Episode #1: Welcome to the Show!

"Hau'oli City!"

The afternoon sun bathed Hau'oli City in a golden glow that reflected off the pristine beaches and shimmering ocean waves. From above, the city stretched out in a beautiful blend of modern architecture and tropical paradise, bustling with tourists and locals walking through its vibrant streets. A golden drone glided effortlessly over the scenery, capturing the city's welcoming embrace.

"A large city on Melemele Island, Alola! It's known as the city that overflows with gentle joy. The residents are widely known for opening their arms to tourists of all cultures from around the world!"

The drone dipped lower, and the sight of an airport runway came into view, leading the audience to a standard runway where a young woman, in the form of a Lopunny, stood. Dressed in traditional Alolan attire, the host beamed at the camera, her excitement radiating as brightly as the tropical sun.

"And that's exactly why we're kicking off the very first episode of Totally Real World Tour right here!" She lifted her arms, showcasing the breathtaking cityscape behind her.

Her words carried an electric and playful energy while she kept her bright pink eyes focused on the camera. "Eighteen Pokémon of different ages and backgrounds from all over the world will be joining us today! They'll have the opportunity to travel far and wide, seeing sights they've never encountered before!"

With a graceful step, she walked along the runway, the breeze catching the edges of her outfit as she tossed her long, fluffy ears back over her shoulders. A massive, gleaming airplane stood behind her.

"But don't be fooled," Penelope continued, pausing dramatically. "This show isn't some relaxing, all-expenses-paid vacation. Oh no." She leaned in slightly, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "If they want to stay, they'll have to endure the most physically and mentally taxing challenges imaginable!" Her voice carried a teasing lilt, an unmistakable promise of entertainment.

Her expression turned serious as she lowered her tone, as if sharing a thrilling secret. "There will be unavoidable drama, heartbreak, and betrayal. Maybe even love… and friendships that could last a lifetime! We can't predict what will happen, but one thing's for sure—this is an adventure you do not want to miss!"

Striking a confident pose, Penelope placed a hand on her hip, her signature smile dazzling against the camera lights.

"Now, I know what you're thinking," she teased. "'Why in the world would anyone willingly sign up for a show filled with so much drama?'" She held up a finger, pausing just long enough for anticipation to build.

With a dramatic flourish, a cascade of green bills rained down around her. She lifted her arms, laughing as money fluttered from the sky (in reality, it was an intern in the form of a Fearow dunking a bag of money on top of her). "Money!" she declared, grinning as she brushed a few bills off her head. "The last contestant standing will walk away with a check for one million poké! A generous prize, along with the chance to travel the world, don't you think?"

Winking at the camera, Penelope's confidence was undeniable. "I'll be your host for the season, Penelope Hart! You might know me from my music or my former acting career. Which means, you already know I'm bringing this show to a whole new level."

She playfully flicked her ears back once more before fixing the camera with an intense gaze. "And if any of this jaw-dropping, drama-filled adventure sounds like something you'd love to experience in real time…" She let the anticipation build before punctuating her next words with an enthusiastic flourish. "Then be sure to stay tuned for more…"

With a dramatic pause, she spread her arms wide and delivered the final, electrifying words with a flourish."On Totally. Real. Wooooooooorld Tour!"

The screen faded to black.

Penelope exhaled heavily, tilting her head back as she took a long sip from a water bottle. The heat of the Alolan sun wasn't the problem; it was the sheer energy she had put into the show's grand introduction. She wiped the nonexistent sweat from her brow with an exaggerated sigh.

"That was exhausting," she muttered, rolling her shoulders and wincing when a "pop" elicited from them.

"You did fantastic, Miss Hart," came a deep yet polite voice from behind her.

Turning slightly, she found a towering Cetitan approaching. His heavy footsteps were barely audible due to the chatter from the production crew around them. He extended a neatly folded rag toward her, which she accepted with a grateful nod.

"Thanks, Will." Penelope dabbed at her forehead, despite the lack of sweat. Then, she frowned. "I didn't think I'd be handling the opening by myself. Where's Rowan?"

"Here I am!"

The voice carried an air of smugness, and as Penelope turned, she couldn't help but groan at the ridiculous sight before her.

A Sneasler, clad in a stylish Alolan button-up shirt and designer sunglasses, lounged lazily on a golden throne—one that was being carried, with visible struggle, by a weary-looking Meganium.

Lowering his sunglasses just enough to reveal a knowing smirk, he drawled, "I heard you missed me?"

Penelope's eye twitched. "Where were you? I had to open the show by myself!"

Will, ever composed, shifted his gaze between the Sneasler and throne with concern. "Are we… not going to question the throne?"

Rowan merely shrugged, ignoring him completely. "You're the host. I hope you can handle it by yourself."

Penelope's hands clenched into fists, her frustration bubbling dangerously close to the surface.

Will sighed, sensing the growing tension. "It's still highly unprofessional to not show up to your own television show's premiere," he pointed out.

Rowan groaned dramatically. "Oh, come on. I'm still the producer of this whole shindig. I had to make sure everything was running smoothly."

"So much… walking…" The pitiful wheeze came from Cheryl, the Meganium still struggling under the weight of Rowan's oversized ego—and, of course, the actual throne.

Rowan scoffed. "Cheryl, be quiet. You're irrelevant."

The Meganium whimpered. Penelope dragged a hand down her face in exasperation. "Are you at least joining me to welcome the cast, or are you taking another backseat?" she asked, barely containing her irritation.

Rowan rolled his eyes but still managed to let out a dry snort. "If it bothers you that much, I'll join you for the rest of the episode."

From below, Cheryl wheezed out, "You… were going to anyway, s-sir."

Rowan shot her a sharp glare. "Cheryl!"

Before the conversation could spiral further, a voice called out from behind the cameras. "We're on in one minute!"

Will took the rag from Penelope's hands and tucked it away neatly. "Good luck," he said, giving her a small nod before stepping out of sight.

Penelope watched him disappear behind the camera crew, then exhaled. "Thanks. I'm going to need it."

Rowan leaned back lazily in his throne, a smirk still plastered on his face. "Don't act like you're such a joy to work with."

Penelope turned to glare at him and gestured wildly toward the gaudy seat he was on. "You're literally sitting on a throne!"

He laughed and pointed his claws at himself. "Yeah, because I'm great."

The cameraman raised his fingers. "We're on in five!"

Penelope shot Rowan one last glare, whispering sharply, "You suck."

"Four!"

Rowan smirked, barely leaning in. "At least my parents are still around."

"Three!"

Penelope's jaw dropped. "Rowan, what the hell?!"

"Two!"

Rowan straightened, effortlessly smoothing out his expression as he pointed to the camera. "Smile for the camera, Princess."

"One!"

The red light blinked on. In an instant, both hosts turned to the lens, their expressions flipping into dazzling, perfectly timed smiles, masking the lingering tension beneath the surface.

"Welcome back, lovely viewers! And a friendly reminder to any newcomers— I'm Penelope Hart, your host for the rest of the show!" She struck a practiced pose, radiating energy and confidence.

Beside her, Rowan lazily waved a hand. "And I'm Rowan Bass, your co-host." He smirked before adding smugly, "And yes, this throne is solid gold."

Penelope ignored him entirely. "In just a matter of minutes, we'll be meeting our newest cast of contestants! A diverse mix of individuals, ranging from college students and everyday working-class citizens to self-proclaimed superheroes and supervillains!"

Rowan grinned. "Yep! We've got the perfect mix of some norms and nutjobs—just for your entertainment!"

Penelope took a step to the side, forcing Rowan (and, by extension, his struggling assistant Cheryl) to move with her. "And thanks to the power of technology, we've been keeping a very close eye on everyone!"

As she finished speaking, a flurry of interns rushed in, wheeling a massive television screen onto the set. The screen flickered to life, displaying a highway packed with cars—the unmistakable sight of Hau'oli Airport's busiest route: Interstate 007.

"This is a live feed from the interstate leading straight to Hau'oli Airport," Penelope explained, motioning to the screen. "Right now, our contestants are sitting in those taxis, eagerly waiting for their chance to introduce themselves to the world!"

Rowan leaned back, lazily observing the footage. "Honestly, with traffic, they've already been waiting for an hour." Penelope shot him a pointed look. He raised his hands defensively. "Hey, at least they're not alone! We paired them up with one of their fellow castmates to keep them company and, you know, to cut costs. Taxis in this economy? Expensive, man."

Penelope clapped her hands together. "But why wait until they get here when we can peek in on them right now?" She gestured toward the TV. "In each taxi, we've installed a hidden camera, giving us a live look at our contestants in action!" Turning to face the camera directly, she flashed a dazzling smile. "So while we wait for their arrival, you get an exclusive early scoop on just who you might want to root for in this game!"

Rowan smirked, rubbing his hands together. "And with that, let's check in on our first taxi."

The screen cut to a live feed of the backseat of a moving taxi. Inside sat two Pokémon: one, a large Pinsir shifting uncomfortably in his seat, and the other, a small Bergmite who had scooted as far away as possible.

Frank, the Pinsir, fidgeted with his claws, his gaze darting around awkwardly. "So, uh… nice weather we're having, huh?"

Nina, the Bergmite, slowly turned to give him an unamused stare.

Frank hesitated but pushed on, raising an arm with an enthusiastic whisper. "I'm going on a game show! Maybe you've heard of it!" His voice lowered in excitement. "It's called Totally Real World Tour! Apparently, we're going on this big trip around the world where we can possibly win money! But we have to—"

"Please don't explain this to me," Nina groaned, cutting him off. Frank flinched, his enthusiasm faltering. "I'm on the same show," she muttered.

Frank blinked, then perked up. "Oh! That makes us co-stars, then, right?" He eagerly extended a clawed hand. "I'm Frank! Nice to meet you…?"

Nina glanced at his offered hand before turning away. "…Nina."

Frank awkwardly withdrew his hand. "That's a nice name…" he offered. Nina responded with a grunt. He scratched one of his pincers in thought, trying to find another way to start a conversation when suddenly—

"Welcome to the show!"

The taxi came to a stop. Both contestants turned to the window, where they saw Penelope and Rowan standing ahead, a full camera crew stationed at their sides. Nina let out a barely audible shudder before hesitantly stepping out of the vehicle. Frank followed close behind.

Rowan wasted no time, grinning as he spread his arms. "Frank and Nina! What brings you two losers to the show?"

Nina's shoulders tensed. "I—I'm not a loser…" she muttered under her breath.

Rowan smirked. "Sorry, but compared to me, everyone's a loser."

Nina's expression darkened. Sensing the tension, Frank quickly interjected. "I'm just here for a good time! No ulterior motive whatsoever!" He chuckled nervously before adding, "I just… want money. I mean, I want to earn it! Fairly! Yep, nothing else!"

The three of them stared at him for a moment, watching his eyes dart around every corner in the most suspicious way. Even Rowan raised an eyebrow.

Penelope, ever the professional, smoothly picked up the energy again. "How lovely! If you two could please wait over there," she gestured to the side of the set, "so we can check in with our next contestants!"

The camera cut to the next taxi, revealing two more contestants: Dez, a Mabosstiff, and Levi, a Meowstic.

Dez stared out the window in silence, his expression unreadable. Beside him, Levi was hunched over, tinkering with a small device, his focus entirely absorbed. The only sound filling the car was the steady hum of '60s music blaring from the speakers.

For a long moment, neither spoke. With a quiet motion, Dez reached for the window controls and rolled his side down, letting the breeze in.

Without looking up from his gadget, Levi muttered, "Thanks. It was starting to smell like a wet dog in here."

Dez's ear twitched. He turned his head sharply, shooting the feline a pointed look. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Levi finally glanced up, appraising the larger Pokémon before responding coolly, "I meant no offense to you. I was just stating that it smelled."

Dez's stare hardened. "You had to add in 'wet dog.'"

"That's what it smelled like," Levi said, exasperated. "That's why."

Before Dez could reply, an unfamiliar voice chimed in. "Sorry." Both turned toward the front of the vehicle.

Their taxi driver, a soaked-to-the-core Boltund, glanced at them through the rearview mirror, his drenched fur dripping onto the leather seats.

"My girlfriend's husband forgot something before he left for work," the driver explained casually. "So she pushed me off the balcony." He chuckled as though this was normal. "I fell into their pool, had to run through the neighbor's yard, and then take the bus to work, or else I'd be late."

Silence. Dez and Levi stared at him, their expressions a mix of judgment and quiet disbelief.

The car finally rolled to a stop. Neither commented as they swiftly exited the vehicle. Standing (on his throne) ahead of them, Rowan grinned as he spread his arms. "Welcome to the cast, Dez and Levi!"

Levi strode forward first, offering a polite nod. "Thank you for accepting my application." He smirked. "Though, given my qualifications and recommendation letters, it was no surprise." Dez rolled his eyes.

Penelope, ever the professional, beamed at him. "No problem, Levi! We're glad to have someone with your skills show us what you've got!" Levi puffed up proudly at the praise.

Penelope turned to Dez next. "And we're happy to have you too, Dez!"

