A/N: sorry for the delay which was longer than my stated maximum however I have been busy and my internet went down. I will start work on the next instalment straight away to compensate.
Episode 1: Humble Beginnings Part 1
On a plateau, about half way between Veilstone City and Solaceon Town a fierce battle raged, a battle that would serve only as the prelude to a greater fight. The combatants were a group of about twenty creatures that would certainly be the centre of attention, if they were not in the middle of nowhere. They had the main bodies of a palpitoad but where a palpitoad has green spots on their sides these creatures had arms extruding, or more accurately claws. The right arm was that you would see on a clawitzer while the left was that of kingler but the legs and head belonged to those of an azumarill. Facing them was a lone fighter, best known by the classification of Poké Ranger.
The ranger punched one in the face, then jumped up and using the same spot as a spring board flipped backwards to land in a crouched fighting pose. The helmet of this ranger was primarily yellow but near the bottom was a silver area that covered the area around the mouth, further up the helmet, a black visor in the shape of a mareep's quiff could be seen below a black stylised M on the forehead area and to either side, on the top were mareep ears. In the middle of the chest the electric type symbol could be seen with a black border separating it from the yellow that covered the rest of the upper half except the upper shoulders, which were pure white and this continued along the outer arm briefly getting thicker for the outer elbow before re-thinning down to the wrists where it disappeared beneath yellow gloves that had a golden cuff. The gloves also had two black bars one on the back of the wrist and another on the other side that split at the wrist to go between the thumb and index finger and between the pinkie and the ring finger, these joined up at the centre of the palm with the bar from underneath connected by a circle.
Around the waist of the ranger was a golden belt which had a holstered silver staff, the upper part of the suit continued down underneath the belt for a little bit more before stopping with splits at both sides acting like a skirt (like Lily from Jungle Fury's base suit) the legs are pure yellow but have white along the centre of the front of both legs. Yellow boots with a golden rim completed her suit.
She unholstered the staff and held it by its small black handle before twirling it so the points of the large black M which had a silver border near the other end were facing towards her, before pushing the points together and pulled it so it was at the end nearest her, where it became a cylinder and hollowed out at the point closest to her before pulling the handle towards her to where the M was originally, shortening the staff before bending it to become a handheld blaster. Charging towards them she fired yellow beams at a few before jumping up using the first one she came to as a springboard. Throughout her ascent she fired down at them before she started to descend then she tapped the handle and tossed the blaster up higher in the air. When she was at head level she extended her legs to both sides to kick two of them knocking them over and causing them to burst apart into water before landing in a crouch, raising her hand her staff back to normal fell into it.
Rising up, the ranger swung the staff at the nearest grunt who caught it in the kingler claw before ramming the clawitzer claw into her stomach but stopped partway with his body sparking. With a scoff the ranger said "baka, grabbing my staff like that since a Mareep's ability is static and all and metal is a good conductor" before punching it with her free hand upon contact, he too burst into water "still you Clawrills are never too bright, which reminds me why am I even talking to you guys? It's not like you can answer" the ranger shook her hand to flick water off of it before two of the Clawrills grabbed her arms from behind and a third started raining blows on her stomach. Jumping up she placed both feet on the claw of the Clawrill in front of her she leaped back and kicked the two holding her arms forward into the one in front of them where they collapsed in a heap holding her arms with her palms facing out she said "thunder wave!" Paralysing the two Clawrills on top before shrugging and saying "my my looks to me like your sitting down oh the job but don't get up just for me" right before all three dissolved into puddles.
Seizing their chance three Clawrills smacked her from behind and jumped on her, pinning her legs and making her drop her staff which rolled along the ground well out of her reach. "Way to go girl, I'm just glad no-one can see this but how do I…" she mused while another Clawrill approached her raising its claws in preparation to strike, reaching out the ranger grabbed its ankle and threw it back, knocking the three on her down and out as they too burst apart into water. Lashing out she kicked the one she had thrown back, tripping up two more who were running at her before she got to her feet and shot another thunder wave at the claws of another two that were charging her. However the attack that came out was stronger and shocked them to puddles after only a few seconds "Sweet! That was a thunder shock now you guys are really in for it" she exclaimed, jumping up and spinning around she fired another, vaporising the three who were still getting up and another two.
