There are two reasons parents send their kids to Riding Academy. The obvious first is that they want to get their kids as far away from them as possible. The second is that they think sending their kid to Riding Academy makes their kid special and more likely to become rich and famous. Why did Serena think her mom sent her to Riding Academy? Both reasons.
The one benefit to going to Riding Academy, though, was that she didn't have to stay with her mom at her ranch in Vaniville.
"There are three terrains suitable for proper Rhyhorn Racing," Professor Hirahito said, "Mountains. Beaches. And Forests."
He tapped the chalkboard like he was teaching the class Morse code, but Serena couldn't figure out if he was just hard of hearing, or wanted the class to pay attention.
"Now students. Can anyone tell me the key to Rhyhorn Riding?" The Professor scanned the entire classroom until somebody eventually raised their hand. "Ahh yes, Miss Stone."
"Thank you, Professor," the girl said, placing her hand back in her lap. "The key to Rhyhorn Riding is balance."
"Well done, Miss Yvette," the Professor said, echoing a round of applause. "And from our academy's own president, as well. Your father must be proud."
"That's very thoughtful, Professor," she said, "I hate to say it, but a rider that can't even balance on their Rhyhorn shouldn't even be at this academy."
The class burst into laughter. Serena looked up from her notebook and when she looked through all the chaos she could see Yvette, looking over her shoulder to give her a dirty look.
What does she know about riding Rhyhorn, anyway? Serena thought, realizing that she was the butt of the joke. That prissy Yvette.
.
"Yes, yes. I remember my first time mounting a Rhyhorn," said the professor. "All in the saddle."
Serena ignored Yvette, and went back to scribbling in her notebook. This time her scribbles had a few choice words in them.
Who was Yvette Stone. None other than the daughter of the Joseph Stone, president of the Devon Corporation and inventor of the PokeNav and Silph Scope. Her dad's inventions sold everywhere; in Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, Unova and even Kalos.
During lunch hour she would show off a new Vivillon that her parents brought back from one of their business trips. Her collection is probably in the hundreds of Vivillon by now.
On the outside Yvette seemed like the perfect daughter, classmate and almost the best rider at the Academy. But behind the sweet smile and makeup, in Serena's words she was "the tyrant." Yvette was never subtle about it either. Whether she made it clearly obvious that she was jealous Serena was more famous than her. Of commanding more media attention. The only reason that she could call herself famous at all was because when she was a little girl, daddy said she could be the model for the PokeNav.
"Wonderful, Yvette. Moving on-"
Seren threw her hand in the air. "Headmaster…"
"Ahh, yes. Miss Gabena. Anything to add?"
"I disagree with Yvette's answer," Serena said, causing the class to gasp. "Riding a Rhyhorn isn't about balance. It's about trusting in each other."
"Very funny, Serena," said Yvette. "Every rider knows that riding a Rhyhorn is about technique. You can sit down now."
"Rhyhorn that don't trust their riders will buck them off, even hurt them."
"Professor this is ridiculous," said Yvette, standing up in her seat. "Tell this lower classman that she is wrong."
But the professor ignored them both, scratched his chin and pacing back and forth.
"Both of you make interesting cases. Although, your answer is technically correct, Miss Stone, Miss Gabena argues that bonding with your Rhyhorn is more important-"
"Professor, can you please get to the point and tell us who is right."
"Yes, yes. Of course. My verdict therefore is that both of you are right. Learning the techniques I teach you in class are important, but the only way you will be able to learn them successfully is if you build a bond with your Rhyhorn-."
The bell rang.
"Alright students, you are dismissed. Finish reading On the Riding of Rhyhorn and the Annals of Saddle Technique by tomorrow."
Serena packed her books into her bag, smiling. Even though she only got half the answer, at least she had fun getting back at Yvette.
Yvette on the other hand wasn't having fun. Before Serena walked out of class, she could still see Yvette's face turn two shades of red, while her girlfriends stood around her.
It was lunchtime, but Serena needed to head back to her room to grab a couple things before meeting in the dining hall for what the headmaster dubbed "inspections." She walked up the staircase to the second floor where her room was in the East Wing. Walking down a corridor, past a trophy case and to the end of the hall, she came to her room and unlocked the door. At the threshold was a pole of pink, white and red letters from various boys at the academy. The only reason she got so many of these letters was because she wasn't as frigid and nasty as Yvette. She didn't have the heart to toss them though, since it looked like a lot of work had been put into them. So she got down in front of her bed and stuffed them in a box she kept underneath. Then she went to the bathroom and brushed her hair, before leaving and locking the door. She turned around and bumped into a group of girls.
.
"Oh, hi there Serena," said the queen of the blondes, with her girlfriends Nicole and Dianne. "That backpack of yours looks really heavy. Here let us help you." Nicole and Dianne tore Serena's backpack from her and handed it to Yvette, who unzipped it.
"Give it back, Yvette." Nicole and Dianne shoved Serena away from Yvette.
"What do you need all these books for, Serena? I thought riding wasn't about technique? You won't be needing these then," Yvette said, dumping her books one by one in a trashcan nearby. She pulled an old cup of soda out of the trashcan and walked towards Serena.
