'm a wreck…"

"Don't fucking cry!"

"I-I wasn't crying…"

"Well, you sounded like you were crying," The penguin pointed out, cocking a brow impatiently. "So shut it…"

"O-okay…" Bayleef muttered to himself.

"Empoleon… is acting very very… c-concerning a-after we keep losing and it's scaring me…" Bayleef admitted with a scared expression. "I h-hope we can win something soon, since I… it's starting to g-get to me. I-I-I-I" The dinosaur leaned to the side, screaming as he accidentally hits his head on the wall. "Eeep!"

Klingklang was just floating on the docks, doing nothing and making the most of the break time to relax only to be interrupted by loud footsteps. The gear Pokemon groaned as he knew who it was, calling out to them with a dry tone, "Cramorant, I know you're there."

"What?! How did you know?! Don't tell me you actually have eyes on the back of your head, wuh tuh faah?!" Cramorant exclaimed, stopping on her feet with a shocked look. "I w-wasn't following you or anything, b-baka!"

He sighed, narrowing his eyes in suspicion, "I'm just calling out to you. Since, you were in the position to sneak up on me without me knowing, but your loud footsteps gave it away."

"Uhhmm… I wasn't sneaking," Cramorant defended herself with a childish pout.

"Then, what were you planning to do? Everything has a certain cause and effect."

"Bwuh?! Are you like, talking about science?" Cramorant queried, face-palming herself. "Doh, if my phone wasn't broken, I could search the web about it and stuff…"

The gear deadpanned, explaining nonchalantly, "It's not a hard concept to grasp."

"Mmhm, yess?! I suppose it's so, not so hard to like hold on to…" Cramorant said out loud, trying to piece her thoughts together. "But like, I was just wanting to uhh… like talk lots about the challenge since we're winning but like, I'm not too confident if w-"

"Gourgeist."

"Yeah, she's a cutie. What's your point?" Cramorant retorted, eyes wandering to the side.

"She's a beast. You already know what she's capable of in the last challenge. I believe we only have a mere 3% chance to lose the next round, thus it gives us a 97% chance to win the challenge," Klingklang explained offhandedly.

"97? 3? Why are you saying all of these numbers?!" Cramorant stomped a foot on the docks with a confused expression. "I don't even know what a statistical is?!"

"Ugh… you're hopeless…" Klingklang muttered. "I thought there was more to you than what meets the eye… but I guess you really are a ditz." Noticing Cramorant's expression turning a little nervous, he smirked to himself, "The basic summary is that you shouldn't worry since our chances of losing is low."

Cramorant blinked, broken out of her stupor, stammering barely coherently, "B-bwuh?! What meets what now?! Sorry… g-got lost in my thoughts for a bit there, el oh el!"

"I can never really understand you… can I?" Klingklang sighed, closing his eyes, making the bird's pout grow even larger, which he turned away from to ignore.

"Klingklang is a bit mean, in a way that he's lowkey mean but it sounds so polite that I look like a jerk for lashing out in like reply!" Cramorant complained, crossing her wings with a pouty look. "Like… I don't get him. I mean, I had like a big brained idea to try to talk to everyone individually so like, I can not have my brain fried up from thinking of many diff topics in one convos but ofc Klingklang ruins it. I hate him… where's the downvote button?!"

Nihilego yawned as the challenge was back on track. For the Shuppet, Empoleon was competing again, with Floatzel, Magearna, Musharna and Sableye. For the Trubbish were Gourgeist, Klingklang, Magcargo, Vanilluxe and Vivillon. "We edited a lot of footage. Yada yada, we're back at the challenge."

Poipole nodded, cheering enthusiastically, "Let's hit some balls and get hit by balls. Let's play with balls. Have fun with balls. What a baller time this will be!"

"Ew, are you trying to emulate Vanilluxe?" Nihilego commented with a deadpan expression.

"Maybe… but let's go!" Poipole exclaimed, waving his arms around to denote excitement.

Empoleon didn't waste any time as he grabbed a basketball, hurling at Magcargo, who's easily hit. "DON'T LET THEM HOARD BALLS. HIT THEM WHERE IT HURTS!" He yelled to his teammates, who nodded in agreement, or well were too intimidated to disagree.

