Here's the conclusion of Marion's flashback. There's a lot more than what's just written here, but here's all we need to know for now. More will be revealed in the coming future, don't you worry. Review!

As for the Best Girl nominations, keep 'em coming. We can always use more.

Currently Nominated: Sango, Cynthia, Elaina, Kate, Dakota, Ayame

Don't be shy, there's gotta be more!

KedharS: That's a fairly interesting comparison. Not necessarily a wrong one. As for the why… that won't be explained here. Or for a long time to come. Because Marion doesn't know why. We'll learn eventually… but not just yet.

Just a Bad Writer for Fun: That's what I'm planning to do.

Seamitar X: Dude he's like 12. And he's a guy, he can't really be best girl.

JoshGamerV: And people have historically been known to react positively when exposed to harsh truths that they don't want to acknowledge.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 175

My time in Anja Karzat was a nightmare. I spent three years there that all seemed to blend together. There were sad times… but there were happy times, too. Even so…

I had nearly broken as a human being.

"Mari! You've grown so big!"

Marion sat down across from her mom and dad, forcing a smile to her face. Her eyes were dim and hollow, but she needed to retain her smile. If her parents thought anything was wrong… it wouldn't be pretty. There were two doctors in the room watching over the teen as she met her parents for the first time in months.

"Thanks, mom," Marion murmured. "Mana is growing pretty big, too."

"How are you getting along with your friends?" Marion's mother asked.

"It's going… fine…" Marion said. "Everyone's nice…"

"You look exhausted," Marion's father noted. "Have you been sleeping well?"

"We've been doing a lot of testing…" Marion said, yawning. "But it's nothing to worry about… ha…"

"You're so pale, Marion," her father laughed. "What, they don't let you get any sunlight? You can't stay cooped up inside all day!"

Marion glanced at her arm. The warm tan she'd built up since she was a little girl had all but faded away in the sanitized, windowless hospital she lived in. She laughed a little.

"I don't spend much time outdoors anymore… everything's too busy…"

Marion's parents glanced at each other, a little concerned for their daughter. Something seemed very off about her. They couldn't spare money to come and see her very often, and the last time they had gone to see her months ago, Marion had seemed a little worn down. It seemed that she wasn't feeling any better today, either. Marion couldn't let them think that she wasn't having the time of her life here! If they were worried about her… if she didn't give them a good sign… then she would be…!

She glanced desperately between her parents and their troubled looks.

"Marion… actually, I was wondering if you might like to go fishing?" Marion's father asked.

"Fi… fishing?" Marion asked quietly, her eyes lighting up briefly. How long had it been? She could smell the sea air from here.

"Yes, I heard that there's a beach nearby," her father explained. "We can go fish up some lovely pokemon! What do you say? Just the three of us, going as a family excursion! I'm sure they'll let you leave for a day trip, right?"

Marion swallowed.

"Unfortunately that will not be possible today."

Marion blinked, glancing up. She turned to look over her shoulder at the woman who had entered the meeting room. It was the newest assistant hired by Doctor K to help take care of the kids. She wore a white lab coat over a tight black miniskirt and a sky blue top that revealed her midriff and cleavage. The woman's voice was hollow and flat, devoid of emotion. She looked at Marion's parents with the eyes that always unnerved Marion, blank and empty with a hollow yellow coloring. Her hair was the color of sky, and completely unkempt. Marion's parents glanced at each other in confusion. This woman certainly didn't seem like someone with the authority to make a decision like that.

"Why…?

"Marion has testing to do all day today," the detached woman explained. "We are sorry but we cannot allow her an unscheduled trip off of the premises. Furthermore, we must begin testing soon. We will have to wrap things up here."

"I see…" Marion's mother looked down sadly. "Is that what you want, too, Mari? If so, that's okay…"

"It's fine, mom…" Marion murmured, forcing a shaky smile onto her face. Smile… smile… if they think anything is wrong…

"Are you sure?" Her father asked, frowning.

"Yeah, it's fine…" Marion murmured, standing up. "I don't really care that much about fishing anymore, anyway…"

Her parents looked at her in surprise, but they rose to their feet as well, hugging Marion in turn, and saying goodbye to her. The sadness on their faces was plain to see, and if Marion stayed with them any longer, she was afraid that she would burst into tears and beg them to take her far away from here. And she had no idea what the doctors would do to her if she tried something like that. It was enough to keep her from speaking out, and she turned to head back to her room, fighting back her tears. It was a nice surprise, to know that she could actually still feel sadness like this. She wanted to burst into tears.

