Episode 3: Legends in Tension

In the early morning of a new day on Normiline Island, a certain blue furred feline was walking along the forest. A book and bored expression in hand, he had left the cabin area due to not wanting to deal with the others as he read in the morning. Not to mention he couldn't concentrate with Gliscor's snoring. Thus here he was, looking for a small clearing to read. Thankfully, the search didn't last too much longer, as he found just what he was looking for. Unfortunately…

"Oh? Good morning Meowstic"

Dolliv was in the clearing. Getting up from what seemed like her sleeping there with only a pillow and a blanket to her name. Still through, she seemed pretty satisfied, not that Meowstic shared the mutual feeling upon seeing her. Once you she started to fold her things. "Are the others looking for me? I'm sure I told Skiploom I wouldn't be in the cabin, but I don't want them to worry on my behalf."

Meowstic just rolled his eyes disinterestedly, "I wouldn't know. Now if you excuse me"

Meowstic started to walk away. If Dolliv was here, he was better off finding another clearing. However, Dolliv herself didn't let him get too far before she ran up to him. "Where are you going, Meowstic?"

Meowstic stopped his walk, but didn't turn back to see her, "If you must know, I'm looking for a place to read in peace. Now stop talking to me. There is only so much time before the next challenge." With that, he walked away, leaving a frowning Dolliv behind.

Dolliv was sitting on the stump, her expression one of confusion. "I don't understand why Meowstic left the way he did. I was about ready to offer him my blanket to read on as well."

She put a hand to her chin, pondering, "Perhaps I should invite him back? His idea of sitting among the trees and reading was quite lovely after all."

"Of course, the one place I found suitable for my needs had to be occupied by one of these morons," Meowstic said, his head pointed towards his book rather than looking at the camera, "I'll just have to return to that clearing whenever the plant girl isn't there, which I imagine won't be too difficult to manage."

He couldn't help but smirk in a rather twisted manner, "I doubt she'll last long anyway."

Mightyena opened his eyes, yawning as he was awakening for the day. He looked around, listening for anything…Before smirking to himself. "Ah, peace and quiet. Freaking finally."

This sense of peace was broken as suddenly, Gliscor swung down from the bunk above with a toothy grin. This resulted in Mightyena flinching before growling at the scorpion as he laughed.

"Oh, that was perfect!" Gliscor continued his laughter- only to jump back when Mightyena tried biting him.

"Fuck off!" The canine growled out. Irirated further when Gliscor didn't even flinch, rather he was snickering at Mightyena trying to intimidate him.

"Ah, well I could always-" Gliscor started but was cut off by his tail being grabbed.

Looking back he saw it was Aegislash who did so. Before Gliscor was given a chance to speak, Aegislash simply dragged the ground type out of the cabin, before throwing him away from said cabin with minimal effort.

Mightyena blinked watching that unfold, before scoffing. "Thanks. But I could have dealt with him myself."

Aegislash turns to face the dark type, his expression unreadable as he shrugged and left the area, leaving Mightyena mildly confused.

"Why couldn't Aegislash have been on my team?" Mightyena asked himself. "I would have traded him for being stuck with Ribombee in a heartbeat. Yeah, she's gone, but…Y'know."

Mightyena's thoughts were then interrupted by the sound of his own stomach growling, leading him to groan. "And I've barely eaten since I got here…Shit."

Gliscor was sitting in the confessional, rubbing his head, "Hpmh, I don't appreciate the sword interrupting me messing with Mightyena…"

In spite of this, Gliscor couldn't help but grin excitedly, "But I have to admit…He did have quite the throwing arm. Not like Lycanroc, but still exciting enough."

In the Mess Hall, Raichu was seated trying to eat breakfast…Trying being the operative word as along with her, Druddigon and Pancham were seated at the table, both stuffing their faces with their breakfast as if they hadn't had a decent meal…Ever. Raichu, naturally, was left with no words, even if she was watching the two of them with morbid curiosity.

Meowth walked up with a tray of slop, taking a seat as this unfolded, "So, what's happening here?"

"Pancham challenged Golduck and Druddigon to a speed eating contest," she told him. Just as he was about to question it- "Why? I don't know. But here we are."

Meowth nodded, about to go back to what he was doing- then realizing, "...Wait, Golduck?"

"She said no and went on a run," Raichu admitted, "in hindsight, I should have joined her."

"Oh, don't be like that~" Meowth lightly teased, "We're basically at a summer camp. Why not have a little fun?"

Raichu gave him a deadpanned look, especially given how their last interaction went, but was interrupted by the sound of coughing. The source being from Pancham who had put down his bowl of slop to cough as if choking on it.

Thankfully, Druddigon stopped eating as well and started doing the heimlich maneuver on the poor bear, Pancham coughing up the bit of slop that went down the wrong pipe.

"There we go little dude!" Druddigon said proudly, before shifting his demeanor sternly, "I told 'ya that this could happen, Pancham. You could have at least listened."

"He isn't wrong," Raichu added, "eating like that is a hazard."

Pancham groaned, "Yeah yeah whatever, why are you fine!?"

Druddigon shrugged, "Oh, I'm just used to it. Lot of guys back home were really into competitive eating, and I could out-eat almost all of them!"

"Almost?" Meowth asked, curious.

"You try out eating a Lickilicky and get back to me."

"Fair enough," Meowth simply replied before he continued eating his slop. This didn't stop him from teasing Raichu with a smirk, to which she rolled her eyes at as she got up.

"Well, now that this is over," she started, "I'm going back to the cabins" She moved to go but looked over at the still recovering Pancham…Then sighing. "Pancham, want to come with? If you're tired during the challenge, you won't be too much help."

Pancham opened his mouth to potentially argue, but after a moment of hesitation, decided he'd just stay silent and follow her. Meowth raised a brow noticing that but just shrugged. Pancham wasn't on his team and his current interest was elsewhere anyway.

Pancham sat, his expression bothered and unruly. "First the sit ups and now this? What does Druddigon have that I don't?!"

He continued to grumble to himself from there, most of it not being picked up on account of how quiet it was.

Ninetales was seated at one of the benches around the campfire. Doing, what else, but painting her nails. This time using an aqua blue, as if inspired by the partly water themed island from the previous day. While doing her work, Skiploom was floating beside her, watching the process. "Are you sure your nails will be fine, Ninetales? I mean, given how challenges could be-"

"Oh, don't worry that flowery head of yours," Ninetales stated, still focused on her work, "I made sure to pack waterproof and chip resistant nail polish. If I'm going to have to deal with this stupid show and it's dumb challenges, then I'll do it in style~"

"Umm…But you didn't compete in the challenge yesterday," Skiploom stated plainly.

"Yeah, cause I didn't have to." Ninetales shuttered at the thought of what she would have done in the challenge had she needed to dive.

Skiploom gave her a curious look, "Well…If you didn't wanna deal with the challenges…Why would you sign up for this, if I may ask?"

"The money, duh!" Ninetales answered rather easily.

"But what about the challenges? Those seem like they'll be an issue for you."

Ninetales scoffs right to Skiplooms face, "Did I say the challenges were going to be a problem? I don't think so!"

"That's not what yesterday taught me."

The two looked over to see Golduck, coming from the trees as she walked over to the duo.

"Oh, hi Golduck!" Skiploom happily replied, while Ninetales just rolled her eyes as her teammates's presence

"Hey Skiploom," Golduck flashed a smile to the grass type before turning to Ninetales, her expression souring. "Ninetales…"

"Golduck." Ninetales replied, focusing on her nails again.

"Are you really painting your nails, again?" Golduck asked, already frustrated by how the fire type is treating the game.

"Uh, duh. If I'm going to be out on the camera, I'm going to look good while doing it." Ninetales replied with a smirk, "Then again, I always look good~"

Golduck rolled her eyes, "This is a competition, Ninetales. Not a fashion show. And if you can't keep up," she got close to Ninetales, getting in her face, "then you'll be shipped off just like Ribombee!"

Skiploom quickly got in between the two, trying to lower the tension in the air. "H-Hold on, let's not fight. I know things in the last challenge got a little heated…But we won! So maybe if we calmly discuss-"

"Ha! No," Ninetales said, grabbing her nail polish with a tail as she got up, "there's nothing to discuss. Ms Duckling here can think what she wants. And so can you for that matter." The fox narrowed a glare at the poor grass-type. "You showed where your loyalty was yesterday."

Skiploom flinched, trying to manage a frown. "I-I was just trying to help-"

"Hey, don't feel bad for what you did!" Golduck called out too and correspondingly defended the plant. "You helped the team. You did nothing wrong. The only one who hurt our chances yesterday is her."

"Oh, look, more opinions that don't matter," Ninetales smirked at them, "whatever; you can think however you want. I came to win some cold hard cash, so I'm not getting on that boat any time soon. Bye ladies~" With that, Ninetales walked off to the cabin, slamming the door behind her.

Golduck only scoffed in response, "Whatever you say." Golduck then walked off from the campfire pit.

…Leaving Skiploom all alone, her smile twitching.

"Ninetales annoys me, plain and simple," Golduck said in between doing squats in the confessional tent, "she's the type of person to join a team for the perks rather than any care for the game…And I hate those people!"

"Hpmh, she thinks that just because I didn't want my fur ruined with marsh water that I won't do anything in a challenge." Ninetales said, making a gagging motion, before saying, "Um, hello, I offered to do the puzzle? Ungrateful, much?"

She huffed, blowing a bit of fur that got in her eyes, "Oh well. I know what I'm capable of, and she'll just have to deal with it. I've got my eyes on the prize after all, and a gym beast, steroid addled duck won't stop me!"

