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BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

“GAH!” Charlie yelled, jumping up from the sleeping bag he had been in.

“Good morning, everyone! I bet you’re wondering where you are right now!” Charlie looked around. He recognized all the people who were there with him; they were all fellow contestants in the STAB tournament. He had seen them at the gathering before round one started. “Well, I wanted this to be a surprise, so we slipped you some sedatives last night.”

Sedatives….what….wait a minute. Charlie began to remember what happened last night. Vera had stopped by, had given him a congratulatory cupcake, and then…Oh my Arceus, these people are INSANE.

“Now, as you can see, we are currently aboard a ship. My ship!” Charlie looked up and saw where the voice was coming from. A costumed Sinnohmin and Vera Anne were standing above everyone on a higher deck. Their costumes…looked absolutely ridiculous. Vera appeared to be some sort of school girl, while Sinnohmin was just wearing a tuxedo and a mask. “Welcome to the S.S. Shugarbomb!”

Charlie got up to his feet and went over to the railing. He looked down into the sea that surrounded the boat he was in. Off in the far, far distance, he could just barely make out some sort of landmass he assumed to be Holon Island.

“So lemme tell you how this shindig is gonna go..” Charlie didn’t focus on what Sinnohmin was saying. All he knew was that he had been taken, against his will, onto some sort of crazy cruise ship.

“And finally, all of you have the keys to your rooms underneath the pillows of your sleeping bags. All of your luggage has been brought there, as well as several costumes that have been provided by myself and my darling little Vera.” The couple giggled and kissed each other. The judges, who were standing behind the pair and all wearing similar school girl outfits as Vera, looked politely embarrassed. “And don’t worry, you’ll know who your opponent is soon enough! Now, let’s get those costumes READY!”

Sinnohmin and Vera walked off. Charlie rushed back to his sleeping bag, throwing the pillow out of the way, grabbing the key to his room, and ran off, hoping to get to his room to see if his worst fear had come to pass.

He had woken up without his Pokémon or his Pokéballs. And if they weren’t in his provided room…

Please, please, PLEASE be there. PLEASE, be there.

He jammed the key into the keyhole, unlocked the door and slammed it open.

On the bed were six Pokéballs. Charlie released all of them, and all of his Pokémon came out, somewhat confused at the sudden change in scenery and cramped nature of the room. He collapsed to his knees and drew Trouble into a close hug.

“Can’t…breathe…” the Absol struggled to say.

“Oh thank goodness you guys are alright,” Charlie said. He explained everything that had happened since the previous night. “So now we’ve got a battle, and some serious protesting, to do. Hopefully we can put off doing it until after we—“ The SmartDex rang loudly from his pants pocket. Charlie pulled it out and saw that his opponent had been selected.

Wow, she looks you—TWELVE YEARS OLD??? Are people that young even ALLOWED to compete in these tournaments? The rest of the message detailed the fight. Four Pokémon, doubles or triples battles, disqualified if you damage the boat.

“Hmmm,” Charlie looked at the gathered group. “Barra, I’m sorry, but I think you’ll be sitting this one out. We can’t risk that your attacks might damage the boat.” Barra looked relieved and gave Charlie’s leg a hug. “Still need four others…Pallas, can you promise me you’ll be careful and stay INSIDE the arena at all times?” Pallas looked miffed at the suggestion, but nodded in the affirmative. “Duke, you’re up as well. Any objections?” Duke simply shrugged and nodded, re-entering his Pokéball of his own free will. “That just leaves two more…”

Charlie tried to figure out what course he should take, and decided to take a risk. “Trouble. Leonardo. Are the two of you up for another fight? If your injuries are still sore, we can—“

Leonardo let loose a loud Howl, and defiantly gave a smile. “I…I’ll take that as a ‘yes’. Trouble?” Trouble lowered his BlackGlasses and scoffed. He gave a nod and went into his Pokéball as well.

“All right, I guess that takes care of everything. Now, we just need to wait for OH MY GOSH IT’S HAPPENING NOW???” Charlie panicked. “I have to…wait… ‘The lack of any attire considering a costume can and will be grounds for forfeiture…’ OH COME ON! Well, fine then!” Charlie opened up the closet. “There better…be…some…thing…”

And that is when he saw it. The best costume he could have asked for, one that had him forgive Sinnohmin and Vera for kidnapping him and placing him on this crazy ship. He smiled like a kid on Christmas about to open his presents. He grabbed the costume and quickly changed. He double-checked that Duke, Trouble, Leonardo, and Pallas were all in their Pokéballs, and went for the door.

“Well, I have to get going. Barra, Tyson, you guys relax and have a good time. I’ll be down in the dining hall if you need me!” Charlie rushed out, hoping that he wouldn’t be too late.

Barra seemed excited. “Isn’t this great? We get to explore this whole, giant ship! We’ve got this nice room, everything seems…” She turned to focus on Tyson. “Tyson? Are…are you ok?”

Tyson, most assuredly, was not.

He screeched and loudly attacked the nearest wall in frustration, destroying the closet door and causing Barra to flee the room in fear.

So, that was what Charlie’s trust got him, huh? The inability to prove himself? The complete rejection of having another shot? BEING DISMISSED LIKE HE WAS AN AFTERTHOUGHT? After all that stuff Charlie had told him back on the island? He was just being put aside like he wasn’t useful?

Tyson flew out of the room and down the hallway. He desperately needed something to Metal Claw.