A/N: So, I was wondering, can this be done? I've seen plenty of academy stories and the ones that are completed usually take place within a single year inside the story. Call me crazy, but I think it'll be much more interesting if you had several years in a story and that's what I'm aiming for here.

The New Mascot

"Fighting Dojo Machoke Walks On Hands – Full story inside..."

Rick Snowe sat the newspaper down on the table and simply stared at it in amazement. There was always interesting news in Saffron City and everyday there was something new. The sound of the doorbell ringing interrupted his thoughts and he figured it was Mike. He had gone to try out for the first year battling team at his new trainer school and it was about time for him to return. However, when Mr. Snowe opened the door, he did not see his son standing there.

"Hello...?" he asked. "May I help you?"

It appeared to be someone in a Poliwhirl costume that looked convincing enough. A familiar voice gave away the identity of the person inside the suit.

"Dad, it's me!" the Poliwhirl said as he barged in the house. Mr. Snowe closed the door behind the Poliwhirl that claimed to be his son and smirked as the boy struggled to reach the zipper on the back of the costume.

"How did it go, son?" he remarked. "Did you make the team?"

After a few more seconds, Mike finally managed to get the suit off. He took a deep breath and shook the sweat out of his light brown hair. The costume was unbearably hot especially since it was still summer. He took off the oversized white gloves and tossed them to his father before taking off his shirt and using it to wipe the rest of the sweat off of the rest of his olive skin.

"Coach said I had potential," Mike told his father. "He said that I was even good enough to be on the first year A team. Not start, but still. Then he asked me what my height was and asked if I had any experience in gymnastics. One thing led to another and now I'm the school mascot, Polly the Poliwhirl."

"That sounds like something a goofball like you would enjoy," Mr. Snowe replied. "What's the big deal?"

"I wouldn't mind if it was something cool like a Salamence or a Garchomp or something that could breathe fake fire," Mike explained. "Well, I guess it could be worse. I could have ended up a Clefairy or something else that's lamer than Polly the Poliwhirl. Might as well make the best of this situation. Maybe if I show them that I can be a good mascot, they'll let me join the battling team next year."

"That's the right idea, son," Mr. Snowe said. "Your mom will be back from the grocery store in a bit. I think I'll go call your sister and let her know about your new position."

He gave his son a grin before disappearing into the other room. Mike wondered what his sister would say when she found out. If he knew Julie, she would get on the Magnet Train and come all the way home from her college in Goldenrod just to see Mike as Polly the Poliwhirl.

"Might as well get to practicing..." he said to himself as he grabbed his shirt. With a defeated sigh, Mike headed towards the backyard and walked over to the large tree in the middle of the grass. There was a small tree house built at the top where Mike and his friends often hung out. Grabbing a poké ball from his belt, he tossed it in the air and stood back as the Pokémon inside materialized.

"Ele...kid!"

Elekid gazed at his trainer in silence for a moment before bursting into laughter. He had been with Mike when he had been made mascot and was now rolling around in the grass at his trainer's expense.

"Laugh it up," Mike told him. "Everyone else already did when I told them, but listen up. If I'm going to be Polly the Poliwhirl, I'm gonna be the greatest one in the history of Saffron Trainer's School and you're going to help me."

"Kid...?"

Mike grinned at the young electric Pokémon. "That's right. Wartortle and Crobat definitely aren't going to do it and I need someone to help me. It's been a while since Mom made me take gymnastics, so I might be a bit rusty."

He sprinted forward and did a frontward somersault. Besides a cartwheel, it was the easiest gymnastic move that he knew how to do. Elekid clapped at his trainer's successful flip.

"Kid! Kid!" he shouted enthusiastically as he pumped his fists in the air, electric sparks radiating from them.

"I guess I better tell Mom that we should probably get that folding trampoline out of the garage," Mike stated. "Or probably just get a new one. Let's see if I can do anything else. Elekid, stand back."

Elekid moved away from his trainer and watched curiously as Mike stuck his arms out in front of him. He suddenly jumped and attempted to do a back flip, only to fall flat on his face. Elekid snickered as he cartwheeled around his fallen trainer. Mike rose to his feet and dusted the grass off of his shirt and pants.

"That's enough practice for today," he said clearly. "We got the scooter today, so let's go see what everyone's doing. Skate park or arcade?"

"Elekid! Kid!"

"Not sure which one you said since you know, I can't speak Pokémon. Okay, how about this? Use Swift attack. Three stars for skate park and four stars for the arcade. Alright, go!"

"Elekiiiiid!"

The yellow stars shot out of Elekid's mouth at such a fast pace that Mike could not possibly count them. The only thing he knew was that it was much more than four stars. He shrugged his shoulders as he looked at the hedges that had been newly trimmed thanks to Elekid's attack.

"Well," Mike started. "It was more than four, so by that logic, I guess that means that you want to go to the arcade more than you want to go to the skate park? Arcade it is."

A/N: That was a bit short, but once the OCs are submitted, they should get longer as I focus on people other than Mike.

OCs are accepted by PM or at my forum. The OC form is on my profile at the top. Send in as many as you want. Since this story takes place over the course of several years, I think it'll be easy to flux in OCs. If it gets too large though, I'll stop accepting OCs, but that'll be a while if it does happen.