"OKAY! I'll make sure to hit the VILLAINS hard!' Floatzel exclaimed, firing a ball… which accidentally hit Magearna. "GET OUT OF THE WAY, MAGEARNA!"

"S-sorry…" Magearna stammered, rubbing her arm that got hit by Floatzel's stray dodgeball.

Vivillon yawned as she… did nothing, aside from dodging a few balls thrown at her, "Amateurs."

"I wouldn't be too cocky if I were you," Klingklang suggested, deadpan, flinching as he became another victim of Empoleon's ball rampage. "Sigh… this was a 87% chance…"

"WAIT, I WILL PAY YOU IF YOU G-" Vivillon tried to beg only to be thrown off the field by a volleyball thrown by Sableye who flashed a nervous thumbs-up."

"I did it!" He exclaimed only to get hit by a dodgeball thrown by Gourgeist, who was just throwing things randomly, making him face-plant on the sand. "..."

Nearby, Musharna groaned as she also got hit by a stress ball, "UGH, I HATE sports…"

"Tch… useless…" Empoleon grunted to himself as his teammates were being eliminated, one by one by Gourgeist alone. "I can't believe that psycho is a dodgeball professional too…"

Empoleon, Floatzel and Magearna are left for the Shuppet. Gourgeist and Vanilluxe are left for the Trubbish.

Vanilluxe laughed nervously as he floated over to a ball, "How… how do I even grab a ball with no hands?! Do I need to break the ice or something and they'll float for me?!"

"Aw, you're so cute~" Gourgeist mused with a playful giggle before turning to the opposing team, expression hardening. "Leave it to me, of course!" Grabbing another dodgeball, she hurled at Floatzel… who gets HIT while ricocheting off his body, hitting Magearna in the process. "This game is so easy."

Empoleon gaped at this, "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!"

"CURSESSSSSSS!" Floatzel groaned as he left the court, hand supporting his back, with Magearna lagging behind him.

"UGH, it's down to me again?!" Empoleon gritted his teech, fists clenched as he faced the smirking pumpkin. "I didn't think our rematch would be this early…"

"Oh? This would be easy then~" Gourgeist said in a sing-song voice, taunting the short-tempered penguin.

"Y-you can do it?!" Bayleef tried to encourage his teammate from the sidelines with a weak smile.

"I doubt it…" Pikachu muttered, shuddering from the thought of Gourgeist finding him last challenge and their conversation earlier today.

"I won't lose TWICE!" Empoleon yelled, grabbing a pair of balls from the side.

"Correction… you lost THRICE," Gourgeist continued to taunt Empoleon with a malicious expression.

"You… DIEEEE!' Empoleon threw both balls at the other team. Vanilluxe grunted as he was successfully eliminated while Gourgeist giggled as she took a step away from the direction of the ball. "How the fuck are you still not getting hit?!"

"I guess I'm just lucky~"

"You can't be THAT lucky, right?!"

"Let's wait a see~"

Sableye yawned as he's building a tower made of rocks inside the confessional, "Turns out two hardcore players staring each other down instead of throwing balls isn't as entertaining than it sounds, hehe…" He groaned as the tower easily collapsed on his lap as he slightly fidgeted. "Darn it…"

Gossifleur's eyes were glimmering as she leaned close to the camera, "So this is the battle of all century for the first time, right? This is such an eye opening experience. I'm vaguely interested in how it goes."

"NNGGGGHHHH!" Empoleon grunted; he continued to punt at the pumpkin's direction, who just yawned in boredom as she easily dodged the balls thrown at her. "How the fuck?! You're probably cheating!"

"Wanna bet?!" Gourgeist taunted, throwing balls back at rapid-fire rate, eyes glimmering with mischief. "I'm a dodgeball pro after all. You can't beat me~"

"No, you're not…" Empoleon replied, starting to get tired from throwing.

It was a repeated process. Balls were thrown. Balls were picked up, then woah, what happened next? Balls were thrown again. Oh, they also dodged. It was a long battle as neither side was relenting. Even Gourgeist was starting to get tired of throwing balls.

