The party is winding down, and with it, more serious arcs have risen up to take its place. A mysterious intruder has made it onto campus, and what will we learn about them? What could they possibly want?

KedharS: It definitely should be, yes.

Rowlets and Oshawotts: Welcome back.

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 780

By midnight, the party was just about winding down. Kitty and Nikita had both returned to their dorm for the night, and Maddi had left as well. Claire managed to Sneasel her way into Sango's good graces and get her to agree that she could crash on their floor, while Ayame had already gotten a head-start on that by drifting off to sleep herself, nestled up into a ball on Blake's bed.

So much for that second wind from Blake's lap, Sango noted with an amused smirk. As the guest of honor, she had the dubious pleasure of wishing all her friends goodbye as they headed back to their rooms. Cynthia was more likely than not going to crash here and Julia wasn't all that tired, even if she was starting to look a little bored, which just left one more person to head back.

"Congrats again, Sango," Callie said, hugging Sango tightly. "It really is amazing that you managed to win the Miss Pokemon Academy Contest."

"Thanks, Callie," Sango grinned. "You have a good night."

"Definitely," Callie grinned, locking her arm around Nick's. As usual, she was taking the opportunity to have him walk her back to her dorm. "And make sure you get some sleep tonight, got it?" She chastised. "You were up all night, and that's not something you can make up for with a little nap or two. So you should get to sleep soon, you hear?"

Callie might have been significantly shorter than Sango, but her stature was very well-muscled due to her chosen interests. In spite of her size, Callie was one of the few girls who, like Ayame, was undoubtedly in better shape than her, and someone who Sango respected immensely in that field. So her words carried a lot of weight in Sango's eyes. She could already feel her fatigue from earlier begin to return with a vengeance.

"Yeah, you're right," Sango agreed, stifling a yawn and nodding in agreement. "I'm probably gonna turn in after this."

Callie considered this briefly, smiled, and nodded. "Sounds good! See you tomorrow, hope your morning isn't too rough!" She chirped, and led Nick away by the arm.

Sango waved after her and took another glance back into the boys' room. Cynthia and Reiner were going up against each other on the game station while Julia lazily stared at her phone. Blake was somewhat watching the game, but more of his time was spent admiring Ayame as she slept.

Yup, it was time to turn in.

Callie and Nick walked out into the night, and as they stepped outside Callie slipped her arm free and skipped ahead, stretching. She turned back to her boyfriend. "So? What did you think?"

Nick blinked. "Huh? About what?" He asked, confused. Callie would do this sometimes, ask him probing questions like she expected him to be able to read her mind.

"About the Miss Pokemon Academy Contest, silly," Callie laughed. "How was it?"

Nick wasn't very socially-conscious, but even he could see what a dangerous path this was to tread. He paused and considered his options carefully.

"It was… fun, I guess," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "You know, the events and stuff, it looked really exciting."

Nick was a guy. He may really like Callie, but he was only human. So yes, he had checked out a few of the girls who were competing, especially the beautiful ones like Olivia, Alcea, and Lila. And though he would never acknowledge it in fear of his girlfriend's wrath, yes, he had given Serefina's breasts more than the occasional glance.

But saying one word of that would mean his end, so he stuck with just the events themselves.

Callie seemed to accept this answer and nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it really did look great," she said, her voice carrying a note of sorrow. She looked down and kicked at the grass, mumbling something under her breath.

Nick hadn't quite heard what she was saying, but he could guess. "Callie… I think you would have done great in that tournament!"

He was trying to encourage her, and he hoped he wouldn't come off as patronizing. He knew that Callie had a serious complex about her looks, and during the qualifications for the tournament he had gotten his ear chewed off more than once about how "bogus" it was that boys were only voting for the stacked girls and not girls with character, like her.

"What Sango said… during her coronation…" Callie said, looking back at him with tears in her eyes. She was masterfully walking backwards, her eyes never leaving his. "You remember… about how all us girls deserve to be up there? That really… it really made me think."