"An…An Alliance?" Frillish whimpered. She was floating a little ways behind the mess hall with Gothitelle, who led her there. Thankfully for Frillish it wasn't anything nefarious like she had worried…Although it was equally intimidating.

"Yes, an alliance," the psychic type matter of factly replied, "we had an elimination. The game is on and before you know it, everyone will be playing it. I'd rather not get blindsided if I have any choice in the matter."

The way Gothietlle spoke so professionally made Frillish a little nervous, but she pushed through it to continue the conversation, "I-I get it…But…W-Why me?"

"Simple, I think the two of us can work well together," Gothitelle simply replied.

Frillish gasped a little, "M-Me!?" She blushes a little, clearly unprepared for the compliment, which made Gothitelle softly chuckle.

"Yes, you. After taking the time to observe our team over the last two days, I think you'll be the easiest to work with and trust within the game. No offense to the others…For the most part."

Frillish was surprised to hear that. Sure, it was nice to hear, but an alliance? Would this be the best thing to do, the right thing to do? Not to mention she barely knows Gothitelle…Then again she didn't know the rest of the others all that well either, it's only been three days. She spent a little while trying to thing on an answer when-

"Attention contestants! Make your way to the elimination area! It's time for the next challenge!"

The challenge announcement rang out…

"Oh, it seems our time has been cut short." Gothitelle said. Frillish could tell that she was bothered by the interruption, but the psychic type just shakes her head. "How about we pick this up after the challenge. It can give you time to think as well."

"O-Okay."

"Wonderful, now let's get going, shall we?" Gothitelle starts walking off for the meeting, to which Frillish follows behind her.

"I…I didn't expect to be o-offered an alliance," Frillish muttered out, "it.. It's nice of G-Gothitelle…B-but sh-should I? Would…T-That m-mean I'd be hurting the others f-for not working with th-them? I…I don't know…"

Shortly after the announcement, the seventeen contestants made their way to the elimination beachfront. Floatzel stood at his podium as if it were an elimination while the cast took seats or stood around.

"Fifteen, sixteen- ah good, everyone is here!" Floatzel said, making sure he had his cast together. "Welcome back to the elimination area everyone. Bet you didn't expect to find yourselves here so soon."

"Are we having some sort of vote?" Dewott nervously asked, "We haven't had the challenge yet!"

Floatzel just laughed, "No! No voting pre-challenge," He saw Dewott sigh in relief, then smirked, "For now." He chuckled at how Dewott gulped at that.

Lycanroc cleared his throat, "So, uh…Why are we here?"

"Today your challenge will be taking place here, on Normaline Island!" Floatzel announced, "And as such, I thought there would be no better way to start off your first challenge at home base than with a legend of this very island."

"A legend?" Gothitelle asked, her interests peaked.

Glimmora beamed brightly, "Oh! Is it story time! Can it have Ribombee in it? Then she won't be left out."

"Glimmora," Mightyena started, giving the rock type a deadpan look, "Ribombee hated you."

Glimmora looked over at Mightyena, tilting her body slightly, "She did? But she was always talking about me." Mightyena facepalmed and growled hearing that.

"I mean…She's got a point, Ribombee was pretty obsessed," Meowth muttered, glaring while saying as much as if he himself didn't dislike Glimmora too.

"Uh, how about we get on with this legend before things derail?" Raichu asked, looking over at the commotion near her.

"Yes! Entertain us, otter man!" Gliscor shouted in merriment.

Floatzel rolled his eyes, "Never call me that again. But yes, quiet down. It's time to begin…Oh, hold on. Intern!"

The Sableye intern ran up and handed Floatzel a book, before hurrying off.

"Much better. Now then." Floatzel cleared his throat as he opened the book up and read what was inside.

"Normaline Island, the seemingly standard island of all the archipelago. However, was that always the case? Well this legend says otherwise…"

"Centuries ago, Normaline Island was known as 'The Ise of Dravol". Dravol was home to many dragon types, from the small Goomy to the mighty Garchomp. However, unlike other islands, this one was governed by twin rulers."

"The first, the kind Dragonite, often adorned in a crown made from lilies and draped in a sash woven from the finest tree leaves. By his side was the stern Kommo-o, crowned with a wealth of marigolds and dressed in tree bark. Together, they ruled over the dragons of the isle, and their lush forest home…"

"However, in time, their rule was violently halted. Denser parts of the forest were home to a hive, full of Vespiquen, looking to end the dragon's presence on the island and take the land for themselves. So on that fateful day, they invaded the mainland of the dragons, many of whom didn't make it out of the conflict with their lives."

"In the end, the conflict ended when both sides lost their leading forces. Kommo-o sacrificed himself in an attack meant to kill Dragonite. This drove the more peaceful ruler to unleash unearthly rage and kill the hive's leader…"

"After the conflict ended, Dragonite hung up his crown, before taking the remaining dragons and leaving the isle for good. With the hive scattered as well, Dravol was soon left uninhabited for centuries."

Floatzel closed his book, signifying the end of the tale. Staying in silence to give the cast time to process what they just heard.

"Yay!" Glimmora cheered, having enjoyed the story.

Lycanroc looked over, mildly concerned, "Why are you cheering? It ended in tragedy."

"So does 'Romeo and Juliet'," Gliscor started, "but alas, audiences give that play standing ovations."

Skiploom nodded in agreement, "He does have a point Lycanroc." Lycanroc softly groaned in response.

"And like that play, that story we were just forcefed is clearly fictional," Meowstic started, "researchers would have found links to all of this years ago if any of that were true."

Floatzel gave Meowstic a deadpan look, "Looks like someone left their whimsy back at the port." He shook his head and cleared his throat before continuing, "Anyway, I do hope you all were paying attention, because that story is linked to your next challenge!"

Gothitelle exclaimed a fake, over dramatic gasp, punctuated by putting a hand over her mouth. "Are you serious? I could have never guessed."

Some of the others chuckled at her dramatics, while Floatzel gave another deadpan look, "Why do you do this?"

Gothitelle sat down, giggling to herself softly. "Because it's fun, dear host."

"Anyway," Floatzel continued, trying to take back control, "your challenge is as follows. Throughout the island are stations holding relics relating to the legend I just told you. Four of those relics I need you to return to me here."

"Uh, and the relics we need are?" Meowth asked.

"Wouldn't be a challenge if I told you, now would it?" Floatzel replied, much to Meowths chagrin. "We have decoys and the real things out there. You all have to figure out which is which."

"So do we just walk up and grab the item? Or is there some catch?" Druddigon asked, thinking it sounded a little easy.

Floatzel laughed, "I'm glad you asked! Each station has one of two conditions. Completing a small mini challenge or answering a question based on the legend. Do either of those, and you are given the relic for the station."

Raichu nodded along, "That sounds reasonable at least. Better than the Totodile, that's for sure."

"...I liked the Totodile," Dolliv whispered to herself awkwardly.

"Hey, host man!" Pancham proclaimed to get attention, "When are you giving us maps to these stations?"

Floatzel looked at him with a blink, before he smirked at the cast, "When did I say maps were involved. You're finding these on your own. This is home base after all, I'm sure you've all had time to explore it and get an idea where stations might be." Hearing that, Dolliv started to smile a little, while most of the others groaned, "Alright, no more questions! Your challenge stats…Now! Get moving people!"

With that, everyone got in their teams and started heading out in different directions.

"Oh this challenge sounds really fun," Skiploom said, her smile brighter than ever, "we hear a story and have to find ancient artifacts?! It's like a little treasure hunt! Oh, I feel like a kid again…With the whimsy and carefree attitude at least, heh."

Ninetales was seated, brushing her tail. "Look. As long as I don't have to dig six feet for a relic, I won't sue for the damages done to my fur."

The Krashing Kyogres had found themselves stopping among the trees, having run off in a random direction until now.

"Alright, what's the plan?" Druddgion asked, properly starting discussion. "We're down a man and I don't want to lose twice in a row, you feel me?"

"Yeah." Mightyena replied simply, "So why the hell are we stopping?"

"Ain't going to win without a plan." Drudigon said proudly, "Coaches always make plays, don't they? No play, no win!"

"D-Don't sports teams st-still lose with a plan?" Frillish asked.

Gothitelle clapped her hands to get her team's attention. "We're derailing people. How do we go about this then?"

"Excuse me, if I may." Dolliv said, raising her hand. "I've spent a lot of my free time since we've arrived on this island simply traveling around. Perhaps I could lead us to some places where the stations might be."

Meowth flashed a grin, "Hey, not a bad idea. It'll be like a nature walk."

"Do alley cats go on nature walks?" Glimmora asked absentmindedly, to which everyone ignored. Partially due to confusion on the question's existence.

"Uh, problem though," Dewott started, "if we all go together. We'll waste a lot of time the other team could use to win."

A few of the team considered that, as Dewott did have a good point. But Druddgion quickly spoke up, "Alright, then we split up! Dolliv tells us a few places to go and go from there!"

"Is-isn't that, um, r-risky?" Frillish asked in concern.

Mightyena scoffed in response, "We don't have much of a choice, now do we?" He then looked around his team, "We have eight people. How should we split up?"

"Two teams of three and a team of two should be fine." Gothitelle said calmly, "I can have Frillish and you Mighyena. If you both don't mind."

"Eh, fine." Mightyena said while Frillish only nodded.

"H-How is she s-so calm?" Frillish asked herself, "M-Meanwhile I'm still w-worried over her offer of an a-alliance! Yet she acts like we never talked about it!"

"Um, Druddigon. Do you want to work with me?" Dewott asked the dragon type, "We worked well last challenge so- Woah!"

Druddigon brought the otter close to him in a side hug, with the dumbest grin the dragon could muster, "Oh course! We'll have these relics dealt with in no time!" Druddigon brought Dewott closer in the side hug, causing the water type to blush.