The remaining four looked at each other then turned to water, dripping to the ground which they then dissolved into, brushing her hands together the ranger suddenly started swaying, putting a hand on her helmet over her forehead she said "ooh I don't feel so good" before she disappeared in a yellow light.
Not too far away in the hills and at the foot of the mountains to the east of Veilstone City there is located the most prestigious educational facility in all of Sinnoh. The National University of Sinnoh it is a place for studying the most advanced subjects in the world from all things Pokémon and beyond, it is a place where great minds gather at the forefront of research but for all this it is not of much significance to this tale. Rather it is the high school connected to it that is of significance, a place similar to the university designed so any who want to step foot at the university must first cross its threshold, unless they come by air then they can fly straight there and bypass the high school as it is located on the only road through the hills to get there.
The school much like the university has many advanced facilities and a prestigious reputation along with a wide range of facilities like sporting venues including stadiums for Pokémon battles, a large library featuring many sources of information and on campus living quarters for quests, faculty and students. Alternatively there is a bus that can take students from Veilstone that only takes twenty minutes both for students to use to get to and from school, along with students to have a break in the city for weekends. The reason many go here instead of on a Pokémon journey is it has a preference to the University application and graduates even for the game and Pokémon classes earn more money from their profession both from having advanced studying of tactics and techniques leading to a higher win rate and higher skills but also every win results in larger winnings. Though many students still have their own Pokémon and Pokédexes.
Today a new student has arrived at this high school entering into the fifth year (age 16-17). Stepping off the bus he stood out as the only one not in uniform as to get in he had to pass an introductory Pokémon battle, wearing black trousers as were all other males his were different as they were casual loose tracksuit bottoms that had blue vertical bars along the sides along with a long sleeved blue t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up to just below his elbows and had red arm braces with silver designs strapped on that go up to his wrists where they thin going up to his middle finger at the first joint. He also has a black jacket on which is strapped at his neck and covers shoulders but is unzipped and the rest hangs over back hanging backwards as he starts walking to the main building. Raising a hand to adjust his black sunglasses that were set below short blue hair that spiked up at the front he opened the door and stepped inside, his hand moving towards his cheek he paused it over one of two red rectangles that covered his cheekbones then lowered it back in time to his walking.
Going up to the desk he met an unusually tall girl who was only two or three inches smaller than him, which was nowhere near normal since he was just shy of six feet tall, she had brown hair which fell down to her shoulders and had black rimmed glasses on with a blue wave on the sides beneath with the faint hint of green could be seen for her eyes. She wore black leggings with a black skirt and a pink hoody that had the schools logo on it with a blue badge at the other side that was decorated with "Water vice-head". "Hello you must be Robert, I am Erin and I will be your student rep" she said removing her glasses so that her green eyes which had peculiar small white speckles in them while extending her other hand for a handshake which Robert gave solidly yet somewhat rushed.
Erin then led him through the building to a room which required a card to be swiped and a code to be entered before the door opened revealing a room full of Pokémon eggs taking his arm which he seemed somewhat uncomfortable with Erin took him over to one egg in particular which was set aside and unlike the others which were in open boxes this one was in a Pokémon egg carrier, it was a blue egg with orange circles on it. This was the egg that should he pass the final test for enrolment would be his to care for as all students had to on their first year as a test to see how well they could raise and how well they would treat a Pokémon from its birth and that test he was here today to sit now on the day before the school started its advanced classes.
The high school had started its classes for lower years two weeks ago however, the rest started later than other schools since this one had a different policy-to reduce the work students in the key exam years faced on a daily basis each pupil in years four, five and six had free time every day in-between their class blocks but also had classes on Saturday's and every other Sunday to compensate. This was also why Robert was not in the uniform and Erin was in a more lax one-their school year hadn't officially begun yet and he wasn't a student yet.
