Ooc: Sorry guys, my iPad seemed to be all freaky. Thus the double posting the same chapter. Will fix it for this time. Also thanks for reading. With Thanksgiving coming up, I won't update again till the weekend. Also I figured out how to do a page break.
"Well you guys are incredibly late", Nick, Marcus, and Chelsea had finally managed to make it into the great hall in time. Of course Chelsea's sister, Lexi, had been waiting for them. Lexi and Chelsea could not be different appearance wise. Lexi was a platinum haired blonde with some black highlights whereas Chelsea was a brunette. Lexi's eyes were the deepest shade of blue while Chelsea's were green. Lexi wore eloquent dresses and blouses frequently. She had never met an expensive dress that she didn't like. She was up on all the latest fashion and Chelsea preferred to read the latest news about Pokémon battles then read about fashion.
Lexi took one look at what her sister and smirked. That evil smirk of hers that Nick could not stand. There was a reason why, Nick called her the ice princess. Lexi Gibbs was incredibly cold to anyone. She treated everyone like a plaything, especially her sister. "Chelsea, that dress is a little too revealing don't you think?", Lexi always liked to pick on Chelsea from time to time. Usually when Chelsea attracted more attention than Lexi, Lexi became insanely jealous and lashed out. This was one of those times.
This appeared to be one of those times. Chelsea though did not appear to be shaken by her sister. Instead Chelsea just laughed and did a twirl much to Marcus' and Nick's amusement. The brunette had a large smile on her face and gave Lexi a wink.
"Now Lexi, how am I going to flirt with the professors without revealing a little bit.", of course Chelsea wasn't going to do that. But Lexi already had a poor image of her so why not play it up a bit? Lexi contorted her face into a scowl, as Chelsea sniggered. "Plus Marcus and Nick like it so, it can't be that bad afterall." Lexi immediately stuck her nose up at those remarks.
"Sister, you forget that I know that Nick doesn't have good taste. As for Marcus, well he knows better than to get in between a sister fight. But if you want to whore yourself out for a better grade then please be my guest. It would fit into your past actions." The bleach blonde looked at Marcus who just nodded. He was smart enough to not get involved in whatever the hell was happening between Lexi and Chelsea. This wasn't his fight. "But anyways, we should get inside. The opening to the ceremony has already started. We had better hurry since you all have made me late as well."
Marcus and nick nodded. Chelsea paused for a moment. "I have to take care of something first.", she turned to Nick. Though Chelsea did not say it out loud, it was clear that she wanted Nick to wait with her as well. Her epgreen eyes were practically begging him. "It's something I need to do and I need nick's help", Lexi nodded.
"Very well just don't be too l9ng. Then come along Marcus.", Lexi and Marcus would then walk into the Great Hall. This left Nick and Chelsea alone. The usual brave and joyful 19 year old seemed solemn. Her face turned into a frown as she watched Lexi and Marcus walk off. Nick looked at his best friend and saw that her facade had warn off. She always tried to act tough with Lexi, but somethings the ice queen got to her.
"You know she wasn't always like this", Chelsea paused trying to come up with the best words that explained what the relationship was like with her sister. Nick could tell that something bothered Chelsea. Sure Lexi and Chelsea had never truly been the closest of sisters at least from the time Nick knew them. But the past year, Lexi had seemed to reach her peak bitchiness. It clearly took a toll on Chelsea.
"Once we had that battle second year, everything changed." Nick remembered the battle well. It was during Giovanni's birthday tournament. Chelsea and Lexi had made it to the finals. Lexi had nearly killed Chelsea's prized Pokémon with a nasty sheer cold attack. It was brutal. Chelsea had responded by severely burning Lexi's Frosslass. The sisters had never reconciled. "That's when I knew that something was wrong with her. It wasn't Chelsea I was battling. It was someone else. Since that moment, she's not been my sister. She's been someone else completely."
The beautiful brunette's green eyes started to well up with tears. That nearly caused her mascara to run. Nick did the only thing he could think of: he hugged his best friend. "Come on Chels, you shouldn't be crying. It's the ceremony. Forget what the ice princess thinks. You're going to have a great year and you'll be the best flying type gym leader in history." Nick felt Chelsea chuckle a bit. He lowered his head to whisper, "plus you have the better ass and that is what really counts."
Chelsea pulled back and playfully smacked Nick in the chest. "Ass.", she managed to get out through her laughter. "But you know how to cheer me up. Now come on. We had better get inside before we miss the ceremony." They would scatter inside the hall where the ceremony was being held.
