With Blake's death being a "confirmed" fact right now, how are our main characters taking it? I can't imagine that they're very happy about it. Hopefully nobody does anything drastic.

We've got a decent amount of girls nominated, but there's always room for more! If there are any other girls you think deserve a chance at the title of Pokemon Academy Best Girl, nominate them here! Julia added now, too.

Currently Nominated: Alcea, Ayame, Carrie, Cynthia, Dakota, Elaina, Julia, Kate, Kitty, Maddi, Marion, Nikita, Olivia, Sango, Sylvia

Just a Bad Writer For Fun: Well, definitely some interesting lines of thought here. I wonder what the story will bear out, and whether or not you'll be proven right.

Rowlets and Oshawotts: I don't know if a boyfriend is the best thing for Sango right now, she's in a pretty fragile place emotionally. I think she has a lot of growing to do before she's ready for a love interest.

KedharS: Not in the physical sense.

Thunder Fire: Well, these things happen sometimes.

JoshGamerV: Hopefully it won't come to that.

Aquahaze675: Definitely a little more complicated. And don't worry, Ayame won't be that angry… probably…

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 615

Sango was happy for all of two seconds when she woke up in the morning. Then she remembered everything that had happened the night before, everything that they had learned, about Blake, and the possibility that he was dead.

She resisted the urge to cry, but the red hair tickling her nose kept her from losing her cool and starting to bawl.

Cynthia had not reacted well to the knowledge that Blake was dead. From what Sango had gathered between outbursts of crying, tonight had actually gone quite well for her, she had watched an amazing battle between Alden and Anabel, and had been all excited about it, but learning that Blake wasn't just missing, he was dead, had completely destroyed her.

Weakened as she was, she didn't want to be alone tonight. So Sango had agreed to let her best female friend slip into the lower bunk, and the two comforted each other through the night, Cynthia crying herself to sleep in Sango's arms.

A foot in the stomach sent Sango sprawling out of bed, much to her irritation. Cynthia was a fairly haphazard sleeper, which was to be expected from her energetic personality. Sango sighed and picked herself up off the floor, tucking the blanket back over Cynthia. The redhead squirmed beneath the sheets, grasping out for a friend who was no longer there. Sango winced, wishing she could stay beside her once more, but she had more important things to get done today.

"I'm sorry, friend, I'm broken up about it, too," Sango whispered, reaching out and laying a gentle hand on Cynthia's cheek. Cynthia caressed Sango's hand in her sleep, giggling a little as she nestled deeper into the bed, sighing.

Sango said her goodbyes, staring out into the darkness of the morning, sunlight just beginning to touch on the horizon. Changing into her uniform, she left her room and headed into the bathroom, washing her face.

Finally alone, Sango began to cry.

She'd had an awful dream last night, even with Cynthia there for comfort. She had dreamed of her mother, and the last day they'd spent together. Her mom, tucking her into bed all nice and snug with Silver, telling her that she'd be back soon, and that Sango would need to be a good girl while she was gone.

As if her feelings about Blake and his fate weren't enough to tear her up inside, there was the pain of loss she'd carried with her for years, in her mother's absence. That hole in her heart had torn her up for a good, long time, and now, here she was, still losing people. Still not able to help anyone. She had set out to be a Pokemon Ranger to make her mother proud, to protect everything important to her, important to anyone.

But she couldn't even protect the ones she loved most. She couldn't protect Blake, and she loved him so dearly.

"Why… why do I have to keep on losing people like this?" She pleaded at herself in the mirror, doubling over the sink and trying desperately not to cry.

Seconds later she managed to sober up, forcing a smile to her face. She couldn't let herself give into her sadness and her pain. She was a Pokemon Ranger! …Or, at least, a prospective ranger, one who would become a ranger eventually. But even so, that was still who she was. She would keep going, keep standing strong for her friends.

If she didn't, then what would happen to them?

I have to keep us all afloat right now, Sango reminded herself. Cynthia's too broken-up to do it. She might draw people to her with her natural wit and charm, but she doesn't have the same kind of strength for putting up with stuff like this that I do. So if she's not able to do anything right now due to her grief, it's up to me to step in.