"Thanks," Dez said simply. He cast a glance at the small group of contestants waiting nearby, and without another word, walked toward them.

Rowan raised an eyebrow. "Well, he was rather short."

Levi smirked, watching the Mabosstiff walk away. "No surprise. Being near me would intimidate anyone." With that, he followed after Dez. "I suppose we wait over there, then."

As they walked off, Penelope leaned slightly toward Rowan and whispered, "At least they're smart." Rowan gave an approving nod.

Levi and Dez approached the waiting contestants. Frank, ever eager, greeted them with a bright wave. "Hey! Nice to meet you guys! I'm Frank."

Dez offered a brief nod. "Dez."

Levi, on the other hand, didn't break stride as he passed by. "You're well aware of our names," he said smoothly. "But thank you for your kind greeting, Frank." His tail flicked. "Sorry to cut this short, but I must finish my latest contraption."

Frank perked up with interest. "Oh? What is it?"

Levi smirked. "That's a secret for now."

Frank nodded in understanding, while beside him, Nina groaned, clearly unimpressed. "Show-off," she muttered under her breath.

It was only then that she noticed Dez staring at her. His large frame cast a shadow over her, his expression unreadable but intimidating nonetheless.

Her composure faltered, and she let out a stammer before quickly scampering away from him. Dez sighed at the reaction, exhaling quietly.

The camera cuts to another taxi, revealing its two occupants: O'Reilly, a stoic Lairon staring out the window, and Aquamarine, a stunning Floatzel carefully examining her face in a small compact mirror.

Aquamarine adjusts her makeup, expertly flicking a brush across her cheeks while stealing a glance at the rugged Steel-type through her mirror's reflection. A sly smile tugs at her lips as she adjusts the large pink hat on her head. "Where are you heading?" she asks, her voice silky smooth.

O'Reilly barely spares her a glance. "Wherever Lady Justice leads me," they reply gruffly.

Aquamarine chuckles, a soft, melodic sound. "I'm going on a television show. I have a great feeling it's going to be a fun time!"

The Lairon finally turns to her, their expression unreadable. "Same."

She gasps in delight, placing a paw over her heart with exaggerated enthusiasm. "How fantastic! It's nice to have a familiar face to turn to."

O'Reilly doesn't respond, their gaze drifting back to the window. Taking the hint, Aquamarine's flirtatious smirk fades, and she rolls her eyes before subtly scooting away. From the reflection in the glass, O'Reilly notices her movement and hums thoughtfully to themself.

The taxi finally slows to a stop, and the two exit, stepping into the bright lights and bustling energy of the production crew. "Welcome, Aquamarine and Dick—" Penelope begins with a warm smile.

"The name's O'Reilly," the Lairon cuts in, slipping a cigarette between their lips. "Dick O'Reilly. Private eye for hire."

Penelope's eye twitches. "Okay. I was literally going to introduce you—"

O'Reilly ignores her, turning their sharp gaze onto the gathered contestants. "I have a knack for finding the stains of troublemakers in this cold, dark world." Their eyes land on Dez, who glares back with an unimpressed scowl. "Let's hope none of you end up on my watchlist."

The cast exchanges uneasy glances, unsure whether to be intimidated or just plain confused. Standing slightly apart from the group, Nina mutters under her breath, "Weirdo."

Breaking the tension, Aquamarine steps forward with a dazzling smile. "Hello! I'm Aquamarine! I'm so excited to be going on this trip with everyone!" She scans the group, her eyes lingering on Frank, whose face is already dusted pink. Her grin widens as she directs her words at him. "I hope we can all be friends."

Frank stammers, his pincers twitching. "Y-Yeah! I hope for that too!"

Levi scoffs, arms crossed. "Friends in a competition?" He rolls his eyes and returns to tinkering with his contraption. "Impossible."

Dez grunts in agreement. "I actually agree with you."

Levi smirks. "Smart." The dog looks unimpressed, and Levi sighs. "What? I'm calling you smart."

"Yeah, get over yourself," Dez grunts.

The Meowstic shrugs. "You should still accept the compliment." He looks up and smirks. "I'm sure you don't receive them all that much."

Dez shoots him a dangerous glare. Levi, unfazed, simply tilts his head up, his smirk unwavering. The tension between them is immediately picked up by the other contestants.

Frank looks between the two and flinches. "Come on, guys, let's cool it, okay?"

"Who cares," Nina mumbles, staring at the ground and kicking at the grout. "Let them make fools of themselves."

"Assault is against the law," O'Reilly remarks, keeping their eyes trained on the cat and dog. "Whoever throws the first punch will be spending the night in the slammer."

Aquamarine dramatically sighs, looking away as her eyes grow glossy. "I sincerely hope no one gets hurt! I can't stand watching anyone in pain."

"Don't worry, miss, no one will get hurt today," Frank assures her, earning a dazzling smile in return.

As the cast continues chatting, Penelope claps her hands, eager to keep things moving. "Alright, alright! Let's keep the introductions rolling, shall we?"

The camera cuts away once more, shifting to the next set of contestants. Inside the taxi sit Kacey the Roserade and Jeff the Galarian Darmanitan.

Kacey is pressed against the car door, earbuds shoved in her ears as she tries to block out the noise around her. Unfortunately for her, that noise is coming from the man seated across from her. Jeff is far too engrossed in his latest obsession to notice—or care.

"Roxi, no! You fool! He's EVIL! He's dirty! He doesn't love you!" Jeff roars at the small, clunky device in his hands. The screen flickers as a grainy soap opera plays. "CURSE YOU, Rodrigo!"

Kacey groans and tugs out her earbuds. "Can you keep it down?" she snaps, glaring at him.

Jeff barely spares her a glance. "You've got earbuds. Just turn up your volume or something." He gestures at his contraption. "I must continue watching my show in hopes that Roxi comes to her senses!"

Kacey glances at the strange device he's holding, taking in the mess of scrap metal, mismatched buttons, and a flickering screen. Her face twists in visible skepticism. "What kind of phone is that?"

Jeff lets out a booming, mocking laugh that makes her regret the question immediately. "This is no mere phone, you foolish girl!" he bellows, holding the device up like a trophy. "This is my latest invention—the Cellularinator!"

He grins, puffing out his chest. "With this device, I can watch any and all televised programs without the need for Wi-Fi or cable! It even makes phone calls! And has solitaire!"

Kacey stares. "So… it's a cell phone."

Jeff scoffs at the very idea. "Does a 'cell phone' run entirely on maple syrup—" He suddenly gasps, eyes widening. "I forgot the maple syrup!" With a defeated whirr, the device powers down in his hands. "Curses!" he howls.

Before Kacey has to endure another second of his dramatics, the taxi screeches to a stop. She practically launches herself out of the car, dragging her luggage behind her.

"Welcome aboard, Kacey!" Rowan greets her, though his attention quickly shifts to the taxi, where Jeff is still shouting to himself. "And Jeff, I guess."

Kacey's eyes widened in horror. "He's on the trip too?!"

Penelope tilts her head. "Trip?"

Kacey hesitates, already getting a bad feeling. "Yeah, you know, the vacation?"

Rowan lets out a loud laugh. "You thought we spent millions on advertisements just to give eighteen random people a free vacation around the world?" He shakes his head, clearly amused. "You signed yourself up for a reality TV competition."

Kacey pales. "But… but the ad—"

"Too bad," Rowan says smugly. "You also signed a contract. You're not allowed to leave unless you want lawyers involved."

Kacey groans, dragging her luggage toward the growing group of contestants, all of whom give her sympathetic looks. "I can't believe I took vacation time just to not have one," she mutters.

Nearby, O'Reilly, the Lairon, lets out a dry chuckle. "That's why you should always read the fine print." Kacey shoots him a glare before stomping past.

Meanwhile, the taxi driver impatiently honks his horn. "Get outta the car, weirdo!"

Jeff finally emerges, still muttering curses under his breath. As the taxi speeds off, he clenches his fists and bellows at the retreating vehicle, "You will rue the day you were rude to the EVIL Jeff! Rue it, I say! Rue it!"

Both Penelope and Rowan stare at him in utter confusion. The other contestants look equally bewildered—except for Kacey, who just looks downright exhausted.

Jeff, oblivious to the awkwardness, turns to the hosts. "Ah! Hello, people from the advert! I am Jeff—"

"Yeah, we get it," Rowan interrupts, waving him off. "Just go and mingle with the others."

Jeff scowls. "I am a supervillain! An EVIL genius! I should be treated with respect, dammit!" When that gets no reaction, he rolls his eyes and stomps off toward the other contestants.

Aquamarine, the Floatzel, offers him a friendly smile. "Hey there—"

Jeff cuts her off immediately, jabbing a finger in her face. "Back! Someone with a face like yours will never tempt me, you witch!" Aquamarine's eye twitches.

Frank, the Pinsir, frowns. "Dude, that's not a cool thing to say—"

"Silence!" Jeff snaps. "I must find some maple syrup!" And with that, he stalks away. The group watches him go, stunned into silence.

Dez leans toward O'Reilly. "Is that your troublemaker?" he mutters.

O'Reilly hums in thought. "Possibly. But it's usually the ones you least expect."

The Mabosstiff eyes Jeff with an unreadable expression before shifting his gaze toward Frank, who is approaching Kacey tentatively. The bug waves a hand at the plant. "So, how are you—"

"I'm sorry, but can you not?" she interrupts, and he flinches at the sharpness of her tone. She sighs, realizing her attitude. "Sorry, I just need some time to try and comprehend what the hell is happening right now."

"That sounds like your fault for not reading the application right," Nina murmurs, but Kacey hears her and shoots her a glare. The Bergmite flinches and shuffles away.

"Sorry, okay," Frank says quickly, taking a few steps back. Still, he can't help but steal a few pitying glances in her direction.

The camera cuts to the next taxi—just in time to catch it swerving wildly across the road! The vehicle jerks forward in erratic bursts, the sound of screeching tires filling the air.

Inside, Vienna the Houndoom clutches the steering wheel with a white-knuckled grip, her eyes wide with panic. She lets out a shaky breath as a chorus of angry honks blares behind her. "I told you I don't know how to drive!" she snaps, glancing into the rearview mirror.

In the backseat, Enot the Furret is far too preoccupied to care. Locked in a heated makeout session with the taxi driver—a raggedy Pancham—they barely react to Vienna's outburst. "Eh, you're doing great," the driver mumbles dismissively before turning back to Enot.

Enot smirks, leaning back against the seat. "If you're that stressed, you could pull over and wait until we're done. Or..." They purr, eyes flickering with mischief. "You could join us."

Vienna's sharp teeth grind together. "I can't pull over, we're on the freeway!"

Enot simply raises an eyebrow, their smirk growing. "Oh? But if you were able to—"

"No!"

"Suit yourself," Enot says with a shrug, then promptly grabs the driver again and resumes their previous activity.

Vienna growls in frustration and slams her paw against the gas pedal. The taxi lurches forward with a sudden burst of speed, weaving between lanes as furious honks follow in its wake. The GPS chimes in with its usual, infuriating calm. "Turn left to reach your destination."

Vienna grits her teeth and does as instructed, flinching as the side of the taxi scrapes against a pole. By some miracle—or sheer recklessness—she manages to reach the airport.

"How do you turn this thing off?!" she yells, desperately pressing buttons on the dashboard. Nothing happens. "Oh, the hell with it!"

Without a second thought, she grabs both Enot and the driver and flings herself out of the moving vehicle. The three of them land in a heap in front of the hosts, just as a wave of gasps and screams erupts from nearby workers and pedestrians. A loud crash follows. Vienna doesn't even need to look to know the taxi has slammed into one of the parked airplanes.

"What the hell?!" Rowan shouts. "Vienna, why were you driving?!"

"It's not my fault!" Vienna jabs an accusatory claw at Enot and the driver, who are still sprawled on the ground. "They were busy!"

Penelope grimaces and straightens herself. "Enot?"

At the sound of their name, Enot lifts their head. The moment they spot the host, they gasp dramatically and shove the driver away. In a flash, they are in front of her, taking her hand in theirs and pressing a delicate kiss to the back of it. "Angel," Enot breathes. "I've been waiting all my life to meet you."

Penelope raises an eyebrow. "Weren't you just with someone?"

Enot places a paw against her lips. "Shhhh. That's in the past." Their eyes sparkle mischievously. "We are the future."

They lean in, lips puckered, only to collide with something soft—but not what they expected. "Huh," Enot mumbles, pulling back and smacking their lips. "You taste like... clothes?"

"That's because you just kissed my suit," Will says dryly, now standing between them.

Enot grins. "Oh? You want a piece of me too?" They wink. Will takes an awkward step back, extending an arm to keep Penelope at a safe distance.

Rowan rolls his eyes. "Alright, Vienna and Enot. Go mingle with the others. I have to make some dumb calls about the whole 'plane and car' legal situation. I'll just blame the taxi."

The driver's eyes widen in panic. "Huh?! I can't go to jail again!" Without another word, he bolts, leaving some production crew members to chase after him.

Vienna sighs, dusting herself off before walking toward the gathered contestants. "Hey! Sorry about what you saw. I'm more of a runner than a driver."

