Ark awoke with a startle, looking at his clock, he was already running behind, Kiawe would be waiting for him by the time he finally made it to school for training, he quickly rushed getting dressed and gathering his Pokemon from outside to take with him, reaching over the table to grab a bagel.
"Bye Lillie, bye Mom, bye Cass!" Ark said, reaching the door before realizing what was wrong with what he just said, backing up slowly. "CASS!"
"Hey Ark." Cass said, having another bite of some fruit.
"What? How? When? Why? Did you two?" Ark sputtered.
"I'm here in Alola, got in around 3 am by a plane, Mom is in rehab and dad is redoing the house so they asked Miss Lusamine to take me in for the remainder of the year." Cass said.
"You knew, and didn't tell me!" Ark exclaimed.
"I thought it would be a fun surprise." Lusamine said.
"Did you know?!" Ark asked, looking at Lillie.
"I may have been told." Lillie admitted.
"Gah!" Ark exclaimed, leaving for school.
"I think he's excited." Lusamine said with a smile.
"Wait until he finds out what class you're in." Lillie said with a laugh.
At the Pokemon School
"Pikachu use Iron Tail!" Ark called out.
"Turtonator use Dragon Tail!"
Ark's eyes flashed orange as Pikachu sped around Turtonator's attack, striking his shell on the safe side, knocking the fire type forward.
"Ark, is everything alright? We usually don't go this hard this early." Kiawe said.
"It's Cass, something happened and no one told me." Ark groaned.
"Do you need to go back to Kanto, I'm sure if you asked." Kiawe assured.
"It's not that, she's here." Ark grimaced.
"Like for a visit? I thought you'd be happier." Kiawe pointed out.
"Like a long term visit." Ark sighed.
"Ahh, now I get it, she's here to stay and no one told you in time to escape." Kiawe laughed, grabbing an extra bottle of milk, handing it to Ark.
"It's not that I wanted to escape, but a bit of a heads up would've been nice." Ark admitted. "I mean we got close back in Kanto but I just wish I knew it was happening ahead of time."
"Look, we can worry about that later, for now, let's turn up the heat on our battle. Ready to keep going?" Kiawe asked.
"Yeah, sounds good." Ark said, capping the rest of his milk for now.
"Good, Turtonator use Flamethrower!"
"Pikachu dodge it with Quick Attack!"
Pikachu sped across the field easily outmaneuvering Turtonator's attack as he drew in closer.
"Now Pikachu use Iron Tail!"
"Turtonator use Shell Trap!"
Pikachu launched at Turtonator as the large fire type turned around, letting the electric type hit his spines and take damage from the explosion.
"Are they always like this?" Cass asked as she and Lillie exited the limo.
"No, most days they're much calmer than they are right now." Lillie admitted.
"Pikachu use Breakneck Blitz!"
"Turtonator use Devastating Drake!"
The two Z Moves collided in a battle of forces, Pikachu's speed against Turtonator's raw strength until both fizzled out giving an explosion of energy knocking Pikachu back into Ark, and Turtonator backwards a few feet, now closer to Kiawe than he'd like to be.
"Alright you two, let's stop this before you turn the school yard into a crater." Professor Kukui said calmly.
"Yes Professor." Ark and Kiawe said.
Inside the class, as the others were slowly coming in
"Ark, take a look at this, I had my Rotomphone record the battle, and look at our Z Moves, Pikachu was physically moving it backwards." Kiawe said.
Ark watched in amazement as Pikachu had managed to push back Turtonator's Z Move with Breakneck Blitz before both exploded.
"We should ask the Professor about this, see what he might know." Ark said. "Once class starts."
"Hey guys, what are we talking about?" Sophocles asked.
"Take a look." Kiawe said, playing the video for him.
"Incredible!" Sophocles said.
"Hey did you guys see we're getting a new student to our class." Mallow commented.
"Yeah, I noticed the new desk, but this far in, it has to be someone from our year in the other class, right?" Ark asked.
"Maybe it's Hiroki, he's usually your guys' training partner if you need another." Mallow pointed out.
"True, but I don't think he'd be interested in switching classes just for that." Ark commented.
"Maybe it's someone from another island who just moved here." Sophocles said.
"It could be, but we also have to think about what this class is, we aren't just regular students." Kiawe commented. "Adding someone to our group means putting a lot of trust in them."
"Maybe it's someone already in the know like Gladion?" Ark offered.
"You really think Lillie's other big brother would be coming to class all of a sudden?" Lana asked.
"No, but it's the best idea we've had so far." Sophocles said.
"Nope, I just realized who it is." Ark said, letting his head drop onto his desk.
"Alright kids, everyone take a seat." Principal Oak said. "Now I know this is strange bringing a new student in this far into the year, but based on her grades from her last school and her relationship to the rest of you, I'm sure she'll fit in just FINNEON! Now please welcome Miss Cassandra Leah Ketchum!"
"Please, it's just Cass." Cass sighed, standing awkwardly between the two adults.
"Wait, but isn't Cass 6?" Lana asked.
"I'm eight, and actually in this class level back in Kanto." Cass commented.
"Yes, I understand it's a bit odd having someone younger join the class all of a sudden, but she is here temporarily and we wanted her to feel welcome so she'll be in this class with Ark and Lillie." Professor Kukui said.
"But Professor, what about the 'you know whats'." Mallow hinted at, looking at the blackboard.
"We'll catch her up on everything she'll need to know in due time." Professor Kukui assured. "For now, everyone just relax and let Cass take her seat and we can finally begin."