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Destination Indigo
by Sailor Chronos
So you want to be a master of Pokemon?
Do you have the skill to be number one?
I want to take the ultimate step, have the courage to be bold.
To risk it all and not forget the lessons that I hold.
I want to go where no one's been, far beyond the crowd.
Learn the way to take command, use the power that's in my hand!
We all live in a Pokemon world,
I want to be the greatest master of them all! (The greatest master!)
We all live in a Pokemon world,
I'll put myself to the test, I'll be better than all the rest!
So you want to be a master of Pokemon?
Do you have the skill to be number one?
We all live in a Pokemon world,
I want to be the greatest master of them all!
Got the power right in your hands!
Pokemon!
Chapter One: Back to School
Pokemon Technical School was still shrouded in the September morning mist as Heather approached it. Despite the reassurances given to her by Nurse Joy and Professor Linden, she still felt some apprehension. It was hard for her to believe how much had happened during the summer. The argument she had with her father and her subsequent running away from home to help a Pidgey seemed far away now.
After saying farewell to her new friend Professor Westwood, she and her friends Christy and Craig had spent a leisurely ten days travelling from Seafoam Island to Vermilion City, stopping in Fuschia City and the Safari Zone on the way. They had trained their Pokemon hard, and even caught new ones. Christy now had a Cubone as well as her Golduck, Staryu and Wartortle. Craig had caught a Nidorino and added it to his already formidable arsenal of a Spearow, Vulpix and Charmelion.
Heather herself had the good fortune of capturing a Doduo, another bird-like Pokemon. While it was good to have a backup, she really wanted to see what would hatch out of the egg that she had rescued from a secret laboratory in the Viridian Gym. She took great care of it but it showed no signs of life, although it had been thoroughly examined by Nurse Joy and deemed to be doing well.
The three friends had parted ways on the outskirts of Vermilion City; Christy and Craig wanted to continue to collect badges while Heather was in school. However they all made a solemn promise to meet at Indigo Stadium before the Pokemon League Games began at the beginning of the following May. Amazing, Heather had thought as she watched them go, how much people could change in such a short period of time, given a little help. The two had once been members of the nefarious Team Rocket, but they had reformed and were now on their way to becoming good trainers.
For the last four days she had been in Vermilion City with Professor Linden, an aide of the great Professor Oak. He helped her learn what to expect at the school, and even put a word in the Vermilion Gym Leader's ear so she could train with him when she had time. Nurse Joy had been quite pleased with the health of her Pokemon, and showed her a massage technique that would help the Pokemon to relax after battle. She glanced down at the Pikachu that stood next to her. "Here we are, Loki. Let's do it." Shouldering her backpack, she marched resolutely on toward the main doors.
"Heather Drake from Twilight Village," the principal said, examining her six badges and the letters from Professor Linden and Lt. Surge that she had handed to him. "Hmph. We don't normally give scholarships on such short notice, but everything here checks out. Your references are excellent; you're lucky to work with Lt. Surge. It takes a hardy soul to hang around his crew."
"Thank you, sir. Once you get to know them, they're not bad."
The man thawed a bit. "Okay, Miss Drake. I'll have the registrar write up the paperwork to have you admitted to the intermediate class. Your homeroom instructor is Mr. Makuso." He cleared his throat and gave her a form. "You should go to the student affairs office and order a uniform. And I'm sorry, but you'll have to recall your Pikachu. School regulations prohibit students to let their Pokemon loose except in their dormitory rooms, the arena, or for supervised battles."
"I understand. Loki, return." Loki obediently returned to his PokeBall. "Is there a shuttle bus between here and the city?" she inquired. This was her main concern; since she was planning to stay at Professor Linden's house instead of on campus she needed to know, because it was a long distance to walk and she wouldn't want to fly on Eagle when the colder weather came.
"There is, the schedule is posted on the kiosk next to the main entrance. You'll find a complete list of the school regulations in the student handbook." He shook her hand. "Welcome to Pokemon Tech, Miss Drake. I hope you learn what you need to know."
Heather had heard about the difficulties that many students faced here, but hadn't expected to be the subject of a number of derogatory remarks as she walked down the main hall toward the student affairs office. She couldn't help but glance down at her clothes, which had been new this spring. Already out of style, she thought glumly, and a little worse for wear after her many adventures. Of course, these high-brow types believed that one had to have the latest (and usually most expensive) fashions or else they'd be branded as weird.
"Don't pay attention to them," a kind voice beside her said. She turned to see a tall but slightly chubby young woman with curly brown hair. "All the new students get the dweeb treatment. There's a lot of competition around here, and not just in class. My name's Robyn Colias, I'm the student advisor for the intermediate-level classes."
Heather shook her hand, a little relieved, and introduced herself.
Robyn nodded and quickly looked at a clipboard that she carried. "Ah, yes. Your uniform and student information package is ready, just collect it there," she pointed to a doorway, "and I'll meet you in the main concourse at nine o'clock for the new students' tour. Because this is your first day, you won't have to attend regular classes, but I suggest you take part in some of the orientation activities."
Heather didn't get a chance to ask what orientation was like, because their conversation was interrupted by a yell from across the hall. "Hey, newbie!" called a tall boy with tousled black hair. "How about a battle? Right now, outside!"
"Excuse me, we were just talking!" she retorted. "Where did you learn your manners?"
Several students snickered. The boy was a little taken aback, but recovered quickly. "A smart-aleck, huh? Let's see what you've got, or are you chicken?"
Robyn put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't bother, he's just trying to impress his friends over there."
"I noticed. However, I've never turned down a challenge, and I'm not going to start now."
A teacher was hastily summoned to referee the match, and a few minutes later, about twenty students gathered in the courtyard to watch. Heather nodded to herself as her opponent released a Weepinbell. "Eagle, I choose you!" There were gasps from the crowd as her Pidgeot emerged.
The look of confidence on the boy's face faded. "Weepinbell, Vine Whip, now!" His Pokemon launched its vines, but Eagle took to the air and easily evaded them.
"Eagle, Wing Attack!" Two strokes of Eagle's powerful wings was enough to knock the Weepinbell senseless, and the boy's jaw dropped as he stared at her. "Don't try to impress people by pretending to be tough," she said as she recalled Eagle.
The boy recalled his Weepinbell, walked over to her and held out his hand. "You sure showed me. I'm Scott Vinca, I'm the second-year class president." He smiled nervously as they shook hands. "You're really strong. I'm not used to being beaten so quickly."
She smiled warmly. "Heather Drake. It's likely that my Pokemon have much more experience than yours, because I've been on the road all summer. There's only so much you can learn in a classroom, but also there's only so much you can learn from practical experience, which is why I'm here. Eventually I hope to get into the Indigo League."
Scott nodded. "Many of us are working toward that too, but the classes here are so difficult that few actually make it. I'm looking forward to having you in some of my classes!"
Just then a bell rang, and the students all scattered. Heather jogged back to the main hall, resuming her search for a uniform. Perhaps she would fit in here after all.
