Of Rookies and Rivalries
A reader asked me the other day to continue this fanfic, so I figured I would go back and improve the existing chapters. Maybe add some extra details or references. And retcon some stuff out and make the differences between Sun and Light more apparent. But if you're new, you won't even notice!
Enjoy the new and improves TSotSC!
I don't own Pokémon or Pokémon Ranger, but that's a given.
The Pikachu eyes me warily. Its black-tipped ears flick sharply back and forth, trying to detect any sounds that could mean danger. Its cheeks quiver nervously, the brief surges of electricity coursing through its body; strong enough to knock a small boy like me out cold with one hit. Its whole body is rigid; whether it's with fear or anger is uncertain. The beady black eyes never leave me for one instant. All in all, it doesn't look too friendly.
I ready my Styler.
Pressing the release button, the Capture Disc is launched at the Pokémon. Circles are spun furiously around the yellow rodent as I try to capture it before it can send any of its deadly electricity my way. We engage in a tango, both spinning and moving, almost in sync. Neither party relenting. I can't help but feel pity for the Pikachu. It had probably been caught endless times before I ever showed up by aspiring Rangers, Operators and Mechanics alike. Either that or the academy has a limitless supply of Pikachu's hidden in the back room.
The last circle is drawn in seconds.
I'll probably make it onto the Top 10 list of rookies captures with that time; not that it matters. The strange guy with the stupid hat says that my capture was impressive and congratulates me, one eyebrow slightly raised. I stoically return the Capture Disc to the Styler. What is one good capture among the many yet to come?
Don't get cocky, you. The ugly guy's talking to us again.
Talking to me, you mean.
"Hehehe..." he chuckles, tipping his hat to dramatically obscure his eyes. "My name, it is Kaplan. You are now a member of our secret army, the inscrutable Team School."
Good Lord; the guy's delusional as well as poorly dressed.
"As proof of your membership, you are conferred the School Styler you just used. Together, we shall rule the world..."
He starts laughing maniacally, his arms held in the air. I resist the urge to take a step back and close the distance between the door and I. A creak sounds from behind me like an aged person sighing at the world, and a younger, more rational voice calls out at us.
"Oh, please, Mr. Kaplan! Please don't tease my student with a silly performance like that."
A woman strides into the room, only looking to be about 23 years old. Her long brown bangs fall around her shoulders, partially covering the green shirt and pencil skirt combo she's donning. Kaplan visibly winces and lowers his gaze to the floor under her scrutinizing presence, coughing to cover up his brief lapse in sanity.
Sounds like our kinda lady. And didn't she say 'student'? She must be our teacher.
Just as long as you don't get us into trouble like the last Ranger School we went to.
"Ahahaha, sorry, sorry," Kaplan apologizes meekly. "The timing was just too perfect to miss. Ahem..." He clears his throat, seemingly ready to take the situation seriously this time around. "You have passed the Ranger School's entrance exam with flying colours! That really was quite an impressive capture."
Don't let it go to your head. We still have doors to fit through.
The woman turns to us, delight evident on her face. She shakes my hand before delivering the rest of the spiel.
"Congratulations! You've been accepted. Starting today, you are officially a student of the Ranger School. I'm Ms. April. I'm your class teacher. I'm pleased to meet you." Likewise. "Your classmates are waiting for you. I'll show you to our class."
I follow April out of the room, ignoring Kaplan saying something that was probably highly uneducated and ineffectual behind us. She leads me out onto a yard bathed in green grass, the sun making the strands shimmer in the breeze. Pokémon fly free, unrestricted by Stylers, or even Pokéballs for that matter.
Come to think of it; I know this is a 'Ranger Region', but surely there must be some Trainers around here. Only thing is, when we got off the ferry this morning, there wasn't a single sign of one.
Let's just chalk it up to cultural differences. I'm led into a large school house, constructed in a very rural design of timber and shingles. The entrance is a long corridor with branching sections, probably leading off into classrooms. It's a pleasant contrast between modern and traditional that still manages to feel welcoming while maintaining a professional aura. Sunlight streams in from windows and skylights, making it as bright as it was outdoors. I'm taken off to the first room on the left and told to wait outside. April disappears off into the classroom. I stand outside twiddling my thumbs.