Frank beams. "No worries! You just had a bad driver, that's all!"

Jeff nods sagely. "Yes, he was truly EVIL! Just like that snake Isabela!"

Enot saunters forward, scanning the crowd with a smirk. "Hey there," they purr, their gaze lingering on each contestant. "What a beautiful group of strangers I see—"

Their eyes suddenly lock onto someone familiar. "Well, well, is that my little gemstone over there?"

Aquamarine, who had been trying—and failing—to hide behind her wide-brimmed hat, lets out a weak chuckle. "Ah, Sofan—"

Enot places a finger over her lips. "Shhhh. It's Enot now. More exotic." They grin. "It's been years!"

O'Reilly's sharp eyes flick between the two. "You two know each other?"

"Oh yes!" Enot exclaims. "We went to high school together! She even went to Homecoming with me!"

Aquamarine lets out a nervous laugh. "And that was it! We haven't seen much of each other since."

"So, you guys used to date?" Nina mumbles with a shudder of disinterest.

"No!" Aquamarine exclaims forcefully before clearing her throat. She speaks again, softer this time. "We just went as friends."

Enot waves a paw dismissively. "And after that, we'd see each other occasionally at the grocery store or a restaurant and say hi." They lean in with a playful smirk, waggling their brows. "We should really try changing our acquaintanceship into something more, hmm?"

Aquamarine's laugh comes out a little too high-pitched as she looks away. The smile on her face falters slightly, and O'Reilly, ever observant, doesn't miss the look of discomfort in her eyes.

The camera cuts to the next taxi, where Finn the Togekiss and Ruby the Durant sit in their respective seats. Ruby is staring intently at her phone, while Finn is pressed up against the window, his eyes shining with wonder as he takes in the sprawling cityscape passing by.

"It's not as big as Pika-Pika Land," he muses aloud, admiring the towering buildings and lively streets, "but it's definitely bigger than my hometown!"

Across from him, Ruby remains glued to her phone. Her antennae twitch slightly at his words, but she offers no verbal response.

Undeterred, Finn turns his attention to her. "I'm from Solaceon Town!" he announces cheerfully.

Ruby barely mumbles an acknowledgment, her gaze never leaving the screen.

Finn tilts his head. "What about you? Where are you from?"

At the sudden question, Ruby flinches slightly. She hesitates before mumbling under her breath, "K-Kanto…"

"Ooooh! I've heard about Kanto!" Finn exclaims excitedly. "Pretty rural, just like my home! Where in Kanto exactly?"

Ruby tenses, visibly uncomfortable with the follow-up question. Finn immediately realizes his mistake. "Oh! Uh, that was rude, huh?" he says, waving his wings apologetically. "You don't have to tell me! I swear, I'm not secretly a killer or anything!"

At that, Ruby subtly scoots farther away, her eyes flickering with unease. Finn gives an awkward chuckle, smiling through the subtle rejection.

The taxi comes to a stop, and both passengers step out. "Welcome, Finn and Ruby!" Penelope greets them warmly.

Ruby barely lifts her head from her phone as she mutters a quiet, "H-Hi…" before scurrying off, her attention still fixated on her screen.

Finn, unfazed, waves her off before flying up to the hosts with an enthusiastic grin. "Hi! Nice to be here on this television show!" He then peeks over their shoulders, scanning the gathered cast. "Can I ask how many more people are coming?"

Rowan crosses his arms. "Six—"

"Oh! My bestest friends signed up for the show, so I'm hoping they got accepted too!" Finn interrupts excitedly.

Rowan sighs, rubbing his temple. "I didn't ask why, but okay." He then gestures toward the others. "Go on and mingle."

As Finn flies over to join the group, Rowan mutters under his breath, "I don't know why, but I don't like that guy."

Finn lands cheerfully among the contestants, waving his wings. "Hi, everyone!"

Vienna offers him a friendly smile. "Hey, welcome! What brings you here?"

"I'm competing with my friends!" Finn beams. "We wanted to be on TV together!" He glances around, hopeful. "I'm sure they'll be here soon!"

Jeff suddenly gasps dramatically. "You already formed an alliance of sheer numbers before the game even started! Truly EVIL! I should have thought of that!"

Finn blinks in confusion. "Alliance? Oh no, no, no! Nothing like that! We just wanted to have fun!"

Jeff shakes his head in disappointment. "You disappoint me, child!"

"I'm twenty-three," Finn corrects with a nervous chuckle.

Hearing this, Enot perks up and scurries over with a sly smile, their brows waggling. "Hey," they purr. "I'm Enot."

Finn grins, his response automatic. "Hi, Enot! I'm Dad!" He pauses, eyes widening as realization hits. "Wait. That's actually your name."

Enot lets out a hearty laugh. "You're a funny guy!"

Finn bounces slightly in place, excitement renewed. "I have more jokes that are way funnier than that if you're interested!"

Enot raises a curious brow. "Oh yeah?"

Finn clears his throat, wings twitching as he launches into his next joke. "So, a Pincurchin and a Watchog walk into a bar…"

The Furret smiles genuinely, as if they're actually interested in hearing the punchline.

The camera cut to the next taxi, where Yuki the Alolan Vulpix clutched onto her stuffed Umbreon plush toy while watching The Peak, the Feraligatr across from her. The Feraligatr was clad in a suit that seemed a size too small, and he was busy flexing his muscles at the unimpressed taxi driver.

"Yep! I'm practically a superhero," The Peak boasted, his biceps bulging as he struck a dramatic pose. "I save lives and protect the world from great forces of evil. No big deal."

The taxi driver, an Accelgor, barely spared him a glance. "Sir, I'm trying to drive."

Unfazed, The Peak smirked. "The name's The Peak." He leaned in with a wink. "I can offer you an autograph after this? Maybe take you out once you drop the kid off with her parents?"

Yuki shot a glance at her toy, who she turned in front of her as if he were a real companion. With a smirk, she held the toy up.

"Hey, you," she spoke, imitating a gruff voice through the toy, turning it to face the gator. "Fat guy in the suit two sizes too small. I'm talking to you!"

The Peak rolled his eyes before turning to the fox and her toy. "Cann it, kid! I'm busy— and I'm not fat!" He flexed again, pointing at his defined arms. "Look at this!"

She spoke through the toy once more. "There's a tear on your left butt cheek."

The Peak gasped. "What?! Impossible!" He twisted his body, desperately trying to get a look at the alleged tear, nearly contorting himself in the process.

Before he could confirm or deny the claim, the taxi came to a sudden halt. Yuki wasted no time leaping out of it with her toy while The Peak staggered out, still fumbling to check his suit.

"Welcome to the show, Yuki and— Oh God!" Penelope recoiled as The Peak flashed the entire group with his backside while attempting to inspect himself, causing everyone to recoil in shock and disgust.

"There's no tear, you little shit!" The Peak bellowed, furiously turning toward the ice fox with a glare.

The toy clicked his tongue (at least that's what Yuki made it seem like). "Tch. Speak to me like that again, and I'll send you straight to the Shadow Realm myself you insignificant oaf."

"What did you just call me?!" He screamed, clenching his hands into tight fists.

Penelope cleared her throat and turned to the camera. "Ahem! Here we have Tere—"

"The name is The Peak!" the Feraligatr interrupted, striking a heroic stance. "Just your everyday superhero! Fighter for justice and all that good stuff!"

Penelope shot him a deadpan look. "You just called that girl a 'little shit.'"

"Irrelevant!"

Rowan let out a loud laugh. "Your name is Peak?"

"The Peak," the Feraligatr corrected. "The is included in the name, brah."

Rowan couldn't contain his amusement, doubling over in laughter. "THE PEAK! Hahaha!" He laughed so hard that he toppled over, knocking over the assistant and his throne in the process. "Dammit, Cheryl! You had one job!"

The host sighed while shaking her head at her co-host's antics, and turned to a silent Yuki, who was looking over the area intently. "Welcome to the show, Yuki."

She momentarily froze, but she looked over at the host for a moment, before turning her head in a somewhat bashful way. She held the Umbreon toy up and spoke through him. "And Yami!" The toy pointed at itself. "We're sort of a package deal."

Penelope rolled her eyes while pointing toward the other cast members. "Okay then, all three of you guys can go mingle with the others."

The Peak smirked, flexing once more. "Are you sure you don't wanna mingle with The Peak?"

Penelope's eyes trailed over his tight suit before she gagged. "No thanks."

As The Peak strutted toward the group, Yuki trailing not that far behind.

"'Sup!" The Peak greeted loudly, striking yet another pose. "The Peak is here! No need to fear!"

The cast simply stared at him.

Kacey let out an exhausted sigh. "There's another one."

The Peak furrowed his brow. "What do you mean? There's only one The Peak, and that's me!"

Levi tilted his head toward Jeff. "She means there's another cosplayer. That guy's pretending to be an evil supervillain or something."

"I'm not pretending!" Jeff protested, smirking. "I am EVIL! I even have my own EVIL sidekick and not-so-EVIL archnemesis!"

The Peak scoffed. "Oh yeah?" He leaned in close, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Well, where are they—"

Before he could finish, something small and furry slammed into the side of his face. With a loud thud, The Peak went down, a semi-conscious Yungoos rolling off him and shaking their fur.

The Yungoos blinked blearily before spotting Jeff. Their eyes lit up. "Boss!"

Jeff narrowed his eyes. "Oh! It's, uh… you… uh…"

"Loki!" Rowan exclaimed in disbelief.

The Darmanitan snapped his fingers with a victorious laugh. "Ah yes! That's your name!"

Rowan rolled his eyes. "No, I mean, where'd you come from?"

Before Loki could answer, the sound of screeching tires filled the air as another taxi skidded to a halt. Perched dramatically on top of it was a Gligar, wearing a black mask over the top portion of her face and a tattered black cape that flew dramatically in the wind behind her.

"Mo—" Penelope began.

Jeff shot a finger at the newcomer, eyes gleaming. "Aha! Batgirl! My archnemesis!"

Loki scurried to Jeff's side, baring his teeth at the Gligar. "I tried to fend her off, Boss! She threw me out the window!"

Batgirl flinched. "Yeah, sorry about that— I mean!" She quickly cleared her throat and adjusted her stance, speaking in a deeper, more dramatic tone. "I will not allow you to commit your evil crimes on this show!"

"You'll never defeat me!" Jeff laughed, clutching his device tightly in his hand. "I will be the one to run away with the prize money and there's nothing you can do about it!"

The Peak, having recovered, couldn't help but bark with laughter. "Hold on! That's your archnemesis?" He pointed a claw at the girl, who had hopped off the vehicle to allow it to leave. "That's a child playing dress-up!"

Batgirl bristled, glaring up at the much larger man. "Hey! I'm twenty-four!"

Loki hesitated, before whispering loudly to the Darmanitan near them. "I mean… he's got a point, Boss."

Jeff turned to his sidekick with a glare. "No one smack talks my archnemesis but me!"

At that, the entire group descended into a chaotic flurry of arguments, all four dramatically making hand gestures and talking over themselves to get their point across.

Off to the side, Enot sighed dramatically, tossing an egg on their tail effortlessly. "Ugh, too much chaos. Can anyone tame this down?"

Vienna, shockingly, agreed. "I'm surprisingly with you on this."

Meanwhile, Yuki clutched Yami closer to her chest, letting the toy "speak" once again. "Tch. Idiots. The lot of them."

Yuki whispered under her breath, "I don't know, Yami. I find it somewhat amusing."

"More like boring," Yami retorted.

Yet while she had this conversation with her toy, the mixture of heroes and villains were still arguing to themselves but it was stopped by O'Reilly who flicked a cigarette on the ground in front of them.

"An EVIL nobody has just littered!" Jeff exclaimed, pointing at the cursed object on the ground.

"You're all acting like fools," O'Reilly muttered, narrowing their gaze at the group. "You're scaring the children."

Everyone turned to Ruby, who looked to be unaffedcted, still scrolling through her phone and ignoring everything happening around her.

"We should cool down," Batgirl digressed, a sigh in her tone. She turned to Loki and offered a pincer. "I'm sorry for throwing you out the window."

The Yungoos looked down at the offered pincer and scowled, turning away with a huff. "Apology not accepted! I don't play nice with nice heroes like you!" They walked off with their head held high.

Batgirl grunted in response and Yuki (and Yami) looked over at her. "What happened to lead to that?"

The Gligar rotated her head to the side and sighed. "Well…" Thinking back on the events, she turned her back and gruffly muttered. "It doesn't matter."

Yuki and Yami glanced at each other as the Gligar walked away.

The camera cut to the next taxi cruising down the highway. In the backseat, Lianne the Frosmoth sat rigidly, her large hands drumming impatiently against the strap of her purse. Beside her, slumped against the window, was Sebastian, a scruffy-looking Dreepy who radiated boredom.

She turned her head slightly toward him, her expression warm but curious. "So, are you here for the Bed and Breakfast Association meeting too?"

Sebastian blinked, clearly caught off guard. "Huh?"

Lianne smiled. "What's your Bed and Breakfast called?"

