Now that Kate's returned from the sewers with her new pokemon, it's time to make some changes around the gym! How will everything be different, now that she has a bunch of new pokemon to take care of? How will she react to finding out that Roxie basically forgot about her for a week and left her in the sewers to rot?

KedharS: Yep, she didn't just get a new pokemon, she got practically an entire party of new pokemon! It's going to take a lot of time and care to raise them up into a good team, but you can't say she doesn't have options now, that's for sure!

Just a Bad Writer for Fun: She's made a lot of progress getting this far, and she's got the new pokemon to show for it! Especially that Arbok, she's going to be a beast!

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 860

Roxie was still astounded by what had happened. She'd gone to sleep that night thinking everything was a dream, fully expecting to wake up in the morning with Kate still being in the sewer and only having caught one pokemon, not five.

And could anyone blame her for thinking that way? Kate had captured five new pokemon over the course of the week, with only five pokeballs! That meant not even one of those pokemon had broken free of the pokeball and resisted capture, not even that gigantic Arbok! But they were all in great shape, so it was clear that she hadn't weakened any of them in battle.

There was no way something like that was just luck. The only explanation that made sense to her was that Kate had managed to connect with each and every one of those pokemon, and get them to join her party willingly.

And if that was the case, it meant that Kate was even more skilled than Roxie had given her credit for; she had potential to be a Poison type trainer who exceeded even Roxie's capabilities, and that wasn't easy.

But the thought of it still brought a smile to Roxie's lips as she dozed off, getting some much-needed rest.

Nice work, Katie Girl, ya definitely deserve some praise for what ya did, Roxie thought, drifting off into a deep sleep. If she woke up in the morning and it was not, in fact, a dream, then she was certain she would do something special for her student.

Roxie was stunned by how well-rested she was when she awoke. Stretching, she glanced blearily at the clock and then let out a gasp.

No way! I'm that late?! What followed was a frantic rush to get dressed and hurry out the door, barely remembering to pick up her bass and her pokeballs as she did.

Roxie ran down the streets of Virbank City towards the gym, her face flushed with shame at the fact that she was late. The only times that Roxie was late was when it was fashionable; she never made mistakes like oversleeping! She could just hear Nicky and Billy Jo's scathing criticisms. She was so afraid of them she didn't even check her phone!

When she practically knocked the door to the gym off its hinges as she burst inside, panting. "Sorry I'm late, guys!" She exclaimed. "I didn't mean to… guys?"

Roxie looked around, confused. Nicky and Billy Jo were nowhere to be seen, the gym was totally deserted. She walked through it, calling out for them, and calling out for Kate, as well. Her first to tries got no response, but Kate replied when she heard her name being called.

"Back here!" Roxie walked into the back room, which she normally used to prepare for her gigs and take care of her pokemon. And there was Kate, practically covered in Poison types as she rushed to and fro, caring for her new pokemon and her old ones. The only pokemon that was nowhere to be seen was the Arbok she had caught, probably because the snake was too big to comfortably fit in even a room as large as this.

Roxie was at a loss for words. She didn't know what she should be saying right now, and looking at Kate in her present condition made it hard for her to even understand what exactly was going on. Kate was acting like everything was normal after spending all that time in the sewers? And she'd gotten started on caring for her pokemon, even without Roxie being there?

"Hey Roxie!" Kate said, barely looking up from the dishes of pokemon food she set down in front of her team. "What are you doing up so early?"

"Uh… I work here?" Roxie replied, raising her eyebrow quizzically. She was confused what Kate was doing here. Sure, she'd given her a key before the girl had gone down into the sewers, but she hadn't actually expected Kate to come in on her own time. "What are ya doing here, Katie Girl? And where're the others?"

"Oh, I told Billy Jo and Nicky that they didn't have to come in today," Kate explained. She blanched and glanced warily towards Roxie. "That… That was okay, right? Telling them that you were taking a break today?"

Roxie scowled. "Why'd ya go an' do something as torn up as that, Katie Girl?!" She demanded. "Ain'tcha know I can't just take a day off? What were ya thinking?!"

