Welcome back, I haven't forgotten all you party people, I've just been busy with school (finally out) and have been formulating the rest of this story with my design council (one person really). I have decided to disband the "arc idea" as it stalled me way too long on writing this chapter. Without further ado, Chapter 2!

I do not own Pokémon, only the characters in this story (except two, who belong to my friend)

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Jacob sat in a medium-sized classroom. He looked around, counting five other students. Every student sat at their own two-seater desk.

An older woman strode into the room, standing in front of the chalkboard. "Welcome to the Jubilife Trainer School. I'm Carol Morinar, your teacher for this next week. The entirety of the advanced expedited course at the Trainer School is to truly build your skills as a trainer. The focus will be on building trust and friendship between you and your Pokémon." She said. "You will have a partner for this next month. Those who did not come with your own were assigned one by the school. If your partner so chooses, they will join you as your starter Pokémon at graduation." She threw a pokéball into the air, releasing an Empoleon.

"Emp-Empol!" It said as it saluted with its wing.

"This is my partner, Elira. We've taught multiple years of students, and been friends even longer." Mrs. Morinar said. "Now, who are all of you? I would like each of you to come up and introduce yourselves." She then sat down in her desk.

Two girls bolted to the teacher's previous position, nearly hanging on each other. "Hi! I'm Emily—" One began.

"And I'm Kelly!" The other finished.

"We're the Celcian twins!" They both exclaimed. They then both threw a pokéball into the air, releasing a Wormadam and a Floatzel. "Oooooh!" They both swooned. "We didn't have any Pokémon for partners. So the school gave us these two!"

"Wow, so full of energy, I wish I had that much right now." Mrs. Morinar said. The twins skipped back to their desks, the Wormadam and Floatzel taking the seats next to Emily and Kelly, respectively. A young boy nervously walked to the front.

"I-I'm D-Daven. I-I'm not a very s-sociable or b-brave person, b-but I'm h-h-here to be the b-best trainer I can b-be." He pulled out a pokéball, his hands shaking. He threw it, releasing a Weavile.

The Weavile turned to face him, extending its paw. "Weave!"

"Uh…n-nice to meet you t-too." Daven said as he shakily shook hands with the Weavile. He quickly walked back to his desk, almost falling backwards from sitting in the chair so fast. The Weavile face-palmed, laughing before it jumped up to its seat.

Another boy calmly walked to the front. "I'm Jeremy, and I'm only here because my parents forced me to take this year before I start my journey. Unlike you losers though, I brought my own partner." He said coolly as he threw his own pokéball. A Machamp appeared, flexing and glaring threateningly. "His name is Zarron." He walked back to his desk.

Asshole. I'm gonna have fun with him. Jacob thought. He sighed before walking to the front himself. Everyone gasped when they saw his eyes.

"I'm Jacob. I woke up from a two-year coma just yesterday; a Gallade was attempting to assault my now-partner, in which I intervened and promptly got the crap beat out of me. He somehow managed to genetically mutate me, changing my eyes from how they were to that of a Gallade's." He pulled out his own pokéball, throwing it into the air and releasing Annabel.

She appeared and bowed her head as everyone gasped. "Nice to meet you all, I'm Annabel." She said.

Jacob watched as every jaw in the room dropped. He chuckled before returning to his desk, Annabel occupying the seat to his left.

"You will undergo a test at the end of the week, testing your bond with your Pokémon." The teacher said. "You will be competing with other students, and will be ranked based on how well you performed."

"May I ask what we will be doing for classes?" Janis asked. "We already learned almost everything we need to know about battling in our past years."

"Good question. The classes will be teaching advanced survival skills and trust."

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Jacob walked through the door to his house. He sighed before plopping down on the couch. Annabel sat next to him.

"Six days and I'm already burnt out." Jacob said.

"How do you think I feel?" Annabel asked pointedly.

"Not really sure, you guys are all taught separate from us for some reason."

"The lessons are fine; Elira is actually a very good teacher and knows what she's talking about."

"Yeah, my teacher is pretty good too. My classmates though; that's another story." Jacob said. "Daven is a good kid, just nervous as heck, the twins can barely sit still, Jeremy is the biggest douchebag I've ever met, and I swear Janis is in love with me; she can't stop staring."

