How did Sango and Marion survive their fall? Will they still be able to continue? Let's find out! Review!

Draisen: Well, this chapter sure has some surprises in store, I hope you'll be pleased.

Aakareo Kokokuhikari: Andre's older sister is an acquaintance of Kanone's, who's been helping him out with his search for whatever or whoever it is he's searching for. Due to their acquaintance, Andre knows Cynthia and Blake fairly well, and is currently serving as a go-between for Blake and his brother, as well as Andre's sister, whenever Kanone wants to share things with him. As for Professor Reinhart… that will be revealed eventually. The air of mystery about him currently is intentional.

Hellraiserphoenix: Trust that feeling.

Duskzilla: Well, this chapter will probably serve to recontextualize things again.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 118

"Ugh…" Sango picked herself up off the hard ground with some difficulty, her battered body trembling. S Her first instinct was to move her limbs testing herself; nothing broken. Now, how did she-

Marion!

Sango sat up (no easy feat) and looked around. Wherever she was, it was dark, and the ground was hard. There was a dampness in the air that you could only find deep inside of caves. She could make out the faintest sliver of light from above her, far out of reach.

Right… that's how this happened…

The last few minutes came flashing back into Sango's mind as she remembered holding Marion's arm to keep her from falling… then the ledge gave out from under her. Only it hadn't just been the ledge; the entire side of the mountain had collapsed away, and the two girls had fallen down a steep tunnel…

So that's where they were, then.

"Marion!" Sango shouted into the darkness, her voice echoing deep into whatever chamber she was trapped in. "Silver!"

"Sango? Is that you?" Marion grunted from somewhere beside her. "Are you her- OW, OW!"

"Marion?! What's wrong?! Is Silver there with you?!"

"Aw, shit…" Marion growled. "I jammed my wrist when we fell… Now if I even move my hand, it- OW!"

"Well, stop, then!" Sango groaned, slapping her hand against her forehead. As she heard the rattle of the styler on her wrist, she had a sudden, brilliant idea.

"Wait, Marion! I just thought of something! Capture styler, go!"

Sango launched her capture styler, the disk of light circling over their heads and illuminating the cavern around them. It was a rather large, spacious area, with a very high ceiling, and stretched on for acres.

I don't see any ways to get out of here, Sango thought, glancing around the chamber. No side routes, or pathways… are we just trapped?

She gulped.

Are we going to-

"Oh no!" Marion shouted. "No! No! No!"

Sango whirled around to see Marion had fallen to her knees and begun crying.

"What's wrong? Is it your wrist? Is it-"

"Worse!" Marion sobbed, shaking her head. "L-look!"

She held up the pieces of her fishing pole, smashed to bits by the impact of their fall.

"…" Sango gave her a blank stare.

"Can't you just be happy that your fishing pole was broken to pieces instead of your body?"

"Shut up, Sango! Imagine if Silver was dead! Only way worse, since Silver is just your partner pokemon and this is a part of my soul!"

"You're an idiot," Sango muttered, standing up. "Look. I had trouble seeing it before, but it seems that there's a side path over there. It might be our only way out. Let's go."

"I can't go yet," Marion said, shaking her head. She picked up some of the debris and rubble from the collapse. "I need to give him a proper burial."

"That's just littering."

"Shut UP, Sango!" Marion snapped, burying the remains of her lost fishing pole under dirt and rocks in a makeshift grave. She held her hands in prayer, and then rose to her feet. Before she could even make it halfway up, she winced in pain, and fell to her knees.

"Damn…" Marion cursed, reaching down to nurture her left ankle.

"Are you okay?" Sango asked, running over to Marion's side, kneeling down next to her. Giving her a closer look, Sango could tell that Marion had suffered much more damage from the fall than she had. Her arms and legs were pretty badly scraped up, lined cuts and bruises. Her left wrist was swollen, as was her ankle.

"Yeah… no… definitely not okay…" Marion said, shaking her head. "But I can make it… one step… at a time… OWIE!"

Marion flopped forward, Sango catching her before she hit the ground.

"Sorry…" Marion said, shaking her head. "Don't suppose you could get Silver to give me some ice for my ankle?"

"Silver?" Sango shouted. "Are you here?"

No response.

"He must still be outside," Sango said. "He wasn't caught up in the collapse, he was floating beside us. So at least he's okay. We'll have to find him when we get out. Can you hold on until then?"

"I… I don't think so," Marion said, shaking her head. "So, Sango… get a move on."

"What?!" Sango exclaimed. "You want me to just… leave you here?"

