The next two weeks passed by in a blur. Oliver was already excited to become an official trainer but the announcement of Raleigh's stepping down kicked it into high gear. Not only would Oliver become a Pokemon Trainer just in time for this year's Gym Challenge, but he'd actually have a shot at the title now that Raleigh had stepped down. Well, there WAS the little hurdle of the Elite Four, plus all the other trainers who had the same thought, but never mind that.

In the intervening time, Oliver and Moira had spent some time practicing. Oliver didn't have a license yet, so while Ralts and Joltik were ostensibly his Pokemon, they were considered to belong to the entire Clairmont household for legal purposes. That didn't stop Moira from showing Oliver a few things. She did have some experience as a trainer herself, after all, though every time Oliver asked her to elaborate on the specifics of her "career" she tended to dodge the question.

It was a couple days before the big day when Moira's father pulled him aside. "A juist wantit tae thank ye for bein' Moira's friend syne we movit here," he said. The man was absolutely massive but his eyes were full of light and kindness. "Ye ken howfur abrasive she kin be, she hud a trachle getting alang wi' fowk back in oor auld steid. It means a lot tae us that ye stuck wi' her."

"Oh, it's, uh, it's nothing really, sir," Oliver responded. Even though Moira had been working on toning down her thick accent, Oliver had grown accustomed to that West Galarian brogue of her family's.

Mr. Taylor simply laughed and ruffled the kid's hair. "Thir's na reason tae be sae formal, laddie. Ye twa aren't even dating yit." He had himself another good chuckle at Oliver's inarticulate stammering.

Finally, the third of May arrived, and with it, Oliver's fourteenth birthday. He woke up two hours before his alarm went off that day (because really, what kind of moron sleeps in on the day they officially become a Pokemon Trainer?) and because of her nature as an empath, Ralts was prematurely woken up, much to her annoyance. Joltik remained sound asleep though.

Eventually his mother woke up and, after wishing him a happy birthday, got to work making him his favorite breakfast- Kalosian Toast with more cinnamon than was probably healthy. Oliver was about halfway through his meal when Moira showed up. After she gave him a birthday present (a trade paperback collection of Crobatman and Fletchling) the two of them decided to play a few rounds of Pokken Tournament.

Finally there was a knock at the door. "That's probably her," Oliver said, shutting off his Switch and following his mother, who went to answer it.

She opened the door. "Oh, Scarlet! It's been too long! So you're the test proctor?"

"I sure am. Professor Pine let me handle it myself," Scarlet responded in a calm yet simultaneously cheerful voice. Scarlet Willow was five years Oliver's elder, a full foot taller than him and with an air of stoic confidence about her. She was dark-skinned with chocolate brown eyes and red hair tied back into a long, thick braid that went down to about the middle of her back. She was wearing a light brown sun hat, a black shirt dress and black knee-length boots.

Beside her was Cassandra, which was what Scarlet named her Absol. The white-furred Dark-type Pokemon looked like any other Absol except for the white bandage wrapped around her large black horn.

Oliver's mom crouched down and pet Cassandra, who simply purred in response. "I see you're looking well too, Cassandra. But Scarlet, why are you the one giving the test? I thought-"

"I know, but this isn't a real battle. It's just an exam." It was then that Oliver and Moira walked up to the front door. Oliver had on his backpack, out of which Ralt's head was sticking out. Scarlet looked over to the bespectacled 14-year-old. "So, you and your Pokemon ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm ready whenev- oh wait, I still need to wake up Joltik!"

He started to turn to go retrieve Joltik, before Ralts hopped out of her roost, held up a finger, and waddled up the stairs to retrieve the bug herself.

"So, Oliver," Scarlet began, "This is Moira?"

"That I am! It's nice tae make yer acquaintance," Moira replied cheerfully. "So how is the test going tae go anyhow?"

"Well, to sum up, Oliver is supposed to beat me in a 2-on-2 Pokemon battle where I'll be using two Pokemon that belong two the Trainer School. He already took the written test a few weeks ago."

"There was also an interview I had to do," Oliver cut in, "To make sure I was actually qualified. Felt like I was being interrogated."

"Really? Back in Galar ah just kind o' got mah first Pokemon 'n' just started battling. The age was lower too."

"I can't speak for Galar, but in Allanza, we had to make the requirements a bit stricter once all that gang violence over in Orre started."

It was around that time when Ralts waddled back over with the Joltik in tow. Oliver opened up the backpack and set it on the ground. "Morning, Joltik! We gotta get going for the exam now, I think I have a AA battery lying around in the bag somewhere."

Joltik crawled in and Ralts hopped back in. Moira raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. Scarlet turned to leave. "All right, let's head to the training field. You can come too, if you want, Moira." The Galarian lass nodded, and the three and their Pokemon headed off.


