I enter the ball-room, and see Matthew, Rayna, and Nareen all standing by a beverage table.
Rayna is wearing an exquisite dress, with a leather bodice and the bottom is form-fitting, and mermaid style. The color scheme is exotic, with white, pinks, and even black, but she looks amazing. Her hair is curled, and it falls beautifully around her face, framing her perfectly. On her shoulder is Pikki.
Nareen is wearing a simple, yet stunning, dress, that reminds me of a sun-dress. It flows with the currents in the room, and fits her body perfectly. Sitting beside her is a Machop, whom I don't recognize.
Matthew is wearing a bright red tuxedo, with a bright yellow tie, and there is a large yellow pokemon standing beside him, as he gently strokes its head as he talks.
To help keep the space not so populated, all trainers were allowed to pick one pokemon to accompany them, so Effie swims lazily beside me, eyes scanning for potential threats.
"Matt!" I laugh as he sees me, and we embrace.
"Man, is it good to see you!" He laughs, patting my shoulder.
"So, how's the working life?" I joke, and we all laugh.
"Good, so far! Haven't gotten to go on any missions yet, but it will all come in good time." He laughs, then notices Effie.
"Hey baby girl!" He laughs, hugging the ecstatic shark pokemon.
"You look amazing! Have you lost weight?" He jokes, kissing her forehead, and she giggles as she swims back my side.
"This is Ruption, my starter! He's a Numel." He gestures to the yellow camel pokemon beside him, and it bows.
I bow as well, and Effie tries, but topples over, laughing.
"And this is Martin, my Machop!" Nareen presents the pokemon, who struts up and shakes my hand, and bows to Effie.
"And you already know Pikki!" Rayna laughs, petting the birds beak.
"Well, we are all here, so lets grab a table!" Matt suggests, and we grab a table not to far back from the stage.
As we sit, I see Prim, Cosmo, and Sky looking around for a table as well, and I wave them over.
I introduce everyone, and we sit down, starting conversations as we wait for the meeting to start.
"So, how do you like the dress?" Prim asks Rayna, and she grabs Prim's hand.
"I ADORE it! It's comfortable, but looks amazing!" She gushes, and Prims eyes light up.
"So your from Sinnoh, huh?" Matt asks Cosmo, and he nods.
"Sick! I'm from Kanto, not nearly as exciting." He laughs, and Cosmo laughs to, sipping from a glass.
I stand up, going to get a drink, and Nareen comes with me.
"This is very... social." She says as we head over, and I can't help but laugh.
"That it is, Nar. So, how's it going?" I ask, and her eyes light up.
"Well, they have me stationed in Johto for my training, but I get to stay in Kanto once I'm done there!" She smiles.
"Thats amazing!"
"Now, I have a question for you, and I need you to answer me honestly." She stops as we reach the table, and she turns to me.
"Of course, Nar. Whats up?" I ask, concerned.
"Are you and that cute boy with the green hair dating?" She asks quietly, and I nod after a moments hesitation.
"But its not so I can-!" I start, but she blows me off.
"He's sweet. He cancelled his entire trip to come make sure you were okay. Hes a good guy." She smiles, grabbing a drink.
I go to reply, but a small boy grabs her arm, and gestures for her to follow.
"Manuel, slow down! I'll meet you back at the table!" She laughs as the boy drags her away, Martin following as he shakes his head.
Chuckling, I grab a drink, and scan the room.
I notice Shelley, in a gorgeous blue dress that barely grazes the floor, and I head over to her, Effie following close.
"Shelley!" I call, and her eyes light up as she hugs me tightly.
"Hey there, hot stuff! Damn, you look good in that tux!" I laugh, brushing her compliment off as she bends down to kiss Effie.
"I told you he was a great trainer!" She says, barely audible but I catch it, and Effie nods.
She stands back up, smiling.
"I wish I could stay and chat, hun, but I have to run off to the team heads table, discuss whats happening tonight! But I'm in town for a few days, so come find me when you have the chance!"
"I will! It was good to see you!" I smile, kissing her cheek as she winks and struts off, her high heels clicking on the tiled floor.
I look around again, but there is a loud clinking noise as everyone picks up their glasses and taps them with their spoons.
I quickly head back to our table, and arrive just as Nareen does.
"Thank you all so much for traveling to be here tonight!" N struts across the stage, smiling brightly and waving to people as he does.
"I hope the castle is to your liking?" He ends in a question, and the room goes wild.
"Thats good! Now, I'm sure you are all wondering what this meeting is about, so lets not beat around the Grotle here, and get straight to it, shall we?" Everyone claps again.
"So, as most of you know, the annual TeamRace is fast approaching..." He starts, and the entire mood of the room changes, everyone now exchanging excited whispers with their partners and table-mates.
The TeamRace is a huge deal, with each team sending three contestants to battle, adventure, and figure out puzzles in a huge maze, located on an island in Alola. The winners of the race are promoted to Executives of their respective teams, no matter how long they have been with them. The maze itself is gigantic, and all the teams are pitted against each other till the last team stands, or the final three, depending on what happens first. There are wild pokemon, traps, and even puzzles that you have to get through, PLUS the other teams.
"With that, it is time for us to select our participants. Over the next couple of day's, we will be taking assigned groups out, to test them, until we have our final twenty-one! There will be sign up sheets in the cafeteria in the morning, so please sign up!" He finishes in a flourish, holding his drink up, and we all go wild.
"Now, since the announcement is over with, LETS EAT!" N shouts the last part as the room is now clapping as chefs bring plates of food out.
After, everyone heads to bed, with promises to meet up again in the morning for coffee, like old times, and go to sleep.
