Kitty is going out to catch a new pokemon with Julia's support! And in the meantime, Cynthia's going out to have some fun with Ruka and her friends! What will be the result of their trips? Will Kitty find a new member to add to her team? Will Cynthia open Ruka's eyes to the wonders of the delicious Lava Cookies? Let's see what happens! Remember to review!

KedharS: Yeah, she's been kind of complacent recently. It is a bit of a surprise that, as a member of the Battle Course, and such a strong trainer to boot thanks to her harmonia, that she only has four pokemon at her disposal to work with, and one of them she hasn't even used in battle. But hopefully she'll find something new!

Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings

Chapter 1057

"What about that one?" Julia asked, pointing at the Numel walking by. "He looks kind of cute, you can catch him!"

Kitty squinted at the Numel and sighed, shaking her head. She just wasn't feeling it.

"I don't want a Numel," she replied. "Sure, some people might consider it cute, but it just isn't to me, sorry."

She felt awful just saying it. Because the truth was, the Numel WAS cute, in its own way. It was very difficult to find a pokemon that Kitty DIDN'T find cute, she loved pokemon that much. But she just wasn't feeling it.

Julia sighed and scratched her head. "Kitty, you've rejected like every pokemon we've run into, you realize that right? Do you really want to catch something?"

"I do!" Kitty said. "But… it's gotta be the RIGHT pokemon, you know?" Julia just couldn't understand. She didn't have harmonia, so she couldn't sense the connections Kitty formed between herself and her pokemon. That meant that she couldn't tell what Kitty could; the pokemon they were encountering just weren't the right fit.

She had half a mind to call up her parents and ask them to send over their Kangaskhan; that was a pokemon that Kitty definitely could connect with. But that would be a little ridiculous, she had to admit, asking for a family pokemon just because she couldn't find one of her own. Was that the kind of girl Kitty wanted to be? Was that why she'd set out on this quest in the first place? No, it was not. Kitty had come here to capture a wild pokemon, and she wasn't leaving Hoenn until she did!

Julia was trying to be supportive, she really was. But there just weren't any pokemon in the area that Kitty seemed to want. Julia wasn't a miracle worker, she couldn't pull pokemon out of a hat for her friend to catch.

"Maybe we should check another area then?" Julia suggested. They had walked all the way to Route 111 over the course of their search and still nothing. "If we can't find what we're looking for here then we might want to look somewhere else."

Kitty glanced down the trail. Mauville City was miles away in the distance, a walk that would take all day. Meanwhile, a sandy wasteland lied to the left. They'd walked all the way to the desert in their search for wild pokemon!

She hung her head. Maybe Julia was right, and maybe she was a little obsessed. They only had a few days left before they had to head back to the Pokemon Academy, and they couldn't find anything. But Kitty had faith. She could tell that there was still a wild pokemon to catch for her, somewhere, she just had to sense it!

But her harmonia was quiet.

"I guess we should go back," Kitty sighed. Julia winced, disappointed that Kitty was unsuccessful. There had to be some way to help!

"Hey, how about this?" She suggested. "Why don't we think about what kind of pokemon you want? If not Numel, then how about a Spoink? They're pretty cute, and they live on Jagged Pass! That's not too far, right?"

Kitty brightened. They hadn't run into any Spoink yet!

"Maybe…" she said thoughtfully. "I don't know, I'll keep an open mind. It's all about whether or not they feel right, you know?"

Julia forced a smile to her face and nodded. No, she didn't have a clue what Kitty was talking about, but she was going to pretend she did.

While Kitty and Julia were wandering around the routes beyond Lavender Town, Sango was accompanying Cynthia on what could only be described as a date with a pokemon. It wasn't, but it sure felt like it was with how desperately Cynthia seemed to be trying to impress the Zorua. Ruka, on the other hand…

"Lave Cookies are SOOOOOO delicious!" Cynthia assured Ruka. They were all waiting in line once again for the delicious Lavaridge treats. "You'll just ADORE them, I promise! The taste just can't be beat! Um…"

Ruka wasn't really paying attention, because Sango wasn't the only interloper on this date. Blake had been roped into it as well, and Ruka had her arms wrapped tightly around one of his. To his credit, Blake didn't seem at all bothered by Ruka's affections; Sango was relieved that he apparently only saw her as a pokemon.