Her robotic escort guided her to the testing room. Tears would have to wait. She'd have to put up with a lot more pain when the tests began. No matter how many times it had happened… she couldn't withstand it. But Doctor K would be back tomorrow, at the very least. And when Doctor K was here, the tests were so much easier…

Marion felt an almost genuine smile cross her lips. Doctor K was so nice to her… she hoped that the doctor would get here even a little bit sooner…

It was about a week after seeing her parents again that a major shift came to Marion's world. It started off innocuously enough. Marion and Mana were playing with a seven year old Alk, the small girl building a complex structure out of legos that she had requested. The more Marion saw of Alk, the more impressed she was of the small girl. She was fascinated about how smart she was. When Alk grew up, what would she make of herself? Marion was looking forward to it.

The door opened, the kids looking up to see who it was. It was Doctor K. She wore a smile, but Marion had gotten very good at reading through fake smiles, and she could see Doctor K was troubled by something. In her time at Anja Karzat, she had also developed her harmonia to the extent where she could read the harmonia of others. And Doctor K… she was radiating an energy that was clearly not the norm for her.

"Marion…?" Doctor K said, smiling. "Could you come with me, please?"

"Me?" Marion asked, standing up.

"Marion?" Alk looked up at her, confused.

Marion glanced at the others. Flora and Kyrese gave her concerned looks, and even Rast seemed a little stunned, and nothing bothered him. Katrina wore a panicked expression, and of course, Little Rey's face was serious, his brow furrowed with worry the way it always did whenever something seemed wrong.

"It won't take long," Doctor K said. "There's someone who wants to see you…"

Another visitor? It couldn't be her parents again, could it? She swallowed, and obediently followed Doctor K out of the room, holding Mana in her arms.

Doctor K led Marion into her office, Marion's eyes opening wide. Sitting in front of Doctor K's desk was the gorgeous Lusamine, President of Aether Foundation. While in Marion's memories the beautiful woman always wore a kind smile, today her expression was a mask of coldness the brought the temperature of the room down to a level that gave Marion shivers. She sat in an armchair with one long leg crossed over the other, resting her cheek against her knuckles as she stared at Marion and Doctor K.

"Anja Karzat." Lusamine's voice was cold, with a hostility that was foreign to Marion. She didn't understand why someone would be so mean to Doctor K.

"Greetings, President Lusamine," Doctor K said, smiling, walking past her and sitting down at her desk. Lusamine turned fully to face the doctor, Marion watching them uneasily from the corner. President Lusamine noticed this, glancing back at her and beckoning Marion over with her hand. Marion gulped, staring into the president's sharp green eyes. She nodded her head, and walked obediently over to Lusamine, standing warily beside her.

"As you see, I've brought Marion as you requested," Doctor K said, smiling.

President Lusamine… wants to see me? Marion asked herself, confused.

"Wonderful," Lusamine said, nodding. "Now, as I mentioned earlier… on behalf of her mother, a dear employee of mine, I am formally withdrawing Marion from this institution."

Marion gasped in surprise. Wh-what?

Doctor K didn't say anything, so Lusamine continued.

"Marion's parents came to you several years ago to look after their daughter and curb her more… difficult circumstances. But recently, her parents brought their concerns to my attention, they feared that Marion was not receiving adequate care while under your custody." Lusamine took an envelope out of her purse and place it on Doctor K's desk. "This has all the proper paperwork authorizing her release into my care. If you refuse to release her, I have no issue with bringing this to the authorities. You may be able to keep those other kids under your thumb, but unfortunately for you, this little lady has some powerful friends in high places. I won't let you do anything else to my cute little Marion."

Doctor K swallowed.

"I don't know what you are insinuating, but I have done nothing to harm Marion. I love her like she's family! Isn't that right, Marion?"

"That's right!" Marion said. "Doctor K isn't a bad guy! She's always taking care of us! Really!"

Lusamine frowned, glancing at Marion, but didn't say anything. She looked back to Doctor K.

"I neither believe in nor care about your words," Lusamine coldly replied. "Marion will be coming with me."

