Chapter 4: Mew School Year
Wesley entered the office of the school with Ash. After a meeting, Wesley met with Ash. "Everything's set up for you," he announced.
"That was quick," Ash noticed. Wesley provided Ash with the uniform for the boys. "So, I gotta change into this, huh?"
"That's right… and don't worry about your Pokémon. Elliot and I can watch over them, as well as Renee." A sigh of relief lisped from Ash. After changing, Wesley judged his new uniform. "Not bad…" Just then, Mark arrived. "And here's your escort to class." Mark laughed to Wesley's offered title.
"Cute…" he remarked. "Ready? Zoey's waiting for us." This made Ash blink.
"We're… going to her room?" he guessed.
"Yep. Let's go." Destination determined, Ash followed Mark to class. Before they entered a room, a young redhead woman in a casual dress.
"So, you're the new student joining us?" she greeted. Ash nodded to the question. "Alright… let's get you introduced." They entered where Zoey gasped to the sight.
"Ash!?" she realized. Others turned to Zoey as Ash wrote his name on the chalkboard.
"You know him?" a raven-haired boy asked. The teacher stood by Ash.
"Students, this is Ash Ketchum," she introduced. "He will be joining us for this class." Zoey and Bridget, now looking up from her book, gasped to the news. "Mr. Ketchum, why not tell the class a little about yourself?" Ash nodded and began describing himself without talking about Pokémon. Mark, Zoey and Bridget began to see Ash becoming a little uncomfortable about his introduction. "Okay, Mr. Ketchum… I'll assign you to sit by Miss Verdant. I'm sure she can help you catch up with the lessons today." Ash nodded and sat with Bridget while the girls around the classroom gossiped about him. Meanwhile back at Café Mew, Ash's Pokémon watched as Wesley and Elliot prepared today's business.
("What are they doing?") asked Corphish on a table.
("Preparing for the after-school rush,") Pikachu squeaked. ("We can help out!")
("How, partner?") wondered Grovyle. Hearing the discussion, Elliot wondered about extra help.
"I want to believe Ash's Pokémon want to help out," he studied. Wesley looked to the Pokémon.
"I don't know…" he shrugged. "I'm about to put the cakes in for baking. Think you can set up the cloths for the tables?" Taillow cawed with Grovyle willing to tag along. The Swallow Pokémon grabbed tablecloths where Pikachu and Grovyle waited. Taillow dropped the tablecloth, Grovyle caught it and whipped it open so that it covered the whole table. Pikachu helped smooth out the cloth while Corphish tugged on it to drape evenly while standing on Torkoal. Wesley and Elliot looked rather impressed. "Nice…" Just then, Renee and Corina entered to find Elliot straightening out the tablecloth.
"Are you teaching Ash's Pokémon how to be busboys?" joked Renee. Corina petted Pikachu before turning to the boys.
"They actually wanted to help the café," Elliot laughed. Renee snickered to Grovyle guiding Taillow on the next tablecloth.
"I bet this isn't part of Pokémon training, right?" she teased.
("It's not,") Pikachu confessed.
"Hey, I find it adorable," Corina giggled. "When Kikki gets here, we can work on placing silverware." The Pokémon cheered for it. Back at school, Bridget helped Ash with lessons while Zoey and Mark looked on. They also got a little worried about the girls that continued to hover over them.
"Maybe I can introduce him to Kendo," Mark applied.
"Right, you have practice this afternoon," Zoey remembered. At lunchtime, Ash and Bridget gathered desks to be with Mark and Zoey.
"So, how's your first day of school?" asked Mark.
"It's definitely different," Ash shrugged. "I mean, this is stuff I don't get back in my world, though I was admiring the math since some of it was rather fascinating."
"I concur," Bridget noticed. "I also saw that you've been getting plenty of attention from the female set." Ash looked over his shoulder, seeing girls giggling. Megan and Mimi were a part of the girls.
"At least this crowd wants me as a favorite," he sighed. "Not like Petalburg City."
"Don't remind me," Zoey coughed. "Especially after that story you told. Granted, you didn't tell anyone the truth."
"It's for the best," Bridget agreed. "If Ash told them about his world, scandals would flood the school where we couldn't escape."
"But at least Ash could teach you how to swim out of it," Mark remarked. Zoey slapped the back of Mark's head.
"Seriously, that's inconsiderate," she mulled. Mark felt the sharp pain but shook his head.
"Sorry, I couldn't help but say that," he apologized. That made Ash turn to Bridget.
"You… can't swim?" he guessed. Bridget turned her head away.
"You finally realized that she's no good for a couple of cuties like you and Mark," snorted a young teen girl. All turned to see three girls: a short orangish blond girl, a tall one with dark gray hair and redhead in the middle of both heights.
"What do you Three Beckies want?" groaned Zoey.
"Oh, don't give us that," the blond Becky scoffed. "When we learned about a new guy in the school, we had to come and… investigate ourselves about what he is."
"Sure, he's younger than us, even if we averaged our ages," the redhead Becky studied. "But if we can't get Marky Mark, Ash is still a bash to behold."
"So don't get comfortable for long," the gray-haired Becky warned. The three laughed as they walked away, leaving those bewildered.
"Ash, don't approach the Three Beckies," Zoey advised. "They've been known to cause trouble with a lot of girls." Ash nodded, heeding the warning.
"Like I said, not the same with back where I'm from," he muttered. Mark had an idea.
"Does your world have Kendo?" he asked. Ash blinked.
"Kendo?" he repeated.
"Mark is great at Kendo," Bridget briefed. "It could help you with your Pokémon training." Ash wanted to question the idea. In the afternoon, Ash and Mark were in a gym where wooden bamboo swords were stacked on a rack. Mark had dressed in a blue samurai garb while Ash grabbed a sword. "I remember these swords!" This astounded Mark.