Nick swallowed. That wasn't good. When Callie went down this line of thought, it usually resulted in her self-esteem taking another hit and her inferiority complex raising its head. He reached out to her, not sure if he wanted to hug her or just take her hand, when she interrupted him.

"I think… she's right," Callie said. She put on a strong face, but the sniffling in her voice was obvious to Nick's ears.

"Of course she's right," he said quietly. "Callie, you're really cool, you know that!"

"I know," Callie said, smiling. She tried to casually wipe her eyes. "I mean, I'm tough, I'm fun, I'm really good at pokemon battles, and don't forget about cute! Also, I'm pretty smart too!"

Nick definitely could make a case for everything but that last one, but he held his tongue and nodded along with her.

"When I was watching those girls compete, even Sango, you know what was going through my mind?" Callie asked, her voice distant and hollow. Nick tensed at that, it seemed like her mood was particularly irregular tonight.

He didn't dare ask. But Callie answered her own question.

"I thought 'of course. Of course girls like this are the sort who deserve to be on that stage. They're so pretty and talented, and me, I'm just short and scrawny.' It…" Callie's voice broke, and she quickly rubbed her eyes with her sleeve.

Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself down, Callie tried smiling again. Nick was relieved that it wasn't completely fake.

"It really made me doubt myself for a while, it does every year," Callie admitted. "And I really wish… you know."

She didn't have to say it, Nick could see it in her eyes. He'd heard her past complaints. As much as she might have been talking about how much she felt she didn't "deserve" to be competing in the Miss Pokemon Academy Contest, it was clear that she wanted to. She wanted people to think that she was as deserving as those other girls.

Alcea and Gabrielle were members of the Eight Leaders, and they had both ranked. Whereas Callie hadn't even come close. It was a bitter pill that she had to swallow.

"C-Callie… it… it doesn't…" Nick stuttered out. He clenched his fists and felt his face heat up. Why was this so difficult? "Callie, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, in my eyes, you're the most beautiful girl there is." It was so simple! Blake could say stuff like that easily, but when it came to Nick the words just refused to come out.

"Yes?" Callie asked, her eyes glistening with hope.

"You're… I think… I think y-you're really pretty," Nick managed to get out. It wasn't quite what he'd wanted to say, but it didn't seem to matter to Callie. Her eyes widened and a big smile spread across her face, eating up the compliment with glee.

"Aww! Nicky! You're just the sweetest boyfriend ever!" Callie cooed, lunging forward and hugging him tightly.

"Th-Thanks… no problem…" Nick gasped out, feeling a sharp pain in his back and hearing a cracking noise that he feared was his spine.

Callie on the other hand, was just overjoyed to be in her boyfriend's arms, not even realizing how much she was using her strength. Right now, the night was going great, and she wanted to enjoy as much time with her supportive boyfriend as she could.

"Well! Look at what we have here! So cute!" A cheery woman's voice rang out like a bell in the silent night.

Callie's eyes widened and she let go of Nick, jumping back and turning to figure out the identity of the voyeur.

She had to do a double-take. This woman wasn't a student or a teacher, that was for sure. Not dressed like that.

The woman in question looked to be a few years older than them, perhaps not far out from high school herself. She had short blonde hair even lighter than Callie's, practically white, shining in the glow of the street lamp. Her eyes seemed to sparkle in a rainbow of colors, giving a hint of mystery to the smile on her face. But most notably was her outfit. For a moment, Callie thought she was wearing a bathrobe, but on closer look it was a little more detailed than that. A light gossamer cloth of either white or tan was wrapped around her curvaceous body, black symbols sewn upon it.

Needless to say, it was rather far from a school-approved uniform.

"Who are you?" Callie demanded, narrowing her eyes. As a member of the Eight Leaders, she wasn't about to overlook some weirdo wandering around campus.

"Who? Me?" The woman laughed, touching her finger to her chin. "I'm just me!"

