Greetings peeps!

I'm back at it again!

I've been working so no time for fanfic writing. Still I had this one almost done, it just took awhile to edit and finish. Also made some edits on the last chapter to make it read better. I thought copy and paste kept the bold and italic writing, which it doesn't so yeah...

Also OMG! I am so flattered that I have followers, favourite'ers and even reviews!

Thanx people! \o/

To the reviewers. Thank you! And Yes I did consider Poochyena but... it didn't fit into the criteria I wanted. Mayhaps in the future I will bring it into the pack, but for now... DeVil is the doggo! ;)

What's more I've hid a couple of Easter eggs in this chapter, seeif you can spot them!!

Disclaimer: don't own any rights to Pokémon... but I will fight for the rights of Pokémon everywhere! Bwha ha ha!!!

Enjoy~

_@@@_

'School sucks.'

I had only been there five minutes and already my mind had regressed to my old life's disposition.

I remember liking my Uni years more because I was studying something I loved to do, while having the time inter-dispersed with drinking and parties. Which makes some of it kind-of a blur, but we'll skip over that little nugget.

My main grievances with school, as a general idea, included; the long hours in a stuffy room, the humiliation of giving public speeches in front of others, essays that spanned multiple pages and lectures that seemed to make the hands on a clock travel backwards.

The lecture part was even worse if teachers had any type of monotone voice, which can very seriously put you to sleep. I speak from experience. I remember, very vividly, the embarrassment of waking up in class once from my friend shaking me. I was snoring... loudly...

So when the teacher that was escorting me around "Pokémon Tech", started introducing me to the hallways, rooms and posters, my mind just clicked off. He droned on about the school and it's history, what they were teaching and so on.

While on the journey toward my new class, I vaguely made agreeing noises, as I looked around.

It looked like the average school even though it was for rich kids. There were some differences and some similarities.

The hallways were a mixture of grey and creams. There were message boards with posters for clubs, parties and activity sign-up sheets. Pursuits ranged from chess and study groups, to sports and battle clubs.

Instead of drinking fountains though, there were a combination of fancy statues and people (I'm gonna say servers) who looked after "ready to serve" chilled-bottled-water.

There was an indoor and an outdoor pool, a battlefield, and even that room from the anime that looks like an arcade, but is filled with those battle simulator machines.

The classrooms I glanced into were also very generic, kids at there desks listening to lectures or writing down in textbooks. Many had Pokémon sitting with them.

'I think having a psychic type might be cheating.' I thought after glancing into another class that looked to be doing a test of some kind. The Natu sitting on one of the boy's heads turned toward me, and stared at me with that blank look.

'Moving on.' I hurried my pace a little.

There were even classes outside that I assume were like gym class. However the Hitmonlee running circles around them gave me chills... it almost looked like it was kicking stragglers.

'Motivation is key here I guess, which sort of matches up.' I thought about that kid running on a treadmill in the fog.

We came to a stop and looked up to my guide. He was looking toward me expectedly. 'Oops! I think he asked me a question.'

"I'm sorry Sir I was distracted by er- " 'Everything else', I glanced back the way we had come. "-the painting there." I pointed. "What was it that you were saying?"

He looked up at the painting. "Ah, yes, truely a wonderful work by an artist from overseas I believe. It depicts the Ecruteak City of the Johto Region. Truely a most historical and mystical city." He turned back to me. "I asked if you had any interests? What do you think you will enjoy when studying here?"

"Art, I like art! And Pokémon!"

"Ah that's why you were so distracted." He smiled at me, glancing back at the painting. "Yes there are many artworks around the school and many are even done by past and present students. The classes- " We resumed making our way down the hall and he continued with descriptions of the courses and the different levels, losing my interest again. I tried to pay a bit more attention this time though, so as not to get the newly patented YourAnIdiot (YAI) look, that seemed to be directed at me quite a lot these days.

I don't know why but that seems to be DeVil's default expression when it comes to me. He appears to have that face ready and waiting.

Speaking of... I'm not allowed to bring him with me to school, as he technically isan't my Pokémon (yet). So he's going to be in a right mood when I get home, as he will have to stay in his ball while I'm not there. Well... at least I think that may be the case.