I go into my room, and find Aspen, Cleo, and Belle all curled up in my bed, sleeping soundly. Effie gently joins the group, falling asleep quickly.
I run myself a steaming bath, and moan in pleasure as I sink into it, even though my wound is now uncovered.
I hear my door open, and N walks in.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" He goes to turn around, but I stop him.
"What? It's not like we haven't seen each other naked before!" I laugh, and he chuckles, sitting beside the tub.
"So... Are you going to sign up?" He asks, and I nod.
"I think so. It would be an amazing experience, but I would have to get through the test first." He nods.
"A little hint for the test, make sure to have Effie with you for the first one." He says softly, as if someone else can hear us, and I nod.
"Swimming?" I ask, and he nods.
"She is allowed to help you, so keep that in mind. How's the burn?" He asks, putting his hand under the water to lightly touch it.
"Sore, but otherwise fine." I sit up, kissing him, and as I move, his hand slides below my waist.
"Are you sure?" He whispers between kisses, and I nod, hard.
Chuckling, he takes his clothes off quickly, hopping in, on top of me.
I wake in the morning, next to all my pokemon, but N is no longer here.
Yawning, I check my phone.
4am, on the dot.
I smile, sitting up.
My pokemon are still asleep, but wake up quickly as I rouse them.
"Going for my run! Anyone interested?" Effie and Aspen shake their heads, growling as they tuck back in, but Belle and Cleo nod, stretching as they wake up.
I get changed into some shorts, and decide not to wear a shirt, as the morning sun is already breaking over the mountains, an it's quite warm out.
We head out.
Belle is a lot faster than I first thought, keeping pace with Cleo, much to her surprise.
They cap their distance between us at roughly a few yards, and we fall into a rhythm.
We are just finishing our third lap, when a car pulls up, from the front gates.
It stops by the doors, and the driver gets out, and grabs something out of the trunk of the car.
A... wheelchair?
I'm sprinting for the car before he even sets it down, as I recognize the decals on the handles of the chair.
Kai lifts himself out of the car, and into the wheel chair, and barely turns around as I fly into him, hugging him tightly.
"Hey bro!" He laughs, as happy tears stream down my face.
"Kai! Hows it going?" I sniffle, overcome with delight.
Mom and Dad get out of the other side of the car, and run over to see me.
"Baby!" Mom's crying now to, and Dad looks close.
"Mom! Dad!" I cry, hugging them both.
After our tearful reunion, I realize I'm not wearing a shirt, and quickly lead my family up to my room.
Kai looks at the stairs fearfully, but I carry him and Dad grabs his chair.
"This castle is so BEAUTIFUL!" Mom gasps, running her hand along one of the many branches that sticks out into the stair well. The stained glass windows cast a stunning blue light over the entire stair well, and making the tree look ethereal with its hues of green and blue.
I open the door to my room, and Belle and Cleo quickly wake Effie and Aspen, letting them know to introduce themselves.
"Alrighty, quick introductions! Family, this is Cleo, Belle, Aspen, and you already know Effie!" I point to each of them respectively, and they bow.
"And guys, this is Mom, Dad, and Kai." They all smile and wave.
"So, mom and dad, you will be taking this room-" I gesture to the large room, and their eyes go wide, "-and me and Kai will take the dressing room. Trust me, it's more than big enough." I laugh at their expressions.
"Are you sure baby? Who's room is this?" Mom asks as she pets a very excited Aspen.
"This is my room, but I don't min-"
"This is YOUR room? When can I join?" Kai gasps, and I laugh.
"Balcony is over there, bathroom is there! I will get a bed made up for me and Kai, so you two take the master." They nod, dropping their bags off, and exploring.
"If there is an emergency, there is a tunnel over here..." I point out the escape tunnel in the closet, and they gasp.
"Its a slide, it's pretty cool." I hear a voice behind us, and turn around quickly to see N.
"Oh! Guys, meet N! He's the head of operations and founder of team Plasma, and also... my boyfriend." His eyes go wide, as does my parents.
"Nice to meet you!" Kai recovers first, shaking N's hand.
"And you...?" He ends with a question, and I start, forgetting to introduce them to N.
"Oh! Thats Kai, my BABY brother, and my mom and dad!" I laugh as Kai hisses at the term baby.
"Hello! This is a wonderful... castle you have!" My mom hugs him, and he laughs, thanking her.
"Nice to meet you, N." Dad says gruffly, shaking his hand, and I laugh.
"He's fine, dad." I laugh as his expression softens a bit, but he still keeps an eye on N as he steps back to stand beside mom.
"Well, I am honored to have you here. I will show you to some rooms..." N steps back, but I stop him.
"Thats okay, they can stay in here! I just need a couple beds in the back dressing room for me and Kai." N nods.
"I'll have some sent right up. Don't forget to sign up, sheets go down at nine." He walks forward, quickly kissing my cheek, before waving to my family and departing.
My family goes in on me the second the door closes.
"He seems nice!"
"Is his hair GREEN?"
"Whens breakfast?"
I meet up with Nareen, Rayna, and Matthew at the agreed time, and we grab our coffees and head out the back.
We pick a dainty little picnic table, set just off the beach.
"So, you guys signing up? I signed up this morning." I ask, and they all nod.
"Can we make a pact now? If any of us get picked to go, we team up? It would kill me to fight against you guys in there." Nareen asks, and we all nod without a moments hesitation.
"Agreed. We fight together, or not at all." Matthew says, and we put our hands in the middle.
I go to ask when the results are announced, when there is a loud clanging from the castle.
"Thats the breakfast bell! They are going to announce the first group!" Rayna gasps, and we run to the dining hall.