Chapter 2
"Jacob. Jacob wake up. JACOB!" Jacob heard a voice shout above him. He woke up to the sound of his alarm and Ema on the right of him covering her ears. Jacob quickly turned off the alarm.
"Sorry about that." Jacob replied to Ema. Ema rubbed her ears a little to let the ringing stop.
"It's fine, but I noticed you were sweating and I was worried." She told him. Jacob felt his forehead and noticed a little sweat from it.
"Oh man, how am I going to explain this to the school." He said. He then coughed a little. "I-I think I'm going to have to take a sick day." Ema's rings then began glowing brighter after he said that and his sickness faded. Both Ema and Jacob looked at each other in surprise.
"How did that…?" She began.
"Just work?" Jacob finished. They sat in silence again before the sun peaked over the horizon and Jacob got ready for school that day.
"So what are you guys doing today?" Ema asked.
"Well we're doing mock pokemon battles today, to get us in the whole 'trainer' mindset. I was about to ask if you wanted to come with me." Jacob said. Ema perked up.
"Sure, I'll go with you." Ema said. Jacob smiled.
"Alright, just give me some time to clean up first and we can head out." Jacob said. He then grabbed his day clothes. He then went into the bathroom to take a shower while Ema waited for him in the kitchen. Jacob came out the bathroom after a few minutes and made them both breakfast. After they ate, the duo stepped outside and began walking to the Larpse Town High School. As they were walking, Jacob noticed people staring at him and the scared Umbreon behind him. Ema hid herself from other people a little by sticking close to his legs while Jacob was looking down.
"That's the kid that found that Umbreon?" He heard on woman ask.
"Yeah, they say he's somehow convinced it to follow him around without a pokeball." A man said to the woman. "In my mind he should just get one for it already. It's weird seeing it walk around like that." Ema dropped her ears a little.
"You have a problem?" Jacob said turning around to face the man. The man ran off before he responded and the boy and Umbreon continued walking.
"You didn't have to do that." Ema said.
"I know, but I won't let you get torn down like that, you've been through too much already and you don't need any more to deal with." Jacob said. Ema smiled and soon they arrived at his school. "We're here." He said.
The school building wasn't the biggest of buildings, more like a long two-story strip along the ground. There were a few students outside who were dressed in casual clothes. They were in their own friend groups about whatever they felt they needed to. That was until Ema and Jacob arrived. The students turned their focus to them and started gossiping about the two as they walked into the building.
The interior was lined with lockers, posters, and classrooms while the upstairs section was the areas for pokemon battles on days like today. Jacob put up his bag and just as he was about to close his locker, a hand slammed it closed for him. "You should return it to the wild. The boy said with his back to Jacob.
"What did you say?" Jacob asked looking at the boy.
"Your Umbreon, you should just smash the pokeball you have for it and let it run." The boy said. Ema growled a little at the boy, but Jacob stopped her.
"Look, I don't know your problem with me, but I don't have a pokeball for her. She chose to follow me out of her own freewill." Jacob said. The boy scoffed.
"I doubt that any wild pokemon would follow a human like that." The boy told them. "Why don't you just hand the ball to me and we'll forget anything ever happened."
"I told you already, she doesn't have a ball. She chose to follow me after we spent the wee together in woods during a summer camp I was going to." Jacob replied. The bell then rang, signaling the first class. "I have to go now, nice…uh….chat." Jacob and Ema walked off, with Ema shooting the boy an evil glare. The boy growled a little, literally growled, as the door to their room closed.
"I'll show you, boy." He said. He then an off to his own class.
Math class, what most consider hell at this point and others the nap-time of the school. By the time the teacher showed up, Ema was already asleep next to Jacob's desk but the teacher stil asked about her. "Jacob why do you have a pokemon with you?" He asked.
"This is the pokemon I'm bringing for the battles later today." Jacob replied. The math teacher nodded.
"Alright, but can you please put that Umbreon in its ball?" The teacher asked.
"I don't have a ball for her sir, she follows me out of her own freewill." Jacob said. The teacher marveled a little at the fact Jacob had a wild pokemon following him around like a trained one, but soon snapped out of it.
"Ok, just make sure she doesn't cause trouble." The teacher said. Jacob nodded and the teacher started his lesson. Jacob and the other students listened as the teacher talked about triangles and throwing arcs of pokeballs. The pokeball talk made Jacob inwardly cringe a little, but he hid it. He looked down to Ema, whose rings were pulsing with her breathing. He rubbed his sleeping friend and then the bell rang, making Ema jump in the air in panic. Jacob and a few other students laughed at the sight while Ema pouted. Jacob scratched under her chin before they went to his next class which was writing. Ema actually paid attention to the class and tried reading what Jacob was writing from on his shoulder. Jacob silently explained to her some of the basics to what he was writing, as in what letters meant what. The other students saw the Umbreon that was resting on his shoulder as odd, but were really confused whenever the Umbreon spoke and Jacob would whisper back to it.