She looked at her own troubled face, which stared accusingly back at her.

…However I'm feeling… that's nothing compared to the pain that Ayame would be going through, if she knew about what happened to Blake, Sango reminded herself, feeling a little bit guilty for how hurt she felt. She may have loved Blake, but Ayame was closer to Blake than she could ever hope to be, and focusing on her own pain just seemed wrong under these circumstances. She clutched the rim of the sink and splashed water on her face again, wiping her eyes as she returned to her sense and continued forward, balancing her emotions so that she could keep going without breaking down. This was the time she needed to be strong.

Returning to her room, Sango woke Silver up and the two headed out to start their early morning, although neither was particularly pleased about it.

Sango wasn't planning to go to any of her classes, or her club activities that day. She reported that she was feeling bad, and didn't think she'd be able to make it that day. She didn't have the strength to sit in class and pay attention. Maybe if she felt better later she'd change her mind, but for now, it was around 5:40 in the morning and she was enjoying the privacy of being alone for the scant few hours that she had the day to herself.

Her feelings of loneliness and pain were overwhelming her. She missed Blake, and she didn't have the strength to go to class and see him not be there again. I know I'm supposed to be strong… but I really am weak, she reminded herself. I guess I just-

"Sango!"

Sango froze, whirling in shock. She wasn't used to people talking to her this early in the morning. And that voice! No, what the heck was she doing here? Right now?! As the dawn's light cast upon the approaching figure, Sango couldn't believe her terrible luck.

Ayame was probably the last person that she wanted to see right now. Not only was her relationship with Ayame complicated under the best of terms due to her feelings for Ayame's boyfriend, but the fact that Blake was now dead and Sango wasn't sure that Ayame could be trusted with that information made speaking with her more of a chore than a pleasure.

It didn't help that as Ayame jogged closer and Sango could see her face a little clearer in the dim light, it became clear that Ayame had some deep bags under her eyes, like she hadn't gotten a lot of sleep last night.

"…Hey Ayame," Sango said, greeting her friend as coolly as she could. She didn't want to let on that anything was wrong. Ayame slowed down until she was jogging at Sango's pace, following beside her as Sango headed toward her destination, to get an early breakfast. "Up a little early, aren't you?" Sango asked next, trying to keep things casual.

"I couldn't get any sleep," Ayame sighed, shaking her head. "All night, I've been up, worrying about Blake. Wondering what's happened to him, what he must be going through, it was pretty much impossible for me to relax."

There was a lilt of sadness in Ayame's voice, the worry in her chest overflowing.

Sango flinched, unable to meet Ayame's eyes. Yeah, no way could Ayame be told about what happened to Blake. Not when she was acting like this, not when she sounded practically like she was going to burst into tears.

Ayame sighed, shaking her head.

"You heard about what happened to Blake, right?" Ayame clarified, glancing at Sango. "You know, about how he went missing, and how we think that Sylvia might be responsible for it?"

"…Yeah," Sango said, nodding. "They, uh… they filled me in. I know all about that." As well as some other stuff, too…

"I just hope he's okay," Ayame said. "Hey, Sango, you want to get breakfast? Since, you know, we're both up so early?"

Sango didn't want to get breakfast with Ayame. That promised to be tense, awkward, and holding too great a risk that she might let something slip that would make Ayame snap. She'd heard about how angry Ayame had been the night before, and didn't want to see what would happen if Ayame found out the truth.

And that was why she couldn't cry. She couldn't look sad. She couldn't make the older girl think that there was anything wrong whatsoever.

Sango forced a smile onto her face, shaky as it was. She nodded to Ayame.

"Yeah, Ayame, let's go," Sango agreed. The two of them headed off towards the Snorlax Commons, both feeling quite down. It wasn't often that Sango would consider a breakfast without bursting into tears to be something to aim for.

It had taken some time, but Gerard was finally sober enough to leave his dormitory without falling down the stairs and breaking his neck. He walked through campus, keeping his head low to prevent people from recognizing him. His head was aching, his hangover haunting him like the memory of his shameful defeat at the Commander's hand. But right now, that pain was a reminder of what he had to do, a pounding directive ordering him forward, until he reached his destination.