Callie scoffed. She hated cutesy girls like this, who acted like they didn't have to take things seriously. And even worse, she'd come in just as things were getting sweet between her and Nick, like she had the right to intrude on their private moment! Like the world should just bend over backwards for her, because she was tall and gorgeous! Callie knew that it was probably wrong to take her frustrations out on this stranger, but then again, this stranger was a potential intruder.

"I'm a member of the Eight Leaders," Callie said, keeping her temper in check. "If you don't know what that means, it means I have the obligation to maintain order and discipline on this campus, second only to faculty members. And I'm sorry, but I don't recognize you, miss. At this time, I'd like to ask you to present your visitor ID badge, if you please."

The blonde woman blinked. Her eyes narrowed and her smile took on a more dangerous gleam. "I see… and if I don't?"

Callie didn't say a word. She just reached to her belt and took off a pokeball, pressing the button to enlarge it.

"…Ah. So it's like that," the woman sighed, shrugging her shoulders. Her smile didn't droop for an instant, though. "And here I was hoping that since you were someone with authority, you might be able to help me out."

"Oh, believe me, I'd be happy to," Callie said. "Why not just tell me what you need help with, and I'll give it my full consideration."

The woman's face brightened, apparently ignorant to the sarcasm in Callie's voice. "Oh, you will? That's just great!" She said, sighing in relief.

Callie blinked. She was taken aback by how casually dismissive the woman was being of her, like she didn't see Callie as a threat. And that pissed Callie off quite a lot. She was sick and tired of being looked down on! Callie opened her mouth to deliver a scathing retort, but the woman didn't give her the chance.

"You see, I'm looking for a girl who I hear is a student at your school. You wouldn't happen to know someone named 'Zinnia' would you?" She asked.

Callie paused. Her curiosity served to momentarily abate her anger. Zinnia? That name sounded familiar, but Callie had no idea who it belonged to. But even if she did, that wouldn't change her response. "Sorry, I don't think I can help with that. But if you'd like, I can escort you to campus safety myself, and they should be able to meet your needs."

The woman laughed, waving her hand. "Oh, no, no need to go to that much trouble! But if you're willing to be an escort, would you mind showing me where the students in the… what was it called again? The 'Appeals Course'? Yes, that's it, if you could show me where they stay, I would appreciate that quite a lot."

"Sorry, but I happen to mind that quite a lot," Callie said, narrowing her eyes. "This is your last chance. You can come with me and we can get this mess sorted out with campus safety, or I'll have to get a little… forceful."

Callie glanced at Nick, her eyes warning him. He'd been watching the exchange tensely until now, but he realized what she wanted and quickly got his phone out to call campus safety for assistance.

The woman sighed. "I see. Unfortunately, that doesn't quite work for me. I didn't come here to start a fight, so under normal circumstances, believe me, I would take you up on your offer. But this situation is a bit more… complex than that. And technically I'm supposed to be keeping a low profile while I finish my quest, so… I'm afraid it looks like 'forceful' it is."

"Fine then!" Callie snapped. "Jania! Take care of her!"

Callie flung her pokeball, and her Mienshao landed on the ground, rubbing her sleeves together in anticipation.

"Oh! That's a strong one!" The woman brightened. She reached into the sleeve of her robe and withdrew a pokeball of her own. "But it won't match against what we're capable of," she warned. "Mystica! Show her!"

She flung the pokeball into the air, and with a shimmer of her gorgeous scales a beautiful pokemon emerged.

"Dragonair!" The serpentine pokemon called, landing on the ground and glowing brightly in the light of the lamps.

"A Dragonair!" Nick shouted like an idiot. Yeah, Callie got it.

"Could be worse," Callie grinned. "At least it's not a Dragonite! We can handle a pokemon like that, no problem Jania!"

"Shao," Jania nodded in agreement.

