Will Elizabeth be able to comfort Sango? Will Sango recover from her painful state? What about Blake? Will there be anything done about that? Remember to review!

Also, thank you to everyone who read my story "The Heir to the Dragon". I would appreciate if you continue to read and support it in the future! You can get there through my profile!

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! Elizabeth was nominated for being wholesome.

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

Rowlets and Oshawotts: Definitely need wholesomeness, a loving mother can be quite a necessary rock to stand with, even if the mother isn't necessarily her mother.

KedharS: Definitely deserves it.

Thunder Fire: Hopefully so.

JoshGamerV: Interesting thought.

Just a Bad Writer For Fun: We've known Alaine's name since when Elizabeth first explained her history to Sango back in Galar.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 620


Sango didn't care that she was causing a scene. Right now, all she wanted to do was cry, unloading her pain out onto Elizabeth's chest. Elizabeth accepted it, holding her close. Silver floated up beside her and rubbed his cheek against hers, cooing gently.

"It's okay, sweetie," Elizabeth assured her. "I know that having the boy you like choose someone else must be a difficult thing, but you can cry if that will make you feel better."

"Id'sh nod daaat…" Sango gurgled out, wiping her eyes. "He'sh nod jus' dumpp'd me, Elizabeth, he's deaaad!"

Elizabeth was shocked, hearing that. That boy, Blake… he was… he was dead? Remembered that adamant look in his eye, that stubborn nature of his, and she began to freak out a little. Even after losing Alaine, the thought of losing people she loved still traumatized her. How could it not?

"You must be unbelievably strong, to keep your head high like this, when you're feeling this much pain," Elizabeth murmured, stroking Sango's hair. "But it's okay, Sango. You don't have to keep pushing through all this pain alone, okay? I'm here. Let me comfort you as much as you want, okay? Just let it all out…"

And that's what Sango did. Even though people were staring at the two of them and the pokemon, she cried and explained the whole story to Elizabeth, how she knew that Blake was most likely dead, that it was the only explanation that made sense, that she had tried her hardest to keep a strong attitude for the sake of her friends, but she had just completely lost control, and started bawling, how she wasn't sure if she could keep hiding it from Ayame, and how she would feel if she did…

And Elizabeth took it all, listening to everything that Sango had to say with open arms, smiling warmly at her.

From the perspective of an outsider, their situation looked very much like a mother comforting her daughter. An analogy not too far from the truth, it would seem.

"It's okay, Sango, you don't have to be strong right now," Elizabeth assured her. Sango sniffled and turned her head up to look Elizabeth in the eyes. Elizabeth smiled warmly down at her. "I understand. Because of what happened with your father, you've had to carry the burden of being a grown-up all by yourself. And as a probationary ranger, you feel like you have a lot of responsibilities, that everyone is looking to you to be the strong one, the reliable one, someone who isn't shaken by anything, isn't that right?"

"I-I need to be strong, if not-"

"Then what? Then you'll be weak? Then be weak."

Sango gasped, aghast at what Elizabeth had just said. "But! But I have to be tough, I can't just-"

"Hush, hush," Elizabeth gently shushed her, brushing her fingers through Sango's hair. "Now trust me, the universe is not going to collapse because little Sango Akana needs to cry out her feelings, okay? You're a human being just like everyone else. You're a 15 year old girl, Sango, you're far too young and cute to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders." Elizabeth reached over and brushed her fingers across Sango's cheeks, wiping away her tears.

Sango averted her eyes, glancing at Silver. Her sweet Castform was more comfortable to look at, not making her feel so… She… it wasn't like she liked being like this, she just knew that it was important to be responsible. After all, she was a Pokemon Ranger (in-training)!

"You've got a sunny attitude, Sango, nothing like me when I was a little girl," Elizabeth laughed, her voice a soothing chime that made Sango's spirits lighten. "I'm certain that you have a lot of friends, don't you?"

Sango sniffled a little, and nodded.