The Sandbox.

Gerard held Diana's pokeball tightly in his hand. Was he really going to do this? Was he really willing to go through with it? He wanted to become stronger, to defeat anyone. That had been what he had worked so hard for all these years, for people recognize just how talented he was, for them to understand how great he was!

And yet, none of it had mattered. He hadn't been strong enough to defeat the Commander. He had done everything he could and he still failed.

Because he didn't have the power to turn that battle into a victory.

He needed power. Hard work wasn't enough to pay off, not anymore. He wasn't even sure if Elaina would be able to defeat the Commander, and she was a weapon that he had personally sculpted as the tool to prove his greatness to the world.

But if not even she would be enough, then what good was she? What had he invested all that time and energy for?

No, there was something else he needed to do. He needed to seize power for himself. And there was only one way he knew to do that. Training wouldn't be enough to overcome Alden Volt. He'd had that before. Preparations, duplicity, none of that would be enough. That was the truth he had arrived at in the drunken haze that was the weekend, and that was the truth that was guiding him still today, leading him here.

He needed power. Raw power. Diana had it. As a Mythical Pokemon, her strength was unparalleled, she should be able to defeat any foe, and yet she wasn't enough to overcome the Commander's Lucario on her own.

But she could still get stronger, he knew that. And the method of doing that could be found in this building right here.

Am I really going to do this? A brief flicker of conscience passed through him. Diana has done so much for me, to turn her into a Shadow Pokemon… to pervert her like this… Is that really the right way to get stronger?

As he stood at the door, those doubts prevented him from crossing the threshold, prevented him from taking that final step.

No… I have to do this. It's the only way. It's what she would want, too, after all, Gerard reasoned, convincing himself of how right his decision was. After all, she knows just how important winning is to me. She would do whatever it would take, in order to ensure his victory. She wanted him to win, and she would help him win. That was it. Because she was such a good pokemon, a loyal pokemon, surely she would be happy to make this sacrifice!

Gerard stepped through the doors of the Sandbox and headed inside, taking the elevator down to the basement.

The Sandbox was surprisingly occupied for this time of day. Classes had just let out, and people were working on all sorts of projects in the massive, sectioned laboratory. Even though they had only recently finished their school work, presumably, they were hard at work on personal projects. Perhaps without the stress of the Phantom Cup, things were getting back to business as usual. But for the moment, Gerard didn't have any concern for that.

There was only one person he wanted to see, after all. Only one project that he had any interest in, sick as it may have been.

Gerard left the main laboratory, heading down the hall to where the Phantom's office was. For a moment, he hesitated. He didn't know with certainty what condition the Phantom would be in after his loss to the Commander. For all he knew, he was about to do something colossally stupid, and maybe even turn the Phantom into an enemy.

…No, he was just trying to convince himself not to go on with this, that was all that this was. He sighed, walking up to door and knocking hard.

"Come in," the Phantom's voice came from the other side, startling Gerard. His tone of voice wasn't a pleasant one.

Gerard entered the Phantom's office, and took a glance around. The Phantom leaned over his desk, a sour expression on his face, quite a rarity. Misato stood behind him, her face as unmoving as always, of course.

"Gerard," the Phantom said, twisting his face into a false smile as he straightened up, Gerard noticing the tense atmosphere not dispersing even a little. "How may I help you?"

Gerard opened his mouth to reply, when a massive explosion rocked the building, knocking him off of his face. Screams were heard echoing from the hallway.

"What the hell?!" Gerard exclaimed, scrambling to his feet and looking around frantically. He glanced at the Phantom. "What's going on here, Valon?!"

Valon looked confused himself. He shot up from his seat. "Misato, let's go see what's going on in the laboratory."

The three headed into the massive testing area, where people were frantically running around. Electronics were burned and smashed, fires breaking out at various places. By some small fortune, nothing was broken.

"Noo!" Keahi scrambled back, his eyes wide with fear as he crashed into Gerard, nearly knocking him over. He was shaking, looking behind him. "Stay back! Please! Not the fire! Please!"