"What else are you going to do?" Marion asked. "One of us needs to get out of here. So you get going, and find the proctor, and get her to come get me. You can probably find your way out on your own. But there's no way you can get out while dragging 120 pounds of useless me on your back. You'll end up getting us both killed. No… you go. At least… then we can get out."

"But if I get the proctor… then you'll have to withdraw from your exam," Sango said quietly. "And this was your last chance."

"Remember what I told you before? Some things are more important than that," Marion said. "This is about surviving. And I'm not letting you put your ass at risk for something like my dreams. Now go."

"…" Sango looked at Marion, frowning. She inhaled, and then sighed.

"No."

Sango knelt down in front of Marion and grabbed her knees, hoisting her up. Marion struggled a little in surprise, wrapping her arms around Sango's chest to balance herself.

"Wh-what are you doing?!"

"I already told you, Marion, we're getting out of here. Together. What happens if there's another cave-in, and you can't move out of the way because of your leg? We don't know if I'll be able to find my way out before the exam ends anyway, there might not be anyone left to go to for help. This way, at least, we can get out of here."

"But I'm going to slow you down! You can't-"

"That's fine," Sango said. "Being a ranger is not just about surviving you know. It isn't about doing whatever it takes to get out ahead. I'll make the sacrifices when I have to… but if there's even a small chance that we succeed without leaving anyone behind, then that's the route I'm going to take."

"…You're a big dummy, you know that?" Marion huffed, resting her head against Sango's back. "Shoulda just left me behind… dummy."

"I'm a stubborn idiot," Sango chuckled, "I know. Still better than going against my convictions."

"How sweet… If only you were a guy, I might even fall in love with you a little," Marion chuckled. "Do you mind?"

"Please don't."

"Awww…"

The two girls kept walking through the caverns for what felt like hours, searching for a way out.

Marion caught the scent of something in the air, her eyes widening. "Sango! Over there! Go that way!"

"Huh?" Sango asked, glancing at Marion's hand pointing over her shoulder. "That way?"

"I can smell water," Marion said. "There's water in that direction. Which means there needs to be some path to the outside!"

"Makes sense to me," Sango nodded. She adjusted course and walked in the direction Marion indicated. A few more minutes of walking, and they arrived at another chamber, the majority of which was taken up by a large lake that was… glowing.

"So pretty…" Marion breathed.

Sango walked up to the edge of the lake, staring hazily at the water. There were shimmering figures just below the surface, but it was too bright to make anything out clearly.

"Why is it so bright? It's lighting up this entire cavern…"

"It's Chinchou," Mairon explained. "Their lights are illuminating this place. And Lanturn, as well. And what are… No way!"

"What? What is it!"

"Look! Look, look, look! Amazing! I've never met one before!"

"Who? What?"

"Set me down," Marion ordered. Sango nodded, kneeling down so Marion could climb off. Marion set her foot down into the cold lake, sighing in relief.

"Look, Sango." Marion pointed at several large, dark shapes moving through the water.

"What are they?"

"Relicanth," Marion said. "Ancient fish pokemon that have been alive, unchanging, for ages. No growth, no evolution, just… ancient an unmovable. I'd always heard rumors and I know that there are some under special care, but… to think I'd actually see one for myself…"

She sighed in content.

"This… this is amazing…"

One of the dark shapes swam up to her and surfaced, staring at Marion through its old, lidded eyes.

"Hello, there," Marion kindly replied to his greeting, stroking his rough, rocky scales with a tender, loving hand. "It must have been a long time since you had visitors. I'm Marion. Nice to meet you, Relicanth."

"Relicanth…" the Relicanth's voice was dusty and old, and even to Sango its tone carried an ancient wisdom to it that made her feel so very, very small.

While Marion was conversing with the Relicanth and the other fishies, Sango took another look around the chamber. She spotted something interesting in the far corner, and took a step to go look at what it was. There was a small stone shrine built into the side of the cavern wall, with a fanged head at the center. Trapped in the center of the fangs was a smooth, white stone about the size of a tennis ball, glimmering in the shallow light.

I shouldn't touch this… and yet it seems like it's calling to me…

"Hey, Marion, what do you think of-"

"Well, it seems I was right. You did manage to find it."

Sango whirled around, her eyes widening. Standing at the mouth of the cavern was that smirking bastard Preya. The tentacles of his Tentacruel curled out from the shadows behind him, adding an air of menace to his wicked smile.