"So, Oliver, why the f**k ye dinnae just use a Pokeball?" Moira finally asked as the three left the residential area of Shorevul Town to a more open area. The path they walked on was surrounded on both sides by yellowish brush, where you could see the odd wild Spearow or Ledyba out and about, doing their thing, likely deterred from trying to attack the trio by the Absol that was with them.

Scarlet looked like she was about to react to the expletive but Oliver responded first.

"Well, Ralts isn't really all that heavy, and I'd feel kinda guilty keeping them couped up in Pokeballs all the time," he explained.

"You know you probably won't be able to use the backpack once they evolve," Scarlet observed.

"IF they evolve," Oliver countered. "I mean, the Indigo League Champion made it without evolving his Pikachu, right?"

"That's just a myth and you know it."

"Yeah, well…" Oliver continued, his voice getting a little lower, "There's also Joltik…"

Scarlet's eyes widened slightly and she nodded her head. "Right. Yeah. Forgot about that. Sorry"

Moira was confused again. "What's wrong with Joltik?"

"Oh. Oliver's family adopted Joltik from a shelter after he was rescued," Scarlet began. "His original trainer released him, but evidently, it and the Galvantula out in the wild… didn't really… get along."

Moira's fair complexion went even whiter as her mind filled in the blanks.

"And sometime after we took him in," Oliver continued, "we realized he was absolutely terrified of Galvantula. So it's safe to say he doesn't want to evolve into one of those things." Cassandra simply mewed softly, having met Joltik before.

Eventually the three arrived at the Trainer School, a humble little establishment with a nearby court with a Pokeball symbol painted on the ground and surrounded on all sides by chain-link fence. What Moira noticed, however, was that the makeshift arena had scratch marks and even what looked like melting bits of ice on it.

"Oh, by the way, I think Amber had her exam just before yours. She's probably inside the building getting her paperwork finalized."

Oliver huffed. "Of course she is."

Before Moira could inquire as to who this Amber was, they had arrived at their destination. Oliver and Scarlet (and Cassandra, though she wasn't participating, she just wanted to stick close to Scarlet) took their respective sides of the court, Oliver setting the bag down just outside of it. Ralts and Joltik stepped out. Moira, meanwhile, stepped off to the side, where she took the two Pokeballs out of her pocket and let Sobble and Wooloo out. "Pay attention, everybody. Ye finally get tae see Oliver's gang in action." Sobble touched its little fingers together nervously as his eyes darted between the two combatants. Wooloo looked to be hyping herself up for the show to begin.

Scarlet took a Pokeball out of her dress and clicked the button on it. "You ready for the exam to begin?"

Oliver adjusted his glasses with a smirk. "I was born ready." With that, he enthusiastically pointed his finger into the air. "Go, Ralts!" The little Psychic Pokemon jumped into the arena.

Scarlet wound up and threw the ball. "Go, Rockruff!" The ball released a red burst of light as the little brown puppy landed on all fours, growling.

"Rockruff, use Bite!" Scarlet shouted as she held out her hand. The little Rock-type dog dashed forward towards Ralts.

"Not if we can help it! Ralts, use Charm!" Ralts tilted her head up, allowing her normally covered eyes to be visible as she put her hand on her cheek and smiled endearingly at Rockruff. The puppy's aggression shattered and the Bite that ended up hitting her was more of a nibble than anything else.

Oliver smiled. "Now hit 'em back with Disarming Voice!"

The cute, watery gaze morphed into a determined smirk as Ralts' horn began to glow. "Raaa!" she vocalized, and though the cry itself was fairly weak, it was magnified by a glow of pulsing pink energy that shot out and knocked Rockruff off its prey.

Moira cheered, as did Wooloo, who let out a hearty baaa. Sobble merely smiled and weakly threw its own hand in the air. "Go Ralts! Shoe that wee b**** what-for!" Moira shouted, then paused and touched her chin in contemplation at what she just said. "...wait, is the pup female?"

Scarlet tried her best to ignore her. "Rockruff! Sand-Attack!"

Rockruff shook off its disorientation and complied, kicking some dirt into Ralts' face.

"Now use Tackle!"

"Ralts, try to hit him with Confusion!" Ralts stopped in the middle of clearing the sand out of her eyes and flung a hunk of psychic energy at the dog, but her aim was off. Rockruff easily dashed around it and slammed into Ralts head-on, knocking her away a couple feet.

"Nice hit, Rockruff! Now use Howl to get your attack power back up!"

Rockruff did so, but as it did, Oliver clenched his fist. "Now's your chance to try Confusion again!"

Ralts still couldn't see clearly, but the loud howling made it much easier to hit her mark. This time, Rockruff didn't evade the purplish cloud of energy, which immediately surrounded its head and burst in a flash of light. The Rock-type stumbled, clearly disoriented.

"C'mon, you can shake it off! Try for another Bite!"

