Let's see how things go in the pokemon shelter. Will Reiner and Nikita be able to get through to the pokemon, Dana in particular?

Pokemon Academy Best Girl Elimination Round is still going strong! Keep those votes coming, a few girls are pulling ahead, but things aren't done just yet! We've still got a good chance of girls getting into the final 5! The poll is on my profile, so go cast your votes there!

Nominated: Sango, Cynthia, Elaina, Kate, Dakota, Ayame, Marion, Kitty, Serefina, Madison, Alcea

ConfusedCradily: Maybe so, maybe an archaeologist, I think there's a lot of things he needs to decide about his future.

Retsuna: Can't open the file.

DJ Dib Dab: Yeah, they make a sweet couple.

Just a Bad Writer for Fun: Things like these are important things to consider about the pokemon world, we need to see the other side, and just what women like the caretaker go through in looking after pokemon who need help.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 256

Nikita was really enjoying herself. All the pokemon were a lot of fun to play with, once they had gotten past their initial hesitance. Some of them were coming right up to her and sticking around to play, others would come and go. But they all seemed to be having fun, and she was, too.

Nikita tossed a small ball through the air, and the two Zigzagoon and the Skwovet ran off after it, eager to get to the ball first, before all the others. Nikita laughed.

Reiner was watching Nikita from beside the lake. While she had been wary earlier due to the Chewtle's aggression, it looked like she was relaxing and having fun. His hand throbbed in pain, and he winced.

"Chew?"

Reiner turned to see Dana looking up at him with a startled expression on her angry face. In the past few hours she'd gotten closer to him, slowly allowing herself to open up and relax, but she was still antagonistic whenever he made a forward move.

"Don't worry, it's fine," Reiner reassured her.

"Chew," Dana scowled, looking away from him.

"I know stuff has been rough for you, but there's still good people you know," Reiner said, lying back and resting his head on the grass, staring up at the painted ceiling. "I used to be pretty frustrated, you know, but people helped me stop taking everything so seriously. Still… it's not like I've worked through all my pain. But having others around… that can only be a good thing, I think, even if there are times when I'd rather be alone."

Reiner turned his head to look at Dana. The Chewtle glared warily back at him. Reiner chuckle, looking back up at the ceiling. Then a shadow blocked out some of the light.

Reiner blinked, sitting up, the Yamper scurrying next to him, his tail wagging eagerly. Reiner could see that claw marks had taken one of its eyes. In the dog pokemon's mouth, it was biting down on a small ball.

The Yamper dropped the ball and let out a bark, looking eagerly at Reiner with his one good eye. Reiner reached down and picked up the ball, then turned and threw it across the grass. The Yamper barked, and ran after the small toy.

Reiner turned back to Dana, who was watching him quietly. The pokemon had climbed on shore now. Dana gnashed her teeth at Reiner in a warning, but Reiner had seen the pokemon do that enough to know that it wasn't worth worrying about.

"Don't you want to play, too?" Reiner asked. Dana looked down, scowling angrily. She shook her head and gnashed her teeth in answer. He shrugged. "You sure? It's fun."

"Chew," Dana spat in response. Reiner smiled.

"Yamp! Yamp!" The Yamper ran up to him, dropping the ball at his side, yipping eagerly. He ran around in circles, his bolt-shaped tail wagging as he waited for Reiner to throw the ball again.

Reiner glanced at Dana, and the water pokemon glared back at him.

"Hey, Nikita!" Reiner called over his shoulder.

"Yeah?" Nikita asked, turning to him.

"I think this Yamper wants to play fetch with you guys," Reiner smiled, reaching down and scratching the little dog on the neck and head, Yamper yipping in agreement. "Room for one more?"

"Of course!" Nikita said, smiling. Reiner tossed the ball over to her, and the Yamper ran over, nipping at her heels. Nikita giggled, and threw both balls, the herd of pokemon running after them. She looked back at Reiner and gave him a thumbs up.

"See?" Reiner said, looking to Dana. "Doesn't that look like fun?"

Dana looked down, and didn't reply.

"I heard about that girl who kept you before," Reiner said. "No one had a right to treat you like that. I'm sure that when she first got you… you must have wanted to play like Nikita is doing right now, right? Have fun, as trainer and pokemon? But she mistreated you, and now… you're afraid, aren't you? Of anyone who tries to get to know you, because you don't want to be hurt again."