"I was thinking that you looked awful when you came to pick me up last night," Kate scowled, standing up and crossing her arms over her chest. "Then I heard from your bandmates that the reason you took so long was because you forgot about me down there?"

Roxie turned pale and glanced down at the floor. "W-Well… it's a little more complicated than that, Katie Girl… I just…"

Kate's voice softened a touch. "Yeah, yeah, I know, you were overwhelmed," she sighed, shaking her head. "It must be real tough, managing a gym during the day, and then practicing or performing with your band during the night."

Roxie didn't want to look like she was making excuses, but Kate was right. It WAS difficult handling both things at once.

"Yeah, I guess… yeah, yer right, Katie Girl," Roxie was forced to admit, hanging her head in shame. "It can get pretty hectic around here… and I really shouldn'ta left ya to rot in those sewers, that was my bad, sorry."

"Yeah, whatever," Kate griped, unable to come clean and tell her that it was fine. It was one of the more toxic aspects of her personality, she couldn't be so direct and apologetic. "Look, it all worked out in the end, right? I got some new pokemon. I don't hold a grudge about it."

Kate didn't want to explain that she looked up to Roxie so much that the girl could have left her down there for a month and it probably wouldn't have been that big of a deal.

"Nah, it was really messed up what I did," Roxie said, not taking the olive branch. "Ya see, I just… well, I get so overwhelmed sometimes, yer right, Katie Girl."

"Of course I'm right," Kate snorted. "So I figured that you, of all people, needed a day off. So I told the band that you wouldn't be meeting them tonight, that you were going to be spending that time training me. And as for your gym duties, well, the gym's closed right now, and it's up to you if you want to open it back up or not. But personally, I'd say no dice," she shrugged.

"I don't get it, is it really that simple?" Roxie asked, unable to believe that she could just take a break. "I mean… I'm telling ya plain right now, a day off would be just baller, but… no, no, I couldn't. I got responsibilities, Katie Girl, don'tcha understand that?"

"Yeah, I get it," Kate sighed. "But you're running yourself ragged. You can't keep up this pace, juggling both at the same time."

"Yes I can!" Roxie snapped, crossing her arms indignantly. "Ya don't know nothing, Katie Girl, I can make it work! It's my job to make it work!"

Kate's eye twitched. She hated when people got like this. All she was trying to do was show Roxie that everything didn't have to be so hard, that she could take breaks every now and then. And the gym leader was flouting her courtesy! If it was anyone else, Kate would be yelling her lungs out at them for being an idiot.

But it was Roxie, so she held her tongue.

"If you keep up with your current schedule, you're going to have a bad time," Kate insisted, crossing her arms and rising to her feet, facing down Roxie's indignant pose with one of her own. "And I don't think that's good for anyone."

Roxie was frustrated. She still didn't know Kate that well, but it was a surprise how thickheaded the girl could be. She reminded Roxie of herself!

"Listen now," Roxie snapped. "Ya just ain't getting it! My dad said the same exact thing, that there's no way I could balance my responsibilities as a gym leader with my responsibilities to my band! Well, I'm showing him that he's wrong!"

"Look, I'm not saying that you can't," Kate protested. "But why does that mean you aren't allowed to take any breaks?"

Roxie baulked. "W-Well…"

Kate let out a sigh, and walked over to a chair. It was time for some honesty, as loathe as she was for it. "Roxie, I look up to you a lot, do you know that? That's why I came here in the first place, to the Virbank City gym. I signed up with you because I wanted to see how you handle things."

She felt her face get red. She wasn't used to being this straightforward with people, even when she was saying how much she admired them. It just felt so… weird being this vulnerable, it wasn't a feeling that she liked.

Roxie, on the other hand, was surprised by Kate's admission.

"R-Really?" She asked. "I thought ya just applied to whichever gyms there were that trained Poison types, and then ya just chose this one on a whim."

Roxie was used to adoring fans, but she hadn't expected someone would look up to her that much to want to work with her specifically. She'd only been gym leader for a little while, after all, and even though she was in a band she wasn't exactly what anyone would call "famous".

"Yes, really," Kate insisted.

"Well… why?"