"Well, it's been nice chatting with you, Serena," said Yvette, taking the lid off the cup. "But we have to go. Inspections will begin any minute-"
Yvette dumped the soda all over Serena's skirt, blouse and vest.
"See you later, Serena," Yvette said, her friends snickering and running off behind her.
Serena stood for a minute, the soda soaking into her skirt and vest. It didn't smell like just soda either. It had other rancid liquid in it.
On the opposite end of the East Wing, a boy with black hair leaned against the doorjamb of the headmaster's dorm, scanning down both ends of the wing. The coast was clear. He took some paper clips out of his pocket and jammed them into the deadbolt, feeling for the pin in the back of the lock.
Open up. C'mon, you stupid-. Almost-.
He thought he heard shoes running across the floor and pulled the paperclips out; ducking into one of the open janitor rooms, and peeking out.
"You should have seen her face-"
"And smelled her too."
"She won't getting that mess out anytime soon." They all giggled.
Miss big shot and her little sidekicks. Makes me wanna heave-
They ran down the corridor, and the boy listened for anymore footsteps.
The sooner I get out of here, the better.
The boy went back to working the deadbolt. Just one more pin to go. He raked around for the last pin.
Almost there. Come ta Papa. Almost-Got-It-
The boy heard a wailing from down the hallway.
"For the love of-." He put the paper clips away and marched down the East Wing. When he got to the end he saw a girl on her knees crying.
"Hey!"
The girl kept crying.
"Hey!"
The girl kept crying.
"Will you shut up already!" the boy said, walking over to her and then smelling her. "What's that smell?"
"Leave me alone. Can't you see?"
"I see that you got trash all over you. Smell it too. Who did this to you? Did sum'body do this to you?"
"What do you care?" she said, wiping her eyes.
"Hey, wait a minute. I know who you are. You're the girl that keeps on getting into fights with the president. What'd you get what was coming to you-"
"You think I deserved this-"
"I'm just saying. You celebrity kids are so used to being in the spotlight. Cameras all around. Like mother, like daughter, eh?"
"You don't know me at all," she said, shouting loud enough to make the boy look around. "I am not like my mother."
"Calm down. Calm down. I was just being a jerk," he said, shifting gears. Then he thought of a plan of how he might benefit from this. "Listen, I'm not into all this weepy business, so I'm gonna help you out and then I'll get out of your hair." He unbuttoned his vest
"Eww gross, you creep," she said, getting up on her feet.
"It's just a vest. Everything else won't fit you, so this is all I got" X said, tossing it to her and walking away. "Take good care of it."
"Wait," she said, catching up to her. "You're just gonna give your vest to a total stranger?"
"What? Are you going to steal it or something?"
"I mean I could," Serena thought. "You don't know me-"
"Well then maybe don't do that." Serena followed him down the hallway.
"Listen, if you think that you doing me a favor, means that I'm going to do you a favor, then-.."
"Just give it back by tomorrow. You're making this way more complicated than it needs to be. Bye."
He went down the stairs and he was gone.
Why would he give me his jacket?
"Well we did it, girls," Yvette said, "When the headmaster sees our dear friend Serena, if she even shows up, he'll have to suspend her. What a poor example for the daughter of a Rhyhorn Racer."
"Ya, what a loser," said Nicole.
"Ya, what a total loser. Shut up, here comes the headmaster" said Dianne.
"Students, ladies and gentleman," the headmaster said, with his chefs on both sides. "I hope you brought your appetite, because the chefs are serving a very special meal today. But before we start, we must begin with inspections."
The students stood away from their tables, with their hands at their sides, facing away from the the tables. One by one, the headmaster, along with the professors inspected each student one by one."
"Mr. Martin, very impressive. But your tie is a little loose don't you think."
"Ms. Dubois, that skirt belongs above the knee, remember."
"Ms. Petit, excellent."
"Ah, Miss Yvette. I see you show nothing short of perfection," said Mr. Portridge, "Your father must be very proud. I'll make sure to send a good word to him about you."
"Thank you, headmaster," Yvette curtsied.
Ha, I knew it. Looks like Serena's a no show after all. Oh well, it's the results that matter.
The door to the dining hall creaked open, and Serena walked in, standing in the doorway with her hands crossed.
"Miss Gabena, how kind of you to take some time from your busy schedule to join us. I'm sure you're aware that one of the key principles that all students abide by is punctuality -"
"I understand, headmaster. But I had a very good reason-"
"Oh, really and what might that be?"
"I think I can explain, headmaster," the boy said, walking over.
"I dropped my key in the hallway and was looking for it forever. Luckily, my classmate helped me find it just in time before lunch. Thank you," Xavier said, bowing to Serena.
"I see. Is this true, Miss Gabena?"
Serena looked back towards the boy and he winked at her, causing her to shudder. "Yes, headmaster."
"Well then, while punctuality is key, being of service to your fellow classmates is equally important. I see nothing out of place with your uniform, so I'll let you off with a warning Miss Gabena."
"Thank you, headmaster. I won't do it again."
That Serena thinks she's so clever. I will make her pay.
"Uuuuuuhhhhh Yvette," said Nicole, seeing Yvette stabbing her fork into the table. "Your foods getting cold."