He shoved past Gerard and fled into the hall. Gerard turned and looked at what had frightened him so much, narrowing his eyes.

"CHAAAAAAAAAR!" A massive Charizard with a scarred face stood in the center of the facility, fire spitting out of her mouth and licking the ceiling. Standing in front of her was a single girl, Caelia Auburn, staring intensely at them with her one good eye.

"Caelia Auburn?" Gerard said, stunned. He wasn't sure what exactly she was doing here, or what she wanted with the Phantom. Or why the hell her CHARIZARD was currently wrecking the place! He turned back to the Phantom, who was, oddly enough, smiling at her.

That smile made his blood run cold.

While the Sandbox was under attack, things were picking up at another part of campus, Marion's Aquarium. Sango was in the back, working with Marion to help take care of the large amount of Luvdisc in one of the tanks. She wasn't happy, though. She was still feeling the burden of Blake's absence weighing on her. She'd been with Silver all day, trying to work through it, and there were still moments when her strong face had faded and she'd burst into tears.

Right now wasn't one of those times, though. Because she wasn't alone. Helping Marion provided her with a nice distraction, and she wasn't the only one there, either.

"So are you guys actually planning to fill this entire tank with Luvdisc?" Aidan asked Sango, glancing up from the massive fish tank that was nearly as tall as he was. There were only a few of the fish filling the tank, but there would be many, many more to come. When Sango didn't answer, he continued, "I don't know how you could fit so many in!"

"It's because they're all flat," Jessica explained, carrying a smaller tank of the Water type pokemon back to the much larger one. Marion was having the Luvdisc she had fished up gathered together in the large tank until they had enough, and then she would transport them all to the pond out back. Luckily for them, Ian had a license to drive a truck big enough to carry the tanks.

The three of them had all agreed to help Marion and Sango get enough Luvdisc for the fishing event. Ian and Jessica, of course, were happy to help Marion. Aidan, on the other hand, was just enjoying getting to work with Sango.

"So Marion's still fishing away as usual?" Ian asked, busy spreading food out through the large fish tank. He laughed. "That figures."

"I'll go see if she's fished up any more," Jessica called back, heading into the building. Sango was still helping, lifting the fish pokemon one by one and releasing them gently into the water, but her actions were automatic, like an assembly-line. She was checked out, staring off into the distance, not listening to the words of anyone. She had too much to think about, and she was trying hard not to burst into tears.

"Hey, you okay?" Aidan asked, placing a heavy hand on Sango's shoulder, causing her to jump a little in surprise.

"What?" Sango gasped, turning back to him. "O-Oh, yeah, yeah. Don't worry!" She forced a smile onto her face. "I'm fine, just didn't have a very good night's sleep, that's all."

"Oh, darn, that sucks," Aidan said, frowning. "Bad dream?"

"Something like that," Sango muttered, feeling Aidan's Shinx, Arion, rub against her ankle to comfort her. She tried to smile a little bit more, but she couldn't keep it up for very long. She was about to say something, when a voice called out to her from inside.

"Sango!" Jessica shouted back. "You have a visitor! Someone's here to see you!"

A visitor? Sango tilted her head to the side in confusion, moving around Aidan and heading towards the building. She'd told everyone she'd be helping out Marion this afternoon, and that she needed some time to herself. Her friends had understood, of course, everyone was trying to deal with the knowledge of Blake's death in their own ways, and they all agreed to leave Sango on her own for as long as she needed it, at Nikita's urging.

Sango maneuvered through the maze of water tanks, wondering who it was that could have come here to see her.

When she saw who it was, she was numb with surprise for a moment. The short-haired brunette looked at Sango with affectionate blue eyes, the older woman's face lighting up as she crossed the room and swept Sango up into a big hug, pressing her curvy figure into the stunned girl!

"Sango!" Elizabeth cooed, nuzzling her cheek against Sango. "Your roommates told me I could find you here!"

"Err… what?!" Sango stuttered out, breaking free of the tight hug, staring up at her father's fiancé in surprise. "Elizabeth, what are you doing here?!"

A surprise reappearance! But what's Sango's step-mom-to-be doing here?!