School life
season 1 episode 8
I'm awakened by the sound of my alarm clock, which is very powerful because I have an heavy sleep. The electronic alarm clock shows me the date July 1st, 2011, complete with temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure (very complete!).
«Jolty… hey Jolteon, can you move from my feet so I can get up? Thank you…»
It's half past six, the bus comes at quarter past seven. As I prepare tea (as already mentioned, I don't digest milk very well) I feed all my Pokémon. I decided to take them back because, for better or for worse, I won't go anywhere without them. I flip the tea into the bowl and sit down.
Who knows what they are doing in Violet City… I know what Julia and David feel, since they must challenge Valkner… oh well, they're smart, I trust them, and if Julia challenges the gym leader with the same determination with which breaks the balls to me, then she can even win the Pokémon League. Then, I think to all those things about My Little Pony that Keldeo told me… yes, he told me a lot of things, explained all the characters (he even told me they are his friends) in detail, their habits, the organization of their world, called "Equestria", and many other things. So I realized that Princess Celestia has a sister named Luna, that the unicorn Twilight Sparkle must send periodic reports about friendship to the princess, that Applejack and her family make a tremendous apple cider (by the way, in my life I've never drank cider, I'm curious), Rarity who is an excellent designer Pinkie Pie is a lover of the parties and raves like me, Fluttershy is the local Michela Vittoria Brambilla* (protects and loves the animals at all costs), and finally Rainbow Dash, great fan of the Wonderbolts, a local aerobatic team formed by pegasi, which are like our "Frecce Tricolori"**. So much stuff. I would like to go there, one day; just that there doesn't exist the humans, I don't know how they would react if they saw one.
After breakfast, I go to my room to get dressed. As always, I put the first dress I find, I let the Pokémon in their spheres and, after checking if everything is in order, I leave the house. Thank goodness I don't find my grandmother to stop me, and so I get out as quickly as possible (because, if she notices movements, comes out immediately). I walk to the bus stop, quietly, and sometimes I look around. Going back to your world after being in the Pokémon one (but it can be any other world, just to talk more generally) it makes me a strange effect, but nevertheless I go ahead. The bus stop is at the bottom of my street, a bit more to the left. I stay there for a few minutes, then the bus arrives and I get in. I sit in one of the first seats (I don't suffer the bus, is that over time I took this habit, because I see better) and start listening to music on my headphones. An hour passes and I arrive at the school. There is anyone; well, who do you think stays there in the summer? For my recoveries have been chosen days when there are no other courses, thankfully. I quit Riolu from my sphere, and I decide to let her visit my school.
«Stay near me, listen to me» I warn her.
And so, paw in hand, we begin to take a tour of all the major classrooms, laboratories, the inner courtyard, and then we stop at the bar. Riolu remains out not to be seen, while I buy a snack. I hand her a piece, and then we stop in the hallway. At some point, suddenly she dodges, hiding behind the big trash can of the paper.
«Hey, where are you going?»
Soon after I hear a voice behind me:
«Ah, you're already here?»
I turn around abruptly and I see Matthew, who participate with me to the recovery courses for the subject Air Navigation.
«Ah, it's you… I arrived a little while ago»
«Has the professor already arrived?»
«I didn't see him»
«Come outside to smoke a cigarette?»
«Yes, just a second and I come» while I answer this, I approach the bin pretending to throw something, and I let Riolu in the sphere, then we go out in the internal courtyard to smoke a bit, pending the arrival of the professor.
A few minutes later, about to finish our cigarette, we were talking a little of everything, when next of us we hear a mighty big voice:
«Guys, when you're done, come in the classroom n°12, ok?»
I turn my head to my left:
«Oh, God! – I comment putting a hand to the heart – Yes, yes, we're done, we're coming»
«Of course, professor, just a minute or two» answers my classmate.
«Holy shit… he gave me a heart attack, he opened the window and leaned with his head out of it… coming out from the door it is too mainstream?»