"How?!" Sango exclaimed. "We-we tied you up, and-"

"It was an inconvenience," Preya nodded. "But something like that couldn't hold me for long. I've been following the two of you for some time now."

"Following us? Why?! How?" Sango asked.

"Why? Because I knew you'd lead me right to where I wanted to go. Or more specifically, she would."

He pointed at Marion, smiling.

"As for the how, well…" He tapped the side of his head. "She and I have a rather special connection."

Pushing past Sango he strolled up to the shrine and pried the stone free, holding it up to the light.

"Yes, that's the stuff." He turned to Marion.

"Can you feel it? You should. It's calling you, isn't it?"

"It… what?" Marion asked.

"It wanted to be found. It was calling you here, just like me. I didn't feel it until I came in here. Are you saying you didn't notice? That you wandered your way here without even realizing? How fortuitous."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Marion said, glaring at him.

"No matter. It won't go like last time, Marion. Your powers won't be much use without a partner pokemon to use them on."

"Powers?" Sango asked, glancing in confusion at Marion. Marion tilted her head away, not meeting Sango's eyes.

"How do you know about that?!" Marion demanded. "How do you know anything about me?!"

"Anja Karzat." Preya said, his eyes flashing. Marion's face turned pale and her expression softened, her eyes widening in recognition and her mouth falling open in disbelief.

"Little Rey?!"

"It's Preya now," he smirked. "I've changed in the time we've been apart, Marion. It's no surprise you didn't recognize me before. Though you're refreshingly the same."

"You got out?! What about the others?! What about Rast and Alk? Katrina? Flora? Kyrese? Are they okay? What about-"

"Marion, you… you know this guy?" Sango asked, shocked. Marion flinched, glancing back at her, her face turning pale and she quickly shut her mouth, unable to meet Sango's eyes.

"We spent some time together in our childhood," Preya said, his eyes remaining focused on Marion. "In Anja Karzat. Even back then, she was still the same, obsessed with fishing books and begging our captors to let her go fish up some new friends rather than continue her tests."

"Would you like to hear a story?" Preya asked. "Now that my mission is complete, we have all the time to talk in the world. It's a story I remember quite well, because a certain girl would always be talking about it."

"Rey…" Marion said, her tone issuing a warning.

"Once upon a time, there was a little girl who lived by the sea. Her father was a fisherman and her mother worked as a conservationist in the Aether Foundation. And there was nothing that little girl loved more than to go fishing with her daddy on his boat. Then one day, an accident happened. That little girl leaned a little too far over the rail one day, even though she couldn't swim properly just yet. She fell into the depths of the ocean, sinking like a rock. Her father didn't even notice. As she fell into the depths, unable to bring herself to surface, all she could do is scream in her head 'help!' a futile gesture, but all she could manage. So much to her surprise… her call to help was answered. The fish pokemon in the ocean came to her aid, and lifted her to salvation. From that point… everything changed for the small girl."

"Rey… no more of this story," Marion hissed. Preya's eyes gleamed, and his smile widening.

From that day on, the girl started hearing voices in her head. Soft at first, but then louder and louder, like all the fish in the ocean were calling to her. She begged and pleaded her father to let her fish out on the boat again, but of course he wouldn't hear it. But when she went to her mother… her mother knew what was happening, for she had experienced it herself."

"The power of harmonia."

Marion flinched at those words, looking down. Sango's eyes widened in shock.

"But the little girl's mother wasn't sure how to help the poor girl. Her powers were already more developed than hers ever became… and that's when an organization contacted her. They told her that they could train the girl in how to control her powers, and that without their help she might hurt someone, even herself. The parents were poor, working in fishing and volunteer work, and didn't have the money to take care of their… 'special' child properly. So they agreed to let the girl stay under supervision, where they would come visit. And so the girl was taken to join the other special children in Anja Karzat."

"Marion…" Sango said, staring at her in shock. "You… have harmonia?"

"Sango…" Marion glanced at her. There were tears in her eyes. "I… I never meant, I… I couldn't tell you because… I…"

"It's not her fault," Preya said. "It's always the same with us. People look at us like monsters. Of course she would want to 'pass' as normal, even if she's just like the rest of us."

Marion winced, lowering her head in resignation.

"That's… so amazing!"

Marion twitched, glancing up at Sango in shock.

"Wh-what?"

"You have harmonia, which means you can communicate to pokemon, right?! That's amazing! You said that fish pokemon were your friends, but I didn't understand just how real it was to you until now, that's great!"