"And I know that those friends of yours, they're almost certainly relying on you quite a lot, don't you think?" Elizabeth asked. She glanced at Silver and smiled. "Silver tells it all, you know. You're very bright, and very, very kind. People often rely on those who are bright and kind, with strong wills like yours. That's what's going to make you a good ranger. But remember. You can rely on your friends too, Sango. You don't have to be alone. Even rangers work in teams, right? Now tell me, do you have any friends who you can let your guard down around? Who you can be weak around? Besides Silver, of course, though we know he's a sweetheart."

Sango tilted forward and buried her face in Elizabeth's chest. She thought of Cynthia, Marion, Maddi, Kitty, Julia, and Nikita. It was harder with the boys, and even harder still with Blake. She was definitely too guarded around him. But then… well, she didn't have to worry about that. Ayame, though… Ayame was difficult. But she could get through it, she was certain. Once… once the truth came out, then maybe… maybe this wouldn't matter so much anymore, how Sango felt about him. Not when… when he was…

Sango looked up at Elizabeth and nodded. She had a lot of friends. Elizabeth smiled, and stroked her cheek.

"So if you feel like things are too much for you to deal with on your own, just remember that you have friends who you can count on to take some of that burden for you, okay? You don't have to carry it all, you can trust each other and be weak around each other, as much as you need to be. Trust me, I know a little something about carrying the weight all on my own, Sango."

"I… I'll try," Sango agreed. Elizabeth squeezed her tighter and then let go, the two parting. She couldn't believe how she was feeling. How warm she was inside. She knew how much of a fool she was, too, staring at the older woman as she sat back down. She had been so afraid of trusting Elizabeth, so afraid of letting down her walls and letting her in, because she wasn't sure if she ever did, that Elizabeth wouldn't take over Maya's place in her heart.

Now she knew better.

Elizabeth hadn't taken Maya's place. She had opened her heart and let Elizabeth in, and now Elizabeth and Maya were both parts of her. They filled her heart. She loved Maya, of course, far more than she cared for Elizabeth, but she still did care for Elizabeth. Feeling the way she cared for Sango, it made her feel so warm inside.

Then, to Sango's confusion, Elizabeth's smile faded. Sango gulped. She didn't like the concerned look on her face. "Is… is something wrong?"

"No, no, it's nothing," Elizabeth said, shaking her head. "Just… now that you're doing a little better, I wanted to ask you for some clarification."

Sango blinked. She glanced at Silver, who looked back at her, confused.

"Clarification? About what?"

"What you told me," Elizabeth said. She still hadn't returned to her seat, now she was pacing around the café. "About Blake. About his disappearance."

Sango winced. Not trying to look tough anymore, she didn't bother hiding the pain she was feeling about talking about Blake.

"What… what is it?"

"You said… his Psychic pokemon's psychic connection was severed?" Elizabeth confirmed. Sango nodded her head. "I see… and this happened… when, exactly? Last week, right? That's what you said? Or maybe two days ago, or last month…"

Sango was more confused. "No, no, I told you, it happened two nights ago, that's when he went missing. Elizabeth, what's going on? What's with these questions."

"I see… two nights ago…" Elizabeth mused, glancing to the side. "Yes, that could be about right… if that's the time when…"

"Elizabeth, what's going on?" Sango asked. Elizabeth reached into her purse and took out a few bills, leaving it on the table to pay for their meal, and then turned to Sango. She grabbed Sango's wrist, pulling her along. "Elizabeth!"

"I can't explain it now, but I think that there might be an overlap," Elizabeth said. "Between why I'm here, and between what happened to Blake and this girl Sylvia. And if I'm right… then that means they're still alive!"

Sango pulled her hand free of Elizabeth's grasp as she reached the door, Elizabeth turning back to her in confusion.

"Sango?"

"Don't you tell me that," Sango said, shaking her head. Her face was flushed and her eyes were watering. She cared for Elizabeth, but this was completely different. "Don't you dare tell me something like that unless you know for sure that it's true."

Elizabeth's face softened and she shook her head, smiling at Sango. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll explain it. Just come with me, hurry! It's important. I'll explain it all when we get to Professor Reinhart's office. Just… measure your expectations. It's complicated."

Elizabeth couldn't bring herself to tell Sango the truth about what was going on just yet. She wasn't sure how Sango would feel if she learned the truth. But now, she was in a hurry. They had to get to the professor's office as soon as possible! Nodding to Sango to follow, Elizabeth dashed out of the door of the café and exited the mall, so focused on where she was trying to go she had absentmindedly forgotten to actually look where she was going.

