From Trainer to Beast Tamer Pokémon Trainer! Reader x Twisted Wonderland

Special Event: Cloudcalling on the Savanna

The people have spoken! I own nothing.

"Life just ain't fair." Leona practically monologued as he and (Y/N) stared a beautifully intricate water fountain as a city bustled around them. "Dragged on a pointless trek to this equally pointless place."
(Y/N) crossed her arms as Vil walked over to them. "You do realize I am pretty much the last person you should be complaining to about being forced to commit to your responsibilities you've been ducking...for two years."
"I have to agree with her. If that's how you feel, whatever did you invite us along for? You might at least shut your mouth and not spoil the sights for the rest of us."
Kalim came barreling over to them, Cufant at his heels. "And what sights they are! So big! So beautiful! I'm so glad I get to visit the place where you were born, Leona!"
The lion man sighed. "Hmph. Listen: I thought it was obvious, but we're not here on some vacation. No, we're here to-,"
Lilia cut him off. "Oh calm down, we all know the score. Just point us at whomever we're meant to best and we'll take them down lickety-split!"
"Glad you're in the right headspace, because you're only gonna get one chance at this, one chance to earn the title of Sunset Warrior.
(Y/N) rubbed her temples, recalling how they had all gotten roped into this.

(A Few Days Ago)