Once we finished smoking, we return in and slowly we move towards the classroom that has been indicated. I chuckle when I think about the fact that I'm doing the journey with Pokémons, and that they really exist… that's because almost the whole class hates me, because I love Pokémon and Digimon to madness, and therefore they all tell me to grow and to think to adult things. First, Pokémon are not only for children, but for everyone, it's a lifestyle like so many others, if you become part of it, you hardly go out, and I'm proud of my lifestyle. You know where's the fun, talking about airplanes, engines, etc. 24 hours a day… for a bit' it's all right, but then, quoting a Luciana Littizzetto's*** joke, my balls begin to turn around orthogonal. Now there is only Matthew with me, but I'm getting a want to pull out my Pokémons and call my girlfriend, without waiting to see the other idiots!
«Why the fuck are you laughing?»
«Huh? No, no, no, I was just thinking»
I put a hand to my mouth and do one last giggle.
We reach the classroom and enter, finding the professor sat and intently reading the newspaper. Once we got near, he folds the paper, puts it on the desk and says us:
«Good morning, gentlemen, how are you?»
He always debuts this way, "good morning, gentlemen", he did it for all the last school year.
«We're fine» we answer.
«How are your holidays going?»
«Yeah, all right» answered Matthew.
«Better than that isn't possible, they are going to the vast» I replied, smiling.
«I'm happy for you. So let's start. Simply I tell you that I never wanted to see you here, especially you two, which I consider quite awake, and therefore I'd like to see you in 4th class next year»
Really?! Then you had only not to send us here, we were not going that bad at school!
He controls a moment his cell phone, then resumes:
«Well, what do you two want me to repeat, more precisely?»
Matthew and I look at a moment in the face and, after a nod, I reply:
«Well… we have doubts about magnetism, time zones, and little bit of astronomy»
«Perfect, no problem. I'm here to help»
You don't say?!
He takes the chalk in hand and began to write on the blackboard magnetic routes, and then there begins a long explanation, which takes about 20 minutes. Finished explaining, he says he has to go to the bathroom a moment. After that went out of the classroom, Matthew says me:
«Phew… what a difficult thing…» he lowers his head and looks at my jacket pocket.
«What did you bring, the marbles? We are not at the beach!»
I try to keep him from touching them.
«Come on, just a peek, I won't break them!»
He takes one in hand and let it runs through his fingers. When he sees the little button, tries to touch it with a finger.
«No, don't touch it!»
Too late. The "ball" comes to its usual size and opens, letting out my Riolu.
«Oh fuck… help…» I say, doing a facepalm and observing Riolu who was trying to figure out where she was.
Matthew turns to me with eyes bulging:
«B-But… what the…? And what's th-this one?»
I tear the Pokéball from his hands and yell:
«What part of the phrase "do not touch" you understand? What the fuck, keep your hands in your ass! – Then I look at Riolu – Excuse me, I'll explain you everything later» and I let her in again.
Matthew, still shocked, says in a low voice:
«Maybe… maybe I smoked too much…»
«That's right, smoke less, and also I have to do the same!»
«Pokémon… it's a Pokémon, right?»
It was too late, I had to tell him something, but only the minimum:
«Yes, it is, and I have others. But you, for heaven's sake, don't you dare say a word ok?»
«O-Ok, ok» he says, with trembling hands.
The professor return to the classroom and, seeing Matthew's face, asks him:
«What happened to you? Oh my goodness, it seems that you saw a ghost»
«No, no… I slipped off the chair, that's all»
«Ah… you'll make it to continue?»
«Yes, yes»
«Good»
Another glance at the phone (the classic 600$ smartphone!) and then begins to explain the system of time zones and different types of time (UTC, that one of Greenwich, local time, the medium etc.), along with the way in which these times affect air travel. And this is my sore point: on two audits on this topic I remedied two bad marks, that argument never came into my head. This time, unlike the classes during the year, he explained in greater detail, and so I understand a bit more, so that I can do a good exercise. I look forward: are the 10 and a half.
After a while, towards the end of the first two hours of recovery, I get a call from Ylenia. I ask permission to go out and, one exited, answer the call as I lean against the wall just outside the door.
«Yes? Tell me»
«Your cousin got the badge, she has done»
«Really? All right, I'm happy!»