Ayame would probably be less amused though.

Ruka began to sign something and Cynthia brightened, hoping that the Zorua was replying to her. When Sango got the message and saw Cynthia's hopeful expression she winced.

"Blake, Ruka would like to know if you like Lava Cookies too," Sango told him, and Cynthia's face fell at that response.

"Uh… yeah, they're fine, I guess," Blake mumbled. He didn't even know why he was here. Ruka had tackled him in the hall and dragged him along with her and Cynthia, and now Sango was here with them too.

He could tell that it wasn't doing wonders for Cynthia's mood. She was trying to seem cheerful, but it was clear that she was taking the fact that Ruka cared more about him than her own trainer pretty hard, even if she was smiling.

Blake and Sango made eye contact and they both nodded. They were on the same page with this one. Poor Cynthia.

"Hey, Ruka, can I talk to you for a second?" Sango signed to Ruka so Cynthia wouldn't hear what they were talking about.

Ruka blinked and nodded, signing back "yes." She let go of Blake and walked over to Sango while the other two held their places in line with Silver.

"What is it?" Ruka signed, confused.

"Is there a reason you're ignoring Cynthia so much?" Sango asked her in sign language. "She's really trying to get close to you, and it would mean a lot to her if you could just… I don't know, be a little more friendly? Didn't you say last night that you wanted Cynthia to learn sign language so you can communicate better with her?"

It didn't make sense for Ruka to say that, which clearly hadn't been a lie, and then fawn all over Blake without even glancing Cynthia's way.

Ruka glanced down and her face turned scarlet. Her fists were clenched tightly together, refusing to answer.

Sango sighed in frustration. "Ruka…"

"Zorua!" Ruka pouted, stomping her foot. She began to furiously sign, "it's hard, okay?!"

"What's so hard about it?" Sango asked. She wasn't sure what Ruka meant. "What? Being friendly with Cynthia is hard?"

Ruka nodded rapidly. She signed quickly, "she's too nice and friendly, I'm not used to it!"

"You're not used… to her being friendly?" Sango was starting to get it. "So wait… you're saying that because Cynthia is so nice to you, you just don't know how to interact with her, is that it? Because it makes you uncomfortable?"

Ruka nodded. She explained things a little clearer. "I'm a wild pokemon. Since Marie… I haven't really had any friends or people who were nice to me. But Cynthia…"

Her hands stopped. They were shaking.

"She's so nice! Even though I was so mean to her!" Her hands continued to tremble as she signed, so her language wasn't perfect. But Sango could still get the gist. She nodded sympathetically to the other girl/pokemon.

"You're not used to people being nice to you, huh?"

Ruka shook her head.

"Well, get used to it then," Sango laughed, relieved that it wasn't something mor serious. "Cynthia's a pretty friendly girl. Even after what you did, she's going to be doing all kinds of nice things to make you happy, so you better prepare for that."

"Zorua…" Ruka sighed, signing back, "I'll try my best…"

"It's okay to feel a little awkward," Sango assured her, patting the Zorua on the shoulder. "But I think Cynthia really, really wants to be friends, Ruka. So all you need to do is try. I'm sure you can do it." She silently added, because you two are basically on the same annoying wavelength…

Ruka nodded in agreement and they returned. But to Cynthia's disappointment and Sango's frustration, she immediately threw herself onto Blake for another big hug.

Cynthia winced. She turned to Sango.

"Hey, Sango…"

Oh no.

"I, um, I was wondering…"

Oh, fucking come on…

"Could we, um… talk in private, please?" Cynthia asked hopefully.

Sango sighed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure, let's go." She could already tell where this was going to go, and steeled herself in preparation for another consultation session. She just wanted to get her cookies damn it!