(Y/N) had been talking to Vil regarding a potion assignment when Jack had appeared with Lilia in tow, saying that Leona was requesting their presence. Since (Y/N) happened to have Luxray with her and still needed the advice, she and Grim decided to tag along.
"I see Lilia. I see Vil." Leona listed off as they gathered in Savanaclaw's lounge area. "Nice work, Jack."
"Got ya covered." Jack responded as Vil gave his fellow dorm leader a look.
"Why have you called us here?"
"Got somethin' I wanna talk to you two about."
Lilia frowned. "If that's the case, it should be you coming to us!"
"Quite right!" Vil agreed. "Why, if Jack hadn't come to get us, I would have kept on ignoring your little summons."
"You tell 'im!" Grim yowled as (Y/N) let out Luxray.
"Hey Kitty."
Leona looked at Jack, a hand instinctively brushing Luxray's mane as she brushed up against his leg. "Hold up. What're Grim and (Y/N) doing here?"
"(Y/N) happened to be asking Vil for some advice when I went to get him, and they just followed us."
"Myahaha!" Grim laughed. "I figured this lil' meetin' of yours would be catered."
"Fat chance." Jack growled as (Y/N) raised a hand.
"I really just needed Vil's help after."
"Well I need him, so get goin'." Leona huffed.
Vil crossed his arms. "You already interrupted us, so you may as well let them stay. Out with your business, Leona, or we'll be the ones leaving."
"Fine, fine, if you're so eager. And really, you should be, because I'm going back to my homeland, and I want you, dear school chums, to come with me."
"Oh that's a trap if I ever heard one." (Y/N) stated as Jack raised a brow.
"Hm? Your homeland? Meaning...Sunset Savanna?"
"The one and only. This weekend is the Cloudcalling Festival in the royal capital, Sunrise City."
Grim tilted his head. "The what now?"
"Put simply, it's a rainmaking festival. Held every year near the start of the rainy season. It's also referred to as the 'gift from Heaven'."
"Oh, I've heard about that!" Lilia said. "Never had the pleasure, though it always sounded like a lot of fun!"
"So you're going home to take part, Leona?" His wolf beastman dormmate asked as Vil had a look that screamed 'I do not believe a word you're saying'.
"And you're inviting us along as well? I agree with (Y/N), this is surely not out of the goodness of your heart. What's your aim?"
He smirked. "It's nice being surrounded by schemers and tricksters. Makes things quicker. The reason I want you all with me is Bead Brawl."
"Erm...and what's that?" Vil asked.
Jack rubbed his head. "Never heard of it either. What gives?"
"It's a competitive game played during the Cloudcalling Festival. Everyone adorns their heads with beads, and you try to wrestle 'em off each other. No weapons, no magic. A pure test of physical prowess."
"Heh, sounds fun."
"It's a team sport. Three to a team, and sixteen teams in the tournament. It's truly the main event at the Cloudcalling Festival. The royal family and foreign guests will all be spectating."
"So there must be a prize, right!?" Grim yelled, hopping onto Luxray's back. "Like a year's supply of tuna!?"
Leona smirked. "You'd think there'd be some lavish reward, wouldn't you? But no, no prize. No prize money either."
Grim's ears immediately went flat. "Sounds like a crummy tournament to me."
"Grim!" (Y/N) scolded as Luxray shook him off her.
Savannaclaw's dorm leader did not seem to care. "No, he's right, Herbivore. But still, every year, there's a boatload of challengers. Why? Because the winners go down in history as Sunset Warriors."
"First Cloudcalling Festival, now Sunset Warriors?" Vil huffed. "What is this, a vocabulary lesson?"
"It's ancient stuff we're talkin' here, and I'm just as bored by it as you, so no complaining. The Sunset Warriors are guardians that protect king and country."
Lilia tilted his head. "Huh, so they're what? Bodyguards for the king?"
"Basically. But, since we're in peacetime, those duties have gone by the wayside. Nowadays, it's just a fancy title given to the winners of the tournament."
"Well, isn't that nice? It's like the title is a symbol of peace."
Leona shrugged. "A bit of a stretch, but sure. Still, even if it doesn't have any purpose now, the title still conveys a great honor, which is why you get hardy folks from all over the land comin' every year."
(Y/N) nodded. "Makes sense. That kind of reward does tend to draw in a crowd. So, what's the deal, Kitty? You want to compete in the Bead Brawl and become a Sunset Warrior?"
He sighed. "Nuh-uh, not me. Couldn't even if I wanted to. I'm not allowed."
"Why-ever not?" Vil asked, now becoming curious.
"It's customary for the youngest brother of the heir to the throne to be the Sunset Warrior's leader, so as the second born prince, that duty falls to me."
"I suppose that make sense." Lilia reasoned. "You're already a Sunset Warrior and your birth guarantees you'll remain their leader, so why should you participate?"
"I also have the majorly boring job of giving the new members 'guardian lessons'. Rules and best practices for guarding king and country. Even etiquette."
"Rules?"
"Best practices?"
"Etiquette?"
"...Leona?"
Everyone else burst out laughing at the thought, unable to see it. Grim was clutching his sides, tears in his eyes.
"Myahaha! You're the LAST person I'd ask to teach that stuff!"
Jack kept laughing, having (Y/N) leaning against him, before catching Leona's dirty look and apologizing.
"Hmph. Yeah. As you geniuses managed to work out, I'm ill-suited to the task. Which is why I'd love to just politely decline. Oh, if only. I blew it off last year, and I was planning to say I forgot again this year, but this morning a royal pain in the rear called to make sure I remembered. If I still refuse, there's no telling what they'd do. No more easy excuses for me."
Lilia was quite amused. "You really don't want to give those lessons, do you?"
"Scandalous." Vil scolded. "Do your job, you cretin!"
"Do you have any idea how long and boring the lessons are? Makes me want a nap just thinking about it!"
"That's not saying much, coming from you, Kitty." (Y/N) sighed, gripping her nose. "So, let me see if I've figured this out: rather than just suck it up and do your responsibilities, your plan is to have these three win a tournament for a sport they have never played nor seen and just say you did the lessons without actually doing them? Am I close?"
"Oh, who says an herbivore can't scheme like a fox?"
"YOU SNEAK!" The guys yelled at him, Leona looking unashamed, of course.
"Let's call it clever. I just hate wasting my time."
"Hold on." Jack interrupted. "Can folks like us who aren't from Sunset Savanna even register?"