«He defeated both Valkner's Pokémon without any "loss", and this afternoon will be David' turn»
«Wish him good luck for me, now I have to go back to class, I end up at noon, I'll be there for lunch»
«It will be done. Ok, bye»
«Bye, greet all»
I close the call and, happy, go back in the classroom. Ten minutes after the first hour ends, and the professor gives us a ten minute pause. We all go down to the cafeteria to eat, then Matthew and I go out to smoke again. I usually I smoke three cigarettes during school: a first as I arrive at school, one on the pause and one when I exit school. One we finished our cigarette, we get back in the classroom, on the first floor of the nineteenth-century palace seat of my school. We come back in the classroom, and the same does the professor, when at one point we hear a caretaker screaming. I rush out and see her running wildly.
«Professor, Professor! – yells – There's… there's…»
«Calm down, Agatha, what happened?» I ask her, holding her shoulders.
«A fox… or I don't know what's that being… a sort of yellow humanoid fox… down at the lobby…»
«Humanoid… fox?!» says an incredulous Matthew, looking at me.
They speak for a moment, but then I understand everything:
«Renamon…!»
I start to run toward the hall: stairs, then down a long corridor and finally the main staircase: as mentioned by the caretaker, the atrium I find Renamon looking around!
«Rena!» I scream, while finish going down the stairs.
«Honey!» she replies, running to reach me.
«Be careful!» says the caretaker, immediately behind me.
I reach and hug Renamon, under the astonished eyes of the bartender, the professor, Matthew and the caretaker.
«What are you doing here? And how did you get there?»
«I wanted to make you a little surprise… and I used this»
She shows me a medallion around her neck: it's identical to mine! I look my neck, and mine is always there, so…
«So do you have it too?»
«Of course, I am a Pokémon Chosen myself, didn't I tell you?»
«Chosen… what? And what does it mean? Ah, never mind… listen, let's talk later, I have to go back to class…»
I turn to the others and, with a slight sense of shyness, I present my girlfriend to them:
«Don't worry, she doesn't hurt a fly, at least until she is angry. Her name is Renamon, you Matthew do know her because I broke the balls to you and all the classroom last year about her… however she's my girlfriend»
No one utters a word, nor a movement. Only when we climb the stairs, a smile begins to become visible.
«Professor, can she stay with us in class? I assure You that she won't create any problem, I will take the responsibility»
«All right, all right, even if the impossible happens, I'm interested only in concluding the lesson» answers chuckling.
«And I'm not a child, Mirkho, I don't destroy the school»
«It's not the fact of destroying the school, as I've already said, the fact is that you are in a world that is not yours, and you have to be careful, you can't appear among the people now… thank goodness there are just us, try to think what could have happened if you had presented to the market at rush hour! Now it's better if I warn others, before it happens something else»
I grab the phone and call my cousin:
«Yes?»
«Julia, listen, we have a big problem. Meanwhile, congratulations for the badge, Ylenia told me all before. Back to us, my girlfriend is here with me»
«What? That's why we don't find her anymore! How did she come in the real world if you have the dimensional badge?»
«That's the point, she has one too! I don't know why, but it is so!»
«Oh God… and now what do you do?»
«Now she's with me, I end up in an hour and I'll join you. But I tell you one thing: if someone else besides us has this badge, just stand there, please, don't go to open dimensional portals only to experience the thrill of speed, okay? For that there's the Misano circuit****. Don't move!»
«Don't worry, no one has any badge, I checked just now»
«Well, so much the better. Seeya»
I close the call as we return to the classroom. Renamon sits next to me, and observes the notes taken so far on my notebook.
«What is' this stuff here?» she asks flipping through the pages.
«Air Navigation»
«Wow… I don't understand anything»
«Oh, I know, it's very difficult»
«No, I was referring to your calligraphy»
Matthew laughs:
«I've always said that you have a shitty calligraphy»
«That's why I'm writing fast!»
«That's enough, please! – the prof interrupt us – In an hour you finish and can think about your
business, but now listen, please!»
The professor continues with the last argument, aviation astronomy (azimuth, medium, fictional and real sun, etc.), which is not the normal one (I mean the classic one), but one linked in every way to the aircraft position during the route. More than anything, this part has been asked by Matthew, because I get it more or less. But given the situation, a more repeat won't hurt. While the professor writes with the chalk on the blackboard, I whisper to my girlfriend:
«Has the professor Oak already arrived?»
«No, not yet»
«Good»
Until the end of the hour we take notes, so that I finish those few pages of paper I had brought along. I withdraw everything and greet both Matthew and the professor, then I run to a place where there is anyone, because I wanted to open the passage in a hurry. The hall where there's also the teachers classroom is totally deserted, perfect.
