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

Chapter 68: It's A Deal Part 3: Now It's Personal

And thus we complete Octavinelle. Poor Azul, he'll never be able to look anyone in this in the eyes again.
Chapter 68: It's A Deal Part 3: Now It's Personal

"Aether signal tracking successful. We have arrived at the designated coordinates." It was yet another plunge into the sea, and seeing as Swampert was the only water type out due to Jamil's...preferences, water movement was limited to say the least. "Okay, we're in Azul's dream! Nobody got separated, right?"
Jade ignored Ortho's question looking a bit pale. "So that was Silver's signature spell. It induces in one a floaty feeling altogether different from flight magic...Urp...!"
"Whoa!" (Y/N) said, rubbing the taller male's back. "Deep breaths, Jade."
"Brave of you to stand in the splash zone, Shrimpy." Floyd said before the twins switched to their eel forms. "Dude, I can't believe you. You were all over Shrimpy."
His twin looked relieved, slowly getting back his color. "Ahh, thank goodness our surroundings are water."
Floyd made a face. "I don't see what's good about it."
"I guess Jade Leech has a constitution prone to dream-crossing sickness." Ortho noted as Silver moved closer to assist (Y/N) with Jade.
"Are you all right, Jade? Maybe you should sit down somewhere and rest. Wait, I guess it's strange to say "sit down" when we're underwater."
"Heh heh. Thank you kindly, Silver, and you as well, (Y/N). Being immersed in cold seawater has me feeling much better. There's no need to concern yourself on my behalf. Still, I must admit some surprise. I wasn't expecting Azul's dream to be set under the sea."
Floyd nodded. "And it's our home, the Coral Sea, the least novel place possible."
"I was positive Azul's dream would be about him thriving doing business on land."
"Yeah, huh? Maybe it's like what happened with us. He had all his fun up on land, then he ran outta stuff to do and came back to the sea."
Jade tapped his cheek. "Considering Azul's impatience, I could see it. Perhaps after opening franchises in every nation up on land, the Mostro Lounge has finally expanded into the Coral Sea. That might be the dream's premise. "I'll keep growing the Mostro Lounge, and one day surpass my mother's restaurant." That was practically a catchphrase of his."
"Time might flow differently in dreams than it does in reality..." Idia piped up from the tablet. "But if he achieved a dream that big, wouldn't he be middle-aged by now?"
"Sometimes on rare occasions, people in dreams are young again, or they become animals or other people entirely." Silver said. "But I don't think I've ever encountered a dream where someone's grown older."
"Yeah, most people would want to stay in their youth." (Y/N) agreed before Sebek pushed forward.
"Enough idle chatter. Let's just find Azul!"
Just then, there was a roar of a crowd, making everyone flinched. Grim's fur stood on end as he looked around wildly.
"What was that!?"
"That's a sporting event if I ever heard one." (Y/N) declared. "Let's go check it out."
The group swam off in the direction of the noise, coming across what looked to be a sporting event with two teams riding squids in play complete with an announcer.
"That's another goal! The Golden Tridents' momentum is unstoppable! They're over 30 points in the lead! Last year's champions, the Red Pincers, have a steep uphill battle to fight. There's just five minutes left on the clock. Can they possibly come back from this?!"
"What's this?" Jamil asked. "Why are all those merfolk swimming around after that glowing ball?"
"They're playing coral rush, an underwater sport." Floyd explained as Ortho did a data search.
"Ah, that's the one that originated in the Coral Sea and is now played by merfolk the world over, isn't it? I've seen videos of it on social media, but I've never seen it in person before! Wow, this is intense!"
Silver flinched as a player got body checked. "It looks like they use magic to try and knock the ball through the ring-shaped goals floating in the water.
"So Spelldrive but under water?" (Y/N) said as Floyd shrugged.
"Fair comparison. In Spelldrive, you ride brooms around, but in coral rush, you ride squids."
"Oho, so it's also got elements of polo." Sebek noted as Grim tilted his head.
"Polo? Uhhh, what's that?"
"It's a game where you ride on horseback and use a mallet to strike a ball toward the goal."
"We have something like that in my world too." (Y/N) said. "Game changes depending on the mount."
"Coral rush is quite a popular sport among merfolk." Jade explained. "We have a professional league for it, and many schools have teams as well. High school coral rush games are particularly high-profile events. Judging by the faces of the players, this is a match between school teams."
Jamil sighed, uninterested. "It really is like underwater Spelldrive."
Ortho was much more engaged. "Do you think I could play it if I had the right underwater gear? It looks like a lot of fun."
"Oof... Just hearing you guys describe it makes it obvious how absurdly high the social standing must be for people on coral rush teams." Idia groaned. "The so-called "star players" of these sports are all self-absorbed, macho narcissists. No way would indoor-type Board Game Club members like me and Azul ever become one."