Elizabeth collided with one of the students, the two falling into the snow.

"Oh my gosh!" Elizabeth gasped, jumping up. "I'm so sorry miss!"

"What where you're going!" The brunette girl was still lying in the snow, shivering, her warm black coat wrapped tightly around her. Her hood was pulled up, so only a few fringes of brown hair were sticking out of the sides. Her eyes were big and blue and filled with anger. When she felt the cold air strike her pinkening face, she gasped.

Ignoring Elizabeth's outstretched hand, the girl turned and hid her face, fumbling through the snow until she found a white porcelain mask. Sliding it over face she scrambled to her feet, panting.

"Listen, I'm really sorry about-" Elizabeth reached out to the girl, and immediately felt a recoil as she did, like two crosswinds striking each other. A throb went through her head as the other girl doubled-over in pain, clutching her skull. "Hey, wait!"

But the masked girl had already run off. Elizabeth watched after her, eyebrow raised.

"Elizabeth…" Sango panted, running over to her. Silver was floating right at her heels "Wait… wait up… please…"

Sango caught up to Elizabeth, surprised (and irritated) at how fast the older woman could run with those boobs. It just wasn't fair. She noticed an odd expression on Elizabeth's face. "Hey, everything okay?"

"Huh? Oh, yes, just had a bit of a strange run in," Elizabeth laughed. "This might sound odd, but tell me, do you know anyone here who wears a mask over their face? A rather irate young lady."

Sango's face soured. "Oh, you mean Elaina Bishop. She's not a very friendly one."

Elaina Bishop, so that was the name of the strange harmonia girl. Poor thing. Elizabeth could feel how volatile her powers were. If possible, she'd like to help her… but there wasn't the time. There were more important matters to be concerning themselves with.

"Shall we go?" Elizabeth asked, forgetting the strange encounter and turning to Sango. The two women headed to the professor's office with the Castform.


"Doctor Skye, when I said I wasn't concerned with how you would spend your time before we met up, I didn't think you'd take the opportunity to bring a guest," Aurore said, glancing at Sango with a raised eyebrow. "This isn't 'take your step-daughter to work' day."

"Sorry about this, professor, but Sango might be able to help," Elizabeth replied.

"She can?" Aurore asked, raising his eyebrow.

"I can?!" Sango gasped.

"Yes, well, before any of that, I have something for you," Elizabeth said, reaching into her bag and withdrawing a small wrapped object. "I hear you know what to do with these? We're done with our research on it. And if it's all the same, just being around that thing is rather… disturbing. So Uboss said I could give it to you."

Taking and unwrapping the object, Aurore looked at the Oracle. Purple and red and rather ominous-looking, it was the Oracle they had recovered in the ruins of Stow-on-Side.

"Thank you," Aurore said. "Tell your husband I'll take good care of it."

"Fiance," Elizabeth corrected him, giving Sango a wink. "Now then, since we've got the pleasantries out of the way, I hear you have something for me?"

Aurore sighed, giving another glance in Sango's direction. Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, and he sighed again, turning and walking over to his desk. Sitting on top of it was a rectangular object wrapped in a very old cloth. He beckoned the two women over, Sango, Elizabeth, and Silver gathering around the desk to see him unwrap an old, worn stone tablet the color of night, shining brightly. Etched on the surface were strange symbols, a language Sango couldn't recognize.

Elizabeth sucked her breath in and reached for it instinctively, pulling her hand back when the professor sent her a warning look.

"The Tablet of Hungry Ghosts," she breathed. "I've always wanted to see it for myself."

"Well, there it is," Aurore said. "It started glowing a few nights ago. And considering what the legends say about it, I figured that I better consult someone of your expertise before I make any other judgments about it."

"What is that thing?" Sango asked, confused. "And what does it have to do with Blake?"

Aurore glanced at Sango, then to Elizabeth. "Blake? Blake Harker? What does he have to do with this?"