"So that leaves me, Dolliv, and-" Meowth suddenly stopped talking as he turned…And saw he was working with Glimmora, who was simply spinning without a care. He could only groan internally as he pulled a smile for the others, "Glimmora…Please don't mess up like last time."

Glimmora very suddenly stopped spinning and looked at Meowth for a moment, "Okie dokie!" Despite the positive reaction, Mewoth couldn't help but me slightly unnerved by the way she was looking at him.

However, he didn't have long to think about it, as Dolliv clapped her hands. It wasn't loud but the team could still hear her, "Wonderful. In this case, Dewott and Druddigion, please go to the starting beach. I'm sure they'd have something there. Gothitelle, if you go east of the cabins, there should be a small lake. I believe they will set something up there. Finally, I'll take my group to a spot I know of." Dolliv concluded.

"Alright, you heard the plant lady!" Druddigon declared, "Let's go team!" With that, everyone got in their groups and dispersed to their necessary locations.

Dewott was sitting in the confessional, a tad flustered as he rubbed the back of his head, "I-I don't know. Most jocks that I've met are…Kind of the worst. But watching Druddigon take charge in the team in a more supportive way…Was pretty nice to see."

He chuckled nervously as he admitted that. Leaning back, relaxing himself before accidentally falling off the stump with a groan.

Meanwhile, Golduck has led the Groudons to the campfire pit for them all to plan for the challenge. Everyone was seated while Golduck was pacing around the fire pit.

"Alright team," she started, "We have a player advantage. But we can't underestimate the other team. If we want to win, we need to be as efficient as possible!"

Ninetales rolled her eyes, "Wow, what a strategy. Is that why we're sitting here like lazy bums?"

Golduck's eye twitched and was about to retort, but Skiploom interrupted, "We have to start somewhere. If we plan fast, we'll be able to take action! Right Golduck?"

"Yep. Couldn't have said it better myself Skiploom. Now, if anyone has any suggestions, I'm willing to- Gah!" Golduck dodged a shadow ball attack that was aimed at her. Looking at where it came from, she saw Aegislash, "Aegislash, what was that for!?"

Aegislash merely pointed to himself, which Gliscor took notice of with a chuckle, "Ah, I believe he wanted to put your attention on him." Aegislash gave Gliscor a cold stare as he spoke, but Gliscor just continued to chuckle.

"So you used Shadow Ball!? Couldn't you have spoken…Up…" Golduck quickly went silent as she and Aegislash looked at each other. An annoyed eye expression was clear as day on his face.

Aegislash floated in the confessional, his arms crossed as he held the annoyed expression he gave Golduck. Then he uncrossed his arms to make a Shadow Ball in one of them. Looking at it in contemplation. However, he just shakes his head and lets the ball dissipate.

"Uh, Golduck," Raichu started, awkwardly. "Aegislash can't-"

"Yeah yeah, I know. I misspoke" Golduck cut Raichu off as she groaned, "Sorry, dude."

Aegislash rolled his eyes, then pointed at Meowstic as a means of moving this conversation away from that. An action not lost on the feline, despite his head being in his book.

"I see you'll rely on me again to earn some meaningless success." He drawled emotionlessly. Then closing his book, he smirked, "A wise decision."

A few of the team looked among each other after he said that, unsure how to deal with how egocentric that statement was…But also how it was slightly correct.

"Whatever. Just tell us whatever you have in mind!" Pancham demanded impatiently.

"Hpmh. If you must know…Seeing as I am a psychic type. I can make a telepathic link to you all. That way you can mentally call for me. For example, answers to questions relating to that pitiful story."

"H-Hey, I think we all paid attention to the legend," Lycanroc hesitantly cut in.

"Yes, and I am sure all the questions will perfectly align with what was in the text. Just like how we don't know what the relics are specifically," was Meowstic's cold reply, his words tinged with venom.

"Oh," was all Lycanroc could reply with before staying silent.

"You could have at least been kinder about that," Raichu said pointedly at Meowstic, to which he ignored.

"Furthermore," he continued, "you all will need to split into four pairs. This way you all are spread out effectively."

"Wait you're saying 'you', as in the rest of us," Skiploom noticed.

"What will you be doing?" Golduck asked.

Meowstic got up from his seat, "Simple. I will be at the elimination ceremony acting as mission control. I can't be heavily distracted if you all will be calling for me mentally. Speaking of, I have already made the link. Speak my name in your mind if you need me. Good luck then." With that, the feline began walking away until he disappeared in the greenery.

Meowstic was flipping through pages in his book as he spoke in the confessional.

"It is very simple. The rest of the riffraff complete my plan. Ask me for help when there's something they can't comprehend. And then we win again. All the while I don't get myself involved in too much of their activity. Not to mention, after two victories, they'll see how invaluable to their success I will be. My longevity to this team is secured.

"The hell is his deal!?" Ninetales spoke in frustration to no one in particular.

"Prick," Pancham added.

"Look, we need to ignore his attitude for now," Golduck said, acting as if it was all fine. Although given her expression, she seemed bothered by it as much as everyone else. "Let's get in pairs and start the plan. We have no time to waste! Ninetales, come with me!"

Ninetales gave a very overdramatic shocked expression, "Me!? Why me?"

Golduck has already started walking, "You know why!"

Ninetales scoffed, "Oh, of course I know Golduck. I'm not even surprised. But if I can have my way today, she'll be in for a surprise~

She winks to the camera.

After Ninetales followed Golduck, Raichu went over to Skiploom, "Hey, want to team up?"

Skipbloom nodded at her, while looking over in the direction the other girls left, "Sure." Now putting attention on Raichu, the two of them leave in the opposite direction.

As they left, Lycanroc was looking over the rest of the team; Pancham, Aegislash, and Gliscor. He…Really didn't want to partner up with Pancham, so that left two options. He sat there in his head, weighing his options. That is, until Gliscor suddenly appeared in front of him. "Ahhh!"

Gliscor, naturally, laughed, "Let's be off wolfman! The relics await!" Gliscor grabs one of Lycanroc's arms and basically drags him off. Lycanroc tried to resist and argue but Gliscor did not listen.

This left Aegislash and Pancham left for their team. The two of them looked at each other. Up until now, their interactions have been less than positive. Pancham didn't like the guy for how he treated the panda and Aegislash found the panda puntable. Pancham got up to go to the sword but he just floated up and started leaving.

"Hey, where are you going!?" Pancham yelled out, to which Aegislash turned around in response, "We have to work together you know. That's the plan isn't it?"

Aegislash blinked, before throwing a Shadow Ball at Pancham that he had to dodge. Once he got his bearings back, Aegislash was gone.

"Oh you're fucking kidding me!" Pancham growled to himself, not that he was left alone with his partner ditching him. "Fine! I'll just get a relic all by myself! That'll show them!" With that, he started walking off.

Aegislash shook his head, then closed his eye, signifying that he would rather go into eternal sleep than work with Pancham.

Pancham had his arms crossed as he had a grumpy expression. "My team sucks! Dismissing me like I'm nothing or treating me like dirt...I'll show them! I'm more valuable than any of them think!"

The group of Dolliv, Glimmora, and Meowth were walking in the forest towards the clearing. Dolliv was in front while Meowth was close behind, with Glimmora behind him. As they walked, Meowth could just feel Glimmora staring at him from behind. It was so…Unnerving. He was grinding his teeth a little. Bringing a hand to his chest, he balls it into a fist, almost ready to cover it in-

"Are you alright, Meowth?" Dolliv asked that question while still facing away. Although once she turned around, she was Meowth being his calm self with a smile. The negative feelings he had quickly disappeared.

"Oh, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"I thought I could feel you were bothered by something." Dolliv admitted, "Maybe I was wrong. Anyway the clearing is up ahead."

Dolliv turned back around to lead them once again. Meowth silently sighing in relief as she did so. Glimmora then passed by him to follow Dolliv.

"You're a funny alley cat," was all she said with a giggle as she went on ahead. Meowth's left eye twitched a little before he shook his head and followed.

"It was like she was staring into my soul," Meowth said, frowning at the camera, "it almost made me do something I shouldn't…That was too close."

Shortly thereafter, the trio arrived at the clearing which confirmed Dolliv's assumption. There they found a wooden pole with a pair of sashes that seemed to be made up of pine leaves. There otherwise was a podium with a button.

Glimmora went over to the sashes, "Ooooooooh! So pretty! Can we keep it?"

"If we win it, we can bring it to Floatzel. That's the most we'll do." Meowth said, "Besides, a sash of pine leaves would be very itchy, trust me."

"I agree," Dolliv simply said, as she was now inspecting the sash.

"Hey, now that I think about it," Meowth started, "Didn't one of the kings wear a sash made of leaves, or something like that? Let's get this one and go back."

Dolliv didn't reply to that, still inspecting the sash.

"Uh, Dolliv?"

"This isn't it," Dolliv said, backing away from the sash. "Look at the trees around us, Meowth. Then you will understand."

Not sure what she meant, Meowth looked around…Then he noticed something. There weren't pine trees around, at all. "Oh, I get it now."

"I have never once seen a pine tree on this island in the last two days." Dolliv confirmed with authority, "As such, I doubt there were any when the old kings ruled this land"

Meowth was impressed by the logic Dolliv used, not really expecting that from her. He had almost spoken up to that effect, but Glimmora beat him by saying, "So, we can't keep it?"

Dolliv gave Glimmora a kind smile, "I'm sorry, Glimmora, but we can't. However with this information, we can easily find the actual sash. Let's continue. I believe there may be another station nearby us." She and Glimmora started to walk off. Meowth almost followed but stopped.