The final test was a three on three battle, using either three of his own or three Pokémon from the house he would join should he succeed, he would be deemed a pass or fail based on how much potential he showed. Unlike most schools this one assigned its pupils to one of four houses representing Pokémon types: Water, Grass, Fire, and Flying, representing the three starter types and the type most trainers caught and it was the type that matched the egg they were given. It was the responsibility of each house to care for their eggs and Pokémon in a school competition, with every year selecting a representative and people to handle the care of things like the eggs and Pokémon -which was why Erin's hoody said "Water vice-head" since she is the head of the fifth years in the Water house and thus the second in charge for the students.
Each house competed against each other in events ranging from breeding to accuracy at range to straight up battling were they could receive points which were tallied up all year till the end of the year when the winning house would get to represent the school at the National Sinnoh Games-a special competition normally for college or university level which would take a team of four with one battler, one person in the contest part, one for breeding and one for a skill event like Pokéringer that changed every year and was a key event as many famous people came to be there and there was always a member of the elite four as a judge so it was a chance for people especially breeders to get attention from big names.
The pupils were carefully considered for what house they were to be placed in according to their record, specialty and aptitude or in the case of new trainers they went without a house for their first month to see where they belonged. Robert was placed into Water because it most suited his battle style, not his favoured type as his records showed he only had one Pokémon caught which was a newly evolved shelgon.
Leading him through to an adjacent room where there was a computer showing the status, stats and moves of the Pokémon owned by Water, Robert flicked through them before they went deeper into the room where they were kept before he went towards the pool and returned three to their Pokéballs ready for him to use in the exam.
Leaving the room, they bumped into a girl with long blond hair tied back into a ponytail, turning towards them it became clear who she was since her green jumper designated her as Genna the vice-head of Grass. Moving up closer to Robert, Genna bit her bottom lip as she gave him a quick once over brushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear she smiled before saying "well you must be the guy doing the test today, it's a real shame you aren't in my house". Moving closer she lightly trailed a finger down Robert's chest before continuing "yes a real shame something tells me we would have gotten on famously and put your talents to good use" turning and walking down the corridor she placed her left hand in the pocket of her black jeans before twisting her head and adding "of course, they could still switch your house should certain people want it" with a twinkle in her blue eyes she gave a small wave then sauntered off.
With her now gone Robert visibly relaxed and Erin realised he must have tensed up when Genna approached him, strange she hadn't noticed it but it was good he seemed immune to Genna's false charms which was refreshing. Smiling she told him how he should ignore Genna as she was desperate for her house to finally win so she was trying to get every newcomer to join Grass, especially those from Water. Upon his query of why she wasn't going after Fire the winners from the last year or Flying who had won the fourteen years before that by so wide a margin it was thought impossible to defeat them she clenched her fist at the side opposite him before giving him a smile and responding "Flying isn't what it used to be since their best five students left before the start of last year, without their head Kiru Fuji they have been left very unorganised and weak which allowed Fire and us to tie last year in points" "but the news said Fire won the cup there was nothing about a tie" he replied.
Briskly moving forward and putting her shaking hands in her pockets so they wouldn't be seen she told him how to resolve the tie the fourth, fifth and sixth year heads had been made to have a double battle against each other to resolve it and that Fire had come out on top, "come we need to get going" as she briskly walked off, passing by a bunch of Flying forth years who were disgruntled over not being chosen to go on the Iron Island trip, she informed him that the news wasn't interested in the tie so they had made it seem like Fire had been the only ones to beat Flying since they won the tiebreaker and thus grass was determined to win it this year so they were trying anything they could to weaken Fire and Water, mainly by poaching students who could be reassessed on their house should the final exam reveal a reason to or should a student wish to change.
Walking towards the battle stadium she said "you will be facing the vice-head of a house which was decided by a random draw while you were picking what Pokémon" opening the doors she stepped forward then suddenly stopped. There in front of her was a person she had long thought never to see face to face again. Kiru Fuji was back. With a mocking smile he walked over dressed in a t-shirt with his favourite and top Pokémon pidgeot plastered on the front against a green background and there it was behind him on the other side of the room being filmed flying around. That massive pidgeot was the reason he had been number one at the school ever since his first year, despite its large size it was stunningly fast and combined with Kiru's amazing battle skills it had never even been hit yet as Kiru was always five steps ahead of his opponent, his skill was so great half the people Erin knew thought he was psychic as he seemed to know what his opponents would do before they did it. Most of all though Erin knew his presence here could not be a good thing for her.