"Uhmm… when is like… this challenge gonna end?" Cramorant asked nobody in particular with a bored expression. "This is like… so bored. Maybe, you need a consultant for better challenges, awks."

"Don't blame me. We had a tight budget…" Nihilego waved a tentacle at the bird, slightly annoyed that her decisions are being deemed as terrible. "I mean… dodgeball, all you need are balls. It saves a LOT of money."

"What if we had a fashion show challenge though?!" Cramorant suggested.

"Or a sleeping challenge…" Musharna made her own suggestion, half-asleep as she floated in mid-air.

"Or an eating challenge!" Magcargo added with an innocent look. "I think that would make Indeedee very happy, right?! And it can be our breakfast, lunch a-"

"STOP SUGGESTING CHALLENGES!" Nihilego groaned, face-palming. "We don't need challenge ideas. We already have plans for future challenges, thanks to Marill. And no, she has nerves of steel so don't even think of bribing her to make a challenge that is advantageous to your skills or abilities. Thank you very much."

"But what about a challenge suggestion challenge?" Skwovet drawled flatly. "It'll save you guys a LOT of budget, don't you think?"

"UHHMM… this conversation is over. We have balls to be thrown!" Nihilego awkwardly tried to change the topic with a meek expression.

"Fuck off, this is boring," Skwovet complained, rolling his eyes.

"Deal with it."

Back to the challenge. Empoleon threw a ball. Gourgeist dodged. And vice versa, the process continued until both sides looked visibly exhausted.

Empoleon grunted, wiping off some sweat, forcing a grin to weaken his opponents' resolve, "I'm not tired yet! Ready to give up?!"

Gourgeist cocked a brow, confused. "Why are you assuming I'm tired? I'm a ghost type."

"You don't look like you have energy to spare!" Empoleon countered, continuing to hurl balls only to stop as he realized that his arms were really aching. "Fucking shi-" He blinked only to be shocked as he suddenly found Gourgeist staring at him, eye-to-eye. "What th-"

"Sorry," Gourgeist giggled as she bonked Empoleon on the nose with a small golf ball. "I mean, we were fated to win this challenge so you should've given up when you had the chance…"

"..." Empoleon had no words, visibly shaken by what just happened. But before he could respond, Nihilego floated over to between him and Gourgeist with a relieved smirk.

"Thank Arceus, it's over! We're NEVER doing a dodge ball challenge again, unless we're lazy," Nihilego patted herself on the head teasingly. "But in the end, it looks like… THE TRUBBISH are the winners again. Wow, talk about reversing your fate for the second time, if you know what I mean…" The Trubbish gathered together and erupted into cheers; with some people walking over to Gourgeist to hug her only to be refused; at Nihilego's announcement. The Shuppet, on the other hand, had a dour mood as they were currently experiencing their second loss in the row. "Shuppets… I'm sorry to say this… but we'll see each other later at the campfire ceremony."

The Shuppet didn't have any reaction to this, resigned to their fate of having to send another teammate to be with Unfezant at the Loser Lounge. Though, the silence was quickly interrupted by Sableye who laughed nervously in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Uhhmm… d-don't worry, we'll win next time, hehe!" Sableye's laugh intensified as groans rang through the group. "O-okay…"

The Shining Shuppet were gathered on the patio of their cabin, facing Empoleon… who was glaring at them, sizing them up individually for the upcoming campfire ceremony they're forced to attend. Their positions are rigid and uncomfortable due to the oppressive and intimidating aura the water starter was giving off.

"OKAY… we fucking lost… AGAIN…" Empoleon started, flipper shaking in front of his face. He slowly retracted it, grunting in annoyance, "So, we have to get rid of deadweight or we'll keep heading back to the campfire ceremony and I know NOBODY wants that."

The Shuppet all exchanged a look, begrudgingly agreeing with what he said. Bayleef gulped as he tried his hardest to avoid Empoleon's harsh gaze, muttering, "W-who d-do you h-have in m-m-m-m-"

"Stop fucking stuttering," Empoleon chided, face-palming, annoyance evident in his tone. "We don't have much fucking time to discuss. Meanwhile, those stupid Trubbish are off celebrating… I fucking hate that Gourgeist… SO… MUCH!"