"Hey, how about I go tell the others about this?" He said behind that kind smile, "You know, let them know to be careful of counterfeits, now that we've seen an example."

"Oh?" Dolliv stopped thinking about the idea. Then, she smiled softly at Meowth. "Thank you Meowth, that would be very kind. I'll stay with Glimmora and you can perhaps search for relics after that is finished?"

"Good plan. I'll see you both later."

"Bye bye funny kitty!" Glimmora cheered as the girls left the clearing. Meowth waved them off until they fully disappeared into nature. Then, he looked over at the button next to the hanging sashes…

Meowth held a mischievous smirk as he sat in the confession tent, "Look, I didn't exactly lie to Dolliv. I'll go tell the others…After I get that sash. I didn't think Dolliv would agree, but what are the odds anyone on the other team would notice the tree leave around the island? So, I'll just win the sash, and if the other team finds it, they'll want to get it too and waste their time."

Meowth then frowned as he looked out the tent for a quick moment, "Plus, Dolliv seems like she's pretty observant. Probably for the best I don't spend too much one on one time with her…Glimmora being there doesn't count."

Golduck was jogging ahead looking for stations. She was ready to knock one of them out instantly. She could just taste another victory for the team. It tasted so-

"Ugh, slow down Golduck! Jeez."

Right. Her.

Golduck stopped. Turning around to see Ninetales follow after her. To Ninetales' credit, she was actually jogging after Golduck, not too far behind the water type. Not that Golduck would notice in her frustration.

"Ugh, finally. I do not like all that running." Ninetales told the team captain.

Golduck just rolled her eyes at the complaint, "Well, I'm sorry that I wasn't spoiled by Dad all my life, Princess. But I would like to win, thanks."

Ninetales huffed, "I want to win too, you know."

"Sure doesn't seem like it, Ms. 'I won't dive for my team'!" Golduck retorted in annoyance.

Ninetales scowled, "Uh, excuse me. But I wasn't about to ruin this fur coat!"

"Yeah, yeah, I heard it before," Golduck dismissed as she turned back around, "I'm going ahead. Try and keep up." Golduck goes back to jogging forward, giving Ninetales no choice but to follow after her."

"Look, say what you will, but I can't stand people like Ninetales." Golduck said, working in some squats in the confessional as she spoke, "Entitled self absorbed brats, who think about their look or wealth more than actually working towards a future. They are the worst! And that's what Ninetales seems like to me. Seriously," she stopped doing her squats to look at the camera, "who comes onto a show like this not wanting to get down and dirty!? That's the name of the game!"

"Hey! Don't go falling behind now!" Mightyena shouted, looking back at Frillish. As the trio moved forward, she was going over Gothitelle's offer in her head over and over again. So much so that she wasn't focusing on the other two as much and fell behind.

"S-Sorry," she apologized as she swiftly caught up to them.

"It's quite alright, but we wouldn't want to lose you," Gothitelle reassured, "who knows what could happen in the middle of the forest."

"My money's on an Ursaring attack," Mightyena admitted.

"W-Well, Ursaring aren't th-that bad…" Frillish said, "They c-can't hurt me too much."

"Hm? I figured you'd be scared of them." Mightyena said.

"Wh-What? No!" Frillish exclaimed.

Gothitelle cut in with a giggle, "I'm sorry to cut you both off, but I see the lake ahead.

True to her word, the trio reached the lake moments later, with another of Dolliv's assumptions being correct. Here there was a podium of a pair of golden flower wreaths…Both tinted with crimson however. There was also a balance beam going across the lake, leading to something on the other side. Frillish went over and read the sign that was by the beam.

"To collect this relic; one p-person from either team must cross the balance beam, collect a key, and then cross back. No floating, flying, or teleporting to and from. Someone's feet must be on the beam. We will know if you ch-cheat…That's what it says."

"Shit, I can't do this." Mightyena admitted, "I need room to walk. A balance beam will never give me that."

"A-And, um, I can't do it either…" Frillish said sadly, on account of her…Well, floating. That was probably cheating.

"Then the means, it would be up to me," Gothitelle conceded, "very well then. Have some patience, if you would." She walks over to the balance beam as the other two watch.

"To some, this would be the part where on top of brains, I show how I am a perfect physical competitor by conquering something as simple as a balance beam," Gothitelle said, a neutral smile on her face…

The scene cuts back to Gothitelle on the balance beam, around fifteen percent through it. However, she had lost her balance and fell into the water.

"Oh, come on!" Mightyena yelled out in an early frustration.

Cutting back to Gothitelle in the confessional, the smile she had quickly turned into a frown, "Unfortunately, a double threat, I am not."

Lycanroc was walking around the forest. He didn't have too much of a sense of direction. This was due in part to his partner, Gliscor, jumping and gliding from tree to tree above the wolf. To Lycanroc, it seemed that Gliscor was just moving around erratically. A thought he could only sigh to, as this meant they would never get anywhere.

However, in the middle of his thoughts, Gliscor jumped down in front of the wolf, doing so in the most dramatic way possible. "Why so glum?" Gliscor asked, giving no chance for a reply. "You should be grateful that I brought you with me."

"You dragged me away!" Lycanroc retorted.

"Irrelevant information." Gliscor went to a tree, hanging himself upside down by his tail on a branch as he grinned, "I don't believe you truly understand just who's interest you've peaked."

Lycanroc could only blink with a confused expression, "What are you talking about?"

Gliscor just laughs, never answering that question, "Perhaps now you must wonder why I wanted you alone with me? Maybe you considered that I would want you alone here to devilishly make out~"

Lycanroc looked incredibly flustered as his cheeks glowed red in kind, "What!? No!" Then he started to growl, "Ugh, forget this! I'll just do this by myself." He turned around, starting to walk away when Gliscor called out to him

"If you want, but then you'll be walking away from a station~"

That made Lycanroc stop in his tracks. Quickly groaning to himself as he realizes…Walking away would make him waste time. He turns around with an unamused expression on his face. "How do you know?"

Gliscor smirked, "I noticed it before I stopped to talk to you, naturally."

"And why didn't you start with that?! We're wasting time, Gliscor."

"Are we wasting time? Or is forming a connection on this island time well spent?" Gliscor asked, his voice sounding less over dramatic and wild than normal. "I for one think that- Gah!"

Gliscor was interrupted by Lycanroc, clearly annoyed, kicking the tree he was hanging on. Doing so repeatedly to make the tree shake, causing Gliscor's tail to lose its hold on the branch. All this to cause Gliscor to fall to the ground with no time to glide away, going down head first with a slight groan.

Hearing that, Lycanroc looked over in concern. Sure, he just kicked the tree but he didn't want to hurt the guy. He walked over and looked down at Gliscor, trying to see if there was anything wrong. Seeing the bat's eyes closed, Lycanroc thought he might be unconscious. However, moments after that thought Gliscor opens his eyes very quickly, making Lycanroc gasp in how unexpected it was. All the while Gliscor just smirked.

"Once again you show me what you're capable of, wolfy~" He teased as Lycanroc started forming a glare similar to the day before. Gliscor paid it no mind as he got back up, "Well seeing as you "bested" me. I shall concede and lead you to the station. This way wolfy~"

He used his tail to jump up and glide away, leaving Lycanroc behind him. Despite the wolf's glare, he sighed, knowing Gliscor was the ticket to progress right now. With no other choice, he quickly followed behind.

Lycanroc had his arms crossed with a clear bothered expression on his face. "I just don't get Gliscor…What is his deal? He's always doing…Something! He makes it hard to figure out just what his motive is…" Lycanroc groans, "... Does he have to call me 'wolfy'"

Gliscor was giving a maniacal grin while looking at the camera, "Just what am I doing with Lycanroc shall be a mystery for centuries to follow," He laughed to himself, "I could tell you all that 'Lycanroc interests me'...But truly what would that tell you~"

Raichu and Skiploom were going through the forest, trying to find any stations, with little luck thus far. While they wandered, Skiploom was thinking about something. Her expression somehow showed she was bothered despite the smile on her face.

"Hey, is something wrong?" Raichu asked, looking over at her expression every so often.

"Hm? Oh, uh," Skiploom stammered out, not really ready for that question to be asked to her.

"You just seem off is all." Raichu continued since she didn't get an actual answer, "Figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. It's just us so you can-"

"Do you like Ninetales?" Skiploom cut in to ask, her smile quite forced with this topic.

"Well…" Raichu started, "I'm not going to say she's the most pleasant person…But it's only been three days."

"Right!" Skiploom exclaimed, "It's only been three days but she seems to have a problem each day! First the bunk bed situation, then her not doing yesterday's challenge…And her attitude…"

As Skiploom talked, her smile never faded off her face. However Raichu could notice how much the smile was wavering, as if being held back from going into a truly enraged expression. Due to that, Raichu didn't feel right interrupting Skiploom as she vented, allowing the grass type to continue.

"I uh, was going to talk to her," Raichu started, "you know, about my suspicions with Meowth. I figured Skiploom was level headed enough to listen to me. And maybe I'll do it later but…I feel like she has her own demons to deal with first.

As the pair continued to walk, Skiploom's venting was interrupted by rustingling in the bushes by them. Skiploom stopped talking as the girls looked over at each other, then the bushes as soon enough, Aegislash came out of the bushes. Seeing the two, he waved.

Raichu sighs in relief, "Oh, it's just you Aegislash." She then takes a look around, "Where's Pancham?"

"How do you know Pancham would be with him?" Skiploom asked, "We left Gliscor and Lycanroc with them too."

"Call it a hunch."

Aegislash merely shrugged in response to where the panda was. However, he pointed over to the way he came.