"…If that's what she wants," Doctor K nodded. "But if she wants to stay, then I will fight for her to remain here no matter what."

What?

Doctor K turned to Marion, and put a smile on her face. But Marion could see the tears in her eyes, and the pained look she was trying to keep off her face. In that moment, part of Marion wanted to stay with Doctor K no matter what happened.

"Marion… are you giving up on us…?" Doctor K asked. "Do you… no longer want to create the peaceful world we dreamed of together?"

"Doctor K…" Marion clenched her hands into fists, squeezing Mana tightly. As she felt herself tremble, she knew that she was going to cry. She didn't want to leave Rask and Alk, and Katrina, and Flora, and Kyrese, and Little Rey… she didn't want to leave Doctor K or any of them. As much as she hated it here… as much as the tests hurt… as much as she missed her parents, and fishing, and the ocean… she would miss everyone here, as well.

But even if she would miss them all terribly…

"I… I want… To go home…" Marion cried, tears falling down her small cheeks. "I want… I want to stay here with everybody… but I miss my mommy and daddy… I want to go outside… I want to fish in the ocean… I can't stay here forever…"

"And there you have it," Lusamine said, rising from her seat and putting her arm around Marion protectively.

"I… I see," Doctor K said, nodding, a sad smile on her face. She stood up as well. "I'll finish up here. Marion's things are in community room with the other kids. You can collect them while you… say goodbye…"

Marion saw the turmoil in Doctor K's face, and the tremors in her hands. She could tell that the kind doctor was trying not to cry. Marion looked over her shoulder as Lusamine led her out of the room. She bit her lip. Doctor K… there had to be something she could do for her.

As Marion walked down the hall, she tugged on Lusamine's arm.

"Yes? What is it, dear?"

"Um, President… can I have a piece of paper and a pencil?"

Lusamine blinked.

"I suppose so, I have a memo pad in here somewhere…" Lusamine dug around in her purse as they headed toward the room.

"Marion!" Katrina wailed, running up to her as she stepped inside. "Uwah, who's this pretty lady?"

"Why thank you, dear," Lusamine smiled. "My name is Lusamine. I'm a friend of Marion's mother."

"Marion, are you okay?" Rey cried, storming up to her, followed by the other kids. They all crowded around her.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Marion smiled, waving him off. "Actually, guys… it turns out… I'm leaving today."

The other kids stared at her in shock, their mouths and eyes wide open.

"You-you're leaving?!" Katrina gasped.

"Rio!" Leo mimicked his trainer, holding his hands in front of his mouth.

"What do you mean?" Rey demanded, returning to her. Marion glanced at the prematurely greyed boy, and sighed.

"My parents… they're coming to pick me up," she explained, smiling slightly and trying not to cry in front of her friends.

"That's…" Katrina gasped.

"That's great!" Rast smiled, patting her on the shoulder. "Way to go, Marion!"

"…" Marion smiled softly, nodding. She packed up her things quietly, feeling the weight of their eyes on her. She winced, turned, and ran to Flora, hugging her.

"I don't… *sniff* I don't want to go… I want to stay with everyone…"

"Oh, sweetie…" Flora murmured, patting Marion on the back of her head, ignoring the hat poking her in the chest. "Remember, Marion? You have to go."

"But…"

"I want you to stay here, too," Flora said. "But we all know that you can't. Not… here. There's a whole world beyond these gates. Go live it for all of us, okay?"

"I… I will!" Marion sobbed, nodding, wiping her eyes.

"I promise you guys, I… I don't know when, but I'll see you guys again! I won't forget any of you… you guys…" Marion sniffed. "Doctor K was like another mom for me… but I was always an only child… but I got three brothers… and three sisters… I don't want to leave all you guys…"

Everyone hugged Marion and Mana in a big group hug, Marion bursting out into tears as her surrogate family shared their goodbyes, even Little Rey. After they separated, Marion said goodbye to each of them.

"Kyrese… thanks so much. You were always looking out for all of us, making sure we were taken care of… you're a great older brother." Kyrese nodded, and smiled.

"Flora…" Marion turned to Flora, and smiled. "You took such good care of me. Whenever I was feeling down, you would always be there to give me a comforting hand, thank you so much for being so caring."

Marion walked over to Rast and Alk.