"I don't have one." He met her blank stare with his own. "I'm here for the TV show."

Lianne didn't react at first. "The what?"

"The TV show," Sebastian repeated, shifting uncomfortably. "It's a competition where you travel around the world, do challenges, and meet new people." He trailed off when he noticed her posture stiffen, the pleasant mask on her face beginning to crack.

Her entire body trembled as if barely restraining herself from saying—or doing—something drastic. Then, just as quickly, she stilled. A forced, brittle smile stretched across her face. "Oh, yes. I'm fine," she said in a sweet yet oddly hollow voice. "I'm just trying to figure out how to get away with mass murder."

Sebastian immediately straightened. "Huh?!"

Before he could process what he'd just heard, the taxi screeched to a halt, and the two of them stepped out.

"Welcome, our final contestants! Sebastian and Lianne!" Penelope announced.

Lianne offered the hosts a perfectly composed smile. "Hello." Then, without another word, she took to the air, her wings fluttering gracefully as she muttered under her breath, "I'm going to kill them. I'm going to kill them. I'm going to kill them."

Sebastian, along with the hosts, watched her fly off in stunned silence.

"…Uh, so," he finally said, trying to shake the moment off, "when are we getting to the challenges?"

Rowan's face lit up. "Finally! Someone asking the right questions."

Sebastian grinned, relieved to hear he wasn't the only one eager to move things along.

"Too bad I'm not answering that right now." Rowan smirked.

Sebastian deflated.

Penelope, ignoring Rowan's antics, gestured toward the rest of the contestants. "You two are the last ones here, but feel free to join your fellow contestants and maybe even get to know them!"

Sebastian nodded and floated toward the others, his eyes scanning the group. The massive Feraligatr, the intimidating Mabosstiff and Pinsir, and even the rugged Lairon all looked like serious competition.

"Hey!" Frank greeted the approaching Frosmoth.

"HI!" she all but screamed, making the bug-type flinch. Realizing this, she cleared her throat and forced a smile, though her hands twitched, and her head occasionally jerked in place. "I mean, hello. Nice to meet you. Lovely weather. I'm Lianne, I own a bed and breakfast that everyone should check out!"

Frank raised a brow, glancing up at the bright blue sky and beaming sun, then back at her—an ice-type visibly sweating in the summer heat. He opened his mouth to respond, but she had already flown past him, mumbling and muttering under her breath.

"Good talk!" he called after her, earning a crazed laugh in return.

Meanwhile, Sebastian drifted toward the others, offering a wave of a flipper to Ruby. "Hey!"

The Durant glanced up at him, flinching. "B-Buh… Hi."

The two stared at each other in silence before Ruby took the opportunity to quietly back away.

"Don't mind her," Vienna said, drawing the Dreepy's attention. She smiled. "She's just a little quiet."

"Oh, got it," he said, looking her over with wide eyes that practically sparkled. "Are you into danger too?"

"Not really," she laughed.

Instantly, his excitement dimmed. "Oh." He floated past her, mumbling to himself, leaving the Houndoom confused.

The hosts smiled at the group as Penelope spoke up, "Welcome to the cast, everyone!"

However, the contestants were too engrossed in their own conversations to hear her.

Exchanging a glance, Rowan sighed before pulling out a bullhorn and a megaphone. Penelope, recognizing what was about to happen, quickly covered her ears as Rowan switched on the megaphone and blasted the bullhorn into it. A deafening noise erupted, sending a wave of discomfort through the gathered contestants.

Everyone cringed, clutching their ears in pain as the sound forced them into silence.

"Great, we got your attention!" Rowan announced smugly, tossing both items aside. "Welcome, losers of all ages, to your new home away from home—Totally Real World Tour!"

Penelope beamed, her professional host persona kicking in. "That's right! I'm your host, Penelope!" she introduced, winking playfully.

Rowan lazily waved a hand. "And I'm Rowan, co-host and executive producer." He nudged Penelope with his elbow. "I'm her boss, by the way."

Penelope shot him a glare but continued, forcing a smile. "All eighteen of you are about to have the experience of a lifetime! You'll be traveling all around the world!"

At that, several contestants—Enot, Finn, Frank, Kacey, and Vienna—perked up, some exchanging excited looks.

"And you'll all be competing in various challenges," Penelope continued, "until only one of you is left standing!"

This time, Sebastian and The Peak showed signs of interest. The latter smirked while the former anxiously rubbed his flippers together in glee.

"The last contestant remaining will take home the grand prize of one million poké!" Penelope's voice dropped to a hushed whisper. "And all while being on national television."

That got a reaction. Eyes widened, murmurs spread, and several contestants glanced at their competitors with newfound determination.

Rowan smirked. "Though most of you should already know this, considering you signed up."

Meanwhile, Lianne's eye twitched as if she were still processing this information.

Frank raised a hand. "How exactly are we traveling around the world?"

"Glad you asked!" Rowan grinned. "We'll get to that later."

Frank frowned.

"For now," Penelope continued, "take a good look at everyone around you."

The contestants obeyed, scanning the faces of their fellow competitors—some with curiosity, others with suspicion.

"These are not only the faces of your competition," she said dramatically, "but also the faces of your potential best friends, allies… or enemies."

Rowan leaned forward. "Plus, you'll be stuck together for the rest of the summer, so you might as well start getting to know each other."

Aquamarine raised a wing. "If I may ask, where exactly are we going to be stuck?"

Rowan grinned. "As I said… we'll get to that later."

Aquamarine sighed.

"But before we move on," Rowan continued, "we need to lay down some ground rules."

O'Reilly hummed, nodding approvingly. "Finally, something tactful."

"Rule number one," Rowan began, "you can't leave the show unless you're eliminated or medically unable to continue. If you leave without warning, our lawyers will track you down for breaching your contract."

At this, both Lianne and Kacey stiffened.

"The second rule," Penelope added, "watch your language. We're broadcasting live. While we can bleep out the occasional slip-up, we don't want constant censorship. Plus, kids are probably watching!"

The Peak groaned in frustration but said nothing.

"Rule number three," Rowan went on, "no physical fights with other contestants unless it's part of a challenge or in self-defense. We may be Pokémon, and fighting might be in our nature, but we don't want any unnecessary injuries."

Penelope nodded. "Anyone caught breaking this rule will get a warning. A second offense could lead to disqualification."

Loki immediately shot up. "Hey! Batgirl launched me out of a taxi! Does she get a warning?" The Gligar turned and glared at them.

The Peak folded his arms. "Yeah! And that rat guy got thrown into me! Does he get disqualified?" The Yungoos scowled at him.

Penelope sighed. "That happened before we laid out the rules. Starting now, everyone gets a clean slate."

Rowan cleared his throat. "And onto the final rule—rule number four! Once you're eliminated, you're gone for good. You won't be able to compete or win the money. If you try sneaking back in or meddling, we'll hit you with a restraining order."

Levi scoffed. "I doubt anyone here is desperate enough to do that."

Rowan laughed and looked away with a grimace. "You'd be surprised, dude. Some fans get… intense."

Penelope clapped her hands together. "Anyway! That's all for the rules! Now, who's excited to see their new home away from home?"

A wave of cheers erupted from the cast, though some were more enthusiastic than others. The adventure was about to begin!

The contestants let out a collective groan as Rowan grinned, clearly enjoying himself.

"Great! Too bad you'll have to wait a little longer!" he announced, ignoring their frustration. Rowan gestured toward the group. "As you all know, you're here to compete for the grand prize of one million poké, and only one of you will win it."

Murmurs spread through the contestants, some already sizing up their competition.

"However," Rowan continued, "that doesn't mean you can't work together toward a common goal."

Penelope clapped her hands together excitedly. "Which is why we're splitting you into three teams of six!" she announced, her voice full of enthusiasm. "Go teamwork!"

The reactions were mixed—some contestants looked pleased, others groaned in annoyance, while a few remained neutral, as if they didn't care much about the news.

"It's a group project all over again…" Nina muttered under her breath.

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll love your new teammates!" Penelope said with a wink. "Now, if I call your name, please step to the right of me."

"Yuki!" Penelope announced. The Alolan Vulpix turned her Umbreon plush toward the host. "And Yami."

She stepped forward, her expression unreadable.

"O'Reilly!" The Lairon followed, adjusting his posture as he studied his new teammates.

"Lianne!" The Frosmoth hesitated, her wings twitching as if she wanted to fly away.

"Sebastian!" The Dreepy grinned and floated forward.

"Loki!" The Yungoos bounded up, eager and ready for action.

"And Frank!" The Pinsir smiled and stepped up, casting a warm glance at his new team.

"You guys will be known as Team One for now," Penelope declared.

The team itself didn't have much of a reaction to being grouped together. O'Reilly kept his focus on the sky, a serious expression on his face as he gnawed his unlit cigarette. Lianne stared at the ground, her head twitching violently every so often as she muttered to herself. Sebastian spun in place with a determined look. The only ones actively sizing up their teammates were Yuki (and Yami) and Loki. Meanwhile, Frank simply smiled proudly, despite his team showing little enthusiasm about working together.

Yuki narrowed her eyes at the host, lifting Yami in front of her face. "That's a crappy team name," she said, speaking through the plush.

Penelope shot her an annoyed glare. "I said for now!" she huffed before regaining her composure. "Alright, next group! If I call your name, stand to my left."

"Kacey!" The Roserade sighed and stepped forward, already looking unimpressed.

"Enot!" The Furret followed, standing next to her and offering a flirty wink, which she promptly ignored.

"Levi!" The Meowstic walked up, still tinkering with his device.

"Batgirl!" The Gligar stood tall, puffing out her chest as she strutted forward.

"Jeff!" The Galarian Darmanitan smirked as he made his way to the group.

"And Vienna!" The Houndoom joined them, a satisfied grin on her face.

"You will be known as Team Two for now," Penelope announced.

Unlike the first team, this one took the time to size each other up out of curiosity. Batgirl and Jeff locked eyes and immediately narrowed them in challenge. Kacey, who stood near them, took several steps away with an uncomfortable expression. Levi clicked his tongue at the sight of everyone and returned to his gadget. Enot looked over the team, biting their lip. Vienna raised a brow at Enot, then at the two apparent rivals, and let out an amused laugh.

Looking away from the glaring hero and villain, Kacey exhaled sharply. "Did we really need to have two cosplayers on the same team?"

"We're not cosplaying!" Jeff and Batgirl snapped in unison before freezing, their eyes widening as they turned to each other.

"Stop saying what I'm saying!"

"Jinx!"

"Double jinx!"

"Triple—"

Rowan sighed, cutting them off. "Alright, since we only have one group left, let's not make a big deal out of this."

"Nina." The Bergmite rolled her eyes, unimpressed.

"The Peak." The Feraligatr beamed with confidence.

"Ruby." The Durant hummed while scrolling through her phone.

"Finn." The Togekiss flashed a wide smile.

"Aquamarine." The Floatzel tilted the brim of her hat with a smirk.

"And Dez." The Mabosstiff grunted in response.

"Say hello to yourselves, Team Three," Rowan said.

The Peak flexed his bicep, showing off to Aquamarine, who let out a flirty giggle. Near them, Finn smiled and muttered, "How cute," to Dez, who scoffed, unimpressed with the display. Meanwhile, Nina distanced herself from the team, pointedly looking away. Ruby… continued scrolling through her phone.

Nina cast a glance at the hosts and sighed. "Why are we just named after numbers again?"

Penelope and Rowan exchanged a look.

"Well, we were going to let you guys come up with your own team names," Penelope admitted. "You know, since you're all adults, we figured you'd be mature about it."

Rowan smirked. "But since you're already whining, you have exactly one minute to decide on a name."

The cast collectively panicked.

Dez shot them an exasperated look. "We just found out who's on our team! We haven't even talked to each other yet—"

"Fifty-nine. Fifty-eight. Fifty-seven…" Rowan began counting down, completely ignoring the complaints.

The three teams immediately huddled together, whispering in frantic discussions.

Team One, in particular, looked indecisive.

Frank whispered, "Alright, does anyone have an idea or two?"

"The Duelists," the stuffed Umbreon plush "spoke" as Yuki held him up.

"Not interested," O'Reilly muttered, placing a cigarette in his mouth. "I say we keep it simple. Something like the Private Eyes."

"We're not all detectives, though!" Frank blurted out a little too quickly. Noticing some confusion from his teammates, he cleared his throat. "I mean, uh… Lianne! How about you?"

The moth smiled. "We could be called the Circhester Bed and Breakfast."

"Okay, Sebastian?" Frank turned to the Dreepy, who was twirling in place.

"Hold on, I'm trying to spin without getting dizzy," the ghost waved him off, focusing on his own activity.

"I say we become the Evil Legion of Evil!" Loki exclaimed, laughing maniacally—though no one was paying attention. "It's a great name!"

Frank facepalmed. "Alright, uh… let's just keep brainstorming."

Not too far away, Team Two was handling things in a much more diplomatic manner.

Levi spoke first. "I say it should be something we can all get behind, like the Heroes."