«You want to open it here? At school?»
«Yes, we need to hurry… oh no, wait… yeah, I left the Pokédex and everything else at home… and I don't have a ticket for the return, because I intended to do everything at once»
«So? Let's go to buy it»
«Ok… let's go in tobacco shops, then»
Hoping that other people don't notice my girlfriend, and after having given her an hat, sunglasses and tucked her tail under her skirt, we head to the tobacco shop on the other side of the huge square. Done everything, we head to the bus station and wait.
«And to think that if we had flying type Pokémons we'd do all faster…» comment, looking at my watch.
«Jacopo has a flying-type Pokémon»
«Rena, are you kidding me? – I ask her, taking off for a while my sunglasses – You want to fly on Pidgey? It's smaller than the flower pots I've hung on the terrace!»
«Ah, ah it's a joke, silly… when does the bus arrive?»
«It should be here in five minutes, more or less… oh here it is, this time it came earlier. Come on, let's go, and be careful»
We go up first, and we sit in the first two places to the right. We divide the earphones for the music.
At half past one we are in my house, we give a last look, hoping that I-know-who haven't made a disaster (and I'm going to get her keys, so the story will end), I take my things and I open the portal, also because I can't wait for the visit of prof. Oak. In my street as usual there is never anyone (this time it'll be because it's lunch time), I and Renamon hand in hand reach and enter the house, thankfully avoiding my grandmother once again.
«Renamon, anyway, I repeat: don't appear in my world so suddenly, right? That was close, today! What did I told you when you came into my world? If someone sees you, you'll make the end of the guinea pigs! Let this be the last time, because I risk too!»
«You're right, sorry, I won't do it again… it's because I wanted to be with you»
«I know, I wanna be with you too, but your life matters! Anyway… what's this story of the Chosen?»
«Well… the thing is… how to explain it… it has been told me by Dialga and Palkia, occasionally some real-world people are selected, who loves and has a good knowledge of Pokémon, and is admitted into their world, to start an adventure, or simply to live there if that person agrees to move, in short, I don't remember well, but the speech is this more or less»
«I don't know why, but I've got the idea that it's a bullshit…»
«Begin to thank the fact that you are a Pokémon Chosen, before commenting, and think that not everyone is lucky like you to be so, it's quite rare that they selecy among the people of our age, ok?»
«Okay, okay, I get it, I withdraw what I said…»
In short time redo my backpack.
«Rena, wait just a second I'm going to get the keys from my grandmother, okay?»
«I'm waiting for you»
I go down the stairs to the ground floor and I enter my grandma's home.
«Hello»
«Hi… do you want to eat something good?»
«No thanks, I'm not hungry… can you give me the keys of my house please?»
«Now what, did your aunt send you to get them?»
«No, she hasn't asked me a fuck. I would just to have the keys, that's all»
«All right, how do I clean up your home?»
«That's the problem! You don't clean, you only destroy the house, that's all. I clean by myself, there is no problem»
«Ok… here they are»
She gives me a set of keys, which also includes the veranda, the burglar-proof door and the three gates, I greet her and go back to my place.
«Rena, here they are. You take them, so if you need anything and you're out here at least you can go in. I had to use an excuse, but if this means "saving" the house then it's worth it, so I throw the bunch of keys in her hand.
«Thanks, darling»
«You're welcome. At least I know that my home won't have a bad end. Come on, let's reach the others?»
«Of course»
We go in the living room, which is the most spacious room, so I'm sure the backwash doesn't take too many things in addition to us, because in the kitchen there are all the porcelain sets and the glasses in the windows.
«You know, Rena, right here has opened the portal with which Dialga and Palkia brought me into the world of Pokémon for the first time»
«Really?»
«Yup. I was here, sitting and quiet, I was watching the news after a walk along the sea, where we were the day before we left, remember?»
«Yes, yes, where there are also the jumps and the illegal immigrants, right?»
«Exactly. Back to us… I had just finished the walk, and I was watching the news when I heard a voice, along with an absurd headache… it was something like: "You, who have always wanted to train Pokémon…»
Renamon interrupts me:
«… "your wish has been accepted"…»
«Do you know it too?!»