Stop it! You're making me nervous.
That's the whole point.
She didn't seem to mind that we didn't say anything. You reckon the other students will?
What's it to us? We're only here to get a Ranger License, even though we're fully capable already. We would have gotten a Ranger License at the last school we went to, if you hadn't messed everything up.
...
Snippets of conversation filter through from the classroom, and I can hear the excited voices of the pupils from inside. One voice in particular stands out loud and clear, seeing as it's so loud it practically makes the walls shake. April calls us in with a raised voice, obviously trying to be heard over the excited students.
Boy, will they be disappointed when we walk in.
I push open the door, vowing to oil its squeaky hinges before I leave, and stroll casually up to the front of the class, hands in my pockets. No, I'm not nervous. I'm not nervous. Stop laughing in there, I can hear you!
"Our new friend came along to our Almia region to become a Pokémon Ranger," April states after the class settles down enough for her to get a word in edgeways. "Oh, yes. You should introduce yourself to our class rather than me. Let's start with your name."
Crap.
CRAP.
Aw, man! What're we gonna do?! No talking, remember?
OK, calm down. They're waiting expectantly. Don't let them see us panicking. Shrug nonchalantly. Turn around. Pick up chalk. Write name on blackboard. Put chalk down. Success.
We're getting funny looks. They're probably wondering why we didn't just say our name. Ms. April probably thinks we're gonna be another 'problem student'. I'm looking forward to the opportunity to prove her right! Hahah!
"OK, our new friend is named Light." I'm surprised she can read your handwriting. It looks like you tried to write your name in an earthquake! "Let's make him feel welcome. I understand that he scored quite well on our entrance exam."
We got full marks, for Pete's sake! Just say it! It won't make the others hate us for our brilliance.
No, it probably will.
Oh... Right then.
April sends a fleeting frown towards a boy with unruly brown hair in the front row; he's grinning so wide he's at risk of poking the person to his right with his mouth, and playing with his hands.
He probably can't wait to tease us. He's in for a bit of a surprise then.
Just don't get us kicked out, m'kay?
"Anyway, we had better get you seated somewhere, Light," April chirps. "You can have the seat next to Keith."
Joy. I'm so excited. I sit down heavily on the cushioned seat, crossing my legs and placing my hands on the table in the most dignified manner I can muster. I can feel 'Keith' smirking at me without even looking at him. I cast a glance in his direction, holding his eye contact until his gaze flickers away.
Death glare:1 Enemy:0
"OK, that will do," the teacher states, drawing the attention of the class away from me and back to her. "That's it for treating you like a new transfer student. From now on, you're all my students, people whom I can take pride in teaching." Not if I have anything to say about it. "Let's do it, everyone... Let's not fail your dreams of becoming Rangers, Operators and Mechanics!"
Everyone in the room starts cheering like madmen. Except for Keith and I. He's still staring intently at me, probably trying to freak me out.
Not if we freak him out first.
I'll leave that to you. I'm better at being caustic than unruly.
"OK, I'll change the class schedule specially for today. This will be a free-study class. But, before I go, Light, I need to explain something to you." Our name sounds ridiculous coming from her. Our name is ridiculous. No it's not! Light is a nice name! Besides, you picked it! "It's about the School Styler you were provided before the entrance exam." What, this chunky thing on our wrist? "It's a simplified version of a Ranger's official Capture Styler. Now, put simply, a Styler blah, blah, blah..."
I switch off.
We know all this anyways. Well, you do. I don't think I learned ANYTHING from the last place.
That's because you spent all your time sleeping in there. The other students pay attention; some of them start taking notes while others seem to copy everything to memory. It's like they're her fan club.
No, it's like she's a teacher, and she's teaching them stuff we just already happen to know. Stop being so nasty!
She then has me push buttons on the Styler to make it do different things. It's all child's play, but I do as she says anyway. I don't want to make too much of a bad impression. April scolds Keith for yawning, which is exactly what I'm desperately trying not to do.
He's arrogant. Kinda reminds me of you.
What was that?
...