We (Val and I) haven't discussed the Pokéball situation yet. I'm not sure if he likes or dislikes it, or even if he has an opinion either way. I'm not even sure if the ball puts pokemon into a suspended animation yet. In the game it obviously doesn't, because a poisoned Poké becomes worse the further you walk with it. Which will eventually bring it to a faint, if not cured or brought to a Pokémon Centre in time. Still it doesn't die, I guess?

Unless you've played a nuzlocke... which I sucked at... poor Torchic...

However, in the anime getting the injured Pokémon into the ball appeared to calm the characters enough, that they were not then in a rush to get to the centre. Which makes me think that the Pokémon were in a suspend time.

'Maybe it's like an artificial black hole.' That's definitely something I should have a deeper look into, it could be really important for future reference, especially if I have a Pokémon I can't heal myself.

I should should also look into the medical side of Pokémon science as well. How does a Pokémon heal? What does a potion do? How is it applied? Through skin contact, needles or ingestion? Why does the super potion work better than a regular one?

How do berries fit into the equation? If a Sitrus berry heals a Pokémon better than a regular potion (game logic), then why not have Berry farms all over the place?

Do different Pokémon react differently to potions? Will a fire type shy away from the liquid spray of a potion? Will a water type try to wash off the new substance coating it's skin. Will a grass type become high from naturally absorbing it through their foliage?

That's not including dual-typing either...

So much to learn...

My guide slows to another stop.

'Shit! Did I really just lose track of the conversation again?' I look up.

"Here we are. Your new class is just in here." He smiles, then proceeds to knock on the door.

'Oh thank go-' No wait Arceus right? Yeah that's what I meant. 'Thank Arceus, it doesn't look like I zoned out completely again.'

The door opens and a woman that looks to be in her thirties appears. She has brown eyes, lightly tanned skin and dirty-blonde hair wrapped up in a bun. She is wearing a darker blue dress with a lighter water fade patten at the top. She is also wearing reading glasses, a watch and a pair of blue flats.

"Greetings Mrs. Chér. This is going to be one of your new students." He nudges me forward to introduce myself.

Oh no.

This time I have to say the name.

Sigh. Ok deep breath.

"Hello Mrs. Chér, I'm Elizabeth Anastasia Isabella Charlotte Delaney. I'm currently seven years old and ready to continue my education with your guidance." I then proceed to curtsy.

She seems a bit struck by me. 'I know it's a long, long name. I really need to come up with a nickname, but I have so many variants to select from.'

She recovers pretty quickly. "Lovely to have you dear, I'm sure you'll fit right in."

"Thank you Madam. And thank you Sir for your escort."

"Your welcome Miss Delaney. If you have any trouble ask any of the staff or older students, help will be provided."

Yeah right... I remember the help the older students offered that John Doe (Joe) character in the anime. "Yes Sir."

He departs and I follow my new teacher as she beckons me into the classroom.

"Okay class we have a new student joining us today." She proclaims, then turns to me. "Why don't you introduce yourself to the class dear."

'Shit! Pubic speaking on the first day. School really sucks!'

With a lot less confidence than in the hallway not one minute ago, and without looking up, I give a curtsy again. " H-hello my name-" 'ugh, repeating again already!' "-is E-elizabeth Anastas-shia Is-zabella C-charlotte Delaney. P-please take c-care of me."

'Far out! That was a mouthful and a half.'

"Good job dear." Mrs. Chér whispers to me, but I think the whole class heard it anyway. She claps and focuses on the class again. "Now how about a quick roll call to introduce yourselves and instead when you reply, how about telling us your favourite Pokémon?" With that she nudges me forward. "Why don't you go find a seat dear."

Now that my public speaking nightmare is over, I can now look around the room with a clear head. I freeze for a second to compute the scene.

You know what I just realised that would have definitely helped me with my stage fright?

I was seven.

Meaning this class was also filled with six and sevenyear olds.

If DeVil were here I think he would be giving me that look right about now, I know I was in my own head.