Kate sighed, running her fingers through her scratchy brown hair. "You see… I wasn't always so proud of training Poison type pokemon," she admitted.

It was another stunning revelation for Roxie. Sensing this would be a long story, she set down her bass and pulled up a chair across from Kate.

"Really? I'd never have thought that, Katie Girl, yer one of the most passionate Poison type users I've ever seen!" Roxie said in amazement. "And the way ya caught all these pokemon without even trying, that's some mad skills right there!"

"Thanks," Kate said, giving something that vaguely might have resembled a smile, "but I haven't always been like this, you know."

Roxie was curious, but she didn't want to pry. Still, as long as Kate was offering… "ya mind… ya mind telling me what happened?" She asked.

Kate nodded. "Back when I was a kid, I was picked on a lot because Poison type pokemon were my favorites," she said, forcing the tears down. She wasn't about to cry when recounting this story, not after she'd come so far since then! "It got so bad that I began denying that I even liked Poison type pokemon in the first place."

"Damn, Katie Girl, that sounds awful," Roxie winced.

"That's the reason why I had so many pokemon that were part Grass type," Kate explained. "I wanted… there was someone who I always wanted to be like. And I thought that by using the same type of pokemon that she used, I could be just like her. People would look up to me with admiration and no one would think that I was… a weirdo."

It was no use. She was trying hard to keep from crying, but the tears just wouldn't stop.

"But… I wasn't being myself. I was hiding my true self from the world, because I was afraid how other people would react. And you know… I do that even now. I hide myself away, so no one can judge me. I push people away so that they never have the chance to reject the real me, you know?" No, of course there was no way Roxie could know. Not Roxie, who everyone looked up to and admired.

"Then a great guy came along, and he helped me see that I was being stupid," Kate sighed. "He showed me that it was okay to like Poison type pokemon, and that there was nothing wrong with being a Poison type specialist. And now… well, now here I am," she shrugged, glancing up at Roxie. "Someone who's out and open about her love for Poison types."

Roxie wasn't sure what she should say. Kate had dropped a lot on her with that little monologue, and it wasn't exactly a topic she was comfortable talking about. She had just about worked up the courage to say something before Kate cut her off.

"And that's why I admired you," Kate quickly added. "Because you're amazing. You've only been a gym leader for a short time, and yet you're so popular and famous, just for being who you are. You never hid your love of Poison types, you never felt like you had to conform to something more 'traditional', you just did what you wanted to do, like a rebel!"

She hung her head, her face burning scarlet with shame. "I wish I could be strong like that," she admitted.

Roxie winced. Kate's praise should have felt great, but it didn't. It made her feel gross and shameful herself, because…

Because Kate wasn't totally right.

"Look Katie Girl, just… just because I train Poison types that don't mean I'm free of judgment from others," Roxie admitted. She had to be honest now, she couldn't let Kate keep going on thinking that Roxie was some ultimate rebel.

Kate perked up at this, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well… it's like I said before, see? A lot of people thought that it was impossible for a girl like me to juggle being a gym leader with being the head of my band," Roxie explained. "And I guess I kinda… thought I needed to prove that I have what it takes."

"So that's why your schedule's so messed up," Kate realized, nodding in agreement with her. It was starting to make a lot of sense.

"Yup, exactly right, Katie Girl," Roxie nodded. "Folks were always saying there was no way I could handle both, even my pops at first was like that. And that's why I can't take any breaks, ya see? I gotta prove 'em all wrong!"

Kate had been putting Roxie on a pedestal this whole time, but now she was starting to see the girl underneath.

And Roxie was just as vulnerable as Kate was. She would laugh, if not for the tense atmosphere in the room.

"If I'm being honest," Roxie continued, looking shamefully up at Kate, her cheeks still red, "that's kinda the reason I agreed to take ya in, Katie Girl."

Kate was surprised by that admission. "R-Really?"

"Well… yeah. Ya see, I ain't ever trained anyone before," Roxie admitted. "So I wasn't fully prepared for the responsibilities of looking after someone else, ya know? But… see, working with the Pokemon Academy, that's another obligation of a gym leader, yeah? So I signed up to take on a student for the first time this year, so I could prove that I could do it."