"Hmph, most of the other Pokémon are pretty nice. The Weavile is arguably the most polite guy in the world. The Floatzel and Wormadam are very close friends and are very keen on being friends with everyone. Zarron, for whatever reason, seems to REALLY like me. Mayik is the only one I'm not sure about; he usually just sits there paying attention without saying a word."

"Sounds like a fun bunch. Hopefully what you're being taught is interesting. I'm being instructed on the various berry types, basic uses and advanced uses." Jacob said. "I guess it's useful to know that a Cheri berry eaten raw cures paralysis, but it's interesting that Cheri juice, for some reason, acts as a harmless anesthetic when injected. Its kinda funny how certain berries actually cause the reverse effects when prepared a certain way."

"Funny, I'm being taught how to find certain berries right now." Annabel said. "We also had a brief battle lesson today on how to disrupt some attacks. Subtly applying some psychic power will, quite hilariously, cause Zarron's Dynamic Punch to throw him off balance."

"That reminds me; the test is tomorrow, and its probably a battle. What moves do you know?"

"I know too many to count. For some reason, Melodists are able to learn an enhanced variety of moves. For instance, I know Dark Pulse which is almost impossible for a regular Gardevoir to learn."

"That's...actually pretty cool."

Annabel blushed slightly. "Thanks."

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Sixteen students stood in a locker room. Jacob stood behind the crowd, while three teachers stood by the door to the stadium.

"Ok students, today is your first test. You will be pitted against one another in a battle-royale type match. The winner will be determined based on the knockout order. You have three minutes to prepare." Mrs. Morinar explained. "You were each given a number; that number is your position on the field. There will be two phases to this: for the first, your Pokémon will be on its own, while you will be back to issuing commands for the second phase. Phase two will commence when there are six of you left."

Jacob felt a hand grasp his shoulder. "I guess Gallade-boy is too good to stand with the rest of us."

"No, not better than all the others; just you, Jeremy."

"Please, Zarron will completely crush everyone." Jeremy laughed.

"Sure, against Daven's Weavile maybe. But against a Blaziken? A Gardevoir? Don't make me laugh, you don't stand a chance." Jacob said coolly. He shrugged the hand off his shoulder.

"One minute!" One of the teachers said after checking his watch.

"Listen here you little-"

"Back off Jeremy, we all know Zarron is at the biggest disadvantage here. Not only do you have this guy's Gardevoir, you've got a Blaziken, a Pidgeot, and my Charizard to deal with. You won't make it to the top five." Another boy said. He looked about sixteen, with red hair that slightly curled. His face was lightly covered in freckles, his brown eyes staring at Jeremy.

"Bah, what do you know?"

"A lot." The boy said.

"Take your places!"

"We'll settle this out there." Jeremy huffed as he stalked out the door. Jacob followed, finding himself in a massive stadium. Multiple terrain sets littered the stadium. Younger students as well as teachers crowded the stands. Jacob made his way to number nine.

"Welcome students and staff, to the JTSAEY battle royale! This will be a large scale battle between all sixteen students of the advanced expedited year! The last one standing will be deemed the winner." The principal yelled over a microphone. "Without further ado; LET THE BATTLE...BEGIN!"

The crowd roared as all sixteen battlers hurled their pokéballs into the air. Annabel appeared in front of Jacob. They heard a roar as they watched a Charizard rocket into the sky.

*You didn't tell me about the Charizard.* Annabel sent.

*I didn't know about the Charizard.*

*Fair enough. Hang on.* Annabel sent.

Jacob felt a sharp pain. He blinked and noticed something. He was looking through Annabel's eyes.

Okay, this is cool. He thought.

This way we can still work together even if I'm quite a ways away. Annabel thought. Our minds are linked, so what each other thinks, the other feels.

She then took off running towards the forest. She looked up to see a Pidgeot fighting a Charizard, each circling around the other. She looked back in front of her as she entered the forest. She stopped and closed her eyes. She immediately teleported to the side as Emily's Wormadam fired an Energy Ball at her.

Annabel's eyes began glowing blue as she picked up the Wormadam. The Wormadam began thrashing around in the psychic hold.

"Put me down!" It screeched. Annabel began throwing the Wormadam around, smashing it into trees and the ground. She lifted it up again to find it had fainted. She dropped it before running off again. She emerged from the forest to a roar. She looked up.

The Charizard was rocketing toward the ground with something in its arms. It crashed into the ground, letting loose a plume of smoke. The dust cleared, and the Charizard stood in a crater over a fainted Zarron. He roared to the heavens before looking at her.