_@@@_

Names were said, favourite Pokémon were announced but I didn't really catch a lot of them, or even remember all that many. A Steve who likes Staryu, a Rebecca who likes Roselia and a Kyle who likes Kangaskhan. Yeah their names stuck because the alliteration, which I found weird, but not judging. Another kid called Hunter also stood out, mainly because he shouted "Psyduck!" across the classroom. Which I'm sure resulted in a few headaches, not unlike the ones that, that Pocket-monster experiences. Finally one other name stood out. And with the quite reply of "Growlithe" you can probably guess who it was. Turns out I'm in the same class as the young blue-haired Rocket.

The first class started and ended pretty quickly, I probably zoned out again, because I can't remember what subject it was supposed to be. Probably math. I just remember drawing random things in the margins of my book.

Recess was taken in a room just down the hall, which I found odd. That was until they brought in trays of food that looked like restaurant quality servings. 'Right... rich kids, derp.'

I seated myself with James and we talked about the stuff we had been up to since our last meeting, ie. me talking about my new puppy, him talking about drinking this new type of soda that fizz'd differently.

'Bubbles floating downward, yeah right'.

After our meal we were taken back to class. This time we did some maths work (so that might not have been what we were studying this morning, oops) and talked about a book they wanted us to read then write about. 'Essays. Another bane of my existence, after public speaking of course. I need to get out of here fast.'

At the start of the lunch period I approached Mrs. Chér as the class was being lead down the hall into another room, to dine. This one looked more lavish than the last one.

"Madam? Where can I take the test for a trainers licence?" I asked when I approached her.

She seems surprised again. 'I've noticed she get's into that state quite a bit actually. You should have seen her reaction with Hunter.'

"Oh! Well dear they hold the test here at the school once every three months. There's a sign up sheet in the main office, if you would like to participate. I think the next test is pretty soon, like maybe this Friday. Sorry dear, you might be waiting awhile for the next one."

'Really! Can I do it within the week? Sweet! Out of here in no time. I don't think I could be here for too long. Some of these kids were bratty as.'

"Can I go sign up now Mrs. Chér? I don't wanna miss this one! I'd have to wait sooo long for the next one." Not looking at the irony at all.

"Oh? Are you sure dear? Have you studied for it at home? It's quite difficult for those who don't review." She seemed unsure.

"Yes, I'm ready!" I say confidently.

"Ok dear, if your sure. Let me get someone to take you to the office."

"Yes!"

_@@@_

"No!"

So turns out Mrs. Chér is a bit of an airhead with dates.

"It was last Friday?!" 'Aaahhh! Looks like I'll be staying here a lot longer than I wanted to. Now I've gotta convince my mother and father that I love school so much that they have to let me stay... three months ugh...'

"There has to be another way to take this test!" I exclaim aloud, agitated.

"There is." A voice speaks beside me, startling me because I forgot he was there.

"There is?" I ask looking up, hope filling me.

This student is from an older grade, who was unlucky enough to be walking down the same hallway our class was on. Mrs. Chér pulled him aside as he was making his way passed and asked him to escort me to the main office and back.

"Yes." His reply came out annoyed. "Any gym, police station, Pokémon centre or Pokémon professor can issue the licence test."

"Really?"

"Yes. But I would suggest you should really study for it first, as that is actually one of the questions, 'From who can you receive your licence from?'," He did some air-quotes gestures, while speaking. "If you didn't even know that, then you might struggle." He said in a snooty voice, and gave me a look. Not the YAI look more of a I don't think your smart enough to take this test look.

'You know this test might be harder than I'd first thought. I might be a little to overconfident. "Overconfidence is the companion of Failure" after all. I am comparing myself to a certain trainer from a certain series, who seemed to start out about as clueless as a mankey with a mallet. Sure he can hit things with it but he's not going to be building a house anytime soon.'

'Maybe I should just wait for the next test and study a bit. For all I know that certain someone had a certain professor to sponsor him so he didn't need to do the test.' That sounds pretty plausible now that I think of it.

"I guess your right... I'll study first."

"Good for you then~. Now hurry up I want to get you back so I can at least have something to eat for lunch." His sarcasm coated his tone before aggravation bleed through.

"Wait one more second." I say before I quickly pick up the pen and write my name on the list for the next test.

"I thought you said you were going to study?" He's confused now.

"Of course I am!" 'Three months of studying will be plenty.'

"Then why are you writing your name down now? Do it later!"