"Well… Gourgeist is their strongest asset after all," Magearna awkwardly laid out her thoughts, twiddling her fingers together. "So… it's not a surprise she's our biggest hurdle to victory. I mean, we all saw how she did in the last challenge, right? And this challenge too… she looked tired but she wasn't tired… how can you even do that..?"

"I mean, you're a Mythic fucking Pokemon, right?! You should be disappointed that you lose to a fucking pumpkin," Empoleon derided the steel and fairy type, gritting his teeth loudly. "If she has secret powers hidden in her sleeve… then why aren't you fucking doing anything. I thought Mythic Pokemon were supposed to be fucking strong."

Magearna blinked, face flushed in embarrassment as she struggled to sputter out, "W-w-what?!"

"Guys, we shouldn't be fighting… we're a team!" Chansey said in an attempt to diffuse the situation only to be met by Empoleon leaning closer to hear, to jeer at her face.

"Bold words… from someone who barely did anything in the previous challenge," He said, unabashedly.

"W-"

"Why are you even lashing at Chansey?! Shouldn't you be more furious at Bayleef?! He did worse than Chansey. Chansey's a kind person. She doesn't deserve this vitriol!" Magearna defended her friend with a huff. "And I know I'm a Mythical Pokemon… b-but that doesn't mean I should abuse my powers to give me an advantage in this game."

"HOW FUCKING DARE YOU TALK BACK AT ME!" Empoleon yelled.

"Eeek!" Magearna screamed as she looked away, in fear that Empoleon was going to hurt her. But surprisingly, nothing came. The penguin held himself back, hand on his head as he continued to hyperventilate.

"I mean… UWU! This is too intimidating of you, Empy but like… Bayleef is useless? Sorry, by the way," Teddiursa agreed, hiding behind the larger Floatzel.

"... I'm not in any place to judge but do not SHOUT at defenseless people. Only villains do that," Floatzel added, eyes looking down.

"... ngggh…" Empoleon murmured, biting into his flipper. It almost looked like… he was nervous for once, surprising the more perceptive members of the team in Pikachu and Musharna, who don't say anything about it. Without a word, he ran off without a sound, leaving his teammates stunned.

"Uhh… that's… an abrupt end to the meeting…" Pikachu commented, laughing nervously.

"..." Bayleef nodded in agreement, eyes darting to the side in worry. "I-I…"

"I never believed in democracy anyway, tee hee~" Teddiursa mused, standing up from her position. She grunted as she held her back, struggling to keep a straight face. "Oookay… m-maybe that wasn't comfortable, leaning on one shoulder…"

Winking at her teammates, the little bear also proceeded to leave the area. Shortly after, everyone stood up to leave as well, aside from Bayleef and Pikachu, who decided to stay longer there.

Pikachu's eyes darted from left to right, looking around to see if they're alone before sliding closer to the leafy dinosaur, "Hey… u-uh… this might be presumptuous of me to say but… even if uhh… Magearna called you out back there… I don't think you're leaving…"

Bayleef looked up from his dire shame, blinking in surprise, "W-what do you mean?"

"I mean… It's no surprise but… Empoleon is freaking scary. And well… I think that would serve as a factor for how everyone is voting…" Pikachu explained, tapping his ear. "Get what I mean?"

"A-are you saying… I-I'll be safe, j-just because nobody wants to vote me off because they'll be too scared of Empoleon?" Bayleef muttered.

"Yeah… something like that. It's no secret that you two are close… and well… nobody would vote off the strongest member of the team, even if he pissed everyone off. And well… voting you off is like voting his moral crutch and nobody would want that… I think," Pikachu explained, rubbing his nose nervously.

"How sure are you?" Bayleef questioned.

"Well… you still have to talk to everyone. But maybe with a few nudges, we can get Sableye and Floatzel onboard to do Musharna. And I think I can get Teddiursa onboard too…" Pikachu suggested.

"Why M-Musharna?"

"I mean… she's always asleep," Pikachu said before muttering under his breath, "And the least likely to be pissed off when voted off so it's the safest option too."

"What did you say?" Bayleef queried, cocking a brow.

"O-oh, it's nothing!" Pikachu stammered, eyes avoiding the grass type's inquisitive gaze.