Dana was very, very quiet. She turned away from Reiner, refusing to look at him. That's how he knew that what he was saying was getting to her. She clearly had difficulty getting close to others, and he'd like to change that, if he could.

"It's okay, you can trust people, even if you don't think you can," Reiner said. Why was he saying that? That didn't make any sense. He really wasn't good at this whole "comfort" thing. But if there was something he knew, it was people who were difficult with expressing themselves to others. To most people, he also came off as standoffish and combative; he had a suspicion that Dana was the exact same way.

Dana still wasn't responding. Reiner frowned. She wasn't facing him… he wasn't sure if this was a good idea, but his slightly better ideas hadn't worked, either.

Reiner reached out his good hand cautiously, and placed it on the Chewtle's shell. He didn't do anything further, he just rested it there, a gentle, comforting pet.

Dana twitched at the feeling of his hand on her shell, but she didn't resist, or shake him off, or try to bite him. Feeling his warmth on the cold, smooth surface of her shell… it made her want to feel him pet her skin, as well. Other than the caretaker… no one ever came close to her like this. She didn't like that girl… she reminded her too much of her old owner. But this one… he was nicer, and kinder. She didn't mind this too much.

Reiner was fine with taking it easy. Dana wasn't struggling or resisting, she was peaceful. And that was fine with him, he was happy to go with the flow like this, as long as he wanted to. He felt very tired. This place was so relaxing and peaceful.

It also might have been the blood loss, but Reiner wanted to think positively.

Soon, it was going to be time for them to go. Reiner and Nikita had spent their day looking after the pokemon here, and it had been fun. But now they had to go… and they weren't coming back. Nikita… she felt awful. She'd bonded with these pokemon so much, and now… now they had to leave.

"It isn't enough…" Nikita said, wiping her eyes. "It just isn't enough."

"I know," Reiner said glumly, walking up to her. He glanced back at Dana. She was looking at them, considerably more mellow than she had been initially. She gnashed her teeth at Nikita, still not feeling any kinder towards the girl.

"You two have done more than enough."

A voice like a melody rang in their ears, and they turned to see the white-haired caretaker walking up to them, her face filled with both gratitude and sorrow.

"Are you sure…?" Nikita asked quietly, clearly not convinced that she had been much help. "I mean… I know they had fun, but…"

She glanced behind her at the pokemon, who looked back at her with eyes filled with hope. It hurt her heart to look at them.

"I can't ask you to do more than you can," the woman reassured her, stepping up to Nikita, raising her hand and placing it on the girl's cheek. Nikita looked back at her, tears welling up in her eyes. The caretaker smiled.

"Is it okay?" Nikita asked. "Will they… be okay?"

"As long as I'm here, they'll be fine," the caretaker said. "And just by being another kind human face to show them love and affection, you've helped them out so much more than if it was just me. Come back if you like, or don't, just coming here was more than most people ever bother to do."

"We won't be able to come back," Reiner said sadly, placing his hand on Nikita's shoulder. "But we're still glad that we were able to do some good."

"Your hand!" The caretaker gasped, her eyes widening. She reached out and placed her hand over it. "You're bleeding! How-?!"

"Oh, it's nothing, really," Reiner said, shaking his head. "It doesn't hurt that much!"

As if in defiance of his proclamation, a throbbing pain surged through his palm, causing him to wince. The caretaker winced in empathy for the boy. She unwrapped the towel, looking at the large gash in his flesh. It wasn't a deep wound, not something that would need stitches, but it still needed more care than a makeshift towel compress.

"I-I have some bandages in my office!" The woman wailed, running off. Reiner and Nikita glanced at each other and snickered. A few minutes later, she returned with a medical kit, her face flustered with worry. She gestured for him to sit and then knelt next to him and began clumsily rolling the bandages, getting his wound wrapped up nice and tight.

"Thanks," Reiner said, looking at his hand, which was more gauze than hand at this point.

"Not done yet," the caretaker said, shaking her head. "There's still a special magic spell to make you feel better. Pain, pain, go away~"

The woman pressed her lips against the bandage, kissing it gently. Reiner didn't even feel it, but he smiled anyway to make the woman feel a little better. The two rose to their feet.