At that point, a player from the other team began to breakaway.
"The Red Pincers are still snapping! They're weaving their way through the defense and closing in on the goal! Their advance is as swift as crabs skittering across a sandy beach! They're coming up on the end zone now!"
There was a blur of movement as the ball vanished, stopping the offensive player in their tracks.
"Huh?! I was just holding the ball! Where'd it go?"
"Oh, nooo! A turnover right in front of the goal! Who was it that swiped the ball so fast we couldn't see it...? Ah, the Golden Tridents' guardian! AZUL ASHENGROTTO!"
"HUH!?" Everyone yelled, seeing the octomer indeed in the game as the crowd cheered and the cheerleaders chanted.
"Azul, Azul, he's our man! If he can't do it, no one can!"
(Y/N) could hear the blue screen of death from Idia as he stuttered. "BWHAAA?! HOW?! Azul's as bad at athletics as I am!"
"Well, this is a dream." (Y/N) reminded before seeing the twin's faces. "I reiterate: we are not holding dreams against each other."
Floyd ignored her, cackling like a mad man. "Gyahahahahaha! Azul, a coral rush player?! Now that ain't possible!"
The Red Pincers were trying to rally.
"Rgh! We gotta stop Azul! Pull out all the stops!"
Azul smirked. "Heh... Stop me if you can."
"Incredible playing from Azul!" The comment or stated as Azul easily weaved up the field. "He's rushing straight for the goal without letting the Red Pincers' defense slow him down!"
"What incredible swimming! Guys, don't let him intimidate you!"
Azul's team cheered him on. "Go, Azul, go!"
"Take this! Haaah!" Azul shouted. "KRAKEN SHOT!"
He spiked the ball, putting it into the goal in a burst of speed.
"He lands the goal! Azul Ashengrotto clinches the game in spectacular style! And that's the end of regulation! The Golden Tridents win!"
Azul's teammates surrounded him.
"Nice going, Azul! We'd never have won that game without you!"
"It was hardly just me." The octomer assured. "That victory was a team effort from all of us."
"Okay, let's all go celebrate!"
"Come on!" (Y/N) urged, seeing the team heading out. "We gotta follow them!"
Silver agreed. "We can't afford to lose them. Let's follow!"
"Rgh, it's so hard to move around underwater!" Grim complained. "Why did you call back Swampert, (Y/N)!?"
"Trying to minimize us being noticeable."
"It doesn't help that these aerospheres are so wide they keep colliding with each other." Jamil added as there was squeeing.
"Squeee! Wait up, Azul!"
"Hey, out of the way, people!"
"Those jellyfish membranes around you are blocking the way. Stop taking up so much space!"
One cheerleader attempted to push (Y/N), only to be met with an immovable object. The trainer slowly turned around and just glared down at the mermaid, who slowly slunk back.
"Wanna try that again?"
Azul then interceded. "Now, hold on! That's no way to treat spectators who came to see the game. I'm so sorry how people from my school treated you. Are you fins or scales hurt anywhere? Ah, what's this? You have two tailfins. Are you a visitor from land, perhaps?"
(Y/N) nodded. "That's right. I'm here from Night Raven College."
"Night Raven College? Oh, that's an arcane academy on land, isn't it? You must have traveled a long way to get here. Please, consider yourselves welcome. My name is Azul Ashengrotto. I'm the captain of the Golden Tridents, my school's coral rush team."
Jade, ever the opportunist, pushed forward. "Mr. Ashengrotto I was quite impressed with how you were playing back there. Can I trouble you for an autograph?"
Azul beamed. "Certainly! What would you like me to sign?"
"The back of this tablet, please."
"Wait, hold on—," Idia protested as he was promptly ignored. "Aaaugh! Now there's a giant Azul signature across the back of my tablet!"
"Ah, is that a fan of mine on the other end of the line? They seem delighted!"
"Yes, just so. Hahaha!" Jade said as the tablet was handed back.
"Here you are. Thank you for your support."
"Thank you kindly, and keep up the good work! By the way..." Jade pulled Floyd over. "Do our faces ring any bells for you?"
"Your faces? Hmm..." Azul squinted at them before a lightbulb went off. "Ah! Are you the Leeches? From elementary school?"
The more sly twin nodded. "Yes! I'm honored you remember us."
"Oh, the memories! We were in the same class back then, weren't we? It's been ages!"
The three high fived as Idia's tablet scurried behind the others.
"Ah! That's one of the classic things that extroverts do when hyped up...The bizarrely complicated and time-consuming secret handshake!"
Jamil looked equally disturbed. "I see those a lot in street basketball, but it's surreal watching those two doing it."
"I have to hand it to Jade Leech." Ortho admitted. "He's showing remarkable flexibility in adapting to this different Azul."
