Aaron was eight years old, not yet old enough to be a trainer, but old enough to want to explore on his own. Aaron's parents were fairly wealthy and controlling of him, but every now and again he managed to sneak out of the house. One day, he came across a Rattata stuck in a fence and helped it out. Aaron liked the Pokémon and it liked him. Aaron brought it home to show his parents, but they were very displeased with it. They told him that a boy as wealthy as him should have a more worthy Pokémon when he got his trainer's license. Aaron was sad when he heard that, and he wasn't going to get rid of his new friend that easily. Aaron would sneak out of the house constantly to go play with the Rattata who always waited for Aaron in the same place. Aaron helped build him a little shelter and planted berries nearby, so that he always had food. Aaron's parents tried to stop him, but they knew that he was determined to keep the Rattata as his friend and eventually his partner. "We'll always be friends. And when I'm a trainer, you'll be my partner." Aaron told the Rattata who let out a cry of joy as it climbed on his shoulder and nuzzled against him, something he would do frequently to show his love for Aaron.
That was four years ago. Aaron was twelve now and had just gotten his trainer's license. He had short, uncombed brown hair that stuck up in weird places, and yellow eyes. Aaron's father had given Aaron a luxury ball to capture the Rattata, but Aaron wasn't for the rich kid lifestyle that his parents pushed on him; he traded the ball for five pokeballs, one of which he used to catch his Rattata. When Aaron became a trainer, he knew that his parents would have some say in the matter when they enrolled him in an elite Pokémon trainer boarding school in the Traksus (Tracks-us) region, a region that had Pokemon from many different regions living in it; people referred to it as a hybrid region as it seemed to be a combination of several regions and trainers from those regions.
Aaron disembarked the plane wearing a black blazer with gold buttons and the school's emblem on the left breast; he also wore khaki pants and black dress shoes. Underneath the blazer he was wearing a white shirt and black tie, the school uniform. Over his shoulder he had a messenger bag which he reached in to and pulled out a pokeball. "Rattata, we're here." Aaron said as he called the Pokémon out. The Pokémon excitedly jumped on Aaron's shoulder and nuzzled against him while Aaron petted him causing the Pokémon and Aaron to smile as they walked to the baggage claim to get Aaron's suitcase. After Aaron got his stuff, he went outside and recalled his Rattata as he got in to a cab and drove to the school.
The cab dropped Aaron off at the gate of the school where some upperclassmen were standing. "Hey first year." One of them taunted. Aaron tried to ignore him but he grabbed Aaron by the collar of his shirt. "First year, when I call your name you better listen." He growled.
"My name's not first year. It's Aaron." He replied coldly as he kicked the upperclassmen in the chest causing him to drop Aaron.
"You got some nerve kid, but I'll show you what happens when you don't respect your upperclassmen. Machoke, come on out." He said as he called out his Pokémon.
"Rattata, give me a hand." Aaron called out his Pokémon.
"You have a lot to learn. Fighting types have a serious advantage over puny little normal types like that runt." The boy chuckled.
Aaron scowled at him; he hated when people disrespected his partner. "Then you won't mind if I go first. Rattata use quick attack." Aaron said as his Pokémon charged at the Machoke. Aaron's Rattata moved very quickly, and it was almost a blur as it jumped on to the Machoke who wasn't fazed by the attack.
"That was pathetic." The upperclassmen laughed as did his Pokémon. "Machoke, use karate chop!" He called out.
"Rattata use super fang on his arm." Aaron called out. Aaron's Pokémon did as instructed as it saw the Machoke ready its attack and leapt on its arm sinking its teeth deeply in to it. The Machoke stopped its attack as it kept trying to shake off Aaron's Rattata who eventually let go as it was thrown back. "Are you okay?" Aaron asked. The Pokémon looked back at Aaron and smiled as it let out a small cry showing that it still wanted to fight.
"Kid, you're not going to win. Now why don't you forfeit before your friend gets hurt." The boy said as he instructed his Machoke to use karate chop.
Aaron's Rattata dodged the attack. Aaron fumbled in his bag until he found what he was looking for. "Snack time." Aaron called out as he threw four berries at his Rattata who caught each one and ate them quickly; Aaron threw a chople berry to weaken the Machoke's attack, a liechi berry to boost its attack, a salac berry to boost its speed, and a sitrus berry to restore some health.
"This isn't dinner time. It's a battle!" The boy shouted as he began ordering his Machoke to attack again. The Machoke used karate chop again and hit Aaron's Rattata while it finished eating all of the berries, but the chople berry weakened the blow. Aaron smiled at his partner who was still standing from an attack that should have finished him off.