"It was Dana, wasn't it?" The caretaker asked glumly. "She bit you, didn't she?"

"It's fine, it's nothing," Reiner said, shaking his head. "Please, don't worry."

"I'm sorry, she's a little…" The caretaker sighed. "I thought she was better around boys, but I guess I was wrong…"

"No, no, like I said, it's fine. We're friends now," Reiner reassured her. "Right?"

Reiner glanced at the Chewtle, who looked a little ashamed of herself. The caretaker turned to look at her as well, her eyes widening behind her glasses.

"Dana?" The caretaker asked, gesturing over to her. "Come here."

Dana slowly plodded over to the white-haired woman, gnashing her teeth at Nikita. The caretaker knelt down again and placed a hand on the Chewtle's head, caressing around her horn.

"Really?" She asked. "I see… are you sure?"

"Chewtle!" Dana said, shaking her head frantically. The caretaker tilted her head to the side, like a mother catching her child in a lie.

"…Chewtle…" Dana looked down, nodding.

"Young man," the caretaker said, looking up at Reiner. "Your name was…"

"Reiner," Reiner said.

"Reiner, I see, what a lovely name," the caretaker smiled. "I was wondering… what do you think of this young one?"

"Hmm?" Reiner asked. "What do you mean?"

"Dana," the caretaker clarified. "Do you like her?"

"I feel where she comes from," Reiner said. "She's combative, but I don't think she's a bad pokemon deep down."

"She likes you," the caretaker said. "She doesn't want you to leave. She thinks that she can trust you, and she doesn't trust many people."

"Yeah, it sucks that we can't come back, either," Reiner said. "There's only so much stuff we can do in a day. But we have to leave."

"…You could take her with you," the caretaker said, lowering her hand, looking up at Reiner with those big, soulful eyes that looked so much like Kitty's.

"Wh-what?" Reiner blinked.

"She wants to spend more time with you. She trusts you. I think…" the caretaker glanced at Dana, and then back at Reiner. "You talked to her about what a real relationship between trainer and pokemon should look like. I think she wants to experience that with you. If you want."

Reiner looked down at Dana, who looked back at him, gnashing her teeth. If that's what she wanted, then she wasn't showing it very well.

"If that's what she wants, then I'll be… I'll be fine with that," Reiner said. Dana paused.

"She wants," the caretaker smiled, patting Dana on the side of the face. "She's just a little too stubborn about it. Dana? Do you want to?"

"Chewtle," Dana said, nodding. Reiner could see a light in those small beady eyes of hers, like she was willing to give him a chance.

"Is… is that okay?" Nikita asked. "Can we… just take her with us?"

"I want all these children to feel loved," the caretaker smiled, rising to her feet and lifting Dana up into her arms. "And if you can give her a feeling of security, then I want that for her, as well."

She held her hands out, offering the small pokemon to Reiner. She glanced at Dana. "No biting this time."

Reiner reached out and took the small pokemon into his arms. She was heavier than he expected.

"I think I have some pokeballs around here somewhere," the caretaker said, heading for the exit. "I'll fill out the adoption paperwork. Thank you, so much, for being willing to give her a good home!"

Reiner looked at the Chewtle in his hands. The caretaker was so happy he was looking after her, taking her with him, it made him feel warm. He felt attached to the little thing, and she clearly needed someone to look out for her and give her a good home. Reiner wasn't good at connecting with others, and he'd had his pokemon team for a while. But there was still room for one more, and it looked like Dana really needed a place to belong. And they both could feel she belonged with him.

Reiner glanced at Nikita. Dana might not trust her yet, but she should still be grateful. If it wasn't for Nikita, he never would have thought to come here. But clearly, it was the right choice to make.

After Reiner and Nikita finished with the paperwork, the two stepped out into the street. It was nearing the end of sunset, and it had gotten cold. Reiner looked at the pokeball in his hand, and the damaged pokemon contained within it. He held Dana close to his chest, and promised that he would be a better trainer for her than the one that had hurt her so much.

Reiner and Nikita headed off on their way to the Hotel Ionia. By the time they got back, it was night time, and the two were rather cold.

"Where do you think the others are?" Nikita wondered as they headed into their room to get their stuff. "We're leaving tonight, right?"