"Of course. Foreigners are welcome to join. The idea is that anyone can be a guardian if they're worthy. One of the few bits of sense in that place. Plenty of foreign tourists have competed in past tournaments, so you've got nothing to worry about. Besides, the spectators will be overjoyed to have a team in from the famous Night Raven College. Jack, when it comes to tests of physical strength, you're one of the best we've got, but the challengers who come to compete in the Bead Brawl aren't messing around either. Sounds like fun, right?"
That immediately got the first year's blood pumping. "So I can see how I measure up, yeah? That does sound like fun! Can't say I followed all that Sunset Warriors stuff, but I love a tournament. If everyone competing is as strong as you say, I wanna see how far I can go!"
"Good, because I'm counting on you." Leona then turned to Lilia. "As for you, you grungy old phantom, nobody moves like you do. Give me the creeps if I'm being honest. I'd rather leave you behind p, but I can't deny your talent."
Lilia beamed. "Khee hee hee! Oh, Leona, you say the nicest things. I'm blushing! But if that's what you're after, I think Malleus would be a good pick as well. You okay not bringing him along? He'd be over the moon, I bet. Should I go and get him? Yeah?"
"NO! I am NOT askin' that guy for help. No way! It's obvious there's a reason I asked you, not him."
"Because your pride refuses to allow you to do so?" (Y/N) jabbed as Lilia frowned.
"Huh, okay...well that's a shame. But this Bead Brawl sounds like fun! I'm sure we'll make some nice memories. Count me in."
"Glad we're on the same page. And be sure to brag about it to Malleus later. Make him nice and-OW!"
Luxray bit his tail in warning, getting a glare from him as (Y/N) crossed her arms.
"Kitty, be nice to Tsunotaru or we'll have words."
"So that just leaves Vil." Grim noted. "Obviously he can't compare to yours truly, but he seems like he'll come in handy."
"Vil never skips leg day, or any day for that matter." Jack added with a smirk. "Good choice."
Lilia nodded. "Fierce competitor, too."
"You're not wrong." Leona mumbled, clearly hiding something. "But that's not why I picked him. Plenty of strong folks in the academy, but most are pretty stubborn. Set in their ways."
"You got that right." Jack agreed, getting a look from the bat fae.
"You're one to talk, Jack."
"But when it comes to good sense and moderation, Vil's the best dorm leader we've got. Besides, Vil and I have been together ever since we started school here, so we know each other well."
Vil shivered. "How my skin crawls...there's not a trace of emotion behind your words. So you chose me because you think this way you'll avoid any tedious conversations? Well, I refuse. You shan't be coercing me with such an uncouth mouth. If you need a junior, why not ask Rook?"
Leona's fur stood on end. "Now there's a non-starter...Look, I'm asking YOU, Vil."
"My, I had no idea you were such a fan of mine. All you have to do is give whomever wins the tournament these guardian lessons you mentioned, yes? Listen to (Y/N) and attend to your responsibilities. Leave me out of this Bead Brawl nonsense. If you insist on going forward with this ridiculous plan, you'll have to find someone else. Good day."
Leona smirked, clearly prepared for this exact outcome. "Going so soon? You might want to stick around and hear this next part. Surely someone as obsessed with beautification as you has heard of a place called Ivory Springs?"
Vil stopped, eyes wide for a moment. "...indeed I have."
"Well I sure haven't." Jack voiced, getting an answer from his dorm leader.
"It's a barren place that the sun doesn't reach even during the day, a deep valley, mired in volcanic heat. It used to be a lawless place where the king's rule meant nothing, but now, it's a hot spring resort."
"A hot spring resort!?" They both yelled as (Y/N) nodded.
"You'd be surprised how many of those types of facilities pop up around volcanic activity. Natural hot springs have a lot of health benefits, so resorts tend to be super popular. We actually have a famous town back home centered around natural, volcanic hot springs."
"To the Herbivore's point, it's the preeminent tourist destination in all of Sunset Savanna. Not that we have that many to begin with, of course."
"Been once myself." Lilia jumped in, a nostalgic smile on his face. "Had quite the time."
Vil looked rather flustered, clearly tempted by the offer. "The face packs and mineral water sold at Ivory Springs are said to be second to none. N-naturally, I'd hoped to visit at some point, but I can do that easily enough on my own. Certainly that will be more pleasant than going with you."
"Oh, but you won't see everything without me."
"...what do you mean?"
"Play nice and enter the Bead Brawl tournament like I'm asking, and I'll escort you to exclusive locales within Ivory Springs open only to the royal family."
"WHAT!?"
"Places you could never dream of entering by yourself, with guaranteed beautifying effects. This is probably the only chance you'll ever get."
(Y/N) whistled. "Wow, he REALLY doesn't want to do those lessons. I'm almost impressed. Vil, ball's in your court."
The blonde looked ready to strangle the green-eyed beastman. "Why, you underhanded...fine. I'll join your little sightseeing tour, but you must promise me a good time."
"Don't worry, I'll show you the time of your life."
"A festival in Sunset Savanna, eh?" Grim mused as (Y/N) nodded in agreement. "Should be fun! I bet there'll be all sorts of food stalls! Leona! We've decided to do you a solid and join ya!"
"Why would I bring you?" He asked, annoyed. "You wouldn't be of any use in the Bead Brawl."
(Y/N) crossed her arms as Luxray growled. "Excuse me?"
His ears went flat. "Let me rephrase: the cat wouldn't be of any use. Herbivore, you might be used to dealing with rowdy beasts, but there's still a gap in strength."
She tilted her head. "All right, fair point. Counter offer: who's best equipped to keep a certain excitable nephew of yours off your back on this trip?"
Leona's eyes went wide before snapping his teeth. "I hate you."
"Love you too, Kitty."
Lilia chuckled, a smug look on his face. "Leona may know when to play his cards, but when it comes to manipulating beast's actions on the fly, (Y/N) is unmatched."
She smiled slyly. "Hey, I love my hot springs. Plus, I've been itching to go exploring again."
"Hmph." Leona groaned. "For cryin' out loud, fine. You can come, as long as you support the team."
"Fair enough."
"I'm countin' on you, got it? Make sure that furball doesn't do anything to mess this up."