"Actually, that turned into quite a lesson. Are you a bit overwhelmed?" Fat chance. "Really, you should just try things out and see how they work for yourself." Yeah, we'll probably take the Styler apart later and assemble some sort of mecha with the parts. "After all, nothing beats experience. It's all about trying."
She turns away from me, and I feel slightly more at ease. She asks a girl with a name that's even weirder than ours to show us around the school, though I'd prefer just to be left alone for now.
What if she tries to talk to us?
You'd like that, wouldn't you? We'll manage, somehow. April disappears off to the staff room, leaving me at the tender mercy of my class mates. They all wait until her footsteps fade down the hall before pouncing on me and showering me with questions, none of which are answered. Or even really acknowledged.
"Hey, new kid, I forgot your name, but how long did it take you to capture Pikachu? Like an hour?"
Five seconds.
You kept count?
Oh, yes.
"Keith's just a show-off," says the girl who's supposed to be giving me a tour of this hell hole. "You're better off ignoring him. Instead, you should be paying attention to me. I'm not here to become a Ranger. I want to become an Operator instead. So, when Keith becomes a Ranger, I can order him around like my servant!" Sounds like a good ambition to me! "Just joking! All right, let me take you on a tour of the Ranger School. Let's begin with our own classroom."
I zone out again. She says something about running in the halls. We'll have to try that sometime.
Now who's gonna get us kicked out?!
She leads me away from the prying eyes of the other students, much to my pleasure, and out the door. I end up being dragged most of the way around the school by an over-eager 'Rhythmi' as she calls herself. I find it hard to believe that that's her real name.
She probably finds it hard to believe that Light is our real name.
It isn't.
The school's actually not that big. We don't get to see the dorms, which is a pity, because I had big plans for Keith. Big 'snakes in his bed' plans.
We'll have our chance later on. I begin to believe that Rhythmi's tour will never end until the bell sounds for break. Hopefully I can lose her outside and go climb some trees or something. Rhythmi points out the Training Room, which is where I completed the entrance exam an hour ago.
Wow, time flies when you're being dragged around a prison by an over-enthusiastic blonde.
Rhythmi asks if I know about clearing targets, and I nod. I learned all about this in the Summerland Ranger School in Fiore. She somehow takes this to mean no, and I have to endure a tedious session on capturing Pokémon and Target Clears that I pretty much sleep through.
Speaking of Summerland, I wonder how everyone is doing?
Probably happy to see us go.
LIGHT! Don't say that! Lil' didn't want us to go!
That's probably only because she doesn't have anyone to go camping with any more.
Oh, you don't know that!
Don't I, Sun? Don't I?
Hmm...
Anyhoo, the unnecessary training session ends just before I'm about to kill myself due to boredom. Rhythmi says that there is yet another place for me to see before we're done, and she tugs me off by my arm before I can hatch an escape plan. I'm starting to feel like this whole venture is somewhat one-sided. At least she's not asking me to engage in it.
When we get outside someone is yelling and sobbing, looking very pathetic in the middle of the yard. Something about Bidoof. Rhythmi is more concerned than I am.
"J-Janice?!" she stutters unflatteringly. "She's having trouble with the Bidoof! Please, Light! Capture the Bidoof and get them to settle down!" She urges me towards the fiasco expectantly. I raise a single eyebrow at her, but don't fight back.
Why can't she just do it?
She wants to be an Operator, not a Ranger.
But she has a fully functional Styler! ... Oh, great. Here comes Mr. Cocky to join the party.
"Heh, I was wondering what the ruckus was all about," says Keith, standing idly at the door, trying to look cool. "Looks like a good time that's up for grabs!"
"Keith! Don't just stand there!" scolds Rhythmi, gesturing at him. "You help with captures too!"
"It won't be much fun if I just help" he snorts before finally noticing my presence. "Hey, new kid! I forgot your name, but I challenge you! We'll have a capture race, you and me! We'll see who and capture the most Bidoof, all right?"
No. Go do it yourself.
No, wait, maybe this is a good time to knock some sense into his thick head. Rhythmi doesn't seem happy, but I take up his challenge anyways.
OOOOH! LEMME!
Fine, whatever.
All right, let's get this party started! Rhythmi cocks her head and asks me if I'm alright, which is when I realise that the swap has made me look queasy. I nod at her, trying not to break out into a smile and fall out of character, turning back to Keith, who counts down to his own defeat.