It was Cynthia's turn to step out of line now, and Sango followed after her. She cast a longing look at the Lavaridge Bakery, which they were almost to the entrance of. She just had to sit through another frustrating conversation first.

"Um… what did… what did Ruka say to you?" Cynthia was trying to sound casual but she wasn't fooling anybody.

"Not much, why?" Sango asked.

Cynthia sighed in relief. "Oh, good… I was afraid… that she, um… was going to complain about me, you know?"

That threw Sango off-guard a little. "Complain? Really?"

"Well, I mean… I'm being kind of annoying, right?" Cynthia sighed. "Asking her all sorts of questions and trying to be friendly with her… That isn't good, right?"

It was a surprising amount of foresight from her. Maddi would have been proud. But she was way off base this time.

Not that Sango could say anything. Spilling the beans would ruin the chance of a relationship between Ruka and Cynthia developing naturally.

Still. Seeing them act like this, like a couple kids with zero communication skills, made her want to scream.

…Though I can't say I'm any better myself, she admitted. She had never been able to be honest about her feelings with Blake. She'd just awkwardly dance around the issue right up until he ended up dating Ayame.

She sighed and rubbed her temples. "Look, Cynthia… I'm not going to say there aren't any issues, but… just be yourself, okay? You're plenty likeable just the way you are."

And Ruka already wants to be closer to you. You two just suck at expressing yourselves, damn it! Sometimes Sango was amazed that Cynthia had been able to confess to Blake at all, given how clumsy she could be at times. But again, Sango wasn't any better about it herself. So she just gave the other girl the best advice she could.

Cynthia's hopes were rekindled and she nodded in agreement. "Okay, just… just be myself. Yeah. Shouldn't be too hard!"

She tried to smile, but it was clear that she was a little uneasy about it. Sango hoped that Ruka would be able to be a little more honest herself, just to make Cynthia feel better.

Without anything else to say, the two of them headed back to join the others in line, just in time for them to reach the front, and enter the store.

Sango licked her lips as the delicious and spicy scent of Lava Cookies hit her nostrils with their signature sting. She smiled. It was cookie time.

"Yeah! We got it!" Cynthia cheered, entering the bakery. "Come on, Ruka, you're going to love this! Promise!"

Her hopeful eyes landed on Ruka, who clutched Blake's sleeve tightly in response. Then she let go, and her face brightened. She smiled and nodded.

"Zorua!" She agreed, and a brilliant smile crossed Cynthia's face as she lit up with joy. Ruka followed her to the counter, and they began ordering cookies.

"Um…" the attendant at the counter took a look at Ruka, particularly her ears and tail. She wasn't the only one; Ruka's appearance was pretty attention-getting.

"It's… one per customer," she said awkwardly.

Ruka opened her mouth to say "Zorua" and sign, but Cynthia stopped her.

"Yep! Just the four of us!" She chirped. "My friend here's working o her cosplay. What do you think of her ears? Pretty realistic, right? She did a really good job on them if you ask me."

"Yes, they look very nice!" The cashier agreed, nodding and smiling.

Ruka blushed, looking a little proud of herself. She enjoyed basking in the praise, it was the first time in forever she had gotten compliments like that.

They ordered their Lava Cookies and Blake and Sango did the same. This time, the four of them decided to sit down in a booth instead of returning back to the inn, so Ruka could really get the full experience of eating at the bakery.

Cynthia sat next to Ruka, watching her eagerly. Sango and Blake were also excited, they begrudgingly had to admit. Ruka was very cute.

Ruka took a big bite of her cookie and her face lit up with surprise.

"Zor?!" She sputtered through crumbs, nearly choking on the cookie's delicious flavor. "Zor! Zorua! Zorua!"

She was too excited to bother expressing her feelings with words. Cynthia reached up and brushed the crumbs out of the corners of her mouth. There was orange smeared all over her face.

"Calm down andyou're your words," Cynthia laughed, taking a bite of her own cookie. Ruka took a deep breath to catch herself, and then began signing like her life depended on it.