"I think he wants us to go that way, Raichu." Skiploom assumed, which was correct with Aegislash nodding to it.

"Well…It's better than wandering around aimlessly." Raichu concluded.

Aegislash seemed pleased hearing that and floated back through the bushes, which had the girls following him. After a bit they all ended up in a small clearing, not too dissimilar to the Dolliv's group had found, with a button podium and wooden stand that held a pair of tree bark sashes. However both sashes seemed tattered and stained in crimson.

"Oh, it's one of the stations!" Skiploom excitedly exclaimed.

"Yeah…" Raichu said, looking over at the sashes, "Those sashes have seen better days."

Skiploom flew over to the button, a look of curiosity painted on her smiling face. "Why did you bring us here, Aegislash?"

Aegislash goes over and presses the button. Once he did, very suddenly a Xatu appeared in front of them.

"What the-"

"On these islands of old. What was the name of the once proud lands ravaged by war?"

Raichu and Skiploom looked at each other for a moment, before mentally catching up to what was happening.

"Ooooooooh, we have to answer the question." Skiploom concluded, "That's why you needed us."

Aegislash nods, gives them a thumbs up of good luck, and then leaves the area.

"Annnd, he's gone." Raichu dryly commented.

"Would thou answer the question?" The Xatu said, looking at the girls.

"Uhhh, can we have a moment?" Raichu asked.

"Very well," was all the Xatu said before teleporting away.

Raichu blinked, "I genuinely did not think that would work."

"Oh hey! Let's ask Meowstic!" Skiploom exclaimed, "He did give us that link for this."

Raichu didn't exactly like relaying on the guy, but knew Skiploom had a point in the moment, "Alright I'll do it." Raichu went silent for a moment, as if in thought… mostly because she literally was. "He said, and I quote, 'The answer is 'The Isle of Dravol' and it's painfully easy'".

"Perfect! Let's get our prize then!" Skiploom said as she went to press the button again to summon the Xatu.

Meowstic looked at the camera with a truly bored expression. "That question was literal child's play. How anyone required my assistance with it is beyond me."

He rolled his eyes, "At the very least I was asked something far more important beforehand."

Aegislash once again, gave a thumbs up to the camera. Then shifting his expression to one that seemed more thoughtful. Then he nodded to himself before leaving the confessional…Cut the camera, CUT THE CAMERA-

Gothitelle was panting, dripping wet as she had finally made it to the other side of the balance beam after taking far longer than she should have. "Finally…Finally made it!"

"Great! Now grab the crown and come back already!" Mightyena yelled from across the lake.

Gothitelle looked over at the balance beam again, groaning to herself as she knew her fate.

Meanwhile, Golduck and Ninetales both came onto the scene, seeing the station set up. Golduck immediately goes over to read the sign as Frillish and Mightyena take note of their presence.

"I-I don't want to r-rush you…" Frillish started, "B-But the other team is here!"

Gothitelle sat in the confessional with her arms crossed, while wearing the crimson stained golden wreath on her head. "Ah, naturally, added pressure. Absolutely wonderful." She rolled her eyes.

Golduck, after reading the challenge, looked over at Ninetales, "It's a balance beam. I'll go on and cross-"

"A balance beam!?" Ninetales cut Golduck off, her expression morphing with excitement. "Oh yes yes yes~! Allow me~"

Golduck looks at Ninetales with utter bafflement, "Uh, no. I should be the one-" She was once again cut off by Ninetales swatting her with her tails.

"Oops~" Ninetales giggled to herself as she made her way to the balance beam, "I'm doing this. Kay, thanks~"

Mightyena scoffs, "Really? And just what makes you think, you'll do well?"

"This." Ninetales hopped onto the balance beam and began walking along it. The others watched, very quickly catching on that Ninetales was having absolutely no issues whatsoever!

She walked on the beam gracefully yet quickly. Even with some water left over from Gothitelle's attempts, she handled it all with great care. Making it to the other side of the beam in no time at all compared to Gothitelle. Once at the end, she hopped off and smirked. "And that's how it's done~"

Gothitelle could only look at her with an absolutely gobsmacked expression. On the other side Mightyena's eye was twitching. Frillish looked shocked. And Golduck's jaw had smacked onto the floor.

Ninetales was laughing to herself in the confessional, using a tail to cover her mouth as she did so.

"Oh those fools… Oh they were not ready! That was so rich~"

Golduck just sat in the confessional… her mind reeling as she was trying to process what she just saw.

"...WHAT?!"

Ninetales quickly came back with the wreath and smirked at Golduck, "Well? We have the relic let's go already~"

Golduck blinked before shaking it off. They were in a challenge! "Ugh, right come on." Both the girls ran off, leaving Mightyena and Frillish alone.

However this did not last as Mightyena started to run off, "Fuck it! I'm going to go on my own! Stick with Gothitelle!"

"W-What!? Wait!" Frillish exclaimed…To no one, as Mightyena had fully left before she had a chance to argue it. She sighed as she looked back at Gothitelle, she was beginning to get back on the balance beam. She was still nervous but she gulped down some air, "Take your t-time Gothitelle!"

"That was my plan, thank you!"

"You're almost there, Druddigon! Just one more jump!" Dewott cheered on the dragon type as he was in the middle of the water.

At the Starting beach was a station that required one person to jump from multiple floating platforms in order to reach the relic, a purple flower wreath. Druddigon, despite being heavier than Dewott, took on the task. Much to Dewott's relief due to his own concerns over his balance during him poorly.

"Steady…Steady…Alright!" Druddigon shouted as he jumped, landing firmly on the platform and grabbing one of the wreaths. Holding it up as he cheered, "We got it!"

"Yeah!" Dewott sounded back, Druddigon's excitement being infectious in the moment.

Druddigon jumped into the water and swam his way back to shore. Once he appeared back on the beach, Dewott looked at the dragon for a good moment, catching how good he looked. Though he quickly looked away with a flushed face. "A-Alright let's turn it in."

"Sounds good to me!" Druddigon started to rush off, "Come on!" Dewott started to follow after him, using the challenge to distract from the dragon himself.

Dewott took a deep breath…Before screaming into his hands.

Meowstic was sitting on one of the rocks at the elimination area. Floatzel nearby with podiums for each teams' relics. The feline himself was merely focused on the book he was reading. Only interrupted previously by Raichu asking him what was ultimately a very stupid question. However now, he can hear the sounds of footsteps. He knew now would be the time people would start coming back with relics…The silence was good while it lasted.

"We're baaaack~" Ninetales sing-song tone was unmistakable as she and Golduck raced into the area and headed straight to the red podium. Golduck took the wreath and placed it on. Then looking at Floatzel expectantly.

"If you're looking for confirmation. I'm not giving it to you." The host confirmed.

"Are you serious!?" Golduck snapped back to the older water type. Which naturally, fell on deaf ears. "Whatever. We're going back out, Ninetales."

"Uhhh, no." Ninetales replied, laying down on the grass, "I already did my job. I got us that wreath in record time didn't I? Your turn to contribute."

Golduck balled a fist in frustration, looking ready to lay it on her before Meowstic spoke.

"Standing around arguing won't get us to victory any sooner. Just go."

Golduck looked at him, before scoffing and running off, deciding to not deal with this right now and just focus on winning. Ninetales gave the feline a playful smirk.

"Why thank you~"

"Don't talk to me."

Golduck took a deep breath, "If I had my way, both of them would never be on any team I run. I can't deny that they're both useful…Even Ninetales apparently has skills to her that aren't pumped full with makeup. But morale wise, they bring nothing that'll help the team. We better win this or I'm going to have a fun time deciding who goes."

Pancham was wandering alone in the woods of the island. Ever since Aegislash left him alone, he basically had no idea where he was going. Sure he was determined to prove his worth… but he had no idea of the island's layout to really do so.

"Damn sword…Bastard thinking he can just abandon me…Mess with me?!" He was grumbling as he walked. Heavily annoyed over Aegislash's treatment of him, not just today but the whole time they've been on the show thus far. He hated it. This is not what he wanted to deal with when he was here.

Soon enough his thoughts were distracted by him coming onto a main path…And hearing footsteps barreling towards him.

He jumped into a bush and hid, poking out in order to see Druddigon and Dewott rushing away, a purple wreath in their hands. Once they were gone, Pancham came out of the bush with a smirk. "Heh, thanks for the info."

Pancham went down the path the duo had come from, finding the station with the floating platforms. He goes to the sign on the beach and reads it.

"'Hop from platform to platform to reach your relic. If you fall into the water, you must restart. No flying or floating allowed.'... Easy!"

Pancham was seated with his hands behind his head and a cocky smirk on his face. "You know one advantage of being small? You don't weigh as much, meaning platforming is nothing to me. Helps that I'm used to jumping around."

Pancham jumps onto the final platform and grabs a hold of the purple wreath. "Hell yeah! That was easy. Score one for…Huh?"

Pancham gave the wreath another look…Yeah it was a wreath adorned in purple flowers, similar to lilies, he remembered that much from the story…But wasn't this supposed to be a relic? And there was a war…

"This looks too good to have been through a war…Huh, it didn't look like Druddigon or Dewott noticed.

Then…An idea formed into Pancham's head. A way to make it so his team was going to win this challenge! That'll show them! He jumps off the platform in a hurry to get this done.

Lycanroc was groaning, grunting, and heavily frustrated. He was in the middle of climbing up a large thick wooden pole. The task was that simple. Climb up the pull and grab a wooden sash. But of course, no flying was allowed, meaning Gliscor wasn't going to be doing it, leaving Lycanroc to deal with it himself.