"But I am taking the next test! I don't wanna have to wait even longer for it!" I put down the pen.

'Yes... it took me that long to write my name.'

Satisfied that I had written it down clearly, I nod to my current chaperone. "Ok I'm ready to go now."

He gives me a bit of a sink eye and starts to walk away. "Whatever, not my problem."

'Ok, so now I have to convince my parents that I want to stay, which will be easy enough. The hard part will be keeping my mouth shut around the staff, as they report everything to my parents. O'well I'll just have to play it by ear.' If that doesn't work out, I can always try to convince Val to fake a sickness, that we will have to take him to the Pokémon Centre to cure. 'I'll have to give him acting lessons on the side. Ugh... so much to do.'

_@@@_

'Okay so we have; Liz, Lizzy, Beth, Anna, Annie, Sia, Izzy, Bell, Bella, Char, Letty, Dela.'

Lunch flew by quickly and I was now back in the final class of the day. I was currently sitting at my newly assigned desk and trying to pick out an appropriate nickname. I had so many to choose from...

Let's first eliminate the obvious from the list.

Annie is out. Reason being; it reminded of a red-headed singing orphan.

Bella is also out. Reason being; the image of a depressed girl with a forever seventeen, neckrophilic, boyfriend appeared.

Bell has to be out to. Reason being; the doe-eyed intellectual, Disney princess.

And sorry, I love your music but, Sia is also out. Reason being; even though I have two-toned hair I just don't see it working for me.

Liz (and by association Lizzy) is also out because that name was memorable to me as a character in the Pokémon series. For anyone questioning who she is, she is the person Ash calls anytime he wants his powerhouse Charizard back. Which also reminds me this also takes Char out of the running as well. For obvious reasons.

Hm... that leaves me with Beth, Anna, Izzy, Letty, Dela.

I think cut out Dela as well, it also sort-of sounds like a Poke's speech (Delibird). And sort of similar to my new mum and/or Ashes mum's name.

Beth, Anna, Izzy and Letty.

'This is a lot harder than I thought it was gonna be.' I cross out the next cut on my page. 'Anna still reminds me of Annie, so I'll remove that too. And I just don't think Letty is a very go-getter name, so that's out.'

So Beth or Izzy?

I think Beth was also a character in Pokémon, or maybe it was another Liz? Either way that name reminds me of that character in that Pokémon sea temple movie. The one descended from the "sea people."

I think I'm gonna have to go with Izzy, which I'm pretty happy with honestly. It does remind me of an older couple but I'm not sure why... Anyway now I just gotta make sure everyone calls me that and introduce myself as Izzy next time.'

With that worked out, I looked up to see the class finishing. 'Huh? I must not of heard the last bell? What were we even studying that last half hour? I really need to get that attention span sorted out soon. Then again... Meh... I'm only here three months I'll be alright.'

I started packing the textbooks up and leaving them in my desk. Apparently we also have copies of all our textbooks at home as well as a set for the car, so we don't need to cart them back and forth. 'Rich kids, am I right?'

As I was getting ready to leave and find my chauffeur, Mrs. Chér called me back. 'Oh shit! She must have noticed that I wasn't paying attention...'

"Yes Mrs. Chér?" I hesitantly make my way back over, expecting a scolding.

"Elizabeth dear, how did you enjoy your first day?" She grinned.

'Oh! She just wants to talk about that, phew...' "Great Mrs. Chér, I had lots of fun, and learnt lots of stuff." Yep lots... not anything from class but still lots...

"That's good Dear. Did you sign up for the test? Would you like help studying for it?"

"Yes I signed up. But it's not for a little while yet, do you have anything that you would recommend I read Madam?" Sure, studying sounds like a good idea, but I'd rather do it by myself and in my own time...

"Hmm... let me think." She gets up and strides over to the bookshelf on the wall of the room. She runs her fingers over the spines of a few books, occasionally pulling some out and reading the blurbs. She separates three, putting the rest away and brings them back to her desk. "These ones should be perfect."

The books were pretty slim, but I suppose that there wasn't much I had to know to do the test for the beginners license. I took note of each title. "The History of the Pokéball. Caring for Your Pokémon and You. Trainers guide to training, 50 do's and don't's."