"This is the most delicious thing I've ever tasted! I had no idea that a cookie could taste so good! It's amazing! This flavor is just… there's nothing that can compare! I want to eat here every day it tastes so good! Can I please have more?!"

It was quite an ordeal for Sango to translate that flow-of-consciousness spiel, but she did her best to convey the other girl's feelings.

Cynthia just laughed and pushed Ruka's box closer to her. "You can have as many as you want," she assured the Zorua. She may have bought them, but they were for her pokemon, and she was happy to let Ruka indulge herself.

Ruka was filled with joy as she proceeded to devour more cookies, sending plastic wrap everywhere. To an outsider it was quite a strange sight, a cosplayer was tearing through cookies like her life depended on it, while her friends watched her proudly like they were looking at a baby eating solid food for the first time.

And if they looked any closer, they would see that her ears and tail were twitching, showing signs of her inhuman nature.

"I'm glad you like it so much," Cynthia said. "Unfortunately we can't eat here all the time. We'll be heading back to the Pokemon Academy in a few days after all."

Ruka was curious. "Pokemon Academy?"

"It's where we go to school," Sango explained. "On an island across the sea. Cynthia and the rest of us are just here celebrating spring break, so in a few days we'll have to go back to school."

"…Well, sort of," Cynthia mumbled under her breath. As far as she was concerned, what happened in th Pokemon Academy over the last few weeks wasn't exactly like a "school" give the fact that most of the students and teachers were in the Orre Region and they were doing all their work on their own, without even going to class.

Ruka looked troubled by Cynthia's explanation, though. She stared down at the mountain of cookie wrappers in front of her.

Cynthia reached over and placed her hand over Ruka's. "Hey, is everything okay?" She asked. "If you don't feel well after eating all those cookies-"

Ruka shook her head. She took her hand back and began to sign, "no, it's not because of that. I'm just surprised is all. I thought we would be staying in Lavaridge Town for the rest of our lives, since thought you guys lived here. But I guess not?"

Sango gasped, realizing why Ruka was suddenly so apprehensive. She glanced at Cynthia to see if the other girl had picked up on it as well, and lo and behold, she had.

"It's okay, Ruka, are you worried about traveling someplace new?" Cynthia asked. She was smiling gently at her pokemon.

Ruka glumly nodded her head. It was just as Sango and Cynthia had suspected; from Ruka's words, she had been brought to the mansion as a very young pokemon, practically hatched from an egg. She had spent all her time in that mansion up until this point, and so it was no wonder that the possibility of being taken from her lifetime home to another place, miles away, was clearly a daunting one for the young pokemon.

But Cynthia had faith in her Zorua.

"Don't worry," Cynthia assured her apprehensive Ruka. She reached over and patted her on the hand again. "It's going to be a lot of fun and really exciting, okay? There's all sorts of fun to be had in exploring new places!

Ruka nodded. She was clearly touched that her trainer was being so considerate of her concerns. Sango was smiling herself. She liked when Cynthia was acting like this; the adventurous side of her was one of the parts Sango liked best!

"Plus, you'll get to sleep in our room whenever you like!" Cynthia added, and Sango's good mood immediately evaporated.

"Hey, hold on a second," sh snapped. "What's the big idea, offering something like that? It's one thing for her to be in pokemon form, but if she stays as a human, then wouldn't she kind of get in the way all the time?"

Sango didn't mean to sound so rude, but she was trying to understand the logistics of arranging how they would all live in the same room. "Where's she even going to sleep?"

Cynthia blinked staring at Sango in confusion. "Well… I thought you would be the one to give your bed to her, right? Don't you like sleeping on the floor and stuff due to your ranger training?"

Irritated, Sango just gave her a dirty look. She didn't bother dignifying that ridiculous suggestion with a response.

Can't say I blame her. Bad suggestion, dude. In the meantime, it seems like Cynthia and Ruka are getting closer. Hopefully they'll have more time to bond before everyone has to go back to the Pokemon Academy! What will our group do next? There's still a lot of fun to be had in the Hoenn Region, and Cynthia's probably got a few ideas.