"Alright class! Is everyone ready?!"
Dawn looks up groggily as drool runs down the side of her mouth, "huh?"

The classroom is now full of students and Dr. Fern stands in front of the class. She is one of professor Rowan's star colleagues and the professor for the trainer preparation course.
Her long emerald hair hangs down over her shoulders like silk drapes on her white lab coat; Her fiery red eyes aimed directly at Dawn.

The half asleep aspiring trainer quickly shakes herself awake and wipes the drool from her mouth as the other students giggle and laugh amongst each other. Dr. Fern looks at Dawn with a quiet smirk.
"Did you get enough rest?" She inquires with a very easy going nature, unlike her stern teacher Rowan.
"Yeah! I'm ready for this!" Dawn shouts out confidently, straightening her back.

Fern nods and begins to hand out test sheets to each student while explaining the exam process, "the written exam will be timed: 1 hour. Then you will all get a 20 minute break while the exams are graded. Those who passed will continue to the battle portion of the exam and be graded on their application of the knowledge you have learned here."

As Dawn receives her test packet, she turns it over and stares at the blank back. Common exam etiquette.
"You look terrible."
Dawn looks over to her side at her long time friend, Lilly.
"You were up all night watching tournaments again, weren't you?" Lilly wears a smile knowing that's exactly what Dawn did, after all she knew Dawn for a decade since they were 5 and played trainer with their poke dolls.
"Yeah! I couldn't help it! The indigo league tournament was on, the one where Red made his debut and won champion!"
Lilly rolls her eyes and responds, "please, you've seen that one like a million times."
"I can't help it! That boy makes a killing!"

Dr. Fern stands in front of the class having finished handing out exams.
"Alright class, eyes on your own tests and... Begin."
Dawn and Lilly exchange a nod of agreement, both will pass flawlessly. The unspoken language they developed over the years was unparalleled.
As Dawn flips over her test and begins reading the questions, she's surprised how easy they are even for her expectations.

She reads the first question, the first in a set of true or false statements, "A Pokemon can only use any attack a limited amount of times before it's strength runs dry for said attack. True or false?"
Dawn smirks and circles true. "Duh," she thinks to herself.
Next question, "This strength varies with each Pokemon's experience in battle. True or false?" True.
"This is so easy," Dawn thinks to herself. "I'm going to be a trainer before the end of the day!"
She speeds through the remainder of her exam with ease.

*****One hour later*****

Dawn sits on the grass with Lilly and their mutual friends, Ruby and Pat. The four talking about the exam.
"Man, I don't know if I passed," Pat mutters in concern.
Lilly looks at him as if he said he didn't understand simple math.
"You're kidding, right? That test is fail proof, dude."
Pat's eyes are focused on his hands pulling strands of grass off the ground by twisting them in his fingers, "I don't know.. Maybe I'm not ready to be a trainer.."

Hearing this fills Dawn with shock and she jolts up.
"WHAT?! Not ready?! Do you not want this or something?! Imagine going on an adventure with your Piplup and catching all the Pokemon you can!"
Pat continues playing with the grass and lets out a sigh, "I guess..."

Ruby looks up at the the clouds as they drift by, imagining her adventures with her Pokemon of choice, Chimchar.
"I sure can't wait.. Me and Chimchar will be an unbeatable team... We'll collect every badge in every region in the world..."

Pat looks up at Ruby as her deep green eyes stare off into a reality of her creation. His mood begins to lift, he would go anywhere to be with Ruby. Even if it meant he had to be a trainer, though he always wanted to be a professor instead.

From behind a set of bushes, the angry Bidoof is gathered with several other Bidoof. All are watching Dawn through openings in the bushes.
"Bi bi Bidoof," the angry Bidoof explains to it's friends that Dawn is the one who stepped on its tail earlier. The other Bidoof grow enraged and begin speaking to each other in their language plotting against Dawn.

*****20 Minutes later*****

The students are back in class, this time less then before. Only 15 compared to the previous 20. Dawn looks around and isn't surprised to see Raymond siting in his seat, "of course he passed," she thinks to herself. Lilly, Pat, and Ruby had all passed as well.

Ruby looks around the classroom and thinks to herself, "wow, more people managed to fail than I thought." She glances at Pat who seems to be staring in her direction and sends him a warm smile. Pat is caught off guard and blushes with nervousness. He awkwardly smiles back at Ruby sitting only three empty seats away from him.

Dr. Fern looks out at the class with a smile and very gently says, "congratulations to those of you who are still here. You will each be paired up and given Dittos to practice various situations in battle. Remember this isn't an actual battle, we are only testing you on knowledge and application of that knowledge."

Dawn and Lilly look at each other with excitement and thrill in their eyes. The entire semester was text book knowledge and this was going to be the first official hands on experience.

Dr. Fern holds up a sheet of paper with names and begins to read them off. "Adam, you will be paired with Lilly. Raymond will be paired with Dawn..."
Dawn and Raymond immediately eye each other in disgust. No matter what Fern said this was going to be a true battle.
"... And Ruby, you will be paired with Grey. Pat being the odd number will practice with me!"

Pat, hoping to have been paired with Ruby looks down in disappointment. But regardless he had to pass.

Dr. Fern stares out at her students, "ok, who would like to go first?"
Dawn jumps out of her chair so fast she knocks over her desk. "Me! Uh- I mean us if Raymond isn't scared of handling a Pokemon!"
Raymond shoots a look at Dawn that's armed with jagged daggers and stands up. "I would love to go first."
Dr. Fern smiles at both and responds, "very well, let's head outside."