Kate should have been insulted by the admission that Roxie had just accepted her application because she wanted to prove that she was a "real" gym leader.

But right now, the only thing that she was focusing on was the fact that she had the amazing position of being the first person Roxie ever taught! She had assumed it, but hearing it for real was absolutely amazing!

She couldn't stop the dopey smile from breaking out across her face.

"Why're ya grinning?" Roxie asked, a little creeped out by Kate's smile. "I should be apologizin' for not doing right by ya, Katie Girl, this ain't something to smile over!"

"Y-Yeah, I know," Kate said, wiping the smile off her face. She shrugged. "Still, I don't think it's that big of a deal, honestly. Like, at the end of the day, you still helped me become a better trainer, didn't you? So it's fine."

Roxie hadn't really thought of it that way.

"Ya mean it?" She asked, not sure how Kate could be so cool about this. "Because this last week, I really let ya down, Katie Girl, ya got every right to be mad at me for messing up like that, and leaving ya trapped down there!"

"Yeah, I know, trust me," Kate said, sniffing her arm. "I still smell a little bit like a sewer, no matter how many showers I took last night. But it's fine, really. You fought me, and then you pointed out how I needed more variety on my team. Then you took me down there to catch some more pokemon, right? To balance my team out."

Roxie nodded. That was what had happened.

"So it's fine," Kate shrugged. "Because I didn't just catch one new pokemon, I got five! And how cool is that?! Aren't my new teammates just the best?" She asked, gesturing to the smaller pokemon that made up most of her new five. They were still adapting to life outside of the sewers, but were all clearly happy about the change in scenery.

"Well… that was pretty impressive, Katie Girl, I gotta admit that," Roxie chuckled, nodding in agreement. "But still…"

"No, no 'but still'," Kate snapped. "Sure, you left me down there, but it was all for the best. And it wasn't like you did it on purpose, right? You were just overwhelmed."

"Y-Yeah," Roxie said, hanging her head in shame.

Kate shrugged. "Then I can be cool with it. Trust me, I'm not happy, but at least you came from a good place, trying to do your best. So I can forgive you for a little misunderstanding like that, it's totally fine, don't worry about it."

Kate had no idea she could be so benevolent. She really had grown quite a lot since the beginning of the school year, hadn't she?

"I left ya there because I was overwhelmed, yeah," Roxie admitted, sighing. "But still, that's doesn't mean it's right! It means I messed up bad! I shoulda been able to handle both of my duties perfectly, not let myself get lost in the clutter!"

People had been telling Roxie for months that she was running herself ragged and burning the Litwick at both ends. And all that time, she'd kept insisting that it was fine, that she could handle herself, that she didn't need input from other people.

She'd been confident that she could handle both of her duties flawlessly, and Kate was sitting in front of her as proof of her arrogance and hubris.

"That's why I said you've got to take breaks," Kate insisted. "Look, her highness Alcea take breaks all the time for tea, so she can refocus herself and not get overwhelmed by her workload! Even if you were JUST a gym leader, or JUST in a band, it would still be important for you to take breaks! It doesn't mean you can't handle both, it just means that you need a break every now and then, right?"

Roxie hadn't ever really considered taking a break before, not seriously, anyway. She'd always thought that asking for some time off would be a validation of everyone who said she couldn't handle both at once.

"Is it… really cool if I take today off?" She asked hopefully. She hadn't allowed herself to feel this exhausted in a long time.

Kate shrugged. "Sure. Heck, take as much time off as you need! We can spend the day just hanging out and taking care of our pokemon!" She suggested, a bright smile spreading across her face.

Roxie smiled. That sounded pretty good. She'd just accepted Kate's application on a whim, but she was eternally grateful that Kate had been the one to come work for her gym and not anybody else. The girl might have been a lot more harsh and rude now that she'd gotten to know her, but she'd also helped Roxie see how much of a mistake she'd made.

And that was something worth a whole heck of a lot.

Well, it's nice to see that Kate's making progress with Roxie! It's good that she's being more honest with herself, too! Remember to review!