Nikita walked over to Sango's door and knocked on it, Sango peeking her head out.

"Hey, you guys have a good time?" Sango asked, swinging the door open and inviting them in. She and Silver were alone in their room.

"Yeah, actually, got a brand new pokemon out of it," Reiner said, holding up Dana's pokeball. Sango blinked.

"Wow, that's quite the souvenir, a new friend," she commented.

"Where are Kate and Blake?" Nikita asked. "They weren't in the other room. Are they in Kate's room, maybe?"

"Actually, uh…" Sango looked down, clearly a little bit ticked off at something. "They, uh… had some business in town."

Nikita and Reiner glanced at each other.

"Business?"

Sango scowled.

"Yeah, apparently, an old friend of Kate's or something," she muttered. "They're going off to get dinner with her. And I wasn't invited."

Nikita wasn't sure if Sango was more annoyed at the fact that Blake was going off with another girl, or the fact that she wasn't getting a dinner.

"Well, uh… if it's dinner, you want to come eat with us?" Nikita asked.

"Sounds great," Sango chirped, hopping back up off the bed. "Silver, let's head out to get a bite to eat!"

The three students and the accompanying Castform exited the hotel room, heading downstairs to go eat in the hotel dining hall. The professor had said there would be a dinner buffet for the students if they wanted it, and right now, Sango really wanted it.

Meanwhile, their fellow students were walking the streets of Galar. Or at least, Kate was. Back and forth, pacing in front of the restaurant, trying to decide whether or not she should go inside. Blake was sitting on a bench and watching her.

"I shouldn't go, right?" Kate asked. "I mean, digging up all those wounds, there's nothing good about that, right? So we should just go back to the hotel room."

Blake opened his mouth, but Kate cut him off.

"But wouldn't that be rude? Not going? I mean, in spite of what happened, she was a really close friend back then, you know? I can't be rude to her like that…"

Blake sighed. This had been going on for the last 20 minutes, and the time of the dinner was pretty much upon them. Kate wanted to go, and more importantly, she should go. But she was being difficult, as usual.

"But then, maybe she was just being polite, and maybe she really doesn't want me there? Maybe she was just trying to ease her conscience."

Blake rolled his eyes.

"Although if I don't go, then I'll always be worrying, right? Thinking about the past? Right, I need to go, in order to move past this. Because if I don't, then I'll always be thinking about it. Even if it goes awful, at least I'll get some closure, right?" Kate looked at Blake, hope in her eyes. It seemed she'd finally made her decision.

Blake nodded, and moved to get up. This was good, this was progress.

"But wait, maybe it's a trap! Maybe Bree and Maya put her up to it, and they're going to be there, insulting me, making fun of me for even hoping that Val would show up…" Kate's face went pale, and she shook her head. "No, I just can't!"

Blake shook his head. Kate had gotten all gussied up in nice clothes, and he'd fixed her hair. He wasn't a makeup specialist like Olivia so he couldn't help her there, but she looked decent enough. But it was all for nothing if she couldn't work up the courage to actually walk inside the building.

"I should just go," Kate told him, but moreso talking to herself. "Just write this all off as a mistake and go home…"

"Kate!" Kate turned around to see Valerie standing a few feet away, still dressed in her school uniform. Her golden eyes were wide.

"Oh, uh… hey…" Kate said, waving awkwardly at the girl she'd just made up her mind to ditch.

"That's great! You came!" Val walked over to her, smiling. She took Kate by the hand. "I'm so glad!"

"Uh… yeah, of course," Kate laughed, waving her other hand as though to dismiss the idea that she would ever skip out. "I told you I would, right? I wouldn't just change my mind on something like that, you know."

Blake rolled his eyes.

"And you're… Blake, right? You came as well," Val said, smiling gratefully at him. "I'm glad. Well? Shall we go?"

Kate and Blake looked at each other, nodding. Blake took Kate by the hand and she tensed up, her cheeks turning red. She walked into the restaurant with the grace and fluidity of a robot whose specs were superbly inferior to Misato's, Val following after the two with a smile on her face.

Finally, Kate and Val get to have their dinner. Hopefully, a meal with an old friend will be just the kind of closure Kate needs to put the lid on her painful past for good.