"I w-was going through all my possible options, okay!" Pikachu defended himself with a huff. "And… I am NOT ready to face a very very vengeful Empoleon if we vote Bayleef off. Leave that in the cutting room floor please…"

"I w-was lucky to be s-saved last round… b-but I'm not too confident in my chances of surviving another elimination…" Bayleef admitted, head leaf drooping a bit from his saddened mood. "Pikachu c-claims that I'm safe… but I'm… n-not too confident in that… but you never know until t-the very end so hoping I get lucky a-again…"

Teddiursa, Sableye and Magearna were all gathered in the mess hall, standing behind the counter near the kitchen, having a heated conversation. Sableye was sitting on the counter, sloppily picking his nose that made the two girls avoid his direction while they discussed. Teddiursa was serving herself some coffee, using the coffee machine that she got from Gallade through a lot of 'persuasion'. While Magearna's eyes were quickly darting to the door, in case anyone entered.

"So… the vote… it's pretty obvious, right?" Magearna clasped her hands together, expression and tone both serious. "While Empoleon's behavior is quite… deplorable. We can't afford to vote off our strongest challenge asset."

"Yeppers! So you're saying… Pikapika?" Teddiursa queried, focusing on drinking her coffee. "I mean… BayBay is a bit of a scaredy-cat but are you sure we should evoke Empoleon's wrath by voting him off?"

"Well… I just think we should just take our chances…" Magearna explained. "He's the obvious weakest link. At least Pikachu is smarter than he looks…"

"UWU! That's interesting to hear! ON another note, why is Sableye here?" Teddiursa interrogated the Mythical Pokemon with a playful stare.

Magearna blushed, stroking her cheek awkwardly, "Well… Musharna and I came to an agreement… he's part of our alliance now."

"Yeah! I'll vote with you guys, hehe!" Sableye affirmed, flicking his snot to the opposite direction of the two other girls. "I like you guys! And I agree that Bayleef's pretty useless, hehe…"

Teddiursa gasped, putting a hand to her face as she positioned her coffee cup back on the counter, "A boy?! In our girls' alliance! This is unforeseen!" Noticing her companion's deadpan reactions, she groaned, pouting in response, "Oh come on, can't we have some drama in our everyday lives, UwU?!"

"Uh-huh… as long as it's safe drama that doesn't harm anyone," Magearna commented dryly. "But that aside, if you're not too sure on voting for Bayleef, you could always vote for Pikachu. We have the majority either way, no matter who we vote for."

"You're saying that as if Musharna and Chansey are already on-board!" Teddiursa gawked at her alliance mate, confused.

"They are. Trust me," Magearna reassured, waving a hand at the little bear's face. "I don't know what the other boys would do but I'll do my best to find out. I can believe that Empoleon and Bayleef are highly likely to vote together, while Floatzel…" She turned to Sableye, smiling sheepishly. "Do you mind drawing his attention so he votes for you again?"

Sableye blinked before his face turned red from embarrassment, "Wuh?! I think he would vote for me regardless unless anyone else was even shadier, hehe… But in his words… I'm the only Dark type so by default, I'm the shadiest."

"I think that argument's… flawed but that's just so Floatzel~" Teddiursa said, amused.

Empoleon kicked a rock, annoyed as he took a short walk on the beach to clear his head. His quiet alone time was quickly interrupted by Pikachu and Bayleef who beckoned for him to come over to the docks where the two were sitting.

As Empoleon sat beside them, Pikachu leaned into his ear to whisper something, making the penguin cock a brow in confusion, "Musharna, are you fucking serious?!"

"I mean… she does nothing but sleep, right?"

"And who's the other target then?" Empoleon asked sternly.

"Bayleef."

"... is that fucking true?" Empoleon turned to the green dinosaur who was struggling to hide from his gaze.

Bayleef could do nothing but nod weakly in reply, "Y-yeah… I t-think so."

"Can't we do Magearna… she fucking pissed me off earlier," Empoleon grumbled, clencing a fist.

"I don't think it's likely… Chansey likes Magearna a LOT and I doubt Musharna or Teddiursa would do it," Pikachu explained. "So… I think it's easier to convince Sableye, Floatzel and Teddiursa to do Musharna…"

"... I see…"

"So try to talk to Floatzel and Sableye… preferably individually… and uhh… I'll try to talk to Teddiursa."