The titles made me think that the books should have been thicker. But 'whatever, less for me to slosh through.' Two of the books looked about fifty pages each, while the last one, (the trainers guide) was a bit thicker.

I was about to thank her for her assistance when a knock interrupted me, and someone opened the door.

"T'! Do you have a schedule for that class tri- oh! Sorry for interrupting!" Another woman, slightly older in appearance was in the doorway, looking a bit disheveled.

"It's alright Penny, we were just discussing some studies, right dear?"

"Yes. Thank you for your help Mrs. Chér and for the book suggestions. I'll be sure to read them all. I'll see you tomorrow in class."

"Your welcome dear. Now run along with you."

With the books in hand and my bags pack, I exited the classroom intent on finding my personal driver. They continued the conversation as I left.

"I'm sorry I interrupted T' I didn't realise anyone would still be here."

"It's fine Pen, we were pretty much done anyway. Oh yes! That trip schedule you mentioned, I have it right here but I don't know if we should-"

Their voices drowned out as I made my way down the hall. I was ready for home, and I wanted to see my DeVil. I was missing the little pocket monster already.

Three months...

'How am I going to survive this?'

_@@@_

Arriving home was met with little fanfare. My parents were not there to meet me but the maid for my room was.

Opening the door to my abode I was greeted by an empty space. Closing the door behind me, I immediately walked over to my vanity and picked up Val's Pokéball. I through it into the room and in a flash of light my pup appeared. He yawned and stretched, not seeming to stressed about his confinement for the day, just a bit down.

"Hey Val! How was your day?"

"Houn." He answered not really looking at me. He seemed a little upset.

"Do you not like the Pokéball?"

He replied with a quick bark, but he still didn't look toward me and I saw him frowning, or what I interpreted as one anyway. I walk over to him to give him a scratch behind his ear.

"I'm sorry boy, you have to stay in there while I'm at school... I'll get my licence soon and then you can come with me wherever I go, ok?"

He perked up a little. His ears lifting.

"It won't be that long ok? Does that sound alright?"

His muzzle stretched into what I assume passes as a smile, but appeared more like a smirk. His top jaw canines protruded from his mouth more aggressively than usual. "Houndour."

His replies were getting easier to understand now. If I was looking at him when I asked a question, I could easily decipher what his reply was from his reaction. I was still having trouble with understanding when he was trying to tell me something though. But a few quick charades and I could figure it out.

"Cool! Then do you wanna go outside now?"

He did his happy spin and we were out the door, headed toward the garden seconds later.

Or we would have been if I hadn't close the door on my way in earlier.

Looking up from the flat of my back, a red mark materialising on my forehead, DeVil was looking down at me.

"Let's try that again, shall we? This time I'll open the door!" I grin.

He just gives me the look.

_@@@_

This chap was a bit shorter but still a hefty helping of words! Did you find the eggs? There is 4~ there might be more~ but I'll see when I re-read the chapter for the twentieth time in the future.

It sort of goes a bit off topic but I wanted to include more of the world and it's rules/laws, so what better way to do that than (duh-duh-da-daaa) school!

Also, just looked it up and found out that Jessie and James failed an entrance exam to get into Pokémon Tech, which I forgot. (Maybe I'm making it so, that this is a kindergarten level? Yeah that sounds like what I'm trying to do, I'll go with that!) So this level of class does not require you to pass an entrance exam, and it teaches you basic skills outside of Pokémon. Also does not give you a badge for completion. You must pass the entrance test to move into the beginner level classes.

I'm not sure if these rules are cannon or if I'm making it up as I go along. I have read a lot of FanFiction, so if anything sounds familiar to anyone else's work it was obviously great enough that it has stuck with me and so I made it law in this fic!

I did actually remember Joe's name off the top of my head (again I read a lot of fanfics) but labelling him as 'John doe' sounded funnier to me.

Also used the word 'alliteration' and I'm not sure if this is the correct term in this instance or not. I couldn't find the correct one if that is wrong. Do you know? The term for when the first letter is the same for the next word?

We might be doing some training with Houdour in the next chapter!... maybe... as I said before I'm making it up as I go along! Probably not a good story writing tactic but we will see where it take us!! ;)

Till next time!

To-ruh!