"Never!" Jeff bellowed, slamming a fist against the ground. "If we're anything, we'll be the EVIL LEMONS!"

"…Lemons?" Vienna asked, raising a brow.

"They are truly evil," he whispered, darting his gaze around suspiciously.

"We should be the Justice League," Batgirl muttered, keeping her back to her teammates. "Even if Jeff is in it."

"Hey!" he exclaimed.

Kacey rolled her eyes. "Pretty sure that's trademarked."

The Gligar deflated slightly but then perked up when Kacey sighed and offered, "You could try the League of Justice?"

Batgirl's tail wagged slightly beneath her cape.

Enot, who had been mostly silent, smiled at this. "Okay, let's do that." Then, with a mischievous smirk, they added, "I'm sure we'll all be happy with our new name."

"I'm down," Vienna shrugged.

"Fine," Levi sighed.

Jeff grumbled, folding his arms. "Bested once again."

Meanwhile, Team Three had finished their huddle a long time ago, looking oddly proud—except for Nina.

"What if the other teams think our name is boring?" Nina asked, scowling at the ground.

"Then we improvise!" Aquamarine offered. "I'm sorry if it's dull, but I thought it'd bring us luck."

"It's not dull!" The Peak exclaimed, striking a dorky pose. "It's simply the truth!"

Dez rolled his eyes. "Eh. I don't mind it."

"I love the name!" Finn said happily.

"Hmm…" Ruby mumbled in agreement… or disagreement. No one could really tell.

Seeing Team Three looking the most relaxed, Rowan turned to them first. "You guys look done. What's your name?"

The team shared a glance before Finn stepped forward. "We're—"

"The Peak is here to say it first!" The Peak interrupted, throwing his arms in the air. "TEAM VICTORY!"

Rowan raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "How… generic."

"I told you," Nina grumbled, practically shaking while the rest of the team collectively glared at the Sneasler.

Rowan turned to Team Two. "Alright, you guys?"

Batgirl stepped up, taking a deep breath. "We're team—"

"Enot is Really Really Really Really Hot!" Enot suddenly declared, flashing a smug grin.

A long silence followed.

"WHAT?!" Levi exclaimed in horror.

"That's not our name!" Jeff screamed, glaring at the chuckling Furret. "We do not think this fiend is hot! Let alone really, really, really—"

"Too late," Rowan said immediately.

The rest of the team turned their glares toward Enot, who simply winked at Penelope, leaving her blinking in confusion.

Rowan's gaze shifted to Team One. "And you guys?"

The team looked up from their huddle, caught off guard.

Frank scratched the back of his head nervously. "Uh… we don't have a name."

Rowan sighed dramatically. "Alright, Team No Name it is."

This oddly didn't seem to bother the team much—aside from a certain Yungoos, who groaned in distaste.

Loki facepalmed. "What about my idea? The Evil Legion of Evil?"

Sebastian threw his arms up. "We're not evil!"

O'Reilly arched an eyebrow, turning to the ghost. "Strange. You got defensive real fast there, bub."

Sebastian gawked at him. "What?!"

Penelope clapped her hands together. "Well! We're happy to see you all bonding already!" she chirped.

The contestants, however, looked far from thrilled.

"So," Rowan continued, scanning the group, "is anyone ready to see the plane?"

Murmurs of curiosity and interest confirmed he had their attention.

"Good. Because here she is."

With a dramatic wave of his hand, he gestured toward the runway.

A sleek, pearl-white commercial airplane stood tall and proud, its polished surface gleaming under the sun. The contestants gazed at it in awe—except for Levi, who merely folded his arms and scoffed.

"Wait—someone get that piece of junk out of the way!" Rowan barked, waving his hand as if to speed things along.

The magnificent aircraft began rolling forward, accelerating down the runway until it lifted gracefully into the sky.

As it disappeared, another aircraft was revealed in its place.

The contestants' expressions shifted from admiration to sheer horror.

Before them sat a rusted, grayish-black aircraft that looked more like a relic than a functioning plane. The metal was weathered, with paint peeling in places, and—was that duct tape on the right wing?!

"It's beautiful," Levi whispered, his eyes wide with wonder.

Dez squinted at the plane, unimpressed. "Are we looking at the same thing?"

Levi, however, was practically glowing. "Of course someone like you wouldn't understand art when it's right in front of your face," he scoffed.

Dez's eye twitched. "What did you just say—"

Before the argument could escalate, Rowan pulled out yet another megaphone and spoke over them, his voice booming. "Alright, contestants! Meet your home away from home… and your ride away from your ride?" He paused, glancing at the cue cards held up by an off-screen assistant. His face darkened. "Whoever wrote this line is fired!"

A distressed Braviary let out a small whimper before flying off with a choked sob.

Penelope quickly took over. "Anyway! This is our aircraft, the Mystery 2.0!"

"Actually, just Mystery 2.0," Rowan corrected, grinning. "Because of her mysterious behavior, I've decided to name her Mystery."

Penelope's brow furrowed. "Behavior?"

"Now that I think about it, she's also very graceful and majestic. Perhaps I should've named her Grace… or Majesty…" He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Or Debbie."

Lianne, looking increasingly alarmed, hesitated before asking, "What… happened to Mystery 1.0?"

Rowan's smirk didn't waver; he simply whispered, "We don't talk about that." Lianne went pale. Clearing his throat, Rowan continued, "Anyway, let's check out the inside, shall we?"

Before anyone could move, a metal plate on the left wing clattered to the ground with a loud clang.

"George! Fix this up, will ya?" Rowan called, and a flustered intern sprinted toward the fallen piece.

The contestants exchanged wary glances, but, with no other option, they followed the two hosts up the ramp and into the aircraft.

Inside, they were greeted by a narrow aisle lined with dingy seats that looked like they had seen better decades. The overhead compartments were scratched, the lighting flickered faintly, and the scent of something vaguely burnt lingered in the air.

Penelope beamed. "Welcome to economy class!" She raised her arms to showcase the sheer mediocrity of the room. "This will be your standard living and sleeping environment for the summer… depending!"

Silence. The contestants looked far from impressed.

Frank hesitated. "Depending?"

"You'll find out soon enough," Rowan shrugged, leaning back against the wall. "So, what are your thoughts?"

"It's, uh," Vienna said, glancing at the seats. "I've certainly slept in worse places."

"Same!" Jeff exclaimed, rubbing his hands together with a grin. "In fact, this looks comfortable compared to some places I've slept! There's even an armrest! Magnificent!"

"It's beneath me!" Loki growled. "I should be treated like the King of Chaos!"

Nina stared at them blankly. "They're just airport seats. No need to get worked up about it."

"If you think this tour is 'just about airport seats,' then prepare to have your mind blown!" Rowan declared with a mischievous smile. He approached the next door and swung it open with a dramatic flourish, revealing an interior so blindingly golden that the contestants collectively took a step back.

The golden walls shimmered as if they were made of pure wealth. Brand-new golden recliners lined the space in pristine rows, and elegant bunk beds with silk coverings were neatly arranged toward the back. Miniature television screens flickered to life, and a sleek minibar stood invitingly in the corner. It was a room designed for royalty—if royalty had a penchant for excessive flashiness.

Ruby hissed at the brightness, shielding her eyes.

"Whoa, is this real gold?" Sebastian asked, staring in awe.

Levi scoffed, crossing his arms. "Obviously not. That would be structurally unsound and ridiculously impractical."

The Peak let out a low whistle. "Whatever. It's way better than that other room."

"It's so gaudy," Lianne whispered, floating toward one of the golden walls and glaring at it. "Who would pay to be here when they could be in a cozier, more home-like environment? Like my bed and breakfast—"

"We get it, you have a business," Kacey deadpanned, causing the moth to internally scream. "It's ugly, but I don't mind the minibar."

Penelope clasped her hands together, grinning. "We're glad you like it! Because, if you haven't figured it out yet, this is First Class! Just like Economy, this will be where you sleep and rest… depending."

Loki narrowed their eyes. "There's that 'depending' again! Where are we actually sleeping? Here, or in the ugly room?"

Jeff folded his arms and let out a condescending laugh. "You fool! It depends on how the teams perform!"

The others turned to him with varying expressions of surprise.

He huffed. "What? It doesn't take an EVIL genius like me to connect the dots!"

Rowan groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Well, thanks to Jeff, the cat's out of the bag earlier than expected." He let his hand drop to his side. "Yes—your team's placement in challenges will determine where you get to stay."

Penelope took over, her chipper voice cutting through the murmurs. "The first-place team in each challenge will be immune from elimination and will get to stay in this luxurious room for the duration of the challenge period!"

At this, several contestants perked up, murmuring their approval.

"The second-place team will also be immune from elimination," Penelope continued, "but they'll have to stay in Economy Class."

O'Reilly casually placed a cigarette in their mouth, their voice smooth and uninterested. "And where's the third team sleeping?"

A strange pause followed. Penelope and Rowan exchanged a knowing look.

"We're so glad you asked!" Rowan said with a grin.

Penelope beamed as she led the cast into the next area. "Welcome to Cargo Class!"

The room was starkly different from the others. The air was heavy with the scent of metal and wood, and the walls were lined with large, sturdy crates—some marked with faded labels, others stacked haphazardly and barely held together by ratchet straps. The space was cramped, with high ceilings, and the overhead lights flickered intermittently, casting a cold, sterile glow. It felt more utilitarian than anything they had seen so far.

Nina, clearly unimpressed, grumbled under her breath, "That's not a real class…"

"It doesn't even look like a livable space," Dez muttered. "I've seen prison cells with more life than this."

Penelope waved her hand dismissively, ignoring their complaints. "Unfortunately, if your team lands in third place, you'll be staying here—and you'll have to eliminate one of your teammates!"

Vienna glanced around at the bleak surroundings, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "How… great."

Enot scratched their chin thoughtfully, nodding as if they had already accepted their fate. "As long as we all stay very close to each other, it shouldn't be an issue where we sleep."

The rest of the group immediately took a step away from Enot, exchanging uneasy glances. Sleeping in such a cramped, industrial space wasn't appealing to anyone—especially if it meant being near this obsessively flirty ferret.

Batgirl scanned the area, her eyes narrowing. "Where do these eliminations happen, anyway?"

Rowan, who had been hanging back, suddenly grinned, clearly excited to answer. "Glad you asked!"

The contestants watched as the next door swung open after their trek back to First Class. Inside, rows of seats faced a wooden podium, and on the right side of the room, an emergency hatch loomed nearby. The atmosphere felt more serious—more formal, at least compared to what they'd seen so far.

Penelope was quick to take charge. "This is Elimination Class—"

But Rowan, ever the interrupter, groaned loudly. "Stop with the 'class' thing. It was cute at first, but now it's just annoying."

Penelope pouted, but Rowan ignored her, turning back to the cast. "Anyway, this is where the ceremonial eliminations will take place."

Lianne raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. "Why is it right next to First Class?"

Rowan's mischievous grin spread across his face. "So the losers have to take the walk of shame in front of the winners." He glanced around, obviously enjoying the discomfort on their faces. "I thought it'd be a nice touch."

Penelope coughed in an attempt to redirect the conversation. "Anyway! How this works is—"

But Rowan wasn't finished. He cut her off with an exaggerated cough of his own. "Ahem! We'll explain eliminations when one actually happens." He looked around at the group, trying to keep their attention. "There are three more rooms left on the tour. Actually, this room over here…" He jabbed a claw toward a door behind the podium. "That's the cockpit. Don't go in there. No matter what. It's off-limits. I'll kill you if you go in there."

The cast froze. Several faces went pale. Frank, in particular, looked like he'd just seen a ghost.

"Oh my God," the Pinsir whispered, covering his pincers with his hands.

Rowan quickly waved his hands. "Okay, I wouldn't kill you. But there will be consequences you don't want to know about."

The bug visibly sighed in relief, though he still looked somewhat stressed.

Penelope shot Rowan a deadpan look. "That's code for 'I have to figure out a punishment for that later.'"

Rowan rolled his eyes dramatically. "There are two more rooms to show you, and then the tour's over so you can all settle in." With that, he gestured for the group to move along.

The next room they entered was a standard cafeteria, designed more for functionality than luxury. Long tables were scattered across the space, and shelves lined the walls, stocked with various utensils, cans, and boxes. The scent of fresh food lingered in the air, though it wasn't clear whether it was from recent preparation or simply the possibility of what could be made here.

And, of course, there was a large kitchenery smacked in the back, with two doors labeled Pantry and Freezer. The kitchen was equipped with the basics: a double sink, refrigerator, microwave, toaster, oven, stove, and dishwasher. It was essentially your everyday kitchen—just much larger than the average home would have.

Rowan beamed, waving his hand around. "Welcome to the kitchen. This is where you'll make your own food and eat."

The cast exchanged confused looks, and the awkward silence that followed told Rowan exactly what they were thinking.

"Don't look at me like that!" he snapped. "You're all adults… Except for Ruby."

Ruby, who had been glued to her phone since the start of the tour, barely acknowledged the comment, mumbling something inaudible under her breath.

