Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.
"We are joined here today by Mr. George Hanson, president of the department of Education. Today we are exploring the government's new policies concerning the nation's trainers and children under the age of fifteen. These new policies have many of the nation's youth, unsurprisingly, in an uproar. New laws are in place raising the age of Pokémon trainers to fifteen, and making it mandatory for all future trainers to attend schools before setting off on what is considered the rite of passage in the country. Now, Mr. Hanson, what can you tell us about these new policies."
"Well, first off, it's important to understand that, while the age limit has been raised, it only applies to gym battles and taking off what is known as the "Pokémon journey". The government is not banning the right of the nation's youth to raise and have Pokémon, or even having battles with peers in the school yard. We are banning the sending off of young twelve year olds to travel the world on their own."
"Mr. Hanson, many adults are in uproar alongside the children. A few critics are asking what is the point of the law is if children are still training them at home or at the boarding schools-another policy that is coming into play."
"That is the point. They are training them at home. They are not off in the wild- the forests, the mountains, deserts, etc.- getting hurt in the world that they were unprepared for. We are finding, for every Pokémon master we cheer for, there are terrifying numbers of children that perish on their journeys. The world is not as caring as many of the popular training stories make it out to be. There are real dangers that young children are not prepared for."
"Another new policy is the schooling system. Could you please explain that for our viewers at home?"
"Certainly. Another aspect we are finding as a negative side effect of the young trainers is that much of our youth is poorly educated. They are not attending enough time at school at a heavy enough rate that correlates to the years they won't be at school."
"And the answer is the new Pokémon schools popping up all over the mainland and the islands?"
"In most cases, yes. Most of these new schools- such as Stars Academy, the Hepburn Academy, the Archimedes School for Young Academics, the Skyline Academy, and a number of others- have a deep course load both for Pokémon and for academics outside of Pokémon training, coordinating, breeding, and Pokémon rangers. These schools understand that our children need training in surviving the wilderness and navigation, but that they also need to have a background in academics such as history, science, mathematics, and everything that children who stay at home receive. This prepares them for life in training their Pokémon, as well as the world outside of it. At schools such as these, by the age of fifteen they are well prepared for their journey."
"Are all of these schools worth the rate of tuition? And what about children that can't afford these 'Pokémon Academy's', where do they stand?"
"No. There are schools that are not held to as a high enough standard as the ones I mentioned before. There are several that are open solely for the money. We have a team for investigating schools that are listed as Pokémon Training schools or academies. If we find them better off shut down, we do. As for the children who cannot afford these academies, they are not at a loss nor are they disqualified for Pokémon training. They are at a disadvantage to the children who attend the top rated academies, but that is the nature of life and there are those who are always ingenious and strong enough to overcome humble beginnings. The main point the government is trying to get at is that our children need more time and more education."
Belle barely heard the television over the buzzing of the packed café house. She managed to balance eight teacups and a stack of dirty plates on her tray as she avoided numerous collisions from the front of the house to the back of the house. She sighed with relief, blowing a sole strand of light brown hair out of her face, as she safely made it back to the kitchen.
"Oh, dearie let me help you." Mrs. Sornely, an elderly, four foot woman with ghost white hair, trotted over to the young girl, whisking away the cups and plates. "We're very busy out there, aren't we dearie?"
"Yes ma'm." Belle patted Lizard, her charmander, on his head before busying herself with the ovens.
"Your Lizard has been such a help to me back here, and your Kingston as well." Belle blanched at her charmander's name. Of course, her brother Tommy had to have a say in the names of every Pokémon that came in and out of their home. Sadly, Lizard was one of his less original names. Kingston, her krabby, clicked its claws and beamed at Belle.
"They do like to be in the kitchen." The light caught in Belle's wide, green eyes. "It's pretty early in the day for it to be as busy as it is."
The door flew open and a blonde hair boy around Belle's age barged in, knocking over glasses. "BELLE!"
"Parker Hardly, what have I told you about barging in here?" Belle yelled at the boy.
Mrs. Sornely laughed. "Oh, young boys in love hardly ever listen. Hoho, his last name certainly fits!"
Parker gaped at Mrs. Sornely. "Wha-why I'd never like a girl like her! She's no fun at all!"