Meanwhile Gliscor himself was down at the bottom. As it turned out, they happened upon a double station. There was the physical challenge Lycanroc was currently doing, as well a button podium for a sash that looked to be made of tree leaves. Gliscor was in front of the Xatu, as the question had already been given to him.

"A drop of blood that ended a war. By whose hands, did blood adorn?"

Gliscor was tempted to ask for Meowstic's help…But near immediately decided to just do the challenge himself because he wasn't about to be indebted to that feline over a simple question. As such he took time thinking back to the legend. Thankfully the answer came to him quickly.

"Ah yes. The blood adorned the claws of the Dragonite Lord himself. His pacifism broke like a twig once his twin ruler met his demise."

"Correct. You may collect your prize" The Xatu teleported away, along with a lock to one of the sashes, allowing Gliscor to collect it.

"Wonderful." Gliscor looked up at Lycanroc's progress, seeing the wolf was near the top of the pole. As such, it didn't take too long for him to reach the top and grab the wooden sash.

"I got it!" he called down to Gliscor.

Gliscor grinned, "Excellent!" He was about to tell Lycanroc to come down…But in thinking about the question, he thought of something. "Lycanroc! What condition is it in!?"

Lycanroc looked down confused…Why would it matter? Still he answered regardless, "Uh, It looks pretty new. No damage or anything."

The moment Gliscor heard that, his expression morphed into a deadpan one, as he started to speak in a less exaggerated tone, "God dammit!" Hearing that caused Lycanroc to flinch a little, but at least not fall off the pole. "Lycanroc! Leave it there! The pole challenge was here to waste our time!"

Lycanroc couldn't believe what he was hearing. It wasn't even that Gliscor was being pretty level headed and without a lick of messing around…But rather the fact he just made this difficult climb for nothing! "Ugh! Just head back to the campfire! I'll catch up!"

Gliscor nodded and started to glide away with the sash, as Lycanroc watched. Once Gliscor was gone, Lycanroc could only groan, knowing he had to go down this now…And the height was starting to freak him out a bit.

"Whoever thought it was a good idea to make a pole climbing challenge worth nothing," Lycanroc said, a scowl firmly on his face, "I want you to know that they are the most evil person on this planet."

Floatzel was laughing in the confessional, knowing full well what Lycanroc said about him.

Dolliv and Glimmora were walking among the trees, ever since their separation from Meowth. Glimmora was floating along with a lack of care for the world, while Dolliv was inspecting the ground they were walking along.

"Hmmm…I think someone has come through here." Dolliv determined, Glimmora coming down from the tree she had been floating around when hearing Dolliv.

"Really? Did you find footprints like a detective!"

"Well, no, all I did was look for any sort of imprint along the ground to track-" Dolliv's explanation was interrupted as the duo saw Gliscor gliding overhead. He went by quickly but that didn't stop Dolliv from taking note of what he was holding.

"Glimmora, come on! There should be a station this way!" Dolliv quickly started running in the direction that Gliscor had come from. Glimmora blinking before following the grass type.

Aegislash was floating along the island, looking for both teammates and stations he could lead them to. If there was a station he could do on his own, all the better, but he'd have to wait and see. Brushing past some trees, he arrived at a station for the challenge.

It seemed to be a set up among the trees, with ropes wrapping around the lot of them in a jungle gym fashion. In the center of it all were two purple flower wreaths, although the flowers were a bit wilted. Aeigislash looked over at the sign.

"Within this web is a relic for you to collect. Simply navigate the rope web to get it. You can't phase through the ropes nor cut them in any way."

Aegislash read that and looked up at the ropes. He knew that he'd surely cut them if he tried, being a sword and all. Along with his ghost typing allowing him to phase through them, meaning he couldn't do it on two accounts. But at least he knew of this place, and from where he was, he could see both relics in question, so he was the first to find this place.

As such, he had no issues as he turned around in order to find a teammate…But then he heard a noise. Something rustling in the bushes. Aegislash turned back around and quickly hid behind a tree as he saw Pancham!

Pancham was doing the challenge as intended. Slipping through most of the ropes well enough due to his small stature. Once he was in the center, he reached out to the relic's stand and grabbed both of them as he grinned mischievously.

Aegislash glared, starting to understand the scene before him, the sword began making his move through the trees. Once Pancham was out of the rope web, Aegislash used Iron Head on him. This causes Pancham to be thrown back and get tingled into the web, with the three wreaths all dropping to the ground.

"Gah!" Pancham groaned, looking to see the sword Pokemon in front of him, "Hey! What the hell was that for, asshole!?"

Aegislash merely glared back at him, before floating down to grab one of the fallen wreaths.

"Hey wait- Gah!" Pancham was forced to shut up due to a Shadow Ball hitting him, courtesy of Aegislash.

Afterwards, the silent sword took the wreath with one final glare before floating away. Leaving Pancham tangled as he struggled to release himself. While trying to do so, he heard rustling in the bushes. "H-Hey! Is someone there!"

In response, Pancham saw Mightyena come out of the bushes, coming upon Pancham and just staring at him for a few moments.

"Do I want to know?"

"Can you just help me down!?" Pancham demanded as Mightyena looked down and saw the two remaining purple wreaths. He smirked, grabbing one of them and turning away from Pancham.

"Nah, I'd rather win." Was all the dark type needed to say as he ran off, leaving Pancham stuck in the rope web.

"Hey! Get back here!"

"Assholes," Pancham simply said as he glared at the confessional camera.

Back at the elimination area, most of the contestants had either returned or started to return to take stock of what relics were gathered and what could need to be collected. Due to Floatzel not confirming if a relic is correct or not, some had to look over the relics there themselves in order to have any idea on what progress they made.

"Hmm…" Gothitelle was looking over the purple wreath Druddigon and Dewott had brought in. It had been there for a while, but something about it was bothering her. Alongside the wreath, the golden wreath she had to suffer for and a wooden slash brought by Meowth were also present for the Kyogres.

Druddigon looked at Gothitelle confused, "There ain't anything wrong with it. That Dragonite wore a wreath of purple flowers didn't he?"

"Yes, but…" Gothitelle, backed away from the wreath for a moment. "It's bothering me. But I can't seem to put my finger on why at the moment."

"Well, why not ask Dolliv when she gets back," Meowth chimes in, "she saw the difference in a leaf sash so she might see what's bothering you."

Gothitelle thought about that suggestion, "Hmm, yes. Good idea Meowth. Hopefully she won't be long then."

"W-Why did you split away from them anyway Meowth?" Frisllish asked.

Mewoth flashed her a winning smile, "Just to cover more ground is all. And it worked." He gestures to the wooden sash he had brought over.

"Yeah, it only worked because you followed us!" Raichu spoke up from where the Groudons were standing.

"I didn't follow you," Meowth defended, "I just so happened to see you two leave some bushes with a sash and investigated."

Raichu was about to say something back, but Gliscor interrupted her, "Don't bother with him. The feline is not worth it."

Meowstic for a moment looks up, giving a dissatisfied look to Gliscor.

"I meant the plain feline."

"Hpmh," Meowstic went back to his book, "doesn't matter. We will be winning soon enough."

"Uh, how can you be so sure?" Ninetales asked, "We only have 3 relics and we don't even know if any of them are real." She gestured to their relics; The golden wreath, the leaf sash, and wooden sash collected by Ninetales herself, Gliscor, and Raichu & Skiploom respectively.

"I'm sure." Meowstic stated, giving no further comment on the topic, which annoyed some of the others.

"I'm sure it's fine. We just need one more item and we're okay!" Skiploom reassured her team. "We have four people missing, so any of them could find it."

"Make that three," Gliscor said, "Lycanroc is climbing down a large wooden pole"

"I'm sorry, what?" Raichu asked, dumbfounded.

"Oh no, he made it down. He asked me to tell you all that he'll just be laying on the ground for a while." Everyone looked over to see Dolliv and Glimmora coming into the area.

Dolliv was holding a leaf sash, like the one Gliscor had brought. Glimmora also had a wooden sash adorned onto her body, seemingly for the fun of it.

"Hell yeah, 'ya made it!" Druddigon cheered.

"And you have the last relic!" Dewott exclaimed.

Dolliv looked a little surprised before going to place the leaf sash, "Wonderful"

Gothitelle looks over at Floatzel, who merely stood there without saying anything. In fact he was smirking. She took note of that and looked over to Dolliv. "Dolliv, can you look at the purple wreath for me? I think something is off about it."

"Hm? Okay." Dolliv does what was asked of her, giving it a good look before his eyes widen with a small gasp.

"I was afraid of that reaction"

"Huh, what's wrong?" Druddigon asked.

Before Dolliv had a chance to answer, the Kyorges noticed commotion among the Groudons. The six non Glimmora members looked over to see the worst case scenario. Aegislash had returned as well.. A purple wreath in his hand, which was the final item his team needed.

"Victory is ours!" Gliscor shouted.

Ninetales snickered, "Back to elimination losers~"

Aegislash goes and places the wreath with the other items for his team, giving a nod to Meowstic who merely gives a look of approval in victory.

"Aww man!" Druddgion cried out, "We lost again! Twice in a row really-"

"Wait!" Dolliv shouted, which caused a few of the cast to flinch, not expecting that from her. "They haven't won yet! No one has!"

"What do you mean? We have all of our relics." Raichu stated.

"Exactly. There is no room for doubt. We won. Deal with it." Meowstic said coldly. As he said as such, Gothitelle walked over and looked at the opposing team's purple wreath.

"...You have the wrong wreath," was all Gothitelle needed to say for the Groudons to immediately stop their celebration.

Aegislash's eyes went wide as he looked over the wreath, holding it up in front of Dolliv in an attempt to prove that she was wrong.