Rowan shrugged, unfazed. "We didn't feel like paying for a chef or stocking up on gourmet meals, so if you're hungry, cook. Pots, pans, and utensils are in the cabinets. Check the pantry and freezer for food."

The Peak raised an eyebrow, clearly concerned. "Sounds simple, but uh… what if we can't cook?"

Rowan chuckled darkly, showing no sympathy. "That's your fault for not knowing basic survival skills." He sighed, almost dramatically. "If you seriously can't cook, ask someone to teach you. If all else fails, we have cereal, toast, and sandwich supplies."

Penelope, trying to rally the group with optimism, smiled warmly. "I'm sure our contestants know how to cook!"

Her words were met with mixed reactions—some nodding in agreement, others eyeing the kitchen with clear hesitation.

"…Maybe we should invest in a chef—" she started, but before she could finish her thought, Rowan, already moving on, cut in. "Alright, next stop!"

Back in Economy Class, the contestants huddled together, staring at a small, unimpressive bathroom. It was bare—just a toilet, a sink, and a mirror staring blankly back at them. The disappointment in the air was palpable.

Loki was the first to state the obvious. "This is a bathroom."

Rowan stepped inside with a knowing smirk. "Not just any bathroom—your confessional bathroom!" He gestured dramatically toward a small camera installed in the wall, positioned carefully to face the mirror. "If you've got anything you want to get off your chest—about yourself, the other contestants, the challenge, or just life in general—this is the place to do it!"

Penelope nodded in agreement. "For now, you can use it to introduce yourself to the audience. Show them why they should root for you… or why they shouldn't."

Lianne tilted her head. "Does this include a washroom?"

Penelope sighed, clearly having anticipated the question. "Sadly, there was no way to install a shower or bathtub on the aircraft. So if you need to wash up, you'll have to wait until we stop in a town or city."

Frank, meanwhile, looked increasingly disturbed. "Are we just skipping over the fact that there's a camera in a bathroom?"

Rowan waved him off. "It's not even facing the toilet. Don't be a wuss."

Frank gestured wildly at the setup, eyes wide. "It's still in the bathroom!"

Ignoring him completely, Rowan stepped further inside with a mischievous smile. "Here, I'll demonstrate how it works."

Rowan stood confidently in front of the camera, the mirror and sink behind him, with a poster promoting proper hygiene peeking into the shot. "This is the confessional! Your place of solitude to vent about anything and everything!"

He then leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. "I know I already gave the rundown, but let's be honest—those kids weren't listening to a single thing I said. Too busy being judgmental and all that kiddie crap." He sent the camera a wink, completely ignoring the glares from the cast standing just outside the open door.

Aquamarine smiled politely at the camera, adjusting her large pink hat. "Hello, fans of Totally Real World Tour! As you know, I'm Aquamarine, just a city girl looking for a bit of adventure in my life!" She playfully batted her eyelashes at the camera, but after a moment, her expression cracked, and she let out an amused laugh.

Her smirk returned as she placed a paw on her hip. "Let's be real—I'm also here for the cold, hard cash! Anyone who says they aren't here for the money is just wasting everyone's time." With a huff, she winked at the camera. "For now, I need to bide my time, make some friends—as the kids say—and make sure I'm the last person anyone thinks of voting off."

Batgirl kept the lower half of her face hidden behind her cape, her eyes sharp. "I am the bat. I have only one mission: to ensure Jeff doesn't hurt anyone with his inators. I will protect this cast."

She hesitated slightly, lowering her cape just enough to reveal her mouth. "The money doesn't sound too bad either… if I can win it." She immediately covered her face again and glared at the camera. "However, as a hero, I must not be greedy! I must always put others above myself!"

Dez took a moment to glance around the small bathroom before speaking, his tone gruff. "Name's Dez. I'm just here for the money. I could really use it, and let's be honest—it's the only reason anyone would sign up for this."

He hesitated for a moment, his usual tough demeanor cracking just enough to reveal something more vulnerable. "I just… need a fresh start. Maybe seeing new places will help with that… even if I have to share the experience with a bunch of strangers."

Enot grinned, winking at the camera as they ran a paw through their fur. "The name's Enot, but I'm sure you beautiful viewers already knew that." Their smirk widened. "To be honest, I had no idea what this was. I just signed up to meet that beauty of a host, and let me tell you—I was not disappointed! However, she still hasn't fallen for me."

They sighed dramatically. "I'm used to rejection now and then, but even my competition doesn't seem interested in my looks and charm. It's oddly refreshing. I respect it… but I'm also bored." They rolled their eyes before laughing. "Hopefully, our first stop has plenty of beauties who can appreciate the finer things in life—such as myself!"

Finn waved a wing enthusiastically, his eyes bright with excitement. "Hiya! My name's Finn, but I'm sure you already know that!" He let out a lighthearted laugh before continuing. "I joined this show to hang out with my work friends… but it looks like they didn't make it. Sorry, guys! I'll go far and win—just for you!"

He bounced in place, the idea sparking even more energy. "Besides, if I do win, I could use that money to finally kickstart my business." His eyes practically shimmered. "Well… I don't have a business yet, but once I get the funds, then it'll exist! One day!"

He let out a satisfied sigh, momentarily lost in the dream, before snapping back. "At least for now, I get to meet new people and make new friends!" His beaming smile remained unshaken. "I'm going to befriend everyone—on my team and the other teams! We're all gonna have a blast this summer!"

Frank waved at the camera, though his unsettling grin made it more terrifying than friendly. "I'm Frank! I've never been on a plane before—hell, I've never even been to a city as big as Hau'oli until today! It's just the first day, and already, I'm experiencing so many new things!"

He let out a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his head. "I'm just here for fun and new experiences. I don't really need the money, but… I wouldn't say no to winning." His voice wavered slightly before he quickly added, "But that's it! Absolutely nothing else I need out of this game show."

His laughter turned uneasy as his eyes darted to the side, avoiding the camera's gaze.

Jeff glared at the camera and jabbed a finger at his chest. "I'm Jeff, the one and only EVIL mastermind—not just of this television show, but of the entire world!" He cackled before shifting into a more serious—though equally exaggerated—tone. "I will dominate this game and claim that prize money for myself! I'm not here for friendships or adventure! I'm here for one thing and one thing only—the money!"

He paused before adding, "I need it for—well, it'd be nice to find a new EVIL lair. Maybe get a bigger television screen. Some more food would be nice too." His enthusiasm faltered slightly as he groaned, rubbing his forehead. "But also… these challenges sound like a lot of work. My mind may be large, but my body is not what one would call 'athletic.'"

Then, as if a new thought struck him, his expression lit up again with a mischievous grin. "At least I know my arch-nemesis, Batgirl, will do most of the work to win! And I can use my EVIL genius to make sure the pesky children on the other teams never win… Maybe! Depends on what I'm doing, the weather, and my mood. EVIL!"

Kacey leaned against the sink, arms folded, looking utterly unimpressed. "I thought this was a vacation," she muttered, irritation evident. "I foolishly believed I'd finally get a chance to relax. But no—instead, I'm on national television, crammed inside a sham of a plane with complete strangers. And to make it worse, I have to be part of a 'team' made up of some of the most obnoxious ones!"

She sighed, dragging a hand down her face. "If I had known what this actually was, I would have never signed up for this." Her gaze dropped to her appendages, and she whispered, "I just wanted to do something different. I wanted to…" She faltered, inhaling deeply.

A moment passed before she exhaled in reluctant acceptance. "I guess I'm technically still going on a trip around the world… and the money does sound nice." She groaned, pressing an appendage against her forehead. "I'm going to regret this, but if I'm here I may as well try to win."

Levi barely spared the camera a glance as he tinkered with a small machine in his hands. When he finally looked up, he smirked knowingly. "Hello, my name is Levi Kantar. You may know me from certain news segments and magazines," he said smoothly, his voice dripping with confidence. "But for now, I am simply a humble contestant on a brand-new reality show."

His confidence never wavered as he continued. "I'm fairly certain I can win, given my competition. Not to put them down, of course—" he smirked, "—it's just the reality of our differences in talent." He held up his device, expression smug. "Currently, I'm working on my translator. It's a fully functional device that picks up foreign languages and translates them instantly. Considering we'll be traveling the world, it will certainly prove useful."

Levi tapped his temple with a chuckle. "As you can see, I always think ahead. I'm in this to win, and no one will stand in my way. Not when I have the power of science!"

Lianne's face suddenly filled the frame, her wide, frantic eyes darting wildly. "I was tricked! Tricked, I tell you!" she declared before quickly snapping back, clearing her throat, and forcing a smile. "Sorry! I don't know what got into me. My name's Lianne!"

She rubbed her appendages together, her voice shifting into a more rehearsed tone. "I'm the proud owner of a beautiful Bed and Breakfast in Circhester! If you ever find yourself in need of accommodations at a stellar price, look no further." Her smile faltered slightly. "I may be gone for now, but don't worry. It won't be long before I'm back where I belong—managing my beautiful business."

Loki balanced precariously on the sink, striking a dramatic pose. "I am Loki! Bringer of chaos!" They cackled loudly, reveling in the moment. "The boss and I may be on different teams, but it doesn't matter! This is my chance to prove that I'm just as evil as he is!"

Their grin widened. "I don't care about the money or anything trivial like that—I just want everyone to tremble at my feet! Soon, they will fear the name—"

Suddenly, the plane lurched, sending them tumbling unceremoniously to the floor. "Ow!"

Nina scowled as she glanced around warily. "Ugh. I'm Nina, and it looks like I'm stuck working with others again." She rolled her eyes, letting out an exasperated sigh. "There are so many people here."

She shook her head. "I just want the money. I don't care about anyone else or anything else for that matter." Her gaze flickered away for a moment before settling back into a hardened stare. "I don't even care about the challenges. I just need to win. And I'll do that—" her voice lowered slightly, "—by any means necessary."

With their back turned to the camera, O'Reilly stared at their own reflection in the mirror. Their stoic expression remained unwavering, their voice gruff. "The name's O'Reilly. Dick O'Reilly. Private eye for hire."

They let out a slow exhale. "Money makes the world go 'round. It makes men lose track of their better judgment—shows a worse side of them than anyone ever thought possible." They straightened their stance. "I'm here to take out any troublemakers and earn that little prize. Only someone as devoted to Lady Justice as myself deserves that much."

Their reflection hardened, gaze like steel. "I won't let anyone with nefarious intentions win. Not on my watch."

Ruby barely looked up from the thick novel she was flipping through. Her voice was quiet, uncertain. "I-I'm Ruby… I just g-graduated high school…" Her fingers clutched the book a little tighter. "I needed to get out of the house and… I-I'm out of the house now."

Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I need money."

Sebastian floated in front of the camera, arms crossed, looking unimpressed. "Hey, I'm Sebastian. I was hoping for some heart-stopping challenges, but today? Pretty boring." He let out a long sigh. "Apparently, nothing cool or exciting is happening today."

He rolled his eyes. "Not that that's bad or anything, but I came here to win. And to do that, you need challenges! What's the point of even having teams if there's only one winner?" He huffed but then shrugged. "As long as I get the cool challenges I was promised, it's fine, I guess."

The camera caught The Peak with his back turned, but his reflection gleamed in the mirror as he kissed his biceps with a self-satisfied grin. "The Peak is in the building!" he announced dramatically.

Spinning around, he smirked. "Didn't think I'd be dealing with wannabe villains and a cosplaying hero, but not to worry—there's only one true hero here, and that's me!" He flexed again, exuding confidence.

"I'm totally winning this thing! I just need to use my awesome muscles and super big brain to dominate all the challenges." He flexed once more before running a large hand through his red spikes. "And, of course, my undeniable good looks and charm will make sure the ladies always want to work with me." He winked at the camera. "I'm practically invincible! Ain't no way I'm losing this thing!"

Vienna smiled warmly as she faced the camera. "Hey, I'm Vienna, but my friends call me V." Her expression softened slightly. "I don't have any friends yet, but hopefully, after tonight, I can meet some of my teammates—and maybe even a few others—who might become friends down the road."

Her hopeful demeanor flickered into something more serious. "I have a pretty good feeling about the vibe so far, so I'm hoping for minimal drama." She paused, lips pressing together before continuing. "I don't mind my team that much, either. Sure, they're eccentric, but who isn't?"

"I don't need to win—I just want the experience," she shrugged, then shot the camera a playful smirk. "If I wanted to, I could easily win this game."

The camera was slightly off-center, catching Yuki curiously glancing around the small bathroom while Yami stared directly into the lens. The toy Umbreon raised his arms dramatically. "The name's Yami, and this," he gestured toward Yuki, "is my ally of sorts, Yuki."

Yuki pouted, looking up at him. "You can tell them we're friends, Yami." But as soon as she noticed the camera, she shrank back behind him, peeking out hesitantly.

Yami chuckled. "Sorry, audience, but she's not exactly great in front of the camera." He leaned closer to the lens, voice dropping slightly. "Not exactly the best with other Pokémon either."

"Yami!" Yuki huffed in protest, her cheeks puffing ever so slightly.

He smirked. "I always tell her—if she can handle her crazy mother, she can handle anything—"

"Yami!" she interrupted, flustered.