The woman licked her lips. "You'll… 'handle' my dear Mystica, hmm?" She shook her head. "Silly girl, don't they teach you anything at this school? Dragon pokemon are just… aaaaahh…"

She swooned with such passion in her voice that it actually made Nick turn red in the face. My favorite Dragons... they're... cute... lovely... smart... plus... amazing... you think so?... Oh yes... they're... stunning... kindly... love them! Hug them... when... sleeping... warm and cuddly... spectacular... ravishing... ...Oops! Look at the time! I kept you too long!" She laughed, coming out of a rather curious fugue that was incredibly bizarre to both Callie and Nick. The woman scratched her head sheepishly. "Let's get on with it then. Mystica, dragon pulse!"

"Dragonair!" Mystica howled, opening her mouth. Energy crackled in front of her, forming an orb that she fired at Jania.

Callie smiled, of course a Dragonair would lead with that! "Jania! Dodge, and use agility!"

"Mienshao!" Jania nodded. She jumped back, avoiding the burst of energy, moving from side to side to increase her speed.

"Oh, quite fast," the dragon-loving woman nodded. "But that won't be enough. Mystica, use extremespeed!"

"What?!" Nick gasped in shock.

"Extremespeed?!" Callie exclaimed.

"Dragonair!" Mystica tucked her head in, coiling up and springing forward like a blue blur. She slammed into Jania and knocked her off-balance, the elegant ermine stumbling back.

"But… But Dragonair can't learn extremespeed!" Callie sputtered. "Only Dragonite can do that!"

"Ah, there's so much you don't understand," the woman sighed, shaking her head. "With love, anything is possible! In my homeland, we breed countless Dratini with extremespeed, taking care of each and every one of them. But no matter. It's clear that you still have a lot to learn about pokemon."

"Hey!" Callie snapped. "I know as much as anyone! I'm a member of the Eight Leaders, after all! Jania, use your aura sphere!"

"Mienshao!" Jania held her hands up, forming an orb of light energy in between her palms. She flung it at the dragon, the glowing orb tracking the serpent down.

"Light screen." A barrier of blue light appeared around the Dragonair as she coiled into a ball, the aura sphere breaking against it, much to Callie's frustration.

"So, you think you know a lot about pokemon, do you?" The woman asked Callie, tapping her chin with her finger. "I know! Let's test you, then."

"A test?!" Callie exclaimed. "We're supposed to be battling here!" She was getting really sick of this woman looking down on her.

As expected, this strange dragon lady ignored Callie's objections. "First question!" She called. "What are pokemon to you? Allies? Friends? Juniors?"

"They're my Allies!" Callie shouted back.

"I see, I see," the other girl nodded. "Next question-"

"Forget it! Jania, brick break!" Callie hated tests on her best days, and this was certainly far from that. Jania ran forward and raised her hand, flinging her arm forward like a whip to smash through the light screen.

"Protect~" The woman hummed, another barrier appearing as the first was smashed to pieces, Jania's blow striking nothing. Callie let out a groan of frustration.

"Fine! If she's going to hide behind her barriers all day, then let's prepare!" Callie decided. "Use hone claws, Jania!"

Jania leapt back and sharpened her claws, boosting her attack and accuracy in preparation for when the barrier would come down.

Callie's opponent seized on this opportunity to ask her next question. "Second question! What helps you to win battles? Strategy? Training? Or cheating?"

"Who the fuck would cheat?!" Callie exclaimed, incensed at the insinuation. "Our strength is completely a result of our training!"

"Wonderful! That's simply magnificent!" The woman applauded. "Third question! What kind of trainer do you wish to battle? Strong trainers? Weak trainers? Or anyone?"

"Strong trainers, obviously!" Callie replied. "I want to test my strength against the best of the best!"

Nick caught a shadow cross over the woman's face at that answer, even though her smile didn't leave.

"I see… I see…" She mused. "Then, allow me to grant your wish! Mystica, use air slash!"

"Dragonair!" The barrier faded, and Mystica whipped her tail out, wind spinning around it in a whirlwind of razor blades. With a swipe she sent a cutting slash towards Jania, who just barely managed to dodge it.

"Jania!" Callie cried.

"Fourth question!"

"Forget your questions, we're fighting!" Callie snapped. "Jania, use bounce!"