"So, you do have Kendo?" he guessed. Ash looked confused. "Kendo is a martial art that teaches you patience and precision. The object is to bamboozle your opponent by striking them with this." Ash gripped the hilt with both hands.
"Okay… I saw it used on people meditating and breaking concentration."
"Oh, it was used to discipline?" Mark picked up a bamboo sword of his own. "Well, the discipline is learning how to fight with one of these." Ash was a little hesitant about raising a sword to a friend. "I'm wearing padding so you can go ahead." Ash nodded before charging in, but stopped and became a little more hesitant. Mark blinked to the stop as Ash recalled something.
'Hold on… It's like my battle with Norman and how he used Slakoth, Vigoroth and Slaking. If I rush into strikes to get ahead, Mark would counter like Norman did.'
"In battle, doesn't Ash usually like to start things out with a long string of speed attacks?" Brock's voice entered his mind. "Normally, that works since that's just enough to throw off a regular opponent, which is also just enough for Ash to have control of the battle, but it doesn't work with Slakoth. No matter what speed or power attack Ash tries, Slakoth manages to squirm out of the way." This made Ash close his eyes.
'It was a mistake to simply use speed against Slakoth,' he thought. 'Let's see if I can draw in some action.' Mark decided to strike while Ash was still in thought. Ash deflected the initial strike before retaliating with a few swings. Mark blocked before they locked swords.
"Well, seems that Kenjutsu is well in your blood." As they exchanged, girls soon came to see the battle, cheers between the two rooting as neither Ash or Mark making contact. Each shot was either a deflection or a dodge and after 15 minutes. They put their swords to their sides, fatigue setting in. "Okay, you're a natural. Maybe you with swords are something to watch out for." Ash could argue something but with the girls outside, he held his mouth shut.
"Thanks. I thought I'd have a hard time with you." The discovery made Mark laugh.
"Normally, but I did want to give you a taste of what's to come." To Ash, Mark held back.
"I gotcha… I might actually wanna practice more. It could help in the long run." Mark patted Ash's shoulder for the offer.
"I'd be happy to help out with the class." As school ended, Ash joined his new friends to Café Mew. Ash found himself in the back with his Pokémon. He soon wore the same outfit Mark wore before.
"So, how was your first day at school?" asked Elliot.
"It was… something I'm gonna have to get use to," Ash muttered. "After this, I've got new people chasing me, just not to harm me… at least I know." Elliot snickered to Ash's new issue.
"Well, you did get some as soon as you entered the café." That made Ash itch his head rather embarrassment. "Now, not only are you here and safe from Petalburg City, but now you get to learn in school and work while we find a way back to your world." Ash nodded before waiting instructions. Wesley came in to see Ash in the new garb.
"Hey, not bad," he complimented. "It suits you, and you don't need your cap to help."
"It's not part of the uniform," Ash shrugged.
"True… So, today, you'll be the greeter. You'll greet the customers, hand them the menus and collect them from the others." Corina, Renee and Kikki entered to see Ash which Corina got in Ash's face.
"Now, this is a uniform I'd like to see you wear in our date," she cooed. Kikki laughed while Taillow shook its head.
"I do agree to a degree," Renee said. "Though, you'd look better in a vest than that. You'd be more like Elliot, in my opinion."
"Let him get comfortable in this and find out how this works." The Pokémon pondered together about whether Ash would look good in the current outfit or the Elliot vest. Corphish and Grovyle felt a vest was more Ash with how they pointed to Elliot. Pikachu and Taillow barked about the new outfit today better with Ash. Torkoal… fell asleep. Ash and Wesley saw customers come in, mostly the girls who came from the schools and guided them to vacant tables. Ash handed the menus out as instructed. After that, the two returned to the podium and grab a handful of menus. The Mews confronted customers and got their orders written down. Wesley had Ash get the growing stack of menus before going back to the podium.
"So, you do work here, now?" realized Mimi. Ash and Wesley turned to see Megan and Mimi enter.
"Started today," Ash replied.
"That's great!" awed Megan. "We can see you more and more!" Ash giggled nervously.
"Well, let's not get that far just yet," Wesley eased. "After all, he could also be a good cook or maybe…"
"And you're telling us not to get that far?" teased Mimi. Wesley laughed at being found out. Ash managed to find a vacant table for the two to dine in. Zoey took their order.
"Seems easy enough," Ash observed.
"True, but you do need to BOLO if there's an issue that may need resolving," Wesley warned. Ash blinked to the word.
"Bolo?"
"It's short for 'Be On Look Out.' There may be problematic customers that come by. Also, while this place is primarily a girls' café, men can come in as well. As long as they don't harass our girls, we shouldn't have a problem." Ash nodded to Wesley's explanation when he turned and he irked.
"You mean like those three?" Hearing Ash's sudden notice, Wesley turned to see the Three Beckies.
"Whoa, so you work with Mark here as well?" the Blond Becky gasped. "This means we can idolize you when we can!"
"Have you instructed him on taking orders?" the gray-haired Becky questioned.
"One day at a time, ladies," Wesley settled. "Let's get you to a table." Ash trailed Wesley and the Beckies before he turned to Elliot and fanned his fingers out. Elliot nodded before turning his head. Renee saw the hand and fanned fingers. She nodded. Ash would be looking out for the rest of the day before it closed. No problems so far and Ash, Wesley and the Pokémon returned home. This could be Ash's new life… but would he want it?
TO BE CONTINUED…
(Hello, 2021! I'm working on the stories but I've got a new poll out. Future stories to be seen for sure and while there are others, I've got my mind on these for now. Be sure to vote because after this or MLP, it's the next story.)