However, Dolliv didn't flinch, "I'm sorry, but that won't change anything. That's not the right wreath you all needed. Just like ours." Aegislash glared at her, seemingly ready to retaliate…That is before one more voice broke into the area.

"Can all of you shut it already!?" Mightyena shouted in annoyance as he came into the elimination area. On his head was a purple flower wreath that was wilted. Walking to his team he simply puts his wreath on the ground.

Suddenly after Mightyena put it down, all of the Kyorge's relics, excluding the incorrect wreath and the sash on Glimmora, all float up into the air surrounded by psychic energy. The Xatu that had been around the challenge appears bowing to the team.

"Thank you, Krashing Kyogres, for recovering the relics of the fallen kingdom of dragons. The old kings smile kindly upon you, and have gifted you all another day on their land. Victory is yours this day."

Once that was said, the Xatu and the relics all teleport away, leaving the cast mildly confused over what just happened.

"Wow…Again! Again!" Excluding Glimmora.

Floatzel starts clapping his hands as his smirk widens, "Well, you heard her. Krashing Kyogres have won the challenge! You eight are immune tonight!"

The Kyogres all cheered among each other as Floatzel looked over to the Groudons in attendance, "Gigantic Groudon, sorry not sorry to say that you lost. You'll return here tonight for your team's first elimination! You'll have to find Golduck, Lycanroc, and Pancham to give them the news as well. See you all tonight!"

With that, Floatzel walked away, leaving the contestants to themselves. The Kyogres starting to disperse as well as Pancham rushed into the area, the other wilted purple wreath in his hands.

"I…I made it!" Pancham shouted while also panting in utter exhaustion, "I got a wreath, we can… win?" He looks over at the scene in front of him…His teammates all giving him looks that told him the whole story and then some, "Ah shit."

"First challenge win, huh?" Meowth said to himself as he sat in the confessional. "I think it feels pretty good. Not that I was in any danger, but not going to elimination is always a good thing."

"Yeah!" Druddigon celebrated as he was pumping his fists, "It's one-one! Better watch out Golduck, cause I ain't intending to fall behind again!"

Golduck slumped over on her seat, giving a sigh. A shiny and clean golden wreath laying on her head. "Ugh, dammit! I got back to the team after I found a station for this thing," she pointed to the wreath on her head, "thinking it would be better to have both golden wreaths than to not. But then I found out we lost the challenge! This sucks. Now we have to vote someone off the team. Trust me, I get it. It's the game…But it doesn't make it any less frustrating that I have to kick someone from a team!"

Aegislash crossed his arms as he gave the camera a look that was a mix of disappointment and annoyance.

"G-Gothitelle, can I talk to you for a m-moment?"

Frillish and Gothitelle was in the girl's cabin. All of the Groudon girls were gone and Glimmora was likely spinning somewhere, so it left the two of them total privacy.

"Of course," the psychic replied, "but given it's just us here, I assume this is about the offer from this morning?"

"Y-Yes," Frillish took a deep breath before continuing, "I I want to make that alliance. If that's still fine with you, of course."

Gothitelle gives her a small smile, "Naturally. I'm happy to see you accept the offer. I mean it, I think we can work well together."

Frillish sighed and calmed her nerves, before giving a nod to her new alliance mate. "I won't let you down!" Gothitelle starts to giggle at that. "W-Why are you laughing?"

"I'm sorry." Gothitelle apologized as she calmed herself. "You don't need to be so serious. It's just an alliance. And I assure you, no backstabbing."

"Oh! Th-Thank you! That makes me feel a little better." Frillish admitted.

"I thought it might," Gothitelle said, getting up from her bed, "now then, seeing as we're not going to elimination tonight…How about we get some dinner and relax?"

"Oh, sure!" Frillish answered as she followed Gothitelle out of the cabin.

"I-I think I may have been o-overthinking things", Frillish admitted to the camera, "I probably wasn't e-expecting an offer to be in an alliance, especially so soon! But I g-guess I just gave it thought during the challenge when G-Gothitelle was in the balance beam. B-Besides, I came here to win the game too, so this will help me get further!"

Mightyena was wandering into the starting beach area, where he happened to find a few of his teammates. Druddigon was by the water, shouting at it as Dewott was attempting the remains of the challenge of the day. Nearby, Dolliv was sitting by a tree watching the action unfold. Curious, Mightyena walks over.

"What the hell is going on?" He looked at Dolliv as he asked.

"Oh, hello Mightyena," Dolliv greeted, "Druddigon is bringing Dewott through some sort of victory lap of sorts."

"Yeah! You got this buddy!" Druddgion cheered on Dewott as he was jumping from platform to platform, until the otter slipped and fell into the water, "OOOO! Good hussle!"

Deowtt surfaced from the water, "Druddigon, I've done this five times now! Can we take a break!?"

"Alright, I'll come get ya!" Druddigon jumped into the water to retrieve the water type.

Mightyena just blinks at what he just witnessed before looking back at Dolliv, "Okay so freak training session aside. Why are you here?"

"Me? Oh, I was already here to begin with. I thought the crashing waves would be a nice way to relax after victory." Dolliv explained with a smile, "But now I can do so with some of the team as well, which I think makes it even better." The grass type closed her eyes and took a slow breath to take in some relaxation.

The dark type raises a brow at that, but was in enough of a good mood to not question it. Then his attention was taken by seeing Druddigon bring Dewott back to shore, leading the duo to notice him. Druddgion giving a wave "Sup man!"

"Hey Mightyena." Dewott greeting, "Do you want to join us? Druddigon thought messing around with the platforms would be a fun way to celebrate our win."

"Hey, it's fun, good exercise, and good training for you!" Druddigon justified, "I even got the interns to let me use it until the elimination is called tonight!"

"How did you pull that off?" Mightyena questioned, given the dragon didn't seem…The brightest.

Druddgion shrugged, "Wasn't hard. They said the other stations would be harder to clean up anyway so they could do this last. Guess I was doing 'em a favor!" He gives a full belly laugh before grinning, "C'mon! Join us! I wanna see what those legs of yours can do!"

Mightyena rolled his eyes, "Yeah whatever. I'll make you regret it when I outpace you."

Druddigon laughs again and heads for the water, "Them's fighting words! Let's go!"

Druddigon was doing sit ups in the confessionals, speaking through his reps. "Back home, we win a game, and we have some fun! Even if it makes us tired, you always gotta celebrate a win! Probably won't do it all the time here, but it's our first win! Go big or go home, am I right!"

Mightyena was laying down, panting from exhaustion, "That dragon is insane! Who celebrates with what is basically an obstacle course!" He takes a deep breath and sits up to compose himself. "Still, guess it wasn't that bad to have some fun with the team. Plus I hate to admit it… but the waves crashing was kind of relaxing when I was just laying there."

All nine members of the Gigantic Groudons were all seated together in the mess hall. Once Lycanroc was brought back to camp, Golduck insisted on the team eating dinner together as a team. An awkward silence filled the air as they all ate their mushy slop. Each of them having thoughts on the impending elimination, leading to them all having a difficult time breaking the ice on the topic at hand. Which naturally, someone took advantage of.

"Okay, I'm done," Ninetales started, "this silence will be the death of me. So why don't we just talk about the elimination already!?"

Golduck groaned, "You're right. I just didn't know how to start that discussion."

"But didn't you want us all to meet here?" Lycanroc pointed out.

"I'm not used to kicking people off my team, Lycanroc." Golduck countered defensively, "It goes against everything I work for in sports."

Meowstic rolled his eyes, "Players get kicked off teams all the time."

Golduck opened her mouth to retort but Skiploom cleared her throat. "Still, Golduck had the right idea. Maybe if we can talk things out, the elimination won't be as bad." She gave her team a smile…A forced smile, but a smile all the time.

Gliscor scoffed at her, "Very well. Then how about we discuss the obvious. We would have been victorious had our sword and shield returned with the proper headdress."

Aegislash glares at Gliscor as Raichu blinked, "Did you just call it a 'headdress'?"

"I do as I please."

"Uh, what was that about the wrong wreath?" Lycanroc asks, blatantly trying to steer the conversation back on topic.

Meowstic flipped a page in his book, "He returned to us with the wrong lily wreath, meaning we were unable to achieve victory. The other team obtained the correct one before we could." He slammed his book shut with psychic, "Panda, care to explain that?"

Pancham gave Meowstic an annoyed look, "Oh I would have loved to win us the challenge. But Aegislash sabotaged me!"

That claim got the attention of the rest of the team. Aside from Meowstic, the team started looking between Pancham and Aegislash.

"Is that true?" Skiploom asked, her smile seeming to waver a little.

Aegislash shook his head vigorously, pointing at Pancham and making an X with his arms.

"Hey don't try pinning it on me!" Pancham shouted, catching on to the sword's intent. "I was trying to help the team!"

Ninetales put a tail over his mouth, hiding a small grin, "Oh really? Or are you trying to shift the blame yourself?"

"What!?"

"H-Hey, back off him a little." Lycanroc pleaded, albeit quietly causing it to not be as heard as he'd might have wanted.

Aegislash floats over to Pancham with a hard glare, as if firing daggers at the panda from the single eye. Pancham grits his teeth as he scowls back, "Oh, don't even try intimidating me. You left me for dead in the woods when I was going to help us win. Grabbed the wrong wreath, since I was stuck, and let Mightyena take the right one!"

Aegislash kept his glare up, pointing right at the fighting type before making two circle gestures and then a yanking gesture.

Gliscor hummed to himself as he watched, "It appears that Aegislash is implying that you took two of the wreaths for yourself from one location maybe?" Aegislash nodded to that.

"That sounds like sabotage to me." Ninetales said "What were you trying to do, hide them so we could never win?"