After writing, Jacob and Ema went get some lunch from the cafeteria. Granted it wasn't the best food Ema had ever eaten, but she didn't complain because it was food for her to eat. Ema then had an idea of getting back at Jacob and flicked the plastic tray towards his face as he took a bite from his corn. The food went all over his face and Ema was giggling as her human partner wiped himself clean. The other students were laughing at him, but Jacob didn't care. He knew Ema was just messing with him and he rubbed her head. Ema purred a little and then the bell rang again. This time the class was pokemon training. "You ready Ema?" Ema nods and Jacob threw away their trays before they began walking upstairs.
"So what exactly happens in this class?" Ema asked.
"Well the teacher hands out pokeballs with pokemon and we have mock battles to see who the better trainer is." Jacob whispered in reply so none of the other students with him heard. "You're allowed to bring you own pokemon as well, but you could only fight people with equal skill to your own."
"So we won't be fighting?" Ema inquired. Jacob shrugged and the two reached the door to the room.
"It depends if someone has a pokemon that can match your abilities. What ones do you have anyways?" Jacob asked.
"Well, Feint Attack, Moonlight, Bite, and Pursuit." Ema said.
"Interesting move set." Jacob said. He then opened the door and the two lined up against the wall.
"Alright class, listen up. Today you will be testing your ability to execute commands to your pokemon in battle. I have some pokemon in the balls to choose from. Those who already have a pokemon however, will be separated and battle each other on the other mat." The teacher said. A bunch of students jumped in excitement. "Alright those who don't have a pokemon come get a ball." The other students walked up to the rack to grab their balls while Jacob and that boy from before remained on the wall. "You two have pokemon huh?" They both nod. "Alright follow me." Jacob, Ema, and the boy from the locker room followed the teacher to another mat.
"Frogadier it's time to have fun." The boy said throwing a ball down. The ball opened and a half-frog half-ninja pokemon emerged.
"You up for this Ema?" Jacob asked his friend.
"Don't worry Jacob. I'll be fine." She said. Ema walked onto the field.
"So you're the pokemon my master was saying I needed to liberate?" The Frogadier said while pacing around Ema.
"And you're that boy's pokemon?" Ema asked. The Frogadier nodded as it circled her.
"Frogadier use water pulse." The boy said. Frogadier then spat a volley of water from its mouth. Ema dodged.
"Bite, Ema." Jacob said. Ema's teeth glowed and she charged at the Frogadier. The Frogadier tried lunging out of the way, but was bit in the leg a little before the boy called out an order.
"Smack down!" The Frogadier then slammed its paw/hand into the ground and Ema collapsed on the ground. Ema then stood up.
"Feint Attack." Jacob said.
"Use quick attack to dodge it Frogadier!" Ema then charged headlong into the Frogadier who tried running away.
"Switch to pursuit!" Jacob called out. Ema instinctually switched attacks and slammed hard into the Frogadier.
"Use Smockscreen." The Frogadier then threw its paw/hand down again and a smokescreen appeared. "Follow up with smack down!" Ema hit the ground again. "Water Pulse!"
"Feint Attack! Get in close!" Ema climbed to her feet and charged into the Frogadier who was too busy charging its water to move as the Umbreon slammed into its chest. Frogadier was thrown back a few feet and landed hard on its back.
"Get up and us Quick Attack to get behind it."
"Follow it with pursuit!" Ema and Frogadier circled each other on the floor mat until Ema final started gaining.
"Turn around and use Water Pulse" The Frogadier turned on a dime and fired water at Ema who was moving too fast to dodge the ground bellow her became wet and her feet slipped out from under her. Ema landed hard and skid a foot across the ground before climbing to her feet again. "Taunt."
"Is that really all you got Umbreon? I expected more from you." The Frogadier said in an attempt to taunt Ema. Ema shook him out however.
"You should learn dark attacks don't hurt dark types that well." Ema said.
"Rush in with Feint Attack." Ema charged forward again and caught the Frogadier off-guard and it flew I the air a foot before landing and skidding 10ft. away.
"Frogadier!" The water type pokemon climbed to its feet. "Hit it with Quick Attack!" Frogadier ran back towards the field and slammed Ema hard. She tumbled a little and then climbed up to her feet. "Again." Frogadier charged in again.
"Bite." Ema's teeth glowed and she sidestepped the Frogadier before clamping her teeth into its shoulder.
"Ack!" The Frogadier exclaimed. The Frogadier tried to loosen Ema's grip and managed to fling her off. At this point, the Frogadier was panting a little. Ema was also painting a little but not as badly.
"Moonlight." Ema's rings then glowed brighter and she tried absorbing soft light as energy. She absorbed some of the light from the bulbs above them and she was healed.