"Back in elementary school, I knew you two so little that—er, ahem! You both grown so big and tall, I didn't recognize you at first. Ahaha! We haven't seen one another since graduation, have we? What school are you going to now?"
"Night Raven College." Floyd answered dully, making Azul back up.
"Huh?! You mean... You two merflok are attending a LAND school? That's...amazing. You must be quite brave. I could never go up on land, myself..."
"Hey, Azul!" A teammate called out. "Come on, let's go!"
"Party can't start without the start of the team!"
"Be right there! Oh, I know! Surely something brought us together. Would you care to come to our victory party tonight?"
"Your victory party?" Jamil butted in. "Is it okay for us to join?"
Azul nodded. "Anyone can come if a team member invites them. I'd love to hear more about life on land. The venue is La Grotta, my mother's restaurant. It's exceedingly famous, so I assume you already know where it is."
"A party!" Grim cheered. "Do we get good food if we go?!"
"Ah, yes. It's not the kind of place students like yourselves would tipically be able to dine at, but today's a special occasion. I'll be waiting! Until then."
As he swam off, (Y/N) couldn't help but hear the malicious intent in his voice, but said nothing as a blur of cream, blue, and pink caught the corner of her eye. If Azul tried something, he was in for a world of hurt.
Grim was none the wiser. "Score one for us! I'm so ready to stuff my face at that party! C'mon! Let's go! Get a move on!"
"Okay, slow down for a second." Jamil scolded, catching the cat by the scruff. "We need to review our findings first. Azul of all people is dreaming of being a star athlete getting fawned over by fans...Honestly, that's a surprise.
"Right?" Idia agreed. "It's pretty run-of-the-mill for an adolescent boy."
Even Floyd was caught off guard. "I was expectin' Azul to dream about sittin' pretty with a buncha successful businesses."
"It was also surprising to see that he's estranged from Jade and Floyd." Ortho pointed out. "I expected it to be easier to wake him with two people that he shares strong connections and memories with..."
"Hmm. Well, we only started hangin' out together back in middle school. That was when Azul mastered It's a Deal..." Floyd's eyes went wide with realization. "Ah! Ahaaa. Nooow I get it."
"Whatever you "got," don't keep it to yourself." Sebek ordered. "Explain it for the rest of us!"
"Azul dreamed he never got bullied, and that was his drive to master his signature spell." (Y/N) reasoned, following Floyd logic. "Without it, no It's A Deal or Leech twins."
"Very perceptive for one not native to Twisted Wonderland." Jade backhandedly complimented. "Though, that would mean waking Azul will require forcing him to reject this happy dream and swallow a bitter reality. The thought of that pains me greatly-,"
"Oh Tauros-,"
Silver covered (Y/N)'s mouth, not needing to know what a Tauros was to know what word came next. "No matter how happy it seems here, this world is a lie."
"Agreed." Jamil nodded. "When he wakes from the dream, everything he thought he had will go up in smoke. Night Raven College's top businessman is currently wasting his time in a wholly unproductive way. All without realizing it. If you ask me, that's not "happy" for him at all. It's quite the opposite."
Floyd laughed. "Ahaha, you said it. Okay, let's bust up this dream already."
"Hmm. I woke up after a harsh attack from Floyd." Jade pondered. "Do you think Azul would wake up with a few solid blows as well?"
(Y/N) grabbed his ear fin. "You are not getting a pass to beat up Azul!"
"The problem is that we can never be sure." Silver pointed out as Ortho tried to go through the data.
"Memories of reality and strong reminders of inconsistencies are also valid ways of helping a target wake up."
Idia joined in. "Hmm. Here, we've got an unathletic indoor type turning into an outdoorsy sports powerhouse. You'd think that would produce some immediate paradoxes, but Azul's definitely got a strong imagination. In fact, the structure here is really thorough. Recreating his environment to accommodate his changes covers up any inconsistencies that clash with reality. Or, to put it a better way—this dream is set up to stop paradoxes from arising in the first place."
"Yeah, he didn't even bat an eye when he saw Jade or Floyd."
"For now, how about we go to the party Azul invited us to?" Silver suggested. "We might be able to work out a reliable approach for waking him if we can gather more info."
Sebek nodded in agreement. "Mm. And even if we can't, we don't want to get too far from the dreamer."
Grim was already swimming down the road. "We better hurry before the food's gone! C'mon, let's move!"
"Yes, let's. The sun will set soon...and the sea at night is hardly a safe place for any of you." Jade then looked at (Y/N), rubbing his ear. "Well, most of you."
"All right, come on." Floyd offered, taking the lead. "I'll lead the way."
"I'm getting a bad feeling about this..." Idia sighed as (Y/N) crossed her arms.
"You and me both."