"No I-" Pancham started, but was quickly cut off by Aegislash getting in his face, "Get off!" The two continued to squabble with each other, until a long slam stopped them in their tracks!

"That's enough!" Golduck shouted as she stood up from the table. "There's clearly two sides to the story here! We can settle what we all think will be better for the team going forward with the votes tonight!" She started to walk out of the mess hall, "If you need me, I'll be on a run."

After she left, the rest of the team was left silent for a moment, that is until Meowstic got up from the table as well, "I'll be following suit then, I'm sure you lot can settle things for yourselves."

"You barely did anything in the challenge today," Raichu pointed out, "and you're acting like you're above all of this?"

Meowstic scoffs, "I did plenty today, including answering a benign question that you needed answered. These current issues are of no concern to me." With that, he started making his way to the door, but was interrupted by Aegislash getting in front of him.

However, unlike with Pancham, the sword was giving Meowstic a pleading look, as if expecting some sort of defense from the feline. Meowstic's look back was void of emotion, "As I said, this is no concern of me. Fight your own battles." He walked around Aegislash and left the mess all. Aegislash's eye twitched as he floated out of the mess hall, giving Pancham one last glare on the way out.

Pancham takes a quick breath before getting up. "I'm leaving. Just…Think about the vote, okay? I know it looks bad…But I was trying." Pancham quickly left before anyone else could confront him.

The remaining five Groudons remained at the table, looking over each other in an awkward silence until Skiploom gave a weak chuckle painted over a sad smile, "So…What do we do now?"

"I am very frustrated right now," Golduck said, pointingly, as her arms were crossed, "on one hand, I have someone sabotaging a team member, but on the other, I have someone sabotaging the team as a whole. And it's turning into a, 'he said, she said' situation. I already didn't like going into elimination today, but now I really need to decide what's best for the team."

She took a deep breath, "Ninetales, you should be really lucky right now. At least it won't be you tonight."

Pancham looked down from where he was seated, giving a sigh, "I'm fucked."

Ninetales was giggling to herself, "Drama 101, fan the flames of another piece of drama in order to keep eyes off you. I'm so safe tonight it's not even funny. Now all I have to do is decide who's going home."

The sun set on the day, and thus came the elimination. The Gigantic Groudons all reconvened at the elimination area. With each taking a spot among the ten seating rocks, each facing ahead to Floatzel and the lit campfire between them. One difference was that Floatzel's platter this time had Chilan Berries rather than Passho. Floatzel grinned as he began to speak.

"Welcome Gigantic Groudon to your first elimination. Last night, you all watched the opposing team vote off the first player out of the game." He gave a pause, his smirk showing his excitement for this part of the game, "But tonight, it'll be one of you voted out of the game."

All Groudons all looked among each other…The tension in the air was thick and the nerves on some of them high, especially due to recent events.

"Now, before we vote, is there anything anyone wants to say?"

"Yeah, I do." Golduck said, standing up to face her team, "We've all had time to think on this since our meeting, but I still want to say this to you all. We need to vote for what's best for the team. If we do that, then I know we can keep winning after this. I hope you all understand that." She sits back down once she finishes.

Ninetales rolled her eyes afterwards, while Raichu and Skiploom looked at each other anxiously. Aeiglslash looked forward with a blank expression, glancing over to see Pancham nervous. Lycanroc looked like he was still thinking…Not helped by Gliscor intermediately poking him.

Meowstic, meanwhile, merely cleared his throat. "We are wasting time. Let's begin."

Floatzel nods, "Meowstic's right. Now you all remember the drill from last night, right? Aeigslash, due to you being mute, we will have an intern with cast pictures to assist in your voting, understood." Floatzel waited to see Aegislash nod to what he said, "Good, let's start the voting. Skiploom, you're first."

"O-Okay." With a nervous smile, Skiploom flew down the beach to the voting tent.

Skiploom paced in the air for a moment, trying to sort some last minute thoughts. "Oh this is hard…"

Gliscor gave the camera a wicked smile, "You have been a joy to watch, but you outlived your usefully too soon.

"Look," Raichu started, "I dunno if this will do anything but…It feels right for me right now. So…."

Ninetales gave a quick hair flip, "I think this will lead to something interesting~"

Lycanroc scratched the back of his head, looking a tad anxious, "Honestly? I just don't like you."

Pancham sighed, "My vote is obvious."

Aegislash came into the tent. Sableye was also there, holding up a poster board with the images of his teammates on it.

"Here, you know what to do."

The steel type looked at the board and clearly pointed at one of the images.

Golduck stood in the tent and gave a groan of dissatisfaction, "Look, I don't want to do this. But I think you're what our team needs right now. Ninetales is one thing…But at least she has some worth I can think of."

Meowstic, for once, didn't have his book with him as he sat down, "Simply put. You serve no purpose to my path to victory. You might think you do, but I feel today proved otherwise. I vote for-"

"Alright, the votes have been counted and the results are in. If I call your name, you'll receive one of these Chilan Berry as a sign of safety. If you do not receive one, however, you will need to say your final words, go to the beach, and leave on the boat stationed for departure. Now if we're ready…Those safe are…"

"Raichu…Skiploom…Lycanroc…"

Each of them catches their berries. Skiploom seemed to relax a little when she did.

"Golduck…Gliscor…Ninetales…"

The girls caught their betties, while Gliscor allowed his berry to hit him in the face. He oddly chuckled from that.

"Aegislash…Meowstic…And Pancham. You three all got votes tonight."

Pancham and Aegislash didn't seem too surprised by this comment, however Meowstic raised a surprised brow. He got votes? Impossible.

"With two votes…Meowstic, you are safe."

Meowstic caught his berry with psychic, giving an internal sigh of relief, casting cold glances at his teammates all the while.

Floatzel looked at his bottom two, "Pancham…Aegislash…I only have one berry left tonight, meaning one of you will be eliminated this evening. One of you received three votes while the other four, making it a close vote in comparison to last night's." Pancham gulped when he heard that. "The final player safe tonight…Is…"

Pancham looked like he was trembling in fear, while Aegislash kept his calm expression that he's held all elimination.

"Pancham!"

"M-Me!?" Pancham shouted in surprise, not even trying to catch his berry as it fell to the ground.

Once the truth of the matter set in, he looked at the sword with a smug expression, "In your face! I'm still here and you're out! Deal with it! Throwing me under the bus didn't- GAH!"

Pancham didn't get to finish his gloating as Aegislash grabbed him, bringing the panda face to face with his harshest of glares. Pancham was forced to look into the sword's eye…Feeling the emotions the sword wanted to convey. It was as if everything around him turned to status as it was only him and Aegislash…His expression morphed into pure and utter fear and he started to shake…It was like he was staring straight at-

"Oof!" Pancham grunted as he was roughly dropped by Aegislash. The steel type floated away with a look of satisfaction now that he left his mark.

"Pancham, are you okay!?" Raichu asked, as she swiftly went over to his side along with Lycanroc and Skiploom. Pancham could only breath heavily as he was trying to recover from that moment. "I'll take that as 'not really'. Um, Lycanroc can you take him to the cabin."

"Yeah." Lycanroc picks him up and starts to go back to camp.

"I'll go find Dolliv and see if she can help him relax a little." Skiploom says as she follows the wolf. Raichu nodded and she followed suit, with Meowstic and Gliscor close behind.

Golduck and Ninetales were left at the campfire, Floatzel having already left to see Aegislash off.

"What…Just happened," Golduck asked absentmindedly, "I thought that he would still be here…I just didn't expect that."

"You'd be surprised what people are like beyond a first impression~" Ninetales said to Golduck, giving her a playful smirk, "But hey, he's gone, Pancham is still here. So it's time to pick up the pieces and lead us to victory~ I believe in you!~" Ninetales wandered off for the night. Leaving Golduck to sit there, sighing.

"This is going to be more difficult than I thought…" Golduck said, looking over to the side, "I'll just have to do better for the team now! I got this."

"Hpmh…" Was all Meowstic said at first, giving the camera a dissatisfied look, "It appears my vote was better for me than I had thought. To think that violent ghost wanted me to protect him back in the mess hall."

He tapped his brain, "While he and I could have communicated secretly via the link, his performance today wasn't worth the risk for me."

Meowstic then crossed his arms, "However, what worries me most is that I obtained two votes tonight…It seems my team doesn't appreciate my contributions as much as I thought. No matter. I'll merely shift gears in the morning." He stands, ready to leave, "Victory is assured."

Floatzel was in front of the boat, as Aegislash was also in place to leave. "Normally I'd ask for last words…But firstly you're mute," Aegislash rolled his eye, "And secondly, I think you made your final statement clear at the campfire. So…Bye bye!" The boat took off, slowly drifting off to the horizon.

The host looked at the camera with his winning smile as the boat was departing, "With that, our first Groudon is eliminated! Sixteen are left and there's a heck of a lot more game to play! How will the dynamics on the Groudon's change after their dramatic first bonfire? Will the Kyorges start a new hot streak? And did those interns clean up those platforms in the ocean!? Find out all this and more next time, on Total…Pokemon…Elemental!"

And that will bring our third chapter to a close! FINALLY! I do apolgize for how long this took, but writer's block is an evil curse that needs to be destoryed!

Regardless of that, it was only the 2nd elimination and there's already a lot of drama on the island which will be fun to watch unfold from here on. We also say goodbye to Aegislash, the silent sword. I enjoyed my time with him but uh... yeah this was a learning experince on the difficulty of a silent character. I made it work regardless but he sadly did not have as much going for him as I would have liked.

Still, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Review if you would like. And I'll see you next time!

[Once again, thank you to TPReboot for editing the chapter]