Author's Note: The names of the kids and teachers have been fictionalized for your viewing pleasure. Any similarities to persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

This is a bit of a long one, because I'm introducing some of the new characters who will play key roles for most if not all of the story.

"Welcome back to school!"

Those were the only words Ryan hated hearing every August more than any other. Even though school was ok, he practically lived at the Pokemon League now. Diantha had spoken on his behalf to the school board and had managed to make it so he only had 6 classes,3 each day instead of the usual 4 a day. It was nice, because he got to leave school early every day, but it was bad because then be still had homework to do at the League each day. On the bright side, Drasna had offered to help him with his homework every day.

"Hey Ryan!"

Ryan turned. Oh great, just what he needed. People he liked but didn't fully recognize him as their friend. They were all members of various sports teams, and while Ryan thought they were cool, they didn't completely return the feeling.

Taylor was the one Ryan really liked. He was about 5'9", short brown hair, hazel eyes. He was also the football team's wide receiver. In his free time, he was also an accomplished Trainer.

Ben was similar in height to Taylor, but was much slimmer and more muscular in his build. Being the football team's star quarterback, he did a lot of running which made him incredibly durable. Both Taylor and Ben were friends and it had been Taylor who had convinced Ben to take up training.

Needless to say, Ryan was not exactly happy to see them.

"Hey Ryan, how was your summer?" Ben asked. "Do anything band related?"

"Nice to see you too, Ben," Ryan replied with a hint on contempt at saying his name. "And yes, actually. But I had to quit because of...certain reasons."

"You wanna see what I got this summer?" Taylor asked, walking toward and opening his jacket. "I got a Fairy Badge from Valerie. Now I only need 2 more badges and I can challenge the Elite Four."

Ryan looked at Taylor's badges. He wasn't lying. There was Valerie's badge, bright as day. Now Ryan was kinda glad he had chosen the stage name for his new position when he did. If anyone knew he was a member of the Elite Four...

Suddenly, the bell rang.

"Well, I've gotta go to class. Ill see you later, Ben. Bye Ryan," Taylor said, a little too cheerfully.

"Now, Doublade, use Night Slash!"

The pokemon battled very hard, until finally, Mr. Davis had to declare a draw.

"That was very well done, gentlemen. The pokemon on both sides battled brave-"

Everyone stopped a and looked over at the boy who had lost. He was hugging his Quilladin and crying.

Matt was, to say the least, one of the tougher kids in the school, but when he lost, it had a tendency to eat him apart, and their junior year this year appeared to be no exception. He was a little bit shorter than Ryan, and he had curly brown hair. He was also one of the wide receivers for the football team. Even though he had been a trainer since 5th grade, the bond between him and his pokemon had never been as tight as it should, and it was beginning to show as high school wore on.

"Hey everyone look, Matt's a crybaby."

"Might want to release that Quilladin, Matt, or it'll begin to ignore you here soon"

"You don't deserve that pokemon."

Since Ryan had been entered into the class as an assistant teacher, it was his job to help the students and the pokemon. And right now, it seemed like it was his turn to butt in.

"All of you, enough!" Ryan said forcefully. The class went silent as Ryan reached into his bag and pulled out a Full Restore.

"Here," he said, bending down and pointing it at Quilladin," this will only hurt for a second."

He pulled the spray nozzle and a clear liquid sprayed all over Quilladin. It beg to glow in a soft green light, then it faded, and the evidence of battle were gone.

"Quilla, Quilla Quill!" Quilladin shouted, giving Ryan a hug.

"You're most welcome," Ryan said, before turning and putting a hand on Matt's shoulder.

"Matt, you know it's not your fault you lost," Ryan said.

"Yes it is," Matt sniffled. "We lost because Quilladin and I aren't close enough yet. I couldn't bring out his true power, and I gave up when the battle was lost."

"That was your first mistake," Ryan said, pulling Matt off the ground. Ryan pulled Matt in front of him and looked him straight in the eye.

"Never give up, for to do so is an insult to the Pokemon fighting for you," Ryan said. "It's NOT your fault you lost. It's also not Quilladin's either. You just need more time and more help is all. I know how much you devote yourself to football...do the same with your pokemon. They need you more than any inanimate object ever will. Can you do that?"

Matt looked at ryan for a moment, then nodded. "I'll give it my all from now on."

Ryan nodded his approval, then sent Matt inside to get his stuff ready for his next class.