A Champion in a Twisted World

Chapter 26 - A Small Slip Up

After what felt like an hour (though you know it was only a few minutes), you finally finish painting all the roses. You're now trying to mop the paint off of Pecharunt and Ogerpon, who got into a fight and are now both covered in paint. Ace is begrudgingly helping you, you already returned all of your Pokémon back to your Pokéballs (though Grace, Chompers, Chile, Bangbang, Moonstone, Pecharunt,  Poni, Walking Wake (for some reason, they just wanted to stay), and Sweet Apple have all elected to stay out), and Deuce is panting- his hands on his knees- and trying to catch his breath from how quickly you all had to run around and paint the roses.

"Well... this is going better than before." Deuce wheezes out.

Cater looks around all the work that has been done, nodding in satisfaction. "Looking good! Oooh, it's almost time! Okay, all you sexy body doubles, that's a wrap!"

You cringe internally at that, keeping a polite smile on your face, as all of Cater's doubles salute. "Aye-aye, Cay-cay!"

You stare in surprise as all of Cater's clones disappear, leaving just the real Cater.

You shake your head and finish mopping off the paint from Poni and Pecharunt, as Cater walks over to Ace and Deuce (which includes you since you're directly beside the boys, though Cater is obviously focusing on Ace and Deuce).

"You two also need to get ready." Cater says, gesturing at Ace and Deuce. "How do you expect Riddle to forgive ya if you don't dress to impress?"

Ace looks down at his school uniform in confusion. "What's wrong with this?"

Cater waves off Ace's question. "Oh, nothing. But Riddle has a strict dress code so you have to up your game." He grabs Ace and Deuce by the shoulder, essentially dragging the two boys away and into the main building. "Be back in a moment, Y/N!"

"Okay!" You say, before sighing "...I'm concerned for whoever Riddle's significant other is." You comment, and Grim scoffs.

"Like anyone's sane enough to actually love him." Grim crosses his arms. "I'd be concerned if anyone did."

You shrug. "You never know, Grim. You really don't, because people are very weird."

"Myah. You're right about that." Grim scoffs a bit.

"...wait, you're a cat and this is a formal event..." You realize. "And none of us are dressed in the appropriate outfit. Oh no, we need to leave before we get collared. I'm not into that... I think, I never tried it but still."

"Hench-human, I'm not a cat!" Grim angrily responds. "I'm the great Grim!"

"Well, you really look like a cat, Grim." You sigh, shaking your head.

"What are you doing here by yourself?" A voice behind you asks.

You look back, seeing Trey approaching you. You press a hand to your raging heart, startled by how he seemingly came out of nowhere.

"Holy Arceus, you are very stealthy when you want to be." You comment. "You startled me."

Trey laughs, adjusting the rim of his glasses. "You scare too easily."

"You got that right." Grim sniggers in response to your startled expression.

You blink when you notice Trey's new outfit. Now he wears a mostly white jacket with a yellow trim, an unbuttoned black vest, and a white undershirt. His right sleeve is black, with his left sleeve is a black-and-white checkered pattern. The sleeves are rolled up to just beneath the elbows, and Trey has black fingerless gloves on. The lapels of the jacket are heart-shaped with one black and the other red. Two yellow cords hang from his left shoulder strap, and a white rose is on his left lapel, halfway colored in red paint. His pants are white with yellow stripes running down the outer seams. Trey also has a white fedora on, with a yellow-and-black striped band around it and a black club-shaped pin.