Dick was not amused by his first class of the morning.
"Welcome to "Gym Class" " The teacher said. He was a big, burly man with a Machamp at his side. The man chuckled at the death looks he was getting. "Suck it up, kids. Today we are running laps. Your Pokemon must run, float, fly whatever. This is designed to increase their speed as well as yours. Increasing your speed will help you during missions and theirs will help during battles. I marked out a course with red flags. It's just a short run along the beach the coarse will get longer as the year goes on. "
Dick set Swinub down. Swinub's were not known for their speed. Dick kept pace with Swinub as instructed and was soon being passed by everyone. Swinub apologized but Dick told him not to worry about it. They ran the laps as instructed and soon joined the other students who were collapsed on the lawn with their Pokemon breathing heavily. He took a water bottle and set a water bowl down for Swinub. Both drank deeply.
"Eh, best class I've had in a long time." The teacher laughed, again they all glared at him. "Okay, done for today, kids, head over to your Items Class."
He got grumbling but they began getting up.
"No carrying your Pokemon." The teacher called, "They have to move around on their own and build up Endurance. "
Dick walked with Swinub to class.
"Geesh. " Toru complained, "I didn't sign up for that. "
Several people agreed. Dick stayed quiet and kept an eye on Swinub he didn't want to loose track of his Pokemon. Several were still complaining when they entered the building where the classroom's were. They went into the classroom and split up to get seats their Pokemon with them. Dick sat in the back of class with Swinub on a chair next to him.
"You take a rest, Swinub." Dick said pulling out a notebook and pen. "That had to be harder on you than it was me."
"Thanks." Swinub said, yawning. "Sorry you can't sleep."
Dick chuckled at that.
"Welcome to "Item Class" " This teacher was a perky woman she had a Jumpluff at her side. "In this class we will learn all about Items and how and when to use them."
With that she set them about taking notes for the rest of the class. Then set them on their way reminding them to not carry their Pokemon. Dick and Swinub were last to leave the class. Dick was reading over his notes as they left they had an hour or so before his next class. Dick finally put the notebook away and stood up.
"Do you need help with anything?" He asked, the woman jumped and clutched her heart.
She had thought all the students had left. The boy had just been so quite.
"Dick." she said smiling at him. "It is Dick right? Or do you prefer Richard?"
"Dick is fine." Dick said , "Do you need help?"
"No I don't." she said, softly, "Why don't you two run along."
"Okay."
Dick and Swinub left the room. Kids of all ages were around. They went outside after all from the schedule Dick had gotten his next class wasn't even in this building it was over in the Garden. They began heading for the Center of the entire Island. There they had huge gardens. Dick saw a girl with a Hoppip as they arrived. She was sitting on the side of a fountain with her little pink friend splashing around in it.
"Excuse me." Dick said walking up the girl smiled at him and motioned him to sit. "I was just wondering if your Hoppip knows anything other than Splash?"
"She does." the girl giggled, "She was given to me by my sister and knows the egg move Confusion. " she held out her hand."I'm Meg by the way."
"I'm Dick." he shook her hand. "Uh... would it be okay... if I sat with you for awhile?"
"Of course." she beamed at him. They fell silent for a long time. Hoppip splashed about in the fountain while Swinub just basked in the sun. Finally, she spoke again. " So Gym was rather rough wasn't it?"
"I guess."
"I was thinking of running every morning so that Hoppip and I can train ourselves to keep up. " she said, "Would you like to join us? I mean I saw the two of you were ..."
"That sounds great." Dick said, and offered her a shy smile. He didn't normally get along with people. "I was thinking of doing the same thing. "
"Lets battle!" she said suddenly, she jumped up and Hoppip floated over to her. "Come on it'll be fun!"
"Uh..." Dick stood, "Uhm..." Dick noted Ash not far away talking to some of the other teachers, Nurse Joy, and Craig Advance all of who had heard. Ash nodded to his son, making shooing gestures encouraging him. "Okay." Swinub was in soon in front of him as he stood. "If you want...bur I think you should know..."
"Great!" Meg cheered, "Hoppy, use Confusion!"
"Swinub." Dick called, "Use AncientPower."
Rocks fell on Hoppy who fainted .
"I tried to warn you." Dick sighed , "Hoppy is weak to Rock types." Dick said giving her an Oran berry. "Swinub also had an Egg move. AncientPower is a Rock type..."
"It's okay." Meg said still smiling as she woke Hoppy and fed her the berry. "I figured we would loose. I'm not that good a battling and Hoppy is considered among the weakest Pokemon. I thought that if we battled we could be friends. "
Dick was taken aback.
"Uhm, okay." he said, scratching his neck."sure."
"Yay, a friend!" Swinub cheered, "I want to play with Hoppy."
"Uhm...could you let Hoppy down?" Meg blinked at him but set Hoppy down. Swinub went up to Hoppy and the two were soon playing chase. "Swinub wanted to play."
Dick glanced at his dad to see him beaming at him. He gave him a weak smile in return.
"Welcome!" A cheery female Ranger called, by her side she had a Lopunny at her side. "This is "Play class!" "
"Play class?" Toru asked, "Why do we need a Play Class?"
"You'll have to ask that question to Professor Elder." the teacher giggled. "In the meantime today's game is Tag for the Pokemon! and for you trainers you are to talk to each other and get to know each other. But first..." she motioned to a display beside her full of watches. "The new PokeWatch! "
"What's wrong with our old ones?" A red haired boy , who looked a lot like Nurse Joy , asked. He had a Happiny at his side.
"Your old one's do not have Pokedex apps." the Teacher replied, "also these have an app that allows you to talk and understand your Pokemon." That got the kids talking. "Now I'll call your name and give you a watch." One by one they all got a watch. "I'm sorry it seems we are short one..."
"I already got one." Dick said, causing several kids to glare at him."I got it yesterday. "
"But it wasn't released until today." The Teacher said.
"Yeah, I know." Dick shrugged, " Prof. Elder gave it to me when he gave me Swinub."
"Well, okay then." The teacher clapped her hands. "Pokemon play Tag, Hoppy is it."
The trainers began to socialize . Dick hated socializing and tried to stay off by himself but Meg followed him and talked to him.
Who should be Dick's rival?
1. Toru Oak
2. Red haired boy/Zion Joy
3. Meg Ryan