«It's the exact same thing that I've heard too when I was in the Digital World!»
«Are you serious? So I think it's the same thing that all the "chosen" should have heard…»
«Oh, now I'm beginning to think so too»
«However, after the portal has opened, it has sucked me in without even giving me time to decide what to do. I found myself just outside Sunyshore City, in the Sinnoh region, along with Ash, Brock and Dawn!»
«Man, you were lucky!»
«And now you tell me, what were you doing when you have been "called"?»
«I was in my house too… I had slept all morning, and when I woke up I was pondering what to do… there was my sister who was watching TV»
«Ah, you have a sister?»
«Yes, two years younger than me… I was saying, I told her that I was going to the grocery store, but soon after I heard the voice, the hole opened, just that I found myself at your home!»
«Ah… curious. Look on the bright side, fortunately, you arrived to another "chosen" home and then you have started the adventure in any case»
«Yeah, I thank you again, I've been lucky…»
We embrace with some little kiss on the mouth then, with our bellies grumbling, we decide to open the portal, in which we enter without delay, finding ourselves in our room at the Violet City
Pokémon Center.
In the room there was only Keldeo, resting on my bed. Where were the others?
«Look, – I whisper to my girlfriend – he hasn't woken up despite the portal! Hey Keldeo!»
He looks up and, as soon as he sees us, bursts of joy.
«Hello Mirkho! Renamon! Welcome back guys!»
I jump on him and hug him strongly, then so does Renamon. A few seconds later comes my cousin.
«Finally! I was going to call you, you said you were coming to quarter or half past one, it's almost two o' clock! Come down, we did somersaults to make Nurse Joy wait! Rather, you, Renamon, don't disappear any longer in this way, okay? Let us know!»
Before she could say anything, I stop her:
«Julia, I already warned her, don't go further. Keldeo, come?»
«Yes, yes» he says, cheerfully.
«Why you were all alone up here?»
«I was waiting for you… I admit I missed you two a little, especially you, Mirkho»
«Eh… I haven't been away that much»
«You're sympathetic, I told you so!»
«You, too, Keldeo»
Downstairs, I find the others at the table.
«Wei burdèl*****! So?» asks Jacopo, followed by the others.
«Hello guys… sorry, but I had to do»
«But Renamon came to you?» asks David with a bewildered face.
«Yup! She appeared in the hall of my school and scared almost everyone, we risked a lot. Anyway, it's all right, we're here now and I will not move anymore. Giulia, let me take a look to the badge»
«All right»
She opens her bag and pulls out the medal from a pocket, in the shape of two wings made as an incomplete hexagon.
«Very nice, indeed. See them and touch them for real is a whole other thing, there aren't any other words. David, what time will you go?»
«At half past four»
«Well, we'll all be there to cheer for you» I say him, giving the medal to my cousin.
«Thank you»
We eat enough fast then, classical smoke time after lunch. Then I go back into the room a moment to double check the notes taken this morning (I wanted to leave them at home, but I forgot them inside the backpack). When I come downstairs, I don't find anyone. I go out and I find my cousin smoking, and Keldeo beside her.
«The others?»
«Here around…» answers her.
«Well… it seems we can't help it. Anyway… where's the gym?»
«Go on to the main road for a hundred meters then turn left… then there are the signs»
Then I turn to Keldeo:
«But then how will you return in the Unova region?»
«Well… I came here by plane, and always with that I should return home»
«By plane? Wow… I must say that it is quite rare to see a Legendary Pokémon who makes air travel on their own»
«Yeah… in fact it may seem strange. Otherwise I have another means of transport decidedly greener, eh eh»
«And that would be?»
«Mount on me and I'll show you»
I curious, I climb over him.
«Um… and it's safe?»
«If you hold on strong, I can assure you that it's really safe» he says, smiling at me.
«Don't kill him, Keldeo, I still need him» intervenes Julia.
«Ha ha ha, don't worry»
All of a sudden Keldeo literally lifts off, shooting out water from all the four hooves! Instinctively I cling to his neck.
«Aaaahhhh Keldeo oh my God go easyyyyy!»
He takes me up to the first floor terrace of the Pokémon Center.
«Shit, what the fuck was move?!»
«It was a simple Hydropump» he answers me happy.
«What the hell, used in that manner is not so "simple"… however I must say you are a phenomenon, my friend, you always surprise me!»