Belle narrowed her eyes. "What do you want Parker?"
"Your parents want you home. It's urgent!"
[B]
By the time Parker had caught up with Belle, she was halfway home. He struggled to catch up to her, panting and huffing behind her on that dirt road. The green landscape was blurring around Belle raced ahead.
"Belle! I could have gotten my dad's car and driven you home!" Parker breathed out.
"No time!" She couldn't stop. Both her mother, Helena, and her father, Thomas Senior, were sickly. Her mother was of poor constitution after birthing so many children and working her fingers to the bone to take care of them and their home and her father's health had gotten worse over the years after working in the mines and taking other jobs alongside just to keep their family fed the best he could. Either one of them could drop at any moment.
"Belle, I'm sure it's fine!"
"Shut up Hardly, you don't know anything!"Parker gritted his teeth. He knew Belle well enough to know it wasn't worth arguing. She never listened anyway.
Belle had never been so happy to see the Hellson's home before. The house was little more than a shack on the outside, despite the care Belle's family lavished upon it, with fourteen children to feed, there was never enough money. The paint of the walls were peeling, the floorboards creaked, and it was hot in the summer and freezing in the winter, but it was all Belle had ever known. She dashed inside, slamming the door open.
"Mom, dad!" Nineteen pairs of eyes stared at Belle, all wearing happy smiles. Belle stopped and straightened herself. Both her parents stood, as healthy as they were normally, her thirteen siblings were fine-they littered the tattered brown couch and the floor-, and her grandparents were among them. Even the mayor of the town was in their living room. Something was not right, but it wasn't about any of them. "What is going on?"
Parker knocked into her as he flew into the room. "I got her now what-oops. Sorry Belle." Belle glared at the lanky boy and pushed him off of her, ignoring his hand to stand up on her own.
Helena laughed. "Thank you Parker. You may go home now."
"Oh, no thank you. I'm interested in what's going on!" Parker said as he crossed his arms. Lily, Belle's eleven year-old sister giggled. Belle rolled her eyes. Lily had had a crush on the older boy for years who, unfortunately, was attached to Belle's hip. And, if he wasn't invading Belle's space, he was at her house with her family. Somehow, he was always around. It made Belle want to scream.
"Very well then," Mr. Hodge, the mayor, said, "Belle, I have some wonderful news for you!" The small man rocked on his feet, twisting his brown mustache. Belle had always believed the mayor to be a odd, but nice enough fellow. But still, he was very odd. "Everyone in the town knows about your dream of being a Pokémon breeder." Everyone around her nodded while Belle stared at her feet, shuffling them awkwardly. Yes, Belle's dream was to be a world renowned Pokémon breeder, but that required money and the ability to travel to raise her Pokémon up more and to capture Pokémon. Her family needed her here, with them, so that she could work and help. "I'm pleased to present you with this." The mayor handed Belle an open envelope. Belle stared at him, confused. "Well, read it!"
Belle pulled out the folded paper.
Dear Ms. Belle Aurora Hellson,
We at Skyline Academy are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted on academic scholarship to our prestigious academy. By recommendation by your school board, Mayor Hodge, and Mr. Dawson of the Pokémon CCBS, we have granted admittance and are most pleased in informing you of your tuition being paid in full.
Belle stopped reading and looked up at the smiling crowd. "What is this?"
Kale, the eldest sibling, laid a suitcase in front of Belle. "This, little sis, is our goodbye to you."
[B]
Belle had never had say farewell. It was not a normal event in any regard. Her family would not cease hugging and petting her. Her mother and several of her sisters were weeping and several of the town's people showed up and were cheering for her. It was all rather odd to have such a fanfare after learning about the school little more than twenty hours ago. Her father hugged her and adverted his eyes, his eyes suspiciously looking glassy, despite the fact that Belle had never known her father to cry.
She had tried to fight against this for the past twenty minutes, she really had, but her family-all of them, even the youngest, little Tommy- said 'no'. The fact that it was free and would not cost them a dime made them all the more for it.
"The Hellson family hasn't ever had a dime to their name, honey, and have never measured to anythin' more than bein' a coal miner or some ranch hand to lazy man with no heart for his men. You are bein' handed a great opportunity on a silver platter for nothin' more than sayin' good-bye to your family for a year or so. Girl, get on that train and get goin'. And don't start teary upin' like your women relatives. I know you're the stronger female out of all of them." Her grandfather, Josiah, lectured her. He then proceeded to push her towards the train, accidently ramming her into a blubbering Parker.
