A Champion in a Twisted World

Chapter 18 - Painting the Roses Red

That morning, Ace watches from the porch, leaning on the railing with his arms crossed on it and the collar still firm around his neck, as he watches you help Grim with training against Drifty.

"Drifty! Use Dazzling Gleam!" You direct firmly, and Grim yelps as he barely dodges.

"Myah!? Stop moving so fast!" The cat-monster yowls out, slightly bruised from the training's fights, before standing his ground. "Take this, teal-thing! MYAH!"

Grim sends a blast of blue fire at the Flutter Mane, who screeches as it gets fire slammed into it.

The Flutter Mane is knocked back, it's eyes turning to spirals as you step in and gently catch it.

"Good job, Drifty." You murmur to it gently, crouching down to give it a Revive and use a Hyper Potion. "C'mere, pequeño gato de fuego."

Grim scampers over and lets you also use a Hyper Potion on him, wincing as the spray hits his bruises. "Myah! That stings!"

You smile at him. "Hey, don't worry. It only lasts for a moment, after all."

Ace tilts his head, curious as he looks out at your other Pokémon training. "Huh. So, like... battling is normal for "Pokémon"?"

You give him the blankest look you have. "...yes, Ace. It is."

He immediately goes quiet as he realizes how stupid the question was. You facepalm in exasperation.

"Oh, hello Y/N!" You look over towards the gate, seeing Deuce open it and walk in. He glances over at the Pokémon training against eachother before looking back at you with a confused expression. "...what is this?"

You shrug a bit with a smile. "Training! What brings you here at 6:00 or so in the morning?"

"Uh... looking for the idiot behind you." He responds with a head tilt.

You look behind you and see Grim and Ace standing there. You look back at Deuce. "Which one?"

The offended looks the two give you... it makes you snicker. And only supports the idea these two are stupid. In the name of the Distortion World, you may be the only intelligent human-ish being here right now.

You must own that though. You will be an intelligent queen for these dumbasses.

"So..." Deuce stops beside you, looking amused as you two stare at Ace. "You ate the housewarden's tart. You really are an idiot, Ace."

Ace scoffs and crosses his arms as he steps off the porch. "Oh, shut up! Like you're one to talk! Anyways, is he- uh- still mad?"

"Not at all. Maybe a touch irritated, if anything. A few of our dormmates overslept this morning... but only three of them got your treatment."

Ace facepalms at Deuce's response. "You call that "not at all" mad? Sounds like he's still on the rampage to me!"

You watch as the two boys chat, before looking away and noticing Crowley waving at you from the gate.

You quickly and silently break away from the boys- who are now bickering like a married couple once again- and approach the Headmage. You note he's holding a bundle of clothes in his hands.

"Good morning sir! I hope you slept well!" You say with a polite smile. "Are those my new outfit?"

"Outfits." Crowley says with a nod. "Professor Crewel was kind enough to make these for you after I requested for him to design some outfits for you, and did quite well on such a time crunch! Aren't I so kind to have done this favor of requesting clothes for you?"