"Fear not, I was told to leave you for last, little Gardevoir." He said, his voice deep and powerful. "The Machamp will bother us no more. You better stay in the fight until the end." He then rocketed into the sky.

Annabel sighed. She immediately ducked as Daven's Weavile flew through where her head had been. He flipped as he passed her, landing on his feet and sliding to face her. His right paw was enveloped in a Shadow Claw, which vanished

"My apologies, but I'm afraid I must defeat you my lady. My friend depends on it in this competition." He said. "I hope this doesn't change anything between us."

"You're too polite." Annabel said. "But, thanks for the apology."

He rushed at her with claws glowing black. He leapt, swinging both claws at her. She teleported away, facing him as he slid on the ground.

He's too fast. It's too risky to chance a long range Focus Blast. Jacob thought.

I know what to do then.

Annabel evaded another charge by the Weavile, teleporting to the side and throwing a Thunderbolt at him. He spun from the slide and quickly dove to the ground as the Thunderbolt flew over his head. He got up before rushing her again. She teleported again, preparing another Thunderbolt. She cringed as she felt a sharp pain in her back. The Weavile fell in front of her as she clutched at her back.

He smirked before charging at her with a single claw raised.

Big mistake. She thought.

The Weavile rushed at her, preparing to slash her again. She waited until he leapt, before her hand darted up to grab his arm. His eyes went wide as he started flailing around in the air.

"Sorry." Annabel said as she drew her other hand back. A brown orb formed, and she thrusted it forward, smashing the Focus Blast into him. He flew back, smashing into the earth and rolling a few feet until he lay still.

She exhaled a breath.

"Final six, return to your original positions!" She heard over the loudspeakers. She teleported back to Jacob before disconnecting their mental link.

The ground began shaking. Jacob watched as the stadium floor shifted. The original terrain sank down into the ground. When the last of it was below the student's feet, the space was covered by a traditional stadium floor.

The tiles that hosted the numbers began sliding to the outside of a large circle. Jacob looked at who was left.

He saw the red-haired boy with his Charizard, Janis with Mayik, A girl with a Lopunny, a boy with a Beartic, and a boy with a Luxray.

"These are the final six students! The final one standing will be the winner! Ready...BEGIN!"

All five other Pokémon rushed towards each other, while Annabel stood back from the fight. The trainers began yelling inaudible commands.

The Beartic ran into Mayik, who quickly knocked it out with a combination of Blaze Kicks and Sky Uppercuts. The Luxray backed off before its fangs became encased in electricity. The Charizard flew at it, his claws glowing bright white. The Luxray jumped into him, biting at him with his fangs. The Charizard roared before pulling the Luxray into a bear-hug. He then flew skyward before rocketing downwards, crashing into the ground.

The Charizard flew up again, leaving the Luxray in a crater, fainted. The Lopunny looked at Mayik, then Anabel, Then the Charizard, before running back to its trainer, forfeiting.

The Charizard flew towards Annabel while coated in flame. Annabel teleported, narrowly evading the Flare Blitz. She appeared a short distance away, a blue orb in one hand and her other arcing with electricity.

*Now, Water Pulse and Thunderbolt!* Jacob said telepathically.

Annabel fired both attacks in unison, both striking the Charizard in the side. He roared, flying upwards before charging again with Flare Blitz. Mayik jumped in front of her, delivering a Sky Uppercut to the Charizard's jaw, finally knocking it out.

Mayik turned to face her. Fire erupted from his wrists. Annabel's eyes narrowed. He rushed at her before bringing his foot around in a Blaze Kick. Annabel teleported behind him, Water Pulse in her hand as a makeshift water-punch. Mayik spun, matching it with another Blaze Kick. He pushed her away before rushing her while encased in a blue and red aura. She jumped to the side, feeling a rush of air as the Brave Bird missed her. She spun and threw a Water Pulse, hitting him in the back. He grunted before spinning as well.

They stared at each other for a moment.

"Mayik, Blast Burn!"

Mayik smirked before taking a deep breath. He exhaled a moment later, sending out an enormous wave of fire. It flowed steadily toward Annabel, who was stunned at the size of the flames.

"ANNABEL, NO!" Jacob screeched as the world around him turned a crimson red.