"It's complicated," Elizabeth sighed. "You see- wait, did you say Harker? Never mind. It isn't important." She sighed, turning to Sango, and then glanced back at the professor. "It happened again, didn't it? That's why you called me."

Aurore averted his eyes.

"What?" Sango demanded, no longer willing to put up with the fact that she was the only one in the room who didn't know what was going on. "What happened again?"

"The Tablet of Hungry Ghosts is an artifact that has existed since long before the age of man and pokemon," Aurore answered her. "Its origins are unknown. We've tracked its existence back through ancient societies until the first written languages and pictographs. And even then, we have no idea what to do with it."

Sango swallowed. That… that was pretty old then. "What… what is it?"

"No one knows," the professor shrugged, sitting down in his seat and stroking his chin. "No one can read it. There are stories, of course, but they're rather… unsettling. And with a name like 'The Tablet of Hungry Ghosts' I'm putting some stock into their voracity."

"That's a misnomer, actually," Elizabeth piped up. Aurore turned to her and gasped in shock.

"Hey! Put that down!" He demanded. While he had been explaining things to Sango, Elizabeth had picked the tablet up off the table and was now in the process of studying it in extensive detail.

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders, not taking her eyes off the tablet. "It's fine, professor. You're far too cautious. This won't activate for me. It didn't affect you, right?"

"That's… but it's still dangerous!" The professor exclaimed. Sango gasped, stepping back, looking cautiously at Silver. Her partner was just as worried as she was.

"Anyway, as I was saying, it's misnomer," Elizabeth said, ignoring the professor's concerns. "The first civilization to record the tablet with a name were the Ultranians. And their name for it, Tabris va Voracia Shadan, is often translated improperly." She growled under her breath. "This is why I can't stand the historical society, they never go back on a decision when it's already been established. A more accurate translation of the ancient root word would be 'The Tablet of Devouring Darkness'. How they got 'Hungry Ghosts' out of that I haven't the foggiest…"

"Okay, but who cares what it's called?!" Sango asked. "I'm asking what the heck it IS!"

Elizabeth let out a sigh. She finally looked up from the tablet and turned to Aurore, and the professor nodded, though he wasn't happy about it.

Elizabeth turned to Sango. The concerned look on her face made Sango worried.

"In ancient times, people would talk of a mysterious tablet, passed down from people to people. With words that could never be read etched in the surface. Older than anything, undecipherable, only a few people could read it."

Sango gasped. "Harmonia users?"

Elizabeth blinked, surprised Sango had thought of that. Did Sango even know what harmonia was? She didn't, did she? Well, clearly she did, but that wasn't important. "No, no, there was no telling who could read it. Whatever this quality was, it wasn't passed down through lineage, or religion, or even intelligence. It was totally random, as far as anyone knew. Believe me, there is a significant amount of documentation, and none have ever found a correlative factor."

Sango didn't know what that meant. "So… what are you saying?"

Elizabeth sighed, turning her attention back to the tablet. "Professor Reinhart, if you would?"

"When someone read from the tablet, no matter who it may have been, something would happen," he explained, not entirely sure why the doctor wanted him to explain things to the girl in the first place. "There would be a distortion in space. The shadows would consume the person, sucking them away into the tablet itself."

Sango gasped, her eyes shooting to Elizabeth. "Wait, so you think… wait, what?"

"When I saw the tablet had been… for lack of a better word, activated, I contacted the doctor and asked for her help. If there's anyone who can translate that tablet, figure out what had happened, then it would be her."

"I already know what happened," Elizabeth replied. "Blake Harker read from the tablet. And the shadows devoured him, like they do to everyone who reads from it, since the dawn of time."

She glanced down at the writing on the tablet.

"Behold the Realm of the Ravenous," she declared. "In the world of unending darkness, dwells those who hunger constantly. The denizens of the dark, like thousands of hungry shadows. Fearful they would devour all worlds whole, the ruler of the gluttonous dwells in the land of the ever-starved, where his hunger lives forever unsated… The never-ending shadow, the darkness that devours everything, even light and life itself, sealed in the darkness. To those who continue to hunger, whose thirst can never be quenched, the Realm of the Ravenous awaits them, to hunger for an eternity."


Well that's certainly interesting. What will happen now?