"Uh… you aren't… scared of me?" Marion stuttered in confusion. "But… but I'm a freak! Who can talk to pokemon, and pump them up, and… and…"

"You're still you though, right?" Sango asked. "There's a girl I know with harmonia… and she uses that power to lash out and hurt everyone around her, without caring about the pain she causes to others. But there's another girl I know, too… and she's the sweetest little thing you've ever seen, who would never want to hurt a soul. Harmonia isn't who you are. Those smiles you wear, that kindness and those lessons you gave me, looking out for me… that's who you are. That ability of yours is just part of you, but that doesn't mean you're a bad person."

"Sango…" Tears fell down Marion's face as she looked at Sango, touched to her heart from Sango's kind and understanding words.

"That's all very nice," Preya scowled. "But not everyone is as nice as you are. That's why we had to escape. Why we went into hiding. Because this world will not accept people like us. So Marion… come back with me."

"Come… back?" Marion asked.

"All the others are working with me," Preya said. "We're all working together to create a world where people like us aren't persecuted for being who we are. Peace in our world, Marion. Won't you come back? I'm sure the others would love to see you again."

"Rey… no, Preya… forget it!" Marion said, smiling. "You know me better than that! Whatever anyone else says about me… as long as I've got fishing, I'll still be all smiles!"

She looked admirably at Sango.

"Besides… there are people that are kind. People like my parents, who saved me from that place. And like Sango, who sees me for who I am. And all my countless friends, in the seven seas of the world. So I'm not feeling lonely, Preya! I never have, not for a moment! You can do the same, you know! Why don't you come back with me, then?"

Preya scowled at her, shaking his head.

"You're as foolish as always," Preya sighed. "This was a waste."

"Hey," Sango said, glaring at him. "Don't think you can get away with that."

"Oh?" Preya smirked, holding up the stone. "And you think you can stop me from walking out of here with this in my hand?"

Dokuro emerged from the shadows, looming over Sango, raising her tentacles at the two girls.

"You don't even have your Castform with you," Preya said, his eyes flashing arrogantly, the air around him turning poisonous. "And unlike before, Marion doesn't have her fishy friends with her. You two girls can't stand a chance against me."

"…" Sango frowned, and her capture styler hit Preya in the hand, the boy crying out in pain as the stone slipped from his fingers and bouncing off the cave floor, rolling away.

"Damn girl!" Preya snarled. "Dokuro! That pesky ranger has gotten in our way for the last time! Get rid of her!"

"Preya!" Marion snarled, rising to her feet, her eyes flashing in anger. The pain in her ankle was forgotten as the lake waters began swirling. "Don't even think of it! You aren't the only one with harmonia here, you know!"

The water was roiling now, shadows bubbling toward the top. Dokuro paused, staring warily at the water.

"I told you before, my fishy friends are everywhere! Even if we've just me… they're still here to help me!"

Chinchou and Lanturn leapt from the lake, their lights illuminating the cave. Electricity crackled around them, as they fired bolts of lightning at the Tentacruel, electrocuting it.

"Urgh!" Preya gasped, clenching his heart as the feedback from his harmonia struck back on him, falling over.

"I got it," Sango said, holding up the stone.

"Relicanth!" The Relicanth were the next volley, their bodies glowing as the Chinchou and Lanturn returned to the waters. Dokuro shakily glanced up at the ancient pokemon, shielding her trainer defensively.

"Marion…" Preya growled.

"They're using ancientpower!" Marion exclaimed. "They're gonna bring this whole place down!"

"What?!" Sango exclaimed. "That's real bad! We're gonna die!"

"Quick!" Marion grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. "The water!"

"But that guy-" Sango glanced at Preya, still unsteady on his feet.

"Dokuro, barrier…" Preya whispered, the Tentacruel erecting walls of light around them. But compared to the plummeting rocks, they looked rather fragile.

"Leave him," Marion said. Sango saw tears in her eyes. "We have to do what it takes to survive."

Marion leapt into the water and pulled Sango with her, Sango clenching the stone to her chest tightly.

Where do we go now? There must be a flow out… but will we be able to make it there before we run out of oxygen? Are we going to-

She felt Marion's comforting hand on her back, and looked up to see the girl's reassuring smile. Marion pointed at two shadows moving towards them. To Relicanth swam past the girls, and they grabbed onto the pokemon's fins, becoming enveloped in a bubble of air.

This is dive… the Relicanth are protecting us… Sango smiled and closed her eyes, and let the Relicanth guide them to safety.

The test is coming to a quick end! But with all that's happened… can the girls actually pass their exam in time? We'll just have to find out.