"I'll do what I can fucking do…" Empoleon relented begrudgingly, knowing he wasn't in any position to argue otherwise.

Empoleon groaned as he walked over to Sableye who was staring at the flagpole intently, "Uhh…"

Sableye blinked, before turning to Empoleon with an annoyed expression. "Why are you here?! I was busy!"

"You were fucking staring at a flagpole," Empoleon pointed out, deadpanning. "But ugh… I'm sorry for being harsh earlier… if you felt uncomfortable."

"Wow, this is abrupt, haha?" Sableye commented, staring at the larger penguin cautiously.

"Well… hear me out, okay…" Empoleon started to discuss the vote with the small gremlin as the camera panned over to the setting sun in the distance.

Pikachu and Bayleef both approached Teddiursa at the same time. Teddiursa blinked in confusion, tilting her head to side. As Pikachu explained the reason why they're both there, the little bear gasped, leaning closer as the duo made their case.

Musharna was seen, sleeping in her cabin like always. Sitting on the bunk above her was Chansey who looked deep in thought, with the impending elimination flooding her brain with worry. Magearna floated in, waving Chansey to come over.

The obedient nurse nodded, hopping off the top bunk to listen to what her idol has to say, eyes widening at what she heard

Pikachu sighed as he sat by himself in front of the Shuppet cabin. He twiddled his fingers awkwardly as he looked up, "OKAY… N-now, I'm now having second thoughts… Maybe I should target someone else… m-maybe Musharna can read my mind. Oh no, I didn't fucking think things through…" His thoughts were then interrupted by Sableye, who waved wildly at him. He waved politely in response. "O-oh! Sableye, heeey… have you talked with Empoleon?"

Sableye stopped waving, gaping at Pikachu's words. "Say what now? Was I supposed to talk with him?"

"W-what… oh uhhmm… who are you voting for?"

"I'm voting with my friends Magearna and Musharna against Bayleef, hehe!" Sableye answered with a clueless look.

Pikachu blinked as he started to sweat, "U-uh… what are the chances you vote for Musharna?"

"What?"

"I mean… s-she won't be mad i-" Pikachu started before sighing to himself, "You know w-what… count me in?"

"Huh? I thought you and Bayleef were close?"

"We only talked after we lost…" Pikachu pointed out awkwardly.

"Oh!"

"Uhmm…"

"Hmm?"

Pikachu laughed nervously as he stood up. "I-if you excuse me… I'll t-talk to the others…"

"Good luck, I guess…" Sableye muttered as the Pikachu left the area. His expression then darkened as a large grin appeared on his face.

Magearna smiled sheepishly as he walked over to Empoleon and Bayleef, who were involved in a serious conversation in the mess hall. Empoleon glared to her direction, upon noticing her but begrudgingly allowed her to sit with them.

The scene transitioned to show Pikachu talking with Musharna and Chansey who exchanged an unsure look before fading to black.

Bayleef awkwardly approached Sableye, who was waiting outside the confessional booth with a confused expression. Bayleef then quickly had seconds thoughts so he decided to quickly walk away, only to be stopped by Empoleon who grunted for him to not leave.

Groaning, the dinosaur was forced to initiate a conversation with Sableye… only to be frightened by Gourgeist who exited the confessional with a bored expression.

Nevertheless, the conversation continued until nightfall came and it was time for the campfire ceremony.

"I don't know what's going to happen tonight… but all I know is that… it's probably going to be a mess…" Chansey admitted with a nervous laugh. "I m-mean, I heard a LOT of names circulating. I'm honestly only relieved my name wasn't in there…"

It was time for the second campfire ceremony. The nine remaining members of the Shining Shuppet sat on their stumps, facing the raging fire pit. They all shared worried expressions after a whole afternoon of discussions that went many ways. Nobody truly knew what was going to happen and nobody really did want to be the second boot, after seeing Unfezant leave in their last trip here.

Nihilego faced them with an ominous expression, the eerie lighting adding up to the overall vibe as she held a tray of eight marshmallows, leveled to her shoulders. "I have eight marshmallows."