"B-Belle, I'm going to m-miss you!" Parker wailed before throwing himself at her.
"Parker stop!" She pushed the boy away and picked up her suitcase. Now she was certainly ready to leave.
"Wait!"
"Tepig!" Belle winced and turned around. Sure enough, Rolly, one of Parker's Tepigs, the most annoying one (really just a Pokémon version of Parker to be honest) was out of its poke ball. Belle had a feeling she knew what was happening here. Rolly was a lot like Parker. He was attached to Belle's hip. And because Parker's dad's side business of a Tepig ranch was already heavily populated and didn't need any more….
"Take Rolly with you! That way, it'll be like I'm always with you! Plus, Rolly would miss you!"
"Tepig!"
Belle slumped her shoulders.
[B]
The overhead lamp flickered on and off as Belle struggled to read the student information packets. It was an old rickety train and the screeching of the wheels against the metal railways were keeping Belle wide awake while Rolly, Lizard, and Kingston slept peacefully around her. Aries, her tauros, was too large to be let out of his poke ball on the train. Belle sighed and strained to read.
Skyline Academy is well known for its great quality care for its students and Pokémon. Children of high ranking government officials as well as children of important Pokémon icon handlers make up the most of the school's population. Children from the mainland and the islands- from the Kanto region to the Unova region- flock to this academy. The academy uses state of the art technology as well as practices. The school contains nine buildings on its own private island.
Belle narrowed her eyes as she read those lines. Great, she was going to be dealing with children from rich families who were beyond spoiled. She ignored the rest of the page and flipped to the next one, containing a description of the buildings. There was a map showing the buildings in a square setting, the middle being some sort of park with walkways between buildings. The building descriptions went in numerical order, starting at the front building and going to the left buildings, circling around back to the front.
The main school building. Here all students attend classes and better themselves as productive members of society. Main school offices are also found here, as well as Pokémon healing facilities.
Facility housing. Known as the Jirachi house.
Sports center. Here all students and Pokémon engage in physical activity.
Green house. Students and teachers alike have the option of growing crops for recreational and academic pursuits.
The first dormitories. All students wishing to become Pokémon trainers, gym leaders, or otherwise wishing to specialize in the battling portion, and future leaders in business and politics, have living quarters here. The house name is Moltres.
The second dormitories. Future Pokémon coordinators and artists inhabit the richly styled Articuno House.
The third dormitories. Future Pokémon professors and academic geniuses, as well as future engineers and leaders in science, make the Zapdos House their home.
The fourth and final dormitories. Here future breeders flock to the Mew House.
The final building is the shopping district for the students when traveling to the mainland is not available. Has stores, a café, and a restaurant.
Belle knew the Mew House was where she was going to be place; although she was sure she had the brains for the Zapados House as well. She had a feeling most of the wealthy students belonged in the first two houses, but only time would tell.
Slowly, but surely, Belle began to fall asleep despite the screeching train. It was not until the train went on the overwater railways that Belle and her Pokémon woke up. Rolly and Kingston began to jump and down excitedly while Lizard was content with sitting on Belle's lap (his flaming tail safely away from her face) and staring out of the window. Belle too was finding herself to be excited. She w as a child of the mainland and had never traveled more than ten miles away from her town. Now, she was farther away than a mere ten miles. Much farther away.
Lizard pulled on Belle's orange blouse. "Char?"
"Yes," Belle answered, pulling the charmander close, "we're almost there."
[B]
The man driving Belle to the school was a surly man with black sunglasses that hid his eyes. He said not a word to Belle and had practically shoved her in to the car. Belle had a feeling this would not be the last time such a thing would happen to her at this school. Still, she could not help feeling excited as the car eventually arrived in front of the prestigious looking school, the main building looking quite imposing amongst the heavy rain and darkened sky. It had a gothic look to it and the rain only helped to make it look all the more frightening. Belle sat gaping at the building when the driver flung the door open and dragged her out, setting her suitcase down beside her. He then drove off, leaving her alone, stranded, in front of the school.