"Smack down again." Frogadier slamed its paw/hand into the ground and Ema fell again. "Water Pulse." The Frogadier fired.
"Dodge with Feint Attack. If it runs use Pursuit." Ema complied and the water missed her. Frogadier stayed still however so she charged.
"Smokescreen." A smokescreen went up and Ema jumped out realizing the trap. The Frogadier charged at her using a Quick Attack, but Ema used Pursuit and the two ran in circles before Ema hit the Frogadier one more time, knocking it out if the match. The Frogadier lied unconscious on the ground and the boy recalled his pokemon.
"This isn't over." The boy said. He then walked off, leaving a stumped Ema and Jacob alike.
"Do you know what his problem was?" Ema asked.
"Not a clue." Jacob replied. "Are you hurt?" Ema's rings glowed like she was using Moonlight.
"Not anymore." She replied. Jacob rolled his eyes and they went back to the other trainers in training.
They were just in time to see the last match of the day which was between a Litten and a Treecko. The Litten then used Ember and some of the fire scorched the Treecko. The Treeck grunted before using pound and hitting Litten hard. The Litten flew back a few feet and used Ember again which cause the Treecko to start smoking. It had a burn affect on it. The Treecko trainer called out for another Pound and the Litten was punched to where it landed next to the feet of its trainer. The Litten found the strength to stand again and the trainer ordered an Ember. The Treecko soon fainted from the fire type attack and both pokemon were returned to their balls. The injured pokemon were placed in a healing station and the teacher spoke up again. "Good work class, we'll do this again next month for another test, but so far you all are improving greatly." The class riled up a little. The bell then rang and the students left the room. "Jacob. Can you and your pokemon stay behind for a moment?" Jacob and Ema nod. "I watched your fight with Davis and I must say I'm impressed."
"It wasn't anything really; I just went with what felt best for the moment." He replied.
"Speak for yourself; that was actually pretty good." Ema said.
"In any case, you are a gifted trainer." The teacher said.
"Th-Thank you…" Jacob said. The teacher nodded and both Ema and him left the room.
"Is taking a complement that hard?" Ema asked as they walked downstairs.
"N-no!" Jacob replied. Ema giggled and they reached Jacob's locker he grabbed his stuff and went to his final period which was science class. The teacher talked mostly about the pokeball as an invention, but occasionally talked about pokemon themselves ranging from Charmander to Popplio. Ema was asleep again and Jacob was on the verge of it before the bell rang.
The duo stood up and left the science room. "So what did you think of the school day?" Jacob asked.
"Something I'm glad I don't have to do." Ema replied. "But the battling was fun."
"Do you enjoy fighting like that?" Jacob asked. Ema nodded. "Well I guess we can look forward to next month."
"Yep!" Ema exclaimed. The two left the building and went towards the residential district to head home. "So how did you get so good at calling out moves?"
"I-I don't know, I just picked what felt right." Jacob replied. "I wish I could tell you."
"I understand." Ema stated. "I still don't know what that kid's problem though."
"Me neither, and what was so special about us being friends that he didn't like?" Jacob asked.
"I don't know, but if he ever tries to hurt you, I'll be ready to stop him." Ema replied.
"And this is why you're my best friend." Jacob said. Ema smiled and the two continued walking home. Jacob unlocked the door like normal and the two sat down for some TV before having fun in Jacob's yard.
The next few months came and went, but they were pretty much the same. Every time they announced a training day, Ema would come with Jacob to the school. Jacob and Ema would usually battle that boy and his Frogadier with Ema usually winning, but there were a few times when Ema would get to her feet slower than the 5 seconds they set for their pokemon. Since Ema didn't have a ball, she had to rely on her Moonligt ability to heal, but Jacob would bring some bandage wrap for her just in case. Closer to the last days of school I was announced for each student, no matter if they had a pokemon or not, would be able to go to the Poke-Center for a free pokemon to take care of before they earn their trainer's license. At first Ema wasn't too happy about another pokemon coming live with them but on the final week, she said she'd be ok with it and that was enough encouragement Jacob needed.
Speaking of the last week of school, it was a time of testing skills in pokemon battles so that meant everyday of that week Ema would come with Jacob in order for them to battle together. The two were the most bonded out of all the other students and their pokemon who listened to the teacher, and every time a pokemon referred to his opponent as master, it made Jacob inwardly cringe. He could never stand that for some reason, and ever since the day Ema saved his life, that mentality had only been reinforced. The training field was ablaze with grass, water, fire, and dark attacks alike being thrown back and forth between pokemon. Eventually the last day of school was over and it was time for Jacob to head back home. Today, Ema decided to stay back at the house, leaving him alone at school that day. 'I wonder who will be joining us at the house today.' They both thought as the day winded down.