"There were originally nine since I wanted the loser to have a consolation prize but I got hungry…" Poipole added with a sheepish expression, gulping as Nihilego glared in his direction before turning back to the campers.

"Anyways… you all casted your votes… so no takesies backsies. Whoever receives the most votes will be the 2nd person voted off of the game and well… sucks to suck, I suppose," Nihilego said with a shrug. "So… be scared… or not? It's not like you'll die from getting eliminated from a reality tv show…"

"The first person with a marshmallow is… Floatzel…"

Floatzel smirked as he stood up to receive his marshmallow, "While justice faltered, you will never break my spirit!"

"Yeah yeah, now's not the time for inspirational quotes since Teddiursa is also safe!" Nihilego continued, hurling a marshmallow at the little bear's direction. Teddiursa had her mouth open but groaned as it flew past her. "Chansey…" The nurse hastily stood up to receive her marshmallow before Nihilego could even throw it.

"Empoleon." The penguin didn't react as he looked to the side, a bit meekly, confusing Chansey and Musharna who exchanged a look. "Magearna." Magearna cheered as she successfully caught her treat, greedily plopping it right in her mouth, making the non-marshmallow havers a bit jealous. "... and we can't forget about Sableye!" The gremlin looked mildly shocked that he's safe for yet another round, graciously standing up to receive his marshmallow.

"Three are left hungry… because I told Indeedee this was your dinner… but only two marshmallows remain," Nihilego revealed, increasing the tension in the area. Pikachu gulped as he slouched on his seat. Bayleef was close to tears but tried his best to stay strong for his sake. Musharna cocked a brow in confusion. The rest were deadpanned, more worried by the fact that they'll have to sleep only having eaten marshmallows that night. "All of you got votes… but Musharna, you are still safe!"

Musharna sighed in relief as she levitated a marshmallow to her direction, "Thank goodness. I was worried everyone collectively made the wrong decision…" Pikachu looked mildly shocked but tried to stay calm, gazing at Bayleef, who was barely keeping himself together. He sighed as his plan failed but at least, he survived and that's what matters, in his opinion.

"We're down to two… only one left…" Nihilego dragged the scene longer for more shock value.

Magearna can be seen glaring at the back of an unknown contestant. Sableye's posture worsened as he cocked a brow in confusion.

"The last marshmallow goes to…"

Pikachu was processing all of the possible scenarios in his head but groaned as it gave him a huge headache.

Bayleef was holding back tears, using his vines to wipe them off.

"... Bayleef…" Nihilego finished with a shocked expression, throwing a marshmallow at the dinosaur, who broke into tears in realization that he was safe for another round.

Pikachu, on the other hand, was shocked as his eyes were bulging out of their sockets. "W-what?! You a-actually kept Bayleef over me?!"

"I mean… you targeted me for no reason…" Musharna pointed out, glaring daggers at the electric rodent.

"I-it was because I thought you w-wouldn't get mad!" Pikachu reasoned, still shocked from the results. "B-but why me?! I'm n-not that useless, right?!"

"Word of advice…" Empoleon started before his gaze intensified. "Make up your fucking mind. You were fucking flip flopping between everything."

"W-what… but I…" Pikachu murmured, slumped on his stool, only to be helped up by Poipole who was ready to lead him to the boat. "T-this…"

"Look on the bright side! At least, you don't have to make another decision again!" Magearna commented cheekily, giggling into her hand.

"..." Pikachu's eyes narrowed in suspicion as he followed Poipole to the docks. Bayleef tried to wave goodbye but was still crying tears of happiness from surviving another vote.

"I'm gone… it was easy as that… w-wait what?!" Pikachu commented in disbelief. "Sigh… t-this is why I didn't want to sign up for shows like this… I w-was just going to embarrass myself. I bet my friends will keep reminding me that I'm the second boot… but I guess it's my fault for not trying to talk to people and thinking I had the authority to steer the direction of the vote but at the same time, I didn't think it would snowball that fast…"

His eyes narrowed as he tapped his chin. "It's almost as if… you know what?! I don't care. It's not like I'm still in the game…"

Gossifleur hummed to herself happily as she took a walk through the forest. In the distance, she can see the Shuppet returning from their campfire ceremony. Lagging behind, Sableye looked exhausted as Floatzel continued to prod him for information he didn't know. Gossifleur had a sympathetic expression for the dark and ghost type for all his troubles.