Jania leapt up high into the air. Callie smiled. If this dragon lady was counting on having some time to breathe, she had another thing coming!

Jania consumed her herbs and dropped down upon the Dragonair with a massive force, stunning the pokemon and striking her hard. Mystica let out a cry of pain and recoiled, putting some distance between herself and the swift Fighting type.

"Nicely done!" The woman complimented Callie. "I'm not sure how you executed that bounce so quickly, but it certainly caught Mystica off-guard! Luckily, she's a tough sort."

"And now she's a paralyzed sort," Callie replied, gesturing at the twitching sparks traveling across the Dragonair's rainbow-colored scales.

The woman blinked, and glanced down at her Dragonair. She shrugged and laughed. "So she is! I must thank you!"

"Thank me?! For what?!"

"Now that Mystica is paralyzed, her Marvel Scale makes her defensive strength even greater!" She explained. "And we also get access… to this! Façade!"

Mystica began glowing a bright gold, and she lunged forward, slamming into Jania and knocking her backwards.

"Callie, careful!" Nick cried. "Façade gets more powerful when the user is inflicted with a status condition!"

"I know!" Callie snapped. "Jania! Are you okay?!"

"Mien…" Jania nodded weakly. She was conscious, but the attack had taken a lot out of her.

"Stay back then," Callie judged. "Use your agility to boost your speed." She could already tell that Jania probably wouldn't win this, but that was fine. She was going to rely on her pokemon to pass her blessings onto her next 'mon, instead.

"Fourth question!" The woman said again. "What is most important for raising a pokemon? Love? Knowledge? Or violence?"

"Love!" Callie said. "Love for your pokemon, and yourself, obviously! My team and I believe in ourselves completely, and that's why we'll beat you! Right, Jania?"

"Mienshao!" Jania nodded in agreement.

"Exactly!" Callie grinned. "Hone claws, one more time!"

Jania continued to scrape her claws together, waiting for a potential attack from the Dragonair. But no attack came.

Instead, the woman asked another question. He last question. "Final question. Strong pokemon. Weak pokemon. Which is more important?"

"That's a dumb question!" Callie shouted back. "They're both important! Every pokemon is important, whether it's strong or weak! And even if a pokemon is weak, or can't keep fighting, that doesn't mean it's worthless! All my pokemon are precious to me, even the ones who aren't as strong! They can still help reach the victory I desire, just like this! Baton pass!"

"Mienshao!" Jania retreated to her pokeball in a flash of white, and Callie masterfully switched her for a new pokemon who would take all of her blessings.

"Crabominable!" Callie's Crabominable roared, raising his clawed fists up and bellowing loudly, stomping across the ground.

"With Jania's help, Ken's going to defeat that Dragonair of yours!" Callie proudly declared.

The woman closed her eyes, her smile filling with warmth. "Indeed. Strong pokemon, weak pokemon, both are important things to treasure. I couldn't have answered better myself. You really know far more than I gave you credit for, I apologize. Alas, if only you were a little more mature you could have gotten a perfect score… oh well. I suppose our test has come to an end!"

"And so's this battle!" Callie shouted back. "With the boosts from agility and hone claws, Ken will rip you to pieces!"

"Mystica!" The dragon lady called. "Haze!"

"Dragonair!" Mystica opened her mouth, and a cloud of sparkling blue-white smoke billowed out, wrapping across the battlefield and obscuring everything from sight.

"Crab!" Ken shouted, his stats returning to normal.

"Darn it! I can't see!" Callie coughed, squinting through the smoke to find her opponent. "Ken, can you-"

"Callie, wait!" Nick cried. "Don't attack!"

A few seconds later and the smoke cleared, and Callie understood what Nick meant. The haze attack hadn't been for the purpose of reducing Ken's stats. The woman had used it as a smokescreen to shield her retreat. She was nowhere to be seen, and right where she stood, a single pokeball rested on the ground.

Well! A newcomer shows up to send the academy into a tizzy! Who could this strange woman be? And what are her goals?