The hall was decorated with streamers and balloons. There were decantours filled with champagne. The tables were decorated with each Pokémon type represented by the gym leaders. Grey table clothes for the steel masters, red for fire, etc. The name cards of the gym leaders were set at each table. This would be used for after when the mentees and gym leaders would meet. Banners of each Pokémon type also hung behind a makeshift stage. Each gym leader stood underneath their own banner. Whitney, the pink haired normal type master, had a microphone in her left hand. She beamed at the 12 would be mentees that were in the room.
"Hello and welcome third years. So you have finally made it. The moment has come where you will have the chance to complete the internship program." Whitney allowed the excitied students to cheer. She remembered what it was like when she had attended the institute. "Now tonight is fun and games. I hope you enjoy tonight. We worked hard to set everything up. But it won't be fun and games during the internship. It will be grueling and will test your mental fortitude. Some won't even reach the chance to fight their mentor instructors."
Flannery heard this and nodded. She had two friends who had dropped out before facing their mentors for the final. Even she had considered it given how mentally and physically demanding Kabu had been. But Flannery had been determined to not fail. Beating Kabu had been her greatest achievement and she had never felt better than after that. Her red eyes peered out amongst the eager faces. She did not know who her mentee would be. She just hoped that whoever it was had the same passion as she did.
"Now onto the presentation. As you can see all the gym masters have a envelope.", Whitney held up a white envelope. Her name was on it and it was sealed with the official crest from the university. "We do not know who are mentees are. The selection committee has tried to match everyone's request up. So let's get this party started." Whitney ripped open her envelope and squeaked with joy. "Franz Hudson! You're my mentee!" A tall, tanned student with pepper colored hair nodded and walked forward. Whitney dragged him to her assigned table leaving the proceedings without a host.
Nick, Chelsea, and Marcus stood on baited breath for their names. 5 other students got called up before them. Then Giovanni opened his envelope with a smirk . "Race us, I hope I don't get him.", Marcus said. Next to Sabrina, Giovanni was infamous for what he put his interns through. He had only lost one time. Plus everyone had heard the stories about him and Team Rocket. Whenever got him as a mentee must have had a screw loose.
"Lexi Gibbs", the gruff voice called out. Chelsea let out a noise that Nick was not sure if it was pained, shocked, concerned or a combination of all three. All Nick knew was that Lexi seemed pleased with her mentor. She ignored that everyone's eyes had fallen on her. She was Giovanni's next project or victim depending on who you asked. Nick truly wasn't even shocked by the pairing. The ice princess and the former Team Rocket leader paired together, it was a match made in hell. So Nick had no stake in her well being. But it was clear that Chelsea was concerned. The brunette was normally happy go lucky, but now it seemed like she was shaken to her core as she watched as Lexi walked to Giovanni's table.
Chelsea was not the only one who was worried about this pairing. Lt. Surge watched from his table as Giovanni announced Lexi Gibbs as his new toy. The former army man felt bad about ignoring his new protégé, but this was not a good sign. Surge had seen raw, untamed power before. It terrified him. Now in the hands of Giovanni, this power was even more dangerous. Surge had no idea what Giovanni was up to, but if it involved Lexi Gibbs it sure as hell wasn't good. This was something Surge would have to watch with a close eye.
Peony was next in order. Nick crossed his fingers. He wanted to be paired with Peony. The former Galar champion and gym leader had established himself as one of the better mentors to have. He was firm, but fair and imparted a lot of knowledge. Nick just hoped that Peony had wanted him as well. That the selection committee thought it was a good pairing. It would be perfect for Nick to learn from Peony...
"Nick Baldwin!", the booming voice of Peony ran out. Nick jumped and then did a fist pump much to the laughter of everyone else in the room? Even Peony had let out a laugh. Nick blushed as he sank over to the assigned table of Peony. The steel master would sit across from him with a huge smile on his face. Peony then moved close to Nick, "to be honest I am glad I got you." Nick nodded. He was excited as well.
For Chelsea and Marcus, they too got what they wanted. Marcus had got chosen to be Sabrina's protégé. As Marcus had walked back to the table wit Sabrina, he had heard the whispers. "Welp he won't be becoming a gym leader." Marcus was fine with letting them think that. He had tricks up his sleeve that he would use to defeat her. Flannery meanwhile had the last pick. Chelsea was happy to have gotten Flannery, but was still worried about her sister. She wanted the old Lexi back. Working with Giovanni wasn't going to help the cause.