«Eh eh eh… thanks»
We look out from the terrace and see my cousin all wet.
«Julia, you're an authentic show» says Keldeo.
She looks up and does hand gestures, shouting at the Colt Pokémon:
«Keldeo, as soon as you come on down I will kick your ass, got it?!»
He and I burst out laughing hilariously, even Keldeo falls to the ground by dint of laughing.
«You're great, Keldeo, ah ah ah… things like that are months I wanted to do to her!»
Let's go back downstairs, and in our room we find Julia drying her hairs.
«Keldeo, don't you dare to do it again» says, seeing us enter.
The Colt Pokémon sits back laughing nonstop.
«What the fuck are you laughing for?!»
«Maybe it's better if you get mad with me, Juliet… it was me who asked him to do this, even if I didn't think it was something like this» I intervene.
«In fact I don't know which one of you is worse, you are just the same! And now I'm going to the bathroom to finish dry and put myself some new clothes!»
As she closes in the bathroom, we head down to the floor below. It's quarter past three, and no trace of the others, then we go back to our room and, after I lie on my bed, I grab my laptop and turn it on.
«Is it your computer?»
«Yes, Keldeo. Look, do you want to keep on laughing a bit?»
«Gladly, today is a great day»
That said, I let him see some videos of the interventions of Luciana Littizzetto to "Che tempo che fa"******. Even there Keldeo occasionally snaps to laugh, because our Lucianina shoots so many crap from the mouth to leave all horrified. After a few minutes I start to massage hir back, scratching it slightly.
«Oh good… keep it up… aahh, that feels good!»
I stop after a few minutes, receiving a thank you. I must say that Keldeo is a fairly mysterious Pokémon, I don't think it's easy to find, even in Unova, people who can give you some more information more than the ones the Pokédex gave you, earlier I video-called Ash from downstairs and he said he doesn't know anything, he didn't even never heard that name. But thinking about it for a moment… why did I ask him that, he hasn't arrived in the Unova region yet? Only in the anime came he came to Unova, but not in the real life. Well, we'll see, for now we can enjoy his lovely company.
After the video, Keldeo finds the music folder and with hir hooves moves the mouse and opens it.
«Do you want to listen a little to the music? Listen the one you want, go ahead»
He opens "C'è chi dice no" by Vasco Rossi. I have the live version of this song. After hearing the initial round of electric guitar, Keldeo turns to me with an incredulous face:
«Wow… what a power!» and then starts to move the left front hoof to the beat.
I make a video with the iPad that James had left in the room, and after a while my cousin comes out from the bathroom. She makes hand gestures and screams:
«Oh! We're not at the disco, and we aren't the only ones staying here! Turn it down!»
We lower the volume of the music. Julia goes to hang wet clothes to the clothes hanger on the
terrace, under the big window of our room.
Fifteen minutes later, my girlfriend arrives.
«I see that we're having fun here, eh?» asks, looking at me and Keldeo.
«Yes, They are… at least thankfully they're not listening Lady Gaga»
«It will be done right away dear!»
«No no no Mirkho spare me, please»
«I was joking… anyway, where's David?»
«Here behind, he is training his Pokémon» answers, pointing to a small courtyard in front of the other window.
«Ah, this is why I saw sometimes some little lightning… I couldn't understand, it's sunny and there are lightning… boh»
«I mean, sorry… but we all have electric Pokémons, what do you think it could be?»
«Yes, you're right, I hadn't noticed. I go to see him»
David is doing the right thing, rather I should start with my Mareep and Jolteon, I can't present myself, tomorrow, to Valkner without a slightest preparatory training… I will make a little battle with him, then, only between electric type Pokémons. One vs one. I think it's a good idea, after all, the more we train, the more we form, Ash almost always says it.
THE END
*= Michela Vittoria Brambilla is an Italian politic woman who is also the leader of an association that defends the animals
**= Frecce Tricolori ("Tricolor Arrows") is the Italian national aerobatic team
***= Luciana Littizzetto is an Italian TV comedian
****= The Misano World Circuit (MWC) is a circuit near Rimini, where MotoGP and Superbike do races every year
*****= "Wei burdèl" means "Hi bro" in romagnolian
******= Luciana Littizzetto's TV show.
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