With a curt "Water" to her he extended his hand around her so Robert could shake it with his infamous greeting of "yo". Seemingly completely uninterested in Kiru, which was surprising given his impressive height that dwarfed even her and the cool look his blue eyes always had, Robert casually put his hands in his pockets he gave Kiru a momentary glance before looking over to his pidgeot. Sidling up to them Genna said with her arms raised in a shrug "now now you really should be paying more attention to the two that the two of you are going to be battling" wrapping her arm around Kiru's waist as she spoke she paused raising a finger to tap her mouth "then again since you will be facing Pidgeot I suppose you are". Erin froze as Genna confirmed what she was dreading she was going to have to do another double battle and against Kiru.
Far away from the school, in a carefully hidden cave there were a bunch of futuristic monitors and consoles stacked against one side of the cave, all bar one was off and nearby the one that was on was a pale white light in a vaguely humanoid form that was intently staring at the monitor that showed a lone figure in a room with a blue floor moving in circles constantly to punch and kick at targets that kept popping up from the ground. His attire was very similar to the yellow ranger's without the skirt but his was primarily red instead of yellow, his helmet also differed in that it had two yellow protrusions just above the forehead area that had the black circles of the eyes of a torchic on the front surrounded by the same yellow on the outside, the protrusions curved back into the helmet, the shape of the visor was also like a torchic's foot and had a fire symbol on chest with a white border.
Suddenly he fell down onto one knee and with a flash his suit disappeared leaving his back to the screen he was covered in a long black cape with red designs and the same fire symbol on the back while the hood covered his head keeping his identity a secret. Breathing heavy he hit the ground with his right fist once he saw what the clock on the other side of the room stopped on four minutes forty nine seconds.
"Well seems you found another then, quite weak but can he be trusted?" said a figure who came out of the shadows behind the light. His appearance was similar to the other two rangers but in blue and like red no skirt. His helmet also has two blue protrusions just above his forehead but they had squirtle's eyes on front surrounded by blue on the outside that curve back into the helmet and his visor shape is an ellipse longer horizontally that vertically. A water symbol with a white border adorned his chest which he placed his hand over and bowed slightly to the light.
A soft feminine voice came from the rough direction of the light "it is only his fifth day as a ranger maintaining the form while in that drill for almost five minutes is acceptable for that" the voice emanated as the light drifted over towards a table that had a strange top.
Hollowed out so it curved inwards like a bowl it held ten spheres embedded in it which upon the lights approach began to rise to it was a flat table with the spheres fused into it in a circle but only half visible. "Haoges what about his loyalty? He may have been swayed" the blue ranger asked the light, now identified as Haoges who gestured to the table "See how the yellow, blue and red orbs are lit up and are still transparent, this means that you, him and the yellow ranger are all on my side". Now that it was mentioned he did see the faint glow those orbs had while five of the others were completely black "but what about those two" he questioned gesturing to one that was white and again had a faint glow but certainly not transparent and barely lit and another that had started emitting a pure red glow that prevented its true colour from being known. After a small pause a reply came "they are active rangers but not yet picked a side now on to the important issue. The seals on the portals are weakening soon at least one of the six will be broken and evil will come through".
The blue ranger was stunned, he knew some of the ancient forces would be returning but for a portal to open it did not bode well, not at all. "So what can we do" he asked worried that it might be nothing "its time for you to meet your fellow rangers" was the response.
A/N: just a few things to explain.
The yellow ranger says all atks emphatically occasionally with Japanese so for thunder wave as the example it sounds like Sunder Way-ve. Clawrills as its main type is water it is weak to those water is weak to but only their core is classed as ground type so the claws and heads are weak to electricity and if it hits an open wound it essentially means instant death.
For the school they have classes every other Sunday because they have a bi-weekly timetable also the specialty selection is only for Water house gets water and ice, Grass gets grass and bug, Flying gets flying and psychic and Fire gets fire and electric also for a submission of a student if you do not specify a house I will choose one.
The rangers are aware they are not the only ones but they have been kept isolated from each other as yellow and red are still new and weak which is why yellow had the difficulty in the fight as she is not used to opponents who can fight back.