He blinked, finding himself in front of Annabel. A light green bubble enveloped them, deflecting the intense flames. He began sweating from the heat and concentration from maintaining the Protect. He barely registered his shirt catching fire, burning the ashes around him. Annabel stood behind him, mouth open in shock.

The flames cleared, leaving Mayik in a state of surprise as the green bubble faded.

Jacob looked at his hands. A three-foot blade extended from both of his arms where he had been slashed. He looked up at Mayik, who recovered from both the Blast Burn and his own shock.

The stadium fell silent. Jacob looked around before realizing his shirt had burned. The horn in his chest was showing, as well as the various slash lines.

Mayik hesitated for a moment. He looked to Janis.

*Listen to the Serenade of Water...* He heard, *and fight the raging inferno before you!*

What? Jacob thought. He then heard a tune, soft and serene, like a flowing stream. He took a deep breath.

naa-aaa na naa-aa - naa-aaa na naa-aa -naa-aa na nanana na naaaaaaa

The song echoed throughout the stadium. Nothing happened for a moment.

"What are you waiting for Mayik, Bla-" Janis began yelling before she was blinded by a light emanating from Jacob and Annabel.

Jacob felt a surge of energy as he felt his body morph and shift. He then felt his mind merge with Annabel's, but it felt...stronger this time. When the light died down, the entire stadium gasped.

Jacob and Annabel had vanished, and in their place stood a lone creature. It stood at 7 foot, wearing a dark blue hooded robe that fell to its knees and stopped well past its hands. The hems at the edges of the fabric were white fur, with sky-blue lines forming diamond-shaped designs in the fabric. Its feet were icy-blue, and it kept its face covered by the hood.

It raised its head to look at Mayik, its amber eyes piercing through the black shadows cast by its hood.

"W-w-what is that?!" It heard over the loudspeaker.

"I...am the...Avatar...of the Icy Depths. I...am the fusion...of Jacob...Annabel...and the cold fury...of water. I...am...Lisken." It said in a cold, piercing voice.

Mayik took a step back before charging at the avatar. His feet caught fire in preparation for a Blaze Kick.

Lisken simply waved his arm, sending a Blizzard at the Blaziken, stopping him dead in his tracks and throwing him back.

Mayik crashed into the ground, rolling a short distance before rising into a kneeling position. He panted for a moment before rushing Lisken again. He ran up, swinging his fist up as he reached the avatar.

Lisken simply reached out, an icy hand emerging from his sleeve to catch Mayik mid-Sky Uppercut. He then shrugged his opposite hand out from the sleeve, thrusting it forward in an Ice Punch. Mayik flew backwards again, crashing into the ground.

He pushed himself into a standing position, panting heavily. He took a deep breath, before exhaling, releasing another Blast Burn. Mayik then collapsed into a kneeling position, exhausted.

Lisken's gaze remained on Mayik as he raised his arm, forming an Aqua Ring around himself. The inferno crashed into the bubble, flowing around it as Lisken stood within, un-burnt. He raised his other arm when the flames passed. He then raised one above his head, and drew the other back. An enormous whirlpool formed in his raised hand, while a maelstrom of water formed in his other hand. He threw the Whirlpool, followed closely by a massive Surf tidal wave.

Mayik watched the two attacks surge toward him, and he closed his eyes. He heard the water rush over him, but didn't feel it.

The water cleared, and a green bubble was enveloping Mayik. It faded, and a small Pokémon stood in front of him.

It stood at two feet, wearing a black dress with a green sash across the middle. Its skin was a light green color, with a small blue gem on a tiara adorned its forehead. Its hair was green and shaped like a music sheet, with a black microphone looking object on the side of its head. Its light blue eyes stared at Lisken.

"Meloetta…" Lisken said as he regarded the small Pokémon. He cringed before clutching at his head, doubling over as a song echoed throughout the stadium.

Naaaa na naaaa - Naaaa na naaaa - Naaaaa na naaaaa na naaaa

"AAAAAAAGH!" Lisken screamed before there was a bright flash.

Jacob and Annabel lay on the ground, unconscious.

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Whew. I hope you all like this chapter, as it was a pain to write due to having to convert another LoZ song. Lisken is a completely made up entity (at least I hope so) based VERY loosely on the Shiva incarnation that appears in Final Fantasy X. His name is pronounced Lie-sken in context of this story. Mayik the Blaziken is my friend's character.

Please R&R, as now I can write a lot more because I am out of school now.

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