He laughed, waving off her frustration. "Alright, alright." Turning back to the camera, he added, "Keep an eye on us—or at least me." Yuki raised the toy's arm, showing off a cardboard duel disk. Yami leaned in, smirking. "I won't disappoint."

Rowan clapped his hands together, a smug grin spreading across his face as he addressed the group. "And that concludes our tour! What kind of vibes are you all getting from this place?"

Kacey, arms crossed, didn't even hesitate. "I hate it."

Rowan's grin widened. "I'm glad!"

The Grass-type shot him an incredulous look.

From the back of the group, Finn perked up. "Hi, Glad! I'm Dad!" He gave himself a small celebratory cheer. "Nailed it that time!"

Rowan turned to him, his expression unreadable. "I don't know why, but I don't like you."

Finn's smile remained, but the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed the strain behind it. He didn't respond, choosing instead to stare at the ground in forced contentment.

Unbothered, Rowan turned back to the rest of the group. "Anyway, the introduction and tour are pretty much done, so feel free to check out the kitchen, make some confessionals, or just hang out and maybe get to know the losers you're stuck working with."

Beside him, Penelope nodded, her demeanor much friendlier. "We'll be taking off in a few minutes, so if you feel any turbulence, that's why."

Aquamarine tilted her head, an eyebrow raised. "Oh? We're not going to enjoy the sights of Alola?"

Rowan let out a short, dry laugh. "Nope! We just met here because it was a good starting spot for the cameras. We didn't have enough time in the schedule to introduce everyone, give a live tour, and have a challenge all in one go."

Penelope gave a reassuring nod. "If you manage to stick around long enough, maybe you'll have the opportunity to see the sights of Alola if we visit again!"

Frank cleared his throat loudly, drawing attention. "Can I ask where we're sleeping tonight?"

The hosts turned to him as he continued. "Since we haven't had a challenge today, how are you going to split us up between the three areas?"

For a brief moment, the hosts exchanged a knowing look.

"Have fun, kids!" Rowan waved cheerfully alongside Penelope as they slammed the door to the cargo room shut.

The contestants, now crammed inside, glared at the door that had just locked them in. The space was already cluttered with crates and supplies, barely leaving enough room for everyone to sit comfortably—let alone stretch out. Groans filled the air as the reality of their sleeping arrangements sank in.

"Seriously?" Nina muttered, flinching as a dust bunny hopped past her line of vision.

Perched on one of the pipes, Batgirl had her back turned to the group. "The perks of being the Bat," she muttered.

"And a ghost," Sebastian added with a grin, folding his flippers behind his head as he floated into one of the many crates. His voice echoed from inside. "Why is this filled with maple syrup?"

Jeff's eyes widened as he gasped. "Syrup, you say?! Open it! For the goodness of EVIL!" He eagerly approached the crate, attempting to pry it open.

"This is my summer," Lianne whispered, her eyes darting in every direction. "I can't… it's too much."

Ruby paid no mind to the existential dread of her fellow contestants, though she did let out a short sneeze from the dust.

Suddenly, a loud grumbling growl echoed through the steel-covered walls. Eyes widened as the group glanced around at each other, some even looking at their own stomachs in surprise.

"Sorry, my stomach does that sometimes," Loki admitted, poking their belly and hissing. "How dare you draw attention to us without anything chaotic happening!"

"D'waaa, that was kinda cute," Finn gushed.

Loki's eyes narrowed, and they scampered behind a crate. "I am not cute!" they growled.

"The Peak is also hungry!" The Peak announced, slapping a large hand against his rounded belly.

"Fat," Yami commented as Yuki quickly moved the plush and her head away from the glare the Feraligatr shot her way.

Surprisingly, Ruby spoke up. "Mhmm… food."

"Okay, I think we're all hungry, so let's just go grab something from the kitchen," Sebastian suggested, floating out from the crate Jeff was still struggling to open.

"I will get to you, syrup!" Jeff bellowed.

"What is with this guy and syrup?" the Dreepy asked, gesturing toward the large ape.

"Knowing the Boss, it's for something evil," Loki chuckled.

As the conversation continued, Enot strolled past, tossing a single egg against their furred tail. "As fun as this is, I could also use some dinner—along with someone special to share it with." They flashed a smile at the rest of the cast.

Everyone stared at them, dumbfounded.

Dez raised a brow. "I don't understand you."

Enot's grin widened. "That just means you need to get to know me."

Dez's eyes widened slightly.

Dez's gaze darted around the bathroom, as he gruffly muttered, "Should have known a gig like this wasn't going to be easy. I'd still take it over… Anything else. I can't complain when I have a roof over my head, food on the table, and a chance at winning money."

"Even if the other guests are… strange," he added with a grimace.

A bottle of maple syrup is held in front of the camera and is pulled back as Jeff bellowed out a booming laugh. "Success! I am victorious!" He pulled out his device with a grin. "I will now be able to continue watching my shows!"

"Nothing can defeat the EVIL genius that is my mind!" He laughed, trying to open the bottle… And having minimal success. "Drat! How dare you corporate companies make this tight! How dare!"

The cast shuffled into the cafeteria, their eyes sweeping over the tables before settling on the kitchen area.

The Peak stretched dramatically, letting out a groan. "Ugh! The Peak is starving!" He turned to the women in the group, flashing a grin. "Are any of you ladies ready to cook a feast for me?"

Silence.

Every woman shot him a sharp glare, while the nonbinary members and men visibly flinched at his word choice. Lianne's head twitched slightly, but she forced a pleasant smile. "Well, if I must—"

Kacey cut her off with a scowl. "Okay, no, don't agree to that!" She turned a withering look on The Peak. "Why did you have to single us out by gender?"

The Peak scratched his head, looking genuinely perplexed. "Oh, I see how that sounds weird." Then he scoffed and crossed his arms. "I just meant none of these guys look like they can cook!"

"I know how to cook," Dez stated flatly.

"As do I," Levi added.

Frank smiled. "I love cooking."

Finn beamed. "I make amazing spaghetti!"

The Peak frowned, shifting uncomfortably. "Okay, well, I don't want a dude to cook for me! No offense."

Enot scooted closer, their tail flicking. "I can cook for you."

The Peak hesitated. "I— Uh… Well, maybe?"

Jeff grumbled from the side, arms crossed. "I would also like someone to conjure up a meal for me! My EVIL mind only knows how to be EVIL and does not comprehend cooking!"

Vienna sighed. "I think we're all hungry, but there's not enough room in the kitchen for everyone to make their own meal."

Aquamarine clasped her hands together with a bright smile. "Then I propose an idea!"

The cast turned to her, intrigued.

"We should make a chart," she continued. "Someone who knows how to cook can be in charge of breakfast, another for dinner, and we can alternate on different days!"

Nina mumbled, barely audible, "S-Sounds fair to me…"

O'Reilly, placing a cigarette in their mouth, gave a skeptical look. "Not to me." They shot the Bergmite a glance. "It encourages those of us who can't cook to be lazy and reliant. They need to do something too."

Loki bristled, letting out a low growl. "Way to ruin it for us!"

Batgirl tapped her chin in thought. "Anyone who doesn't know how to cook can just clean up the mess." She noticed a few eyes on her and quickly spoke in a gruffer voice. "They can do the dishes and wipe the tables."

Sebastian shrugged. "Sounds boring, but eh, it's fair."

Aquamarine clapped her hands together. "Great! It's settled! We'll figure out the rotation tomorrow, but since I know how exhausted and hungry everyone is, I volunteer to cook for everyone now!"

The Peak pumped his fist. "Yes! Someone beautiful is cooking for me!"

Dez scoffed at the Feraligatr before turning to Aquamarine. "Are you sure? There's a lot of us, and you're probably tired too. I can help if you'd like."

Aquamarine waved him off with a giggle. "Oh no, no, no! I can whip up something fast and filling for everyone!" She paused, sweeping her gaze over the cast before dramatically sighing. "However…" She fluttered her eyelashes. "I could use a set or two of strong arms to help carry things for me."

The Peak and Batgirl both flushed and immediately stepped forward, their heads snapping toward each other in shock.

The Peak scowled. "She said she needed strong arms! Not a small shrimp like you!"

Batgirl straightened on her toes, trying to appear taller despite the obvious height difference. "I'm three inches taller than my average species!" She cleared her throat, making her voice gruffer. "I'm strong, and I know how to cook. I'd be more helpful than you!"

The Peak scoffed. "Nuh-uh! I'm stronger, taller, and better looking—"

Batgirl threw up her pincers in disbelief. "What does that have to do with helping in the kitchen?!"

As the two launched into another heated argument, the rest of the cast collectively sighed, clearly unamused.

Aquamarine smirked but quickly covered it with a delicate hand, letting out a soft giggle. "Oh, you're both so strong and beautiful!" she cooed.

Batgirl and The Peak snapped their heads toward her, completely forgetting their fight.

"I could use both of you to assist me," she said sweetly.

Batgirl's face turned bright red. "O-Okay!"

The Peak, equally dazed, nodded dumbly. "Mhmm. I can do that."

Their eyes met once more—then, without another word, they sprinted toward the kitchen, nearly knocking over a chair in their haste.

Aquamarine giggled, then turned back to the rest of the cast with a serene smile. "Oh, don't you worry. It'll take about forty-five minutes, but please, relax! Maybe grab something to drink while we work." She winked before strolling into the kitchen after them.

The cast watched her leave with her two self-proclaimed heroes.

Finn grinned. "She's so nice!"

Frank nodded. "Yeah, she's really nice."

The rest of the cast murmured in agreement before moving toward the tables to sit and wait.

O'Reilly, however, didn't join them. They stood back, watching Aquamarine disappear into the kitchen, their expression thoughtful.

"Hmmm…" They muttered before glancing at the dispersing cast, noting they were seating themselves according to their newly established teams. After one last look toward Aquamarine, they walked toward their own team.

Aquamarine smirked at the camera, her lips curling into a knowing grin that showcased her sharp canines. "Oh, these suckers really have fallen for my damsel-in-distress act," she mused, adjusting her hat with a flick of her fingers. "Too easy. As long as I keep up the nice girl act and stay on everyone's good side, I should be fine in this game."

She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a more sultry tone. "If I cook for everyone for a few days, they won't want to get rid of me. Especially with how many of them lack the skills to cook for themselves—like the privileged little pigs they are."

The Peak flexed in front of the camera, a proud grin spreading across his face. "See how heroic I am?" he boasted, his voice loud and confident. "I'm helping a babe out in the kitchen! How many guys can say they do that?" He laughed, his tone dripping with self-assurance. "I'm definitely better than that kid trying to play superhero in that crappy costume!"

He struck a dramatic pose, his muscles rippling as he smiled proudly. "I get to show off my heroic personality and impress a pretty girl like… uh…" He scratched his head, clearly puzzled. "I don't know her name, but that Floatzel chick!"

Batgirl stood with her back to the camera, her stance firm and unyielding. She spoke in a low, gruff voice, her tone cutting through the air. "I know how to cook. I'm not a chef, but I know the basics. I won't let anyone go hungry."

She suddenly spun around, the dark folds of her cape swishing dramatically as she covered the lower half of her face with it. "I am the bat!" she declared. "I alone will make sure everyone is safe, full, and happy!"

The self-proclaimed Team Victory sat at one of the front tables, urged by Finn, who was practically bouncing in place while sipping his lemonade through a straw.

"This is so cool!" the Togekiss whispered gleefully, in stark contrast to his three teammates. Nina glowered at her glass of ice water, Dez simply grunted in agreement, and Ruby was engrossed in a novel, paying no mind to the others.

"I can't believe I have to wait for food," Nina grumbled, pawing at the edge of the table. "You'd think someone this rich could afford an actual chef to cook for us."

"That's how billionaires stay rich," Dez commented, taking a swig of what looked to be an alcoholic beverage. "They splurge on themselves and give the less fortunate the bare minimum."

Finn gasped and shook his head. "Okay, that's not completely true." He grimaced, suddenly unsure if he even believed his own words. "There are plenty of billionaires who help others!"

He was met with two pairs of unamused stares. Letting out a weak chuckle, he took another nervous sip of his drink.

Nina rolled her eyes and muttered, "At least we d-don't have to deal with the loudmouth."

"Yeah, it's nice not having to hear him scream his own name," Dez agreed.

"I think he's funny," Finn offered, turning to Ruby with a bright smile. "What about you, Ruby?"

The Steel-type looked up from her book, her red eyes widening as she realized everyone at the table was staring at her. Sweat began to bead on her face as she stammered, "I... I..."

Without thinking, she hurriedly placed a bookmark in her novel, set it down, and stood up. Then, without a word, she took a few steps back before dramatically lying on the ground, arms and legs stiffly pointing upward. She even stuck her tongue out for added effect.

Her teammates stared down at her motionless form.

"Is she playing dead?" Nina whispered.

Ruby nervously fidgeted with her pincers, her antennae twitching as she whispered, "I-I don't... I don't d-do well with others." She hissed the last part and quickly hid her face behind her book.