Though, she stopped as she noticed a figure in the distance. Upon closer inspection, it was Sableye, the camper she met on the first day.

Smiling widely, she decided to wave at him, "Sableye! I'm so glad th-" She stopped as she had a sudden realization. "Wait… wasn't SABLEYE with the Shuppet heading back to camp. Nervously, she took a step back only to bump into something, making her scream. "MOOOOONSSSTEEEER!"

"Ouch… I guess monster's not the worst insult you could think of…" A voice told the small flower.

Gossifleur blinked as she turned around to find Magcargo, smiling at her, "M-Magcargo, where did you come from? Sableye, h-" She turned back to the eerie figure only to find that 'Sableye' had disappeared. "W-what?! He was just-" She turned back again to find that Magcargo had also disappeared. "W-"

"BOO-BERRIES!" Vanilluxe shouted suddenly from above her. But unfortunately for him, it was enough to scare Gossifleur away, leaving him alone. "That's a ghost's favorite… fruit? DARN IT! G-Gossfleur, I'm sorry for making you c-cringe… but where did you go…"

With an annoyed sigh, the ice cream floated back to the direction of camp, as the camera panned over to a thicket of bushes where a pink bodied figure can be seen watching.

Vote Count:

Pikachu - Bayleef, Chansey, Empoleon, Floatzel, Magearna, Musharna, Sableye, Teddiursa (ELIMINATED)

Bayleef - Pikachu

Shining Shuppet - Bayleef, Chansey, Empoleon, Floatzel, Magearna, Musharna, Sableye, Teddiursa

Twinkling Trubbish - Cramorant, Dedenne, Gourgeist, Gossifleur, Klingklang, Magcargo, Oricorio, Skwovet, Vanilluxe, Vivillon

Eliminated: Unfezant, Pikachu

THE STORY

Hello! It's been so long. I'm glad to be back. It's three-four months but eh, I guess I loved Unfezant too much? But anyways, to the story. The last scene I was working on before my hiatus was the Pikachu/Gourgeist scene so it's relieving to finally continue after that. But onto personal thoughts!

FIRSTLY, it was obvious which team was losing personally since the scenes got funneled to them… it was mostly because the type of challenge felt a bit stifling and putting too much scenes DURING the dodgeball challenge makes them feel more shoehorned in, thus I had to minimize everything that happens from the start of the challenge, up to the end.

SECONDLY, I literally am crying since this is the like… first time in forever that I made it past the second boot so that's an achievement on its own. Though, I literally struggled so hard on who to eliminate since I made a barebones bootlist with description but WHOOPS, there's a change… or not?! I literally went back-and-forth until I finalized. Oops "/

ALSO, about the Trubbish tribe, they'll get their development and some cross-development soon. This chapter focused more on their respective teams but expect a chapter with more of what I said a few seconds ago.

THE BOOT (Pikachu - 19th Place)

Okay… wow. Pikachu's position in the draft fluctuates… a LOT. He was actually guaranteed to make it past this round, until adjustments were made. And his greatest undoing was his overthinking and flip flopping behavior. As he tried to commit to a side in Bayleef after losing, he struggled to go through as he felt nervous about his own position, leading to him backtracking AND unknowingly walking into a trap carefully made for him.

And there was some minor boot flags for him popping up throughout the chapter and the previous:

Gourgeist calling him a 'carcass' she'll drag to the Final 10, hinting he's dead before then.

Musharna calls him the weakest link over Bayleef.

Lack of ACTUAL connections with the team. He struggled to form relationships because of his indecisiveness and natural wariness turning people off, aside from Bayleef. So in the end, everyone decided to compromise while taking out one of their weakest members

So in the end, Pikachu left because he was expendable. Nobody cared for him. While he had conversations with some of his tribemates, it wasn't meaningful enough to matter and with nobody to protect him, he was sent packing.

NEW STAFF MEMBERS Introduced:

Lopunny the Camp Nurse (MALE)