"Berries are a powerful resource in a battle. You should learn how to use them. Now Rattata, finish him off with hyper fang!" Aaron called out as his Rattata ran incredibly fast at the Machoke and bit down very hard on him. When Aaron's Rattata finished biting him, he had won the battle as the boy recalled his Machoke.
Aaron gave his Rattata a hug before recalling him. "I have to go to my dorm now." Aaron said as he grabbed his stuff and walked off leaving the boy standing there.
Aaron got to his room and opened the door to see another boy setting up his stuff on the top bunk. "I hope that you don't mind that I take the top bunk." He said as he introduced himself as Drew. He had dirty blonde hair, brown eyes, and was fairly tall; he was also skinny. Aaron sat his stuff down on the bottom bunk and introduced himself before he started to unpack his stuff. The room wasn't very big, but it had the bare essentials like a TV, two desks, and dressers as well as two small closets; there was also a mini fridge in the corner. Aaron finished making his bed and setting up his laptop on the desk, and unpacking his stuff.
"So what kind of Pokémon do you have?" Drew asked. Aaron just pulled out his pokeball and called out his Rattata who jumped on to Aaron's shoulder and nuzzled his side. The Rattata growled slightly at Drew as it was very protective of Aaron, but Aaron told him that he was okay as Drew put his hand out and the Rattata nuzzled it. "Pretty affectionate little Rattata." Drew said as he scratched it behind the ears.
"And powerful. So what kind of Pokémon do you have?" Aaron asked as he watched Drew pull out his pokeball. Drew called out his Pokémon, a Shroomish. "Cool Shroomish. I take it that you're waiting for it t become a Breloom?" Aaron asked as Drew patted the Shroomish on the head. Aaron's Rattata introduced itself to the Shroomish who was very friendly as Aaron's Rattata playfully pounced on its head.
"I actually like him as a Shroomish, but if he wants to evolve that'll be awesome. So what classes are you taking?" Drew asked.
Aaron pulled out a schedule card and listed off the classes that he was taking which included the basics like math, English, P.E., and science. Aaron was also taking the Pokémon breeding class which included learning to care for, feed, breed, and raise Pokémon of all kinds, the horticulture class which involves learning to grow herbs and berries and their medicinal uses. There was also a battling class which was mandatory for all students to take. The school actually had field trips organized where the students would go to the gyms and challenge them in an official match.
Aaron found out that he and Drew had math, P.E., and battle class together. Both of the boys recalled their Pokémon as they started walking to the dining hall for the welcome dinner. They both saw some girls walk by; their uniforms consisted of a plaid skirt and a female version of the blazer.
"These are some pretty cute girls." Drew told Aaron as he watched them walk by.
"They're pretty, but they don't exactly seem nice." Aaron said as he watched a boy walk up to one of them and the girls laughing and walking away; he had clearly been rejected.
Just then, a girl with long light blue hair and green eyes walked up to Aaron. "Hi I'm Hayley. Do you know where the dining hall is?" She asked.
"Yeah, we're headed there right now." Drew spoke for Aaron as he was trying to flirt with this girl. Aaron and Drew introduced themselves as the trio walked to the dining hall. Apparently Hayley lived right across the hall from Aaron and Drew; the dorms were co-ed, and apparently her roommate was a girl named Abigail. Hayley later identified her as the girl with the shoulder-length light brown hair and blue eyes. She wore a pink headband and smiled at Aaron as he walked by.
The trio found their seats in the dining hall and sat down to eat, but not before a few announcements were made. A woman with purple hair in a bun wearing a gray pantsuit walked over to a podium to speak. "Firstly, welcome new students and welcome back returning students. At this school, you will hone your battling skills and find your true Pokémon calling in life. The forest is off limits to all students, and you will be expelled if you are caught in them at any time. If you have a disagreement, settle it with a battle. Other than that you are free to do as you wish. Do not think of us as teachers. Think of us as advisors. Before I forget, for those of you who do not know, I am Headmistress Silverstone."
She quickly walked off the stage as the students began eating. Aaron, Drew, and Hayley finished their food and went back to their dorm. "I'll see you in class tomorrow." Aaron said as he and Hayley went to their respective dorms. Aaron played on his computer for a little but before he got ready for bed. Aaron got in to his bed and called out his Rattata who made himself comfortable on Aaron's bed.
"You sleep with your Pokémon?" Drew asked as he looked down from the top bunk.
"Ever since I was a little kid." Aaron said as he stroked his Rattata's fur.
"Good night." Drew said smiling as he went back up to his bed.
"Good night." Aaron responded followed by a cry from his Rattata which Aaron knew as him saying goodnight. Aaron's eyes closed, and he drifted off to sleep as his Rattata got comfortable in Aaron's bed.