Rockruff, though, was still clearly dizzy from the effects of Confusion, and bit down on where it thought Ralts was, but instead tripped and fell over.

Oliver held his hand out again. "One more attack like that and he's down for the count! One more Confusion!"

Just like the last one, Ralts' Psychic attack hit its downed target head-on. Rockruff stumbled weakly before passing out, unconscious. Moira and Wooloo cheered again. Scarlet withdrew the fainted Pokemon and pocketed the ball. She pulled out a different one and tossed it out as well. "Go! Pawniard!"

The little spiky helmeted Steel/Dark-type emerged from the red flash of light and glared at Ralts menacingly, swinging its bladed arm for intimidation. Oliver considered his opponent's next Pokemon. Of course, she brought a Rock-type to deal with Joltik and a Steel-type to handle Ralts. Well, before I switch her out, I may as well soften Pawniard up a bit. "Ralts! Use Hypnosis!" Ralts held its hands out, a beam seemingly made of glowing rings shooting out towards Pawniard.

"Pawniard, use Metal Claw!" Pawniard dashed forward, leaping out of the way of Hypnosis and slicing its claws into Ralts, who let out a small cry of pain as she took damage.

Off to the side, Sobble was having a hard time watching Ralts get sliced and looked away. As opposed to Wooloo, who was getting really into the display of violence. Moira simply gasped. She had never seen Ralts in action before, and seeing the cute little gal get hit with a super-effective hit wasn't very fun.

Oliver grimaced. Crap, this isn't good! I was really hoping that Hypnosis would land! I gotta make a decision, quick!

"One more Metal Claw, Pawniard!"

"Ralts, try to use Hypnosis again! You can do it!"

Ralts' pain was temporarily overridden by the wave of encouragement, amplified by her own empathic abilities, and she let loose another wave of hypnosis at the charging Pawniard. This time, Pawniard didn't react in time and grew drowsy before falling asleep standing up.

Moira sighed in relief as Oliver pumped his fist in triumph, then called out to his injured, exhausted Pokemon. "Great work, Ralts! Come back! Time for you to tag in, Joltik!"

Ralts limped over to the bag as Joltik sprang out and began sparking as Pawniard seemed to start stirring. Pawniard was already a pretty small Pokemon, and seeing how tiny Joltik was in comparison really put into perspective just how miniscule the little bug really was.

"Joltik, use Electroweb, then follow up with Bug Bite!" Oliver shouted, while Ralts weakly cheered from the sidelines. Joltik leaped into the air and launched a strand of electrified silk from its body.

"Dodge it!" Scarlet shouted, but Pawniard woke up too late, as the web wrapped around it and began shocking it. Scarlet grunted in frustration. "Cut through it and Joltik with Slash!" Mustering the effort through its electrical shocks, Pawniard sliced through the web and, with its other blade, tried to swipe at the rapidly approaching Joltik, who easily dodged it thanks to its small size.

Joltik then proceeded to zip around Pawniard at a rapid pace, biting him all over, with Pawniard flinching the whole time, looking rather dazed. Steel may be tough against Bug-type attacks, but Pawniard was also part Dark-type, so the resistance was cancelled out and Bug Bite still did a number on the guy.

Finally, Joltik leapt off of Pawniard, who was starting to go off-balance.

Scarlet pointed her finger at Joltik. "Pawniard, hit back with… uh… Pawniard?" Scarlet stopped halfway through her command and lowered her hand when she realized Pawniard was starting to tip over slightly before its balance went completely.

CLANK!

The Steel/Dark-type fell over onto the ground with a loud metallic sound, completely unconscious. Oliver cheered, as did Ralts. They had won! Oliver pulled a Potion out of the backpack and applied the medicine to Ralts, who sighed in relief as the pain wore off somewhat and her injuries started to fade.

"Ye really showed her, Oliver! Way to go!" Moira cheered, as Sobble looked relieved and Wooloo hopped up and down, just as ecstatic as her trainer.

Scarlet withdrew Pawniard and smiled. She walked towards the center, Oliver taking it as his cue to do the same, brimming with excitement all the while.

Once they had arrived at the middle of the court, the two shook hands.

"Congratulations, Oliver. As of today, you are now officially recognized as a Pokemon Trainer."

clap

clap

clap

The three trainers and their Pokemon turned towards the clapping, which was coming from the direction of the main building of the school. Towards them walked a girl about Oliver's age with platinum blonde hair in a pixie cut, with ocean-blue eyes projecting an attitude of condescension. She wore a gold-colored vest over a white long-sleeved shirt and a black miniskirt.

Oliver glared at the new arrival. "Fancy seeing you here, Amber."

Amber crossed her arms in front of her chest, smirking. "That performance wasn't really worth applause, but considering you won that with a team of hand-me-downs," she said, tilting her nose into the air, "I guess I'm a little impressed."