"Three! Two! One! START!"
I charge off the instant he finishes counting, leaving a startled Rhythmi in my wake. She probably wasn't expecting any sort of enthusiasm from the guy who has literally said nothing since he arrived. The Bidoof are everywhere, all of them looking massively derpy, falling over their own feet and farting. Why anyone would ever want one is beyond me, except maybe to punt them off cliffs.
Maybe it's to make themselves feel smarter? Sounds like the perfect Partner Pokémon for Keith!
Wow, if only he could have heard you.
Hmph.
I tail the Bidoof, capturing them all with ease. They don't even try to attack, like they can't coordinate themselves enough to be a threat. It's barely worth my time.
Now who's being a cocky bastard?
Shut up! You're spoiling my concentration.
Doesn't take much.
Uh oh.
What?
Keith won.
Oh, nice going. Move over! I want control back! Well, at least he only won by one Bidoof.
We still lost though. If you hadn't been insulting me so much I wouldn't have lost my concentration!
Stop yelling! You're making my head hurt. Janice tries to make me feel better by telling me I looked good at it, but it comes across more condescending than helpful. And all she did was tread on the tail of one of the Bidoof in the first place.
"I'd rate your captures at 65 out of 100," Keith sniggers, not entirely serious. "... Hey, but you know..." Is he going to be nice for once?! "I'll be honest: I was pretty surprised by how you did. You might be decent for someone who just learned about this." I bet that killed him. The school mustn't have mentioned that we have more experience than the lot of them put together by now. "You said your name was Light, right?"
"Oh, you, Keith! You knew our friend's name all along!" Rhythmi scolds, lightly smacking Keith's arm in jest. Wait, 'our friend'? Where did that come from? "For goodness' sake... Oh! That's right! There's somewhere I haven't shown you yet!"
"What, you mean Ascension Square?" Keith replies, childish abandon flitting across his face.
"Yes!"
"Then I'll go, too."
"Oh, all right. I guess we'll let you come with us."
Wow, I feel left out in all this banter.
Too right. Let's just follow them. They're the only people who we actually know the names of that aren't teachers, and therefore the enemy.
Hehe!
I'm dragged around by two people this time, and end up almost falling down a long flight of stairs in Keith and Rhythmi's excitement.
Since when were we their 'friend'?
They probably just decided it.
You don't even like them that much.
Do you?
... A little. Maybe. I reckon they're good for a laugh.
Hmph! We'll be gone soon. Don't get too attached.
Oh, lighten up! Heh. Light should lighten up. I made a funny.
Yeah... At the bottom of the stairs a large abstract sculpture towers up above us, blocking out the sun; casting jagged shadows on the three of us. Or four, depending on how you count us.
"This is Ascension Square," Rhythmi informs me, slightly more serious and pensive. "Next month, there's going to be a special class here. It's the Outdoor Class. That monument there is called the Pledge Stone. If you make a firm pledge to each other with your friends here, it will surely come true... That's what Principal Lamont told me."
Who's he?
Not sure. Probably someone unimportant.
Not if he's the Principal.
"And there you have it! That concludes Rhythmi's School Tour of Wonder and Excitement!" More like horror and boredom. "Light! I'm glad to have met you! I hope we can be friends for a long time!"
"Hey, hold it now! Don't worry about Rhythmi. Be friends with me, OK?"
Keith grabs my arm possessively, as if jokingly challenging Rhythmi to a duel over y friendship.
This is crazy. We've only known each other for a few hours!
We haven't even spoken to them.
That's not their fault. Or our fault. Whatever.
It's strange, though. I feel cramped. The bell chimes again, piercing the slight awkwardness as I argue with myself in front of the two others. They can't hear us, but they could probably tell something was up. Hopefully they'll just chalk it up to me being ambivalent and socially awkward and never speak of it again.
"Oh, there goes the bell," Rhythmi says, thankfully moving the attention away from me. "We'd better get back to class. But, boy, oh, boy, Keith... Aren't you the slick one!"
What does she mean?
Never mind, Sun. I'll tell you when you're older. But I'll tell you this at least: it's going to be really interesting to watch.