"So, how is Team Enot Is Really Really Really Really Hot doing?" Enot asked, grinning. Their teammates immediately glared at them, though Enot didn't seem to notice as they mused aloud, "I could get used to hearing that."

"I don't know why, because that wasn't supposed to be our name!" Levi huffed, crossing his arms. "Do you know how incredibly rude it was to bypass all our votes?"

"Not all of us voted for that!" Jeff chimed in, slathering syrup into a compartment of his device. Levi physically shuddered at the sight. "I will admit, though, that it was better than this… this dumb name!" Jeff added bitterly.

Enot scratched behind their ear and shrugged. "At least it's true! I am a sight to behold!"

"That's not the point," Vienna pointed out. "You ignored something we all—" She hesitated when Jeff shot her a glare. "Most of us wanted. You did this for what, a laugh?"

"Actually, so that beautiful host lady could recognize beauty when she sees it," the Furret purred.

Their teammates stared at them in disbelief. Kacey whispered under her breath, "How are you worse than the screaming psycho and the cosplaying superhero?"

"It makes sense," Enot chuckled, casually stretching. "I am banned from three regions and over thirty different cities and towns… Oh, and I think one national park too."

Kacey's eyes widened. "Excuse me, what?"

"Oh yes! Fun stories, actually!" Enot laughed, leaning their arm against the table. "So, it all started when—"

Before they could continue, their teammates collectively stood up and walked away. Enot sighed and slumped back, rummaging through their furred tail to retrieve a familiar egg.

"It seems they're upset with me," they muttered. The egg said nothing. "Don't worry, it's just a name! They can't be mad forever," they laughed to themselves. "Right?" The egg remained silent.

"...Right!"

Enot tossed their egg between their paws, flashing a mischievous smile at the camera. "I'm not used to such animosity—okay, that's a lie." They snickered. "It usually happens after a night of passion! I like to have fun before I have to run for my life!"

They leaned back, brushing a paw through their fur with a dazzling grin. "I'm sure they'll get over it eventually. But if not? I know how to smooth things over." They winked. "I can talk my way out of most situations, after all!"

Frank tapped his fingers against the table, scanning his new teammates with a bright smile. "So, how's everyone doing?" He was met with less-than-thrilled expressions. "I think this is a really cool, once-in-a-lifetime experience for everyone to enjoy!" he added enthusiastically.

"Yeah," O'Reilly muttered, their gaze shifting suspiciously around the area. "Perfect cover-up for a criminal, too."

The Pinsir's body trembled. "C-Criminal?!" he squeaked.

The Steel-type nodded, casually plopping a cigarette in their mouth. "Yeah. Some nefarious, ill-intentioned criminals would absolutely deceive their way to the end of this game." They leaned back, exhaling dramatically. "Can't trust anyone here. Only fend for yourself."

"So by that logic… we can't trust you?" Sebastian asked, balancing a glass cup on his head.

The Lairon smirked. "You're learning."

Loki scoffed, their fur bristling. "This is a game for one winner! No one should be working together! It should be a free-for-all bloodbath!"

"Or," Lianne interjected, "we could all go to the Circhester Bed and Breakfast and help me with my finances so I don't have to win the game." Everyone turned to her. "...I had to try."

"When's the food getting here?!" Yami suddenly exclaimed as Yuki, the plush toy at his side, wobbled his tiny feet against the table. "Some of us need nutrition!"

The team collectively stared at them. Sebastian leaned toward Lianne and whispered, "Does that Umbreon not realize he doesn't have a mouth?"

Lianne whispered back, "Do you not realize that Umbreon is not alive?"

Frank gasped. "You can't just say someone isn't alive!" He darted his eyes toward the unsuspecting toy—only to find Yuki staring directly at them. "That's rude."

Loki looked around at the group, unimpressed. "And I thought I was supposed to be the bringer of chaos."

Frank smiled at the camera, leaning back against the sink. "My team's a little… different." He chuckled. "In a good way! They're definitely nothing like the folks back home, and I kinda like it!"

He nodded to himself. "I just have to get used to it. But I think after a week of being together, we'll all be getting along with no trouble!" His eyes flickered to the side for a split second, his expression subtly shifting to something more serious.

"...I should look around for more clues anyway," he murmured. Realizing his slip-up, he immediately turned back to the camera and forced a laugh. "Clues! Clues to, uh... figuring out the best way for us all to become great friends!" He laughed again, reaching blindly for the door handle—his eyes never leaving the camera.

"Dinner's ready!" Aquamarine announced, holding up a tray with a hearty bowl of soup.

Behind her, The Peak stood, effortlessly balancing four trays on his arm, while Batgirl sulked nearby, barely managing to carry one.

"Whoa, that smells great," Vienna commented, smiling as the weasel placed a tray in front of her.

Aquamarine giggled, waving her off. "Oh, thank you! I wasn't too sure what everyone liked, so I settled on chicken soup. I figured everyone loves chicken soup!"

"Can't go wrong with that," Kacey remarked, though she eyed the dish Batgirl placed in front of her with a somewhat forlorn expression.

Noticing this, the Gligar turned to her. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Kacey mumbled, dipping her spoon into the soup and stirring absentmindedly.

Batgirl wasn't convinced by the sudden clipped tone, but just as she opened her mouth to question her—

"Yeah, I can pretty much do anything and everything," The Peak's voice rang out. From the corner of her eye, Batgirl could see him flexing his arms at his table. "I did carry way more dishes than that little twerp, after all!"

Batgirl trembled for a moment before silently turning away and heading back to grab more trays, quickly passing Aquamarine, who was setting two down at another table.

"I'm guessing those two are still arguing over who's the better 'hero'?" Jeff scoffed, grabbing his bowl and inhaling the comforting aroma.

Aquamarine bit back a grimace at the reminder of her helpers' never-ending rivalry. "You could say that," she muttered.

Aquamarine stirred the pot of soup with a satisfied smirk, watching the noodles and mixed vegetables swirl in the broth. I just knew a place like this would have cans of this stuff lying around. She glanced over her shoulder at the two who had offered to help—though, realistically, she could only see one of them.

The Peak, in all his towering Feraligatr glory, was busy tearing open crates and pulling out various cans, all while laughing to himself, flexing his muscles, and proclaiming how great of a hero he was.

Aquamarine rolled her eyes. At least she knew the muscle-bound brute was easily captivated by a single stroke of his ego—

"Here."

She was snapped out of her thoughts when a small bowl of what looked like a green herbs was placed in front of her. She turned to see Batgirl, standing rigidly, her gaze deliberately avoiding eye contact.

"I noticed there wasn't any basil in there, so…" The Gligar coughed, placing the bowl down. "You can't have chicken soup without it. Unless you're allergic, and—" She tilted her head slightly, her voice faltering from its usual deep, exaggerated husk to something more uncertain. "Maybe we shouldn't put it in?"

Aquamarine studied her for a moment before smiling. "I think it'll be fine." She took the bowl and added the basil to the pot, stirring it in. "Thank you… Batgirl, was it?"

Despite the top half of the Gligar's face being concealed, a faint dusting of pink was barely visible across her cheeks. She immediately turned away to hide it.

"Y-Yes."

"Quite interesting," Aquamarine mused to herself with a quiet chuckle at the other girl's behavior.

"The Peak has arrived!"

Batgirl groaned as Aquamarine looked up, spotting the Feraligatr flashing them a wide grin, two boxes balanced over his arms.

"I found the bowls and forks!" he boasted with a laugh—before shooting a pointed glare at Batgirl. "At least I did something."

"I was looking for spices," the flying-type grumbled, returning his glare with just as much heat.

As the two launched into another round of bickering, Aquamarine simply rolled her eyes and tuned them out, returning her focus to the pot in front of her.

"In the end, it was fine!" Aquamarine concluded, flicking her tails behind her as she walked off to grab her own tray of food. "Ta-ta!"

She waved goodbye to the table, casually striding past Batgirl, who was just approaching. With a playful smirk, she sent the Gligar a flirty wink—causing Batgirl to nearly trip over herself. She stumbled into the table, barely managing to keep her bowl of soup from toppling over. Levi flinched at the display. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," she replied, her voice a little hoarse. Sliding into her seat, she grumbled, "I tripped on my cape."

Jeff scoffed mid-chew, broth dripping down his face. "See, this is why I don't wear those ridiculous outfits! Capes will be your downfall, Batgirl!" He jabbed a finger at the bewildered girl. "I say that as someone who should be your downfall, instead of a piece of cloth!"

Batgirl only mumbled, "Mhmm," her attention locked on her bowl of soup, too caught up in her own thoughts to acknowledge her enemy's taunts.

The Darmanitan narrowed his gaze at her, then shifted his attention to Aquamarine, who had just grabbed her tray. Rubbing at his broth-soaked beard, he let out a huff—before slamming his face back into his food.

The rest of the room followed suit, exhausted from the long and taxing first day on the show. They could only hope things would get better from here on out.

The camera cut to the cockpit—a compact room with two seats occupied by Penelope and Will—surrounded by an intricate panel of controls. Among the various screens displaying flight data, one particular monitor stood out, showing a live feed of the kitchen where the contestants were eating and chatting.

Penelope's gaze lingered on the screen before she turned to face the camera directly, a playful smirk forming on her lips. With a wink, she addressed the audience. "Hello, viewers! I'm sad to say that's it for this episode!" she announced cheerfully. "What did you think of the cast? Is there anyone you're rooting for yet?"

She leaned forward slightly, her voice dripping with intrigue. "If not, I promise that next week's episode might change your mind! We'll have our very first challenge and, of course, our first elimination." She paused dramatically before adding, "I can't spoil too much, but here's a hint—we're heading to the Kalos region!"

Her grin widened. "Who will win? Who will be the first contestant voted off? And will alliances or rivalries start to form? Find out next time on—"

A muffled voice abruptly cut through her speech. "Shut up!"

The camera swiftly panned to the other side of the cockpit, revealing a sleeping area with two bunk beds and a large king-sized bed. Lying there was a Sneasler, Rowan, nestled beneath the covers with a face mask and a well-worn teddy bear clutched in his arms.

Rowan barely lifted his head, his voice groggy with irritation. "Some of us are trying to sleep!" With a huff, he hugged the plush toy tighter and turned his back to the camera.

Penelope raised her hands in mock surrender, glancing at Will—who simply pointed at the camera as a silent reminder that they were still live, all while keeping his eyes on the controls and smoothly flying the plane.

Composing herself instantly, Penelope beamed at the lens and waved enthusiastically. "We'll see you soon, viewers!" she said brightly, as the screen faded to black.

TEAMS

Team No Name: Frank, Lianne, Loki, O'Reilly, Sebastian, Yuki

Team Enot Is Really Really Really Really Hot: Batgirl, Enot, Jeff, Kacey, Levi, Vienna

Team Victory: Aquamarine, Dez, Finn, Nina, Ruby, The Peak

"Yo Adrian, I did it!" - Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone)

The first chapter of Totally Real World tour is completed and I have to say, I'm really proud of it. This is a cast I really came to enjoy writing and the planning phases have been nothing short of fun. The original idea for this has been sitting for over a year and I'm glad I came back to recreate everyone's story and even make new ones with new characters.

There were some minor issues in the beginning but that was my fault for scrapping the initial introduction for a different style. This was originally going to start on the Hau'oli beachside with different boats coming in and dropping the cast off one by one. I didn't think it was bad but I felt I could improve it, so I scrapped it and changed it to taxi cabs at an airport which I think worked out for the better.

There was also going to be a reward challenge where the top three winners would have the opportunity to become "Team Leaders" and pick their own teams and team names through a schoolyard pick. That was scrapped because at this point the challenge, in my eyes at least, was a little repetitive though it would have had a lot of humor and social interactions that would have shown potential early dynamics and plotlines.

My issue with that too was the length. If I was going to go through a challenge in the introduction I didn't want it to be short. The length could have been large enough to be its own full chapter so I thought it was better to scrap that idea altogether. Which is something I don't regret at all.

If I had it my way this chapter could have easily been at least 35k with how much I just wanted to write in here. There's so much I want to do with this cast and show you. It's going to be a fun journey with this cast and I hope you liked it as much as I liked writing it!

If you have any questions, just ask and I will do my best to answer them without any spoilers. Please review your thoughts, give me your predictions, let me know what you think about the teams. This kind of thing really motivates me to write, so any little bit will help!

And before I close out the chapter, I do have to say a huge thank you to TPReboot! Thank you for editing the chapter and making it look so much presentable!

That's all for this chapter! Thank you and goodbye!

CAST LIST

Aquamarine the Floatzel

Batgirl (Molly) the Gligar

Dez the Mabosstiff

Enot the Furret

Finn the Togekiss

Frank the Pinsir

Jeff the Galarian Darmanitan

Kacey the Roserade

Levi the Meowstic

Lianne the Frosmoth

Loki the Yungoos

Nina the Bergmite

O'Reilly the Lairon

Ruby the Durant

Sebastian the Dreepy

The Peak (Terence) the Feraligatr

Vienna the Houndoom

Yuki (and Yami) the Alolan Vulpix (and Umbreon)