Prologue: Start!

It was time.

Finally, after years of boredom, of essays and useless math problems, it was time for real school. She could've gone through the process so much faster if she hadn't been forced to wait for Arec to catch up. Sometimes she suspected that the whole twin thing had been made up by their parents. There was no way that he had the same genes as her.

She had mastered the basics months ago, only to discover that she had to stare mindlessly at textbooks while her brother caught up.

But now, they could finally attend the Academy, learn about Pokemon, and be given the sought after title of Master. It didn't, of course, hold the same esteem as it had in the old days, back when there was only one Master per region, but it was still something to brag over. A Master was listened to, obeyed, given free reign over whatever they wished for. Old and young alike held the Masters in esteem, and they were something all people strived to be. Few, of course, could actually pass the first rigorous test, let alone the ones that followed.

The Academy was the very first step in the long process. In order to get any recognition at all, you had to graduate from the Academy.

Sefera knew she would graduate, knew she would go on the mandatory journey, knew she would become a Master.

Nothing would get in her way. Nothing could get in her way. She would destroy anything that tried to, break past any barriers. Surpass her limits.

Arec, on the other hand…

At the very least, he would graduate.

She had promised, after all.

Lost in ruminations, Sefera didn't notice that her normal brisk pace had slowed considerably. Her mind was set a little too forward: she was no longer thinking about getting to the Academy; instead thinking of the battles she would win, the Pokemon she would have.

A hand tapped her on the shoulder. She immediately whirled around, horrified by the thought of someone seeing her lost in dreamland.

"Um…Sef? Why are you walking so slow? If we keep at this rate we're going to be late to orientation." Arec fidgeted nervously, blonde bangs jittering at an impossible speed.

"I'm just walking as slowly as you learned," she retorted.

But she did speed up.

They walked into an atrium filled with thousands of Academy students. Some were dressed in the standard uniform, white top over dark red pants. Others, like Sefera, were wearing various variations of dress wear. Some were dressed as casually as possible.

She tried her best to look confident. To be associating with the other babbling, sweating first years would be a humiliation in and of itself.

Arec stood beside her, thumbs shoved into the loops of his belt.

"It's pretty cool, right Sef ? Bet we'll look great in those uniforms. Not that you don't look great right now." He shot her a lazy grin, green eyes sparkling.

Even if he was stupid, his presence by her side comforted her. She rolled her eyes at him, striving to always look aloof, but a small smile did manage to creep onto her lips.

"Sefera! I don't know if you've noticed yet, but you're smiling! What happened to your ice queen image? I thought you said you would never give that up. Even when that girl you liked—"

A quick elbow to the stomach quieted him.

"Shut up, doofus." She rolled her eyes once again. "My one second of love for you is done now. One more year till the next."

"But…but…Sef!" He mock-wailed. "I thought you said that you would always love me!"

"Yeah. When we were five. When I didn't know better."

"Oh darling sister, let it be known that I, at least, shall always love you!" Arec proclaimed, striking a dramatic pose.

"…People are looking at us, airhead. Tone it down."

"Never, dear sister! Why, if I could count the ways in which I love you…"

An earsplitting sound rang through the air, saving Sefera from Arec's unending speech.

"ATTENTION. ALL NEWCOMERS, GO THROUGH THE LEFT ENTRANCE. ATTENTION. ALL NEWCOMERS…"

Sefera smirked.

"It's finally begun."

A/N: Sefera called him airhead cause his name is pronounced Air-eek get it hur dur. ENGLISH NEVER MAKES SENSE BE QUIET CHILDREN.

So! This is a decently long project that I have planned. Hope everyone enjoys it. The rating of this story is probably going to be M starting about halfway through, so be warned. Reviews are very very welcome.

EDIT: FF ate my line breaks, so I'm fixing them...sigh.