"You guys… Rast, I won't forget you no matter what. You were… well…" Marion's cheeks turned slightly pink, and she smiled. "I'm glad I got to meet you, absolutely. And Alk…"

"Yeah?" Alk said, blinking the tears out of her big red eyes.

"You're the smartest girl I've ever met. I know you're scared about what will happen when your harmonia awakens… but don't worry. You're strong, and you won't give in. Just remember how great you are, okay?"

"I will," Alk said, nodding eagerly.

"Marion, I don't want you to say anything!" Katrina cried, hugging her. "Cause you can't go if you don't say goodbye! So don't say goodbye!"

"Katrina…"

"No, no, no!" Katrina wailed, holding her hands over her ears. "I'm not listening!"

"…Thanks for being my best friend," Marion said, hugging the curly-haired girl. "Let's meet up again soon. I have so much I want to show you. So much more I want to talk with you about."

"Uu… uweeh… Marion…" Katrina cried, bursting into tears. Leo was crying too. Marion patted Katrina on the back, and separated from her. Only one left.

"…" Marion and Rey stared at each other.

"You don't have to, you know," Rey muttered, glancing away from her. Marion rolled her eyes. She knelt and set Mana down on the floor, taking her backpack off her shoulders and digging through it. She stood back up and held her hand out.

"Hey, that's…" Rey's eyes widened as he looked at Marion's favorite book.

"Take it," Marion said.

"But it's your favorite-"

"Take it," she said, more insistently. The boy frowned, and took the book from her.

"Good!" Marion chirped, smiling. "You better take good care of it! Read it every day!"

"Well…"

"Every. Day." Marion hissed. "I told you guys! When we all get out, then we're going to go on a fishing trip! I'm going to make you take back every last thing you ever said about fish pokemon! So study up, got it?! You won't be able to say they're ugly and smelly anymore!"

"What a pain, you noisy fish brain!" Rey said, rolling his eyes.

"Hey! I'm trying to be nice here, you stupid Little Rey!" Marion huffed.

"Stop calling me that, I'm taller than you now!"

"Blah, blah, blah," Marion shrugged, rolling her eyes. She pushed the book into his hands.

"Just take care of it, okay? It's important to me, so you gotta! Give it back next time I see you, then we can all go out fishing next time! Okay?"

"…Fine, whatever," Rey said, glancing away from her in embarrassment.

"Thanks, Little Rey," Marion giggled. Her cheeks flushed as she smiled. "You aren't a freak. You're special, just like me."

She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. She pulled back and smiled, sticking her tongue out. Her cheeks were bright red and she giggled, flouncing over to Lusamine with Mana following after her.

"Bye, everybody!" Marion said, determined to say farewell with a smile, even when she wanted to cry. She slung her bag over her shoulders and waved. "Don't forget me, okay? I won't forget any of you guys, not a bit!"

With that, Marion said her goodbyes to her dear friends and left her life in Anja Karzat behind her.

"Marion."

"Doctor K… No, Doctor Karzat," Marion said, greeting the doctor at the exit. Lusamine crossed her arms and glared at the woman, worried that she might be trying to interfere. Instead, the doctor reached down and hugged Marion tightly to her breast.

"Thank you so much for coming here, Marion," Doctor K cried. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you. Please, don't forget about us."

"I won't," Marion said, patting the doctor on the back. "Bye, Doctor K."

Doctor K separated from Marion and Marion smiled, even though she was crying, and held out her hand to the doctor. Doctor K wiped the tears out of her own eyes and nodded, taking Marion's hand.

"Thank you for everything, Doctor K," Marion said, walking past her and out into the world for the first time in years.

"Marion!" Doctor K gasped, looking at the note that the green-haired girl had left. She turned and glanced at the departing girl. "This is…"

Marion looked back and nodded her head, giving Doctor K a determined look. She'd done as much as she could for the others. She'd left the truth with Doctor K, and hopefully… hopefully that would be enough.

She took a deep breath, faintly smelling the scent of the sea in the air. Mana bounced into her arms and she smiled, trembling, as tears fell down her face. She walked out the gate as she cried, Lusamine guiding her out with a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Marion is now free to grow into the fish-loving girl we all know she'll become. But her past will always stay with her. And only time will tell what has become of her new "family" after the fall of Anja Karzat.